1735 060 490 749






































Copyright, 192
       By
Earle R. Forres





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


     I ne'er will ask for quarter, and I ne'er will be your slave;
     But I'll swim the sea of slaughter till I sink beneath the wave."
                                                  -The Seminole.

    As the activities of British agents among the Ohio tribes increased the
hostiles became bolder, and the raids on the Pennsylvania settlers were
more frequent until in 1780 a storm of fire and blood swept over the whole
western border; and for nearly twelve years the people of Washington
County lived under a reign of terror. The Indian with all his savage
nature was fighting for his country and the preservation of his home, and
the blows that he struck were fearful and rapid. Each day brought news
of some fresh disaster to the whites. A family massacred, women and
children carried off into a horrible captivity, or some luckless hunter or
settler burned at the stake were the common stories of the day.
   Washington County was in the very heart of the stricken region. Con-
ditions were more terrible in 1780 than at any time since Logan, the
Mingo, had swept over the same land with tomahawk and scalping knife,
seeking revenge for his murdered relatives.
   It is hard for us today, in the peaceful security of our modern civiliza-
tion, to understand the conditions that our ancestors faced in this county
one hundred forty-five years ago. Many of them, prompted by that same
spirit that in later years carried their descendants across the continent,
had left peaceful communities east of the mountains to seek new homes in
the western wilderness; but many found bloody graves in a lonely land.
Others belonged to that roving class of Americans, forerunners of civiliza-
tion, who had been lured across the mountains by tales of terrible adven-
tures in the western wilds. They were guides, hunters, and Indian fighters
by profession. Then there were the professional Indian killers, such men
as Sam Brady, Lewis Wetzel, and Captain Jack, who had had some dear
relatives murdered by the savages, and they lived only for revenge on the
red race. Finally there was the riff-raff of the eastern civilization-men
who had left their homes for the good of the community. Each played his
part in the settlement of our county, and to each should be given the credit
due; for without their work our land would still be a wilderness, inhabited
by wild Indians.
   Similar conditions can never come again. Only strong men, whether
they carried the cross or were outlaws, dared face the wilderness; for no
man knew when his turn would come. When a man went to sleep at night,
he knew that a tomahawk might be buried in his brain as he slept, or he
might awaken to the wild war whoop of the savage Indian.
   And the pioneer mothers were just as sturdy as the men. They could
shoot just as accurately, and when necessary they shot to kill. They never
hesitated to wield a tomahawk or knife in defense of their homes, as many
an Indian warrior discovered when it was too late to be sorry. The
dangers those pioneer mothers faced were even greater than those of their
men. It was their lot to remain at the cabin home all day, tending to
their household duties; and they never knew at what instant they would
hear the dreaded war whoop of the red warrior. And it was the sons and
daughters of those women who were the pathfinders of the Great West,
and who drove the Indians slowly but surely towards the setting sun. They




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of Cowpens, was called out, and early in November they were camped on
the eastern banks of the Monongahela, opposite Parkinson's Ferry. Fear
spread over the whole western country. The troops were angered at
being called out at the beginning of winter, and were very vindictive.
The death penalty could have been inflicted for some of the acts that had
been committed, and it is estimated that about 2,000 settlers took to the
woods and fled down the Ohio.
   Among the men who came to Western Pennsylvania with the army
of General "Light Horse Harry" Lee, sent by Washington to put down
the insurgents, was David Hart, of Adams County, Pennsylvania. Mr.
Hart afterwards returned to Washington County and settled in Somer-
set Township, where the late Dunning Hart was born, November 30, 1836.
His father, David Hart, died October 1, 1852.
   Dunning Hart, who died in Washington, Pennsylvania, in May, 1924,
was probably the only man living in the country at that time whose father
had served under General Washington. Mr. Hart recalled vividly stories
that his father had told him of the Whisky Insurrection days. David
Hart well remembered that General Washington accompanied the army
as far as Bedford, where he turned the command over to General Lee.
Dunning Hart served in Company G, One Hundred and Fortieth Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war and was twice wounded
in the charge of that regiment across the famous "wheat field."
   The troops were distributed over both Washington and Allegheny
counties and on the night of November 13, by an order of General Henry
Lee, governor of Virginia, who was in command at that time, a general
raid was made and about 300 who had been engaged in the rebellion, and
witnesses, were captured. For many years afterwards this was known
on the western border as the "Dreadful Night." These prisoners were
taken to Pittsburgh for trial, where the following order was issued:
"Offenders arrested for misdemeanors are to be taken to York and Lan-
caster for trial, but those for capital offenses to Philadelphia."
   Some were released at Pittsburgh but twenty were held for the trip,
and on November 25 the troops started with their prisoners. Just before
noon on Christmas day they were paraded in front of the Black Horse
Tavern in Philadelphia, with strips of white paper on their hats desig-
nating them as persons to be despised. Upon the trial of the arrested
persons only two were found guilty, one for arson for burning General
Neville's house and the other for robbing the United States mail. They
were sentenced to be hanged but were pardoned by General Washington.
Thus ended the first rebellion against the authority and government of
the United States, at a cost to the Federal Government of just
$669,992.34.
   Although it is claimed that Bradford never returned to Washington,
there is evidence to the conclusion that in 1801 he was in the town. A
very peculiar circumstance in connection with his old house is that Brad-
ford did not receive the deed for the lots (also the two lots on Maiden
Street) from William Hoge and John William until March 16, 1801,
although he had built the house thirteen years previously. The deed for
the property given on that date is made out to David Bradford, attorney
at law, of Washington. This tends to show that he must have returned


992











































  David   Hart, late of Canonsburg, a
grandson of David Hart who served un-
der Washington in the Whisky Insurrec-
tion. It is said that he strongly resem-
bled his grandfather. He went to Cali-
fornia in the '50s and remained in the
gold fields several years. He died several
years ago in Canonsburg.


  Dunning Hart, Civil War veteran and
long a resident of Washington. His fa-
ther served under General Washington in
the Whisky Insurrection. He died in May,
1924.


    Black Horse Tavern, Canonsburg, as it appeared originally. This
was famous as the secret meeting place of the leaders of the Whisky
Insurrection of 1794. In a rear room of this tavern, in the dead of
night, the mail sacks captured near Greensburg were opened on July
28, 1794, by David Bradford, John Canon and other leaders of the
rebellion. "The Black Horse Trail," formerly the Washington-Pitts-
burgh turnpike, was named after this tavern.


b .- i2-.i~I:~: -::
    ::-:; ::~:;::

~I




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


after the excitement incident to the Whisky Insurrection had blown over,
to settle his affairs. Even if the national government did not pardon
him, he could very easily have returned without the knowledge of the
federal officers, for the people of this section were all friendly to him,
and he still had two married sisters living in this county, whose descend-
ants are among some of our well known citizens.
   On May 4, 1803, David Bradford and Elizabeth Bradford, his wife,
conveyed lots Nos. 16 and 17 to Archibald Kerr for $2,280. This deed
was acknowledged in Louisiana, the acknowledgment of which follows:
   "Louisiana Sst: New Feliciania to wit: On this 16th day of May,
1803, personally came before me, the subscriber, one of the Alcaldas in
the place aforesaid, David Bradford, and Elizabeth, his wife, the grant-
ors in the within deed mentioned, and they did acknowledge the said
instrument of writing to be their act and deed. The said Elizabeth being
by me first privately and apart from her husband examined (the con-
tents of the within instrument of writing being by me fully made known
to her) acknowledged that she did sign, seal, and deliver the same of her
own free will and accord without any coercion or compulsion from her
said husband.
                                     (Signed) JOHN O'CONNER."
   "Spanish spelling, Juan Ouconnor."
   Following this is a copy of the appointment of John O'Conner as an
alcalda in the province of New Feliciania by the governor general of
Louisiana at New Orleans.
   On April 24, 1809, Archibald Kerr and wife sold lots Nos. 16 and 17
to Hugh Wilson, a merchant of Washington, for $3,000. The property
remained in the same family practically from that time until 1895. In
consideration of the sum of $6,000 and natural love and affection, Hugh
Wilson conveyed a section of these two lots, 40 by 100 feet, upon which
the Bradford house stands, to his daughter Rebecca Blaine, March 16,
1819.
   By will dated January 13, 1842, the property was devised by Rebecca
Blaine to Hugh Wilson Harding and Rebecca Harding Davis, who had
been born in the house. This will was probated March 5, 1866. The
next transfer of the old place was on May 10, 1895, when Hugh Wilson
Harding of South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Rebecca Harding Davis and
her husband, L. Clark Davis, of Philadelphia, sold it for a consideration
of $8,000. On November 27, 1897, Mrs. Patrick Finn, the present owner,
received a deed for the property from James Kuntz, Jr., and R. C. McCon-
nell, executors of the last will and testament of James Kuntz, Sr.


994












CHAPTER X.CVIII.


                             MILITIA.

MILITIA OF 1784-COUNTY LIEUTENANTS-OUTRAGE ON THE CHESA-
    PEAKE FRIGATE, 1807-JULY 4TH CELEBRATION IN WASHINGTON IN
    1810-EARLY MILITIA COMPANIES--CLAYSVILLE BLUES-TEN MILE
    RANGERS-WILLIAMSPORT     RANGERS--WASHINGTON      BLUES-GEN-
    ERAL THOMAS PATTERSON-MILITIA COMPANIES BEFORE THE CIVIL
    WAR-THE TENTH PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD-COLONEL
    ALEXANDER L. HAWKINS-COMPANY A OF MONONGAHELA-COM-
    PANY H OF WASHINGTON-REORGANIZATION OF BOTH COMPANIES
    AFTER THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-COLONEL JAMES E. BARNETT
    -GENERAL    EDWARD    MARTIN- REORGANIZATION     AFTER    THE
    WORLD WAR.

    In early times, Washington County had several companies of militia
under the old law which went into effect in 1784. At that time, the militia
was in charge of a county lieutenant who had absolute power in all mil-
itary matters. This office of county lieutenant existed from 1776 to 1793.
   James Marshel received the appointment April 2, 1781, but just how
long he served, the old records do not show. The following were the
sub-lieutenants under Colonel Marshel: John Canon, April 2, 1781;
Daniel Leet, resigned March 30, 1782, succeeded by James Allison; Wil-
liam McCleary, December 24, 1781; George Vallandigham, December 24,
1781; Matthew Ritchie, December 24, 1781; William Parker, December
24, 1781.
   These old time companies always held an Independence day celebra-
tion each year. Just how long this continued, is not known, but from the
old inspector reports, we find them as late as 1825, the first of which we
have a record was on July 4, 1810. The following report of that occasion
is taken from The Reporter:
   "This day the citizens of Washington and its vicinity, together with
the light infantry company, commanded by Capt. John McCluney, as-
sembled at his bower, agreeably to previous arrangements to celebrate
the anniversary of American Independence. Conceiving that the occasion
did not forbid, but rather invited a union, and reserving the exercise of
their several political principles for reasonable and necessary occasions,
the citizens generally attended without any distinction of party.
   "Alexander Reed was chosen president and Alexander Murdoch, Esq.,
vice-president.
   "All minor differences with regard to particular men or particular
measures, which too often and unnecessarily characterized the opinions
and proceedings of parties, and give to them an air of intolerance and
ungenerous asperity, appeared upon this occasion to be merged in one
common desire, that the best ways and means, should be pursued for
promoting and securing the independence, prosperity and happiness of
our country.
                               995





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    "Harmony, decent hilarity and good order prevailed throughout the
proceedings of the day-after drinking the following toasts, the company
dispersed at an early hour:
    1. The 4th of July, 1776, 6 cheers and 1 gun.
    2. The sages who proposed and the heroes who achieved our inde-
pendence, 6 cheers and 1 volley.
   3. The memory of the illustrious Washington, 1 gun, 1 volley, and
9 cheers.
   4. The federal compact, 16 cheers and 1 volley.
   5. The President of the United States, 1 gun and 6 cheers.
   6. The Senate and House of Representatives of the general govern-
ment, 6 cheers, 1 gun.
   7. The Judiciary, 6 cheers, 1 volley.
   8. The Militia, 1 gun, 1 volley, 9 cheers.
   9. The Navy, 1 gun, 6 cheers.
   10. Agriculture, Commerce, and Manufacturers; mutual supporters,
1 volley, 9 cheers.
  11. Foreign Affairs, 1 gun, 6 cheers.
  12. The State of Pennsylvania, 1 gun, 6 cheers.
  13. Party Spirit, 1 gun, 12 cheers.
  14. The Representative System of Government; our inestimable priv-
ilege, 1 volley, 6 cheers.
  15. Public Seminaries, 1 gun, 6 cheers.
  16. The Clergy, 1 volley, 6 cheers.
  17. The American Fair, 1 gun, 1 volley, 12 cheers.
  "By the President. The honest statesman who makes the constitu-
tion his grand land mark, and his country's good his polar star. One
volley, 6 cheers.
   "By the Vice-President.  American Independence.    May no true
American ever forget the day that hatched the American Eagle, nor
from a mistaken policy blush to revere it. One volley, 6 cheers."
   On January 1, 1793, the office of county lieutenant was merged with
that of Brigade Inspector, to which Absalom Baird was appointed on
that date. The old records show that on July 7, 1784, there were five
battalions of militia in the county. Each battalion was commanded by
a lieutenant colonel and a major and contained eight companies, with a
total of about 580 men, making approximately 3,000 militiamen in Wash-
ington County at that time.
   The outrage committed on the Chesapeake man-of-war brought forth
a storm of protest from the people of Washington County, who on July
8, 1807, held a public meeting with Colonel William McKennan as chair-
man and General John Morgan, secretary, both of whom were Revolu-
tionary veterans. A committee composed of Parker Campbell, General
John Morgan, Thomas Acheson, Edward Todd, and John Simenson, drew
up a resolution, reporting that the people of the county pledged them-
selves to support by every means in their power, all measures of defense
and retaliation against this outrage. The people at this meeting ten-
dered their services to the government in the event of war, and agreed
to go upon the first call.
   This matter would not quiet down, for we find that on February 10,


996





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1809, Colonel T. Acheson made a speech on the Chesapeake Frigate out-
rage to the Twenty-third Regiment of Washington County Militia.
   During the years before the Civil war, there were many local military
companies scattered throughout the county, all of which were organized
under the militia law of that time. Parades and celebrations were fre-
quent in those days and inspections were held quarterly.
   We find that in 1820, James Dunlap was the brigade inspector of
Washington County and House Bentley was brigadier general. The offi-
cers of this company were elected by popular vote of the men. In 1821,
we find that Robert Finley was brigadier general and Benjamin Ander-
son brigade inspector of First Brigade, Thirty-seventh Regiment, and
David Memicken was brigadier general and Daniel J. Wallace, brigade
inspector of the First Brigade, Ninth Division. There were many oth-
ers, the records of which we do not have.
   It is interesting to note at this time that there were in Washington
County in excess of 3,000 militiamen at that time.
   These old-time companies were given local names, among which we
have the Claysville Blues, organized under Captain Rider in 1838. This
company was in existence for a number of years and on July 4, 1885, the
survivors of this first company of 1838, were the honor guests at the
Independence Day celebration held at that time.
   The second captain of this company was Charles Cracraft and the
third and last was James S. Anderson. Members of the original com-
pany who were present at that celebration were Captain James S. Ander-
son, Ensign John Horn, Privates A. A. Mealy, John Cane, D. B. Winters,
T. S. Erwin, John Birch, John Brownlee, William Rhodes, T. L. Ander-
son, John A. Criswell, and M. L. Stillwagon.
   Among those early companies were the Ten Mile Rangers and the
Williamsport Rangers, both of which saw active service in the War of
1812. The Washington Blues and Columbia Riflemen were the names of
two companies from Washington, the first of which might be said to be
the beginning of Company H, Tenth Regiment.
   In Washington 100 years ago, there was an artillery company known
as Squire's Artillery. Little is known of this company today and the
only fact we are certain of is that it took part in the celebration given
when General Lafayette passed through the town in 1825.
   One of the best known militia officers of that time, was Gen. Thomas
Patterson, of Patterson's Mills. General Patterson had command of the
militia during the War of 1812 and answered at least one call, but there
is no record of him having seen any service against the British.
   Just before the Civil war, we find a number of companies scattered
about over the county. These all volunteered when the war broke out
and entered the service in various regiments. Among these, we might
mention old Company G, Twelfth Regiment of Monongahela city, the
second company to answer President Lincoln's call for volunteers in
April, 1861. Another was the Jefferson Light Guards and Body Infantry,
of Canonsburg. The Ten Mile Greys, the Ellsworth Cadets, the Lafay-
ette Guards, the Union Guards, and Washington Guards, were the names
of several companies of infantry.
   We also have in the cavalry, the Washington Cavalry company, Win-


997





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


field Huzzars, afterwards the Keystone Cavalry; Beallsville Cavalry, Inde-
pendent Cavalry, Patton Cavalry, Lafayette Cavalry and the Canon Cav-
alry, which composed the famous Ringgold Battalion of Civil war fame.
   The Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry was organized in 1873 as the
National Guards of Pennsylvania, with Col. John A. Black, of Claysville,
as first commander, which office he held until November, 1878, when he
resigned and was succeeded by Col. Alexander L. Hawkins, of Washington,
who served continuously until his death, July 18, 1899, on board the
United States transport "Senator" while returning from the Philippine
Islands. He was formally commissioned February 27, 1879, with the
rank of colonel and on May 11, 1898, he was mustered into the service
of the United States with the same rank.
   Colonel Hawkins had served in the Union army during the Civil war,
enlisting as a private in Company K, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry,
while a student of Waynesburg College, and he was mustered out of the
service with the rank of captain.
   When the National Guards was organized in 1873, he was made cap-
tain of Company H, located at Washington. Two companies of this reg-
iment, A and H, were located in Washington County, from the beginning
down to the present time. The headquarters of A were in Monongahela
and H in Washington.
   Company A was originally known as Light Guards and Company H
as Washington Guards. Under the old military system, this Company
A of Monongahela dated back to the days before the Civil war when it
had entered the service as Company G, Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteers,
and was the second company to leave Washington County. In 1869, it
was organized as the Hazzard Zouaves, and in 1873, as the Light Guards,
being changed to Company A, Tenth Regiment, the same year.
   J. DeV. Hazzard, the first captain, resigned in 1878, having been
elected lieutenant-colonel of the regiment. At the time of the Spanish-
American war, the company was commanded by Gustav Schaaf.
   On August 11, 1871, the Washington Blues was organized but the
name was later changed to the Washington Guards and this became Com-
pany H, when the Tenth was organized in 1873. Of the original Company
H, there is only one surviving member, James S. Harter, of North Main
Street, Washington, a veteran of the Civil war, who is now eighty-seven
years old.
   The following are the captains of Company A, prior to the Spanish-
American war: J. DeV. Hazzard, 1869-78; Alexander McL. Walker,
1878-81; John Bowman, 1881-83; Joseph Taylor Armstrong, 1884-1889;
Ellsworth C. Westcoat, 1889-1893; Gustav Schaaf, 1893 to December 11,
1899.
   Captains of Company H, prior to the Spanish-American war were:
James T. Kirk, July 1, 1871, to June 23, 1873; Seldon L. Wilson, August
23, 1873, to September 10, 1875, when he was promoted to major; Mat-
thew P. Linn, November 25, 1875, to November 25, 1876; Alexander Haw-
kins, January 1, 1877, to February 27, 1879, when he was promoted to
colonel of the regiment; Seldon L. Wilson, December 20, 1879, with rank
from August 23, 1873, to September 13, 1880, when promoted to major;
George W. Thompson, December 30, 1880, to November 3, 1881; Harvey


998





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


J. Vankirk, January 6, 1882, to September 18, 1885; James Hazzlet, De-
cember 2, 1885, to 1887, when he was promoted to Second Brigade; Wil-
liam J. Mowry, May 7, 1887, to October 7, 1890, when promoted to major;
James E. Barnett, December 3, 1890, to October 12, 1893, when promoted
to major; Alonzo M. Porter, December 4, 1893, to December 3, 1898, re-
elected March 2, 1900.
   The following regimental commanders from     Washington County
prior to the Spanish-American war: Col. Alexander Hawkins, February
27, 1879, to July 18, 1899; Lieut.-Col. James B. Streator, August 8, 1887,
to 1897; James E. Barnett, August 12, 1897, to June 1900. Majors: Sel-
don L. Wilson, September 10, 1875, to December 20, 1879, and September
13, 1880, to February 9, 1881; William V. Mowry, October 7, 1890, to
August 1, 1893; James E. Barnett, October 12, 1893, to August 12, 1897,
when he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Adjutants: G. Happer,
March 15, 1879, to September 28, 1880; John McIlvaine, October 1, 1880,
to June 19, 1882; James B. R. Streator, June 19, 1882, to August 8, 1887,
when promoted to lieutenant colonel; Sheldon B. Hayes, August 9, 1887,
to October 12, 1893; Harry B. Duncan, October 26, 1893, to April 28,
1899.
   During the labor strike in the coke fields in Westmoreland County on
April 18, 1871, the Tenth Regiment was called out and served for three
weeks. During the Homestead riots, July 18, 1872, the regiment was on
strike duty for a period of over one month and rendered efficient ser-
vice. This regiment was also an important factor in the settlement of
the Prosperity Railroad strike in July, 1877.
   During the Spanish-American war, a company of local militia was
organized under Capt. Hugh A. Rogers for home guard duty. The Wash-
ington unit was known as Company C of the Seventeenth Regiment, but
when Company H returned from the Philippines and was reorganized,
Company C was disbanded.
   Company H, Tenth Pennsylvania National Guard, was reorganized
under the state by Second Lieut. Blaine Aiken, who was the only commis-
sioned officer still in the National Guard. The company was mustered in
with sixty-six members in December, 1899, by Capt. Harry B. Duncan,
adjutant of the regiment. A. M. Porter, who had served through the
Philippines, was elected captain; Blaine Aiken, first lieutenant, and
James P. Braden, second lieutenant. Captain Porter later resigned, and
Lieutenant Aiken became a staff officer as captain and commissary. James
P. Braden was elected captain to succeed Porter, with George C. Barr as
first lieutenant, and William J. Dulaney, second lieutenant. George C.
Barr succeeded James P. Braden as captain. Next came W. J. Dulaney
as captain, who served until his death in the fall of 1911. John Aiken
was then elected captain and served continuously until the close of the
World war, when he was made lieutenant colonel of the Tenth regiment,
then known as the One Hundred and Tenth Infantry. With the promo-
tion of Col. Edward Martin to brigadier general of the Fifty-fifth In-
fantry Brigade, Capt. John Aiken was made colonel of the regiment, and
the regimental headquarters were moved back to Washington for the first
time since the resignation of Col. James E. Barnett, several years fol-
lowing the Spanish-American war.


999





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   James E. Barnett, of Washington, who served through the Philippines
as lieutenant-colonel of the Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry, was elected
colonel of the command after its reorganization in 1899, which position
he held for several years.
   After the return of the command from France in 1919, another reor-
ganization took place, and enlistments were received in November, 1919.
Capt. Raymond E. Goodridge, who had enlisted as a private when Com-
pany H served on the Mexican border in 1916, was elected captain. Cap-
tain Goodridge was commissioned first lieutenant for gallantry in action,
while the regiment was overseas. As first lieutenant Captain Goodridge
brought the old company back to Washington from Camp Dix, New Jer-
sey, in June, 1919.
   Col. John Aiken, commander of the One Hundred and Tenth Infantry,
enlisted in Company H as a private in 1900, serving until 1902, when his
enlistment expired. He was appointed regimental adjutant January,
1907, and remained until Col. James E. Barnett retired in June, 1907.
In 1909 he was elected first lieutenant of Company H and promoted to
captain in 1912. In October, 1918, while serving in France, he was
commissioned major, and on February 17, 1919, lieutenant-colonel, serv-
ing with the One Hundred and Tenth in the Army of Occupation until it
started for home. He was in command of the regiment at the final mus-
ter at Camp Dix in 1919. On November 10, 1919, he was made lieuten-
ant, which position he held until August, 1919, when he was promoted
to colonel.
   Edward Martin, who was made colonel of the regiment upon its reor-
ganization, was promoted to brigadier general of the Fifty-fifth Division on
that date. Company H was made a machine gun company upon its reor-
ganization under Captain Goodridge in November, 1919. When the regi-
ment's headquarters were moved to Washington by Col. Edward Martin,
the First Battalion Headquarters company was organized in Washington,
with Lieut. John C. Judson as commander.
   In 1922, Capt. Barton De Graff, of the regular army, was assigned to
the One Hundred and Tenth Infantry, with headquarters in Washington.
Captain De Graff remained here until 1925, when he was succeeded by
Capt. Nathaniel Callen, also of the regular army.
   Company A, of Monongahela, was commanded from 1908-10 by Capt.
John Hodgson; from 1910-18 by Capt. Edward Hartland, who took the
company to France; Capt. James Gee, brought the company back to Monon-
gahela after the World war and reorganized it in December, 1919; Captain
Gee remained in command until May, 1923, when he was promoted to the
First Battalion, One Hundred and Tenth Infantry. He was succeeded in
the command of Company A by First Lieut. Clarence DeVore, who is now
the commanding officer.
   After Company A returned from the Philippines it was reorganized in
1899 by Capt. Gustav Schaaf, who was retired in 1901, with the rank of
major. Captain Schaaf died May 6, 1925, aged seventy-one years.


1000










CHAPTER XCIX.


                          WAR OF 1812.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS-COMPANIES FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-
   WILLIAMSPORT RANGERS-WASHINGTON INFANTRY-COMPANIES OF
   CAPTAIN THOMAS PATTERSON, SAMUEL RANKIN, JOHN VANCE, ROB-
   ERT WITHROW    AND SHOUSE'S CAVALRY-TEN MILE RANGERS-
   SERVICES ON NIAGARA FRONTIER-COMPANIES OF CAPTAINS BEN-
   JAMIN ANDERSON, WILLIAM JOHNSTON AND JONATHAN GRABLE
   WITH GENERAL HARRISON IN OHIO-BUILD FORTS FERREE AND
   MEIGS-SERVICES OF OTHER WASHINGTON COUNTY COMPANIES-
   END OF WAR.

   As soon as the second war was declared with Great Britain, which is
known as the War of 1812, the militia of Washington County was pre-
pared for immediate action. Just how many men volunteered from Wash-
ington County it is impossible to find, but we know of several companies
from different parts of the county that saw active service under Gen.
William Henry Harrison at Ohio and on the Niagara frontier.
   William Sample, founder of The Reporter, volunteered and went out
as captain of the company from Washington and spent the terrible winter
of 1813 and 1814 at Black Rock, near Buffalo, New York.
   Other Washington County men were scattered throughout the
American army. Of these we have no record. In the latter part of the
summer of 1812, Captain Shouse's troop of horses from the Monongahela
section joined the Washington County Expeditionary Force and marched
as far as New Lisbon, Ohio, when it was decided that nothing could be
gained by going farther and they returned home.
   The Williamsport Rangers commanded by Captain James Warne held
themselves in readiness to march at an hour's notice. This company was
attached to the Fifty-third Regiment. Captain William Patterson led the
company of volunteers from the southern part of Washington County,
which went as far as Meadville, when it was consolidated with the Brad-
ford County volunteers under Colonel Piper. Capt. James Warne, of the
Williamsport Rangers, was made major of this regiment and William
Hunter became captain of the Rangers. The regiment marched to the
Monongahela River and remained on duty for six months near Buffalo,
when the men returned, the enlistments having expired.
   The most noted expedition in which Washington County men took
part during the War of 1812 was that under Gen. William Henry Harri-
son in Ohio, in 1813, during which time Fort Meigs was erected. In this
regiment was the cavalry troop of John Shouse. Gen. Richard Crooks of
East Bethlehem Township was commander of the brigade of Pennsyl-
vania militia during this campaign.
   Three companies of the First Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, which
took part in this campaign under General Harrison, against the British
in the Northwest in 1812-13, were from Washington County, and num-
                              1001





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


made civilization beyond the Mississippi possible, just as their fathers and
mothers before them had made it possible in the East.
    Of the daily life of those people; of their pleasures and dangers, of
 their joys and sorrows, we really know but little. It all comes down to us
 over a long space of years; written by one person and another, many
 truthful and many inaccurate, and by word of mouth from one generation
 to another. Of one thing we are certain, and that is that they really lived
 and loved and fought and died. We owe those pioneer men and women a
 debt we can never repay; and yet, in our daily rush and greed for wealth,
 we scarcely give them a thought; and many of them sleep in unknown
 and unmarked graves, begrudged of the space they take, for we have
 turned those ancient burial grounds into hog lots and playgrounds for the
 children.
    Such was the condition of affairs on the frontier of Washington County
in 1780 that the people sent an appeal to General Brodhead, the com-
mandant at Fort Pitt, for aid; but his forces were scarcely sufficient to
defend Fort Pitt in case of attack; Brodhead appealed to the Supreme
Executive Council of Pennsylvania for men and supplies. Then he pro-
posed to the settlers that they send an expedition into the very heart of
the Indian country in Ohio. He could little spare the troops from Fort Pitt,
but he decided to send a few if the people would supply the balance. This
plan he placed before Colonel Joseph Beelor, of Yohogania County; Colonel
John Evans, of Monongalia County; Colonel Archibald Lochry, of West-
moreland County, and Colonel David Shepherd, of Ohio County, all county
lieutenants of their respective counties. For some reason the expedition
never started, probably because the much needed powder, lead, and pro-
visions were not sent by the Supreme Executive Council.
   The first Indian raid in Washington County in 1780 was on a sugar
camp at the mouth of Reardon run, on Raccoon Creek. On the second
Sunday of March five men, three boys and three girls, members of the
Tucker and Turner families of Noblestown, and the Foulkes family of
northern Washington County went to the camp to gather sugar water.
There may have been others but there are no records of them. During
the morning a war party raided the camp, killing the five men and captur-
ing the six children, among whom were George Foulkes, aged eleven; his
sister, Elizabeth, aged nine, and Samuel Whitaker, aged eleven. William
Foulkes, aged eighteen, was among the killed. The old accounts state that
these children remained among the Indians for many years.
   During their captivity a romance developed between Samuel Whitaker
and Elizabeth Foulkes, and after their release, years later, they were
married. They settled on the Sandusky River, Ohio, and there they spent
the remainder of their lives in the land where their friendship had blos-
somed into love during their captivity.
   George Foulkes was held a prisoner for eleven years, and after his
return he immediately joined Captain Sam Brady's scouts. After the close
of the Indian wars he married Miss Catherine Ulery, who lived on Grant's
hill, near Fort Pitt. They settled on a farm on the Little Beaver River,
three miles from Darlington, Beaver County, where he died in 1840.
   The raid on Raccoon Creek was reported by General Brodhead to the





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


bered 183 officers and enlisted men. The First Regiment built Fort Ferree
and aided in the construction of Fort Meigs, both in Ohio. The Wash-
ington County companies of this regiment were as follows: Fourth Com-
pany, commanded by Capt. Benjamin Anderson, 68 men; Seventh Com-
pany, commanded by Capt. William Johnston, 55 men; Eighth Company,
commanded by Capt. Jonathan Grable, 60 men. The other five companies
of the regiment were from adjoining sections of Pennsylvania.
   The First Regiment, to which these companies were attached, was
commanded by Col. Joel Ferree, of Pittsburgh, and his men named the
fort that they built at Upper Sandusky in his honor. This regiment
mobilized at Dunlap's Plains near Pittsburgh and was mustered into the
service of the United States on October 2, 1812, for a term of six months.
   On October 19th it marched away to join General Harrison in pro-
posed operations against the British in the Northwest. The regiment ar-
rived at Upper Sandusky, 207 miles west of Pittsburgh, in the middle of
December. As they were ahead of General Harrison, they went into camp
to await his arrival from the south. As it was not known at what min-
ute either the British or their Indian allies might appear, it was deemed
advisable to construct a fortification as a refuge in case of an attack
while waiting for the arrival of Harrison. Accordingly, the men set to
work, and under the direction of their commander they built Fort Ferree,
near the frontier town of Upper Sandusky.
   Fort Ferree was located on a bluff about fifty yards northeast of
where the Wyandot County courthouse now stands. The fort was a
square stockade and enclosed about two acres. There were blockhouses
at the four corners, one of which was standing as late as 1850.
   On January 24, 1813, marching orders from Harrison were received
and the troops immediately set out to join him. On January 30th, when
they arrived at Portage River, they found him waiting for them with
General Perkins' brigade.
   Harrison then had about 1,800 men, and he intended to join General
Winchester, who was operating in Northern Ohio and Southern Michi-
gan. However, on January 31, news of the terrible massacre of the
American troops under Winchester at the River Raisin were received by
Harrison. He then proceeded as far as the Rapids of the Maumee River.
which he reached on February 2 and where he decided to go into quar-
ters for the remainder of the winter.
   He decided to construct a fort immediately and the troops were set
to work under the direction of Captain Woods, chief engineer of the army.
When completed, this fort was one of the strongest in the Northwest.
and it was the scene of some terrific fighting the following May, when it
was attacked by the combined British and Indian forces, under General
Proctor. It was named Fort Meigs, in honor of the governor of Ohio
at that time. This fort was 2,500 yards in circumference, and it was
picketed with timbers 15 feet long, 10 to 12 inches in diameter and sunk
three feet in the ground.
   Fort Meigs stood on the banks of the Maumee River, opposite the
present site of Maumee City, about eight miles above Toledo. The troops
from Washington County helped build this fort, and it is claimed that


1002





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


James Edgar, who is buried in the old graveyard at Cross Creek, felled
the first tree used in its construction.
    Soldiering in those days was far different from what it is today. In
fact, besides fighting, it consisted mainly of hard work and great hard-
ships. After leaving Fort Ferree, the men found that they could use
their horses for the transportation of their supplies and artillery for only
a short distance, for the ice was not thick enough on the streams to hold
up the horses. The men had to make horses of themselves, and they
dragged the heavy artillery and their supplies of ammunition, besides
carrying their own personal effects, nearly the entire distance from Up-
per Sandusky to the Rapids of the Maumee.
   Some of the boys who were in the Mexican war would have had cause
to think that they had undergone great hardships if they had had to live
on the rations that were issued to these troops from Western Pennsyl-
vania, who served their country in the Ohio wilderness during the second
war with England. The old records of that campaign show that a sol-
dier's daily rations consisted of 18 ounces of flour, 20 ounces of fresh
beef or pork, or 12 ounces if salted, and one gill of whisky. For every
100 men there were one and one-half pounds of candles, four pounds of
soap, one-half gallon of salt and one-half gallon of vinegar issued. The
old records show that the whisky was issued only from February 24 to
March 25, during the most severe weather.
   In addition to this, they were in a hostile country, surrounded by the
most terrible and cruel foes, the American Indians, and almost every
day, some luckless trooper was picked off by the warriors who ranged
the forests. Among the men who thus found an early grave in the west-
ern wilderness was Lieutenant Walker, of Beaver County, who was killed
and scalped three miles below Fort Meigs. Before the troops had been
very long at the Rapids, matters became so bad that the men did not dare
leave their camps except in large numbers; and then at any moment they
expected the British to swoop down upon them from the North. This is
not a very pleasant picture, but it shows the daily life of the soldier in
Ohio during the terrible winter of 1812-13, and the troops from West-
ern Pennsylvania bore their part nobly.
   On April 2, the term of enlistment of the First Pennsylvania Regi-
ment having expired, they started on the long march of 267 miles back
home.
   Colonel Ferree had been taken sick on February 22, but he refused to
give up, and during the remainder of the time he was at Fort Meigs, com-
manding his regiment. When the long march for Pittsburgh was com-
menced, he set out bravely at the head of his men, determined to take
them home, but on April 9 he died at Zanesville.
   The First Pennsylvania Regiment was mustered in with 35 officers
and 511 men, but when it was mustered out at Fort Meigs there were
only 30 officers and 352 men, all of the others either being absent with
leave or sick. Several of them afterwards died as a result of the expos-
ures of that terrible winter campaign in the wilderness.
   The muster rolls of these companies have been published on several
different occasions and are found in the Pennsylvania archives; there-
fore, the list will not be given here.


1003





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Another Washington County company which came from the Cali-
fornia section was commanded by Captain Robert Kerr. For some rea-
son, the existence of this company has never been recorded in any pre-
vious county history. Just what part it took in the war is not known, but
the fact that it actually did exist is shown from the old muster roll, now
in the possession of I. N. Springer, of California. It contains the names
of sixty-one members of Captain Robert Kerr's company of the Ninety-
ninth Regiment of Militia.
   This ancient document came into Mr. Springer's possession from his
grandfather, John Gregg Springer, third sergeant of the company, whose
duty it was to list the members of the company. The names of many per-
sons prominent in that section of the county a century and more ago ap-
pear in the list, which follows:
   Captain, Robert Kerr; lieutenant, Irwin Moore; ensign, Andrew Kerr;
first sergeant, Robert Gregg; second sergeant, Lawrence Crow; third
sergeant, John Gregg Springer; fourth sergeant, Thomas Kerr; drum-
mer, Samuel Crawford; privates, Thomas Armstrong, James Aylis, An-
son Aylis, Joseph Brenton, Roye Baker, William Baker, John Bailey, Seth
Buffington, Thomas Bartin, Patrick Coil, Samples Clendonel, George
Crow, Jacob Crow, George Carney, John Duvall, Thomas Dowler, Bennet
Dowler, Jacob Duvall, Louis Duvall, Samuel Dixon, William Darse, James
Fimer, Henry Gregg, John Getman, William Gregg, Alexander Howe,
Neal Gillespie, Lawrence Huggins, Michel Harris, Dixon Jackman, John
Jackman, Robert Jackman, Thomas Jackman, Elis Johnson, William John-
son, Sr., Alexander Johnson, Simon Johnson, William Johnson, Jr., David
Johnson, James Johnson, James Kerr, James Lilley, Michael Manchey,
Isaac Mitchell, William Muchmath, John Millison, Adam Nixon, Samuel
Phillips, James Phillips, Joseph Robison, Reason Smith, David Summers,
Jacob Teaters, Joseph Woods.
   Neal Gillespie, who resided in a stone house on Pike run, a short dis-
tance above the present location of the power house of the Crescent Mine,
was the grandfather of James G. Blaine, one of Washington County's
most distinguished sons.
   Seth Buffington, a near neighbor of Neal Gillespie, lived at the Buff-
ington bridge over Pike Run, at the point where the Pittsburgh and
Brownsville Road crosses the stream. Both farms are on the east side
of the creek. A. J. Buffington, former county superintendent of schools
and a member of the Legislature from this county, a son of Seth Buffing-
ton, was born on this farm.
   The Kerr Chapel, in California, known as the Methodist Episcopal
Church, was named in honor of Captain Kerr,. of this company, when its
charter was granted. Many of the descendants of the members of this
company still reside in the eastern section of the county, in and around
California.
   The greatest excitement prevailed in Washington County when on
August 24, 1812, an express arrived with the news that a force of Brit-
ish and Indians estimated at about 5,000 had landed at the mouth of the
Yuron River and were marching on Cleveland, with the intention of com-
ing on to Pittsburgh. Immediately 1,000 men volunteered for service,
among which were the companies of Captain Buchanan, Captain Thomas,


1004





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Capt. Benjamin Anderson, Captain Shouse's cavalry and two other com-
panies of cavalry from the central and western parts of the county. These
men joined General Crooks at a rendezvous in Pittsburgh.
   In the Northwest a small battalion of 300 men was raised under Capt.
Thomas Patterson, Samuel Rankin and John Vance, and one small
mounted company under Capt. Robert Withrow. They marched to meet
the invading enemies. The rendezvous of this expedition was Florence
and when it marched away Captain Patterson was in command as colonel
and Captain Vance was acting as major. They crossed the Ohio River
at Georgetown and went as far as New Lisbon, but when they did not
meet the enemy they returned.
   The Ten Mile Rangers came from the southern part of Washington
County and on September 11, 1812, marched from Ten Mile Village to
join the expedition at Meadeville, which has already been mentioned.
The Rangers were led at that time by Capt. William Patterson. As late
as 1882 Joseph Miller, Sr., who served as first corporal, was still living
at Amwell Township, at the age of ninety-two years. Mr. Miller was one
of the last soldiers of the War of 1812 left in this county.
   The Rangers marched with the army from Meadeville to Black Rock,
near Buffalo, and on three different occasions the entire company vol-
unteered to make an assault on the British fortifications at Fort Erie op-
posite Black Rock. However, they were not accepted, and a force of
regulars crossed the river, captured the British guns and then retreated.
The next day the Rangers under General Smythe took part in an assault
upon the British which was not successful, and the Americans were driven
back across the river.
   The Rangers remained at Black Rock until the middle of the winter,
when they were granted a furlough and allowed to return home. On their
way back, they met Captain Sample with the Washington Company doing
provost duty at Buffalo Bridge. This was the last service performed by
the Ten Mile Rangers.
   This concludes the history of Washington County's part in the War of
1812 as far as can be learned. No man from this county was killed in
action or died of disease.
   In connection with the War of 1812 it is interesting to note that James
Ruple, a son of Gen. James B. Ruple, commander of Washington County
Militia during the War of 1812, was born June 3, 1812, and was still liv-
ing in Washington in 1895.
   The following item taken from the Review and Examiner for June 9,
1869, is of interest in connection with the soldiers of the War of 1812:
   "At a meeting of a portion of the surviving soldiers of the War of
1812, held at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on the 29th of March, 1869, the fol-
lowing resolution was passed, viz:
   "Resolved, that our fellow soldiers of the War of 1812, residing in the
several counties of the several states of the Union, be requested to call
public meetings, to be held on the 17th day of June next, to procure such
action as they deem proper to further our claims before Congress, and to
adopt such other means as they see fit to procure action by Congress.
   "In pursuance of the above resolution, the surviving soldiers of the
War of 1812, residing in Washington County, Pennsylvania, are re-


1005





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


quested to meet at the Valentine House, in Washington, on the 17th day
instant, at 11 o'clock, A. M., to take into consideration such action as they
think proper for the purpose of procuring from the government, in the
shape of pensions, such recognition of the services as they deserve.
                           "JOHN GRAYSON, SR., aged 85 years.
                           JAMES MCDERMOTT, aged 78 years.
                           JOHN RITTER, aged 74 years.
                           JOSEPH HENDERSON, aged 71 years.
   "Washington, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1869."




                          CHAPTER C.

          TEXAS REVOLUTION AND MEXICAN WAR.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO JOIN THE TEXAS ARMY-PUBLIC MEETING
   -COMPANY FORMED BY CAPTAIN THOMAS JEFFERSON MORGAN-
   ARRIVAL IN TEXAS-MEXICAN WAR-CALL TO ARMS-PUBLIC MEET-
   ING-WASHINGTON COUNTY MEN SERVED IN MEXICO-DEATH OF
   LIEUTENANT IRONS-BODY RETURNED TO WASHINGTON-FUNERAL
   OF LIEUTENANT IRONS-HENRY BROWN, THE ONLY LIVING PERSON
   WHO MARCHED IN THE FUNERAL PROCESSION.
   During the Texas Revolution of 1836, public meetings were held in
Washington County and a company of men known as Morgan Rifle Com-
pany commanded by Thomas Jefferson Morgan, went from this county
to help the Texans gain their independence from Mexico. This move-
ment in Washington County dates from a meeting held in Washington
on September 6, 1836, when an address written by Thomas Jefferson
Morgan, editor of "Our Country," was printed on handbills and not only
distributed throughout the county, but read at the meeting on this date.
There is only one of these handbills now known to be in existence, and
it is in possession of the Washington County Historical Society. We
quote it as follows:
   "To All Patriotic and Enterprising Men.

                       "Emigrants for Texas.
   "To Rendezvous at Washington, Pa., on 6th September, 1836.
   "The Descendants of the Revolutionary Heroes too well appreciate the
blessings of Freedom to fail in sympathizing with nations struggling for
Independence. Greece asserted her rights and the sons and daughters of
our happy republic vied with one another in sustaining the cause of lib-
erty upon the classic soil of Athens and of Sparta. Bleeding Poland
sought to disenthrall herself from the servile grasp of Russia's autocrat,
and whilst France and England calmly gazed upon the scene of slaughter,
permitting interest to subvert the heavenborn principles of justice and
humanity, the people of the United States were again found actively en-
gaged in contributing to the aid and succoring the cause of the chivalric
and patriotic Pole. The plains upon which Sobieski fought and Kosciuszko
bled are yet the haunts of the oppressor; but do not their exiled heroes,


1006





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


their matrons, and their virgins, supplicate at the throne of the Great
Eternal for the preservation of the liberties of our beloved Columbia?
   "Freedom's call once more summons us to action. Humanity beckons,
philanthropy beseeches, duty commands us to hasten to the rescue of our
fellow countrymen! Not to go beyond seas; not to rally around the stand-
ard of strangers in a distant land, but we are called upon by all that is
honorable, all that is sacred, all that is noble, to fly to the succor of our
fellow-citizens and avenge the slaughter of our butchered brethren.
   "The causes which produced the present Texan struggle for inde-
pendence are too familiar to the citizens of the United States to require
a recapitulation. Suffice it to say that the people of this country were
invited to colonize certain districts of land in the Republic of Mexico.
Our citizens were promised laws and a constitution similar to our own.
This invitation upon the part of the Mexican Government being accepted,
thousands of emigrants from the United States poured into Texas. The
Mexicans, becoming jealous of their rapidly increasing strength, sought
to circumscribe the energies of the Texans by the enaction of tyrannical
and unwarrantable laws, equally incompatible with liberty, justice, and
humanity. The Texans, upon demanding a redress of their grievances,
were treated with insult, and their commissioners cast into a dungeon.
But it is necessary to follow the course of events which have enkindled
the spark of freedom in the bosoms of the colonists, and lit the flame of
revolution upon the hills and plains of Texas. The damning treachery
and demoniac thirst for blood exhibited by Santa Anna and his coad-
jutors in deeds of hellish cruelty, are ample evidence of their utter des-
titution of all those qualifications, which should be the characteristics of
the governors of a free people.
   "The Texans are emphatically 'Blood of our blood and bone of our
bone;' they confidently cast their eyes to the United States for assistance
in their struggle for independence. Shall they be disappointed? Shall
the blood of Fannin, Travis, Bowie, Crockett, and a host of other martyrs
in the cause of freedom have been shed in vain? Look to yon fearful pile
upon which are stretched the yet struggling forms of those victims of
Mexican duplicity and worse than savage barbarity! See, the torch is
applied, and now the awful deafening shriek ensues. Anon, the curling
smoke ascends towards heaven, and bones and ashes are the sad rem-
nants of our countrymen! Who does not cry aloud for vengeance? Who
does not burn with impatience to chastise these Mexican bloodhounds?
If there be any one, let him eschew the appellation of American citizen!
Let him flee the land where liberty dwells, and seek a more congenial
asylum within the walls of Constantinople or St. Petersburg.
   "Countrymen! I know full well it is unnecessary to mention any other
inducement which is extended to volunteers than that of a desire to estab-
lish free and liberal principles upon the ruins of tyranny, fanaticism, and
bloodshed, but for the sake of information I shall subjoin.
    "The Terms upon which Volunteers Enter the Army of Texas.
    "1st. Each volunteer serving three months shall receive 320 acres
of land.
   "2nd. Each volunteer serving six months shall receive 640 acres of
land.


1007





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    "3rd. Each volunteer serving during the war and establishing him-
 self in the country, shall receive 2,110 acres of land if a single man, and
 if a married man, he shall receive 5,240 acres of land.
    "In addition to these munificent bounties in land, emigrants serving in
the army, both privates and officers, shall receive the same pay, rations,
and clothing allowed by the United States.
    "History does not furnish so wide and fertile a field for enterprise
 as ever having been presented to the view of any people. Those indi-
 viduals who have no other aim in this life than the mere accumulation
 of riches, where will they have so favorable an opportunity to realize
 their hopes as is now offered upon the plains of Texas? If wealth then
 be your sole desire, go to Texas, the fairest of a thousand lands.
    "Countrymen! well do I realize the motives which alone will impel
you to vigorous and speedy action. Well do I know that the men whom
I address, set a higher value upon one moment of virtuous liberty than
upon the massive piles of Persia's fabled treasure.
    "The undersigned has been authorized to recruit 280 volunteers, and
in accordance with this authority, I now call upon the freemen of West-
ern Pennsylvania, and of the surrounding districts of Ohio and Virginia,
and upon all patriots wherever may be their habitation to join me in my
undertaking. It is my desire that all volunteers should rendezvous at
Washington upon the 6th of September, or as speedily afterwards as
practicable. Each individual should be well supplied with necessary
clothing of a substantial character, particularly socks and shoes or boots
with heavy soles. No one need be under the least apprehension of danger
owing to the change of climate, the season of the year at which we shall
reach Texas will be peculiarly favorable to emigrants. Any further in-
formation upon the subject can be obtained by addressing the subscriber
(post paid) at this place.
   "Rally! fellow-countrymen, rally! Thousands of our citizens from the
south, and from the west are pouring into Texas, some of our greatest
and best men are to be found among the numbers; will you be backward
when the cause of Freedom is at hazard? No! I know you better! You
will prove true to your ancestors, true to yourselves, and true to pos-
terity! Come on, Come on! Liberty calls you to her standard, the spirits
of our departed heroes beckon you onward! Come on, come on! Riches,
honor, happiness, await you! On, on! The free of every clime will pour
forth to the god of battles their fervent supplications for your success,
and unborn millions will bless your memories!
                                           "T. JEFFERSON MORGAN.
   "Washington, Pa., August 18, 1836."
   The Morgan Rifle Company left Washington for Texas on September
19, with thirty men, and marched to Wheeling, where it was joined by
several others. The company then marched to Texas, going down the
Ohio River to Louisville, thence to New Orleans, and thence overland
to their destination, arriving just after the final battle of the war, when
General Houston decidedly defeated Santa Anna's Mexican hordes, in the
battle of San Jacinto. However, Captain Morgan was given a commis-
sion in the Texas army and served under General Houston for several


1008




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


years. The following is the list of men who went to Texas with this com-
pany in 1836:
    Officers-T. Jefferson Morgan, captain, Pennsylvania; John L. Gilder,
first lieutenant, Philadelphia; John W. Brown, second lieutenant, Upper
Canada.
   Non-Commissioned Officers-Harrison Gregg, first sergeant, Pennsyl-
vania; Lewis F. Shuster, second sergeant, France; Thomas Ralston, third
sergeant, Pennsylvania; Melancthon Locke, fourth sergeant, New York;
Isaac B. Noble, first corporal, New York; Wm. Richardson, second cor-
poral, Virginia; J. A. Henderson, third corporal, Pennsylvania; Jackson
Proctor, fourth corporal, Virginia.
   Privates-John Adams, Pennsylvania; J. W. Alexander, Kentucky;
W. Baker, Pennsylvania; H. Bundhart, Germany; George Barry, Pennsyl-
vania; John Breckle, Germany; Jacob Buchanan, Germany; J. H. Bauer,
France; John Blair, Tennessee; John Collier, Maryland; John Curtz, Ger-
many; Fred Drehler, Germany; Francis Glenner, New York; Chas. Gar-
ner, Germany; W. C. Haymond, Virginia; George Huff, Pennsylvania;
Theodore Hamar, France; Joseph Hiller, Germany; Joshua Hudson,
Pennsylvania; James Hamilton, Pennsylvania; George Hamilton, Penn-
sylvania; Fred Happel, Germany; J. Holt, Virginia; G. S. Haas, Ger-
many; Alexander Hunter, Pennsylvania; Chas. Johnston, New York; John
Kelsey, Louisiana; Peter Knole, Germany; Samuel Lint, Pennsylvania;
George Meyer, Germany; Henry Miller, Germany; Anthony Miller, Ger-
many; W. F. Nicholson, Pennsylvania; C. G. W. Naffee, New Jersey;
John Rahn, Switzerland; Egelbert Reihl, Germany; J. Sappington, Penn-
sylvania; David Stoelzle, Germany; Henry Smith, Germany; Lewis
Stuntzner, Pennsylvania; Thomas Sharpe, Pennsylvania; Louis Thiner,
Germany; R. M. Williams, Maryland; Anthony Weiss, France; Henry B.
Ward, Kentucky; David Wyand, New York; F. Walbold, Pennsylvania.
   June 21, 1837, Captain Thomas J. Morgan, promoted to the office of
brigadier general, with the rank and emolument of a major of cavalry.
   George W. Morgan, was promoted from second lieutenant to first
lieutenant of artillery.
   Washington County was represented in the Mexican war by a very
small number of soldiers, just how many there were, it is impossible to
find at this time but the following list has been compiled from several
different sources: Lieutenant Joseph Finley Irons, of Washington, of
First Regiment of Artillery; mortally wounded at the battle of Churu-
busco; Norton McGiffin, of Washington, who afterwards served with dis-
tinction in the Civil war and became lieutenant colonel; James Phillips,
James Mackey, Henry Woods, and Jack Lowrey, of Washington; Wilson
Black and Richard Sparks, of Monongahela; Henry Earnest, of Buffalo
Township; William McCall and John Barndollar, believed to have been
from Washington. James Armstrong, who was living in Washington and
was one of the editors of The Reporter at the time the Civil war broke
out, was also a veteran of the Mexican war, but whether he enlisted from
here or not we do not know.
   When the Civil war broke out Norton McGiffin went out as captain
of Company E, Twelfth Infantry, the first company. Later he became
lieutenant colonel of the Eighty-fifth Infantry. When he returned from
      64-V1


1009




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Mexico he brought a Mexican boy named Antonio Morales, with him, and
he spent the remainder of his life here, serving in the Union army during
the Civil war. A daughter still lives here. Colonel McGiffin died July 20,
1905.
   James Armstrong, of Washington, Mexican war veteran, was also a
member of Company E, Twelfth Infantry, and was elected captain when
McGiffin was promoted. James Armstrong afterwards went out as cap-
tain of Company A, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Infantry, and on Sep-
tember 10, 1861, was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the regiment.
   Both James L. Mackey and William McCall served in the Civil war.
McCall was in Company I, First Pennsylvania Cavalry.
   At least one other soldier from Washington County besides Lieutenant
Irons died in Mexico, and possibly two. James Phillips, a private in Com-
pany K, First United States Artillery, was killed at the battle of Puebla on
October 12, 1847. It is known that a man named Jack Lowrey from Wash-
ington County served in Mexico. The records show that John A. Lowrey,
of Company C, Second Regiment, died in the hospital at Perote, Mexico,
August 1, 1847. Whether this is the Washington County soldier is not
known. The location of the graves of these men is not known, but they
are both probably buried in Mexico, Phillips at Puebla and Lowrey at
Perote.
   Lieutenant Irons, Colonel McGiffin, William C. Wilson, James L.
Mackey, and William McCall are buried in the Washington Cemetery,
and John Barndollar in the old Lutheran graveyard at Washington, while
the grave of Henry Earnest is in the East Buffalo Presbyterian Ceme-
tery in Buffalo Township. Of these men, McGiffin, Mackey, and McCall
all served in the Civil war. Many of them were in the First Regiment
of Artillery. One sailed across the gulf from New Orleans to Vera Cruz
and under General Scott, marched to the City of Mexico and took part in
some of the fiercest battles of the war, among which were Churubusco
and Peubla.
   Theodore Slater, father of John Slater, one of the veterans of the
Mexican war, who settled in Washington after that conflict, is buried in
the Catholic Cemetery.
   An incident worthy of note at this time is the record of the Coleman
family of Canonsburg. Of the seven sons of James Coleman of Canons-
burg, two served in the Mexican war, and six in the Civil war. Three
grandsons of this man served in the Spanish-American war and one great-
grandson in the World war. His seven sons were born in Canonsburg,
and as they are natives of this county, we will give their war records.
   David Crockett Coleman, enlisted December 27, 1847, at Evansville,
Indiana, in the Fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry and served with that
regiment in the campaign from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico. During
the Civil war, he was lieutenant colonel of the Eighth Missouri Infantry.
   John P. Coleman was a student of Jefferson College and was nineteen
years of age when the Mexican war broke out. He joined his brother at
Evansville, Indiana, and enlisted in Company K, of the Fifth Indiana Vol-
unteer Infantry. He served under General Scott in the Mexican war
throughout the war and during the Civil war, he served with the Thir-
tieth Missouri Volunteer Infantry and the Fifth United States Infantry.
   During the Civil war, Samuel M. Coleman served as captain of the
Thirteenth Missouri Infantry.


1010





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Joseph C. Coleman was in the Ohio regiment, Francis J. Coleman served
in the Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves, and Addison A. Coleman in Company
G, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
    This, as far as we have been able to learn, completes the list of Wash-
ington County soldiers in the Mexican war.
    The men from Washington County who served in the Mexican war evi-
dently volunteered before any public action was taken by the citizens of
Washington, for no mention of their names is found in the newspaper
accounts of meetings held in Washington and other towns of the county.
In fact, public meetings were not held in Washington until after these men
are known to have been fighting in Mexico. In The Examiner for June 6,
1846, the following notice appears:

                              "To ARMS
   "Those who desire to volunteer their services and aid in the formation
of the six Regiments required of Pennsylvania, to defend the honor and
dignity of the nation, will meet at the 'Mansion House' on Tuesday evening
next at 8 o'clock.
   "It is hoped that the spirit of our forefathers will animate the young
and vigorous, and that their patriotism and love of country will compel
them to yield a hearty response to the call for volunteers."
   Just who issued the call is not known at the present time, but from the
results given in The Examiner for June 20, 1846, it is evident that the local
militia company was slow in volunteering to go to Mexico. In fact, it is
evident that the local company did not vote in favor of such a proposition,
although other companies in the county placed themselves on record as
wanting to join the American army then operating across the Rio Grande.
However, their services were never called upon and they did not go. As a
matter of history the results of the meeting, which is recorded in The
Examiner as noted above is quoted:

      "THE SPIRIT OF THE VOLUNTEERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
   "Since the requisition of Governor Shunk upon the patriotic volunteers
of Pennsylvania, movements have been made among those of Washington
County which have served to elicit the state of public feeling and the read-
iness of our citizen soldiery to obey the call of their country. Some of our
companies have done their duty, acted nobly, and have come up to the true
standard of men and American citizens. But, what shall we say of others?
We forbear.
   "Among the volunteers who have done themselves credit we are glad to
record the 'Washington County Guards' of Canonsburg, who number 115,
officers included, commanded by Capt. John M'Allister, and as gallant a set
of fellows as ever prepared to stand 'between their loved homes, and the
war's desolation.' Their roll was forwarded a few days since to the Gov-
ernor by Major Watson, and we presume it is now in the hands of His
Excellency. Let others do as they may, as for the Guards, they are ready
to be 'up and at them.'
   "On Tuesday last, the 'Buffaloe and Hopewell Artillerists' (under the
command of Capt. Robert McClay and formerly commanded by that vet-


1011





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


president of the Supreme Executive council under date of March 18th,
1780, as follows:
    "I am sorry to inform you that the savages have already begun their
hostilities. Last Sunday morning at a sugar camp upon Raccoon Creek
five men were killed and three lads and three girls taken prisoners."
    With practically no defense on the frontier, matters went from bad
to worse, and on April 27th, 1780, General Brodhead reported to Presi-
dent Reed of the Supreme Executive council that between forty and fifty
men, women and children had been killed or captured by Indians during
their raids since March 1st, in Yohogania (now Washington), Mononga-
lia, and Ohio counties.
   A woman and child were captured in June, 1780, by seven Indians in
a raid on Chartiers Creek. They were taken to Kuskuski, an Indian town
in Lawrence County, where Captain Sam Brady, who was returning with
three of his men from a scouting trip in Ohio, met them. The white men
had only two rounds of ammunition each, and they were greatly outnum-
bered, but without hesitating they attacked the savages, killing the leader
at the first fire. The others fled when they recognized Brady, and the
woman and child were taken to Fort Pitt. The records do not give their
names.
   Two versions are given of the killing of the Shearer and McCandless
brothers in the northern section of the county in the summer of 1780, and
as it is impossible to determine which is correct at this late date, both
are given here.
   According to the one story, Robert Shearer, Jr., and his brother, Hugh,
came from Lancaster County at an early date and settled in Robinson
Township. A short time later their father, Robert Shearer, Sr., crossed
the mountains and settled on land near his sons.
   Robert had brought his young wife, Elizabeth, and their two daughters,
Mary and Elizabeth, into the western wilderness, where they all lived
happily for a short time, during the summer of 1780. His daughter,
Mary, afterwards married Richard Johnston, and Elizabeth married
James Christy. Both settled on land near by, which was owned by their
descendants for many years.
   Robert Shearer, Jr., was killed by Indians during the summer of 1780
within two miles of Beelor's fort, and a short time later his brother, Hugh,
met a similar fate while at work in a cornfield with two sons of William
McCandless, another early settler in that region. All three were attacked
and killed.
   During this same summer Robert Shearer, Sr., was captured one Sun-
day morning before he left his cabin, and taken down the Ohio River to an
Indian village called Mehickon. After eleven weeks he made his escape,
and finally reached Fort Henry.
   The other account states that Hugh Shearer, or Sherrard, was the
father of the brothers just mentioned. According to this version, Hugh
Shearer, or Sherrard, settled about 1772 between Miller's run and Catfish
Camp. The next year his oldest son was married, and bought the right
to a tract of land on Raccoon Creek. While clearing the ground to make
a home for his young bride he was killed and scalped by Indians. This





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


eran officer and admirable disciplinarian, Gen. Wallace McWilliams) by a
unanimous vote, save two, authorized their officers to make a tender of their
services. Although this company does not reach the requisite number of
men, we have no doubt but that the complement will be made up. Such men
deserve the good will of their countrymen, and we care not how they may
be divided in political sentiment, they have shown themselves to be pos-
sessed of American hearts; they have, by this act, declared that no party
views shall alienate them from devotion to the best government upon which
the sun of heaven shines; they are determined that the character of a vol-
unteer shall never be disgraced by the 'Buffaloe and Hopewell Artillerists.'
Captain McClay is a manly fellow and his men are of the 'right stripe.'
Long life and prosperity to them.
   "Now, where are the 'Washington Independent Blues?' What was the
character of their vote on Saturday last? How many of them were mere
show soldiers, whose uniform, like the clown's spots and stripes, was for
some other purpose than to be looked at by men, women and children?
Some of them did more than this; some of them, and we would be glad if
we thought it proper to mention their names, did their duty with becom-
ing spirit. They will not be forgotten-on the approaching 4th of July
we suppose the usual Toast will be given with 'three times three'-'The
Washington Independent Blues. Their martial bearing and soldierly
appearance give full assurance that they will be ready to stand by their
country in the hour of danger.' This toast would be inappropriate as mat-
ters now stand, which we hope may be reversed.
   "Then, what was done by the company at the 'Forks?' They, also, took
a vote, and just ten of them, as we have been informed, voted that the
honor of the country ought to be sustained. Colonel Lee, our worthy brig-
ade inspector, was present and addressed the company in a manner alike
worthy of the men and the cause he espoused; but a majority of them who
listened turned a deaf ear to his patriotic appeals and declared that they
were not ready to serve a government under which they lived and by which
they are protected in all their fights. Could these men have reflected
upon what they were about to do? Certainly not.
   "Where, too, must we rank the 'Union Volunteers,' under the redoubt-
able Captain Vasbinder, of West Middletown, who read the Proclamation
of the Mexican president to his men for the purpose of convincing them
that this is an unholy war to the chief, who such wisdom displays. So great
a degree of ingenuity, leaving the patriotism of the thing out of view, ought
to be rewarded with a white feather. In justice, however, to some of them
composing the company, we must state that four voted for their country,
and several others afterwards expressed regret that they had not acted
likewise. If the time should arrive when the services of this corps are
required, we trust that they will follow the example of the individual
spoken of in the Scriptures, who verbally refused to do his Master's
will, but subsequently did it.
             " 'Oh, dear, oh, dear, I can't but grieve,
             For the good old days of Adam and Eve,
             When men fought battles in blood to the knee,
             And the Ladies never dreamed of Parades.'
   "We take no pleasure in publishing decisions of this kind in the pres-


1012





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ent crisis of our country; yet, we consider it our duty to do so in order
that the people may know upon whom they can rely when men's work
is to be done. It is a duty, we say, although a painful one, and we would
despise ourselves were we capable of shrinking from discharging it. We
have here referred to the actions of all the volunteers that acted so far
as we now remember, and should we have omitted noticing any who
ought to be mentioned, or should anything hereafter take place claiming
notice at our hands, we expect to be put in possession of the requisite
information. Our sole aim is to do justice."
   In The Examiner for June 27, 1846, is the following: "Such of our
volunteer companies as have failed to take the proper step in the present
crisis, may still do so, as the time for organization is lengthened.
                        General Orders No. 4
                      Adjutant General's Office
                                         Harrisburg, June 16, 1846.
   The informal offers of volunteer companies, battalions and regiments
have been very numerous, but under the Act of Congress, and the regu-
lations of the President, their services connot be accepted. The com-
panies must consist of sixty-four privates and thirteen officers, and musi-
cians. A battalion must consist of five companies, and a regiment of ten.
    Many companies have been tendered in conformity with the regu-
lations, and in order to afford sufficient time for others to complete their
organizations, and tender their services, the time designated in General
Orders No. 1, is hereby extended from the twenty-second instant until
Saturday, the eleventh day of July next.
                                               George W. Bowman
                                               Adjutant General"
   The old newspaper records show that out of the list of companies that
answered this call for volunteers, two were accepted from Washington
County. Both of these were from Canonsburg, one being known as the
Washington County Guards, commanded by Capt. John McAllister, and
the other was the Jefferson Grays, under Capt. William S. Callahan.
Captain McAllister, was the democratic candidate that year for com-
missioner of Washington County and Captain Callahan was the candidate
for sheriff on the same ticket. However, the war ended before these
troops were called into services.
   Lieut. Joseph Finley Irons, the first soldier from Washington to give
his life in the war with Mexico and the first from this section to die fight-
ing on a foreign land, was a native of this county. He was the son of
Major John Irons. He was a student at Washington College from 1833
to 1837 and he was very popular with both students and professors,
judging from the old newspaper accounts. While in college he was a
member of the Washington Literary Society. At the age of sixteen years,
he received an appointment to the West Point Military Academy, through
a personal application to President Andrew Jackson and he entered that
institution July 1, 1837. He graduated and received his commission as
second lietutenant July 1, 1841, and was assigned to the First Regiment
of Artillery. He was commissioned first lieutenant March 3, 1847.
    Just before hostilities broke out in 1846, he visited his friends and
 relatives in Washington for the last time, while on his way with important


1013





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


dispatches for the army in the Southwest, which was then preparing to
enter Mexico, and it is probable that the Washington County volunteers
who served in the Mexican war accompanied him.
    He is described as a brave officer, who won the highest praise from his
comrades. At the storming of Monterey, he was placed in command of a
battery occupying an important position, and for his efficiency and fear-
lessness on that occasion, General Worth honored him in his official dis-
patches with the statement that he had rendered himself conspicuous for
conduct and courage. General Worth stated further that "young Irons
can think under fire-he is every inch a soldier." Until he received his
death wound at the battle of Churubusco, Lieutenant Irons had taken
part in every engagement fought by the American army under General
Scott, with the exception of Buena Vista. At the time of his death, he
was serving as aide-de-camp to General Cadwallader.
   Lieutenant Irons was mortally wounded August 20, 1847, at Churu-
busco, and died in the City of Mexico on August 26, 1847. In his report
of this battle, General Winfield Scott, commander-in-chief of the American
army, spoke of him as "a young officer of great merit, and distinguished
in battles on several previous occasions."
                  "The persimmon is blushing now,
                  The paw-paw's fruit is red,
                  But he, the loved and manly one,
                  Lies low among the dead.
                  And bitter tears are falling
                  For the gallant and the gay,
                  Who now in death are sleeping
                  On the field of Monterey."
                                   -An Old Mexican War Song.
   The death and funeral of Lieutenant Irons may be compared to the
death of Colonel Hawkins and Private J. O. Cline, of the old Tenth Penn-
sylvania, who died on the other side of the world in the service of their
country, half a century later. The body of Lieutenant Irons was brought
back from Mexico by his comrades from Washington County. The re-
mains arrived in New Orleans by boat from Vera Cruz on January
28, 1848.
   A committee of arrangements for the funeral had been appointed as
follows: T. M. T. McKennan, Thomas Morgan, D. Moore, John Grayson,
John Ewing, J. S. Brady, and C. M. Reed. These men had been in corres-
pondence with General Worth regarding the time of the arrival of the body
of Lieutenant Irons, and the following letter was received early in the
year:
                               City of Mexico, November 18, 1847.
   Gentlemen:-Your communication of the 22d just received, is not the
only one that has reached me on a kindred and alike painful subject
during the war, so prolific in gallant deeds and glorious sacrifices. But
I can with truth add that, in no instance has the promptings of my heart
yielded a readier though sad compliance with the wishes of those who
honored the gallant soldier living, and seek to pay respect to his remains
and memory.
   Lieutenant Irons was not only my brave associate in other fields, but


1014




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


a cherished and highly appreciated friend, who by his past conduct had
illustrated promise and assurance of future distinction.
    He received his mortal wound at a critical moment in the severe
 conflict at Churubusco, in the full and entire performance of his duty,
 by the side of his gallant chief-General Cadwallader, also a citizen of
 your state, and one of our most intrepid Generals, who will cheerfully
 assist me in the execution of your wishes.
    By the next opportunity, probably in a few days, the remains of
 Lieutenant Irons, in due preparation and honor, will be forwarded to
 Vera Cruz thence to be sent to New Orleans, consigned to the Quarter
 Master at that place, who will be requested to notify the gentlemen first
 named on your committee and comply with his instructions as to the
 future disposition. Believe me, gentlemen,
                  Your obedient and obliged servant,
                                                   W. J. Worth.
    The body reached Pittsburgh near the last of February, having been
 brought from New Orleans by boat, and on Friday, Febuary 25,1848,
 it was brought from Pittsburgh over the old Pittsburgh Pike by the
 committee of arrangements. At the line between Washington and Alle-
 gheny counties, it was met by Captain Morgan's Cavalry company from
 Canonsburg, which accompanied it to that place. Before the procession
 entered the town, it was met by the Canonsburg Grays under Lieutenant
 Wolf, the faculty and students of Jefferson College, which was located
 at that place then, and a large number of citizens of Canonsburg. The
 body was taken to the home of Major John Irons, father of the dead
 soldier, where it remained during the night, and the next morning, it was
 brought to Washington.
   A funeral procession was formed on the Pittsburgh Pike, about where
Highland Avenue is now, under the direction of Col. James Ruple, as
chief marshal assisted by Maj. John H. Ewing and John Grayson, Jr., and
marched through the streets of the town. The order of procession was as
follows: Militia under command of Colonel Brice and Squire, consisting
of Captain Morgan's Cavalry, Captain Stockdale's Cavalry, Captain Mat-
thew's Cavalry, Captain Cracraft's Company, Claysville; Captain Ring-
land's Company, second Brigade; Captain Patterson's Company, second
Brigade; Captain William's Oregon Guards, Canonsburg Grays, Captain
McAllister; Canonsburg Blues, Captain Murray; Clergy and Physicians;
Orator and officiating Clergy; Pall Bearers, Hearse, Pall Bearers; Rel-
atives of the deceased; Washington Literary Society of Washington
College (as mourners) ; Faculty of Washington College; Trustees of Wash-
ington College; Judges of the Court and Members of the Bar; Independent
Order of Odd Fellows; Sons of Temperance; Citizens and Strangers.
   After marching through the streets of the town, the procession stopped
in front of the old courthouse that was razed in 1898, to make room for the
present structure, and Rev. William P. Aldrich offered prayer. Immedi-
ately following this, Dr. James King pronounced the eulogy. At the
close of this address, the Rev. Thomas Swaim pronounced the benediction.
The funeral procession then formed again and marched up Main Street
to Chestnut, and then to the old grave-yard on Spruce Alley, where the
body was interred.


1015





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    A monument was erected over the grave, which was surrounded by
 a stone coping. This was by public subscription. Later the body of
 Lieutenant Irons was removed to the Washington cemetery, where it still
 rests, the original headstone marking the grave. The inscription on the
 monument is interesting and tells the story of Lieutenant Irons' heroic
 death.
    After the passing of nearly eighty years, there is still living in Wash-
 ington one person who took part in the funeral of Lieutenant Irons.
 That person is Henry Brown, aged ninety years, and he is the only living
 person who either saw the funeral or took part in it. Mr. Brown marched
 in the procession that day, seventy-nine years ago, as a member of the old
 Washington Blues Military company of that time.
    This was one of the greatest and largest military funerals that Wash-
ington had ever seen up to that time; and it was half a century later before
another that could equal it passed through our streets. Strange to say,
that was the funeral procession of Col. Alexander L. Hawkins, commander
of the Tenth Pennsylvania, during the Spanish-American war, who also
died in the service of his country in a foreign land; but of that we will
speak later.
   With the exception of Lieutenant Irons, James Phillips and John Low-
rey, all of the other Washington County soldiers who served in Mexico in
1847 and 1848 finally returned home after many adventures. The best
known of these in later years was Col. Norton McGiffin, a public official
of Washington County. As stated before, he was a private in Company
K, First United States Artillery. This company was the old Duquesne
Grays, of Pittsburgh, and besides McGiffin there were James Phillips and
James L Mackey, both of Washington County, known to have been in it.
This regiment was in the campaign under General Scott from Vera Cruz
to Mexico City, and took part in many of the desperate battles of the
war.
   The following is a complete list of the soldiers from Washington
County who served in the Mexican War and of Mexican War veterans
who afterward came to this section:
   Killed.-Lieut. Joseph Finley Irons, of Canonsburg, First United
States Artillery, aide-de-camp to General Cadwallader, mortally wounded
in the battle of Churubusco, Mexico, August 20, 1847; died in Mexico City,
August 26, 1847; body brought back to Washington, Pa., and buried in
old graveyard, Washington, Pa., February 26, 1848; transferred in later
years to Washington Cemetery.
   James Phillips, private in Company K, First United States Artillery;
mustered in at Pittsburgh, December 16, 1846; killed in action at the battle
of Puebla, Mexico, October 12, 1847; location of grave not known, prob-
ably at Puebla, Mexico.
   Died of Disease or Wounds.-John A Lowrey, private in Company C.
Second Regiment; mustered in at Pittsburgh, January 3, 1847; died in
hospital at Perote, Mexico, August 1, 1847. A man named Jack Lowrey
from Washington County is known to have served in Mexico, but it is
not known definitely whether this is the same or not.
   The following Washington County soldiers returned safely:


1016





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Norton McGiffin, of Washington, Pa.; private in Company K, First
United States Artillery; enrolled at Washington, Pa., December 8, 1846;
mustered in at Pittsburgh, December 16, 1846; discharged July 25, 1848;
served in Civil War; died at Washington, Pa., July 20, 1905, the last Mex-
ican War veteran left in Washington County; buried in Washington, Pa.,
Cemetery.
   James L. Mackey, of Washington, Pa.; private in Company K, First
United States Artillery; served in Civil War; died in Washington, Pa.,
September 25, 1901; buried in Washington, Pa., Cemetery.
   William C. Wilson, believed to have been a resident of Washington
County; First United States Artillery; died in Washington, Pa., October
21, 1891; buried in Washington, Pa., Cemetery.
   Wilson S. Black, of Monongahela city; private in Company I, Second
Regiment; mustered in at Pittsburgh, January 4, 1847; discharged at
Ilappa, Mexico, in May, 1847.
   Richard Sparks, of Monongahela city; nothing further known of him.
   Henry B. Woods, private in Company G, Second Regiment; mustered
in at Pittsburgh, January 2, 1847; discharged on surgeon's certificate of
ordinary disability at hospital at Ilappa, Mexico, June 1, 1847.
   John Barndollar, buried in old Lutheran graveyard, Washington, Pa.;
nothing further known of him.
   David Crockett Coleman, of Canonsburg; Fifth Indiana Volunteer In-
fantry; enlisted at Evansville, Ind., December 27, 1846; served as lieu-
tenant-colonel of Eighth Missouri Infantry in Civil War.
   John P. Coleman, of Canonsburg; private in Company K, Fifth Indiana
Volunteer Infantry; ran away from Jefferson College and enlisted at
Evansville, Ind., in December, 1846; served in Civil War.
   Henry Earnest, of Buffalo Township; buried in East Buffalo Presby-
terian graveyard; nothing further known of him.
   Veterans of Mexican War afterwards residents of Washington County:
   James Armstrong, first lieutenant of Company E, Second Regiment;
enrolled at Greensburg, Pa., December 24, 1846; mustered in at Pittsburgh,
January 1, 1847; mustered out at Pittsburgh, July 14, 1848; served in
Civil War; went out in Company E, Twelfth Regiment, the first to leave
Washington County, at which time he was a resident of Washington, Pa.;
afterwards lieutenant-colonel of Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer In-
fantry.
   Theodore Slater, command not known; died in Washington, Pa.; buried
in old Catholic Cemetery near Washington, Pa.
   William McCall, command not known; served during Civil War in
Company I, First Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry; died in Washington,
Pa., and buried in Washington Cemetery.

                 DEATH OF LIEUT.-COL. ROGER S. DIx.
   An interesting item of Washington County history in connection with
the Mexican War is the death of Lieut.-Col. Roger S. Dix, of the United
States Army, in the old Hill tavern at Hillsborough, now Scenery Hill, on
January 7, 1849. Colonel Dix had served with distinction in General Tay-
lor's army, and at the time of his death he was on his way back from


1017





1018          HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Mexico to join his wife and children in Baltimore. Leaving an Ohio River
steamboat at Wheeling, he started for Baltimore by stage coach, accom-
panied by his clerk, Mr. Goddard, and Major Anderson, also of the United
States Army. Colonel Dix was stricken with cholera while on the stage
coach, after it left Washington, and when it arrived at Scenery Hill he
was compelled to stop at the Hill tavern, then kept by Samuel Youman.
Dr. Joseph W. Alexander and Dr. Winston Rogers, of near Canonsburg,
were summoned, but nothing could be done to save the stricken man, and
he died that night, January 7, 1849. On account of the nature of the dis-
ease, Colonel Dix was buried the next day in the graveyard at Scenery
Hill, brief services being conducted at the grave by Major Anderson.
Colonel Dix was born at Boscawen, New Hampshire, June 7, 1810, a son
of Lieut.-Col. Timothy Dix, a soldier of the Revolution. He was the first
victim of cholera in western Pennsylvania during the epidemic of 1849.
His grave, marked by a plain headstone, may still be seen in the old ceme-
tery at Scenery Hill.









CHAPTER CI.


                        THE CIVIL WAR.
FIRST COMPANIES FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-JAMES B. KENNEDY,
    FIRST VOLUNTEER IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-COMPANIES E AND
    G, 12TH REGIMENT, LEAVE FOR THE FRONT-FIRST WASHINGTON
    COUNTY SOLDIER TO DIE IN THE WAR-HIS FUNERAL IN WASHING-
    TON-SURVIVORS OF COMPANY E--COMPANY K, 8TH RESERVES, THE
    NEXT TO GO-OTHER WASHINGTON        COUNTY   COMMANDS THAT
    SERVED IN THE WAR-HOME GUARDS-THREATENED INVASION OF
    PENNSYLVANIA-MORGAN'S RAID-THE DRAFT IN          WASHINGTON
    COUNTY-CAMPAIGN POSTER OF 1864-RECEIVING THE NEWS IN
    WASHINGTON IN 1864-THE CELEBRATION IN WASHINGTON AT THE
    CLOSE OF THE WAR-LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
    The scenes which the people of Washington County have experienced
and passed through during the World war just closed are similar to those
of the days of the Civil war, especially at the opening of that great con-
flict. The people of Washington County responded to President Lincoln's
calls for volunteers on many occasions, and many were the farewell cele-
brations extended to the soldiers when they left for the seat of the war;
and those celebrations of over half a century ago were very similar to
those which we extended to our boys when they left for the training
camps during the World war. When a company of soldiers left Wash-
ington during the Civil war, however, they paraded the streets to the
corner of North Main and Walnut streets, known among the older resi-
dents as the "Head of Town," and there boarded wagons for Pittsburgh.
   James B. Kennedy, a brother of P. G. Kennedy, borough tax collector,
was the first man in Washington County to volunteer for service in the
Civil war. When President Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 volunteers
on April 15, 1861, Mr. Kennedy immediately offered his services. This
was the beginning of Company E, twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteer In-
fantry, which was the first company to leave Washington at the outbreak
of the war. These soldiers enlisted for three months' service, and when
they returned most of them reenlisted, many of them in the one hun-
dredth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, known as the "Roundheads."
Mr. Kennedy was a member of Company A, one hundredth Regiment, and
served until discharged on account of wounds.
   From Washington, Company E, of the Twelfth Regiment answered
the call, and from Monongahela City went Company G, of the same Reg-
iment. Both were mustered into the service April 25, 1861. Company
G, was commanded by Capt. Robert F. Cooper; first Lieutenant, John S.
McBride; second Lieutenant, Jesse C. Taylor. There were eight non-
commissioned officers, two musicians and sixty-four privates. One of the
privates in the company was Joseph DeG. Hazzard, afterwards captain
of Company H, Tenth Pennsylvania National Guard.
   Norton McGiffin, the Mexican war veteran, was elected captain of
Company E. It was made up of three officers, ten non-commissioned
officers and eighty-four privates. When the company reached Pittsburgh,
                              1019





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Captain McGiffin was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the twelfth Regiment,
and James Armstrong, a local newspaper man, was elected Captain.
William F. Templeton, who afterwards enlisted in the Roundheads, and
was killed at the second battle of Bull Run, was the first lieutenant. The
local post of the Grand Army of the Republic is named in his honor.
Samuel F. Griffith, the second Lieutenant, was afterwards captain of the
provost guard in Pittsburgh during the war. The first Sergeant was
Oliver R. McNary, David Brady was second Sergeant; John Q. A. Boyd,
third Sergeant; David Acheson, fourth Lieutenant (killed in the battle
of Gettysburg while leading his company in a charge) ; John D. McKahan,
first Corporal; Henry Brown, second Corporal; Robert B. Elliott, third
Corporal; George B. Caldwell, fourth Corporal; William A. McCoy and
Simeon W. Lewis, musicians.
   The following are the privates, taken from the list published in the
Washington Review, April 25, 1861, and is probably the most authentic
list now to be found: John W. Acheson, Hugh P. Boon, W. E. Butz, James
Boardman, J. P. Charlton, J. Dye, R. B. Elliott, Hardman Gantz, William
Huston, Charles Hallam, William Hart, James P. Kennedy, Phillip B.
Koontz, S. W. Lewis, J. Linn, Jr., William M. Morrison, William McCoy,
T. L. Noble, Rollin O. Phillips, Samuel Potter, Robert M. Poland, Thomas
Ranklin, W. F. Robb, George W. Reed, R. M. Scott, James S. Stocking,
John R. Sweeney, Robert L. Thompson, Samuel M. Templeton, William
H. Underwood, Wesley Wolf, George J. Walker, John Loughman, J. W.
Hughes, W. T. Minor, Isaac Vance, John Haynes, James Barr, Caleb J.
McNulty, Joseph Lane, John Lawton, William T. Hamilton, David Shep-
pard, John A. Byers, Edwin P. Bausman, John B. Brobst, John L. Cook,
Henry M. Dougan, John L. Gettys, James Greer, Robert P. Hughes, Eli
Hess (dead), Andrew J. Hyde, J. Kerr, John Kendall, Matthew P. Linn,
Thomas H. Marshall, Taylor McFarland, John D. McKahan, Frank W. Orr,
George A. Perritt, Henry A. Purviance, Alexander Rankin, Samuel D.
Rickey (died of disease, July 21, 1861), John B. Ritner, Andrew J. Swart,
J. L. Sprigg, Alexander W. Scott, Joseph H. Templeton, Robert Thompson,
Alexander Wibley, Robert T. Wishart, Horace B. Durant, John Marshall
Griffith, Tertius A. Durant, Henry Erdman, Cephas D. Sharp, J. Kelly,
John McKeever, James Montford, Peter Blomney, Benjamin Oldenbaugh,
Alexander Hamilton.
   The only surviving members of this first company are Henry Brown,
living in Washington, at the age of ninety-eight years; Capt. C. J. McNully,
also living in Washington, at the age of eighty-six years; and Joseph H.
Templeton, living in Iowa at a very advanced age.
   This company left Washington April 20, 1861, and the scenes enacted
here that day were very similar to those which we saw when our boys
left for the World war. Like the farewell ceremony held when the first
contingent of twelve local soldiers left for the last war, the people of
Washington gave those first "Boys of '61" a farewell from the court-
house; but that was the old courthouse which was razed in 1898. Both
were proud and sad days in the history of Washington.
   On that day so long ago, when the "Washington Invincibles," as that
company was called locally, left in answer to the call to the colors, the
whole town turned out to honor them. All stores were closed until after


1020


































I 1


  Adam Wickerham, of Monongahela, the last sur-
vivor of the original company known as the Ring-
gold Cavalry battalion. This was the first cavalry
company mustered into the Federal service during
the Civil War. Photo taken during the reunion of
the Twenty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry
at Washington, September 11, 1922. Mr. Wickerham
died the next year, aged ninety-one years.





               HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                       95

account states that two other sons of Hugh Shearer were killed with the
McCandless brothers while they were all at work in a harvest field in
Robinson Township. Both the Shearer and McCandless brothers are
buried in the old Raccoon Church graveyard at Candor.
   In September, 1780, General Brodhead advised President Reed that
seven settlers had been either killed or captured by Delaware Indians in
a raid on Ten Mile Creek, Washington County. He also stated that he
did not have enough provisions in the fort to furnish a party to go in
pursuit of the hostiles. Another raid was made through this same region
that fall, but the whites were prepared, and no one was either killed or
captured.
   It was during the summer of 1780 that Alexander Burns, a settler in
what is now West Finley Township, was captured by Indians. Burns had
taken up a homestead, built a cabin, and was engaged in clearing the land
when he was captured by a small band of Indians. He was taken to their
village beyond the Ohio, where he was held for several years. Finally, he
either made his escape or was released; for he returned to this county
only to find that Phillip Sommers had taken possession of his unoccupied
land. When Burns explained the reason for his absence, Sommers gal-
lantly relinquished all claim, and the land was surveyed to Burns on
December 14th, 1784. He died on this same farm on January 12th, 1826,
at the age of eighty-seven years. He has many descendants still living in
that locality.
   James Beham was another pioneer who settled in what is now West
Finley Township at a very early date. One day his horses, which he had
turned out in the forest to graze, were captured by Indians. The sav-
ages removed the bells from the animals, and rang them to draw Beham's
two sons away from the house in search of the horses. On the banks of
a small stream, some distance from the house, the lads were suddenly
attacked by the Indians, tomahawked and scalped. The oldest boy sur-
vived the ordeal, and returned home with his bloody tale. The stream
where this occurred, a tributary of Robinson's fork of Wheeling Creek,
is known to this day as Beham's run.
   The news of this raid so frightened the Bennett family, who lived near
Behams, that they fled from their home, leaving an old lady to her fate.
When the other members of the family returned they found her dead in
bed, but history does not record-whether she was killed by the Indians or
not. She was buried in the woods close by, and the grave marked by a
pile of stones.
   Thus ended the disastrous year of 1780. Our frontier was really in a
defenseless condition. The boundary dispute was on between Pennsyl-
vania and Virginia, and what is now Washington and Greene counties
was claimed by both states. The feeling between the inhabitants was so
intense that a match was only needed to start a civil war. This feel-
ing had its effect on the militia, and it was badly disorganized. The
defense of the frontier was left to the few professional Indian fighters,
and had the Ohio tribes known the true state of affairs they could have
wiped out every settler west of the mountains with one well organized
campaign.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


they left. Business houses and private residences were decorated with flags
and shortly after daylight the sound of martial music filled the air. In a
short time everything was alive with preparation for the departure, and
shortly after breakfast the people began to assemble in the square in
front of the courthouse, just as they assembled on a similar occasion
fifty-six years later, when the sons and grandsons of many of those men
were leaving in answer to the call.
   At 8 o'clock in the morning the company formed and after a short
march along Main Street halted in front of the courthouse, where they
were presented with a beautiful silk flag on behalf of the ladies of Wash-
ington. Robert H. Koontz made the presentation and delivered the fare-
well address to this first contingent just as Judge J. A. McIlvaine delivered
the farewell address to that first contingent of the "Boys of '17" so many
years later. That address has been preserved in the old newspapers of
that day, and as it is not recorded in any county history it is given here
as a matter of record and history:
   "Citizen Soldiers:-The duty devolved upon me, as the representative
of your wives, mothers and sisters is inspiring, yet sad. Inspiring because
the occasion shows that the hearts of the most tenderly beloved beat in
unison with your own-and for the reason that the event tells in the un-
mistakable language of realized facts, that the holiest of ties are to be
sundered for a time, and that the cause of a common country demands in
its behalf the services of its devoted and loyal citizens.
   "It is not for those for whom I speak to charge the deadly breach to
speed on its errand, the death-diffusing shell from the brazen throat of
the terrible columbiad. No, no, but as high and as holy is the mission of
the gentle sex. Remember too, that 'thy people are her people, and thy
God her God.' Her life, her soul, her heart, is wrapped up in your destiny.
She feels the same throb of patriotism that animates your breast. The
past history of the country she enjoys with you as a common heritage;
the future she looks forward to with the same anxiety that now possesses
your bosoms. The grandmothers of many around me cheered the des-
ponding spirits of your grandfathers in the Revolution. Their devotion
and courage materially assisted them to build up that fabric of wisdom,
that benign government which has spread around us an atmosphere of
blessings that have entered into our hourly and daily lives, blessings and
privileges hardly appreciated, for they are as common as the very air we
inspire. That government, the wonder of the world, respected for its
power, beloved for its benignity, seeming to citizens throughout the length
and breadth of its almost limitless territory all that was to be coveted or
desired by man in his civil state that government and that country by
parricidal hands is now attacked in its temple. The house gods are
torn down and those who should have assisted to keep alive the vestal
flame upon the altar have turned away from their ministry that they
might strike from the hand of freedom the symbol of her might.
   "This morning, citizen soldiers, the ladies of our goodly borough have
left their firesides that they might place in your hands that same old
symbol, not yet degraded nor polluted, that in the hour of camp weariness
it may cheer you and in the scene of danger inspire you with new vigor.


1022





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Here, thank God, reverently and devoutly, it has friends who will stand,
march beneath its folds to the tune of Yankee Doodle. There is the old
standard in all its loveliness and in all its beauty. There you see its
'celestial white,' there, too, are its 'stars of glory.' It is the same old
flag that sent youthful blood bounding from your heart, and the sight
of it in maturer years dilated your bosoms and spoke from your whole
countenance. It was the flag of Washington. It cheered the drooping
energies of the thinly clad, half-frozen Continentals in mid-winter at
Valley Forge, it sent new hope and comfort to the bosoms of the worn-
out sentinel there as he tracked his weary round with the blood prints
from his shoeless feet. It waved over the same ragged band and lifted
up their hearts when they picked their dangerous way over the floating
ice of the Delaware to meet and vanquish the foe of the country, with
bullets melted from spoons by their mothers and wives. Oh, it is the same
radiant standard that was carried by our fathers through the seven long
years of the Revolution, and which waved at last in complete triumph at
Yorktown. It is heroically historic. It looks down upon us now with
the glowing traditions and associations of more than eighty years. That
stern patriot, Jackson, flaunted it in the face of Packenham at New
Orleans. As the glazed eye of the dying Lawrence caught its meteor
splendor on the bloody deck, his full heart forced through his almost
lifeless lips, the immortal words, 'Don't give up the ship.' The greatest
living hero of the age, the tried, the venerable, the great military captain,
whose heroism is only equaled by his love of country, who could I refer
to but General Scott, your commanding officer, carried it triumphantly
through two wars, and it is a consolation now to know that he yet keeps
step to the music of the Union. His heart still clings to its folds, and
our enemies will find that 'his eye is not yet dim, nor is his natural force
abated."
   This is the symbol of our Union, not divided and dissevered, but the
Union of thirty-four states. In the bond of Union there is strength.
Break it and vitality is gone. Under that bond, our flag would ever in-
crease in splendor. Whilst old England always rejoices in St. George,
France in her tri-color, Scotland in her Thistle, Ireland in her Shamrock,
and Turkey in her Crescent, advancing years and steady expansion have
added and will add new stars to our galaxy of constellations. This, then
is the parting gift of your lady friends to you, citizen soldiers. It is their
handiwork. I hand it to you consecrated with their prayers for your
safety and success. They commit it to you with confidence, and will
watch it with interest. It cannot, it must not, be stricken down. Our
hopes, our joys, our happiness, our lives, and liberties are represented
by that flag, and must stand with it, or fall with it. Fall with it, that is
impossible.
         "'Then up with our flag. Let it stream on the air,
             Tho' our fathers are cold in their graves,
           They had hands that could strike, they had souls that could
               dare.
             And their sons were not born to be slaves.


1023




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


          "'Up with the banner, where'er it may call,
              Our millions shall rally round.
           And a nation of freemen that moment shall fall
             When its stars shall be trailed on the ground.' "

    After the delivery of this presentation speech, H. A. Purviance, a
 member of the company, stepped forward and received the flag, and
 in a tone of deepest feeling delivered a touching response in behalf of
 the company.
    When this was over, the Rev. Dr. James I. Brownson, pastor of the
 First Presbyterian Church of Washington for a half a century and the
 father of Judge James I. Brownson, made the departing prayer, after
 which the troops were escorted to the corner of what is now North Main
 and Walnut streets, where they boarded wagons for Pittsburgh. These
 conveyances were provided by the citizens of the town. They reached
 Pittsburgh at 4 o'clock that afternoon.
    It is interesting to note in this connection that a small silk flag carried
 by a boy at the head of the procession that escorted the first "Boys of '61"
 through the streets of Washington, was used on a similar occasion fifty-
 six years later, when the first contingent of twelve of the "Boys of 1917,"
 left Washington for the war with Germany, on September 6, 1917.
    This company served during its term of enlistment, which was for
three months, in guarding the Northern Central Railroad between Balti-
more and Harrisburg, which was one of the main lines of communication
to Washington City.
    During this time the regiment was not engaged in battle, but two
deaths occurred among the boys from Washington. The first was that of
Samuel D. Rickey, who died of disease on July 20, 1861. Private Rickey
was a native of Claysville, but was attending Washington College when
the war broke out. The body was brought back here and on Wednesday,
July 24, was interred in the Washington cemetery. He was the first
soldier from Washington to die in the Civil war, but unlike Edwin S.
Linton, the first Washington soldier to give his life in the World war,
he was brought home for burial immediately.
   The funeral was held from the house of Mr. DeNormandie on East
Maiden Street, on the north side of that thoroughfare, just past the
corner of Lincoln. At 4 o'clock in the morning a special train left here
over the old Hempfield Railroad, now the Baltimore and Ohio, for Clays-
ville, and returned at 6 o'clock with the Anderson Guards and a number
of citizens from that town. They were met at the depot by the Wash-
ington Rifles and Acheson Guards, who escorted them uptown.
   The services were held in the afternoon and at 3 o'clock the funeral
procession, made up of the three military companies mentioned and the
citizens of the town, moved from Mr. DeNormandie's house along Maiden
Street to Main, and then up to the cemetery. This was the first military
funeral of any importance held in Washington since that of Lieutenant
Irons, thirteen years before.
   Norton McGiffin, who went from Washington as captain of the first
company, helped recruit the Eighty-fifth Regiment upon his return and


1024






















































    Memorial Day parade, Washington, 1891, passing Hotel Main. An old-time hack
and omnibus, drawn by four horses, are shown at each side.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was selected lieutenant-colonel of this command. Later he was invalided
home on account of illness contracted in the Mexican war.
   James Armstrong, who was elected captain of the first company when
McGiffin was made lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, was also a Mexican
war veteran. When he returned from the first enlistment in Company
E, he enlisted in the One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
known as the Roundheads, and was made lieutenant-colonel of the
regiment.
   When Company E returned from its service of three months the citi-
zens of Washington gave it a big "welcome home" celebration, similar
to that we gave our soldiers when they returned from the war with
Germany, but it was on a much smaller scale. There was great rejoicing
for the return of these boys, but few of them remained at home, as the
war had only commenced, and many of them enlisted in Company A,
One Hundredth Regiment, then being organized.
   Excitement ran high all over the county, and on May 25, 1861, at a
big union meeting held at Candor the militia companies known as the
Candor Guards, Mount Pleasant Rifle Rangers and the Hickory Guards
paraded.
   Company K, of the Eighth Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, was the next
to leave Washington at the beginning of the Civil war. It was the first
company to leave here that had enlisted for three years' service. This
company was mustered into the service of the Union on June 28, 1861,
and was mustered out May 24, 1864. It was the first three-year company
to return to Washington, and of the original ninety officers and enlisted
men, only twenty-four returned. The others were all either killed, were
in hospitals, or had been transferred.
   It is not known just how many soldiers served in the Union army
during the Civil war. A number of companies were organized in the
county and composed almost entirely of Washington County men, and
soldiers from this section were scattered through many other regiments.
   In addition to the men who went out in the volunteer service, there
were a number who at different times answered calls for militia, one of
which was during the threatened invasion of Pennsylvania in 1862, when
the Confederates were stopped at Antietam, Maryland. A safe estimate
would place the entire number of soldiers from Washington County at
about 3,000.
   The following are the various commands from this county from the
first call in April, 1861:
   Company E, Twelfth Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, was mustered
into service April 25, 1861, with Norton McGiffin as captain.
   Company G, Twelfth Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, was mustered
into service April 25, 1861, with Robert F. Cooper as captain.
   Company K, Thirty-seventh Regiment, Eighth Reserve Corps, com-
manded by Capt. Alexander Wishart, was called into service June 28,
1861, and mustered out the 24th of May, 1864. This company was en-
gaged in the following battles: Dranesville, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill.
New Market Cross Roads, Malvern Hill, Bull Run, South Mountain, An-
tietam, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania Courthouse, Gettys-
burg, Briscoe Station, Mine Run, North Anna and Bethesda Church.


1026





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    This company was called the "Hopkins Infantry" in honor of Capt.
William Hopkins, who was elected captain but was unable to serve.
   Company K, Tenth Reserve Corps (Jefferson Light Guards), was re-
cruited at Canonsburg and served under Charles W. McDaniel, captain.
This company was engaged in the battles at Dranesville, Mechanicsville,
Gaines' Mill, Charles City Cross Roads, Bull Run, South Mountain, Antie-
tam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Briscoe Station, Spottsylvania Court-
house and Bethesda Church.
   First Pennsylvania Cavalry, Forty-fourth Regiment, was composed of
Company I of Washington County and Company K of Washington and
Allegheny counties. They were mustered into the State service in August
and served under Capt. W. W. McNulty. They participated in the battles
of Dranesville, Harrisonburg, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, Gainesville,
Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Brandy Station, Aldie, Gettysburg, Shepherds-
town, Culpeper, Auburn, Mine Run, Todd's Tavern, Fortifications of
Richmond, Hawes' Shop, Cold Harbor, Trenham    Station, St. Mary's
Church, Beam's Station and Bellefield.
   Company D, Seventy-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, was
organized at Monongahela City, September 16, 1861, as the Mellenger
Guards, and served under Capt. John S. McBride until mustered out of
the service July 12, 1865.
   Eighty-fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, composed of Company
A (Union Guards), under Capt. H. J. Vankirk; Company B (Ellsworth
Cadets), under Capt. Morgan W. Zellars; Company C     (Independent
Blues), under Capt. James S. Treadwell; Company D (Lafayette Guards),
under Capt. William H. Horn, and Company E (Washington Guards),
under Capt. H. A. Purviance, was organized at Uniontown, October 16,
1861, and mustered out of the service November 22, 1864.
   One Hundredth Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, Volunteers, com-
posed of Companies A and M from Washington County, was organized
at Pittsburgh, August 31, 1861, and mustered out of service July 24,
1865. It was engaged in the following battles: Port Royal Ferry, S. C.,
Port Royal, S. C., James Island, S. C., Bull Run, Chantilly, South Moun-
tain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Blue
Springs, Campbell Station, Siege of Knoxville, Wilderness, Spottsylvania
Courthouse, North Anna River, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, Va. This
was the regiment commonly designated "The Round Head Regiment."
   One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, Infantry, Companies C (Brady
Artillery), D (Ten-Mile Infantry), E, G (Brown Infantry), and K, was
organized at Harrisburg in August, 1862, and was mustered out of service
May 28, 1865. This regiment participated in the engagements at Fred-
ericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Antietam, Kelly's Ford, Mine
Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Talopotonecy, Cold Harbor,
Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, Bristoe's Station, Popular
Spring Church and Boydton Road.
   Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment, Third Pennsyl-
vania Artillery, was organized October 8, 1862, and was mustered out
July 11, 1865.
   Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment, Fourteenth
Pennsylvania Cavalry, was organized by Capt. John J. Shutterly of Can-


1027





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


onsburg, and served in the battles at Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fisher's
Hill and Lynchburg.
   One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Drafted Mili-
tia Company, was drafted October 16, 1862, and served under John B.
Hays, captain, of Washington County.
   Company K, One Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment, Sixteenth Cavalry,
was organized under the command of Capt. R. W. Parkinson, October
25, 1862. It took part in the following engagements: Kelly's Ford, Mid-
dleburg, Ashby's Gap, Gettysburg, Shepherdstown, Sulphur Springs,
Bristoe's Station, Mine Run, Todd's Tavern, Hawes' Shop, Fortifications
of Richmond, Trevillian Station, St. Mary's Church, Deep Bottom, Ream's
Station, Boydton Road and Stony Creek.
   One Hundred and Eighty-fifth Regiment, Twenty-second Cavalry Regi-
ment, composed of Ringgold Cavalry commanded by Capt. John Keys,
organized February 25, 1864; Washington Cavalry Company, known as
Company B, mustered into service August 19, 1861, under Capt. A. J.
Greenfield; Winfield Hussars, afterwards called Keystone Cavalry, known
as Company C, under Capt. George T. Work; Company D (Beallsville
Cavalry), organized in Washington September 2, 1862, under Capt. H.
H. Young; Company E (Independent Cavalry), mustered into service
October 13, 1862; Company F (Patton Cavalry Company), mustered into
service October 14, 1862, under A. J. Barr, captain; Company G (Lafay-
ette Company), mustered into service October 23, 1862, under Capt.
Alexander V. Smith; and a company called McKennan Infantry, under
Lewis E. Smith, captain, organized in Washington County April 27, 1861.
This last company participated in the battles at Alleghany Mountain,
Huntersville, Monterey, McDowell, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, Kelly's
Ford, Waterloo Bridge, Gainesville, Sulphur Springs, Bull Run, Beverly,
Rocky Gap and Drop Mountain. It was mustered out of service July
28, 1864.
   Sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, was organized September 15,
1862, and Capt. James Armstrong elected colonel. Company A, under
Capt. Norton McGiffin, and Company F, under John H. Ewing, captain,
were both from Washington County.
   First Battalion, One Hundred Days' Artillery, Pennsylvania Volun-
teers, under command of Maj. Joseph M. Knapp, was organized in June,
1864, and mustered out the following September.
   Company A, Ninth Reserve, and Sixth Heavy Artillery, Two Hundred
and Twelfth Regiment, Company E, were two other companies with
which some Washington County men served.
   After the first company left Washington at the outbreak of the Civil
war, another composed of between sixty to seventy men was organized
on April 23, 1861, to take its place, on which date the following officers
were elected: Alexander Wishart, captain; S. S. Bulfort, first lieutenant;
Thomas Foster, second lieutenant. This was the company named Hop-
kins Infantry.
   Two companies of home guards were also organized. Company No. 1
was commanded by Dr. Alfred Creigh, captain; Joseph M. Spriggs, first
lieutenant, and Dr. R. W. Davis, second lieutenant. The officers of Com-


1028





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


pany No. 2 were Harvey J. VanKirk, captain; William F. Flemming, first
lieutenant, and William Fitzwilliams, second lieutenant.
   At the public meeting held in the courthouse April 23, 1861, at which
John H. Ewing acted as chairman, a committee composed of James W.
Kuntz, T. B. Bryson and Andrew Brady was appointed to secure arms
for the Home Guards. A. W. Acheson, Robert Dugan and John L. Gow
were appointed at the same time as a committee of safety to act with
a similar committee from the Home Guards.
   On April 20, 1861, "The Friends of the Country" met and appointed
the following committee of finance and vigilance: William Hopkins, C. M.
Reed, John L. Cook, E. J. Cundall, S. H. Werrich, Dr. Robert R. Reed;
Capt. Joseph VanKirk, Work Hughes, John Birch, James Hodgens, Gar-
breith Stewart, James W. Kuntz, William Smith, George S. Hart, Dr.
Thomas McKennan, Andrew Brady, Charles Grier, T. B. Bryson, J. W.
Lockhart, Joshua R. Wright and Alexander Wilson.
   An item of interest at this time is recorded on May 23, 1861, when
before court adjourned the entire bar and all officers of the court united
in taking the oath of allegiance to the United States. This was admin-
istered by Judge Slagle, Judge Gilmore having departed for home. All
present then united in singing the Star Spangled Banner, after which
court adjourned.
   The greatest excitement prevailed in Washington in June, 1863, by
the threatened invasion of Pennsylvania by Confederate troops. On
June 14, 1863, a message was received in Washington from General Hal-
leck advising of the threatened invasion. At 8 o'clock the next morn-
ing a meeting was held at the courthouse to prepare for defense. Col.
Norton McGiffin, Col. James T. Herd, Capt. Alexander Wishart and Capt.
H. J. VanKirk, all soldiers on furlough or sick leave, were appointed as
a committee to take measures to promote the immediate organization of
militia of the county for home protection.
   They called upon the citizens of the county to organize one or more
companies in each township. Arms and provisions were to be provided
each company upon its arrival in Washington.
   Shortly after this, Gen. John H. Morgan, the noted Confederate Gorilla
leader, started on his famous raid through Ohio, his objective point be-
ing Greensburg, Indiana. It was believed that General Morgan was go-
ing to strike at Pittsburgh and the report came to Washington that he
was coming up through West Virginia, then through Greene County to
Waynesburg and through Washington, and on to Pittsburgh.
   A large number of Washington citizens went to Waynesburg to help
the people of that community repel the invaders. Patrols and guards
were established over all of the roads from the south, but there was no
system to this and one party did not know where the others were located.
   One night a patrol of Washington men was advancing down a road
south of Waynesburg, when a band of horsemen suddenly appeared ahead
of them. Without waiting to investigate and find out whether they had
met friend or foe, the patrol wheeled their horses and dashed back through
Waynesburg, yelling at the top of their lungs: "Morgan is coming."
When they reached the town they did not stop to aid in the defense, but


1029





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


kept right on for home, and it is said that they never stopped until they
had arrived safely in Washington, one or two even starting for Canada.
   Of course, the alarm of the patrol caused a panic among the good
people of Waynesburg, all of whom took to the hills. When the truth
leaked out, it developed that the Washington patrol had seen a party of
men from Waynesburg, who had gone down the road earlier in the eve-
ning and who were returning. It was many a day before those Wash-
ington volunteers heard the last of "Morgan's raid on Waynesburg."
   On March 3, 1863, Congress passed the conscription or draft act, and
a call was then issued by the President for 300,000 men under this law.
Any community that so desired could pay a certain sum of about $200
or $300 per man to hire soldiers to fill its quota. The quota for Washing-
ton County under this call was 658, of which each township and borough
was to furnish men as follows: Allen, nine; Amwell, seventeen; Buffalo,
twenty; Beallsville, five; Cross Creek, thirteen; Cecil, twenty; Chartiers,
twenty-five; Carroll, fourteen; Canonsburg, five; Canton, eight; Clays-
ville, six; California, six; Donegal, twenty-eight; East Pike Run, eight;
East Finley, twenty-two; East Bethlehem, twenty-six; Fallowfield, eleven;
Franklin, twenty; Greenfield, five; Hanover, thirty-four; Hopewell,
twelve; Independence, eighteen; Jefferson, thirteen; Mount Pleasant,
twenty-three; Morris, sixteen; Monongahela City, eleven; Millsboro, four;
Nottingham, eleven; North Strabane, twenty-two; Peters, eleven; Rob-
inson, seventeen; Smith, twenty-four; Somerset, twenty-one; South Stra-
bane, eighteen; Union, eighteen; West Middletown, four; West Finley,
twenty; West Pike Run, fourteen; West Brownsville, three; West Bethle-
hem, thirty-eight; Washington, thirty-eight.
   By January 7, 1864, only two townships and one borough in Washing-
ton County had filled this quota. They were Canonsburg borough (seven),
paid a bounty of $300; Chartiers Township (twenty), paid a bounty of
$300; and Canton Township (five), paid $250 bounty. An effort was
made to raise enough money by South Strabane Township to fill its quota,
fourteen, by enlistment, but was not successful.
   Below we annex the quota of those townships and boroughs that had
not yet filled their quotas. As the draft had been postponed until the
15th inst., there was still time for at least some of them to raise the
means to make a liberal bounty, if they desired to escape the draft.
Hanover, twenty-five; Jefferson, fourteen; Cross Creek, sixteen; Smith,
seventeen; Robinson, twelve; Mount Pleasant, eighteen; Cecil, fourteen;
Hopewell, nine; Independence, seventeen; West Middletown, four; Buf-
falo, fourteen; Donegal, thirteen; Claysville, seven; West Finley, seven-
teen; Morris, twelve; Franklin, thirteen; South Strabane, fourteen; North
Strabane, thirteen; Nottingham, nine; Union, fourteen; Carroll, twenty-
two; Monongahela City, fourteen; Fallowfield, eight; Allen, six; East
Pike Run, nine; Greenfield, four; California, six; West Brownsville, four;
West Pike Run, ten; Beallsville, two; Somerset, eighteen; East Bethle-
hem, nineteen; West Bethlehem, twenty-seven; Millsboro, three; Amwell,
twenty; Peters, eleven; Washington, twenty-five.
   Beallsville afterwards filled its quota by sending two negroes. A large
majority of the men to volunteer in the townships named above to fill the


1030











































    Veterans of the Civil War marching in the centennial celebration parade
of the borough of Washington, October, 1910. Pat Bane, the Greene County
giant, is carrying the flag in the center. Mr. Bane was a member of the
Ringgold Cavalry and was the tallest man in the Union Army.


~d'










CHAPTER XVII.


                                1781.
     BRODHEAD'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE DELAWARES.

 INDIANS ON THE WAR PAT--CHURCHES COMPELLED TO DISCONTINUE
    SERVICES-BRODHEAD RECEIVED WARNING FROM FRIENDLY DELA-
    WARES-EXPEDITION PLANNED AGAINST COSHOCTON--EXPEDITION
    LEAVES FORT HENRY-COSHOCTON CAPTURE)--BRODIHEAD GOES TO
    NEWCOMER'S TOWN-RETURN TO FORT PITT.
            For the fires grow cold and the dances fail,
              And the songs, of their echoes die;
            And what have we left but the graves beneath,
              And above the waiting sky?
                                     -Song of the Ancient People.

    The settlers of Washington County felt secure from raiding parties
during the winter of 1780-81; for the Indians always retired to their
villages in Ohio when the snows swept over the land; but with the
first breath of the spring of 1781 the forest warriors were on the war
path. Almost before the snow had left the ground, General Brodhead
received reports of raids and murders committed by the Indians east of
the Ohio.
    The state of affairs was so bad early in the spring that many of the
pioneer churches of Washington County and other sections of the West-
ern Border were compelled to discontinue services, or the people had
to attend church in force heavily armed.
   General Brodhead's appeals for troops and supplies had brought no
response for the reason that none were to be had. All available troops
east of the mountains were then engaged against the British, and there
were not enough supplies for our soldiers on the Continental Line.
   Practically deserted and thrown on their own resources, the people of
Washington County and the western frontier were left to work out their
own salvation against a savage foe. Brodhead was a good military
leader, and he realized that the only thing that would save the Western
Border from the tomahawk and scalping knife was to send an expedition
into the very heart of the Indian country.
   In those days the Ohio River was the boundary between the white and
red man's lands. From the western shore of the river to the setting sun
was a dark, mysterious land, the home of the hostile Indian. Only such
men as Sam Brady, the Wetzels, Simon Kenton, and a few other profes-
sional Indian killers and hunters had dared penetrate its mystic depths
and knew its secrets. And the tales they brought back struck fear to
the boldest hearts.
   Coshocton, located on the site of the present town of the same name in
Coshocton County, inhabited by the Turtle clan of the Delawares, was the
principal village of the hostiles. This tribe had always professed friend-
ship for the Americans, but many a border murder had been charged





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


quota were negroes. The records show that only two whites left at
that time.
    The books of the provost marshal show that by March 5, 1864, the
 following townships had filled their quotas: Jefferson, eleven; Cross
 Creek, nineteen; Smith, thirteen; Robinson, nine; Mount Pleasant, nine-
 teen; Cecil, four; Independence, three; Canonsburg, one; West Finley,
 seven; Morris, sixteen; South Strabane, five; North Strabane, eight; Not-
 tingham, eight; Union, fifteen; Carroll, thirty-three; Monongahela City,
 thirteen; Fallowfield, five; Greenfield (Coal Center), six; California, two;
 West Brownsville, eight; Beallsville, two; Somerset, three; Hanover,
 seventeen; East Bethlehem, sixteen; Millsboro, four; Washington, twenty-
 three; Amwell, sixteen; Peters, seven; West Bethlehem, twenty.
    The entire quota for the county at that date was 295 and the time
 for bounties and volunteers was extended to April 1. The following town-
 ships had previously filled their quotas: Hopewell, West Middletown,
 Chartiers, Canton, Buffalo, Donegal, Claysville, East Finley, Franklin,
 Allen, East Pike Run and West Pike Run.
    On March 17, 1864, a vote was taken in Washington to pay a bounty
of $200 per man to fill its quota and 132 persons subscribed $11,400, in
amounts varying from $25 to $300 each. Several hundred other persons
subscribed $1,522.50 for a bounty in sums of from $2.00 to $20.00 each,
making a total of $12,922.50. This money was handled by V. Harding as
treasurer of the committee, and his report shows that fifty-seven volun-
teers were hired to fill Washington's quota at an average bounty, includ-
ing expenses, of $226.69 each, making a total of $12,921.50.
    An interesting relic of the campaign of 1864, when Gen. George B.
McClelland ran on the democratic ticket for President against Abraham
Lincoln, was found several years ago by Frank B. McKinley of Wash-
ington among some old papers and given by him to the author. This is
a poster which was printed in Washington and distributed throughout
the county as a campaign issue, which follows:
                         "A SOUTHERN PEACE!
                             DEMOCRATS !
             Be not deceived with the idea that the rebel
                  leaders will willingly consent to a
                       restoration of the Union.
   "In the Rebel Official Report of the interview between Jefferson Davis
and Messrs. Jaques and Gilmore, Davis dismissed them with the declara-
tion:-
   " 'That The Separation of The States was an accomplished fact; that
he had no authority to receive proposals for negotiation except by virtue
of his office as President of an Independent Confederacy; and On This
Basis Alone must proposals be made to him.'
   "In his last message to the Rebel Congress, Jefferson Davis, in speak-
ing of peace, describes:
   " 'The Only Peace Possible Between Us, a peace which, recognizing
the impassable gulf which now divides us, may leave the two people sep-
arately to recover from the injuries inflicted on both by the causeless war
now waged against us.'


1032





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   "In a Speech to the Legislature of Mississippi, December 25, 1862,
Jefferson Davis said:-
   "'After What Has Happened the last two years, my only wonder is,
that we consented to live so long a time in association with such miscre-
ants. Were it ever proposed to enter again into a Union with such a
people, I could no more consent to do it than to trust myself in a den of
thieves.'
   "Democrats! Are you prepared to legalize Secession, to recognize
the Independent Sovereignty of the States, and thus to perpetuate Revo-
lution and Civil Strife? If not, Vote for Lincoln and Johnson, and thus
secure the only sure Peace."
   The manner in which news was received in Washington during the
war is shown by the following interesting item taken from The Review,
for February 11, 1864:
   "News From Richmond-By a letter from Lieut. George T. Hammond,
now in Libby Prison, Richmond, we learn that And. Elliott, a young sol-
dier from this place, died in a hospital in Richmond on the 17th of Janu-
ary. James Bradley, William Jenkins, W. P. Hayner, and Samuel Hallam
are in the hospital. David Campbell, Frank Hasson and Daniel Ham-
mond, all of this place, are prisoners at Belle Island. Lieutenant Ham-
mond is in fine health, and reports liberal rations among all classes of
prisoners."
   These were all well known young men in Washington at that time.
Frank Hasson died only a few years ago at an advanced age.
   All soldiers from Washington County who served during the Civil
war were given a big "welcome home" demonstration in Washington
July 4, 1865. This was in the nature of a great festival and picnic, free
to all soldiers of the county or any other Union soldiers from other sec-
tions who might be present at that time. All citizens were invited to
attend and were charged a small sum of money, which was put into a
general fund.
   The invitation committee was composed of William McKennan, Alex-
ander W. Acheson, and William S. Moore.
   The committee of arrangements was composed of John Hall, V. Hard-
ing, William A. Mickey, James M. Byers, John McElroy, David Aiken,
James B. Ruple, Thomas Walker, William Kidd, George Kirk, Mrs. Wm.
McKennan, Mrs. John Gow, Mrs. Martha Morgan, Mrs. A. W. Acheson,
Mrs. Joshua Wright, Mrs. Alexander Murdoch, Miss Sara Sweeney, Miss
Jennie Baird and Mrs. E. L. Morgan. A sub-committee of three ladies
and three gentlemen was appointed in each ward of the borough and in
each of the surrounding townships to solicit funds.
   All returned soldiers met at the courthouse at 10 o'clock in the morn-
ing, where they formed in a procession under Maj. John H. Ewing, as
chief marshal. This parade was headed by the veterans of the War of
1812. It marched down Main Street to Chestnut, and then to Shirls
Grove, where an organization was effected at 11 o'clock by electing Colin
M. Reed chairman of the day.
   In this procession were 436 soldiers from Washington and vicinity and
118 from Monongahela and vicinity; while there were many from the
county who had not yet been mustered out.


1033





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   At Shirls Grove the following program was carried out: Opening
prayer by Rev. James I. Brownson, D. D.; Reading of the Declaration of
Independence, by H. J. Vankirk, Esq.; music; introductory speech, by
A. W. Acheson, Esq.; music; address by Rev. James Black; music; ad-
dress by Rev. J. W. Blane; music; benediction by Rev. J. S. Bracken;
music; repast served at 1:30 P. M.
   During the Civil war we did not have the Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A.,
the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army and other relief organiza-
tions that marked the World war, yet the people of Washington con-
tributed their money and supplies just as freely at that time as they did
during the recent war. However, the Washington County branch of the
United States Christian Commission, with headquarters in Washington,
was the Red Cross of the Civil war.
   This organization had its birth at a meeting held in the old court-
house on April 20, 1861. None of the county histories gives the details
of this meeting but from the files of the Washington Review we find that
the following officers were elected: President, Col. William Hopkins, of
Washington; vice-president, Colin M. Reed, Washington; John Freeman,
Franklin Township; John H. Ewing, Washington; Col. R. R. Miller, Char-
tiers Township; Dr. J. W. Alexander, Canonsburg; Col. Samuel Beatty,
Washington; John Stewart, Canton Township; Thomas McGiffin, Amwell
Township; Gen. W. S. Callahan, Chartiers Township; A. Wotring, Buffalo
Township; J. D. Roberts, West Bethlehem Township; William Workman,
South Strabane Township; John Grayson, Washington; Silas Parker, Am-
well Township; James G. Strean, Franklin Township; Thomas Puck, Tay-
lorstown; Samuel Kelly, Buffalo Township; John Birch, Claysville; John
B. Hanna, Hopewell Township; secretaries, Adam H. Ecker, Washington;
William Swan, Washington; William S. Moore, Washington.
   The churches were organized as receiving points, and during the war
the people of Washington County contributed through this organization
not less than $150,000. Large amounts were raised at festivals, fairs,
entertainments and social gatherings and children's societies. During the
first two years $38,000 was sent from this county to the Army Commis-
sion of Western Pennsylvania. This did not include large sums sent to
Philadelphia or hospital stores sent to the eastern and western armies.
Colin M. Reed was the local treasurer of this organization.
   The Ladies' Aid Society of Washington was organized during the early
months of the war. Mrs. Joseph Henderson was president and Mrs. John
L. Gow was treasurer. This organization sent large sums of money and
clothing to the soldiers at the front. The women of Washington County
knit over 3,000 pairs of woolen socks, which were in much demand for
the soldiers. The state paid 25 cents per pair, and this money was used
for the relief of the destitute families of soldiers in this county.
   After the close of the war the final report of the Ladies' Christian
Commission of Washington, dated June 28, 1865, shows the following
items:
   "Sent to U. S. Christian Commission for soldiers: Two boxes clothing,
two boxes canned fruit, two kegs pickles, one barrel potatoes.
   "Twenty-five dollars cash donations received since last report.
   "During the year (1865) the society has received $1,082.40, all of


1034





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


which was spent for hospital stores, except $157.40, and $100 of this
donated to monument for the soldiers and paid to C. M. Reed, treasurer
of said fund, and $57.40 donated for the improvement of the soldiers' lot
in the cemetery.
   "During 1865 the society sent eighty boxes of hospital stores, including
177 shirts, 160 pair drawers, 50 pair stockings, 58 pillows, 100 pillow
cases, 250 housewives, two comfort bags, 390 bottles wine and black-
berry cordial, etc."
   Mrs. William McKennan was the president of this organization, Miss
E. A. Templeton, vice-president; Mrs. John L. Gow, treasurer, and Mrs.
E. L. Moore, secretary.





                         CHAPTER CII.

                   SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

NEWS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE-CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS-
   TWO LOCAL COMPANIES ORGANIZED-TENTH REGIMENT ORDERED OUT
   -COMPANY H LEAVES WASHINGTON FOR MT. GRETNA-ORDERED TO
   THE PHILIPPINES-LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BARNETT RETURNS FOR
   MORE RECRUITS-SERVICES BEFORE MANILA-PHILIPPINE INSURREC-
   TION-JACOB O. CLINE AND GEORGE A. TAYLOR KILLED-WILLIAM M.
   BRADEN AND JAMES G. MONROE DIED OF DISEASE-FUNERAL OF
   JACOB O. CLINE-DEATH OF COLONEL HAWKINS-THE BODY REACHES
   WASHINGTON-RECEPTION OF THE TENTH IN PITTSBURGH-FUNERAL
   OF COLONEL HAWKINS-RECEPTION FOR COMPANIES A AND H-WASH-
   INGTON COUNTY SOLDIERS IN OTHER REGIMENTS.
   It is easy now to drift back in memory to those days in Washington
County in the spring of 1898 when, following the destruction of the bat-
tleship Maine in Havana Harbor, President McKinley called for volun-
teers for the war against Spain. Washington was the center of military
activities in the county, as this was the headquarters of the Tenth Penn-
sylvania Militia, this being the home of Col. Alexander L. Hawkins, the
commander. However, the scenes and events in the county seat during
those stirring days of April, 1898, following the declaration of war, were
duplicated in Monongahela City, the headquarters of Company A.
   This command was the outgrowth of an artillery company that existed
at Monongahela before the Civil war, which having only one gun, paraded
as infantry. When the Civil war broke out, it was the second from
Washington County to answer the call to arms, and was mustered into the
service April 25, 1861, as Company G, Twelfth Infantry, for three months
service, with Capt. Robert F. Cooper as commander. Later it became
known as Company D, of the 79th Pennsylvania infantry. In 1869, it was
reorganized as the Hazzard Zouaves; and when the Tenth Pennsylvania
militia was organized in 1873, it was first designated as the Light Guards
and later as Company A, with Capt. J. D. Hazzard as the commander,
he having been in command since 1869 and he remained as leader until
1878, when he was elected lieutenant colonel of the regiment.


1035





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The only casualties suffered by this company in the Spanish-American
war was during the battle of Malata when Corporal Harvey Funkhouser
and Private Arthur Johnston were wounded. After the capture of Manila
Companies A and B were sent under Maj. H. C. Cuthbertson to protect
the Convalescent Hospital on Corregidor Island.
   In 1898 Company A was commanded by Capt. Gustav Schaaf, who
died only last year in Donora, and under this officer, the command marched
away from Monongahela on April 27, 1898, and served under him through-
out the period it was in the Philippines. Lack of space forbids the pub-
lication of the rosters of either Company A or Company H, but they are
easily accessible in "Pennsylvania Volunteers," published by the state
after the close of the war, and in the "History of the 110th Infantry-
Pennsylvania," published after the close of the World war by the Asso-
ciation of the One Hundred Tenth Infantry.
   The scenes in Monongahela City during those days of April, 1898,
were practically identical with those in Washington, where Company H,
had its headquarters, and when both marched away on the first lap of
that 13,000 mile journey on April 27, it was amid the tears and brave
smiles, the waving of handkerchiefs and flags, the music of bands, and
the heartbreaks of those left behind. The streets of both towns were
lined with silent, grief-stricken people as the two commands marched
away to the railway stations and departed, a few never to return.
   As soon as the news reached the county that Congress had declared
war against Spain and that President McKinley had called for 125,000
volunteers, the greatest excitement prevailed, and all eyes turned towards
the Tenth Regiment, for everyone believed from the start that it would
be the first to go. The stirring days of the Civil war thirty-seven years
before, were recalled by the older inhabitants. Flags floated from the
buildings and every day crowds of people stood about the streets, dis-
cussing the situation.
   Washington was the headquarters for the Tenth, as Col. Alexander
L. Hawkins, the commander, resided here. The Company H armory was
located at the time in the old Natatorium on East Wheeling Street, in
the building now occupied by the Washington Buggy Company.
   Every day, Colonel Hawkins expected to receive orders for the regi-
ment to move to Mount Gretna. The armory was a busy place, for the
boys of Company H were eager to be off. There was a rush of appli-
cants and no trouble was experienced in securing the required number of
men. Guns were polished and oiled; all equipment was overhauled and
placed in readiness for war. The same condition of affairs prevailed in
all of the other eight towns in which companies of the Tenth were sta-
tioned, for Colonel Hawkins sent out orders for the captains to be ready
to go at a moment's notice.
   Finally, on Wednesday afternoon, April 26, Colonel Hawkins received
the telegram ordering him to report immediately with the regiment at
Mount Gretna. He had just left the armory and was driving up East
Wheeling Street to Main in a buggy when the author, then a Western
Union messenger boy, met him and handed him the telegram ordering
the Tenth to the front.
   During the few days preceding, many telegrams had been delivered


1036
































    Veterans of the Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry who served in the Phil-
ippines in 1898-99; taken at the reunion of the regiment in Washington, July 31, 1920.
Mrs. A. L. Hawkins, widow of Colonel Hawkins, commander of the regiment, is seen
in the center. At her right is her son, Frank B. Hawkins, who went out with the
regiment as first lieutenant of Company H, and is now a colonel in the regular army.
At her left is Col. James E. Barnett, lieutenant-colonel of the regiment in the Philip-
pines.


Company H Armory, Washington, Pa.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


to the colonel at the armory, and the messenger boy was well known to
the members of the company. Each time he came, the boys expected that
he would bring the message ordering them out, and when he stopped
Colonel Hawkins and delivered the telegram, the commander's son, Frank
B. Hawkins, first lieutenant of Company H, ran up the street from the
armory to learn the news, and when his father told him that the regiment
was ordered to report at once, ready to move to the front, he waved his
hand to his comrades, gathered in a group just outside the armory. A
mighty cheer greeted the signal, for the boys were anxious to be off to the
war.
   Thursday, April 27, 1898, is a day that will be long remembered by
the people of Washington and Monongahela City. Even those who re-
called the dark days of the Civil war over a third of a century before and
those of the later generation who passed through the exciting times of
the recent World war, saw no more thrilling scenes than took place in the
town on that day twenty-eight years ago.
   No person even dreamed just how near the United States was to a
great world war at that time, nor was the fact known for many years
later; but later developments have showed that this country at one time
during the conflict with Spain in the far East was on the brink of a war
with Germany, which might have developed into the world conflict which
began sixteen years later.
   The veterans of old Companies A and H today are the boys who
marched away in defense of the flag that April day in 1898. That was
before the great victory at Manila Bay of the American fleet. In fact,
few people had ever heard of George Dewey, and fewer still knew the
American war vessels were on their way across the Pacific to carry the
war for human freedom to the Orient. It was generally believed when
the Tenth regiment marched away to the front that its destination was
Cuba.
   The scenes that took place here in Washington that day twenty-eight
years ago are similar to those that were going on that same day in every
other town in Western Pennsylvania in which companies of the regiment
were stationed; for each local unit of soldiers was given a farewell that
day that will long be remembered.
   Company K, from Waynesburg, was ordered to join Company H, in
Washington as it has done each time since then when the regiment has
been called out. It arrived at the old Waynesburg and Washington sta-
tion, which has since been razed, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, where it
was met by Company H, and an escort of Civil war veterans, students,
the police, letter carriers, fraternal organizations and the Washington
Military band.
   The procession that formed and escorted the two companies to the
Chestnut Street Station was the most historic that had taken place in
Washington since the close of the Civil war thirty-three years before.
Headed by the police, the procession marched up Main Street to Chest-
nut and then down to the Chestnut Street Station. After the police came
the letter carriers; the Washington Military Band; William F. Temple-
ton Post, No. 120, G. A. R.; David Acheson Post, No. 557, G. A. R. (col-
ored); Company K, Tenth Regiment; Company H. Tenth Regiment;


1038





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Washington Company No. 62, U. R. K. of P.; Shakespeare Canton, No. 32,
Uniform Rank, I. O. O. F.; Trinity Hall cadets and 250 Washington and
Jefferson College students.
   In formation, it was not unlike the same parade that took place eigh-
teen years later when these two companies were escorted over that same
route when the Tenth Regiment was ordered to the Mexican border in
1916; but there were a few changes, David Acheson Post, G. A. R., had
long since passed out of existence, and Trinity Hall was no more. But
in their places were the soldier boys of Company H, then veterans of a
great war, who had been escorted over that same route in '98.
   It was a beautiful spring day in 1898, when these veterans who are
with us today marched away to war. In Washington and Monongahela
City, especially, the routes of the farewell parade, were beautifully decor-
ated with flags and bunting. The band played a medley of national airs
during the entire parade. The route was lined with thousands of people
and the boys were wildly cheered along the entire line of march. It was
such a day as the people of Washington had not seen since the fathers of
those same boys had marched away in defense of the Union when dark
war clouds hung over the nation many long years before; and many a
Civil war veteran recalled the soldier days of his youth, just as those
boys of '98 drifted back in memory nineteen years later to that time
when they had in their turn marched out to the defense of the nation, as
they escorted the lads of a later generation to the station as they went
out to the great World war.
   The postoffice employes of Washington carried two silk flags that day
in 1898, which had been used in a similar parade just 37 years before,
almost to the day, when Capt. Norton McGriffin, a Mexican war veteran,
on April 20, 1861, had marched away at the head of Company E, Twelfth
Pennsylvania Volunteers, to defend the Union. The flags were furnished
for that occasion by some member of the Baird family, probably by George
Baird, and they were carried by two boys named Isaac and Alexander
Mitchell. In 1898, they were in possession of Misses Jennie and Ellen
Baird, of East Wheeling Street, daughters of George Baird, and they
loaned them for the farewell parade to Company H. These flags are now
in the possession of Miss Ellen Baird, of 400 East Maiden Street.
   The boys of the Tenth were attired that day in the old blue heavy
marching uniform; and that was the last day that the "Boys in Blue"
ever marched away from Washington or any of the other towns in West-
ern Pennsylvania; for the old blue uniforms are now almost obsolete and
as much of a curiosity to the younger generation of today as the cumber-
some uniform of Mexican war days were to us twenty-eight years ago.
The old campaign hats, patterned after those of Civil war days, have
been replaced by the neater looking broad-brimmed hat of the present,
and even the style of the knapsacks and canteens have been changed,
while the old style .45 caliber, single-shot Springfield muskets that were
out-of-date even in 1898 are as much of a curiosity today as the old
muzzle-loaders of the Sixties.
   Just before the boys boarded the train at the Chestnut Street, Wash-
ington, station, good-byes were said to mothers and fathers, sisters, wives
and children, and sweethearts; and then they were off for the war.


1039





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   As Capt. A. M. Porter stepped on board the train, M. L. A. McCracken,
a Civil war veteran who just died last winter, handed him a purse of $303
a donation from the people of Washington to the boys of Company H;
and then the train pulled out of the station at exactly 6 o'clock; sped on
its way by the shouts of the multitude, the blowing of whistles, the waving
of flags and handkerchiefs, and the tears of women.
   The eight companies of the Tenth Regiment met at Pittsburgh and
Greensburg, and then proceeded to Mt. Gretna, arriving there on the morn-
ing of April 28. At that time, Company H was made up of two com-
missioned officers, eleven non-commissioned officers and forty-nine privates.
   Days of hard drilling and camp work followed the arrival at Mt. Gretna,
for there was much to do in order to fit these boys, fresh from offices and
factories, stores and college, none of whom had ever heard a hostile bullet;
but they were anxious to help "Remember the Maine," and in a short
time they were pronounced ready for the enemy.
   It was fully expected that the Tenth would be sent to Cuba, as the
eyes of the whole world turned on that island as the center of the coming
conflict; but Commodore George Dewey made a few unexpected changes.
The first news of his great victory at Manila Bay was flashed to the
world on the evening of May 1, Dewey had cut the cable, and details of
the great battle were meager for days. Rumors flew thick and fast, but
finally on May 8, the full report of the first great naval battle of modern
times was flashed to the world; and this news had a great bearing on the
destiny of the Tenth Pennsylvania.
   On the afternoon of May 3, the Tenth was reviewed by Governor Hast-
ings, after which the officers and enlisted men were asked if they wished
to volunteer in the service of the United States for the war against Spain.
It was carefully explained to them that they were at perfect liberty to
withdraw and that such action would not be considered unpatriotic. When
the roll was called, Companies A, B, H and I, volunteered to a man but
twenty-three dropped out of the other four companies. They all had
good reasons. Although they were not mustered into the United States
service until May 12, the boys considered themselves volunteers.
   Each company was immediately recruited to war strength of seventy-
five men and the captains of the various units returned to their home
towns to secure the additional men required. Captain Porter opened a
recruiting station in Washington and he was besieged by applicants. In
just about the time required to write down the names he had seventy-six
volunteers to fill the blanks where only twenty-one were needed. The
others begged to be taken to camp, but Captain Porter refused and on
the evening of May 9, he left Washington for Mt. Gretna with the follow-
ing volunteers: John McKennan, Harry Duffey, George B. McKeag, James
A. Seaman, James C. Bigger, James White, George C. Barr, Gifford L.
Dunkle, Howard L. Morrow, Watson Mobley, Chester Blayney, William
Reed, John Murray, Fred W. Brice, Joseph Brice, David Curran, D. Frank
Supler, William Leonard, Paul A. A. Core, Joseph Gamble and Charles
Phillips. The regiment was mustered into the United States service on
May 11 and 12.
   The story of how the Tenth came to be sent to the Philippines is
interesting. It is said that one night in headquarters at Mt. Gretna Colonel


1040




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Hawkins made the remark that he would like to take his command to the
islands. Lieutenant-Colonel Barnett told him that he believed it could be
arranged, and set the machinery in work which resulted in the final order
which selected the Tenth Pennsylvania as one of the three volunteer
regiments east of the Mississippi that composed that first expedition to
the far-away Spanish possessions in the Orient. The other two were the
First Tennessee Infantry and the Astor Battery in which Washington
was represented by George Bentle.
   Colonel Hawkins gave up hope of going to Manila when orders were
received on May 17, directing him to proceed with his regiment to Chicka-
mauga Park, Georgia, but on May 18, this was countermanded by another
order directing the Tenth to go to the Philippines as part of the army
of Maj.-Gen. Wesley Merritt. This expeditionary force, the first United
States army to be ordered outside the boundaries of the United States
since the Mexican war half a century before, was composed of nineteen
volunteer regiments, thirteen from the regular army, one engineering
corps, one hospital corps and one signal corps.
   On the evening of May 18, the Tenth Regiment left Mt. Gretna on
the long journey. When the sections of the train pulled into Harrisburg
that night, Governor Hastings and his wife met the regiment and shook
hands with each soldier, bidding them farewell and God-speed. The next
morning at old Union station in Pittsburgh the boys were met by thous-
ands of relatives and friends, all anxious to see them for the last time on
their way to war. On the journey across the continent, the command was
met at many cities and given great ovations, and when San Francisco was
reached on May 25, the people of that city outdid themselves in hospitality
to these eastern soldiers. They went to camp Merritt in the Richmond
district, where they were fully equipped and drilled.
      While at San Francisco, William E. Bunton, of Gonzales, Texas,
enlisted in Company E. He was killed in the battle of Malate on the
night of July 31. The money in his pockets at the time he was killed
was sent by government check to his mother at Gonzales. Lieut. William
B. Ritchie, of Company H, issued the check in exchange for this money,
which was covered with the dead soldier's life blood, and he still has it
in his possession.
    On the afternoon of June 14, the Tenth Regiment went on board the
 transport "Zealandia," and the next morning sailed through the Golden
 Gate on the last stage of their long journey. It was part of the second
 expedition to the Philippines, the other units being the First Colorado
 Infantry, one battalion of the Twenty-Third United States Infantry, one
 battalion of the Eighteenth United States Infantry, Batteries A and B,
 Utah Light Artillery, First Nebraska Infantry, and a detachment of
 engineers. This army was carried on a fleet of four transports, "China,"
 "Colon," "Senator," and "Zealandia."
    On the afternoon of June 24, the Hawaiian Islands were sighted by the
 "Zealandia," and just after dark it sailed into Honolulu Bay. The soldiers
 were entertained royally by the people of Honolulu during their short
 stop of one day, June 25, and all of the troops were invited to lunch in
 the Royal Gardens at the Palace grounds, where the Royal Hawaiian band
 entertained them with music during the meal. It was a long remembered
        66-V1


1041





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


against them, and this clan was regarded as a very disturbing element.
In the spring of 1781, General Brodhead was warned by some friendly
Delawares that the Turtle clan had voted during the winter to join the
western confederation of hostile tribes in Ohio. No doubt British influ-
ence had much to do with this.
    Brodhead decided to strike a blow that the Delawares would remember
 for many a day. Knowing that he could expect no help from the Supreme
 Executive council, in March, 1781, he called upon the county lieutenants
 of Washington and Westmoreland counties, Pennsylvania, and Ohio
 County, Virginia, for troops. Several Delawares from Coshocton were at
 Fort Pitt at the time, and they expressed friendship for the Americans;
 but Brodhead put them to the test by boldly ordering them to remain
 at the post.
    Westmoreland County furnished no troops. The only apparent reason
 for this is a quarrel between General Brodhead and Colonel Archibald
 Lochry, county lieutenant, which was on at that time.
    Fort Henry was selected as the rendezvous, and early in April General
 lrodhead left there with over three hundred men, about half of whom
 were volunteers, and the others from the garrison at Fort Pitt. The
 greater part of the volunteers were from the newly erected Washington
 County (which had not yet been organized), and the remainder were from
 Ohio County, in command of Colonel David Shepherd. The records do
 not state who led the Washington County men, but it must have been
 either Colonel Dorsey Pentecost, county lieutenant, or Colonel David
 Williamson.
    Crossing the Ohio at Fort Henry, the army marched directly to the
 I)elaware towns on the Muskingum. When they reached the vicinity of
 the Moravian villages some of the volunteers proposed that they attack
 those towns, but General Brodhead would not permit it; and so averted a
 massacre at that time.
   The army reached Coshocton on the evening of April 19th, taking the
Turtle band completely by surprise and capturing the village, which was
destroyed, together with all supplies that could not be carried away by
the soldiers. Forty head of cattle were secured. Fifteen warriors and
l'orty old men, women and children were taken prisoners.
   The historians of that time state that these fifteen warriors were
pointed out by a friendly Delaware named Pekillon, who declared that they
should all be put to death. They were accordingly tomahawked and
scalped. Whether this is true or not, Brodhead afterwards reported that
fifteen men were killed at Coshocton.
   From an Indian prisoner, General Brodhead learned that forty war-
riors had just crossed the Muskingum with some white prisoners. He
attempted to overtake them, but was held back by high water. He then
proposed going to the Moravian villages, where they could cross in boats;
but the volunteers objected, saying that they had had enough Indian fight-
ing for the present. They were evidently easier satisfied than most fron-
tiersmen of that time; for the fighting had all been one-sided. But Brod-
head pushed on with his regulars to Newcomer's Town, seven miles from
Coshocton. One of the hostile leaders who had escaped from Coshocton
was later killed by two friendly Delawares.
       (7)vI





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


day for the boys of the old Tenth. That afternoon a baseball team from
the Tenth defeated the First Nebraska team by a score of 16 to 0.
   The regiment only remained that one day at Honolulu, but eight re-
cruits, Americans in the islands anxious to be in at the finish at Manila,
were mustered in. This event is of special interest to Washington, for one
of these men, Private Ralph J. Faneuf, was placed in Company H. He
returned with the regiment to San Francisco, after serving in the Philip-
pines, and when the World war broke out he went to France as Colonel
of the One Hundred and Forty-Seventh United States Field Artillery. He
is now superintendent of the government buildings at Oakland, California.
   Grant Cullums, of Stockton, California, was another of the recruits,
who enlisted at Honolulu that day; and of all the men who went to the
Philippines with the old Tenth and fought through two wars, he is the
only one reported as "missing." His fate is a mystery to this day; but
more will be said of him at the proper place.
   The other recruits who joined the regiment at Honolulu, together with
their place of residence at that time and the company to which they were
assigned follows:
   Fred A. Cook, Sacramento, California, Company I.
   Walter E. Dempsey, Los Angeles, California, Company E.
   Robert Henderson, New York city, Company B.
   Charles Lubeck, Honolulu, Company K.
   Charles Pleasants, Vevay, Indiana, Company D.
   Charles R. Shillitoe, Honolulu, Company K.
   On June 26, the regiment started on the last stage of the long voyage
to Manila, and on the morning of July 4, Wake Island was sighted off the
coast of China. Brigadier General Francis V. Greene, commander of the
expedition, and a party landed, planting the Stars and Stripes. The boys
of the Tenth had a jolly Fourth celebration that day on board the
"Zealandia." Guam Island was sighted on July 10, and on Sunday morn-
ing, July 17, the Zealandia, steamed into Manila Bay, to a greeting from
Dewey's guns.
   The United States troops were at Camp Dewey near the town of Par-
anaque four miles south of Malate. On July 21, the Pennsylvania boys
waded ashore, and were soon in temporary quarters. The boys of the
Tenth had now arrived at the seat of war, and were within sight of the
enemy, for they were before the Spanish works of Fort Malate, just out
of range of its ancient guns.
     The Filipinos, then acting in conjunction with the Americans, had
several lines of trenches about 1,203 yards south of Fort Malate. General
Greene laid out a new line of trenches 200 yards nearer the fort, and
work on these was started at once. The Spaniards evidently did not
waken to the fact that they were about to be besieged until it was too
late to interfere and the trenches were completed by the morning of
July 31. They furnished excellent protection from both infantry and
artillery fire, especially from such ancient weapons as were used by the
enemy, and there were four openings for American artillery.
   On the morning of July 31, the Tenth was detailed for outpost duty
for twenty-four hours. Its line of trenches extended from the main road
from Cavite to Manila, for about 250 to 300 yards. With the exception


1042





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of Company B, which was on guard duty on the road near Pasal, two
miles to the right, the entire regiment was near the line just described.
   Colonel Hawkins was indisposed that day and confined to his quarters
and the regiment was commanded by Major H. C. Cuthbertson in the
absence of Lieutenant-Colonel Barnett, who was still on recruiting duty
in the United States. The second battalion, composed of Companies A,
C, H and I commanded by Major Evergart Bierer, was placed in the
entrenchments with the Utah Light Artillery. Companies E and D of
the First Battalion, were placed in reserve 200 yards iri the rear of the
center of the advance line. Company K was in the rear of the line, east
of the Manila-Cavite road, where it was on outpost and picket duty.
   All day the enemy was reported quiet, and the Pennsylvanians spent
the time strengthening their works; but the night of July 31 will never
be forgotten by the veterans of the old Tenth. About 11 o'clock, the
Spanish guns at Fort Malate suddenly belched forth a heavy shell fire
on the boys from Pennsylvania; and the Tenth Regiment was the first
American troops fired upon in the Philippines.
   This attack, known as a barrage, in the World war, lasted for half
an hour without doing any damage to the Americans, and then ceased.
Modern tactics of war were carried out in that battle, for as soon as the
barrage lifted, a large force of Spanish infantry, went "over the top"
firing by squads as it advanced, until within about 400 yards of the
Pennsylvania trenches. From this position the enemy fired volley after
volley at our lines for about three hours. Half an hour after the Spanish
advance, two pieces of artillery from Fort Malate opened fire with shell
and shrapnel, killing one and wounding four.
   A Spanish line of infantry was advanced at 11:30 to a point east of
the Tenth's entrenchments, evidently intending to turn the regiment's
right flank. Major Cuthbertson saw this danger and immediately with-
drew the pickets and outposts. The reserves commanded by Major Bierer
were ordered to advance and protect the flank. The companies engaged in
this movement were K, commanded by Capt. Thomas S. Crago, of Waynes-
burg, now congressman-at-large from Pennsylvania; E, commanded by
Capt. James A. Loar, of Mt. Pleasant; and D, commanded by Capt. Frank
B. Hawkins of Washington, now a colonel in the regular army. These
three companies were on the right of the Manila road.
   A force, estimated at 1,000 Spaniards, advanced to within 100 yards
of this line defended by 200 men of the Tenth; but they stood like veterans,
meeting the enemy with continuous volley firing. Company E, suffered
the heaviest of any unit in the regiment that night, with five killed and
eight wounded, one of whom afterwards died. But in spite of all efforts
of the enemy to dislodge them, the "thin blue line" of Pennsylvanians
held like a rock.
   Half an hour after battle opened Colonel Hawkins left his sick bed
and with twenty-eight men of the regimental guard, went to the front
and took command of his regiment. Half an hour later, Battery K, Third
United States Artillery, arrived and took a position near the center of
the Tenth's line. Company I was formed in a double line on the extreme
right, and General Greene sent a battalion of the First California Infantry,


1043




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and this with Battery H, Third United States Artillery, relieved Companies
D, E and K of the Tenth.
   The enemy opened a heavy artillery fire at 2 o'clock, accompanied by
occasional volleys from the infantry, but the Pennsylvania boys returned
shot for shot, and the Spaniards retired at 3 o'clock. A Spanish monastery
stood at about the center of the lines occupied by the Tenth, and its
trenches passed directly in front of the building. Apparently it was about
the center of the fire from the Spanish guns, and it was literally perfor-
ated like a sieve. This is shown by photographs of it brought back to
Pennsylvania. This shows the terrific enemy fire under which the Penn-
sylvania boys were that night in the trenches before Fort Malate.
  On that eventful night, the Tenth lost six killed and 229 wounded, two
of whom afterwards died. The casualties behind the lines were small,
but in the three unprotected companies D, E and K, the loss was one in
four either killed or wounded. It is estimated that the enemy fired at
least 100,000 rounds of ammunition and the Americans about 60,000, of
which the Tenth fired 37,000 rounds.
   The killed were Corporal Walter E. Brown, Company D; Privates Wil-
liam E. Bunton, Jacob Hull, Jr., Jesse Noss, William E. Stillwagon, of
Company E, and John Brady, Company I.
   Private Lee Snyder, Company E, mortally wounded, died August 3,
1898, and Private Robert L. Fox, Company C, also mortally wounded,
died September 5, 1898.
   Captain Loar, of Company E, and Private Walter J. Shidler, of Com-
pany H, were among the wounded.
   A terrific storm raged during the entire battle, and the rain fell in
torrents. The men were deluged and many of the rifle pits were filled
with sand and water, which placed them out of commission. Many of
the men used their rifles to clear the pits of sand. With the exception of
the first half hour, the regiment was cheered by the presence of Colonel
Hawkins, who by his heroic conduct set an example for his men.
   As Colonel Hawkins passed brigade headquarters, General Greene
suggested to him that he send an officer for ammunition. He detailed
Lieut. Oliver S. Scott, battalion adjutant, for this duty, which was per-
formed so promptly that when the supply of the Tenth became alarmingly
low Lieutenant Scott arrived with more.
   In his official report, Colonel Hawkins praised all of the officers and
men for their gallant conduct during the battle, making special mention
of Major Cuthbertson for the able manner in which he made disposition
of the troops.
   The Tenth regiment was cited for the gallantry of its men during this
battle by order of Brigadier General Greene, commander of the Second
Brigade to which it was attached; and thus it was that the command first
gained the name of the "Fighting Tenth." This order follows:
   "Headquarters, Second Brigade, U. S. Expeditionary Forces, Camp
Dewey, near Manila, August 1, 1898.
   "General Orders, No. 10:
   "The brigadier general commanding desires to thank the troops en-
gaged last night for the gallantry and skill displayed by them in repell-
ing such a vigorous attack by largely superior forces of the Spaniards.


1044





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Not an inch of ground was yielded by the Tenth Regiment, Pennsylvania
Infantry, and Batteries A and B, Utah Light Artillery, stationed in the
trenches; the Battalion, Third U. S. Artillery, and First Regiment Cali-
fornia Infantry moved forward to their support through a galling fire
with the utmost intrepidity. The courage and steadiness shown by all in
their first engagement are worthy of the highest commendation.
   "The dead will be buried with proper honors under the supervision of
regimental and battalion commanders at three o'clock today in the yard
of the convent near Maricaban.
   "By command of
                            "BRIGADIER GENERAL GREENE.
                            "W. G. BATER, Asst. Adjutant-General."
   From August 1st and 13th, the Tenth was engaged in outpost duty,
and nothing of importance occurred. In a communication to Colonel
Hawkins, Brigadier General Greene promised that when the final ad-
vance should be made on Manila, the Tenth would be given the place of
honor in return for its gallant conduct on the night of July 31.
   On the morning of August 13, the regiment was relieved at outpost
duty by the First Colorado and 18th United States Infantry, and ordered
to return to camp. Then it was that the news of the order for the ad-
vance on Manila was given out. Each man was furnished with two days'
cooked rations and 200 rounds of ammunition. The regiment was sta-
tioned at the crossing of the Manila and Pasal roads, in the rear of the
First Nebraska.
   At exactly 9:30 o'clock that morning the great guns of Admiral
Dewey's fleet boomed a challenge to the Spanish forts and sent their
great messengers of death and destruction into the enemy lines. At
10:30 the barrage lifted, and the army was ordered to advance on the
city. The Tenth pushed forward rapidly, passing several other reserve
organizations that had been halted near Fort Malate, and marched
through the towns of Malate and Ermite where a few scattered shots
were fired at the Pennsylvanians. The regiment pressed forward to the
Luneta, opposite the walled City of Manila, where the men saw a white
flag floating over the ramparts and they knew that for them the war was
practically over.
   At that time negotiations were in progress between commissioners of
the two nations to fix the terms of surrender, and just as the Tenth
reached the opening of the first street leading into the walled city, orders
were received from General Greene to remain there. While waiting for
the council to end, a number of Spanish troops appeared on the outer wall
and many officers came out and mingled with the Americans.
   Two and one-half hours later, with band playing and colors flying,
the First Colorado Infantry, which the Tenth had passed at Fort Malate,
arrived and marched into the walled city, and thus, that regiment was
given the honor of being the first of the American army to enter the great
Spanish stronghold in the Orient.
   The Tenth entered the city at 4:30 o'clock that afternoon, crossing
the Bridge of Spain and proceeding to the Hotel de Oriente, on the Plaza
Calderon de la Baria, where General Greene had established his head-
quarters. It remained there until 9 o'clock that night when Colonel


1045





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Hawkins was assigned to command the district of Santa Cruz. Just
where this lay no American seemed to know, and the colonel was told that
he would have to find it himself.
   After making considerable inquiry, Santa Cruz district was located,
and the Tenth marched to the Plaza de Santa Cruz, at the church of the
same name. A messenger from the padre informed Colonel Hawkins, that
the church and convent were at his disposal, and there the men spent the
night after forty-eight hours of almost continuous service.
   In a short time all of the companies of the regiment were in com-
fortable quarters in the district. The regimental headquarters, drum
corps and hospital were established in a public building called Bomberos
de Oruz. Bilibid prison, also located in that district, where 2,000 mili-
tary, religious and political prisoners had been confined by the Spanish
government, was taken possession of by the Tenth, and the Spanish guard
was relieved.
   Two newsboys and bootblacks were taken from the United States by
the boys of the Tenth as mascots of the regiment. One of these was Rob-
ert McDermott, known as "Boots," who was picked up by Company B,
from Beaver Falls, as the regiment passed through Pittsburgh on its
way to Mount Gretna. Afterwards Colonel Hawkins agreed to take
"Boots" to the Philippines.
   William Doran, the other mascot, called "Searchlight" because of his
bright golden hair, was a waif from Portland, Oregon, who was picked
up by the regiment while at San Francisco. He had no home or people
and he wanted to go to the war in the Philippines. The boys of Company
D adopted him, and he was taken to Manila with them. After the regi-
ment reached the Philippines both boys made themselves very useful in
many ways, and they shared the hardships of the campaign before the
city of Manila equally with the soldiers. Both boys were popular with
every member of the regiment, officers and men alike. Admiral Dewey
took them on board his flagship, the Olympia, and they went to Hongkong
with him. Young Doran died of typhoid fever in the military hospital
at Manila on September 30, 1898, and he was mourned by every member
of the regiment. His remains were interred in the government cemetery
at Manila with full military honors.
   Before leaving the United States, Colonel Hawkins had been ordered
to recruit the regiment up to full war strength of 106 men to a company.
Lieutenant Colonel Barnett was sent back from San Francisco to secure
a total of 248 men to bring the eight companies up to the required total
and also to enlist a third battalion of 14 officers and 424 men. He sent
a recruiting sergeant to each town where a company of the Tenth had
been located.
   Leroy B. Beatty was the recruiting officer for Company H. He ar-
rived in Washington at 11:16 o'clock Saturday morning, June 18.
Promptly at 1 o'clock that afternoon he opened a recruiting station in the
old Armory in East Wheeling Street. Private Beatty was literally be-
sieged by an army of applicants, and from 1 o'clock Saturday until 5:30
o'clock Sunday afternoon 171 names were enrolled. Only thirty-one men
were needed for Company H, but it was expected at that time that the


1046




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Third Battalion would be organized. At 1:30 o'clock Monday afternoon,
the recruiting station was closed with more than 200 names on the list.
    Lieutenant Colonel Barnett had gone on to Harrisburg, but he re-
turned and arrived in Washington at noon, Monday, June 21. He an-
nounced that only the men required to fill up each company would be
taken, a total of 248 for the regiment. Then the work of selecting the
thirty-one men required for Company H out of more than 200 was started.
The late Dr. William Denny was the examining physician for Companies
H, K, B and A, and he did the work in the rooms of the Washington Club,
above the office now occupied by the Manufacturers Light and Heat Com-
pany, opposite the old Armory.
   Lieutenant Colonel Barnett opened his headquarters in Washington,
and the full 248 men for the regiment were mobilized here. When com-
panies were recruiting in Washington during the Civil war, the old fair
grounds, now College Field, were used as the camping place, and so when
the men were recruited for the Tenth in 1898, the old fair grounds, in
Tylerdale, which closed about nineteen years ago, were used as the camp
grounds. The equipment for the men, with the exception of arms, ar-
rived in Washington on June 24, and the men were assembled by Capt.
A. L. Hawkins at the fair grounds, where a total of 259 soldiers were
camped. This was made up of seven companies of 31 men, one of 32, and
10 recruiting officers.
   The recruits left Washington on Monday, July 4, for San Francisco,
where they remained until August 27, when they sailed for the Philip-
pines. When they reached Honolulu they went into camp and were com-
pelled to remain there for eleven weeks because of typhoid fever that had
broken out. One regiment of New York volunteers was sent back to the
United States, but the Pennsylvania boys remained at Honolulu. Several
of them contracted the disease and were sent back to San Francisco,
where they were finally discharged.
   By a special order Lieutenant Colonel Barnett proceeded on to Manila
and joined the regiment there on September 28. On November 10, the
recruits for the Tenth sailed from Honolulu and reached the Philippines
on November 25.
   During the weeks that followed the battle of Manila Bay and the
final surrender of the Spanish garrison on August 13, Admiral Dewey
established a rigid blockade of the city, and it was during that period
that certain events occurred which were of far greater importance than
any American realized at the time. In view of what has occurred since
July 28, 1914, we now know from the actions of the German fleet in
Manila Bay during the summer of 1898, that the United States was on
the very brink of a great war with Germany, which would probably have
developed into a world war. We now know that Germany's plans of
world conquest date back many years, and that the Kaiser was awaiting
a favorable opportunity to launch his hordes on an unsuspecting nation.
Whether or not it was Germany's intentions to provoke a war with this
country by the actions of the fleet under Admiral Von Diederich that
summer in Manila Bay is not known absolutely, but it is believed in view
of what occurred during the following years, that that was the intention.
Whether or not Admiral Dewey's firm stand stopped the trouble at that


1047





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


time, or whether the German government suddenly changed its plans for
a world war will probably never be known.
   The events in Manila Bay during that summer of 1898 are of special
interest to the people of Western Pennsylvania because of the fact that
the Tenth Regiment left Mount Gretna for the Philippines in May, and
in case of trouble between the two nations would have been plunged into
the thick of it.
   The size of the German fleet under Admiral Von Diederick, consisting
of five ships, two of which outclassed any of Dewey's vessels, almost
reached the proportions of a naval demonstration. The German com-
mander refused to observe the blockade rules, which a neutral should
obey. His ships came and went at all hours of the day and night. When
a steamer made her appearance, a German vessel would immediately in-
tercept and examine her. One night a German steam launch was detected
steaming towards the American fleet at full speed. Dewey's searchlights
revealed it when a mile away, and it is believed that the Germans were
trying to discover if it would be possible for a Spanish torpedo boat to
get within range of the American ships without being detected. At an-
other time the "Princess Wilhelmina," notified the insurgents that she
would not allow them to attack the Spanish forts at Subig Bay. One
night a German ship, with all lights out, attempted to steal into the
anchorage off Manila. She was "brought to" by a shot fired across her
bows from a United States cruiser on picket duty.
   Although greatly annoyed by these petty acts evidently made with
the intention of provoking trouble, Admiral Dewey took no notice for
some time. Finally, he learned from a reliable source that one of the
German ships had landed provisions in Manila. It was then that Dewey
sent his now famous message to the German commander. Although there
is no official record of this event, it is understood that Dewey sent his
flag-lieutenant, Brumby, to Admiral Von Diederich with the following
message: "Give Admiral Von Diederich my compliments, and say that
I wish to call his attention to the fact that the vessels of his squadron
have shown an extraordinary disregard of the usual courtesies of naval
intercourse, and that finally one of them has committed a gross breach
of neutrality in landing provisions in Manila, a port which I am block-
ading."
   It is also claimed by some that Dewey wanted to know whether Ger-
many and the United States were at peace or war so that he could act
accordingly. The story goes that Dewey's parting instructions to his
messenger were "Tell Admiral Von Diederich that if he wants to fight
he can have it right now."
   The German's bluff was called. Admiral Von Diederich emphatically
denied that he was aware of the actions of his captains, and promised
that they would not be repeated. Considering the rigid discipline in both
the German navy and army, this statement is very unusual. It is be-
lieved now that the German admiral acted under instructions from his
home government.
   These events are of special interest to the people of Washington, at
this time, for many of the incidents occurred after the Tenth regiment
had reached Manila. The incident of the launch attempting to steal up


1048





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


on the American fleet was witnessed by many boys of the regiment, who
were camped on the beach, but they did not know until later what was
going on.
   It is of interest to note here that the final battle of Manila was fought
one day after the treaty of peace was signed by Spain, which was August
12, 1898, but Dewey and General Merritt in the faraway Philippines
did not receive the word immediately.
   From the day Manila fell until the outbreak of the Philippine insur-
rection, the Tenth Regiment was engaged in guard duty about the city
and at the old Bilibid Prison. Brigadier General Hale succeeded General
Greene in command of the Second Division, and during October the Tenth
was relieved from guard duty at the prison. The hot tropical climate,
aided by the swamps of Luzon, caused sickness to break out among the
men, and a number were in the hospital with fever. Four men, and the
youthful mascot, William T. Doran, died that fall in the hospital at
Manila. The men were privates William H. Grable, Company C, on
September 10; William M. Braden, Company H, on September 21; Henry
H. Weaver, Company K, on October 22, and James G. Monroe, Company
H, on November 4. Two more died from diseases in January, William
K. McAllister, Company B, and Frank Brain, Company C, on the 15th.
   The first trouble between the American troops and the Philippine in-
surgents occurred immediately after the fall of Manila. Aguinaldo and
his army had been on very friendly terms with the Americans and the
two worked in harmony. Immediately after the city capitulated Aguin-
aldo and his insurgents demanded the right to massacre the Spaniards
without restraint and to pillage the city. The American commander re-
fused this, and would not allow the insurgent army in the city; and rela-
tions became very strained.
   The insurgents took possession of some of the Spanish forts and
blockhouses, and established a line of entrenchments from the bay on
the north to the bay on the south of the city, thus practically besieging
the American army. Although actual hostilities did not break out until
February 4, it was necessary for American officers and soldiers to secure
a pass from their commanding officers before they would be permitted to
pass through the insurgent lines. Day by day this line was drawn so
tight by the Filipinos that it was finally necessary for the pass to be
signed by Aguinaldo himself. However, insurgent officers and men were
allowed to pass through the American lines by the hundred and enter the
city every day, as long as they were not armed.
   During this period arms were smuggled through the American lines
to the insurgents. This was known to the American commander, but he
was unable to discover how it was accomplished. There had been an un-
usual number of funerals during those few months preceding the out-
break and an American soldier discovered one day that many of the
coffins were filled with rifles. An order was then issued that every coffin
passing through the American lines must first be inspected by the guard.
The funerals became less frequent after that.
   Every war has its unsolved mysteries; every regiment at the front
has its list of men marked "missing"-men who disappear and are never
heard of again. On the casualty roll of the Tenth Pennsylvania, the name


1049




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of only one man is marked as "missing," Private Grant Cullums, of Stock-
ton, California, who joined Company C at Honolulu, June 25, 1898. The
last ever seen or heard of him by his comrades was on January 27, 1899,
when he rode into the insurgent lines as a spy; and the mystery of his
disappearance has never been solved although twenty-one years have
passed since then.
    Cullums, who was a native of California, could speak Spanish fluently.
He was Major Bierer's adjutant. The American authorities well knew
that trouble was brewing among the Filipinos. Desiring to secure some
information, Major General Otis requested Cullums to undertake this
delicate task, because of his knowledge of Spanish. On the evening of
January 27, he rode away from the American lines, and as he disappeared
in the gathering dusk, he passed forever out of the knowledge of home,
friends and comrades in arms.
   Many stories have been told of his fate. Some claim that he was
killed by the Filipinos; others that he died in prison, and there are some
who believe to this day that he turned traitor and joined the insurgents.
When he left the American lines on his dangerous mission, he was dis-
guised as a native. It was afterwards claimed that rain washed the paint
off his face and thus revealed him as an American, and he was captured.
One story told the next summer was that he had been shot by the rebels
within sight of the American outposts near Caloocan.
   Many men of the Tenth believed that he for weeks was held a prisoner.
When Malolos, Aguinaldo's capital, was captured, two Tenth men, Homer
Farabee and John E. Clark, of Company H, were among the first Ameri-
cans to search the Philippine prison. They were looking for Cullums.
Farabee states that they found the names of nine Americans who had
been confined there during the insurrection written on the walls with
charcoal, but Cullums' was not with them. This prison was simply a yard
inclosed by a high wall. No prisoners had been left in it by the Filipinos
when they fled from their stronghold in the swamps of Luzon. Even the
passing years have failed to reveal the mystery, and if anything was ever
learned by the military authorities of the fate of Grant Cullums, it was
never made public, but lies buried in the forgotten archives of the past.
   Even the enlisted men knew that a conflict was inevitable. About the
middle of January, many of the insurgent leaders and their families had
left the city. The picket lines of the two armies were so close that the
men could talk, and each day the disrespect and insolence shown towards
the Americans increased. For weeks the troops were under emergency
orders, for a general attack was expected at any time.
   On December 2, 1898, Major Cuthbertson, with Companies A and B
were sent to Corregidor Island, at the mouth of Manila Bay, to guard the
hospital, and they remained there until May 14, 1899.
   During January and the first few days of February prior to the out-
break, the Tenth was quartered in different parts of the city. Colonel
Hawkins' headquarters was in the old fire department building in the
heart of Manila; Companies H and I were in the old Zorriella Theatre,
while the other units were scattered, many of them some distance away.
   The night of February 4, 1899, was an eventful one for the American
troops in Manila. At exactly 10:10 o'clock, the long expected Filipino


1050




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


outbreak started with a few scattered shots fired by the enemy on the
outposts of the First Nebraska Regiment. This was the signal, and in
a few minutes, the whole insurgent line, of eighteen miles in a semi-circle
around the city from the north shore of the bay to the south, was en-
gaged in a general attack against the American outposts.
   The alarm spread rapidly through the city; but each American regi-
ment had been instructed for weeks before in regard to the position it
was to occupy when the outbreak occurred; and the Tenth Pennsylvania
was to go on the firing line. Orders were sent out rapidly, and in a short
time the Pennsylvanians had reinforced their outposts of sixty men sta-
tioned to the right of the Bulumbayan Road. With the exception of the
city water works, which was captured immediately, to prevent the insur-
gents from poisoning the water, the Americans made no move until
morning. Then they began the war in earnest, and not once during the
weeks that followed did they ever cease moving forward.
   The Chinese Hospital and the De La Loma Church, the "San Juan
Hill" of the Philippines, will ever be remembered by the boys of the
"Fighting Tenth". Their outpost of sixty men on the line when the in-
surrection broke out had been exposed to a heavy fire from a large force
of the enemy in a blockhouse and the Chinese Hospital. The Tenth made
no attempt to advance that night, but three times the enemy tried to
dislodge the Pennsylvanians; but they were repulsed with heavy loss by
the outposts, the main body of the regiment being held in reserve.
   Early the next morning, the Utah Light Artillery opened a heavy
barrage and for half an hour the Filipino position was shelled. Then,
with a mighty cheer that could be heard above the roar of battle, the
boys of the Tenth went "over the top" and charged the Chinese Hos-
pital in the face of heavy volley firing; but there was no stopping that
thin khaki line. In the face of what seemed certain death they went, with
a cheer and a smile; and the Filipinos failed to stop them just as the Ger-
mans failed to stop a thin khaki line from that same regiment nineteen
years later on the battlefields of France. Many of the men who fought
so gallantly in France learned their first lessons in war in the Philippines.
   The capture of the Chinese Hospital was the first victory for the
American army in the Philippine insurrection. When the Tenth was
within 300 yards of the place, the enemy broke and fled.
   On the crest of the long hill was De La Loma Church, from which the
enemy was pouring a galling fire into the ranks of the Tenth. This has
gone down in history as the "San Juan" of the Philippines. It was a
strong position, well fortified, but this did not stop the Pennsylvanians.
Under a galling fire from the church and several old Spanish blockhouses,
the boys of the Tenth advanced up this hill without a waver in their line.
Major Bierer in command of the left wing was wounded and forced to
retire, and Maj. J. F. Bell, of the Engineers, was placed in command of
the battalion by Colonel Hawkins. The regiment's right was unprotected,
and Lieutenant Colonel Barnett, with Companies E and H, went to pro-
tect this section under a hot fire. Then two pieces of artillery opened
fire on the enemy, and with a wild cheer the Tenth swept up the hill to
the church. Not satisfied with this, the Pennsylvanians turned to a block-
house nearby and drove the enemy out of that position.


1051





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Brodhead turned back from Newcomer's Town, and returned to Fort
Pitt. It is related that on the way the soldiers killed all of the prisoners
except a few women and children, who were afterwards exchanged at
Fort Pitt for white captives. The plunder captured at Coshocton was sold
at Fort Henry for 80,000 pounds in Continental currency, which at that
time was at its lowest depreciation.
   Not a single man of the Brodhead army was either killed or wounded;
but no crushing defeat had been administered, and practically nothing
was done towards stopping Indian raids on Washington and other counties
on the frontier.





                        CHAPTER XVIII.

                              1781.

   CLARK'S EXPEDITION AGAINST SANDUSKY AND DETROIT.
CLARK PLANS TO CAPTURE SANDUSKY AND DETROIT-INHABITANTS OF
   WASHINGTON COUNTY OPPOSE THE SCHEME-MARSHEL AND PENTE-
   COST ELECTED COUNTY LIEUTENANTS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
   UNDER PENNSYLVANIA AND VIRGINIA-ENMITY OF THE TWO FAC-
   TIONS OVER THE BOUNDARY CONTROVERSY-OPPOSITION TO CLARK'S
   EXPEDITION-THE FIRST DRAFT-CLARK HAS TROUBLE IN SECURING
   MEN IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-CHARGES MADE AGAINST CLARK-
   MARSHEL'S ACTIVITY IN HAVING WASHINGTON COUNTY CREATED-
   THE EXPEDITION STARTS.

                  Those in the robings of glory,
                    Those in the gloom of defeat,
                  All with the battle-blood gory,
                    In the dusk of eternity meet.
                                         -F. M. Finch.

   General George Rogers Clark, the conqueror of the Northwest in 1778,
was busy organizing another expedition against the hostiles and British
during Brodhead's expedition against Coshocton. Clark planned to raise
an army of several hundred men composed of infantry, cavalry, and artil-
lery, and then march against the Wyandot town at Sandusky, destroy it,
and capture the British post at Detroit. This had been a long cherished
dream of Clark's ever since his remarkable conquest of the Northwest;
but it was a dream which was never to become a reality. If he had
received the proper support from the people of Washington County he
would have succeeded; but the old Pennsylvania-Virginia boundary con-
troversy was at its height, and this brought about the failure of the
expedition.
   Clark was a Virginian and held a commission from the Virginia assem-
bly. Consequently all of the inhabitants of Washington County who sided
with Pennsylvania in the dispute, led by Colonel James Marshel, opposed
the project. Dorsey Pentecost, who had been elected county lieutenant of
Yohogania County (the name of Washington County when it was claimed





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The battlefield was covered with dead and dying insurgents and the
Tenth was in close pursuit of the fleeing enemy when Colonel Hawkins
received orders to halt and hold his position. During the fighting that
day the regiment lost one killed, Corporal Jacob Landis, Company C,
killed at De La Loma Church, and five wounded as follows: Maj. Ever-
hart Bierer; Private Carl W. Debolt, Company C; Private Edward C.
Caldwell, Company D; Sergeant Joseph W. Shidler, Company H, and Pri-
vate Hiram 0. Conger, Company H. Forty-two of the enemy's dead were
found in front of the Tenth's lines and buried.
   A strong line of trenches, rifle pits and earthworks were constructed
by the Tenth from De La Loma Church southeast. This position was oc-
cupied from February 6 until the final advance began on March 25.
   Everything was quiet along the Pennsylvanians' line until March 17,
when the insurgents opened fire. This was kept up for two hours, when
it was suddenly stopped by a few shells from the Utah Light Artillery.
One lieutenant, John G. Thompson, of Company E, and two enlisted men
were wounded in this engagement. The latter were Quartermaster
Sergeant Alexander McCanch, Company C, and Private John A. McVay,
Company E.
   From March 17th to 24th everything was quiet along the Tenth's
line; and then the orders came for the long expected advance against
Malolos-Aguinaldo's stronghold buried in the heart of the swamps of
Luzon. General MacArthur was in command of the Second brigade, and
he assigned the Tenth to the extreme left, with their right resting on a
sunken road. Everything was in readiness long before daylight, and ex-
actly at 5:30 o'clock, just as dawn was breaking, the skirmishers moved
out, and the final campaign which brought about Aguinaldo's downfall
was on.
   It is of record that after the advance started at 5:30 that morning,
the Tenth never once gave an inch of ground, but kept steadily advancing
until Malolos was captured. The regiment was unopposed for the first
400 yards, and then it was met by a heavy fire from the enemy, which
was strongly entrenched along a woods. But the Tenth kept right on,
driving the enemy out. From then on it was a running fight. The
insurgents lost during the first hour that morning eighteen killed in
front of the Pennsylvanians and twelve prisoners.
   All day long the Tenth advanced, fighting through dense jungles, ford-
ing streams, and going over hill and vale, until that night when the banks
of the Tuliagam River were reached and camp made, with ten miles of the
enemy country behind. The loss that day was one killed, Private Alex-
ander Newill, of Company E, and four wounded; Private Charles O.
Walker, Company C; Privates Eugene R. Morgan, Company D; and Henry
I. Trout, Company D, and Private Vernon Kelley, Company K.
   The next morning, March 26, the Tenth again started into the enemy
country, and all day long the Pennsylvania boys fought their way through
swamp and glade, under the terrible heat of the tropical sun, but it was
action and they did not mind. The enemy offered no resistance all morn-
ing, but that afternoon the insurgents were found strongly entrenched on
the edge of a strip of woodland, from which position a heavy fire was
opened. The American artillery replied and in a short time the infantry


1052




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


advanced. The Tenth drove the enemy before them, capturing the village
of Obando and the town of South Meycauayan. From Manila, the Tenth
had followed the line of the Zagupan railroad.
   Private Jacob O. Cline of Company H was killed during the fighting
that day near the town of Polo, after the capture of South Meycauayan.
The enemy had made a stand, and the bugle had sounded the warning for
the men to seek cover. The artillery was brought up and was shelling the
insurgent lines. Every time a gun boomed the boys raised up from
cover to see where the shell would hit; and Cline looked once too often.
A Filipino bullet struck him in the shoulder, passing through his body.
He was carried away, and his comrades did not know until two days later
that he was dead.
   Six men were wounded in the fighting that day. They were Musician
Elmer E. Barnes and Private William D. Collins, Company C; Private
Ralph M. Hodgens, Company H; Private William H. Stouffer, Company I;
Sergeant Charles T. Wallace, Company K, and Private Fred G. Worthing-
ton, Company K.
   Four companies spent that night at Obando and Colonel Hawkins estab-
lished his headquarters at South Meycauayan.
   On March 27, the regiment was placed in reserve and marched a mile
north, when Company I, led by Major J. F. Bell, of the Engineers, was
sent to assist the Third United States Artillery in dislodging a large force
of insurgents entrenched in a strong position. After a fierce engagement,
in which twenty-five Filipinos were killed, the entire force surrendered.
Two men of Company I, Privates Morrison Barclay and Joseph C. Mickey,
were wounded.
   Just as night fell the regiment was placed in the advance line along the
railroad near Marilae station. The next day was spent in resting, and
the advance was taken up again on the 29th.
   The Americans were now drawing close to the insurgent capital, driv-
ing the enemy before them with scarcely a halt. At 5 o'clock that after-
noon the Tenth's advance reached the Guiguinto River, five miles south of
Malolos. The stream was too deep to ford and the command crossed on
the railroad bridge. The position of the enemy was not known, and the
Americans little dreamed that they were marching right into a trap, which
might have proven costly. Just as the Tenth, followed by the First
Nebraska had crossed the bridge, the enemy suddenly opened with a
galling fire. The fighting lasted only an hour, but it was terrific. The
artillery shelled the Filipinos and soon they were silenced.
   It was during this battle that Private George A. Taylor, of Company H,
received his death wound. He was on the advance line after crossing the
bridge. As he was placed on a stretcher and was being carried from the
field, he waved his hand to his comrades and shouted, "Good-bye boys,
I'm done for." That was the last they ever saw of him. Two days later
he died in the division hospital at Manila.
   This was the fiercest battle of the Filipino campaign. Two others
besides Taylor were killed: Private Fred M. Jennewine, Company C,
and Private Daniel W. Stephens, Company I, and sixteen were wounded.
Among the latter were Colonel Hawkins, Lieut. Blaine Aiken, Sergt. John


1053





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


H. Thompson, and Privates Alexander H. Young and George C. Barr, of
Company H.
    The advance on Malolos was received with a strong resistance, but
the insurgents were unable to stop the advance, and that night the Amer-
icans were within two miles of Aguinaldo's stronghold. Under cover of
a heavy barrage from the Utah artillery, the infantry moved against the
town at 6:30 the next morning. No resistance was encountered, and in a
short time Malolos had fallen.
   The Tenth remained in Malolos until April 14; when it was sent back
to Manila, having been on the firing line continuously since February 4.
From there it was sent to Cavite to relieve the 51st Iowa regiment.
   Colonel Hawkins was appointed military commander of the district
of Cavite, and Lieut.-Colonel Barnett was placed in command of the regi-
ment. The deadly disease which was sapping his life forced Colonel
Hawkins to relinquish his post on May 11, go to the hospital, and Colonel
Barnett was placed in command of the district. He retained this post
until July 1, when the regiment sailed for home on the "Senator."
   Colonel Hawkins remained at the hospital at Corregidor Island until
June 27, when he rejoined the regiment which was preparing to sail.
When he started on the home voyage it was almost certain that he
would not live to reach the United States, as he was suffering from cancer
of the bowels and malarial fever, which had been aggravated by following
Aguinaldo's trail through the swamps of Luzon. There was no embalming
fluid at Manila, but when the "Senator" stopped at Nagasaki, Japan,
some was obtained by Colonel Barnett from an English doctor, who gave
the regimental physician instructions for embalming. And thus it was
that the remains of Colonel Hawkins were brought back to this country.
Otherwise it would have been necessary to bury him at sea.
   Colonel Hawkins died at sea at 11:55; next day the men of the regi-
ment viewed his remains for the last time, and the ship's flag was placed
at half-mast. That was before the days of wireless and the news of his
death was not known until the "Senator" steamed through the Golden
Gate on the evening of August 1. The sad tidings reached Washington
late that evening, and by the next morning all Western Pennsylvania
knew of his death.
   Colonel Hawkins made a brave fight for life, and it had been his wish
to bring his "boys" back home again. He could have returned long before
and have seen his family, but he was a true soldier and refused to leave
his command.
   Funeral services were held for the dead hero in the Masonic temple,
at San Francisco, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of August 5. The casket
was taken through the streets to the ferry on a guncarriage, drawn by
six black horses. Immediately behind it was "Harry" the colonel's horse,
with boots reversed in the stirrups. On each side of the coffin were
eight first sergeants of the Tenth, and beyond them were the Black
Knights of California, with swords reversed and colors cased in mourning.
Following were Lieut.-Col. Barnett, and the commanders of the Nebraska,
Oregon and Utah Regiments. Next came the boys of the Tenth, the
sergeants first, then the corporals, and finally the rank and file.
   The coffin was placed on the ferry at Market Street, and at 6 o'clock


1054

































    Col. A. L. Hawkins and staff of Tenth Pennsylvania National Guard, in camp
about 1890. The third man from the right is James E. Barnett, who served as lieu-
tenant-colonel of the regiment in the Philippines and was afterwards colonel when
the regiment was reorganized in 1899. First man sitting on right is S. B. Hayes,
of Washington; then Col. A. L. Hawkins, then Major Neff and then E. E. Robbins.
Major Neff was afterwards with the regiment in the Philippines, and E. E. Robbins
was long congressman from Greensburg.


     Group of officers of the Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, who served in
the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, in the Washington Cemetery during
the funeral of Col. A. L. Hawkins, commander of the regiment, September 1, 1899.
Colonel Hawkins died at sea during the return voyage.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


it left Oakland for the east. The remains reached Washington, Thursday
morning, August 10, and were taken to his late home in South Wade
Avenue. The next day the dead commander of the "Fighting Tenth" lay
in state in the rotunda of Washington and Jefferson College, where not
less than 5,000 persons viewed the remains. Late that afternoon the
remains were taken to the Montgomery vault in the Washington cemetery.
The last rites for Colonel Hawkins were held in Washington on Sep-
tember 1, after the Tenth had been mustered out and had reached home,
and it was the greatest military funeral that ever took place here.
   The Tenth Regiment left the transport on August 3, and marched to
the Presidio, where it was mustered out on August 22. It left for home
that same evening in three special trains, which reached Pittsburgh on
Monday, August 28. It was escorted through the streets of Pittsburgh
by one of the longest parades ever given in that city to a regiment re-
turned from war.
   Among the notable men in the procession that day were President
William McKinley and General Wesley Merritt, under whose command
the regiment had fought in the Philippines. Many other notable men,
both military and statesmen, were present. The final ceremonies took
place at Schenley Park. The companies then left for their various homes,
where they were all given rousing welcomes, tinged with sadness for
those who had gone out and never returned.
   The "Fighting Tenth" veterans attended the welcome extended to
Admiral Dewey by New York city on September 30, 1899, when that
great sea fighter returned from the Philippines. Although they were no
longer in the service, a large number of them responded to the call and
were in the line of march, led by their old commander, Colonel James E.
Barnett, and among the 35,000 soldiers in line that day, these Pennsylvania
heroes of the Philippines received the greatest ovation of all. All along
the line of march of seven miles they were greeted with a storm of cheers,
waving handkerchiefs and flags.
   They had fought under Dewey in that last battle of the war when
the city of Manila fell the day after the order to cease hostilities had
been signed, and as they passed the reviewing stand, the Second Brigade
band played "Comrades." Admiral Dewey sprang to his feet, swept his
gold-embroidered hat from his head and stood bare-headed as these boy
veterans marched past. As the tattered battle flag of the Tenth was
borne past, he pointed to it and said to Mayor Van Wyeck, "There are
the boys that fought with me in the Philippines." That was a great day
for the Tenth but of course the whole regiment was not there, for many
of them were unable to attend.
   That gathering of the old "Fighting Tenth" at Schenley Park was the
last time the boys of this regiment, who had gained nation-wide fame
by their gallant fighting in the far-away Philippines, were ever assembled
together. Although twenty-one reunions have been held since that August
day twenty-one years ago, when they were mustered out of the United
States service at San Francisco, of the 769 officers and men in the regiment
at that time, not more than half of that number have ever met again on
these occasions. They have scattered to the four corners of the earth;
many have died with the passing years; others have disappeared from


1056




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the knowledge of their old comrades of Luzon's battlefields, and others
fell fighting in France eighteen years later.
   Like Lieutenant Irons who died in Mexico half a century before,
Colonel Hawkins gave his life for his country. When the "Senator" left
Nagasaki, Japan, physicians were in attendance in the commander's state-
room constantly until his death on the home voyage. The remains of
the dead hero were sent back to Pennsylvania immediately and on Thurs-
day morning, August 10, 1898, arrived in Washington. The funeral train
pulled into the Chestnut station shortly before 9 o'clock and was met
by an immense throng of people, all anxious to get a glimpse of the casket
as it was borne to the hearse by eight pall bearers, all past commanders
of the Pittsburgh Knights Templar. They were W. R. Eckert, James G.
Morris, Thomas W. Irwin, Charles W. Bartberger, George Carsten, Frank
Ridgway, A. C. Williams and Will W. Price.
   It was 9:30 before the funeral procession formed and escorted the
remains of the dead warrior over the same route where he had led "his
boys" away to war less than a year and four months before.
   Company C, Seventeenth Regiment National Guard of Pennsylvania,
commanded by Capt. Hugh Rogers, which had taken the place of Company
H during the war, led the mournful procession. A squad of distinguished
military men followed among whom was Chaplain Joseph L. Hunter, of
the Tenth Pennsylvania in the Philippines and who had been a close
personal friend of the dead commander for years. He had had charge
of the remains on the trip from San Francisco. Accompanying him were
Brig.-Gen. John A. Wiley of the Pennsylvania National Guard; Adjutant
H. B. Duncan, who was with Colonel Hawkins in the Philippines; Capt.
E. B. McCormick, another Philippine veteran; and quartermaster of the
Tenth; Col. Frank I. Rutledge, of the Eighteenth Regiment; Col. W. J.
Glenn, of the Fourteenth Regiment; Major John P. Penny, Capt. W. C.
Wallace, of Battery B; Major Samuel W. Hay, chief of the commissary
of the Second Division, Fourth United States Army Corps, and the com-
mittee from Western Pennsylvania that had accompanied the remains
from San Francisco, composed of Lucien Lawson, of Greensburg; G. B.
Kramer, of Middletown, and William B. Cuthbertson, of New Brighton.
   Others in line were members of William Templeton Post, No. 120, G.
A. R., and David Acheson, Post, G. A. R. (colored). Pat Bane, the
Greene County giant, a Civil war veteran, carried the colors, and William
A. Gabby commanded the veterans. Colonel Hawkins Camp Sons of
Veterans (colored), named in honor of the dead hero, was also in line.
After that came old members of Company H, who had served under
Colonel Hawkins years before. After the military escort came a squad
of civilians composed of Charles C. Rea, Pittsburgh; Judge S. J. Wilson,
Beaver; J. B. Eaton, Pittsburgh; Harry Fry, Rochester; E. H. Thomas,
New Brighton; Max G. Leslie, Pittsburgh; and Dr. William Denny, Wash-
ington.
   The hearse was under the special escort of Jacques De Molay Com-
mandry, Knights Templar, of Washington, under Eminent Commander
Warren A. McKay, and Eminent Grand Commander James B. Youngson,
of Pittsburgh. On each side of the hearse were four past commanders
of Pittsburgh. All flags were at half mast on the buildings, and business
       67-V1


1057





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


houses were draped in mourning. The remains were taken to his late
home in South Wade Avenue, and a guard of honor from Company C
was placed about the house under Sergt. Fred Scheu. Chaplain Hunter,
who was with Colonel Hawkins when he died, remained at the Hawkins
home until the next day. Short services were held at the home that night
by Chaplain Hunter, assisted by Dr. Henry W. Temple, chaplain of the
Seventeenth Regiment.
   The next morning the remains were taken to the rotunda of Washing-
ton and Jefferson College, where they lay in state until 4 o'clock in the
afternoon. When Colonel Hawkins had left Washington he had weighed
250 pounds, but his illness had pulled him down to 160, and the remains
could be scarcely recognized by those who knew him. Late that afternoon
the casket was taken to the Washington cemetery, and laid in the Mont-
gomery vault until the funeral which had been postponed until after
the arrival of the Tenth Regiment in Pennsylvania.
   The last rites for Colonel Hawkins, which were held September 1, 1899,
was the greatest military funeral ever held in Washington, and there
was much to remind the old residents of that of Lieutenant Irons, fifty-one
years before. The services were held on the Washington and Jefferson
College campus, and at just 12:30 o'clock the hearse, escorted by a squad
of honor from Company C, Seventeenth Regiment, drew up in front of
the speakers' stand. The floral tributes were many. Gov. W. A. Stone,
sent a chaste wreath, and the others were many and varied.
   As the casket was placed on the stand the Second Regiment band
played "Nearer My God to Thee," and Color Sergt. Harry Cundall, of the
Tenth Regiment, laid over it the old tattered banner that the dead soldier
had followed through the swamps of Luzon.
   Dr. Henry W. Temple opened the exercises with scripture reading, and
Dr. Thomas N. Boyle of Pittsburgh made the prayer. The funeral sermon
was preached by Chaplain Joseph L. Hunter, and his text was "there is
no man that hath power over the spirit; neither hath he power in the day
of death; and there is no discharge in the war, neither shall wickedness
deliver those that are given to it." Dr. James D. Moffat, of Washington
and Jefferson College, concluded the exercises with a brief prayer and
benediction, when the band again played "Nearer My God To Thee."
   The casket was borne to the hearse amid a downpour of rain by a detail
of sergeants from the Tenth Regiment, who has served under the dead
warrior in the Philippines. They were followed by the following honorary
pall bearers: Col. Norman Smith, Colonel Krepps, Major S. L. Wilson,
Bret Hart, James S. Stocking, M. L. A. McCracken, Judge J. A. McIlvaine
and Sheldon Hayes. After them came the military and state dignitaries
who had been on the platform. Col. J. B. R. Streator was chief marshal.
   The cortege was led by the Second Brigade band playing Chopin's
"Funeral March." Immediately behind came the escort of National Guard
Regiments made up of four companies of the Eighteenth Regiment, under
Major R. W. A. Simmons; three companies of the Fourteenth under Major
W. E. Thompson, and Company C, Seventeenth Regiment, under Capt.
Hugh Rogers. The entire contingent was commanded by Col. W. J. Glenn.
The carriages containing the honorary pall bearers and some military
dignitaries followed, after which came the funeral car with a guard of


1058




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


honor, composed of eight sergeants from the Tenth Regiment. Immedi-
ately behind was the commander's horse, riderless, saddled and with boots
reversed in the stirrups. In the carriage immediately behind was Mrs.
Hawkins and daughter, while relatives, friends and military dignitaries
followed in carriages. They were Gen. John A. Wiley, Col. Samuel Moody,
and Col. J. M. Reid, of the governor's staff; Congressman E. Robbins, of
Greensburg; Col. A. J. Logan, L. E. Beitler, deputy secretary of the
commonwealth, representing Governor Stone; Major John J. Penny, State
Senators McCarrell and Meredith and others.
   The Tenth Regiment-Colonel Hawkins own command, the boys who
had followed him through many a terrific battle in the camps of the far-
away Philippines-came next. Lieut.-Col. James E. Barnett led the vet-
erans. He was accompanied by Maj. Bierer, Maj. Cuthbertson, and
Surgeon Neff, and then the line officers, according to rank, after whom
came the Washington land, followed by the non-commissioned officers
and privates, Company H, Colonel Hawkins old company, being in the
lead. They marched as mourners in as sad a funeral procession as ever
passed through the streets of Washington.
   Immediately behind the Tenth were the survivors of the Fifteenth
Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, Colonel Hawkins old regiment of Civil
war days, then the members of William F, Templeton Post, No. 120, and
David Acheson Post (colored), G. A. R., and many other Civil war
veterans from all sections of the county came next. After them came the
Colonel Hawkins Camp, Sons of Veterans (colored), under Capt. Robert
Brown, followed by the John R. Paxton Post, Sons of Veterans, of Canons-
burg, while the general public brought up the rear. And in this order,
amid a heavy downpour of rain, the funeral cortege of one of Washington's
greatest war heroes since Lieutenant Irons, fifty-one years before, passed
slowly through the streets of the town. In spite of the terrific rain the
streets were lined with people, and standing room was at a premium. It
was estimated that fully 40,000 persons saw that procession.
   The ceremonies at the cemetery were brief but impressive. As the
body was lowered into the grave, Sergeant Cundall removed the battle-
scarred flag of the old regiment from the casket and held it until "Taps"
had been sounded for the last time for the dead commander by Bugler
Keffer, of the "Fighting Tenth." A squad from Company C, Seven-
teenth Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, then fired three volleys
over the grave.
   The grave of Colonel Hawkins stands on a knoll in a prominent part
of the cemetery, and is marked by a beautiful monument erected a
short time later.
   The death and funeral of Private Jacob Ollie Cline, a member of
Company H, Tenth Regiment, was more like that of Lieutenant Irons
of Mexican war fame, than any that had taken place in Washington in
over half a century, not excepting that of Colonel Hawkins. Jacob O.
Cline was killed in battle in the Philippines on Easter Sunday, March
26, 1899, during the insurrection in the islands. The body was not
brought home from the Philippines, however, until February, 1900, and
it arrived in Washington on Sunday morning, February 18, on the Balti-
more & Ohio railroad.


1059




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The remains of the dead soldier were taken at once to the home of
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Cline, where they remained until that
afternoon. The funeral services were held in the First Christian church,
West Wheeling Street, where the last rites for Private Harold H. Seal,
another member of Company H, who fell fighting in a foreign land,
were held just nineteen years later.
   The services were opened at 2 o'clock with a song, "Beyond the Smil-
ing and The Weeping," by Messrs. Stevenson, Williams, Owens and Ross.
Dr. Henry W. Temple made the invocation, and the Rev. W. H. Hanna,
pastor of the church, read the scripture, after which there was an anthem,
"The Lord's Prayer." The eulogy for the dead soldier was made by
Doctor Temple, and Reverend Mr. Hanna spoke a few words in his praise.
The services were concluded with prayer. The casket was not opened
during the service.
   The church, which holds over 1,000, was packed to overflowing, and
the streets were lined with people waiting for the funeral procession. It
was after 3 o'clock before the cortege moved from the church to the
cemetery. The following soldiers, who had been comrades of the dead
hero in the Philippines, were the pallbearers: Sergt. James P. Braden,
Corp. Charles H. Rodgers, and Privates George C. Barr, William V.
McCaffrey, Wray G. Zelt and Albert H. Wilson.
   It is interesting to note at this point that William V. McCaffrey's son,
Private William V. McCaffrey, Jr., was the first Company H boy killed
in the World war. He now lies in a grave in France.
   The following were in line: Representatives of the three cantons,
Uniform Ranks, I. O. O. F.; Uniform Ranks, Knights of Pythias; about
200 members of Washington Lodge No. 81, I. O. O. F.; Little Giant Fire
and Hose Company; the Tin Plate band and Washington Military band;
Lieut.-Col. James E. Barnett, Surgeon G. D. McIlvaine, Adjutant Harry
B. Duncan, Lieut. Clarence Rehn, besides other veterans of the Spanish-
American war, who had fought with the dead soldier in the Philippines.
The Odd Fellows burial rites were carried out at the grave, after which
three volleys were fired by a squad composed of his old comrades. They
were Corp. James A. Seaman, G. R. Christman, F. M. Anderson, D. M.
Curran, A. R. Crisswell, C. O. Dunlap, B. D. J. McKeown and H. H. Linn.
"Taps" was sounded by Bugler Smith, of Mount Pleasant, who fought
with the Tenth in the Philippines.
   The body of Private George A. Taylor, of Washington, who served
in Company H, and died March 31, 1899, in the Division Hospital, Manila,
of wounds received in action March 29, at Malolos, was brought back to
the United States and buried at Wilkinsburg.
   Private William M. Braden, of Company H, a resident of Ten Mile
Village, died of disease in the Division Hospital, Manila, September 21,
1898. His body was brought back and interred in the cemetery at
Ten Mile.
   Private James G. Monroe, of Wilkinsburg, a student at Washington
and Jefferson College, who enlisted in Company H, died of disease in the
Division Hospital, Manila, November 4, 1898. The body was brought
back and interred at his home town.
   The casualties of the entire regiment were, fifteen killed in battle, nine


1060





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


died of disease, one reported missing, and seventy wounded in action. The
one man reported missing was Private Grant Cullums, of Stockton, Cali-
fornia, who has been mentioned before.
   Of the men killed in action, Company C lost three; Company D, one;
Company E, five; Company H, two, and Company I, three.
   The wounded from    Washington county were:    Col. Alexander L.
Hawkins, on March 29, 1899; Company A, Corporal Harvey Funkhouser
and Private Arthur Johnston, July 31, 1898; Company H, Lieut. Blaine
Aiken, March 29, 1899; Sergt. John H. Thompson, March 29, 1899; Private
Hiram O. Conger, February 5, 1899; Private Ralph M. Hodgens, March 26,
1899; Private Walter J. Shidler, July 31, 1898; Private Alexander B.
Young, March 29, 1899.
   The Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers was mustered out of the service
of the United States at San Francisco, on August 22, 1899, after being in
the service sixteen months. These veterans of two wars were brought
back to Western Pennsylvania in three special trains provided by the
people at home. When they landed at Pittsburgh on Monday, August 28,
1899, they were given the greatest welcome ever accorded any soldiers in
this section of the country since the close of the Civil war. President
William McKinley reviewed the regiment and took part in the celebration,
which was held at Schenley Park. Other well known men of that time who
took part in the celebration were Gen. Wesley Merritt, under whom the
Tenth had served in the Philippines; Mayor W. J. Diehl, Gov. W. A. Stone,
Robert Pitcairn.
   It required five hours for the parade to reach Schenley Park, and all
along the route it was cheered by thousands of people who had gathered
there that day to welcome the heroes of the Philippines home. The trains
bearing the regiment did not reach Pittsburgh until 2 o'clock in the after-
noon and it was after 7 that evening before the welcome was over. It
was estimated that the parade and reception in Pittsburgh were attended
by over 400,000 people.
   The boys from Washington and Monongahela City, were anxious to
get home, and as soon as the reception was over in Pittsburgh, they
boarded the first trains for here, and they all returned that night. How-
ever, the majority of the members of Company H did not reach Washing-
ton until a late train which arrived here at 3 o'clock Tuesday morning,
August 29. But in spite of the late, or early hour, they were met at
the Chestnut Street station by a large crowd of friends, relatives and
citizens, who had waited patiently for hours for the arrival of the "bum-
mer." But it was a happy crowd, these mothers, wives, fathers, sisters
and sweethearts who welcomed their boys back from the war, and as the
train pulled into the station the soldiers were greeted with a mighty cheer,
and the early morning air was filled with gladness. Whistles blew, bells
rang and the anvils at Mike Ryan's boiler shop nearby sounded a glad
welcome. It was the wildest time Washington had seen since the close
of the Civil war, a third of a century before.
    For days, the people of Washington had been preparing to give their
 Boys of '98 a royal welcome-home celebration, and the date was set for
 Tuesday, August 29, the same day most of them arrived here. The whole
 town was gaily decorated with flags and bunting, and the whole county


1061





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


by Virginia) in 1781, did all in his power to help Clark, as did everyone
else in favor of Virginia. Marshel had been elected county lieutenant of
Washington County under Pennsylvania, and the enmity of the two men
who had thus been elected to fill the same office, each under a different
state, can well be imagined.
    Marshel and his friends called Pentecost and the Virginia contingent
bandits and rebels. The fact that this expedition was to strike a common
foe did not seem to enter into the calculations of the Pennsylvanians.
Those who opposed the plan lived in a section of the county where there
was little danger of the people losing their scalps, while those who joined
Clark's army had more than once heard the forest about their homes ring
with the war cry of the Indian warrior. It is more than probable that if
this expedition had been given the support it deserved by the people of
this county, the disastrous Crawford campaign would never have been
necessary; for a fighter of Clark's caliber would have swept everything
before him. The failure of the expedition, and the massacre of Colonel
Lochry's command must be placed on the heads of those who were really
guilty,-the quarreling politicians of Washington County. Indirectly,
they were guilty of the murder of the Moravians, and the horrible death
of Colonel Crawford at the stake.
   The Supreme Executive council of Pennsylvania ordered General Brod-
head to give Clark all the aid in his power; and this he did. The inhabi-
tants of Westmoreland County supported the expedition and Colonel
Archibald Lochry raised a force of one hundred seven mounted volunteers;
but of them we will speak later.
   The first draft for troops ever made in the United States was in Wash-
ington County for Clark's expedition. This statement may be disputed by
others, but the author has been unable to find any record of actual draft
prior to 1781. This action followed a meeting of Clark's supporters, who
decided to draft the men necessary from this county; but it was not very
successful, for the Pennsylvania supporters refused to obey the summons
on the grounds that Clark was a Virginia officer and they claimed to be
residents of Pennsylvania. They agreed to go if the draft would be
ordered by Pennsylvania.
   Many charges were made against Clark. On July 31st, Thomas Scott,
of Washington County, wrote to President Reed, stating that whatever
may be the end of Clark's expedition, his preparations had been greatly
injurious to Pennsylvania. Colonel James Marshel, Scott, and others
accused Clark of exercising very extraordinary and arbitrary jurisdiction
over the inhabitants of this county in his efforts to force them to join
his army.
   In his own defense Clark wrote to President Reed from Wheeling, after
his expedition had left Fort Pitt, and accused Marshel and others of con-
spiracy against him. He stated that when he had first proposed the
expedition, the people of Washington County were enthusiastic over it,
but, owing to the opposition of Marshel and others, the sentiment had
changed.
   By July 1st, only one hundred forty men were at the rendezvous, three
miles below Fort Pitt. Just how many really did go from Washington
County is not known; for they were led by Dorsey Pentecost, and no record





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


came to Washington to take part in this welcome for the local boys of
the "Fighting Tenth," for everyone was proud of them just as the whole
town is proud of the Boys of 1917. This was the first official welcome-
home demonstration that the town had ever given to its returning soldiers,
and excitement was at fever heat.
   The big event of the day was the parade, which was set for 2 o'clock
and a vast throng was gathered along the streets to witness the pageant.
Col. J. B. R. Streator, a former commander of the old Tenth, was marshal.
The procession formed on Jefferson Avenue, and promptly at 2 o'clock
moved up West Chestnut Street to Main.
    Charles Greer, chief of police, and the other members of the force,
were in the lead, mounted, followed by Colonel Streator, also mounted,
with his aides as follows: Adjutant Harry B. Duncan, of the Tenth,
representing Company H; Grattan G. Best, Company C, Seventeenth Regi-
ment, N. G. P.; James S. Stocking, William F. Templeton Post, No. 120,
G. A. R.; Imri Taylor, I. O. O. F.; John Curran, the ex-members of Com-
pany H; David Vester, K. of P.; and Henry David, Colonel Hawkins Post,
colored Sons of Veterans. Next came Company C, Seventeenth Regiment
N. G. P., commanded by Capt. Hugh Rogers, escorted by the Claysville
Cornet band; members of William F. Templeton Post, No. 120, G. A. R.,
and other Civil war veterans, led by Pat Bane, the Greene County giant,
carrying the colors; ex-members of Company H, escorted by the Amity
Cornet band; Uniform Ranks, Knights of Pythias; Uniform Ranks, I. O.
O. F., and Junior Order United American Mechanics.
   The heroes of the hour, the gallant Boys of '89, who had fought in two
wars in the ranks of Company H, Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry, came
next, led by the Washington Military band. They marched along with
easy tread, these veterans fresh from the battlefields of far-away Luzon,
amid the cheers of thousands of people who lined the streets. In a carriage
immediately behind them was Lieut.-Col. James E. Barnett, who had
brought the command home; Dr. William Denny, Thomas Allison, and
Edward Hitchman, of Canonsburg. Then followed a number of gaily
decorated buggies and floats.
   One of the floats represented the transport "Senator," which had
brought the boys home. It was built by Robert R. Forrest, of Locust
Avenue, and was filled with school children, but owing to an accident at
the hour of starting it was delayed and did not arrive in time to take part
in the parade. However, it came later, and went to the Washington and
Jefferson College campus, where the ceremonies were to take place.
   When the parade arrived at the college campus, the boys of Company
H were given a position in front of the platform that had been erected
for the occasion. Burgess George T. Walker presided. Rev. Thomas H.
Woodring, D. D., pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, pro-
nounced the invocation, after which a chorus of children under the direc-
tion of Prof. J. R. Burke, musical instructor in the public schools, sang
"America," four members of the band giving assistance.
   Burgess Walker then delivered a short informal address of welcome,
followed by M. L. A. McCracken, a Civil war veteran, who delivered the
address of welcome. Alexander Young, a private in Company H, made
the response, thanking the people of Washington on behalf of the officers


1062




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and men of the unit for the royal welcome given them. The children then
sang a chorus of welcome to the soldiers.
    Colonel Norton McGiffin, a veteran of both the Mexican and Civil wars,
who was to have delivered an address, was unable to be present, and his
place was filled by James S. Stocking, who had been a member of the first
company to leave Washington at the outbreak of the Civil war, and who
later served in the famous "Roundhead" regiment.
   Dr. Henry W. Temple, now congressman from the Twenty-fourth Dis-
trict, spoke in memory of those who had marched away with the company
sixteen months before but who were sleeping in soldiers' graves. These
heroes are Col. Alexander L. Hawkins, commander of the regiment, who
died of disease; Privates Jacob O. Cline and George A. Taylor, killed in
action; and Privates William M. Braden and James G. Monroe, died of
disease in Manila.
   After a medley of patriotic airs by the Military band, the members of
Company H lined up in front of the stand to receive the gold medals the
people of Washington presented to them. The presentation speech was
made by Dr. James D. Moffat, president of the college. At its conclusion
each soldier stepped forward and Miss Jessie Hawkins, daughter of their
dead commander, pinned a medal on his coat. The demonstration was con-
cluded with a banquet in the college.
   When the Tenth Regiment was mustered into the service of the United
States at Mount Gretna on May 11 and 12, 1898, it consisted of thirty-six
officers and 604 men. Additional enlistments afterwards brought the
strength up to forty-two officers and 892 men. When the regiment was
mustered out at San Francisco on August 22, 1899, there were thirty-three
officers and 736 men. Eight officers had resigned or been discharged prior
to that date, and one, Colonel Hawkins, had died. Twelve enlisted men in
the regiment were killed in battle and six died of disease, while twenty-one
enlisted men had been transferred, twenty discharged because of physical
disabilities resulting from wounds received in action; one man was dis-
charged by order of court martial, and ninety-three were discharged by a
general order, making a total loss of 156 from all causes. Seven officers
and sixty-one men in the regiment were wounded in action.
   The boys of Company A were given a similar celebration by the citi-
zens of Monongahela city, following their return, and it was fully as
large as that at Washington. All of the river section of the county turned
out to do honor to its heroes of 1898. In 1915, "The Hiker" monument was
erected in front of the post office at Monongahela, in honor of the boys
of Monongahela and the old Tenth, who fought in the Philippines. On ac-
count of its long marches through the swamps of Luzon in pursuit of the
Philippine insurgents the old Tenth was known as "The Hiker" regiment,
and this monument shows one of the "Boys of '98," in campaign equip-
ment, just as they appeared when in pursuit of Aguinaldo's warriors.
   The following is the list of daily movements and activities of the
"Fighting Tenth" during the Spanish-American war and Philippine in-
surrection, from the time it left Mt. Gretna until Companies A and H
arrived home:
   May 11-12, 1898-Mustered into the service of the United States at
Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania.


1063





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   May 18, 1898-Left Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania, for San Francisco,
California, enroute for the Philippines.
   May 25, 1898-Arrived in San Francisco, California.
   June 15, 1898-Left San Francisco for Manila, P. I., on United States
Transport Zealandia.
   July 17, 1898-Arrived in Manila Bay.
   July 31-August 1, 1898-Battle of Malate fought with Spanish troops;
Tenth lost six killed in action, two mortally wounded, and twenty-seven
wounded and recovered.
   August 13, 1898-Took part in the assault and capture of the city of
Manila.
   August 14, 1898-February 4, 1899-Engaged in guard and patrol duty
about the city of Manila; Companies H and I stationed in old Zorrillia
Theatre.
   September 10, 1899-Private William H. Crable, Company E, from
Juniataville, Pennsylvania, died of disease in Cavite Hospital.
   September 21, 1899-Private William M. Braden, Company H, from
Ten Mile, Pennsylvania, died of disease in Brigade hospital, Manila.
   September 30, 1898-William T. Doran (Searchlight), Mascot, died of
disease at Manila.
   October 22, 1898-Private Henry H. Weaver, Company K, from
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, died of disease at Division hospital, Manila.
   November 4, 1898-Private James G. Monroe, Company H, from Wil-
kinsburg, Pennsylvania, died of disease in Regimental hospital, Manila.
   January, 1899-Private William K. McAllister, Company H, from Alle-
gheny, Pennsylvania, died of disease at Manila.
   January 15, 1899-Private Frank Brain, Company C, from Union-
town, Pennsylvania, in First Reserve hospital, Manila.
   January 27, 1899-Private Grant Cullums, Company C, from Stockton,
California, sent to insurgent lines, near Manila, as a spy, by order of
Major General Otis; never heard from again; believed to have been cap-
tured and killed by insurgents._ He was the Spanish interpreter of the
regiment.
   February 4, 1899-Philippine Insurrection broke out at 10:10 P. M.;
Tenth rushed to support of front lines and held position until daylight.
   February 5, 1899-Tenth advanced against the insurgents and captured
the Chinese hospital and cemetery, and De La Loma Church and block-
house after sharp fighting; Tenth lost one killed and seven wounded.
   February 6 to March 24, 1899-Regiment occupied trenches near De
La Loma Church; Private John A. Hennessey, Company E, wounded Feb-
ruary 25.
   March 25, 1899-Tenth started advance against insurgents; enemy
driven back and regiment halted at Tuliahan River at dark; Tenth lost
one killed and four woundeq.
   March 26, 1899-Sharp fighting with insurgents near Polo; Tenth cap-
tured villages of Obando and South Meycauayan; Tenth lost one killed and
six wounded; Private Jacob O. Cline, of Company H, killed and Ralph M.
Hodgens, also of Company H, wounded, near Polo.
   March 27, 1899-Tenth engaged with enemy near Marilao; Tenth lost
two wounded.


1064





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    March 29, 1899-Tenth started advance towards Malolos; sharp fight.
ing with the enemy near Bocani, Bigas and Guiguinta; Tenth lost three
killed and ten wounded; George A. Taylor, Company H, mortally wounded
near Guiguinta, and Colonel Hawkins, Lieut. Blaine Aiken, Sgt. John H.
Thompson, Pvts. A. B. Young and George C. Barr, all of Company H,
wounded.
   March 30, 1899-Tenth still advancing towards Malolos; lost one killed
and two wounded.
    March 31, 1899-Malolos captured by the Tenth after sharp fighting.
    April 1-13, 1899-Tenth stationed at Malolos.
    April 14, 1899-Tenth ordered back to Manila, after having been on
duty on the firing line continuously since February 4; reached Manila the
same day and was sent to Cavite across the bay from Manila to relieve
the Fifty-first Iowa Infantry on garrison duty; Colonel Hawkins appointed
commander of military district of Cavite.
   April 15-July 1, 1899-Tenth stationed at Cavite on patrol and scout
duty; had many brushes with insurgents.
   May 11, 1899-Colonel Hawkins relinquished his post as commander
of Cavite district and Lieutenant-Colonel Barnett appointed in his place;
Colonel Hawkins went to hospital.
   July 18, 1899-Colonel Hawkins died at sea on board the Senator.
   July 1, 1899-Tenth sails from Manila for San Francisco on U. S.
Transport Senator, via Nagasaki and Yokahama, Japan.
   July 19, 1899-Each company of regiment viewed remains of their
colonel.
   July 22, 1899-Private Sylvester B. Bobbs, Company E, from Mount
Pleasant, Pennsylvania, died at sea on U. S. hospital ship Morgan City.
He had been wounded in action at Malate, July 31, 1898.
   August 1, 1899-Transport Senator anchored in San Francisco Bay.
   August 3, 1899-Regiment left transport and marched to Presidio mili-
tary reservation.
   August 5, 1899-Funeral of Colonel Hawkins in Masonic Temple, San
Francisco, California; body started east that evening in charge of Chaplain
Joseph Hunter.
   August 22, 1899-Tenth mustered out of United States service at Pre-
sidio; regiment left on three sections of a special train that evening for
Pennsylvania.
   August 28, 1899-Tenth arrived at Pittsburgh and was given big re-
ception.
   August 29, 1899-Company H arrived in Washington, Pennsylvania,
and was given big reception by people of town.
   September 1, 1899-Funeral of Colonel Hawkins in Washington, Penn-
sylvania.
   Other soldiers from Washington County enlisted and served during
the Spanish-American war. A full list is not available, but the following
are known:
   Private Edward K. Lane, of West Middletown, served under Col. Theo-
dore Roosevelt in the First United States Volunteer Cavalry, better known
as the "Rough Riders." Mr. Lane was working on a cattle ranch in Kan-


1065





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


sas when the war broke out and he immediately enlisted. He served
through the Cuban campaign.
   Sergeant Erron K. Lyle, Company C, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Volun-
teer Infantry, of Washington, Pennsylvania.
   Private Joseph P. Lyons, Company C, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Volun-
teer Infantry, of McDonald.
   Private William C. Beatty, of Washington, enlisted in the ambulance
corps and served with the Red Cross during the Cuban campaign, after
which he went to the Philippines.
   Private Paul A. A. Core of Washington enlisted in Company F, Four-
teenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served at Summerville, South
Carolina.
   Corporal William H. Weirich enlisted in the Second West Virginia In-
fantry; died November 19, 1898.
   Corporal W. Aiders enlisted in Company B, First West Virginia In-
fantry.
   Private Carl Majors enlisted in the Tenth Ohio Infantry.
   Private George Bental of Washington enlisted in Astor's Battery,
raised by Col. John Jacob Astor, and served in the Philippines.
   Private George H. Brady enlisted in the Pennsylvania Artillery.
   Frank B. Hawkins, son of Col. A. L. Hawkins, went out as first lieu-
tenant of Company H. He afterwards received a commission as a lieuten-
ant in the regular army, and during the World war served in France as a
colonel. When the Tenth Regiment held its reunion in Washington, on
July 31, 1920, Colonel Hawkins attended, seeing his old comrades for the
first time since leaving the command in the Philippines in 1898. He is
now stationed at Lansing, Michigan, as the regular army officer in charge
of the Michigan National Guard.
   Clyde B. Hawkins, another son of Col. A. L. Hawkins, is a graduate
of West Point, and served in the regular army during the Spanish-Ameri-
can war with the rank of lieutenant. He was commissioned a colonel dur-
ing the World war and served in France. He is now stationed at Fort
Sam Houston, Texas, and is in charge of the quartermaster department
for the Southwest.
   When President McKinley issued his call for 125,000 volunteers to fight
for the old flag in the war for humanity against Spain, there was a rush
of Washington boys to join Company H, for it was certain that it would
be the first to go, and its war quota was soon filled. Two other com-
panies were immediately formed in Washington and their services offered
to the governor. They were never called, but had the war lasted it is
very probable that they would have received first consideration in the call
for volunteers.
   The first of these companies was organized by John G. Good, an old
national guardsman who had been a member of Company H. He will be
remembered by the people of Washington as conducting a bicycle and gun
repair shop for many years in the Sample Building on Strawberry Alley.
He left Washington a number of years ago. The students of Washington
and Jefferson College were especially patriotic and many of them joined
Company H. A company was formed at college, and for the remainder
of the college year it drilled every week.


1066










CHAPTER CIII.


                       THE WORLD WAR.
               Selective Service and Local Activities.
UNITED STATES ENTERS THE WORLD WAR-SELECTIVE SERVICE DIS.
    TRICTS IN COUNTY-LOCAL BOARDS-FIRST REGISTRATION FIGURES-
    THE FIRST SOLDIERS TO LEAVE WASHINGTON COUNTY-JUDGE McIL-
    VAINE'S FAREWELL SPEECH-LIST OF SELECTIVE SERVICE CONTIN-
    GENTS WITH DATES OF LEAVING-STUDENT ARMY TRAINING CORPS
    OF W. & J.-THE COMMUNITY DRUM CORPS-LIBERTY LOAN PARADE-
    WORLD WAR WORK IN THE COUNTY-COUNTY PHYSICIANS IN THE
    SERVICE-LAWYERS IN THE SERVICE.
    As soon as the United States entered the World war means for secur-
ing soldiers was the main subject under discussion for several years and
finally the draft or selective service method was decided upon by Congress.
As soon as this act was passed, local registration boards were appointed in
each county. Washington County was divided into five districts. Under
the law, the sheriff had charge of all registration.
   The central registration board for the entire county was composed
of Sheriff Frank B. Wickerham, of Monongahela; County Commissioner
John Watson, of North Charleroi, and Dr. E. M. Hazlett, of Washington.
   The first registration in Washington County was held on June 5, 1917,
when a total of 18,904 young men between the ages of 21 and 30 years
were enrolled for military service. The county was then divided into five
districts with Washington as the headquarters for No. 1. The board for
this district was composed of Frank B. Wickerham, chairman; Dr. E. M.
Hazlett and A. W. Clemens.
   District No. 2, John C. Rogers of McDonald, chairman; Virgil M.
McDowell of Midway, and Dr. A. V. Donaldson of Avella.
   District No. 3, headquarters at Canonsburg, was governed by the fol-
lowing board: Dr. S. M. Dague of Houston, chairman; J. Elmer John-
ston of Peters Township, J. L. Cochran of Canonsburg, later succeeded
by Thomas M. Reese.
   The board of District No. 4, headquarters at Elsworth, was composed
of Dr. H. J. Kirby of Cokeburg, J. Frank Emery of Millsborough, and Joe
C. Cowan of Roscoe.
   The board of District No. 5, with headquarters at Donora, was com-
posed of John Watson of North Charleroi, Gilbert E. Kodel of Donora,
Dr. C. B. Wood, of Monongahela, succeeded by Dr. R. S. Stewart, of
Monongahela.
   These boards started the work officially on July 5, 1917, and completed
it and were discharged on March 31, 1919. No records remain in Wash-
ington County of the work accomplished by these boards, for all papers
were immediately boxed up by them and shipped to the war department
as soon as they closed their offices. For this reason it is impossible to
                               1067





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


determine the exact number of selective service men who left Washington
County, the quotas from each district being different.
   The registration on June 5, 1917, showed a total of 18,904 registered
in the county between the ages of 21 and 30 years, divided as follows:
Americans, white, 10,977; Americans, colored, 700; aliens, 7,183; enemy
aliens, 44; total number of whites claiming exemptions, 6,850; total colored
claiming exemptions, 385.
   The following figures for the county compiled by the central board
are of interest in connection with the total number registered. Total num-
ber disabled, 85; number claiming exemptions as having dependent rela-
tives, 6,677; probable exemptions, 298; number exemptions claimed, 3,905;
colored, 7 disabled. Total claiming dependent relatives, 385; probable ex-
emptions, 12; total exemptions, 404; number not claiming exemptions, 296.
   Pennsylvania sent 225,977 men to training camps and the navy in ad-
dition to the National Guard, which brings the grand total up to about
300,000 men. The rejections throughout the state were 8.65 per cent,
including the men turned back on the last day.
   The figures for the districts of Washington County during the period
of the war follow:
                                                           Per Cent.
District              Inducted    Rejected    Accepted     Rejections
No. 1                   1,018         78          940        6.56
No. 2                   1,008         78          930        7.74
No. 3                    745          54          691        7.25
No. 4                    913          60          852        6.58
No. 5                   1,357         73        1,284        5.38

                        5,041        343        4,697       33.51
   Average percentage rejections for county, 6.702.
   The figures for the registration held September 12, 1918, for all men
between the ages of 18 and 45 years inclusive, are not available except for
District No. 1, which are as follows: Total number registered, 4,120;
citizens, 3,565; aliens, 379; white, 3,749; negro, 347.
   After the United States entered the World war, Company H, Tenth
Regiment, was not the first group of soldiers to leave Washington for the
front. This honor fell to a contingent of twelve selective service men to
first be sent from the local draft district. Early in September, Sheriff
Frank B. Wickerham, chairman of Washington County Draft District
No. 1, received notice to send twelve men to Camp Sherman, Ohio, on
Wednesday, September 5, 1917, and the board issued a call for twelve
volunteers. There was no trouble in securing the men for many more than
the required number came forward at once.
   On September 6 the people of Washington received their first real im-
pression of war, when their first boys left. The veterans of the '60s and
the other old residents of the town recalled that day 56 years before when
the first company of volunteers marched away from here at the outbreak
of the Civil war. There were very few of that first company to bid these
twelve soldier boys of 1917 God-speed on their long journey to France.
   The following twelve men were finally selected: William K. Arm-
strong, of West Alexander, appointed captain of the contingent; Arthur


1068





































    The first contingent of soldiers that left Washington County for the World War.
Taken on the Court House steps, Washington, September 5, 1917, the day they went
to Camp Sherman, Ohio. They all served overseas and all returned safely.


    Judge J. A. McIlvaine delivering farewell address from Court House steps to
the first contingent (twelve men) of selective service men who left Washington for
the World War, September 5, 1917. The draftees are shown standing in civilian clothes
at the foot of the steps. In the street is Company H, 110th Infantry, which escorted
them to the Baltimore & Ohio Station.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


David R. Krause, Washington; Monteith P. Kohler, Washington; William
Richards, Washington; James Shannon Martin, East Washington; David
Allison Conger, Morris Township; Ralph N. Lincoln, Washington; David
Arthur Iseman, East Washington; Charles R. Martin, Washington; David
Glenn Myers, Amwell Township; Earl C. Dalton, Washington; Robert W.
Dunbar, Washington.
   The twelve men met at the sheriff's office in the courthouse promptly
at 9 o'clock in the morning, and after receiving instructions from the draft
board, they gathered in front of the courthouse, where the first farewell
address made to a group of soldiers leaving Washington for war in over
half a century, was delivered by Judge J. A. McIlvaine, who had witnessed
many such departures during the '60s. That address has been preserved
and is given here as a matter of history, for it was one of the best ever
made in Washington on such an occasion:
   "You are to be congratulated on the distinction and honor that this hour
and occasion brings to you, who are being mobilized in camps throughout
the country to be drilled and disciplined preparatory to going into a foreign
land to fight the battle of human liberty and to establish throughout the
world those democratic principles of human government in which our
nation glories. We cannot tell what the issue will be. God only knows
how this great war will end. But you can go forth with the consciousness
that you are fighting for the righteous and liberty, and you can well leave
the result to Him who does no wrong.
   "Our great army is divided into three branches-the Regular army,
the National guard and the National army to which you belong. Much
may be said in favor of those who compose these different branches of our
army. The young men who compose the regular army and the National
guard volunteered. They went out to fight the battles of their country
on the patriotic impulses that led them to enlist. There was something
impulsive about their action. You who belong to the National army are
to be honored just as much, and from some points of view even more.
You stood ready and waited the call. But when it came you responded
promptly and said, 'Send me first.'
   "There is something grand in that poise of character of the young
man who controls his impulses and yet who stands ready and awaits the
call. You who compose the five per cent that this day are the vanguard
of this National army, lead the way, and soon you will be there, soon you
will be drilled and disciplined and ready for the fray. As we bid you good-
bye, we know not what may be in store for you; there is but to be brave
and faithful to your calling and trust in God for the rest. Whatever may
happen to you, you can rest assured that your countrymen all will honor
you for the step that you have thus taken, and you will find your name
enrolled among those who have not only fought in support of your country's
flag, but in the cause of a world-wide human liberty.
   "Good-bye. May God bless and keep you all."
   The twelve men were lined up on the pavement facing the steps from
which Judge McIlvaine made his address. In the street behind them was
Company H, under Captain Aiken, which was then about to leave for Camp
Hancock.
   At the conclusion of the speech, Company H fell into line. Immedi-


1070





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ately behind was the selective service board composed of Sheriff Frank
B. Wickerham, chairman; Dr. E. M. Hazlett and A. W. Clemens. Then
came the Civil war veterans and soldiers of the Spanish-American war
and the Community Drum Corps, which took part afterwards in the fare-
well to every group of selective service men that left Washington during
the war. The Board of Trade, carrying the large flag that now floats over
Main Street in front of the courthouse followed, after which came the
twelve selectives.
   When the Baltimore and Ohio station was reached sad farewells were
said, and at 9:55 o'clock the train for the West came in and in a few,
minutes Washington's first contingent was off to the war.
   The dates of the call and the number of men from District No. 1 follow:
   September 5, 1917, twelve men left Washington for Camp Sherman,
Ohio.
   September 20, 1917, eighty-five men left Washington for Camp Sher-
man, Ohio.
   October 6, 1917, sixty-nine men left Washington for Camp Sherman.
   October 27, 1917, nineteen colored draftees left Washington for Camp
Sherman.
   December 5, 1917, twenty-three volunteers, who enrolled in the regular
army, at the local recruiting station, left Washington for Columbus Bar-
racks, Ohio.
   December 8, 1917, twenty-one volunteers who enrolled in the regular
army at the local recruiting station, left Washington for Columbus Bar-
racks, Ohio.
   December 12, 1917, eleven volunteers who enrolled at the local recruit-
ing station in the regular army, left Washington for Columbus Barracks,
Ohio.
   December 14, 1917, the fifth and last contingent, containing forty-nine
men, in the first call for selective service men, left Washington for Camp
Sherman, Ohio.
   This made a total of 235 selective service men and fifty-five volunteers
in the regular army. However, this district received credit on the selec-
tive service quota for the men who enlisted in the regular army, making
a total of 290 men from District No. 1.
    The dates upon which draftees left the other four districts in the
county were approximately the same as those for District No. 1, with a
variation of possibly a day earlier or later.
    The next call was on February 6, 1918, when twelve selective service
men were sent from Washington to Camp Sherman, Ohio. The dates of
the other calls follow:
   April 2, 1918, thirty-three selective service men left Washington for
Camp Lee, Virginia. These boys all volunteered at a call issued by the
local board for draftees to fill the contingent to leave at that time.
   April 26, 1918, nineteen selective service men left Washington for
Camp Sherman, Ohio. Eighteen of these men were from the Washington
district and one was a transfer from Staunton, Virginia.
    May 25, 1918, 157 selective service men left Washington for Camp
Greenleaf at Lytle, Georgia. Rev. Alexander McClurg, pastor of the
Second United Presbyterian Church of Washington, who made the farewell


1071





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was kept of their names, as Colonel Marshel, the county lieutenant under
Pennsylvania, refused to recognize the expedition.
   Colonel Marshel's influence came about from the fact that he had been
instrumental in having Washington County created by the Pennsylvania
assembly in April, 1781, from that part of Westmoreland County lying
west of the Monongahela River. This had formerly been Yohogania
County, Virginia. His expenses had been paid to Philadelphia by the peo-
ple of this section, and he had secured the commissions of county lieu-
tenant, recorder and register of wills of the new county from the assembly.
   On June 17th, a war party of twenty Indians wounded one man and
carried off a whole family; but even this did not cause M1\arshel's adherents
to support Clark.
   Much valuable time was lost in trying to get men. Those who did join
became dissatisfied and many deserted, and Clark soon saw that he would
have no army at all unless he started soon. The old records state that
the greater part of Clark's army was composed of Washington County
men. Surely the conqueror of the Northwest must have compared such
cowards with the sturdy Virginians who had followed him three years
before over this same territory. Lochry's Westmoreland County contin-
gent and Shepherd's Ohio County men were the pick of the entire army.
They were all bordermen and fighters. Unfortunately the former never
joined Clark; for the greatest misfortune befell him and his brave com-
panions.
   Finally, Clark left Fort Pitt and proceeded down the Ohio to Fort
Henry, where he was joined by Colonel David Shepherd's Ohio County
volunteers; but Colonel Lochry had not arrived by the time Clark was
ready to leave, and so, on August 8th, he started down the river with his
entire force, including artillery. He left orders at Fort Henry for Lochry
to follow with all speed. Great events often hang by a thread. Lochry
arrived twelve hours later. If Clark had waited for him the massacre of
Lochry and his men would not have occurred, and the expedition might
have been more successful.




                         CHAPTER XIX.

                              1781.
                CLARK'S EXPEDITION, Continued.
                      LOCHRY'S DEFEAT.
DO \ N THE 011IO-CAPTURE OF SHANNON--LOCHRY'S MEN SURPRZISED
   AND DEFEATED BY JOSEPH BRANT'S WARRIORS-SITE OF THE BATTLE
   -LOCHRY'S ISLAND-ANDERSON'S JOURNAL-CAPTIVES TAKEN TO
   CANADA-ANDERSON'S ESCAPE--MUSTER ROLL OF THE EXPEDITION-
   SURVIVORS-THOMAS STOKELY SETTLES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-
   SECOND RECORDER AND A BIG LAND OWNER-HIS DEATH-CAPTAIN
   ROBERT ORR^S ADVENTURES IN CANADA-JAMES McPHERSON-SQUA-
   LA-KA-KE-JOHN DANNELL, "THE LAST OF THE OLD PIONEERS"-
   CLARK'S MEN AGREED TO MEET WHERE CINCINNATI NOW STANDS-
   ONE OF THE LAST SURVIVORS OF THE EXPEDITION.


100





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


address to the men, lost his oldest son just a year ago, killed fighting with
the Canadian troops in France.
   June 1, 1918, twenty-four selective service men left Washington for
Camp Greenleaf at Lytle, Georgia.
   June 28, 1918, twenty-two selective service men left Washington for
Camp Lee, Virginia. Nineteen of these were from the local district and
three were transfers from other sections.
   July 26, 1918, fifty-seven selective service men left Washington for
Camp Lee, at Petersburg, Virginia. Fifty-two were from the Washing-
ton district and five were transfers from other sections.
   August 5, 1918, thirty-seven colored selective service men left Wash.
ington for Camp Custer, Battle Creek, Michigan. These were joined at
the station by six from Waynesburg and in camp twenty-eight others
joined the party.
   August 8, 1918, sixteen selective service men went from Washington
to Camp Wadsworth, at Spartansburg, South Carolina.
   August 15, 1918, seven selective service men were sent to the University
of Pittsburgh for special training as auto mechanics.
   August 23, 1918, four colored selective service men left Washington
for Camp Lee, Virginia.
   August 29, 1918, one selective service man left Washington.
   August 30, 1918, fifty selective service men left Washington for Camp
Lee, Virginia.
   August 31, 1918, one selective service man left Washington.
   September 1, 1918, four colored selective service men left Washington
for Camp Sherman, Ohio.
   September 3, 1918, six selective service men left Washington for Camp
Sherman, Ohio, and forty-four for Camp Forrest, Lytle, Georgia.
   September 5, 1918, fifty-two selective service men left Washington for
Camp Greenleaf, Lytle, Georgia.
   September 9, 1918, six selective service men left Washington for special
training at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
   October 2, 1918, three selective service men left Washington for Fort
Thomas, Newport, Kentucky.
   October 15, 1918, three selective service men left Washington for special
training in the University of Pittsburgh.
   October 17, 1918, seventeen colored selective service men left Washing-
ton for Camp Greene, Charlotte, North Carolina.
   Fifteen selective service men were ordered to leave on October 23,
1918, for Camp Meade, Maryland. They met at the courthouse and were
given the usual farewell address and demonstration, after which they
marched to the railroad station, but just before the arrival of the train
a telegram came ordering them to remain at home on account of the in-
fluenza epidemic, which was sweeping through the training camps.
   On October 28, 1918, the state draft headquarters issued a call for
6,700 men to go from Pennsylvania to Camp Crane at Allentown, and
Camp Meade, Maryland, during the five-day period beginning November
11. None of these men, however, were called upon, as the armistice was
signed on the first day of the period.
   On November 10, 1918, three selective service men were sent from


1072




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Washington to Camp Polk, Raleigh, North Carolina, for the tank service.
This was the last contingent of soldiers to leave Washington during the
World war.
   The fifteen men who had been ordered to leave on October 23, but
were stopped in the last minute by a telegram ordering them to remain
at home, were afterwards instructed to leave Washington on November 11.
These men were all ready to go to Camp Meade at 6:43 o'clock in the
evening, but they were again stopped at the railroad station at the last
minute by a telegram, received just before the train arrived, which ordered
draft movement to cease. Thus this contingent of fifteen men had twice
been ordered out and each time stopped at the railroad station just before
the arrival of the train which was to carry them away to war.
   During the period of the war the regular army had a recruiting station
in Washington in charge of Corporal Evans. Each time a contingent of
men volunteered in the army they were given farewell demonstrations
by the people of Washington and escorted to the railroad station.
   On March 11, 1918, two volunteered in the regular army and left Wash-
ington, one going to Ellington Field and the other to College, Maryland.
Both entered the aviation service.
   March 12, 1918, three volunteers in the regular army left Washington,
two going to Fort McArthur, Waco, Texas, and the other to Camp Meade,
Admiral, Maryland.
   March 15, 1918, eight volunteers in the aviation service left Washington
for Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas.
   May 10, 1918, nineteen volunteers in the regular army left Washing-
ton for Columbus Barracks.
   This makes a total of 584 selective service men and thirty-two volun-
teers in the regular army, or a grand total of 616, who left Washington in
1918, making approximately 906 men who left District No. 1, during the
period of the war. This does not include the men of Company H, nor a
number of men who had re-enlisted in the regular army through the local
recruiting station before the war was declared.
   There were approximately 900 men or a few more, from District No. 1.
The exact number of men sent from Washington County during the war is
not known, as no records are available, but figured on this basis, it would
make the entire number something over 4,000. This is not quite twice as
many as volunteered from Washington during the Civil war.
   The Student Army Training Corp was established in Washington and
Jefferson College on October 1, 1918, with 350 students who were enlisted
in the regular army. This was in charge of Lieut. Nelson E. Whitaker, of
the regular army. From that time until December 15, 1918, Washington
and Jefferson College was a military school.
   After a contingent of selective service men or other soldiers who left
Washington were given a farewell send-off by the citizens of the town,
and some prominent man had made a farewell speech to the boys after
they had gathered at the courthouse just before leaving for the railroad
station, they were accompanied by a parade of citizens, headed by the
Community Drum Corp, composed of George E. McCaskey, leader; Frank
Phenney, fifer; Elmer R. Deems, Francis Isiminger, Mark K. Kenny, and
       68-V1


1073





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


John Smith, tenor drummers; Wylie Isiminger, bass drummer; and Gilbert
Isiminger, flag bearer.
   No matter what the weather was every one of these men turned out for
every contingent of soldiers who left Washington during the war. A large
American flag was carried in every one of these parades by a group of
business men and as it passed along the streets people standing on the
curbs dropped money into it as a collection for the boys to use when they
were away at camp.
   One of the big local events in Washington during the war was the
Fourth Liberty Loan parade and demonstration September 28, 1918. This
was the longest parade in the history of the town, either before or since
that time, and it required 2 hours and 25 minutes to pass a given point.
It was composed of floats, local organizations of war orders, factory work-
ers and munition workers.

                  WORLD WAR WORK IN THE COUNTY.
   The soldiers did the fighting in the old days, but in great modern con-
flicts the whole nation goes to war. The boys in khaki from Washing-
ton County carried the county's banners to Flanders, but every man,
woman and child left behind was in the great fight, struggling night and
day to produce the supplies necessary to keep the armies in action.
   Estimates place the number of persons actually engaged in essential
industries in Washington County at 42,000. There were not men enough
for the men's work, so the women were called on, and they responded
nobly. They packed glass at Charleroi, they cut glass at Monongahela
City, they worked at the furnaces for the Imperial Glass Company, they
donned overalls and trucked boxes for the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Com-
pany at Charleroi, they worked in the tin plate mills at Canonsburg, in
the glass factories at Washington, and in the steel mills at Donora. This
was not a man's war-it was everybody's war, and the patient essential
service of the American women at home was more important to the suc-
cess of the Allied arms than were the sacrifices of the Battalion of Death
in Russia.
   The greatest work in Washington County was in the coal mines. The
alarming shortage of coal must be overcome and Washington County
helped to do it. With fewer men working in the mines than were em-
ployed in 1917, the county increased its coal output nearly a million tons,
paid in wages to its coal miners alone 824,000,000, who supplied coal with
a market value of close to $60,000,000. Nearly, if not quite 3,000 acres
of coal were depleted, Washington County's contribution from its natural
resources to the success of our armies in the world war. The coal under
more than twenty farms of ordinary size gone forever, burned up in the
great conflict.
   Thousands of tons of this coal were turned into coke, to burn in mak-
ing big guns, into acetanelid, phenacetin and aspirin to relieve the suffer-
ing on the battlefields and in the trenches; lysol, germol, cresol and their
constituents for necessary disinfectants; picric acid, melenite, T. N. T.,
and other high explosives used to teach manners to the Hun.
   The steel industry in Washington County furnished an amazing


1074

































    Truck train in charge of soldiers passing through Washington County
in May, 1918, going over the National Pike from the west to the Atlantic Coast
during the World War. These trucks were shipped overseas.


    Washington's community flag, used during the World War. This flag, the largest
in Washington, was carried by a group of citizens in each farewell procession escort-
ing soldiers leaving Washington for the World War during 1917 and 1918. While
passing through the streets in each of these processions, people standing on the side-
walks threw money on the flag as a donation to the boys leaving for the front. This
flag is preserved in the court house.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


amount of war material. The big mills at Donora supplied miles on miles
of heavy barbed wire for trench entanglements, thousands of tons of
steel for cantonments and warehouses in France, steel plates for ship, and
was just ready when the armistice was signed to deliver steel in proper
shape for shells and other munitions.
   The Universal Rolling Mill at Charleroi was rolling light armor plates
for artillery tractors; the Jessop Steel Company in Washington was also
producing armor plates. The Pittsburgh Window Glass Company of
Washington was annealing and fabricating armor plates, and the Duncan-
Miller Glass Company also of Washington, was assembling them. The
Tyler Tube and Pipe Company's product ultimately reached the boilers
of battleships, and the ferro alloys produced by the Electric Reduction
Company were necessary for the making of high speed steel essential in
war work.
   The Standard Tin Plate Company of Canonsburg and the Washington
Tin Plate Company produced millions of tin plates made into food con-
tainers for the armies. The annealing boxes in which such plates are
softened and annealed, were made at the plant of the National Wrought
Iron Annealing Box Company in Washington.
   The glass industry worked almost exclusively on war products. The
big Hazel-Atlas plants in Washington were making food and medicine
containers; the American Photo and Export Glass Company at Monon-
gahela City was producing thousands of glass "eyes" for gas masks; and
the Highland Glass Company in Washington was making wire glass and
rough rolled plate glass for cantonments, warehouses and air service sta-
tions in France.
   At Charleroi, the Macbeth-Evans Glass Company was producing a
number of essential glass products, among them battleship searchlight
mirrors, lenses for government lighthouses and ship's running lights. The
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company in the adjoining plant was making
glass for parabolic signal mirrors, heavy plate glass for porthole lights
on battleships and destroyers, and various grades of optical glass for
range finders, binoculars and cameras-an achievement worthy of a dis-
tinguished service cross.
   Radium is a war essential-decidedly so, and Canonsburg was pro-
ducing it in the furnaces of the Standard Chemical Company, while over
in Monongahela the glass for X-ray dry plates reached quantity produc-
tion, both essential in hospital work.
   At Langeloth the American Zinc and Chemical Company was pro-
ducing large quantities of sulphuric acid, excelled in capacity only by the
Donora Zinc Works, and sulphuric acid was used to make explosives. This
acid was exceedingly scarce at the commencement of the war and Wash-
ington County did her full share to supply the demand.
   The Charleroi Iron Works made ship's bearings, sent to Florida for
use on American battleships and destroyers, and the Pittsburgh Steel
Products Company commenced operations in Allen Township in time to
help supply the endless demand for steel.
   The Beaver Refinery in Washington was contributing petrolatum or
vaseline, gasoline, fuel oil, lubricating oil and other greases essential for


1076





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


war industries, and the Findlay Clay Pot Company in Washington kept
the glass furnaces going with necessary clay products.
   The farmers of Washington County produced thousands of pounds
of the finest wool in the country, taken by a beneficent government at
the same price it paid for the inferior western product, and wool was one
of the greatest essentials of the whole war. Nature, not content with
surrendering her coal treasures in Washington County for war uses,
gave up thousands of barrels of crude oil unexcelled by any other oil in
the world.
   Rich in natural resources, rich in patriotism, a great county did a
great service to quell the Hun holocaust that swept the world.
   During the war, the following physicians from Washington County
served in the medical corps of the United States army both in this coun-
try and overseas: Drs. J. W. Allen, W. T. Anderson, D. M. Bell, W. T.
Bodkin, H. F. Bailey, J. F. Brennan, David Beveridge, J. H. Cary, J. H.
Corsonn, F. F. Cobb, L. DeH. Donaldson, J. A. Douglas, C. S. Dixon,
W. R. Dickson, G. B. Dunkle, D. H. Edwards, J. W. Farquhar, R. C. Far-
quhar, R. G. Furlong, J. A. Gormley, E. J. Hazlett, T. J. Hanlin, C. H.
Hays, E. J. Johnson, S. Kallaway, J. C. Kelso, J. J. Kloski, S. A. Kamerer,
J. C. Knox, R. A. Knox, F. L. Knox, C. M. Lane, C. B. Lamp, O. G. Lewis,
C. F. Linn, H. R. Lynch, T. L. McCullough, C. J. McCullough, J. S. Mc-
Cartney, G. L. McKee, E. M. McKay, J. W. McKennan, J. B. McMurray,
G. E. Patterson, R. S. Parry, E. H. Perry, E. O. Peterson, H. P. Prowitt,
G. W. Ramsey, H. J. Repmen, S. A. Ruben, S. H. Rinehart, L. D. Sargent,
S. L. Scott, W. L. Scott, W. J. Shidler, P. C. Smith, R. A. Stewart, W. S.
Stewart, A. E. Thompson, J. M Timmons, V. P. Vieslet, P. H. Wall, J. G.
Warner, J. E. Wilson, W. A. LaRoss, A. H. Sickman.
   Of the fifteen members of the Washington County bar, one, John W.
Day, was killed. The others all returned safely. The list of lawyers in
the service follows: Thomas L. Anderson, Warren S. Burchinal, Lucius
McK. Crumrine, John W. Day, Clarence O. Devore, Alvin E. Donnan,
Meyer Goldfarb, Lloyd O. Hart, Howard W. Hughes, John C. Judson,
J. R. Irwin Knox, J. Albert Reed, Woodward M. Taylor, John F. Wiley
and A. Kirk Wrenshall.





                         CHAPTER CIV.

                 THE WORLD WAR (Continued).
           The One Hundred Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry.
COMPANIES A AND H, TENTH PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY, ORDERED TO
    MOBILIZE-CAMP JAMES E. BARNETT-THE REGIMENT ORDERED TO
    CAMP HANCOCK-IN TRAINING-ORDERED OVERSEAS-FIGHTING IN
    FRANCE-THE RETURN TO CAMP DIX-THE MARCH OF THE IRON DIVI-
    SION IN PHILADELPHIA-MUSTERED OUT.
    When the United States entered the World war in April, 1917, all in-
terest in Washington County centered on Company A of Monongahela


1077





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and Company H of Washington, of the Tenth Pennsylvania National
Guards, both of which had represented the county so heroically in the
Spanish-American war, nineteen years before. Although it was known
from the start that the county would send out many more of its boys to
France, these two companies were looked upon as representing their na-
tive towns. The other soldiers were scattered through many other regi-
ments, the Three Hundred Thirtieth United States Infantry having the
most.
   Ever since their organization almost half a century before, Companies
A and H had been the representative military units of Washington
County and the people could not forget this fact. Twice before they had
marched out in answer to the call of the colors; once to the Philippines
in 1898 and once to the Mexican border in 1916, and both had taken part
in several riots.
   Among the oldest citizens of Washington and Monongahela, were
many who had served in the ranks of the old companies during the many
years that had passed since they were organized, and it is no wonder
that the interest of both towns centered more around these units than
any other engaged in the World war.
   After the Civil war, both places felt a pride and personal interest
in these companies and while they were helping make history on the bat-
tlefields of France, folks back home, always fearfully scanned the daily
casualty lists for the names of boys from Washington and Monongahela
who might be in the ranks of either Company A or H, and when a name of
one of the boys of either of these companies appeared, every resident of
these towns felt as though a personal friend had fallen, even though the
soldier was known to many by name only.
   During the great war, these companies made a record that both towns
are proud of, but at a terrible cost of blood and suffering, which the folks
back home do not realize, even after the boys returned. On account of
the strict military censorship during hostilities, very few exploits or per-
sonal adventures of the boys from Washington and Monongahela were
known back home until after the armistice was signed. Even then very
little came back. A few of the boys related some details in letters, but
these were few, and did not satisfy the people here, who were hungry
for news of the doings of their boys.
   Finally, news came that the One Hundred and Tenth Infantry had
sailed from France and would land at Philadelphia, and the most in-
tense excitement prevailed in Washington and Monongahela. Companies
A and H landed at Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, May 12, and went
immediately to Camp Dix, New Jersey.
   The author was sent as a newspaper correspondent to Camp Dix to
welcome these boy fighters, who had beaten the "Kaiser's Own," the world
famous Prussian Guards, and to send back the details of their adventures
for the people of Washington County. The stories of the boys from the
two companies were sent by special wire from Camp Dix, and covered
fully for the first time all details of the part taken by the units in the
great World war. They were the stories of the boys in the ranks,-the
stories the people at home wanted to hear.
   As soon as the. United States entered the World war, both Captains


1078

























































   The farewell procession escorting the first con-
tingent of selective service men to leave Washington
for the World War, September 5, 1917. Company H,
110th Infantry, which afterwards served on the bat-
tlefields of France, is leading the procession. Capt.
John Aiken, now colonel of the 110th, is seen on the
extreme right. The twelve service men leaving are
seen in the rear, just back of Company H.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


John Aiken, commander of Company H, and George F. Kemp, commander
of Company A, realizing that their units would be called into the service
any day, began preparations immediately.
    It was not until July 15, 1917, that orders were received to mobilize.
Accordingly the units were called and the next morning every man re-
ported, ready for the war. No one knew at that time when the regiment
would be ordered out, but it was understood that it would be some time
soon, so a mobilization camp was established for Company H, on the sum-
mit of Gallows Hill, overlooking Washington. This was named Camp
James E. Barnett, in honor of the lieutenant colonel of the old "Fighting
Tenth," when it gained fame in the Philippines.
    From that time the companies were under strict military discipline.
There were daily drills and other work, which kept the boys busy.
Finally, orders were received to move to Camp Hancock, near Augusta,
Georgia, on August 30, but two days before the time set for the depart-
ure, the orders were changed to September 7, and on that date the units
left.
    Friday, September 7, 1917, was the saddest day the people of Wash-
ington and Monongahela had passed through since Companies H and A
left here at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, nineteen years
before. Company H was to leave that evening on a special over the
Pennsylvania railroad. Nature seemed to be in sympathy with the feel-
ings of the people who were to remain at home, for all day the weather
was threatening, and by evening a heavy downpour set in.
    In spite of the fact that their boys were leaving to take part in the
greatest war in all history, and it was certain many of them would not
return, the people decided to give them a royal sendoff. The scenes of
that day recalled to the memory of the grizzled veterans of the Civil war,
similar days during the sixties when they had been the soldier boys leav-
ing the two towns for the battle-line. That day fifty-six years before,
when the first company left Washington under command of Captain Nor-
ton McGiffin in answer to President Lincoln's call for volunteers at the
outbreak of the Civil war, and a similar leave-taking of the first Com-
pany A from Monongahela, were recalled by the old residents; and those
of the younger generation remembered that other day, nineteen years
before when the companies left in answer to President McKinley's call
to the colors.
   In spite of the weather, the people of the towns turned out to bid God-
speed to their boys, and thousands lined the streets, standing for hours
in the heavy rain, while there was a perfect mob at the stations.
   Arrangements had been made for Company K from Waynesburg, to
take part in the parade at Washington, but the train from Greene
County was late and there was only time for the Company K boys to
transfer their baggage to the special at the Main Street station.
   The night before, the boys of Companies H and A had been granted
leave to say farewell to their families, many of them for the last time.
Friday was spent in getting ready to move, and by noon, Camp Barnett
had passed into history.
   The time set for the parade in Washington was 6 o'clock that evening,
but it was late in starting. It finally formed at the armory on West


1080




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Maiden Street, and marched up Main to the courthouse, where it was re-
viewed by the veterans of the Civil war, who stood on the portico.
   The band of John W. Vogel's Minstrels, which was in Washington
that night, led the procession. Immediately behind was James P. Braden,
chief marshal, who had marched away with the old company in '98 to
defend the flag and who was chief marshal in the welcome-home parade
staged when the boys returned. He was followed by his aides and veter-
ans of the Spanish-American war, who recalled that other day nineteen
years before, when they were the soldier boys marching away to war.
The Washington band came next, and Company H, led by Captain Aiken
and Lieutenants Dinsmore and Braden, brought up the rear. Never in
the history of the town did a more soldierly looking body of fighting
men leave for any war, and those boys afterwards proved that they were
not "parade" soldiers. They were in full marching equipment, and looked
ready for any emergency.
   In Monongahela City, a similar parade passed through the streets of
that town, with the Company A boys under their captain, George F.
Kemp, and the people of that town had just as much to be proud of as
did the town of Washington.
   Companies H and K left Washington on a special train, which pulled
in a few minutes after they arrived at the station, and it was 7:55 be-
fore they were all on board. At Pittsburgh the companies were joined by
Company B, of New Brighton, and the Machine Gun Company of the
Tenth from Beaver Falls, in which were several Washington boys. These
units were all on one special train and proceeded direct to Camp Han-
cock. The other companies of the Tenth had mobilized at Greensburg,
the regimental headquarters, and had gone by a separate route to
Georgia.
   When the special train bearing Companies H and K pulled into the
station at Washington, D. C., Congressman Henry W. Temple and
Thomas S. Crago, of Waynesburg, were on hand to meet it and welcome
the boys. While waiting at the capital, the local boys rested from the long
ride by going through a short drill. The train then proceeded to the
southern camp, passing through Richmond, Va., and Raleigh, S. C. The
local boys arrived at Camp Hancock shortly before noon on September 9,
where they met the Monongahela boys from Company A.
   After the arrival at Camp Hancock, the Tenth and Third Regiments
of the Pennsylvania National Guard were combined into one Regiment
and mustered in as the One Hundred and Tenth, United States Infantry.
Company H, of the Tenth was combined with Company H, of the Third,
which was from Philadelphia. In order to bring the Company up to
full war strength of 250 men, it was necessary to secure more recruits.
   After reaching Camp Hancock, Col. Richard Coulter, of Greensburg,
a Philippine veteran, who had conmmanded the regiment for several years,
was promoted to brigadier general and sent to France. Col. George E
Kemp, commander of the Third Regiment, was made commander of the
One Hundred and Tenth but he was ordered to the school for field officers,
and the work of training and reorganizing the new regiment fell upon
Lieut. Col. Henry W. Coulter, brother of General Coulter, the former
commander, and also a Philippine veteran. He was really in charge


1081





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                       He whistled shrill;
                From crag to crag the signal flew;
                Instant, through copse and heath arose
                Bonnetts and spears and bended bows;
                On right, on left, above, below
                Sprang up at once the lurking foe,
                And every tuft of grass gave life
                To painted warriors armed for strife.
                                               -Scott.
    Colonel Lochry's force consisted of one hundred seven mounted volun-
teers, eighty-three of whom gathered at Carnaham's blockhouse, eleven
miles from Hannastown, Westmoreland County, from July 24th to Au-
gust 1st. On August 3rd, this little band set forth, little dreaming of the
fate in store for many of them, or of the terrible adventures the survivors
would meet before they again saw their homes. On the third day they
reached Devore's ferry across the Monongahela River, where they crossed
into Washington County. On August 6th, they camped at Raccoon settle-
ment, on Raccoon Creek, Hanover Township. During their march to Fort
Henry they were joined by twenty-four more, for the Pennsylvania
Archives gives one hundred seven as the total number of men.
    On August 8th, they arrived at Fort Henry, only to find that Clark
had left twelve hours before, but he left orders for Lochry to overtake
him at the mouth of the Little Kanawha. Lochry remained several days
at Fort Henry, and then proceeded to the mouth of Grave Creek, where
Moundsville now stands. The men traveled in seven boats, but it was
necessary to take the horses by land. On the 13th they arrived at Fishing
Creek, where they captured a Lieutenant Baker and sixteen men who had
deserted from Clark and were on their way back to Washington County.
   An old history of Dearborn County, Indiana, states that these deserters
afterwards escaped from Lochry and joined the Indians; but Lieutenant
Anderson's journal makes no mention of such traitorous conduct, and it
may well be doubted.
   On the 15th they met at the Three Islands, a Major Craycraft with
six men who had been sent back with a horse boat. This helped with the
transportation of the animals, and the force proceeded with greater speed.
Craycraft and his men returned to Clark. When the Little Kanawha was
reached on the 16th, it was found that Clark had pushed on, as his men
were deserting rapidly and he was afraid to remain in one place long.
He started for the Falls of the Ohio, where he expected a force of Ken-
tuckians, but he left a note for Lochry pinned to a stake, explaining the
reason for haste.
   The stores and forage were nearly exhausted, and Lochry sent Captain
Shannon with seven men to overtake Clark and secure more supplies.
   Both Clark and Lochry were now in the heart of the Indian country,
and they were watched day and night by savage warriors. Clark was not
molested, for the Indians were afraid of his artillery.
   On the 17th, Lochry camped at Buffalo Island, and sent two men to
hunt buffalo, but they never returned, and it is supposed they fell into the
hands of the Indians. The next day he moved to Catfish Island, and the
next to Bare Banks.


101




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of the regiment during its training at Camp Hancock and to him is due
in a large measure the credit for the splendid training these men received,
which afterwards won for them the praise of General Pershing.
   The new order of reorganization called for 3,750 men in a regiment,
but the One Hundred and Tenth was short of this number, and so it was
necessary to recruit it up to full war strength. Lieut. William B. Dins-
more returned to Washington for more recruits for Company H. This
was during the last of October and when he returned to Camp Hancock
a week later the following men went with him: Lee Cassidy, John C.
Hallam, Joseph Langenbacher, William V. McCaffrey, J. Van McCausland,
Schuyler Miles, Walter R. Morris, Gilbert Steinbrook, Boyd E. Wilson,
Walter Dagg, Eddie R. Pettit and Julius Thompson.
   Strange to say, these twelve men suffered unusually in the fighting in
France. Four, McCaffrey, Morris, Wilson and Pettit, were killed and Miles
was seriously wounded in the spine with shrapnel. For months he was
paralyzed from the hips down and lay in the military hospital at Carlyle,
Pennsylvania.
   Lieut. Col. Henry W. Coulter should have been made colonel of the
Regiment, but for some unknown reason, he never was.
   Finally, on April 24, 1918, the Regiment left Camp Hancock for a
port of embarkation for service overseas, after seven months of as hard
training as any body of men ever went through. During that time they
had been trained under actual war conditions and had lived in the trenches.
They had engaged in gas attacks on the enemy.
   The One Hundred and Tenth went to Camp Merritt, New Jersey, about
twelve miles from New York City, where it remained until the morning
of May 2, when it took the ferry for Hoboken and went on board three
different transports. At noon of May 3, the regiment sailed for service in
France, and a finer body of fighting men was never turned out by any
country.
   On May 16, the Regiment landed at Liverpool, and went immediately
to Dover, going through Folkstone. It arrived at Dover, the port of em-
barkation on the 18th, and on the 19th, set sail once more, on the last
stage of the long journey to France. The Regiment crossed the English
Channel during the day. The weather was calm, and the transport was
guarded by a line of warships, while airplanes and observation balloons
hovered above it, on the lookout for German submarines. None was
encountered, however, and the Regiment landed safely at Calais, France,
that evening.
   The first night on French soil will never be forgotten by the boys of
the One Hundred and Tenth, for it was there that they experienced their
first sensations of being under enemy fire. That was during the German
drive on Calais. Shortly after dark, the alarm for an enemy air raid
was sounded. The French and all other soldiers except the newly landed
Americans, rushed to the bombproof dugouts, but this was the first air
raid that our boys had encountered and they were determined to see it
"in all its glory." Accordingly they disregarded the warnings of the
French, and instead of seeking shelter, they stationed themselves at
places where they could witness what was going on.
   The long white tongues of light from the French searchlights seemed


1082




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


to pierce the blackness of the heavens for miles, and then the cracking
of the anti-aircraft guns pealed forth, showing that the French had
located the enemy. Presently a bomb dropped on the city, followed almost
immediately by another. Then several fell, one of them bursting with
terrific force in the camp where the Americans were located. Several
men were killed, but fortunately none of the One Hundred and Tenth boys;
but that was enough for the new men and they immediately sought the
shelter of the dugouts. The Germans were driven off shortly after that by
the French, who had got into action by that time.
   Stationed at Calais were British, French, Italians, Portuguese, Hindoo,
and Chinese troops, besides the Americans, but the boys of the One Hun-
dred and Tenth were billeted with the British. The Pennsylvania troops
were trained by the British, who had been at the front.
   The Regiment did not remain long at Calais, for on May 22, it was
ordered to move. The boys had no idea where they were going, but be-
lieved they were off for the front to help stop the Germans. They were
loaded on box cars, and on the 24th landed at Senlis, where they remained
until June 2, when they were again ordered to move.
   Once more they boarded box cars, the method of transporting troops
in France, and after a long, tiresome journey, interspersed with many
stops, they landed at Ergeny.
   During all this time, the Americans were near Paris, and at times
could plainly see Eiffel tower. The Pennsylvanians longed to visit the city,
but all leaves had been refused and they had to content themselves with
looking at long range.
   On May 27, the Crown Prince had started his drive in the Champagne
sector and reached the Marne River at Chateau-Thierry, where he crossed
on June 3. The boys of the One Hundred and Tenth believed that they
were being taken to help stop this great drive, but it was stopped before
they reached there, and they were stopped on the way. However, they
were kept on the move. The landed at Ergeny on the 9th, but they left
there the next day and went to Rimboval. From there they went to the
Forest de Hesdin, which they reached on the 11th, and remained until
the 13th at the village of Hesdin.
   On June 13, they were moved to the village of Juilly. At first it had
been intended by the Allied commander to send the Twenty-eighth Di-
vision to the assistance of the British Army, which was being hard pressed
in Flanders, but as the danger lessened at that point, and the Crown
Prince started his drive on Paris by way of the historic Marne, it was
decided to send them to help the French.
   At Juilly, which was in the Chateau Thierry sector, where General
Foch was preparing his great trap in which to catch the Crown Prince's
army, the One Hundred and Tenth was placed with the Twenty-Eighth
French Army Corps. They remained at the village of Juilly, south of
Chateau Thierry until June 24, when they were moved north to Vendieres
by order of the French General.
    They were now very close to the battle lines along the Marne River,
and every day could hear the steady thunder of great guns on the Chateau
Thierry front; and our boys longed to get their first sight of the enemy,
which was only from ten to fourteen miles away. They remained at


1083





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


this point until June 30, when they moved to Artonges, still nearer the
front line trenches.
   Believing that they would remain at this point for several days, the
One Hundred and Tenth arranged for a Fourth of July celebration, but
they were doomed to disappointment. The French troops intended to join
them in celebrating American Independence day, and also had made great
preparations for the event.
   The news came that the Germans were going to start another drive
and at 1:50 in the morning of July 4, the Regiment was ordered out to
go to the aid of the French, for the Germans were expected to attack. The
Regiment was moved up nearer the Marne, where for four hours, they
were held in support of the French. The local boys could not see the
fighting, which was going on just over a hill from them, which was be-
tween their position and the Marne, but they were constantly under shell
fire of the German artillery. Finally, after four hours of inaction, within
striking distance of the Huns, they were ordered back, for the enemy
attack had been checked. The reason they were not ordered in was be-
cause the French commander wished to deceive the Germans as to the
actual strength of the Allied forces at that point.
   From July 4, until the 8th, the One Hundred and Tenth remained at
Artonges, constantly under shell fire, but no casualties were suffered.
During this time, the local boys were engaged in digging trenches, carry-
ing food to the men in the trench receptacles and learning French from the
French artillerymen.
   On July 8, the One Hundred and Tenth left Artonges and went to
Conde en Brie accompanied by the Eleventh, in which were several boys
from Washington. They were constantly under shell fire. When they
arrived at Conde en Brie, they went into support trenches.
   All this time General Foch was setting the greatest military trap in
all history, and when its jaws were finally sprung by the Germans on the
night of July 14, that supposedly invincible army received its greatest
defeat.
   The night of July 14, was a memorable one for the boys from Wash-
ington, who were then lying in the trenches, waiting for the long expected
German drive to begin; and at 12:30 o'clock on the morning of July 15,
the fifth and last offensive started. It was opened with a terrific barrage,
which the French afterwards said was the most terrible of the war, and
was equalled by only one other in the Argonne. The Germans were sure
of victory. Tons of steel and explosives were thrown into the Allied
lines, which were a perfect hell in a short time.
   It was during this bombardment that Company B suffered its first cas-
ualty. William V. McCaffrey, Jr., known among his comrades as "Buddy,"
received his death wound from a piece of shrapnel. He was only a boy,
scarcely eighteen, when he had enlisted with Lieutenant Dinsmore on his
return to Washington, for recruits nine months before, and he was a
general favorite with the entire company. He was a runner and at the
time he was wounded he was carrying a dispatch. He was found by a
comrade a few minutes later, and lived only a short time. Biddle King,
and Paul Perry, both of Washington, and several boys in the company


1084




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


from Philadelphia were wounded during that terrible night. Company
H, was located in a woods on the top of a hill at the time.
    Captain Aiken had been placed on command of the Second Battalion
of the One Hunderd and Tenth on July 10, and was acting Major, al-
though he had not at that time received his commission. From that time
on he never really had command of Company H again, for he was soon
commissioned Major of the Second Battalion, of which the local unit was
a part. During the fighting the command of the local company fell to its
other officers.
    It was during this battle that the One Hundred and Ninth Infantry
 and two companies, B of New Brighton and C of Somerset, of the One
 Hundred and Tenth stopped the famous Prussian Guards, the flower of
 the German Army. The destiny of nations has often hung by a thread.
 When the peasant lad showed the great Napoleon the field at Waterloo
 which led direct to the Allied lines, he failed to describe the cut, or "sunken
 road," that traversed that section; and so the fate of the great general
 of all history was sealed by this slight misinformation on the part of a
 boy, for the French cavalry dashed into this death trap and the famous
 charge that military experts say would have smashed the Allied lines,
 was broken almost before it began. The Southern Confederacy reached
 its high-water mark in Pickett's famous charge at Gettysburg, where the
 Confederates sought to gain a small group of trees that would have dom-
 inated the Union lines. They almost reached it, and then were driven back.
    And in 1918, there was a gap in the French lines on the road to Paris.
The Germans knew this and the famous Prussian Guards, the Kaiser's
Own were ordered through that gap across the Marne. That was the
thread upon which the fate of the German nation hung in 1918, and to
the boys from Pennsylvania, the much despised National Guard of other
days, fell the honor of cutting that thread; and how well they succeeded
is now a matter of history. It they had failed we would not have cele-
brated the victorious return of our heroes.
   On the Paris side of the Marne, where this gap in the French lines
existed, there was a valley, divided in the center by a high hill. The valley
ran clear to Paris, and if the Huns ever gained possession of it there was
nothing to stop them. The One Hundred and Ninth was sent in to plug
this gap together with Companies B, commanded by Capt. William Fish,
and C, led by Capt. William C. Truzel; and back of the lines, held in support
in case the Huns should break through, were the other companies of the
One Hundred and Tenth. They were within sight of the fighting. Com-
pailies B and C were stationed at Fossoy and Mezy, in the bend of the
Marne.
   The German attack was preceded by the terrible barrage already men-
tioned. It was afterwards learned that the Huns had expected to destroy
every living thing for twenty miles in front of their lines by this terrific
bombardment; and it is a fact that shells fell for twenty-five miles in the
rear of the Allies. The death list in the Allied lines was very heavy, but
our soldiers never gave an inch of ground. The Huns had at last en-
countered the snag that was to prove their undoing.
   When the barrage was lifted at 2:30, the Germans "went over the top"
on their last great offensive, in what they confidently believed would end


1085





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the war. It did end the war, but not in the manner they thought. The
Prussian guards charged for the gap on the "road to Paris," but when
they met those troops under fire for the first time, they ran against the
surprise of their lives. The Germans charged in mass formation, trying
to cross the Marne at a bridge, that was swept by our machine guns, and
it is said that the river was choked by dead Huns. As fast as one man fell
another came forward to take his place. There seemed to be no end of
Boches, but that thin khaki line of green troops held against the best
drilled troops of the kaiser's army of veterans, and at last the enemy was
compelled to abandon his attempt to get through the gap "on the road
to Paris."
   Companies B and C of the One Hundred and Tenth were almost wiped
out in this terrific engagement. The French troops retreated, and the two
companies of the One Hundred and Tenth failed to understand the order.
Suddenly, the Americans discovered that they were facing the Germans
alone. They refused to surrender, although called upon to do so several
times, and were almost wiped out. Many of them were captured, among
the prisoners being Captain Truxal, and more were killed, while battered
survivors finally struggled back into the allied lines. There was scarcely
a man among them who had not been wounded.
   Captain Fish of Company B returned to his lines with 123 men out
of the original company, and twenty-six of them were wounded. In addi-
tion to this, they had several prisoners. Company C fared even worse, if
possible, and Companies L and M, of the One Hundred and Ninth met a
similar fate. During this fighting Company B and Company C of the
One Hundred and Tenth were with the One Hundred and Thirteenth
French Infantry, and were under French battalion commanders.
   It was afterwards learned from prisoners that the Germans had about
150,000 men in that offensive, with a great number of others held in re-
serve. The French lines were very thin, indeed, and the Americans who
supported them were the Pennsylvania National Guard, not more than
15,000 strong; and it was there, in their first engagement, that they
gained the name of the "Iron Division."
   On July 3 the One Hundred and Tenth marched to Viffort, which was
left the next day, when the regiment went to Charly, where it took up a
position in a woods two miles to the north of the village. During the
fighting up to this point, the regiment had lost sixty-five killed, seventy
wounded and 270 missing, many of whom were killed.
   On July 26th the regiment was moved again, still nearer the Boche, and
Company H was stationed at St. Eugene, where they remained until the
next day.
   For all time to come, Sergy Hill will be the patriotic shrine which all
Washington will worship; it will stand forth as long as the world lasts
for all that is sublime and exalted in human sacrifice on the altar of world
freedom; for it was up the steel-swept slopes of Sergy Hill, or Hill 212
as it is known officially, that the Americans charged five times before the
desperate Boches were finally driven off, and in two of those charges, the
boys of Company H took part, leaving eleven of their number dead upon
its bloody slopes and a large number of others wounded. Five of those boys
of Company H who sleep on Sergy Hill were from Washington.


1086




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   On the night of the 27th the regiment was ordered to relieve the One
Hundred and Fifty-sixth French Infantry. Sergy Hill, or Hill 212, lies
north of the Ourcq River, and it is 700 yards up the slope. The summit
is covered with a dense woods, known as Grimpettes Woods. The Germans
had constructed a strong line of trenches along the edge of this woods, and
established a number of machine gun nests. The hill was a perfect thorn
in the side of the Allied army, and must be captured. On the other hand,
the Germans were determined to hold it against the American advance,
until their retreating army could get out of the way, for Foch had com-
menced to close the jaws of the famous trap at Chateau Thierry, the Huns
were feeling the "pincer process" with a vengeance, and were in full re-
treat for the Vesle River, on the road to Berlin.
   The returned soldiers of the One Hundred and Tenth say that General
Darragh, the American commander, believed that infantry could take any
position without an artillery preparation, and so he ordered Sergy Hill
taken without a barrage. The first charge was made on the 27th, but
the Americans were repulsed with terrible loss. A second charge was
made the following day with similar results, and the third attempt on the
29th met with the same fate. The loss was terrific. The first and third
battalions of the One Hundred and Tenth had suffered terrible slaughter,
and on the 29th when General Darragh ordered the fourth charge, Colonel
Kemp, commander of the One Hundred and Tenth, begged for a barrage.
It was refused and he was relieved of his command.
   Lieutenant Colonel Fitzer had been killed during the fighting around
Sergy Hill, and on the evening of the 29th Maj. Edward Martin, of
Waynesburg, commander of the Second Battalion of the One Hundred
and Tenth, was placed in command of the regiment.
   Captain Aiken, of Company H, was then placed in command of the
Second Battalion again, and he was never back with his old company as
commander, for he was soon commissioned major.
   At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 30th the regiment again went "over
the top" in the fourth attack on Sergy Hill, but General Darragh had
relented and ordered a barrage. As soon as it lifted our boys charged up
that already blood-soaked slope to drive the Germans from the top. They
almost reached their objective before they were driven back, but many of
them were left behind.
   In that attack Corporal Donald Wood, of Company H, started with a
machine gun, and reached the highest point reached by any American
soldier in that charge before he fell. Close behind him were Arthur Blond
and William Taylor. He had started down a German trench to silence a
German machine gun, but the other two, who were in the rear, saw him
stumble and fall. He raised on one elbow and shouted to Blond and Taylor,
"For God's sake, don't come here." Believing that he had only stumbled,
the other two turned back, thinking he was all right. That was the last
they ever saw of him, and he was reported as missing in action that night.
A week later his grave was found on the summit of Sergy Hill by a burial
squad of his comrades.
   Ralph Jennings, of Company H, was severely wounded. He had seen
Walter Morris, another Company H boy, fall and he rushed forward to
rescue him when he was hit. Benjamin Atkinson and Daniel Calvert, also


1087





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


from Washington, saw Jennings fall, they rushed to his assistance, across
a slope swept by German machine gun fire. None of their comrades ever
expected to see them alive again, but they calmly carried Jennings back
to their own lines without a scratch. He was borne away to the hospital,
where he lost a leg; and that was the last Atkinson and Calvert saw of
him until May 14, when he went to Camp Dix to welcome them home.
That reunion can well be imagined.
   Then the last attack was ordered on Sergy Hill, and that time the
boys of the One Hundred and Tenth rushed its sides, through a heavy
machine gun fire, and drove the Boches forever from the top. The fol-
lowing Company H boys are now asleep in soldier graves on Sergy Hill:
Benjamin Beierlein, Walter Morris, Eddie Pettit, Delbert A. Shearer, and
Donald Wood, all of Washington; Harry Cholerton, of Philadelphia; Will-
iam E. Taylor, of Philadelphia; Joseph A. VanLuvanee, of Dresher, Pa.,
and Privates Ashton. Strong and Skelly.
   First Lieut. John W. Day, of the Machine Gun Company of the One
Hundred and Tenth received his death wound from shrapnel during the
fighting at Sergy Hill on July 28. He died in a military hospital in France
on September 6th. He was a member of the local bar and was well known
in Washington. He had served on the Mexican border in 1916 with Com-
pany A, Tenth Pennsylvania, but after going to Camp Hancock was com-
missioned lieutenant and transferred to the Machine Gun Company. He
was a member of the Bassett Club, of Washington.
   The One Hundred and Tenth was not the only regiment at Sergy Hill
in which local boys fought. Charles Bebout of Company A, One Hundred
and Twenty-sixth United States Infantry, was killed on July 30th. John
Paden, a former Washington boy, who fought in Company K, One Hundred
and Tenth Regiment, was also killed at Sergy. They are all that are known
at present.
   Sergt. James Kane, Sergt. William Hague, Corp. Charles Waltz, Cook
Leroy Hewitt, and Private John Burr were other Washington boys who
fought in Company K, One Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment. Burr was
wounded and captured on July 15, and taken to a German prison camp,
from which he escaped later, and made his way back to the American
lines.
   During the fighting in Grimpettes Woods on Sergy Hill, Waltz was
severely wounded. Fifty-three members of Company K were killed during
the fighting around Sergy. Kane was wounded and lay on Sergy Hill
from 2 o'clock in the morning until late that night. He had eight others
with him, and they had taken a position in a German trench. All were
wounded and Kane sent a runner for stretcher bearers. Word was sent
back for him to get the wounded in the best way he could. There was
danger of meeting a German patrol, but Kane, with the help of some
others who were not severely wounded, managed to get the others into the
American lines, just as our troops went over the top at daylight. He
was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross by Sergeant McCall.
Sergt. William Heighan, afterwards killed at Mont Blainville, in the Ar-
gonne on October 1, was in command of Company K at Grimpettes Woods.
After his wound healed, Kane returned to his company and was through
the war to the end on November 11.


1088




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The retreating Germans destroyed everything as they went, leaving
the country like a desert. The little village of Courmont was one of the
towns occupied by the One Hundred and Tenth during the offensive against
Sergy Hill, and it was there that the regimental headquarters were opened.
Major Martin was in command of the regiment. The village consisted
of only one principal street, and most of the houses were built along it.
The village was in ruins when the One Hundred and Tenth entered. In
fact, only one house was left standing, and that had been the residence of
the major or chief man of the place.
   Major Martin immediately established regimental headquarters in
this building, and as later events showed he evidently walked into a German
trap, for the Hun artillery had the range of that building perfectly.
During the evening he was in the building working out the plans with his
officers for the work the next day, when a German shell struck the building
and exploded.
   Sitting at the table directly opposite Major Martin were two German
prisoners, whom he was examining. They were both killed, but Martin
escaped with a few scratches. A number of the Americans in the build-
ing were killed and wounded. Corp. Leonard Whitehill, of Washington,
a member of the Headquarters Company of the One Hundred and Tenth,
was among the dead. He was well known here and had been a star on
the Washington and Jefferson football team. The stories as to the number
of survivors of the explosion of the headquarters varies. Some say only
three got out, while others say there were about eight.
   On July 31st the One Hundred and Tenth was sent back to LeCarmel
for a rest, but there was mighty little rest connected with it. They re-
mained there until August 2d. At night the Huns made an air raid, and
the regiment was bombed. During the day, the boys were given baths
and went through the delousing process.
   After the gallant fighting which the Twenty-eighth Division did in the
Chateau-Thierry sector, its valor was recognized by General Pershing in
the following general order:
   "It fills me with pride to recall in general orders a tribute to the service
and achievements of the First and Third Corps, comprising the First,
Second, Third, Fourth, Twenty-sixth, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-second and
Forty-second Divisions of the American Expeditionary Forces.
   "You came to the battlefield at the crucial hour of the Allied cause.
For almost four years the most formidable army the world has yet seen
had pressed its invasion of France and stood threatening the capital. At
no time has that army been more powerful or menacing than when on
July 15 it struck again to destroy in one great battle the brave men op-
posed to it and to enforce its brutal will on the world and civilization.
   "Three days later, in conjunction with our allies, you counter-attacked.
The Allied armies gained a brilliant victory that marks the turning point
of the war. You did more than give our brave Allies the support to which
as a nation our faith was pledged. You proved that our altruism, our
pacific spirit, our sense of justice have not blunted our virility or our
courage. You have shown that American initiative and energy are as fit
for the tests of war as the pursuits of peace. You have justly won the
unstinted praise of our Allies and the eternal gratitude of our countrymen.
       69-V1


1089




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   "We have paid for our success in the lives of many of our brave com-
rades. We shall cherish their memory always and claim for our history
and literature their bravery, achievement, and sacrifice.
   "This order will be read to all organizations at the first assembly for-
mation after its receipt."
   On August 3d, the One Hundred and Tenth again set out for the front,
going north towards the Vesle River. Every day there was fighting. In
fact, the war at that stage was just one continuous battle, as the beaten
Huns tried to cover their retreat, and stop the victorious Americans, who
had made up their minds to end the war as soon as possible. It is inter-
esting to note in this connection that Company H crossed the Marne in the
town of Chateau Thierry, just below the bridge which had been blown up
during the bombardment.
   It was on August 3d that Sergt. Delbert McCoy of Washington, a mem-
ber of Company K, Twenty-sixth United States Infantry, was killed during
the advance in the Chateau Thierry sector.
   On August 4th, the One Hundred and Tenth reached Cohan, and the
next day passed on to Dravegny, where it remained until the 12th. On
the 13th, the regiment moved to Courville, and went in support one mile
north of that village. On the 15th, it was moved to La Bonne Maison,
where it was held until the 27th.
   The regiment was taking part in the Vesle offensive, and every day
was at death grips with the enemy. The regiment was now in command of
Col. Frank Tompkins, and Major Martin was placed in command of the
One Hundred and Ninth.
   On August 26th, while Company H was stationed at La Bonne Maison,
Corp. John McClelland and Private Edward H. Marshall were killed. This
occurred at night when the men were members of a raiding party on the
railroad that ran along the banks of the Vesle River.
   On the 27th, Company H was moved to the firing line at Villette, where
it remained until September 2d. On August 28th, Private William Watters,
of Washington, was killed, and on September 1st, Private Boyd E. Wilson,
another Washington boy who was a sniper in Company H, met his death.
Both boys were well liked and their death cast a gloom over their comrades.
   On September 2d, at the battle of Fismes, on the Vesle, Colonel Tomp-
kins was badly gassed, and Capt. John Aiken, who had been acting major
of the Second Battalion since July 28th, was placed in command during
the offensive in the Vesle-Aisne sector, and during the advance on the
Ourcq River on September 6th, was wounded.
   Company H was moved again on September 2d and stationed in the
woods two miles south of Courville, where it remained until the 4th, when
it moved to the trenches 1,000 yards north of Bazlieux, remaining there
until the 7th. On the 8th the company moved again, passing through
Arcis la Ponsart, and was stationed in the woods 1,000 yards west of Abby
D'Igny. It remained there until the 10th, when it moved to O'Nelly,
remaining there until the 12th.
   On the 10th Major Martin had been placed in command of the One
Hundred and Tenth again, and the regiment was held in readiness for the
great Argonne-Meuse offensive, which was expected to start at any time.
   On the 13th, Company H moved to Mussey, near Bac-le-Duc, remain-


1090





































    Company H, 110th Pennsylvania Infantry, drilling at Camp James E. Barnett,
Washington, Pa. While waiting for orders to be sent to a training camp, Company H
was encamped on the summit of Gallows Hill for several weeks during the summer
of 1917. It left for Camp Hancock, Augusta, Ga., on the night of September 7, 1917.


    Group of Company H boys on the steps of their barracks at Camp
their return from France. Taken at Camp Dix, N. J., May 16, 1919.
of these boys are from Washington.


Dix just after
The majority












                         PREFACE



   Writing this History of Washington County is a labor from which the
author has derived much pleasure, but the magnitude of the work was not
realized in the beginning. Three other historie; of Washington County
have appeared before: The first by Dr. Alfred Creigh in 1870, the sec-
ond by Boyd Crumrine in 1882, and the third by Joseph F. McFarland in
1910. All of these covered the ground well, and are today considered as
standards of their time. Naturally, there was much of interest and
importance that they missed, for it is never possible to get everything.
   The main object of the author of the present work has been to cover
more thoroughly ground which these former historians only touched on
or missed altogether, and to give as complete a history of the county from
1910 until the present time. For this reason it was impossible to follow
in all its details the original plan as outlined in the prospectus; to have
(lone so would have made a work almost twice the size of the present his-
tory, and would have in reality added nothing to the history of Washing-
ton County which had not already ap.peared in former works.
   On the other hand the author has tried to present many things that
appear in a county history for the first time. In Part I, which treats of
pioneer times and early settlement, the reader will find a complete history
of every expedition and fight with Indians in which Washington County
men took a part. Of course this has been published before, but never as
complete in one work. This information has been scattered in a number
of different works, many of them long out of print and not accessible to
the average reader. At the same time I have confined myself to such
Indian campaigns, battles or activities as affected this county directly or
in which men from this county took part. Such expeditions as Braddock's
and Forbes' campaigns have not been mentioned. At that time Washing-
ton County was a wilderness in which not a dozen white men had ever set
foot, and no soldiers from either army were within our borders. These
together with other expeditions, such as that of Colonel Bouquet, have an
important place in the history of western Pennsylvania; but already many
volumes have been written on these subjects, and there is nothing new to
add. Therefore, the author has left all mention of them out of this work
for subjects that have a direct bearing upon Washington County.
   Under the original plan, the author had intended to give a very detailed
history of each town in the county, but as the work progressed this was
found impossible and not advisable. In the first place information was
hard to obtain. Borough officials who were in a position to give this paid
no attention to requests for information. The same was true in other lines.
Then as the work progressed the importance of going into detail on sub-
jects not treated in a county history. was seen, and so for the first time
                                 111





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   On the 20th, two of Shannon's men returned with a tale that must
have filled Lochry's heart with apprehension. Shannon had camped at
the mouth of the Scioto and sent these two men out with a sergeant to
hunt, but before they had gone half a mile they heard the report of guns
from the camp. Believing that Indians had attacked the others, they
started up the river to rejoin Lochry. In their haste the sergeant dropped
his knife which severed an artery in one foot and he bled to death in a
few minutes.
   Shannon and his men were captured, and Lochry's letter to Clark, tell-
ing of his desperate need of supplies, fell into their hands. It was sent
to Joseph Brant, the famous Mohawk war chief, who was in command of
the hostiles. He could read English, and Lochry's fate was sealed.
   Brant, one of the most cunning Indians of his time and the friend of
the British, hastily gathered one hundred warriors (some accounts say
three hundred), and lay in wait for Clark at the mouth of the Miami
River. But the main body passed that point in the night, and the Indians,
being afraid of artillery, decided not to molest them; and so they waited
for Lochry.
   The story is told that the savages placed Shannon and his companions
on the north shore of the Ohio, promising to spare their lives if they
would hail Lochry. But this is hardly probable; for the journal of Lieu-
tenant Anderson, a member of Lochry's force who was captured and
carried to Canada, does not mention seeing any white men on the shore.
   Anderson's journal is the most authentic record we have of the events
that transpired. He states that about 10 o'clock in the morning of August
24th, Colonel Lochry ordered the boats to land on the Indiana shore to
cook provisions and cut grass for the horses. They found a good camp
ground at the mouth of a small stream which is known to this day as
Lochry's Creek, in honor of the brave commander of the ill-fated expedi-
tion. This point is ten miles below the mouth of the Big Miami and near
the present town of Aurora, Dearborn County. It seemed the irony of
fate that they should have stopped there, for Clark was waiting for them
on an island, now known as Lochry's Island, just two miles farther on.
But such was life on the old frontier.
   Weary and disheartened with their failure to overtake Clark, the men
were glad to land and rest. The horses were turned out to graze and some
of the soldiers started to cut grass to carry with them for their mounts.
A buffalo was killed, and they started to cook the meat. Not one had the
least premonition of danger, nor did they dream that every movement
was watched by hostile eyes.
   Suddenly, without the least warning, a sheet of flame burst from the
rifles of the foe concealed in the surrounding forest. The whites seized
their arms and fought desperately for their lives as long as their ammuni-
tion held out; and then they tried to escape in the boats, but a number of
canoes appeared from the opposite shore, cutting them off. When Lochry
found that they were unable to either escape or longer defend themselves,
he surrendered.
   Lieutenant Anderson states that the whites lost forty killed, but Brant
placed the number at thirty-six, including five officers. Sixty-four were
captured and taken to Detroit, where they were turned over to the British.


102





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ing there until the 16th. From the 17th until the 25th, it remained
in the woods, being near Vaubecourt, Bois de Lavoye, Bois Rachin, Los-
cheres, and La Four de Pierre. It remained near the latter place from
the 20th to the 26th, when the long expected Argonne offensive began.
   From September 26th until October 10th, Company H was continu-
ously on the firing line in the Argonne Forest, and during the drive
along the Aire River the regiment captured Boureulleis, Petite Boureulleis
and Varennes. The last named was a town of considerable importance
to the Germans. Company H took part in the assault and capture of this
town on September 26th.
   On the 27th, the regiment was ordered to take the town of Varennes.
A German gun crew had stationed a "77" in a strong position and it put
three tanks out of commission almost before they got started. The tanks
would be of little or no value as long as this gun remained active, and in
fact it would be hard to take the town until it was silenced.
   It was then that a group of Company H boys performed one of the
most thrilling feats the regiment witnessed during the war,-Paul Stain-
brook, Charles W. Evans, who was killed that day at Courville, Wallace M.
Ritchie and Joseph C. McCartney, all of Washington, and eight other boys
from the company. The boys of the One Hundred and Tenth had decided
to take the town without tanks. They were fighting mad. These boys
named above charged the "77", which was firing point blank at the Amer-
icans. The gun crew was taken by surprise by this assault and almost
before the Huns knew it the local boys were upon them, capturing the
gun and thirty prisoners.
   Charles W. Evans, who took part in this assault, was killed by a Ger-
man sniper that same day during the attack on Courville.
   Harold H. Seal, also of Washington, who had been transferred to the
Headquarters Company, received his death wound that day at Courville.
He died February 20, 1919, at Rahway, New Jersey, and is buried in the
Washington cemetery.
   Montblainville was captured by the regiment on the 27th, which posi-
tion it was directed to hold. The Germans made a counter attack on the
town, but the Americans turned the Boche machine guns, which had been
captured in large numbers in this place, on their former owners, and
mowed them down in great numbers, saving the day for our forces.
   The advance on Apremont was started on the morning of the 28th.
The fighting there was terrific that day, for the Germans made a firm
stand, and it was night before the town was captured after several assaults.
This town was the key to the American position and Colonel Martin was
ordered to hold it at all costs.
   The Americans received orders to attack the enemy at daybreak on
the morning of the 30th, and everything was in readiness for a terrific
onslaught. However, fifteen minutes before our forces were to have
started over the top, the Germans charged. Everything was in readi-
ness to receive them, and they were met with a deadly hail of machine
gun and artillery fire, which gave them the surprise of their lives. The
slaughter in the enemy forces that day was terrific, but the loss suf-
fered by the One Hundred and Tenth was small.


1092





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Company H remained at Apremont until October 4th, when the ad-
vance on Chatel Chehery began.    During that time the regiment had
been under shell fire. On the 4th the regiment crossed the Aire River
and captured Plemchamp, remaining there on the firing line until the
7th, when Chatel Chehery was taken.
   It was on October 7th, while engaged in this offensive, that John
Aiken, who had been active major of the Second Battalion, received his
commission as major, although he had really been its commander since
July 15th. Major Aiken was gassed on this same day.
   Company H remained on the firing line at Chatel Chehery and at
Camp de Bouzon until October 10th, when it was relieved, after fourteen
days of continuous fighting. During that time the regiment had suffered
1,200 casualties. The rest was not for long. The company was sta-
tioned at Royameaux in the Theacourt sector from the 11th to the 17th,
where it was under continual fire from the enemy. It was at Theacourt,
on the 15th, that Thomas E. King, of Washington, was killed. On the
17th the company was stationed at Rambucourt, where it remained until
the 26th, when it moved onto the firing line at St. Benoit and was sta-
tioned in the Bois de Hautville.
   Haumont on the Theacourt sector is known among the boys of Com-
pany H as the "last front," for they were in the front line trenches at
that point when the armistice was signed on November 11th. The com-
pany had been ordered to advance to the front line that morning. They
had reached the trenches only a short time before, when a runner came up
with orders to retire, as the armistice would go into effect at 11 o'clock
and there was no further use of sacrificing life. The boys retired to a
safe position, but they had no sooner done so than the German artillery
opened on the position that they had just left, and when the boys re-
turned later they found that the Hun artillerymen had landed their
shells side by side directly in the trenches occupied by Company H. If
the unit had not been ordered out when it was, it would have been wiped
out to a man.
   Sergt. Paul Streator of the Fifty-first Company, Fifth United States
Marines, was the last Washington soldier killed in the war. He was in
the fighting at Sedan and met his death a few minutes before 11 o'clock
on the morning of November 11th.
   After the armistice was signed, Companies H and A were stationed
in the Bois de Hautville, near St. Benoit, Major Aiken being in'command
of the regiments in the Theacourt sector. On the 16th the regiments
moved to a position near the Hazzavant farm, where it remained until
December 11th.
   The Second Battalion, commanded by Major Aiken, in which were
Companies H and A, established one of the best records of any in the
Twenty-eighth Division. It gained more objectives with fewer casual-
ties than any other battalion in the Fifty-fifth Brigade. During this
time the two companies were always in the thick of the fighting, and
they suffered fewer casualties and had less prisoners taken than any
other companies in the One Hundred and Tenth Regiment.
   During the war the One Hundred and Tenth lost twenty-seven officers


1093





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


killed, 2 died, 11 missing, and 110 wounded, making a total of 150. The
loss among the enlisted men was 538 killed, 12 died, 457 missing, and
2,715 wounded, making a total of 3,722. The total casualties of the
regiment, including both officers and men, were as follows: Killed, 565;
died, 14; missing, 468; wounded, 2,825; grand total, 3,872.
   The One Hundred and Tenth Regiment was assigned to the Army of
Occupation after the armistice was signed, and on December 12th Com-
panies A and H moved from their position near the Hassavant farm to
Mars LaTour, where they remained until the next day, when they moved
to Brieu. They remained at that place until January 9, 1919, when they
moved to Germany, remaining there until April 18th, when they went
to Le Mans. On March 15th, while with the Army of Occupation, Major
John Aiken was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and
Tenth for gallantry in action.
   i n April 30th the regiments sailed from St. Nazaire for home, arriv-
ing at Philadelphia May 11th and 12th. Company H landed on the lat-
ter date and proceeded immediately to Camp Dix. The company at that
time was under command of Capt. Walter Scott, of Monongahela, and
First Lieut. Raymond E. Goodridge, of Washington; Lieut. A. H. Braden
having remained in France. Lieutenant Goodridge had gone out with
Company H when it left Washington for Camp Hancock, and he saw
service in 1916 on the Mexican border. His rise was rapid, and on
October 3, 1918, he was commissioned second lieutenant for gallantry
in action, and placed in command of Company G. This was in the Ar-
gonne Forest, and he led that unit in the Woerve sector during the
operations against Metz. Later he was placed in command of Company
F. During the summer, while still a sergeant in Company H, he had
had command of the scouts and had been engaged in patrol work. He
received his commission as first lieutenant for gallantry in action on
March 1st. He was with Company H at that time, and it was he who had
the honor of bringing the local boys back home from Camp Dix.
   May 15, 1919, was the greatest day Philadelphia ever experienced,
when the invincible Twenty-eighth Division, the greatest of the best
fighting aimy the world has ever known, marched through the streets of
that historic city; and best of all, the One Hundred and Tenth United
States Infantry (the old "Fighting Tenth" Pennsylvania, of Philippine
fame) led that mighty host in this great review.
   Notwithstanding its wonderful achievements, this was the greatest
day in the history of the regiment, for it was the last time it ever
assembled; that is, the last time these boys who fought with it in France
ever marched with it as a military organization. As those gallant sol-
diers who have been called "men of iron" marched by, it was hard to
realize that they had thrown back and defeated the "kaiser's own," the
Frussian guards, for these "men of iron" from Western Pennsylvania
are only boys, and they looked it. But there was a difference in their
appearance from the time when they had left Washington and Monon-
gahela nearly two years before. War had left its mark upon them.
   The one sad feature of the whole parade was the funeral cortege
in honor of the division's 4,025 dead, which brought up the rear. It
was led by the marine band playing the funeral dirge, immediately fol-


1.094





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


lowing which was a caisson draped with the flag for which those heroes
gave up their lives, and decorated with flowers. It was surrounded by
a guard of honor. No applause greeted it as it moved slowly by, for the
people were hushed into respectful silence and stood with bared heads
in honor of what it meant. As it passed the city hall, the municipal
band played "Nearer My God To Thee," and the people who a moment
before had so wildly cheered the thousands of survivors could not hold
back the tears.
   It is estimated that the march of the "iron division" was witnessed
by no less than 2,000,000 people, many of them from the farthest corners
of the state.
   The One Hundred and Tenth Regiment was not mustered out at Camp
Dix until Friday, May 23d. Companies H and A immediately came to
their home towns, arriving on the morning of May 24th, when these
returning heroes of the gallant "iron division" were given the greatest
welcome since the close of the Civil war. Both places were proud of them,
and the people showed it. They were met by their friends and relatives,
escorted through the town and then disbanded; and the war was over
for them.
   There were ten boys from Washington who served in the Machine
Gun Company of the One Hundred and Tenth Infantry, besides Lieut.
John W. Day, who was so well known here, although he lived in Monon-
gahela. The following is the complete list of those from Washington:
   John E. Dever, corporal, promoted to lieutenant October 1, 1918, for
gallantry in action and transferred to the 332d Machine Gun Battalion,
Eighty-second Division; Frank Daggs, discharged on account of physical
disability before going overseas; Claude Delaney, sergeant, transferred
to the Supply Company, One Hundred and Tenth Infantry; Loudowick
DeNormandie, corporal, wounded in action; John Early, private; Earl
Marshall, private; Francis P. O'Brien, private; Lester Post, private; Rus-
sell W. Prigg, private, wounded in action; A. Clarence Zelt, sergeant. With
the exception of Frank Daggs all of these boys served in France.
   Several Washington boys served with the Headquarters Company, One
Hundred and Tenth Regiment. They are as follows: Leonard Whitehill,
corporal, killed July 30, 1918, when the headquarters were blown up at
Courville; Kersey Dever, sergeant; Rural Redinger, corporal; Lucius McK.
Crumrine, sergeant, transferred to division headquarters; Floyd Cain, pri-
vate; Floyd Craig, private; Francis Enoch, corporal.
   The following Wasington boys were in the Supply Company: Wood-
ward M. Taylor, first lieutenant; Ellis Marsh, private; Claude Delaney,
sergeant, transferred from the Machine Gun Company.
   There were many changes among the officers of Company H from
the time it marched away to war. Capt. John Aiken, who led the unit
away from Washington, returned a lieutenant-colonel, while First Lieut.
Raymond E. Goodridge, who brought it back, had enlisted in the com-
pany as a private when the Mexican trouble broke out in 1916.
   The last commander was Capt. Walter Scott, of Monongahela, and he
was one of the most popular men in the regiment. He was originally
connected with Company A, of the old Tenth Pennsylvania, but when


1095





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the regiment went overseas as the One Hundred and Tenth United States
Infantry he was first battalion adjutant. He was later promoted to cap-
tain.
   Lieut. A. G. Braden, who left Washington as second lieutenant of the
company, was in command at the time the armistice was signed. After-
wards W. A. Seavey was placed in command, and later the leadership of
the company was again turned over to Lieutenant Braden, who remained
with it until the unit left Germany before coming to the States, when
he accepted a position in the judge advocate general's department. Cap-
tain Scott was then placed in command, and he brought the company
back to the United States. He was one of the most popular officers in
the company and has the reputation of a fighter.
   Lieut. Joseph Ferguson of Philadelphia, who was killed in the Argonne
Forest, was one of the bravest men in the whole regiment. He was in
Company H during some of the hardest fighting, and the boys worshipped
him as a great leader. They would follow him any place, and every man
who knew him says that he was not afraid of anything,-that he was
absolutely fearless. He would run up to a German dugout alone and order
the Huns out. If they did not respond instantly, he would throw a hand
grenade in and then rush in and drag out the survivors.
   Once he rushed up a stone wall in the face of a terrible machine gun
fire, climbed over it and threw a bomb into a machine gun nest, destroy-
ing it. He often boasted that with Company H he could whip the whole
German army, and he was ready to make good any time. His devotion
to his men and their love for him was shown when he was transferred
from Company H to Company M. He wept and said that he would rather
be a private in Company H than commander of the regiment. The men
all signed a petition to have him remain with the company, and he was
allowed to stay; but only a few days later he was killed.





                         CHAPTER CV.

                 THE WORLD WAR (Continued).
        WASHINGTON COUNTY SOLDIERS OVERSEAS.
THE 331ST AND 332ND REGIMENTS IN ITALY-THE 330TH REGIMENT IN
   FRANCE-AIR SERVICE-GROUPE ROBINSON RESERVE MALLET-319TH
   INFANTRY IN FRANCE-322ND LIGHT FIELD ARTILLERY IN FRANCE-
   WAR WORKERS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY
   RED CROSS.
   The selective service men from Washington had a most honorable
record in the great war, although many of them never reached France.
This, however, was not their fault; the blame must be placed on ex- Kaiser
Wilhelm. The boys were all ready to go and were anxiously waiting for
the call that would send them across the seas to help their comrades who
had gone before "on the road to Berlin," when Wilhelm decided that dis-


1096





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


cretion was the wisest course and so pursued it immediately to Holland,
where he has been sojourning ever since. There was then no necessity
to send any more of our boys across, so there were several hundred thou-
sand of good American lads left on this side, all of whom had been
anxiously waiting for the call. Wilhelm Hohenzollern was the cause of
their being in the army, and they one and all wanted to get a "crack" at
him to settle the score.
   There were a number of selective service men from Washington who
did cross the seas to help drive the Huns from France, and they made a
record for themselves as fighters which has made the town proud of them.
These men were scattered through a number of different regiments and
in many branches of the service.
   Outside of the Twenty-eighth Division, in which the One Hundred
and Tenth Regiment fought, there were probably more Washington
County men in the Eighty-third Division than in any other in the United
States Army during the war. This division was organized at Camp Sher-
man, Ohio, and was made up of the Three Hundred and Twenty-nintlf,
Three Hundred and Thirty-first and Three Hundred and Thirty-second
regiments of infantry, a regiment of engineers, ammunition train, artil-
lery and other contingents.
   Companies L and M, of the Three Hundred and Thirtieth U. S. In-
fantry contained more Washington County men than any other Regiment
of selectives during the war. These men were trained at Camp Sherman,
and in November, 1917, a number of them were transferred and scattered
through other regiments, and to give a complete history of each would
be impossible. However, a number of them remained in the Three Hun-
dred and Thirtieth. There were also several in the Three Hundred and
Thirty-second, which was sent to the Italian front to help stop the Aus-
trian drive on the Piave River.
   Gen. E. G. Glenn was commander of the Eighty-third Division and
Colonel Cole led the Three Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry. The division
did not leave Camp Sherman until June 5, when the long journey to France
was started. The boys were all anxious to be off. Camp Mills was reached
on June 8th, and there the boys were equipped for overseas. They left
there June 13th, at 6 o'clock in the morning, and at 9 that morning, they
were on board the transport Olympic, and steamed out of New York
harbor for France. On board this ship were the Three Hundred and
Thirty-second and Three Hundred and Thirty-first Infantry. The Three
Hundred and Twenty-ninth and Three Hundred and Thirtieth Regiments
did not leave Camp Sherman until later.
   There were several Washington boys in the Three Hundred and Thirty-
second Infantry, which went finally to Italy. Among them was Frank
Baker, who was attached to the Three Hundred and Thirty-first Field
Hospital. This unit went to Italy with the Three Hundred and Thirty-
second. Others in the Three Hundred and Thirty-second were Samuel
McDowell, George Christy, Charles Egan and John C. Brown. The latter
remained in France after the others returned home, doing Red Cross
relief work. There were several boys from the vicinity of Lone Pine,
but there is no complete list of them. Another, James Cowen, was from
Marianna.


1097





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    On June 21, the Olympic, which was a British vessel, landed at South-
ampton, England. The troops remained on board that night and on the
22d landed, marching five miles to camp. On the evening of June 23rd
they boarded a vessel and that night crossed the English Channel to Le
Havre, France, landing there at four o'clock the next morning. They
went immediately to a rest camp, where they remained until noon of the
25th, when the regiment boarded a train for a training camp. The boys
had no idea where they were going, but finally, after a tiresome journey
through a number of small towns, they reached Montigny-le-Roi on the
26th. They remained there until July 28th, when the Three Hundred and
Thirty-second Regiment was ordered to Italy to help the Italians stop the
Austrian drive on the Piave River.
    The Three Hundred and Thirty-first Field Hospital Corps was ordered
to accompany the Three Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment. The
regiment left the camp at Montigny-le-Roi on July 16th and went to
Fontain that day. On July 28th, Villa-Franco was reached and it then
went to Santo Lucia, on Italian soil. The regiment remained there until
August 14th, when it went to Castozzo, where the local boys took part
in the first review of American troops by the King of Italy. This place
was the base of operations.
    The American regiment was held in reserve and did not take part
in the hard fighting which stopped the Austrian drive. On August 23d,
the first seriously wounded began to arrive at the base hospital at Cas-
tozzo. On September 14th the Austrians made their first air raid since
the arrival of the Americans, but no local boys were injured. On the
night of September 25th, the enemy made another air raid which lasted
practically all night, but very little damage resulted.
   The final drive on the Piave River was started by the Italians on the
night of October 26th. The night before, an Austrian airplane had been
destroyed while attempting to raid the Italian camp. The Italians pushed
their drive with such vigor that the hard fighting was practically over
before the Three Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment reached the battle
line.
   This victory of the Italians is known as the battle of Rittor-orio Venito.
As just stated, the Three Hundred and Thirty-second U. S. Infantry was
held in reserve and did not take part in this fighting. After the Austrians
retreat started, this regiment was ordered to follow, and it was the last
to cross the Piave River, but it was the first to come in contact with the
retreating enemy. This was at Taglimenti, forty kilometers north of the
Piave, where the Americans had a skirmish with the Austrians. The
Three Hundred and Thirty-second was led in this charge by a platoon
sergeant, who was killed. The Americans kept following the retreat,
harassing the enemy at every step, until the Austrian armistice was
granted and went into effect at noon of November 2d. It was signed on
the 4th. The Three Hundred and Thirty-second was at Udine when the
armistice was signed, after which it went to Trieste, in Austrian terri-
tory. The First Battalion of the regiment had been sent back to the
base at Trevise before the Piave offensive began. After reaching Monten-
egro, the Second Battalion was sent to Cattaro, in Montenegro, while the
Third remained at Trieste, part of it being stationed at Fiume.


1098




































































   Company H boys taken at Camp Dix, N. J., May 14, 1919, just after their arrival
from France.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   On February 14th, the regiment reached Genoa, on the first stage of
the journey back to the United States, and on March 9th, sailed on the
Duca D'Aosta, an Italian vessel. On April 1, the vessel reached Gib-
raltar, where coal was taken on, and on April 3d, they set sail across the
Atlantic for the United States. They arrived in New York harbor on
Sunday, April 13th, and on the afternoon of the 14th, the local soldiers
reached Camp Merritt.
   Besides these boys who served on the Italian front in the Three Hun-
dred and Thirty-second Infantry, another Washington boy, First Lieut.
Edmund A. Donnan, entered the United States service but was sent to Italy
on detached service where he was attached to Group XIV, Italian Flying
Corps. He saw much active service on the Italian front.
   Wilbur F. Brightwell, instructor in the Three Hundred and Forty-
first Aero Squadron, came from Washington. Mr. Brightwell was killed
in an airplane accident, October 26, 1918, at St. Jean de Montz, France.
A number of other boys were scattered through the air service, one of
whom was Lee R. Quinn, sergeant, who was killed January 13, 1919, in an
airplane at Forth Worth, Texas.
   After the Three Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment was sent to
Italy, the Three Hundred and Twenty-ninth, Three Hundred and Thirtieth
and Three Hundred and Thirty-first, which made up the balance of the
Eighty-third Division, were left in France. At that time these units
were stationed at Ecomoy, a small town near Le Mans, but after the de-
parture of the Three Hundred and Thirty-second the other three were
sent to Le Mans.
   Le Mans was a training camp for the front, and these regiments
were divided at that place. All of the privates were sent to the front line
as replacements for regiments that had suffered heavy casualties in the
terrific fighting that was then taking place on the whole Western front.
The commissioned and non-commissioned officers were retained at Le
Mans to drill new recruits arriving from the United States. There were
a number of Washington boys who remained permanently at Le Mans,
while many others were sent to the front and scattered through many
regiments.
   The Washington boys who served in the Three Hundred and Thirtieth
Infantry arrived home at different times, many of them coming in little
groups. However, a large number of them who were at Le Mans sailed
for this country on January 1. They arrived at Hampton Roads, Vir-
ginia, on January 30 and were sent immediately to Camp Sherman, Ohio,
where they were discharged February 12.
   Norman G. Perry, of Washington, who was attached to Company M,
Three Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry, at Camp Sherman, saw many
months of active service in France, with Groupe Robinson Reserve Mallet,
a famous motor transportation organization. On November 15, 1917, he
was transferred from the Three Hundred and Thirtieth to Company Three
Hundred and Thirty-six, Motor Train, Bn. 408, and January 11, 1918,
sailed for France with the Reserve Mallet. This was a French truck
reserve, attached to the French Army.
   With this organization Perry took part in the Somme defensive from
March 21st, to April 4, 1918, which is known as the second battle of the


1100





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Somme and was when the Germans opened their first big drive. He was
attached to the Sixth French and Fifth British armies. He was also
in the third battle of the Aisne, with the Sixth French Army, from May
27th to June 5th, which is known as the Aisne defensive. From June 10th
to the 13th he was in the battle of Montdidier known as the Noyon de-
fensive. At that time he was attached to the Third French Army. When
the Germans started their fifth and last offensive on July 15th, he took
part in the second battle of the Marne, where so many boys from Wash-
ington were killed and wounded, fighting in the ranks of the One Hun-
dred and Tenth. Perry was attached to the Third French and First
American armies. When the turning point came in the war on July 18th,
when the Americans and French started the offensive which stopped the
Germans and drove them back for the first time, young Perry was still
with them. He took part in the Aisne-Marne offensive from July 18th,
to August 6th, when the Huns were in full flight. From August 8th, to
September 9th he was with the First French Army in the Somme offen-
sive, known as the third battle of the Somme. From September 10th
to October 11 he took part in the Oise-Aisne offensive, and from October
12th to November 11th, he was in the Somme offensive.
   There is probably no soldier in Washington or perhaps in the county
who saw as much of the great war as did Mr. Perry. On June 19, 1919,
he arrived back in this country after nearly eighteen month of active
service in the greatest war in history, and during that time, he had taken
part in the greatest battles of that war. He was discharged at Camp
Dix on June 25, 1919.
   Sergt. Ormand J. Kelly was another Washington boy who saw much
active service in the great war. He enlisted in the regular army and was
attached to the Three Hundred and Fifty-fifth U. S. Infantry, of the
Eighty-ninth Division. Before being sent to France he had served in
the Philippines for three years. He saw active service in the Lys sector,
at St. Mihiel, in the Meuse offensive and in the Argonne Forest.
   On the morning of April 2, 1918, thirty-three volunteer selective service
men from Washington gathered in a public meeting room of the court-
house, where they listened to the farewell address, after which they were
escorted to the Pennsylvania station. The local draft board had issued a
call for volunteers to fill a quota, and these boys had been the first to re-
spond. They were sent to Camp Lee, Petersburg, Virginia, and were the
first to go from this section to that cantonment. Most of these boys were
assigned to the Three Hundred and Ninteenth U. S. Infantry and spent
only a short time training at Camp Lee, for on May 17th they left that
camp for Norfolk, Virginia, where they sailed for France.
   On May 31st, just fifty-nine days after they had left Washington, these
boys were in France as part of that great American army, the best fight-
ing machine the world has ever known, ready to take part in the big drive
against the Hun invaders that was to be launched by General Foch in a
few weeks. They landed at St. Nazaire, a French port on the Loire River,
where they went into camp.
   The information regarding the members of the regiment from Wash-
ington as well as the movements of the unit were supplied by Harry
Earley, of Washington, member of the command. Among the boys from


1101





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Later they were sent to Montreal, but in the course of time they were
released or escaped, and all finally returned home. The Indian loss was
never known.
   Colonel Lochry was among the killed. He had been wounded during
the battle, and was sitting on a log after the surrender when a Shawnese
warrior tomahawked him to death. The Indians followed their usual
custom of killing all of the wounded who were unable to travel. This was
the first battle between Americans and Indians in what is now the state
of Indiana.
   Brant, who always tried to control the Indians as much as possible,
afterwards apologized for the murder of wounded prisoners. He stated
that his warriors could not be controlled because some Indian prisoners
had been killed by General Brodhead on the Muskingum a few months
before.
   The old accounts state that two men escaped before the surrender,
and made their way back through the wilderness to Westmoreland County,
which they reached many months later.
   An old legend, still told in that section, states that a third man named
Kirby escaped by swimming the Ohio to the Kentucky shore, where he was
found by a party of explorers under Daniel Boone. To this day Kirby's
Rock, where he is supposed to have landed, is still pointed out to pas-
sengers on steamboats.
   Clark continued down the river to the Falls of the Ohio, where he
waited in vain for the Kentucky volunteers. Finally, when the news of
Lochry's fate reached him, Clark gave up the enterprise, and those of his
men who had not already deserted returned to their homes.
   I am indebted to Mrs. Walter Kerr, of Aurora, Indiana, for a descrip-
tion of the locality of Lochry's defeat, and for local information on the
subject. The exact location of the spot where this sanguinary battle took
place has been lost with the passing years. Many residents of that section
believe it was at the mouth of the creek at Split Rock, Kentucky, on land
now owned by a Mr. Batchlor, directly opposite Lochry Creek. The gen-
eral opinion, however, is that it was at the mouth of Lochry Creek, as
already stated, on land owned by a Mr. Miller. Still others believe that
it was on the site of Riverview cemetery, one-half mile up Lochry Creek.
This belief is founded on the fact that when the cemetery was laid out in
1869 many bones, arrow heads, pottery, beads, cups, kettles, plates, toma-
hawks, and war hatchets were found. Large numbers of these articles
have also been found at the other two locations. Lieutenant Anderson
states that they landed on the Indiana shore, and this seems to be the best
evidence that the battle was fought there. The water was low at that
time, and it is hardly likely that any attempt was made to ascend the creek.
   Lieutenant Isaac Anderson, already mentioned, was among the pris-
oners carried to Canada. During all of his wanderings from the time he
left Westmoreland County until his return nearly a year later, he kept a
journal, which is the most authentic account of the Lochry expedition
now in existence.
   After the battle of August 24th, the Indians took their prisoners up the
Ohio River eight miles to the mouth of the Miami, and went into camp,
where they remained for several days. On the 27th, one hundred white


103





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Washington in the Three Hundred and Nineteenth Infantry were the fol-
lowing: Henry G. Fetherlin, private (runner) in Company G, killed in
action near Nautolois, Argonne Forest, offensive, October 4, 1918; Albert
C. Comstock, corporal in Company D, died October 25 of wounds received
October 20th in Argonne Forest; Harry Earley, John Dornberger, Lloyd
Bricker, wounded in action near Nautolis, Argonne Forest, October 4,
1918; William Vorhees, Angelo Cahola, Nathan Martin, Lone Pine, wound-
ed in action November 2, 1918; Fred Bobe, Alegui Aloria, Francis De
Carlo, wounded in action near Nautolois, Argonne Forest, October 4, 1918;
and Mr. Comstock, William Davis, Harry Miller, William Schraeder, Earl
J. Loar, Guy Patterson, Guy Casgray, Clyde Messer, Roy Marble, Henry
Keeling, William Hamilton, Peyton Brookman, William Kelley, Joseph
Morrow, Robert Morrow, Ralph Bugher, James Marshall, James Payden,
Ignacius Hollen, William Berry, Harry Rush.
   On June 4th the regiment left St. Nazaire and after a ride of forty-
eight hours arrived at Calais, passing through Nantes, Abbeville and
Boulogne. The trains stopped for an hour at Le Mans, and it was while
waiting there that the first news of the fall of Soissons was received. The
regiment reached Calais on June 6th and went to a British camp, which
was greatly crowded. The American rifles were exchanged at this place
for British arms, and the boys were then trained in the use of gas masks.
It was while at Calais that the boys of the Three Hundred and Nineteenth
first heard from the Boche. The regiment was there only three days, but
one night there was an air raid. Fortunately none of the boys was injured,
and the guards had hard work to keep them from running out to see
the "show."
   On June 9th the regiment left Calais for Desvres, stopping at the vil-
lage of Samer on the way. Regimental headquarters were established at
Desvres, and a course of training was commenced under British veterans.
It was while the Three Hundred and Nineteenth was at Desvres that
General Pershing inspected the regiment. During the training at this
camp, two members of Company G, in which company were several Wash-
ington boys, were killed by the premature explosion of a hand grenade.
July 4th was spent by the regiment on the train, going from Desvres to
Bouquemaison, where the training under the British was continued.
   On July 22d the regiment marched from Haute Visee to the LaBazeque
farm, near the ruined city of Arras and only a short distance from the
front line, and during the training there the boys received some experi-
ence in the front lines. On July 24th the regiment suffered its first
casualty when Corp. Louis N. Grier, of Company E, was wounded while
on patrol. On the night of July 31st, Lieut. W. B. Baxley of Baltimore
was mortally wounded by a rifle bullet.
   The regiment remained in that area until August 18th, taking its
turn in the front lines and having several brushes with the enemy. On
August 18th orders were received to go to another sector, and the next
morning the regiment was marching across country to Frevent, reaching
the village of Autheux on the 20th. Finally, after many hard marches
and long journeys by train, the regiment landed in Southern France,
reaching Bois-de-la-Ville, where it halted for several days. This was near
Verdun, and many of the boys visited the fortifications and battlefield


1102





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


while stationed there. Three days later the regiment was assigned to a
position south of the famous La Mort Homme, or Dead Man's Hill, near
Germonville, and there they again heard the sound of enemy shell fire.
   All day September 25th was a busy time getting ready for the great
Meuse-Argonne offensive, which was to start the next morning. The
Three Hundred and Nineteenth was stationed on the north side of La Mort
Homme, south of the village of Bethincourt, in which was a German out-
post. Shortly after midnight the Allied artillery opened a terrific bom-
bardment of the German lines, which increased steadily in volume until it
reached its height at 5 o'clock that morning. When this lifted, the boys
of the Three Hundred and Nineteenth went over the top in their first big
battle. They kept going and by noon had advancd to the Bethincourt-
Gercourt road. A large number of prisoners were taken during the morn-
ing, and the enemy was driven from Gercourt.
   At daylight the next morning the regiment was holding a strong ad-
vance line, where it remained until the 29th. No attempt was made to
cross the river in force, but at night the regiment was under heavy shell
fire from the enemy artillery, their position having been located by Hun
airplanes. During the first part of this battle the Three Hundred and
Nineteenth captured large numbers of prisoners, machine guns and artil-
lery. On September 29th, the Three Hundred and Nineteenth was relieved
by the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth and went back of the lines. On
the morning of October 4th the regiment was ordered into battle again
and remained on the line, under heavy artillery fire from the enemy across
the Meuse, until the night of the 7th, when the command was relieved for
a time. It was in the fighting near Nautolois on October 4th that Henry
G. Fetherlin, of Washington, was killed, and Lloyd Bricker and Francis
De Carlo, also of Washington, were wounded in Bois de Gones.
   The Three Hundred and Nineteenth was in the fighting continuously
until daybreak of October 12th, when it was relieved. It went immedi-
ately to the assembling point in the Bois-de-Cuisy, where it remained until
the morning of the 14th, when it marched to the village of Recicourt.
From there it boarded a French truck train, reaching the villages of
Belval, Senard and Charamontois le Roi that night. On the night of the
22d it received orders to move, and the next night went into camp on the
edge of the Argonne Forest, near the ruins of the village of La Chalade.
It was during the fighting in the Argonne Forest on October 20th that
Albert C. Comstock, of Washington, a corporal in Company D, was mor-
tally wounded. He died in a hospital in France on October 25th.
   On the 30th the regiment marched through the forest to the other edge,
near Apremont, where it lay under cover until night, remaining there
all the next day and night. At daybreak on November 1st it went over the
top in the last big offensive of the war. The regiment advanced steadily,
forcing the enemy back, until the Huns were in full retreat along their
whole front. The regiment continued in the advance day by day until
the night of the 6th, when it was relieved and started on the march back
from the front. It was during the fighting in this final offensive on No-
vember 4th that Nathan Martin, of Lone Pine, was wounded near Buzancy.
   During the operations of the Three Hundred and Nineteenth in the
war, it captured 1,937 prisoners, 35 cannon, four 37-millimeter guns, 196


1103





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


machine guns and one anti-aircraft gun, with a loss of nine officers killed
and twenty-five wounded; 228 men killed, 22 missing and 1,083 wounded.
    On the morning of November 11th the regiment was marching through
 the Argonne Forest, and when the villages of La Chalade and Le Claon
 were reached, they received the glad tidings that the armistice had been
 signed. On May 20, 1919, the Three Hundred and Nineteenth sailed from
 Brest for home and landed at New York on June 2d. The regiment was
 sent to Camp Dix and then to Camp Sherman, stopping in Pittsburgh,
 where it paraded on June 9th. It was mustered out at Camp Sherman
 on June 12th.
    The Three Hundred and Nineteenth Infantry was part of the One Hun-
 dred and Sixtieth Brigade, which was made up of the Three Hundred
 and Seventeenth, Three Hundred and Eighteenth and Three Hundred and
 Twentieth regiments in addition to the Three Hundred and Nineteenth. It
 was commanded by Brigadier-General Brett, aged sixty-two years, who
 had the record of being the oldest fighter in the American Expeditionary
 Forces. He was an old regular army officer and had made a record as an
 Indian fighter on the plains in the days of the old West. He was decorated
 for bravery in France.
   Another regiment in which enough Washington boys fought in France
to justify recognition was the Three Hundred and Twenty-second Light
Artillery. These boys belonged to the contingent that was sent from
Washington to Camp Sherman, Ohio, on the morning of December 12, 1917.
As soon as they arrived at the cantonment they were assigned to the Three
Hundred and Twenty-second Artillery, and they remained with the com-
mand to the end.
   Among the Washington boys in this regiment were the following:
Fred Baumberger, sergeant in the Headquarters Company, wounded No-
vember 8, 1918, in the Argonne Forest; Joseph Asturino, wagoner with
the Supply Company, died in Germany in 1919, with the Army of Occu-
pation; Elmer Reynolds, first class private in the Ordnance Detachment,
regimental ordnance clerk; Harry Samolsky, private in Battery A; Lind-
say Swart, corporal in Battery A; Roland Bebout, private in Headquarters
Company; Russell Ullom, in Battery C; Frank Tricano, played cornet
in regimental band; Virgil Hutchinson, of Claysville, sergeant in the
Supply Company; Mr. Bedillion, of Prosperity, private in Headquarters
Company; Mr. Loar, of Amity, wagoner.
   This regiment was part of the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Field
Artillery Brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General Fleming, and the
regiment was under the command of Colonel Warfield, both of these officers
being regular army officers with excellent records. The One Hundred and
Fifty-eighth Brigade was attached to the Thirty-second Division, but it
also fought with the Twenty-ninth, Seventy-ninth and Ninety-first Ameri-
can divisions and the Seventeenth French Division.
   The regiment trained at Camp Sherman, Ohio, until June 2, 1918,
when it left and went to New York, on the first stage of the journey to
the battlefields of France. It sailed from New York on June 12th, on the
British steamer Camopic, and arrived at Liverpool on June 24th. Some
German submarines were sighted in the danger zone, but no damage was
done, as the vessel was well convoyed.


1104




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Elmer Reynolds, of Washington, kept a diary of the movements of
 the regiment, and it was used largely in preparing the following account:
    After landing at Liverpool the regiment went into camp at Knotty-
 Ash, near the city, where many other Washington boys in other regiments
 had camped on their way to France. It remained there until June 26th,
 when it went to Southampton, sailing from there on the 27th. The vessel
 left that port at night and landed at Le Havre the next morning.
    The command left Le Havre on July 1st and went direct to Massac-
 Guiprey, where it remained a month, resting. At the end of that time,
 it went to Camp Coetquidan, a big French artillery training camp, where
 the men received full equipment and went through a course of real train-
 ing, such as they had never dreamed of before. All of their equipment
 was French ,with the exception of their pistols, which were of American
 make. This place is an old French training camp and is the cantonment
 where Napoleon trained his artillery. It is near the town of Guer.
    On September 19th the command was ordered to join the First Ameri-
 can army, then being assembled in the Argonne for the great offensive
 that ended the war. It went in reserve at Vaincourt and on the 26th
 moved on the front line in the Forest of Hesse, or the Bois de Hessa, and
 this was the first place the Washington boys were under enemy fire. At
 midnight on September 25th the great American attack on the famous
 Hindenburg line began, with a terrific artillery fire, in which the Three
 Hundred and Twenty-second took a gallant part. The attack was suc-
 cessful and all objectives were taken by the Americans. The Three Hun-
 dred and Twenty-second was in action for several days at this point.
   From the Forest of Hesse the Three Hundred and Twenty-second was
sent to the famous Dead Man's Hill at Verdun, where it went into position
on the line October 5th. From this point, until the armistice was signed,
the Three Hundred and Twenty-second was engaged in continuous fight-
ing, moving forward every day. On November 8th, two days before the
armistice was signed, Sergt. Fred Baumberger, of Washington, a member
of the Headquarters Company, was seriously wounded. This was during
the heavy fighting in the famous Argonne Forest, which was the most
terrific of the war.
   When the armistice went into effect at 11 o'clock on November 11th
the Three Hundred and Twenty-second was fighting on the line. It started
firing on the Huns at daybreak and continued a steady bombardment until
exactly 11 o'clock. It was on the line front near Harmount and Ecurey,
in the Argonne Forest, and was taking part in the great drive towards
the Briey coal fields. The boys in the regiment did not know that the
armistice had been signed until after they had gone into action, but they
kept on sending their greetings to the Huns until the very last minute,
each man anxious to be the last one to fire at the enemy; but the boys
received the news of peace with much joy.
   The regiment remained on the front line after the signing of the armis-
tice until it was re-equipped, when it started on the march to the Rhine.
This was on November 18th, and on December 1st it crossed the German
border at Mertert. It continued its march to the Rhine, which was reached
at Coblenz, Germany, on December 13th, where the One Hundred and
Tenth Infantry was stationed while with the Army of Occupation.
       70-V1


1105




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   On December 14th, the Three Hundred and Twenty-second left Cob-
lenz and went into a permanent position on the first line of defense in
Germany being billeted at Bruchrackdorf, Ellenhausen, Deesen and other
points nearby.
   It was while stationed with the Army of Occupation that Joseph As-
turino, of Washington, a wagoner with the Supply Company, died. That
was early in 1919.
   The regiment remained with the Army of Occupation in Germany
until April 21, 1919, when it received orders to return to France, prepara-
tory to embarking for the United States. It went direct to Brest, from
which port it sailed on the U. S. Plattsburg on May 7th, arriving in New
York harbor on May 15th. It was sent to Camp Merritt, New Jersey,
from which point the men were sent to the training camps nearest their
home, the Washington boys being mustered out at Camp Dix.
   The Thirty-second Division, to which the Three Hundred and Twenty-
second Artillery was attached, was composed of the Michigan and Wis-
consin National Guard. During the war it fought at Harmount, Dead
Man's Hill at Verdun, known as Hill 290, Vacherauville, Charny, Vraban,
Samoneux, Bois de la Grande Montagne, Montfaucon, Nautolois, Farm de
Madeleine, Bois de Cunel and Dun-sur-Meuse.
   Inasmuch as every citizen of the United States, including men, women
and even the children, helped energetically to win the war, the title "War
Worker" is not a very specific one; but there have been a number of
Washington people who were engaged in activities which took them over-
seas, or into the camps and cantonments of this country during the war
period.
   Robert Good, Jr., of Central and Ayleshire avenues, was a song leader
in the Y. M. C. A., and was located at Bologna, Italy. He went into the
work in December, 1918.
   Mrs. Jane Best Baum, of East Wheeling Street, was among the first
volunteers for work with the committee for relief in the devastated regions
of France. Upon the arrival of this committee in France, their equip-
ment and relief material were all destroyed by the German drive in the
spring of 1918, and the members were forced to do the best they could,
at almost any kind of work in hospitals and various places, in and near
Paris. Mrs. Baum returned home early in the spring of 1919.
   Miss Lillian Crumm, of the Eighth Ward, a well known nurse, offered
her service to the Red Cross and was accepted. She is still in the service.
   Miss Rita Jacqmain did army nursing during the war and was sent
overseas, spending part of her time in hospitals in Paris.
   Miss Laura C. Schaeffer is another Washington nurse who took up
Red Cross nursing during the war.
   Miss Stella M. Weyer volunteered as a Red Cross canteen worker and
was sent to France, where she was first in Paris, then in the Toul sector.
She served in canteens on the front, and in hospitals also. She returned
to the United States in May, 1919.
   Miss Janet Acheson was employed in the reconstruction aid work with
the Surgeon General Department.
   Miss Hannah Lambie and Miss Dorothy Hinitt, of Indiana, Pennsyl-
vania, formerly of Washington, were Y. M. C. A. canteen workers. Miss


1106



































    Arches in front of the public square during the home-coming celebration for
World War veterans of the county, held in Washington, September 18, 1919.


    Col. John Aiken at the head of the World War veterans in the home-coming cele-
bration to all World War veterans of the county, held in Wqshine'ton. Sent-mbel- 18,
1919. Colonel Aiken went out as Captain of Company H. Tenth Regiment, and re-
turned as lieutenant-colonel of the regiment.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Lambie was stationed in Liverpool first, then in Paris. Miss Hinitt was
located near Paris.
    Miss Inez Bailey helped as a canteen worker for over a year, while
Miss Bess Chambers was in the Red Cross headquarters in Paris, doing
canteen work there.
    Miss Frances Irwin, of Scottdale, formerly of Washington, volunteered
as a Y. M. C. A. canteen worker but on arriving in New York was taken
seriously ill and had to return home, without going overseas.
    Dr. Robert B. English, of the Washington and Jefferson College faculty,
was in France for several months as a Y. M. C. A. worker, in the educa-
tional department of the work.
    David Boswell, whose home is on Broad Street in the Eighth Ward,
was in the Y. M. C. A. work for about five months but did not get overseas,
being stationed at the different camps near Newport News.
    One of the most active organizations for war work, in addition to the
Red Cross, of course, was the Woman's Committee, Council of National
Defense. At the time this work was organized in the spring of 1917,
Mrs. Edwin Linton was county chairman, but on account of her ill health
she was forced to give up the position and Mrs. Charles L. Crawford took
her place. The vice-chairmen were Miss Stella M. Weyer and Mrs. J. J.
Davin; secretary, Mrs. A. M. Linn; treasurer, Miss Jeannette Dickson, of
Canonsburg; finance chairman, Miss Mary D. McClane; district vice-
chairmen, Mrs. T. J. Miller, of McDonald; Mrs. C. C. Johnson, Canons-
burg; Mrs. E. S. McCullough, Monongahela; Miss Edith Linton, Freder-
icktown; Mrs. J. H. Ferguson of Washington, and Miss Laura Crothers
of Taylorstown. The department directors were: Registration, Mrs. R.
A. Stewart; Food Production, Mrs. W. C. Black; Food Conservation, Mrs.
Owen Murphy; Women in Industry, Mrs. C. L. Crawford; Child Welfare,
Mrs. T. R. Alexander, Jr.; Education and Americanization, Mrs. Ernest
Waltz; Liberty Loan, Mrs. L. S. Vowell; Red Cross and Relief, Mrs. Nor-
man E. Clark. Some of the work done by this organization besides that
of the different departments given above was the recruiting of the student
nurse reserves from all over the county, during the war period, when the
surgeon-general sent out a call for more nurses, and this was done most
efficiently.
   The Red Cross in Washington and the county had a membership of
about 20,000 during the war, with sixty auxiliaries and 10 units, and at
the time all the work was completed, in June, 1919, 500,000 articles had
been made. Of these there were forty-six different kinds of surgical dress-
ings, seven of hospital garments, nine of knitted garments and seventeen
of refugee garments.
   The campaign for funds in May, 1917, secured $68,000, and the second
in May, 1918, netted $210,000.
   The officers of the Red Cross were: Chairman, J. R. McCreight; vice-
chairman, Mrs. Robert R. Reed; secretary, Mrs. W. F. Borchers; treas-
urer, John W. Warrich. These officers served until July, 1917, when E.
Tyler Davis was made chairman. He was succeeded in September, when
he entered the U. S. service, by R. M. Paxon, who served until the end
of the war. On the resignation of Mrs. Reed, R. G. Miller became vice-
chairman, in July, 1918, and upon the resignation of Mrs. Borchers, Mrs.


1108





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Caroline Underwood was elected secretary and Mrs. Lydia Stevens assist-
ant secretary. Mrs. Underwood and Mrs. Stevens were in charge of the
Red Cross headquarters during the summer and fall of 1918. Mrs. E. E.
Crumrine was in charge of the surgical dressings and hospital garments
for the county, and Miss Rachel Warrick was buyer of material for the
county and had charge of the knitting.
    A branch of the Red Cross was that of Civilian Relief, of which the
 county chairman was William L. Moore, of McDonald. Mrs. Olive W.
 Grace was local chairman. It was through this organization that the
 families of soldiers were cared for, in the way of attending to allotments
 and legal matters.





                           CHAPTER CVI.

                   THE UNRETURNING BRAVE.
 WASHINGTON COUNTY SOLDIERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THIE CIVIL
    WAR AND THE WORLD WAR.
                         The Civil War Dead.
   The following are the lists of Washington County soldiers killed or
died of disease during the Civil war:

                  BURIED IN WASHINGTON CEMETERY.

   Samuel D. Rickey, private in Company E, Twelfth Pennsylvania Vol-
unteer Infantry; died of disease on July 20, 1861. This was the first com-
pany to leave Washington at the outbreak of the war, and Rickey was
the first soldier from Washington County to give his life in defense of
the Union.
   George W. Freeby, private, Company K, Eighth Pennsylvania Re-
serves, died at Georgetown, D. C., August 30, 1861.
   Benjamin Stewart, first sergeant, Company A, One Hundredth Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry, killed by the accidental explosion of a shell
at Hilton Head, South Carolina, November 28, 1861.
   John S. Weirich, private, Company A, One Hundredth Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, died at Beaufort, South Carolina, March 13, 1862.
   Robert A. Young, private, Battery G, Independent Regiment, Penn-
sylvania Artillery, died October 10, 1862.
   Alfred W. Alexander, private, Company K, Eighth Pennsylvania Re-
serves, died December 17, 1862, of wounds received at the battle of Fred-
ericksburg, Maryland, December 13, 1862.
   Theodore J. Dye, corporal, Company K, Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves,
killed in action at Antietam, Maryland, September 17, 1862.
   James M. McClay, private, Company B, First West Virginia Cavalry,
died in the service of his country, February 25, 1862.
   Hugh A. Purviance, lieutenant colonel, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Re-


1109





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


serve Infantry, killed in action at Morris Island, South Carolina, August
30, 1863.
   George W. Chambers, private, Company B, Fifty-second Ohio Infantry,
died April 26, 1863.
   Thomas B. Logan, private, Company B, Third Iowa Cavalry, drowned
at Helena, Arkansas, June 5, 1863.
   Malcolm Brownlee, private, Company F, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cav-
alry, died April 23, 1863.
   David Acheson, captain, Company C, One Hundred and Fortieth Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry, killed in the charge across the wheat field at
Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   David Reed, second lieutenant, Company C, One Hundred and Fortieth
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, died at Georgetown, D. C., July 10,
1863.
   Anthony Mull, private, Company C, One Hundred and Fortieth Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry, killed in the charge across the wheat field at
Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Newton Cox, private, Independent Pennsylvania Cavalry, died of dis-
ease in United States Hospital at Petersburg, Virginia, November 24,
1863.
   Benjamin McCoy, private, Company L, Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Vol-
unteer Infantry, died in United States Hospital, Alexandria, Va., in 1863.
   John Harshman, private, Company B, Twenty-second Pennsylvania
Cavalry (Ringgold), killed in action December 15, 1863.
   Simon Vankirk, private, Company D, One Hundred and Fortieth Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, in charge
across the wheat field, body concealed by brother in a culvert for four
days.
   Daniel L. Keeney, private, Company C, One Hundred and Fortieth
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, died at McClelland Hospital, Philadel-
phia, August 20, 1863, of wounds received in the charge across the wheat
field at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Oliver P. Henderson, first sergeant, Company E, Eighty-Fifth Pennsyl-
vania Volunteer Infantry, died at Baltimore, Maryland, May 25, 1862.
   John H. Clemens, private, Company A, One Hundredth Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, killed in action at Petersburg, Virginia, June 17, 1864.
   John Wishart, private, Company C, One Hundred and Fortieth Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry, died at Washington, Pennsylvania, August
14, 1864.
   Frank Iams, private, Company G, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsyl-
vania Volunteer Infantry, killed in action at Tural Plains, Virginia, May
31, 1864.
   Frederick S. Barlow, assistant engineer, United States Navy, killed in
the battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama, August 5, 1864; body never recovered;
monument erected in the Washington cemetery in his memory by his
mother.
   Thomas Foster, first lieutenant, Company K, Eighth Pennsylvania Re-
serves, died in 1861.
   John W. Daugherty, captain, Company I, First West Virginia Infantry,
wounded at the head of his company at the battle of Lynchburg, Virginia,


1110





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


June 18, 1864; was captured and prisoner in the hands of the Confeder-
ates four months; paroled and sent to Annapolis, Maryland, where he died
of his wounds, October 26, 1864.
   John S. C. Cotton, private, Company M, Sixth Pennsylvania Heavy Ar-
tillery, died at Fort Ethan Allen, Washington, D. C., November 30, 1864.
   William Hayes, private, Company E, Eighty-Fifth Pennsylvania Vol-
unteer Infantry, died in Franklin township, November 8, 1864.
   Samuel M. Potter, hospital steward, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry,
died at Point Lookout, Maryland, September 5, 1864.
   Alexander Bane, private, Company B, Eighty-Fifth Pennsylvania Vol-
unteer Infantry, mustered out with company November 22, 1864, died in
March, 1865.

   COMPANY A, ONE HUNDREDTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
   The casualties in Company A were very heavy. Out of one hundred
and ninety-two officers and men who enlisted in this company from Wash-
ington County thirty-eight never came back. Out of this number twelve
fell on Southern battlefields, five died in Confederate prisons, four in the
famous prison at Andersonville, Georgia; five died of wounds received in
action, twelve from sickness incurred in the line of duty, two were killed
accidentally, one was missing and never heard from, and one died from
other causes.
   The list follows:
   William F. Templeton, captain, killed at Bull Run, Virginia, August 29.
1862.
   Joseph H. Pentecost, captain and lieutenant colonel of regiment, killed
at Fort Steadman, Virginia, March 25, 1865.
   Benjamin S. Stewart, first sergeant, killed by the accidental explosion
of a shell at Hilton Head, South Carolina, November 28, 1861.
   William H. Walker, musician, died October 4, 1861.
   Peter A. Blomberg, died at Beaufort, South Carolina, February 15, 1862.
   John Clemens, killed at Petersburg, Virginia, June 17, 1864.
   Thomas Donley, died at David's Island, New York, September 8, 1864.
   Samuel P. Ewing, died at Washington, D. C., September 19, 1861.
   William Gray, killed at Petersburg, Virginia, June 17, 1864.
   Isaac R. W. Garretson, killed November 29, 1863.
   Louis Hagar, killed at Petersburg, Virginia, July 30, 1864.
   Horatio Hamilton, died June 20, 1864, of wounds received in action.
   John E. Howe, died at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
   Jacob Hartsein, died at Beaufort, South Carolina, April 5, 1862.
   Alexander Howell, died at Beaufort, South Carolina, December 19, 1861.
   Charles Heer, killed at Bull Run, Virginia, August 29, 1862.
   Robert D. Jobes, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, August 16, 1864;
grave 5871.
   Henry H. Lindley, died in Kentucky, February 14, 1864.
   John W. Lovery, died of wounds received at Petersburg, Virginia, March
25, 1865.
   James Lowrie, died in Beaufort, South Carolina, December 30, 1861.


1111





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


men (all Tories and British from Canada), commanded by Captain
Thompson, and three hundred Indians led by the notorious Capt. Alex-
ander McKee, who had deserted from the Americans at Fort Pitt in 1777,
joined the party of hostiles.
    Anderson's journal states that on the 28th this entire force with the
exception of a sergeant and eighteen men who were left to guard the six-
teen prisoners, started on a raid against the Kentucky settlements. From
this it would appear that all of the prisoners had been killed with the
exception of sixteen. On September 15th the war party returned from
Kentucky, and the entire force started for Detroit.
   When they arrived at Old Chillicothe the Indians took ten of the pris-
oners from Captain Thompson. On the 26th, Captain Thompson set out
with the remaining six prisoners, including Lieutenant Anderson, and on
October 11th they reached Detroit. The prisoners were turned over to
Major Schuyler De Peyster, the commandant, who confined them in the
citadel. Anderson states that on the 13th they were moved to good quar-
ters, and that they were well treated, being provided with clothing and
given the liberty of the town.
   On November 4th, they sailed from Detroit on the sloop Felicity, and
after a long voyage arrived at Fort Erie at the head of the Niagara River.
From there they were taken on flat boats to Fort Schlosser, New York, one
mile above Niagara Falls, and on the 15th they were taken over the
portage to Fort Niagara, at the mouth of the river on Lake Ontario, where
they were put on board the Seneca. On the 17th they reached Carleton
Island, and on the 20th they started on the long journey by river and
portage to Montreal. They reached that city on the 28th, and were
delivered to General Spike, who placed them in close confinement. The
next day they were removed to the long house in St. Mare parish, where
they were confined until May 26th, 1782, when they escaped.
   Just how many got away is not stated, but probably all six. They
scaled the stockade at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and crossed the river
at Longueil Church. On June 1st their provisions gave out, and they killed
and ate a dog. They lost their compass, but steered their course for two
days by the sun. Whenever possible they traveled on rafts, and at last
after many hardships reached Vermont. On July 2nd, they reached Phila-
delphia, and then traveled over the old trail across the mountains, reaching
Colonel Campbell's in Westmoreland County on July 16th. What became
of the ten prisoners left at Old Chillicothe is not stated.
   An old history of Dearborn County, Indiana, gives the names of five
officers and thirty-three privates killed and twelve officers and fifty-one
privates captured. This accounts for one hundred one out of the force of
one hundred seven.
   The names of twenty-three members of Colonel Lochry's command
appear in the Sixth Series, Pennsylvania Archives. From this it appears
that the ten prisoners left at Old Chillicothe were afterwards taken to
Canada and released in December, 1782. These survivors were Robert
Watson, John Marrs, Michael Hare, John Guthrie, John Scott, James Rob-
inson, James Kane, John Crawford, Peter McHarge and James Dunseath.
   Richard Wallace was one of the men who escaped with Lieutenant
Anderson; but Richard Fleming was still a captive among the Indians in


104





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Simon W. Lewis, accidentally killed by falling from train between Cov-
ington and Paris, Kentucky.
    George W. McClelland, taken prisoner June 2, 1864, and never heard of
afterwards.
    Jacob L. McCullough, killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 2, 1864.
    Joseph E. McCullough, died July 19, of wounds received accidentally
June 26, 1864.
    John B. McKeever, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, July 30, 1864;
grave 4407.
    Thomas McKeever, drowned August 12, 1862.
    H. C. Odenbaugh, killed at Antietam, September 14, 1862.
    George W. Robertson, died in prison at Danville, Virginia, September
16, 1864.
    Simon S. Russell, died September 8th of wounds received August 29,
1862.
   Frederick Rau, died September 8, 1862.
   William S. Simcox, killed at Petersburg, Virginia, March 25, 1865.
   James B. Thompson, wounded and captured June 2, 1864; died in An-
dersonville Prison, Georgia, August 17, 1864; grave 5966.
   T. B. Templeton, died at Washington, D. C., August 19, 1864.
   Andrew Templeton, wounded September 14, 1862, died November 3,
1863.
   Aaron Templeton, killed November 29, 1863.
   John Wherry, killed at Spring Church, Virginia, October 2, 1864.
   Jackson Wimer, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, September 24,
1864; grave 9634.
   John L. Weirich, died in Beaufort, South Carolina, date unknown.

        ONE HUNDRED AND FORTIETH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS.
   The following is a list of those members of the five companies from
Washington County who were killed in action, or died from wounds or
disease during the war. It. will be seen that out of a total of 525 officers
and men in these five companies, sixty-one were killed in battle, thirty
died from wounds, eighty died in Southern prisons and forty-four died
from other causes, making a total loss of 143.

                    COMPANY C. BRADY ARTILLERY.
   David Acheson, captain, killed at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 2,
1863.
   W. J. Cunningham, first lieutenant, killed at Farmville, Virginia, April
7, 1865.
   J. D. Campbell, first sergeant, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   William Horton, corporal, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   E. C. Brown, corporal, killed at the Wilderness, May 5, 1864.
   William Armstrong, captured at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, died in prison
at Richmond, Virginia, December 1, 1863.
   William Amon, killed at Spottsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May 12,
1864.


1112





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Ellis J. Cole, died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 2d, of wounds
received at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Isaac Cleaver, Jr., died June 20, 1864.
   Samuel Curry, captured at Tolopotomy Creek, May 31, 1864, died in
Andersonville Prison, September 2, 1864; grave 7617.
   Daniel Dowling, died in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Nov. 3, 1863.
   J. N. Dowling, killed at North Anna River, Virginia, May 23, 1864.
   Benton Devon, killed at North Anna River, Virginia, May 23, 1864.
   James Eckert, killed at Spottsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May 12,
1864.
   Lewis Henry, died at Harrisburg, date unknown, of wounds received
at Petersburg, Virginia, June 10, 1864.
   Thomas Jones. killed at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863.
   James S. Kelley, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Daniel Keeny, died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 20, of wounds
received at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Thomas Lucas, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Thomas W. Long, died August 20th of wounds received at Spottsylvania
Courthouse, Virginia, May 12, 1864.
   Robert Lindsay, captured at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, died in prison
at Richmond, Virginia, November 12, 1863.
   Anthony Mull, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Richard Miller, died July 26, of wounds received at Gettysburg, July 2,
1863.
   John McCoon, died at Wheeling, West Virginia, May 30, 1864, of wounds
received at Spottsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May 12, 1864.
   Alvin Newman, died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 13, of
wounds received at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Albertus Patterson, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Jackson Pratt, killed at North Anna River, Virginia, May 23, 1864.
   Gales Rose, died May 29, of wounds received at Spottsylvania Court-
house, Virginia, May 12, 1864.
   Simeon Vankirk, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   James Wise, killed at Tolopotomoy Creek, Virginia, May 3, 1863.
   Isaac Wall, killed at Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 3, 1863.
   Total: Killed in battle, eighteen; died of wounds, eight; died in prison,
three; died from other causes, two; grand total, thirty-one.

                   COMPANY D, TENMILE INFANTRY.
   Moses McCullum, sergeant, died at Washington, D. C., May 17, of
wounds received at Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 3, 1863.
   Cephas D. Sharp, died August 2d, of wounds received at Gettysburg,
July 2, 1863.
   Lester Beabout, sergeant, died at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September
1, of wounds received at Tolopotomoy Creek, Virginia, May 31, 1864.
  James A. Beabout, corporal, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
  Beden Beabout, corporal, died July 10th, of wounds received at Gettys-
burg, July 2d, 1863.


1113





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Samuel B. Evans, Corporal, died at Washington, D. C., July 13th, of
wounds received at Gettysburg, July 2d, 1863.
    Abner L. Birch, died at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 4th, of
wounds received at the Wilderness, May 5, 1864.
    Miller Blatchly, died at Beverly, New Jersey, October 4, 1864.
    John L. Brannan, killed Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May 12,
1864.
   Milton Clutter, died at Washington, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1864.
   John W. Cooper, died at Prosperity, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1864.
   Andrew Curry, wounded and captured at Chancellorsville, Virginia,
May 1, 1863; died in prison, date unknown.
   Lewis Dilley, died July 19th, of wounds received at Gettysburg, July
2, 1863.
   Thomas Doty, killed at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May 12,
1864.
   Jacob Hatfield, died at Washington, D. C., December 31, 1864.
   Jonathan W. Hughes, died at Amity, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1864.
   John W. Lewis, died at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 13th, of wounds
received at Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 1, 1864.
   James Loore, not accounted for.
   Joseph Meeks, died at Annapolis, Maryland, May 13, 1865.
   James M. Miller, died at Washington D. C., May 20th, of wounds re-
ceived at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May 12, 1864.
   James Montgomery, died July 15, of wounds received at Spotsylvania
Courthouse, Virginia, May 12, 1864.
   Jackson W. Paden, killed at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May
12, 1864.
   Philo Paul, killed at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May 12, 1864.
   Peter Phillips, died May 10, 1864, of wounds received at the Po River,
Virginia.
   Harvey Pope, died at Windmill Point, Pennsylvania, February 2, 1863.
   William Rutan, died at Washington, D. C., June 10, 1864.
   Simon Sanders, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Emmett Smalley, killed at the Wilderness, Virginia, May 5, 1864.
   Amos Swart, died at Potomac Creek, May 16th, of wounds received
at Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 3, 1863.
   William Teagarden, died at Washington, D. C., June 7th, of wounds
received at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May 12, 1864.
   William Williams, died at Alexandria, Virginia, December ,16, 1864.
   Total; Killed in battle, seven; died of wounds, fourteen; died in prison,
one; died from other causes, ten; Total, thirty-two.

                            COMPANY E.
   William D. Land, first lieutenant, killed at Sailor Creek, Virginia,
April 6, 1865.
   B. F. O'Bryon, sergeant, killed at Tolopotomoy Creek, Virginia, May
3, 1864.
   Samuel Pritchard, corporal, died in prison at Charleston, South Caro-
lina, October 23, 1864.


1114





              HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                     1115

   George Lafferty, corporal, died, date unknown, of wounds received at
Petersburg, Virginia, July 4, 1864.
   James Rankin, corporal, died at Washington, D. C., June 10, 1863.
   Robert Russell, corporal, killed at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia,
May 12, 1864.
   Albert Herron, killed at Tolopotomoy Creek, Virginia, May 31, 1864.
   George Ballsinger, accidentally killed at White Hall, September 27,
1862.
   Franklin Barringer, died of wounds July 15, 1864.
   A. S. Black, died at Parkton, Maryland, November 12, 1864.
   Samuel W. Cady, died July 1, 1864.
   James Casky, died date unknown.
   Francis M. Daniels, killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 5, 1864.
   Francis M. Hansel, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   William Hirst, killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 5, 1864.
   James Hurley, killed at Falmouth, Virginia, June 18, 1864.
   Jeremiah Hattenhour, killed at Petersburg, Virginia, June 10, 1864.
   C. A. Lank, died at Falmouth, Virginia, March 24, 1863.
   Bart Lancaster, died at Washington, D. C., December 22, 1862.
   James Little, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia.
   And. McWilliams, missing in action at Spotsylvania Courthouse,
May 12, 1864.
   George McMillin, died at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 28,
1864.
   Hugh Patterson, died at Washington, D. C., August 10, 1863.
   Harry Pierce, died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 1, 1864.
   Sparks C. Roberts, died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 24,
1864.
   William H. Sickler, died at Point Lookout, Maryland, October 14, 1864.
   John W. Thorp, died at Washington, D. C., January 31, 1863.
   Solomon Williams, died October 31, 1864, of wounds at Alexandria,
Virginia.
   Joseph W. Woodward, killed at Tolopotomoy Creek, Virginia, May
31, 1864.
   Total: Killed in battle, nine; died of wounds, three; died in prison,
two; died from other causes, fifteen; total twenty-nine.

                    COMPANY G, BROWN INFANTRY.
   John F. Wilson, captain, died at City Point, April 14th, of wounds
received at Petersburg, Virginia, March 25, 1865.
   Joseph W. McEwan, second lieutenant, killed at Chancellorsville, Vir-
ginia, May 3, 1863.
   Alex. M. Wilson, second lieutenant, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Thomas J. Weaver, sergeant, died at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Sep-
tember 9, 1862.
   Benjamin B. Black, sergeant, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Bankhead W. Barr, sergeant, died May 18, of wounds received at the
Wilderness, Virginia, May 9, 1864.
   James Voltenburg, sergeant, killed at Petersburg, Virginia, June 17.
1864.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Harry G. McGinnis, corporal, died at Falmouth, Virginia, June 1, 1863.
    Frank Jones, corporal, killed at Tolopotomoy Creek, Virginia, May
 31, 1864.
    David W. Berry, corporal, died July 4th, of wounds received in action
 June 21, 1864.
    Robert L. Speer, corporal, died February 19, 1865.
    William Armstrong, killed at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May
 12, 1865.
    Boyd A. Atkinson, killed at Chancellorsville, Virginia, May, 3, 1863.
    Simon Arnold, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
    John Barr, killed at Gettysburg July 2, 1863.
    David Boyce, killed at Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 3, 1863.
    David W. Boyd, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
    Vincent Crawford, died at Falmouth, Virginia, May 31, 1863.
    Charles R. Donaldson, died at Parkton, Maryland, September 17, 1862.
    George Grier, died at Falmouth, Virginia, February 16, 1863.
    Levi Griffith, died June 25th, of wounds received at Petersburg, Vir-
ginia, June 18, 1864.
    James Hamilton, died at Parkton, Maryland, September 27, 1862.
    James Lynn, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
    Joseph Lawson, reported killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
    William H. Lenom, wounded and captured at the Wilderness, Virginia,
May 5, 1864; died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, August 25, 1864;
grave 10,273.
   Robert R. McJenkin, died at Parkton, Maryland, November 6, 1862.
   John McNutt, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   James Thomas, died at Washington, D. C., August 18, 1863.
   Hugh Weir, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Thomas Weaver, captured at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, died in prison
at Richmond Virginia, November 2, 1863.
   Total: Killed in battle, sixteen; died of wounds, four; died in prison,
three; died from other causes, nine; total thirty-one.

                            COMPANY K.
   Thomas C. Hays, sergeant, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Samuel K. Shindle, sergeant, captured at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863;
died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, March 17, 1864; grave 1,114.
   Joseph H. Graham, sergeant, killed at Petersburg, Virginia, March
25, 1863.
   Isaac Donaldson, corporal, died at Falmouth, Virginia, February 14,
1863.
   William Miller, corporal, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Thomas W. Carter, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   David W. Corbin, died April 21, 1863.
   Benjamin Cummins, killed at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May
12, 1864.
   Michael Dougherty, died at Brandy Station, Virginia, May 18, 1864.
   Andrew B. David, died at Parkton, Maryland, December 9, 1862.


1116





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Joseph Guess, killed at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May 12,
1864.
   Isaac Golden, died at Washington, D. C., April 15, 1863.
   John Henderson, died at Parkton, Maryland, December 7, 1863.
   Robert Hull, killed at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1863.
   John Maloy, killed at Todd's Tavern, Virginia, May, 8, 1864.
   John Marshal, died at Parkton, Maryland, November, 7, 1862.
   Morris Metcalf, died at Washington, D. C., March 17. 1865.
   Jesse M. Sprowls, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   John W. Tucker, killed at Todd's Tavern, Virginia, May 8, 1864.
   Robert Virtue, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Total: Killed in battle, eleven; died in prison, one; died from other
causes, eight; total twenty.

          RINGGOLD, TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
                  COMPANY A (RINGGOLD CAVALRY).
   John Keys, captain, died at Beallsville, Pennsylvania, November 10,
1863.
   John T. Corbitt, sergeant, died at Moorefield, West Virginia, July 20,
1865.
   Samuel Bane, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, April 1, 1864.
   James Crouch, missing in action at Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864.
   John T. Eckles, died at Baltimore, Maryland, October 18, 1864, of
wounds.
   James Gray, missing in action, September 26, 1864; died at Salisbury,
North Carolina.
   Emory Hall, killed at Lynchburg, Virginia, July 12, 1864.
   John S. Hart, died at Cumberland, Maryland, April 26, 1864.
   William T. Hays, died at Johnson's Island, April 17, 1865.
   John S. Lever, died at Cumberland, Maryland, June 6, 1865.
   William Lafferty, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, June 9, 1864;
grave, 1,772.
                 COMPANY B (WASHINGTON CAVALRY).
   Hardman Gantz, died at Annapolis, Maryland, April 5, 1865.
   John S. Smith, missing in action at Newton, Virginia, June 1, 1864.
   Demas Barnard, died of wounds, February 12, 1863.
   James Bell, date of death unknown; buried at Winchester, Virginia.
   Nexton Cox, died at Petersburg, Virginia, November 24, 1863.
   Samuel Drumm, killed at French Gap, Virginia, November 14, 1861.
   Raymond Gouse, captured at Lost River Gap, May 10, 1864; died in
Andersonville Prison, Georgia, October 27, 1864; grave 11,573.
   John Haashman, died at Petersburg, Virginia, December 15, 1863.
   Jacob Horn, died at Clarysville, Maryland, August 20, 1864.
   Frank N. Laycock, died July 28, of wounds received at Kernstown,
July 24, 1864.
   Andrew Reed, missing in action, August 4, 1863.
   Andrew Smith, captured at Lost River Gap, Virginia, May 10, 1864;
died at Andersonville Prison, Georgia, October 17, 1864; grave 11,044.


1117





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Demas L. Snyder, died at Cumberland, Maryland, January 24, 1862.
   William Stathers, died at Cumberland, Maryland, February 27, 1862.
   William C. Wheeler, missing in action at New Market, May 15, 1864.
   Marion G. Weaver, died at Cumberland, Maryland, October 14, 1863.
   Joseph Wright, killed at battle of Moorefield, West Virginia, June 6,
1864.
                 COMPANY C (KEYSTONE CAVALRY).

   George Bower, died at Baltimore, Maryland, August 5, 1865.
   John D. Burk, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, November 8,
1864; grave 11,929.
   John R. Rigester, died of wounds received in action at Winchester,
Virginia.
   John Smith, died June 6, 1864.

                COMPANY E (INDEPENDENT CAVALRY).
   William White, killed at Moorefield, West Virginia, May 8, 1864.
   Aaron Sutman, died at New Creek, West Virginia, May 30, 1865.
   Jerome G. Byers, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, October 2,
1864; grave 10,226.
   David Clark, died at Ginger Hill, August 10, 1863.
   David Craven, died at Cumberland, Maryland, November 16, 1863.
   Henry Liver, died at New Creek, West Virginia, June 28, 1863.
   Enoch S. Pollock, died at New Creek, West Virginia, January 20, 1864.
   Charles E. Rose, accidentally killed at Romney, January 7, 1863.
   Boyd E. Sumney, died at Cumberland, Maryland, June 14, 1864.
   James B. Smith, died June 10, of wounds received at Moorefield, West
Virginia, June 6, 1864.
   William P. Starr, died October 25th of wounds received at Winchester,
Virginia, October 19, 1864.

                   COMPANY F (PATTON CAVALRY).
   Harvey H. Eller, died in prison at Richmond, December 16, 1864.
   William Vankirk, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, September
21, 1864.
   Robert Morton, killed at Berryville, West Virginia, August 30, 1864.
   James Bradley, date of death unknown.
   David Brodem, died at Washington, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1864.
   David Campbell, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, April 26, 1864.
   Peter Deems, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, April 26, 1864.
   Andrew Elliott, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, December 23,
1864.
   William P. Hayner, died in prison at Richmond, Virginia, date un-
known.
   Benjamin Hardin, died in prison, date unknown.
   William Jenkins, died in prison at Richmond, date unknown.
   Nathan B. March, died in prison at Richmond, date unknown.
   Michael G. Moore, died in Andersonville Prison, July 29, 1864.
   Abel Moore, died in prison at Richmond, date unknown.
   Levi G. Pope, died at Cumberland, Maryland, September 29, 1864.


1118





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                 COMPANY G (LAFAYETTE CAVALRY).
   David Beatty, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, May 5, 1865.
   James Amous, died in Andersonville Prison, Georgia, June 16, 1864.
   Lewis Benner, missing in action at Burlington, February 1, 1864.
   James Bane, missing in action October 13, 1863.
   Simon Braddock, missing in action, May 10, 1864.
   Stephen S. Braddock, died at Cumberland, Maryland, January 27, 1863.
   James Blair, died at Washington, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1864.
   Robert Bane, died at Salisbury, North Carolina, November 22, 1864.
   Thomas Bee, died in Andersonville Prison, June 14, 1864.
   Andrew S. Downey, died at Baltimore, Maryland, November 1, 1864.
   Morgan Hardin, missing in action, August 4, 1864.
   William H. Hartley, died in Philadelphia, October 15, 1864.
   George W. Johnston, missing in action, August 10, 1864.
   Joseph Lancaster, died at Petersburg, Virginia, December 22, 1863.
   Nathan W. Little, killed at Stephen's Depot, Virginia, September 5,
1864.
   Griffith Marcy, missing in action, August 4, 1863.
   Columbus Phillips, died at Annapolis, Maryland, April 6, 1864.
   John W. Piper, not accounted for.
   David Rom, died at Martinsburg, June 1, 1864, of wounds received in
action.
   John Stiner, died in Andersonville Prison, August 19, 1864; grave
5,160.
   George Slabaugh, died in prison at Salisbury, North Carolina, Novem-
ber 9, 1864.
   John Smith, not accounted for.
   David West, killed at Berryville, Virginia, August 21, 1864.

         EIGHTY-FIFTH PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY-COMPANY A.
   John M. Morrison, corporal, died at Crany Island, Virginia, September
14, 1862.
   Collins W. Barr, killed at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31, 1862.
   Robert H. Byers, died at Annapolis, Maryland, June 16, of wounds
received at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31, 1862.
   George F. Cary, died at Baltimore, Maryland, May 22, 1862.
   Samuel L. Coulter, died at Beaufort, South Carolina, November 27,
1863.
   Franklin B. Dillen, died at Yorktown, Virginia, May 14, 1863.
   Walter O. Donnald, accidentally killed at Burmuda Hundred, Virginia,
July 9, 1864.
   Hugh D. Furgus, died at White House, Virginia, June 19, 1862.
   Dennis Farrell, killed at Deep Run, Virginia, August 15, 1864.
   Robert Greer, died at White House, Virginia, June 23, 1862.
   James W. Hardy, died at White House, Virginia, June 14, 1862.
   William H. Hines, killed at Deep Run, Virginia, August 16, 1864.
   Patterson Jobes, killed near Petersburg, Virginia, June 17, 1864.
   Andrew A. Lovejoy, died at Good Hospital, D. C., December 31, 1861.


1119




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   John Low, died at Annapolis, Maryland, June 23, of wounds received
at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31, 1862.
   John A. McMillan, died at Washington, D. C., June 10, of wounds re-
ceived at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31, 1862.
   David G. Paschal, died at Crany Island, Virginia, September 28, 1862.
   Henry T. Reynolds, missing in action near Petersburg, Virginia, June
17, 1864.
   Andrew Thompson, died at Yorktown, Virginia, June 30, 1862.
   Thomas Thompson, died at Hampton, Virginia, October 4, 1864.
   Joseph Welsh, killed at Deep Run, Virginia, August 16, 1864.

                            COMPANY B.
   Julius A. Smith, second lieutenant, died June 30, of wounds received
at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31, 1862.
   Walter B. Smith, sergeant, died at Washington, D. C., May 21, 1862.
   Abram B. James, corporal, died at Fortress Monroe, August 28, of
wounds received at Deep Bottom, Virginia, August 14, 1864.
   John B. Clayton, corporal, died at Annapolis, Maryland, of wounds re-
ceived at Deep Bottom, Virginia, August 14, 1864.
   John Ballentine, killed at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31, 1862.
   William Braden, died at Harrison's Landing, Virginia, July 28, 1862.
   John Bristor, died at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, December, 1862.
   Cephas Brooks, died at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, May 22, of wounds
received May 20, 1864.
   William H. Butler, died at Yorktown, Virginia, May 6, 1862.
   John C. Campbell, died at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, August, 1862.
   George W. Elwell, died at Annapolis, Maryland, September 24, of
wounds received at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31, 1862.
   John B. Hayden, killed at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31, 1862.
   William G. Howard, died at Newbern, North Carolina, February, 1863.
   Thomas Orricks, died at Newport News, Virginia, April 24, 1862.
   John Riley, died at West Point, Virginia, June, 1862.
   John Smith, died at Point of Rocks, Virginia, July 31, 1864.
   Elias Spencer, died at Beverly, New York, August 28, of wounds re-
ceived at Deep Run, Virginia, August 16, 1864.
   William H. Steepy, died at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, date unknown.
   James Stewart, died at Beaufort, South Carolina, June 24, 1863.
   Thomas J. Smith, died May, 1862.
   Harry Walker, died at Beaufort, South Carolina, June 24, 1863.
   Thomas J. Wright, died of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Virginia,
May 31, 1862.
   Joseph Wilgus, died June 13, of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Vir-
ginia, May 31, 1862.
   Jacob Yopnkins, killed at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31, 1862.

                           COMPANY D.
   Hiram S. Meyers, first sergeant, died at David's Island, New York,
February 23, 1864.


1120





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   John N. Donagho, sergeant, died in prison at Salisbury, North Caro-
lina, August 7, 1862.
   George Ketchum, corporal, died at Hampton, Virginia, September 26,
of wounds received at Deep Bottom, Virginia, August 16, 1864.
   Abraham Miller, corporal, died at Beverly, New Jersey, September 10,
of wounds received at Deep Bottom, Virginia, August 16, 1864.
   George C. Garber, corporal, killed at Morris Island, South Carolina,
August 30, 1863.
   Alex C. Morgan, missing in action at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31, 1862.
   David Baldwin, missing in action near Deep Bottom, Virginia, August
17, 1864.
   Israel Cumpson, died at Poplar Hill, Virginia, June 24, 1862.
   Hiram Crouch, died at Folly Island, South Carolina, November 20, 1863.
   George W. Garber, died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1863.
   T. P. Hathaway, died June 12, 1862.
   Richard Hathaway, died at Newbern, North Carolina, March 2, 1863.
   Jesse L. Moore, died at Suffolk, Virginia, November 9, 1862.
   James Meeks, missing in action near Deep Bottom, Virginia, August
17, 1864.
   William H. McGiffim, died at Harrison's Landing, Virginia, June 8,
1862.
   M. E. McJunken, died at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1864.
   Robert Pryor, killed at Deep Bottom, Virginia, August 16, 1864.
   John L. Sonedecker, died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1862.
   Amos G. Walton, died at David's Island, New Jersey, February 29,
1864.
          EIGHTH RESERVE CORPS, THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
                  Company K (Hopkins' Infantry).
   The following soldiers were killed or died from disease in the regiment:
Corp. Theodore J. Dye, killed; Alfred A. Anderson, died; Dennis Butler,
killed; William H. Barnet, killed; Amos P. Cline, killed; George W. Dye,
died; Sylvester S. Durbin, killed; Samuel Eckles, died; George W. Freeby,
died; Andrew D. French, killed; William Immel, died; William Loafman,
died; George Mallum, died; William M. Middleton, died; Thomas H. Mar-
shall, killed; James D. McMillen, killed; Cephas A. Ryan, died; Randolph
Rush, died; Leander Sinclair, died; Griffith D. Taylor, killed.

                        TENTH RESERVE CORPS.
                Company D (Jefferson Light Guards).
   The following soldiers are the dead from Canonsburg: Sergeant John
Gundy, killed; Lieut. Charles Davis, killed; Corp. William Lass, killed;
Corp. James S. Hughes, died; Corp. Thomas Paxton, killed; David Crum,
died; Samuel Cook, killed; Thomas Ford, killed; Matthew H. Greer, died;
Daniel Hallas Hammond, died; John Jeffers, killed; R. N. Lang, died; R. N.
McPeak, promoted to lieutenant, killed; William Williams, killed.

            COMPANY I, FIFTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
   Sergt. John G. Wells, died; Corp. David Ackleson, killed; Corp. Moses
Hastings, killed; Corp. Eli Lescallett, killed; Corp. James Barry, killed;
      71-V1


1121





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1783. Manassah Coyle escaped in December, 1782, and Ezekiel Lewis
escaped and died in Armstrong County in 1844.
   Captain Thomas Stokely, another survivor, was captured and released
some months later. Shortly after his return from captivity he came to
Washington County, where he lived until his death nearly forty years
later. He became a very prominent citizen, and served as second recorder
of the county. He also served in the War of 1812. Captain Stokely took
up his residence in Washington, and purchased several large tracts of
land near the town. He owned what is now known as Gallows hill, just
south of town, and Stokely Avenue, in the Thornycroft plan, is named in
his memory. He owned so much land that he was often spoken of as
"Thomas Stokely, Land Jobber." While a resident of Washington Captain
Stokely lived in a house that stood on the lot now occupied by the African
Methodist Episcopal Church in West Wheeling Street.
   He was appointed the second recorder of Washington County by the
Supreme Executive council, and served from November 19th, 1784, until
August 17th, 1791, when he was succeeded by Colonel James Marshel. He
was elected to the state assembly from Washington County in 1792, and
to the state senate in 1794.
   When the War of 1812 broke out he enlisted, and served through the
war as colonel of volunteers.
   He left Washington and lived in Brownsville for a short time, and
when he returned he moved to one of his farms near Coon Island, just
west of Claysville, where he died on July 26th, 1824. His remains were
brought to Washington the next day under military escort of the Colum-
bian Riflemen, a local company commanded by James B. Ruple, and
interred with the honors of war in the old graveyard.
   Lieutenant Isaac Anderson, who has been mentioned, moved with his
family in 1812 to Butler County, Ohio, where he purchased a farm on the
Miami River, which he had first seen as a captive among the Indians
thirty-one years before. He died there in 1839, aged eighty-three years.
   Captain Robert Orr, one of Lochry's men, had an arm broken by a
rifle bullet during the battle, and was taken a prisoner by the Indians to
Sandusky, where he received humane treatment. His captors attempted
to heal his wound, but when they could give him no relief they took him
to the British hospital at Detroit. He received treatment there, and dur-
ing the winter was transferred to Montreal, where he remained until the
end of the war. He then returned to western Pennsylvania, and in later
years was appointed judge of Armstrong County, which position he held
until his death in 1833, in the eighty-ninth year of his age.
   James McPherson, a sergeant in Captain Shannon's company, was
captured and remained among the Indians and British for many years.
After the close of the Revolution he was engaged in the British Indian
department under the notorious Elliott and McKee. He was known among
the Indians as Squa-la-ka-ke, "the red-faced man." He married an Ameri-
can woman who had been captured by the Indians, and after Wayne's
treaty at Fort Greenville in 1795 he returned to the Americans. He was
placed in the Indian department in charge of the Shawnese and Delaware
tribes at Lewistown. He was removed in 1830 and died a few years later.
   Before Clark's soldiers started on the return voyage after the expedi-


105




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Corp. S. McConkey, killed; Corp. Thomas Richmond, killed; James Miller,
Jr., died; James W. McKee, killed; Thomas Parkes, died; William M.
Porter, died; Thomas Patterson, died; John G. Wells, died.

           COMPANY K, FIFTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
   The following are the dead for this company, which was recruited
from Washington and Alleghany Counties: Sergt. John T. Kennedy, died;
Sergt. John W. Gault, died; Musician John C. Keifer, killed; Thomas D.
Boyce, died; W. F. Coup, died; John Ewing, died; Samuel Keifer, killed;
Joseph Morrison, died; Joseph McClanahan, killed; Joseph M. Shaffer, died.

     COMPANY K, SIXTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
   Josiah Fox, killed; Charles Gibbs, killed; R. Simpkins, killed; W. C.
Todd, killed; R. Whittaker, killed; R. Wilby, killed; S. Workmen, killed.

     COMPANY G, SIXTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
   George Watson Buchanan, died.

   COMPANY B, SEVENTY-NINTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
   This company was formerly called the Mellenger Guards. It was organ-
ized at Monongahela City, September 16, 1861. The dead and killed fol-
low: Chr. Anderson, killed; John Anderson, died; Robert Boyd, died; D.
C. Bitting, killed; Fr. Burgan, killed; B. Brubaker, killed; W. Bennington,
killed; S. Collins, killed; W. Devlin, killed; Simon Fry, died; Thomas Fry,
died; J. Flowers, killed; M. Ferguson, killed; W. Graham, died; J. Grundy,
killed; John Warren, killed.
   George Sprowls, aged twenty-seven, of East Finley Township, Com-
pany K, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, died
in Andersonville.
   Jesse M. Sprowls, East Finley Township, Company K, One Hundred and
Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was killed at Gettysburg, July
2, 1863.
   The following from Washington County were killed or died of disease
during 1863:
   Capt. David Acheson, aged twenty-two, killed at Gettysburg, July 2,
1863.
   Lieut. R. Reed, aged nineteen, died at Georgetown, D. C., of typhoid,
July 29, 1863.
   Frank McCoy, aged twenty-two, died at Alexandria, Virginia, of ty-
phoid, September 22, 1863.
   Samuel Eckels, aged fifty, died at Washington, D. C., October, 1863.
   Col. H. A. Purviance, aged thirty-three, killed in action at Charleston,
South Carolina, September 30, 1863.
   All of the above were from Washington, Pennsylvania.
   Hugh Ferguson, Jr., of Smith Township, died in Pittsburgh, January
14, 1864.


1122





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Harvey H. Eller, of West Bethlehem Township, a member of Capt.
Barr's Cavalry Company, died December 16, 1863, in the Confederate Hos-
pital, Richmond, Virginia, a prisoner of war.
   Andrew Elliott, of Washington, Pennsylvania, died January 17, 1864, in
the Confederate Hospital, Richmond, Virginia, a prisoner of war.

                        THE WORLD WAR DEAD.
   The records from the Adjutant General's Office of Pennsylvania show
that 202 Washington County soldiers were killed in battle or died of wounds
or disease during the World war. Of these a great majority came from the
Washington district. It has been impossible to compile this list by dis-
tricts, or even make it complete. We give it as near as possible.
   Edwin Scott Linton, private in Johns Hopkins Ambulance Corps, was
the first soldier from Washington County to give his life in the World
war. Private Linton died of scarlet fever in the base hospital at Balzoilles,
France, November 14, 1917. He was buried in the American cemetery at
St. Nazaire beside the first American nurse to die in France. A posthu-
mous degree of lieutenant was conferred and the American Legion Post at
Washington is named in his honor. Lieutenant Linton still sleeps in
France.
   Mofford Glenn Breese, a private in Company D, One Hundred and Sixty-
Eighth Iowa Infantry, was the first Washington County man killed in
battle. Private Breese was a member of the famous Rainbow or Forty-
Second Division, and was fighting with the Twelfth French Division at
the time of his death. He was a son of Mrs. Nannie C. Breese of 399 Hus-
ton Street. When the war broke out he attempted to enlist at home but
his mother opposed this and he went to Iowa, where he had relatives.
He enlisted in the Iowa National Guard and then volunteered to go with
the Rainbow Division. Private Breese was killed in action March 6, 1918,
and buried in France. His remains were afterwards brought to this country
and on August 7, 1922, were interred with full military honors in the
Washington cemetery. A double funeral was held at the time when Pri-
vate Breese and Private William J. Watters, a member of Company H,
One Hundred and Tenth Infantry, who was killed at Villette, France,
August 28, 1918, were buried from a college chapel. This was the first
double military funeral held in Washington. In 1925 Private Breese was
awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government and the certifi-
cate sent to his mother. Many of the Washington County soldiers were
brought back from France and buried in this country during 1921 and
1922. The last Washington County soldier killed in war was Paul Streator,
sergeant in Fifty-First Company, First Regiment, United States Marines,
who was killed in action at Sedan, France, at 1:30 o'clock in the morning
of November 11, 1918. He was the only Washington County boy killed
the day the Armistice was signed. The body was brought back and buried
in the Washington Cemetery March 21, 1921. The list of the others follow:
   Anderson, Fay Melvin, private in Headquarters Troop, Eleventh Divi-


1123





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


sion; died at Camp Meade, Maryland, October 11, 1918, of pneumonia;
buried at Dallas, West Virginia.
   Asbury, William R.
   Asturino, Guiseppe, wagoner in Supply Company of Three Hundred and
Twenty-Second Light Field Artillery; died in Germany in 1919.
   Baker, Edward D., lieutenant of the Ninety-sixth Aero Squadron; killed
in action near Verdun, October 24, 1918. He was a son of Simon S. Baker,
president of Washington and Jefferson College. Buried in Washington
Cemetery, August 9, 1921.
   Baker, Donald B., private in Quartermasters' Corps; died of spinal men-
ingitis in France, October 2, 1918; buried in France.
   Bebout, Charles, private in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth
United States Infantry; killed in action July 20, 1918, at Chateau Thierry;
buried in France.
   Beierlein, Benjamin, private in Company H, One Hundred and Tenth
United States Infantry; killed in action July 30, 1918, at Sergy Hill, Cha-
teau Thierry offensive; buried in Catholic Cemetery, Washington, Pennsyl-
vania, August 28, 1921.
   Black, Robert W., of Philadelphia; cook of Battery B, One Hundred and
Eighth Field Artillery; killed during fighting on Vesle River, August 23,
1918.
   Body brought to Washington and buried in Washington cemetery.
   Brightwell, Wilbur F., instructor in Three Hundred and Forty-first
Aero Squadron; killed in airplane accident at St. Jean de Montz, France,
on October 16, 1918; buried in France.
   Crumrine, George; no details available.
   Coakley, John, no details available.
   Comstock, Albert C., corporal in Company D, One Hundred and Nine-
teenth U. S. Infantry; died October 25, 1918, of wounds received in action,
October 20, 1918, in the Argonne Forest; buried in France.
   Crumrine, Charles E., Private in Company A, Three Hundred and
Thirty-third U. S. Infantry; died in France, September 19, 1918, of pneu-
monia; buried in France.
  Cummins, John A., private in Aviation Corps; died in France, August
21, 1918; of pneumonia; buried in France.
   Day, John Wiley, first lieutenant in Machine Gun Company, One Hun-
dred and Tenth U. S. Infantry; died in military hospital in France on
September 6, 1918, of wounds received in action at Sergy Hill, July 28,
1918; buried in France.
   Evans, Charles W., private in Machine Gun Company, One Hundred
and Tenth U. S. Infantry; killed in action at Courville, September 27,
1918, in the Argonne Forest offensive; buried in France; buried in Wash-
ington Cemetery August 14, 1921.
   Fisher, Lewis E., private in Company L, Three Hundred and Forty-
Seventh U. S. Infantry; died at Camp Pike, Arkansas, on February 20,
1918, of diphtheria; buried in St. John Union cemetery, Mount Pleasant,
Pennsylvania.
   Fields, Herbert L., private in Company H, One Hundred and Tenth U.
S. Infantry; killed in action in the Argonne Forest offensive, in October,


1124




































































    Memorial to the Washington boys in Company H, 110th Infantry, who made the
supreme sacrifice on the battlefields of France; erected on the court house steps for
the welcome home celebration when Company H returned from the war in June, 1919.


Ea;.l 3iilLRPft


:





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1918; buried in France; home was in Lenhart, West Virginia, but was
working in Washington and went to the Mexican border with Company
H, in 1916.
   Fetherlin, Henry G., private (runner) in Company G, Three Hundred
and Nineteenth, U. S. Infantry; killed in action near Nautolois, in the
Argonne Forest offensive, on October 4, 1918; buried in France.
   Forbster, William J., no details available.
   Inverso, Francesco, no details available.
   Kahle, Clarence C., first lieutenant of Ninety-ninth Aero Squadron;
killed in action over the German lines October 2, 1918; buried in Franklin
Pennsylvania cemetery, October 10, 1921; formerly a native of Wash-
ington.
   Kerns, Guy, private (runner) in Headquarters Company, One Hun-
dred and Seventh Field Artillery; died of pneumonia on October 30, 1918;
during the Argonne Forest offensive; buried in the American cemetery
at Allery, Saone-et-Loire, France; served in First Pennsylvania Cavalry
on Mexican border; went to Camp Hancock, Georgia, and transferred to
artillery.
   King, Felix M., corporal in Machine Gun Company D, Eighteenth U. S.
Infantry; killed in action at Conde en Brie, July 22, 1918, in the Chateau
Thierry offensive; buried in France.
   King, Roy Leslie, sergeant of Company H, One Hundred and Tenth
Infantry; mortally wounded in the Argonne, October 8, 19,18. Buried in
Washington cemetery, July 24, 1921.
   King, Thomas E., private in Company H, One Hundred and Tenth
U. S. Infantry; killed in action at Thiacourt, October 15, 1918, in the Ar-
gonne Forest offensive; buried in France.
   Landay, Isadore, corporal in Company A, Fourth U. S. Infantry;
killed in action at Thiacourt, October 1, 1918, in Argonne Forest offensive;
buried in France; buried in Beth Israel cemetery, Washington, Pennsyl-
vania, August 16, 1921.
   Marshall, Edward K., private in Company H, One Hundred and Tenth
U. S. Infantry; killed in action at La Bonne Maisson on August 26, 1918;
buried in France; buried in Washington cemetery June 14, 1921.
    Miller, Charles Floyd, private in Battery E, Seventy-Third, U. S.
Field Artillery; died of pneumonia on October 5, 1918, on way to France;
buried at sea at fifty-five degrees north latitude, thirteen degrees west
longitude.
   Morris, Walter, private in Company H, One Hundred and Tenth U. S.
Infantry; killed in action on Sergy Hill, July 29, 1918, in the Chateau
Thierry offensive; buried in France; buried in Washington cemetery Octo-
ber 1, 1922.
    McAdam, George W., lieutenant in British Royal Air Service; killed
in airplane accident at Netheravon, England, on July 26, 1918; buried
at Netheravon, England; also saw active service on Western Front with
the Canadian Mounted Rifles before the United States entered the war;
wounded on Western Front and joined British Air Service after recovery.
    McCaffrey, William V. Jr., private in Company H, One Hundred and


1126





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Tenth U. S. Infantry, at beginning of Chateau Thierry offensive; first
Company H boy killed in the war; buried in France; buried in Catholic
cemetery, Washington, Pennsylvania, June 26, 1921.
   McCarty, Alfred, private in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-
Seventh U. S. Infantry; drowned in France on August 27, 1918, buried
in France.
   McClelland, John F., corporal in Company H, One Hundred and Tenth
U. S. Infantry; killed in action at La Bonne Maisson on August 26, 1918;
buried in France; buried in Washington cemetery, June 12, 1921.
   McCoy, Delbert, sergeant of Company K, Twenty-sixth U. S. In-
fantry; killed in action at Sergy Hill, August 3, 1918, in the Chateau
Thierry offensive; buried in France.
   McMullen, Marion, no details available.
   Pratt, Emory Lewis, private in Company C, One Hundred and
Eleventh Infantry; killed at Fismette, August 11, 1918; buried in Wash-
ington cemetery in September, 1922.
   Paden, John, private in Company K, One Hundred and Tenth U. S.
Infantry; died July 30, 1918, of wounds received on Sergy Hill on July
29, 1918 in the Chateau Thierry offensive; buried in France.
   Paul Howard, seaman on board U. S. S. Columbia; drowned at sea
November 23, 1918; body never recovered; crossed a number of times to
France and England during the war; washed overboard after dark off
United States coast when he had gone to cover a gun.
   Pettit, Edward R., private in Company H, One Hundred and Tenth
U. S. Infantry; killed in action at Sergy Hill, July 30, 1918, in Chateau
Thierry offensive; buried in France; buried in Washington cemetery
September 20, 1921.
   Quinn, Lee R, sergeant in Aviation Corps; killed in airplane accident
at Fort Worth, Texas, on January 13, 1919.
   Riggle, Guy H., corporal in Company D, Second Development Bat-
talion; died at Camp Sherman, Ohio, October 9, 1918, of pneumonia;
buried October 13, 1918, in the Bethlehem Lutheran cemetery, one mile
from Glyde, West Bethlehem Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
   Seal, Harold H., corporal in Headquarters Company, One Hundred and
Tenth U. S. Infantry; died February 20, 1919, at military hospital at
Rahway, New Jersey, of wounds received in action September 27, 1918,
at Varennes, in the Argonne Forest offensive; military funeral held in
Washington, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1919; first soldier killed in the
war to be buried in the Washington cemetery.
   Shearer, Delbert A., private in Company H, One Hundred and Tenth
U. S. Infantry; killed in action on Sergy Hill, July 30, 1918, in Chateau
Thierry offensive; buried in France.
   Sutherland, Guy, no details available.
   Swartz, Joseph, no details available.
   Watters, William W., private in Company II, One Hundred and Tenth
United States Infantry;killed in action at Villette, August 28, 1918; bur-
ied in France.
   Welch, Lawrence, private in Aviation Corps; died of pneumonia at


1127





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Guernster Field, Louisiana, on October 29, 1918; buried in Washington
Cemetery.
    Whitehill, Leonard, corporal in Headquarters Company, One Hun-
 dred and Tenth U. S. Infantry; killed in action July 30, 1918, at Cour-
 mont when regimental headquarters was blown up in Chateau Thierry
 offensive; buried in France; buried in Washington Cemetery, July 24,
 1921.
    Wilson, Boyd E., private (sniper) in Company H, One Hundred and
Tenth U. S. Infantry; killed in action at Villete on September 1, 1918;
buried in France; buried in Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Cemetery, June
19, 1921.
    Wood, Donald, corporal in Company H, One Hundred and Tenth U.
S. Infantry; killed on Sergy Hill, July 29, 1918, in Chateau Thierry of-
fensive; buried in France; buried in Washington Cemetery, July 31, 1921.
   Woodson, Harry; sergeant in Stevedore Division, colored troops, died of
pneumonia at Camp Grant, Ill., on April 1, 1919; military funeral in
Washington and buried in Washington cemetery.
   Wright, Raymond; no details available.
   The following list has been compiled of soldiers from other sections
of the county.
   The largest military funeral held in the county was at Monongahela
City, September 11, 1921, when five soldiers from that section were buried
from the First Methodist Episcopal Church. They were: John W. Car-
rick, Frank Shanning, John W. Boyd, William Tucker and Robert Ken-
nedy. The services were conducted by Rev. Daniel M. Paul. On the same
day services were conducted over the body of Arthur Kline in the Church
of the Transfiguration at Monongahela City by Rev. B. T. Walsh. Four
of the six men buried on that day-Carrick, Shanning, Boyd and Ken-
nedy, were all members of Company A, One Hundred and Tenth Infantry,
and were all killed by the same shell. On this same day eight other mili-
tary funerals were held in the Monongahela Valley-three at Donora,
three at Charleroi and two at Monessen.
   The following is a list of some of the other soldiers from Washing-
ton County:
   Barclay, William B., of McDonald; private, Company E, One Hun-
dred and Eleventh Infantry; died September 14, 1918, of wounds re-
ceived in the Argonne; buried at McDonald, September 3, 1921.
   Beazell, William H., of Charleroi; of the regular army; died in June,
1923, in Veterans Hospital, Washington, D. C., from gas poisoning and
shell shock received in France.
   Cummings, Frank A., of California; private in Ninety-sixth Company,
Sixth Regiment Marines; killed in action June 5, 1918; buried at Cali-
fornia, Pa., August 2, 1921.
   Craft, George R., of Charleroi; killed in an auto accident in France on
May 26, 1919.
   Curtis, John W., Jr., of Charleroi; corporal of Company L, One Hun-
dred Tenth Infantry; killed in action in France; body buried at Blairs-
ville, April 27, 1922.
   Fiori, Robert A., of Charleroi; of Company G, Three Hundred and


1128





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Nineteenth Infantry; died in California, February 18, 1923, as a result
of being gassed at St. Mihiel; buried at Charleroi.
    Frye, Geo. C., of West Finley Township; died of pneumonia in Eng-
 land, October 22, 1918; buried at Dallas, West Virginia, June 17, 1922.
    Foster, James R., of Claysville; of One Hundred and Sixth Company
 Eighth Regiment U. S. Infantry; died June 7, 1921, from the effects of
 being gassed in the Meuse-Argonne offensive.
    Farver, Robert E., of Crosscreek; Company E, Sixteenth Infantry;
 died of wounds received in action; buried at Crosscreek, June 12, 1921.
    Hanson, Carl W., of Fredericktown; private in Company A, Three
 Hundred and Second Engineers; died April 11, 1918. of wounds received
 April 10th in the Argonne; buried at Fredericktown, December 14, 1921.
    Hancock, Samuel R. of Centerville; Company D, Sixth U. S. Infantry;
killed in action September 12, 1918, at St. Mihiel; buried at Centerville,
June 26, 1921.
    Hunt, James R., of West Finley Township; sergeant in Sanitary De-
partment Base Hospital No. 77; died of influenza, October 25, 1918, at
Beaune, France; buried at West Alexander, June 16, 1921, services being
conducted by Rev. Henry A. Riddle, pastor of the Presbyterian Church
there who served as chaplain in the First Division.
    Lamb, Levi L., of California, Pa.; lieutenant of Company K, Ninth
Infantry; killed in action July 18, 1918, at Soissons, France; buried at
California, August 14, 1921.
    McCune, Mahlon, of West Pike Run Township; died at Brest, France,
May 26, 1919; buried at Beallsville, July 25, 1920.
   McElraith, William F., of Westland; killed in action October 28, 1918;
buried in the Catholic Cemetery, Canonsburg, Pa., September 25, 1921.
   Miller, Harry N., of Claysville; died September 19, 1922, of wounds
received in action in France; buried in Claysville.
   Naylor, James R., of Mingo; Battery E, Three Hundred and Twenty-
second Artillery; killed in action, October 10, 1918, in the Argonne;
buried at Monongahela, October 29, 1921.
   Patterson, Raymone H., of California; corporal in Headquarters
Company, One Hundred and Eleventh Infantry; killed in action at Fismes,
France, September 7, 1918; buried at California, Pennsylvania, June 14,
1921.
   Richey, David, of New Eagle; private in Company L, Three Hundred
And Twentieth Infantry; reported missing in action October 12, 1918,
in the Argonne, and no trace of him ever found.
   Swart, James H., of West Finley Township; corporal of Company K,
One Hundred and Tenth Infantry; killed in action in the Argonne, Sep-
tember 27, 1918; buried in September, 1921.
   Scarem, David E., of Bavington; killed in action in France; buried in
Robinson Cemetery, September 17, 1921.
   Sleith, Edward, of New Eagle; private in Company A, One Hundred
and Tenth Infantry; killed in action July 30, 1918; buried at Mononga-
hela City, July 19, 1922.
   White, Ralph 0., of Wolftown; of Two Hundred and Seventy-eighth
Aero Squadion; died at Wolftown, January 17, 1922, from the effects of
being gassed in France; buried at West Middletown.


1129





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Winnett, Robert V., of Fallowfield Township; private in Company L,
Three Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry; killed in action at Chateau
Thierry, June 6, 1918; buried at Charleroi, July 8, 1922.
   On a bronze tablet in the chapel of Washington and Jefferson College,
placed there by the class of 1921 in memory of its students who made
the supreme sacrifice in the World war are the names of twenty-four who
died or were killed in action in France.


They are:
Henry T. Ashe
Earl B. Chambers-
Howard B. Coblentz
James F. Creel-
Harvey A. Dean -----
John C. Ely, Jr.-
James H. Hall
Clarence C. Kahle
Harold J. Lewis_____
Edwin S. Linton .
James P. Over .----
William F. Pogue ...


_1909-10
  1915-16
  A. B. '15
  1916-17
  A. B. '09
  1908-09
  A. B. '13
  A. B. '16
__1916-18
A. M. '14
__1908-10
__1915-17


The following is a complete list of


  Leeroy Quinn   _        1910-11
  William S. Rese        B. S. '18
  G. LeMoyne Sargent .    1915-17
  Emanuel R. Schliffka ___B. S. '16
  Clifford A. Sheppard .----1915-16
  Robert W. Spangler -...A. B. '14
  Ralph L. Taylor         1911-12
  Roy Van Dyke           A. B.'14
  Leonard L. Whitehill -- 1909-14
  Harold F. Wickerham ----1916-17
  J. Wilson              A. B. '18
  Donald R. Wood          1914-15
all Washington County soldiers killed


in action or died of wounds or disease. This list has been furnished from
the Adjutant General's Office in Harrisburg, through the courtesy of Gen.
Edward Martin, of Washington, Pennsylvania.

                       LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.


KIA ..
D of W
D of A
D of D_


Killed in Action.
Died of Wounds.
Died of Accident.
Died of Disease.


                       ENLISTED MEN.
Adams, Harold P., of Langeloth, D of W, Aug. 9, 1918.
Ainardi, Lino, of Donora, KIA, Oct. 21, 1918.
Aliperti, Giovani, of Monongahela, KIA, Sept. 5, 1918.
Allen, Charles H., of Donora, KIA, Sept. 6, 1918.
Angelin, Benedetta, of Meadowlands, D of W, Oct. 21, 1918.
Assed, Mike, of Donora, D of W, Nov. 8, 1918.
Asturino, Guiseppe, of Washington, D of D, March 11, 1919.
Baker, Donald D., of Washington, D of D, Oct. 2, 1918.
Baker, Nicodemus P., of Marianna, D of D, Oct. 28, 1918.
Balhitis, Mike, of Daisytown, KIA, Nov. 10, 1918.
Bebout, Charles A., of Washington, D of A, July 30, 1918.
Beierlein, Benjamin T., of Washington, D of W, July 30, 1918.
Belko, John G., of Donora, KIA, Oct. 1, 1918.
Boardman, William, of Ellsworth, D. of W, Nov. 5, 1918.
Bonisolli, Scipi, of Burgettstown, KIA, July 25, 1918.
Boyd, John W., of Hazzard, KIA, July 15, 1918.


1130





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Bracken, Charles E., of McDonald, D of D, Oct. 2, 1918.
Brickley, Herman R., of Burgettstown, D of D, Sept. 21, 1918.
Brightwell, Wilbur F., of Washington, D of A, Oct. 26, 1918.
Brown, James R., of Studa, KIA, Oct. 13, 1918.
Bryden, Robert R., of Stockdale, KIA, Sept. 29, 1918.
Butler, William F., of Donora, D of D, Oct. 14, 1918.
Burton, Ernest, of Stockdale, KIA, Oct. 4, 1918.
Calvert, Arden E., of Charleroi, D of D, Nov. 6, 1918.
Carrick, John W., of Monogahela, KIA, July 15, 1918.
Carroll, Patrick C., of New Eagle, D of D, Oct. 2, 1918.
Carson, Clarence E., of Charleroi, D of D, Oct. 1, 1918.
Carter, Francis M., of Canonsburg, D of D, Nov 6, 1918.
Casagaendi, Ferdinand, of Fredericktown, KIA, Oct. 8, 1918.
Caterina, Dominick, of Washington, KIA, Aug. 11, 1918.
Chambers, Earl B., of West Alexander, D of D, Oct. 2, 1918.
Ciotti, Adorno, of Daisytown, D of W, Oct. 1, 1918.
Coatsworth, Oran C., of Monongahela, D of W, Sept. 27, 1918.
Cole, Mike, of Vestaburg, KIA, June 26, 1918.
Contos, Arghirios, of Canonsburg, D of W, Sept. 20, 1918.
Craft, Raymond, of Lock 4, D of A, May 26, 1918.
Crumrine, Charles E., of Washington, D of D, Sept. 19, 1918.
Cummins, John A., of Washington, D of D, Aug. 21, 1918.
Cunliffe, Thomas, of Ellsworth, D of D, Jan. 19, 1918.
Cunningham, Kerr Andrew, of Canonsburg, KIA, July 15, 1918.
Davey, William Valentine, of Charleroi, KIA, July 15, 1918.
Day, Alanson R., Jr., of Monongahela, D of W, July 29, 1918.
Dedominics, Aristide, of Langeloth, D of D, Dec. 24, 1918.
Dennis, Ewing W., of Monongahela, KIA, Sept. 26, 1918.
Difazio, Liapordo, of Coal Bluff, KIA, Oct. 8, 1918.
Di Vitti, Tony, of Canonsburg, KIA, Oct. 22, 1918.
Donohee, James P., of Donora, D of D, June 18, 1918.
Droter, John, of Stockdale, D of W, Oct. 12, 1918.
Duda, Kazimier, of Charleroi, D of D, Feb. 7, 1919.
Dunn, Harry, of Dunn's Station, KIA, July 30, 1918.
Duraska, Karol, of Ellsworth, KIA, May 1, 1918.
Eisenberg, Benjamin, of Roscoe, KIA, Oct. 4, 1918.
Elliott, Geleon, of Taylorstown, D. of D, Jan. 24, 1918.
Ellis, Francis B., of Monongahela, D of D, Sept. 11, 1918.
Erbe, Frank Jr., of Charleroi, D of D, Oct. 8, 1918.
Evanickey, Joseph, of Donora, KIA, Sept. 12, 1918.
Evans, Charles W., of Washington, KIA, Sept. 28, 1918.
Evans, Frank W., of New Eagle, KIA, Oct. 24, 1918.
Fantini, Vincenzo, of Monongahela, D of D, Oct. 8, 1918.
Farner, Robert E., of Cross Creek, D of W, Oct. 19, 1918.
Fauceglia, Paolo, of Washington, D of D, Oct. 16, 1918.
Ferrell, Ross U., of West Alexander, D of D, June 5, 1919.
Fetherlin, Henry G., of Washington, KIA, Oct. 8, 1918.
Fiorentino, Fortunato, of Donora, KIA, Oct. 1, 1918.
Fisher, Louis Edgar, Washington, D of D, Feb. 20, 1918.


1131





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


tion against Detroit was abandoned, they agreed to meet on that spot
fifty years later, or on November 4th, 1831. The city of Cincinnati was
afterwards built at that place, and if this reunion was ever held the author
has been unable to learn of it.
   John Dannell, a resident of Washington County, was one of the last
survivors in western Pennsylvania of General Clark's expedition against
Detroit, and he was probably one of the last in the United States. Mr.
Dannell, one of the early pioneers of Washington County, settled in Cecil
Township in 1774, where he resided on the same farm near Canonsburg
for fifty-eight years, or until his death on August 31st, 1832, aged eighty-
four years.
   The soldiers of General Clark's army of 1781 were afterwards called
the "Old Pioneers." In the notice of John Dannell's death, which appeared
in The Examiner, of Washington, he is referred to as "The Last of the
Old Pioneers." From this it would appear that he was the last survivor
of the expedition against Detroit. Nothing is known of the after life of
the other members of Clark's army, and history has lost many interesting
records which are forever buried amid the mysteries of bygone years.






                         CHAPTER XX.

                              1781.

        RAID ON THE BUFFALO CREEK SETTLEMENTS.
THE SHAWNESE RAID ON DUTCH FORK-MILLER'S BLOCKHOUSE-CAPTAIN
   JACOB MILLER-ATTACK ON JONATHAN LINK'S CABIN-DEATH OF
   FISHER AND IIUPP-CAPTURE OF MILLER AND LINK-CAPTURE OF
   PEAK, BURNETT AND WILLIAM HAWKINS-ESCAPE OF THE GAITHER
   FAMILY-RAID ON HAWKINS' CABIN-CAPTURE OF ELIZABETH HAWK-
   INS-ESCAPE OF MRS. HAWKINS WITH INFANT SON, WILLIAM HAWK-
   INS, JR.-MURDER OF HAWKINS, PEAK AND BURNETT-MILLER'S
   ESCAPE-BURIAL OF HUPP AND FISHER-THEIR BONES AFTERWARDS
   FOUND-JONATHAN LINK'S TERRIBLE FATE-CAPTIVITY OF ELIZA-
   BETH HAWKINS-SHE MARRIES A CHIEF AND BECOMES A WHITE
   INDIAN.
              The death-shot hissing from afar;
                The shock, the shout, the groan of war,
              Reverberate along that vale,
                More suited to the shepherd's tale.
                                              -Lord Byron.

   One of the most interesting regions with which we have to deal in
the Indian history of Washington County is the section now included in
Donegal Township; for it was there that several pitched battles were
fought with Indians, and the settlers of that locality were the victims of
several raids, the most notable of which occurred in September, 1781.
   Captain John Jacob Miller, leader of the scouts that defended the
western frontier of the county, was one of the prominent men of that


106





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Ford, George D, of New Eagle, D of D, Oct. 15, 1918.
Forrester, Thomas T., of Langeloth, D of D, Nov. 22, 1918.
Forsyth, David, of Roscoe, D of D, March 29, 1919.
Fox, Arthur C., of New Eagle, D of D, Oct. 11, 1918.
Frye, George D., of West Finley, D of D, Oct. 22, 1918.
Fulton, Howard, of Monongahela, KIA, Aug. 26, 1918.
Gaggini, Alberto, of Monongahela, D of D, Nov. 8, 1918.
Gay, Justinn, of McDonald, D of D, Oct. 1, 1918.
Geho, William, of West Alexander, D of D, Oct. 21, 1918.
George, Paul A., of Charleroi, D of D, Oct. 11, 1918.
Gerstout, Bladus, of Donora, KIA, Oct. 21, 1918.
Gottselig, Oscar, of Monongahela, D of D, Oct. 3, 1918.
Hancock, Samuel R., of Centerville, KIA, Sept. 12, 1918.
Haney, Benton E., of Burgettstown, D of D, Aug. 11, 1918.
Hanson, Paul William, of Fredericktown, D of W, Oct. 11, 1918.
Hoffman, Adam, of Vestaburg, KIA, Oct. 14, 1918.
Howell, Thomas, of Finleyville, KIA, Nov. 2, 1918.
Hunt, James R., of Claysville, D of D, Oct. 25, 1918.
Inverso, Francesco, of Washington, D of D, Oct. 9, 1918.
Jackson, Joseph A., of Canonsburg, KIA, Oct. 20, 1918.
Jacobs, Leland, of Stockdale, D of D, Dec. 12, 1918.
Jones, Charles R., of Avella, D of D, Oct. 7, 1918.
Kalensky, Tony, of Bentleyville, D of W, May 19, 1918.
Kamp, Howard James, of Lawrence, D of D, July 20, 1919.
Kelsey, Arden W., of Donora, D of D, Sept. 14, 1918.
Kennedy, Robert, of Monongahela, KIA, July 15, 1918.
Kern, Leroy, of Donora, D of W, July 29, 1918.
Kerns, Guy Leroy, of Washington, D of D, Oct. 30, 1918.
King, Felix, M., of Washington, KIA, July 22, 1918.
King, Thomas E., of Washington D of W, Oct. 15, 1918.
Kirshner, Joe, of Charleroi, D of W, Oct. 18, 1918.
Kline, Arthur A., of Monongahela, KIA, Oct. 11, 1918.
Kopenicky, Steve A., of Charleroi, D of D, Oct. 17, 1918.
Koval, Kuzma, of Donora, KIA, Nov. 10, 1918.
Kraut, Robert E., of West Alexandria, KIA, Oct. 9, 1918.
Krezanosky, Louis F., of Avella, KIA, Nov. 7, 1918.
Kupski, Tony, of Donora, KIA, Oct. 8, 1918.
Labluck, George, of Cakeburg, D of D, Jan. 21, 1919.
Landay, Isador, of Washington, KIA, Oct. 10, 1918.
Lenzix, Antonio, of Courtney, D of D, Oct. 15, 1918.
Linton, Edward S., of Washington, D of D, Nov. 14, 1917.
Little, Gordon Vincent, of Canonsburg, D of D, Oct. 19, 1918.
Lopp, Chauncey E., of Courtney, D of W, July 15, 1918.
Lupo, Nicholas, of Burgettstown, D of D, Oct. 11, 1918.
Mamougellas, Peter, of Canonsburg, KIA, Sept. 27, 1918.
Marcozzi, Giovanni, of Daisytown, D of D, Oct. 10, 1918.
Marshall, Edward K., of Washington, KIA, Aug. 26, 1918.
Marshall, Paul W, of Monongahela, D of W, July 30, 1918.


1132





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Mathews, John M., of California, KIA, Nov. 6, 1918.
Meany, William R., of Monongahela, D of D, Oct. 10, 1918.
Miller, Charles F., of Washington, D of D, Oct. 5, 1918.
Miller, Robert Addison, of West Alexandria, D of D, Apr. 24, 1918.
Morris, Walter R., of Washington, KIA, July 30, 1918.
Morrison, David, of Finleyville, KIA, Oct. 9, 1918.
Morrison, Samuel M., of McDonald, D of D, Dec. 14, 1918.
Morrow, William C., of Bentleyville, D of D, Dec. 18, 1918.
Mossburger, Leo C., of Donora, Homicide, May 17, 1919.
McCaffery, William V., of Washington, D of W, July 18, 1918.
McClelland, John F., of Washington, KIA, Aug. 26, 1918.
McCune, Mahlon, of Daisytown, D of D, May 26, 1919.
McElraith, William F., of Westland, KIA, Oct. 28, 1918.
McPaul, Barney F., of McDonald, KIA, Oct. 27, 1918.
Naylor, James R., of Finleyville, KIA, Oct. 10, 1918.
Niedoborek, John, of McDonald, KIA, Oct. 9, 1918.
Novich, Joe, of Rich Hill, D of W, Nov. 11, 1918.
O'Brien, David, of Canonsburg, D of D, Oct. 16, 1918.
O'Neil, Robert, of Allenport, KIA, Oct. 16, 1918.
Osso, Matteo, of Washington, KIA, Oct. 5, 1918.
Pasco, Charles R., of Stockdale, D of W, Sept. 29, 1918.
Patterson, Raymond H., of California, KIA, Sept. 7, 1918.
Perry, James, of Canonsburg, KIA, Oct. 16, 1918.
Pettit, Eddie R., of Washington, D of W, July 30, 1918.
Philips, William B., of Venetia, D of W, Sept. 28, 1918.
Phillips, Ernest, of McDonald, D of W, Aug. 11, 1918.
Pietowsky, Joseph, of Burgettstown, KIA, July 18, 1918.
Podany, Steve, of California, KIA, Oct. 11, 1918.
Puskar, Michael, of South Burgettstown, KIA, Oct. 9, 1918.
Quear, Alexander, of Charleroi, KIA, Oct. 14, 1918.
Rager, Asa, of West Brownsville, KIA, Nov. 11, 1918.
Rapko, Mike, of Canonsburg, KIA, Oct. 13, 1918.
Redetski, Alexander, of Donora, Suicide, May 21, 1918.
Rhodes, James, of Monongahela, KIA, Aug. 25, 1918.
Riggle, Guy H., of Washington, D of D, Oct. 9, 1918.
Ritchie, David A., of Finleyville, KIA, Oct. 11, 1918.
Robinson, Thomas S., of Burgettstown, KIA, Sept. 6, 1918.
Rocher, Simeon, of Midway, D of D, Sept. 15, 1918.
Rossi, Louis, of Denbo, KIA, Nov. 4, 1918.
Rudy, John, of Canonsburg, KIA, Sept. 29, 1918.
Rumora, Jacob P., of Donora, D of A, June 19, 1919.
Russo, Pasquale, of Washington, KIA, Oct. 14, 1918.
Ruzasky, John, of South Burgettstown, KIA, Aug. 18, 1918.
Santee, Robert, of Bentleyville, D of W, July 18, 1918.
Scaccica, Frank, of California, KIA, Oct. 27, 1918.
Scarem, Daniel E., of Burgettstown, KIA, Oct. 7, 1918.
Schanning, Frank R., of Monongahela, KIA, July 15, 1918.
Schilling, Herald, of South Burgettstown, D of D, Oct. 8, 1918.


1133





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Schroer, William J., of Donora, KIA, Oct. 5, 1918.
Seal, Harold H., of Washington, D of W, Feb. 20, 1919.
Secore, Joseph, of Canonsburg, D of A, Apr. 22, 1918.
Senti, Dominik, of Donora, KIA, Oct. 8, 1918.
Shearer, Delbert A., of Washington, KIA, July 30, 1918.
Siders, Bert C., of Avella, D of D, Dec. 21, 1917.
Sleith, Edward, of New Eagle, KIA, July 30, 1918.
Stablo, Sam, of New Eagle, KIA, Nov. 3, 1918.
Swart, James H., of West Finley, KIA, Sept. 27, 1918.
Tarassuck, Vitold, of Burgettstown, KIA, July 5, 1918.
Teti, Vincenzo, of Canonsburg, KIA, Sept. 30, 1918.
Thornley, George C., of Monongahela, D of D, Nov. 21, 1918.
Tomlinson, Thomas H., of Charleroi, D of A, Nov. 3, 1918.
Tonetti, Adolph, of Millsboro, D of W, June 8, 1919.
Torcheak, Steve, of Fredericktown, KIA, Sept. 14, 1918.
Tucker, William, of Monongahela, D of W, Sept. 23, 1918.
Valiani, Albert, of New Eagle, KIA, Nov. 7, 1918.
Vance, John S., of Washington, D of D, Oct. 6, 1918.
Vincent, David C., of Monongahela, KIA, Sept. 27, 1918.
Watters, William J., of Washington, KIA, Aug. 25, 1918.
Welch, Guy V., of Westland, D of D, Feb. 2, 1918.
Welch, Lawrence J., of Washington, D of D, Oct. 25, 1918.
Whinnie, Joseph, of Pitco, D of W, Dec. 29, 1918.
Whithill, Leonard L., of Washington, KIA, July 30, 1918.
Wilkinson, Thomas McKinley Jr., of Houston, D of D, Oct. 26, 1918.
Wilson, Boyd E., of Meadowlands, KIA, Sept. 5, 1918.
Winnett, Robert V., of Coal Center, KIA, June 6, 1918.
Wise, Wilbur, of Bentleyville, D of W, Nov. 8, 1918.
Wood, Donald R., of Bishop, KIA, July 30, 1918.
Woodrow, William 0., of Burgettstown, D of D, Oct. 22, 1918.
Workus, Yustin, of Cokeburg, D of D, Oct. 1, 1918.

                ENLISTED MARINE CORPS.
Zippay, Michael, of Charleroi, KIA, June 3, 1918.

                        OFFICERS.
First Lt. Boyd S. Crawford, of Charleroi, KIA, May 28, 1918.
Second Lt. Levi Lorenzo Lamb, of California, KIA, July 18, 1918.
Cadet Harold J. Lewis, of Washington, D of D, Oct. 23, 1918.
Second Lt., Robert Livingston Neill, of Donora, D of D, Oct. 11, 1918.

                  ENLISTED U. S. NAVY.
Freeman, Robert Jennings of Ellsworth, KIA, May 31, 1918.
Jobes, Ernest Everette, of Donora, D of A, Apr. 17, 1918.
Koehl, Frank August, of Donora, D of D, Nov. 9, 1918.
Paul, Howard Lincoln, of Washington, D of D, Nov. 23, 1918.
Russell, John Edward, of Burgettstown, D of D, Nov. 8, 1918.


1134











CHAPTER CVII.


REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS BURIED IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.

LIST GATHERED FROM OLD NEWSPAPER FILES AND PERSONAL VISITS TO
    OLD GRAVEYARDS-E LIZABETH GILMORE'S RECORD IN THE REVOLU-
    TION-THE LAST REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER IN THE COUNTY.
    Scattered over Washington County are the graves of a number of
Revolutionary soldiers. A complete list is impossible to secure with the
passing of so many years since the last died but the following list was
compiled from old newspaper notices of their deaths. Where many of
them are buried, we do not know and it is impossible at this time to find
out. The following list was compiled from the old files of the Reporter
and the Examiner:
   Col. William McKennan, of Washington, died January 14, 1810. He
served during the Revolution as an officer in the famous "Flying Camp"
Regiment under General Washington. He was buried in the old grave-
yard, but later transferred to the Washington Cemetery.
   Col. Dickson Huston, died April 16, 1812, in Mahoning Township,
Mercer County, Ohio. He was formerly of Washington County, Pennsyl-
vania, and served as an officer in the Revolution and was in Harmar's
expedition to the Maumee, where he distinguished himself.
   Col. Thomas Crooks, of Richard's Valley, West Bethlehem Township,
died on February 25, 1815. He served with distinction during the Revolu-
tion, both in the Continental line and as a leader of a company of Rangers
from  Washington County, that fought the Indians on the Western
frontier. He was buried in the old Redstone church graveyard near
Scenery Hill, where his grave may still be found.
   Gen. James Stevenson, member of the legislature from Washington
County, died at Harrisburg, December 20, 1815. He served with distinc-
tioni during the Revolution.
   Gen. John Morgan, of Morganza, died April 19, 1817. It is stated
that General Morgan was a soldier of the Revolution. He is now in the
Washington cemetery.
   Daniel Kehr, of Washington, aged seventy-six years, died July 12, 1816.
He is said to have been present when the Declaration of Independence
was signed. He had been a resident of Washington for thirty years, and
president of the Washington Mechanical Society for twenty-four years.
He was buried in the old graveyard, but his body was removed to the
Washington cemetery.
   John Hughes, of Amwell Township, died September 15, 1818, aged
sixty-eight years. He served in the Revolution as a lieutenant under
Captain Hendricks. He was in the campaign of General Arnold against
Quebec, and was promoted to command of the company upon the death of
the captain, remaining in Canada in 1776 under General Wayne. He
                               1135




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


fought at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Princeton. He was
buried with military honors.
   William Curry, of Amwell Township, died August 15, 1820, aged eighty-
 two years.
    Hugh Moore, of Canton Township, died December 24, 1821, aged
 seventy-five years.
    Edward Bess, of Canton Township, died July 17, 1822 at an ad-
 vanced age.
    John Hill, of Fallowfield Township, died July 12, 1823, aged sixty-three
 years. He was a member of the famous "Flying Camp" for three years
 and was in the battle of Brandywine.
   Major Charles Cracraft, of Morris Township, died March 20, 1824, at
an advanced age.
   Adam Clemens, of Donegal Township, died June 24, 1824, aged seventy
years.
   Andrew Swearingen, of near Washington, died June 26, 1824, aged
seventy-eight years. He was captain of a company of rangers that did
service against the Indians on the frontier during the Revolution.
   Col. Thomas Stokely, of Donegal Township, died July 26, 1824 at
an advanced age. He was present at Lochry's defeat in Indiana in 1781.
He also served as a colonel in the War of 1812.
   John Hoge, one of the original proprietors and first inhabitants of
Washington died August 5, 1824. He served as a lieutenant during the
Revolutionary war. He enlisted in 1776, at the age of sixteen.
   Francis Henry, of Washington, died December 22, 1824, when the
small house in which he was living was burned to the ground.
   Henry Dickerson, of Morris Township, died July 27, 1825. He was
one of the early settlers of this county.
   Aaron Lyle, of Cross Creek Township, died September 24, 1825.
   Alexander Burns, of Finley Township, died January 12, 1826, aged
eighty-seven years.
   Col. Gabriel Valkrey, of Amwell Township, died December 25, 1827,
aged eighty-two years. He was buried in the old graveyard in Washing-
ton and later removed to the Washington cemetery.
   Daniel Vallele, of Amwell Township, died June 25, 1828, aged eighty-
eight years.
   Isaac Ruple, of Fallowfield Township, died December 7, 1828, aged
sixty-eight years. He was buried in Columbia.
   David Philip, of Peters Township, died March 5, 1829, aged eighty-six
years.
   Patrick Cavenaugh, of Washington, died April 5, 1829, aged ninety
years. He served under General Greene.
   Col. James Marshel, formerly of Washington, died March 17, 1829,
aged eighty years. He was buried at Wellsburg, West Virginia.
   Abraham Watring, Sr., of Hopewell Township, died May 15, 1829, aged
seventy-nine years. He served in the commissary department.
   Jacob Breding, of West Bethlehem Township, died June 25, 1829, aged
seventy-three years.


1136




               HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                    1137

    Philip Huston, of Taylorstown, died November 9, 1829, aged sixty-
three years.
   Maj. Daniel Leet, formerly of Washington died June 17, 1830, at
Sewickly Bottom, Allegheny County, aged eighty-two years. He served
in Crawford in 1792.
   John Jackson, of East Bethleham Township died in October, 1830,
aged sixty-five years.
   Capt. Jacob Miller, of Donegal Township, died August 28, 1830, aged
sixty-eight years. He was leader of the regiment at Miller's block house.
   Thomas Michael, of Canton Township, died November 4, 1830.
   Hugh McCoy, of Hanover Township, died December 27, 1830, aged
seventy-seven years. He served in the Pennsylvania line.
   Joseph Post, formerly of Washington County, died November 8, 1831,
near Mansfield, Ohio.
   Nicholas Smith, of South Strabane Township, died April 6, 1832, aged
eighty-nine years.
   John Dannel of Canton Township "the last of the old pioneers" died
August 31, 1832, aged eighty-four years. He served under General George
Robert Clark in the expedition of 1781, and is believed to have been
the last survivor.
   John Miller, of Somerset Township, died November 29, 1832, aged 100
years. He served under General Forbes at the capture of Fort Duquesne
in February, 1758, and is believed to have been the last survivor of the
Forbes expedition left in the United States.
   John Dulty, of Washington, died May 25, 1833, of cholera.
   Capt. Craig Ritchie, of Canonsburg, died June 13, 1833. He served
in the Crawford expedition.
   James Workman, of Amwell Township, died November 7, 1833 at
Waynesburg. He served in the Crawford expedition.
   George Montle, of Washington, died August 30, 1834, aged eighty-
one years.
   Joseph Pyle, of Hopewell Township, died September 3, 1834, aged
eighty-seven years.
   Elijah Crafford, of Hanover Township, died February 4, 1836, aged
eighty years.
   Capt. Daniel Hamilton, of Somerset Township, died December 9, 1836,
aged eighty-one years.
   Patrick Burk, of Monongahela, died August 28, 1837, aged eighty-
nine years.
   Capt. Jonathan Morris, of Frederickstown, died January 28, 1838, aged
eighty-five years.
   John DeFrance, of Cross Creek village, died July 20, 1838, aged seventy-
eight years.
   James Linn, Sr., of North Strabane Township, died December 24, 1838,
aged seventy-nine years.  He had resided in Washington County for
sixty years.
   Nathaniel Mitchell, of Donegal Township, died March 23, 1839, aged
ninety-five years.
       72-V1




1138          HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

   William Wolf, Sr., of Washington, died October 16, 1839, aged eighty-
eight years.
   Thomas McClelland, of South Strabane Township, died November 10,
1839, aged eighty-four years.
   Andrew McClean, of Smith Township died May 17, 1840. He was in the
battles of Long Island, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and Stone
Point.
   James Kerr, of Washington County, died July 2, 1840, aged ninety
years.
   James Mitchell of Peters Township died December 21, 1841, aged
ninety-two years.
   Samuel McKee, of Chartie s Township, died February 16, 1841, aged
eighty-three years.
   Edward McLaughlin, of Donegal Township, died May 16, 1841, aged
eighty-five years. He had been a resident of Washington County for
fifty years.
   John Malone, of Canton Township, died August 22, 1841, aged eighty
years.
   Henry Arnould, of Washington, died August 26, 1843.
   Hugh Workman, of Washington, died November 19, 1843, aged eighty-
four years. He had been a resident of Washington County for sixty-
six years.
   George Wilkin of Canonsburg, died December 26, 1844, aged eighty-
four years. He was in the battle of Brandywine.
   John Coventry, of Hanover Township, died February 8, 1845, aged
ninety-seven years.
   John McIlravey, of North Strabane Township, died in June, 1845, aged
ninety-five years.
   Christian Hootman, of Donegal Township, died August 31, 1845, aged
eighty-eight years.
   Peter Perrin, of Cross Creek Township, died September 14, 1845.
   Daniel Huston, of Union Township, died March 11, 1846, aged ninety-
three years.
   Boon Buchanan, negro, died in September 1846, in the Washington
County poorhouse, aged 113 years. He was a waiter in the army of Gen-
eral Braddock in 1755, and he is believed to have been the last survivor
of that expedition. He was formerly known to the people of Washington
as "old Booty."
   John Bolan, of South Strabane Township, died November 7, 1846,
aged ninety-two years.
   Isaac Lucas, of East Finley Township, died April 8, 1848, aged ninety
years. His discharge was in the handwriting of General Washington.
   John Dagon, of Cross Creek Township, died May 25, 1848, aged 102
years.
   William Adams, of West Alexander, died October 14, 1848, aged 100
years. He served in the famous "Flying Camp" regiment under General
Washington.
   George Ramsey, died January 1, 1849, aged ninety-six years. He was
a resident of Washington County more than sixty years.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Thomas Shaffor, of Fallowfield Township, died December 7, 1849, aged
ninety-four years. He was a resident of Washington County for sixty-
two years. He was in the army that marched into Canada and fought
on the Plains of Abraham, with the gallant Montgomery, when he was
killed. He served under General Wayne at Stony Point.
   John Scott, of Buffalo Township, died October 16, 1850, aged ninety-
three years.
   Benjamin Richey, of Morris Township, died in December, 1852, aged
100 years.
   James Armstrong, of West Alexander, died September 12, 1853, aged
ninety-three years.
   James Proudfit, of near Florence, died May 1, 1856, aged ninety-six
years. He served in the campaigns of 1777 and 1778 and subsequently
in the Indian wars of 1783. This man was the last soldier of the Revolu-
tionary war to die in Washington County.
   Jacob Miller, of Chartiers Township, died November 7, 1857, aged
eighty-eight years. When a boy, this man carried flour to the American
army at Valley Forge and he was, as far as we know, the last person
living in Washington County, who took part in the Revolutionary war
in any way.
   The following names have been compiled from other sources:
   John McDowell died at West Alexander, 1822, aged 109 years.
   Capt. John Johnston died in 1821, at Cross Creek, aged 101 years.
   William Hall died September 23, 1854, in Robinson Township, aged
106 years.
   David Boyd, of Hopewell Township, died in 1830, aged seventy-five
years. He served in the Continental line and was with General Gates at
surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, in 1777. He was also with
Washington at Yorktown. When a boy he was captured by Indians and
held prisoner for several years.
   Francis McGuire died September 18, 1820, aged sixty-six years. He
served in the Continental line as a major. Mr. McGuire lived and died
in Independence Township, near Independence village, and was buried one-
half mile west of this village near the residence of Dr. Parkinson.
   William Wolf died in Washington, Pa., October 24, 1839, aged eighty-
eight years. He was buried in the East Buffalo Presbyterian cemetery,
Buffalo Township.
   The Pennsylvania archives show that Thomas Crooks was a colonel
of the "Rangers on the Frontier" of Washington County from 1778 to
1783. His name also appears on the list of soldiers in the Continental
line who received pay for their services during the Revolution.
   During the Revolutionary War, Washington County was in one of the
most exposed sections of the Western frontier and raids by the hostile
tribes from the Ohio country were very frequent. The only regular troops
in this section were those stationed at Fort Pitt but the frontier was wide
and there were only a few soldiers there. The result was that the settlers
were compelled to defend themselves, and companies of militia of "wood
rangers," as they were called then, were formed. It was the duty of
these soldiers to patrol the exposed sections of the frontier, in order that


1139





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


they might stop any raids. It was dangerous work, and the scalps of
many of them went to decorate the lodges of the Wyandots, Delawares and
Shawanese. These rangers were on duty for a month or two at a time,
when they would be relieved by another company.
    The Archives disclose the fact that Col. Thomas Crooks, who was one of
 the early settlers of the original Bethlehem Township, was in command
 of the Fifth Battalion of the Washington County Rangers. It was made
 up of eight companies of infantry and troop of light horses, consisting of
 38 officers, 629 infantrymen and 30 light horsemen.
    Very little is known of the operations of this command, but from the
entries in the Archives, it must have been in almost continuous service
from 1778 to 1784. One record shows that Colonel Crooks, and a part of
his command were stationed at Fort Henry, which stood on the site of
Wheeling, W. Va., in August, 1782.
    It was on September 12, 1782, that a band of over 200 Shawanee In-
dians and about 50 British Regulars, known as the Queen's Rangers, at-
tacked Fort Henry, and for two days kept it under a continuous fire. It
was during this battle that the powder in the fort ran low, and Betty Zane,
the founder of that settlement, ran under fire from the Indians, to her
brother's house, a few yards beyond the stockade, and secured an apron
full of powder, and returned to the fort. It is not known definitely whether
any Washington County men were in the fort at the time, but it is prob-
able that there may have been a few of Colonel Crooks' men there.
   Elizabeth Gilmore, one of the few women to serve with the American
army in the capacity of nurse and soldier, died in Washington and is
buried in the old Robinson Run Graveyard, near McDonald. Elizabeth
Gilmore's deeds in the cause of American liberty, rival those of the famous
"Molly Pitcher," who gained everlasting fame by taking her fallen hus-
band's place at one of the guns in the battle of Monmouth, on June 28,
1778, and with the lifeless corpse of her husband at her feet, she loaded
and fired the cannon during the remainder of the engagement.
   Like the biography of Molly Pitcher, the life story of Elizabeth Gil-
more and her sister Ann, is one of the strange romances only made pos-
sible by a great war, such as has just closed, and which undoubtedly pro-
duced many similar cases. After the Revolution commenced, patriots from
many European countries came to America to aid the colonists in their
struggle for freedom, and, with the exception of France, no land sent
more than Ireland.
   At the age of eighteen years, Elizabeth Gilmore and her younger sis-
ter Ann left their old home in Ireland and crossed the Atlantic to America.
On the same ship was John Berry, a young Irishman, on his way to join
the Continental army, and on that ship began the great romance in the
lives in this young soldier of fortune and Elizabeth Gilmore. They came
from an oppressed land in answer to the call of persecuted humanity from
across the sea.
   Few women saw as much of the American Revolution as Elizabeth Gil-
more. As soon as the ship reached Philadelphia, John Berry enlisted in
the army commanded by General Washington. The Gilmore sisters joined
as nurses, and for seven years followed the varying fortunes of the strug-


1140





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


gling colonists. During the terrible winter of 1777-78, they ministered to
the sick at Valley Forge and there the romance begun on the Atlantic was
renewed, for John Berry was one of Washington's half-starved soldiers.
   The Continental troops received aid of all kinds from the women, but
cases where any official record was made of this service are very few. In
fact, out of all of the hundreds, probably thousands of women who gave
assistance to the American troops during the Revolution, those who re-
ceived official recognition for their services can be counted on the fingers
of one hand. It was only after some very unusual service, such as actual
fighting, as in Molly Pitcher's case, that a record was made. For this rea-
son it is next to impossible to secure the necessary recognition of such
action by the official board of the National Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution to be granted membership, or additional lineage
bars or papers on the service of a female ancestor.
   There is a family tradition among the descendants of Elizabeth Gil-
more that she enlisted as a private in the Continental army and actually
fought in several battles, but this was not sufficient proof to receive recog-
nition from the D. A. R. membership board, and it was not until recently
that an official statement of the service was found. The records of Eliza-
beth Gilmore's services in the Revolution were found in the Pennsylvania
archives, which state that Elizabeth Gilmore received pay from the State
of Pennsylvania for her services as a private in the Continental army.
This appears in the Fifth Series, Volume IV, page 680, where Elizabeth
Gilmore is listed as a private from Northumberland County, Pennsylvania,
among the "Soldiers of the Revolution who received pay for their services.
Taken from manuscript record having neither date nor title." This list is
also in the Volume XXII, Third Series, under the title of "Rangers on the
Frontier" and her name is also given there.
    John Berry and Elizabeth Gilmore were married in 1780, but they con-
tinued their services in the Continental army until the close of the war.
After peace was declared, they settled in Colerain Township, Lancaster
County, where they lived until 1794. In the spring of that year, John
Berry came to Washington County and worked during the summer on the
farm of Dr. John McMillan, the founder of Jefferson College, at Canons-
burg. In the fall he returned east, but the next spring came back to West-
ern Pennsylvania, where he settled with his wife and family.
    In 1796 John Berry purchased a farm of 251 acres from George Wash-
ington. This was part of the land owned by Washington in Northern
Washington, and is not far from where McDonald now stands. The orig-
inal deed from Washington is still in the possession of the Berry family.
John Berry died on this farm on June 7, 1809, at the age of fifty-six years,
and is buried in the old Robinson Run Churchyard, already mentioned.
For fifteen years, his widow, Elizabeth Gilmore Berry, lived at the old
house, but on August 21, 1823, she died and was buried beside her hus-
band. There is nothing on her monument to show her services during
America's struggle for independence, and except for the records in the
Pennsylvania Archives, it would never have been established. The old
Berry home, where these two Revolutionary veterans spent the remainder
of their lives, is still standing near McDonald. It is a two-story log cabin,


1141





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


locality. His home was at Miller's blockhouse, which stood on the old
Clinton Miller farm, three miles north of Coon Island. Between Miller's
run on the east and the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek on the west is a long,
high point of land formed by the junction of these streams, and on this
stood Miller's blockhouse, one of the most noted forts in the border history
of Washington County. The old Clinton Miller house stood near the site
of the blockhouse, and near by a strong spring, from which the people of
the fort secured their water, still gushes from the roots of a giant oak.
   The blockhouse was razed long ago, but local tradition tells us that it
stood about midway between the spring and the old Miller graveyard,
higher up on the point. An old log cabin still stands near the spring.
When it was built we do not know, but it may have been erected from the
logs of the blockhouse, or it may have been standing at the time the fort
was demolished.
   Miller's blockhouse was the headquarters of Captain Miller's scouts,
and it was the principal refuge for the settlers in that vicinity. Two miles
north was Rice's fort, where the last battle of the Revolution was fought.
This will be described in a succeeding chapter.
    One morning in September, 1781, Captain Miller, Frank Hupp, and
Jacob Fisher left Miller's blockhouse to search for stray horses and to
scout for Indians who were reported in the vicinity. They went far into
the forest beyond Three Ridges, now West Alexander, but they found no
signs of either Indians or horses, and night found them near the cabin
of Jonathan Link, on the right bank of the Middle Fork of Wheeling Creek,
three miles south of West Alexander, and a few feet east of the West
Virginia line. This cabin was located on land now owned by Hugh
Erskine.
    The trio found Link at home, and concluded to spend the night with
 him, secure in the belief that no Indians were in the neighborhood. Dur-
 ing the night they were awakened by the furious barking of Link's dog,
 which was continued until nearly morning. This was the first intimation
 of danger, and the men felt that the dog's uneasiness was caused by some-
 thing more than wolves.
    Their fears vanished with the dawn; but they little dreamed of the fate
 in store for them. During the night a band of Indians had surrounded
 the cabin and were waiting for the appearance of the whites. Following
 the usual custom of bordermen, Hupp and Fisher stepped from the cabin
 and went to a spring a few feet away to wash. It was a beautiful fall
 morning, and the men walked briskly, never dreaming how near they
 were to death, when suddenly several rifles cracked from the weeds along
 the path. Fisher was instantly killed, and Hupp was mortally wounded;
 but he ran back to the cabin, and had strength enough left to climb to the
 loft where Miller and Link still lay in bed. He hastily told them what
 had occurred, and died as he was begging them to fight to the last.
    The Indians charged the cabin, and before Miller or Link could descend
 and barricade the door the savages were inside. They ordered the white
 men to surrender, threatening to burn the cabin over their heads if they
 refused. There was nothing else to do, and so they climbed down and
 their hands were securely bound. Hupp's body was dragged outside and
 scalped.


107





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


built nearly a century and a quarter ago. The teeth of time have left their
marks upon it, and the old house is fast falling into decay. It has not
been occupied for many years and in a short time, the ancient building
will be nothing but a memory.
   Ann Gilmore, Elizabeth's younger sister, was with Elizabeth much of
the time she was in the Continental army, and it is known that she spent
the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge, but there are no State records of
her service. Ann Gilmore married Hugh Boyle, a Revolutionary soldier,
who was a member of the Canadian campaign of 1777; fought at Brandy-
wine and Monmouth; was at Valley Forge, and was in at the death of Eng-
land's hopes, when Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown. After the
war he settled where Oakdale now stands and owned the land where that
town was built in later years. He died at the age of ninety years, and is
buried in the Hill Church Cemetery at Noblestown beside his wife. And
so two Revolutionary heroines are buried in Western Pennsylvania, un-
honored and almost forgotten.
   Buried in Washington Cemetery are the following Revolutionary sol-
diers: Col. William McKennan, Col. George Morgan, Gen. Alsalem Baird,
Surgeon Colonel Jeduthia Baldwin of Artifficers, Thomas Acheson, died
October 27, 1805; Colonel Gabriel Blakeney, Jacob Weirich, died August
27, 1822.
   The following are buried in the old Cross Creek graveyard:
   Capt. James Boggs, died 1805, aged seventy-five years.
   Benjamin Bebout, died November 6, 1858, aged 99 years, 11 months
and 4 days. He was a soldier of the Revolution and belonged to the Minute
Men against the Indians on the frontier of Washington County, Pennsyl-
vania, at the close of the Revolution.
   Capt. James Cook, died December 1, 1830, in the seventy-third year of
his life.
   Charles Campbell, died March 21, 1819, aged sixty-six years. He was
a soldier of the Revolution and the Indian wars.
   William Campbell, died June 2, 1801, aged sixty-two years. He was
an officer in the Revolutionary war.
   Moses Hays, was born November 17, 1760, and died August 4, 1837.
   Thomas Hays, died April 9, 1828, in the eighty-third year of his age.
   Capt. John Johnston, died 1821, in the one hundredth year of his age.
He was in the battle of Brandywine and many other engagements in the
Revolution.
   Aaron Lyle, died September 2, 1825, aged sixty-six years. He was a
soldier of the Revolutionary and also of the War of 1812. He was
many years in the Senate and House of Representatives of Pennsylvania,
and was a member of Congress from 1809 to 1817.
   John Lyle, Sr., died April 17, 1826, aged seventy-four years.
   David Lyle, died in September, 1791, aged thirty years. He was a
teamster in the war of the Revolution under General Anthony Wayne, and
saw hard service which caused his death at an early age.
   Peter Linnville died April 19, 1834, aged eighty-five years.
   John McCalmont died in 1817, aged seventy years. He served under
General Washington.


1142





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Robert McCready died on August 10, 1846, aged ninety-four years.
He emigrated from Scotland in 1772, when twenty years old. In 1776, he
volunteered in the Continental army in what was known as "Flying Camp"
and saw much hard service.
   Adam Martin died in 1817, aged seventy years.
   Stephen Perrine died December 17, 1847, aged 88 years.
   Capt. William Patterson died June 29, 1818, in the eighty-sixth year
of his age. He settled on the old Patterson homestead on Cross Creek in
1778, where he defended his home from the savages until 1783.
   Joseph Reed died February, 1832, aged seventy-five years.
   Andrew Ritchey died June 24, 1838, aged eighty-five years.
   John Stephenson died December 14, 1821, aged seventy-five years.
   John Stevenson died June 3, 1847, aged eighty-six years. He was a
soldier in the Revolutionary and Indian wars of 1790.
   John Sutherland died January 2, 1842, in the ninety-first year of his
age.
   Margaret Andover died April 7, 1849, aged one hundred and six years
and four days. She was a nurse in the Continental army during the Revo-
lution.
   Robert Curry was born in Scotland. When a young man he and two of
his brothers were pressed aboard a British man-of-war. In August, 1782,
he saw the great naval engagement between the French and English fleets
off the coast of Dominica, when Admiral Degrasse was captured and car-
ried to London by Admiral Rodney, the commander of the English fleet.
   Buried in West Alexander Cemetery are James Armstrong, John
Suples, Gen. William Stevenson, Alexander Burns and Robert Humphreys,
who is said to have carried General Lafayette from the field of battle at
Brandywine, when he was seriously wounded. When Lafayette passed
through West Alexander on May 24, 1825, he greeted Humphreys with a
warm embrace.
   Buried in Mingo Cemetery is Capt. James McFarlane, killed June 17,
1794, in the Whiskey Insurrection.
   Buried in Amity is Solomon Spaulding.
   Buried in the Weller burial ground, in North Strabane Township, is
Daniel Weller.
   On September 1, 1826, the following Revolutionary soldiers headed a
memorial parade held in Washington in memory of John Adams and
Thomas Jefferson, signers of the Declaration of Independence: Capt.
Jonathan Morris, aged 73 years; Thomas Fergus, James Kerr, 73 years;
James Reed, 77 years; David Hamilton, 77 years; Andrew Peas, 63 years;
Robert Porter, 69 years; Benedict Reynolds, 68 years; Thomas McClel-
land, 71 years; Robert Marshall, Thomas Nichol, 78 years; George Mon-
tel, 69 years; Patrick Cavender, 77 years; James Taggart, Peter Poole,
69 years, John Beabout. Colonel Gabriel Blakeney was in town but in-
disposition prevented him from attending.


1143













CHAPTER CVIII.


                   PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS.

HISTORY OF THE G. A. R. POSTS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-SPANISH-AMER-
    ICAN WAR VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS-THE AMERICAN LEGION-
    DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION-SONS OF THE AMER-
    ICAN REVOLUTION.
                    GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
   As a national organization, the Grand Army of the Republic owes its
life to two men, Dr. B. F. Stephenson and Rev. W. J. Rudolph, the surgeon
and chaplain respectively of the Fourteenth Regiment, Illinois Infantry.
During the winter of 1865-66 these two men worked the idea up in Illinois
and on April 6, 1866, the first Grand Army Post in the United States was
organized at Decatur, Illinois. No fraternal organization in the history of
the world has spread with such rapidity for before fall it had become a
national institution with members in many states, and it held its first an-
nual encampment at Indianapolis November 20, 1866.
   It is a patriotic organization and its membership is confined to the
soldiers and sailors who fought for the Union during the Civil war, hon-
orably discharged or continuing in the service and the state militia on ac-
tive duty, subject to the national call during the war. It is impossible for
anyone, except a soldier or sailor in the service of the United States dur-
ing the Civil war to obtain membership in the Grand Army. In fact this
honor has been denied to great men, who saw active service during those
troublesome times, but who were not mustered into the service of their
country. An example of this is Gen. Frederick Grant, a son of Gen. U. S.
Grant, and afterwards the head of the United States army. During the
war Frederick Grant was a boy of sixteen and was attached to his father's
civilian staff. However, he saw active service carrying dispatches for his
father, and was under fire in several hotly contested battles of the war,
but admission to the Grand Army was denied him in after years because
he had never been a soldier of the United States. His case was taken up
specially, but it was considered that if an exception was made for him,
there were a number of others who had just as good claims to membership.
   The objects of the Grand Army are fraternity, commemoration, and
assistance to members. It has aided in establishing soldiers' homes and
memorials, soldiers' orphans schools, and in maintaining and educating
soldiers' orphans. It also caused the institution of Memorial Day as a
national institution, although this day owes its birth to the South, for it
originated among the women of Petersburg, Virginia, who observed the
first Memorial Day, June 9, 1866, in the old Blandsford church yard at
Petersburg, where are buried a number of Southern soldiers, who fell in
the defense of Petersburg and in the assault upon Fort Steadman.
                                1144





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Each state has a department of the Grand Army, with a commander
and other officers. In 1890 the organization reached its highwater mark
when the membership was over 400,000, but naturally since that time it
has declined rapidly in membership through deaths until now there are
only about 5,000 posts in the United States. At one time, of course, there
were many more but many of them have become inactive from year to year
as their members died and they were transferred to other posts nearby.
The posts that were formerly located at Amity and Prosperity, this county,
are examples of this. In fact there is only one old soldier left in all Morris
Township, where at one time there were a large number. That soldier is
Capt. R. W. Parkinson, now over eighty years of age.
   In all sections of the county, the wearers of the little bronze buttons
are looked upon with the greatest respect, for that is a badge of honor,
which signals that the wearer fought for the preservation of the Union in
the '60s.
   During the first years following the close of the Civil war, the veterans
residing in Washington County were many and patriotism ran high. They
were young and the fierce blood and energy of youth that had carried them
over many a bloody field in the years just passed were still theirs. In
fact those boys of half a century ago who made up the Union army in the
'60s were no different from the boys of today, and they loved to gather in
meetings and recount their recent adventures. Then the ties of comrade-
ship, made amid the roar of shot and shell and in Southern prison pens,
were too strong to be easily severed, and they sought each other's com-
panionship.
   In 1867, the year following that in which the first Grand Army Post
in the United States was established at Decatur, Illinois, the first post to
be founded in Washington County was organized in Washington. Early
in 1867 thirteen veterans of the Civil war decided to establish a post here,
and so they applied to the Department of Pennsylvania, G. A. R., for a
charter; and this charter, which is dated April 22, 1867, is about all the
records that are left of this old post, which was known as Post No. 57. The
charter is still preserved among the relics of William F. Templeton Post,
No. 120, and is on exhibition in the Post room of the courthouse.
   These charter members were John Hall, M. L. A. McCracken, S. L. Wil-
son, James B. Kennedy, John W. Wiley, Isaac Manes, B. F. Hasson, Wil-
liam H. Underwood, James S. Stocking, John C. Ralston, John A. Tem-
pleton, James P. Hart and J. L. Kirk.
   William H. Underwood and M. L. A. McCracken are still living in
Washington; B. F. Hasson lives in the West, while Isaac Manes is also liv-
ing, but these four old men are all who remain of the original thirteen
boys who established old Post No. 57, more than half a century ago, and it
will not be long before those who remain will have followed their com-
rades.
   Of course there were others who joined the post during its short life,
for it only lasted two or three years, and among them was Attorney George
O. Jones, of Washington, who was one of the commanders. It only had one
meeting place and that was in the third floor of the old brick building on
East Beau Street, just below the Beau Street cafe. It is now owned by
the William Smith estate.


1145





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    None of the early records of this post have been left, except the char-
 ter, and all of the information that now remains regarding its history is
 what some of the surviving members can recall. In speaking of it, Mr.
 Jones stated that it was not in existence very long. Its members, for all
 they had just passed through a great war, were scarcely more than boys,
 and many of them were still attending college. After two or three years of
 a rather strenuous life, it went under and was never revived.
    It was about ten years before another Grand Army post was organized
 in Washington, and the credit for founding it is really due to F. H. Dyer,
 a traveling salesman whose home was in Washington. The fate of old
 Post No. 57 had deterred many veterans of the town from thinking of an-
 other venture of this nature, but Dyer was full of energy and push and he
 took the matter up and carried it through to a successful conclusion. After
 considerable talking on his part, twenty-eight veterans applied for a char-
 ter and the post was organized on March 27, 1879.
    A complete organization and installation of officers took place at the
first meeting, which was held on the above date in the Odd Fellows Hall,
on the third floor of the Young Building, South Main Street, now owned by
the Real Estate Trust Company. Dyer had a wide acquaintance and a
number of members of Pittsburgh posts came out to assist in the initiation
and installation ceremonies. The majority of the Civil war veterans in
those days were still young men, for that was just fourteen years after
the close of the war, and from what the survivors say they thoroughly en-
joyed "riding the goat." The post was named in honor of Capt. William
F. Templeton, of West Middleton, the second captain of Company A, of the
famous One Hundredth Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, known as the
"Roundheads," who was killed while leading his men in the charge on the
railroad cut at the second battle of Bull Run, Virginia, August 29, 1862.
Captain Templeton was a brother of John A. Templeton, Samuel Temple-
ton, and David Templeton, a former postmaster, all of whom are now dead.
   The following are the first officers of the post who were installed at the
first meeting: Commander, F. H. Dyer; senior vice commander, James B.
Kennedy; junior vice commander, Alexander Hart; quartermaster, George
0. Jones; adjutant, William H. Underwood; surgeon, E. L. Christman;
officer of the day, S. L. Wilson.
   The following are the twenty-eight charter members of the post: An-
drew G. Happer, dead; William H. Underwood, dead; E. L. Christman,
died January 18, 1912; F. H. Dyer, dead; George O. Jones, dead; M. L. A.
McCracken; James P. Sayer, died July 22, 1892; Alexander Hart, died
October 17, 1903; W. C. Wiley, died July 24, 1908; James B. Kennedy,
died June 15, 1897; S. L. Wilson, died April 26, 1915; Frank Hasson;
James S. Stocking, died August 2, 1916; W. T. Pollock, died March 16,
1916; George T. Work, died February 7, 1902; William T. Greer, died
January 21, 1899; Ad Bain; R. W. Brownlee, died September 23, 1902;
James P. Hart, dead; Isaac Sharp, died January 31, 1909; S. C. McGregor,
dead; John A. Templeton, died March 20, 1895; Peter Kennedy, Sr., died
January 2, 1890; Norton McGiffin, died July 30, 1905; Thomas H. Harter,
dead; Matthew P. Linn, died November 5, 1910; George Thompson, died
January 23, 1901; William A. Gabby, died May 25, 1916.
   During 1879 meetings were held in the Odd Fellows Hall in the old


1146





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Young Building, but when that lodge moved into new quarters across the
hall in 1880, the post took its old rooms, which it occupied for nearly
fourteen years. These rooms were fitted up at a cost of $2,200 as a Grand
Army Memorial Hall. The furniture was made especially for the post and
the hall was repainted and decorated.
   A set of the famous Forbes war pictures were purchased at great ex-
pense and framed and hung on the walls. These pictures were the finest
that had ever been produced of the Civil war up to that time, and were
made from actual photographs and drawings made during the war. Even
today they are in a class by themselves and are of priceless value, for they
can no longer be purchased. They now decorate the walls of the post
room in the courthouse.
   In order to raise the money required for these improvements, the post
conducted a series of lectures in the old Town Hall, and some of the most
eloquent speakers that ever appeared in Washington, were brought here
under the post's auspices. Among them were such men as Henry Ward
Beecher, Theodore Tilton, and Thomas De Witt Talmage. In speaking of
this course of lectures recently, one of the members of the post stated that
they made money on every one except Beecher, but they had to pay him
$500, besides furnishing him with a special train from Pittsburgh.
   In 1894, when the Montgomery Building at the southeast corner of
South Main and East Wheeling streets, was completed, the post rented
the hall on the third floor, which is now the Eagles' Lodge room. They
held their first meeting there on April 13, 1894, with thirty-eight members
present. They did not remain there long, for the veterans were getting
old and it was hard work for them to climb three flights of stairs.
   They remained in the Montgomery building three or four years and
then moved to the hall on the second floor of the brick building just east
of the postoffice on West Maiden Street, which they occupied with several
lodges. This soon became rather inaccessible on account of its location
and so the county commissioners offered them the use of the public meet-
ing room of the court, rent free and without having to pay for janitor
service or light. They were given permission to decorate the walls with
their pictures and flags, so that the place is really a Grand Army post
room. They held their first meeting in this, their fourth room on January
11, 1901, and they have remained there ever since.
   The local post has had a steady growth. In 1882 its membership was
one hundred and two, while the muster roll shows that there have been a
total of three hundred twenty Civil war veterans enrolled. It never went
much over one hundred. In 1904, there were one hundred, and 1907 there
were ninety-eight, but in 1916 there were only sixty-five. They are all
old now, the youngest above the three score and ten mark, and in all prob-
ability the decrease will be rapid from now on.
   The post has been honored by the selection of the following depart-
ment and national officers from its comrades: 1879-80, F. H. Dyer, aide-
de-camp to commander-in-chief; 1881, F. H. Dyer, senior vice commander
of the department of Pennsylvania; 1882, William H. Underwood, aide-de-
camp to commander of the department of Pennsylvania; 1911, George O.
Jones, on staff of national commander-in-chief at national encampment
at Rochester, New York; also once on the staff of the commander of the


1147





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


department of Pennsylvania; Mr. Jones has held other positions on the
national and department staff. There are also others who have held these
honors, but there is no record of them.
   During the forty-seven years that have passed since the post was
founded there have been twenty-five commanders. The list is as follows:
H. F. Dyer, 1879-80-81, dead; George O. Jones, 1882, dead; James B. Ken-
nedy, 1883, dead; S. G. Rogers, 1884-85, dead; James P. Sayers, 1886,
dead; A. S. Eagleson 1887-88, dead; A. W. Pollock, 1889, dead; Henry
Ribb, 1890-91, dead; James S. Harter, 1892; David A. Templeton, 1893-
94-95, dead; H. P. Boon, 1896, dead; William H. Underwood, 1897-98,
dead; William A. Gabby, 1899, dead; M. C. Burroughs, 1900, dead; Isaac
Sharp, 1901, dead; J. T. Craighead, 1902, dead; Seldon L. Wilson, 1903-04,
dead; E. N. Dunlap, 1905, dead; Thomas H. Harter, 1906-07, dead; Theo-
dore Day, 1908; Henry Brown, 1909-10; Wade J. Day, 1911; W. T. Pollock,
1912, dead; S. W. Jack, 1913, dead; Wade J. Day, 1914-15-16.
   The second Grand Army post organized in Washington County was
at Monongahela, April 30, 1867, with thirteen members. It was named in
honor of Gen. John C. Starkweather, known to the Army of the Cumber-
land as colonel of the Sixteenth Wisconsin infantry, who was promoted
to brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the Third Brigade,
Third Division, Fourteenth Army corps. After the war, he practiced law
in Washington, D. C., for many years. The first meeting was held on the
night of April 30, 1867, in the Odd Fellows Hall, where it has met con-
tinuously during the years that have passed since then.
   The first commander of the post was the late Col. Chill W. Hazzard,
who was commander of the department of Pennsylvania in 1880, and rep-
resentative of the post to the national encampments for five years. Of
the thirteen charter members only one, Col. J. D. V. Hazzard of Eustis,
Florida, is still living. The others are as follows: Alvin S. King, G. L.
V. Mellinger, S. C. Wiley, M. P. Morrison, Chill W. Hazzard, W. P. Pat-
ton, W. H. King, Joseph Taylor, W. S. Cooper, A. D. O'Donovan, James
A. White and Elies Gillmore.
   During the early years of the life of this post, when its members were
still young, it was active and instrumental in forming other posts and its
members were present at the muster of posts at West Newton, Browns-
ville, McKeesport, Bellevernon, Washington, Canonsburg, California,
Elizabeth and Boston.
   A soldiers' orphans' committee was appointed soon after the organiza-
tion of the post and this committee secured many admissions of soldiers'
orphans to the Soldiers' Orphans School at Jumonville, near Uniontown,
Fayette County, which has been closed for a number of years past, as
there are no longer any orphans of Civil war soldiers young enough to
attend.
   The post has also held services on each Memorial Day since its organ-
ization. A lot for the burial of soldiers in the Monongahela cemetery, was
taken in charge by the post and has been greatly improved and ornamented.
The first work was to place headstones, on which is the name, corps badge
and military record of the soldier, over each grave and this work has been
kept up ever since. On April 24, 1895, arrangements were made for the
erection of a retaining wall, modeled after a fortification, on the west


1148





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


front of the Soldiers' lot in this cemetery, and the work was carried out
under the direction of the committee composed of Dr. H. J. Gamble, Major
J. D. Hoon, and J. H. Dewalt. At the request of Hon. William S. Shallen-
berger, a cannon, donated by the United States government, was placed on
the redoubt, while extracts from Lincoln's Gettysburg address are carved
on the wingwalls together with the following: "Posterity should under-
stand that the sacred fires of liberty were kept burning at a mighty cost."
This burial lot is now one of the most beautiful in this section of the
state.
    The following are the commanders of the post during the first fifteen
years of its existence: First, Col. Chill W. Hazzard, then the following
served in order named: A. D. O'Donovan, George V. Miller, James W.
Downer, A. M. Walker, and D. D. V. Hazzard. In 1876, a reorganization
took place under the new ritual, and the following have served since then:
M. R. Taggart, 1876, L. F. Jones, 1877; James G. Sloan, 1878; W. C.
Craven, and J. M. Wall, 1879; John M. Sutman, 1880; H. J. Gamble, 1881;
Chill W. Hazzard, 1882. The records since 1882, are not available.
    The officers of the post in 1916 were: Commander, James L. Conklin;
senior vice commander, William B. Lusk; junior vice-commander, William
Henning; adjutant, E. S. France; quartermaster, J. D. Hoon; surgeon,
John P. Norman; chaplain, William Dewalt; officer of the day, James H.
Dewalt; patriotic instructor, Joseph A. Bryan; officer of the guard, C.
Will; sergeant, Major C. Preston; quartermaster sergeant, James B.
Gibson. There were at that time forty-eight members of this post. The
information on this post was kindly supplied by Attorney Vernon Hazzard,
of Monongahela, whose father, Col. Chill W. Hazzard, was the first com-
mander.
   On May 9, 1879, the fourth Grand Army post in this county was organ-
ized at Canonsburg, by Col. Chill W. Hazzard, of Monongahela, and other
veterans of the war. This post was named in honor of Sergeant Thomas
Paxton, a member of Company D, Tenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Veteran
Reserve Corps, who was killed at the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse,
Virginia, May 9, 1864. The post was organized on the fifteenth anni-
versary of that battle.
   The first meetings were held in the Odd Fellows hall in the Morgan
building but in 1881 rooms were fitted up in the W. H. S. Ritchie block,
where it has met ever since.
   The first officers of this post were as follows: Commander, Adam
Harbison; senior vice commander, Alexander Huston; junior vice com-
mander, William Meiggs; surgeon, Dr. J. W. Alexander; quartermaster,
David Hart. The following are the 21 charter members of the Thomas
Paxton Post, all of whom are now dead with the exception of James F.
Speer: William Harsha, David Hart, J. F. Speer, J. V. H. Cook, J. Jackson,
Charles Draper, A. Harbison, A. A. Coleman, M. G. Hiles, T. Jackson,
Henry Sheaff, J. S. Crosson, George Perrite, Hugh Cochran, J. W. McPeake,
A. H. Houston, J. W. Alexander, Ed W. Mouck, William Meggs, John
Clyde and Robert Cain.
   On October 21, 1881, the post was presented with an autographed pho-
tograph of General William T. Sherman, and this is among its most cher-
ished possessions. In fact it is something that any Grand Army Post in


1149




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the country would be proud to possess. During the early years of its
life, the post had a steady growth, but as time passed, the members have
died and there are no others to take their place. There have been a total
of fifty-one members on the muster roll of the post but in 1916 there were
only nine in good standing.
   Some of the members of this post who have served as commanders are,
Adam Harbison, Ed W. Mouck, Alexander Houston, David Hart, James
F. Speer, and J. W. Grubbs. The following are the names of comrades
who joined the Post at dates later than that of organization: James
Crosson, Robert Cain, John T. Roberts, George Perritte, George T. Malone,
Thomas H. Cowan, W. L. Shisbey, J. H. McPeake, J. S. Chambers, Thomas
Jackson, Sr.; James T. Kirk, Owen Turner, Fulton Phillips, A. W. Pollock,
John Storment, M. V. Douglass, John McCahon, W. H. Jackson, John
Blaine, William Hurley, N. W. Paxton, James L. Masckey, Frank Coleman,
James C. Merriman, Greggory Mason, Matthew Cain, Sr.; Hamilton Rigby,
William Boyce, William Evans, James Russell, Silas Wright, W. J. Fife,
David Orr, James Worstell, George W. McGibboney, George W. Casper,
John N. Bell, John W. Grubbs, James M. Crawford, John C. Phillips, George
V. Jones, W. N. Jones, Aaron Bell, David B. Rogers, Daniel Day, John I.
Dunlevy, Joshua L. Dunlevy. The last named was the last member
mustered in. This was on April 28, 1902, when John W. Grubbs was
commander.
   David Hart was commander from 1903 until his death on the 19th of
January 1919. Commander Hart died at the age of ninety-three years.
John W. Grubbs, was adjutant for twenty years. James F. Speer was
quartermaster for twenty-five years, and acting commander since the
death of Commander Hart. At the date of the post giving up its charter,
January 1, 1924, there were but two members-James F. Speer and John
W. Grubbs. All dues, state and national, were paid in full when the charter
was surrendered and returned to state headquarters in Philadelphia. It
is believed that of all the veterans whose names are given in connection
with Paxton post, the only four who survive are James F. Speer, John W.
Grubbs, James Worstell, and John B. Bell, formerly of Hills station, but
now of Torrance, Pennsylvania.
   The fifth Grand Army post in Washington County was organized at
California, May 5, 1869, and was in reality a transfer of the post from
Brownsville, Fayette County. The post at the latter town had been organ-
ized at an early date, but for some reason many of its members lost in-
terest. Its place of meeting was finally changed to California and its
charter was left in the hands of the California post.
   At the meeting of the Brownsville post held at California, May 5, 1869,
Commander I. M. Register and the other officers were present and after
transacting the regular order of business the following were mustered in
as members: James K. Billingsby, James S. Long, L. P. Fry and Thomas
Young. Commander Register then resigned and S. B. Paxton was elected
to fill the vacancy.
   The Harry Billingsby post was really organized on May 12, 1869, when
it held its first regular meeting and elected officers. It was named in
honor of Harry Billingsby, a brother of Capt. J. K. Billingsby and a private
in Company I, Second Regiment, West Virginia Infantry, of which com-


1150





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


pany his brother was the captain. He was wounded and captured at Rocky
Gap, West Virginia, and died in a rebel prison.
   At the first regular meeting of the post, the following officers were
elected: Commander, S. B. Paxton; senior vice commander, A. G. Powell;
adjutant, I. T. Dawson; quartermaster, J. Dehaven; surgeon, N. W.
Truxal; officer of the day, W. N. Baker. There were only three of the
eleven charter members living in 1916. They were: L. P. Beazell, W. M.
Hart and S. B. Paxton. The other eight who have answered the last roll
call are J. B. Shallenberg, S. J. Howe, Jonah Harris, I. T. Dawson, L. P.
Fry, J. B. Montgomery, W. A. Peaden, T. F. Montgomery.
   The first meeting place of the post was at the corner of Union and
Water streets. From there it moved to Hart's Hall on Union Street and
from the latter place it went to its present quarters in McCain Hall, Wood
Street. The growth of the post during its early years was rapid, and in
1878 it had sixty-two members. This is the largest that has belonged
to it at any one time. By 1882 its membership had dwindled to twenty-six
and in 1916 there were only nineteen members.
   The following is the list of the past commanders of this post: James
K. Billingsby, elected in June, 1869; Luke P. Beazell, December, 1869; John
Piper, June, 1870; W. B. Harrison, December, 1870; no record for 1871;
James K. Billingsby, December, 1871; no record for 1872; J. B. Shallen-
berger, December, 1872, and continued in office until March, 1880, when a
reorganization took place. Those since are as follows: I. T. Dawson,
1881; W. M. Hart, 1882; T. F. Montgomery, 1883; S. B. Paxton, 1884; S.
J. Howe, 1885; G. W. Sherman, 1886; J. I. McKenna, 1887; J. W. L. Rabe,
1888; A. W. Conoway, 1889; Joseph Jobes, 1890; William Lapp, 1891;
A. S. Latta, 1892; Daniel Simms, 1893; A. J. Hertzog, 1894; W. S. Wigham,
1895; W. H. Harrison, 1896; D. P. McKenna, 1897; E. S. Marshall, 1898;
W. S. McCracken, 1899; W. H. Harrison, 1900-01; J. W. L. Rabe, 1902;
E. S. Marshall, 1903; David Phillips, 1904-05; William Wigham, 1906;
Charles McCain, 1907; William Wigham, 1908; William Lapp, 1909; Wil-
liam Hart, 1910-11; Joseph Aston, 1912-13-14; Charles McCain, 1915-16.
   The officers of the post in 1916 were: Commander, Charles McCain;
senior vice commander, W. H. Harrison, junior vice commander, G. W.
Brevard; adjutant, W. H. Hart; quartermaster, W. S. Wigham; chaplain,
Joseph Jobes; officer of the day, John Lapp; officer of the guard, Joseph.
Eston; quartermaster sergeant, D. P. McKenna.
   Captain Samuel Campbell Post No. 286, the sixth Grand Army post in
Washington County, was organized September 26, 1882, at Burgettstown,
under the name of the William S. Bradley post, but this name was later
changed to Capt. Samuel Campbell Post No. 286. It was first named in
honor of William S. Bradley, a deceased soldier from Burgettstown, at the
time of the organization, but later, when Captain Campbell, who had been
a member of the post died, the name was changed in memory of him. It
was organized with twenty charter members in the old Masonic building,
which was the first meeting place. Later it moved its quarters to the
D. M. Pry building, and in 1916 it was to be found in the H. B. McMurray
building.
   The following were the first officers of the post: Commander, D. M.
Pry; senior vice commander, J. A. Boals; officer of the day, Alexander


1151





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   This was a large war party, and the fears of the captives were con-
firmed when scouts were sent out in the direction of the Dutch Fork. In
a short time the main party started, and the prisoners knew that before
night the settlers would be subjected to all of the bloody horrors of an
Indian raid.
   The scouts met the main party on the summit of the ridge along which
the National pike now runs east of West Alexander. The prisoners were
left in charge of a guard, and the raiders started for the cabin of Presley
Peak, a short distance away on Buffalo Creek. The settlers had had no in-
timation of danger, and the savages surrounded the cabin and rushed in at
the door before the whites could lift a hand in defense. In the house
were Peak, a man named Burnett, and William Hawkins. Peak managed
to get out, and ran through a hemp patch in the rear. The Indians fired,
and literally mowed the hemp down with bullets, but Peak escaped injury.
He leaped a fence and landed directly in the hands of several Indians con-
cealed in the underbrush.
   After securely binding the captives, the Indians left them in charge of
a guard, and then divided into two parties, one going down the creek to
Edward Gaither's cabin, and the other to William Hawkins'.
   The Gaither cabin stood at the junction of Dutch Fork with another
branch of Buffalo Creek, near where the residence of John Cain stood in
later years, one-half mile northwest of Coon Island. The Cain house is
now occupied by the family of James Coakley, and the land where the
Gaither cabin stood is owned by George Cunningham. All traces of it
have disappeared, and the ground is farm land.
   Cautiously the Indians surrounded the cabin, only to find that their
intended victims had fled. The Gaither family had just commenced dinner
when they heard the shots fired at Peak, and they fled immediately to
Miller's blockhouse without waiting to finish the meal. But the Indians
ate this with great relish, after which they plundered the cabin and set
it on fire.
   The second party was more successful at the Hawkins home. This
house stood a few feet south of where the National pike is now located,
and almost at the foot of the Coon Island hill. It was torn down many
years ago, and the logs used in the construction of a stable on the opposite
side of the road, but it has also disappeared.
   This cabin was only half a mile from the Peak house, and the family
was also alarmed by the shots. They all fled into the forest except Miss
Elizabeth Hawkins, who was too sick to leave the house. Why she was not
killed is a mystery, but the Indians took her a prisoner, and in spite of
her illness forced her to accompany them to Peak's cabin, where the two
parties met. Taking their four prisoners, Miss Hawkins, her father, Wil-
liam Hawkins, Peak and Burnett, they returned to the ridge where they
joined the guard with Miller and Link.
   Mrs. Hawkins had a very narrow escape from capture. Before leav-
ing the house she seized her infant son in her arms, and concealed herself
in the thick underbrush near by. After capturing her daughter, the
Indians passed within a few feet of the terror-stricken woman, who was
compelled to gag the baby with her apron to keep it from crying. This
child, William Hawkins, Jr., grew to manhood, and was county surveyor


108




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Morrison; adjutant, S. V. McFarland; quartermaster, H. B. McMurray;
surgeon, G. S. Graham; chaplain, Richard Hill; officer of the guard, Wil-
liam Ewing; sergeant major, J. P. Donnan; quartermaster sergeant, Jona-
than Tucker.
    This post had a steady growth from its organization, a total of ninety-
one having belonged. In 1916 there were twelve Civil war veterans who
were members but of the twenty charter members only six were living at
that time. The original members were, James Carnahan, J. P. Donnan,
Richard Hill, H. B. McMurray, J. W. Pry, D. M. Pry, J. W. Butz, J. A.
Boals, William Ewing, Thomas Forsythe, George S. Graham, Samuel Kiffer,
W. K. Lyle, Robert Lyle, S. T. McFarland, Alexander Morrison, Samuel
Ritchey, Jonathan Tucker, Jr., R. H. Thompson and John Virtue. The fol-
lowing have served as commanders: D. M. Pry, H. B. McMurray, and
Richard Hill. The officers in 1916 were as follows: Commander, H. B.
McMurray; senior vice commander, Robert Criswell; junior vice com-
mander, John McCalmont; officer of the day, James Carnahan; adjutant,
Richard Hill; quartermaster, J. W. Pry; officer of the guard, Harvey
Thorpe; sergeant major, W. W. Lathan, quartermaster sergeant, S. B.
Lyon.
   The seventh Grand Army Post in this county was organized at Mc-
Donald but details in regard to it are not available. It surrendered its char-
ter in 1911 because of a disagreement among the members regarding the
erection of a monument. Since then it has been inactive.
   The eighth post in the county was at West Alexander. It was known
as the James Noble Post No. 348. There was also a post in East Bethle-
hem Township, known as the W. M. Horton Post No. 518. There are no
details regarding these posts available at the present time.
   The Major Gaston Post No. 544, is located at Gastonville. It was the
tenth organized in this county, but there are no details available.
   On August 5, 1887, the eleventh post in the county was organized at
Claysville with twenty-seven charter members. It was named in honor
of Patterson Jobes, a private in Company A, 85th Regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteer infantry, who was killed in action near Petersburg, Virginia,
June 17, 1864. On the night of the first meeting after the organization,
the following officers were elected: Commander, J. A. Dickey; senior vice
commander, W. C. Oliver; junior vice commander, G. K. Milligan; ser-
geant S. B. Lindley; chaplain, A. E. Fulton; quartermaster, T. B. Craig;
officer's aid, Burney Marshman; officer's guard, Jonas Cotterall; adjutant,
Thomas Weitzel.
   The death rate among the charter members has been very heavy, there
being only six of the twenty-seven who founded this post living in 1916.
The survivors were G. K. Milligan, Jonas Cotterall, M. V. Jones, Oliver
Staley, James S. Dennison, and John A. Dickey.
   Those who died previous to 1916 were S. B. Lindley, J. H. Hill, Burney
Marshman, W. A. Helt, Samuel Plants, S. S. Bell, J. C. McCleary, Alex.
Kerns, A. E. Fulton, T. B. Craig, James A. Toland, Thomas Weitzel,
William Hogg, J. H. Fordyce, W. L. Oliver, G. W. Grey, J. H. Thompson,
Robert Dugan, Winder McKinney, G. W. Baldwin, Jacob Gruber.
   There have been a total of one hundred veterans who have belonged to


1152





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


this post during its existence, but the largest number who have belonged
at any one time is sixty. In 1916 there were only fifteen left.
   Every member of the post since its organization has been impressed
with the wisdom of efficient organization and to this the post owes its
prosperity. It is almost needless to say that these men received their first
lesson in this line while fighting for the Union. They all take a great
interest in all county post work. The officers of this post in 1916 were:
Commander, J. A. Dickey; senior vice commander, Reuben Sanders; junior
vice commander, Ephian Post; chaplain, G. K. Milligan; quartermaster,
C. C. Wolfe; adjutant, T. H. Sawhill.
   At one time there were Grand Army posts at both Amity and Pros-
perity, but both have been inactive for a number of years for the reason
that their members have all died or moved to other sections.
   The post at Amity was known as the Philo Paul Post, and was named
for Philo Paul, a private in Company D, One Hundred and Fortieth Regi-
ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, who was killed at the battle of
Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, May 12, 1864. Very little of the his-
tory of this post is known. The following were members: James Jack-
son, Hiram Thorpe, Enoch Brooks, Frank lams, William Condit, Zach-
ariah Baker, John Seibert, John Swart, and Jabez Condit, all of whom
are dead. Others who belonged to the post are David Baker, Moses Smith,
David Bamberger, Nathan Evans, James Smith and J. Fulton Bell.
J. Fulton Bell and James Jackson were commanders at one time.
   The post at Prosperity was known as the Luther Day Post and was
named in honor of a soldier from that section who was killed during the
war. It has been inactive for a number of years for the reason that all
of its members have died and there is now no information regarding it
available.

           SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS.
   Camp Hawkins Home Post No. 1, Pennsylvania Society of the Army
of the Philippines, was chartered September 26, 1901, by Col. James E.
Barnett, president of the state organization, with the following charter
members, all of whom served in the Philippines: John R. McMurray,
Timothy Mullin, James P. Braden, Blaine Aiken, C. O. Dunlap, Ernest
Waltz, S. K. Weirich, W. D. McCaskey, C. W. Blainey, J. A. Seaman, A. L.
Phillips, W. B. Ritchie, P. V. Blond, W. Guy McWilliams, James W. P.
Hart, James Kennedy, Elmer White, Charles W. Phillips, William F. Leon-
ard, C. U. Brownlee, C. C. Hammond, C. H. Rodgers, W. H. Cundall, Will-
iam Stauffer, William J. Dulaney, D. D. Moninger, William U. Kennedy,
W. V. McCaffrey, A. H. Anderson, Harry H. Huston, George A. Bovier,
John L. McCullough, Jacob A. Harshman, George R. Christman, A. M.
Porter, Jacob G. Frantz, Thomas M. Reese.
   The post was organized at a meeting held November 27, 1901, at which
the following officers were elected for the first year: W. B. Ritchie, presi-
dent; A. H. Anderson, vice president; C. O. Dunlap, secretary; Ernest
Waltz, treasurer; Chester W. Blainey, chaplain; C. C. Duffey, sergeant-
at-arms; Thomas O. Ulery, bugler.


73-V1


1153





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   This organization continued until July 13, 1904, when at the call of
President Ritchie a meeting was held for the purpose of reorganization.
Meetings were held for a year or two and then it seems to have ceased
after August 4, 1906. On July 2, 1912, another reorganization took place
and the organization was known as Camp Hawkins Home Post No. 34.
It continued under this designation until April 1, 1913, when all of the
Spanish war organizations in Washington proposed a consolidation. This
included the Army of the Philippines, Army of Cuba, and Army of Porto
Rica, which were to be known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States. This proposed change of name was approved by the local
organization February 3, 1914, and it became known as Camp Hawkins
Home Post No. 34, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The membership of the
post was greatly increased after the World war, by a large number of
veterans of that conflict who joined. This took place at a special meeting
and banquet held in the Masonic Temple in June, 1919, after the return
of Company H, and other local organizations from France. There is only
the record of one meeting of the post after that. This occurred on May
13, 1920; and it seems that the majority of the members joined the Ameri-
can Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars became inactive.
   Adj. Harry B. Duncan, Camp 95, United Spanish War Veterans, of
Washington, was organized at a meeting held in the public meeting room
of the courthouse, May 28, 1925, with fifty-three charter members. It
was named in honor of Capt. Harry B. Duncan, adjutant of the Tenth
Regiment in the Philippines. The following officers were elected: Col.
Blaine Aiken, commander; Maj. Alonzo M. Porter, senior vice commander;
David M. Curran, junior vice commander; Dr. Walter J. Shidler, officer
of the day; Oscar G. Curry, officer of the guard; Paul A. A. Core, trustee
one year; Ernest Waltz, trustee two years, and James P. Braden, trustee
three years. The following officers were appointed: J. Frank Rutan,
adjutant; George A. Bovier, quartermaster; T. M. Reese, patriotic in-
structor; Homer Farebee, chaplain; W. Guy McWilliams, historian; David
H. Welsh, sergeant major; William U. Kennedy, quartermaster sergeant;
Ben R. McKennan, W. J. Albaugh, James B. Kennedy, cclor sergeants;
John E. Murray, A. R. Criswell, color guards; Samuel A. Moyers, chief
musician; Fred Anderson, John W. White, guidon bearers; George E.
Wilson, sergeant of the guard; Elmer White, sentinel.

                         AMERICAN LEGION.
   Edwin Scott Linton Post, No. 175, American Legion, was organized in
Washington, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 1919, with twenty-five charter
members. The post was named after Edwin Scott Linton, of Washing-
ton, who died November 14, 1917, at St. Nazaire, France, of scarlet fever.
Mr. Linton was the first Washington County soldier to give his life in the
World war. He was a son of Prof. Edwin S. Linton, of Washington.
Lucius McK. Crumrine was the first commander of this post, serving from
August, 1919, to October 31, 1920. Mr. Crumrine was elected state com-
mander of the American Legion of Pennsylvania on August 22, 1925.
The other commanders to date are William I. Carson, November 1, 1920,
to October 31, 1921; William B. Dinsmore, November 1, 1921, to October


1154





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


31, 1922; Edward Martin, November 1, 1922, to October 31, 1923; John
J. Curran, November 1, 1923, to January, 1926.
   This post from the date of its organization to April 1, 1925, met in the
third floor of the Bryson Building, which for years has been the old
Masonic Lodge hall. On April 1, 1925, the post purchased the John H.
Black property at the corner of West Wheeling and South Franklin streets
and converted it into a permanent home. At the present time the mem-
bership is 278.
   There are in Washington County nine American Legion posts. The
others are Frank Downer Post, No. 302, of Monongahela; Post No. 22,
of Charleroi; Earnest C. Jobes Post, No. 212, of Donora; Post No. 377,
of California; Post No. 253, of Canonsburg, Ernest Phillips Post, No. 485,
of McDonald; Post No. 165, of Bentleyville; Hanson-Cole Post, No. 391,
of Frederickstown. Efforts to secure information of these posts have
brought no results.
                DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
   The Washington County Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolu-
tion, of Washington, Pennsylvania, was organized in January, 1892, and it
has the honor of being the third chapter founded in the State of Pennsyl-
vania, and the twenty-seventh in the entire United States. There were
fourteen charter members but the society grew rapidly and at the present
time the membership is now 116, although there have been a number of
losses through deaths and removals to other sections. This is one of two
chapters of this society in Washington County, the other being the Can-
onsburg Chapter, which was organized by twenty-four members of the
Washington Chapter.
   The first regent of the chapter was Mrs. Helena Cooke Beatty. Those
who have served since then are: Mrs. Helen Hazelett Ricard, Mrs. Will-
iam F. Borchers, Miss Margaret Hughes Bureau, Mrs. Edwin C. Horn,
Mrs. Joshua R. Forrest and Mrs. Jane Shirls Hall. The following are
the present officers: Mrs. Joshua R. Forrest, regent; Miss Nancy J. Hall,
vice regent; Miss Alice Paul, secretary; Mrs. O. T. McDonough, treasurer;
Mrs. H. P. Christman, registrar; Mrs. Horace G. Scheu, historian; Mrs.
O. F. Burchinal, chaplain; and Miss Jane S. Hall and Mrs. Margaret C.
Holliday, board of managers.
   The Canonsburg Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was
organized in May, 1912, by twenty-four members of the Washington
County Chapter who resided in Canonsburg. The first regent of this
chapter was Mrs. S. W. McNary. The other chapter regents are Miss
Jennie Polloch, Mrs. Park Snodgrass, Mrs. A. D. Weller, Mrs. W. J. Grier,
Miss Harriet Huston, Mrs. J. C. Morgan. The present officers are Miss
Jeannette Dickson, regent; Mrs. Park Snodgrass, vice regent; Mrs. E. S.
Craft, secretary; Mrs. R. N. Patterson, treasurer; Mrs. W. M. Armour,
registrar; Mrs. J. C. Hickman, historian; Mrs. C. N. Freer and Miss
Lydia Cowden, board of managers. The present membership is seventy-
two.
                 SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
   George Washington Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, is the
only branch of this organization in Washington County. It was organ-


1155






1156          HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

ized February 22, 1924, mainly through the efforts of Rev. C. L. McKee,
who was for some years before that time a member of the Pittsburgh
chapter, and it was through his influence that the other members in Wash-
ington were induced to organize a chapter. Attorney A. M. Linn was
elected president, and served until September, 1925. The chapter was
practically inactive after the organization, Mr. Linn having called no meet-
ings, and it looked as if it would die a natural death, when Reverend
McKee came forward again, and infused some new blood into it. A re-
organization took place in September, 1925, and the present officers were
elected. They served until the annual meeting on February 22, 1926, when
they were re-elected. They are: S. Murray Pollock, president; John N.
O'Neil, S. B. Braden, and W. T. Lewis, vice presidents; James Doak, secre-
tary; Aaron K. Lyle, treasurer; James K. Warne, registrar; Rev. C. L.
McKee, chaplain; Harry H. Hall, custodian of flag; Samuel Amspoker,
historian.
















INDEX


                   A

Abolitionists, 416, 424.
Abolition party, 422.
Academies, Colleges and Seminaries, 658-
  686.
Accident gives Poe advantage, 117.
Account of general growth, 457 et seq.
Act abolishing slavery, 407.
Act establishing counties, 311.
Activities of British agents, 92.
Act orders pillories, etc., 312.
Act provided for purchase of land for
  courthouse, 319.
Act sets July 15, 1781, as election day, 321.
Adam to Andrew's relief, 117.
Addison, Alexander, 302, 328.
Address of Hon. Thos. H. Baird, 938.
Address by Thomas Jefferson Morgan, 1006.
Advertisement for schoolmaster, 903.
Advertisements, Old-time, 446.
Agricultural products, valuation of, 545.
Agricultural Societies and Fairs, 699-704.
Agricultural Society of 1818, 699; of 1821,
  700.
Aiken, John, 999, 1080.
Alder, Jonathan, 207.
Alexander & Co., private bank, 920.
Allen township, 469, 599.
Allerton, Ellen P., 230.
Allison, John, was with St. Clair, 266.
American Legion, 1154.
American Zinc and Chemical Co., 1076.
Americans had narrow escapes, 174.
Americans return to Ft. Defiance, 280.
Amnesty   proclamation  by  Washington,
  990.
Amspoker, Samuel, 315.
Amusements and Theatres, 921.
Amwell township, 460, 599.
Amwell township settlers, 44.
Anderson, A. T., 315.
Anderson boys captured, 82.
Anderson, Lieut. Isaac, 105.
Anderson's Journal, 102.
Anderson, William, 82.
Andrew Ralston's threshing machine, 696.
Anti-Slavery Society, 418, 419, 421.
Appeal to Supreme Executive Council, 93.
April 27th day to remember, 1038.
Armstrong, James, 260, 1010.
Allen's fort, 49.
Assemblies take steps for protection, 78.
Assistant district attorneys, 1905-1925, 347.
Associate judges, 1781-1871, 345.
Attorneys, list of, from 1781-1925, 363.
Attractions at Town Hall, 926.
Augusta County created in 1745, 308.
Author visits end of Mason and Dixon
  line, 315.
                   B

Bable, Christian, with St. Clair, 265.
Bailey, Matthew, 251.
Baird, Gen. Absalom, 273.
Baird, Thomas H., 329; address of. 938.
Baird's library, 967.
Bald Eagle, Chief, 86.
B. & O. railroad, wreck on, 954.
Bane brothers, The, 60.
Bank of Washington, 913.
Bank robberies, 403.
Bank statistics, 920.
Banks, first, 913.
Banks outside of Washington, list of, 920.
Baron de Palm, sketch of, 928.
Baseball, early, 954.
Battle Island farm, 217.
Battle of Olentangy, The, 179.
Battle of the Sandusky, The, 172
Bay, Moss, 397.
Bayon's blockhouse, 49.
Beallsville, 734.
Beaver Refinery. The, 1076.
Beckett's blockhouse, 49.


1157


"Beckie" sings over telephone, 95S.
Beelor's fort, 49.
Beeman's blockhouse, 49.
Beginning of printing business, 798.
Beham, James, 95.
Beniga, Anna, 138.
Bennett family flees home, 95.
Bentleyville, 728.
Berry, John, 1140.
Bickerstaff, Augustine, 247.
Big Foot plays possum, 117.
Big Foot saved by misfire, 116.
Big Frost of June 4, 1859, 432.
Big game disappeared, 298.
Biggs, Capt. Benjamin, 80.
Big snow of 1799, 429; of 1886, 429; of
  November, 1913, 430.
Big storm of April 21, 1925, 432.
Bilderback, Charles, 134.
Birthplace of Rebecca Harding l)avis, 990.
Bistle, John, 383.
"Black Friday smashup," 947.
Blackhand letters of whisky crew, 988.
Blackhand, The, 399.
Black Hawk's visit, 289.
Black's cabin as courthouse, 313.
Blaine, Jas. G, 46; visits Washington, 950.
Blaine township, 472, 603.
Blayney, Henry, Sr., 258.
Blockhouses and forts of county, 48.
Bloody year of the three sevens, 68.
Boggs, Capt. John, 63.
Boggs, Lydia, 242.
Boice family captured, 237.
Bolsheviki "Sunday schools", 964.
Bones found, 439.
Booher, Wayne, 246.
Book of Mormon, The, 636.
Books, magazines and newspapers, 798-
  818.
Boroughs and cities, 704-734.
Boroughs, small, 734.
Boundary controversy raged, 314.
Boundary dispute, 95.
Boundary is defenseless, 95.
Boyd, David, 248.
Brackenridge, Hugh Henry, 242.
Braden, A. G., 912.
Braden, William, 120.
Bradford a lawyer, 989; Bradford an an-
  archist, 986; Bradford crawls away, 990;
  Bradford, David, 303: Bradford hero of
  hour, 982; Bradford House, 834.
Brady, Capt. John, 84.
Brady, Capt. Samuel, 83, 134.
Brady family, 83.
Brady twice condemned to burn, 86.
Brady wins Drusella, 89.
Brady's escape, 88.
Brady's Lake, 89.
Brady's last campaign, 90.
Brady's leap for life, 88.
Brands (live stock), 304.
Brant, Joseph, 102.
Brant reads Lochry's letter, 102.
Breese, Mofford G., first one from county
  killed in battle (World war), 1123.
Brierley, Mrs. Rachel, daughter of Patrick
  Gass, 961.
British abandon Ft. Pitt, 308.
Brodhead's expedition against Delawares,
  96.
Brodhead, General, 82.
Bronze memorial tablet, VW. & J. College,
  1130.
Brown, Charles, 213.
Brown establishes underground railway,
  424.
Brown, Henry, 838.
Brownlee, Martha T., 426.
Bryan, WVm. Jennings, in Washington. 950.
Buffalo township, 473, 603.
Buffington, Seth, 1004.
Buildings. Historic, 834.
Bunton, Tm. E., 1041.







1.158


INDEX


Burgett's blockhouse, 49.
Burgettstown, 729.
Burners of 1794, 428.
Burns, Alexander, 95.
Burr's visit, 453.
Burton, "Uncle" Billy, 954.
Business colleges, 912.
Butler, Gen. Richard, 269.

                    C
California, 722.
Call for troops brings rush of boys, 1066.
Calls and number of men, District 1
   (World's war), 1071.
Campbell's blockhouse, 49.
Campbell, Thomas and Alexander, 594.
Camp Charlotte, 62.
Canaday, Robert, 113.
Cannon, "Uncle    Joe", passes   through
  Washington, 950.
Canon, Col. John, 303.
(Canonsburg, 704.
Canonsburg General Hospital, 825.
Canonsburg library, 974.
Canonsburg, telephone service at, 959.
Canton township, 475.
Captain Pipe, 204.
Captain Pipe joins colonies, 79.
Captains and field officers, 219.
Captains of Co. A, prior to Spanish-Amer-
  ican war, 998.
Captains of Co. H, prior to Spanish-Amer-
  ican war, 998.
Captains, Sandusky Expedition, 220.
Capture deserters, 101.
Capture of Brady, 87.
Capture of Chinese hospital, 1051.
Capture of Wallace family, 130.
(Carlyle. Robert, 376;.
Carpenter, John, 129.
Carroll township, 477, 606.
Casualties of Civil war, by organizations,
  1109-1123.
Catholic church, 596.
Cecil township, 479. 607.
Centennial celebration, 832.
Centerville, 734.
Centerville Abolition Society, 416.
Chambers, James. 59.
Chambers' repeating rifle, 440.
Charleroi, 719.
(harleroi Iron Works, 1076.
Charleroi-Monessen Hospital Association,
  826.
Charlton, John P., 887.
Charter nembers (1. A. R. posts. 1145-
  1152.
Charters granted. Gas, 564.
(Chartier, P'eter, 42.
Chartiers township, 483. 608.
Chartiers Valley Railroad, 786.
Cherry, John, 118.
Cherry. Thomas, 67.
Cherry's fort, 49, 118.
Chief Cornstalk, 61.
Chief White Eyes, 62.
Cholera in Washington, 952.
Christ. John, 113.
Christian church, 594.
Christy, Rev. Edward, 138.
(Churches, 588-636.
Churches by townships. List of, 599-636.
Churches discontinue services, 96.
Churches of Washington, 8-12-854.
Circular hunts, 297.
Circuses, first, 924.
Cist, L. C., 55.
Cities and boroughs, 704-734.
Citizens library. 972.
Citizens National bank, 916.
City hospital, 824.
Civilization comes to western borde', 291.
Civil war, The, 1019.
Civil wr'   casualties. by organizations,
  1109-1123.
('lark arrives with supiplies, 80.
('lark. Janet M., 973.
Clarke, Georve Rogers, 58. 98.
Clark's and Ml(Intosh's expedlitions, 76.
Clark's expedition, 100.
Clark's expedition against Sandusky and
  D)etroit, 98.
Clark's start from here, 77.
Clay. Henry. in Washington, 943.
Claysville, 731.
Clerks of court. 1781-1925, 352.
Clerks of Orphans' court. 1920-1925. 353
Clerks to county ,commissioners, 1782-1925,
  360.


Cline, Jacob Ollie, 1059.
C(oal center, 723.
Coal development, 546.
Coal discovered, 546.
Coal mines, 546-556.
Coal mines did greatest work, 1074.
Coal mining commenced, 547.
Coldest day of 1810, 430.
Cold weather records in 1899, 431; in 1912,
  431.
Colemans in Mexican and Civil wars, 1010.
College library association, 974.
Colleges, seninaries and academies, 658-
  686.
Comet observed in 1821, 433; in 1824, 433;
  in May, 1910, 433.
Coming of civilization, The, 43.
Committee of finance and vigilance, 1029.
Coming of the whites, The, 41.
Commands from this county (Civil war),
  1026.
Common Pleas court, 324.
Community Savings & Loan Co., 920.
Co. A, of Monongahela, 1000.
Co. A reorganized in 1899, 1000.
Companies A and H, 998.
Companies A and H in World war, 1077
  et seq.
Co. H, Tenth Pa. N. ., reorganized, 999.
Companies B and C at the Marne, 1085.
Companies H, K and A leave for camp,
  1080.
Companies in Civil war, 1019.
Conestoga wagons, 736.
Congressional districts united, 693.
Congressmen, List of, 687.
Conslpiracy against Clark, 99.
Continuation of Indian war, 1792, 273.
Cook, Edmund Vance, 146.
Cook, Col. Edward, 985.
Cooper, I). B., 380.
Corbley, Rev. John, 161.
Cornplanter and his band, 288.
Coroners, 1781-1925, 350.
Coulter, Henry WV., 1081.
Coulter, Richard, 1081.
Council at Catfish Camp, 68.
Council of 1759. 37.
Counties filled quotas, 1032.
County area greatly reduced, 322.
County road engineers, 1904-1925, 362.
County buildings, 340.
County commissioners, 1781-1925, 357.
County controllers, 1909-1926, 360.
County detectives, 1596-1925, 363.
County divided iito thirteen townships,
  320.
County frontier patrolled, 265.
County home, Inmates of, 966.
County projects, 445.
County seat, History of the, 827-857.
County seat of third county, 313.
('ounty solicitors, 1890-1925, 361.
(County statistics, 545.
County superintendents, List of, 657.
County surveyors, 1801-1925, 362.
County traced from early divisions, 306.
County treasurers, 1783-1925, 356.
County valuation, 545.
County's exposed condition shown execu-
  tive council, 262.
County's men in Civil war, 1019.
County's Mexican war soldiers, 1016.
('ourthouses of Washington county, 3114.
Court librarian, 1900-1925, 363.
Court officers, List of, from 1781-1925, 346.
Court reporters, 1885-1925, 363.
Courts, Under constitution of 1776, 323.
('ourts, Washington county, 323.
Cowards from Washington county, 100.
Cox's fort, 50.
Cracraft, Miss, 972.
Cranberry marsh, The, 218.
('rawford and other prisoners to Captain
  1'ipe's town, 185.
Crawford and other whites captured, 180.
Crawford battlefield, 217.
Crawford begged Girty to shoot him. 188.
Crawford, Hannah, 190.
Crawford, sketch of Col. William, 167.
Crawxford suffered for about two hours,
  188.
Crawford, Thomas, 161.
Crawford, William, 370, 374.
C(rawford writes Washington, 300.
Crawford's expedition against Sandusky.
  162.
Crawford's old survey records, 316.







INDEX


Crawford's wife, 189.
Creigh, Dr. Alfred, 274.
Cremation, First, 927.
Cremations in Washington, List of, 932.
Crematory, The Le Moyne, 927.
Cresap, Michael, 57, 61, 64.
Cresap, Thomas, 64.
Criminal history, 370.
Croghan, George, 42.
'rooks, Col. Thomas, 1140.
Cross Creek township, 487, 609.
Crouch family murdered, 385.
Crowe girls, 275.
Crowe, Jacob, 275.
Cruger, Mrs. 226.
('rumrine, Boyd, 301.
('rumrine on Poes, 113.
Cullums' fate unknown, 1050.
Cumberland T'resbyterians, 591.
Cummins, 1. R., 68.
Curious document in recorder's office. 446.
('urran, Patrick, 883.
Curry brothers' feud, 966.

                   D

"Daddy" Koechline. 856, 953.
Daily movements of "Fighting Tenth",
  1063.
Daily rations of soldiers, 1003.
Dancing, a common amusement, 297.
Daniele and Fragassa, 371, 401.
Dannell, John, 106.
Dantel, Mrs. Mabel Poe, 118.
Date of fight with Big Foot, 114.
Daughters of American Revoluti( n. 1155.
Davis, James, 252.
D)avises shot, tomahawked, scalped, 252.
Dawes, Gen. Chas. G., passes through
  Washington, 950.
Day, John W., dies in France, 1088.
Death knell of Redman, 46.
Death notices, old Indian fighters, 285,
  287.
t)eath of Colonel Morgan, 454.
Death of Joseph Doddridge, 235.
Death of Lieut.-Col. Roger S. l)ix, 1017.
I)eer hunt, 297.
I)e Graff, Capt. Barton, 1000.
DeHass' county project in 1814, 445.
De Peyster orders Indians take no more
  prisoners, 183.
Deputy attorney generals, 1781-1848, 346.
Deputy sheriffs, 1775-1780, 314.
Deputy surveyors, 1769-1790, 361.
de Rosenthal, Gustavus H, 203.
Ilescendants of Wm. Crawford, 212.
Descriptions of Washington, Early. 828,
  840.
D)ewey calls Germans' bluff, 1048.
Dewey's fleet speaks, 1045.
Dillow, John, 222.
i)illow, Matthew, 222.
Dillow, Michael, 223.
Dillow's fort, 50.
Dinsmore, Robert W., 384.
Dinsmore's blockhouse, 50.
Disappearance of 1). B. Cooper, 380.
Disappearance of Harry Lane, 389.
I)isciples of Christ, 594.
i)iscovery of coal, 546.
Discovery of gas. First, 556.
Discovery of gold near Coal ('enter, re-
  ported, 439.
District attorneys, 1850-1925. 347.
Diversions of old timers, 297.
I)ix, Lieut.-Col., Death of, 1017.
Doane Gang, 371.
Dr. John Knight and Lieutenant Rose, 199.
Document in recorder's office, (Curious,
  446.
D)odd, Rev. Thaddetius 590, 644.
Doddridge, Narcissa, 76.
Doddridge, l'hillip, Sr., 247.
Doddridge, Rev. Joseph, 80.
Doddridge's fort, 50, 230.
D)oddridge's "Notes". 80, 233.
Donegal township, 491, 612.
Donora. 723.
Doorsey. Samuel, 391.
Downer, Andrew, 66.
Downey's fort, 50.
"Dreadful night," The, 992.
Dress of early settlers, 296.
Drivers of early day stages, 755. 772.
Ducking stools ordered, 312.
Dunlap, James, 858.
Dunlevy, Francis, 175.


1159


I)unmore changed plans, 61.
I)unmore proclamation, Claims in, 314.
DIunmore's war, 57.
I)unn's fort. 50.
I)urr Brothers, 386.

                   E

Eagles once ninle rous, 298.
Earliest comers, 42.
1Early description of Washington, 828.
arly fire fighting methods, 883.
Early furniture, 295.
Early merchants of Washington, Names
  of, 830.
Ia lyi physicians of Washington county,
  Names of, 832.
E'arly property owners, Names of, 830.
Early school buildings, 901.
Early settlers, 293, 460, 469, 472. 473, 475,
  477, 479, 480, 483, 488, 491, 494, 498, 500,
  502, 503, 505, 507, 510, 512, 516, 521.  523,
  525, 527, 528, 531, 534, 538. 540, 542, 543.
%arly settlers. Where from, 307.
arly snow in October, 1925, 430.
[,arly survey entries. 45.
E'arly teachers, Names of, 900.
1arthquake shock in 1828, 433; in 1S85.
  433.
IEast Bethlehem township, 494, 613.
ICaster Sunday, 1782, 152.
East Finley township, 498, 614.
East P'ike Run township, 500, 615.
CEdgar donates 350 volumes, 969.
Idgington, Thomas, 119.
ECditors of the Observer, Names of, 808.
1Editors of The Reporter, Names of, 800.
Elducational History, 644-652.
1Edwards, William, 144.
Ejectment suits by Washington, 302.
IElection returns read, 321.
IElephant, First in Washington. 924.
Elizabeth Hawkins captured, 108; becomes
  Indian, 110.
Emigrants for Texas, 1006.
lEnd of Crawford, The, 186.
Cu'nd of the Trail, The, 284.
,]nlow's blockhouse, 51.
lInoch's fort, 51.
Escape from St. Mare parish, 104.
1Events that led up to massacre, 128.
Examiner, The, 801.
Excise law passed 1791, 977.
Iuxcitement of August 24, 1812, 1004.
l,xcitement over Crawford's defeat, 191.
lExecutions, 370.
Cxtracts from minutes of Supreme Exec-
  utive Council, 197.

                   F

Facts about \Vashington's visit, 301.
Fairs and societies, 699-704
Fallowfield township, 502. 615.
'Famous men entertained at McKennan
  residence, 834.
Fares reduced, 746.
Farewell address by R. H. Koontz. 1022.
Farmers & Mechanics Nat'l Bank 918.
Federal tax collectors (whisky) get no
  results, 977.
Ferguson murder case, 394.
Fight at Miller's blockhouse, 151.
l'iahting in Philippines, 1044.
"Fighting Tenth" from day to day, 1063.
"Fighting Tenth" in Dewey welcome, 1056).
Financial institutions, 913.
lFinch. F. M., 98.
Finleyville bank robbery, 405.
Fire at Hayes factory, 894.
Fire cisterns, 890.
Fire companies, Officers of, 885.
Fire companies, Volunteer, organized, s85.
Fire department, The, 883.
Fire department horses, 899.
Fire department, present. organized, 893.
Fire destroys McKennan's law office, 894.
Fire engines, First, 883.
Fire fighting methods, Early, 883.
Fire Trucks Nos. 1, 2 and 3, received. 900.
Fires in Washington, 894; since 1903, 897.
Fires, Lives lost in, 898.
First Abolitionists, 415.
First banks, 913.
First blockhouse, The, 48.
First court held in county, 309.
First cremation. 927; description of, 930.
First discovery of gas, 556.







1160


INDEX


First draft for troops in U'. S., 99.i.
First elephant in W ashington, 924.
First fire engines, 883.
First fire in Washington. 894.
First G. A. R. post established, 1145.
First Indian agent at Fort Pitt, 450.
First Indian raid in county, 93.
First inhabitants, The, 35.
First librarian, 972.
First National Bank, The, 914.
First oil companies, 568.
First oil struck, 556.
First Pennsylvania cavalry, 1027.
First record of meeting at Heath's. 312.
First registration June 5, 1917, 1067.
First school board, 905.
Vi rst schools, 644.
First settlers in Allen township. 46.
First settlers in Washington, 830.
First settlers squatters, 44.
First sheriff of Washington county, 75.
First staff of City hospital. 825.
First staff of ANashinaton hospital, 820.
First white settler, 827.
First white woman to cross Monongahela
   river, 45.
 First woman attorney. 367.
 Fisher, Jacob, 107.
 Fisher killed, HuDp wounded, 107.
 Flag presented. 1023.
 Ford, Captain, 269.
 Forman's fort, 51.
 Forrest, .T. R., 122, 125, 128, 190, 316.
 Forrest, Robert R., 316.
 Fort Bedford a settlement. 306.
 Fort Defiance, 283.
 Fort Ferree, 1002.
 Fort Gower, 62.
 Fort H'enry, 69, 225.
 Fort Henry as rendezvous, 97.
 Fort Laurens besieged continually, 80.
 Fort Meigs, 1002.
 Forty-niners go to California, 434.
 Foulkes, George, 93.
 Founding the Ohio Missions, 121.
 Fourth of July Loan Parade, 1074.
 Fragassa and Daniele, 371. 401.
 Franklin bank, 915.
 Freeby, Isabella, 906.
 Free negroes pass through \Vashington,
 952.
 Fresh disasters daily, 92.
 Friday, March 8, 1782, 136.
 Frost of June 4, 1859, 432.
 Fulton's land, 443.
 Funeral of Jacob (). Cline. 1059.
 Funka murder mystery, 398.

                    G
Gabby, James, 310.
Gallagher, TV. D., 48.
Game very abundant, 297.
Gas and Oil, 556-588.
Gas charters granted, 564.
Gass, Patrick, Sketch of, 961.
Gathering of the settlers, 163.
Genealogy of Moran family. 454.
General growth, 457.
Giant grapevine of 1772, 145.
Gibson, John, 62, 65.
Gillespie, Neal, 46. 1004.
Gilmore, Ann, 1142.
Gilmore, Elizabeth. 1140.
Girty, Elliott and McKee, 2(6.
Girty most hated white man, 204.
Girty, Simon, 61.
Girty son of drunke TIrish Indian trader,
  205.
Gist, Christopher, 42.
Glass, Mrs. and son captured, 255.
Glickhican, Isaac, 138.
Gliddin, Sarah, 38.
Globe Theatre, 927.
Gnadenhutten massacre causes, 128.
Gold discovery reported, 439.
Gotchachgunk, 124.
Government neglects St. Clair. 272.
Governors from county. List of, 694.
Grand Army of the Renbllc, 1114.
Granite marker, Last battle. 224.
Grant, Gen. U. S., in WVashinaton, !9i":
  lays cornerstone of To,vn Hall 945: re-
  ceives mysterious message, 947.
Grave of Catfish, The, 39.
Oraveyard a hog lot, 68.
Graveyards, 856-857.
;'Greatest enjoyment hunting Indians." 112.


Greatest Indian killer, 83.
(Greathouse. I)aniel, 6(5.
Gregg donates books, 969.
Gregg, Mary, 972.
Grey's cabin burned, 86.
Greys captured, 86.
Groghan, Col. George, 302.
Guides, Sandusky expedition, 219.

                   H
Half-Way House of Warriors. 125.
Halley's comet observed in May, 19to, 13.
Halyconite, Rhodianite & New Light sects,
  595.
  Hamer, D. A., 212.
Hanover township. 503, 615.
Hardin, Col. John, 263.
Harding, Wl arren   G., passes   through
  Washington, 948.
Harmar joined by Hardin, 263.
Harmar's defeat, 261.
Harris, Gen. Samuel C. D)., 88.
Harrison, Benjamin, in Washington. 948.
Hartison, Gen. Winm. Henry, visits Wash-
  ington, 943.
Hart, David, 992.
Hart, Dunning, 992.
Hawkins, Clyde B., 1066.
Hawkins died at sea, 1054.
Hawkins funeral, 1057.
Hawkins home raided, 108.
Hawkins left sick bed, 1043.
Hawkins, Mrs., Jlscape of, 108.
Hayes factory fire. 894.
Hays, Arthur A., 912.
Hazel-Atlas glass plant, 1076.
Hazzard, J. DeV., 998.
Heath's plantation, 312.
Heckewelder, John, 123.
Hempfield Railroad Company, 790. 793.
Herald of Liberty, The, 798.
High school, present, 911.
Historic buildings, 834.
Historic house still standing, 152.
History of the County Seat, 827-857.
History of the 'Washington County Teach-
  ers' Institute, 654-657.
Hoagland's fort, 51.
Hoge, David, 303.
Holleroft disappears, 989.
Holmes, Col. J. T., 137.
Home Guards organized, 1028.
Home talent, 922.
Hope Fire Company, Personnel of. 887.
Hopewell township, 505, 616.
Hopocan (Capt. Pipe), 174.
Horses of fire department, 899.
Hospitals, 818-827.
Hotels and Taverns of WVashington, 857.
Houston, 712.
Houston bank robbery, 403.
How Civil war news reached us, 1033.
How first settlers lived, 295.
How the 10th came to go to P'hilippines.
  1040.
Hull, Sarah, 909.
H'upp and Miller, 154.
Hupp, Ann, 52, 155.
Hupp, Everhart, 43.
Hupp, Frank, 107.
Hupp, John, Jr., 159.
Hupp. Margaret, 45.
Huston, William, 827.
Hydrophobia among wolves. -140.

                   I

Ice in August, 1817, 430.
Incorporated cities and boroughs, 704.
Independence township, 507, 620.
Indian agent at Fort Pitt, First. 450.
Indian fighters, Death notices of, 285, 287.
Indian Peter, 46.
Indian raids, 81, 159, 237, 250, 253.
Indian recognizes Slover, 182.
Indian refuses to kill Poe. 119.
Indian reign of terror begins, 91.
"TIndian Summer" named, 56.
Indian trader of old frontier, An, 449.
"Indian Vann", 74.
Indian wars, 55.
Indians capture Miller and Link, 107.
Indians discovered, 172.
Indians eat Gaithers dinner, 108.
Indians led by Blue Jacket. 280.
Indians led by l,ittle Turtle. 264.







INDEX


Indians not only spectators at Crawford's
  burning, 188.
Indians on xwarpath. 1781, 96.
Indians rush Peak cabin, 108.
Inmates of County Honme, 966.
In other cemeteries (Revolutionary sol-
  diers), 1143.
Institute of Practical Arts, 680.
Institutions of Higher Education. 65,8-686.
Insurgents fire a barn, 985.
Interesting Events, 428.
Inventions, 440.
Investigator and parole oticer, 363.
Iron bier, Original, 927.
Irons' funeral, 1015.
Irons, Lieutenant, 1010.
Irons mortally wounded, 1014.
Irvine considers expedition, 195.
Irvine, General, 164.
Irving's description o(f St.  C('lr' o,
  266.
Trwin. WVilliam. 212.



.Jackson, Gen. Andrew, visits VWashington,
  943.
Jackson, William, 115.
Jail ordered erected, 309.
Jardine, Hon. \\'m. N., visits TWashington,
  950.
Jefferson's "Notes on Virginia," 63.
Jefferson township, 510, 620.
.less P'. Miller, private bank, 920.
"Johnny Reds," 965.
Jones, Amanda T., 222.
,udges, list of, fromi   1781  to  1925, 343.
Justices of Peace, 1781, 321.
Juvenile Court, 368.



Kelly, J. Ormand, 1101.
Kemp, George F., 1080.
Kenton, Simon, 61.
Kerr, Archibald, 994.
Kerr, Capt. Robert, 1004.
Kerr Chapel, California, 1004.
Kerr, Walter, 103.
Killbuck joins colonies, 79.
Kinkade wounded, 60.
Kirby's Rock, 103.
Kirk, Villa -M., 972.
Klondyke gold rush, 437.
Knight and Sloan reach settlements, 181.
Knight taken away, 189.
Koechline, "Daddy", 856, 953.

                   L

I,abor strike in coke fields, 999.
Ladies' Aid Society, 10)34.
Ladies' seminary, 662.
Lafayette, Poem to, 937.
Lafayette visits Washington county, 936.
l.aird, Bert M., 250.
Lamb's fort, 51.
Lane, Harry, 389.
Lantern, First oil burning, 698.
Last attack on Sergy Hill. 1088.
I,ast battle of the Revolution, 224.
Last Indians in Washington, 288.
Last real battle of Revolution. 227.
Later history of Gnadenhutten, s142.
Law  judges, Additional, 1895-1923, 3,4.
leaders of the enemy, 203.
Leaders of whisky insurrection, !t81.
Lee, General Henry, 992.
Leet, Daniel, 208.
Leet, Dr. Wm. C. 213.
1,eet, Isaac, 211, 312.
"Legion of the United States, The", 277.
I,eMoyne crematory, 927.
LeMoyne first to suggest public library,
  970.
LeMoyne, Francis J., 419.
Lennox serves 39 writs, 978.
Letter by Brodhead, 223.
Letter by William Darby, 192.
Letter from W. J. VWorth, 1014.
Letter of protest, 322.
lewis WVetzel's spring, 1015.
libraries, 967.
Library opened to public March 7, 1872,
  971.
Library rooms in new Town Hall, 970.
Lichtenau abandoned, 124.


1161


L,ightning destroys oil tanks, 580.
Lindley's fort, 51.
Link, .Jonathan. 107.
Link's fate never known, 110.
Linton, Edwin S.. first one from county to
  die in \World war, 1123.
  List of attorneys, from 1781-1925, 363.
List of banks outside of \Vashington. 921,.
List of casualties in  fires, 898.
List of churches by townships. 636.
Iist of Civil war dead, 1109-1123.
List of congressmen, 687.
List of county superintendents. 657.
l,ist of field  officers, 219.
List of fires since  1903, 897.
List of g'overnors from county , 694.
List of judges and court otticers, from
  1781-1925, 343.
List of Mexican war soldiers, 1016.
list of oil \wells  in  operation  in  1885, .571.
list of persons cremated in \Vashington,
  932.
List of producing wells in 1886, 57:.
list of representatives, 694.
List of teachers, 655.
List of township high schools, 652.
Little Giant Fire Company, I'ersonnel of,
  893.
Little Turtle becomes friendly, 284.
Iive Bird Shoot, The, 958.
Lochry among killed, 103.
L,ochry, (Col. Archibald, 99.
lIochry misses Clark, 101.
Lochry's defeat, 100.
L,ogan becomes enemy of whites, 59.
Logan refuses to sign, 6;3.
Logan, the Cayuga, 66.
L,ogan's speech, 63.
Log pumps, 953.
Long, Mrs. Elizabeth W.. 909.
Losses in St. Clair's army. 270.
Louis Philippe visits Washington, 934.
Lyle, Robert, 132.
Lyric Theatre, 927.



McArthur, Duncan, 260.
M'cCaffrey, Wm. V., Jr., 1084.
McCandless brothers, The, 95.
McClure killed, 60.
McIClure, Robert B., 696.
McColloch, Maj. Samuel. 72.
McColloch's leap, 72, 76.
McConnell, Alexander, 213.
McCoy, Angus, 211.
Mctread, Robert, 82.
Mc(Iroury, Rebecca, 379.
Mcl)onald, 725.
Mcl)onald, Col. Angus, 60.
Mcl)onald's fort, 51.
McParland, Joseph F., 315.
McFarland's fort, 51.
McFarlane, Andrew, 980.
MclFarlane killed, 980.
McGiffin, veteran, 1063.
McG.uffey, William Holmies, 6 17.
McGuire, Francis, 257.
Mcllvaine, John A., 330.
Mt'Intosh family, Massacre of, 257.
McKeevers, The, 424.
McKennan residence, 834.
McKennan's law office destroyed by fire,
  89 4.
McKinley, William, in Washington, 948.
McLee, Mary, 961.
McMahon and men killed, 282.
McMaster-Wilson murders, 382.
McMillan, Dr. John, 135, 589, 614.
McPherson, James, 105.
Macbeth-Evans Glass Co., 1076.
Magazines, books and newspapers, 798-818.
Mammoth bones found, 439.
Managers of town hall, 926.
Mansion House, destroyed by fire, 895.
Manchester, Isaac, 236.
"Manuscript Found", 639.
March against Sandusky, The, 169.
Margerum, J. Shan, 156.
Market on oil runs, 576.
Marking live stock, 304.
Marshall, Hon. Thos. R., visits Washing-
  ton, 950.
Marshel, Col. James, 98, 150, 995.
Marshel's fort, 51.
Martin, Edward, 999.
Mason and Dixon line, Facts about, 315.
Mason, Capt. Samuel, 71.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of Washington County in 1820. A most remarkable occurrence in this
connection was that a small dog belonging to the family followed Mrs.
Hawkins, and crouched at her side as the Indians passed without making
a sound.
   After joining the guard on the ridge, the entire party set out with
their prisoners for their villages beyond the Ohio. Contrary to the Indian
custom, great consideration was shown Miss Hawkins, who, on account of
her feeble condition and from fright, was unable to walk. The usual
custom in such cases was to kill and scalp the unfortunate victim; but
every kindness was shown to the girl. She was placed on a horse, but
soon fell off from weakness. She was then replaced on the animal and
hurried forward in advance of the main party.
   The prisoners believed they were to be taken to the Indian villages to
be tortured. After proceeding for some distance, the savages stopped and
held a council to decide the fate of their captives, who were all firmly
bound and seated in a row on a log. The verdict was that they should be
put to death immediately and five warriors were selected as executioners.
With uplifted tomahawks, they approached the luckless men from behind.
Three dealt simultaneous blows that split the skulls of Hawkins, Burnett,
and Peak, who pitched forward before the eyes of Miller and Link. Both
were men of great courage, and they had presence of mind enough not
to show the least sign of fear, although they fully expected that each sec-
ond the tomahawks would sweep them into eternity. The other two
Indians had been a little slower than the first three, and they hesitated as
they saw the three white men pitch forward in death. This saved Miller
and Link's lives. With uplifted weapons the two warriors stood for sev-
eral seconds, hesitating, and then as a bird in a tree overhead burst forth
in song, they lowered the deadly tomahawks.
   The entire band had evidently had enough bloodshed for that day.
They hastily formed the prisoners in line, and started on the march for
the Ohio.
   Just before dusk they reached the banks of Big Wheeling Creek, where
the party with Miss Hawkins was waiting, and there they camped for
the night. When the white girl saw only Miller and Link she seemed to
realize the terrible fate that had overtaken the others.
   The prisoners were securely bound and separated with Indians on each
side of them, when they retired for the night. This prevented them from
arranging any plan of escape.
   Miller had decided that his only chance of escape would be to sever
the bonds around his hands with his teeth, and he patiently waited until
far into the night before he made any attempt. At last, after Link
and Miss Hawkins had fallen asleep from exhaustion, he began the labor-
ious task of chewing the rawhide that bound his wrists. It was tough.
and several times he almost gave up, but finally, after what seemed hours.
one of the cords parted. An Indian stirred, and the white man feigned
sleep. After waiting for some time he renewed his efforts and was soon
fi'ee. Cautiously he stole from the camp, stepping over the forms of the
sleepling warriors with the greatest care.
   Miller was an expert woodsman, and it was as easy for him to travel
through the dense forest by night as by day, a feat which few could per-


109







1162


INDEX


Masonic Lodge property used as school,
  908.
Masons erect marker, 272.
Massacre at Gnadenhutten, 122, 131.
Massacre of Mclntosh family, 257.
Maypole erected and cut down, 950.
Meeting called, for surviving soldiers of
  War of 1812, 1005.
Meeting to discuss fire protection, 892.
Meetings of first school board, 905.
Memorial Hospital, 826.
Memorial tablet, VW. & J. College, 1130.
Men appointed to contract for jail and
  courthouse, 312.
Men appointed to "tender the oath of al-
  legiance, etc., 312.
Men who went to Texas with Morgan,
  1009.
Merchants of Washington, names of early,
  830.
Message to Grant, 947.
Mexican war soldiers, names, 1016.
Mexican war soldiers returned safely, 1016.
Military funeral at Monongahela, 1128.
Military history of county, 975.
Militia, 995.
Militia for Clark expedition refused to go,
  320.
Miller and Hupp ambushed, 52.
Miller, Capt. Jacob, 227.
Miller, Capt. John, 106.
Miller chews bonds, escapes, 109.
Miller's bank robbery, 405.
Miller's blockhouse, 51, 107.
Milliken's fort, 52.
Mills, Gen. N. A., passes through \VWashing-
  ton, 950.
Mills, Thomas, 194.
Mines, coal, 546 to 55;6.
Mingo path, The, 36.
Minstrel troupes, 924.
Minute book of first school board, 904.
Mrs. Reynolds and baby captured, 81.
Mob leaders deplore work of mob, 985.
Monongahela City, 713.
Monongahela county project, 445.
Monroe, James, visits Washington, 943.
Montgomery, Hugh, 242.
Monument on massacre site, 144.
Monument to Brady, 90.
Monument to Poe, 121.
Moore, Daniel, 753.
Moravians, Story of the, 121.
Morgan, Col. George, death of, 449.
Morgan, Gen. Daniel, 991.
Morgan, Gen. John H., 1029.
Morgan, Dr. John, 451.
Morgan family, 454.
Morgan, George, 69.
Morgan House, 452.
"Morgan is Coming," 1029.
Morgan Rifle company off for Texas, 100(8.
Morganza, 452, 483.
Mormon, The Book of, 636.
Morris township, 512, 622.
Mosebay escapes gallows, 393.
Mount Pleasant township, 516, 622.
Murder of Logan's family, 57.
Murders, 370, et seq.
Murdoch, Alexander, 995.
Murdoch, Milton, 235.
Murphy, Mary, 972.
"Museum," 923.
Muster roll, Williamson's second expedi-
   tion, 139.
 Miuster roll of Kerr's company of 99th
   Regiment, 1004.
 Mysterious nmessage to Grant, 947.
 Mystery of Lieutenant Rose, 203.

                    N

 Names given early tracts, 305.
 Names given local militia companies, 997.
 Names given townships, 321.
 Names of captains on frontier duty, 273.
 Names of early merchants of Washington,
   830.
 Names of early physicians of Washington
   County, 832.
 Names of early property owners, S30.
 Names of early settlers, 293.
 Names of early teachers, 900.
 Names of editors and publishers of The
   Observer, 808.
 Names of editors and puhlishers o(f The
   Reporter, 800.
 Names of first fire engines, 84.


Names of first settlers in \Vashington, S30.
Names of men sued by Washington, 302.
Names of Morgan's Rifles, 1009.
Names of officers of third class city gov-
  ernment, 832.
Names of "Old Timers," 954.
Names of old-time wagoners, 742.
Names of pioneer railroad builders, 788.
Names of principals of local schools, 911.
Names of proprietors of hotels and tav-
  erns, 857.
Names of released prisoners, 104.
Names of wagon stands, 742.
Names of war workers, 1106.
Names under which surveys \vere made,
  305.
National Pike in Washington County, The,
  736-761.
Natural phenomenon in 1801, 433.
Negroes, free, pass through \Vashington,
  952.
Negro woman and child taken, 255.
Neville, John, 69.
New county project in 1799, 444.
New Eagle, 719.
New   Light, Halyconite and Itho,dianite
  sects, 595.
News from Richmond, 1033.
News of St. Clair's aeteat, 271.
Newspapers, magazines and books, 79s-1IS.
New state project, 322.
Nitro-glycerine explosion in 191, 956.
No market for grain, 918.
Norris' blockhouse, 52.
North Bethlehem township, 518, 623.
North Charleroi, 721.
North Franklin township, 520, 6241.
North Strabane township, 521, 624.
Noted Indian hunters, 112.
Noted men and events, 934.
Noted men who visited \\ashington, )34.
Notorious murder cases, 370 et seq.
Nottingham township, 523, 626.




O)bscure justices, 322.
Observer, The, 808.
Off for the gold fields, 435.
Officers and privates, Morgan's Rifles, for
  Texas, 1009.
  Officers College Library association, 794.
  Officers, G. A. R. posts, 1145-1152.
  Officers of Company H in World war, 1096.
  Officers of early fire companies, 885.
  Officers of third class city government,
  names of first, 832.
  Oficers of townships 1781, 321.
  ()gle, Capt. Joseph, 71.
  O'Hara, Theodore, 67, 77, 217.
  Oil and gas, 556-588.
  Oil burning lantern, First, 698.
  Oil companies organized, 559, 568.
  Oil production in 1886, 576.
  Oil runs, Market on, 576.
  (il tanks struck by lightning, 580.
  Oil wells in operation in 1885, List of, 571.
  Oldest house in Washington, 834.
  Oldest native-born resident, 838.
  Old Girty farm on Detroit river, 2ixr.
  Old indian fighters, Deaths of, 2S5
  Old land entries, 222.
  Old Mechanics' library, 969.
  Oldl Naylor, 425.
  Old-time advertisements, 446.
  Old-time rural schools, 644.
  "Old Timers," Names of, 954.
  One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania In-
  fantry in World war, 1078, et seq.
  One Hundred and Tenth Regimrent I'ettirns
  home ('World war), 1094; mustered out,
  1095.
  Opposition to Clark gets results, 10)0.
  Order paying for Indian scalp, 121.
  Orders to militia, from tax haters, '82.
  Original iron bier, 927.
  Original minute book of first school hiard,
  904.
  Original thirteen townships, 459.
  Original Washington County, 31,.
  Orphans' court, 326, 334.
  Orphans' court, president judges of. 3-14.
  Orr, Capt. Robert, 105.
  Other turnpikes in the county, 762.
  "Our Western Border," McKnight, 254.
  Outrage on the Chesapeake, 996.







INDEX


                    P
 Paid fire department organized, S93.
 Palace rink used as opera house, 927.
 Parcell, Evans, magazine illustrator, 953.
 Parcell, Malcolm, paintings of, 952.
 Parks, Wm., killed and scalped in sight of
   fort, 216.
 Parole officer and investigator, 363.
 Patriotic organizations, 1144.
 Patrol scared at patrol, 1029.
 Patterson, Gen. Thomas, 997.
 Pearce family murder, 397.
 Pekillon points out warriors, 97.
 Pennsylvania appoints boundary commis-
   sion, 316.
 Pennsylvania justices arrested by Vir-
 ginia, 308.
 Pennsylvania Railroad company, 791.
 Pennsylvania Society of the Army of the
 Philippines, 1153.
 Pentecost, Dorsey, 98, 311.
 Pentecost letter to Moore, 193.
 Peoples National bank, 920.
 Perry, Norman G., 1100.
 Pershing praises Twenty-Eighth Division,
 1089.
 Personal narratives, 74, 208, 246.
 Personnel of Hope Fire company, 886.
 P'ersonnel of Little Giant Fire company,
 893.
 Peter, David, 144.
 Peters township, 525, 627.
 Peters, William, 46.
 Phenomenon in 1801, 433.
 P'hysicians of Washington County, Names
 of early, 832.
 Pinchot, Gifford, tours Washington County,
 950.
 Pioneer Ass'n of AVyandot county, Ohio,
 213.
 Pioneer days of long ago, 33.
 l'ioneer mothers sturdy as men, 92.
 Pioneer preachers, 588.
 Pioneer railroad builders, Names of, 788.
 Pitcher, Molly, 1140.
 1'ittsburgh Southern Railroad company,
 795.
 "Plantation plenty," 232.
 I'lymire, Henry, Jr., 297.
 Plympton, Florus B., 83.
 Poe, Andrew, 44.
 Poe attacks Big Foot and companion, 116.
 Poe Brothers, The, 112.
 I'oe fights with one hand, 117.
 Poe, George, 113.
 Poe letter to Draper, 120.
 Poe's battleground, question of, 119.
 "Poeville," 120.
 Politicians guilty of murder, 99.
 P'olitics, 687.
 Polk visits Washington, 871, 943.
 Porcupine killed, 299.
 Porter, William, 901.
 Post, Christian Frederick, 123.
 Post office employes carry flags, 1039.
 Pratt, Mrs. D. Poe, 112.
 Preachers, Pioneer, 588.
 Present staff of Washington hospital, 823.
 President judges, 1783-1922, 343.
 President Reed's message to asseml)ly,
 319.
 Prices fixed for tavern keepers, 313.
 Principals of local schools, 911.
 Printing business, Beginning of, 798.
 Prisoners carried to Canada, 103.
 Privates in Williamson's second expedi-
 tion, 139.
 Probation officers of juvenile court. 369.
 Production of oil in 1886, 576.
 Property owners of Washington, Names of
 early, 830.
 Proprietors of hotels and tave'ris, S57.
 Prothonotaries, 1781-1925, 331.
 Public feeling regarding massacre, 143.
 Public library, first, 967.
 Public school law of 1834, 904.
 P'ublishers of The Observer, Names of,
 SOS.
 Publishers of The Reporter, Names of, 800.
 I'umps, log, 933.
 Purse given (leiarting soldiers. 104I0.



Qulakeirs, TI'h , 592.
Quigley, Joseph, s9.
Quotas to hbe filled, 1030.


1163


Rabb, Martin, 68.
Radium from Canonsburg, 1076.
IRaid on Raccoon creek, 93.
Raid on tlhe Buffalo creek settletnniits,
   106, 126.
 Raid other cabins, 108.
 Raids at Dillow's fort, 222.
 Railroaas, 786-798.
 Ralston's threshing machine,, \ndre ,, 96.
 Rankin, Andrew, 113.
 Real Estate T'rust company, The, 919.
 Recorders of deeds, 1781-1926, 355.
 Records of surveys, 305.
 liecoris, weather, 431.
 Recruits join at Honolulu, 1042.
 ted Cross during World war, 110S.
 l-eastone old fort, 60.
 Reed, Alexander, 995.
 Reed, Dr. Robert R., 303.
 Reed s career, Martin, 386.
 Reed's letter on army dodgers, 322.
 Regimental commanoers prior to Splaniiish-
 American war, 999.
 Regiments and companies in Civil wxar,
 1026.
 Registers of wills, 1781-1925, 353.
 l1e8istration boards, 1067.
 R egistration figures (\orld war), 1068.
 Registry of staves and servants, 408.
 Relic of campaign of 1864, 1032.
 tRelics of lpioneer days, 281.
 Religious iistory, ,i~-636.
 teporter, The, 800.
 Representatlves, list of, 694.
 Rescue party, lie, 115.
 Retreating  \Amle icans, sorry spectacle,
 179.
 Returning prisoners, 104.
 Rtevoutionariy soliers buried in Cross
 Creek graveyard, 1142.
 Revolutionary  soliers   buried  in  the
 county, 1135.
 tevolutionai y soldiers buried in Washing-
 ton ceineery, _11.42.
 RevoluLIonary soidiers in meniorial parade
 1826, 1143.
 Reynolds' blockhouse, 52.
 Reynoldsville, 81.
 Reynolds, WVilliam, S1.
 Rhodianites, Ralyconites and New Light
 sects, 595.
 Ribarick, Jan, 371, 398.
 Rice, Abraham, 228.
 Rice, Col. Dan, 924.
 Rice reaches Lamb's fort, 229.
 Rice's fort, 52.
 Rifle inventions, 440.
 Rigdon, Sidney, 643.
 Ritchie, Captain, 211.
 Ritchie, Matthew, 302.
 Ritner, Joseph, 694.
 River rats attack soldiers, 991.
 Robberies, 403.
 Robinson township, 527, 628.
 Robison and Parks, 161.
 Rogers, David, 77.
 Ronnyennes sent to kill, 119.
 Roll of honor, Sandusky expedition, 220.
 Roman Catholic church, 596.
 Roney's blockhouse, 52.
 Ross, Mrs. Nancy, 274.
 Rowe, Adam, 158.
 Rowe, Jacob, 157.
 Rural schools of today, 644.
 Rush of white settlers in 1786, 47.

                    S
St. Clair's defeat, 265.
Sample, William, 1001.
Samuel Hazlett bank, 916.
Santa Anna, Gen., passes through Wash-
  ington, 943.
Saunders, Mrs. Elizabeth Ann, 3S6.
Scalp bounty, A, 160.
Schaaf, Gustav, 99S
Schlup, Emil, 213.
School board, first, 905.
School buildings, early, 901.
School district, Washington, 900.
School statistics, 650.
Schools, 644-652.
Schools, Nos. 1-7, 909.
Schools, principals of, 911.
Schools, subscription, 900.
Scotash, 119.
Scott, Josiah, Jr., 251.







1164


INDEX


Scott, Major-General, 279.
Scott, Molly, 226.
Scott, Hon. Thomas, 319.
Second expedition against Sandusky pro-
  posed, 195.
  Seminaries, colleges and academies, 65S-
  686.
  Sergy Hill, fighting at, 1086 et seq.
  Settlement of the county, 293.
Settlers had to defend selves, 1139.
Settlers in Washington, First, 830.
Seven Coleman boys in wars, 1010.
Shannon's men bring bad news, 102.
Sharp, Christian, 370, 377.
Shawnese raid on Dutch fork, 106.
Shearers, The, 94.
Shepherd, Col. David, 69.
Sheriffs, 1775-1780, 314.
Sheriffs, 1781-1926, 348.
Sheriff's office refused, 311.
Sherrard killed, 55.
Shooting at mark, 297.
Short peace following the war, 67.
Shouse's cavalry, 1001.
Sickles, Albert, 148.
Simms, Admiral     min. S., visits Washing-
  ton, 950.
Site of county seat, First, 828.
Six children captured, 93.
Sketch of Col. Wim. Crawford, 167.
Sketch of Dr. John Knight, 200.
Slaughter, Dave, 134.
Slavery, 416.
Slavery deeds, 411.
Slavery in Washington County, 406.
Slover, John, 166.
Slover warns Irvine, 196.
Smallpox in early days, 952.
Smith, Rev. Joseph, 150, 589.
Smith township, 528, 629.
Smith's Iron Hall, 925.
Snow storms, 430.
Societies and fairs, 699-704.
Soldiers' discharge, 219.
Soldiers kill prisoners, 98.
Soldiers of the Revolution, buried in the
  county, 1135.
Some early settlers, 293.
Somerset township, 531, 629.
Sons of American Revolution, 1155.
South Franklin township, 534, 630.
South Strabane township, 535, 630.
Spanish-American war, 1035.
Spanish-American War Veterans' organiz-
  ations, 1153.
Spaulding, Solomon, 636.
Speech of Jefferson Davis, 1033.
Spriggs, Mrs. Joseph B., 238.
Squatters on Washington's land, 302.
Squaws and children tomahawk five pris-
  oners, 186.
Staff of City hospital, First, 825.
Staff of Washington hospital, First, 820.
Staff of Washington hospital, Present, 823
Stage time table, 750.
Stages, Early day drivers of, 755, 772.
Standard Tin Plate company, 1076.
State theatre, 927.
Statistics of county, 545.
Statistics of schools, 650.
Statistics of slaves, 409.
Statistics of townships,
  Amwell, 463; Allen, 470: Blaine, 472;
  Buffalo, 474; Carroll, 478: Cecil, 482;
  Chartiers, 484; Cross Creek, 490; Done-
  gal, 492: East Bethlehem, 495: East
  Finley, 499: East Pike Run, 500; Fallow-
  field, 502; Hanover, 505: Hopewell, 506;
  Independence, 508; Jefferson, 511; Mor-
  ris, 512: Mount Pleasant, 516; North
  Bethlehem, 519; North Franklin, 521;
  North Strabane, 522: Nottingham, 523;
  Peters, 525; Robinson, 527; Smith, 530;
  Somerset, 531: South   Franklin, 534;
  South Strabane, 536; Union, 539: West
  Bethlehem, 538; West Finley, 542; West
  Pike Run, 544.
Statistics on banks, 920.
Steel industry big factor, 1074.
Stephenson with St. Clair's army, 265.
Stewart, Mary, 373.
Stewart's Crossing, 218.
Stiles, Capt. Joseph, 128.
Stocks, ducking stools, 312.
Stockton, Lucius V., 743.
Stogies or tobies, 740.
Stokely, Capt. Thomas, 105.
Stoop, Jenny, 86.
Storm gathers, The, 125.


Storm of April 21, 1925, 432.
Story of the Moravians, The, 121.
Strange incident, 433.
Streator, Paul, last one from county killed
   in World war, 1123.
 Streeker (Stricker), 239.
 Street railway companies, 964.
 Stricker's blockhouses, 53, 239.
 Strike oil, 556.
 Struggle in water, 117.
 Student Army Training corps, 1072.
 Subdivisions of thirteen townships into
 smaller townships,
 Sub-lieutenants of militia, 995.
 Subscription schools, 900.
 Sullivan's boat found, 225.
 "Sunlit Meadow," 124.
 Surprise attack, 102.
 Surveyors appointed, 1775, 314.
 Surveys recorded, 305.
 Survivors, released in 1782, 104.
 Sutherlands, The, 258.
 Swearingen, Capt. Andrew, 72.
 Swearingen family, The, 74.

                   T

 Taft, William H., in Washington, 948.
 Tah-gah-jute, Chief, 58.
 Tar Adams, 425.
 Taverns and hotels of Washington, S57.
 Taverns licensed by Yohogania county
 court, 313.
 Taverns on National P'ike, 755.
 Tax collectors driven out, 9,8.
 Taylor, Henry, 316, 323, 328.
 Taylor, Zachary, visits Washington, 94-3.
 Taylor's fort, 53.
 Teachers, early, 900.
 Teachers, List of, 655.
 Telegraph companies, early, 960.
 Telegraph line, first in the county, 960.
 Telephone company, first, 959.
 Telephone service at Canonsburg, 959.
 Telephone service, first, 958.
 Telephone subscribers, first, 958.
 Temple, Dr. Henry, 1058, 1063.
 Tener, John K., 694.
 Ten Mile Rangers, The, 1005.
 Tennis, Anthony, 298.
 Tenth left transport August 22, 1056.
 Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry, 998.
 "Tents of Grace," 124.
 Teter, Capt. Samuel, 232.
 Teter's orders to men, 234.
 Teter's (Teeter's) fort, 53.
 Texas revolution and Mexican war, 1006.
 Thayer, Claude, 64.
 Theaters and amusements, 921.
 Theatrical performances, early, 921.
 "The Mystery of Faith Opened Up," 261.
 The spirit of the volunteers of \Washing-
 ton county, 1011.
 Thirteen original townships, 459.
 Thompson and McKee join hostiles, 104.
 Thompson, Sarah, oldest inhabitant, 961.
 Threatened  invasion   by   Confederate
 troops, 1029.
 Three companies under Harrison, 1001.
 Three Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment
 in France, 1103.
 Three Hundred and Twenty-Second Regi-
 ment in France, 1106.
 Three Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment
 in France, 1100.
Three Hundred and Thirty-First and Three
  Hundred and Thirty-Second Regiments
  in Italy (World war), 1096.
Tighe, J. B., 250.
Tingoocqua's camp, 36.
Title to land lost, 449.
Titus, Margaret, 157.
"To Arms," 1011.
Toasts drunk, 996.
Tobies or stogies, 740.
Toll gates, 761.
Tomahawk misses mark, 117.
Tomahawk only souvenir, 118.
"Tom, the Tinker," 978.
Town Hall as theater, 925.
Town Hall, attractions at, 926.
Town Hall days, 921.
Town Hall, managers of, 926.
Town meeting in interest of public schools,
  904.
Township high schools, List of, 652.
Township libraries, 969.
Township officers elected (1781), 321.








INDEX


Township statistics, see Statistics of town-
  ships.
Townships and villages, 459 to 545.
Tracts of land given names, 305.
Traitors would capture Pittsburgh, 982.
Traveling shows, 923.
Troops land in Honolulu, 1041.
Trustees to divide county into townships,
  320.
Turkey feet seen from road, 283.
Turner burned at stake, 205.
Turnpikes in the county, Other, 762.
Turner's fort, 53.
Twelve men first to go to    'orld war,
  1070.
Twenty-Eighth   Division  returns home
  (\World war), 1094.
Two mascots with Tenth, 1046.
Two platoon system adopted, 900.

                   U
"Uncle" Billy Burton, 954.
Underground railroad, The, 415.
Underground railway established, 424.
Union school, 910.
Snion township, 538, 631.
UInion Trust company, 919.
Lnited Presbyterian, 591.
tUnited Spanish War Veterans, 1154.
United States Christian Commission, 103-1.
tniversal rolling mill, 1076.
Unreturning Brave, The, 1109.
ITrie, Polly,  149.

Valentine House, destroyed by fire, 897.
Valuation of county, 545.
Vance captures brass kettle, 178.
Vance, Joseph, 132, 216.
Vance, Isaac, 212.
Vance's fort, 53, 214.
\'an Arden, Prof. Louis, 913.
Van Swearingen in list of killed, 270.
\'an Vleck, W. T., 144.
Various stories about Poe battle, 11!.
Verdict was death for prisoners, 109).
Vesle offensive (World war), 1090.
Veterans of Civil war, in Centennial pa-
  rade, 1031.
Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1154.
Viewers appointed for road, 308.
Villages and townships, 459 to 545.
Virginia appoints boundary commission,
  316.
Virginia justices take oath, 308.
Volunteer fire companies organized, x85.


\Vagoners, Names of old-time, 742.
WVagon stands, Names of, 742.
W\alker, Mary, 131.
Walker's blockhouse raided, 237.
WVallace, Hon. Henry C., visits \Washing-
  ton, 950.
Wallace, Richard, 104.
WVallace, Robert, 129.
WVallower's blockhouse, 53.
Ward, Edward, 309, 311.
WVar of 1812, 1001.
WVarrant for holding election 1785, 148.
\Var workers of Washington, 1106.
W\ashington academy, 901.
Washington and Jefferson college, 672.
\Vashington and Pittsburgh Railroad com-
  pany incorporated, 787, 788.
Washington boys in Three Hundred and
  Nineteenth Infantry (World war), 1102.
Washington boys in Three Hundred and
  Twenty-Second Light Artillery (WVorld
  war), 1104.
\Vashington Business college, The, 913.
Washington came here in 1784, 301.
\Vashington County courts, 323.
\Vashington County created, 306.
Washington County since 1s00, 457.
\Vashington  County   soldiers  overseas
  (World war), 1096.
VWashington County Teachers' Institute,
  History of, 654-657.
Washington Democratic club, 978.
-Washington family, 302.
\Vashington Female seminary, 677.
Washington hospital, 818.
WNashington in 1837, Description of, S40.
Washington library, 968.
AVashington Library company, 968.
Washington owned tract in Mount Pleas-
  ant towvnship, 299.


1165


Washington resolves to crush rebellion,
  991.
WVashington Savings bank, The, 916.
Washington school district, 900.
Washington steam mill, 952.
\Vashington Street Railway company ,ir-
  ganized, 964.
Washington Trust company, 918.
WVayne constructs fort, 279.
Wayne coolly inspects Fort Miami, 280.
-Vayne moves army to new c(amp, 277.
VWayne recovers St. Clair cannon, 282.
Wayne takes possession of British po,sts,
  281.
Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers, 276.
\Weather records, 431.
Webster, Daniel, in W\ashington, 943.
Welcome home of Civil war men, 103..
Xwelcome to "Tenth," 1062.
\Vells' fort, 54.
\\ells in streets, 953.
WTells producing in 1886, List of, 513.
West Alexander, 732.
AVest lBethlehem township, 538, 632.
West Brownsville, 726.
West Finley township, 542, 634.
WVest Middletown, 730.
\West Middletown Abolition soci'ty, -tiS.
\Vest Pike Run township, 543, 635.
\Vest \Villiam, 385.
Western Abolition society, 416.
\estern Teleg raphe, 9!8.
"\Vestsylvania," 322.
AVetzel, Lewis, 83, 247.
\Wetzel loaded gun while running, 194.
Where first courthouse stood at Augusta
  Town, 310.
' Where Mason and D)ixon halted, 3(;.
\\Whisky army disbanded, 986.
\Whisky Insurrection, The, 977.
"WVhisky P'oint," 986.
NVhitaker, Samuel, 93.
Vhite Eyes joins colonies, 79.
White, Samuel H.. 381.
WVhites fire on Poe, 118.
\Vhipping posts ordered, 312.
WVild turkeys seen, 298.
AWilkinson, Colonel, 269.
Williarm Crawford Memorial Ass'n., 218.
AVilliamson, David, 127, 139, 146.
AVilliamson's fort, 54.
W\illiamson meets misfortune, 149.
\'illiamson's second expedition, 131.
Williamsport, 714.
\Villiamsport Rangers, 1001.
W\ilson's blockhouse, 54.
Vilson's fort, 54.
Vilson-McMaster murders, 382.
W\insch, L. S., 144.
Winter of terrible suffering, 127.
AVithrow, Samuel R., 908.
Wolfe (Wolff), Jacob, 239.
W\olfe, Robert, starts first telephone c,onm-
  pany, 959.
Wolfe, Servenia, 243.
WVolfe's blockhouse exposed, 192.
AVolfe's fort, 54.
AVolfe's fort and Stricker's blockhouse,
  239.
Volv es, 440.
W\oman attorney, First, 367.
\Voman's Coinmmittee, Council of National
  )efense, 1108.
AVoodruff's fort, 54.
Workman, Hugh, 78, 192.
Worknman, James, 192.
\Vorld war, 1067, et seq.
W\orld war dead, 1123.
VWorld war work in county, 1074.
V,ounded, from county, 1061.
\Vrecks on B. & 0. railroad, 954.
Wright brothers, 238.
W\right's blockhouse, 54.
TVustlic-h, Alexander, 370, 393.
                   'V
Yeates, Richard, 312.
Yohogania county court issues commiis-
  sions, 311.
''"You knon I couldn't help it," 138.
''Young Comrade, The," 964.

Zane, Col. Ebenezer, 58, 70.
Zane, Elizabeth, 226.
Zane, Isaac, 70.
Zane, Jonathan, 70, 166.
Zeisberger, David, 123.
Zeisherge;"s apple trees, 145.
Zollarsville, 55.






































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44





I IF





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


form even in that day. Carefully laying his course by the stars, the scout
headed for his blockhouse home on the Dutch Fork. Knowing that the
Indians would take up his trail at the first break of day and that their
expert trailing ability would enable them to follow him like hounds, he
made all speed during the remainder of the night, and just as the first
rays of the sun appeared over the forest he staggered wearily into the
blockhouse.
    His appearance, in this exhausted condition and without weapons,
created the greatest excitement among the settlers who had gathered at
the fort; for they knew that some terrible calamity had befallen his com-
rades. Sadly Miller related his adventures, telling of the fate of Hupp
and Fisher who had left with him two days before.
   Although he was almost worn out, Captain Miller led a large party of
settlers back to Link's cabin to bury the two victims. Among those in the
party were John Miller, Andrew Deeds, and Jacob Rowe. The unfortu-
nate men were buried midway between the cabin and the creek.
   More than fifty years ago the graves of these two men were discovered
after the present county road was laid out down the creek, and their bones
were dug up by Hugh Erskine, the present owner of the land while
working on the road. They were interred by him in the field near the
site of the cabin. In September, 1922, the author visited this historic
spot, and was shown by Mr. Erskine the exact spot where the bones were
found. The spring near which they were shot may still be seen at the
side of the road, and the site of Link's cabin was pointed out. There is
still a slight depression there, and a few stones that might have been in
the chimney are scattered about. Mr. Erskine has a number of arrow
heads which he found in the vicinity, and a small granite pestle which he
picked up on the site of the cabin.
   Jonathan Link and Elizabeth Hawkins were carried to the Indian vil-
lages beyond the Ohio. Link's fate was never known definitely, but tradi-
tion tells that some time after his capture he was brought back to the
vicinity of his home, tied to a tree on the summit of a hill just north of
his cabin, and shot to death.
   Now comes the strangest part of this entire tale of the old frontier.
Elizabeth Hawkins was held a captive among the Shawnese, and as fre-
quently happened with white captives, she was treated with kindness. She
was adopted into the tribe and became a white Indian by taking up the
dress, manners and customs of her captors, and finally married a Shaw-
nese chief.
   Years later, after peace had been declared between the red men and
white, she returned to her relatives and the scenes of her childhood in
Washington County. But she remained only a short time; for the long-
ing for the wild, roving forest life of the Indians was stronger than the
blood bonds of relatives or the easy ways of civilization, and she went
back to the wandering life of the red men in the wilderness of the then
far West, nevermore to return to her people. That was the last her rela-
tives or friends ever saw or heard of her, and her fate is unknown, but
she probably found a lonely, unmarked grave with her adopted people in
the land of the setting sun.
   The strange case of Elizabeth Hawkins was only one of many similar


110







































    The spot at which the bones of Frank Hupp and Jacob Fisher were
found by Robert Erskine when the present road was graded at this point
about 1870. These men were killed by Indians in September, 1781, in the
attack on Jonathan Link's cabin. This is located on the land of Robert
Erskine, three miles south of West Alexander. Mr. Erskine, who found
the bones and buried them again, is shown at the spot, which he pointed
out to the author in 1922.


    The original tomahawk captured by Adam and Andrew Poe in the
famous fight with Bigfoot. This is the weapon with which the smaller
Indian tried to kill Andrew Poe. It is still in possession of the Poe family
at Cleveland, Ohio.





iv                           PREFACE

a complete history of the oil development and of Washington County's part
in the World war is given. The author has made a more extended inves-
tigation into this county's part in the Civil and Spanish-American wars
than heretofore, and he believes that this will more than make up for some
of the shorter sketches of subjects that have already been thoroughly
investigated and described by former historians. The industrial develop-
ment of the county was not touched upon; that is not, properly speaking,
a subject of history. While interesting in many points it would have
required another volume to have properly described it, and nothing would
have been added in an historical way to the history of the county.




   Washington, Pa., March 4th, 1926.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


incidents of this kind in the days of the old frontier. It was not uncom-
mon for white captives, especially children who had grown up with the
tribe, to marry Indians. In many cases these white captives wept bitterly
on leaving their Indian friends, and sometimes they refused to remain
with the whites, as in Elizabeth Hawkins' case.




                          CHAPTER XXI.

                               1781.
                      THE POE BROTHERS.
 NOTED INDIAN HUNTERS-SETTLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-RAID ON
    RACCOON CREEK-INDIANS REPULSED AT THOMAS BAY'S-CAPTURE
    OF WILLIAM JACKSON-PURSUIT-ANDREW POE'S DESPERATE BATTLE
    WITH TWO INDIANS-ADAM POE TO TIHE RESCUE-DEATH OF BIGFOOT
    -BATTLE WITH THIlE INDIANS--DEATII OF JOIIN CHERRY-ADAM POE
    SELLS HIS WASHINGTON COUNTY LAND--LOCATION OF THE FARM TO-
    DAY-SCALP BOUNTY PAID TO ADAM POE-HIS DEATH AND GRAVE
    NEAR MASSILLON, OHIO-ANDREW POE SETTLES NEAR HOOKSTOWN,
    BEAVER COUNTY-LETTER WRITTEN BY HIS SON-HIS GRAVE AT
    HOOKSTOWN-RELICS OF TIlE POES-THEIR DESCENDANTS.
                  "Our rough land had no braver,
                     In its days of blood and strife;
                   Aye, ready for severest toil,
                     Aye, ready to peril life."

   Of all the Indian hunters and killers produced by pioneer times on
the Western Border, the Poe brothers, Andrew and Adam, had few equals
and no superiors, and Washington County may well be proud that they
were among its early settlers. They did not belong to that class of fighters
known as "Indian killers;" rather they were "Indian hunters," men who
hunted Indians from pure love of adventure, like some men hunt deer,
bear and more dangerous game.
   In his old age Andrew Poe once said to a friend: "No man ever took
more satisfaction in hunting deer, bear, wolves and buffalo than I have,
but the greatest enjoyment I ever had was in hunting Indians." This
statement will give some idea of the daring character of the man; for
Indian hunting was the most dangerous sport that anyone ever engaged in.
   The histories of those times mention the Poe brothers and their adven-
tures frequently, but much of it is somewhat conflicting in regard to dates,
places of residence, and many local details that add to the interest of
such a narrative. Strange as it may seem, the histories of Washington
County contain very little regarding them, probably for the reason that
information on this subject was not to be obtained without considerable
trouble, and what little is given is very inaccurate.
   Believing that an accurate account of Washington County's most noted
Indian fighters could be obtained, the author, after considerable search,
located some of their descendants. The following was written from data
furnished by Mrs. Daisy Poe Pratt, of Streetsboro, Ohio, who is a great-


112





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


granddaughter of Andrew Poe. She secured this information from her
father, Adam Poe, who secured it from his noted father; and thus it comes
almost from the lips of the old Indian fighter himself.
    Crumrine states that the Poe Brothers were from New England, but
this is a mistake. They were both natives of Frederick County, Maryland,
where Andrew was born September 30th, 1742, and Adam in 1747. George
Poe, their father, who possessed a large estate in Maryland, died when
Andrew was fourteen. By the old law of primogeniture, which was still
in force at that time, one-third of the estate of George Poe went to his
widow and two-thirds to his oldest son.
    Finding that he would inherit none of his father's estate, Andrew Poe
left Maryland shortly after he became of age, and went to Fort Pitt, where
he remained several years, acquiring a little property. In 1768, in com-
pany with John Christ and Andrew Rankin, he settled on Harmon's Creek,
Washington County, then in the heart of an untrodden wilderness. None
of the trio of young pioneers was married, and so they lived together.
   In a letter written in 1768 by Adam Poe, of Ravenna, Ohio, a son of
Andrew Poe, he says that a fort was built at his father's place in this
county, which he described as a square stockade, covering about half an
acre, with a blockhouse at each corner and the cabin in the center. Mr.
Poe stated that these blockhouses were standing until he was about sixteen
years of age. The site of this fort is not known today, nor is the location
of the Poe farm where it stood. The old survey records in the recorder's
office show that Andrew Poe located a tract of three hundred thirty-three
acres on Mill Creek, which he called "Poe-Wood." This land was entered
by him on June 24th, 1780, and surveyed to him February 15th, 1786. All
records of Andrew Poe cease with this entry; which makes it impossible
to trace it to the present owner.
   Crumrine states that Andrew and Adam Poe first settled on a farm in
Smith Township, which they sold to Arthur Campbell, but this seems to
be another error; for there are no records in the recorder's office to sub-
stantiate it. And Adam Poe, son of Andrew Poe, said that his father
lived only on Harmon Creek in this county.
   Some time after the three young pioneers settled on Harmon Creek,
Christ and Rankin took up land of their own and left Andrew. Then for
a short time one Robert Canaday lived with him; but he was married in
about a year and also took up land for himself. Not long afterwards both
Canaday and his wife were captured by a raid-party of Indians and held
for two years before they secured their release.
   After Canaday left, Andrew returned to his old home in Maryland and
induced his younger brother, Adam, to return to Washington County with
him. This was in the spring of 1772. Adam located a tract of three
hundred seventy-seven and three-eighths acres on Harmon Creek, which
he called "Poeville." This was entered on June 24th, 1780, surveyed to
him on January 13th, 1786, and patented March 14th, 1788. It is about
four miles west of Burgettstown, but its present owners and exact loca-
tion will be given later.
   The homesteads of the Poe Brothers were on an exposed section of the
western frontier of Washington County, and in the path of almost every
Indian raid through that section. It was at that time that they developed
       (8) Vl


113





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


such a liking for Indian hunting, and they took part in every expedition
from that section against the hostiles, besides going on numerous Indian
hunts on their own account. The scalp of many a hostile warrior hung in
their cabins, and their equals as scouts and Indian fighters were not to be
found in southwestern Pennsylvania.
    During all those years of Indian warfare the Poe Brothers served in
the militia for the defense of the frontier. Andrew Poe commanded a
company of scouts or rangers, that was stationed on the Ohio River at
various times, and drew muskets and ammunition from the government.
The old records show that the brothers, who were always together on
these expeditions, served in this frontier warfare against the Indians
from August, 1776, until August, 1783; and many were the skirmishes and
pitched battles they fought with the savages during those years.
   The old family records state that Adam Poe was married in 1778 (the
pension records at Washington, D. C., give October 12th, 1777, as the
date) to a widow named Elizabeth Cochran, who was born on the north-
west coast of Ireland in February, 1756. Several children were born to
this union, and their descendants are still living in Ohio. Mrs. Poe's first
husband was killed by Indians on the Ohio River, opposite the site of East
Liverpool.
   Andrew Poe was married on January 15th, 1780, to Elizabeth Rutan,
of Williamsport, now Monongahela city. Eleven children were born to
this union as follows: Catherine, Sally, Betsy, Rachel, Polly, Adam,
George, Esther, Susan, Rebecca, and Ruth. Many of their descendants
are still living in Ohio.
   Adam Poe, the son of Andrew Poe, tells us that during the summer of
1780 the Indians were very troublesome to the settlers on Harmon Creek.
His father lost six horses by theft, which he never recovered; and it was
at this time that Robert Canaday and his wife were captured.
   Matters became so bad that summer that the Poe Brothers took their
wives to a settlement, and then returned to their farms, which they worked
while they fought Indians as a pastime. The raids continued until the
heavy snows of winter blocked the trails, after which it was safe for the
brothers to take their families back to their wilderness homes.
   After blockhouses were built on the Ohio River, many whites settled
in what is now Greene Township, Beaver County, not far from the Har-
mon Creek settlements. As long as garrisons were kept in these forts
the frontier was safe, but as soon as they were withdrawn the raids on
Washington County were renewed.
   Historians differ as to the date of the famous fight of the Poe brothers
with Bigfoot, the Wyandot chief. Some place it in 1781, while others
give 1782. In the data furnished the author by Mrs. Pratt the date is
given as June, 1781, and this is undoubtedly correct. This historic fight
was related on the frontier for many years, and many are the versions
that have been given. The following was related by Andrew Poe to his
son, Adam, who wrote it down just as the old Indian fighter told it. It
has been preserved in the Poe family, and it is safe to say that it is
authentic.
   One night in June, 1781, seven Wyandot warriors attacked the house
of Thomas Bay, who lived on Raccoon Creek, and owned four hundred


114





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


fourteen acres adjacent to the site of Burgettstown. Several men were
at Bay's at the time, and the Indians were repulsed. From there they
went to the cabin of an old man named William Jackson, who was alone
and was quickly captured, after which the Wyandots started for Ohio
with their prisoner.
   After the fight at Bay's the men there spread the alarm, and when the
settlers had all gathered it was found that Jackson was missing. An
investigation of his cabin revealed the fact of his capture, and twelve men,
led by the Poe Brothers, started in pursuit.
   The late James Simpson, historian of Cross Creek village, gives this
man's name as Phillip Jackson, and he says that he was captured while
working in a flax field on Harmon Creek. He was a carpenter, which fact
was known to the Wyandots, and they intended to force him to build
some cabins for them. According to Simpson, Jackson's son saw his
father captured, and the boy fled nine miles to Cherry's fort for help. A
rescue party composed of Andrew Poe, Adam Poe, John Cherry, John
Jack, William Castleman, William Rankin, and James Whiteacre, all well
mounted, started in pursuit.
   As soon as it was light enough to see, the rescue party started. The
trail was easily followed, and the men proceeded rapidly. When they
reached the summit of a hill above the Ohio River, in what is now Han-
cock County, West Virginia, and about twelve miles from their starting
point, they dismounted and proceeded on foot. The trail turned down the
river, and, as they crossed a small stream, Andrew Poe noticed that the
water in the tracks was still muddy. Knowing that they were close behind
the hostiles, Poe cautioned the men to be very quiet; for he knew that the
Indians would kill their prisoner at the first sign of rescue.
   One account states that the fight took place near the mouth of Tom-
linson Run, on the opposite side of the Ohio; but Andrew Poe stated that
it occurred in Hancock County, West Virginia, opposite the mouth of
Little Yellow Creek, and about three miles below where Wellsville, Ohio,
now stands.
   The men made considerable noise with their feet, and Andrew Poe
sent them down stream in charge of his brother, Adam, to look for the
Indians, while he proceeded up the river alone. The bank was about
twelve feet high, which screened him from the view of anyone standing on
the shore. He went very quietly, and after going a short distance he
crawled to the edge and looked over. To his surprise he saw two Indians,
with their rifles grasped in their hands, listening to the noise made by
the main party of whites down the river.
   One of the Indians, who was none other than the noted Wyandot
chief, Bigfoot, was very large and powerful; in fact, he was so large that
he has been termed the Indian giant in some versions of the fight. Some
historians of later days have picked upon this statement to discredit the
entire story, although they do not deny that Poe actually fought two In-
dians. However, some of them claim that there was no chief named
Bigfoot, and they say that the old chronicles give the impression that he
was about ten feet tall. The author has investigated this at considerable
length, and found nothing that would give the least impression that this
warrior was other than a very large Indian; and there is no doubt but


115





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


that his name was Bigfoot. The old accounts written during the early
years of the last century when the Poes were still living, and the story of
Andrew Poe himself are the best evidence.
   Poe's movements had been so stealthy that the Indians were not aware
of his presence. He decided to shoot the big warrior and capture the
smaller. Taking careful aim, he pulled the trigger, but the gun missed
fire, and the hammer fell with a resounding snap. With startled exclama-
tions of "Waugh, waugh," the Indians quickly looked in the direction
whence the sound came; but Poe had as quickly drawn his rifle back and
they did not locate him.
   By this time the main party of whites had overtaken the other five
Indians with their prisoner on the river bank some distance below and had
attacked. The cracking of their rifles drew the attention of Bigfoot and
his companion, and again Andrew Poe leveled his rifle and took aim at
the Wyandot chief; but again the hammer fell with a noisy snap.
   Now comes one of the greatest exhibitions of courage ever shown by
any man, red or white, on the whole Western Border. In fact, it stands
without a parallel in all frontier history. Without a moment's hesitation
Andrew Poe dropped his useless gun and leaped over the bank upon the
two startled Indians before they had even time to raise their weapons,
although they had turned again at the second snap of the rifle. This one
act alone placed Poe in the front rank of border fighters; and among all
the Indian hunters and killers whom this country has ever produced, he
stands without a peer.
   Only his great strength saved him. Both Indians were thrown to the
ground by the sudden attack, and Poe seized each around the neck as all
three crashed to the ground together. Bigfoot landed on his back with
Poe on top. The white man's left arm encircled the big Indian's neck, and
with his powerful right he held the smaller savage's neck in a vise like
grip. It was a struggle to the death. Poe's scalping knife was in a sheath
attached to his belt on his left side and was pressed against Bigfoot's
body. He attempted to reach it with his left hand and at the same time
hold the two Indians down,-a man sized job. If he could get the weapon
he could kill Bigfoot with ease, and the capture of the smaller warrior
would then be certain. After several attempts he got a slight hold upon
the handle, but Bigfoot saw the trick and seized Poe's hand. The white
man made several desperate attempts to draw the knife, when suddenly
Bigfoot let go, and the hand jerked the weapon out so quickly that it fell
from his grasp into the water.
   At that instant the smaller Indian drew his head from under Poe's arm
and was free. A gun lay beside them where it had fallen when the scout
made his sudden attack, and the Indian dared not attempt to seize it for
fear of again falling into Poe's grasp. Bigfoot shouted something in his
native tongue, and threw both powerful arms around Poe's body, holding
him in a bear-like hug. Nearby was a raft upon which were two toma-
hawks. Seizing one the little Indian made a vicious swipe at Poe's head,
but the scout kicked the savage's wrist at just the right instant, knocking
the weapon into the water.
   Furiously Bigfoot shouted again, and the little Indian seized the
remaining tomahawk. Cautiously he approached the two men, and after


116





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


making several feints, being very careful to keep out of reach of the
white man's foot, he struck at Poe's head. The latter threw up his right
arm, and received the blow on his wrist. One bone was broken, and the
cords of three fingers severed, and the entire hand with the exception of
the forefinger, was disabled. Many another man would have fallen an
easy victim, but Poe never gave up. The tomahawk caught in the sinews
of his arm and was jerked from the Indian's hand, flying over Poe's head.
Just at this instant Bigfoot let go his hold, and the white man sprang to
his feet, and seizing the cocked gun lying beside him as he arose, he raised
it with his left hand and shot the smaller Indian through the body.
   Bigfoot leaped to his feet, and before Poe could secure another weapon
the giant Wyandot seized him by the collar and hip and threw him into
the river. But Poe was game to the core. He grasped the Indian's buck-
skin breechclout and dragged the savage into the water with him.
   Then began a terrible death struggle. The water was deep and both
men went down, locked in each other's embrace. They were some dis-
tance from the shore when they came to the surface, and each made a
desperate effort to drown the other. Poe was evidently the stronger of
the two, for he was compelled to fight with one hand, and if he had had
the use of both the fight would have been short. Seizing the Indian's
scalp lock, he kept his head under water. Poe was a strong swimmer, but
his injured right hand hampered him, and it was hard to keep his own
head above water. Bigfoot's struggles slowly ceased, and the scout, think-
ing he was unconscious, placed his right arm around the savage's neck
and started for the shore.
   Bigfoot was not so easily conquered; for he was only playing possum.
Quick as a flash he wriggled from Poe's arm and started swimming for
the shore. Andrew started after him, but with only one good hand he
realized that he would lose the race, and he started down the stream as
rapidly as possible, calling to his brother, Adam, who was with the other
white men only a short distance away.
   The instant Bigfoot reached the shore he seized the gun he had dropped
when Poe leaped upon him, but in cocking it he broke the lock, an accident
that probably saved Andrew's life. Quickly seizing the rifle with which
Poe had shot the smaller Indian, he secured a bullet pouch from the raft.
Just at that instant Adam Poe, who had heard his brother's call, appeared
on the bank above; but his gun was empty. Quickly taking in the situa-
tion, he commenced to reload.
   Then began a race between the red man and the white, with victory
and life as the stake for the one who would be the first to ram home the
charge. Reloading a gun in those days was a very different matter from
what it is today. The powder had to be poured into the barrel, the bullet
rammed down, and the pan primed.
   Both were experts, and the race was about even when a slight accident
turned the tide of battle in favor of the Poes and sealed Bigfoot's fate.
After pouring the powder in the muzzle of the gun, the Indian drew the
ramrod from its case too hastily and it fell from his grasp, falling a few
feet away. It was only a delay of a second, but it was enough to give
Adam Poe the advantage. The race was so close, however, that just as a
bullet from Adam Poe's rifle went crashing through his vitals, the Indian


117





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was in the act of raising his gun to shoot Andrew; and the dropping of a
ramrod had saved the latter's life.
    Andrew was almost exhausted, and Adam leaped into the river to aid
 him; but in the face of drowning the daring scout shouted to his brother
 to secure the big Indian's scalp. Bigfoot had not been killed, and was
 struggling to reach the water to prevent the whites from scalping him
 before he died. However, Adam paused not a second but went to help his
 brother to shore. The wounded warrior struggled into deep water and his
 body was carried away by the current.
    Just at this instant the remaining whites arrived on the scene, and
 mistaking Andrew Poe for a wounded Indian, they fired three shots at
 him before they discovered their mistake. One bullet struck him in the
 collarbone, near the shoulder, but passed through his body. He was
 assisted to shore by his brother, where his wound was cleaned by drawing
 a silk handkerchief through it. His condition was critical, and it was
 feared for a long time that he would not recover; but his rugged constitu-
 tion and strength came to his rescue and he finally got entirely well.
   We will now return to the main party after Andrew Poe left and
started on his adventure up the river. Led by Adam Poe, they followed
the Indians' trail to the river, where they surprised five warriors pre-
paring to cross on a raft with Jackson, their prisoner. The latter saw
the rescue party as soon as the Indians discovered it, and he broke away
and ran towards his friends, pursued by a warrior with uplifted toma-
hawk, who managed to strike him on the back, inflicting a slight wound
before Jackson reached safety.
   The whites and Indians fired almost together, and then the savages
plunged into the river and started to swim across. The old records of
the fight state that all were so badly wounded that only one, named
Scotash, reached the opposite shore.
   John Cherry was shot through the left lung during the fighting and,
in spite of his comrades' rough efforts to relieve him, he died an hour
later.
   Andrew Poe, who was believed to be dying, and John Cherry's body
were carried to the horses, and then taken back to the settlements. John
Cherry was buried beside his father in the graveyard near Cherry's Fort,
on the Cherry farm, in Mount Pleasant Township, about three miles from
Hickory. This ancient burial ground has already been described in an-
other chapter.
   No scalps were taken by the whites. The only souvenir of the fight
brought back was the tomahawk with which the smaller Indian struck
Andrew Poe on the arm. This weapon, which had fallen on the shore of
the river when jerked from the savage's hand, was picked up by Adam
Poe; and the ancient relic of this famous fight of the old frontier is still
preserved in the Poe family. It is now owned by Mrs. Mabel Poe Dantel,
of Cleveland, Ohio, a great-granddaughter of Adam Poe. The blade is
seven and one-quarter inches long, and two inches wide at the edge. Mrs.
Dantel kindly supplied me with a photograph for this history.
   The manuscript of the late Lyman Draper in the archives of the Wis-
consin Historical Society states that the big Indian's name was not Big-
foot, but does not give his name. The date of the fight is given as in
September, 1781, but Andrew Poe himself fixed the time as June. Ac-


118





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


cording to the Draper manuscript, the Half King on September 20th, 1781,
sent seven warriors, three of whom were his sons, on a raid into Wash-
ington County. The only survivor of this party was Scotash, a son of the
Half King. The two with whom Andrew had his battle were the other
two sons.
    An old border story tells how an attempt was afterwards made on the
 life of Andrew Poe by the Wyandots; but Poe makes no mention of this,
 and the tale is denied by historians. Charles McKnight, in "Our Western
 Border," gives this tale. He says that Bigfoot had five brothers, all equally
 noted for their strength. After the death of Bigfoot a noted warrior
 named Rohnyenness was sent by the tribe to Andrew Poe's cabin to kill
 him.
    The Indian was hospitably received by Poe, and the savage could not
 bring himself to commit the deed. Poe invited the Indian to remain over
 night. When Poe was asleep the Wyandot arose, knife in hand, to avenge
 the death of Bigfoot, but the trust which the white man had placed in
 him deterred the savage and he slunk back to his blankets, leaving the
 cabin the next morning. This Indian was afterwards a Christian convert,
 and he related the story to the missionaries, who told it to the whites. It
 was denied by historians years later, but whether they had any grounds
 to doubt the story we cannot say. Some historians of later times some-
 times try to gain a little fame by claiming that some long accepted his-
 torical fact is not true.
    In his interesting book, "The Life and Times of Patrick Gass," J. G.
 Jacobs, a newspaper man at Wellsburg, West Virginia, nearly seventy
 years ago, described the site of Poe's battle as at the mouth of Tomlinson
 Run, Hancock County, West Virginia. His authority for this statement
 was one John Brown, who resided at that time (1859) in a house which
 he claimed stood on almost the spot where the fight took place. Mr.
 Brown was an old resident of that locality, and some years before 1859
 he found a bark canoe under some rocks along the Ohio River, and he was
 of the opinion that it was the same used by the Indians to cross at that
 time. This is hardly probable, as the Indians had a raft. However, this
 canoe had probably been left there by Indians at some time. Mr. Brown's
 statements were corroborated by other residents in that vicinity.
   In his account of the battle, Mr. Jacobs speaks of the big Indian as
named Bigfoot. He derived his information from persons acquainted
with pioneer times; and so at this late date we must accept their state-
ments as true.
   Mr. Brown, just mentioned, related to Mr. Jacobs the story of the
captivity of Thomas Edgington, who resided at the mouth of Harmon
Creek. He was captured by Indians one day while on his way to the fort
of Colonel James Brown, his nearest neighbor, to borrow a log chain. He
was taken to the Wyandot villages in Ohio, and there he met Simon
Girty, who informed him that one of his captors was none other than
Scotash, the only survivor of the encounter with the whites in which Big-
foot was killed. On his hand was a large scar from a wound received in
the battle.
   Scotash claimed Edgington as his captive, and held him for two years.
During this period the two became well acquainted, and the Indian told
his prisoner that after he was wounded in the fight he stole away, swam


119





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the river and remained concealed in the brush. That night he constructed
a raft, returned to the scene of the battle, and recovered all of the bodies
of the slain warriors except that of Bigfoot, who had floated down the
river. Taking them to the Ohio shore on the raft, he buried them, and
then returned to his tribe, the sole survivor of one of the most desperate
battles of the old frontier.
   Mr. Edgington paid a high tribute to the character of this Indian by
stating that he was the noblest man he ever knew. Sometimes the other
Indians would impose upon Edgington, but Scotash, his master, always
encouraged him to take his own part. Occasionally the others would
double on him, and then Scotash would interfere with both knife and
tomahawk. He always shared his blanket and last bite of food with his
white captive, and after two years released him. Edgington afterwards
lived in Washington County.
   The Poe brothers lived in Washington County for several years after
this battle. Just where Andrew Poe lived in Washington County the
author has been unable to find out. After Robinson Township was erected,
in northern Washington County, on July 15th, 1781, Andrew Poe was
made constable, which office he held until his removal to Beaver County
in 1784.
   In a letter dated March 22nd, 1849, written to Lyman C. Draper by
Adam Poe, son of Andrew Poe, the latter states that in 1784 his father
traded his farm on Harmon Creek to one James Mathews for a settlement
right which Mathews had to a tract of land near the Ohio River in Greene
Township, Beaver County. Mathews had lived on this land for one year,
but had been driven away by Indians.
   Andrew Poe immediately built a fort there. This was in the form of
a square, covering half an acre, with a blockhouse at each corner. These
stood until 1849, near the present site of Hookstown. A number of settlers
who had been driven from their homes returned as soon as they heard that
Andrew Poe had settled there. Only one man was killed there after Poe's
Fort was built. This was John McCleery, who was murdered about
seventy yards from the fort while Andrew Poe was at Harmon Creek
settlement, sixteen miles away, harvesting.
   Andrew Poe died on July 15th, 1823, aged eighty-one years, and is
buried in the old graveyard at Mill Creek Presbyterian Church at Hooks-
town. Some of his descendants still live in that locality.
   Just when Adam Poe left Washington County cannot now be deter-
mined. Bausman, in his "History of Beaver County," says that it was
about 1820; but after going over the old records in the Washington County
recorder's office, the author is of the opinion that it was about 1800 or
1803. These old records show that on November 27th, 1794, Adam Poe
purchased one hundred thirty acres on Mill Creek, Washington County,
from the estate of Robert Rutherford, and on January 27th, 1795, he
bought twenty-two acres adjoining "Poeville," on Harmon Creek, from
Matthew Ritchie.
   The next deed in which Poe's name appears is dated July 5th, 1803.
By it Adam Poe and his wife, Elizabeth, late of Washington County, sold
the remainder of "Poeville," containing two hundred eighty-six acres, to
William Braden. From this record it appears that Adam Poe had already


120





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


left Washington County. Braden willed this farm to his son, John, who
lived there until his death, and his heirs sold it to Thomas C. and John
Hunter. Thomas C. Hunter sold his interest to Mrs. Rachel McComb, who
in turn transferred it to Robert McGaugh. The latter willed it to his son,
Robert, who left it to his three children. For many years the farm was
managed by John L. McGaugh, and was one of the most prosperous in the
Burgettstown section, but in 1917 it was sold to the Harmon Creek Coal
Company for "daylight" coal mining, and a few years more will probably
see the entire surface destroyed.
   From the deed which Adam Poe received from President Jefferson
for Government land in Ohio, it would appear that Poe was a resident of
Washington County in 1808. This ancient document, dated June 10th,
1808, is made out to Adam Poe of Washington County; but from the
records in the Washington County recorder's office, he had sold all his land
here several years before that time.
   The following interesting record is found in the Pennsylvania Colonial
Records, Volume 13, page 248:
                                     "Philadelphia, April 2, 1782.
   "By an order drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable Dorsey
Pentecost, Esq., for the sum of twelve pounds ten shillings, to be paid to
Adam Poe for taking an Indian scalp in the county of Washington, agree-
able to the proclamation of the Board."
   After leaving Washington County, Adam Poe settled at the mouth of
the Little Beaver River, on the north side of the Ohio. From there he
went to Stark County, Ohio, and resided near Massilon until his death,
which occurred on September 23rd, 1840. Just two weeks before he died
he attended a mass meeting at Massilon to see General William Henry
Harrison. IHe is buried in the old Sixteen Cemetery near Massilon.
   A monument erected by the citizens of Massilon over his grave was
dedicated on May 15th, 1910, at which time the tomahawk already de-
scribed was on exhibition. It was then owned by William Poe, of Ravenna,
Ohio, a grandson of the old Indian fighter, who died December 10th, 1910.
From him it passed to his brother, Charles E. Poe, and after his death on
January 9th, 1916, it was given to his daughter, Mrs. Dantel.





                        CHAPTER XXII.

                            1754-1780.

                FOUNDING THE OHIO MISSIONS.

                THE STORY OF THE MORAVIANS:
TIlE MIORAVIANS-CHRISTIAN FREDERICK POST AND JOHN HECKEWELDER
   EXPLORE THE OHIO COUNTRY-THE VALLEY OF THE TUSCARAWAS-
   POST LEAVES HECKEWELDER AT TIHE MISSION-ZEISBERGER AND
   HECKEWELDER FOUND THREE MISSIONS ON THE TUSCARAWAS-THE
   REVOLUTION-HECKEWELDER WINS THE DELAWARES FOR THE AMIER-
   ICANS--LICHTENAU ABANDONED-SALEM FOUNDED.











                     ILLUSTRATIONS




                                                                          Page
War poster on British scalp-buyers         --  --------------- ---------     73
Home of Capt. Samuel Brady                                                   85
Where bones of Hupp and Fisher were found                                   111
Original tomahawk captured by Ross in  Big  Foot fight .........    ........ 111
Site of Moravian Indian village, Gnadenhutten                               133
Ruins of old Springhouse at Williamson's fort                               147
Clothing worn by Jacob Miller, Sr., when killed                             153
Site of Miller's blockhouse on Dutch Fork                                   153
Grove of trees known as "Battle Island"                                     173
"Battle Island" as it appears today                          ..173
Pond from which Crawford's men secured water                                177
Monument on spot where Crawford was burned at stake                         187
Site of Capt. Pipe's Village-Valley of Tymochtee Creek                      187
Dr. Joseph Winloch Knight, son of Dr. John Knight                           201
Major Daniel Leet, of Washington County                                     209
Cabin built by Major Daniel Leet                                            209
Springhouse near Doddridge's blockhouse                                     231
Site of Doddridge's blockhouse, west of West Middletown         .           231
Ruins of Lawrence Stricker's blockhouse                                     240
Inside corner of ruins, Stricker's blockhouse                               240
Old pear tree, site of Wolfe's fort, old McDowell homestead                 245
Old book found at side of infant killed by Indians        ..-------         259
Grave of William Stephenson, of St. Clair's army                            267
Monument on site of St. Clair's defeat ----.                                267
Stone marking real end of Mason and Dixon line                              317
Courthouse, Washington                                                      339
Mrs. Martha Taylor Brownlee               .                                 41'1
Historic West Middletown --                                                 417
Home of Thomas McKeever                                                     423
Barn of Thomas McKeever                                                     423
Mastodon or Mammoth teeth found by Hugh Curry                               441
Home of Colonel George Morgan                                     -----..-- 456
Ruins of old water wheel at Chambers' Mill                                  461
Chambers' Mill                            -------                           461
Hart's Mill                                                                 467
Village of Am ity                                                ---------------- 467
Stone house erected by Alexander McConnell                                  481
Barn erected by Alexander McConnell                                         481
Ewing's Mill                                                                485
Old Leech Mill                                                        _     485
Historic Cross Creek village                                                489
Patrick Gass                                                      __        509
Mrs. Rachel Gass Brierley     ._                                            509
Home of Squire Lindley                                                  _   513
Site of Lindley's Fort                                                      513
Lindley's mill   _.                                                         515
Lindley's old mill                                                          515
Smith's old mill                                                            533
Martin's tavern                                                     _ -----------_ 537
Pancake, Historic village of                                 _.. ....... --._ 537
Old  Unity mill  .------                                                    541
Ulery mill                                                                  541
Oil tanks struck by lightning                                               581
Washington County oil gusher                                       _        581
House in which Rev. Alexander Campbell lived    ..     ....       ...       611
Old graveyard at Cross Creek village                                 ____ 611
Original agreement made between William Smiley, John McClean and Archibald
    Allison                                                        .....    617
Ruins of old chapel at Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church ------             619
Church and old graveyard at Buffalo village                                 619
Cabin of John McDowell -   -                                                621
Upper Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church                                          621





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                 The Master's voice comes echoing down
                   Along time's sacred aisle,
                 And we by faith the message hear,
                   That all our thoughts beguile;
                 Oh, man, rejoice, lift up thy heart,
                   Give praise to God on high;
                 Though stars may fade and world depart,
                   Thy soul shall never die.
                 But when all time has passed away,
                   And Heaven's soft lights appear,
                 For you will dawn eternal day,
                   And loved ones meet you there.
                                     -J. R. Forrest.
    In all the history of the Western Border no subject is more familiar
 to the readers of Indian history than the massacre of the Moravian Indians
 at Gnadenhutten, Ohio; but very few, if any, accounts give a connected
 narrative of the founding of the missions, the events preceding the mas-
 sacre and the later history of these Indians. Most historical accounts
 begin and end with the massacre, and it is from several sources that the
 entire history of these people may be learned.
    The story of the Moravian missionaries and their Indian converts on
the Tuscarawas is one of the bloodiest in all the history of the old frontier.
The details, even after the passing of one hundred forty-three years, chill
the most hardened heart. It has a very important place in the Indian
history of Washington County; for many of the events which led up to
the massacre of March 8th, 1782, took place in this section, and the men
of the Williamson expedition were all from this county. Yet, there are
two sides to even this story, and the author will try to give the details in
an unbiased manner.
   Gnadenhutten, Ohio, where the massacre was committed, is still a
Moravian settlement, but the people are all white. The author visited this
town in 1916, and a description of the site of the old Indian villages was
secured first hand at that time. The details of those ancient times are
still preserved with remarkable accuracy by the people of Gnadenhutten.
   The Moravians, or Herrnhuters, sometimes called the Church of the
Brethren, or the Unity of the Brethren, claim descent from the ancient
church of the Bohemian Brethren, founded in 1467 by the followers of
Peter of Chelczicky, a contemporary of Huss. They believe that Chris-
tians should lay aside all distinctions of rank, and refrain from military
service and the use of oaths. They believe that war is wrong, and they
are taught to take no part in it, not even in their own defense. They were
persecuted, and in the early part of the sixteenth century many fled to
Poland and Russia. In 1722 many settled in Saxony, and a few years
later settlements were established in Germany, Great Britain, America,
Africa, and many other parts of the world. Those in America made
efforts to Christianize the Indians with some success, which is carried on
to this day, even among the far Western tribes. Moravia, where this
religion was born, was a crown province of Austria until the World war.
   The early settlement of the Moravians was at Bethlehem, Pennsyl-


122





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


vania, and it was there that that trio of intrepid missionary explorers,
Christian Frederick Post, John Heckewelder, and David Zeisberger, met.
These men devoted their lives to the gospel of Christ in the Western
wilderness.
   Before 1760 Christian Frederick Post had crossed the Alleghenies and
penetrated far into that mysterious land beyond the Ohio, and the journal
of his wanderings is one of the most important records of Colonial Penn-
sylvania. No other man of his time knew the country west of the moun-
tains and the tribes that inhabited it as well as he. Several times he was
ambassador to the Western tribes for the governor of Pennsylvania, and
on many occasions nearly lost his life. He was born in Conitz, Russian
Poland, in 1710, and came to America with a Moravian colony in 1742.
   Both Zeisberger and Heckewelder were natives of Moravia, where the
former was born April 11th, 1721, and the latter on March 12th, 1743.
Both came to America with Moravian colonies when young men, and
settled at the little frontier village of Bethlehem.
   Young Heckewelder's first call as a missionary came in 1\arch, 1762,
when he was just nineteen. Post was about to start for the Ohio country
to found a mission, when he asked the church to send the youth as his
associate. After a journey of many hardships across the mountains they
arrived, on April 11th, at a cabin Post had built the year before near the
Indian village of Tuscarawas, on the Muskingum River, near the present
town of Bolivar, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
   After their arrival Post persuaded the Delawares to send a delegation
to a council to be held at Lancaster, Pennsylvania; but they would not go
unless Post accompanied them. In order to hold their mission station
against the hostiles it was necessary for some one to remain in charge,
and young Heckewelder volunteered.
   The young missionary was left on his own resources. Food became
scarce, and he would have died from fever and starvation but for the help
of a friendly trader named Calhoun. He remained until Post sent word
for him to return to Pennsylvania, and he made the long journey through
the wilderness alone, reaching Lancaster in December. He spent the next
nine years in mission work among the Indians of Pennsylvania.
   In 1771 David Zeisberger was sent to the Tuscarawas to find a suitable
location for a mission. He was received kindly by Netawatwes, head
chief of the Delawares, who promised him a land grant in the beautiful
Tuscarawas Valley. When Zeisberger returned with his report, the
Moravian Church decided to accept the offer. Zeisberger asked for John
Heckewelder as his associate; and thus began the labors of these two men
together which continued for more than a third of a century.
   The missionaries returned to Ohio early in the spring of 1772, and on
March 16th Zeisberger discovered Schoenbrun, known among the Indians
as the Beautiful Spring. The clear water from the spring fed a large
lake. It was a beautiful spot, ideal for a new settlement; and it is still
beautiful, although the spring has long since dried up, and the lake is
now only a pond of stagnant water.
   Schoenbrun Mission was founded on May 3rd, 1772; and this was the
beginning of the sad story of the Moravians in Ohio. This village was
abandoned within a short time, and New Schoenbrun was founded on a


123





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


better location nearer the spring. No village is now on the site, which is
on the west bank of the Tuscarawas River, two miles south of New Phila-
delphia. Two other missions were founded in the summer of 1772-
Gnadenhutten, on the east bank of the Tuscarawas, seven miles south of
New Schoenbrun, and Lichtenau, on the same stream, two and a half miles
below Coshocton.
    Gnadenhutten was the largest and best located of the three. Sub-
stantial cabins and a log church were erected, and two rows of apple
trees were planted, the last of which stood until July 16th, 1889. A trail
was cut down the high river bank to a boat landing, and in the rich
bottom lands across the river the Indian converts planted their crops. The
meaning of Gnadenhutten is "Tents of Grace," and of Lichtenau, "Sunlit
Meadow."
    The fame of these villages spread far and wide, and in a few years
many Indians were converted. Peace and plenty reigned over the valley
of the Tuscarawas, and it is doubtful if, in all America, a happier settle-
ment could have been found. But it was the calm which precedes the
hurricane; for the Revolution brought a fearful storm of hatred and
bloodshed over the whole Western frontier.
   During the war the hostile Delawares, Wyandots, Shawnese, Hurons
and other tribes friendly to the English raided the settlements of Western
Pennsylvania. These tribes were paid by the British to fight the Colonists.
This has been condemned by the Americans; but it was a war measure
which the Colonists had tried to use against the British, but failed because
of the loyalty of the Six Nations to the crown.
   The Moravian villages were midway between the American settle-
ments on the east and the British headquarters at Detroit; and, although
the Moravian Indians and their missionaries took no part in the conflict,
they were suspected and hated by both sides. There was no reason for
this feeling on the part of the Americans; for the missionaries were more
friendly to them than to the English, and it is a well known fact that
information of many a hostile raid was sent by Zeisberger to the com-
mander at Fort Pitt in time to save many lives.
   In the spring of 1778 John Heckewelder prevented a general uprising
of all the Western tribes by winning the Delawares to the American cause.
When he reached Fort Pitt in the spring he found general consternation
among the settlers. A grand council was to be held at Gotchachgunk,
which stood on the site of Coshocton, to induce the peaceful Delawares to
join the hostiles. A general uprising of all the tribes would be the result.
Hastening to Gotchachgunk, Heckewelder was just in time to win the
Delawares, with the help of Chief White Eyes, the friend of the Amer-
icans; and this was in the face of the offers of Simon Girty, Matthew
Elliott and Alexander McKee, the British agents.
   Lichtenau was abandoned in the spring of 1780, as it was too far from
the other missions, and a new village called Salem was founded by Hecke-
welder on the west bank of the Tuscarawas, a few miles below Gnaden-
hutten, and a mile and a half southwest of the present Port Washington.
There is nothing now to indicate where this village stood. Heckewelder
was unitca in marriage on July 4th, 1780, with Miss Sarah Ohneberg in
the little log church at Salem. His bride was a daughter of the Rev.


124





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


G;eorge Ohneberg, a Moravian missionary in the West Indies. Johanna
Maria Heckewelder, their first child, born at Salem, April 6th, 1781, was
the fourth white child born in the State of Ohio. She died at Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania, September 19th, 1868.






                         CHAPTER XXIII.

                            1780-1782.
                     THE STORM GATHERS.
HALF-WAY HOUSE OF THE WARRIORS-RAID ON BUFFALO CREEK-JOHN
   CARPENTER'S ESCAPE-MORAVIANS TAKEN PRISONER TO UPPER SAN-
   DUSKY-THE MISSIONARIES TAKEN TO DETROIT-RELEASED BY THE
   BRITISH-RETURN TO UPPER SANDUSKY-WILLIAMSON'S FIRST EXPE-
   DITION FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-MORAVIANS TAKEN PRISONERS
   TO FORT PITT-RELEASED BY THE COMMANDANT-THE TERRIBLE
   WINTER OF 1781-82-MORAVIANS RETURN TO THE TUSCARAWAS
   VALLEY TO GATHER CORN.

                   The shadows soft and fleeting,
                     Fell o'er the brow of night,
                   And like a sombre curtain
                     Shut out the fading light.
                              -J. R. Forrest.
   The storm of bitter hatred against the Moravians that had gathered
on the Western Border for several years did not break until near the close
of the Revolution; and then its fury was so intense that it almost swept
these peaceful Indians from the face of the earth, in a great wave of fire
and blood. The Moravian Indians were thoroughly hated by their pagan
brethren, and held in suspicion by the American settlers. Through Wash-
ington County and other sections of the Western frontier their three towns
were known as the "Half-Way House of the Warriors."    The whites
claimed that war parties from the hostile tribes made these villages a
stopping place while on raids against the whites; and on the other hand
the Indian allies of the British charged the Moravians with giving the
Americans information of their intended raids.
   There were some grounds for this belief on the part of the Americans;
but it is a fact that the evidence against the Moravians was manufactured
by the hostiles for the purpose of turning the whites against the converts.
Colonel Brodhead, commander at Fort Pitt, understood the matter thor-
oughly. He realized that the Christian Indians were in great danger from
their pagan relatives, and he invited the missionaries to bring their people
under the protection of Fort Pitt; but they refused.
   Matters grew worse as time passed. The settlers of Washington County
heard many reports that the Moravian Indians had taken part in raids
against the whites. It was common talk on the frontier that bands of


125





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


hostile warriors secured provisions and were given shelter at the villages
on the Tuscarawas.
   During the summer of 1781 an entire family was murdered by hostiles
on Buffalo Creek, Washington County, and several whites carried off into
captivity. John Carpenter, one of these prisoners, made his escape. When
he returned he reported that one of the warriors, who could speak English,
claimed to be a Moravian. This was a trick of the hostiles to throw
suspicion on the converts, and it succeeded even beyond their expectations.
   The hostiles became more and more suspicious of their Christian rela-
tives as time passed. Finally, several chiefs and Tories went before the
British commander at Detroit and charged the missionaries in particular
and the Moravian converts in general with being spies for the Americans.
Their arrest was ordered, and early in August, 1781, a large force of
Wyandots and Delawares, accompanied by some British officers, went to
the Moravian villages, where they remained a month gathering the con-
verts and their missionaries.
   The hostiles started on September 11th for the Plains of Sandusky,
driving their captives, both red and white, before them like cattle. That
was the beginning of the end; for never again did the Moravian Indian
villages in the beautiful Tuscarawas Valley attain their former glory.
   That journey of one hundred and twenty-five miles through the wilder-
ness is a harrowing tale of terrible sufferings. The missionaries were
half naked, and their converts were not allowed enough clothing to
properly protect them from the elements. Before starting, the hostiles
had refused to allow them to harvest their corn, and they had scarcely
enough food for the long journey, not to mention supplies for the coming
winter. The wives of the missionaries, Heckewelder, Zeisberger, Sense-
man, and Edwards, accompanied them, carrying babes in their arms,
struggling along on foot before their grim captors, who cared little
whether they lived or died.
   They were left to work out their own salvation at Upper Sandusky,
but they were told that they could not return. Rude cabins were built
near the Indian village, and they prepared to spend the winter as best
they could. But they would have starved if the women of the village had
not supplied them with food from their own scanty store.
   They were no sooner settled with some slight degree of comfort than
the four missionaries were summoned to appear before Major De Peyster,
commandant at Detroit, for trial. This journey was even worse than that
to Upper Sandusky. The women were left behind, only the four mission-
aries being taken. The roads were the worst that Heckewelder had seen
in twenty years of wilderness travel. Their horses often sank so deep in
the swamps that they had to pry them out with poles. They could scarcely
stand against the cold north wind that continually swept across the
prairies in their faces, and the missionaries nearly perished with the cold.
The last night they spent on the bleak point at the junction of the Detroit
and Rouge rivers. It was the most terrible night in all their experience.
They could find no wood for a fire, and they had to keep moving all night
to keep from freezing to death.
   The next morning they were taken across to Detroit in canoes, and
when they were examined by Major De Peyster, he not only released them,


126





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


but ordered that they be "permitted to perform the functions of their
office among the Christian Indians without molestation." He provided
them with food, clothing, blankets, and cooking utensils, and sent food in
advance to their camp at Upper Sandusky. In eight days they were back
with their families.
   During the absence of the missionaries, starvation stared their families
and converts in the face; and after much persuasion their captors per-
mitted them to return to the Tuscarawas Valley to gather their crops.
   Ignorant of the removal of the Moravians, the settlers of Washington
County decided that their villages must be broken up. The word was
passed around, and between seventy-five and one hundred men reported
at the rendezvous in November. David Williamson, a well known resident
of the county and a colonel in the militia, was elected commander-in-chief.
He was a brave man and had gained considerable fame as an Indian
fighter.
   When this force reached the Moravian towns they found the small
party of Indians whom the hostiles had permitted to return to gather the
corn crop; and they were immediately captured. The majority of the
whites were in favor of killing them at once, but the wiser counsel of
Williamson prevailed. By his order they were taken to Fort Pitt, and
tarned over to General Irvine, the commandant, who set them at liberty
as soon as the settlers had left.
   Washington County was loud in its condemnation of Williamson's
action. Scalps were what the people wanted, not prisoners; and when
the news that General Irvine had released the Moravians was received, a
howl of protest went up from one end of the border to the other. If winter
had not been so near it is certain that another expedition would have
started at once; but this was delayed until spring. In the meantime sev-
eral raids were made in Washington County, which kindled fires of ven-
geance over the whole Western Border, which did not burn out until the
last ember had died down around the ashes of the ill-fated Colonel Craw-
ford on the Plains of Sandusky six months later.
   The winter of 1781- and 82 was one of terrible suffering and hardships
for the Moravians and their missionaries who were held as prisoners by
the hostiles at Upper Sandusky. Provisions were scarce and they suffered
much from hunger. The cold was intense. None had sufficient clothing,
and their houses, which were only huts, were so small that they could not
build large enough fires to keep warm. In addition to this, wood was
scarce. Their cattle died of starvation, and famine stalked over the wilder-
ness. Many of the babes died for want of sufficient nourishment from
their mothers' impoverished breasts.
   Conditions were little better among the hostiles, and they would often
eat the meals the Moravians had prepared for themselves. Truly those
devoted missionaries endured much to carry their religion into the wilder-
ness. Conditions became worse as time passed. The crying of starving
children was more than their half-starved parents could endure, and at
last they decided to return to their old home in the valley of the Tuscara-
was, where their corn crops of the year before were still standing in the
fields, unharvested.
   They started, men, women and children, on the long journey to the


127





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


beautiful valley where they had spent so many happy years before the
war. They set out with light hearts, and after five or six days reached
their deserted villages, where they found the corn still on the stalks stand-
ing in the fields. This was the beginning of the end for the Moravians.
From a clear sky the storm broke, which had been gathering ever since
the beginning of the Revolution, and many of them were swept from the
face of the earth by its terrible fury.






                         CHAPTER XXIV.

                            1781-1782.

EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE MASSACRE AT GNADENHUTTEN.
JOHN HUGHES APPOINTED CAPTAIN OF RANGERS-FEAR OF RAIDS ON
    RACCOON AND BUFFALO CREEKS-CAPTURE OF JOHN CARPENTER-
    HIS SON, EDWARD-RAID ON ROBERT WALLACE'S HOME-CAPTURE OF
    MRS. WALLACE AND HER CHILDREN-PURSUIT OF THE RAIDERS-
    DEATH OF MRS. WALLACE AND HER BABY-CAPTIVITY OF THE WAL-
    LACE CHILDREN-RETURN OF LITTLE ROBERT WALLACE AND DEATH
    OF HIS BROTHER-CONFLICTING STORIES OF WALLACE TRAGEDY-
    HUNTERS FIND THE BONES OF MRS. WALLACE-LOCATION OF THE
    WALLACE HOME.

               And when the shades of evening
                 Have tinged the parting day,
               And the world has left us grieving,
                 And old and bent and gray,
               May our eyes behold the gloaming,
                 Where the shadows catch the light,
               And our footsteps cease their roaming
                 E're falls the darker night.
                                  -J. R. Forrest.
   The year 1782 was one of the most tragic in all the bloody history of
Indian raids in Washington County. Scarcely a month passed that the
war cry did not ring through the forest as some settler's cabin was burned
and his family murdered. This was the year of the massacre of the
Moravians at Gnadenhutten; of the ill-fated Crawford expedition against
Upper Sandusky, and of the battles at Miller's and Rice's forts.
   Realizing the exposed condition of our frontier, the Supreme Executive
Council on December 19th, 1781, ordered Captain Joseph Stiles, commis-
sioner of military stores, to deliver to Hon. Joseph Pentecost five hundred
weight of powder, one thousand weight of lead and one thousand flints.
This was to be forwarded by Pentecost to Colonel James Marshel, county
lieutenant, for the defense of the frontier. On December 27th the council
appointed John Hughes captain of a company of rangers to be raised in
Washington County, with Gabriel Peterson as lieutenant and James Mor-
rison as ensign. On January 5th, 1782, the council appropriated two hun-


128





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


dred fifty pounds to be used in raising this company, and Captain Hughes
was authorized to pay a bounty of nine pounds to each recruit.
    February, 1782, was unusually mild, and the early thaws brought the
dreaded war parties. The capture of John Carpenter and the family of
Robert Wallace contributed more to bring about the Gnadenhutten mas-
sacre than any other incidents in the history of the Western Border.
   John Carpenter, a roving frontiersman, was one of the first settlers on
Buffalo Creek. His cabin stood twelve miles from the mouth of the creek.
He was more of a hunter than farmer, and made his living with his rifle.
The exact location of his cabin is not known, but the old survey records
show that a certificate dated January 29th, 1780, was issued to him for
two hundred fifty-nine acres and one hundred fifty-nine perches on Dodd-
ridge Run, a branch of Buffalo Creek. This certificate was entered with
the county surveyor prior to June 26th, 1780, and was finally executed
December 5th, 1785. He evidently did not remain to prove up on his land,
for the records show that this land was returned to John Lee Webster on
February 23rd, 1795.
   Carpenter believed that the rich lands west of the Ohio would soon
pass to the Government, and he resolved to be among the first. He had
explored much of the Ohio country during his many hunting trips. He
was one of the first white men to settle west of the Ohio. He decided to
secure a claim in advance by making improvements, and in the summer
of 1781 he cleared some land and built a cabin at the mouth of Rush Run,
which was afterwards known as Carpenter's Fort.
   It has been stated that Carpenter was captured on Buffalo Creek in
the early spring of 1781 by six Indians, two of whom spoke good Dutch
and called themselves Moravians. He was carried a prisoner to Gnaden-
hutten, where it is claimed he saw the bloody dress of Mrs. Wallace. But
this is hardly probable, for the story of his capture, as afterwards related
by his grandson, Edward Carpenter, placed the date as two months prior
to the Wallace tragedy. The grandson died in Ohio on March 22nd, 1882,
aged eighty years.
   According to the family history, John Carpenter was captured while
on his way from his home on Buffalo Creek to Fort Pitt for supplies, and
taken to one of the Moravian towns. From there two Indians started to
take him to the hostile villages farther west, but he managed to escape
on the way.
   On February 10th, 1782 (some accounts give the 17th), a war party
of Shawnese, or Delawares, it is not clear which, raided the home of
Robert Wallace, in what is now Hanover Township. Wallace was absent,
and the savages met with no resistance. After killing his cattle and hogs
and looting his cabin, the raiders carried his wife, Mary, and their three
children into captivity.
   At the time of this raid Wallace lived on the farm owned in later years
by Samuel McConnell, one mile east of Florence, known as Briceland's
Cross Roads in early times.
   When Wallace returned home that evening and found that his home
had been destroyed and his wife and children carried off into captivity,
he spread the alarm among his neighbors. A pursuing party was raised
that night, and early the next morning the whites started on the trail of
       (9)V1


129





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the raiders. Before they could overtake the savages a snow storm com-
pletely obliterated the tracks, and the pursuers were forced to return
home.
   The capture of the Wallace family was one of the saddest affairs of the
kind that ever took place in pioneer Washington County. Distracted,
Wallace continued the search for many months, joining every expedition
into the Indian country, but it was months before he learned the fate of
his loved ones.
   Laden down with plunder from the Wallace home, the savages took
the northern trail through Beaver County. Mrs. Wallace carried an
infant daughter in her arms, and the Indians, finding that their progress
was impeded by the woman, tomahawked and scalped both the mother
and baby, concealing their bodies in the underbrush, where their bones
were found the next year by hunters. Wallace did not learn of the death
of his wife and child until months later, and he was not absolutely certain
that they had been killed until their bones were found.
   The other two Wallace children, both boys, aged two and one-half and
ten years, were taken to the Plains of Sandusky, where the oldest died.
The youngest, whose name was Robert, was sold by his captors to the
Wyandots; and three years later a trader from the Indian country
informed Robert Wallace of the whereabouts of his little son, the only sur-
vivor of the raid. The father sent a ranger to the Wyandot town, describ-
ing a certain mark by which the boy could be identified. The lad proved
to be Robert Wallace and he was immediately redeemed and returned to
his father.
   This boy grew to manhood and died in 1855, aged seventy-seven years.
All his life he carried a large scar on his right ear, the mark of a wound
made by a squaw who attempted to kill him, but was prevented from
doing so by another Indian. He is buried in the old Covenanter church-
yard at Venice, this county.
   We must now return to February, 1782. After the pursuit of the
raiders on the Wallace cabin had been abandoned, Robert Wallace went
to Marshel's Fort and asked Colonel James Marshel to aid him in getting
help from General Irvine. This was attempted, but General Irvine was
unable to give any assistance at that time. The second Moravian expedi-
tion, under Colonel David Williamson, was being organized at this time,
and Wallace, with a bitter heart, joined it.
   Some accounts of the Moravian massacre state that Williamson's men
found the mutilated and nude remains of Mrs. Wallace and her baby im-
paled upon the trunk of a sapling, and that this led to the massacre at
Gnadenhutten. This is not correct. There is absolutely nothing in the
actual facts we know to give rise to such a story.
   However, when the whites searched the cabins at Gnadenhutten, they
did find Mrs. Wallace's bloody dress. The Moravians claimed that it had
been sold to them by a party of hostiles, which was undoubtedly true, but
the frontiersmen could not be restrained after this, and the fate of the
Christian Indians was sealed.
   In 1783 some hunters found the bones of an adult white person and an
infant near Hookstown, Beaver County. Wallace was told of the dis-
covery, and he immediately went there, identifying the remains of the


130





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


adult by the teeth as those of his wife. Gathering them up in a sack, he
carried them home and hung them at the head of his bed, where they
remained for a year or two, when he buried them in the old graveyard
at Cross Creek village. A rough stone, upon which were the initials
"MI. W.," stood in the center of this burial ground for many years. Old
residents of that section always claimed that it marked the grave of Mary
Wallace. It disappeared long ago, and the location of the grave is un-
known today.
   In 1792 Robert Wallace married Mary Walker, who bore him five chil-
dren. He died in 1808 at the age of seventy-three, and tradition says he
is buried in an unmarked grave in the old graveyard at Florence.






                         CHAPTER XXV.

                               1782.
             THE MASSACRE AT GNADENHUTTEN.
WILLIAMSON'S SECOND EXPEDITION-EVIDENCE OF JOSEPH VANCE-
   MARCH AGAINST THE MORAVIAN VILLAGES-JOSEPH SHABOSCH, THE
   FIRST VICTIM-CAPTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN INDIANS-THE DEATH
   SENTENCE PASSED BY THE WHITES-A NIGHT OF PRAYER-THE
   MASSACRE-THE SLAUGHTER HOUSES-THREE ESCAPE-RESCUE OF
   BENJAMIN-ESCAPE OF INDIANS FROM SCHOENBRUN-ATTACK ON
   KILLBUCK'S VILLAGE NEAR FORT PITT--MUSTER ROLL OF WILLIAM-
   SON'S SECOND EXPEDITION.

         I fear not the silence nor the gloom of the grave,
         'Tis a pathway of shade, and gay flowers to the brave;
         For it leads to the plains where the gleam of the sun
         Kindles spring in his path that will never be done.
         Groves, valleys, and mountains, bright streamlet and dell,
         Sweet haunts of my youth, take my parting farewell;
         Ye braves of my kindred, and thou, mother, adieu;
         Great shades of my father, I hasten to you.
                                     -Old Indian Chant.
   No incident in all the history of the old frontier has been more severely
criticised than the massacre of the Moravian Indians at Gnadenhutten. A
few people of that time and many others in recent years have heaped
coals of the harshest criticism upon the heads of the perpetrators. Colonel
David Williamson and his men have been called the bloodiest murderers
of all time.
   There is another side to the story. The old records of that time show
that this affair met with popular approval from the big majority of set-
tiers on the Western Borders, and especially those of Washington County.
These old records also show that Williamson, instead of being the foul
murderer he has been called, tried his best to prevent the killing; but his
men refused to listen to his pleadings. And instead of being border


131






vi                            ILLUSTRATIONS

                                                                            Page
Oldest gravestone in Washington County         ..                            625
Hill or Chartiers Presbyterian church and graveyard                          625
James' Methodist Episcopal Chapel....                                        633
Ten-Mile Church of the Brethren-....------------ 633
Monument of Solomon Spaulding --                                             637
House in which Solomon Spaulding died                                        637
Original log cabin of Dr. John McMillan ....      .      ..   ...            645
Educational Hall, first school in Washington                                 645
Old Union School, Washington                                                 651
First building erected by Washington School District                         651
New high school building, Canonsburg                                         659
Old Jefferson College, Canonsburg                                            659
"The Gate of Trinity Hall"     ....              ...  . .     .              665
Trinity Hall Military Academy                                       ------- 665
Southwestern Pennsylvania State Normal School, California                    669
Washington and Jefferson College, Washington....                             671
Administration Building, W. & J. College, Washington                         675
Old view W. & J. College, Washington.                                        679
Old-time teachers and members of classes Washington Seminary, 1910           679
Present and proposed plant of the Institute of Practical Arts, Old Concord   683
Present building of School of Practical Arts, Old Concord                    686
Rogers home before being remodeled into the School of Practical Arts, Old Concord 686
First oil-burning lantern                               ...                  698
Old mill at Canonsburg                                 .       .             707
Hector McFadden's Hotel                                                      707
Residence of Charles M. Hull, Canonsburg                                     711
Municipal building at Monongahela city                                       715
High school, Monongahela city                                                715
Old Manchester farm, known as Plantation Plenty                              727
West Brownsville                                                             727
Old stone mill south of Beallsville                                          733
The National Pike through the village of Beallsville                         733
One of the last Conestoga wagons in western Pennsylvania                     737
The last Conestoga wagon left in Washington County                           737
Miller's wagon stand on the National Pike                                    741
The old Black building, Washington                                           741
Lafayette Inn, West Alexander                                                747
Old tavern at Coon Island                                                    747
Old tavern at Malden                                                         751
Old red barn just west of Washington                                         751
National Hotel at Beallsville                                                757
Old Hill Tavern at Scenery Hill                                              757
Old toll gate on National Pike, Washington                                   759
The last of the original toll gates on the National Pike                     759
The last stage coach to leave Washington                                     773
Old tavern at Clokey ...                                ..       .           773
Toledo toll gate on the Prosperity Pike                                      785
Original store and warehouse erected by Joseph Kammerer .-                   785
Original station of Chartiers Valley railroad                                789
Original railway station at Ewing's of Meadowlands   .   .--. 789
Home of Major John H. Ewing. Meadowlands                                     789
Observer Publishing Company building, Washington              .              807
Two original log cabins of Washington                                        829
Old frame buildings, Washington                                              831
Residence of Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne, Washington .-....                    . 833
Old McKennan homestead, Washington                                           833
Oldest brick house in Washington      ...-----.             .                835
H en ry B row n .-                               -     --....... .. .. . .... . ... ... . . 837
House in which Henry Brown was born, Washington                              839
Home built by John N. Dagg. Washington                                       839
Old Zelt flour mill, Washington ..                                           841
Old Zelt Brewery, Washington                                                 841
North Main street about 1889, Washington                                     843
Original Citizens National Bank building. Washington                         843
Original Methodist Episcopal Church of Washington                            845
Old Methodist Episcopal parsonage. Washington                                845
First mail carriers in Washington County----.                                847
First regular police force of Washington        .                   .847
Old Rankin building, Washington .--                                          849
Oldest Masonic lodge building west of Allegheny mountains, Washington   ... 849
Original German Lutheran Church of Washington           ______               851
Old Lutheran graveyard, Washington                                           851





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ruffians, as they have been called in later times, the men who made up
this expedition were among the best and most prominent settlers of Wash-
ington County.
   We of today cannot pass a just judgment upon this act, for we know
nothing of the conditions those people faced. The settlers in the rural
districts lived under a constant reign of terror; for they were constantly
exposed to the raids by a cruel enemy. They never knew what the day
would bring forth. Many a Washington County settler returned home at
night from a day's hunt, a trip to the settlement, or from labor in the
fields, to find his cabin home a pile of smoking ruins and his loved ones
lying dead, scalped and mutilated; or, if not dead, then carried away into
a terrible captivity. It was this reign of terror that brought about the
massacre. Instead of being border ruffians, Williamson's force was com-
posed of men who had seen the red glare of their burning homes on the
sky as they returned at night, and whose loved ones had fallen before the
dreaded tomahawk and scalping knife.
   The massacre of the Moravians was the result of a clever plot on the
part of the hostiles, who thoroughly hated their Christian brethren, and
it would have taken very little to have induced them to have murdered the
whole lot themselves. The whites had grounds for believing that the
Moravians had given aid to the hostiles; but it is now clear that this
evidence was manufactured by the hostiles for the very purpose of bring-
ing down the wrath of the Americans on the heads of the Christian
Indians. Many a bloody war trail, made by the hostiles to throw suspicion
on the converts, had been followed by the whites direct to the Moravian
villages; and returned captives, one of whom was John Carpenter, had
stated that the Moravians had either given aid to the hostiles or had
joined raiding parties. It is now known that certain warriors had posed
before white captives as Moravian converts. And it is a fact that William-
son's men did find articles in the cabins at Gnadenhutten that had been
taken from the homes of white settlers in Washington County; but these
had been left there by the hostiles. Williamson's men did not stop to
reason this out on that fatal day at Gnadenhutten. Few of us would even
today. Only those in later years who never heard the terrible war cry of
a hostile Indian criticized the massacre. Even today, in all our civiliza-
tion, there are very few of us who would not take a similar vengeance if
the occasion arose. We have many examples of it.
   Williamson's men afterwards claimed that several Indians at Gnaden-
hutten confessed that they had killed whites, and went to their death sing-
ing the death songs of their tribe. This is true. The Moravian records
show there were ninety converts and six hostiles killed.
   In 1792, Joseph Vance, proprietor of Vance's Fort, near Cross Creek
village, and Robert Lyle, while riding at the head of a funeral procession,
discussed the massacre. Vance told Lyle that the scheme and plans for
the massacre had originated at his fort in the fall of 1781, when some
twenty-five or thirty families had taken refuge there for the winter. It
was planned to start that fall, but Williamson's first expedition had
stopped it.
   Robert Lyle had emigrated from Eastern Pennsylvania in 1784. At
first he condemned the massacre in no uncertain words, but he soon found


132




















B--i i    ... !:
   Vgi1 ~~


Site of the Moravian Indian village at Gnadenhutten, Ohio, where 96 Christian Indians
     were massacred on March 8, 1782, by settlers from Washington County.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


that public opinion was so strongly in favor of the men who had com-
mitted it, that he must not speak of it as an outrage, if he expected to
retain the friendship of his neighbors.
   It has been claimed by former historians that the second Moravian
expedition was not composed of the militia of Washington County, for the
reason that no military order was ever found authorizing this force, and
that no muster roll was ever found. Tradition tells us that the records
of the expedition were destroyed after the massacre. However, a muster
roll was found at Harrisburg and published in the Pennsylvania Archives
many years ago. From this evidence, and from what I have been able to
learn of the expedition, I am of the opinion that it was authorized by the
proper military authorities of the county. This muster roll will be given
in the proper place.
   Accounts as to the number of Williamson's force differ. Dr. Dodd-
ridge, who lived on the frontier at that time, places it at ninety men. Two
others who claimed to have been with the expedition place the number at
one hundred sixty.
   The expedition, with Colonel David Williamson in command, left Wash-
ington County on March 3rd, and on the 4th crossed the Ohio River at
Mingo Bottom, three miles below Steubenville. On the evening of the 6th
they camped within less than a mile of Gnadenhutten.
   One of the best descriptions of the massacre was given by the Rev.
Edward Christy, a member of the expedition, who, it is claimed, went to
the scene two months later with Captain Sam Brady. Christy stated that
there were about one hundred men from the settlements of Short Creek,
Virginia, and Buffalo, Raccoon, Ten Mile, and other sections of Wash-
ington County. Like many another member, Christy joined because he
had lost a loved one at the hands of the red warriors. His young bride
had been carried off a prisoner, and at the time of the massacre he did not
know her fate. The prayers of the women and children at Gnadenhutten
so softened his heart that he voted against the killing, and took no part
in it.
   On the day the whites reached Gnadenhutten, the Moravians had
almost completed gathering their corn, and had intended to start back to
Upper Sandusky the next morning, March 9th. On the morning of the
7th scouts reported to Williamson that most of the Indians were on the
opposite side of the river. The whites divided into two forces, one to
cross the stream and capture these Indians, and the other to proceed to
the village.
   The first party captured a young Indian named Joseph Shabosch, who
was catching horses near the village. One of the whites broke his arm
with a shot, and Charles Bilderback killed and scalped him when he asked
why they attacked peaceable Indians.
   No canoes could be found and Dave Slaughter swam the ice cold stream,
bringing back an old sugar trough. The clothing and guns of the party
were placed in this, and the men swam over. Fearing that the shot would
alarm the village, the second party hastened there, but found only one old
man, pushing off in a canoe, and he was killed.
   The party that crossed the river found all of the Indians in the corn
fields. The whites met them in a friendly manner, praised their work,


134





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and were well received. The Indians unsuspiciously surrendered their
weapons upon promise that they would be returned at Fort Pitt. Return-
ing to Gnadenhutten with their prisoners, the whites sent a party to
Salem, but found the town deserted, according to some accounts. But Mr.
Christy says that an Indian named Martin and his son saw the whites in
the fields opposite Gnadenhutten, and believed them to be friends. They
sent word to Salem, and the Indians there returned with the whites. At
the river crossing they saw blood on the shore and in a canoe, and they
seemed to have a premonition that something was wrong.
   After the prisoners had all been gathered at Gnadenhutten, and dis-
armed, the whites roughly separated the women and children from the
men, confining part of them in the church and the rest in the cooper shop,
a few feet away. These two buildings have gone down in history as the
slaughter houses; for it was in them that the whites so cruelly murdered
their prisoners the next day.
   The Moravian men were charged with being hostiles instead of Chris-
tians, and the women and children were accused of giving aid to raiding
parties. In vain they protested their innocence; but there was no mercy
in that band of grim, determined white men, not even for the little chil-
dren. A search of the village revealed clothing, implements and other
articles that had been taken from white homes in Washington County.
The crowning piece of evidence was the discovery of the bloody dress of
Mary Wallace. The terrified Moravians, when confronted with this evi-
dence, explained that each article had been sold to them by parties of
wandering Indians, or left in their houses; but their captors refused to
believe them.
   A council was held by the whites, and the majority voted to carry out
the death sentence. Colonel Williamson strongly opposed this, but the
men refused to listen to him. Finally he put the matter to vote, and only
eighteen were in favor of showing mercy. These men refused to have
anything more to do with the affair, and they washed their hands of the
blood of the innocents.
   Mr. Christy became very vehement in his opposition, and made some
harsh statements to the leaders. Some slunk away, but others jeered him,
calling him old McMillan's baby darling (referring to Dr. John McMillan,
of Canonsburg). The feeling became so strong that those who had voted
for the murder threatened those who opposed them.
   The prisoners were informed of the result of the council, and their
request that they be given some time in which to prepare for death was
granted. After some discussion, the captives were informed that they
must die the next morning. The doomed Indians spent the night in prayer,
and the sound of their voices as they sang hymns on the night before they
were slaughtered arose above the moaning of the wind.
   The scene described by Mr. Christy, who looked in at one of the win-
dows, was pathetic in the extreme. Strong men were shaking each other
by the hand and kissing each other on the cheeks. Tears streamed down
some faces, deep lines of agony showed how others were suffering, but
most of them wore a joyful expression of victory almost won. In the
cabin where the women and children were confined the scene was even
more harrowing. Mothers, with tears streaming down their swarthy


135





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


faces, embraced their children; and the little ones, most of them scarcely
old enough to understand the full import of the whole affair, clung to
their parents amid terrified cries and sobbing.
    Friday, March 8th, 1782, was one of the most terrible days in all the
sanguinary history of the Western Border. At dawn the poor Indians
who had spent their last night on earth preparing for death resumed
their devotions; but they were soon interrupted by their executioners, who
bluntly asked them if they were ready to die. And the Christian Indians
informed the Christian white men that they had commended their souls to
God.
   Then the bloody work began. The whites entered the cooper shop and
the church and slaughtered the Moravian converts like hogs; for the blood
lust was upon them that day at Gnadenhutten. The poor Indians remem-
bered the teachings of their missionaries that war is wrong, and they
went into the great unknown without lifting a hand to stay their execu-
tioners. Such devotion and belief has never been displayed, either before
or since, in all the history of Christian missions.
   The slaughter began in the cooper shop, where the men were confined.
History tells us that one of the whites took a cooper's mallet, saying, "How
exactly this will answer the business"; and before he stopped in his bloody
work, he murdered fourteen helpless human beings. Handing the terrible
weapon, red with human blood, to another man, he said: "My arm fails
me. Go on with the work. I think I have done pretty well." Nearly half
a century later a visitor at Gnadenhutten stated that he believed this man
was his grandfather.
   Judith, a gray-haired widow, was the first victim in the church, where
the women and children were confined. And so the slaughter went on,
not one white man lifting his hand to stop it. Babes were torn from the
arms of their mothers and murdered in as inhuman a manner as any
Indian warrior ever killed a white child. Mothers were struck down as
they lifted their arms in prayer to the whites to spare the lives of their
little ones. Ninety-six men, women and children were massacred that day
at Gnadenhutten. Six of these were hostiles who had accompanied the
Moravians from Upper Sandusky, and ninety were Christian converts.
   Some accounts state that Thomas Marshel, county lieutenant, was a
member of the expedition, although this was denied by his family after his
death. However, the old accounts state that Marshel afterwards told that
after the massacre Robert Wallace sat down on a log beside him, buried
his face in his hands and wept because there were no more to kill, saying
that he had killed many, but had not avenged his wife and children. Mrs.
Wallace's bloody dress was found at Gnadenhutten, but the bodies of her
and her baby were not found by Williamson's men, as stated in some
accounts.
   A story, which is no doubt true, is told by the Moravians living at
Gnadenhutten today, to the effect that the majority of Williamson's men
were intoxicated the day of the massacre. This has been handed down
by one generation to another among the Moravians, and it was related to
the author at the time of his visit to Gnadenhutten in 1916, not in a spirit
of censure, but to excuse the terrible blood lust that seized the white man


136





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


that day. According to this story, the whites found a deserted whisky
still which they raided on the way to Gnadenhutten.
   Only three escaped the terrible slaughter. One was a boy of eight
years, named Benjamin, whose life was saved by Mr. Christy. This little
fellow broke from the slaughter house and ran for the woods, with a white
man in pursuit, a bloody tomahawk in his hands. Mr. Christy heard the
boy's shrieks, and saved his life by threatening to shoot his pursuer.
Mr. Christy took this lad to his father's home, on Buffalo Creek, this
county, where he grew to manhood, and then returned to the Indian
country.
   Another version of the rescue of Benjamin is given by Colonel J. T.
Holmes, an attorney of Columbus, Ohio, in the third edition of Doddridge's
Notes, published in 1912. Colonel Holmes is a grand-nephew of Obadiah
Holmes, Jr., one of Williamson's men and one of the eighteen who voted
to spare the lives of the Moravians. While the massacre was going on,
Williamson and Holmes were standing between the two slaughter houses
when a little boy burst from one of the cabins, with a white man at his
heels. The lad ran to Holmes, and he saved his life at the risk of his own.
He took the little fellow back to Washington County, where he lived in the
Holmes family on Chartiers Creek, two miles below Washington, for ten
years, and then disappeared and was never heard of again. It was sup-
posed that he returned to the wild, free life of the forest. This version is
probably the correct one.
   Another boy, named Thomas, was knocked unconscious and scalped.
After the slaughter he recovered. When he looked upon the terrible scene
he saw another Indian trying to get to his feet. Fearing that the whites
would return, he feigned death. In a few minutes a white man came in
and killed the other. After he departed Thomas stole into the forest,
where he concealed himself until that night.
   Before the slaughter began in the church two boys lifted a loose plank
in the floor and hid in the cellar, where they remained while the lifeblood
of their people trickled through the cracks in the floor above them. When
the whites left the boys attempted to escape through a small window. The
smaller lad managed to crawl through, but the other stuck and was burned
later with the building. The next day the two boys who had escaped met
the Indians fleeing from New Schoenbrun.
   After the massacre the whites went to New Schoenbrun, which they
had not visited the day before, but they found that the inhabitants had
been warned and had fled. They had to satisfy their vengeance by burn-
ing the village to the ground.
   After burning New Schoenbrun, the whites returned to Gnadenhutten,
and set all of the buildings on fire, after which they gathered their plunder,
and late that afternoon started back. After traveling all night, they
reached Mingo Bottom late the next afternoon. The majority returned
direct to their homes, but some went to Fort Pitt, where they attacked a
small party of friendly Delawares on Killbuck, or Smoky Island, near the
fort, killing several Indians. Chief Killbuck escaped by swimming the
river. This Indian had been the steadfast friend of the Americans during
the Revolution, but after this affair he went to the British and never
trusted the Americans again.


137





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    After the attack on Killbuck Island, the whites went to the village at
Fort Pitt, where they placed the plunder secured at Gnadenhutten up at
public sale.
    The members of the expedition agreed among themselves that they
would keep the names of the participants a secret. Even their families
did not know of their part in the affair. And so the expedition disappeared
entirely from public notice.
    The story is told that the eighteen men who voted for mercy retired
under the river bank during the massacre. The survivor of the eighteen
died in 1839, aged ninety-six years, and he related many of the details of
the massacre in after life. He told how Robert Wallace went to them after
the massacre, his clothing covered with blood, and with tears streaming
down his face, said: "You know I couldn't help it."
    Most of the men who took part lived to a good old age, and many were
among the best and most respected citizens of their day. It has often been
said that truth is stranger than fiction; and it is a curious historical fact
that the great religious movement that swept Washington County during
the latter part of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth cen-
turies had its origin at Vance's Fort, where the first plans for the
Moravian massacre were made; and the very men who were leaders in
that affair were leaders in this movement. Members of Williamson's force
afterwards became ruling elders in the churches at Cross Creek village,
Upper Buffalo and other sections of western Washington County.
   Ninety-six Indians were massacred that day at Gnadenhutten. Some
authorities place the number at thirty-five men, twenty-seven women and
thirty-four children (twelve of whom were babes in the arms of their
mothers). The Moravian records, to which the author has had access,
give forty men, twenty-two women, and thirty-four children, thirteen
being infants.
   The news of the massacre was carried back to the remnants of the
Moravians at Upper Sandusky by those who had escaped from New
Schoenbrun. The missionaries were on their way with their families to
Detroit at the time, and two weeks later they were told of the massacre
by Joshua, a convert, who had lost two daughters at Gnadenhutten.
   Two months after the massacre Captain Sam Brady and the Rev.
Edward Christy, who has already been mentioned, visited Gnadenhutten.
The buildings had been fired by the whites before they left, but they had
only partly burned; and Brady and Edwards found that many of the
bodies had not been entirely consumed. The two men scared a number
of wolves from the ruins of the church and cooper shop, where they were
feasting on the charred remains.
   After the affair at Killbuck Island already mentioned, the men re-
turned to Washington County and made plans for another expedition, to
consist of six hundred men, to meet on March 18th, and march against the
Indian towns on the Plains of Sandusky, where the remainder of the
Moravians were held prisoners by the hostiles. These plans led to the
ill-fated Sandusky expedition that summer under Colonel William Craw-
ford; but the result was far different than the Moravian campaign.
   One of the victims at Gnadenhutten was Anna Beniga, wife of Isaac
Glickhican, who rode all night on a horse captured from a hostile warrior


138





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


to notify the garrison at Fort McIntosh of the Indian attack on Fort
Henry, at Wheeling, in 1777.
   For many years it was believed, and is still claimed by some historians,
that no muster roll of Williamson's second expedition was preserved.
Crumrine, in his "History of Washington County," published in 1882, says
that a list was in existence at that time, but that the owner would not
permit any one to inspect it. Others have made the same assertion, but
when the Second Series of the Pennsylvania Archives was published in
1888, there appeared on page 753 of Volume 14 a list of fifty-seven names
of men who had accompanied Williamson. This list was among the old
records at Harrisburg, and is probably the names of the men drawn for
military service on the expedition. The other members were no doubt
settlers who joined.
   Sixteen additional names, supplied by the late James Simpson, his-
torian of Cross Creek village, are given in the third edition of Doddridge's
Notes. These two lists, together with the names of two other men known
to have been on the expedition, make a total of seventy-five names.
   The list from the Pennsylvania Archives, together with some additional
data gathered by the author, follows:

              LIEUTENANT COLONEL DAVID WILLIAMSON.
   Died in Washington, Pennsylvania, in 1809 (some accounts say 1814),
and buried in an unmarked grave in the old graveyard at the county seat.

                             CAPTAINS.
Samuel Shearer                     John Cotton

                           LIEUTENANTS.
Hughes Forbes; also a lieutenant in Captain Rankin's Company on Craw-
   ford's Expedition.
William Wilkins; an ensign in Captain Munn's Company on Crawford's
   Expedition.
Sergeant Thomas Rankin; also captain of a company in Crawford's Ex-
   pedition. He was from Mount Pleasant Township, and a son of Wil-
   liam Rankin, an early settler of that section. Died at Cadiz, Ohio.

                             PRIVATES.
Samuel Riddle; also a private in Captain Bilderback's Company on Craw-
   ford's Expedition.
John Riddle; also a private in Captain Bilderback's Company.
James Roney; an early settler in West Finley Township and a brother of
   Hercules Roney, proprietor of Roney's Blockhouse. Both were chain-
   men for Colonel William Crawford when he surveyed land grants
   under the old Virginia certificates.
James Buchanan; also a private in Captain Bilderback's Company on
   Crawford's expedition. He was an early settler of Chartiers Township.
William Forbes, John Baird, Joseph McCullough, Nathaniel White, David
   Hosack, Thomas Orr, John Brekenridge, and Alexander White.
James White; an early settler in old Strabane Township.


139





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


John Pollack; probably from that section of old Strabane Township which
   is now North Strabane Township.
James Huston; also a private in Captain Leet's Company on Crawford's
   Expedition. He was a son of William Huston, the first white man to
   settle at Catfish Camp, now Washington.
Jesse Edginton; also a private in Captain Munn's Company on Craw-
   ford's Expedition.
Thomas Marshel (sometimes spelled Marshall) ; county lieutenant of
   Washington County; an early settler in Cross Creek Township, and
   proprietor of Marshel's Fort; an elder in Cross Creek Church; moved
   to Ohio in 1827, where he died in 1839, aged ninety-six years.
Thomas Montgomery; an elder in Cross Creek Church; died at New
   Athens, Ohio, in 1839, aged ninety-six years.
Eleaser Jenkins, William Ledlie, John Little, William Masterson, John
   Masterson, Andrew Wineman, James Bradford, Charles Bevington,
   Stephen Wilkins, William McClain, Thomas McClain, Richard Davis,
   Zachariah Masterson, Joseph McConnell, John Munn Jr., David Hop-
   kins, James Steel, Dennis Jones, and Frederick Crowe.
William Black; also a private in Captain Fife's Company on Crawford's
   Expedition.
William Irwin; a settler in Canton Township.
Robert Henry; an early settler in that section of old Strabane Township
   now known as North Strabane Township.
Isaac Vance; also a private in Captain Rankin's Company on Crawford's
   Expedition.
William Quigley; also a private in Captain Munn's Company on Craw-
   ford's Expedition.
Andrew Pass; also a private in Captain Munn's Company on Crawford's
   Expedition.
Samuel Stewart; also a private in Captain Munn's Company on Craw-
   ford's Expedition.
Thomas Byers; also a private in Captain Bilderback's Company on Craw-
   ford's Expedition; an early settler in West Finley Township.
John Edie; also a private in Captain Bilderback's Company on Crawford's
   Expedition.
Robert McComb; a soldier of the Revolution; settled in Cross Creek Town-
   ship, where he died in 1827.
William Rankin; an early settler in Mount Pleasant Township, where he
   died.
Charles Bilderback; also captain of a company in Crawford's Expedition.
   This is the man who killed the Moravian named Joseph Shabosh. The
   story is told that seven years later he was captured by hostile Indians,
   who, on learning his identity, put him to death with torture. There is
   nothing but legend to substantiate this story, but it might well be true.
John White; settled in old Strabane Township in 1773; elected a justice
   of the peace on July 15, 1781; died in 1806.
Daniel Leet; a surveyor by profession; settled near Catfish Camp in 1776,
   after which he served in the Continental Line, and with General Mc-
   Intosh at Fort Laurens in 1778; deputy surveyor general in Yohogania,
   now Washington County; surveyed in this county in 1780 under Vir-


140





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   ginia certificates; brigade major in Crawford's Expedition; com-
   manded a division after Colonel Burton was wounded; died June 18th,
   1830, at the home of a daughter at Sewickly Bottom.
   The following names were compiled by the late James Simpson, his-
torian of Cross Creek village, and published in the third edition of Dodd-
ridge's Notes in 1912. The notes following the names were compiled by
the author from information gained from other sources:
Joseph Vance; builder and proprietor of Vance's Fort, one mile from Cross
   Creek, where the first plans for the Moravian expedition were made;
   an elder in Cross Creek Church, and afterwards a member of the
   Pennsylvania Assembly; died May 6th, 1832, aged eighty-two years;
   buried in old graveyard at Cross Creek.
Charles Campbell; died March 21st, 1819; buried in old graveyard at
   Cross Creek.
Robert Wallace; wife and three children captured by Indians near Flor-
   ence; wife and baby killed, and wife's dress found at Gnadenhutten.
   He died in 1808, and is buried at Florence.
Robert Marshall and Solomon Vaile.
Thomas Cherry; probably one of the Cherrys of Mount Pleasant Township.
James Ross; also a private in Captain McGihan's Company on Crawford's
   Expedition; taught school in McMillan's log academy near Canonsburg;
   admitted to bar in 1784; member of Constitutional Convention of
   1790; one of the three commissioners appointed by Federal Govern-
   ment to meet the Whisky Insurrection leaders in 1794; United States
   senator from 1794 to 1803; died November 27th, 1847, aged eighty-
   five years.
Moses Patterson; probably from Cross Creek Township.
David Kerr; probably from Cross Creek Township.
John Graham; from Cross Creek Township.
Samuel Merchant; settled in Hanover Township in 1778, but driven away
   by Indians; returned in 1779, and remained until his death.
James Taylor; of near Washington.
David Gault; from Cross Creek Township.
Solomon Urie; a son of Thomas Urie, Sr., of Hopewell Township. Solo-
   mon and Thomas Urie, Jr., brothers, were noted hunters. While on a
   hunting trip near Stillwater, Ohio, they were attacked by Indians and
   Thomas was killed, but Solomon escaped. In 1815, while Solomon was
   living near Coshocton, Ohio, he killed six Indians single handed because
   one of them boasted that he had killed Thomas Urie, Jr. Solomon was
   taken to Mad River, tried for this and acquitted. He was killed in
   1830 in falling from his horse.
Obadiah Holmes, Jr.; an ensign in Captain Leet's Company on Craw-
   ford's Expedition; died in Pittsburgh in June, 1834, aged seventy-four;
   buried at Woodville.
John McWilliams; an early settler in Buffalo Township; a general in the
   militia of Washington County.
   The following are also said to have been on the expedition:






                              ILLUSTRATIONS                                 vii

                                                                           Page
Main street, Washington                                                     853
Old "Daddy" Koechline corner, Washington                                    855
John Margerum's old shoe shop, Washington                                   855
Old log pump made by John McConoughy         -                              855
Hotel Main, Washington                                                      861
Old building that was formerly "The Sign of the Swan" Hotel, Washington     861
Old Valentine House, Washington                                             865
Old stage coach stables in rear of famous Valentine House, Washington       865
Huston's Old Home Inn, Washington                                           867
Auld Hotel, Washington                                                      875
Old stage coach stable and office of Auld House, Washington .      .        875
George Washington Hotel, Washington                                         881
Little Giant Fire and Hose Co.                                              889
Old steam engine of Little Giant Fire and Hose Co.                          889
LeMoyne Crematory, The                                                    - 929
Baron de Palm                                 ----------------              929
Original iron bier                                        ._              _ 929
House of Dr. Absalom Baird                                                  935
Old Globe Inn                                  -- ------------------------- 935
Gen. U. S. Grant laying cornerstone of Town Hall                            949
President William McKinley in welcome home parade ...........   .    ..     949
House in which James G. Blaine was born                                     951
House in which James G. Blaine lived while attending Washington College  _ 951
Wreck of the "Cannonball" on the B. & 0.                                    955
An oil well shooter                    .....                    ----------  957
Houses wrecked by nitroglycerine  explosion  .. ............. .. . .. . ... 957
Hole blown in road by nitroglycerine explosion                              957
Home of Andrew McFarlane                                                    979
Historic old Mingo church and graveyard                                     979
Old Bradford House                                                          983
Famous mahogany stairway in Bradford house                                  983
Grave of John Holcroft, "Tom, the Tinker"                                   987
David Hart, late of Canonsburg                                              993
Dunning Hart, Civil war veteran                                             993
Black HIorse Tavern, Canonsburg                                             993
Adam Wickerham of Monongahela, of Ringgold Cavalry                ...      1021
Memorial day parade, Washington, 1891      .......1025
Veterans of Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry                          1037
Company H Armory, Washington, Pa.                                          1037
Col. A. L. Hawkins and staff of Tenth Pennsylvania National Guard          1055
Group of officers of the Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry             1055
First contingent to leave the county for World war                         1069
Judge McIlvaine delivering farewll address (1917)                          1069
Truck train passing through county, May, 1918 -                            1075
Washington Community flag, used during World war                           1075
Farewell procession for first contingent of selective service men     ..   1079
Company H, 110th Pennsylvania Infantry, drilling at Camp Barnett         ___1091
Group of Company H boys at Camp Dix ..          ...1091
Company H boys at Camp Dix                                                 1099
Arches in front of public square during home-coming celebration in 1919  __ 1107
Col. John Aiken at head of World war veterans in home-coming celebration   1107
Memorial to Washington boys in Company H, 110th Infantry----               1125





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Rev. Edward Christy; of Buffalo Township; a young frontier minister and
   pupil of Dr. John cMMillan, of Canonsburg.

   Some historians claim that Captain Sam Brady and at least one of the
Wetzels took part in the massacre; but this is a mistake. Although a
"killer," Brady was not the type of man to countenance anything of this
kind. There is nothing to show that either of the Wetzels was present.
   Surprise has been expressed by some writers that neither of the Poe
brothers was in the expedition. The truth is that they were not wanted.
They looked upon Indians as fair game, and they hunted them for pastime.
If either had been present there would have been no Moravian massacre;
for they would have fought the whole expedition in defense of those
Indians; and they were good fighters.






                        CHAPTER XXVI.

                            1782-1816.
             LATER HISTORY OF GNADENHUTTEN.

PUBLIC FEELING REGARDING THE MASSACRE-RETURN OF HECKEWEL-
   DER AND ZEISBERGER WITH THE MORAVIANS TO THE VALLEY OF THE
   TUSCARAWAS-GOSHEN FOUNDED-CHIEF KILLBUCK-THE INDIAN
   GRAVEYARD AT GOSHEN--THE WHITE SETTLEMENT AT GNADENHUT-
   TEN-A SOCIETY FORMED TO PRESERVE THE SITE OF THE MASSACRE-
   MONUMENT ERECTED-SITE OF THE MASSACRE TODAY-SCHOEN-
   BRUN SPRING AND SALEM TODAY-NAMES OF THE CHRISTIAN IN-
   DIANS MURDERED AT GNADENHUTTEN, TAKEN FROM THE OLD
   MORAVIAN RECORDS.

               When summer days are over,
                 And autumn leaves are gone;
               When the snow doth gently cover
                 The upland and the lawn,
               May we meet around the hearth
                 Where the shadows soft are falling,
               And ever cease to roam,
                 When we hear the cuckoo calling
               At the old, old home.
                                           -J. R. Forrest.
   For sixteen years after the massacre no white man, with the exception
of Captain Sam   Brady and Rev. Edward Christy, visited Gnaden-
hutten. A curse seemed to rest on the spot, and it was shunned by man,
both red and white. Wild animals prowled about the half burned cabins,
and the roasted bodies of the victims were dragged from the ruins and
devoured by wolves. The clearing where the village had stood was soon
overgrown with underbrush, and in a short time the place was so effec-
tually concealed that it was rather difficult to find it without some search.


142





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The American public east of the mountains regarded the massacre as
an outrage. Congress felt the influence of public sympathy for the
Moravians and on September 3rd, 1788, granted three tracts of land,
containing four thousand acres each, to the Moravian Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel among the Heathen. These tracts embraced
the sites of Gnadenhutten, New Schoenbrun and Salem. A patent was
issued in 1798, and the society was constituted trustee for the Christian
Indians settled thereon.
   Because of the Indian wars in the Northwest no effort was made to
settle the land until after Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers in 1794.
After the treaty of Greenville established peace between the whites and
Indians in 1795, the Moravians decided to again establish settlements in
the Tuscarawas Valley.
   John Heckewelder was selected for the task, and in the spring of 1797
he left Bethlehem for Gnadenhutten, accompanied by William Henry, John
Rothrock, and Christian Clewell. On the evening of May 11th, they
arrived at the ill-fated Indian village, which Heckewelder had not seen
since he and Zeisberger had been led away as prisoners by the hostile
Delawares on September 11th, 1781.
   William Henry gives the best description of the ruined village: "We
found the whole neighborhood covered with deep, dry grass of an old
standing to which, on the day of our arrival we set fire. We did this to
defend ourselves in some degree against the numerous snakes and serpents
which we found had taken possession. All the ground where the town
stood is covered with briars, hazel, plum, and thorn bushes, like a low,
impenetrable forest, excepting where the paths of bears, deer, turkeys
and other wild creatures afford admittance. I was exceedingly affected
while I walked over and contemplated the ruins of this once beautiful
place."
   After the grass and underbrush had been cleared by the fire the mis-
sionaries had a clear view of the ruins. Henry continues: "Part of their
chimneys appear in rows. The place where our poor Indians were mas-
sacred is strongly marked. Part of their bones are yet to be seen amongst
the coal and ashes."
   In the cellar of one of the slaughter houses the bones of nine victims
were found; and the bones of others were found scattered about.
   Heckewelder secured the services of General Rufus Putnam, of Mari-
etta, the surveyor general and a personal friend, to lay out the four
thousand acre grants. After this was completed on July 4th, Heckewelder
went to the Fairfield mission in Canada, and brought the Indians back
to the Tuscarawas Valley, returning on May 31st, 1798. A house was
built at Gnadenhutten, which was occupied by Heckewelder on Septem-
ber 28th. This was the first building erected in the present village of
Gnadenhutten. A marble tablet now marks the spot.
   David Zeisberger decided to return to the Tuscarawas Valley with the
remnants of the Moravian Indians who had escaped the massacre. A
new station named Goshen, was selected for this mission, and on Octo-
ber 4th, 1798, Zeisberger arrived from Fairfield mission with thirty-six
Indians who had escaped from the Moravian settlement in 1782. This
man labored among these Indians until his death on November 17th, 1808,


143





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


aged eighty-seven years. More than sixty years of his life had been spent
as a missionary among the Indians; and in death he rests among them;
for he was buried in the little Indian graveyard at Goshen, where his
grave may be seen.
    The author visited this graveyard in 1916, and found in the little
 enclosure where Zeisberger sleeps, the grave of William Edwards, another
 Moravian missionary who was a prisoner at Upper Sandusky in 1781.
 On the other side of him rests Gelelemend, or Killbuck, chief of the Dela-
 wares, whose band was attacked near Fort Pitt after the massacre. He
 left the hostiles after the Revolution, and was converted by Zeisberger at
 Goshen, where he died in January, 1811, aged seventy-four.
    The graves of forty-four Indians are in this section of the cemetery,
surrounding that of Zeisberger. Many of those Indians followed the mis-
sionary for more than half a century.
    Goshen is no more. All traces of the ancient town have vanished. As
civilization crept over the frontier, the Indians gradually sank deeper and
deeper. The red man's love for whisky could not be quenched by Chris-
tianity, and in 1823 it was decided to move them farther west. The
government purchased their twelve thousand acres in the Tuscarawas
Valley for $6,654, and provided them with other lands in Michigan, to
which they were removed on November 8th, 1823. Many of them went to
the Fairfield mission on the Thomas River, Canada.
    Much of the history of Gnadenhutten was told to the author in October,
1916, by Mr. L. S. Winsch and Mr. W. T. VanVleck, two white Moravian
residents of that place, which is still a Moravian town. Mr. Winsch
received it first hand from his grandfather, David Peter, who settled there
in 1798. He helped clear the site of the ill-fated village and bury the
bones of the victims.
   After those settlers had built their cabins, they cleared the brush and
weeds from the site of the village, and from that day to this it has been
kept in good condition. On October 7th, 1843, the Gnadenhutten Monu-
ment association was formed with Rev. Sylvester Wolle, president; Jacob
Blickensdarfer, vice president; Edward Peter, treasurer; Lewis Peter,
secretary, and Israel Ricksacker, Christian Blickensdarfer, and Charles
B. Peter, directors. The object was the erection of a suitable monument
on the site of the massacre.
   Nothing definite was done for several years until L. S. Winsch was
made president. He took the work up actively, and it was mainly through
his efforts that the money was raised. The land where the massacre
occurred was owned by three different persons in early times, all of whom
died shortly after coming into possession. This gave rise to the belief
among the early settlers that a curse rested on the spot, and that anyone
who owned it would die. Finally, the Moravian church at Bethlehem
purchased it for $100. After Mr. Winsch became president, the church
deeded the land to the monument association.
   The work of raising the money was continued until 1871, when $1,300
had been secured. The society then contracted with R. S. Miller, of
Logansport, Indiana, for a monument to cost $2,000. The balance was
raised by subscription. This monument which stands on the site of the
church, is a limestone shaft thirty-five feet seven inches high.


144





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The dedication took place on June 4th, 1872, in the presence of ten
thousand people. Four Delaware Indians from the Moravian mission at
New Fairfield, Canada, all lineal descendants of victims of the massacre
of ninety years before, pulled the cords that unveiled the monument. One
of these Indians was John Jacobs, a great grandson of Joseph Shabosch,
the first victim.
   The site of the Indian village of Gnadenhutten is now a beautiful park.
Thirty feet west of the monument a small mound marks the site of the
mission house; and a small depression seventy feet east of the monument
is all that is left of the cellar of the cooper shop, one of the slaughter
houses. Near by a large mound covers the bones of the ninety-six victims.
   Just across the road is a ravine cut through the high bank of the
Tuscarawas River to the water's edge. This is the trail made by the
Indians from their village to the boat landing; and directly across the
river is the rich bottom lands where the Indians planted their corn, and
where they were captured before the massacre. The banks of the stream
are still lined with a heavy growth of forest trees and underbrush, and
the scene has probably changed but little since the Indians cleared their
land so long ago.
   The foundations of the cabins stood for many years, but now only
slight depressions mark the locations. A row of apple trees planted in
1772 by David Zeisberger grew for years, and many of the older residents
of Gnadenhutten today have eaten the fruit and played under them when
children. They became rotten with age, and one by one fell before the
storms when they became too old to carry the weight of their years. The
last one was blown down during a storm on July 16th, 1889. A row of
Lombardy poplars planted by the missionaries stood for many years, but
they have all long since disappeared.
   A large section of the last Zeisberger apple tree was still preserved by
Mr. W. T. VanVleck, and in 1916 he presented the author with a cross
section. The first hand corn mill brought to Gnadenhutten in 1798, is
one of the relics of early days which Mr. VanVleck has preserved.
   A giant grape vine, which tradition says was planted by David Zeis-
berger in 1772, is still growing over a large sycamore at one corner of the
village site. There are no definite records to show that Zeisberger planted
it, but judging from its immense size, it may well be true.
   A stone ax buried in the trunk of a honey locust a few feet from the
monument may be seen through a hole cut in the tree. I was told that
fifty years ago about an inch of this relic was visible, but the tree has
entirely covered it since then, and it was necessary to bore a hole about
an inch deep. How it got there will never be known.
   Schoenbrun spring where the Moravian village of New Schoenbrun
stood, disappeared more than half a century ago. This village stood about
two miles from Goshen, but it was never rebuilt after the massacre, and
no trace of it is left. A few houses now stand on the site of the level
plain just above the spring. The spring has been dry since 1872, caused
by wells dug near by which drained it. The site is marked by a large
tile sunk in the ground. A small plot surrounding the spring has been
fenced and the grass is kept mowed. A small marble tablet with a suitable
       (10)V1


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


inscription marks the spot. The once beautiful lake is now only a pond
of stagnant water, grown up in rushes.
   The site of Salem, the third Moravian village at the time of the mas-
sacre, is a short distance from Port Washington, on the banks of the
Tuscarawas, west of Gnadenhutten; but there is absolutely nothing to
show where the town stood. Thus ends the sadly romantic story of the
Moravian Indians on the Western Border.





                        CHAPTER XXVII.

                            1752-1829.
          DAVID WILLIAMSON AND JAMES MARSHEL.
DAVID WILLIAMSON, THE HERO OF THE HOUR-SECOND IN COMMAND OF
    THE SANDUSKY EXPEDITION-WILLIAMSON SETTLES IN WASHINGTON
    COUNTY-WILLIAMSON'S FORT ON BUFFALO CREEK-RUINS OF THE
    SPRINGHOUSE-PRESENT LOCATION - ELECTED JUSTICE OF THE
    PEACE-LETTER TO THOMAS SCOTT-TWICE SHERIFF OF WASHINGTON
    COUNTY-HIS DEATH-JAMES MARSHEL-"MARSHEL'S HALL" ON
    CROSS CREEK-PUBLIC SERVICE-TAKES PART IN THE WHISKY INSUR-
    RECTION-MOVES TO WELLSBURG, W. VA.
      And we count men brave who, on land and wave, fear not to
            die; but still,
      Still first on the rolls of the world's great souls are the men
            who have feared to kill.
                                         -Edmund Vance Cook.

   Colonel David Williamson, leader of the whites at the Moravian mas-
sacre, has been more thoroughly censured by the people who lived after
the Indian wars were over than any other man in all our frontier history.
A great hue and cry was raised after the massacre by a few people who
lived far from danger of Indian raids, but the old records show that the
residents of Washington County, and other sections of the Western Border,
approved of the killing. The people of the frontier wanted scalps, and
they got them that day at Gnadenhutten.
   In spite of the fact that Williamson was opposed to the massacre, he
was the hero of the hour after the return; and when the Sandusky expedi-
tion mobilized at Mingo Bottom the following May, he was the only
candidate against Colonel William Crawford for the command of this
frontier army. He would have been elected had it not been known that
General Irvine, commander of Fort Pitt, favored Crawford, who was a
personal friend of General Washington. Writers of that day, such as
Dr. Joseph Doddridge, who knew Williamson personally, tell us that he
was a brave man, always ready to meet an enemy in battle, and not the
vile assassin he has been pictured.
   David Williamson was a son of John Williamson, and was born near
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1752. He came west while still a boy, and later
returned east and persuaded his parents to emigrate to this section. They


146




























y


    Ruins of the old Springhouse built at Colonel David Williamson's Fort on Buffalo
Creek, Donegal Township. This springhouse was built at the same time as the fort,
shortly after 1780. The spring furnished water for the fort. Tradition tells us that
the great oak seen here was standing then.  Photo taken in 1922.


4,





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


settled on Buffalo Creek at an early date, where David acquired 1,497
acres of land by settlement and purchase, and four hundred acres in
Independence Township.
   He selected one of these tracts on Buffalo Creek as his home, and built
three cabins, each twenty feet square and all connected so that they
formed one building. During the Revolution and the Indian wars this
was known as Williamson's station or fort. It was a well known place
of refuge for many settlers in that region during Indian raids, but it was
never attacked. The logs of one of the cabins were still in place as
late as 1882, at which time the spring house built by Williamson was still
standing. This tract contained two hundred acres and was known in later
years as the John McPherson farm.
   This farm is now owned by Albert Sickle, and is located in a remote
section of Donegal Township, a few miles northwest of Taylorstown and
not far from Acheson. The author visited it in September, 1922, and
found the log walls of the spring house still standing several feet high
under the shade of a giant oak tree, which might well be five hundred
years old. No trace of the blockhouse remains, but it is said to have stood
near the present farm house. This is the last trace of any frontier block-
house or fort that I have been able to locate in Washington County.
   In the early days of the militia of Washington County and at the time
of the Moravian expedition, David Williamson was colonel of the Third
battalion.
   Williamson's popularity among the people of Washington County is
shown by his election to offices of trust. In early times the justices of
the peace from the various townships sat as the judges in the court of
common pleas at the regular quarterly terms. Two persons were chosen
from each township by vote of the people. Their names were returned
to the Supreme Executive council, and one was commissioned as justice
of the peace from that township.
   At the election for justice of the peace from Donegal Township in
1785, David Williamson received forty-two votes and William Johnston,
his opponent, only twenty-six. There was bad feeling and rottenness in
politics in those times as well as today, for the council refused to issue
the commission to Williamson on account of the return of the election
made by Thomas Scott, prothonotary of this county. This return explains
the situation:
                                       "Washington, July 11, 1785.
   "Dear Sir: Enclosed is a warrant for holding an election for justices
of the peace in the Township of Donegal, and a return thereupon. I wish
through you to inform council that the Mr. Williamson elected is the same
Col. Williamson who slaughtered the Moravian Indians. If this deed may
be thought a defect in his character (which many of us think), it is not
the only one; nor can I easily paint him better than by just telling council
that he is a foolish, impertinent and insolent boy, totally void of all the
many. qualifications for so important a trust. Although the above is my
own settled opinion of the man, I have not write it of my own mere
notion; it has been injoined on me officially by many of the better people
of the county.
   "The other gentleman selected is personally unknown to me; but from


148





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


good information I have it that he maintains the character of an honest,
judicious and sensible man.
   "I have the honor to be with great respect, sir, your very humble
servant                                               "Tho. Scott.
   "John Armstrong, Jr., Esq., Secretary."
   Like every public man, Williamson had his enemies, and it is plain
that Thomas Scott was one. At that time Williamson was thirty-three
years of age, rather old for a boy, and his conduct on the Crawford expe-
dition, when his leadership and bravery saved the retreating army from
destruction at the hands of the pursuing Indians and British, is too well
known to admit of any criticism. The fact, also, that he came within a
few votes of defeating Crawford for the command of that ill-fated expedi-
tion shows his popularity. The description in this letter does not tally
very well with that which Dr. Doddridge and others of that time have
handed down to us. This letter is more of a blot on the memory of the
man who wrote it than the man whom it attacks.
   However, the letter had its weight with the council for it refused to
ratify Williamson's election, and on February 6th, 1786, commissioned
William Johnston, the minority candidate, as justice of the peace.
   In 1787 Williamson was elected sheriff of Washington County by an
overwhelming majority. At that time the sheriff was elected each year,
and Williamson was re-elected in 1788 and again in 1789. He was the
thiird sheriff of this county.
   David Williamson married Miss Polly Urie, a daughter of Thomas
Urie, an early settler of Hopewell Township, and to this union four sons
and four daughters were born: John, David, Samuel, Robert, Jane, Sarah,
Mlary, and Lavina.
   Jane married Caleb McNulty and Lavina married Joseph McNulty, of
the well known McNulty family of West Middletown. Joseph later moved
to Columbus, Ohio, where he died, but Caleb remained in this county,
where his descendants still reside. Captain C. J. McNulty, a Civil war
veteran and a well known resident of Washington, is a great grandson
of David Williamson. Among other descendants now living in Washing-
ton are the children of Captain McNulty. Attorney Julius P. Miller, of
Washington, is a great-great-grandson of the noted frontiersman.
   Sarah Williamson married High Stewart, of Marshall County, West
Virginia, and Mary married John Smiley, of West Middletown.
   Samuel Williamson married Miss Mary McComb, a daughter of Robert
McComb, a pioneer of the West Middletown section. He later lived on
the Youghiogheny River. Robert Williamson married Miss Rachel Shupe,
of Ashland County, Ohio; but John and David never married.
   Colonel Williamson met with misfortune in his later years, and lost all
of his real estate. His home farm, described above, was seized by Sheriff
George Hamilton on an execution and sold for debt to James Glover on
October 12th, 1805.
   David Williamson died in Washington in destitute circumstances.
Some accounts say his death occurred in the county jail, where he had
been thrown for debt, but there is nothing to substantiate this, and it is
to be doubted. Former historians have given 1814 as the year of his


149





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


death; but the Washington Reporter for 1809 states that his death
occurred on March 26th, of that year. and makes no mention of his being
confined in jail. The death notice pays a high tribute to him in these
words:
   "He was a valuable and invincible soldier. This man was the means of
preventing much savage butchery in the western country in early times.
He served during the Indian wars as a brave soldier and intrepid officer."
   He was buried in the old graveyard in West Spruce alley, second ward,
Washington, but if a headstone was ever placed above his last resting
place it has long since disappeared, and, like many of our early settlers,
he sleeps in an unmarked and unknown grave in that neglected spot.
   James Marshel, another prominent pioneer of Washington County,
who, it is claimed, was a member of the Moravian expedition, was born
February 20th, 1753, in the north of Ireland. He came to America at an
early date, and settled in Washington County about 1776, owning fifteen
hundred acres in Cross Creek Township. The old survey records in the
recorder's office show that the names of some of the tracts which made
up this land were named "Marshall's Hall," "Marshall's Fancy," and
"Poplar Point."
   This man is generally referred to as James Marshall, and his children
and descendants were known under that name, but he always spelled it
Marshel.
   Marshel's fort, built by him on Cross Creek, was one of the well known
frontier forts in western Washington County. It stood near a spring
which is still in use. The land was owned and occupied in later years by
Mrs. Margaret W. McCorkle.
   When the congregations of Upper Buffalo and Cross Creek churches
made a joint call for a pastor, Colonel Marshel gave two hundred acres
of land to help bring the Rev. Joseph Smith, of New Orleans flour fame,
across the mountains from the east. He afterwards became an elder in
the Upper Buffalo church, but it is said that he was not very pious in
his later years.
   For nearly twenty years, James Marshel held public office in Wash-
ington County. In 1781 he was appointed county lieutenant, which office
he held until November 3rd, 1784, when he resigned. It is claimed that
he ordered out the militia for the Moravian campaign. In 1781 he was
appointed by the Supreme Executive council the first register of wills and
recorder of deeds. He held the former office until 1791, but in 1784 he
was succeeded as recorder by Thomas Stokeley. He served as sheriff
from 1784 to 1787, when he was succeeded by David Williamson. He was
again register and recorder from 1791 to 1795, and he then served as
coroner until 1799.
   James Marshel took part in the Whisky insurrection of 1794, and, with
David Bradford and the Rev. David Phillips, represented Washington
County at the meeting held in Pittsburgh in September, 1791, "to take into
consideration the excise law." He was present in July, 1794, in the Black
Horse tavern in Canonsburg, when David Bradford, John Canon, and
other leaders of the insurrection opened the mail sacks captured near
Greensburg. Two days later, with Bradford and others, he signed the
famous call for the militia to mobilize at Braddock's Field.


150





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    He sold his land shortly after the insurrection and in 1799 moved to
Wellsburg, West Virginia, where he died on March 17th, 1829.
    He had two sons and three daughters. His son, John, who was born
 in 1783, is well remembered by the old-time residents of Washington as
 cashier of the old Franklin bank, now the First National, from 1836 until
 1860. His other son, Robert, settled in Ohio. One daughter married
 William McCluney and the other two died unmarried.
   Thus ends the story of the Moravian massacre, and of all persons con-
nected with that bloody event. It has come down to us after nearly a
century and a half, as the worst crime of pioneer America; but the real
causes that led up to it have been overlooked by most writers of later
date, who have allowed their prejudices and imaginations to run rampant.
In this connection I wish to state that no less an author than Helen Hunt
Jackson makes gross misstatements in connection with this affair in her
book, "A Century of Dishonor." In describing the massacre, she gives
the wrong date by several years, and makes other statements which she
could have found were not true by a little investigation. If the remainder
of her book, which is often quoted, is as unreliable as her short account
of the Moravian massacre, then "A Century of Dishonor" is no "dishonor"
to the American people, as she proved nothing. I merely make mention
of this book as an example of what many writers have said on this subject.




                        CHAPTER XXVIII.

                               1782.
            THE FIGHT AT MILLER'S BLOCKHOUSE.
MILLER'S BLOCKHOUSE ON DUTCH FORK-EASTER SUNDAY, 1782-JACOB
   MILLER, SR., AND JOHN HUPP, SR., KILLED BY INDIANS-THE FIGHT AT
   THE BLOCKHOUSE-ANN HUPP, THE FRONTIER HEROINE, SAVES THE
   BLOCKHOUSE-ARRIVAL OF MILLER, HUPP, AND ROWE-THE INDIANS
   WITHDRAW-CLOTHING WORN BY JACOB MILLER, SR., IN WASHINGTON
   COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S COLLECTION-SITE OF THE BLOCK-
   HOUSE AS IT APPEARS TODAY-THE MILLER GRAVEYARD.
               "The mothers of our forest land,
                  Stout-hearted dames were they;
                With nerve to wield the battle-brand.
                  And join the border fray;
                To load the sure old rifle,
                  To run the leaden ball,
                To watch a battling husband's place,
                  And fill it should he fall."

   Williamson's second expedition, which resulted in the massacre,
brought no protection whatever to the frontier of Washington County:
and throughout the spring and summer of 1782 the raids were continued
with terrible ferocity. The Shawnese, the most dreaded and warlike of
all the western tribes, were particularly active, and they went on the war
path very early that year.


151















                 Advisory Board



           HON. JAMES I. BROWNSON, of Washington,
President Judge of the Courts of Common Pleas of Washington County.

   BRIGADIER GENERAL EDWARD MARTIN, of Washington,
Commanding the EEth Infantry Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard,
              and Auditor General of Pennsylvania.

            MR. JOHN L. STEWART, of Washington,
  President and General Manager of Observer Publishing Company.

             MR. MINOR H. DAY, of Washington,
                  City Editor of The Reporter.

           MR. HARRY R. CAMPBELL, of Washington,
        Secretary of the Washington Chamber of Commerce.

               MR. J. V. CLARK, of Washington,
                 Director in First National Bank.

          HON. JOSEPH A. HERRON, of Monongahela,
  Banker and State Senator, DFth Senatorial District of Pennsylvania.

             MR. JAMES P. CASTNER, of Donora,
                       Retired Banker.

            MR. EDWARD McDONALD, of McDonald,
               President of First National Bank.

           MR. S. V. KIMBERLAND, of Burgettstown,
         Superintendent of Schools of Washington County.

              MR. DAVID H. FEE, of Canonsburg,
                  Editor of The Daily Notes.


viii





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Easter Sunday of 1782 was a day long remembered by the settlers on
 the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek; and the battle which was fought there
 that day was one of the most thrilling of those heroic times. Miller's
 blockhouse, to which reference was made in the chapter dealing with the
 Shawnese raid on the Dutch Fork settlements in 1781, was located on the
 old Clinton Miller farm in Donegal Township.
    Easter Sunday, March 31st, 1782, was a beautiful spring day, and the
 people of the Dutch Fork settlements had no intimation of danger. Their
 scouts had kept careful watch for hostile war parties that had been
 reported east of the Ohio, and had warned the settlers to take refuge in
 their blockhouses; but on this day everything seemed quiet and no Indians
 were believed to be in the vicinity. Therefore the settlers at Miller's
 feared little danger as the sun arose over the hills on that beautiful
 Easter morning; but before it set that night events were destined to trans-
 pire which would make the day one long to be remembered on the frontier.
    The following account of the fight at Miller's is the most authentic
 in existence. It is taken from a letter written by Dr. John C. Hupp, late
 of Wheeling, West Virginia, and was published in Dr. Creigh's History of
 Washington County in 1871. Dr. Hupp's father was in the blockhouse
 during the battle, and was an infant two years old at the time. The
 story was told to him in later years by persons who took an active part
 in the fight, and therefore the story comes direct from the principal actors
 in that drama of the old frontier.
    The wife of John Hupp, Sr., had a dream the night before in which
 her husband was bitten on the hand by a copperhead snake, and try as she
 would she could not pull the venomous reptile away. She believed the
 next morning that this was a premonition of evil.
    A war party of seventy Shawnese warriors had surrounded the block-
house during the night, and when day dawned lay concealed in the thick
forest. Indians always disliked to storm a fort, preferring to capture it
by strategy.
    Very early that morning most of the men had left the fort on scouting
expeditions, some going to Rice's fort, two miles farther down on Dutch
Fork. This left John Hupp, Sr.; his wife, Ann, who afterwards proved
such a heroine in the defense of the fort, and their four children, Mar-
garet, Mary, John, and Elizabeth; Jacob Miller, Sr., and several members
of his family; the family of Edward Gaither, who had escaped the raid of
the fall before, and an old man named Mathias Ault.
   A colt belonging to Jacob Miller, Sr., had strayed away the day pre-
vious; an incident very trivial in itself, but one which was destined to
bring about very tragic results. Mr. Miller started in search of the ani-
mal, accompanied by John Hupp, Sr. Remembering her dream, Ann
Hupp begged her husband to remain in the blockhouse; but Hupp refused
to listen to his wife's entreaties, and went with his friend.
   The Indians had evidently allowed the men who departed earlier to
pass their lines in hopes that all of the defenders would leave the fort;
and this trick was almost successful; for every man except old Mr. Ault did
leave, but those Indians made a big mistake when they failed to consider
the frontier women.


152













































    Clothing worn by Jacob Miller, Sr., when killed
by Shawnese Indians near Mil'er's Blockhouse, on
Buffalo Creek, Donegal Township, Easter Sunday,
March 31, 1782. Now in possession of Washington
County Historical Society.


   Site of Miller's Blockhouse, on Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek, where Jacob Miller, Sr.,
and John Hupp, Sr., were killed by Shawnese Indians March 21, 1782. The block-
house, filled with women and children. was defended by a lone woman, Ann Hupp,
who kept the Indians at bay by firing rifles from different sides until help arrived from
Rice's Fort.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Hupp and Miller crossed Miller's run and went north until they dis-
appeared in the forest. A few minutes later the stillness of that beautiful
Sunday morning was broken by the sharp crack of a rifle, followed by
a wild warwhoop. Consternation and alarm reigned in the blockhouse;
for the women knew that that yell meant only one thing-Indians; and
eagerly they watched the forest for a sight of their loved ones.
   Hupp, who was in the prime of life, was a powerful man and very fleet
of foot; and his wife believed that if he had not been shot he could
outrun the Indians. Anxiously she watched for the man who would never-
more come back to her.
   It developed afterwards that the Indians allowed Hupp and Miller to
proceed some distance before the attack; for they wanted to be certain
they could not escape back to the blockhouse. The men followed a path
through the woods; and just as they reached the second ravine north of
the fort a rifle shot from behind a fallen tree mortally wounded Hupp;
but he turned and ran sixty or seventy yards before he fell. With exultant
yells the savages broke from cover and tomahawked Miller before the old
man could turn to flee. This tragic event occurred on land owned in later
years by William Miller.
   After scalping their victims, the Indians closed in on the blockhouse,
confident of an easy victory as only women and children were left to
defend it. But like many another hostile warrior in the days of the old
frontier, this band of Shawnese discovered to their sorrow that the
mothers of pioneer America were capable of taking care of themselves.
   As the savages closed in, there was wild excitement in the blockhouse.
Not knowing whether her husband had fallen a victim or not, Ann Hupp
arose to meet the situation and showed the stuff of which pioneer women
were made. As the savage yells of the red raiders rang through the
forest, this pioneer heroine inspired the frantic women and the trembling
old man with a courage she was far from feeling herself, and took charge
of the defense better than most men.
   Immediately after hearing the shot that killed her husband, this brave
woman dispatched Frederick Miller, a lad of eleven years, and a son of
Jacob Miller, Sr., to Rice's fort for help. Without stopping to consider
the danger, the brave boy ran from the blockhouse and tried desperately
to get through the Indian lines, but he was seen by the Indians who ran
to head him off. Even this did not daunt the boy and he showed a cour-
age equal to any frontiersman by trying to elude his pursuers. Finally
two warriors appeared ahead of him, and he saw that he must return to
the blockhouse if he would save his own life. He turned and ran back,
pursued by two savages with uplifted tomahawks, each one trying to sink
his weapon in the lad's brain.
   With bated breath the women watched this race for life. Each instant
they expected the Indians to overtake the boy; but with instant death
racing at his heels he ran as he never did before-or afterwards. A fence
surrounded the blockhouse, but young Miller summoned all his strength
for a last effort, and leaped over without pausing an instant. Seeing their
intended victim escaping from their grasp, one of the Indians threw his
tomahawk, and it struck the top rail just as he went over. Then both
Indians fired their rifles. One of the bullets struck the arm the boy had


154





               HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                       155

placed on the fence as he leaped over. The force of the bullet whirled
him around several times before he could continue his flight.
   With exultant yells the savages leaped forward to secure his scalp,
believing they had killed him; but this only acted as an additional incen-
tive, and the brave lad ran into the open door of the blockhouse, where
Ann Hupp joyfully received him in her arms as he fell exhausted across
the threshold.
   As if this was the signal, the savage warriors sprang from the forest
and advanced on the blockhouse from all sides, firing as they came, evi-
dently determined to capture it at once. The women were thrown into a
panic, and with Ault as their counsellor they had about decided to sur-
render and risk being carried into captivity, when Ann Hupp proved
herself one of the greatest heroines of the old frontier. She had been
busy attending to young Miller's wound, and did not hear the discussion.
As soon as she realized what was going on among the women, she rallied
them with a few words of encouragement, snatching up a rifle she fired
point blank at the nearest Indian, and then ran from one porthole to
another just long enough to point a rifle through it and aim. This gave
the impression that the fort was defended by a large number, and every
time she pointed a gun the Indians leaped for cover behind trees or fell
flat on the ground. This strategy proved more successful than she had
hoped; for the Indians halted their advance, and the white women took
courage.
   From behind a stable several Indians poured a hot fire on the block-
house. When this was not returned they became bolder, and occasionally
one exposed himself a little. Finally, he became bolder and stepped out
in plain view, holding up a board as a shield. When this drew no shot
from the blockhouse, he threw the board away and stepped out unpro-
tected. Mrs. Hupp then prevailed upon Mr. Ault to fire, but his aim was
poor, and the Indian bounded to shelter unharmed.
   The Indians now poured a terrific fire upon the little fort, hoping to
terrify the defenders and hit someone through a porthole by a chance
shot. When the firing was at its height one of the women gave a shout
of joy, for three white men were seen coming from the direction of Rice's
fort. It is hard to conceive just what the sight of those three men against
seventy bloodthirsty Indian warriors meant to the beleaguered women. If
they could only gain the blockhouse they might stand off the savages until
more help arrived. And when a man's loved ones are in danger he will
dare much.
   The women had a better view of the Indians' positions than did the
approaching men, and they shouted directions as to the safest way to enter
the besieged building. None of the Indians could understand English, and
while they were trying to comprehend the meaning of these shouts the
three daring scouts suddenly rushed through their lines and bounded to
safety in the blockhouse before the savages could recover from their
surprise.
   Ann Hupp never seemed to lose her presence of mind, and as soon as
she saw the white men she ran to the door, and as they bounded through
the ranks of the astonished Indians, she opened it to admit Captain Jacob
Miller, Jr., Phillip Hupp, and Jacob Rowe. At that time Captain Miller





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was only twenty years of age, and Jacob Rowe, a brother of Ann Hupp,
was only sixteen, but already they had passed through more adventures
than most men do in a lifetime.
    For some time the Indians kept up a scattered fire, which was returned
 with spirit by the white men whenever a red warrior showed himself.
 Towards evening the firing ceased, and some time during the night the
 Indians withdrew.
    Fearing a trap, the whites did not venture out until noon the next day.
 Then Captain Miller, Hupp and Rowe went in search of the bodies of the
 unfortunate men who had been killed the day before. They found Jacob
 Miller, Sr., about three hundred yards from the fort, his skull split open
 and scalped, and not far away was the body of John Hupp. Tenderly
 they carried them to the blockhouse. They were placed in puncheon coffins
 and buried in the same grave a few feet from the little fort; and today
 most of those who fought in Miller's blockhouse that Easter Sunday so
 long ago sleep by the sides of their fathers.
    The hat, coat, vest and knickerbockers worn by Jacob Miller, Sr., the
 day he was killed were preserved by the family, and handed down from
 generation to generation. For many years the late J. Shan Margerum, a
 former well known shoe merchant of Washington, had them in his keep-
 ing, and placed them on a wax figure of a man in a glass case in his store.
 In later years they were placed by the Miller family in the Washington
 County Historical society's collection, and they may be seen today in its
 room in the third floor of the courthouse.
    If you go to the long point of land at the junction of the Dutch Fork
 and Miller's run today, you will see little to remind you of that battle of
 the old frontier fought there between red men and white nearly a century
 and a half ago. That region where once the terrifying war cry of the
 wild Indian told of death and destruction, is now one of the most peaceful
 and beautiful sections of the Western Border of long ago.
    All signs of the blockhouse, like the times that created the necessity
for the fort, have vanished from the face of the earth, and no living man
remembers having seen it. The spring that supplied the water for the
people still gushes forth in a clear, cold stream from the hillside, and near
by is the old Clinton Miller homestead. A log cabin stands below the
spring in a state of picturesque ruin. When it was erected no one knows,
but it may well have been built from logs from the blockhouse.
                "With death they steal away
                    Out of the sight of the sun,
                 Out of the sight of the living, they
                    Pay the debt and are done."
   In a neglected spot at the western end of Miller's orchard is a little
graveyard where these pioneer heroes and heroines, who fought the hos-
tile Indians so long ago, sleep their last long sleep beneath the cool shade
of several giant forest trees that probably sheltered the naked bodies of
some of the red warriors who battled to stop the advancing flow of civiliza-
tion into their land. This sacred spot has been sadly neglected of late
years. M ihi of the fence has rotted away, and stock from the adjoining
field tramples over the graves, and many of the headstones have fallen


156





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


down. It certainly looks as if the present owner of the land begrudges
those pioneers a few feet of ground in which to await the judgment day.
    In this neglected spot is the dust of the pioneer heroine, Ann Hupp,
whose heroism saved the women and children in the blockhouse that day
from falling into the hands of the ruthless savages. Surely she deserves
something better.
   Over another grave the passing stranger may read on the headstone:
"In memory of Capt. John Jacob Miller, who departed this life August
20th, A. D., 1830, aged 67 years, 11 months and 24 days." This is the man
who was captured by Indians at Jonathan Link's cabin in 1781, and who
rushed through the Indian lines to the aid of the women and children in
Miller's blockhouse. The following account of his death is found in the
Washington Examiner for August 28th, 1830:
   "Died-On Saturday last, Captain Jacob Miller, of Donegal Township,
in the 68th year of his age. The deceased had on that day been at a
delegate election, on returning from which, crossing the Dutch Fork of
Buffalo Creek about two miles from his own residence, it is supposed he
fell from his horse, as he was found lying in the stream with only part of
his head covered by the water, and quite dead, whether from drowning or
the fall was not well ascertained. The deceased had served with credit in
the Indian wars in the Western country."
   By the side of Captain Miller is the grave of his brother, Frederick,
the boy of eleven years who attempted to break through the Indian lines
for help. The headstone states that he died March 27th, 1814, aged forty-
three years. Elizabeth Miller, a sister and one of the children in the
blockhouse, sleeps in another grave.
   Margaret Titus, a daughter of Ann Hupp and another of the children
in the blockhouse, lies in an unmarked grave, while Jacob Rowe, one of
the white men who rushed through the Indian lines to the aid of the
women in the blockhouse, rests in another unmarked grave.
   For a hundred years and more these pioneers have been dust and
ashes, forgotten by the money-mad generations who came after them and
in turn have followed them to the great beyond. But the civilization of
this land that holds their neglected graves is a monument that none can
deny them.





                        CHAPTER XXIX.

                            1776-1826.
        ANN HUPP AND HER BROTHER, JACOB ROWE.
A FAMILY OF PIONEERS-HATRED OF INDIANS-HER MOTHER AND
   BROTHER KILLED BY INDIANS-ESCAPE OF JACOB ROWE-DESPERATE
   JOURNEY THROUGH THE WILDERNESS TO WASHINGTON COUNTY-
   ADAM ROWE AND HIS SON, ADAM, GO TO KENTUCKY-DEATH OF JACOB
   ROWE-ANN HUPP MARRIES AGAIN-HER DEATH-JOHN HUPP, JR..
   THE BABY IN THE BLOCKHOUSE.


157





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                  A dirge for the brave old pioneer,
                     A dirge for his old spouse;
                  For her who blest his forest cheer,
                     And kept his birchen house.
                  Now soundly by her chieftain
                     May the brave old dame sleep on;
                  The red man's step is far away,
                    The wolf's dread howl is gone.
                                            -Theodore O'Hara.
   Ann Hupp, the heroine of Miller's blockhouse, came from a family of
pioneers and Indian fighters. Her father, Adam Rowe, emigrated to
Washington County at an early date and later went to Kentucky. This
pioneer woman had cause to fear and hate the hostile Indians; for her
mother and oldest brother were killed by them, and her youngest brother
was carried into captivity and never heard of again.
   This occurred in the fall of 1776 when Adam Rowe set out from Wash-
ington County with his wife and four children for Kentucky. The Rowes
were pioneers and had faced dangers before, and they had little fear of
Indians. At the flats of Grave Creek, West Virginia, they were attacked
by a wandering war party, and Mrs. Rowe and the oldest boy were killed,
while Daniel, aged seven, the baby of the family, was captured. Jacob,
who was then ten years of age, escaped by running into a willow thicket.
He was the last of the family who ever saw little Daniel alive; for just as
he disappeared in the brush a warrior with the little boy on his back made
for Jacob. This was the last ever heard or seen of little Daniel Rowe.
   Young Jacob concealed himself in the willows, and, although the
Indians searched for him, he escaped detection in the thick brush. As
soon as it was safe he crawled out, and, trembling with fear, this boy of
ten years started through the almost trackless forest infested with wild
beasts and wilder men, to find his way back to Washington County.
   His journey is without a parallel in frontier history. Always in fear of
discovery by the Indians he kept to the dense woods and in the darker
ravines. He was certainly a good woodsman to find his way back over the
long miles through a dense forest; for it was a feat that would have baffled
many an older man more experienced in woodcraft. Yet this boy, scarcely
more than a baby, made the entire journey alone without a weapon of
any description, living on berries and roots. The nights were cold, but he
made no attempt to travel after dark; for traveling in the woods at night
is a feat that will test the most experienced woodsman. He would make a
nest of leaves in some hollow tree as a little protection from the cold.
   The next day he resumed his journey, and finally reached Buffalo
Creek, cold, tired, and hungry, and heartbroken over the fate of his family,
and was received in the arms of his sister, Ann Hupp, to whom he poured
out his terrible tale of the tragedy of the morning before.
   Adam Rowe, and his son, Adam, escaped from the Indians, and also
reached Buffalo Creek in safety. They afterwards went to Kentucky, but
the terrible ending of that first attempt to reach the "dark and bloody


158





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ground" was still very fresh in young Jacob's memory, and he remained
with his sister on Buffalo Creek. And six years later he was one of three
white men who dashed through a line of seventy Shawnese warriors to
the aid of that same sister who was valiantly holding the fort against
the onslaughts of the savages.
   Jacob Rowe died in 1826 of a throat affection, and was buried beside
his sister in the graveyard at Miller's blockhouse.
   At the time of the murder of her husband, Ann Hupp was just twenty-
five years of age. She was the mother of four children, all of whom were
in the blockhouse, and she was fighting for their lives as well as those of
the other women and children that Easter Sunday of 1782, when her name
was written high on the Western Border's roll of fame.
   After the death of her husband, this brave woman went with her chil-
dren to the home of her brother-in-law, P. Hupp, near where the village
of Millsboro now stands in East Bethlehem Township. She remained
there four years, and then returned to Buffalo Creek, and later married
John May, whom she survived several years. Ann Hupp died on June
23rd, 1823, in the sixty-sixth year of her age, and she was laid to rest
by the side of her first husband in the little graveyard at Miller's block-
house.
   John Hupp, Jr., whose father was murdered by the Indians and whose
mother so heroically defended the blockhouse, was just two years old at
the time of the battle. He lived on Buffalo Creek for many years after-
wards. His son, the late Dr. John C. Hupp, of Wheeling, West Virginia,
related the story of the siege to Dr. Alfred Creigh, of Washington, exactly
as it was told by his father.
   Dr. Hupp, the grandson of Ann Hupp, died in Wheeling on Novem-
ber 19th, 1908, leaving several children to survive him, among whom is
Mrs. Amanda V. Harding, of Washington. Many other descendants are
scattered through Washington County. The Hupps still live in Donegal
Township, and own a farm a short distance from the site of Miller's
blockhouse.





                        CHAPTER XXX.

                              1782.

           INDIAN RAIDS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
THE SCALP BOUNTY-WILLIAM PARKS, SAMUEL ROBISON, AND JOHN
   YEAMAN KILLED BY INDIANS-COFFINS MADE BY JAMES EDGAR-
   THEIR GRAVES-MARY      ROBISON-AGNES YEAMAN-THOMAS AND
   OLIVER CRAWFORD CAPTURED-CAPTIVES FOR NINE YEARS-GRAVES
   OF THOMAS CRAWFORD AND HIS MOTHER AT CROSS CREEK-THE
   CORBLEY FAMILY ATTACKED-REV. CORBLEY ESCAPES-DEATH OF
   MRS. CORBLEY-CRAWFORD'S EXPEDITION AGAINST SANDUSKY.

                 In vain the tide of life flows on,
                   On the daring hunters' track,


159





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                   And not the Indians' high emprise
                     Can turn the current back.
                                              -Julian.
    Indian raids through Washington County and along the entire West-
ern Border continued with savage ferocity during the spring of 1782, and
the people lived under a reign of terror such as we at this late day cannot
understand. Each day brought its news of another murder committed
by the hostiles and of white women carried away into savage slavery
beyond the Ohio. This same condition the year before had brought about
the second Moravian expedition which resulted in the massacre at Gnad-
enhutten; and it was this condition which finally brought about Crawford's
expedition against Sandusky in May and June of 1782.
   On April 22nd, 1780, the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania
had issued a proclamation offering to pay a reward of $1,500 Pennsylvania
currency, for each Indian or Tory prisoner, and $1,000 for each Indian
scalp turned over to the county lieutenant. At the same time the British
were paying the Indians for the scalps of Americans, or for prisoners.
The English authorities at Niagara paid the savages fighting in their
service five shillings for a scalp and five pounds for a prisoner. Hamilton,
the British commandant at Fort Detroit, gained much notoriety during
the Revolution as the "hair buying general," and as such he is recorded
in history to this day.
   That bounties on Indian scalps taken in Pennsylvania were actually
paid by the state authorities is shown by the records of the Supreme
Executive council for 1780, 1781, 1782, and 1783. These old records show
that many Indian killers and hunters of the old frontier did a flourishing
trade in the hair lifting business.
   On April 2nd, 1782, an order was drawn on the state treasurer in
favor of Dorsey Pentecost, of Washington County, for the sum of twelve
pounds, ten shillings specie, to be paid to Adam Poe for taking an Indian
scalp in the County of Washington, agreeable to the proclamation of
the council.
   On March 21st, 1783, an order was drawn on the state treasurer in
favor of Matthew Ritchie, of Washington County, for twenty-five pounds
specie to be paid by him to Alexander Wright, of Wright's blockhouse in
Washington County, and William Minor, being the reward allowed by
proclamation of the council for two Indian scalps taken in the county of
Washington.
   On this same date, March 21st, 1783, the council repealed the procla-
mation offering a bounty on scalps, because, as stated by the minutes, the
reasons upon which the same were founded no longer continued. This
ended the scalp bounty law forever in Pennsylvania; and the last bounties
paid by this state were the two just mentioned above to residents of Wash-
ington County.
   Three men were murdered in the northern section of the county by
Indians during the spring of 1782. William Parks was killed and scalped
almost within sight of Vance's fort, one mile from Cross Creek village;
and on the same day Samuel Robison met a similar fate on a farm in
Jefferson Township, which was later owned by Robert Stewart. Samuel


160





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Robison, Jr., aged eighteen, saw the Indians tomahawk and scalp his
father, but the lad managed to escape.
    Robison and Parks were buried on the same day in the old graveyard
 at Cross Creek village, which is one of the most historic in the county.
 The late James Simpson in his "History of the Cross Creek Graveyard,"
 states that Hon. James Edgar, one of the first judges of the Washington
 County courts, was the first undertaker in that neighborhood and made
 all of the collins for the first settlers buried at Cross Creek. He made
 the coffins for Robison and Parks.
    Simpson says that an old stone with only the letter "R" upon it is
 supposed to have marked Samuel Robison's grave. Parks' grave was evi-
 dently not marked; for Simpson tells us that in 1828, while the grave of
 John Campbell was being dug, a coffin, the location of which was unknown
 to any of those present, was found. John Graham identified it as that of
 William Parks, who had been killed by Indians forty-six years before.
 As a boy, Graham had seen Parks buried. Judge Edgar had always used
 the old style hand-made nails, and the coffin was further identified by
 these. These facts were related to Mr. Simpson by people who were
 present in 1828 when the coflin was uncovered.
    Mary Robison, the widow of Samuel Robison, died on March 27th,
 1809, aged sixty-six years, and was buried by her husband's side. In
 1832, their son, Samuel Robison, Jr., who had seen his father murdered
 by Indians half a century before, died at the age of sixty-eight years, and
 was laid to rest by his parents' side.
    The raid in which Parks and Robison were killed covered a large part
 of the northern section of the county; for on the same day John Yeaman
 was killed in Jefferson Township, probably by the same band. He was
 buried on his own farm, where his grave may be seen to this day. The
 land was owned in later years by John J. Cairnes. Agnes Yeaman, his
 widow, who afterwards married a man named Kelly, died January 23rd,
 1838, aged eighty-seven years, and was buried at Cross Creek.
    Thomas Crawford, who is also buried in the historic Cross Creek
graveyard, had an eventful career. He and his brother, Oliver, were
captured by Indians and carried to the mysterious Ohio country. They
remained in captivity for nine years, most of which was spent on the
Scioto River, and then their mother ransomed them by paying $400 to
an Indian trader, who secured their freedom. Thomas Crawford died in
June, 1783, and was buried at the side of his mother who had died a short
time before.
   The Rev. John Corbley, a Baptist minister, was located on Muddy
Creek, in what is now Greene County, but in 1782 it was a part of Wash-
ington County. The account of the attack on the Corbley family while
they were on their way to church, is taken from a letter written by the
Rev. Mr. Corbley himself on July 8th, 1788, to the Rev. Dr. Rogers, at
Philadelphia.
   This attack took place on the second Sunday of May, 1782. The entire
family consisting of the Rev. Corbley, his wife and five children, were on
their way to church where the father was to preach. One child was a
baby in its mother's arms, another was an only son, aged six, and the
other three were girls.
       (11) V1










                  CONTENTS




                      CHAPTER I.

                        1700-1769.

                THE FIRST INHABITANTS.

DELAWARES AND SHAWNESE-THE OLD CATAWBA WAR TRAIL--MASON
   AND DIXON LINE-THE MINGO PATH-TINGOOCQUA (CATFISH)-
   GREAT COUNCIL OF 1759-TINGOOCQUA'S SPEECH-KUSKUSKEE-
   TINGOOCQUA SETTLES ON WISSAMAKING (CATFISH) CREEK-"THE
   GRAVE OF CATFISH"-FIRST WHITE SETTLERS AT CATFISH CAMP
   (WASHINGTON)-NEMACOLIN-BALD EAGLE-INDIAN MOUNDS NEAR
   McDONALD-MOUNDS IN MONONGAHELA VALLEY-CAMP SITE NEAR
   HILL CHURCH-INDIAN FORT AT ZOLLARSVILLE-MOUNDS AT MARI-
   ANNA AND CANDOR-THE PICTURE ROCKS-FOOTPRINTS OF PREHIS-
   TORIC MAN DISCOVERED IN WASHINGTON IN 1925         35


                      CHAPTER II.

                        1720-1769.

              THE COMING OF THE WHITES.
INDIAN TRADERS-PETER CHARTIER-JAMES LE TORT-JOHN FRASIER-
   GEORGE CROGHAN-GIFT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES FROM
   THE IROQUOIS TO CROGHAN-- OLD DEEDS ON RECORD FOR THIS
   LAND                          ..41


                      CHAPTER III.

                        1765-1774.

              THE COMING OF CIVILIZATION.
THE FIRST WHITE SETTLERS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY NOT KNOWN-
   EVERHART HUPP'S CLAIM DISPUTED-WRIGHT BROTHERS-SQUATTERS
   -BANE BROTHERS-ANDREW POE-RANKIN AND CHRIST-DATE OF
   HUPP'S SETTLEMENT-MARGARET HUPP, THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN
   WEST OF THE MONONGAHELA RIVER-ATTACK ON ROEFELTY FAMILY
   -GEORGE BUMGARNER-ABRAHAM TEAGARDEN-HUPP'S BLOCK-
   HOUSE-JACOB WOLFE-THOMAS CHERRY-SETTLERS IN ALLEN
   TOWNSHIP                                   ___ __  43


                      CHAPTER IV.

                        1768-1773.
           THE DEATH KNELL OF THE RED MAN.
INDIAN PETER-SETTLERS ON INDIAN LANDS-MEETING AT REDSTONE
   OLD FORT-TREATY OF FORT PITT-THE RUSH OF SETTLERS-SET-
   TLERS ORDERED BACK EAST ___ _-________46





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   They did not dream that Indians were in that section, and no danger
was thought of. 'Mr. Corbley was walking about two hundred yards ahead
of his family, with his Bible in his hands, meditating. Suddenly he heard
a scream from his wife, followed by frightful shrieks from the children.
Not knowing what was wrong, Mr. Corbley grabbed a club and started
to their aid. When his wife saw him she shouted that they were attacked
by Indians, and for him to run and save himself. Having no other weapon
than the club he immediately turned and fled, with a red warrior in hot
pursuit; and it was only the speed of the Rev. Corbley's feet that saved
his life, for he outran the Indian.
   The savages seized the infant from Mrs. Corbley's arms, and killed
and scalped it before her eyes. They struck the woman several times,
but she did not fall, and the Indian who had pursued Mr. Corbley, shot her
through the body and scalped her. Another warrior split the skull of the
six-year-old boy, and scalped him; and one of the girls was killed and
scalped by another savage.
   The oldest daughter witnessed this whole horrible murder from a
hollow tree, where she had concealed herself before the Indians saw her.
The other daughter was knocked down and scalped; and in taking off the
scalp all of the skin was torn from her head together with a small piece
of skull. She recovered and lived for many years.
   The girl concealed in the tree came out as soon as she thought the
Indians had departed, but one of them saw her and returned, knocked
her down and scalped her. She lived, however, to relate her frightful
experience to her terrified father.

             CRAWFORD'S EXPEDITION AGAINST SANDUSKY.
   The army of settlers, led by Colonel William Crawford against the
Wyandots and Delawares on the Plains of Sandusky, Ohio, was the largest
and most important military campaign in which the people of western
Pennsylvania took part during the Revolution or the Indian wars. The
men who composed this frontier army were from the militia of Washing-
ton and Westmoreland counties. That the expedition was a failure was
not due to the gallant leader, but must be charged against the men them-
selves. If the expedition had been successful, the raids in Washington
County would have been stopped.
   Brave Colonel Crawford's terrible fate has been the theme for many
books written on those times; and his death at the stake was related
around many a camp fire and in the cabin homes of the pioneers for years
afterward. Every history of the old frontier contains an account of the
disastrous expedition against Sandusky, and the burning of the leader.
Many conflicting stories have been told of this affair. In the following
account the author has gone into detail, relating incidents not contained
in any other one book on this campaign. The general account of the
expedition is taken from C. W. Butterfield's "Crawford's Expedition
Against Sandusky," published in 1873, which stands as the most authentic
up to that time. Much other information given, I have secured through
personal investigation and through correspondence with persons now liv-
ing in the vicinity of the battlefield, in Wyandot County, Ohio. I am
indebted for much information to Mr. Emil Schlup and C. E. Brown, of


162





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Upper Sandusky. The account of Dr. Knight's captivity and escape were
given to me by his great-grandson, Mr. W. R. Shelby, of Grand Rapids,
Michigan, and his great-great-grandson, Mr. C. K. Shelby, of Olean, New
York. I have tried to bring this account down to date and make it the
most authentic yet published. On account of the lack of space I have
been compelled to leave out much detail, but everything of importance
has been given.




                         CHAPTER XXXI.

                               1782.
                 GATHERING OF THE SETTLERS.

 A GREAT BLUNI)ER-MARSIIEL'S LETTER TO GENERAL IRVINE-CONFER-
    ENCE AT FORT PITT-IRVINE'S PLAN-THE RENDEZVOUS AT MINGO
    BOTTOM--EQUIPMENT AND 1)RESS OF THE FRONTIER SOLDIERS-
    ELECTION OF OFFICERS-JOHN SLOVERI ANI) JONATHAN ZANE, GUIDES
    -LIST OF CAPTAINS.
           Come all you good people wherever you may be,
              Pray draw near awhile and listen to me;
           A story I'll tell you which happened of late,
             Concerning brave Crawford's most cruel fate.
                                     -From an old frontier song.
   In all the history of Indian warfare, the whites never committed a
greater blunder than the expedition against the Delaware and Wyandots
on the Plains of Sandusky, Ohio. The object was to put a stop to the raids
through Washington County and other sections of the Western Border.
This frontier army marched away, four hundred eighty strong, led by
Colonel William Crawford, a capable officer and Indian fighter, with the
best of prospects. The other officers were all brave men of long experience
in Indian fighting. Some of them had received their baptism of fire under
Braddock, and they had spent their lives on the frontier, fighting Indians
in the long war between civilization and barbarism.
   That army should have returned victorious; but it was defeated and
cut to pieces; and but for the bravery of its officers would have been
slaughtered. The trouble lay with the rank and file. A few of the men
were experienced in Indian warfare, but the majority had never been in
battle before. They were without discipline or drill, little better than a
rabble. Half of that number of experienced Indian fighters could have
swept the hostiles from the whole state of Ohio. This is no empty state-
ment; for the records of our Indian wars give many accounts of victories
won by the whites when they were outnumbered twenty to one. The
caliber of these soldiers is shown from the expedition of General George
Rogers Clark only the year before. His army was composed of people
from this same section, but they refused to support him, and it also ended
in failure.


163





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Immediately after the close of the second Moravian campaign, the
people of the Western Border were loud in their demands for a more
formidable expedition that would destroy the hostile villages in Ohio, and
put a stop to raids in this county. It was first planned that six hundred
men should meet at Mingo Bottom on March 18th. This plan fell through,
but the project was not abandoned.
    James Marshel, county lieutenant, took the matter up, and wrote to
General Irvine at Fort Pitt, asking for his approval and support, and
intimating that the people would like to have him take command. This
letter, dated April 2nd, 1782, was delivered to General Irvine by Colonel
David Williamson. It follows:
   "The bearer hereof, Colonel Williamson, is now prepared for a voyage
down the river with about thirty thousand weight of flour. But from
a real love to his country, he proposes not only to carry an expedition
against Sandusky with the militia of this county, together with what
volunteers might be raised in Westmoreland County, but offers to advance
such part of the flour as might be necessary for the occasion. The people
in general on the frontier are waiting with anxious expectation to know
whether an expedition can be carried against Sandusky this spring or not.
I could therefore wish that Colonel Williamson would be countenanced in
this plan if with propriety it can be done."
   This letter first brought the project officially to the notice of the com-
mander of the Western Department. General Irvine favored the expedi-
tion, but he was not inclined to place Williamson in command on account
of the very recent Moravian massacre.
   Prior to the date of this letter General Irvine had invited Col. James
Marshel, county lieutenant of Washington County; Col. Edward Cook,
county lieutenant of Westmoreland County, and Col. David Shepherd,
county lieutenant of Ohio County, Virginia, to a conference at Fort Pitt
on military matters. Marshel was unable to attend but he sent in his place
Colonel Vallandigham, sub-lieutenant. Washington County was also rep-
resented by Judge James Edgar, Col. David Williamson, Col. Thomas Cook,
and Maj. John Carmichael. Colonels Cook and Campbell represented
Westmoreland County, and Colonel Shepherd and Maj. Samuel McCulloch,
Ohio County.
   General defense was the principal topic discussed, and all present
pledged their support to General Irvine. It was decided to patrol the
entire frontier with companies of scouts or rangers, kept in constant mo-
tion from point to point. Washington County was to supply a ranger
force of one hundred sixty men; Westmoreland County sixty-five men
from Laurel Hill to the Allegheny River, but nothing definite was done
in regard to the proposed expedition against Sandusky.
   When the Indian raids continued in spite of the rangers, Colonel
Marshel, on May 1st, again wrote to General Irvine, urging the expedition,
and six days later a delegation from this county, headed by Hon. Dorsey
Pentecost, a member of the Supreme Executive council from Washington
County, visited General Irvine and again brought the matter to his
attention.
   General Irvine was suspicious that this expedition was part of the


164





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


plans of certain parties to form a new state. This had been his reason
for holding back his approval for so long, but when he was given assur-
ance that the two had nothing in common, he gave his consent. The
expedition was to be under his control. He decided there should be no
less than three hundred men. He had authority to raise the required
number by a draft on Washington and Westmoreland counties. He had
a limited supply of ammunition and flints, which he gave, but he had no
arms, provisions, horses or equipment to spare. Colonel Marshel fur-
nished more ammunition, and each man was directed to supply himself
with a horse and equipment, a rifle, rations, and other necessary articles
at his own expense. It was understood that any conquests were not for
settlement, but for the United States.
   The people wished General Irvine to lead the army, and if he had
consented and had taken a few regulars from Fort Pitt there might have
been a different story to tell. He did not feel at liberty to go, but he gave
all assistance possible. He sent Dr. John Knight from Fort Pitt as sur-
geon, and Lieutenant John Rose, his aide-de-camp. The volunteers were
to elect their own officers and the commander-in-chief.
   Mingo Bottom on the Indian side of the Ohio River was selected as the
rendezvous, and May 20th was fixed as the date. Mingo Bottom is in the
present Jefferson County, Ohio, two and one-half miles below Steuben-
ville. T,he people were so eager that they started by the 15th.
   As in all wars there were many young men who did not look upon the
matter seriously, treating the affair more as a holiday excursion; but
when the pinch came these light hearted youths were not found wanting.
The seasoned Indian fighters looked upon the expedition in a far different
light, and felt some apprehension as to the outcome.
   The equipment of this volunteer army was very simple. The men had
no regulation uniform, but they presented a picturesque appearance in
war dress. Their long hunting shirts, usually of buckskin fringed at the
bottom and seams, reached nearly to their knees. These garments were
belted at the waist, and supplies were carried in their bosoms. The side
arms consisted of a tomahawk on the right side and a scalping knife on
the left. The trousers were either homespun or buckskin, almost skin
tight and fringed at the seams. On their feet they wore moccasins instead
of shoes. The knapsacks, made of tow cloth and strapped to the saddles,
carried such articles as a fond mother, sister, or loving wife or sweetheart
placed there for use on the trip, but which were generally discarded as
useless before they had gone far. The saddle blankets served as a bed
at night, and flour and bacon constituted their food supply. Each man
was armed with a flint-lock, muzzle loading rifle, carried across the saddle.
   The men from Westmoreland County came from the Youghiogheny
River in the vicinity of Uniontown, now Fayette County. They gathered
at Redstone Old Fort, and then marched over the old trail, now the
National pike, to Washington, where they were joined by a large number
of Washington County volunteers. From Washington they marched west
through the real wilderness.
   It was Friday, May 24th, before the entire force had gathered at
Mingo Bottom, on which date there were four hundred eighty volunteers.
The exact number from the various sections were: from Washington


165





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


County, 320; from Westmoreland County, 130; from Ohio County, Vir-
ginia, twenty, and ten regular army officers detailed from Fort Pitt.
   Officers were elected on the afternoon of the 24th. There were only
two candidates for commander-in-chief--William Crawford, of Westmore-
land County, and David Williamson, of Washington County. Both were
very popular, and had it not been known that both General Irvine and the
authorities at Philadelphia favored Crawford, it is more than probable
that Williamson would have been elected. As it was he was only defeated
by five votes, Crawford receiving 235 and Williamson, 230. This shows
the high esteem in which Williamson was held by the settlers of that day.
   After the election, Williamson showed his true character by exhorting
the men to be unanimous and loyal in their support of Crawford, and he
cheerfully submitted to be the second in command. Lieutenant John Rose,
in a letter to General Irvine, paid a high tribute to Williamson when he
said: "I think, if it had been otherwise, Crawford would have pushed
home, and very likely we would have been dispersed; which would have
been likewise the case if Williamson had not behaved with so much
prudence."
   Williamson received the entire vote of the command for lieutenant
colonel. The field majors elected, to rank in the order named, were
Thomas Gaddis, John McClelland, and John Brinton. Daniel Leet, of
near Washington, was elected brigade major; Dr. John Knight, of Fort
Pitt, surgeon, and Lieutenant John Rose was aide-de-camp to Colonel
Crawford. The guides were Jonathan Zane, of Wheeling, John Slover,
and Thomas Nicholson.
   John Slover was the most noted of this trio of guides, and no man of
his time knew the Ohio country better than he. For twelve years he had
been held a prisoner among the western tribes, and he had always led a
wild, roving life. During a raid on New River, Virginia, in 1761, a war
party of Miami Indians 'had killed his father, and had captured his
mother, his two sisters and himself. The two girls died from exposure
and starvation, but the mother was afterwards exchanged and returned to
Virginia, where she died in a short time. John Slover lived with the
Miami Indians in southwestern Ohio for six years, and was then sold
to a Delaware. This Indian turned him over to a white trader, who gave
him to the Shawnese on the Scioto, where he remained six years longer.
In the fall of 1773, while attending a treaty council with the Shawnese
at Fort Pitt, young Slover, who was then twenty years of age, met some
relatives, who persuaded him to give up his wild life. During the Revolu-
tion he served fifteen months in the Continental Line, and then married
and settled in Westmoreland County. He was known among the Indians
as MIannucothe.
   Jonathan Zane, who had already guided several expeditions against
the hostiles, was a brother of Ebenezer Zane, the founder of Wheeling.
No man knew the Ohio country better than he, unless it was John Slover.
   Very little is known of Nicholson, the third guide, except that he was
a skilled woodsman, and had hunted in the Indian country.
   Crawford's men have been accused by writers of later times with hav-
ing designs on the remnants of the Moravians at Sandusky, but this is
not true. The story had its origin in a New York newspaper, which city


166





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was then held by the British, and from the accounts of the Moravian mis-
sionaries of that time, who were very bitter towards the Americans be-
cause of the massacre.
    After the election of the field officers, the men were formed into eight-
 een companies, each choosing its own captain, lieutenant and ensign. The
 names of the eighteen captains are Joseph Bane. John Beeson, John Biggs,
 Charles Bilderback, William Bruce, Timothy Downing. William Fife, John
 Hardin, John Hoagland, Andrew Hood, William Leet. Duncan McGihan.
 John Miller, James Munn, David Reed, Thomas Rankin, Craig Ritchie and
 Ezekiel Ross.




                         CHAPTER XXXII.

                              1732-1816.
             SKETCH OF COL. WILLIAM CRAWFORD.

        Torture thou may'st, but thou shalt ne'er despise me;
           The blood will follow where the knife is driven;
        The flesh will quiver where the pincers tear,
          And sighs and cries by nature grow on pain;
        But these are foreign to the soul; not mine
          The groans that issue, or the tears that fall;
        They disobey me;-on the rack I scorn thee.
                                              -Young's Revenge.
   William Crawford, the commander, was born in 1732 of Scotch-Irish
parentage in what is now Berkeley County, Virginia. His father died
when he was four years old, and his mother later married Richard Ste-
phenson, by whom she had six children: John, Hugh, Richard, James,
Marcus, and Elizabeth. William Crawford had one full brother, Valentine.
   Not only because of the fact that William Crawford commanded the
expedition, has this family a special interest to Washington County, for
James Stephenson died in 1813 at the age of seventy-three, and is buried
in the old graveyard at Cross Creek village. William Stephenson, his
son and a nephew of Colonel Crawford, died on March 1st, 1851, aged
eighty years, and is buried beside his father. This man served under
General Arthur St. Clair in the disastrous campaign of 1791, which ended
in a bloody defeat.
   George Washington became acquainted with William Crawford and
the Stephenson boys when he was surveying land for Lord Fairfax, and
he frequently stopped at the home of their widowed mother in the Shenan-
doah Valley. During those years a warm friendship sprang up between
them, which lasted through life, and in later years after Washington
became famous, these friends of his youth received many favors from him.
   William Crawford learned surveying from Washington, and took it up
as a profession. He spent his fifty years of life as a pioneer, always
living beyond the frontier, fighting Indians and blazing new trails for
civilization until his untimely end on the Plains of Sandusky.


167





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    In 1755, he joined Braddock's army as an ensign, and took part in the
 Battle of the Monongahela on July 9th, 1755, and received a lieutenancy
 for gallantry. Later he did garrison duty and acted as a scout for frontier
 posts in Virginia and Pennsylvania. He received a commission from
 Washington as a captain in General Forbes' expedition against Fort
 Duquesne, and recruited a company of Virginians. One of his privates
 was a mere boy named Daniel Morgan, who won everlasting fame during
 the Revolution as the leader of Morgan's riflemen.
    Crawford remained in the army for three years after the fall of Fort
Duquesne, and then returned to the Shenandoah Valley. In 1767 he built
a cabin on the Youghiogheny River, at the ford of Braddock's road, known
as Stewart's crossing from one William Stewart, who had lived there in
1753. His cabin stood where the town of New Haven, Fayette County,
opposite Connellsville, is now located.
   He took up three hundred sixty-six acres of land, and carried on a
trade with the Indians. His half brother, Hugh, joined him, and they
made homes for their famliies which they had left in Virginia. Two years
later, Crawford brought his wife, Hannah, and their three children,
Sarah, John, and Effie, to this wilderness home. Crawford still continued
his occupation and surveyed most of the land that George Washington
and other members of the Washington family afterwards owned in Fay-
ette and Washington counties.
   During his journey through the West in the fall of 1770, Washington
stopped at the Crawford place on October 13th, and the next day the
latter showed his friend a coal mine near his home. This was probably
the first opened in that section, which is now one of the great coal and
coke centers of the country.
   During Dunmore's war of 1774, Crawford was commissioned a captain
in the Virginia forces; and during the boundary dispute he sided with
Virginia against Pennsylvania. At the outbreak of the Revolution he
enlisted in the Virginia troops, and on January 12th, 1776, was commis-
sioned lieutenant colonel of the Fifth Virginia regiment. On October 11th,
he was made colonel of the Fifth Virginians and placed under Washing-
ton. He crossed the Delaware, and fought at Trenton and many other
noted battles. In the spring of 1778 he was sent to Fort Pitt to command
a Virginia regiment raised for the defense of the frontier.
   He served under General McIntosh in the construction of Forts McIn-
tosh and Laurens in 1778, and in September was appointed commander of
the Militia from Yohogania, Monongalia and Ohio counties, Virginia, then
at Fort Pitt. The remainder of Crawford's services in the army were
spent on the Western Border, and he had many narrow escapes from
death and capture until he was burned at the stake.
   At the time of the Sandusky expedition Crawford's children were all
married and living near his home. Sarah, the oldest daughter, a noted
border beauty, was the wife of William Harrison, and the second daughter,
Effie, was married to William McCormick.
   John, the only son, went with his father on the expedition, together
with William Harrison, the son-in-law, and a nephew, William Crawford,
a son of Valentine Crawford. John Crawford was the only one of the


168





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


three who ever came back. Harrison and young William Crawford were
captured and killed in running the gauntlet. All of the early accounts
state that John Crawford was also killed, but this is a mistake. He was
confused with his cousin, William.
    On November 27, 1786, John Crawford sold his father's homestead to
 Edward Cook, who sold it to Isaac Meason. The latter laid out the town
 of New Haven on the tract in 1796. John Crawford afterwards emigrated
 to Adams County, Ohio, where he died about 1816.
    On Saturday morning, May 18, 1782, Crawford bid farewell to his wife
 and children, and set out on the long journey, which had such a terrible
 ending on the Plains of Sandusky three weeks later.




                        CHAPTER XXXIII.

                               1782.
                THE MARCH AGAINST SANDUSKY.
THE ROUTE-THE DESERTED MORAVIAN VILLAGES-THE FIRST INDIANS-
    GREENTOWN-THE PLAINS OF SANDUSKY-THREE INDIAN TRAILS-
    OLD UPPER SANDUSKY REACHED-CAPTAIN PIPE'S VILLAGE-THE
    SCIOTO TRAIL-THE CONSULTATION-THE ARMY STARTS FOR THE
    HALF-KING'S TOWN-THE END OF THE TRAIL.
         Why, then, should he come to the streams where none
           But the redskin dare to swim?
         Why, then, should he wrong the hunter one,
           Who never did harm to him?
         The Father above thought fit to give
           The white men corn and wine;
         There are golden fields where they live,
           But the forest shades are mine.
                                                  -Eliza Cook.
   On Saturday morning, March 25, 1782, the ill-fated army began its
march in four columns from Mingo Bottom. The men were in high spirits,
and regarded the affair as a big adventure. The Plains of Sandusky were
one hundred fifty miles away by the most direct route, all through an
unbroken forest with the exception of about thirty miles. This is now
one of the richest farming and manufacturing districts in the United
States, but at that time the ruined Moravian villages were the only signs
of white civilization. The route of Crawford's army was through what
is now Jefferson, Harrison, Tuscarawas, Holmes, Ashland, Richland, Craw-
ford, and Wyandot counties.
   Crawford avoided all Indian trails, and headed straight through the
wilderness, as he wished to prevent discovery by the enemy as long as
possible. Every precaution was taken against surprise, and Captain John
Biggs' company, led by the guides, Slover, Zane, and Nicholson, led the
advance.
   At the third encampment, Monday night, May 27th, some of the men


169





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


lost their horses, and as Crawford did not wish to be held back by infantry,
he sent them back home.
    On the fourth day the army reached the Muskingum a short distance
 below New Schoenbrun, Tuscarawas County, and a quarter of a mile from
 the present New Philadelphia. Crossing the river, the fourth encamp-
 ment was made among the charred ruins of New Schoenbrun. The horses
 were turned in to feed on the unharvested corn crop of the Moravians of
 the previous year.
    The first Indians were discovered at this camp. Two warriors were
 seen a quarter of a mile from the camp, and fired upon, but they escaped.
 Crawford had supposed up to this point that his movements were not
 known to the enemy, but it turned out afterwards that the whites had
 been closely watched by spies from the day they began to gather at Mingo
 Bottom.
    Knowing that secrecy was now out of the question, Crawford pressea
forward with all speed, but greater precautions than ever were observed.
The route now led northwest to Killbuck Creek some distance above the
site of Millersburg, Holmes County, and then up Killbuck Creek to a spring
known in later years as Butler's or Jones' spring, near the line of Wayne
County, ten miles south of Wooster.
    The first death occurred at the fifth encampment made at this spring.
One of the men, whose name has not been preserved, died and was buried
there, under a large tree, where he sleeps to this day. From this spring
the army marched west to Odell Lake, and then past the spot where the
Indian village of Greentown was afterwards built in Greene Township,
Ashland County. Mohican Creek was crossed at the Rocky Ford, and
they passed near the present site of Mansfield to Spring Mills, eight miles
east of Crestline, where they camped on June 1st.
   The next day the headwaters of the Sandusky was reached near the
present village of Leesville, three miles west of Crestline. The Sandusky
is a rapid, shallow stream at this point. The name had its origin in the
Sandusquet of the old French traders. Long before the English ever set
foot in Ohio, the Sandusky was a link in the water route and portage
trail from Canada to Louisiana.
   Crawford's army had now traveled nine days, and was eighty-five
miles from Mingo Bottom, and twenty-five miles from their destination.
No English army had ever penetrated as far into the mysterious Ohio
country before. Slover informed Crawford that the Plains of Sandusky
were only a few miles away; and the next day, June 3rd, the army
emerged from the forest, and the Plains of Sandusky lay before the fron-
tiersmen.
   The Plains of Sandusky of that day covered a large area in what is
now Crawford, Marion and Wyandot counties. The greatest length east
and west was forty miles, and the greatest breadth, north and south, was
twenty miles. Game was plentiful in early times, and the Plains were a
favorite hunting grounds for the tribes. A luxuriant growth of high,
coarse grass covered the Plains, with an occasional group of trees, like
an island, here and there. This grass was infested with many rattle-
snakes, and the soldiers had to be constantly on their guard.
   The tenth encampment was made on June 3rd near where the town of


170





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Wyandot now stands on the Sandusky, within ten miles of old Upper
Sandusky, the destination of the expedition. Crawford now knew that
it would be impossible to surprise the Indians, and he kept a careful watch
for an ambush. On the morning of June 4th, the army marched six
miles to the Little Sandusky, a familiar spot to Slover, where three Indian
trails merged. One led southeast across the Plains to the Vernon River.
Another went south along the Little Sandusky to the old French portage.
The main trail down the Sandusky led north.
    Crawford crossed the river, and followed this main trail. Slover, who
knew every foot of the country, informed Crawford that the Wyandot
village was close at hand, and the army advanced with great caution.
Presently they reached an old sugar camp, but no signs of Indians were
seen, and the men were ordered to advance with more speed. Suddenly
they entered a clearing and found themselves at their goal-old Upper San-
dusky. To their astonishment the village was deserted. Not a sound
was heard, and the huts showed that they had not been inhabited for some
time. This was something they had not counted upon.
   This had been the principal Wyandot village during Slover's captivity
among the Miamis a few years before, and he had visited the place fre-
quently during the days when he was a white Indian. The whites had
never dreamed of finding it deserted, and Crawford ordered a halt.
   Old Upper Sandusky of the old frontier was located seven and one-
half miles southeast of the present Upper Sandusky, county seat of
Wyandot County, but on the east side of the river at Broken Sword Creek.
The village was last occupied by a band of Delawares under Captain Pipe,
a son of the Captain Pipe who burned Colonel Crawford. At that time
it was part of a reservation nine miles square that was ceded to these
Indians by the government in 1817, but was purchased back by the gov-
ernment in 1829. In 1870 the site of this historic village was marked
by an old Indian orchard and several springs that are still in existence.
Cyrus Swinehart, the present owner of the land, unearthed twelve Indian
skeletons while digging gravel near by several years ago.
   The Indian trail that passed through Upper Sandusky, which Craw-
ford had followed for some distance, was the Sandusky-Scioto trail. This
was the main line of travel between Lake Erie and the Ohio River in the
days of the old frontier. It is still visible in many places.
   It was 1 o'clock in the afternoon of June 4th that Crawford halted
his army at the old Wyandot village, and called a consultation of his of-
ficers. Some believed that there were no Indians nearer than Lower
Sandusky, forty miles down the river, but Slover told of another village
known as the Half-King's town, eight miles below, and it was his opinion
that the Indians from Upper Sandusky had gone there. Finally, it was
decided to march there and attack this place.
   Following the main trail down the river, the army reached some
springs now in the town of Upper Sandusky. The men were fearful of an
ambuscade, and after they had proceeded a mile past these springs, some
declared that they wished to return home, as they had only five days'
provisions. But the truth was they had lost their nerve. They were
little like real Indian fighters who would follow a hostile trail to the end,
no matter if they knew that end would be an unmarked grave in the


171






CONTENTS


                       CHAPTER V.

                       1773-1785.

    BLOCKHOUSES AND FORTS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
THE FIRST BLOCKHOUSE-A LIST OF THE BLOCKHOUSES AND FORTS IN
   WASHINGTON COUNTY-PRESENT LOCATION                  48

                      CHAPTER VI.

                          1773.

                      INDIAN WARS.

BEGINNING OF TWENTY YEARS OF INDIAN WARFARE-SHERRARD, THE
   FIRST SETTLER KILLED-ORIGIN OF INDIAN SUMMER-POW-WOWING
   DAYS    ....                                        55

                      CHAPTER VII.

                          1774.

                    DUNMORE'S WAR.

CRESAP ACCUSED OF MURDERING LOGAN'S FAMILY-CRESAP, CLARK AND
   ZANE ON THE OHIO RIVER-LAND PROSPECTORS CAPTURED-SHAW-
   NESE ATTACKED-MURDER OF LOGAN'S PEOPLE THE CAUSE OF THE
   WAR-DANIEL GREATHOUSE PLANNED THE MURDER-INDIANS LURED
   ACROSS THE RIVER-ONE BOY SPARED-CRESAP AND CLARK AT CAT-
   FISH CAMP (WASHINGTON)-GREATHOUSE AND HIS MEN FLEE EAST
   AND STOP AT CATFISH CAMP-LOGAN'S OATH OF VENGEANCE-THE
   WAR PATH-FLIGHT OF SETTLERS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-
   LOGAN AMBUSHES MILITIA ON TEN MILE CREEK-CAPTAIN McCLURE
   KILLED-LOGAN'S RAID ON TEN MILE-BANE BROTHERS-MILITIA
   DEFEATED-McDONALD'S EXPEDITION BUILDS FORT FINCASTLE-
   WAPPATOMICA CAMPAIGN-CRESAP RECRUITS A COMPANY-ON DUNK-
   ARD CREEK-JOINED McDONALD-ORDERED TO DISBAND-DUNMORE
   TAKES THE FIELD-BATTLE OF POINT PLEASANT-LEWIS MARCHES
   INTO THE INDIAN COUNTRY-DUNMORE ORDERS HIM TO HALT BUT
   HE REFUSES-DISSATISFACTION OF THE VIRGINIA TROOPS-CAMP
   LEWIS-DUNMORE'S ADVANCE-CAMP CHARLOTTE - THE PEACE
   TREATY-LOGAN'S FAMOUS SPEECH-THE HISTORIC LOGAN ELM __57

                      CHAPTER VIII.

                          1774.

                    MICHAEL CRESAP.

CRESAP IN THE REVOLUTION-HIS DEATH-EVIDENCE THAT HE DID NOT
   MURDER LOGAN'S PEOPLE-STATEMENTS OF SAPPINGTON AND TOM-
   LINSON-DEATH OF DANIEL GREATHOUSE-THOMAS JEFFERSON'S
   EARLY LOVE-HE ACCUSES CRESAP OF THE MURDER          64

                      CHAPTER IX.
                          1774.
                  LOGAN, THE CAYUGA.
BIRTHPLACE-THE WHITE MAN'S FRIEND--EMIGRATES TO OHIO-DISPUTE
   REGARDING AUTHORSHIP OF THE SPEECH-HIS DEATH        66





172           HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

wilderness. These men were little like the grim heroes of the Seventh
United States and Nineteenth Kansas Cavalry of later times, who, led by
General George A. Custer, followed the trail of an overwhelming force
of hostile Cheyennes across a barren Texas desert for twenty-five days
with only six days' rations, to rescue two white women; and they suc-
ceeded.
   Crawford ordered another halt, and held a council of war. Jonathan
Zane advised an immediate retreat, for he believed that the Indians were
concentrating an overwhelming force. Crawford was of the same opin-
ion, but it was finally decided to continue for the remainder of the after-
noon, and if the enemy was not discovered, to return the next morning.
But they had already reached the end of the trail, for the Indians were
already upon them.





                       CHAPTER XXXIV.

                             1782.
               THE BATTLE OF THE SANDUSKY.
INDIANS DISCOVERED-ADVANCE TO BATTLE-THE DELAWARE LEADERS
   -TRADITION OF THE BRITISH CAPTAIN-"BATTLE ISLAND"-MAJOR
   LEET REPULSES THE DELAWARES UNDER CAPTAIN ELLIOTT-DANIEL
   CANON, A CRACK SHOT-JOHN SHERRARD CARRIES WATER-PHILLIP
   SMITH'S NARROW ESCAPE-FRANCIS DUNLEVY AND "BIG CAPTAIN
   JOHNNY"-THE INDIANS WITHDRAW-THE BATTLE RENEWED-ARRIV-
   AL OF BUTLER'S RANGERS-AMERICANS DECIDE TO RETREAT-BURIAL
   OF THE DEAD-THE RETREAT BEGINS-ATTACKED-THE FLIGHT OF
   CRAWFORD'S ARMY-MAJOR McCLELLAND WOUNDED AND CAPTURED
   AFTER GIVING HIS HORSE TO JOHN ORR-BOGGED IN A SWAMP-THE
   MEN SCATTERED-CRAWFORD MISSING-WILLIAMSON TAKES COM-
   MAND-ISAAC VANCE'S BRASS KETTLE-JOHN SHERRARD'S ADVEN-
   TURES-DANIEL HARBAUGH'S DEATH-INDIANS PURSUE THE ARMY--
   BATTLE OF THE OLENTANGY-HEROISM OF CAPTAIN BIGGS' COMPANY
   -STRAGGLERS-CRAWFORD STILL MISSING--WILLIAMSON'S HEROISM
   -RETURN HOME-THE LOSSES.

                 "That stern joy which warriors feel
                 In meeting foemen worthy of their steel."

   A company of scouts sent in advance to reconnoiter while the council
was in progress suddenly came upon the Indians who were gathering
for the attack upon the Americans. The enemy was advancing, and a
messenger was sent back to Crawford with the news, while the company
retired slowly. The Indians advanced rapidly and took possession of a
grove of trees, which the scouts should have held.
   When Crawford heard the news the order to advance was given and
the men fell into line just as the main company of scouts arrived. The
Americans advanced for a mile, when they saw the enemy just entering
the grove the scouts had abandoned. Realizing that this would give the
Indians a decided advantage, Crawford ordered his men to drive them




































   The grove of
Crawford's army
1782; taken from


trees known as "Battle Island," in which Colonel William
took refuge and fought the Battle of the Sandusky in June,
an old drawing made about 75 years ago.


    "Battle Island" as it appears today. This is the site where Colonel
Crawford's army fought the Battle of the Sandusky in 1782. The lone tree
near the right is all that is left of the original grove in which the Americans
took refuge.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


from the timber into the open plain. By a quick advance, the grove was
captured, and the Americans prepared to hold it at all costs. Major
Daniel Leet commanded the right wing which was in a small patch of
timber that the Indians attempted to recapture, but were repulsed with
loss.
    Hopocan, better known on the frontier as Captain Pipe, was in com-
 mand of the Delawares, assisted by Wingenund and the notorious Simon
 Girty, the "White Savage" of the Western Border. The Wyandots were
 led by their war chief, Zhaus-sho-toh, and Captain Matthew Elliott, a
 Tory with a British captain's commission. Elliott was in supreme com-
 mand of all the Indians during the battle.
    There is a tradition that the Indians were directed by a captain of
the British regulars. The Indians afterwards declared this was true,
but they did not give his name, and there is nothing more to substantiate
this. It is believed that this captain was Matthew Elliott.
    The battle was fought in and around the grove already referred to,
and it was ever afterwards known as "Battle Island". It was located three
miles north and one-half mile east of the Wyandot County courthouse in
Upper Sandusky.
    When the Delawares were repulsed by Major Leet, Captain Elliott
rushed in the Wyandots, and sent the Delawares under Captain Pipe to
attack Crawford's rear. This move nearly proved fatal to the Americans,
and it was only the advantage of the timber that enabled them to hold
their ground, but the Indians crept very near in the tall grass. The
battle began at 4 o'clock, and it continued with varying successes on both
sides for three and one-half hours. At times it was doubtful upon which
side victory would settle.
   When the Indians failed to recapture the grove the battle settled into
a sharpshooting contest, which continued until darkness put an end -to
the fighting. Some of the expert shots climbed trees from which they
could see the Indians in the tall grass much better; and these men did
the greatest execution, probably saving the day for the Americans.
   Daniel Canon, of Washington County, one of the best shots on the
border, was very conspicuous in this mode of fighting. How many In-
dians he killed is not known, but the survivors stated that the same head
never appeared above the grass again after the crack of his rifle.
   One of the most heroic figures during the battle was John Sherrard.
Becoming excited at the beginning he rammed a bullet into his gun with-
out any powder, and thus rendered the weapon useless. He then spent
the remainder of the afternoon in carrying water from a stagnant pool
to the thirsty soldiers, for fighting is hot work.
   The Americans had many narrow escapes. Phillip Smith, who was
behind a tree, was fired at a number of times by an Indian in the grass
about a hundred feet away. The bullets struck the tree throwing bark
in Smith's face several times before he located the warrior and shot him.
   In carrying orders for Crawford, the gallant Lieutenant Rose ven-
tured too far from the shelter of the trees and was immediately pursued
by several mounted Indians. They were so close that they tried to bring
him down by throwing their tomahawks, and only his coolness and su-
perior horsemanship saved him.


174





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Francis Dunlevy, of Captain Craig Ritchie's company, had a sharp-
shooting contest with a large Indian. As dusk came on the savage took
advantage of the approaching night and crept through the foliage of a
tree that had blown down until he was close enough to throw his toma-
hawk at the white man's head; but he missed his mark. This warrior was
nearly seven feet tall and frightfully ugly; and thirty years afterwards
when Mr. Dunlevy served under General William Henry Harrison in the
West during the War of 1812, he recognized in "Big Captain Johnny," who
was with the friendly Shawnees at Wapakoneta, his antagonist of the
Battle of Sandusky.
   When night put an end to the fighting the Indians withdrew, leaving
the field in possession of the Americans, who were plainly the victors of
the (lay. The number of Indians killed was never known, as they carried
their dead from the field; but several scalps were taken by the whites.
The Americans lost five killed and nineteen wounded. No prisoners were
taken by either side. Among the killed in that first day's fight were
Captain Ogle and Private John Campbell, of Pigeon Creek, Washington
County. The following were among the wounded: Major Brinton, Cap-
tains Munn and Ross, Lieutenant Ashley, Ensign McMasters, and Phillip
Smith, who had been shot in the elbow while standing behind a tree.
   In order to prevent a surprise night attack, both sides built large fires
in front of their lines, and then retired back some distance. The Ameri-
cans lost their opportunity for striking a decisive blow; for instead of
pressing their victory by a night attack they were content to remain
in their position in Battle Island. As has been proven many times, In-
dians cannot stand up against a sudden night attack or a determined
charge. The whites had several wounded, and some of the men were
weak with fatigue and sick from the bad water, but it would have taken
only a few to have held the timber while the main army made an attack.
This was talked of but was postponed until the following night, which
gave pently of time for reinforcements of Shawnese to arrive. Crawford
was a brave man; but the Americans needed a Bouquet or a Wayne.
   At daylight on the morning of June 5th the battle was renewed, the
Indians only firing in a desultory manner at long range, and no damage
was done by either side. In fact, the savages had received such a severe
blow the day before that they dared not risk a general attack, but con-
tented themselves with keeping the Americans engaged until the expected
reinforcements should arrive.
   The whites were confident of an easy victory, which feeling must have
been shared by the officers; and the day was spent exactly as the enemy
desired it should be,-in discussing plans. Plans for a decisive blow to
be struck that night were made; but the Americans had lost their op-
portunity; for the long expected reinforcements were at hand, and the
Indians suddenly became the aggressors.
   Early in the afternoon a sentinel saw a troop of horsemen advancing
in the rear of the Wyandots, and when they drew nearer he saw that
they were white men. They were none other than Butler's Rangers, a
troop of irregular British fighters that gained fame during the Revolution
under the noted Colonel Walter Butler. The previous evening they had
camped at the mouth of Tymochtee Creek, six miles from the battlefield.


175





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The news struck dismay to the hearts of the Americans. While a
 council of war was being held more reinforcements, consisting of two
 hundred Shawnese warriors arrived, and took a position just west of the
 Delawares, thus placing the trail the Americans had followed between
 them.
    The whites abandoned the proposed night attack and unanimously
 decided to retreat immediately. The dead were buried and fires burned
 over their graves, and other preparations made for the retreat. There
 were now twenty-three wounded, seven of whom were in a dangerous con-
 dition, and litters were made upon which to carry them. It was arranged
 that the army should form in four lines or divisions, with the wounded in
 the center.
    Shots were exchanged during the afternoon between the two armies.
 Francis Dunlevy, who was well acquainted with Simon Girty, frequently
 heard the latter's voice as he directed the fighting. The afternoon was
 very hot, and John Sherrard spent the time in carrying water to his
 comrades, as he had done the previous day.
    The outposts were called in as soon as night fell, and the army was
 formed in line for the retreat, with Crawford in the lead. The same field
 officers were in command of each of the four divisions as on the outward
 march, except that Major Brinton, who had been wounded, was replaced
 by Major Daniel Leet.
    Just as the army lined up for the retreat the Indians discovered the
 move and opened a hot fire. Instant panic reigned in the ranks, and the
 retreat became a complete rout. In spite of all efforts of the officers to
 hold them together, these border soldiers to the number of over four
 hundred fighting men fled in wild disorder.
   The litter bearers dropped the seven dangerously wounded men and
ran for their lives. Some of these wounded were helped onto horses by
friends, and managed to escape. Captain Biggs carried Lieutenant Ash-
ley from the field, but two were left to the savages.
   The front division, commanded by brave Major McClelland, was soon
engaged with the Delawares on one side and the Shawnese on the other.
The line suffered severely, and McClelland fell from his horse badly
wounded. John Orr was on foot, and the gallant officer told him to take
the horse and "clear himself," which Orr was not slow in doing. Thus
one of the bravest men in the entire army was left, desperately wounded,
to his fate; and he was captured and put to death with terrible torture.
In trying to excuse themselves for deserting their brave leader, Orr and
several others of the first division said that they believed him dead.
   That the entire army was not cut to pieces and the expedition ended
with one of the worst slaughters in border history, is due to the fact that
Indians feared that the retreat was only a feint to lead them into a trap.
It is now known that the savages were thrown into great confusion by the
movement, and it is certain that if Crawford's men had suddenly turned
the enemy would have been completely routed.
   Even the four divisions could not stick together. While McClelland
was fighting in front, the other three divisions deserted him by trying
to escape to the left, and many of the soldiers became mired in a cran-


176


















































    The pond from    which Crawford's men secured water during the
Battle of Sandusky in 1782. Skulls, bones, and other relics of the battle
have been found in this pond.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


berry marsh. This swamp was about a mile and a half north of the
present Upper Sandusky. A number of the men plunged in their haste,
and their horses became bogged in the mud. Their riders were compelled
to leave them and continue the retreat on foot. The rear division was
attacked at this point and suffered some loss.
   Near the Crawford battlefield today is a small swamp in which a
human skull and some Indian relics have been found; and this has led to
the belief that this is the marsh just mentioned.
   After going around the western edge of the swamp, the Americans
changed their course to the southeast when they had cleared the enemy's
lines, and just at daybreak reached old Upper Sandusky, thus making a
complete half circle in the retreat from the battlefield. At the deserted
village they found McClelland's division, which had suffered severely.
The savages had given up the pursuit, still fearing an ambuscade. The
only wonder is that the Indians did not kill and capture more than they
did.
   Small parties of whites straggled into the village until about three
hundred had arrived. Then it was discovered that Crawford was miss-
ing and not one there could give any information concerning him. The
command then fell upon Lieutenant Colonel Williamson, who attempted
to collect the different parties and bring some show of military discipline
out of the confusion. In this he was ably assisted by Lieutenant Rose,
and the flight was resumed.
   In passing the deserted sugar camp, Isaac Vance, of Washington
County, saw a brass kettle that had been used by the Indians for boiling
sap. This was a prize of great value to the pioneers of the Western Bor-
der, and Vance secured it. In order to carry it more easily, he flattened
it with a stone, and then tied it to his saddle. Vance went through some
stirring events before he finally reached Vance's fort on Cross Creek,
but he succeeded in taking it back to his home.
   John Sherrard joined the army just as it emerged from the timber
into the open country. He and Daniel Harbaugh became separated from
the army at the beginning of the retreat. They made slow progress in
the darkness, but managed to keep on the trail. Not far from old Upper
Sandusky, Harbaugh was shot by a lone Indian, who escaped before Sher-
rard could fire. The wounded man died in a few minutes, after which
Sherrard changed saddles and turned his horse loose. He returned a
short time later for his provisions which he had left on his own saddle to
find that the Indian had returned and scalped his victim.
   After emerging onto the Plains again, the Americans discovered that
they were pursued by mounted Indians accompanied by Butler's Rangers.
The enemy pressed them hard, and the Americans hastened to reach the
timber. The Indians came on rapidly and it was necessary to make a
stand, while a company of light horse gained the entrance to the timber.
   The men were panic stricken, and a terrible slaughter would have
taken place but for Lieutenant Colonel Williamson and Lieutenant Rose,
who formed the men into line of defense; and there on the open plain,
without shelter of any kind they halted to make a desperate stand.
   The enemy made a furious attack on the front, left flank, and rear
simultaneously. Rose cautioned the men to shoot low and not throw


178





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


away a single shot. After the first onslaught had been repulsed the
Americans gained confidence, and fired with such deadly accuracy that
the enemy gave way on all sides after an hour's furious fighting. The
Americans lost three killed and eight wounded. Among the latter was
Captain Joseph Bean, shot through the body, but he recovered. The
loss of the enemy was never known, but it is believed to have been large.
   This is known as the Battle of the Olentangy, fought on June 6th, five
miles southeast of the present Bucyrus and about six miles northwest of
Galion. There is nothing now to mark the spot.
   A terrific storm swept the plains just as the battle ended, and the
men were drenched to the skin, and their firearms rendered useless.
The wounded were cared for as quickly as possible, and the retreat re-
sumed, the enemy following but keeping at a respectful distance.
   Captain Biggs' heroic company which had led the army in the out-
ward march, covered the rear during the retreat from the Olentangy
battlefield; but its ranks were sadly depleted. All of its officers were
missing and it was reduced to nine men commanded by John Rogers, act-
ing lieutenant in place of Edward Stewart. Stubbornly this heroic little
band, several of whom were wounded, held the pursuing hordes of Indians
and British off until they were ready to drop in their tracks from ex-
haustion. It was only then that the gallant Rogers asked Colonel Wil-
liamson to be relieved, and the company was given a place next to the
front.
   As soon as Rogers' men were taken away, the enemy became bolder,
and pressed the rear very hard. Sudden panic in the entire column fol-
lowed. Several companies wavered, the marching order was almost broken
up, and a rout and massacre were only averted by the almost superhuman
efforts of Williamson and Rose in rallying the men.
   That night the retreating army camped on the banks of the Sandusky
where the village of Leesville now stands in Crawford County, six miles
from the Olentangy. The enemy camped only a mile in the rear, and
the Americans slept on their arms.
   The retreating Americans the next morning presented a sorry spec-
tacle. Many were on foot, and they were incumbered with the wounded
and sick, who held them back. As soon as they had formed in line, the
enemy opened fire on the rear. Two Americans were captured in the
confusion, and it is supposed were killed immediately as nothing was ever
heard of them again. The British and Indians kept up the pursuit until
the site of the present Crestline was reached, when they retired.
   Military discipline was relaxed to some extent when it was found that
the enemy had given up the pursuit; but there was no straggling. Occa-
sionally some straggler who had become separated on the night the retreat
began, caught up with the main column. The Muskingum was crossed on
June 10th, and on the 13th the army reached Mingo Bottom, where sev-
eral of the missing were found waiting.
   A high compliment to the energy and ability of Colonel Williamson in
leading the retreat was paid by Lieutenant Rose in a letter to General
Irvine, written at Mingo Bottom on June 13th, 1782. Rose said: "The
unremitting activity of Colonel Williamson surmounted every obstacle and
difficulty in getting the wounded along."


179





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Nothing had been seen or heard of Colonel Crawford since the retreat
began on the night of the 5th, and inquiry among the stragglers brought
out no information as to his fate. None dreamed of the terrible end of
their brave leader, and many there were who believed that he would
return.
   The troops were mustered out on the 14th, and all returned to their
homes, each man thankful that he had not left his bones or ashes in the
wilderness as many of their comrades had done. And so ended the disas-
trous expedition against the Indian towns on the Plains of Sandusky;
and it was many a long year before the effects of the defeat were wiped out.
In the cabins of those who had not returned, the sorrow was intense. A
wave of fear and dread swept over the whole frontier; for now the last hope
of the settlers was gone, and they knew that for years to come their homes
would be raided by the dreaded red warriors.
   The failure of the expedition was due primarily to the cowardice of a
majority of the men in the ranks, who stampeded like cattle when pressed
hard by the enemy. A general slaughter was only averted by the cool-
ness, ability and bravery of the officers in extracting their men from the
net woven about them by a cunning enemy, who were past masters in
the art of wilderness warfare.
   The exact loss of the Americans is almost impossible to determine at
this late date, as men who were among the missing came straggling into
the settlements for weeks afterwards. Lieutenant Rose reported the loss
at not more than thirty killed and wounded. Of this number ten were
killed and twenty wounded, few dangerously; but a large number were
still missing. On July 1st, 1782, General Lincoln reported to the Supreme
Executive council that the loss would be about thirty killed and wounded;
but later reports placed the loss at between fifty and seventy.
   The total loss given in the muster roll of the expedition in the Pennsyl-
vania Archives is thirty-seven, five of whom were wounded. The num-
bers in detail follow: Killed in battle, twenty-four; wounded in battle,
five; captured and burned, four; captured and known to have been killed
two; captured and never heard from, two; captured and escaped, three.





                        CHAPTER XXXV.

                              1782.
          CRAWFORD AND OTHER WHITES CAPTURED.
CRAWFORD TRIES TO FIND HIS SON AND NEPHEW-MEETS DR. KNIGHT-
   SEPARATED FROM THE ARMY-MEETS CAPTAIN BIGGS-CAPTURED BY
   WINGENUND'S DELAWARES-BIGGS ESCAPES-FLIGHT          OF  JAMES
   PAULL AND JOHN SLOVER-ATTACKED BY SHAWNESE-JAMES PAULL
   ESCAPES-SLOVER CAPTURED--PAULL'S ADVENTURES-SLOVER TAK-
   EN TO WAPATOMICA ON MAD RIVER-RUNNING THE GAUNTLET-
   SLOVER SEES BODIES OF WILLIAM HARRISON, WILLIAM CRAWFORD,
   AND MAJOR McCLELLAND-ESCAPE OF DR. KNIGHT-SLOVER CON-
   DEMNED TO DEATH AT MACACHAK-SLOVER ESCAPES.


180





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


              They saw not the shadow that walked beside,
                They heard not the feet with silence shod.
                                                    -Whittier.
    Missing men who had been given up for dead came straggling into the
 settlements for weeks after the return of the main column; but not one
 had seen Crawford after the beginning of the retreat on the night of
 June 5th. In the confusion of that night, Crawford was separated from
 his son, John; his son-in-law, William Harrison, and his nephew, William
 Crawford, and while searching for them he met Dr. Knight, who re-
 mained with him, and both called for the missing ones until all of the
 troops had passed.
    Crawford severely criticised the men for retreating in such an irregu-
 lar manner and leaving some of the wounded to their fate. Dr. Knight
 remained with him, and they were joined by an old man and a boy, and
 all four set out in the rear of the retreating army. When they reached
 the cranberry swamp they turned to the north, and after passing well
 through the Indian lines they changed their direction to the east, guiding
 themselves by the North star, reaching the Sandusky about midnight.
    The old man fell behind, and when they reached the river they heard
 him call. They stopped to wait for him, but soon heard an Indian yell
 near him, and they never saw him again.
    By daylight they were only eight miles from the battlefield, and their
 horses were so exhausted that Crawford and the young man had to
 abandon theirs. That afternoon, while the main column was fighting
 the battle of the Olentangy only six miles away, they met Captain Biggs,
 who had carried Lieutenant Ashley from the battlefield. That night they
 all camped together two miles north of where Bucyrus now stands.
    The next morning they crossed the Sandusky again, and three miles
farther on found the carcass of a freshly killed deer. The meat had been
cut from the bones and tied in a skin, and a tomahawk lay near by. A
mile farther on they came to a fire, where they roasted some venison,
and while eating, a white man joined them. He had made the fire but
had fled at their approach.
   That afternoon they came to the trail followed by the army on the out-
ward march. Captain Biggs and Dr. Knight were not in favor of follow-
ing the retreating Americans, as they feared Indians, but Crawford be-
lieved that the enemy would not follow the column beyond the Plains. A
short distance farther on they fell into an ambuscade of Wingenund's
Delawares, who were camped near by. Knight and Crawford were cap-
tured, but Biggs and the others fled through the forest and escaped for
the time being.
   Among the men who became entangled in the cranberry marsh on the
night of the retreat were John Slover, James Paull, and five others, all
of whom lost their horses in the soft mud. Hard pressed by the Indians,
they struck north and reached Tymochtee Creek just before daylight.
While resting the next morning they narrowly escaped capture by several
Indians; but they saw the enemy just in time to conceal themselves in the
long grass. Indians seemed to be on all sides of them, and that afternoon
they had another narrow escape. After the rain they saw several bands
at a distance far out on the Plains. They traveled all night, and by morn-


181






CONTENTS


                       CHAPTER X.

                       1775-1776.

           SHORT PEACE FOLLOWING THE WAR.

THOMAS CHERRY, OF MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP-CHERRY'S FORT-
   DEATH OF THOMAS CHERRY-CHERRY BURIAL GROUND CONVERTED
   INTO A HOG LOT                                      67

                      CHAPTER XI.

                        1777-1778.

        THE BLOODY YEAR OF THE THREE SEVENS.

COUNCIL AT CATFISH CAMP-COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED-BATTALION
   RAISED - McCLEARY AND LANIMORE ATTACKED - WASHINGTON
   COUNTY MEN PURSUE THE HOSTILES-ISAAC ZANE'S WARNING TO
   GENERAL HAND- SIEGE OF FORT HENRY-OGLE'S AND MASON'S COM-
   MANDS CUT TO PIECES-DEFENSE OF THE FORT-CAPTAIN ANDREW
   SWEARINGEN, OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, TO THE RESCUE-MAJOR
   SAMUEL McCOLLOCI'S FAMOUS LEAP-THE INDIANS RETIRE-CAP-
   TAIN FOREMAN'S COMPANY ATTACKED                     68

                      CHAPTER XII.
                        1772-1782.
                 PERSONAL NARRATIVES.
THE SWEARINGEN FAMILY-CAPTAIN ANDREW SWEARINGEN'S FRONTIER
   SCOUTS-AT FORT HENRY-WITH McINTOSH'S EXPEDITION-AT FORT
   LAURENS-DEATH OF ANDREW SWEARINGEN-"INDIAN" VANN SWEAR-
   INGEN-FIRST SHERIFF OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-MAJOR SAMUEL
   McCOLLOCH-COMMANDER OF FORT VAN METRE-KILLED BY INDIANS
   -HIS BURIAL-MONUMENT AT "McCOLLOCH'S LEAP"--HIS LONELY
   GRAVE IN THE WEST VIRGINIA HILL                     74

                      CHAPTER XIII.
                          1778.
          CLARK'S AND MCINTOSH'S EXPEDITIONS.
GEORGE ROGERS CLARK'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE BRITISH IN THE
   NORTHWEST STARTS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-ROGERS' EXPEDI-
   TION TO NEW ORLEANS-PROPOSED EXPEDITION AGAINST DETROIT-
   McINTOSH IN COMMAND-WASHINGTON COUNTY MEN WITH THE EX-
   PEDITION-GUARDING THE FRONTIER-TREATY WITH THE DELA-
   WARES-FORT McINTOSH-FORT LAURENS BUILT IN THE INDIAN
   COUNTRY-SIEGE OF FORT LAURENS-GENERAL BENJAMIN BIGGS AT
   FORT LAURENS-HIS GRAVE--RELIEF OF FORT LAURENS      76

                      CHAPTER XIV.
                          1779.
                     INDIAN RAIDS.
WILLIAM REYNOLDS OF CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP-RAID ON HIS BLOCK-
   HOUSE-MRS. REYNOLDS CAPTURED-THE PURSUIT-HER DEATH-
   CAPTURE OF THE ANDERSON BOYS-RETURN OF LOGAN ANDERSON-
   AFTER LIFE OF THE YOUNGEST BOY -.-.-81





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ing were forty miles from the battlefield. They then decided to strike for
Fort McIntosh, where the town of Beaver now stands.
   On June 7th, one of the party became so lame that he fell far behind,
and missed their trail. This was a fortunate thing for him, as the rest
were captured, while he succeeded in reaching Fort Henry.
   James Paull had stepped on a hot coal on the afternoon before the
retreat began, and was also lame. This held the party back for they
would not desert him.
   It developed later that a band of Shawnese had followed them from
the Plains, and on June 8th, when the white men were within twenty
miles of the Tuscarawas and just when they were beginning to feel safe,
the Indians fired upon them. Two of the whites were killed, three were
captured, but James Paull, in spite of his injured foot, ran for his life
and escaped.
   Strange to relate, one of the warriors had been a member of the war
party that had raided John Slover's home in Virginia many years before,
when his father had been murdered, and his mother, his two sisters and
himself had been carried off into captivity. It will be remembered that
Slover had spent twelve years as a prisoner among the Miami and Shaw-
nese tribes. This Indian recognized Slover, calling him Mannucothe, his
Indian name, and then upbraided him for making war against his dusky
brethren.
   James Paull was pursued by two warriors, who shot at him several
times, but this only added to his efforts. The injured foot was forgotten
in the race for life, and he easily outdistanced his pursuers. He finally
escaped by leaping down a steep bank at the risk of breaking his neck,
but he injured his foot very badly, and was compelled to bandage it with
a strip of his trousers. The Indians gave up the pursuit at this point.
   Paull made his way down Sugar Creek to the Muskingum, and after
two days of hard traveling reached the Ohio, which he crossed on a raft,
and then made his way to Van Metre's fort on Short Creek. His suffer-
ings on the journey were increased to a terrible degree by his injured
foot, which became badly swollen. At Van Metre's fort he found a num-
ber of other stragglers from the army. After resting a short time he went
to Washington, where he stopped with some relatives near the town until
he had recovered sufficiently to proceed to his home in Westmoreland
County.
   After capturing Slover and his two comrades, the Indians started with
them for Wapatomica, the principal Shawnese village on the Mad River,
just below where Zanesfield now stands in Logan County. They were
treated well by their captors until they neared the town, when they were
beaten by another party of Indians. One of the men was stripped and
painted black, the sign that he was to be burned. The poor fellow seemed
to realize what was in store for him, for he shed tears, and asked Slover
the meaning; but the Indians ordered the guide not to tell him.
   When they reached the village all three were compelled to run the
gauntlet between two long lines of men, squaws and children armed with
clubs, tomahawks and knives. The door of the council house was the end
of the gauntlet. The man whom they had stripped and painted black
was the principal object of their attack and this probably saved Slover


182





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and the third victim from death. The unfortunate was in advance at the
start, but the savages gave him such a terrific beating that he soon fell
behind. He was struck many blows with clubs and tomahawks, and loads
of powder were shot into his flesh. The squaws and children seemed to
take a special delight in the suffering they inflicted. Only the hope that
his life might be spared if he reached the council lodge seemed to keep him
up, and when he struggled up to Slover and the other man who had got
there ahead, he was a terrible sight. His body had been shot full of
powder, and he was bleeding from many cuts and bruises.
    As the wretched man reached the door, feeling that he was safe, the
 savages dragged him away, and chased him about the village, inflicting
 their terrible tortures. That night Slover saw his body, terribly mangled,
 covered with blood and burned powder, lying near the council lodge. Later
 it was cut to pieces, and the head and limbs placed on poles in the village.
    That same evening Slover saw the mangled, blackened bodies of three
 other men whom he recognized as William Harrison, young William Craw-
 ford, and the third he believed to be Major John McClelland-who had been
 deserted by his comrades seriously wounded, on the night of the retreat.
 The next day the heads and limbs were placed on poles and the torsos
 were fed to the dogs.
    Slover's surviving companion was sent to another town presumably to
 be either burned or killed in running the gauntlet. That night Slover
 was summoned before the council, which lasted for fifteen days, and was
 attended by from fifty to one hundred warriors. Matthew Elliott, James
 Girty, and Alexander McKee arrived in a few days and tried to persuade
 the Indians to kill Slover. While the council was in progress Tutelu came
 in and reported the escape of Dr. Knight.
   Two days before the council ended a "speech" was brought from
Major De Peyster, commandant at Detroit, instructing the Indians to
take no more prisoners to be sent to him, as he had no more food for them.
This was practically an order for the tribe to kill all Americans, men,
women and children, who fell into their hands. At another council held
two days later by representatives of the Ottawas, Chippewas, Wyandots,
Mingoes, Delawares, Shawnese, Monseys, and Cherokees it was decided
to take no more prisoners. Plans were also made for raids into Kentucky
and other settlements of the Western Border. Slover was present at
these councils and understood every word that passed.
   While this council was in progress twelve white prisoners were brought
in. Three were burned at Wapatomica, and the others were sent to other
villages for a similar fate.
   On the day after the last council George Girty at the head of forty
Delawares took Slover from the lodge where he was held a prisoner,
stripped him and painted him black. He was then taken to another village,
and after being severely beaten with clubs was tied to a tree. That after-
noon he was taken to Macachak to be burned.
   Only half of the council house was roofed, and in the center of this
section was a post. His arms were securely tied behind him, and he was
tied to the post at the end of a rope which permitted him to walk around
it. Three piles of wood were placed around the post and fired, and the
savages prepared for the terrible orgies. Slover gave up all hope, feeling


183





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


that the end had come; but suddenly a high wind came up, the sky was
overcast, and in a few minutes a heavy rain was falling which extinguished
the fire. Thus Slover's life was miraculously saved. The Indians watched
this phenomenon in amazement, and when the storm was over they post-
poned the burning until the next morning so that they could have the
entire day for the sport.
   About midnight he was placed in a house with three guards, who tor-
mented him until nearly morning, telling of the fate in store for him at
sunrise. Finally, two went to sleep, and the third quickly followed. Just
at daylight Slover managed to free himself and stole quietly from the
house, securing a horse just outside of the village.
   He pressed the animal to the utmost, and that morning crossed the
Scioto. Some distance beyond the river his horse gave out, and he pro-
ceeded on foot, naked and without arms of any kind. He kept on until
late that night when he became sick and was compelled to stop. About
midnight he resumed his journey, carefully hiding his trail. Nettles and
briars cut and scratched his body fearfully, but he never slackened his
pace. He could not sleep for the mosquitoes, and he had to beat them
from his naked body with a handful of brush. He had eaten nothing since
the morning before his escape, and on the third day he found some rasp-
berries. The next day he caught two small crawfish in the Stillwater.
   The next morning he reached the Ohio at the present site of Bridge-
port, opposite Wheeling. A man in a canoe took him across to Fort Henry,
where he rested from his- terrible journey and secured clothing. From
there he went to Fort Pitt, reaching there on July 10th, the last survivor
of the Crawford expedition to return to the settlements.
   Of the prisoners captured during this disastrous campaign, two es-
caped after having been prepared for death at the stake, John Slover and
Dr. Knight, and made their way naked through the wilderness to the
settlements. There are few records of this kind in the annals of frontier
history.




                        CHAPTER XXXVI.

                               1782.
            FURTHER ADVENTURES OF CAPTIVES.
CRAWFORD AND OTHER PRISONERS TAKEN FROM THE HALF-KING'S TOWN
   -MORAVIANS AMONG THE HOSTILES-CRAWFORD MEETS SIMON
   GIRTY-CRAWFORD CONDEMNED TO DEATH-ALL PRISONERS MUR-
   DERED EXCEPT CRAWFORD AND DR. KNIGHT-TAKEN TO DELAWARE
   VILLAGE ON TYMOCHTEE CREEK-DR. KNIGHT'S ESCAPE.
                    To every man upon this earth,
                      Death cometh soon or late;
                    And how can man die better,
                      Than facing fearful odds


184





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                     For the ashes of his fathers
                       And the temples of his gods ?
                                            -Macauley.
    When the news first came that an American army was invading the
 Indian country, the squaws and children fled from the villages on the
 Miami and Mad rivers and sought concealment in the forests in case the
 Indians should be defeated. But when their warriors returned from
 battle, laden down with scalps, prisoners and other spoils of war, they
 crept out of their hiding places in the underbrush, and joined in a savage
 celebration of the great victory.
    After the pursuit was given up the Indians and British gathered at
the Half-King's town on the Sandusky, eight miles from old Upper San-
dusky and thirty-four miles west of Wingenund's camp where Crawford
and other prisoners were held. As soon as the first wild celebration
ceased, Chiefs Pipe and Wingenund sent a runner with instructions to
have Crawford and all prisoners taken to Captain Pipe's town of Dela-
wares on Tymochtee Creek, in what is now Wyandot County.
   Pipe and Wingenund decided that the prisoners should die by torture;
and for Colonel Crawford, the big war chief of the Americans, they de-
creed the most terrible of all Indian tortures,-death at the stake. Many
historians have claimed that Crawford was burned to avenge the mas-
sacre of the Moravians, but this is a mistake. He would have been burned
if the Moravian massacre had never taken place. He was the leader of
the whites; and it is an Indian custom as old as Indian warfare that leaders
of the enemy shall be burned. Army officers in the early days of the far
West always reserved the last shot in their revolvers for themselves, or
carried poison on their person. It has now been established almost be-
yond all doubt that Custer shot himself rather than be burned at the
stake.
   We left Crawford and Knight prisoners in Wingenund's camp on
June 7th. On the afternoon of the 9th five Delawares came in with the
scalps of Captain Biggs and Lieutenant Ashley. Besides Crawford and
Knight, there were now nine prisoners in the camp, one of whom was
John McKinly, a former officer in the Thirteenth Virginia regiment.
   Knight saw several former Christian Indians who had been in the
Moravian villages, among this band of hostile Delawares; and two whom
he knew personally, brought in scalps.
   On June 10th, seventeen warriors left Wingenund's camp with the
eleven prisoners. Crawford and Simon Girty had been comrades in arms
before the war, and he asked to see the "White Savage" as soon as possi-
ble. Two warriors started in advance with him and reached the village
during the night. Girty was sent for at once, and Crawford offered him
a thousand dollars if he would save his life. Tom Jelloway, a Christian
Indian, was present at the meeting, and reported the conversation to
Pipe and Wingenund. They were very angry at the offer, especially as
Girty promised to do all in his power to save his old comrade.
   Many historians accuse Girty of treachery in his actions towards
Crawford, claiming that he could have saved the colonel, but failed to
carry out his promise. Others say that Girty made an honest effort, but


185





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


failed, and even incurred the displeasure of Captain Pipe. From the evi-
dence at hand, the writer is inclined to give Girty the benefit of the
doubt.
    The next morning, Tuesday, June 11th, Crawford was taken up the
 river to old Upper Sandusky, where the other prisoners were held. Cap-
 tain Pipe painted the faces of all the whites black. This was the sign of
 death, and all hope was given up. The other prisoners were sent in ad-
 vance, Pipe and Wingenund following with Crawford and Dr. Knight; and
 on the way they passed the bodies of four whites who had just been killed
 and scalped.
    They were met at Little Tymochtee Creek by a party of squaws and
 children, who tomahawked five of the prisoners before Crawford's and
 Knight's eyes. One old squaw cut off John McKinly's head, and kicked
 it about like a football, evidently enjoying the sport very much. The dead
 men were scalped, and the squaws dashed the bloody trophies in the faces
 of the two remaining men.
    A short distance farther on they met Simon Girty and several Indians.
 It is claimed that Girty interceded with Pipe in Crawford's behalf, but the
 chief threatened to make a stake for Girty if the latter mentioned the
 matter again.
    Their destination was Captain Pipe's village on Tymochtee Creek, six
 miles northwest of the present Upper Sandusky. When they neared the
 town late in the afternoon, Dr. Knight was taken to Captain Pipe's lodge,
 where he lay bound all night. The next morning, after Crawford's death,
 he was placed in charge of a Delaware named Tutelu, and they started
 for the Shawnese towns forty miles away. The next morning, while
 gathering wood for their fire, Dr. Knight knocked his captor down with a
 club, seized his rifle and would have shot him had he not broken the lock.
 The Indian fled before the doctor could kill him.
   Knight then headed for the Ohio, which he reached twenty-one days
later, five miles below Fort McIntosh; and early in the morning of July
4th, he reached Fort Pitt.





                        CHAPTER XXXVII.
                               1782.
                    THE END OF CRAWFORD.
TIED TO THE STAKE-THE FIRE OF DEATH-THE END OF CRAWFORD-
   LOCATION OF THE SPOT WHERE CRAWFORD WAS BURNED-MONU-
   MENT ERECTED-THE JUNE 11TH ANNUAL PICNIC.
             They have tied me to the stake; I cannot fly,
             But bear-like, I must fight the course.
                                            -Macbeth.
   Whether or not Simon Girty really did try to obtain Crawford's re-
lease will never be definitely known; but even Girty's influence and all


186








































  Monument erected on the spot where Col-
onel William Crawford was burned at the
stake by Indians on the Plains of Sandusky,
June 11, 1782; erected August 30, 1877.


    Valley of Tymochtee Creek, Wyandot County, Ohio. This shows the site of Cap-
tain Pipe's village of Delawares where Col. William Crawford was burned at the stake
on June 11, 1782. About three-fourths of Crawford's men were from Washington
County.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


England's power among the Indians would not have been enough to have
saved him. He was the "Big Captain" of the American army of invasion
which had been hurled back in defeat; and his death was decreed by the
Delaware war chiefs. Nothing but the sudden appearance of an over-
whelming army could have saved his life. In all the annals of Indian war-
fare we do not have the record of a more horrible death than Colonel
Crawford suffered at the hands of the cruel Delawares on June 11th, 1782.
There is scarcely a parallel in all history. His fate was told on the fron-
tier for many years.
   The Indians were not the only spectators at the burning of Crawford.
Simon Girty, Captain Matthew Elliott, a British captain, Samuel Wells,
Christian Fast, and Dr. Knight were spectators. Wells was a negro boy
who had been captured by the Indians, and Christian Fast was a seven-
teen-year-old lad from Westmoreland County, who had been captured by
Joseph Brant's warriors at Lochry's defeat the year before. Dr. Knight,
who was an unwilling spectator, says in his narrative that there were
from thirty to forty men and between sixty and seventy squaws and boys
gathered around the fire to witness the sufferings of the white captain.
   Crawford was stripped and then beaten by his captors with clubs and
their fists. When they tired of this they tied his hands behind his back,
and a rope long enough to allow him to walk around the post and return
the same way, or to sit down, was fastened from his hands to the foot
of a post about fifteen feet high. A large fire was then kindled six or
seven yards away from and entirely around the post.
   Dr. Knight relates that not less than seventy loads of powder were
fired at the victim, which burned his body almost black. Then his ears
were cut off. Three or four savages added to his sufferings by applying
burning fagots to his naked body. These fiends appeared on every side,
and no matter which way he turned his tormentors met him. The more
he tried to elude them the greater was the horrible sport. The squaws
gathered burning coals on boards, and threw them upon him; and in a
very short time the miserable man had nothing but a bed of hot embers
and ashes upon which to walk.
   In the midst of his sufferings Crawford begged Girty to shoot him, but
the latter did not dare do this. Dr. Knight afterwards said that Girty
laughed and seemed delighted with the horrible scene. This might well
be questioned; for Girty was thoroughly hated by all Americans, and it
is inconceivable that any white man would find sport in the sufferings of
a man who had once been his comrade and friend. Knight also relates
that Girty told him to prepare for death, as he was to be burned at the
Shawnese towns.
   As nearly as Dr. Knight could judge Crawford suffered for about two
hours after he begged Girty to shoot him. At frequent intervals the
doomed man besought God to have mercy on his soul by ending his suffer-
ings. Finally, he became exhausted and lay down upon a bed of hot coals,
and he seemed to have reached the point where his long agony had ren-
dered him insensible to pain. As the dying man lay there, roasted alive,
a savage leaped through the flames and scalped him, and an old squaw
placed hot coals upon his back and scalpless head. Crawford then arose
and began to walk around the post again to the great delight of his tor-


188





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


mentors. They again placed burning stock upon him, but he did not seem
to notice the pain.
   That was the last that Dr. Knight saw, for he was taken away from
the horrible scene. The Delawares and Wyandots afterwards said that
Crawford breathed his last just as the sun went down. The story is told
that after he expired, the Indians placed the roasted body upon the fire
and danced around it in savage delight for hours.
   As Dr. Knight was taken from the village the next morning he passed
the spot where Crawford had been burned, and among the ashes he saw
the bones of the luckless commander of the ill-fated expedition against
Sandusky. And so died Colonel William Crawford, pioneer of the western
frontier, soldier, and Indian fighter.
   The exact spot where Crawford was burned is not definitely known,
but it is somewhere on the east bank of Tymochtee Creek, opposite Rytchie
bluff, in Crawford Township, Wyandot County, Ohio, and a short distance
northeast of Crawfordsville. Daniel Hodge, the owner of the land in later
years erected a brick house near the place. A visitor in 1814 described the
spot as in a grove of white oaks. At that time no vegetation grew on
the spot, and the ground was still covered with ashes. The land is now
owned by Brayton Davis.
   In 1877 the Pioneer Association of Wyandot County erected a monu-
ment as near the spot as was then known, and this is still standing. Upon
it is the following inscription: "In memory of Colonel Crawford, who
was burned by the Indians in this valley June 11, 1782. Erected by the
Pioneer Association of Wyandot Co., 0., August 30, 1877."
   In May, 1916, through the efforts of the author, Mr. Emil Schlup, of
Wyandot County, Ohio, sent a number of young forest trees taken from
the spot where Crawford was burned. These were planted on the lawn
between the court and jail at Washington by permission of the court
and the county commissioners. Little care was taken of them and they
only lived a year or two. Each contingent of selective service men who
left Washington during the World war posed for their photographs in
front of one of those trees. Several other trees were planted by residents
of Washington, one of which is in the yard of Robert R. Forrest, 205 Lo-
cust Avenue, and another is in front of the author's house.
   On June 11th, of each year, the people of Wyandot County, Ohio, com-
memorate the terrible death of this hero of the old frontier by holding
a big public picnic at the spot where he was burned.




                       CHAPTER XXXVIII.

                               1782.
                       CRAWFORD'S WIFE.
TERRIBLE SUSPENSE-RETURN OF JOHN CRAWFORD-NEWS OF CRAW-
   FORD'S FATE-CRAWFORD'S CABIN-REMARRIAGE OF SARAH HARRI-
   SON TO URIAH SPRINGER, SR.-URIAH SPRINGER, JR.-DEATH OF CRAW-
   FORD'S WIDOW-CRAWFORD'S SPRING HOUSE AND SPRING.


189





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                Where garlands cling with loving touch
                  Around the cottage door;
                Where children play with gleeful laugh
                  Upon the clean swept floor;
                Where tired mother sits at night,
                  When weary day is done,
                And stitch by stitch doth ply the thread,
                  And dream of the absent one;
                Where lengthened days with anguish deep
                  Pass slowly, filled with care-
                From there came forth with manly tread,
                  The noble volunteer.
                                   -J. R. Forrest.
   In a lonely cabin at Stewart's Crossing, on the banks of the Youghio-
gheny, Hannah Crawford, wife of the brave commander, anxiously waited
with a heavy heart for news of her loved ones; for, besides her husband,
she had sent her only son to fight for the protection of the frontier. Time
passed and no word came from the missing ones. Other members of the
expedition who had been given up for dead returned, but none could tell
the anxious wife of her loved ones. Even when her son returned to bring
joy to the lonely woman's sad heart, he could give no news of his father.
   A report reached the settlements that the Colonel had been carried a
prisoner to Canada; and then the brave frontier wife spent three long
weeks of heart-breaking suspense before she learned of the terrible fate
of her husband in the mysterious land of the red man beyond the Ohio. It
was Dr. Knight who first brought the news. The widow's grief was heart-
breaking; and although she lived for many long years afterwards, she
never ceased to grieve for her soldier lover and husband.
   Owing to Crawford's long service in the army, his private affairs had
been neglected, and his widow was left in destitute circumstances. His
property was swept away by a large number of claims, but the State of
Pennsylvania afterwards reimbursed his estate for his losses sustained in
the Sandusky expedition, and paid his widow a pension. She applied to
Congress for relief, but it is not known whether she ever received a
pension from the Federal Government.
   Crawford's will, a copy of which was furnished the author by the late
H. P. Snyder, former editor of the Connellsville Courier and a descendant
of Colonel Crawford, was made May 16th, 1782. It was proved September
10, 1782, and recorded in Westmoreland County. He owned several hun-
dred acres of land on the Ohio River, which he divided among his children.
He also left several slaves to his wife and children, but whether they ever
profited by the land is not known.
   Mrs. Crawford lived in the little cabin her husband had built until her
death. This historic building was razed just prior to the Civil war, in
New Haven, now West Connellsville. Canes were made from some of the
logs when the building was torn down.
   Sarah Crawford, the oldest daughter and the wife of William Harrison,
was buoyed up by a rumor that her husband had been carried to Canada
until she learned definitely of his death. She afterwards married Uriah


190





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Springer, Sr., and their son, Uriah Springer, Jr., was for many years a
resident of that section. Mr. Springer remembered his grandmother well,
and in later years he told how she would take him behind her on horse-
back, ride across the Youghiogheny and into the woods near the John
Rice place, where she would dismount by an old moss-covered white oak
log and say to him, while she cried as if her heart would break: "Here
I parted with your grandfather."
   Hannah Crawford died in 1817 in the cabin her husband had built over
half a century before and where she had lived for fifty years. She was
aged ninety-five years. Just where she is buried is not known today. The
grave was neglected and lost sight of during the century that has passed
since then. The late H. P. Snyder informed the author that it was
probably in the old Connellsville burying ground, which is now the site of
the Carnegie Library, and where a monument was unveiled to Colonel
Crawford in the fall of 1917 by the citizens of Connellsville.
   The spring, known for many years as Crawford's Spring, from the fact
that his cabin stood near it, was at one time a noted place in Western
Pennsylvania. A stone spring house stood beside it, and this was popu-
larly known as Colonel Crawford's spring house, as it was generally be-
lieved that he built it. Mr. Snyder informed the author that this was built
in later years either on or near the site of Crawford's cabin.
   In 1905 this spring house was torn down, as it was in a very dilapi-
dated condition, and the stones used in the foundation of a house; but the
Crawford spring and the site of his cabin have been forever wiped from
the face of the earth by the fill of the Western Maryland Railroad. And
so practically everything of historic interest in connection with the life
of Colonel William Crawford, a martyr of the old frontier, has disappeared
utterly. Even the exact spot where his ashes are mixed with the dust is
unknown.




                        CHAPTER XXXIX.

                               1782.
 EXCITEMENT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY OVER CRAWFORD'S
                            DEFEAT.
WOLFE'S BLOCKHOUSE EXPOSED-LETTER OF WILLIAM DARBY-JAMES
   AND HUGH WORKMAN-JAMES WORKMAN AND NICHOLAS DAWSON ON
   CRAWFORD'S EXPEDITION-LETTER BY DORSEY PENTECOST ON CRAW-
   FORD'S EXPEDITION-LEWIS WETZEL AND THOMAS MILLS RETURN FOR
   A HORSE-MILLS KILLED-WETZEL'S SENSATIONAL ESCAPE-WETZEL'S
   SPRING TODAY.
              I have read in the marvelous heart of man,
                That strange and mystic scroll,
              That an army of phantoms vast and wan
                Beleaguer the human soul.
                                     -Longfellow.

















                                      ) ~Ar"












         yf


                                                                        Y7

                                                                 - 3a








I;i





CONTENTS


                      CHAPTER XV.

                        1775-1795.

                CAPTAIN SAMUEL BRADY.

THE GREATEST INDIAN KILLER OF THE OLD FRONTIER-THE BRADY
   FAMILY-REVOLUTIONARY RECORD-CAPTAIN OF THE FORT PITT
   RANGERS-BRADY'S MANY THRILLING ADVENTURES-BRODHEAD'S
   EXPEDITION-BRADY'S BEND-JENNY STOOP RESCUED-RAID ON
   ALBERT GRAY'S CABIN-BRADY RESCUES MRS. GRAY AND HER CHIL-
   DREN-BLOODY SPRING-FIGHT AT YELLOW CREEK-BRADY'S HILL-
   TRAILED BY A DOG-RAID AT SEWICKLEY BOTTOM-BRADY ATTACKS
   THE CAMP-BRADY TWICE CONDEMNED TO BE BURNED-CAPTURED
   AND TIED TO THE STAKE-ESCAPE-RAID IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
   IN 1780-BRADY FOLLOWS THE TRAIL-BATTLE OF BRADY'S LAKE-
   BRADY CAPTURED AND CONDEMNED TO DEATH-TIED TO THE STAKE
   -HIS ESCAPE-BRADY'S LEAP-HIDES UNDER WATERS OF BRADY'S
   LAKE-DRAPER'S VERSION-"TURKEY FOOT ROCK"-THE LEAP DE-
   STROYED IN 1840-LAKE BRADY NOW A FAMOUS RESORT-BRADY MAR-
   RIED DRUSELLA SWEARINGEN OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-SETTLES AT
   WEST LIBERTY-HIS LAST INDIAN FIGHT-DEATH OF THE FAMOUS IN-
   DIAN FIGHTER-HIS DESCENDANTS-MONUMENT AT HIS GRAVE MADE
   IN WASHINGTON, PA.-A VISIT TO BRADY'S OLD HOME AND GRAVE AT
   W E ST L IB E R T Y .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. . .. .. .. . ..__ _ ----- 83

                      CHAPTER XVI.

                          1780.

          THE INDIAN REIGN OF TERROR BEGINS.

ACTIVITIES OF BRITISH AGENTS-PIONEER MOTHERS-SETTLERS OF
   WASHINGTON COUNTY APPEAL TO FORT PITT FOR PROTECTION-
   SUGAR CAMP ON RACCOON CREEK RAIDED-CAPTIVITY OF THE
   FOULKES CHILDREN AND SAMUEL WHITAKER-BRODHEAD'S PROPOSED
   EXPEDITION-RAIDS ON CHARTIERS CREEK, ROBINSON'S RUN AND TEN
   MILE CREEK-SHEARER AND McCANDLESS BROTHERS KILLED-CAP-
   TIVITY OF ROBERT SHEARER, SR.-CAPTURE OF ALEXANDER BURNS
   AND THE BEHAM BOYS-FLIGHT OF BENNETT FAMILY-ALEXANDER
   BURNS-END OF A DISASTROUS YEAR _  _....__..91

                     CHAPTER XVII

                          1781.

   BRODHEAD'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE DELAWARES.
INDIANS ON THE WAR PATH-CHURCHES COMPELLED TO DISCONTINUE
   SERVICES-BRODHEAD RECEIVED WARNING FROM FRIENDLY DELA-
   WARES-EXPEDITION PLANNED AGAINST COSHOCTON-EXPEDITION
   LEAVES FORT HENRY-COSHOCTON CAPTURED-BRODHEAD GOES TO
   NEWCOMER'S TOWN-RETURN TO FORT PITT _               96

                     CHAPTER XVIII.
                          1781.
  CLARK'S EXPEDITION AGAINST SANDUSKY AND DETROIT.
CLARK PLANS TO CAPTURE SANDUSKY AND DETROIT-INHABITANTS OF
   WASHINGTON COUNTY OPPOSE THE SCHEME-MARSHEL AND PENTE-
   COST ELECTED COUNTY LIEUTENANTS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The greatest excitement swept over Washington County and the entire
 Western Border when the returning soldiers brought back the news of
 Crawford's defeat. Fully expecting that Indian raids would now be made
 over the whole frontier, the settlers hastened to their blockhouses for pro-
 tection, while they waited with anxiety to learn the names of the killed.
    One of the most exposed forts on the western frontier of Washington
 County was Jacob Wolfe's, located near where the old McDowell home-
 stead now stands on the National pike, five miles west of Washington.
 The condition of affairs at that time is best described in a letter written
 by William Darby, who lived here in pioneer times. It follows:
    "We remained in Mr. Wolfe's house until February, 1782, while my
 father was preparing his cabin, into which we finally entered, but not to
 rest. In fifteen or twenty days after our entrance to our log cabin, Martin
 Jolly came running breathless to tell us that a savage murder had been
 committed but ten miles distant. In two hours we were in Wolfe's Fort.
 From the fort my parents removed to Catfish, and spent the residue of
 1782 and to April, 1783, on the farm of Alexander Reynolds, recently
 owned by Dr. F. J. LeMoyne. On this farm we were living when the
 Moravian Indians were massacred, and when the militia army was de-
 feated under Col. William Crawford, and he captured and burned by a
 slow torture to death. James and Hugh Workman were both in that
 expedition, and I fancy I see the two women now, when James Reynolds
 came running to my mother exclaiming, 'Jamy Workman is killed.' James
 Workman, who was a married man, was not killed, but returned to his
 family and lived many years afterwards. A like report came in regard
 to Hugh, and happily proved untrue, to the great joy of his betrothed wife,
 Peggy Bryson, living then with her brother-in-law, Thomas Nichol. John
 Campbell, of Pigeon Creek, was killed in the action. The fate of William
 Huston, son of John Huston, William Jackson, and William Nimmons, was
 never accounted for. The latter two were both married men and left
 children."
    Both James and Hugh Workman were in the same company, but Hugh
joined Crawford's company of light horse, which was organized at Mingo
Bottom, and James continued in the rank of the mounted infantry. At
the time of Crawford's expedition James Workman was twenty-five years
of age, and his brother, Hugh, was twenty-three.
   James Workman and a companion became separated from the army
on the night of the retreat, and did not reach Washington for several days
after the others had arrived. Before they reached the Ohio they met
Nicholas Dawson, from Uniontown, who was lost and trying to find the
river, but had turned around and was going back towards Sandusky. The
others could not persuade him that he was wrong, and he persisted that
west was east until finally Workman threatened to shoot him unless he
accompanied them; he did so, and they all reached home in safety after
they were reported killed.
   On March 29th, 1833, over half a century after the expedition against
Sandusky, James Workman applied for and received a pension for his
services. At that time he was living in Amwell Township. He did not
live long to enjoy his pension; for he died at Waynesburg on November
7th, 1833, aged seventy-six years. The Examiner states that his remains


192




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


were brought from Waynesburg to his late residence in Amwell Township,
and on the morning of the 9th were interred in the old graveyard in
Washington. In speaking of him The Examiner says: "The deceased,
with several other of our oldest yet living citizens and neighbors, was in
the battle with the Indians and British on the Sandusky Plains in the
month of June, 1782 (fifty-one years ago), known by the name of 'Craw-
ford's Defeat'; and was until the day of his death an estimable and re-
spected citizen."
    Hugh Workman, his brother, died in Washington on November 20th,
 1843, in his eighty-fourth year. In the notice of his death The Examiner
 says: "Mr. Workman has been a resident of this Borough and vicinity
 for 66 years. He came here during the Revolution, in the early opera-
 tions in which he participated as a soldier, in the campaigns of McIntosh
 and Crawford. Since his settlement here at so early a period as 1777, he
 has stood high in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and was always so
 strictly honest as to be regarded as above suspicion. At the time of his
 death he was a member of the Presbyterian Church of this Borough. He
 has left a very large circle of relations and friends to cherish his many
 virtues. The remains were accompanied to the grave by the military com-
 pany of this place, and a large concourse of citizens."
    When the first news of the defeat were received in Washington County,
 Dorsey Pentecost wrote to President William Moore, of the Supreme
 Executive Council, describing the expedition and the situation here at that
 time. This letter follows:
                             "Washington County, June 17th, 1782.
"Dr. Sir,
    "By a friend who is now here, on his way to the head of the Elk, I
have just time to tell you that on the 25th of last month 478, some say
488 men, mounted on Horses, set out, under command of Col. Crawford,
for St. Duskie, they were discovered at the Muskingum & from there all
the way out Spies were kept on them; the St. Duskie people collected the
Shawanese & Light dragoons from the British posts, between St. Duskie
and the post at De Trouit, they attacked our people in the plains of St.
Duskie, near the St. Duskie River, on Tuesday was a week last. The
battle continued two days, the first day was very close and hot work, the
second day was at long shot only. On the night of the 2nd day our people
retreated, & the Indians broke in on them in the retreat & routed them;
however, about two Hundred stuck together & brought off all the wounded,
except three, which were left on the ground. The next day the Indians
attacked our people in the rear, but were repulsed with Considerable Loss
on their side; they then pursued their retreat with Success & unmolested,
to the Ohio. I met the men at the Mingo Bottom last Wednesday, about
thirty-five miles from my House, & Collected the information I sent you.
   "There is about 20 wounded (few dangerous) and about half that
number killed, there are a good many missing, amongst which is Col.
Crawford, and a number of other valuable men, but as the Scattered
Party's are Coming in daily, I have Hopes for them. As the people was
much confused when I met them, I could not get the information requisite,
what little I got was from Maj. Rose, Aid-De-Campt to General Irvine, &
who went Aid to Col. Crawford, & I hope the General will give you a par-
       (13)V1


193




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ticular account, as he will receive it from the Major. I am told that the
Indians were much superior to our people, and that in the Engagement
they Suffered greatly, and that Colonel Crawford strongly recommended
to return, before they got to Town, alleging that our people were too weak,
as the Indians had Early Intelligence of their Coming, but was Overruled
by the rest of the Officers.
    "I was told last night by a Gen. from Ceason Town that Mr. McLean
was not met by a Commissioner from Virga to run the Line, and that he
was not suffered to proceed by himself; a Large party had collected to
oppose him. Mr. McLean lives a great distance from me that I don't
expect to see him again soon. but hope he will give Council as Early and
as true a statement of Business as possible.
   "I hear great murmurings about the Tac & many proceeds to threaten
our Situation here is truly Critical & Alarming, and I am sorry that I
have not better news to Communicate.
   "I thank your Excellency for the News to the Eastward, when oppor-
tunity serves, and have the honr. to be, with perfect Esteem,
                          "Yr. Excelys most obt & very H. Serv.
                                              "DORSEY PENTECOST.
   "His Excelly, Winm. Moore, Esq."
   The original spelling and punctuation is preserved in this letter.
   Thomas Mills was less fortunate than most of his companions on the
expedition, and his adventures in connection with Lewis Wetzel, the noted
Indian killer, furnishes one of the most thrilling tales of the old frontier.
Mills' horse gave out when he arrived at a place known in early times as
Indian Spring, but now called Wetzel's Spring, on the National pike twelve
miles west of the present Bridgeport, Ohio. Mills left his horse at this
spring and continued on foot to Fort Henry. From there he went to Fort
Van Metre, on Short Creek, where he met Wetzel. After resting a day or
two he decided to return for the horse, and Wetzel, who was always ready
for any dangerous adventure, agreed to accompany him.
   They found the horse tied to a tree, and Wetzel, who scented danger,
cautioned Mills not to go near the animal, but the latter rushed forward.
He was shot and mortally wounded by concealed Indians. Wetzel leaped
away through the forest, pursued by four warriors. This race was along
the long ridge now followed by the National pike. At the end of half a
mile Wetzel suddenly wheeled and shot the nearest savage.
   Wetzel had learned to load his gun while running, an accomplishment
that very few men ever mastered with the old muzzle loaders. He never
slackened his speed after killing the first Indian, and at the end of half a
mile he had his rifle ready again. He allowed his pursuers to draw near,
and the Indians believed they had him at their mercy with an empty gun.
As he turned to shoot again an Indian was so near that he grabbed the
barrel of the gun, and a desperate struggle followed. Wetzel finally jerked
the weapon free and shot the savage dead.
   The two remaining Indians were very close, but Wetzel leaped away
through the forest, again loading his gun on the run. Believing his
weapon was now useless, his pursuers were determined to capture him.
He slowed up and stopped once or twice to allow them to overtake him,


194





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and he succeeded in mortally wounding another. The surviving Indian
beat a hasty retreat, exclaiming, "White man, him gun always loaded."
   Lewis Wetzel's Spring is now located at the side of the National pike
on the J. B. McMechen farm, one mile east of St. Clairsville, the county
seat of Belmont County, Ohio. A watering trough was located there in
the early days of the National pike, and it was a noted watering place for
stage coaches and the old Conestoga freight wagons. The trough dis-
appeared long ago, and there is little to show where the spring is located.
It is marked by two small trees planted by Mr. McMechen, who informed
the author several years ago that he intended to wall the spring up with
concrete, but this has never been done. At one time there was some talk
of erecting a marker at this historic spot.





                          CHAPTER XL.

                               1782.

   A SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST SANDUSKY PROPOSED.
MEASURES FOR RAISING THE ARMY-COLONEL WILLIAMSON SENT TO
    COXE'S FORT WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY MEN-MARSHEL'S LETTER
    TO GENERAL IRVINE-RAIDS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-COUNCIL OF
    WAR AT CATFISH CAMP-THE EXPEDITION FAILS TO START-VOLUN-
    TEERS WITH    CRAWFORD    REIMBURSED    FOR   LOSSES-PENSIONS,
    GRANTED.
                God's ways seem dark, but, soon or late,
                  They touch the shining hills of day;
                  The evil cannot brook delay,
                The right can well afford to wait.
                                       -Whittier.

   The defeat of the Sandusky expedition threw the entire Western
Border into a state of fear. Their victory would encourage the Indians
to renewed efforts against the settlers, and bloody raids were expected to
follow. The frontiersmen reasoned that a defensive policy would be almost
futile, and they believed that the only thing to do was to continue the
offensive policy they had started, carrying the war into the enemy's
country. As the only means of protecting the frontier, a second expedi-
tion against Sandusky, to be commanded by General Irvine, was suggested.
   General Irvine seriously considered this matter when it was suggested
to him on June 23rd by Captains Robert Beall and Thomas Moore, of
Westmoreland County. The plan was to raise between six and seven
hundred men by conscription, provision them for forty days, with horses
to carry the supplies, clear of expense to the Government. August 1st
was the date suggested for mobolization. The people wanted General
Irvine to take his regulars from Fort Pitt and leave the defense of that
post to the militia, but this he refused to do. He intended to take some
regulars, but he would leave the militia under Continental officers.


195




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Washington County was the most exposed portion of the whole fron-
tier, and it was necessary for Colonel James Marshel to exercise the utmost
caution to prevent raids. Word was received that a large force of hostiles
were gathering at Mingo Bottom, and Marshel immediately sent Colonel
David Williamson with a force of Washington County militia to Coxe's
Fort, four miles below Mingo, with instructions to remain there until he
received further orders. Colonel Cook was sent to Fort Henry with in-
structions to join Williamson if no danger threatened Wheeling.
   On July 2nd Marshel informed General Irvine that he intended to
take whatever men he could secure at Catfish Camp and march to Richard
Wells' Fort, on Cross Creek, and within five miles of Mingo Bottom. He
would remain there until he heard from General Irvine. Marshel evidently
did not carry out this, as there are no records of such an expedition, and
July 4th he again wrote to General Irvine from Catfish Camp, saying that
the inhabitants from the south line of Washington County, from Jackson's
Fort, in what is now Greene County, to Buffalo Creek, were calling for aid.
He declared that the settlers must abandon their homes unless a few men
were sent to them during the harvest season.
   Nothing more was done in regard to the second Sandusky expedition,
and on July 25th, General Irvine informed Major General Lincoln that
the incursions of the Indians would prevent the militia from assembling
on August 1st. He also expressed his doubts as to the whites being able
to raise and equip the proposed number of soldiers.
   The proposed expedition did not materialize by August 1st, and on the
10th the settlers on Buffalo and Ten Mile creeks asked General Irvine for
protection from the hostiles. Irvine then ordered Colonel Marshel to call
out one officer and twenty men and station them in the western part of the
county.
   On Thursday, August 22nd, the militia officers and principal citizens
of the county held a council of war at Catfish Camp to make plans for
the second expedition against Sandusky. It was agreed that this county
should furnish as its quota six hundred seventy-one men, two hundred
fifty horses, and 40,200 rations. Any persons who furnished two hundred
rations, consisting of one and one-fourth pounds of flour and the same
quantity of beef as each ration, or a good pack-horse properly equipped,
delivered at the rendezvous of a battalion, should be exempted from a two
months' tour required by law. It was also agreed that every delinquent
citizen should be assessed, in proportion to his estate, the amount neces-
sary to cover his share of the expense of furnishing provisions, pack-
horses, etc. All horses lost on the expedition, unless paid for by the Gov-
ernment within one year, should be compensated for by each member of
the company to which it belonged. Each battalion was to deposit at one
or more mills in its district its quota of wheat on or before September 6th.
Colonel Marshel had charge of this meeting, and William Pollock was the
chief clerk, who took down the proceedings.
   Marshel informed General Irvine of the results of the council and sug-
gested September 15th as the date of mobilization, but nothing more was
ever done.
   When John Slover returned from captivity he informed General
Irvine that the Indians contemplated an attack on Wheeling. Irvine kept


196





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


careful watch, and on September 11th that post was besieged by two
hundred thirty-eight Indians under George Girty, and forty British regu-
lars, known as the Queen's Rangers, under Captain Pratt. This fight has
gone down in history as the last battle of the Revolution; but this is a
mistake, for the last battle was fought in Washington County. This will
be dealt with in another chapter.
   The Government took the proposed expedition against Sandusky up,
and made plans for the campaign, appointing General Irvine as com-
mander. He set September 20th as the date and Fort McIntosh as the
point of rendezvous. On September 18th Irvine notified the county lieu-
tenants of Washington and Westmoreland counties that he had just re-
ceived word from the Secretary of War that some regulars had been
ordered to assist, and, therefore, it was necessary to postpone the date,
as he wished to wait for their arrival. This caused more delay.
   On September 2nd the Secretary of War had notified General Irvine
that peace was talked of, and on the 27th he sent word that General Wash-
ington had learned that the British had called the Indians off the war
path. The people of Washington and Westmoreland counties were in-
sistent, for the sting of Crawford's defeat still rankled; but as time passed
there were fewer and fewer of them who wished to go. Marshel com-
municated this condition to Irvine on October 18th, and the General ad-
vised that the expedition be given up. The matter was definitely settled
when Irvine received a communication from the Secretary of War on
October 30th, which stated that the expedition against Sandusky had to
be abandoned.
   The new State of Pennsylvania recognized the necessity for the San-
dusky expedition, and many claims for losses sustained were paid during
a period of several years. A special law was passed granting pensions
for services rendered upon this and other expeditions against the Indians
and British, and many members of the expedition drew compensation for
the remainder of their lives. Some also received pensions from the Federal
Government.
   The following extracts from the minutes of the Supreme Executive
Council are of interest in connection with the Sandusky expedition:
"In Council:
                                    "Philadelphia, January 7, 1785.
   "The comptroller-general's report upon the following accounts against
the State for losses sustained, etc., upon the Indian expedition in 1782,
under the direction of Colonel William Crawford, were read and approved,
viz:
   "Six pounds due to John Crawford; twelve pounds due to James Alex-
ander; four pounds three shillings and two pence to the estate of Col.
William Crawford; two pounds nine shillings and five pence to Moses
Smith; six pounds four shillings and five pence to Noble Graham; six
pounds to Samuel Dualls; thirteen pounds to John Dead; seven shillings
and six pence to Samuel Cane; seven pounds to Richard Clark; thirty-
eight pounds ten shillings to the estate of William Crawford; twenty-four
pcunds ten shillings and three pence to Zachariah Connell; seven pounds
to Ruben Kemp; twelve shillings to Edward Hall; fifty pounds two shill-


197





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ings and six pence to the estate of Colonel William Hall; fourteen pounds
to Michael Frank; fifteen pounds to Louis Heming; eleven pounds to
Jeremiah Gard; eighteen pounds ten shillings to Colonel Thomas Gaddis;
and sixteen pounds to Joseph Barker.
    "January 10, 1785. Eighteen pounds to Dr. John Knight; thirty-three
pounds fifteen shillings to James Paull; thirteen pounds to James Woods;
eight pounds ten shillings to Jacob Vankirk; thirty pounds to James
Nicholl; fourteen pounds to James McCoy; two pounds seven shillings and
six pence to Peter Patrick; four pounds nineteen shillings and six pence
to Joseph Parish; fifteen pounds to Audley Rhea and Zachariah Brashears;
sixteen pounds to Jacob South; ten pounds to Jacob Swartz; eight pounds
to William Ross; thirty-six pounds to the estate of William Crawford;
eleven pounds to John Hardin, Jr., five pounds sixteen shillings and three
pence to John Lucas; eight pounds seven shillings and six pence to the
estate of John McClelland; five pounds to Alexander McDonald; two
pounds ten shillings to Thomas Kendall; four pounds ten shillings to
Robert Jackson; fifteen pounds to William Case; fifteen pounds to Aaron
Rollins; eleven pounds to Lewis Duvall; three pounds eight shillings to
Charles Burdin; fourteen pounds to Charles Hickman; six pounds ten
shillings to Dennis Stevens.
   "March 2, 1785. Accounts approved of Craig Ritchie and Andrew
Munro for horses lost on the Sandusky expedition.
   "Of the aforesaid Craig Ritchie for rations from the 20th of May to
the 20th of June, 1782.
   "Of John Smilie for a horse and rifle lost on the Sandusky expedition.
   "August 30, 1785. The comptroller-general's report upon the accounts
of William Shearer, of the county of Washington, for a horse lost on the
Sandusky expedition, was read and approved.
   "September 15, 1785. Upon the account of James Scott for a horse,
blanket, etc., lost on the Sandusky expedition.
   "September 21, 1785. Of Peter Peterson for rations due on the San-
dusky expedition.
   "Of Henry Taylor for thirty days' rations furnished John Blean upon
the aforesaid expedition.
   "Note.-All of the three (3) persons named above are inhabitants of
Washington County.
   "October 19, 1785. Of Robert Miller of Fayette County, for a horse
lost on the Sandusky expedition.
   "Of John Crawford of Fayette County, for a horse lost on the San-
dusky expedition.
   "December 31, 1785. Of Richard Graham for a horse lost on the San-
dusky expedition.
   "April 19, 1786. Of Hugh Sprouls, of the county of Washington, for a
horse lost on the Sandusky expedition.
   "Of Joseph Brown of said county, for rations furnished to the militia
employed on the said expedition.
   "Of Thomas Brown, of said county, for rations furnished as aforesaid.
   "March 30, 1789. For nine pounds, amount of John Custard's account
for a horse lost on the Sandusky expedition under Colonel Crawford in
1782.


198





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    "For seven pounds, amount of Richard Hale's account for a gun taken
into actual service and lost in 1782 in the expedition under Colonel
Crawford.
    "December 8, 1789. Of George Tompoh, for his provisions while em-
ployed as a militia-man on the frontiers of Washington County, and for a
blanket, a pack-saddle, and two large bags lost on the (said) expedition
under Colonel Crawford in 1782, amounting to two pounds seven shillings
and six pence.
   "Of John Hill, for a saddle, blanket, two bags and a wallet or knap-
sack lost on the said expedition, amounting to four pounds two shillings
and six pence.
   "Of Robert Taylor, for thirty-six days' provisions due him while em-
ployed on said expedition, amounting to one pound two shillings and six
pence.
   "Of Richard Hopkins, for a horse lost on the said expedition, amount-
ing to four pounds.
   "Of John Turvey, for thirty days' provisions due him while employed
on said expedition, amounting to one pound two shillings and six pence.
   "December 17, 1789. Of Robert Walker, Jr., of Washington County,
for provisions furnished by him for the Sandusky expedition under Colonel
Crawford in the year 1782, amounting to one pound two shillings and
six pence.
   "February 18, 1790. Of Alexander Lashley, for a horse which was
taken in public service and lost on the Sandusky expedition against the
Indians under Colonel Crawford in the year 1782, valued at twelve pounds
and allowed.
   "August 28, 1790. Of Moses Cook, for a horse which was lost on the
Sandusky expedition against the Indians, in the year 1782, amounting to
fifteen pounds.
   "September 6, 1790. Of the estate of James Guffee, for a horse which
was lost on the Sandusky expedition against the Indians, in 1782, amount-
ing to fifteen pounds."




                         CHAPTER XLI.

                            1750-1908.
          DR. JOHN KNIGHT AND LIEUTENANT ROSE.
SKETCH OF DR. KNIGHT--SERVICES IN THE REVOLUTION AND AGAINST
   THE INDIANS-MOVES TO KENTUCKY-WITH WAYNE IN 1794-HIS
   DEATH--HIS DESCENDANTS-LIEUTENANT ROSE A ROMANTIC FIGURE
   -MYSTERY OF HIS PAST-A BARON OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE-SER-
   VICES IN AMERICA-HIS DEATH.
             His life was gentle; and the elements
             So mixed in him that nature might stand up
             And say to all the world, "This was a man."
                                   -Julius Caesar.


199





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   No account of the Sandusky expedition would be complete without the
story of Dr. John Knight, who had such a narrow escape from death at
the stake. He was one of those romantic characters, a product of a
romantic age, who was attracted by that love for adventure which drew
many others across the Atlantic to the wild life in the New World. Much
has been written of his life, but the author has secured some interesting
facts from his descendants which have never before been published.
   This information was supplied by Mr. W. R. Shelby, of Grand Rapids,
Michigan, first vice president of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad
Company, who is a great-grandson of Dr. Knight, and his son, Mr. Case
Knight Shelby, master mechanic of the Pennsylvania Railroad shops at
Olean, New York.
   Mr. W. R. Shelby informed me that his mother, Mrs. Mary Knight
Shelby, an old-time lady of old Kentucky, remembered her grandfather,
Dr. Knight, well, and before her death she was a link that connected the
present with the old frontier of long ago. She is described as a charming
old lady, who, judging from a photograph taken from an old oil painting
made of her in her younger days, was a belle in the ante-bellum days of
the old South. In her old age she often related how Dr. Knight would
take her on his knees when she was a child and relate to her his terrible
adventures among the Indians. The story was repeated to her so often
that it made such an impression on her young mind that in her old age
she remembered it as clearly as when her grandfather told it. She always
took great delight in relating it to her own children and grand-children
in later years, as they gathered about her to listen to the wild tales of the
old Indian days. Mrs. Shelby died on February 10th, 1908, in Chicago,
Illinois, aged eighty-seven years. Her remains were taken back to old
Kentucky and buried in her father's lot in Cave Hill Cemetery at
Louisville.
   Dr. John Knight was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, about 1750, the son
of John Knight, a physician. He studied medicine at Marischal College
and the University of Aberdeen until he was nineteen years of age, when
he ran away from home. He came to America as a stowaway, working
his way before the mast after he Was discovered. Tradition says that he
was found on the wharf of an American port by Colonel William Craw-
ford, who agreed to pay what was still due on his passage if he would
accompany him to his frontier home in Westmoreland County, and work
until the amount was paid. Young Knight readily agreed to this, and
thus began his long, adventurous life on the American frontier. He was
a favorite with both the Crawford and Stephenson families, and after-
wards married a daughter of Colonel Richard Stephenson, a half-brother
of Colonel Crawford.
   At the outbreak of the Revolution he enlisted as a private in the West
Augusta or Thirteenth Virginia Regiment, commanded by Colonel William
Crawford. This regiment served under Washington at Brandywine, Mon-
mouth, Germantown, and a number of minor engagements. On August
9th, 1778, while stationed at Fort Pitt, he was appointed surgeon's mate
by Dr. McKenzie, then chief surgeon for the Western Department. On
September 14th, 1778, he was appointed surgeon of the Seventh Virginia,
commanded by Colonel John Gibson, the old Indian fighter.


200


































4"


  Dr. Joseph Winlock Knight, a son of
Dr. John Knight, surgeon of Crawford's
expedition in 1782.





CONTENTS


   UNDER PENNSYLVANIA AND VIRGINIA-ENMITY OF THE TWO FAC-
   TIONS OVER THE BOUNDARY CONTROVERSY-OPPOSITION TO CLARK'S
   EXPEDITION-THE FIRST DRAFT-CLARK HAS TROUBLE IN SECURING
   MEN IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-CHARGES MADE AGAINST CLARK-
   MARSHEL'S ACTIVITY IN HAVING WASHINGTON COUNTY CREATED-
   THE EXPEDITION STARTS ...                           98


                      CHAPTER XIX.

                          1781.

              CLARK'S EXPEDITION, Continued.
                    LOCHRY'S DEFEAT.

DOWN THE OHIO-CAPTURE OF SHANNON-LOCHRY'S MEN SURPRISED
   AND DEFEATED BY JOSEPH BRANT'S WARRIORS-SITE OF THE BATTLE
   -LOCHRY'S ISLAND-ANDERSON'S JOURNAL-CAPTIVES TAKEN TO
   CANADA-ANDERSON'S ESCAPE-MUSTER ROLL OF THE EXPEDITION-
   SURVIVORS-THOMAS STOKELY SETTLES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-
   SECOND RECORDER AND A BIG LAND OWNER-HIS DEATH-CAPTAIN
   ROBERT ORR'S ADVENTURES IN CANADA-JAMES McPHERSON-SQUA-
   LA-KA-KE-JOHN DANNELL, "THE LAST OF THE OLD PIONEERS"-
   CLARK'S MEN AGREED TO MEET WHERE CINCINNATI NOW STANDS-
   ONE OF THE LAST SURVIVORS OF THE EXPEDITION   _____100


                      CHAPTER XX.

                          1781.

       RAID ON THE BUFFALO CREEK SETTLEMENTS.

THE SHAWNESE RAID ON DUTCH FORK-MILLER'S BLOCKHOUSE-CAPTAIN
   JACOB MILLER-ATTACK ON JONATHAN LINK'S CABIN-DEATH OF
   FISHER AND HUPP-CAPTURE OF MILLER AND LINK-CAPTURE OF
   PEAK, BURNETT AND WILLIAM HAWKINS-ESCAPE OF THE GAITHER
   FAMILY-RAID ON HAWKINS' CABIN-CAPTURE OF ELIZABETH HAWK-
   INS-ESCAPE OF MRS. HAWKINS WITH INFANT SON, WILLIAM HAWK-
   INS, JR.-MURDER OF HAWKINS, PEAK AND BURNETT-MILLER'S
   ESCAPE-BURIAL OF HUPP AND FISHER-THEIR BONES AFTERWARDS
   FOUND-JONATHAN LINK'S TERRIBLE FATE-CAPTIVITY OF ELIZA-
   BETH HAWKINS-SHE MARRIES A CHIEF AND BECOMES A WHITE
   INDIAN                                             106


                      CHAPTER XXI.

                          1781.

                   THE POE BROTHERS.

NOTED INDIAN HUNTERS-SETTLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-RAID ON
   RACCOON CREEK-INDIANS REPULSED AT THOMAS BAY'S-CAPTURE
   OF WILLIAM JACKSON-PURSUIT-ANDREW POE'S DESPERATE BATTLE
   WITH TWO INDIANS-ADAM POE TO THE RESCUE-DEATH OF BIGFOOT
   -BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS-DEATH OF JOHN CHERRY-ADAM POE
   SELLS HIS WASHINGTON COUNTY LAND-LOCATION OF THE FARM TO-
   DAY-SCALP BOUNTY PAID TO ADAM POE-HIS DEATH AND GRAVE
   NEAR MASSILLON, OHIO-ANDREW POE SETTLES NEAR HOOKSTOWN,
   BEAVER COUNTY-LETTER WRITTEN BY HIS SON-HIS GRAVE AT
   HOOKSTOWN-RELICS OF THE POES-THEIR DESCENDANTS _____- 112


xiii





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Mr. Shelby informed the author that after Colonel Crawford was
 burned, Dr. Knight was stripped and tied to the stake. The fire was
 kindled, but was extinguished by a rain, after which the Indians started
 with him for another town. He had been so badly burned that he was
 unable to travel fast, and was left in charge of Tutulu, from whom he
 escaped as already described. After reaching Fort Pitt on July 4th, 1782,
 he remained with his regiment as surgeon until the close of the war.
    On October 14th, 1784, Dr. Knight was united in marriage with Miss
 Mary (Polly) Stephenson. Ten children were born to this union.
    In recognition of his services in the Revolution, Congress granted five
 thousand acres to Dr. Knight, located on the Scioto River, Franklin
 County, Ohio. The city of Columbus now stands on part of this land.
 Dr. Knight never lived there. His wife had inherited a number of slaves
 in Kentucky, which she was not willing to give up, and so Dr. Knight sold
 his Ohio land and moved to Kentucky, where he purchased six hundred
 acres on Bullskin Creek, six miles from Shelbyville. He lived there, prac-
 ticing medicine, until his death on March 12th, 1838.
    In 1794 he served with General Wayne's "Legion of the United States,"
 and was present at the battle of Fallen Timbers, when the power of the
 Northwest tribes was forever broken. He was elected to the Kentucky
 Legislature in 1796. He died at the age of eighty-five years, and was
 buried in the Winlock Cemetery, near his farm. His wife died July 31st,
 1839, aged seventy-four, and was buried beside her husband.
    The Knight family was prominent in Kentucky in the old days before
 the Civil war. Of their ten children, four were sons and six were daugh-
 ters. Joseph Winlock Knight, the fourth son, commanded a company dur-
 ing the War of 1812, and served under Governor Shelby, the first governor
 of Kentucky, against the British in the Northwest.
    He practiced medicine at Shelbyville for ten years, and served in the
Kentucky Legislature in 1819. After his marriage to Ann Katherine
Humphreys, at Lexington, on March 10th, 1820, he settled at Louisville
and practiced medicine for more than half a century.
    Mary, their oldest child, was born in Louisville on January 7th, 1821,
and she was seventeen years old when her grandfather, Dr. John Knight,
the old Indian fighter, died. On January 17th, 1838, she married John
Warren Shelby, a grandson of Governor Shelby, under whom her father
fought in the War of 1812.
   An interesting bit of Crawford family history was given to the author
by Mr. Case Knight Shelby. Colonel William Crawford's father was an
early settler on Bullskin Creek, Jefferson County, West Virginia, formerly
Berkeley County, Virginia. He traded considerably in the redemption of
white persons from England who were unable to pay their passage across
the Atlantic, and who, after landing in the Colonies were sold for several
years' service. One of these whom he purchased was Richard Stephenson,
an Irish emigrant, who landed in Virginia some time before 1735. After
Crawford's death, in 1736, Stephenson married his widow. He died in
1765 and his wife followed him in 1776.
   An account of those who took part in the Sandusky expedition would
not be complete without some mention of Lieutenant John Rose, another
of those romantic figures who sought a haven of refuge in the New World.


202





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


After his return from the Sandusky expedition he remained at Fort Pitt
as aide to General Irvine until the close of the Revolution; and in the fall
of 1783 he was elected secretary of the Council of Censors of Pennsyl-
vania. He served until February 21st, 1784, when he resigned to return
to his native land.
    During Rose's career in the Continental army there was considerable
mystery connected with his past. It was known in the army that he was a
native of continental Europe, but of what country his comrades could not
guess. Soon after landing in America he had met General Irvine and
became attached to his staff, and a warm friendship, which lasted until
death, sprang up between them.
    In a letter written to General Irvine from New York in April, 1784,
just before he sailed, he informed his old friend that his real name was
Gustavus H. de Rosenthal, of Livoni, Russia, and that he was a Baron of
the Empire. He explained his reasons for leaving his own land. A noble-
man in St. Petersburg had struck his aged uncle, and Rose challenged him
to a duel. After killing his antagonist, Rose fled to England, where he
learned that the Revolution had broken out in the American colonies. He
immediately came to this country, and joined the Continental army. In
1784 he received word that Emperor Alexander, through the mediation
of his family, had granted him permission to return. As far as known
he was the only Russian to fight for the colonies in the Revolution.
   When Baron Rosenthal left America he fully intended to return and
make this his home; but like many another man, his plans for the future
miscarried, and he never returned to the land that he had helped free from
the yoke of England. He met a girl whom he had known and loved in his
younger days, and they were married; and instead of bringing her to a
land where he would probably have risen to prominence, he spent the
remainder of his days in comparative obscurity in Russia. He kept up
a correspondence with General Irvine until the latter's death, and after-
wards with his son, Callender Irvine, the father of William A. Irvine.
Rose died in Russia in 1830.
   In recognition of his valuable services Congress granted him bounty
lands in Ohio; and Pennsylvania granted him two tracts in Venango
County, on what was afterwards Oil Creek. This land became very valu-
able for oil production in later years.





                         CHAPTER XLII.

                             1730-1820.
                   LEADERS OF THE ENEMY.
CAPTAIN PIPE, THE DELAWARE CHIEF-WINGENUND-SIMON GIRTY, THE
   WHITE SAVAGE-THE GIRTY FAMILY-SKETCH OF SIMON GIRTY-HIS
   DEATH AND GRAVE.


203





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


  "The outlawed white man, by Ohio's flood,
  Whose vengeance shamed the Indian's thirst for blood;
  Whose Hellish arts surpassed the red man's far;
  Whose hate enkindled many a border war,
  Of which aged grandams hath a tale,
  At which man's bosom burns, and childhood's cheeks grow pale."
  The leaders of the enemy, both Indian and white, were such well known
and dreaded characters on the Western Border during the Revolution and
Indian wars that they have an important place in the history of Wash-
ington. Both Captain Pipe and Wingenund were war chiefs of that
branch of the Delawares that joined England during the Revolution and
ravaged the border for years afterwards; and Simon Girty, whose home
was at Fort Pitt before the Revolution, was known to every settler in
this county.
   Captain Pipe, whose Indian name was Hopocan, was the greatest war
chief the Delaware tribe ever produced. Hopocan means "tobacco pipe"
in the Delaware tongue, and this gained him the name of Captain Pipe
among the whites. Indians often change their names, and after 1763 he
was known among his people as Konieschguanokee, or the "Maker of
Daylight."
   He was an hereditary sachem of the Wolf division of the Delawares,
and was head war chief of the tribe. He fought for the French during
the French and Indian wars. In 1759 he attended the great council held
at Fort Pitt between George Croghan, Indian agent under Sir William
Johnson, and the chiefs of the principal Western tribes. Captain Pipe
held out against the English for several years, and during Pontiac's con-
spiracy, in 1763, he attempted to capture Fort Pitt by strategy, but failed.
   After peace was finally declared with the British, he settled on the
Muskingum River in 1771. During the Revolution he entered the services
of the British for pay, but he declared to the British commander that he
would not treat the Americans with cruelty.
   Before 1780 he moved to the old Indian village known as White
Woman's Tiown, in Coshocton County, but in that year he moved to old
Upper Sandusky, or Cranestown. His next home was at the point known
as Pipe's Village, on Tymochtee Creek, where Colonel Crawford was
burned. He signed the treaty of Fort McIntosh on January 21, 1785, and
that of Fort Harmar on January 9, 1787. He died in 1794.
   Of all the white men of many nationalities who ever fought on the
side of the Indians against the white people, Simon Girty, the "White
Savage," is the most hated. His name has come down to us as the most
cruel and blood-thirsty man, red or white, who ever roamed the American
wilderness; and the very mention of his name on the Western Border, of
which Washington County was a part, was enough to strike terror to
those strong men and women of the old frontier. Later researches by
historians have proven beyond all doubt that he did not deserve all this
odium that has been heaped upon him. It is an historical fact that he
saved many a white captive from the stake and other Indian cruelties
whenever he could do so without harm to himself. And who could ask
for more? Many of the popular accounts of his life were written by
Americans, and much prejudice entered into them from the fact that he


204




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


took the side of the British in the Revolution, and allied himself with the
Indians. The most authentic account of this man is found in Consul W.
Butterfield's "History of the Girtys," a book now very rare.
    Simon Girty was one of four sons of a drunken Irish Indian trader
 named Simon Girty, who was regularly licensed by the colony of Pennsyl-
 vania. He is described as a drunken, vulgar, debased wretch who turned
 his wife's love to hate, and was killed by her paramour, who afterwards
 married her. He came to America about 1730, and while employed as a
 pack driver married Mary Newton, a woman of good family and respect-
 able herself until her years of life with Girty dragged her down.
    In 1731 Thomas Girty, the first of the four brothers, was born. This
 man spent the greater part of his life at Fort Pitt, later Pittsburgh, where
 he died November 3rd, 1820, aged ninety years. Simon, Jr., the second
 son, was born about 1733, after which his father went into the trading
 business for himself, locating in Lancaster County. Later he moved to
 Sherman's Valley, Perry County, where he lived until the spring of 1750.
 James, the third son, and George, the youngest, were born on the Susque-
 hanna River.
    Simon Girty, Sr., was killed in 1751. According to one account, an
 Indian named "The Fish" buried his tomahawk in the trader's brain
 during a drunken fight. The generally accepted version is that Mrs.
 Girty had fallen in love with an employe of her husband named John
 Turner, who removed this obstacle to the hand of his mistress by killing
 Girty. A short time after her husband's death, the widow married John
 Turner.
    Turner and his wife, with the four young Girtys, lived in Buffalo Val-
ley, Union County, for several years, and there John Turner, Jr., was born.
This man died in Pittsburgh at an advanced age. In 1755 Turner sold
this land and located near Fort Granville, on the site of the present Lewis-
town. The Indians were troublesome, and Turner and his family fled to
Fort Granville just before that post was attacked on July 31st, 1756, by
hostile Delawares under Chief Shingiss, from the Delaware town at the
mouth of Chartiers Creek, and Captain Jacobs, from the Indian town on
the site of Kittanning.
   Lieutenant Armstrong, the commander, and another man were killed
in trying to extinguish a fire set by flaming arrows. John Turner opened
the gate before terms of surrender were agreed upon, and the Indians
either killed or captured every inmate.
   John Turner, his wife and young son, and the four Girty boys were
among the prisoners who were taken to Kittanning, where Turner was
burned at the stake by order of Captain Jacobs, his wife and the Girtys
witnessing his terrible end. After this, Mrs. Turner and her young son,
John, were given to the Shawnese and taken to Fort Duquesne. Just when
Mrs. Turner returned to Fort Pitt is not known definitely, but young John
Turner was held a prisoner until released by Colonel Bouquet in 1764.
He immediately joined his mother at Fort Pitt, where he remained until
his death over three-quarters of a century later.
   John Turner, Jr., had the respect of all who knew him during his long
life at Pittsburgh. During the Revolution he fought for the Americans,
although his three half-brothers were fighting for the British. It is said


205





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


that there was a strong affection between him and Simon Girty all their
lives.
    About 1778 or '79, John Turner built the log cabin in which he spent
 the greater part of his life, on Squirrel Hill, and where his mother died.
 This old cabin stood in what is now Kishon Place, Frank Street, until
 about four years ago. He was a public spirited man and gave ground for
 schools and churches. He died May 20th, 1840, aged eighty-five years.
 His grave may still be seen in the graveyard adjoining the Mary S. Brown
 Memorial Chapel, Squirrel Hill.
    Thomas Girty, the oldest of the four Girty brothers, was first taken
to Fort Duquesne as a prisoner after his separation from his mother at
Kittanning. He later escaped, and after the capture of Fort Duquesne
by the British he located at that post, where he spent the remainder of
his life. He was the only one of the four Girtys who fought for the
Americans during the Revolution as one of Captain Sam Brady's scouts.
Like his half-brother, John Turner, he first saw Pittsburgh when it was
the little French post called Fort Duquesne; then as Fort Pitt of the
British, later held by the Americans, and finally he saw the village develop
from a little frontier trading post to one of the most important cities in
the Ohio Valley.
   Albach says that Thomas Girty died in 1820, probably in Butler
County, but the author recently found an old newspaper account in the
Washington Examiner, published at the time of his death, which states
that he died in Pittsburgh on November 3rd, 1820, aged ninety years.
   The three other Girtys, Simon, James, and George, were all of a roving
disposition, and spent the greater part of their adventurous lives among
hostile Indians. All three took the side of England during the Revolu-
tion, and led many Indian war parties against the American settlers.
Simon gained such a reputation for his deeds of cruelty that he was known
on the Western Border as the "White Savage," and many an American
frontiersman would have given much to have added his scalp to his
trophies. However, James was the most bloodthirsty of the three, and
many of the deeds charged to Simon were really committed by James.
   Simon Girty remained with the Americans at Fort Pitt after the out-
break of the Revolution, but when he was refused a captain's commission
in the Continental army he became dissatisfied, and associated himself
with Captain Alexander McKee and Matthew Elliott, two tories at Fort
Pitt. On the night of March 28th, 1778, this trio fled to the British, and
were welcomed by General Hamilton, the "hair buying" commander of
Fort Detroit.
   Simon Girty spoke several Indian languages, and IHamilton sent him
to the Ohio country to assist the tribes in their raids on the Americans.
He soon became a true Indian in habits and ambitions, and frequently
outdid the savages in cruelty and deeds of daring. He especially hated
the Moravians, and planned their destruction. In this he would probably
have succeeded if Colonel Williamson and his men from Washington
County had not done the work themselves, and relieved Girty of the job.
   Even though Girty was accused of great cruelty, Butterfield, the most
authentic historian of the Girtys, gives him credit for saving many a
whit captive from torture. One instance of this was when Girty's old


206




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


friend and comrade in arms, Simon Kenton, was captured, stripped and
painted black, ready to be burned. Girty arrived just in time to save his
old friend's life and secure his liberty.
   An old story published many years ago in the American Pioneer, which
claims to have been told by the Wyandots, sets forth that on the night of
the retreat from the Plains of Sandusky, Girty, disguised as an Indian,
visited Crawford under a flag of truce, and warned him that he was sur-
rounded, and told him how he might escape. Crawford tried to act on
his advice, but his men were too much demoralized to carry out the plan.
This story also sets forth that Girty did his best to save Crawford from
the stake, and was finally threatened with death if he persisted in his
efforts.
   Jonathan Alder, a captive among the Indians for many years, was
personally acquainted with Girty, and he afterwards stated that the latter
befriended many prisoners. Alder personally knew of several boy captives
whom Girty purchased and sent to the British to be educated. Mrs.
Thomas Cunningham, who was captured in West Virginia, was after-
wards ransomed by Girty and sent back to her husband.
   Like many another wilderness rover, Girty had his romance. He met
Catherine Malotte, aged fifteen years, as a prisoner in an Indian village.
He fell desperately in love with her, and succeeded in taking her from her
captives. They went to Detroit, where they were married. This romance
in Girty's life proved to be for the best; for he gave up his roving life and
devoted himself to his family.
   When the Indian wars broke out again Girty, who was forever ban-
ished from American soil, again joined the savages and, with Elliott and
McKee, wielded much influence among the tribes. All three fought with
the Indians against General Harmar in 1790, and were present at St.
Clair's defeat in 1791. Girty was also present at the battle of Fallen
Timbers in 1794, when Wayne broke the power of the Northwest tribes.
   Simon Girty's courage was beyond question, and he was considered one
of the bravest men on the frontier. His honesty in business matters was
beyond question. Like his father, he was a heavy drinker, and when
intoxicated he was very abusive to friend and foe alike.
   It is said that he lived in fear of falling into the hands of the Amer-
icans; and this was the only thing in his long, adventurous life of which
he was ever afraid. The story is told that when the American boats
came in sight of Fort Detroit when that post was turned over by the
British, Girty could not wait for the return of the ferry, but plunged his
horse into the Detroit River and swam over to Canada.
   After this incident Girty settled on a farm on the Detroit River. One
account states that this was fifteen miles below Fort Malden, now Am-
herstburg, Essex County, Ontario. One story is told that Girty was killed
in the battle of the Thomas River, fought eighty-six miles from Detroit, on
October 5th, 1813. Wishing to learn the truth, the author made some
inquiry, and was given some interesting information on Simon Girty's
later years and death by Mr. W. N. Little, of Lorain, Ohio, who was
reared near Amherstburg, and whose aunt, Mrs. Amelia Mickle, owned
the Girty farm in 1918. The author also corresponded some with a
daughter of Mrs. Mickle and learned some further facts.


207




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    This farm is two miles below the town of Amherstburg, Ontario. Dur-
 ing the last years of his life he was badly crippled with rheumatism and
 was blind. He often boasted of his war-like spirit and it was his wish
 that he might die in battle. Mrs. Mickle informed her daughter that she
 was told many years ago by a Mr. Elliott, who was one of Girty's pall-
 bearers, that he was buried in the dead of winter, and that the snow was
 so deep that they could hardly make their way to the burial ground, which
 was in an orchard on the farm adjoining the Girty home place.
    When Henry Howe was gathering data for his "Historical Collections
 of Ohio," he interviewed Daniel N. Workman, of Bellefontaine, Ohio. In
 1813 Mr. Workman was in Fort Malden and stopped at a hotel kept by a
 Frenchman. In the barroom he saw a gray-haired man who was blind.
 The wife of the proprietor, a woman about thirty, was his daughter, and
 she said to Mr. Workman, pointing to the old man: "Do you know who
 that is?"
   Mr. Workman said that he did not, and she replied, "That is Simon
 Girty." He had been blind at that time for about four years. When Mr.
 Workman was in Fort Malden again in 1815, he found that Girty had died
 a short time previous.
   A story was current several years ago to the effect that the British
government at one time proposed to erect a monument over Girty's grave,
but the owner of the land refused to permit it, and turned the burial
ground into a hog lot. Mrs. Mickle informed the author that this is not
true. The land where Girty is buried is now owned by Mrs. Louise Mickle.
Besides Girty, a son and a grandson are buried there.
   The graves are located two hundred feet in the rear of the homestead,
and the ground was never used as a hog lot. The Mickle family never
permitted the graves to be disturbed in any way. Years ago a picket
fence surrounded the spot, but this has long since rotted away. The corner
of a stone house was then placed on the graves to preserve them from
vandals. This farm has been in the Mickle family for the past eighty
years.
   The old Girty farm is on the Detroit River, two miles below Amherst-
burg, and opposite Boise Blanc Island, where the ruins of an old fort used
in the War of 1812 still stand. It is said that Girty was well liked in
Canada, and his family was respected by all its neighbors.




                        CHAPTER XLIII.

                            1748-1840.
                   PERSONAL NARRATIVES.
DANIEL LEET OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-SKETCH OF HIS LIFE-CRAIG
   RITCHIE-ANGUS McCOY-WILLIAM IRWIN-ISAAC VANCE-COL. JAMES
   MARSHEL-DESCENDANTS OF COLONEL CRAWFORD, HARRISON AND
   OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION-DESCENDANTS OF PIONEER
   FAMILIES OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-ALEXANDER McCONNELL-REL-
   ICS OF THE CRAWFORD EXPEDITION-THE PIONEER PICNIC.


208




































  Major Daniel Leet, an early settler and
Indian fighter of Washington County. He
commanded a division during the Crawford
expedition  against the Indians on the
Plains of Sandusky in 1782, and saved the
retreating army from disaster by his gal-
antry.


    Cabin built by Major Daniel Leet, an early settler near Washington. This cabin
was built before 1782, and it stood at the east end of Dam No. 2 of the Citizens Water
Company until 1899, when it was burned.


(14) V




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


               Though their blood no longer gushing
                 Wakens war's discordant cry,
               Strains it not the maple's flushing
                 When the autumn's step is nigh?
                                -Mrs. Sigeurney.
    Daniel Leet, brigade major of the Sandusky expedition, whose gallant
 conduct during the retreat helped save the army from worse disaster,
 was a pioneer surveyor in Western Pennsylvania, and for many years
 resided near Washington. Washington County can well be proud of this
 man, whose activities against the Indians helped protect many settlers of
 this section from the scalping knife and tomahawk when this was part
 of the Western Border.
    He was born at Bordentown, New Jersey, on November 6th, 1748, the
 son of Isaac Leet. While still a boy his father emigrated to Virginia,
 where young Daniel spent his early life. He studied surveying at William
 and Mary College, and on April 17th, 1776, he was commissioned a sur-
 veyor to the Augusta County Court and was sworn into office as a deputy
 under Colonel William Crawford.
    Just when he came to Washington County is not certain, but it was
probably about 1773, as a letter from George Washington to William
Crawford, dated September 23rd, 1773, states: "By Mr. Leet I informed
you of the unhappy cause which prevented my going out this fall." He
evidently made several trips to this county before settling here, which
was about 1776. His father afterwards settled here.
   During the Revolution he served as quartermaster, brigade major and
paymaster of the Virginia line. He was sub-lieutenant of Washington
County at the time when it was Youghiogheny County, Virginia, and in
1778 he was with the militia from this county which served at Fort
Laurens under General McIntosh and saw active service against the
Indians in that campaign.
   As deputy surveyor he made many of the Virginia surveys in Wash-
ington County in 1780, and in other sections of Western Pennsylvania.
When the district of West Augusta, Virginia, was divided into Yohogania
(now Washington), Monongalia and Ohio counties, he was assigned as
surveyor for the territory from King's Creek to Tomlinson's Run.
   When Washington County was erected he was appointed one of the
trustees to divide the county into townships, and to purchase ground for
the public buildings. Besides holding the office of sub-lieutenant of Wash-
ington County, he was one of the first justices of the peace of this county.
Many of the old survey records found in the Washington County recorder's
office were made by Daniel Leet, as shown by the original entries.
   Daniel Leet took up four hundred acres of land on the headwaters of
Chartiers Creek under the name of "Brenton." This was surveyed June
1st, 1785, on a Virginia certificate granted to him January 2nd, 1780. It
was surrounded by the lands of Jonathan Leet, a brother; Resin Virgin,
John Beards, John McCombs, and James Huston. This was Daniel Leet's
home tract, and is located in what is now North Franklin Township. It
is located one mile south of Washington, and is now owned by the Citizens
Water Company. In later years it was known as the Shields farm, and


210





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was one of the finest in the county. There was and still is a large amount
of timber on it, which is known as "Snake Woods."
   A log cabin erected by Daniel Leet stood for over a century on this
land. In later years it stood at the head of Dam No. 3, of the Citizens
Water Company, and will be remembered by most of the residents of
Washington, especially the boys who hunted ducks and frogs at the dam
a quarter of a century ago. Just when Daniel Leet built it can not be told
today, but it was undoubtedly in pioneer times, and he lived there until
1829. The author well remembers this old log cabin, having spent many
an hour there before a comfortable fire on a cold morning waiting for day-
light before going duck hunting on the dam. It was a typical pioneer
home, containing two stories, with a large stone chimney in the west end.
On the first floor was one of the big old-fashioned fireplaces. No one ever
lived there in the years after the dam was built, and it was a great place
for us boys to seek shelter from storms or to cook meals in the old fire-
place. It was finally destroyed by fire in the spring of 1901, caused by
sparks from a fire one cold morning.
   Daniel Leet's only child, Maria, married David Shields, a merchant of
Washington from 1804 to 1823, and they had nine children. In 1823 they
located at Sewickly Bottoms, Allegheny County. In 1829 Daniel Leet went
to live with his daughter at Sewickly, where he died June 17th, 1830.
   Isaac Leet, the father of Daniel Leet, came to Washington County
from Prince William County, Virginia, in 1779. He took up two tracts
of land, one of sixty-four acres called "Hope," and the other of three hun-
dred fifty-one acres called "Leet's Fancy." This was in Canton Township,
just west of Washington, and was owned in later years by Jacob Weirich.
Isaac Leet died on this farm in 1802, and was buried in the old graveyard
on the land, where his widow, Rebecca, and other members of his family
were buried in later years. This is now known as Weirich's graveyard.
The other children of Isaac Leet were Jonathan, Isaac, Elizabeth and
Rebecca.
   The later life of most of the soldiers of Crawford's army has been lost
amid the passing years. Some of the early accounts of the expedition
give the life story of some of those who became prominent, and the author
has secured much information on some others from the old files of The
Examiner and The Reporter, two newspapers published at that time in
Washington.
   Craig Ritchie, captain of a company in the expedition, became a man
of prominence at Canonsburg. He was born December 29th, 1758, at
Glasgow, Scotland, and came to America in 1772, where he married Miss
Mary Price. After he settled at Canonsburg he became a merchant, and
was at one time postmaster of that place. Canonsburg was a hotbed of
revolutionists during the Whisky Insurrection of 1794, but Craig Ritchie
remained loyal to the Government, thereby incurring the enmity of many
of his neighbors. He served later in the State Legislature. He was a per-
sonal friend of George Washington, and was agent for the latter's lands
in Washington County. He died in Canonsburg on June 13th, 1833, and
is buried in the Hill Church Cemetery.
   Angus McCoy, another member of the expedition, died in East Finley
Township, on January 12th, 1840. The muster roll of the expedition does


211





CONTENTS


                     CHAPTER XXII.

                        1754-1780.

              FOUNDING THE OHIO MISSIONS.

              THE STORY OF THE MORAVIANS:

THE MORAVIANS-CHRISTIAN FREDERICK POST AND JOHN HECKEWELDER
   EXPLORE THE OHIO COUNTRY-THE VALLEY OF THE TUSCARAWAS-
   POST LEAVES HECKEWELDER AT TIlE MISSION-ZEISBERGER AND
   HECKEWELDER FOUND THREE MISSIONS ON THE TUSCARAWAS-THE
   REVOLUTION-HECKEWELDER WINS THE DELAWARES FOR THE AMER-
   ICANS-LICHTENAU ABANDONED-SALEM FOUNDED           121


                     CHAPTER XXIII.

                        1780-1782.

                  THE STORM GATHERS.

IHALF-WAY HOUSE OF THE WARRIORS-RAID ON BUFFALO CREEK-JOHN
   CARPENTER'S ESCAPE-MORAVIANS TAKEN PRISONER TO UPPER SAN-
   DUSKY-THE MISSIONARIES TAKEN TO DETROIT-RELEASED BY THE
   BRITISH-RETURN TO UPPER SANDUSKY-WILLIAMSON'S FIRST EXPE-
   DITION FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-MORAVIANS TAKEN PRISONERS
   TO FORT PITT-RELEASED BY THE COMMANDANT-THE TERRIBLE
   WINTER OF 1781-82-MORAVIANS RETURN TO THE TUSCARAWAS
   VALLEY TO GATHER CORN                              125


                     CHAPTER XXIV.

                        1781-1782.

EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE MASSACRE AT GNADENHUTTEN.

JOHN HUGHES APPOINTED CAPTAIN OF RANGERS-FEAR OF RAIDS ON
   RACCOON AND BUFFALO CREEKS-CAPTURE OF JOHN CARPENTER-
   HIS SON, EDWARD-RAID ON ROBERT WALLACE'S HOME-CAPTURE OF
   MRS. WALLACE AND HER CHILDREN-PURSUIT OF THE RAIDERS-
   DEATH OF MRS. WALLACE AND HER BABY-CAPTIVITY OF THE WAL-
   LACE CHILDREN-RETURN OF LITTLE ROBERT WALLACE AND DEATH
   OF HIS BROTHER-CONFLICTING STORIES OF WALLACE TRAGEDY-
   HUNTERS FIND THE BONES OF MRS. WALLACE-LOCATION OF THE
   WALLACE HOME                                       128


                     CHAPTER XXV.

                          1782.

           THE MASSACRE AT GNADENHUTTEN.

WILLIAMSON'S SECOND EXPEDITION-EVIDENCE OF JOSEPH VANCE-
   MARCH AGAINST THE MORAVIAN VILLAGES-JOSEPH SHABOSCH, THE
   FIRST VICTIM-CAPTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN INDIANS-THE DEATH
   SENTENCE PASSED BY THE WHITES-A NIGHT OF PRAYER-THE
   MASSACRE-THE SLAUGHTER HOUSES-THREE ESCAPE-RESCUE OF
   BENJAMIN-ESCAPE OF INDIANS FROM SCHOENBRUN-ATTACK ON
   KILLBUCK'S VILLAGE NEAR FORT PITT-MUSTER ROLL OF WILLIAM-
   SON'S SFCOND EXPEDITION                            131


xiv




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


not contain the name of Angus McCoy, but in Captain Bilderback's com-
pany was a private named Angus Mackay, undoubtedly the same man.
The fact that Angus McCoy was in the Sandusky campaign is established
by his obituary in The Examiner. This also states that he took part in
many expeditions against the Indians, in which he was associated with
General McArthur, afterwards governor of Ohio.
   William Irwin, a private in Captain Craig Ritchie's company, died at
Uniontown on February 14, 1840, aged seventy-seven years. His obituary
states that on February 8th he fell from a fence, receiving injuries which
caused his death six days later. By his own request he was buried in the
graveyard of Mr. Taggart, one mile west of Uniontown, where, according
to his own story, he lay out one night after he became lost while hunting
over fifty years before. He was never married. He spent the greater
part of his life at Canonsburg and in Ohio, but he lived at Uniontown the
last ten years.
   Isaac Vance, of South Strabane Township, was a member of Captain
Thomas Rankin's company. Besides the Crawford expedition, he served
in several other Indian campaigns. He died on November 5th, 1837, aged
eighty-six years.
   Colonel James Marshel, county lieutenant of Washington County,
although not a member of Crawford's expedition, took a prominent part
in its organization, and in the Indian wars. His reason for not participat-
ing in the campaign was that he would not accept a position lower than
third in command. He was a candidate for first major at the election of
field officers at Mingo Bottom, but was defeated by Thomas Gaddis of
Westmoreland County. Marshel then refused to go and returned home.
   He was born in Ireland, and came to America at the age of eighteen.
He settled in Washington County in 1774, and after holding many im-
portant offices here, as already stated, he moved to the vicinity of Wells-
burg, West Virginia, where he died on March 17th, 1829, in his eightieth
year.
   The descendants of Colonel Crawford and members of his army are
scattered throughout the United States, and many of them still live in
Western Pennsylvania. The late Henry P. Snyder, one of the best known
newspaper men in Western Pennsylvania and for many years editor of the
Connellsville Courier, was a direct descendant of the Colonel. He took a
deep interest in the history of the old frontier, and was the author of an
interesting article on Colonel Crawford, which he read before the Wash-
ington County Historical Society on February 22nd, 1909. This was
afterwards published in pamphlet form. Mr. Snyder originated the idea
of erecting a monument to Colonel Crawford at Connellsville, and it was
through his efforts that this was successfully carried out, but he died in
October, 1916, one year before the monument was dedicated.
    Mr. D. A. Hamer, of Lewistown, Logan County, Ohio, is a direct de-
scendant of Major William Harrison, Crawford's son-in-law. The spot
where Major Harrison was put to death by torture is near the present
state bridge twelve miles east of Lewistown. He was a son of Lawrence
Harrison, one of the first settlers in the Youghiogheny Valley. He was
also a near relative of Benjamin Harrison, twice governor of Virginia
and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The latter's


212





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


son was General William Henry Harrison, ninth President of the United
States, whose grandson, Benjamin Harrison, was the twenty-second
President.
   The late Dr. William C. Leet, of Washington, who died only a few
years ago, was a descendant of the Leet family. His father was a nephew
of Major Daniel Leet.
   Alexander McConnell, another of Crawford's men, came to Washington
County from Charlotte County, Virginia, at an early date, accompanied
by his brother, Matthew, who was also a member of the Sandusky expedi-
tion. Alexander McConnell, Jr., the son of Alexander McConnell, of the
Sandusky expedition, was a private in Captain Benjamin Anderson's com-
pany of the First Pennsylvania Infantry, which served under General
William Henry Harrison in Ohio in 1813. This regiment marched from
Pittsburgh to the frontier village of Upper Sandusky in the fall of 1812,
and in January, 1813, built Fort Ferree at that place, which is just three
miles from the Crawford battlefield. It was at the site of this town that
the army retreated just before the battle began. Thus, Alexander McCon-
nell, Jr., campaigned on the same ground where his father had fought
Indians thirty years before. Many of the descendants of the McConnell
brothers still reside in Washington County. The author is a great-great-
grandson of Alexander McConnell, Sr.
   Relics of the Crawford expedition are very scarce, but a few interest-
ing ones have been found. Years ago a rusty sword, with the blade either
broken or rusted away, was found on the creek near the site of the old
Indian village of Upper Sandusky; and the stream was named Broken
Sword Creek. It is'believed that this sword belonged to Crawford.
   Mr. Emil Schlup, of Akron, Ohio, but formerly of Wyandot County,
who has devoted much time to the study of the expedition, found a copper
epaulet on the battlefield about twenty years ago. On it are the initials
"W. B. C.," and it is believed to have belonged to Colonel Crawford him-
self. In 1916 it was placed in charge of the author, and is now deposited
in the Washington County Historical Society's collection for exhibition.
   Mr. Schlup also has a brass belt clasp and a brass belt ring which he
found on the battlefield, and a tomahawk which he dug up on the old
Indian trail to Captain Pipe's village. It was over this trail that Craw-
ford, Dr. Knight and the other prisoners passed while being taken to the
village. The author has in his collection a large arrow head which Mr.
Schlup picked up on the site of Captain Pipe's village, where Crawford
was burned.
   Mr. Charles Brown, of Upper Sandusky, has an iron tomahawk which
he found on the Crawford battlefield many years ago. I wish to take this
opportunity to make special acknowledgment to both Mr. Schlup and Mr.
Brown for much valuable information furnished on the present condition
of the battlefield and the site of Captain Pipe's village.
   In 1877 the Pioneer Association of Wyandot County, Ohio, was organ-
ized with Mr. John Gormley as president and Hon. Curtis Berry, Jr., as
secretary. On August 30th, 1877, the day the monument was dedicated
to Colonel Crawford on the site of Captain Pipe's village, a big public
picnic was held. This picnic was made an annual event by the associa-
tion, and has been carried on ever since by the citizens of Wyandot County,


213





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and now it is one of the big events of the year in that section. The date
has been changed to June 11th, each year, the anniversary of Crawford's
death. During the forty-eight years this picnic has been held many of the
descendants of the members of Crawford's army have attended, many of
them going long distances to be present. The day is given over to speak-
ing and a general good time is had by all.





                         CHAPTER XLIV.

                            1774-1925.
                         VANCE'S FORT.
JOSEPH VANCE BUILDS A FORT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-THE FIRST SER-
   MON AT VANCE'S FORT-MANY WHITES KILLED IN THAT VICINITY-
   WILLIAM PARKS-GIRL KILLED AT THE SPRING-MARY WALLACE-
   FIRST PLANS FOR THE MORAVIAN MASSACRE MADE AT VANCE'S FORT
   -SITE OF THE FORT TODAY.
                 Our fortress is the good greenwood,
                   Our tent the cypress tree;
                We know the forest round us
                   As seamen know the sea;
                 We know its walls of thorny vines,
                   Its glades of reedy grass,
                 Its safe and silent islands
                   Within the dark morass.
                                     -Bryant.
   Vance's Fort, one of the best known and most important on the old
frontier of Washington County, was a stockade built for the protection of
a large number of families in the northwestern section of the county. It
ranked in size and importance with Froman's, Lindley's, Wolfe's and
Wells' forts. In the old Indian days it was known over the whole Western
Border, and hundreds of people found refuge within its walls from the
tomahawk and scalping knife.
   This fort stood on the old Vance farm in Smith Township, and about
four miles south of Burgettstown, which place is now the center of the
"daylight" coal mining industry in Western Pennsylvania and where the
smoke from the smelter and mills of the American Zinc and Chemical
Company make a perpetual cloud in the sky. But when Joseph Vance
crossed the mountains from Winchester, Virginia, in 1774, in search of a
new home in the Western wilderness, that section was a different country.
The whole region was covered with a great forest of hardwoods, prin-
cipally oak, walnut, and hickory, which for centuries had been known only
to the roving Indian hunter; and even in Vance's time none but the boldest
whites dared to venture into its mysterious depths, from which many a
man never returned.
   The settlement of that section of the county began about 1769, when


214





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the Poe brothers went there, and during the years before Dunmore's war
many settlers came in. Most of them were Scotch-Irish, some coming
direct from Ireland and the west of Scotland, while others were from York
County, Pennsylvania; Winchester, Virginia, and Mecklenburg, North
Carolina.
    After selecting his land, Joseph Vance built a fort at the head of a
 small stream which empties into Raccoon Creek, and one mile north of
 historic Cross Creek village. This fort, one of the strongest in the West-
 ern country, consisted of several cabins and blockhouses surrounded by a
 stockade. A large spring which gushed from the hillside induced Vance
 to locate there, and this furnished water for the people in the fort.
    During the ten years that followed its erection, this fort gave shelter
 to many settlers during the spring, summer and fall, when it was neces-
 sary for the pioneers to leave their families there, for that was the season
 for Indian raids; and the men worked their fields, often some distance
 away. In those times what little social life the people enjoyed and their
 religious meetings were carried on within the protecting walls of the fort,
 where school was also taught by Robert McCready, one of the founders
 of Cross Creek Presbyterian Church and the first schoolmaster in all that
 region. In fact, he was one of the first educators west of the Allegheny
 Mountains, having taught before Dr. John McMillan, the founder of Jeffer-
 son College, at Canonsburg. Such a place was Vance's Fort in the days
 of the old frontier.
    On September 14th, 1778, the first religious sermon ever preached in
all that region was delivered at Vance's Fort by the Rev. James Powers, a
minister from the forks of the Youghiogheny River. Such meetings were
common in frontier times; like the people of those times, they are only
memories now and their like will never be known again. The preacher
stood under a large oak tree, just outside the gates of the fort, facing the
settlers, who listened with close attention. In the background were the
palisade walls of the fort, all that stood between them and the scalping
knife of the red warriors, whose wild war-whoops might ring at any
moment from the surrounding forest.
   In appearance many of the men in that frontier congregation were as
wild looking as their Indian enemies. They were dressed in buckskin
trousers, almost skin-tight, and long hunting shirts or wamuses, which
reached almost to the knees, both garments being fringed at the seams.
Buckskin belts that held their tomahawks and scalping knives girdled their
waists, while powder horns and bullet pouches were slung on cords around
their necks. They carried their long, flint-lock rifles in their hands, ready
for instant use; for they never knew at what moment a hostile bullet or
arrow might come from the surrounding forest. Their long hair hung
down their backs, some of the more adventurous wearing it loose, a custom
peculiar to the frontier, while others had it done up in knots on the backs
of their necks and powdered, a relic of the civilization and other days
they had known in their Eastern homes beyond the mountains. Their
headgear consisted of the old-time coonskin caps of the frontier or the
broad-brimmed felt hats of that period. Truly that first sermon preached
at Vance's fort a century and a half ago amid such surroundings was a


215





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


wild, picturesque scene that has vanished forever with the passing of the
old frontier. Time has brought about many changes in Washington
County. The fort is gone, and even the sturdy oak under which this
sermon was preached has disappeared before the advance of time, but it
stood for many years afterwards.
   A number of settlers were killed by Indians in the vicinity of Vance's
Fort, and some of them are buried in the historic old graveyard at Cross
Creek. One was William Parks, who was killed and scalped within sight
of the fort in the spring of 1782, while fleeing for the shelter he almost
reached. It all occurred so suddenly and the savages escaped so quickly
that the whites in the fort did not have time to send aid. He was a
brother-in-law of the Rev. Thomas Marquis, a frontier minister of that
time.
   Tradition says that a girl who was going from the fort to the spring
was shot and killed just as she dipped her bucket in the water. The guard
at the gate of the fort heard the whirr of an arrow and saw the girl fall;
but her murderer was never seen. The body of Mary Wallace, who was
captured near Florence and afterwards killed, is buried in the Cross Creek
Cemetery.
   Joseph Vance, the proprietor of this fort, took part in most of the
campaigns against the Indians. James Simpson, the old-time historian
of Cross Creek village, claims that Vance and a number of his neighbors
were members of the second Moravian expedition of 1782. The story is
told that in 1792, while riding at the head of a funeral procession, Joseph
Vance told Robert Lyle that the idea and first plan for the Moravian
massacre originated at his fort in the fall of 1781, when between twenty-
five and thirty families were there for protection. The matter was dis-
cussed and full plans made, but Williamson's first expedition, which re-
moved the remnants of the Moravians to Fort Pitt, prevented them from
being carried out.
   This historic fort long ago shared the fate of most of the other forts
and blockhouses of the Western Border. It vanished from the face of the
earth many years ago, when, no man now living can say, and not a sign
of it is left. It stood on land now owned by the estate of James L. Vance,
deceased, who was a great grandson of Joseph Vance. The farm of R. C.
Vance, another great grandson of the proprietor, joins this farm. The
fort stood a short distance from the old Vance homestead, which has been
standing for a hundred years. A slight depression, which is probably the
site of the central blockhouse, is the only sign that is left. Mr. R. C. Vance
once told the author that many times he had ploughed up stones at this
place, such as were used in building chimneys. Over a high bank and
within a few feet of this spot is the spring already mentioned, from which
the people in the fort obtained their water. It was at this spring that the
girl was killed. It has been neglected these many years, and is now filled
with mud.
   Nearby are two large log barns, which were probably built of logs from
the fort. Just when they were constructed is not known. Mr. R. C.
Vance, who is now seventy-seven years of age, once informed the author
that he did not know when they were built, and that they had been stand-
ing as long as he could remember. Mr. Vance has spent his entire life on


216





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


his present farm and the old Vance homestead, where the fort stood.
Therefore, it is reasonable to suppose that the logs were taken from the
fort, when it was no longer necessary for the whites to seek shelter within
its walls from the red warriors..





                          CHAPTER XLV.
                               1924.

                THE CRAWFORD BATTLE FIELD.
EXACT LOCATION-APPEARANCE OF THE BATTLE FIELD 142 YEARS AFTER
   THE BATTLE-CRAWFORD MONUMENT AT CONNELLSVILLE, PA.-MUS-
   TER ROLL OF CRAWFORD'S ARMY IN PENNSYLVANIA ARCHIVES-LIST
   OF KILLED AND WOUNDED.
                Thus 'neath the parent turf they rest
                  Far from the gory field;
                Borne to a Spartan mother's breast
                  On many a bloody shield;
                The sunlight in their native sky
                  Smiles sadly on them here,
                And kindred eyes and hearts watch by
                  The heroes' sepulchre.
                                   -Theodore O'Hara.
   The visitor at the Crawford battle field on the Plains of Sandusky
sees nothing to remind him of the fierce conflict that raged there between
red men and white for supremacy on the Western Border nearly a century
and a half ago. The Plains of Sandusky are now only a memory of the
old frontier; for they have disappeared before the advance of civilization,
the timber that marked their borders having long since been cut away.
More than a hundred years ago the red man disappeared from that fair
land, and his wild war-whoop has given place to the shriek of the loco-
motive and the toot of the automobile, while peaceful homes have taken
the place of the tepee and council lodge of the hostile Indian.
   The exact location of the battle field is in the southeast quarter of
section 17, township 2 south, range 14 east, of the government survey,
and was marked on all the old maps as "Crawford's Battle Ground." The
timber known as "Battle Island," in which most of the fighting took place,
stood for many years. The trees were marked by bullets, which were
chopped out by Indians after the battle, and the marks of their axes
could be seen for many years.
     The land where the battle was fought is now known as the "Battle
Island Farm," and is owned by William J. Lowery, of Upper Sandusky.
About fifty years ago some ducks belonging to Charles Spencer, who
occupied the farm at that time, brought up several human skulls out of a


217





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


near-by swamp. These had hullet holes in them. This farm is located
three miles north of the town of Upper Sandusky.
    The cranberry marsh in which several of the Americans became mired
 on the night of the retreat, is about a mile and a quarter north of Upper
 Sandusky, but it is now agricultural land, having been drained years ago.
 It was originally crescent shaped, and about three-quarters of a mile long.
    No monument or marker has ever been erected on the battle field, and
all that is left today of the grove called "Battle Island" is a lone oak tree,
which stands as a sentinel over the unmarked graves of the men killed in
the battle and buried before the retreat was started.
    A town grew up around Colonel Crawford's cabin at Stewart's Cross-
ing on the banks of the Youghiogheny, and during the one hundred forty-
three years that have passed since the famous frontiersman was burned
at the stake, this has become the center of the most important coal and
coke region in western Pennsylvania. It will be remembered that Colonel
Crawford showed George Washington a vein of coal near the former's
home at the crossing during one of the latter's visits to that section before
the Revolution. The name of this town was changed many years ago
from Stewart's Crossing to Connellsville, after another of its early settlers.
    The first, and for forty years the only monument to the memory of
Colonel Crawford was that erected in 1877, already mentioned, on the
site of Captain Pipe's village. In the summer of 1916, the late Henry P.
Snyder started a movement in Connellsville to raise money for a monu-
ment by public subscription. The William Crawford Memorial Associa-
tion was organized with Mr. Snyder as chairman. The other members
were the Rev. Ellis P. Burgess, Worth Kilpatrick, and Rockwell Marietta.
This committee pushed the work with vigor, and succeeded in raising
$1,185 by public subscriptions; the borough council gave $750; the State
Historical Commission, $750, and the Daughters of the American Revo-
lution of Connellsville, $117. Other contributions brought the total to
over $3,000.
   The contract for all the work was awarded to Mr. C. S. Kilpatrick, of
New York City, a native of Fayette County, who is an artist of consid-
erable note. No likeness of Colonel Crawford was in existence, and Mr.
Kilpatrick made a portrait of a Revolutionary officer in the uniform of
a colonel.
   On account of the war the work was delayed, and the date of the un-
veiling was postponed several times until it finally took place on Octo-
ber 19th, 1917. This monument is in the form of a life-size bronze statue
of Colonel Crawford, designed by Mr. Kilpatrick, erected on a large granite
base, with suitable inscriptions on bronze tablets giving his life and serv-
ice to his country. It stands in front of the Carnegie Library, on the very
ground where his wife was buried in the old Connellsville graveyard. One
more monument is necessary before the last chapter can be written of
the Sandusky expedition; and that should stand on the battle field where
these men fought the red warriors and their British allies on the Plains
of Sandusky in one of the last battles of the Revolution.
   In the Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Volume II, pages 385 to
402 inclusive, is the muster roll of sixteen out of the eighteen companies
that made up the ill-fated Sandusky expedition. Two-thirds of these


218





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


troops were from Washington County, and, with the possible exception of
one company, the remainder were from Westmoreland County, which at
that time included what is now Fayette County.
   When discharged each soldier was given a written discharge by his
captain. One of these discharges from a captain of a Washington County
company follows:
    "This is to Certify that Frenk Minneyhis Served under my Command
on the Campain that was Carried out against Sanduskey and is Intitled to
Pay and Ration money when it can be had from the Male. Certifyed by
mee this 8th of July, 1782. To whom it may concern.
                                        "Duncan McGeehon, Capt."
   The following is a list of the field officers and captains of the various
companies, together with additional notes made by the author:
                               Colonel.
   William Crawford, of Westmoreland County; captured and burned on
June 11th, 1782.
                              Majors.
   David Williamson, of Washington County, second in command; leader
of the militia that massacred the Moravians at Gnadenhutten on March
8th, 1782; commanded the army during the retreat.
   Thomas Gaddis, of Westmoreland County; defeated James Marshel
of Washington County for this position, after which Marshel refused to
accompany the expedition.
   John McClelland, of Westmoreland County; wounded during the re-
treat on the night of June 5th; captured and put to death by torture.
   John Brinton, of Washington County; wounded in battle on June 4th,
after which Major Daniel Leet took command of this division.
                              Surgeon.
   Dr. John Knight, surgeon in the Continental Army at Fort Pitt, but
a resident of Westmoreland County; captured and condemned to the stake,
but escaped and reached Fort Pitt.
                             Adjutant.
   John Rose, personal aide-de-camp to General Irvine at Fort Pitt. He
was the only Russian who served in the Continental Army during the
Revolution.
                           Brigade Major.
   Daniel Leet, of Washington County; led the retreat of Major Brin-
ton's division after that officer was wounded; served with distinction. He
had also served in the Virginia line during the Revolution.
                              Guides.
   Jonathan Zane, of Fort Henry (Wheeling); a brother of Ebenezer
Zane. He had explored the Ohio country and was guide in the Wapa-
tomica campaign in 1774; also guide for Col. Daniel Brodhead up the
Allegheny River in 1779, in which campaign he was severely wounded.
He was an expert shot and an all around frontiersman.
   John Slover, of Westmoreland County; had been captured when a boy
and spent twelve years among the Indians of the Ohio country; captured
and condemned to be burned but escaped.
   Thomas Nicholson; very little is known of him.


219





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                              Captains.
    Joseph Bane, probably from Washington County; shot through the body
 at the Battle of Olentangy on June 6th, but recovered.
    John Beeson, of Uniontown, now Fayette County.
    John Biggs; became separated from his company during the retreat
 on the night of June 5th; killed by Indians on June 9th.
    Charles Bilderbach, of Hanover Township, Washington County; a mem-
 ber of the second Moravian expedition, and shot the first Indian killed
 at Gnadenhutten; said to have been captured by Indians several years
 later and killed, but this may be doubted.
    William Bruce.
    Timothy Downing.
    William Fife, of Washington County.
    John Hardin; the lieutenant of his company, of which there is no
 muster roll, was John Lucas, who was captured, and fate unknown.
    John Hoagland, of Washington County; never heard of again.
    William Leet, of Washington County.
    Duncan McGeehon or McGihan, of Washington County.
    John Miller, of Washington County.
    John Munn, of Washington County; wounded in battle on June 4th.
    David Reed, probably from Washington County.
    Thomas Rankin, of Washington County; a member of the second Mo-
 ravian expedition.
    Ezekiel Ross; wounded in battle on June 4th.
    Craig Ritchie, of Canonsburg, Washington County; afterwards repre-
 sented Washington County in the state legislature; merchant and post-
 master at Canonsburg for many years; died June 13th, 1833.

                         The Roll of Honor.
    The following is a list of the killed and wounded of the Sandusky ex-
pedition, compiled by the author from the Pennsylvania Archives and
from other sources. Some repetition is necessary here to make the list
complete:
   Col. William Crawford, of Westmoreland County; captured and burned
at the stake on June 11th, 1782, by Delaware Indians at Captain Pipe's
village on Tymochtee Creek, Wyandot County, Ohio.
   Maj. John Brinton, of Washington County; wounded in battle on
June 4th, 1782.
   Capt. Joseph Bane, probably from Washington County; shot through
the body at the battle of the Olentangy on June 6th, 1782, and recovered.
   Capt. John Biggs, probably from Washington County; became sep-
arated from his company on the night of the retreat, June 5th, 1782;
killed by Indians on June 9th.
   Capt. John Hoagland, of Washington County; never heard of again.
   Capt. John Munn, of Washington County; wounded in battle on
June 4th, 1782.
   Capt. Ezekiel Ross, probably from Washington County; wounded in
battle on June 4th, 1782.
   Lieut. John Lucas, of Capt. John Hardin's company; never heard of
again.


220




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Private Hezekiah Hardisty, of Capt. Joseph Bane's company; probably
from Washington County; killed on the expedition.
   Private James Guffey, of Captain Joseph Bane's company; probably
from Washington County; killed on the expedition.
   Private William Johnson, of Washington County; a member of Cap-
tain Joseph Bane's company; never returned and fate not known.
   Lieut. Edward Stewart, of Capt. John Biggs' company, from Wash-
ington County; captured and tomahawked.
   Ensign William Crawford, Jr., a nephew of Colonel William Crawford
and a member of Captain John Biggs' company; captured, quartered and
burned.
   Private Thomas Heady, of Captain John Biggs' company from Wash-
ington County; killed on the expedition.
   Private William Harrison, a volunteer aide to Colonel Crawford and
his son-in-law; captured and put to death by torture; a member of Capt.
John Biggs' company.
   Private David (Daniel) Harbaugh, of Captain John Biggs' company,
from Washington County; killed and scalped during the retreat on June
6th, 1782.
   Private -  - McCaddon, of Captain John Biggs' company from Wash-
ington County; killed on the expedition.
   Private William Nimmons, of Washington County, a member of Capt.
John Biggs' company; never returned and fate unknown.
   Private William Bay, of Captain Craig Ritchie's company from Wash-
ington County; killed on the expedition.
   Private John McDonald, of Capt. Charles Bilderbach's company from
Washington County; killed on the expedition.
   Private William Hughes, of Captain Charles Bilderbach's company
from Washington County; killed on the expedition.
   Private Thomas Ellis, of Capt. Timothy Downing's company; killed
on the expedition.
   Ensign --- McMasters, of Capt. John Hoagland's company from
Washington County; wounded on June 4th, 1782, and captured; never
heard from again.
   Private Robert Houston, of Capt. John Hoagland's company from
Washington County; killed on the expedition.
   Lieut. Thomas Ashley, of Capt. Andrew Hood's company; wounded
during the retreat on the night of June 5th, 1782, and carried off the field
by Capt. John Biggs; both were killed and scalped on June 9th.
   Private Thomas Armstrong, of Captain Andrew Hood's company; killed
on the expedition.
   Private William Houston, of Washington, a member of Capt. Wil-
liam Leet's company from Washington County; wounded and escaped, but
died soon afterwards.
   Private William Winans, of Capt. William Leet's company from Wash-
ington County; killed on the expedition.
   Private Walter Stevenson, of Capt. William Leet's company from
Washington County; killed on the expedition.
   Private Lewis Phillips, a member of Capt. John Miller's company
from Washington County; killed on the expedition.


221






CONTENTS


                     CHAPTER XXVI.

                        1782-1816.

           LATER HISTORY OF GNADENHUTTEN.

PUBLIC FEELING REGARDING THE MASSACRE-RETURN OF HECKEWEL-
   DER AND ZEISBERGER WITH THE MORAVIANS TO THE VALLEY OF THE
   TUSCARAWAS-GOSHEN FOUNDED-CHIEF KILLBUCK-THE INDIAN
   GRAVEYARD AT GOSHEN--THE WHITE SETTLEMENT AT GNADENHUT-
   TEN-A SOCIETY FORMED TO PRESERVE THE SITE OF THE MASSACRE-
   MONUMENT ERECTED-SITE OF THE MASSACRE TODAY-SCHOEN-
   BRUN SPRING AND SALEM TODAY-NAMES OF THE CHRISTIAN IN-
   DIANS MURDERED AT GNADENHUTTEN, TAKEN FROM THE OLD
   MORAVIAN RECORDS                                   142


                     CHAPTER XXVII.

                        1752-1829.

         DAVID WILLIAMSON AND JAMES MARSHEL.

DAVID WILLIAMSON, THE HERO OF THE HOUR-SECOND IN COMMAND OF
   THE SANDUSKY EXPEDITION-WILLIAMSON SETTLES IN WASHINGTON
   COUNTY-WILLIAMSON'S FORT ON BUFFALO CREEK-RUINS OF THE
   SPRINGHOUSE-PRESENT LOCATION - ELECTED JUSTICE OF THE
   PEACE-LETTER TO THOMAS SCOTT-TWICE SHERIFF OF WASHINGTON
   COUNTY-HIS DEATH-JAMES MARSHEL-"MARSHEL'S HALL" ON
   CROSS CREEK-PUBLIC SERVICE-TAKES PART IN THE WHISKY INSUR-
   RECTION-MOVES TO WELLSBURG, W. VA.                 146


                    CHAPTER XXVIII.

                          1782.

          THE FIGHT AT MILLER'S BLOCKHOUSE.

MILLER'S BLOCKHOUSE ON DUTCH FORK-EASTER SUNDAY, 1782--JACOB
   MILLER, SR., AND JOHN HUPP, SR., KILLED BY INDIANS-THE FIGHT AT
   THE BLOCKHOUSE-ANN HUPP, THE FRONTIER HEROINE, SAVES THE
   BLOCKHOUSE-ARRIVAL OF MILLER, HUPP, AND ROWE-THE INDIANS
   WITHDRAW-CLOTHING WORN BY JACOB MILLER, SR., IN WASHINGTON
   COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S COLLECTION-SITE OF THE BLOCK-
   HOUSE AS IT APPEARS TODAY-THE MILLER GRAVEYARD     151


                     CHAPTER XXIX.

                        1776-1826.

      ANN HUPP AND HER BROTHER, JACOB ROWE.
A FAMILY OF PIONEERS-HATRED OF INDIANS--HER MOTHER AND
   BROTHER KILLED BY INDIANS-ESCAPE OF JACOB ROWE-DESPERATE
   JOURNEY THROUGH THE WILDERNESS TO WASHINGTON COUNTY-
   ADAM ROWE AND HIS SON, ADAM, GO TO KENTUCKY-DEATH OF JACOB
   ROWE-ANN HUPP MARRIES AGAIN-HER DEATI--JOHN HUPP, JR., THE
   BABY IN THE BLOCKHOUSE                             157




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Private Thomas Miller, of Capt. John Munn's company from Wash-
ington County; killed on the expedition.
   Private Philip Hill, a member of Capt. Thomas Rankin's company
from Washington County; killed on the expedition.
   Private John Campbell, of Pigeon Creek, Washington County, a mem-
ber of Capt. Thomas Rankin's company from Washington County; killed
in battle on June 4th, 1782.
   Private David Andrew, a member of Capt. David Reed's company;
killed on the expedition.
   Private Philip Smith; wounded in battle on June 4th, 1782, escaped.
   Private John McKinly; had been an officer in the Virginia Line; cap-
tured and tomahawked on June 11th; head cut off by a squaw.
   Private John Bonham; killed on the expedition.





                         CHAPTER XLVI.
                               1782.

                    RAIDS AT D1LLOW'S FORT.
OLD LAND ENTRIES-MURDER OF MATTHEW OR MICHAEL DILLOW-JOHN
   DILLOW CAPTURED-GRACE FULLER IN DILLOW'S FORT-ANDERSON
   WOUNDED AND HIS TWO SONS CAPTURED.

         Laughed out the true daughters, "All men shall behold
           How we clothe her in Samite and crown her in gold."
         But the bitter ones cried, "Though her meadows be sweet,
           We will drench them with blood till she kneels at our feet."
                                               -Amanda T. Jones.
   Some time before 1779, the exact date is not now known, one Michael
or Matthew Dillow (sometimes spelled Dilloe) settled on a tract of three
hundred ninety-nine acres, on a branch of Raccoon Creek in Hanover
Township. The stream is known to this day as Fort Dillow Run, named
from the fort that Dillow built. That region was in the path of almost
every raid made by the hostiles into Washington County, and so Michael
Dillow built a fort on his land. There is no very extended record of
either Dillow or his life in the lonely wilderness of northern Washington
County, nor is it known how much of a family he had except one son, John.
   The original records in the old survey books in the Washington County
recorder's office show that on March 21st, 1780, Michael Dillow entered
this land under the name of "Dillow's Fort," and he was granted a Vir-
ginia certificate for the same. This tract was joined by lands of Thomas
Timmons, Hugh McCoy, Thomas Armour, and James Crawford, all early
settlers in that region.
   The old records also show a survey made in 1782 by Captain Samuel
Beelor, on which tract was a road running from Dillow's fort to Beelor's
fort, which stood near the old Raccoon church at Candor, in Robinson


222




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Township. From that place the road went west to Turner's Mills. This
was probably nothing more than a path cut through the wilderness; but
it meant civilization in those days.
    Michael Dillow did not live long to enjoy the fruits of his toil in the
far western wilderness. Following the defeat of Crawford's army, in the
summer of 1782, a small war party appeared on Raccoon Creek. Michael
Dillow and his son, John, were at work in a clearing on their farm, little
suspecting the red death that was creeping upon them through the sur-
rounding forest. The first intimation they had of danger was when they
were fired upon by Indians. Michael Dillow was killed and John was cap-
tured before he had a chance to escape.
    The Indians concealed the body of the father near a log, and carried
the boy off to the Ohio country, where he remained in captivity for sev-
eral years. He finally secured his freedom, and returned to his old home
in Washington County to learn that his father's fate was never known
by his neighbors. The body had never been found, and they supposed
that both had been captured. After relating the incidents of Michael Dil-
low's murder and his own capture, the son guided a party to the clearing,
where he located the log and found the bones of his father, which were
buried near the fort Dillow had built.
   An interesting incident in connection with Dillow's fort is related in
"Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania". In the account published in that work,
it states that Grace Fuller, a female slave who was the property of Thomas
Armour, told in later years that she remembered being in Dillow's fort
during an attack by Indians in 1778. She was seventeen years of age at
the time, and no doubt could have told the details of this fight, but un-
fortunately no one took the trouble to make a record of the affair.
   A letter written on August 1st, 1779, by Colonel Brodhead, from Fort
Pitt, to Ensign John Beck states that a settler named Anderson, who lived
about two miles from Dillow's fort, was slightly wounded and two of his
boys were carried off by Indians during a raid through that section. Fur-
ther details of this affair are lacking.
   After his return from captivity John Dillow decided to remain in
Washington County. He settled on land farther up the creek above his
father's fort, where he built a cabin. This land is now near Murdocks-
ville, in Hanover Township. In recent years it was owned by Robert S.
Cooley, whose residence stands near the site of John Dillow's cabin.
   The reason why John Dillow did not settle on his father's land is
shown by the old survey records in the recorder's office. This gives the
information that the land granted to Michael Dillow under the name of
"Dillow's Fort," was surveyed on June 8th, 1781. After Dillow's murder
and his son's disappearance the settlers evidently believed they were gone
for good, and the land was evidently taken up by another man, for, on
March 24th, 1798, a warrant was returned for the land to Abraham Kirk-
patrick. Land was to be had for the asking in those days, and when John
Dillow returned from captivity he evidently found another man in pos-
session of his father's tract. This is, no doubt, the reason he took up
another tract. The Michael Dillow land was owned in later years by
Robert Coventry.


223








CHAPTER XLVII.


                               1782.

            THE LAST BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION.

THE LAST BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION REALLY FOUGHT IN WASHING-
    TON COUNTY-FORT HENRY ATTACKED-THE GUNPOWDER EXPLOIT-
    HONORS CLAIMED BY BETTY ZANE AND MOLLY SCOTT-LYDIA BOGGS
    PRESENT-ATTACK ON RICE'S FORT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-THIS
    WAS THE LAST BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION--PROOFS.
                    Woe to the British soldiery,
                      That little dread us near;
                    On them shall light at midnight
                      A strange and sudden fear;
                    When, waking to their tents on fire,
                      They grasp their arms in vain;
                    And they who stand to face, us
                      Are beat to earth again.
                                         -Bryant.

   The claim of the City of Wheeling, West Virginia, has never before
been disputed that the last battle of the Revolution was fought there
when Fort Henry was attacked by three hundred Indians led by George
Girty, and fifty British regulars known as the "Queen's Rangers," comn-
manded by Captain Pratt; but now for the first time Washington County
lays claim to that bit of glory; for the last battle of the war was actually
fought within our borders, as will be shown in this chapter. On the side-
walk in front of Alexander & Company's shoe store at 1049 Main Street,
Wheeling, which occupies the site of Fort Henry, is a granite marker
with the following inscription:
                           By Authority
                    of the State of West Virginia,
                          to Commemorate
                      The Seige of Fort Henry
                        September 11, 1782,
                  The Last Battle of the Revolution,
                     This Tablet is Here Placed.
   Wheeling must now surrender its laurels to an obscure spot on the
Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek, in Donegal Township, Washington County,
which is scarcely known outside of its own small locality. Even the people
now living there know little of the battle. Yet this place should rank
in historic interest and importance with the most noted in the country;
for it was there that the last battle of the Revolution was actually fought
one hundred forty-three years ago.
   A short account of the battle at Fort Henry will be given in this his-
tory, as it was very closely associated with the fight on the Dutch Fork,
and a company of rangers from Washington County went to the rescue of
the beleagured garrison at Wheeling.
                                224





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    On September 11th, 1782, a war party of two hundred sixty, some
 authorities say three hundred, Indians, led by George Girty, and a com-
 pany of British regulars known as the Queen's Rangers, commanded by
 Captain Pratt, suddenly appeared before Fort Henry, and demanded its
 surrender.
    Fort Henry, a typical frontier fort, stood on the bluff overlooking the
 Ohio River on the west and the level ground above Big Wheeling Creek on
 the east. It was a strong stockade of oak pickets seventeen feet high,
 built in the shape of a parallelogram, with bastions at each corner. The
 commandant's house, soldiers' quarters, storehouses and other buildings
 were within the enclosure. While strong, it never could have withstood
 a siege by artillery, but it was well suited to the times, and several at-
 tacks by Indians were repelled there in the days of the old frontier.
    On the first appearance of the enemy Captain Francis Boggs, the com-
 mandant, who afterwards lived in Washington County, succeeded in break-
 ing through the Indian lines and went for help.
    Girty demanded the immediate surrender of the little garrison, prom-
 ising "the best protection King George could afford;" but the gallant
 defenders only laughed in his face and prepared to defend the fort to
 the last man. The fighting strength of this brave little band was about
 eighteen men and boys, and about forty women and children. But the
 pioneer women were as useful in the defense of the home as their hus-
 bands and fathers. They loaded rifles, moulded bullets and tended the
 wounded; and many of them could handle a gun with as deadly accuracy
 as their men, as many an Indian warrior discovered when it was too late
 to be sorry. And so the little band of men, women and children prepared
 to fight for their lives; of such was the spirit of the old frontier.
    A Mr. Sullivan with a small force of soldiers had arrived that day with
a boat loaded with cannon balls from Fort Pitt. He was an experienced
soldier and was selected to aid Colonel Silas Zane with the defense.
   Just at sundown Girty made his second demand for the surrender of
the garrison, declaring that in case of refusal the place would be taken
by storm and everyone massacred. But the brave defenders were deter-
mined to fight to the last. In dense columns the British and their Indian
allies charged the stockade, only to be repulsed by a terrific rifle fire and
a small cannon mounted in the second story of the commandant's house.
After several other fruitless charges, the enemy settled down to a siege
which lasted all night. Several attempts were made to set fire to the
buildings, while Indian sharpshooters tried to pick off the defenders
through the portholes. One of the bastions was rotten and it gave way.
and the Americans were able to occupy only two others.
   The next morning Sullivan's boat containing the cannon balls was
found, and Girty conceived the idea of making a cannon out of a log. He
set to work, and for a time things looked ominous for the fort, for the
defenders well knew that the stockade could not withstand artillery. This
improvised cannon was loaded and the match applied, but the log exploded,
carrying a dozen savages into eternity.
   It was during this memorable day, September 12th, 1782, that the
famous "Gunpowder Exploit" occurred. There are two versions of this
affair, and, as it is impossible at this date to determine which is correct,
       (15)V1


225





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


both will be given. During the fighting the powder in the fort ran very
low. There was a keg of gunpowder in Colonel Ebenezer Zane's house,
which stood a short distance outside of the stockade and was defended
by several members of the Zane family who had refused to leave it to be
burned.
   The commander of the fort called for a volunteer to go for the precious
powder, and three or four young men stepped forward. Only one could
be spared, and while they were trying to decide who should go, Elizabeth
Zane, known over the border as Betty Zane, a sister of Ebenezer and
Silas Zane, offered to go. She contended that she was as fleet of foot as
any of the men, and that if she fell her loss would not be felt; and finally,
after considerable argument, she was allowed to go.
   As she bounded through the gate several Indians cried, "Squaw," and
permitted her to reach the Zane house unmolested. After securing the
powder she placed it in a table cloth and slung it over her shoulder, and
started back. This time the savages were not so chivalrous, and the heroic
girl only reached the shelter of the fort through a rain of bullets; but
the garrison was saved.
   The second version gives the credit to Molly Scott. In 1849 Mrs. Cru-
ger, who was the noted Lydia Boggs, a daughter of Captain Boggs, com-
mander of the fort, made a statement of the facts of the siege of Fort
Henry in 1782. She was seventeen years of age at the time of the battle,
and was in the fort, taking a prominent part in the defense with other
women, and her statement carried much weight in the controversy that
had arisen in 1849 as to who actually performed the "Gunpowder Exploit.'
According to Mrs. Cruger, Colonel Ebenezer Zane had fortified his house,
a two-story log cabin, and when the Indians attacked the fort he remained
in his house with several members of his family, and defended the place
against the Indians. Finally, the powder became exhausted in his house,
and it was necessary to send a volunteer to the fort, a few yards away, for
a fresh supply.
   The old border chronicles also give this version, which is the most prob-
able one, but they all unite in giving the credit to Betty Zane. In her
statement, Mrs. Cruger claimed that Elizabeth Zane was not in either the
fort or the house at that time, but was at the home of her father near
Washington, Pennsylvania.
   Mrs. Cruger stated that she saw a woman leave the Zane cabin and
run to the southern gate of the fort, which she entered in safety, and she
declared that the woman was Molly Scott. Mrs. Cruger claimed that it
was she who went to the storehouse, secured the powder and poured it
into Molly Scott's apron, and that she then returned to the Zane house.
   In regard to the siege, Mrs. Cruger said that the Indians made more
than twenty attempts to burn the stockade by piling hemp against the
walls and setting it on fire; but the hemp was wet and would not burn.
The fort had not been kept in repair and the pickets were very rotten in
many places. One corner of the stockade fell in during the second night,
but fortunately the Indians did not discover this, as that section was con-
cealed by a heavy growth of peach trees on the outside.
   Mrs. Cruger's statement is of special interest in this history, as she
afterwards lived in Washington County for a short time, and narrowly


226





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


escaped capture by Indians in Buffalo Township. Her father owned a
farm near Taylorstown at that time; but these incidents will be related in
another chapter.
    Indians were never known to keep up a long siege, and early on the
 morning of the 13th, they retired, after burning all of the buildings in the
 settlement. They had scarcely disappeared when Captain Boggs, who
 had gone for help when the Indians first appeared, returned with Van
 Swearingen and David Williamson at the head of seventy mounted men
 from Washington County.
    Now comes the last real battle of the Revolution, although historians
 have never before acknowledged this fact, probably through an oversight.
 On a small bench in a clearing in the forest, just back of where the Dutch
 Fork schoolhouse now stands on the banks of the Dutch Fork of Buffalo
 Creek, about five miles west of the present town of Claysville, was a small
 blockhouse known as Rice's fort, surrounded by a few log cabins. This
 fort was in the path of many Indian raids. The nearest neighbor was
 Miller's blockhouse, three miles away.
    Early in September, 1782, several of the men at Rice's went to Hagers-
 town, Maryland, one of the nearest trading posts in those days, to exchange
 their furs for salt, iron, ammunition and other supplies so necessary to
 the pioneers, and there were only a few men left to defend the fort.
    After the defeat at Fort Henry the Indian chiefs decided to strike a
 decisive blow against the whites before they returned to their villages.
 They decided to send one hundred of their picked warriors against some
 weak fort and massacre the whites; and Rice's was selected as the point
 of attack.
    This plan might have been successful but for information furnished
the Americans by two white men held captive by the Indians, and taken
by the savages on their raid against Fort Henry. After the council of
war these prisoners managed to escape, and they notified the whites of
the proposed attack on some fort in that vicinity, probably Rice's. This
warning was hastily sent over the whole Western Border.
   One of these prisoners was Christian Fast, of Fayette County, who had
been captured in Colonel Langheim's expedition in 1781. He died in
Orange Township, Ashland County, Ohio, in 1849, aged eighty-five years,
and was survived by a large family.
   Captain Jacob Miller, of Miller's blockhouse, heard the news at Dr.
Moore's residence, near Washington. He mounted a horse and reached
Rice's about half an hour ahead of the savages. Immediately Abraham
Rice, proprietor of the fort, hastened to another fort about three and one-
half miles away to seek news of the raiders.
   This left only six men to defend the little fort against one hundred
picked warriors, veterans of many a wilderness battle, all past masters
in the art of frontier warfare; and how well those heroes, outnumbered
almost twenty to one, defended the fort was told on the border for many
a year afterwards. This heroic little band, whose deeds have been almost
forgotten during the almost century and a half that has passed since then,
was composed of Captain Jacob Miller, George Lefler, Peter Fullenweider,
Daniel Rice, George Felebaum and Jacob Lefler, Jr.
   Very little time was given to prepare for the attack. The Indians sur-


227





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


rounded the clearing before they were discovered, but as soon as the
alarm was given the Americans took refuge in the blockhouse. With a
ringing war whoop, the entire line of savage warriors charged the fort,
firing as they ran, in an attempt to take the place by storm. But the
charge was brought to a sudden halt by the deadly fire poured into the
red ranks by the defenders in the blockhouse, and three warriors were
sent on their last war trail, while the others hastily sought refuge behind
logs, stumps or anything that would conceal their bodies.
   The enemy then settled down to a siege, and for nearly four hours kept
up a continuous fire, which was answered by the whites. At the second
fire from the Indians, a savage sharpshooter shot George Felebaum in
the forehead. He fell back from his porthole, and died almost instantly;
and the defense was left to five men.
   The whites were frequently called upon to surrender, but their only
answer was shouts of defiance, daring the savages to show themselves.
During the evening the Indians rounded up all of the horses, cattle, sheep
and hogs they could find, and shot them before the eyes of the helpless
settlers. The old tradition says that this slaughter took place in the bot-
tom just across the creek from where the Dutch Fork schoolhouse now
stands.
   About 10 o'clock that night the Indians set fire to a large barn filled
with hay and grain, about thirty yards from the fort. The beleaguered
whites were filled with consternation when they beheld the flames leaping
high into the night, for they feared that the blockhouse would be fired
by sparks. The barn was very dry and created a big fire, which lighted
the entire clearing. This gave the whites plenty of light to shoot any
other Indians who might try to burn any of the other buildings. A slight
breeze carried the flames away from the blockhouse, and thus saved the
whites from destruction.
   While the barn was burning the Indians opened a heavy fire from the
opposite side of the clearing, but this was answered by the defenders in a
manner that kept the savages at a distance. The battle continued without
further loss to the whites, until about 2 o'clock in the morning when a yell
from the Indians was followed by a heavy volley, and then all was silent.
The Indians had discovered three white men, and believed that reinforce-
ments were at hand.
   Abraham Rice, who had gone to another fort for news shortly before
the attack, reached this place in safety. Just as he entered the fort he
heard the report of firearms from the direction of his own place, and,
believing that it had been attacked, he immediately returned. When he
arrived within sight of the blockhouse and saw that the brave little band
was holding the fort against great odds he decided to join them. He was
on the opposite side of the creek, and rode across the bottom below where
the schoolhouse now stands. Seeing no Indians he started his horse down
the creek bank, intending to cross, but just at that instant several war-
riors opened fire from the weeds and grass on the opposite side. Only the
notoriously bad marksmanship of the Indians saved his life; but he was
twice wounded, just above the elbow and in one leg, a little above the knee,
but no bones were broken. The ball which struck him in the leg passed
through and lodged in the horse's neck; but the animal sprang up the


228





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


creek bank, fell to its knees, recovered and stumbled for several feet before
it recovered and bounded away with its rider to safety.
    When the horse fell several Indians rushed forward, tomahawks in
hand to either kill or capture the white man; but when the animal recov-
ered and leaped away they fired over thirty shots, none of which reached
their mark.
    Very weak from loss of blood, Rice reached Lamb's fort, four miles
away. After having his wounds dressed and resting a short time, he set
out at the head of twelve volunteers, determined to reach the blockhouse
under cover of the night. When they arrived within two hundred yards
of the fort they halted for a consultation. They knew that the defenders
still held out; for shots could be heard, but ten of the rescue party lost
their nerve, and refused to go on.
    Rice and the other two left their horses, and crept through the tall
grass, hoping to steal through the enemy's lines, but before they had
gone far they suddenly came upon an Indian. The surprise was mutual.
The savage uttered a yell of alarm, and bounded away before the whites
could stop him.    The Indians, believing that reinforcements were at
hand, fired a last volley at the fort which had defied them so long, and
retired. Rice and his two companions also beat a hasty retreat, and
reached Lamb's fort.
   The news of the attack on Rice's was carried through the surround-
ing country by swift messengers, and by 10 o'clock of the morning of Sep-
tember 14th about sixty settlers had gathered at Lamb's fort to march
to the relief of their beleaguered friends. But when they reached the place
they discovered that the enemy had retired.
   The Americans lost one killed, but the Indian loss was never known.
Three were killed at the first attack and another about sundown. It is
more than probable that others were killed, but all bodies were removed
by their comrades, as was the Indian custom. It is also certain that the
enemy had several wounded.
   The whites set out on the trail of the Indians from Rice's, determined
to overtake them if possible. About two miles from the fort it was dis-
covered that the savages had separated into two parties, and so the pur-
suit was given up.
   Four men on their way to Rice's were ambushed by Indians, and two
shot dead at the first fire. The survivors fled with the savages in hot pur-
suit. One man was a very swift runner and easily made his escape, but
the other was overtaken by a warrior, and just as the Indian came up
behind him the white man turned to shoot but his rifle missed fire, a dis-
agreeable habit those old flint-locks had. Several times he tried to shoot
his pursuer, but the hammer only fell with a loud snap. The Indian threw
his tomahawk but missed. He then siezed the white man's belt, but it
came loose and the owner escaped. Wheeling again the white man in
desperation turned his gun on the savage again and pulled the trigger.
This time it went off and the Indian fell dead at his feet.
   Joseph Doddridge, in his Notes, states that a large party of Indians
that had attacked Rice's blockhouse passed within a short distance of his
father's fort in what is now Independence Township. In following their
trail a few days afterwards, Dr. Doddridge picked up a large poultice of


229





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


chewed sassafras leaves, such as Indians used in those times with which
to dress fresh gunshot wounds. This would indicate that some of the
savages had been wounded in the fight at Rice's.
   There will be many who will deny that the fight of Rice's blockhouse
was the last battle of the Revolution; but Washington County's claim to
this historic event is a just one. The Indian tribes of the Ohio country
were the paid allies of the British during the Revolution, and for a money
consideration fought the American settlers on the Western Border. It is
an historical fact that these warriors were under the direct orders of the
commandant at Fort Detroit, and they looked upon him as their leader,
following his orders. The war party that made the attack on Rice's was
a part of the same force that had attacked Fort Henry only the day before,
and in that battle they had been assisted by British regulars. Therefore,
all claims that Wheeling has made must give way to Washington County.
Many a case in law has been decided upon less evidence. That was the
last big raid ever made by Indians in Washington County, although small
war parties ravaged our border and committed murders for years
afterwards.
   The valley of the Dutch Fork, which, a century and a half ago, was
in the very heart of the wilderness that was the Western Border of our
forefathers, where the terrible war cry of the hostile Indian rang through
the woodland, is now one of the most peaceful sections of Washington
County. The great forest which once surrounded the little clearing in
which the blockhouse stood, has long since disappeared. More than a
century and a quarter ago the wild Indian vanished forever from that
section into the land of the setting sun. All signs of the settlement at
Rice's have disappeared, and no man can point out the exact spot where
the fort stood; but it is known that it stood somewhere on the bench just
back of the schoolhouse at the forks of the roads from Claysville and
Coon Island, five miles northwest of the former place.





                         CHAPTER XLVIII.

                             1773-1914.
                       DODDRIDGE'S FORT.
JOHN DODDRIDGE SETTLES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY AND BUILDS A FORT
   -TETER'S FORT-"PLANTATION       PLENTY" - INDIAN    ALARMS - EX-
   PECTED ATTACK ON DODDRIDGE'S FORT-THE LAST OF DODDRIDGE'S
   BLOCKHOUSE OF THE OLD FRONTIER.

           God only knows what fate the coming morrow,
             Holds in its close-shut hand-
           What wave of joy, what whelming tide of sorrow
             May flood my heart's dry land.
                                              -Ellen P. Allerton.


230




































    Springhouse near Doddridge's Blockhouse, built about 75 years ago froni logs of
the original stockade around the blockhouse.


    Site of Doddridge's Blockhouse, three miles west of West Middletown. Built by
John Doddridge in 1772. Torn down in 1913. This shows the foundation stones and a
few of the logs.






CONTENTS


                      CHAPTER XXX.

                           1782.

          INDIAN RAIDS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.

THE SCALP BOUNTY-WILLIAM PARKS, SAMUEL ROBISON, AND JOHN
   YEAMAN KILLED BY INDIANS-COFFINS MADE BY JAMES EDGAR-
   THEIR GRAVES-MARY ROBISON-AGNES YEAMAN-THOMAS AND
   OLIVER CRAWFORD CAPTURED-CAPTIVES FOR NINE YEARS-GRAVES
   OF THOMAS CRAWFORD AND HIS MOTHER AT CROSS CREEK-THE
   CORBLEY FAMILY ATTACKED-REV. CORBLEY ESCAPES-DEATH OF
   MRS. CORBLEY-CRAWFORD'S EXPEDITION AGAINST SANDUSKY -- 159

                     CHAPTER XXXI.

                          1782.

              GATHERING OF THE SETTLERS.

A GREAT BLUNDER-MARSHEL'S LETTER TO GENERAL IRVINE-CONFER-
   ENCE AT FORT PITT-IRVINE'S PLAN-THE RENDEZVOUS AT MINGO
   BOTTOM-EQUIPMENT AND DRESS OF THE FRONTIER SOLDIERS-
   ELECTION OF OFFICERS-JOHN SLOVER AND JONATHAN ZANE, GUIDES
   -LIST OF CAPTAINS ____ ___...         ---------    163

                     CHAPTER XXXII.

                        1732-1816.

SKETCH OF WILLIAM CRAWFORD  ______ - - - - - - - -167

                    CHAPTER XXXIII.

                          1782.

             THE MARCH AGAINST SANDUSKY.

THE ROUTE-THE DESERTED MORAVIAN VILLAGES-THE FIRST INDIANS-
   GREENTOWN-THE PLAINS OF SANDUSKY-THREE INDIAN TRAILS-
   OLD UPPER SANDUSKY REACHED-CAPTAIN PIPE'S VILLAGE-THE
   SCIOTO TRAIL-THE CONSULTATION-THE ARMY STARTS FOR THE
   HALF-KING'S TOWN-THE END OF THE TRAIL ____________ 169

                     CHAPTER XXXIV.

                          1782.

             THE BATTLE OF THE SANDUSKY.

INDIANS DISCOVERED-ADVANCE TO BATTLE-THE DELAWARE LEADERS
   -TRADITION OF THE BRITISH CAPTAIN-"BATTLE ISLAND"-MAJOR
   LEET REPULSES THE DELAWARES UNDER CAPTAIN ELLIOTT-DANIEL
   CANON, A CRACK SHOT-JOHN SHERRARD CARRIES WATER-PHILLIP
   SMITH'S NARROW ESCAPE-FRANCIS DUNLEVY AND "BIG CAPTAIN
   JOHNNY"-THE INDIANS WITHDRAW-THE BATTLE RENEWED-ARRIV-
   AL OF BUTLER'S RANGERS-AMERICANS DECIDE TO RETREAT-BURIAL
   OF THE DEAD-THE RETREAT BEGINS-ATTACKED-THE FLIGHT OF
   CRAWFORD'S ARMY-MAJOR McCLELLAND WOUNDED AND CAPTURED
   AFTER GIVING HIS HORSE TO JOHN ORR-BOGGED IN A SWAMP-THE
   MEN SCATTERED-CRAWFORD MISSING-WILLIAMSON TAKES COM-
   MAND-ISAAC VANCE'S BRASS KETTLE-JOHN SHERRARD'S ADVEN-


xvi





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Early in the spring of 1773, John Doddridge came from Bedford
County and settled with his family in what is now Independence Town-
ship. He was a native of Maryland, but had lived in Pennsylvania for
some time before he decided to come to the wild frontier west of the
mountains in search of a new home. He took up four hundred thirty-
seven acres of land under a Virginia certificate. The old survey records
in the Washington County Recorder's office show that this tract was called
"Extravagance," and it was surveyed to him on April 6th, 1786. In later
years it was divided into smaller farms.
   John Doddridge erected a blockhouse and stockade which was known
in pioneer times as Doddridge's fort. This consisted of a large log cabin
used as a blockhouse and several smaller houses, all enclosed by the stock-
ade of oak pickets. About twelve families in the surrounding territory
used this as a place of refuge in times of Indian raids. The central block-
house, which was the first house erected in the present Independence
Township, stood until the spring of 1913, when it was razed by the tenant
on the farm without any authority from the owner.
   The farm on which this famous fort of the old frontier stood, was
known in later years as the Rev. William Brown farm. The fort stood
directly at the junction of what is now known as the Doddridge road, and
the main highway between West Middletown and Independence village,
and about three miles west of the former town. The Milton Murdoch
farm, which joins the Brown farm, was part of the original Doddridge
tract.
   The stockade enclosed about one-half an acre, and the present farm
house occupied part of the site. An excellent spring, which is now covered
with a log spring house built about sixty-five or seventy years ago of logs
taken from the old fort, was just outside the walls. It seems strange
that this spring was not within the stockade. The fact that it was outside
is shown by Dr. Doddridge's own statement in his notes where he says,
in describing an expected Indian attack, that the women were instructed
to get all the water possible into the fort.
   A mile over the hills to the east was Teter's, another stockaded fort
erected in 1773 by Captain Samuel Teter, who came to that section with
John Doddridge, whose sister, Mary, he had married. During the later
years of Indian warfare Teter's fort became indefensible, and Doddridge's
took its place as a refuge for the families of that vicinity. The land taken
up by Captain Teter is now known as "Plantation Plenty," and is one of
the beauty spots of Washington County.
   For a year John Doddridge and the settlers who had accompanied him
to Washington County lived in peace, but they were very poor. Then the
terrible Indian war of 1774, known as Dunmore's war, broke out, and
the women and children were moved to Fort Morris, in Sandy Creek
glade, West Virginia. Dr. Doddridge described this fort as "an assem-
blage of small hovels, situated on the margin of a large and noxious
marsh, the effluvia of which gave most of the women and children the
fever and ague. The men were compelled to return home and risk the
tomahawk and scalping knife of the Indians, in raising corn to keep their
families from starvation the succeeding winter."


232





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   A large monument, dedicated August 28th, 1915, now marks the site
of Fort Morris. In its construction, stones were used from the Doddridge
farm, Gist's plantation, Fort Necessity, and Crawford's spring in Fayette
County, Pennsylvania. It stands a mile and a half from Glades farm, on
the old pioneer trail, which was later the drovers' road from Great Cross-
ings at Somerfield on the Youghiogheny River, Pennsylvania, to Morgan-
town, West Virginia. Somerfield is now on the National pike.
   The fort in Independence Township was the boyhood home of Dr.
Joseph Doddridge, author of the famous "Notes on the Settlement and
Indian Wars of Western Virginia and Pennsylvania," and a son of John
Doddridge. This book is an authority on pioneer times on the Western
Border. The first edition, published by Dr. Doddridge himself at Wells-
burg, West Virginia, is now very rare, but two other editions have since
appeared.
   During the attack on Rice's blockhouse on September 14th, 1782,
young Doddridge, then fourteen years of age, was at his father's fort, and
he gives a vivid description of the alarm among the settlers and of the
expected attack on his father's fort by this same band of Indians. No
better description of those times can be given than in Dr. Doddridge's
own words:
   "When we received advice at my father's fort of the attack on Rice's
blockhouse, which was but a few miles distant, we sent word to all those
families who were out on their farms to come immediately to the fort.
It became nearly dark before the two runners had time to give the alarm
to the family of a Mr. Charles Stuart, who lived about three-quarters of
a mile from the fort. They returned in great haste, saying that Stuart's
house was burned down, and that they had seen two fires between that and
the fort, at which the Indians were encamped. There was, therefore, no
doubt that an attack would be made on our fort early in the morning.
   "In order to give the reader a correct idea of the military tactics of
our early times I will give, in detail, the whole progress of the prepara-
tions which were made for the expected attack, and as nearly as I can,
I will give the commands of Captain Teter, our officer, in his own words.
   "In the first place he called all our men together, and related the
battles and skirmishes he had been in, and really they were not a few.
He was in Braddock's defeat, Grant's defeat, the taking of Fort Pitt, and
nearly all the battles which took place between the English and French
and the Indians, from Braddock's defeat until the capture of that place
by General Forbes. He reminded us, 'That in case the Indians should
succeed we need expect no mercy, that every man, woman and child would
be killed on the spot. They have been defeated at one fort and now they
are mad enough. If they should succeed in taking ours all their vengeance
will fall on our heads. We must fight for ourselves and one another, and.
for our wives and children, brothers and sisters. We must make the best
preparations we can. A little after daybreak we shall hear the crack
of the guns.'
   "He then made a requisition of all the powder and lead in the fort.
The ammunition was accurately divided amongst all the men, and the
amount supposed to be fully sufficient. When this was done, 'Now,' says


233





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the captain, 'when you run your bullets, cut off the necks very close, and
scrape them so as to make a little less, and get patches one hundred finer
than those you commonly use, and have them well oiled, for if a rifle
happens to be choked in time of battle there is one gun and one man lost
for the rest of the battle. You will have no time to unbreach a gun and
get a plug to drive out a bullet. Have the locks well oiled, and your flints
sharp, so as not to miss fire.'
   "Such were his orders to the men. He then said to the women: 'These
yellow fellows are very handy at setting fire to houses, and water is a very
good thing to put out a fire. You must fill every vessel with water. Our
fort is now well stockaded, and these ugly fellows may rush into the middle
of it and attempt to set fire to our cabins in twenty places at once.'
   "They fell to work and did as he had ordered.
   "The men having put their rifles in order, 'Now,' says he, 'let every
man gather in his axes, mattocks, and hoes, and place them inside his
door, for the Indians may make a dash at them with their tomahawks to
cut them down, and an axe in that case might hit when a gun would
miss fire.'
   "Like a good commander our captain, not content with giving orders,
went from house to house to see that everything was right.
   "The ladies of the present day will suppose that our women were
frightened half to death with the near prospect of an attack by Indians;
on the contrary, I do not know that I ever saw a merrier set of women in
my life. They went on with their work of carrying water and cutting
bullet patches for the men apparently without the least emotion of fear,
and I have every reason to believe that they would have been pleased with
the crack of guns in the morning.
   "During all this time we had no sentinels placed around the fort, so
confident was our captain that the attack would not be made before
daylight.
   "I was at that time thirteen or fourteen years of age, but ranked as
a fort soldier. After getting my gun and all things else in order I went
up into the garret loft of my father's house, and laid down about the
middle of the floor with my shot pouch on and my gun at my side, expect-
ing to be wakened by the report of guns at daybreak, to take my station
at the port hole assigned me, which was in the second story of the house.
I did not awake until about sun rise, when the alarm was all over. The
family which we supposed had been killed had come into the fort about
daybreak. Instead of the house being burnt it was only a large old log
on fire, near the house, which had been seen by our express. If they had
seen anything like fire between that and the fort, it must have been fox
fire. Such is the creative power of the imagination when under the
influence of fear."
   John Doddridge, the man who built this fort, died April 20th, 1791,
and was buried on the Doddridge farm, but in 1824 his body was disin-
terred and taken to Wellsburg, West Virginia, where it still rests in the old
Brooke County cemetery.
   Dr. Joseph Doddridge, his son who narrated the above account in his
notes, was one of the pioneer ministers in the West, and established many


234





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


churches, among which was Doddridge's chapel not far from the fort,
and churches at West Liberty, Wellsburg and points in Ohio. His book,
which is now a classic of frontier literature, is known as "Doddridge's
Notes." He died in Wellsburg on November 9th, 1826, aged fifty-six
years, and is buried in the Brooke County cemetery. In the following
account of his death taken from the Washington, Pennsylvania, Examiner
for November 18, 1826, it will be noticed that it states he died Novem-
ber 8th, and that he was in the fifty-eighth year of his age.
   "DIED-At Wellsburg, Virginia, on Wednesday the 8th inst., at about
half past two in the morning, the Rev. Dr. Joseph Doddridge, in the 58th
year of his age, of an Asthmatic affection, with which he had been very
much afflicted for a number of years. His remains were attended to his
family vault by a large concourse of citizens, and were interred with
Masonic honors.-Wellsburg Gazette."
   The stockade and all of the cabins except the central blockhouse at
Doddridge's fort disappeared many years ago. This log cabin, which
was the Doddridge home and known as Doddridge's blockhouse, was for
many years a familiar landmark in western Washington County. It was
the first house of any description erected in what is now Independence
Township. It had not been occupied for many years prior to its destruc-
tion, and for a long period it stood in a state of ruin, no effort being made
to keep it in repair. In the spring of 1913 the man who lived on the
farm tore it down upon his own responsibility, without even asking per-
mission of the owner. The name of this ruthless vandal I do not know.
When I first visited the place in the summer of 1914 there was only a pile
of stones and logs to mark the spot where the historic dwelling once stood.
And this was the end of the last of the chain of frontier forts erected by
the pioneers of Washington County in the days when the terrible war cry
of the wild Indian rang through our land.
   Milton Murdoch, who was still living in 1914 on the adjoining farm
at the age of ninety-four years, informed the writer that the log spring
house which stands over the spring was erected in his time about sixty-
five years before, from logs from the old stockade.
   Just over the hill, a mile east of Doddridge's was Teter's fort, already
mentioned, built by Captain Samuel Teter in 1773. This disappeared
many long years ago, and nothing was left of it within the recollection of
any man living in our time.
   The farm of Captain Samuel Teter contained originally one thousand
acres, and was called by him "Plantation Plenty," and as such it is known
to this day. Captain Teter was born in 1737, and as already related
served with both Braddock and Forbes against Fort Duquesne. While
residing in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, in 1769, he married Mary
Doddridge, a daughter of Joseph Doddridge and Mary Biggs Doddridge,
and came to Washington County in 1773. He left four sons, Samuel,
George, John, and Daniel, all of whom with the exception of Samuel served
in the War of 1812.
    In 1797, Captain Teter sold his land in this county to Isaac Manchester,
and emigrated to Ohio, where he died October 8th, 1823, at the home of
a son-in-law named McDonald, near Marysville, Union County, Ohio. His


235





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


wife died May 3rd, 1838, aged ninety years. Both are buried in the
McDonald graveyard near Marysville.
   The present fine brick dwelling on the Manchester farm was started
by Isaac Manchester in 1800, but it required fifteen years to complete,
and it was not finished until 1815. This dwelling was erected within the
lines of the stockade of Teter's fort. And one of the cornerstones of this
fort was pointed out to the author some ten years ago by a granddaughter
of Isaac Manchester.
   This mansion contains fifteen rooms, and is one of the finest examples
of the architecture of a century ago now standing in western Pennsylvania.
Even today there are few mansions that can compare with it.
   Isaac Manchester lived on Plantation Plenty until his death in 1851 at
the age of eighty-nine years, when the farm descended to his son, Col.
Asa Manchester, who was born there in 1811 and died in 1896.
   Isaac Manchester came to this county from Newport, Rhode Island.
He was of English descent, and patterned his farm after the English
style; and today it is still one of the beauty places of Washington County.
In fact, it is very doubtful if the duplicate of these premises can be found
in any section of the United States today.
   The entire interior of the house is finished in hardwood, and the work-
manship shows that it was done by skilled mechanics. The brick and
stone masonry of the house is as solid today as when first completed. The
story is told that when the house was nearing completion Mr. Manchester
found that he needed a piece of important wood with which to complete
a capital of the parlor mantel. He rode on horseback over the mountains
to Philadelphia for this one piece of wood, and brought it back in his
saddle bags. This was a journey of eight hundred miles.
   All of the plows and tools ever used on this farm are still preserved in
the old tool house. There the visitor can see the first plow with which Mr.
Manchester turned up the virgin soil down to the implements used today.
These show the development of the American plow during the past century
and a quarter. There are also many other farming implements, spinning
wheels, lace looms, a loom for weaving linsey-woolsey cloth, and many
other curious utensils of field, shop and kitchen in common use a century
and more ago.
   The farm is still in possession of the granddaughters of Isaac Man-
chester, who reside there and keep it up in all its old-time beauty and
glory.


236











CHAPTER XLIX.


                               1783.
       INDIAN RAIDS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN 1783.
THE INDIAN WAR CONTINUED-RAID ON BUFFALO CREEK-CAPTURE OF
    MRS. ROBERT WALKER-CAPTURE OF THE BOICE FAMILY-LETTER OF
    DORSEY PENTECOST-SEVENTEEN PERSONS KILLED AND CAPTURED-
    JOSHUA WRIGHT AND HIS BROTHER, JAMES-A NEW ORLEANS TRADER
    -CAPTURED AND BURNED AT THE STAKE.

           E'er the first blush of day illumes the morn,
             The chiefs, impatient for the battle rise;
           With warlike arms their colored limbs adorn,
             While glowing valour sparkles in their eyes.
                   -From Indian Warfare, a poem in The Western
                     Telegraph, Washington, Pennsylvania, December
                     13th, 1796.

   The settlers of Washington County and other sections of the Western
Border fully believed that the close of the Revolution would bring to an
end the terrible Indian war that had devastated this section for seven
years. When the news of Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown reached this
section the people thought that the wild war cry had been heard for the
last time. But the coming of spring brought the same old story of Indian
raids and murders, and terror and dismay spread over the whole frontier.
   England no longer gave support or pay to her red allies of the Revolu-
tion; but the Indians, who were warriors by nature, had reveled in the
blood of the Americans too long to be easily restrained. And it is a
lamentable fact that England made no effort to stop them, but for years
after the Revolution, British sympathizers accompanied the red warriors
on the war path; and it was not until General Wayne's crushing defeat of
the allied tribes at Fallen Timbers eleven years later that the settlers of
Washington County felt safe from the scalping knife.
   The first intimation that the whites had of approaching danger was
on March 27th, 1783, when a war party raided Walker's blockhouse, on
the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek, Donegal Township, northeast of Rice's.
Robert Walker was away from home at the time, but his wife was cap-
tured, and the raiders started with her to the Ohio country. Before
reaching the river she managed to escape and returned safely. She
reported that two bands had been engaged in this raid.
   Two days later two men were captured near Wheeling, and the next
day another was wounded on Short Creek, presumably by the same band
that raided Walker's.
   On April 1st, Wilson Boice and his entire family of eight were cap-
tured in this county, and the next day a man was killed within a mile
of Washington; but his name has not been preserved.
                               237





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    In a letter written by Dorsey Pentecost to President Dickinson, of the
 Supreme Executive council, dated May 4th, 1783, it is stated that the
 savages met with great success in their early raids on the whites because
 of the unexpectedness of the stroke; and in one week they killed and
 captured seventeen persons, two of whom, a woman and a boy, escaped.
 This letter also states that the people felt so secure under the expectation
 of a general peace that the Indians met with no resistance, and during
 the time they were in this county no scout pursued them, and they left
 of their own accord.
    It was during the summer of 1783 that Joshua Wright, one of the first
 settlers in Washington County, was captured while on his way to New
 Orleans, and burned at the stake. Joshua Wright and his brother, James,
 had emigrated from the Cumberland Valley about 1765 and settled on
 Peters Creek, in what is now Nottingham Township. They were among
 the first, if not the very first white settlers in this county. After clearing
 some land and planting a crop, Joshua returned to their eastern home and
 married Miss Charity Harris, a daughter of John Harris for whom Harris-
 burg, Pennsylvania, is named. He immediately returned with his bride
 over the lonely wilderness trails to his forest home in Washington County;
 and Mrs. Wright, who came from a pioneer family and had been born on
 the frontier, cheerfully endured the hardships of the trail and life in
 the wilds.
    The Wright Brothers resided on their claim until September 16th, 1779,
when Joshua purchased James' interest, and the latter went to Kentucky
where he was killed by Indians. This land was patented under the name
of "The Sale," on a certificate for four hundred acres on the waters of
Peters Creek, granted to Joshua Wright. The records show that it was
surveyed March 13th, 1788, and entered February 18th, 1790.
   Joshua Wright was not only a farmer, but he was what was known in
those days as a New Orleans trader. In this business he would take a
flat boat loaded with grain and furs down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers
to New Orleans, where he would sell the cargo, and return with many
articles necessary for the settlers in the wilderness of Washington County.
It was a long journey of many dangers and hardships, and a man's life
was constantly in peril from wild Indians, bandits, floods and fever. Only
the most daring engaged in this occupation.
   Just how long Joshua Wright engaged in the New Orleans trade is
not known, but during a journey down the river in the summer of 1783,
his boat was attacked by Indians on the Ohio, and he was captured. The
unfortunate trader was taken to a village near the present site of San-
dusky, Ohio, where he was burned at the stake. He left a widow and
three children, Lydia, Enoch, and Agnes, at the home on Peters Creek.
Mrs. Wright afterwards married a Mr. Colvin, of Pigeon Creek.
   The late Joshua Wright, a well known banker in Washington years
ago, was a great-grandson of Joshua Wright, the New Orleans trader.
The former owned the original home tract in Nottingham township for
many years. Mrs. Joseph B. Spriggs, of Washington, is a great-great-
granddaughter, and many other descendants are scattered in other parts
of the country.


238











CHAPTER L.


                             1780-1916.
        WOLFE'S FORT AND STRICKER'S BLOCKHOUSE.
JACOB WOLFE AND LAURENCE STRICKER BUILD FORTS AND BLOCK-
    HOUSES FIVE MILES WEST OF WASHINGTON-EXPECTED ATTACK ON
    STRICKER'S BLOCKHOUSE-ESCAPE OF A WOMAN---IIUGH McDOWELL-
    ESCAPE OF LYDIA BOGGS AND CHRISTIANA CLEMENS TO WOLFE'S FORT
    -PRISCILLA PEAK SCALPED-HUGH M. BRACKENRIDGE-MARRIES
    SERVENIA WOLFE-ADMITTED TO WASHINGTON COUNTY BAR-SET-
    SLES IN PITTSBURGH-PART IN WHISKY INSURRECTION-A JUSTICE OF
    THE SUPREME COURT-SKETCH OF JACOB WOLFE-SITE OF WOLFE'S
    FORT-PEAR TREE PLANTED BY JOHNNY APPLESEED-STRICKER'S
    BLOCKHOUSE RAZED.

         "We may build more splendid habitations,
         But we cannot buy with gold the old associations."

   Of all the forts that guarded the western frontier of Washington
County in Indian times, Wolfe's fort and Stricker's two blockhouses, five
miles west of Washington, were among the strongest and most important;
but only Wolfe's fort has ever been described in any previous history of
this county, although one of Stricker's blockhouses stood until the fall of
1900 within one mile of the National pike. How it escaped notice so long
is a mystery, unless it was through a lack of investigation. For over a
century it stood there, a relic of the days when the wild war cry of the
hostile Indian rang through the forests of Washington County; and as
far as the author has been able to learn it was the only blockhouse in this
section built with an overshot. Its history was handed down from one
generation to another during all that time, and it is here recorded for the
first time. The author first visited this ancient relic in the summer of 1900
and secured a photograph of the building just before it was completely
razed, but unfortunately after the second story had been removed.
   Just when these forts were built is not known definitely, but it must
have been about 1780, when the first whites settled in that region. Among
the early pioneers in Buffalo township were Laurence Stricker, spelled
Streeker in the old deeds, and Jacob Wolfe, spelled Wolff in the old deeds.
These two men settled on adjoining tracts on the headwaters of Buffalo
Creek in what is now Buffalo Township.
   The old survey records show that a tract called "Prulie on the waters
of Buffalo Creek, containing 3691/ acres and 156 poles was surveyed on
the 28th April, 1786, on a Virginia certificate granted to Laurence
Stricker." This was bounded on the north by lands of Daniel Leet and
Michael Dennis; on the west by Hugh H. Brackenridge; on the south by
John Dennison and Jacob Wolfe, and on the east by Eleazer Williamson.
   Jacob Wolfe and his brother, John, came from Germany and settled
in this county at a very early date. They located on adjoining tracts of

                               239



































    Ruins of Laurence Strickler's Blockhouse in Buffalo Township, one mile south of the
old McDowell homestead. Built about 1780 and torn down in 1900. This was one of the
last blockhouses left in Washington County.


Inside corner of ruins of Strickler's blockhouse.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


land on Buffalo Creek. The first record of their land entry is for two
hundred acres on Buffalo Creek, which was surveyed to Jacob Wolfe,
September 3rd, 1793. "Wolfe's Grove," containing one hundred one acres
and fifty-five perches on Buffalo Creek was surveyed to him September
14th, 1794. John Wolfe located four hundred acres adjoining Jacob's
land, and this was surveyed to him December 3rd, 1793.
   Jacob Wolfe surrounded his house with a stockade, while Laurence
Stricker built two blockhouses on his land one mile south of Wolfe's.
They were among the first, if not the very first, in western Washington
County, and the settlers for miles around fled to them for safety in times
of Indian troubles. Wolfe's fort stood in what is now the garden at the
old John McDowell homestead, on the south side of the National pike, five
miles west of Washington. The stockade was large enough to accommo-,
date several families, and there were evidently other shelters besides the
central house, to accommodate families, as several are known to have
sought shelter there for some considerable period, at different times. As
already stated this Darby was there in February, 1782, as shown by a letter
written by William Darby, which has been given in Chapter XXXIX, in
connection with the Sandusky expedition.
   Laurence Stricker built two blockhouses on his land. They were both
large buildings, without a stockade, but strong enough to have resisted
any attack by Indians if defended by a few brave men. The main block-
house stood on a small point formed by the junction of two small streams.
It contained two stories with an overshot on two sides, and was evidently
the main blockhouse. The other, which was probably Stricker's residence
stood about five hundred yards west of the first just mentioned. It was
torn down more than seventy-five years ago and the logs used in the con-
struction of a two-story log cabin about 100 yards from the blockhouse on
the point. This cabin is still standing in an excellent state of preserva-
tion, and is used as a dwelling. When it was moved it was probably not
changed in any way, but was no doubt rebuilt exactly as it had stood
originally.
   Neither of these were ever attacked by Indians, although the settlers
took refuge there on several occasions. The dates of these raids are not
known today; but the history of those times has been handed down from
one generation to another, and it is strange that these blockhouses escaped
the historian for so many years; for they are still well remembered by
residents of that section.
   On one occasion news was received that Indians, who had just killed
and scalped several whites a short distance west of there, were hastening
to attack the people on the headwaters of Buffalo Creek. In a short time
many people had gathered at Stricker's and Wolfe's forts.
   Tradition tells us that one woman was intercepted by Indians. She
was very small and fleet of foot and outran her pursuers. Just when
she believed she would be able to reach Stricker's in safety she almost
ran into another band of Indians between her and the blockhouse. Again
she outran the savages, and she managed to escape from them by crawl-
ing into a crevice between two large rocks, and concealed herself with
grass and leaves. Her hiding place was very small, and if she had been
any larger she could not have escaped so easily. That night the plucky
      (16) VI


241






                       CONTENTS                      xvii

   TURES-DANIEL HARBAUGH'S DEATH-INDIANS PURSUE THE ARMY-
   BATTLE OF THE OLENTANGY-HEROISM OF CAPTAIN BIGGS' COMPANY
   -STRAGGLERS-CRAWFORD STILL MISSING-WILLIAMSON'S HEROISM
   -RETURN HOME-THE LOSSES                           172

                     CHAPTER XXXV.

                          1782.

         CRAWFORD AND OTHER WHITES CAPTURED.
 CRAWFORD TRIES TO FIND HIS SON AND NEPHEW-MEETS DR. KNIGHT-
   SEPARATED FROM THE ARMY-MEETS CAPTAIN BIGGS-CAPTURED BY
   WINGENUND'S DELAWARES-BIGGS ESCAPES-FLIGHT OF JAMES
   PAULL AND JOHN SLOVER-ATTACKED BY SHAWNESE-JAMES PAULL
   ESCAPES-SLOVER CAPTURED--PAULL'S ADVENTURES-SLOVER TAK-
   EN TO WAPATOMICA ON MAD RIVER-RUNNING THE GAUNTLET-
   SLOVER SEES BODIES OF WILLIAM HARRISON, WILLIAM CRAWFORD,
   AND MAJOR McCLELLAND-ESCAPE OF DR. KNIGHT-SLOVER CON-
   DEMNED TO DEATH AT MACACHAK-SLOVER ESCAPES      ____180

                    CHAPTER XXXVI.

                          1782.

           FURTHER ADVENTURES OF CAPTIVES.

CRAWFORD AND OTHER PRISONERS TAKEN FROM THE HALF-KING'S TOWN
   -MORAVIANS AMONG THE HOSTILES-CRAWFORD MEETS SIMON
   GIRTY-CRAWFORD CONDEMNED TO DEATH-ALL PRISONERS MUR-
   DERED EXCEPT CRAWFORD AND DR. KNIGHT-TAKEN TO DELAWARE
   VILLAGE ON TYMOCHTEE CREEK-DR. KNIGHT'S ESCAPE  ___  184

                    CHAPTER XXXVII.
                          1782.
                 THE END OF CRAWFORD.
TIED TO THE STAKE-THE FIRE OF DEATH-THE END OF CRAWFORD-
   LOCATION OF THE SPOT WHERE CRAWFORD WAS BURNED-MONU-
   MENT ERECTED-THE JUNE 11TH ANNUAL PICNIC _._ ...... . 186

                   CHAPTER XXXVIII.
                          1782.
                   CRAWFORD'S WIFE.
TERRIBLE SUSPENSE-RETURN OF JOHN CRAWFORD-NEWS OF CRAW-
   FORD'S FATE-CRAWFORD'S CABIN-REMARRIAGE OF SARAH HARRI-
   SON TO URIAH SPRINGER, SR.-URIAH SPRINGER, JR.-DEATH OF CRAW-
   FORD'S WIDOW-CRAWFORD'S SPRING HOUSE AND SPRING _____- 189

                    CHAPTER XXXIX.
                          1782.
 EXCITEMENT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY OVER CRAWFORD'S
                        DEFEAT.
WOLFE'S BLOCKHOUSE EXPOSED-LETTER OF WILLIAM DARBY-JAMES
   AND HUGH WORKMAN-JAMES WORKMAN AND NICHOLAS DAWSON ON
   CRAWFORD'S EXPEDITION-LETTER BY DORSEY PENTECOST ON CRAW-
      (2)V1




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


little woman crawled out and made her way to Stricker's. This crevice
is still pointed out by the older residents in that section.
    The Indians were evidently discouraged by their failure to take any
captives, or they were afraid of reinforcements from some other settle-
ment; for they left the county after firing a few scattered shots at the
forts.
    One of the men in Stricker's at that time was Hugh McDowell, an
ancestor of the McDowells who still reside in that section. The woman
who escaped by hiding in the rocks was also a relative of this family.
   The story is also told that on one occasion, probably at the same time
as the raid just mentioned, a large force of Indians appeared at Wolfe's
fort and demanded its surrender. They were led by a white man in the
uniform of a British soldier, but the settlers only laughed at the demand,
and the enemy withdrew after a few shots.
   It was to Wolfe's fort that Lydia Boggs, who was living at that time
with her father near where Taylorstown now stands, and Christiana
Clemens made their way after being hotly pursued by a band of Indians.
This was after October, 1784, for it was on the 13th of that month that
Captain Francis Boggs, the father of Lydia, purchased from James
Cleland a tract of three hundred eighteen acres one mile northwest of the
present village of Taylorstown, Blaine Township. Just how long the
Boggs family lived there is not known, but tradition tells us that Lydia
attended school in an old school building that stood in frontier times on
the Robert Cruthers farm. She and Christiana Clemens were schoolmates
at this place, and a warm friendship existed between them.
   During a raid on the settlers on the headwaters of Buffalo Creek, pos-
sibly the same as that just described, Priscilla Peak, or Peck, was scalped
alive. She was confined to her bed with fever, and when the news of the
Indians reached the people in the house they fled to Wolfe's fort. Just
before their hasty departure someone threw a quilt over Priscilla and
told her to run. She was weak and unable to go fast, and when she
reached the pig pen she was so exhausted that she stopped to rest. While
leaning over a fence she was discovered by Indians, who, evidently think-
ing she was dead, scalped her alive. After their departure she crawled
to Wolfe's fort. She recovered from her terrible wound, and for the
remainder of her life wore a black cap to conceal the loss of her hair.
   The story of how a young settler, afterwards a justice of the supreme
court of Pennsylvania, secured his wife at Wolfe's fort in the frontier
days of Washington County is of special interest here. That man was
Judge Hugh H. Brackenridge, and the girl was Miss Servenia Wolfe, a
daughter of Jacob Wolfe.
   Hugh Henry Brackenridge was the same man as Hugh Montgomery
Brackenridge of the early days, but the reason for the change of the middle
name is not known. He was born in Campbellton, Scotland, in 1748, and
when five years of age came to America with his father, who settled in
eastern Pennsylvania. After graduating from Princeton college in 1771,
Hugh was master of an academy in Maryland. After the outbreak of the
Revolution he studied divinity in Philadelphia, and then enlisted in the
Continental army, serving as chaplain of a Pennsylvania regiment.


242





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    About 1780, Brackenridge came to Washington County and located
on a tract of land adjoining Stricker's, and not far from Wolfe's fort.
The survey records show that this land was surveyed July 11th and 12th,
1785, on a Virginia certificate granted to John McBride, and returned to
Hugh H. Brackenridge, Esq., August 5th, 1788. Brackenridge owned an-
other tract of 1121/2 acres joining this, which was surveyed November 2nd,
1789. The records show that he afterwards owned two hundred seventy-
five acres on Brushy run, and a tract on Ten Mile Creek.
   Brackenridge evidently lived for a short time on his land near Strick-
ler's, for it was while in that neighborhood that he met his future wife.
One day, probably when he first went to that section, he rode up to Wolfe's
fort, and while there he saw a young woman jump over a high rail fence
with an agility displayed by few men even of that day. He immediately
became interested in the girl who was Servenia Wolfe, a daughter of
Jacob Wolfe. The grace and beauty of this maid of the old frontier
attracted young Brackenridge, and he made many visits to the fort.
   He was evidently a welcome visitor, for he finally won the hand of
this daughter of the wilderness, and they were married. Just when this
occurred is not known definitely, but it must have been about 1781, or
shortly thereafter. After their marriage her husband sent her to Phila-
delphia to be educated. And so this girl from a frontier fort became one
of the leading ladies of the state.
   The older histories state that Brackenridge settled in Pittsburgh in
1781, but if he did it must have been late in that year, for the old court
records show that on October 2nd, 1781, Hugh H. Brackenridge and two
others were admitted to the practice of law in the courts of Washington
County. In 1786 Brackenridge was sent to the state legislature by the
people of Pittsburgh to have Allegheny County erected; and in 1789 he
was made a judge of the courts of Allegheny County.
   Brackenridge took a prominent part in the Whisky Insurrection in
western Pennsylvania in 1794. He was an able and far-sighted man and
realized from the first that the insurrection would collapse, but it was a
serious matter for anyone in western Pennsylvania at that time to openly
take the side of the government, He made many speeches at meetings
held by the rebels, but all his acts and speeches were such that a double
meaning could be placed upon them. This allowed him to keep his popu-
larity with the insurgents, and did not compromise him too deeply with
the government. His arrest was ordered, but he was afterwards pardoned.
He later wrote a history of the rebellion, which is today the best authority
on the subject.
   He was a member of the Pittsburgh committee of insurgents that met
at Braddock's Field on August 1st and 2nd, 1794, when nearly five thous-
and people interested in the movement gathered and threatened the infant
government of the United States. He was a member of the Allegheny
County committee, which met with insurgent committees from other sec-
tions at Redstone Old Fort on September 2nd. In 1799 he was appointed
a justice of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, which position he held
until his death at Carlisle on June 25th, 1816.
   Jacob Wolfe, the proprietor of Wolfe's fort, was quite a character in


243





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


his day, and was known for miles around. He was elected a justice of the
peace and served in that capacity for many years, performing many fron-
tier marriages. He lived to a good old age, and many of his descendants
still reside in this county.
   After the wild Indian had been driven into the land of the setting
sun, and all need for such a place had passed, Wolfe's fort was torn down.
The ground where it stood has been used as a garden for more than a
century; and for many years bullets and other relics of the Indian days
were turned up by the plow. These were kept by the McDowells for a
long time, but they have all long since been carried away by others.
   The site of Jacob Wolfe's house was pointed out to the author by John
McDowell, a few feet west of the present McDowell homestead. It stood
between the garden fence and the National pike, and is marked by a
depression in the ground, where foundation stones may still be found.
Near by are a number of flags, or old fashioned lilies that were planted
there by Jacob Wolfe after he built the fort.
   A large, old-fashioned pear tree that is supposed to have been planted
at Wolfe's fort by Johnny Appleseed, a noted character of the frontier, is
still standing close by. The top was blown out a number of years ago,
but new limbs have grown on the stump, which is about fifteen feet high.
There were formerly two of these trees, but the other was blown down
many years ago. John McDowell informed the author that these trees
were formerly about fifty feet high. The trunk of the tree still standing
is about two feet in diameter at the base. The pears were very sweet and
of a fine flavor.
   Stricker's blockhouse, which stood until our own times, was an excel-
lent example of the frontier blockhouse of the Western Border of a century
and a half ago, and it is to be regretted that it was not preserved for all
time. It was the real type of frontier blockhouse, with two stories. Most
of the blockhouses in this county were log cabins of one or two stories,
with portholes cut in the sides. The second story of Stricker's blockhouse
was built with an overshot on two sides so that the defenders could shoot
down in case the Indians should rush the building, and gain the protection
of the walls. This was one of the very few and perhaps the only block-
house in this county with such an overshot.
   This ancient building was described to the author by a lady who had
played in it as a child. It was about thirty or forty feet square, with a
small cellar beneath. Concealed by several loose stones in the foundation
was a secret room to be used as a place of refuge in case the fort should
ever be captured by Indians. This room was so constructed that a number
of people could crawl into it and replace the stones, and it would be hard
for an enemy to find them. The port holes which took the place of win-
dows were long and narrow, and there were several on each side. The
overshot extended several feet beyond the walls of the first floor, which
made it impossible for an enemy to batter down the door or set fire to the
building. It was roofed with the old-time split oak shingles, such as
were used by the pioneers and which may still be seen occasionally in
remote sections of the county.
   For years this old blockhouse was used as a dwelling and later as a


244


























































    Old pear tree that stands at the site of Wolfe's
Fort at the old McDowell homestead on the National
Pike, five miles west of Washington. This fort was
built about 1780. This tree is supposed to have
been planted by Johnny Appleseed. It still bears
fruit.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


storehouse for farm machinery. Several generations of children played
the ever popular American game of Indian about the building, in imitation
of the grim story of life on the frontier that had been enacted there in
reality by their ancestors so long before. And few children have ever
had the privilege of enjoying this time honored sport amid such surround-
ings. The stones that had concealed the entrance to the secret cave in the
cellar had long before fallen away, but it was always a favorite hiding
place from the juvenile warriors who never failed to capture the block-
house and drag its shrieking occupants from their refuge.
   The first time that I saw this historic building was in the late summer
of 1900, but only the walls of the first story were left, the upper part
having been removed only a short time previous. Notwithstanding the
fact that the logs had been there for more than a century, they were in a
good state of preservation, and the owner wished to use them in the con-
struction of a new barn. Not a thought was given to the associations
connected with this ancient building that had come down to us from an
historic age. This barn built from the logs of Stricker's blockhouse was
struck by lightning during the summer of 1915, and burned to the ground.
   On that first visit in 1900 I was accompanied by Wayne Booher, of
Washington. Lying inside of the old blockhouse we found the old iron
grist mill that had probably been packed across the mountains on horse-
back by the settlers of Buffalo Creek. It was fastened to the end of an
oak log about eight inches square and about five feet long. In one end
was an iron pivot and a slot for the handle was cut through the wood.
This ancient hand mill had been used in the fort to grind grain. It was
taken to Washington by Wayne Booher, and for many years it lay in the
rear of the Booher residence in West Chestnut Street, where it was used
as a receptacle for burning waste paper. Some good photographs of the
ruins of the old fort were secured by the author at that time.
   Ten years later I again visited the site of the blockhouse, but many
changes had taken place. The blockhouse and foundation had entirely dis-
appeared. Only a slight depression marked the spot where the cellar had
been; and a half decayed log was all that was left of Laurence Stricker's
blockhouse of the old frontier.





                           CHAPTER LI.

                             1770-1830.

   PERSONAL NARRATIVES OF SOME WASHINGTON COUNTY
                            SETTLERS.
PHILLIP DODDRIDGE, SR.-CAPTURE OF HIS THREE CHILDREN-THE OLD-
    EST DAUGHTER BECOMES A LADY OF FRANCE AND THE YOUNGEST A
    QUEEN OF THE DELAWARES-DAVID BOYD, OF HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP
    -LONG CAPTIVITY AMONG THE INDIANS-THE LONE GRAVES ON THE
    LAIRD FARM.


246





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


            The wild, free woods makes no man halt or blind;
              Cities rob men of eyes and hands and feet,
            Patching one whole of many incomplete.
                                                          -Lowell.
    Phillip Doddridge, Sr., a brother of John Doddridge, the founder of
 Doddridge's fort, was one of the early settlers in western Washington
 County. He belonged to a family of pioneers, and inherited the wander-
 ing spirit so prevalent among Americans a century and more ago, and he
 spent his life searching for the promised land, always following the fron-
 tier as it moved westward until his death in Indiana.
    He left Maryland in 1770 and settled near the mouth of Dunkard
 Creek, in what is now Monongalia County, West Virginia, where he
 erected a cabin and started to make a home for himself and family. Be-
 sides his wife and four children, his wife's father and mother, and a
 nephew named Augustine Bickerstaff lived with him at this time.
     One day in May, 1778 (this year is evidently an error. It must have
 been earlier), Mrs. Doddridge took her infant and went to the house of a
 neighbor to weave, and Mr. Doddridge went to a field some distance from
 the house. The three Doddridge children, all girls, were left in charge
 of Mrs. Doddridge's parents and young Bickerstaff, aged twelve years.
 While playing on the high bank of a creek near by the boy and three girls
 saw a band of Indians approaching the cabin. The savages tomahawked
 and scalped the aged grandfather, pillaged the house and then set it
 on fire.
    When young Bickerstaff saw the raiders he realized that he could
not protect the children. He immediately ran to the field in which his
uncle was working, and informed him of the tragedy. One version is that
the two returned, and from a safe place watched the savages amuse them-
selves by ripping up the feather beds and throw the feathers into the air.
They then carried off the grandmother and three Doddridge girls, together
with two other children they had captured, named David Pursley, aged
seven, and Susan Potts, aged fourteen.
   There is another story to the effect that young Bickerstaff was pur-
sued by Indians, and during his flight met the noted Lewis Wetzel, who
aided the boy to escape. They were pursued by the Indians for seven
miles until they reached Statler's fort, which was located three miles south
of the Pennsylvania line, and about five miles from the present Mount
Morris, Greene County. The author visited the site of this fort in 1916,
and the spot where tradition says it stood was pointed out to him on the
Lee Shriver farm. Nothing now remains of it, but a slight depression in
the ground might have been the cellar of a cabin.
   Which story of the capture is correct cannot be told at this late date,
but it is more than probable that the first is the true version. It is safe
to say that if Lewis Wetzel had been there that day he would undoubt-
edly have taken the trail of the hostiles, and attempted to rescue the
captives.
   The fate of the grandmother was never known, but many years later
Phillip Doddridge heard of his three children, none of whom he ever saw
again. It was afterwards learned that they were taken to Detroit, and
during the long march through the wilderness, Nancy Doddridge, the


247





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


second oldest, was kicked in the side by a drunken Indian. She never
recovered from this injury, and died among the Indians a few years later.
   The oldest girl was sold at Detroit by her captors to a French officer,
who later married her and took her to France. She never returned to
America, and it is doubtful if she ever again heard from her people; but
she became a Lady of France before her death years later.
   The youngest child was reared by her captors, and, like many another
white captive among the Indians, the wild, free life of the wilderness so
appealed to her that she refused to return to her people, although she
afterwards met some of her family, who wished her to live with them.
She married a Delaware chief, and became a queen among her adopted
people with whom she spent the remainder of her days.
   A tradition in the Doddridge family says that this girl married White
Eyes, a noted Delaware chief. However, this must be a mistake, for White
Eyes died of smallpox at Fort Pitt in November, 1778. It may have been
another chief named White Eyes, after the noted sachem.
   Many years after her capture and after peace had been declared on
the frontier, this woman went with a band of Indians to Wellsburg, West
Virginia, where she met her cousin, Phillip Doddridge, a son of John
Doddridge. He recognized a strong family resemblance, and, after mak-
ing inquiry, learned her history. He offered to give her a home, but she
refused to leave her adopted people. Shortly afterwards she left with the
Indians, and returned to the wilderness from whence she had come like
one returning from the dead. Nothing more was ever heard of her; but
somewhere in the land of the setting sun this white Indian woman found
a grave.
   Phillip Doddridge, Sr., the father of these girls, did not remain long
at his wilderness home where this raid occurred. Taking his wife and
remaining child, the infant Mrs. Doddridge had taken with her on the
fatal day, he went to the home of his brother, John, at Doddridge's fort,
Independence Township, where he took up a tract of two hundred eighty-
nine acres of land under the name of "Lexington."
   He resided there until 1818; and during this period five more children
were born, making eight, including the three who had been captured in
1778. But Phillip Doddridge was a pioneer, and as the frontier gradually
receded towards the setting sun, he became restless before advancing
civilization; and so, in 1818, he emigrated to the state of Indiana. The
long journey was made by wagon and on horseback, but this hardy, old
frontiersman had never been known to ride a horse, and he walked every
step of the distance. He died in Indiana at an advanced age.
   About 1787, David Boyd came to this section from Cumberland County,
and settled in Hopewell Township, on a farm three miles east of West
Middletown. With him were his wife, two daughters and two sons, James
and John. This farm where the Boyd family located is on the road be-
tween Washington and West Middletown, and was owned in later years
by W. W. Dinsmore.
   Few men even in those times, had led as adventurous a life as David
Boyd. He served in the Continental line during the Revolution, and took
part in some of the most desperate battles of the war. He was with Gen-
eral Gates at the surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga in 1777, and


248





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


he was with Washington at Yorktown. For twenty-five years he was a
justice of the peace in Hopewell Township. He died about 1830 on this
farm, leaving four sons, James, David, John and William.
   David Boyd was a son of John Boyd, who had settled near Carlisle at
an early date. He had two sons and one daughter. The nearest neighbor
was John Stewart, one mile away. In 1754, John Boyd was at the Stewart
home when it was attacked by Indians, and burned to the ground. His-
tory does not record the fate of the Stewart family, but John Boyd escaped
and hastened to his own home to find the cabin a smoking ruin, and his
wife and three children gone.
   Two Indians from the band that attacked the Stewart cabin had gone
to the Boyd home, where they captured Mrs. Boyd and her three children.
After burning the cabin they started with their prisoners; but the mother
was ill and could not travel, and the savages murdered her before the eyes
of her children. David was between six and seven at the time, and the
terrible tragedy was burned into his youthful mind, and he never forgot
it. The savages increased the horror of the murder by making him carry
the bloody scalp of his mother.
   After joining the main party with their prisoners, the band separated
into two squads. David was taken by one and his brother and sister by
the other, and they never saw each other again. Nor was the fate of the
other two ever learned; for the father was unable to secure any trace
of them.
   David was taken to a village where all manner of indignities were
heaped upon him by the young Indians. He bore this for a time, and then
one morning he knocked down one of the tormentors, and thereafter they
had more respect for him. An aged chief, whose son had died, adopted
David, following the Indian custom, and he was then treated with the
greatest kindness. His head was shaved with only a tuft left on top, after
which he was stripped and taken to a stream where he was ducked three
times by three maidens to wash out the white blood. After this he was
dressed in Indian clothing, and given all of the privileges of the camp and
of the wigwam of his foster father.
   The band that held young Boyd evidently belonged west of the Alle-
gheny Mountains; for in 1758 they were at Fort Duquesne, then held by
the French. David was at the fort when the news was brought in by
scouts that General Forbes was advancing across the mountains with his
army. He was still there when Major Grant pushed forward with the
advance guard, and he was with the French and Indians who defeated the
Highlanders. on Grant's hill, now in the heart of Pittsburgh. He wit-
nessed the slaughter of the English soldiers and the atrocities committed
on the wounded.
   There were seventy-three Indians in the fort at this time, but they
left shortly after the battle, some going up the Allegheny River, and others
up the Monongahela. They were evidently alarmed at the advance of the
main army.
   Young Boyd would probably have remained with the Indians for many
years, and perhaps all his life, but for the kindness of the old chief who
had adopted him. The old man realized that age was creeping upon him
and that in a short time he would be summoned to the happy hunting


249





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


grounds, and he decided to return the white lad to his people. He went
back across the mountains with the boy, and delivered him to his father.
    Young David wept bitterly when the time came for parting from his
 Indian father, and he would have returned to the forest but the old man
 forbid it. Like many another white captive, the wild, roving life of the
 wilderness had taken a firm hold upon young Boyd, and he never forgot
 the days he spent as a "white Indian." All his life he remembered his
 foster father with deep affection, and in speaking of him many years later
 he stated that he was always treated with the greatest kindness, and when
 provisions were low the ancient warrior would share his last bite with
 his white son.
            Hidden away in that desolate spot,
              Where the night winds sob and the natives clan,
            His name unguessed, his fate unknown,
              Rests all that is left of a brother man.
                                                    -J. B. Tighe.
   On the old Laird farm in Donegal Township, about five miles northwest
of Claysville, are two lone graves, the history of which is shrouded in
mystery. Who they were or how they came to be buried in that lonely
spot is one of the secrets of the past. Bert M. Laird, of Claysville, first
told the author of their location. He told a local tradition that they were
the graves of two people named Sims, who had been killed by Indians.
   Later, I visited the farm and found these lonely graves in a field on
top of a high hill, just in the rear of the farm house, then occupied by a
Mr. Clemens. He guided me to the spot. He informed me that these
graves have been carefully preserved, and no plow has ever desecrated
them. Side by side they lie, marked by two old sandstone headstones
upon which are the initials "K. S." and "S. S." That is all; nothing else
to indicate who sleeps there or how they came to their death; and so the
story will remain a mystery until the end of time.





                          CHAPTER LII.

                             1784-1785.
                    INDIAN RAIDS OF 1784-85.
TWO MEN KILLED ON CROSS CREEK-ATTACK ON HARVESTERS-JOSIAH
   SCOTT, JR., MORTALLY WOUNDED-WILLIAM BAILEY CAPTURED-IN-
   DIANS AMBUSHED BY SOLDIERS-MASSACRE OF THE DAVIS FAMILY
   NEAR RYERSON'S FORT-SPICER, THE RENEGADE.

             Now the strong hatchet hews whole nations down,
                Now the deathful showers of missive darts descend,
             The echoing war whoop drowns the dying groan,
               And shouts of victory every bosom rend.
                 From "Indian Warfare," in Western Telegraph,
                             Washington, Pa., December 13th, 1796.


250





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Indian raids in Washington County decreased during 1784 and '85,
 because of the end of the Revolution; but some warriors could not resist
 the temptation to go on the war trail, and some white people were killed
 in this section. The old records show that on May 12th, 1784, two men
 were killed by Indians at or near Cross Creek but details are lacking.
 Just who they were is not known, nor is it known definitely if any other
 murders were committed that year in this section. However, it is more
 than probable that the raid near Stricker's and Wolfe's forts, described
 in another chapter, occurred that year.
    In 1784, Matthew Bailey came from Maryland and settled in what is
 now Robinson Township. He returned to his old home that winter, and the
 next spring his father and his two brothers, William and James, returned
 with him to this county, taking up land near Matthew's. Their home-
 steads were located near the present village of Candor.
    In pioneer times it was a custom for the settlers to trade work by
 assisting each other with their crops, and during the harvest in the sum-
 mer of 1785 the Baileys were helped by the Scotts, their nearest neigh-
 bors. One hot afternoon Josiah Scott, Jr., finished cutting his row of
 grain ahead of the others, and sat down on the fence to rest. All mowing
 in those days was done by hand, and it was warm work, as many of the
 old farmers of today can testify.
    Suddenly the afternoon air was broken by a rifle shot from the thick
 underbrush just over the fence, and young Scott fell mortally wounded.
 Immediately a band of Indians burst from the forest, firing as they ran
 at the other whites working in the field. None of them was hit, and all
 managed to escape except William Bailey who was captured. His hands
 were securely bound behind his back, and the savages started with him
 for Ohio.
   These Indians had evidently crossed the Ohio River at the point where
Georgetown now stands in Beaver County, as that was the ford on the old
war trail which followed the ridge between Raccoon and King creeks, and
was used by almost every raiding party into northern Washington County.
The state road between Washington and Georgetown now follows this
ancient war trail for some distance.
   The Baileys immediately sent word of the raid to Fort McIntosh, and
a party of soldiers were sent down the river to rescue William Bailey if
possible. The whites discovered the Indians first, and decided to ambush
them, and if possible capture the entire party. One over-anxious trooper,
who was evidently on his first Indian campaign, discharged his gun pre-
maturely, and warned the savages of danger. The commander gave the
order to fire as soon as he saw that the Indians were trying to escape. The
Indian who had Bailey in a canoe was killed, and the boat was upset.
Bailey would have been drowned but for the prompt assistance of the sol-
diers. The remainder of the savages escaped. Bailey was taken to Fort
McIntosh, and then sent to Fort Pitt, from which place he reached home
in safety, none the worse for his adventure.
   Josiah Scott, Jr., who was shot while sitting on the fence, lived for
about a year, but finally died as a result of his wound.
   James David was one of the early settlers in Amwell Township, but the
exact date of his settlement is not known. The old records in the recorder's


251






xviii                   CONTENTS

   FORD'S EXPEDITION-LEWIS WETZEL AND THOMAS MILLS RETURN FOR
   A HORSE-MILLS KILLED-WETZEL'S SENSATIONAL ESCAPE-WETZEL'S
   SPRING TODAY                           .191

                      CHAPTER XL.

                          1782.

   A SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST SANDUSKY PROPOSED.

MEASURES FOR RAISING THE ARMY--COLONEL WILLIAMSON SENT TO
   COXE'S FORT WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY MEN-MARSHEL'S LETTER
   TO GENERAL IRVINE-RAIDS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-COUNCIL OF
   WAR AT CATFISH CAMP-THE EXPEDITION FAILS TO START-VOLUN-
   TEERS WITH CRAWFORD REIMBURSED FOR LOSSES-PENSIONS
   GRANTED              ........ 195

                      CHAPTER XLI.

                        1750-1908.

         DR. JOHN KNIGHT AND LIEUTENANT ROSE.

SKETCH OF DR. KNIGHT-SERVICES IN THE REVOLUTION AND AGAINST
   THE INDIANS-MOVES TO KENTUCKY-WITH WAYNE IN 1794-HIS
   DEATH-HIS DESCENDANTS-LIEUTENANT ROSE A ROMANTIC FIGURE
   -MYSTERY OF HIS PAST-A BARON OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE-SER-
   VICES IN AMERICA-HIS DEATH                          199

                      CHAPTER XLII.

                        1730-1820.

                 LEADERS OF THE ENEMY.

CAPTAIN PIPE, THE DELAWARE CHIEF-WINGENUND-SIMON GIRTY, THE
   WHITE SAVAGE-THE GIRTY FAMILY-SKETCH OF SIMON GIRTY-HIS
   DEATH AND GRAVE .           ...                     203

                     CHAPTER XLIII.

                        1748-1840.

                 PERSONAL NARRATIVES.

DANIEL LEET OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-SKETCH OF HIS LIFE-CRAIG
   RITCHIE-ANGUS McCOY-WILLIAM IRWIN-ISAAC VANCE-COL. JAMES
   MARSHEL-DESCENDANTS OF COLONEL CRAWFORD, HARRISON AND
   OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION-DESCENDANTS OF PIONEER
   FAMILIES OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-ALEXANDER McCONNELL-REL-
   ICS OF THE CRAWFORD EXPEDITION-THE PIONEER PICNIC __.. 208

                     CHAPTER XLIV.
                        1774-1925.
                      VANCE'S FORT.
JOSEPH VANCE BUILDS A FORT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-THE FIRST SER-
   MON AT VANCE'S FORT-MANY WHITES KILLED IN THAT VICINITY-
   WILLIAM PARKS-GIRL KILLED AT THE SPRING-MARY WALLACE-
   FIRST PLANS FOR THE MORAVIAN MASSACRE MADE AT VANCE'S FORT
   - SITE  OF  THE  FORT  TODAY  - - - - --..-.----.. .... .._._.... . .. . . .._ 214





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


office show that "Davis' Grant," on Meadow run, containing three hundred
thirty-three acres, was surveyed on March 18th, 1785, on a warrant
granted to James Davis on December 2, 1784. The old deeds show that
William Curry purchased this land from James Davis. This is part of the
old Curry farm, located between Washington and Lone Pine, which was
owned until recently by Monroe and Hugh Curry, who will be mentioned
later.
    After selling his land, Davis moved with his family to land near Ryer-
son's fort, still known as Ryerson's Station, in what is now northwestern
Greene County, but at that time it was a part of Washington County. The
murder of seven members of the Davis family occurred in 1785, probably
in the spring, and it was on the same day that the three Crow sisters were
killed on Wheeling Creek. Both murders were committed by the same
party, two Indians and a notorious white renegade named Spicer, who was
well known during the latter days of the Western Border.
    The exact date of the massacre is not known, but tradition says that
it was on a Sunday. Early that morning the oldest daughter of James
Davis arose and went out to the field to milk, and was quietly engaged in
this work when she saw two Indians and a white man creeping along the
fence towards her. She realized that it would be fatal to show any signs
of alarm, and so she quietly stopped milking and walked to the house.
The family was just sitting down to breakfast when she entered and told
what she had seen. Her father and brother refused to believe that there
were any Indians in the neighborhood, and they told the girl that her
imagination had played her false. The entire family, with the exception
of this girl who refused to sit down, then began breakfast.
   Just as they commenced to eat the two Indians and Spicer rushed in
at the door and shot Davis and his son dead before they could rise. The
savages then handed their empty guns to Spicer to reload, and they toma-
hawked and scalped the five younger children. After scalping Davis and
his son, the raiders made Mrs. Davis and her infant in arms prisoners, and
carried them away. What became of them is not known.
   When the Indians rushed in at the door, the girl who had seen them in
the field, leaped from the window and escaped to Fort Ryerson, a mile
away, where she spread the alarm. A party of settlers went to the scene
of the massacre, where they found the seven victims lying on the cabin
floor. They were all buried in one grave on the banks of Thomas Fork of
Wheeling Creek, about three hundred yards away. The land where this
murder was committed is now owned by Francis Baldwin. This account
of the massacre was related in later years by a grand nephew of Mr. Davis.
   A slightly different account of the massacre of the Davis family was
given in later years by L. K. Evans, Esq., of Waynesburg, who places the
time as 1790. Mrs. Evans states that when Davis left Amwell Township
he located on the north branch of Dunkard Wheeling Creek, three miles
above Ryerson's and a short distance below Stall's or Kinkaid's mill, in
what is now Richhill Township, Greene County. This was then in Wash-
ington County.
   According to the Evans version, one of the Davis boys was sent out to
drive in the horses on a Sunday morning in 1790, while the father, two
other sons, one daughter and the mother sat down to breakfast. Sud-


252





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


denly a party of Indians appeared at the cabin door. Davis and his two
sons leaped for their rifles, but they were instantly shot dead. The sav-
ages then scalped their victims, made the mother and daughter prisoners,
and pillaged the house. The boy who had gone after the horses saw the
Indians in time to escape to Ryerson's fort.
   An Indian mounted one of Davis' horses, placing the girl in front of
him and Mrs. Davis behind. The party then started through the forest,
but had only gone a short distance when John Henderson saw them.
Quickly hiding in the underbrush, Henderson fired at the Indian on the
horse with the women, and he tumbled off. The white man then fled with
the other Indians in pursuit. He never knew whether he killed the savage
or not. Years later the skeleton of an Indian was found in that vicinity,
and it was supposed to have been that of the warrior shot by Henderson.
   As soon as the Davis boy reached Ryerson's fort, a party of settlers
went to the Davis cabin and buried the bodies of Mr. Davis and his two
sons. The graves are still pointed out. Some time later the decayed body
of the daughter was found, but no trace of Mrs. Davis was ever found.





                          CHAPTER LIII.

                              1787-88.
                     INDIAN RAIDS OF 1787.
NO RAIDS IN 1786-OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES-COLONEL MARSHEL ASKS
   FOR HELP-INDIAN MURDERS-LEVI MORGAN'S ADVENTURES NEAR
   BUFFALO VILLAGE-MARSHEL ORDERS OUT TWENTY MEN AND BOYS
   AND PAYS FOR THEIR SUPPLIES-RAIDS IN 1789-THE LAST INDIAN
   RAID OF ANY CONSEQUENCE-CAPTURE OF MRS. GLASS-RETURN OF
   MR. GLASS-ALEXANDER CAMPBELL MARRIES HIS DAUGHTER.

                    In the homes of their rearing,
                      Yet warm with their lives,
                    Ye wait the dead only,
                      Poor children and wives.
                                               -Whittier.
   No Indian outrages were committed in Washington County during
1786, and peace reigned over the frontier for a short time; but hostilities
broke out again in 1787. There are few details of the raids that year, but
it is known that twelve whites were killed and scalped and two were cap-
tured. This is shown by a letter written by James Marshel, county lieuten-
ant of Washington County, to President Benjamin Franklin, of the Su-
preme Executive council, dated November 6th, 1787. In this letter Colonel
Marshel states:
   From late and authentic accounts from the County of Washington,
I learn that of two families, consisting of seven persons in each, six in each
family have been lately killed and scalped, and the remaining two person


253





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


taken prisoners by the Indians. This circumstance, together with others
of like nature in the neighboring counties of Virginia, I find has much
alarmed the inhabitants of Washington County. We are at present in a
very bad situation for defense, and our circumstances in general, more
especially that of the frontier inhabitants, is such that very few are able
to purchase even a small quantity of ammunition. Besides the frontier
people of that county have suffered considerably in the late war, and are
by no means able to make so noble a stand as they then did. Permit me,
therefore, to observe, that if the Indians continue their depredations as in
all probability they will, it will be less expensive and much more advan-
tageous to the state to support the present line of frontier than to suffer
the enemy to penetrate into the county. The major part of the frontier
inhabitants are inured to the business, and as to Indian incursions are as
much preferable to the people in the interior parts of the state as old
veteran troops are to young recruits. I would also observe that in Wash-
ington County we have a very extended frontier, I think not less than one
hundred miles all equally exposed. That in my opinion it will require at
least one hundred men even to watch the approach of the enemy, and that
if two hundred active woodsmen were employed under the command of
experienced officers it would be a sufficient inducement to the frontiers to
make a stand. I well know the circumstances of the people on the frontier,
and that however well disposed they may be to support the Government
as well as preserve their property, yet I am assured that without the special
aid of the Government, a very considerable part of Washington County will
be evacuated should the Indians make incursions on our, or the neighbor-
ing frontiers next spring, the people do not believe the Indians will dis-
criminate between Pennsylvanians and citizens of any other state, and the
fact is they have not done so in their late depredations, for the last family
they destroyed within thirteen or fourteen miles of the center of Wash-
ington County.
    Since I began to write I have had an account of another family being
killed in Washington County, near Pittsburgh; this will, no doubt, also
alarm the people of Westmoreland County, as they are equally exposed
with us, and I believe are in no better situation for defense. I hope, there-
fore, that your Excellency and your Hon'ble Board will provide for the
preservation and safety of our frontiers, and that the people may have
timely notice thereof, that instead of preparing to remove to a place of
safety, they may prepare such places of safety on the present line of fron-
tiers as they may think most advisable.
   This letter shows that conditions in 1787 were very bad, and the won-
der is that a general Indian war did not take place. If the savages had
known the defenseless condition of the frontier it is more than probable
that the entire Western Border would have been laid waste.
   The only details of any encounter between Indians and whites within
the borders of Washington County in 1787, are found in the story of Levi
Morgan's fight on Buffalo Creek, which is given in "Our Western Border,"
by Charles McKnight.
   While skinning a wolf he had just taken from a trap, Morgan saw
three men approaching, one riding and two walking. The rider was
mounted on a neighbor's horse, and Morgan supposed he was the owner.


254





               HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                       255

 When they were a little nearer he saw that they were three Indians in
 full war paint. The white man seized his rifle and leaped behind a rock,
 while the savages sprang behind a large tree. The rock was large, and
 the Indians evidently expected Morgan to appear at the other end, for
 they were looking in that direction when he cautiously peered out at them.
 Taking careful aim he fired and killed one. When he started to reload he
 discovered to his dismay that the stopper had fallen out and the powder
 flask was empty.
    Morgan instantly turned and fled through the forest, with the two
remaining Indians in pursuit. He carried his gun for a short distance, but
threw it away when he found that it hindered his progress; for one of the
enemy was rapidly gaining on him. The warrior did not stop for the gun,
and Morgan discarded his coat and bullet pouch.
    Just as he reached the top of a hill he decided to try another trick.
He stopped and called out as if to other white men, "Come on, come on;
here is one; make haste." His pursuer instantly stopped, and fled in the
other direction.
   The story is told that Morgan met this Indian at Auglaize, Ohio, some
years later, and he still had the rifle which the white man had thrown
away. They talked over their adventure, and then agreed to test their
speed in a friendly race. Morgan won easily, and took the gun as a trophy.
   It appears from the old records that no Indian outrages were com-
mitted in Washington County in 1788. The Supreme Executive council
not only failed to provide the one hundred men asked for by Colonel Mar-
shel, but also neglected to send any ammunition. Colonel Marshel took
upon himself the authority to order out twenty men of the militia in the
early spring. He placed them on the frontier, where they remained for
some time. There was no provision in the law for providing them with
rations, but Colonel Marshel himself personally stood good for the pay-
ment of the money, and in some instances he paid cash. This is shown by
a letter written by the colonel to President Franklin, dated August 22nd,
1788. Whether or not he was ever reimbursed by either the county or
state is not known; but those men probably saved the county from raids.
   The last Indian raid of any consequence in Washington County oc-
curred in 1789, but this section was in danger for several years afterwards.
This was the capture of Mrs. Glass, related by Dr. Doddridge in his Notes;
but the location of her home is not given. On the morning of March 27th,
1789, a negro woman slave at the Glass house went to a sugar camp near
by to gather sugar water. While there she saw two Indians approaching.
   Her screams alarmed her mistress; but when Mrs. Glass looked out of
a window she saw the savages almost at the house. Just as she turned to
run, the door was opened by an Indian who pointed his rifle at her, but the
terrified woman pushed the muzzle aside, begging him to take her prisoner
instead of killing her.
   The other warrior had captured the negro woman and her children, and
he brought them to the house. After ransacking the cabin and taking
some clothing, the Indians started with Mrs. Glass, her son, about two
and one-half years old, and the slave with her two children, one aged four
and the other one year. After going a short distance they stopped for a
consultation, frequently pointing to the children. Fearing that they in-





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


tended to kill them, Mrs. Glass begged one of the warriors who could
speak English to spare her boy, saying that he would make a fine little
Indian. She was told to take her child and walk on, while one savage
knocked the negro lad down with his tomahawk and scalped him.
    Late that afternoon the Indians reached the Ohio River about a mile
above where Wellsburg now stands. They secured a canoe which they
had concealed in some driftwood and started across the river. One of the
warriors threw some papers that had been taken from Mr. Glass' trunk
into the river, but Mrs. Glass picked them out of the water and gave them
to her boy to play with. Before they landed she dropped them in the
bottom of the boat, and these afterwards aided in the pursuit and rescue.
   They camped that night about a mile up Rush run. The prisoners
were treated well by their captors, and were given the clothing taken from
the house, and a blanket for the night. Before morning one of the Indians
covered them with another blanket.
   At sunrise they resumed their march, and about the middle of the
afternoon reached Short Creek, about twenty miles from their camp of
the night before. This was an old camping ground, and the Indians pre-
pared to stop for the night. From a hollow log they took some plunder
they had secured at the house of a Mr. Vanmeter, whose family they had
killed not long before. They had tapped several sugar trees on a previous
visit, and the troughs were filled with sap. They killed a wild turkey, and
placed it in a huge brass kettle to boil in sugar water.
   Now to return to the husband of this woman, who led the party that
rescued her. Mr. Glass and a hired man were working in a field about a
quarter of a mile from the house, when the Indians captured his wife and
child. No shots were fired, and he knew nothing of the raid until about
2 o'clock in the afternoon when he went to the cabin and found it deserted.
Fearing that something was wrong he made inquiry for his wife at the
nearest neighbors, but when he found no trace of her he returned to his
home and made a careful examination. From the signs he decided that
she had been carried off by Indians, and he immediately went to Wells'
fort, near the junction of the north and south forks of Cross Creek, in
Cross Creek Township.
   Ten men volunteered to go with him, and they immediately set out on
the trail of the raiders. That night they camped in a vacant cabin on the
bottom where Wellsburg now stands. The next morning they found the
place where the Indians had crossed the river, and Glass identified his
wife's footprints by the high heels of her shoes. They crossed the river
and followed the shore to the mouth of Rush run, but discovered no further
signs. This led them to believe that the Indians had gone to the mouth
of the Muskingum by water, and they wished to turn back, but Glass
begged them to go as far as Short Creek, and they agreed.
   A short distance up Rush run they found the canoe, and in the bottom
was the letter that Mrs. Glass had left there. This gave the men renewed
heart and they pushed on rapidly. After a short search they discovered
the trail. Later that afternoon they saw smoke, and, believing that it was
from the Indians' camp, they advanced very cautiously; for they well knew
that a premature alarm would be fatal to their prisoners. They crept
forward cautiously until within one hundred yards of the camp.


256





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The two warriors were examining a scarlet jacket they had taken from
 the whites, and Mrs. Glass and her son were at a sugar tree a short dis-
 tance away. Suddenly a slight noise attracted the Indians' attention, and
 they dropped the garment. Believing that they had been discovered the
 whites fired their rifles and charged the camp.
    One warrior dropped his gun and shot pouch and fell, but quickly recov-
 ered and bounded away. Francis McGuire fired at him, and he fell to his
 knees, but recovered again and escaped. He was evidently hard hit, but
 the whites spent no time in hunting for him. The other Indian ran a short
 distance beyond Mrs. Glass, keeping her between himself and the whites,
 who did not dare fire because of the danger of hitting the woman.
    Mrs. Glass informed her rescuers that her captors had informed her
that a large band of Indians were encamped not far away; and so no time
was lost in starting on the homeward march. That night they reached the
Beech Bottom fort, which was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1917.
   Francis McGuire, one of the rescue party, lived near the village of
Independence, in Independence Township. He served as a major in the
Revolution. He died September 18th, 1820, aged sixty-six years, and was
buried one-half mile west of Independence, near the residence of Dr. Park-
inson. His wife, Barbara, died December 29th, 1835, aged eighty-one years.
   Mr. Glass died a few years after this adventure, and his wife mar-
ried John Brown. One daughter, Jane, was born to this union, and on
March 12th, 1811, she was united in marriage with the Rev. Alexander
Campbell, the founder of the Christian church. They were married by
the Rev. James Hughes, of the Lower Buffalo church, Washington County.






                          CHAPTER LIV.

                               1789.
          THE MASSACRE OF THE McINTOSH FAMILY.
STORY TOLD THE AUTHOR BY JAMES SUTHERLAND-EIGHT MEMBERS OF
   THE FAMILY KILLED-BODY OF INFANT FOUND, AND BESIDE IT A
   PRAYER BOOK-GEORGE SUTHERLAND AND          HIS DESCENDANTS-
   CAMPBELL'S BLOCKHOUSE.

           Pale Horror stalks and swift destruction reigns,
             Carnage and death pollute the ruined glade,
           Till nature's wearied arm a respite gains,
             When night pacific spreads her sable shade.
               -From Indian Warfare, poem in The Western Telegraph,
                        Washington, Pa., December 13th, 1796.
   One of the most horrible murders ever committed in Washington
County by hostile Indians was the murder of the McIntosh family, in
what is now West Finley Township, in August, 1789. Several stories have
been told of this affair, which was one of the last raids by Indians in this
       (17)V1


257





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


county; and strange to say all former county histories barely mention it;
and the statements in those accounts are not correct in many respects.
    The author feels justified in stating that the account given here is
 absolutely correct; for it comes almost direct from one of the men who
 was on the ground at the time. George Sutherland, who was one of the
 party that pursued the raiders after the massacre, told the story in detail
 in later years to his grandson, James Sutherland, who died in Washington
 a short time ago. In 1919, when he was in his eighty-eighth year, Mr.
 Sutherland related the story in detail to the author, just as it was told by
 his grandfather. At that time James Sutherland's mind was remarkably
 clear, and he could remember the events of his younger days with accu-
 racy. Therefore, it is safe to say that this is the correct version of the
 McIntosh massacre.
    John Sutherland, the great grandfather of James Sutherland, came to
America from Scotland in 1772, and settled in Maryland, where he remained
fourteen years. About 1786 he came to Washington County, and settled
on Chartiers Creek, just west of Washington.
   The young men of those days sometimes had to go a long distance to
visit the young ladies of their choice. George Sutherland, a son of this
pioneer, was courting Miss Charlotte McCoy, who lived in what is now
West Finley Township, but at that time it was in the wildest section of
Washington County. It so happened that young Sutherland was visiting
his sweetheart in August, 1789, when the news of the massacre of the
McIntosh family was brought to Roney's blockhouse by the sole survivor.
   One of the early settlers in old Finley Township was a man named
McIntosh, who had emigrated from Scotland a few years before coming
to this section. Besides his wife he had a family of seven children; and
he had crossed the Atlantic and journeyed over the mountains searching
for a new home in the western wilderness, but like many another emigrant
of those days he found an early grave.
   He settled in Finley Township, living in what was known in those
times as Campbell's blockhouse, which had been erected some years be-
fore. This stood on a small stream still known as Blockhouse run, and
was on the farm now owned by Henry Blayney, Sr., a mile and a quarter
west of Good Intent, and two miles south of Elvilla.
   Besides knowing how to handle a rifle, the pioneer mothers of America
frequently worked in the harvest fields with their husbands. Help was
scarce in those days, and this was considered part of a woman's duties.
It was the custom of the country.
   One hot afternoon in August, 1789, Mr. McIntosh was pitching hay to
his wife, who was building a stack with as much skill as her husband,
when suddenly from the dense forest that surrounded the clearing two
rifle shots rang out. The man dropped his pitchfork, whirled half around
and fell dead before the eyes of his horrified wife. Immediately following
the shots two half naked Indians, in full war paint, burst from the under-
brush, rushed up to the stack before the woman had a chance to escape,
dragged her down and tomahawked her. Both victims were quickly
scalped, and then the savages ran to the house, where they had seen the
children playing.
   There was not a single person left to defend these little ones, and the


258





























0
rae~erI1
      T - ~--~ i


  Old book found at the side of the McIntosh infant killed by Indians
at the massacre of the McIntosh family in Finley Township in 1789.
Book picked up by George Sutherland and preserved in the family.
Now in Washington County Historical Society's collection.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


red fiends completed their bloody work in short order. With wild cries
they split the skulls of the five little ones, and left their mutilated bodies
lying on the floor.
   Only one person escaped that red wave of destruction that swept over
the McIntosh clearing. One of the older girls saw the Indians shoot her
father and tomahawk her mother, and she fled, terror stricken, to the
creek near by, where she hid in a small cave-like depression under the
overhanging bank. The Indians saw her run from the house, and when
they had completed their bloody work there, they tried to find her. Their
search was probably hurried, for they did not know at what instant some
whites might appear, and left without discovering her hiding place.
   After what seemed hours, the terrified girl crept out, but the Indians
were watching, and just when she thought she was safe, they started in
pursuit. With death, swift and terrible, speeding at her heels, the girl
outran the Indians, and made her way fo the home of the nearest neighbor,
named Davidson, where she told one of the most horrible tales ever heard
on the Western Border.
   The news of the raid spread rapidly and a party of whites under Her-
cules Roney, one of the first settlers in Finley Township, and a noted
Indian fighter of that region, started in pursuit. Other members of this
party were George Sutherland, who has already been mentioned; Duncan
McArthur, afterwards governor of Ohio; James Armstrong, from whom
the Armstrongs of West Alexander are descended, and a Mr. Pursel Mc-
Arthur was a noted Indian fighter and one of the best shots on the border,
where there were many crack marksmen. He had learned the art of load-
ing his rifle while running, a feat which few men, red or white, could per-
form with the old muzzle loaders.
   When these men arrived at the McIntosh house they found the seven
victims of Indian blood lust. It was known that there was an infant a
little over a year old in the family, but its body was not among those found.
   The whites started on the trail of the raiders, for the sight they had
just witnessed inspired them to seek vengeance. The trail went down
Blockhouse run, where it was not easy to find, and Roney divided the men.
George Sutherland went down the south bank of the stream, and before
he had gone far he found the body of the infant. The bark on a nearby
tree, smeared with blood and brains, showed the manner of its death. It
was an old trick among the Indians to seize a baby by the feet and crack
its little head against a tree.
   On a log beside the body was a prayer book from the McIntosh home.
It is believed that the child was playing with this, and carried it away
when the Indians picked it up. Sutherland preserved the book, and handed
it down to his children.
   The whites followed the trail down the run, but the savages, evidently
fearing pursuit, made an effort to cover their tracks. At the forks of the
stream, the pursuers turned south, while the trail went west. After going
some distance they realized that they had missed it and cut across coun-
try, soon finding it again; but they had lost much valuable time and failed
to overtake the raiders. They followed the trail to the Flats of Grave
Creek, West Virginia, where Moundsville now stands, only to find that the
Indians had crossed the Ohio. Roney and his men crossed, but were


260





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


unable to find the trail again, and so were compelled to give up the
pursuit.
    The bodies of the eight victims were buried in one grave near the
 McIntosh house. No marker was ever placed over the spot, and its exact
 location has been lost, but James Sutherland stated that he believed he
 could find it.
    The girl who was the only survivor of the McIntosh family remained
 at the Davidson home until she had recovered from the effects of her
 terrible experience, and then went East. No one in this section ever heard
 from her again.
    George Sutherland afterwards married Miss McCoy, and purchased the
Davidson farm, where he lived to a good old age. The book which he found
at the side of the murdered baby is a small, leather bound volume entitled
"The Mystery of Faith Opened Up," by the Rev. Andrew Grey, of Glas-
gow, Scotland. It is a collection of sermons printed in Edinburg in 1710.
Mr. Sutherland kept the book all his life, and at his death in 1848, is passed
into the hands of his son, Isaac. He kept it until his death in 1884, when
it became the property of his son, James. Several years ago the latter
deposited it with the Washington County Historical society for safe keep-
ing, where it may still be seen.
   Campbell's blockhouse, where this terrible tragedy of the old frontier
occurred, has long since disappeared, and there is no one now living who
remembers it. Mr. Sutherland stated that when he was a boy he saw the
logs from the blockhouse piled up on the road opposite the spot where it
had stood.
   The story is told that one of the Indians who committed this terrible
murder returned several years later to Finley Township. The power of
the Ohio tribes had then been crushed forever by Wayne's victory at Fal-
len Timbers, and the frontier of Washington County no longer stood in
fear of the tomahawk and scalping knife. But an occasional Indian vis-
ited the settlements, and one day a wandering savage appeared in Finley
Township, and boasted of having been one of those who had murdered the
McIntosh family. Some of the incidents he related in connection with the
affair led the whites to believe that he was telling the truth. Those set-
tlers did not look kindly upon the murderer of women and children, espe-
cially when he boasted of his crime. One night this Indian disappeared,
and it was whispered that he had gone on his last war trail.




                          CHAPTER LV.

                             1789-1790.
                       HARMAR'S DEFEAT.
WASHINGTON COUNTY PEOPLE PRESENT PETITION TO THE SUPREME EX-
   ECUTIVE COUNCIL-FORT WASHINGTON-GENERAL HARMAR MARCHES
   TO THE SCIOTO COUNTRY-HARMAR'S EXPEDITION LEAVES FOR THE
   NORTHWEST-WASHINGTON COUNTY MEN WITH THE ARMY-DEFEAT
   OF THE REGULARS-HARMAR RETREATS.


261





CONTENTS


                     CHAPTER XLV.
                          1924.

              THE CRAWFORD BATTLE FIELD.
EXACT LOCATION-APPEARANCE OF THE BATTLE FIELD 142 YEARS AFTER
   THE BATTLE-CRAWFORD MONUMENT AT CONNELLSVILLE, PA.-MUS-
   TER ROLL OF CRAWFORD'S ARMY IN PENNSYLVANIA ARCHIVES-LIST
   OF KILLEI) ANI) WOUNDED                            217

                     CHAPTER XLVI.

                          1782.

                RAIDS AT DILLOW'S FORT.

OLD LAND ENTRIES--MURDER OF MATTHEW OR MICHAEL DILLOW-JOHN
   DILLOW CAPTURED-GRACE FULLER IN DILLOW'S FORT-ANDERSON
   \VOUNDEI) AND IIIS TWO SONS CAPTURED               222

                     CHAPTER XLVII.

                          1782.

          THE LAST BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION.

TIlE LAST BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION REALLY FOUGHT IN WASHING-
   TON COUNTY-FORT HENRY ATTACKED-THE GUNPOWDER EXPLOIT-
   HONORS CLAIMED BY BETTY ZANE AND MOLLY SCOTT-LYDIA BOGGS
   PRESENT-ATTACK ON RICE'S FORT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-THIS
   WAS THE LAST BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION-PROOFS       224

                    CHAPTER XLVIII.

                        1773-1914.

                   DODDRIDGE'S FORT.

JOHN DODDRIDGE SETTLES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY AND BUILDS A FORT
   -TETER'S FORT-"PLANTATION PLENTY" - INDIAN ALARMS - EX-
   PECTED ATTACK ON DODDRIDGE'S FORT-THE LAST OF DODDRIDGE'S
   BLOCKHOUSE OF THE OLD FRONTIER           .....__   230

                     CHAPTER XLIX.
                          1783.
      INDIAN RAIDS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN 1783.
THE INDIAN WAR CONTINUED-RAID ON BUFFALO CREEK-CAPTURE OF
   MRS. ROBERT WALKER-CAPTURE OF THE BOICE FAMILY-LETTER OF
   DORSEY PENTECOST-SEVENTEEN PERSONS KILLED AND CAPTURED-
   JOSHUA WRIGHT AND HIS BROTHER, JAMES-A NEW ORLEANS TRADER
   -CAPTURED AND BURNED AT STAKE             ____     237

                       CHAPTER L.
                       1780-1916.
       WOLFE'S FORT AND STRICKER'S BLOCKHOUSE.
JACOB WOLFE AND LAURENCE STRICKER BUILD FORTS AND BLOCK-
   HOUSES FIVE MILES WEST OF WASHINGTON-EXPECTED ATTACK ON
   STRICKER'S BLOCKHOUSE-ESCAPE OF A WOMAN-HUGH McDOWELL-


xix





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


               "Fought eye to eye and hand to hand,
                 Alas, 'twas but to die;
                 In vain the rifle's deadly flash
                 Scorch'd eagle plume and wampum sash,
                 The hatchet hissed on high;
                 And down they fell in crimson heaps,
                 Like the ripe grain the sickle reaps."

    The exposed condition of Washington County and the entire Western
 Border in 1789 and 1790, together with the Indian depredations, led
 Alexander Addison, James Ross, Thomas Ryerson and Henry Taylor, all
 prominent citizens of Washington, to place the matter before the Supreme
 Executive council. Addison and Ross were Washington County members
 of the convention and Ryerson of the assembly. On January 25th, 1790,
 they appeared before the council with a written statement describing the
 recent depredations committed by hostile Indians in Washington County.
 They not only asked for help from the state, but asked that the matter be
 placed before President Washington, with a request for aid from the
 federal government. The defenseless condition of the Washington County
 frontier was described in a letter signed by the four men and sent to the
 President.
    Ryerson kept the matter before the council and on April 13th, 1790,
 the county lieutenant of Washington County received a letter from H.
 Knox, Secretary of War, directing him to take steps for the defense of the
 frontier. He was instructed in the name of the President to call out
 scouts whenever, in his judgment, such a step was necessary, but the num-
 ber of men was not to exceed eight. Their pay and expenses were not to
 exceed the pay and expenses allowed by Virginia, and they were not to be
 continued in the service longer than the exigency required.
    This measure was intended only as a temporary expedient until either
the danger was over, or some general arrangement of defense should be
made. Just how many men were called out at that time is not known
definitely as there is no record for 1790; but the records of the Washington
County militia show that men were called out by the county lieutenant
for the defense of Washington County in 1791, 1792, 1793 and 1794.
    Realizing that the only way to stop Indian raids on the Western
Border, not only in Washington County, but over the entire frontier, was
to strike a heavy blow at the tribes themselves, the federal authorities
decided to carry the war into the enemy's country. Troops were sent
down the Ohio during the summer and fall of 1789, and Fort Washington
was built where the city of Cincinnati now stands. This was an important
point on the old war trail used by the Northwest tribes in their raids on
Kentucky, for it crossed the river at this point. Fort Washington was a
typical frontier fort, constructed of logs. It was a stockade one hundred
eighty feet square with bastions at the four corners, in which cannon
were mounted. General Josiah Harmar arrived on December 29th, 1789,
with three hundred regular troops and took command, in order to be ready
for the Indian raids that were sure to come with spring.
   The raids on the Ohio commenced early that spring. The first attack
was on settlers going down the river in boats. Harmar left Fort Wash-


262





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ington with one hundred regulars and joined General Scott with two hun-
dred thirty Kentucky volunteers. They marched into the Scioto country,
but were unable to engage the Indians in battle; for the savages were not
ready to fight, and they abandoned their villages and fled. The troops
returned to Fort Washington without accomplishing anything definite.
    The Indians continued their raids during the summer, and the federal
authorities realized that a decisive defeat of the tribes was all that would
bring peace to the frontier. President Washington called upon Pennsyl-
vania, Virginia and Kentucky to send volunteer militia to help carry the
war into the Indian country, and eleven hundred thirty-three troops re-
sponded. These were commanded by some good officers who had received
their experience in the hard school of the frontier and on the battlefields
of the Revolution. Colonel John Hardin, of Kentucky, a noted Indian
fighter of the old frontier, was in command of the volunteers.
    The success or failure of Harmar's expedition meant life or death to
the settlers of the frontier of which Washington County was a part. Just
how many of these volunteers came from Washington County is not known,
as no separate record was kept, but this section no doubt sent some men.
The author has been able to find the names of only two who are positively
known to have been with Harmar in 1790. They were John Stevenson, of
Cross Creek Township, and Thomas Irwin. Stevenson died on June 2nd,
1847, and is buried in the old graveyard at Cross Creek. Irwin died in
Butler County, Ohio, on October 3rd, 1847, aged ninety years.
   Harmar left Fort Washington on September 30th, and joined Colonel
Hardin at Turkey Creek on October 3rd. The army numbered fourteen
hundred forty-three men. On the next morning this army started its
march into the Indian country. Its objective point was the Indian towns
on the Maumee River and its two tributaries, the St. Joseph and the
St. Mary, in what is now the state of Indiana. The principal village was
Miami Town, called Kekionga by the Indians, which stood on the site of
the present Fort Wayne. This was the Omee of the days of the French
occupation, and a number of French traders still had headquarters there.
They were English sympathizers and were regarded by the Americans as
worse than the Indians.
   The army camped on the St. Mary River on the night of the 13th, and
the next morning General Harmar sent six hundred volunteers under
Major James Paul, who commanded a battalion from western Pennsyl-
vania and Virginia. . It is more than probable that Major Paul was from
Washington County, as there was a man here by that name. This force
reached Omee on the 16th, after exchanging a few shots with the enemy,
but they found the village had been burned and the Indians had fled.
The next day General Harmar arrived with the main column.
   There were seven villages in this vicinity, and General Harmar ordered
them all destroyed, together with all provisions and Indian property. It
is estimated that at least 20,000 bushels of corn in the ear were burned
by the troops. The Americans had not been successful in engaging the
Indians in battle. The latter contented themselves with harassing the
troops and stealing horses.
   On the 19th Colonel Hardin with one hundred eighty Pennsylvania and
Kentucky militiamen, and thirty regulars started in pursuit of some


263





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Indians who had stolen horses the night before. Six miles from their
starting point the troops fell into an ambush. The militia was thrown
into a panic and fled, but the thirty regulars stood their ground, with a
loss of twenty-three killed, wounded and captured. That night the Indians
held a big dance on the site of the battle to celebrate the victory.
    Believing that a general battle with the Indians was impossible, Gen-
 eral Harmar finally decided to return to Fort Washington; and on the 21st
 he marched back eight miles, when he decided to try and bring on another
 partial engagement. Late that night Colonel Hardin and Major Wyllys
 were sent with three hundred Pennsylvania and Kentucky militia and
 sixty regulars, with orders to find the enemy and force a fight.
    The little army marched to the junction of the St. Joseph and St. Mary
rivers, and separated into three columns, moving up the east bank of
the St. Joseph some distance apart. The Indians were led by Little Turtle,
the famous Miami war chief and one of the most noted Indians of his
time. This move by the Americans was evidently just what the cunning
Little Turtle had been waiting for. As soon as the troops had separated,
the Indians appeared on every side. The Indians attacked the two columns
of militia, and then retreated, luring them away from the sixty regulars
under Major Wyllys; and the strategy of Little Turtle was not discovered
until it was too late to be of assistance.
    The main force of Indians attacked the regulars, and Major Wyllys
was killed at the beginning of the battle. The hard pressed little band
fought with the greatest heroism, using their bayonets to good advantage.
The slaughter of the Indians was terrific, but as soon as one warrior fell
another took his place. Desperately the regulars fought, but they were
overwhelmed in the unequal battle. The other columns never realized
the slaughter that was taking place among the regulars, and if they had
it is doubtful if they could have been of any assistance, for Little Turtle
saw that they were fully occupied. Very few of the regulars escaped
to tell of the fearful slaughter, for more than fifty were slain.
   During the engagement of the two columns of militia, they behaved
like veterans and redeemed themselves for their disgraceful flight on the
19th. Stubbornly they contested every foot of the ground, bringing off
twenty of their wounded and leaving many dead upon the field; but they
were finally forced to retire. The militia suffered heavily, for the entire
loss of the three columns of three hundred and sixty men was one hundred
eighty officers and men killed, wounded and missing. It was estimated
that the Indians lost about one hundred.
   After this battle the surviving troops rejoined the main column under
General Harmar and on the morning of the 23rd, the march to Fort
Washington was resumed. During these operations, Harmar lost over
two hundred men, and when the army finally reached Fort Washington on
November 3rd, the packhorses did not exceed one-half the original num-
ber, the others having been shot, stolen and lost. The destruction of
the Indian towns on the Maumee and its tributaries had been accom-
plished, but no crushing defeat had been administered to the Indians. On
the contrary, the whites had been outgeneraled and defeated in the battles
fought; and so this expedition has gone down in the history of the old
frontier as "Harmar's Defeat."


264














CHAPTER LVI.


                               1791.

                      ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT.
WASHINGTON COUNTY FRONTIER PATROLLED-ST. CLAIR BUILDS A LINE
   OF FORTS-ST. CLAIR'S EXPEDITION-MEN FROM WASHINGTON COUN-
   TY WITH ST. CLAIR-WILLIAM STEPHENSON-DEFEAT AND RETREAT
   OF ST. CLAIR-THE SURVIVORS REACH FORT WASHINGTON-COLONEL
   WILKINSON VISITS THE BATTLE FIELD-NEWS OF THE DEFEAT-ST.
   CLAIR RETIRES-HIS LAST YEARS-OLD HOME NEAR LIGONIER-ST.
   CLAIR'S GRAVE AT GREENSBURG-MONUMENT ERECTED BY THE
   MASONS.
           One effort-one--to break the circling host;
           They form-unite-charge-waver-all is lost.
                                                  -Lord Byron.
   With the failure of Harmar's expedition every county on the western
frontier was still exposed to the bloody incursions of the savages. The
old records of the military activities of those times show that only twelve
men were called out by the county patrol in Washington County for serv-
ice on the frontier during 1791, and they only served a few days. In
view of Harmar's defeat of the year before it is a wonder that the hostiles
did not sweep the border from one end to the other.
   Gen. Arthur St. Clair, of Westmoreland County, a Revolutionary gen-
eral, had been appointed governor of the Northwest Territory which in-
cluded both Ohio and Indiana, in 1789, and he decided to erect a chain of
forts, twenty-five miles apart, from the Ohio to the Great Lakes, and then
administer a crushing defeat. St. Clair was a brave man and a capable
officer, who had the esteem of General Washington. But St. Clair was
inexperienced in Indian warfare, and he was so broken in health that he
was hardly able to sit upon his horse.
   It was planned to send an army of three thousand against the Indians,
with General St. Clair in command; but twenty-three hundred is the num-
ber that actually assembled at Fort Washington. This was composed of
regulars and militia from Western Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ken-
tucky. Washington County furnished some of the militia, but a separate
list was not kept, and it is impossible to determine all who were present
from this section.
   It is known that William Stephenson, of Cross Creek Township, a
nephew of the ill-fated Col. William Crawford, was with St. Clair's army.
This man died on March 1st, 1851, aged eighty years, and today his grave
may be seen in the Cross Creek cemetery, marked by a handsome white
marble monument, upon which is a record of his services with St. Clair.
   Christian Bable, who is also buried in the Cross Creek graveyard, was
                               265





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


also with the expedition. He died July 27th, 1853, aged eighty-four years.
It is also known that John Allison, of Buffalo Township, was with St.
Clair, as well as Thomas Irwin, who was with Harmar the year before.
    The army left Ludlow station, six miles from Fort Washington, on
 September 17th. This was the largest force that had ever marched
 against the Indians, and it was believed that it would sweep everything
 before it by sheer force of numbers. Overconfidence was one big factor
 that led to its defeat.
    A description of this army by Washington Irving is well worth quot-
 ing, for it explains better than anything else the reason for its failure.
 Instead of being experienced Indian fighters as some historians have
 claimed, Irving says that the men had been picked up and recruited from
 the offscourings of large towns and cities, enervated by idleness, debauch-
 ery and every species of vice. The equipment of the entire army was
 poor and inadequate; the tents and clothing were nearly worthless, and
 the food for the men and fodder for the horses were deficient in quality
 and quantity. This miserable army was sent forward, through a little
 known land, to conquer a race of fighting men, led by a chief who was a
 past master in all the cunning arts of wilderness warfare.
    A road was cut through the wilderness, and the army moved very
 slowly. When the Great Miami was reached it was found that an advance
 detachment had completed the first of the proposed chain of forts. This
 was named Fort Hamilton, in honor of Alexander Hamilton. On Octo-
 ber 12th, the army started the erection of Fort Jefferson, forty-four miles
 north of Fort Hamilton and six miles south of the present Greenville,
 Darke County.
    St. Clair was taken ill here and was not able to continue until the
24th, when the march was resumed, although he was hardly able to keep
on his horse. Only six miles were made that day, and St. Clair decided
to camp to await the arrival of supplies. While at this place, Indians
were encountered by scouting parties, and two militiamen were killed.
The march was resumed on the 30th, and on the 30th, sixty of the militia
deserted. On November 1st, the army halted again to give the wood
cutters a chance to get some distance in advance.
    On the morning of the 2nd the doomed army resumed its march. The
long expected food and clothing from Fort Washington had not arrived,
and the men were in miserable condition. The ranks had been reduced
by the garrisons left at Forts Hamilton and Jefferson and by a large
number of desertions, until there were scarcely fourteen hundred soldiers
left. They pressed on with a grim determination, and on the night of
the 3rd, footsore and weary, they camped on the eastern fork of the
Wabash River, upon a slight timbered elevation, which was soon to
become one of the famous battlefields in American history. The river was
only sixty feet wide and easily forded. In front and to the right was a
creek and to the left a ravine. The weather was cold and the ground
covered with snow, while thin ice covered all the pools. It was truly a
desolate place, and the scant clothing of the men and their lack of food
made their condition very miserable.
   The militia was camped across the creek, about a quarter of a mile


266









































    Grave of William Stephenson in Cross
Creek graveyard. William Stephenson was
a nephew of the ill-fated Colonel William
Crawford, who was burned at the stake
June 11, 1782. He was one of the Wash-
ington County men present at St. Clair's
defeat in 1791.


    Monument erected by the United States on the site of St. Clair's defeat, Fort
Recovery, Ohio. Washington County men fought and died in this battle of the old
frontier in 1791.


klPT





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


from the regulars. During the night a few skulking Indians were seen
by sentries, but this did not alarm the general for they had been seen
continually for several days.
    The army was under arms by daylight the next morning, November
4th. As usual the men were drawn up in parade, and just as they were
dismissed about half an hour after sunrise, the militia beyond the creek
was suddenly attacked by a large force of Indians. Some of the regulars
rushed to their support, and for an instant their volley firing checked the
mad rush of warriors, who charged more like trained soldiers than sav-
ages. The lines of painted, yelling Indians was a sight that few of these
soldiers had ever seen, and they broke and ran to the camp of the regulars
after standing their ground for a few minutes.
    The regulars sprang to their arms at the first alarm, and as the fright-
ened militiamen rushed into their camp they checked the enemy with a
few volleys. But the red wave of destruction was only stopped for an
instant. Gathering strength it swept on again, almost engulfing the
whites. The whites had been caught in a trap, set by the three greatest
war chiefs of the three most warlike tribes in the Northwest, assisted by
the three white renegades, Simon Girty, Alexander McKee and Matthew
Elliott.
   Little Turtle, war chief of the Miamis, was in supreme command of
the Indian forces. Blue Jacket, the noted Shawnese chief, led the warriors
of his tribe, while Buckengahelas was at the head of the Delawares. These
were the principal leaders of the enemy; but Black Eagle was there with
his Wyandots. It is also said that Joseph Brant, the celebrated Mohawk,
was present, but this is not certain. Tecumseh, the Shawnese, who later
became one of the most famous war chiefs his tribe ever produced, was
also present, but he was then a young warrior. No other army in the
history of Indian warfare up to that time had ever faced such a formidable
combination of war chiefs. The number of Indians engaged has been
estimated at from one to three thousand. Simon Girty afterwards stated
that there were about twelve hundred Indians besides some Canadians
and half-breeds, and these figures are more than likely nearer correct.
   After the first charge, the Indians divided their forces, completely sur-
rounding the camp. All possible chance to retreat was cut off. Then the
Indians began a slow, steady advance. Not a warrior uttered a sound.
Snake-like they crept from log to log and from tree to tree, always screen-
ing themselves, and the deadly crack of their rifles was almost the only
indication of their presence. The soldiers stood in close order in the
open space in which the camp was located, returning the fire as best they
could with their muskets and artillery; but they did little execution. And
the red line slowly but surely closed its grip of death.
   The Indians took advantage of the smoke which hung heavy over the
battlefield to draw closer. Occasionally the terrified soldiers caught a
glimpse of a fantastic figure leap through the haze, with hawk or eagle
feathers braided in his long hair, the totem of his clan painted on his
half naked body, and his face covered with the terrible war symbols of
his tribe. That was all; just a coppery streak through the smoke. In
all the history of our Indian warfare there was probably never another


268




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


battle fought like this. Braddock's defeat thirty-seven years before was
the nearest, but even there the slaughter was not as complete.
   Contrary to all precedents, the artillery failed to awe the Indians in
the least; and instead of being a help to the whites it was a detriment, for
under cover of the dense clouds of smoke from the cannon the savages
gained much of their advantage. The men stood in ranks loading and
firing while the unseen enemy crept close and shot them down like cattle.
   Suddenly swarthy faces, daubed with frightful war symbols, appeared
through the haze, tomahawks and war clubs descended from out of the
smoke with sickening thuds as the skulls of the soldiers of St. Clair's first
line of defense were split open. Before their astonished comrades could
avenge them the ghost-like enemy had vanished in the smoke. This was
repeated several times, while the Indian bullets from the woodland never
ceased.
   Indian sharpshooters picked off the artillerymen until every officer
had been killed except Captain Ford, and he was desperately wounded.
Then the savages charged and captured the guns, and part of the left
wing of the doomed army began to retreat.
   No one played a more gallant part in that terrible day's work than
General St. Clair. Two horses were shot before he could mount. He was
so weak from his recent illness that he had to be lifted on the third horse,
and during the battle three mounts were shot from under him. That the
brave commander was not killed is a miracle, for eight bullets pierced
his clothing, and one clipped a lock of his grey hair.
   Gen. Richard Butler, second in command, fell mortally wounded, and
was carried to his tent, where two surgeons were dressing his wound,
when one was wounded. The next instant an Indian leaped in, determined
to secure the general's scalp, but he was shot dead by the dying surgeon.
When the column under Colonel Wilkinson visited the battle field in Janu-
ary, 1792, General Butler's remains were found in his shattered tent.
   After the Indians captured the artillery they were in rather open
ground, and General St. Clair personally rallied his faltering troops and
drove the enemy from the guns with a bayonet charge. This slight suc-
cess gave the men fresh heart, and several bayonet charges followed. In
one of these charges Colonel Darke's battalion was cut off, and almost
annihilated.
   The officers led charge after charge, and the Indians were driven from
cover among the trees and rocks, but the instant the troops turned the
savages closed in on them again. Maj. Thomas Butler, with a wound
in his thigh, led his troops to the end of the battle, and a bayonet charge
by his men was one of the most successful of the fight.
   The battle raged for three hours, and then St. Clair realized that if
the remnants of the army were to be saved from slaughter, a retreat must
be made at once. The artillery was spiked, and the baggage abandoned,
while the general painfully mounted a horse and gathered about him the
few survivors who still had heart enough left to fight. The enemy had
cut them off from the road, but Colonel Darke and several other officers
led these few men, and they fell upon the Indians with such fury that they
fell back beyond the road. This opened an avenue of escape, and soon the


269





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


survivors were in full retreat. Nearly half the troops had passed their
lines before the Indians realized that a retreat was under way. Then
they fell upon the rear guard and a disorderly rout resulted. In vain
the officers tried to check the flight, which soon became a race for Fort
Jefferson, the nearest refuge, twenty-nine miles away. The Indians only
followed the fugitive army four miles, and then returned to secure the
rich booty at the battle field. Otherwise, the slaughter would have been
much greater. During their flight the soldiers threw away everything
that would hamper their movements. In his official report, St. Clair states
that almost to the gates of Fort Jefferson the road was strewn with guns,
cartridge boxes, and accoutrements of all kinds. The general was mounted
on a horse that could not be forced out of a walk, yet his men never gave
him a thought. The first of the fleeing whites struggled through the gates
at Fort Jefferson a little after sunset, and for hours afterwards others
continued to stumble in.
    Out of that army of fourteen hundred men, thirty-seven officers and
five hundred ninety-three privates were killed, and thirty-three officers and
two hundred fifty privates were wounded. Some prisoners were taken,
but the exact number is not known. Only the wounded who could be
moved were taken off in the retreat. The total number of unharmed men
who finally reached Fort Jefferson was less than five hundred, about one-
third of the total force engaged. This was a greater loss than was in-
curred by Washington in any battle of the Revolution, and surpassed by
hundreds his most disastrous defeat at Germantown.
    The Indian loss was never known definitely, but it is supposed to have
been about one hundred fifty.
    Supplies to the value of $33,000 were either captured or destroyed by
the Indians. This included three hundred horses and one hundred thirty
head of beef cattle, besides artillery, two hundred eight tents, food in the
wagons, muskets and other equipment.
   The official report of the killed gives the name of Capt. Van Swear-
ingen. He was a nephew of "Indian" Van Swearingen, of Washington
County.
   About two hundred fifty women, wives of some of the officers and men,
cooks and camp followers, were with the doomed army; and fifty-six were
killed during the battle. Many of the others were captured, and all of the
horrors and cruelties of Indian captivity were practiced upon them.
   This was corroborated by Colonel Wilkinson, who visited the battle
field the following January. He then found that great cruelty had been
practiced upon the female captives. Their frozen bodies were found
pinned to the earth with stakes driven through them, and from the indi-
cations it appeared that this had been done while the victims were still
alive.
   One of the survivors was Mrs. Catherine Miller, who lived for many
years afterwards in Cincinnati. When the retreat began she ran ahead
of the army clear to Fort Jefferson, her wealth of red hair streaming out
behind her.
   There were no provisions at Fort Jefferson for the survivors, and so
they started on the weary march back to Fort Washington. The next


270




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


day they met the supply train with flour and a herd of cattle. This gave
them food to last on the journey, and on November 8th they reached
Fort Washington.
   When the news of St. Clair's terrible defeat reached the settlements,
consternation swept the whole Western Border, and a feeling of horror
went through the nation. When President Washington first heard the
news he paced the floor, calling St. Clair a murderer and hurling other
imprecations upon the unfortunate general. After he regained control
of himself he declared that St. Clair should have justice, and through all
that followed the general retained the esteem and friendship of the
President.
   St. Clair immediately prepared a report of the entire affair, which
was sent to General Knox, Secretary of War, at Philadelphia, together
with the general's resignation as governor of the Northwest Territory.
St. Clair asked for a court martial to inquire into his conduct, and asked
for permission to retain his commission until this was done. The matter
was referred to a committee of Congress, which made a thorough investi-
gation, and then exonerated St. Clair by declaring that the campaign had
been conducted with skill and bravery. This committee found that the
defeat was chiefly due to the lack of discipline on the part of the militia,
and to the negligence of those whose duty it was to procure and forward
provisions and military stores. This defeat is a glaring example of
unpreparedness.
   President Washington later honored St. Clair by reappointing him
governor of the Northwest Territory, which office he held until 1802, when
he retired to his home in the Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland County, old
and broken in health; neglected and poor, after having given the best
years of his life to his country. Nor was this all. During the campaign
of 1791 he had been compelled to pledge his personal security for many
of the supplies that went to equip the army. Believing that he could
get the money any time he wished he did not present his claim against
the government until years later. Then payment was refused on the
grounds that the claim was so old that it must have been paid, although
no vouchers could be found to establish this assertion by the government.
And for thirty years' service he received very little money, and much
censure.
   The end of Gen. Arthur St. Clair, a hero of the Revolution, personal
friend of President Washington, and one-time governor of the Northwest
Territory, is one of the saddest in American history, and a blot on our
national honor. The last sixteen years of his life were spent in poverty,
and in 1808 his property was sold for debts. He then conducted a way-
side tavern in a log cabin that had been built by one of his sons on Chest-
nut Ridge, five miles west of Ligonier. All of the house except the parlor
was razed a number of years ago.
   General St. Clair fell from a load of hay in August, 1818. It is sup-
posed that he was stricken with paralysis. He was found at the side of
the road, and taken to his home, where he died on August 31st, aged eighty-
four years.
   Upon its own request, the Greensburg Lodge of Free and Accepted


271





CONTENTS


   ESCAPE OF LYDIA BOGGS AND CHRISTIANA CLEMENS TO WOLFE'S FORT
   -PRISCILLA PEAK SCALPED-HUGH M. BRACKENRIDGE-MARRIES
   SERVENIA WOLFE-ADMITTED TO WASHINGTON COUNTY BAR-SET-
   TLES IN PITTSBURGH-PART IN WHISKY INSURRECTION-A JUSTICE OF
   THE SUPREME COURT-SKETCH OF JACOB WOLFE-SITE OF WOLFE'S
   FORT-PEAR TREE PLANTED BY JOHNNY APPLESEED-STRICKER'S
   BLOCKHOUSE RAZED ..... ........ . ... .. .. .. . . . 239

                       CHAPTER LI.
                       1770-1830.
   PERSONAL NARRATIVES OF SOME WASHINGTON COUNTY
                        SETTLERS.
PHILLIP DODDRIDGE, SR.-CAPTURE OF HIS THREE CHILDREN-THE OLD-
   EST DAUGHTER BECOMES A LADY OF FRANCE AND THE YOUNGEST A
   QUEEN OF THE DELAWARES-DAVID BOYD, OF HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP
   -LONG CAPTIVITY AMONG THE INDIANS-THE LONE GRAVES ON THE
   LAIRD FARM                                         246

                      CHAPTER LII.
                        1784-1785.
                 INDIAN RAIDS OF 1784-85.
TWO MEN KILLED ON CROSS CREEK-ATTACK ON HARVESTERS-JOSIAH
   SCOTT, JR., MORTALLY WOUNDED-WILLIAM BAILEY CAPTURED-IN-
   DIANS AMBUSHED BY SOLDIERS-MASSACRE OF THE DAVIS FAMILY
   NEAR RYERSON'S FORT-SPICER, THE RENEGADE .. ___. 250

                      CHAPTER LIII.
                         1787-88.
                  INDIAN RAIDS OF 1787.
NO RAIDS IN 1786-OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES-COLONEL MARSHEL ASKS
   FOR HELP-INDIAN MURDERS-LEVI MORGAN'S ADVENTURES NEAR
   BUFFALO VILLAGE-MARSHEL ORDERS OUT TWENTY MEN AND BOYS
   AND PAYS FOR THEIR SUPPLIES-RAIDS IN 1789-THE LAST INDIAN
   RAID OF ANY CONSEQUENCE-CAPTURE OF MRS. GLASS-RETURN OF
   MR. GLASS-ALEXANDER CAMPBELL MARRIES HIS DAUGHTER ____ 253

                      CHAPTER LIV.
                          1789.
        THE MASSACRE OF THE McINTOSH FAMILY.
STORY TOLD THE AUTHOR BY JAMES SUTHERLAND-EIGHT MEMBERS OF
   THE FAMILY KILLED-BODY OF INFANT FOUND, AND BESIDE IT A
   PRAYER BOOK-GEORGE SUTHERLAND AND HIS DESCENDANTS-
   CAMPBELL'S BLOCKHOUSE ......... ..... 257

                      CHAPTER LV.
                        1789-1790.
                   HARMAR'S DEFEAT.
WASHINGTON COUNTY PEOPLE PRESENT PETITION TO THE SUPREME EX-
   ECUTIVE COUNCIL-FORT WASHINGTON-GENERAL HARMAR MARCHES
   TO THE SCIOTO COUNTRY-HARMAR'S EXPEDITION LEAVES FOR THE
   NORTHWEST-WASHINGTON COUNTY MEN WITH THE ARMY-DEFEAT
   OF THE REGULARS-HARMAR RETREATS ...............   . 261




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Masons, of which the General had been a member, took charge of the re-
mains, and conducted the funeral. He was interred with full military and
Masonic honors in the old Presbyterian Cemetery at Greensburg. His
wife died October 18, 1818, and was buried at his side.
    The graves of Arthur St. Clair, a major general of the United States
 Army, and his wife were unmarked for fourteen years, neglected by the
 country he had served so faithfully. Finally, in 1832, when it was clearly
 apparent that the Government did not intend to erect a marker, the
 Masonic Lodge at Greensburg raised the money and erected a handsome
 monument for that day, upon which was the following inscription:
    "The earthly remains of Maj.-Gen. Arthur St. Clair are deposited
 beneath this humble monument which is erected to supply the place of a
 nobler one due from his country."
    Subscriptions to this monument were made by Masonic lodges through
Western Pennsylvania; and the old records of Washington Lodge No. 164,
F. and A. M., of Washington, show that it gave $10 for this purpose.
    History has proven that a man's country often forgets him; but once
a Mason, always a Mason, is an old adage of this ancient fraternity, and
it never forgets. After the passing of eighty years the first monument
became dilapidated and weathered. It was then clearly apparent that the
Government did not intend to erect the monument it owes General St.
Clair. The Greensburg Lodge of Masons again took up the work, and in
1913 erected a handsome granite monument, an exact counterpart of the
first.
   Like many other ancient graveyards, the old cemetery at Greensburg
has been sadly neglected and is now a tangle of weeds and briars in the
heart of the town. But the spot where General St. Clair rests is cleared
of undergrowth, and the grass is kept fresh and green by the Masons.
   In January, 1792, Col. James Wilkinson, at the head of 150 volun-
teers, marched from Fort Washington to St. Clair's battle field to bury the
dead. The weather was bitterly cold, and the ground was covered with
snow. The battle field presented a horrible sight. The dead lay in piles.
All of the bodies had been scalped and stripped, and were so blackened
with frost that only a few could be identified. The bodies that could be
found were buried in shallow trenches, but many were covered with snow
and were not discovered.
   Three gun carriages were found and taken to Fort Jefferson; but the
cannon were not seen. Two of these were found by General Wayne in
1794, and in 1834 the third was found in the mud at the mouth of the
creek. This was taken to Cincinnati, and for many years was in posses-
sion of an artillery company there.
   On December 25, 1793, a detachment sent by General Wayne arrived on
the battle field. An old account states that before the men could lie down
that night they had to scrape the ground clear of bones. The next day all
of the bones that could be found were interred. The flesh was entirely
gone, but the sinews still held many of the skeletons together. These
soldiers counted 600 skulls. This detachment then erected Fort Recovery,
which is the name of the town which now occupies the site of the battle
field.


272










CHAPTER LVII.


                              1792.
             CONTINUATION OF THE INDIAN WAR.
THE LAST INDIAN WAR PARTY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-GENERAL ABSA-
   LOM BAIRD PROTECTS THE FRONTIER-CAPTAINS OF RANGER COM-
   PANIES ON WASHINGTON COUNTY'S FRONTIER-MURDER OF MRS.
   NANCY ROSS-CAPTURE OF THE BEEKMAN OR BEHAM BOYS-MURDER
   OF THE CROWE SISTERS-ESCAPE OF TANER CROWE-ADVENTURES OF
   MICHAEL CROWE-MINUTE MEN OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-COM-
   PANIES OF CAPTAINS WILLIAM CRAWFORD AND JAMES SEALS.
                 Father have pity on me,
                 Father have pity on me;
                 I am crying from thirst,
                 I am crying from thirst;
                 All is gone, I have nothing to eat,
                 All is gone, I have nothing to eat.
                        -From an old Arapaho song.
   Although St. Clair's defeat was followed by Indian raids over the
whole Western Border, the settlers of Washington County were very
fortunate; for there were few murders committed in this section, and the
year 1792 saw the passing of the last war party in this region. However,
the people of the western edge of the county lived in dread until Wayne's
victory at Fallen Timbers in 1794 forever removed the fear of the red
warriors. It is well for the people of this county that there was no far-
sighted general among the Indians, or our civilization might have been
set back many years. Only a few half-rotten forts and blockhouses stood
in the path of a hostile force that might have entered the county at that
time.
   Gen. Absalom Baird, county lieutenant of Washington County, used
every means at his command to protect the settlers. The muster rolls of
the men called out for service on the frontier of this county from May 19
to November 18, 1792, published in the Pennsylvania Archives, show that
not less than 585 men were engaged in actual service at a cost of $2,000
to the county.
   The following is a list of the captains of the various companies in this
service, with the number of men under each and the term of service:
Capt. John Mitchell, 4 men for 20 days from May 19th; Capt. Thomas
Caton, 60 men for 35 days, commencing June 16th; Capt. Hercules Roney,
4 men for 4 days, commencing July 10th; Capt. Thomas Kittens, 15 men
for 35 days, commencing June 20th; Capt. Abijah Loveridge, 17 men for
5 days, commencing August 13th; Capt. Adam Poe, 65 men for 30 days,
commencing July 30th; Capt. Henry Dickison, 86 men for 35 days, com-
mencing August 28th and September 7th; Capt. John Campbell, 68 men
for 34 days, commencing September 22nd; Capt. Arthur Scott, 70 men
for 35 days, commencing August 25th; Capt. Daniel Depue, 65 men for

                               273
      (18)V1




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


31 days, commencing September 18th; Capt. David Patton, 48 men for 30
days, commencing October 20th.
   In the company of Hercules Roney are the names of Duncan McArthur,
afterwards governor of Ohio, and George Sutherland, both of whom have
been mentioned in connection with the murder of the McIntosh family in
West Finley Township.
   During the summer of 1792 an old lady named Mrs. Nancy Ross, who
lived near where the village of West Alexander now stands, was killed by
Indians. The details of this murder are lacking, except that Mrs. Ross
left her cabin to look for a cow, and was tomahawked and scalped.
   Dr. Alfred Creigh, in his History of Washington County, relates the
capture of the two Beekman boys in West Finley Township by the same
band of Indians that killed Mrs. Ross. There are no other records of this
event, and it may be the same as the capture of the two Beham boys on
Beham's run, West Finley Township, in 1780, which has been described
in Chapter XVI. Which version is correct cannot be told at this late date,
but the incident related by Doctor Creigh is given here.
   The boys went out to hunt horses, and were captured by three war-
riors, who also took the animals. One Indian remained to guard the
prisoners, while the other went to hunt a camping place. A dog had fol-
lowed the boys, and when the Indians saw it after their return they were
afraid they were being pursued, and so they tomahawked and scalped the
lads, leaving them for dead. The older boy received a gash on his fore-
head above the left eye, which did not penetrate the skull, but the blade
glanced off, cutting the eyeball. The younger lad was not killed by the
blow, but was seriously wounded.
   After the Indians departed, the older boy placed his brother on one of
the horses, which the savages had left behind; but the younger boy was
too weak to ride, and so the other mounted the horse himself and started
home. He soon became faint, and dismounting tied the horse, while he
crawled under a large rock to rest. The animal was a mare with a colt,
which chewed its mother's bridle rein in two, and then both started for
home.
   In a short time the Indians who had evidently gone back and followed
the trail of the mare, passed within a few feet of the spot where the boy
lay concealed, but he escaped discovery. After resting for some time he
crept out and made his way home. This boy grew to manhood, and lived
to a good old age. Doctor Creigh states that he himself saw him as an old
man. His scalp was missing, his left eye was closed, and there was a large
scar above it. This is definite information and must be believed.
   There is no Beekman's run in West Finley Township at the present
time. Very often there was no definite record of the names and dates in
early times. This probably accounts for the wide range in dates and the
difference of names, which often became confused; and there is a possibil-
ity that there were two similar incidents.
   The murder of the Crowe sisters occurred near Ryerson's fort, on
Wheeling Creek, in what is now Richhill Township, Greene County, but
that section was then a part of Washington County. Some authorities
state that this incident occurred in 1785, while others place the date as
1779, but Doctor Creigh states that it was in 1792.


274




               HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                      275

   About 1770 or 1771 Jacob Crowe settled on the Dunkard Fork of
Wheeling Creek, near Ryerson's fort. He had a family of five daughters
and one son. One of the daughters worked for James Davis, who with his
family was murdered by Indians in 1785, which has already been described
in Chapter LII. There is a possibility that the murder of the Crowe sisters
occurred the same year as the Davis massacre, as Spicer, the white rene-
gade, took part in both murders.
   The girl who worked for the Davis family went home every Saturday
evening and spent Sunday with her parents. One Sunday morning a colt
broke out of the Crowe pasture, and a son, Michael, went in search of it.
The tracks led up Wheeling Creek, past the mouth of Wharton run, where
he found the animal. He mounted and started home, going back the same
way he had come. Spicer, the renegade, and two Indians who have been
mentioned in connection with the massacre of the Davis family, lay con-
cealed behind a large boulder at the mouth of Wharton run, but they
allowed the boy to pass both times; for they were evidently waiting for his
sisters.
   The five Crowe girls started towards the Davis home, the four accom-
panying their older sister back to work. Before separating they sat down
under a tree, and were cracking nuts when their brother came along on the
colt. He advised them to return home as it was getting late. From this
it would appear that it must have been late in the afternoon or evening.
Two of the girls started up the creek while the other three went down.
Almost immediately two rifles were fired from behind the rock which con-
cealed the savages, and two of the girls fell mortally wounded. The other
three fled with the Indians in pursuit.
   Taner Crowe was knocked down by a tomahawk thrown by one of the
savages, which struck her in the back. Supposing that she was dead, the
Indians did not stop but kept after the others, one of whom was captured:
but Mary, the youngest, outran her pursuers, and was taken up behind her
brother on the horse. They escaped to their father's house, where they
spread the alarm, and the family fled to Ryerson's fort.
   It is claimed that the Indians offered to spare the life of their one cap-
tive, if she would accompany them as their companion, but she refused,
and was tomahawked and scalped, and left to die a lingering death, which
occurred nine days later from exposure and loss of blood. This part of
the story may well be doubted, for hostile Indians were not in the habit
of making propositions of this nature to female white captives. When
they wanted white women, who were unfortunate enough to fall into their
hands, they carried them off to their villages without asking their consent.
   After being knocked down, Taner Crowe crawled off and concealed her-
self beyond discovery. She recovered and lived for many years, but the
wound made by the tomahawk left a terrible scar on her back. She
afterwards married a man named McBride, and was the mother of ten or
eleven children.
   Mary Crowe, the youngest girl who escaped with her brother, married
Hiram Gray. She was the mother of fifteen children, and lived to the
advanced age of one hundred four years.
   Michael Crowe, the boy already mentioned, had a very thrilling and




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


unpleasant experience. The Crowe family was notified that Indians were
in the neighborhood, and the older children were sent to Ryerson's fort,
while their parents followed, carrying the younger children in their arms.
Michael was too small to run this distance and too large to be carried, and
he was concealed under the floor of the cabin, and told to remain there
until help came. In a short time the Indians entered, and pillaged the
house, but the lad remained very quiet, not even venturing forth after the
savages left. He remained there for three days without food or water
before he was rescued, his only companion being a large dog.
   The story of the murder of these girls was handed down in the Crowe
family from one generation to another.
   The old records in the Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth series, volume V,
show that two companies of militia or Minute Men were ordered out by
Gen. Absalom Baird, lieutenant of Washington County, for the protection
of the frontier in 1792. These companies were stationed at Ryerson's fort
and Enoch's blockhouse. One company, composed of fifty-four men, com-
manded by Capt. William Crawford, was mustered in on May 7th, and dis-
charged on December 12, 1792. Crawford received his commission as cap-
tain on April 3rd. There were three members of the Enoch family in this
company, and it is probable that it had its headquarters at Enoch's fort,
although the records do not state at which fort it was located. The only
fort by this name known to the author was that built near Lone Pine by
Enoch Enoch, a member of this company.
   The second company, commanded by Capt. James Seals, was probably
at Ryerson's. He was commissioned a captain of the Minute Men on
March 1st, and in April he recruited a company, which served until Decem-
ber 9th. The original roll, which is in possession of Waynesburg College,
shows the names of twenty-five men, who served from April 12th. The
complete pay roll which is given in the Pennsylvania Archives, contains
the names of forty-four men. Captain Seals lived in an old stone house,
which stood in the west end of Waynesburg.





                         CHAPTER LVIII.

                            1792-1794.
            WAYNE'S VICTORY AT FALLEN TIMBERS.
"THE LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES"-WAYNE DRILLS HIS ARMY-
   MARCH INTO THE INDIAN COUNTRY-DEFIES THE BRITISH AT FORT
   MIAMI-BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS-TREATY OF GREENVILLE-
   PEACE ON THE WESTERN BORDER-REPORTED INDIAN RAID IN WASH-
   INGTON COUNTY IN 1803-DEATH OF GENERAL WAYNE.
                  Like the fierce northern hurricane
                  That swept this great plateau,
                  Flushed with triumph yet to gain,
                  Came down the serried foe,


276





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                  Who heard the thunder of the fray
                     Break o'er the fields beneath,
                   Knew well the watchword of that day
                   Was "Victory or death."
                                            -Theodore O'Hara.
   After the terrible defeat of General St. Clair, the federal government
realized the magnitude of the task of subduing the Northwest tribes; and
it was conceded that another defeat would be ruinous to the reputation of
the young government. Therefore, President Washington decided to take
no chances, and Gen. Anthony Wayne, the hero of Stony Point and one
of the most daring generals of the Revolution, was selected for the task.
Wayne's gallant courage has endeared him to the hearts of the American
people of all generations; and his dashing exploits during the Revolution
gained him the soubriquet of "Mad Anthony."
   The old regular army had been practically annihilated by the defeats
of Harmar and St. Clair, and it was necessary to raise and drill an entire
new force. General Wayne arrived at Pittsburgh, the rendezvous selected,
in June, 1792. The new army, which was christened "The Legion of the
United States," was to consist of fifteen hundred officers and enlisted men
to be divided into four divisions, each commanded by a brigade general.
   The American people looked upon an engagement with the Indians as
almost certain defeat, but the obstacles surmounted by General Wayne
finally convinced the army and the people that Washington had selected
the right man. Fort Fayette, which stood on the site of the Western
National Bank building, at Penn Avenue and Ninth Street, Pittsburgh,
had just been completed in 1792, and during that summer Wayne made
that his headquarters.
   One night in August it was reported that a large force of Indians was
close to the fort. Wayne immediately ordered the troops to form in line
of battle, riding among them to inspire confidence. The soldiers in the
redoubts were ordered to hold their position at all costs until the general
could gain the enemy's rear with the dragoons; but the very mention of
Indians had created such terror in the ranks that about one-third of the
men deserted and left the accessible places unguarded. Of course there
were no Indians. This was just an alarm to test the men. Yet out of
these raw recruits afraid of the very name of Indians, General Wayne
forged a formidable fighting machine that swept everything before it in
a hurricane of destruction two years later at Fallen Timbers.
   In November, 1792, General Wayne moved his army to a new camp
on the Ohio River, nineteen miles below Fort Pitt, which is known to this
day as Legionville; and there he spent the long winter making soldiers of
this rabble of an army. When he completed his work he had one of the
best bodies of fighting men the world has ever known. The heroism of
General Wayne can best be understood when it is known that during all
this time he suffered from a deadly disease which threatened to end his
life at any moment.
   How many soldiers in General Wayne's Legion of the United States
were from Washington County is not known, as no separate record was
kept of them, but it is safe to say that there were a few at least. The


277





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Pennsylvania Archives show that two companies of rangers, commanded
by Captains William Crawford and James Seals, were in the service for
the protection of Washington County's frontier from April 1st to Decem-
ber 12, 1793. Another company commanded by Capt. Anthony Vansickle,
was in the service of this county during October, 1794.
    Legionville is now a flag station on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and
Chicago railroad, in the extreme northwest corner of Harmony township,
Beaver County, just south of the Baden borough line. The site of the
camp is still marked by several lines of trenches, and the graves of several
soldiers who died there. An iron flagstaff erected by the Fort McIntosh
Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, marks the site of Gen-
eral Wayne's headquarters; and in 1918, this chapter unveiled a marker on
the old parade ground.
   On April 30th, 1793, General Wayne moved his army from Legion-
ville to Fort Washington. His camp there was called "Hobson's Choice,"
because it was the only suitable location. He remained there until De-
cember, 1793, when he moved to a new camp in Darke County, six miles
north of Fort Jefferson, which he named Fort Greenville. This was his
headquarters during his operations against the Indians in Ohio; and it
was there that the famous treaty of Fort Greenville was signed on Au-
gust 3rd, 1795.
   Operations against the Indians were delayed during the summer of
1793 by the attempts of commissioners to treat with the tribes; but all
efforts failed, and General Wayne was instructed to carry on the war.
It was then too late to carry on operations that year, and so the army
went into permanent camp at Fort Greenville.
   A detachment was sent to the scene of St. Clair's defeat, and on
Christmas day, 1793, the soldiers pitched their tents on the battle field.
After the work of gathering and burying the bones of the dead had been
completed, this party erected Fort Recovery on the battle ground, which
was garrisoned by regular troops until the close of the campaign.
   Another detachment marched to the scene of Harmar's defeat in 1790,
and erected Fort Wayne, named in honor of the commander of the Legion.
This was the beginning of the present city of Fort Wayne.
   During the summer of 1794 the site of St. Clair's defeat was the scene
of another bloody battle between Americans and Indians; but this time
the savages were pitted against soldiers of a different caliber. Fort Re-
covery at that time was garrisoned by a small but efficient detachment
under Captain Gibson. On June 29th Maj. William McMahon arrived
with ninety riflemen and fifty dragoons; and the next morning the fort
was assailed by an overwhelming force of Indians, and British and De-
troit militia. The enemy had evidently expected to surprise the post and
exterminate the defenders. This was the first real battle of the cam-
paign, and the mettle of Wayne's Legion was put to the test; but every
man behaved in the most creditable manner, and the enemy was repulsed
with heavy loss. They rallied and kept up a heavy fire all day, but it was
returned with good effect by the Americans. The attack was renewed
with great fury the next morning, and kept up with desperation during
the entire day. But the enemy was repulsed on every side and finally


278





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was compelled to retreat from the same field where such a decisive victory
had been won by the allied tribes on that fatal November 4th, 1791.
    From reports of prisoners among the Indians and from the Indians
 themselves, the combined force of Indians and British in this battle has
 been estimated at between 1,500 and 2,000. Their exact loss was never
 known, but when they returned to the British post at Fort Miami they
 stated that no men ever fought better than they did at Fort Recovery,
 but they admitted that they lost twice as many as at St. Clair's defeat.
 The Americans lost twenty-two officers and non-commissioned officers
 killed and thirty wounded, and one hundred twenty privates killed.
    On July 26th, Major General Scott arrived at Fort Greenville with
 1,500 mounted volunteers from Kentucky, which increased Wayne's army
 to more than 3,000 well equipped men. Among these new arrivals were
 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, leaders of the famous Lewis and
 Clark expedition to the Pacific coast in 1804-06.
    On July 28, General Wayne left Fort Greenville with his army, intend-
ing to surprise the Indians at Auglaize; but a deserter informed the enemy
of the plan, and when the Americans arrived at the village they found
it deserted. This was the old Aug Laize, or Grand Glaize of the days of
French dominion of the old frontier. It was there that the great council
of October, 1792, had been held by all the Northwest tribes to discuss the
question of peace or war. This was one of the largest Indian councils
ever held in North America.
   General Wayne constructed a strong fort at Auglaize, which he named
Fort Defiance; and today the town of Defiance stands near the site of the
fort. This became one of the strongest posts in the western country,
and was on land disputed by the British until the close of the War of
1812.
   The Indians had fled to the British post at Fort Miami, at the rapids
of the Maumee, where they prepared for battle. On August 13th, Wayne
sent Christian Miller as a messenger to offer terms of peace, but the In-
dians, against the advice of Little Turtle refused.
   On August 18th, Wayne continued his march, and the next day his
scouts reported the enemy encamped at a hill called Presque Isle, on the
Maumee, two miles south of the present site of Maumee City, and four
miles south of Fort Miami.
   Early on the morning of the 20th the American army moved forward
in battle order. Nothing was seen of the enemy until the Americans had
advanced about five miles, when Major Price's corps was fired on by In-
dians concealed in a strip of woodland and high grass. Immediately the
Legion formed in two battle lines in a thick woods. The Indians and
their allies, the Canadian militiamen, had taken position in a large wind-
fall, where the ground was heavily covered with fallen timber; and this
gave rise to the name of the Battle of Fallen Timbers. The enemy had
secured a strong position, where the cavalry was unable to act, and the
Indians secured a big advantage at the start.
   A hot fire greeted the Americans, and General Wayne ordered the
second line to support the first. The general had expected prompt obedi-
ence to his orders, but the impetuosity of the first line of infantry sur-


279





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


prised even that seasoned warrior.    With fixed bayonets the Legion
charged, and the Indians and their British allies to the number of 2,000
were driven from their strong position by 900 well drilled troops, many
of whom were under fire for the first time. So furious was the charge that
the Legion's second line and the mounted volunteers under Scott, Todd,
and Barbee were unable to get into action, although they made every
effort to do so, and the battle was practically over before these divisions
reached the positions assigned to them. The battle lasted about an hour,
during which the enemy was driven at the point of the bayonet for over
two miles through the fallen timber. When the savages and their allies
saw the utter futility of making a stand, they broke and fled in dismay,
leaving the field in undisputed possession of the victorious Americans.
   The rout only stopped when the Indians were under the British guns
at Fort Miami; but when they reached that post, where they had expected
refuge, they found its gates closed against them, and their defeat and
slaughter witnessed with apparent unconcern by the English. They were
astonished at this treatment; for they had regarded the fort as a place of
refuge in case of defeat.
   The Americans lost thirty-three killed, including five officers, and 100
wounded, nineteen of whom were officers. The loss of the enemy is not
known, but Wayne's official report states that the woods were strewn
with the bodies of Indians and their white allies, the latter armed with
British muskets.
   The Indians were led that day by Blue Jacket, the great war chief of
the Shawnese, assisted by Little Turtle, the Miami, and Buckongahelas,
the Delaware. Simon Girty, Elliott and McKee, the trio of renegades so
well known on the Western Border, fought with the Indians.
   The next day General Wayne rode up to the British Fort Miami, and
coolly inspected it while the English held matches ready at their cannon.
If Wayne had given the word his men would have stormed the fort in the
face of the British guns; and it was with difficulty that they were re-
strained.
   The Americans left the battle field on August 27th, and returned to
Fort Defiance, destroying the Indian villages and crops as they went.
Later Wayne marched to the confluence of the St. Mary and St. Joseph
rivers, where he built the famous fort known as Fort Wayne. This was
used until 1819, when it was evacuated.
   With Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers the power of the Northwest
tribes was broken, and the long Indian war of twenty years was over.
This brought the first feeling of security to the people of Washington
County and other sections of the Western Border. This peace was finally
concluded with the treaty of Fort Greenville, on June 15, 1795, and never
again did the wild war cry of the Indian warrior bring terror to the
settlers of this county.
   About twenty years ago the story of what was claimed to have been
the last Indian raid in Washington County was published in The Reporter.
It stated that in 1803 a band of Indians, led by a white man in British
uniform, appeared before a fort in the western part of the county and
demanded its surrender; but after firing a few scattered shots, the raiders


280





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


disappeared in the forest. There are no other records of such an en-
counter, and the truth of the story may well be questioned; for it is known
that no hostile Indian had been in this county for ten years prior to 1803.
This has probably been confused with some previous raid.
   In 1796, General Wayne took possession, in the name of the United
States, of all British posts in the Northwest. After receiving the sur-
render of Fort Detroit in the fall, he started for home, but was attacked
by his old enemy, the gout, and on December 15, 1796, he died in the fort
at Presque Isle, now Erie. He was buried in the fort; but in 1809, the
body was removed to the family burying ground at Radnor, Pennsylvania.
   When General Wayne's coffin was opened at Erie it was found that
his hair had grown after his death. When the body was prepared for
transportation to Radnor the hair was removed and given to Robert Knox,
postmaster at Erie, and it remained in possession of his family for half
a century. Mr. Knox afterwards came to Washington, and brought the
hair with him. He gave a lock of it to the late Mrs. David Acheson. In
recent years this was presented by a member of the Acheson family to
the Washington County Historical Society, and the historic relic may be
seen in the society's collection on the third floor of the courthouse.
   More than 130 years have passed since Wayne's victory at Fallen Tim-
bers. The wilderness has passed; and now cultivated fields tell the story
of prosperous farms and happy homes in a land once laid waste by the
hostile red man. No more does the white man listen with dread for the
wild war cry of the savage Indian, or stand in fear of a bullet from a
hostile rifle; for all these things belong to the far distant past when Wash-
ington County was part of the old frontier.





                          CHAPTER LIX.

                             1791-1924.
                    RELICS OF PIONEER DAYS.
BATTLE FIELD OF ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT-FORT RECOVERY-RELICS OF THE
   BATTLE-THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT-BATTLE FIELD OF FALLEN TIM-
   BERS-TURKEY FOOT ROCK-FORTS ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER-
   GRAVE OF LITTLE TURTLE.
             Though of the past, from no carved shrines,
                Canvas or deathless lyres, we learn;
              Yet arbored trees and shadowy pines
                Are hung with legends wild and stern.
              In deep, dark glen-on mountain side,
                Are graves whence stately pines have sprung;
              Naught telling how the victim died,
                Save faint tradition's faltering tongue.
                                                -Street.


281






                        CONTENTS                       xxi

                      CHAPTER LVI.
                           1791.
                   ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT.
WASHINGTON COUNTY FRONTIER PATROLLED-ST. CLAIR BUILDS A LINE
   OF FORTS-ST. CLAIR'S EXPEDITION-MEN FROM WASHINGTON COUN-
   TY WITH ST. CLAIR-WILLIAM STEPHENSON-DEFEAT AND RETREAT
   OF ST. CLAIR-THE SURVIVORS REACH FORT WASHINGTON-COLONEL
   WILKINSON VISITS THE BATTLE FIELD-NEWS OF THE DEFEAT-ST.
   CLAIR RETIRES-HIS LAST YEARS-OLD HOME NEAR LIGONIER-ST.
   CLAIR'S GRAVE AT GREENSBURG-MONUMENT ERECTED BY THE
   MASONS                                 ....      - 265

                      CHAPTER LVII.

                           1792.
           CONTINUATION OF THE INDIAN WAR.
THE LAST INDIAN WAR PARTY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-GENERAL ABSA-
   LOM BAIRD PROTECTS THE FRONTIER-CAPTAINS OF RANGER COM-
   PANIES ON WASHINGTON COUNTY'S FRONTIER-MURDER OF MRS.
   NANCY ROSS-CAPTURE OF THE BEEKMAN OR BEHAM BOYS-MURDER
   OF THE CROWE SISTERS-ESCAPE OF TANER CROWE-ADVENTURES OF
   MICHAEL CROWE-MINUTE MEN OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-COM-
   PANIES OF CAPTAINS WILLIAM CRAWFORD AND JAMES SEALS --- 273

                     CHAPTER LVIII.

                        1792-1794.

          WAYNE'S VICTORY AT FALLEN TIMBERS.
"THE LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES"-WAYNE DRILLS HIS ARMY-
   MARCH INTO THE INDIAN COUNTRY-DEFIES THE BRITISH AT FORT'
   MIAMI-BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS-TREATY OF GREENVILLE-
   PEACE ON THE WESTERN BORDER-REPORTED INDIAN RAID IN WASH-
   INGTON COUNTY IN 1803-DEATH OF GENERAL WAYNE ___ ___276

                      CHAPTER LIX.

                        1791-1924.

                RELICS OF PIONEER DAYS.
BATTLE FIELD OF ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT-FORT RECOVERY-RELICS OF THE
   BATTLE-THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT-BATTLE FIELD OF FALLEN TIM-
   BERS-TURKEY FOOT ROCK-FORTS ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER-
   GRAVE OF LITTLE TURTLE. 281

                      CHAPTER LX.
                 THE END OF THE TRAIL.
DEATH NOTICES OF SOME OLD INDIAN FIGHTERS OF WASHINGTON
   COUNTY--ALEXANDER BURNS-HENRY DICKERSON-BOON BUCHANAN,
   THE LAST SURVIVOR OF BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT-MOSES LITTLE, SR.-
   JOHN MILLER, THE LAST SURVIVOR OF FORBES' ARMY-ROBERT Mc-
   CREADY-JOSEPH POST-GENERAL THOMAS PATTERSON - JAMES
   PROUDFIT-JOHN STRUTHERS-CAPTAIN JACOB MILLER-JOHN MOORE,
   COL. DICKSON HUSTON-THOMAS CROOKS-DAVID ALLISON.  _284





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    All signs of the chain of forts built by the heroes of bygone days on
 the western frontier of a century and a half ago have long since disap-
 peared; and with the possible exception of one or two blockhouses, these
 relics have been wiped from the face of the earth by our modern civiliza-
 tion. As the frontier gradually advanced towards the setting sun, taking
 the wild Indian with it, all necessity for these forts passed, and they were
 abandoned and allowed to fall into decay. Interest has been revived in
 recent years by a few individuals and societies in each locality, and the
 sites of some have been marked, while the federal government has placed
 monuments on the frontier battle field.
    A small village, known as Fort Recovery, was laid out on the site of
 St. Clair's defeat and Fort Recovery in 1836. When the low ground in
 the river bottom was cleared years after the battle a large number of
 bullets and grape shot were found buried in the trees from twenty to thirty
 feet from the ground. After the country was settled, many relics such as
 muskets, swords, tomahawks, scalping knives, cannon balls, grape and
 musket shots, and soldiers' equipment were found on the battle field.
 Among the bones picked up was a skull that showed the marks of a bullet,
 a tomahawk, and a scalping knife.
    General Wayne recovered all of the cannon lost by St. Clair, with the
 exception of one, which was missing for a number of years; but about
 1824 it was found in the mud at the mouth of the creek near by. It was
 taken to Cincinnati, where it was in possession of an artillery company
 for a number of years.
    Major McMahon and his men, 142 officers and men who were killed in
the attack on Fort Recovery on June 30, 1794, were buried within the walls
of the fort. After the village was laid out their remains were reburied
with the honors of war, in one large grave, in the village cemetery. In-
cluding the 692 officers and men killed at St. Clair's defeat and those killed
at Fort Recovery, a total of 834 soldiers of the United States were buried
on this battle field. On September 10, 1851, their bones were disinterred
from the graves where they had been buried by Wilkinson and Wayne,
and reburied in thirteen large caskets on the field where they had fought
and died for their country.
   After the lapse of more than a century the government decided to
erect a monument on the field of St. Clair's defeat. Congress appropriated
$25,000 for the purpose, and a massive shaft of North Carolina granite,
ninety feet above the base, was erected. On one side of the shaft is a
figure, nine feet high, typifying a scout of the old frontier. This monu-
ment was dedicated on July 1, 1913.
   The battle field of Fallen Timbers, where "Mad Anthony" Wayne and
his Legion of the United States broke the power of the Northwest tribes,
is now in farm land, and all signs of the terrible conflict have disappeared.
It lies on the banks of the historic Maumee, in Lucas County, about eight
miles above Toledo, and between the towns of Maumee and Waterville. A
sign near the road marks the locality.
   Near the foot of Presque Isle hill, five miles south of Maumee village,
where the fighting commenced, is a large boulder known as Turkey Foot
rock. The story is told that an Indian chief named Turkey Foot rallied
some of his warriors and made a last stand at this rock, where they died


282





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


fighting. Indian carvings representing turkey feet are still visible on the
boulder, which may be seen from the road.
   The ruins of Fort Miami stood for many years about four miles north
of Maumee village. This fort was built by the British in 1794 on the
ruins of an old French fort that had been established in 1680 by a party
of French fur traders that had been sent out by Count de Frontenac.
Nothing but the earthworks now remains to mark the spot.
   Fort Meigs, built by the American troops under Gen. William Henry
Harrison during the War of 1812, where several desperate battles were
fought between American and British troops, stood just across the Mau-
mee River from Maumee village. A number of Washington County sol-
diers aided in the construction of this fort; and it is said that the first
tree used in building it was felled by James Edgar, of Cross Creek Town-
ship.
   All signs of Fort Greenville, where the famous treaty was signed, dis-
appeared more than sixty years ago, and Greenville, a town of several
thousand inhabitants, has grown up around the spot. The fort stood
where the public square is now located. On August 3, 1906, the Green-
ville Historical Society unveiled a marker on the site of the fort.
   The town of Fort Jefferson now occupies the site of the fort of that
name, built by General St. Clair in October, 1791, but all signs of the fort
have disappeared. On October 24, 1907, the citizens of the town unveiled
a marker on the site of the fort.
   Fort Defiance, which General Wayne defied "the English, Indians and
all the devils in hell to take," is also the site of a town of the same name,
but all signs of the fort have long since disappeared. During the War of
1812, Fort Defiance was in such a state of decay that General Harrison
built a new fort, which he named Winchester. This was an important
point for operations against the British at Detroit and Malden. All signs
of both forts have vanished, but in 1822 two blockhouses and two store
houses were occupied by families of early settlers.
   The city of Cincinnati has grown up around the site of Fort Washing-
ton, which was the starting point of so many expeditions against the In-
dians in the Northwest in pioneer times; but nothing remains of the fort.
It was demolished in 1808; and on June 14, 1901, a monument was un-
veiled to mark the site.
   The powder magazine of Fort Hamilton, erected by General St. Clair
in 1791, stood until March, 1913, when it was washed away by the big
floods that swept the Ohio Valley. The town of Hamilton was later built
at the fort; and a monument erected to the soldiers of the Civil war, and
an old mill stands on the site.
   The blockhouses at Fort Wayne stood as late as 1860, but since then
all signs of the historic fort have disappeared, and the site is occupied by
residences in the present city of Fort Wayne. Fort Park occupied the
ground where the northwest corner of the fort stood, and the old well used
by the soldiers is the only relic left. The old Indian council house stood
until 1856. On October 22, 1907, the Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter,
Daughters of the American Revolution, dedicated a Wayne Trace monu-
ment on the old fort grounds. The old cannon which stands in Fort Park


283





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


is an interesting relic of the long ago. This was used by Commodore
Perry in the battle of Lake Erie, in the War of 1812.
    The site of Harmar's defeat is within the limits of the city of Fort
 Wayne. On October 22, 1916, the Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter, D. A. R.,
 unveiled a large boulder on this site in memory of Maj. John Wyllys, and
 his soldiers who were killed there in the battle of Harmar's Ford, Octo-
 ber 22, 1790.
    Little Turtle, the Miami war chief who led the Indians at St. Clair's
 defeat, remained true to his pledge at the treaty of Fort Greenville, and
 was the friend of the Americans until his death. He died at Fort Wayne
 on July 12, 1812, and was buried in the center of the old orchard in the
 yard in front of the home of Capt. William Wells, his brother-in-law. The
 location of the grave was lost with the passing years, and it remained un-
 disturbed for exactly a century. On July 4, 1912, it was found while
 excavations were being made for a cellar for a house for Dr. George W.
 Gillie, on Lawton Place. When the grave of the great chief was opened
 it was identified by relics found with the bones. Among these relics was
 the famous sword presented to the chief by General Washington, and two
 silver medals.
   The handsome gold watch presented to Little Turtle by the British
after the close of the Revolution, is now owned by William Geake, of Fort
Wayne. After the death of Little Turtle it was handed down to the line
of succeeding chiefs until it fell into the hands of John Richardville God-
frey, who had married into Little Turtle's family and became a chief.
From him it passed into the hands of his son, George Godfrey, the last of
the Miamis, who, on his death bed, presented it to Mr. Geake, a warm
personal friend and a brother Mason. Although it is over 150 years old,
the ancient time piece keeps perfect time. It was made by Matobis & Co.,
of Liverpool.




                          CHAPTER LX.

                    THE END OF THE TRAIL.

DEATH NOTICES OF SOME OLD INDIAN       FIGHTERS OF WASHINGTON
   COUNTY-ALEXANDER BURNS-HENRY DICKERSON-BOON BUCHANAN,
   THE LAST SURVIVOR OF BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT-MOSES LITTLE, SR.-
   JOHN MILLER, THE LAST SURVIVOR OF FORBES' ARMY-ROBERT Mc-
   CREADY-JOSEPH     POST-GENERAL THOMAS PATTERSON - JAMES
   PROUDFIT-JOHN STRUTHERS-CAPTAIN JACOB MILLER-JOHN MOORE,
   COL. DICKSON HUSTON-THOMAS CROOKS-DAVID ALLISON.
            "Now sleep the brave, who sink to rest
               By all their country's wishes blessed.
             Where spring with dewy fingers cold,
               Returns to deck their hallowed mold,
             She there shall dress a sweeter sod
               Than fancy's feet have ever trod."


284





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The files of The Examiner and The Reporter, two weekly newspapers
published in Washington during the early years of the past century, con-
tain the death notices of some of Washington County's prominent Indian
fighters. They are interesting as they give valuable historical informa-
tion as to dates of death, age, and when they settled in this section, to-
gether with some of the expeditions in which they took part. In this
history will be found mention of others besides those named in this chap-
ter. This list does not by any means include all of Washington County's
Indian fighters. Few of those mentioned here are found in other chap-
ters. These men have been long forgotten, and their names and the part
they played would have been lost to history, but for the old newspaper
files mentioned, which have been sources of much valuable information in
the preparation of this work.
   Alexander Burns, of Finley Township, died at his home there on Jan-
uary 12, 1826, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. The story of an
adventurous life is told in the short notice of his death: "When in the
bloom of youth he came to this country-he was active in the struggle
which gained our independence and liberty. He suffered much on the
frontiers in the Indian wars, by imprisonment, scanty provisions and the
like. He was a resident of this county for upwards of fifty years. Was
a true and warm patriot in the republican cause."
   Henry Dickerson, of Morris Township, who died on July 27, 1829, re-
ceived only the following brief notice: "Died yesterday, Mr. Henry Dick-
erson, of Morris Township, a soldier of the Revolution and Indian wars,
and one of the first settlers of this county."
   Boon Buchanan, the man whom the author believes to be the last sur-
vivor of Braddock's defeat, died in the Washington County home in Sep-
tember, 1846, ninety-one years after that terrible battle, at the age of
113 years. No other history of the county mentions this important his-
torical fact, which was found by the author in Buchanan's death notice,
which appeared in The Examiner for September 12, 1846. This man has
been utterly forgotten since his death eighty years ago, and his grave is
not even known. The records of the home contain no mention of him;
but then records in those days were poorly kept, when they were kept at
all, and we only know of him from the death notice in The Examiner. But
this was undoubtedly true, for those old newspapers were very accurate in
such matters. The obituary notice mentioned follows:
   "Died-Last week, at the Poor House of this County, Boon Buchanan,
aged 113 years, a colored man, better known to our citizens as 'Old Booty.'
He was a waiter in the army at Braddock's defeat in the year of 1755.
For several years before his death, he was an inmate of our Poor House-
was confined to his room for two or three years; but retained his mind
to the last."
   From this it appears that this man lived in Washington at one time
and was well known here. His interesting life story has been completely
lost, but it is strange that someone of that time did not write the story
before the old slave's death.
   Washington County can also claim the honor of being the residence of
the last survivor of General Forbes' army that captured Fort Duquesne


285





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


in 1758. From the death notice of John Miller, of Somerset Township,
which appeared in The Examiner on December 15, 1832, we find that he
was a soldier in Forbes' army. The fact that he did not die until seventy-
five years after that expedition, gives us the right to claim him as the
last survivor. He died November 29, 1832, as will be seen from the
following:
   "Died-on the 29th ult. Mr. John Miller, of Somerset Township, aged
100 years. He was in the expedition of General Forbes at the taking of
Fort du Quesne, now Pittsburgh, on the 28th of February, 1758, now
nearly 75 years since."
   Like Boon Buchanan, his interesting life story has been lost to history.
All we know today is that he fought with Forbes; and like Buchanan the
location of his grave is unknown.
   Joseph Post, another of the old Indian fighters of Washington County,
died near Mansfield, Ohio, on November 8, 1831, in his seventy-eighth
year. He was born in New Jersey, and fought throughout the Revolution.
After the close of the war he came to Washington County, where, his
obituary notice says, "he served under Captain Scott against the Indians."
He resided in Washington County until just a few months before his
death when he went to Ohio.
   Few men in Washington County a hundred years ago were better
known than Gen. Thomas Patterson, Indian fighter, major-general of mi-
litia, politician, and a member of Congress. He died at his residence in
Cross Creek Township suddenly at an early hour in the morning of No-
vember 16, 1841, aged seventy-seven years.
   Thomas Patterson was one of the early settlers in Cross Creek Town-
ship, and during the Indian wars he "was particularly active and efficient.
With other intrepid associates he took the field against the savage red
man, and secured by the privations which they suffered, and the valor of
their arms, peaceful and happy homes to the white inhabitants and their
descendants."
   He was a major-general of Washington County militia for several
years; and after Hull's surrender of Detroit during the War of 1812, he
volunteered his services. At the same time he loaded his wagon with
flour, which was then high and in great demand, and distributed it gratu-
itously to the volunteers on the march.
   In 1816, he was elected on the democratic ticket to represent Wash-
ington County in the national Congress, serving for four consecutive terms,
or until 1824, when he refused a reelection. It is said that during this
time he was the most punctual and attentive member of Congress, and
was rarely if ever found out of his seat during the sessions.
   John Struthers, who served in Dunmore's war of 1774 and in McIn-
tosh's campaign against the Indians in 1778, during which time he was
a resident of Washington County, died at Cottsville, Ohio, December 31,
1845, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. He was born in Maryland on
February 11, 1759, and came with his father to Washington County before
1774. He served in Dunmore's war, and in practically all of the Indian
wars in the western country, including General McIntosh's expedition
against the western tribes in 1778. He was a surveyor by profession,


286





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and after the close of the Revolution and Indian wars in this section moved
to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he was that county's first sheriff.
   Robert McCready, one of the founders of the Cross Creek Presbyterian
Church and long an elder of that congregation, died at his home in Cross
Creek Township on August 10, 1846, at the advanced age of ninety-five
years. A native of Scotland, he came to America when a young man and
settled at an early date in Cross Creek Township, where he was active in
introducing the gospel, and "in his cabin the roving hunter was taught
to hallow the Christian Sabbath."
   He was present when the first sermon was preached just outside the
gates at Vance's fort, and with the Edgars, Smilies and others he united
in calling the Rev. Joseph Smith, of New Orleans flour fame, to the pas-
torate of the congregations of Cross Creek and Upper Buffalo. For more
than half a century he was ruling elder in the former church. He took
part in many of the expeditions against the Indians, organized by the
settlers in the Cross Creek region; and after a long, useful life he was
buried in the graveyard at Cross Creek village.
   Moses Little, Sr., of South Strabane township, was one of the last of
Washington County's Indian fighters; but James Proudfit, the last Revolu-
tionary soldier to die in Washington County, had fought in some of the In-
dian campaigns before he came to this section. Mr. Little was, therefore,
the last of Washington County's Indian fighters. He died at his home on
November 21, 1848, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. He was one of
the earliest settlers in this county, and served as a member of Capt. An-
drew Swearingen's company of scouts that patrolled Washington County's
frontier during the Revolution, between Catfish Camp and Grave Creek,
now Moundsville, West Virginia. He was a member of the party of scouts
that went to the relief of Fort Henry during the siege of 1777.
   James Proudfit, the last Revolutionary soldier in Washington County,
served in the Indian war of 1783, but he was not a resident of this county
at that time. He was born in Chester County in 1760, and lived in York
County until 1787, when he emigrated to Washington County. He served
in the Continental army during 1777 and '78, and took part in numerous
engagements, and in old age he loved to fight his battles over again. He
died at his home near Florence, on May 1, 1856, aged ninety-six years.
   John Moore, deputy surveyor of Washington County, died on Feb-
ruary 17, 1811, aged seventy-three years. He was a prominent man in
his day, and had held several public offices. He was one of the earliest
settlers in the county, and took part in the Indian wars.
   Col. Dickson Huston, who died in Mercer County, on April 16, 1812,
was an early settler in Washington County. He served during the Revo-
lution with the rank of colonel, and while a resident of this county was
with General Harmar's expedition against the Northwest tribes in 1790.
   Thomas Crooks, who was captain of a company of scouts in Washing-
ton County, resided near Scenery Hill, in West Bethlehem Township,
where he died February 25, 1815. He was buried in the graveyard near
by, where his grave may still be seen.
   David Allison, who died in Buffalo Township, April 14, 1859, not only
served from Washington during the Indian wars, but was a soldier of the
War of 1812. He was aged eighty-nine years.


287











CHAPTER LXI.


                              1784-1833.

              THE LAST INDIANS IN WASHINGTON.

CORNPLANTER AND HIS BAND PASS TIIROUGH WASHINGTON-CATFISH-
    BLACK HAWK AND OTHER INDIAN PRISONERS STOP AT THE GLOBE INN.
                  Ye say their cone-like cabins,
                    That clustered o'er the vale,
                  Have fled away like withered leaves
                    Before the autumn gale.
                  But their memory liveth on your hills,
                    Their baptism on your shore;
                  Your everlasting rivers speak
                    Their dialect of yore.
                                    -Mrs. Sigourney.
   Catfish Camp, now Washington, was never in danger of an attack by
hostile Indians, although it was on the old Indian trail from the Alleghany
Mountains to the Ohio country, which is the route now followed by the
National pike; but in pioneer times and in later years, after peace was
declared, roving bands of Indians often passed through the village. Some-
times they came to trade with the whites, and again they were on their
way east to the national capital. Unfortunately, very few records of those
visits have been preserved except by tradition, and there are only two
authentic cases of such visits.
   The first was when Cornplanter, the noted Seneca chief of the old
frontier, passed through the town with his band in 1784. The Indians
stopped over night here, and some of them became intoxicated at the
taverns. The whites stole three guns from them, and when Cornplanter
complained of this treatment, some of the leading citizens tried to locate
the missing rifles but without success. The chief did not forget, and in
a speech made before the Supreme Executive Council at Philadelphia on
October 29, 1790, he complained of the treatment he and his followers had
received while in Washington, engaged on a peaceful errand. This speech
is found among the records of the council.
   Cornplanter, one of the most noted Indians of this time, was a half-
breed Seneca. His father was a white trader named John O'Bail, said by
some to have been English and by others to have been Dutch, and his
mother was a full blooded Seneca woman. Cornplanter's Indian name
was Kaiiontwakon, meaning "by what one plants."   He was born some
time between 1732 and 1740, on the Genesee River, New York.
   He was one of the best friends the whites ever had among the Indians,
and for valuable services rendered to the people of Pennsylvania, this
state made him a grant of sixteen hundred acres on the Allegheny River,
in Warren County, seven miles below the junction of the Connewango.
                                288




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


He also received a pension of $250 a year from the federal government
for several years.
     He died on this land on February 18, 1832, aged nearly 100 years. In
 1866, the State of Pennsylvania further recognized this Indian's services
 to the whites by erecting a monument to his memory on his reservation.
 This land is still known as the Cornplanter Reservation, and upon it the
 descendants of his band, all that is left of the once powerful Six Nations
 in Pennsylvania, still live.
    The next record we have of wild Indians visiting Washington is that of
 Black Hawk, the famous Sac and Fox war chief, and five other chiefs of
 those tribes, when they passed through here as prisoners of war in 1833.
 Considerable excitement and interest attended this event, as will be seen
 by the following account, which is taken from the newspaper accounts
 printed in detail at the time.
    This occurred after Black Hawk's war in the Northwest in 1832,
 which ended when he and his warriors were captured after their defeat
 by General Wilkinson at the battle of Bad Axe River, Wisconsin, on
 August 3, 1832.
    The party that stopped in Washington was composed of Black Hawk
 and five of his principal chiefs. Besides Black Hawk, whose Indian name
 was Ma-ka-tai-mesh-she-ka-kai, the party was composed of Mesh-she-was-
 kuck, Black Hawk's son; We-pe-kie-shick, the Prophet; Pe-me-ho-its,
 brother of the Prophet; Pe-we-shick, a son of the Prophet, and Nai-po-pe,
 or Broth, the principal chief under Black Hawk.
    The Indians were on their way to the national capital as prisoners of
 war by order of the President. They were in charge of Lieut. T. L. Alex-
 ander, of the United States Infantry, assisted by Sergeants Greene and
 Meredith, of the Sixth Cavalry, and a Mr. St. Vrain, who acted as in-
 terpreter.
    This party arrived in Washington on Tuesday, April 16th, in one of
 the stages of the old National Road Line. As the coach was going down
 South Main Street hill from the courthouse to the stage company's office
 in what is now the Hotel Auld, the chain on the tongue broke and the
 horses became unmanageable. The heavy vehicle, with its ten occupants
 besides the driver, plunged down the hill at a rapid rate. The driver was
 thrown from his seat, but the horses kept in the street until they at-
 tempted to turn the corner into West Maiden Street, on their way to the
 stage stables in the rear of the Hotel Auld, then called the Washington
 House.
   The heavy stage was going at such a rapid rate when the horses at-
tempted to turn the corner that the vehicle swung against the curb in
front of the "Round" corner and upset on the pavement. Fortunately,
the horses stopped or the entire party might have been killed.
   Several of the occupants were painfully injured. Sergeant Greene's
left arm was broken and his left hand badly mashed. Black Hawk's left
wrist and shoulder were painfully injured, and his son was bruised on the
forehead and one shoulder, while the son of the Prophet received a blow
on the forehead, but it was not serious.
   The entire party was taken to the old Globe Inn, where the DeNor-
mandie Building now stands at the corner of South Main Street and West
      (19)Vl


289




290           HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Strawberry Alley, where the injured members received medical attention.
The entire party then remained two days to recuperate; and as may be
imagined these wild Indians, who had so recently been on the warpath,
were objects of great curiosity to the people of the town. The Globe Inn
was thronged with visitors during their stay. On Thursday, April 18th,
the journey was resumed by all except Sergeant Greene, who was left in
charge of a surgeon.
   This ends the pioneer history of Washington County. The wild war
cry of the Indian warrior has not been heard within our borders for nearly
135 years; and with his passing the land has become civilized. Never
again can such times and conditions exist; for we no longer have a wild
frontier inhabited by as warlike a race as the old-time Indian. He has
passed forever, but in the passing he made some history that will be
remembered for all time to come.
































                        PART II.

      CIVILIZATION COMES TO THE WESTERN BORDER.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, TO-
   GETHER WITH THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY, THE COURTS,
   CRIMINAL HISTORY, SLAVERY, THE ABOLITION MOVEMENT AND "UN-
   DERGROUND RAILWAY", AND INTERESTING EVENTS IN THE COUNTY
   HISTORY.





















UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
University Library System


This book presented
         by
   Park L. Rankin
   in memory of
   Park Y. Rankin


UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY SYSTEM







CONTENTS


                      CHAPTER LXI.
                         1784-1833.
            THE LAST INDIANS IN WASHINGTON.
CORNPLANTER AND HIS BAND PASS THROUGH WASHINGTON-CATFISH-
   BLACK HAWK AND OTHER INDIAN PRISONERS STOP AT THE GLOBE
   INN                                                 288

                      CHAPTER LXII.
              SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY.
SOME EARLY SETTLERS-110OW THE FIRST SETTLERS LIVEI)-THEIR MAN-
   NER OF I)RESS--AMUSEMENTS ---HIIUNTIN(G-CIRCULAR DEER HUNTS-
   CIRCULAR FOX IUNTS OF LATER TIMES-DISAPPEARANCE OF GAME-
   THE LAST FLOCK OF WILD TURKEYS-EAGLES KILLED) IN THE COUNTY
   ---PORCUPINES KILLED-THE LAST DEER KILLED IN THE COUNTY-
   GEORGE WASHINGTON'S LAND IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-TWO KEEL
   BOATS OF FLOUR TAKEN DI)OWN CHARTIERS CREEK-BRANDS AND EAR
   MARKS ON RECORD IN RECORDER'S OFFICE-RECORDS OF ORIGINAL
   SURVEYS                                             293

                     CHAPTER LXIII.
                        1771-1781.

             WASHINGTON COUNTY CREATED.
WASHINGTON COUNTY TRACED FROM THE ORIGINAL CHESTER COUNTY
   OF 1682-PART OF BEDFORD COUNTY OF 1771-PART OF WESTMORE-
   LAND COUNTY OF 1773-WESTMORELANI) COUNTY RECORDS IN THE
   RECORDER'S OFFICE-THE VIRGINIA-PENNSYLVANIA BOUNDARY DIS-
   PUTE-VIRGINIA'S CLAIM TO THIS SECTION-VIRGINIA CREATES THE
   DISTRICT OF WEST AUGUSTA-THE FIRST VIRGINIA COURT HELD AT
   FORT DUNMORE-THE WEST AUGUSTA COURT MOVED TO AUGUSTA
   TOWN-THE FIRST COURT HELD BY ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE WEST
   OF THE MONONGAHELA RIVER-THE COURTHOUSE ON THE GABBY
   FARM-WEST AUGUSTA DIVIDED INTO OHIO, YOHOGANIA AND MONON-
   GALIA COUNTIES, VIRGINIA-THE YOHOGANIA COUNTY COURT-MASON
   AND DIXON'S LINE-VIRGINIA SURVEYS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-
   PENNSYLVANIA PROTESTS-THE BOUNDARY SETTLEMENT-WASHING-
   TON COUNTY CREATED IN 1781 FROM PARTS OF OHIO, YOHOGANIA AND
   MONONGALIA COUNTIES, VIRGINIA                      306

                     CHAPTER LXIV.
                        1781-1800.

             ORIGINAL WASHINGTON COUNTY.
AREA OF THE ORIGINAL WASHINGTON COUNTY-FIRST OFFICERS AND
   POLITICAL TROUBLES-ELECTION OF JUSTICES-ORIGINAL TOWN-
   SHIPS-NEW STATE PROJECTS-NEW COUNTIES CREATED FROM PARTS
   OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                            _____318

                     CHAPTER LXV.
                        1781-1925.
              WASHINGTON COUNTY COURTS.
ORGANIZATION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY COURTS-THE FIRST GENERAL
   ELECTION-UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF 1776-JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


xxii












CHAPTER LXII.


                 SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY.
 SOME EARLY SETTLERS-HOW THE FIRST SETTLERS LIVED-THEIR MAN-
    NER OF DRESS-AMUSEMENTS-HUNTING-CIRCULAR DEER HUNTS-
    CIRCULAR FOX HUNTS OF LATER TIMES-DISAPPEARANCE OF GAME-
    THE LAST FLOCK OF WILD TURKEYS-EAGLES KILLED IN THE COUNTY
    -PORCUPINES KILLED-THE LAST DEER KILLED IN THE COUNTY-
    GEORGE WASHINGTON'S LAND IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-TWO KEEL
    BOATS OF FLOUR TAKEN DOWN CHARTIERS CREEK-BRANDS AND EAR
    MARKS ON RECORD IN RECORDER'S OFFICE-RECORDS OF ORIGINAL
    SURVEYS.
    Many of the early settlers of Washington County have been mentioned
 in the preceding chapters, in the accounts of the Indian wars. A com-
 plete list of the first white people who came to this county prior to 1790
 is not the purpose of this chapter, for the reason that such a list is im-
 possible to compile at this late date. Many came here, remained a few
 years and then drifted farther west, for the American pioneer was always
 moving about in search of the promised land. Others proved up on their
 land, and remained here, but the only records we have of most of them
 are to be found in the recorder's office and in their death notices which
 appeared from time to time in The Reporter and The Examiner, of Wash-
 ington.
   In the history of the various townships in the county will be found
the record of the first settlers in each, but in addition to these are many
who have escaped the historian, and whose only record is to be found in
the old newspapers. Among these we find the following:
   William McFarland, died in Amwell Township, June 2, 1823, aged sixty-
seven years.
   Arthur Chamberlaine, died in Amwell Township, May 5, 1824, aged
about seventy years.
   Andrew Nichol, died in Canton Township, May 22, 1826, at a very ad-
vanced age.
   Jacob Wolfe, died in Buffalo Township, April 20, 1835, aged ninety-
eight years; proprietor of Wolfe's fort.
   Thomas Palmer, Sr., died in North Strabane Township, August 21,
1839, in the ninety-fifth year of his age; one of the first settlers on Char-
tiers Creek. His descendants numbered upwards of 450 at the time of his
death.
   Benjamin Rickey, died in Morris Township, December, 1852, aged
100 years.
   John Moore, deputy surveyor general of Washington County; died Feb-
ruary 17, 1811, aged seventy-three; took part in the Indian wars.
   Patrick McCollough, died January 8, 1811, in Somerset Township; aged
seventy-six years; took part in the Indian wars.
   Thomas Crooks, died at his home at Richard's Valley, West Bethlehem
Township, February 25, 1815.
                               293





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Myles Haidan, Sr., died in West Bethlehem Township, December 17,
 1815, aged eighty years. He had been a resident of Washington County
 forty-four years.
    Thomas Brownlee, died in Buffalo Township, July 27, 1816, aged sixty-
 five years, one of the first settlers in this county.
    Demus Lindley, died in Morris Township, February, 1818, aged eighty-
 four years; one of the first settlers of this county.
    John Hughes, died in Amwell Township, September 15, 1818, aged
 sixty-eight years.
    William Curry, died in Amwell Township, August 15, 1820, in the
 eighty-second year of his age. This was the grandfather of Hugh and
 Monroe Curry, brothers and well known residents of Amwell Township in
 recent years. They were the principals in the Curry Brothers' feud.
    Edward Bess, died in Canton Township, July 17, 1822, at an advanced
 age.
    John Hill, died in Fallowfield Township, July 12, 1823, aged sixty-three
 years; a resident of this county forty years.
    Nathaniel Redd, died in Fallowfield Township, August 5, 1824, one of
 the first settlers in the western country.
    Col. Samuel Clarke, died in East Bethlehem Township, September 15,
 1824, an early settler in this county.
    Henry Dickerson, died in Morris Township, July 27, 1825, one of the
 first settlers of this county.
    Alexander Burns, died in Finley Township, January 12, 1826, aged
eighty-seven years, a resident of this county for fifty years.
    Isaac Teeple, died in Fallowfield Township, December 7, 1828, in the
sixty-ninth year of his age.
    Thomas Nichol, died in Canton Township, November 4, 1830.
    Moses McWhirter, died in North Strabane Township, January 24, 1832,
aged eighty-nine years.
   John Dannell, "The Last of the Old Pioneers," died in Cecil Township,
August 31, 1832, in the eighty-fourth year of his age; he resided fifty-
eight years on the farm where he died.
   John Dulty, died in Washington, May 25, 1833, one of the first settlers
of Washington.
   Capt. Daniel Hamilton, died in Somerset Township, December 9, 1836,
one of the early pioneers in the settlement of the western country.
   Isaac Vance, died in South Strabane Township, November 5, 1837, in
the eighty-sixth year of his age; active in the settlement of the western
country.
   James Linn, Sr., died in North Strabane Township, December 24, 1838,
aged seventy-nine years, a resident of Washington County for about sixty
years.
   Angus McCoy, died in East Finley Township, January 12, 1840, in the
eightieth year of his age; one of the earliest pioneers of the West.
   Edward McLaughlin, died in Donegal Township, May 16, 1841, aged
eighty-five years; a resident of Donegal Township for upwards of fifty
years.
   George Wilkin, died in Canonsburg, December 26, 1844, aged eighty-
four years; a resident of this county for fifty years.


294





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


     John McIlravey, died in North Strabane Township, June, 1845, aged
  ninety-five years.
     Christian Hootman, died in Donegal Township, August 31, 1845, aged
  eighty-eight years; one of the first settlers of this county.
     Daniel Huston, died in Union Township, March 11, 1846, aged ninety-
 three years.
     George Ramsey, died in Hopewell Township, January 1, 1849, aged
 ninety-six years; for more than sixty years he was a resident of that
 township.
    James G. Passmore, died in Fallowfield Township, December 7, 1849,
 aged ninety-four years; he had resided in Washington County about sixty-
 two years.
    John Scott, died in Buffalo Township, October 16, 1850, aged ninety-
 three years; he settled in Washington County in 1781.
    James Armstrong, died in West Alexander, September 12, 1853, aged
 ninety-three years; he settled near West Alexander in 1789.
    It is hard for us of today to understand the terrible hardships which
 the first settlers of Washington County had to endure both before and for
 many long years after the Revolution. In those days the Alleghany Moun-
 tains was the barrier between the civilization of that time and the wilder-
 ness. A journey to Washington County in those times was fraught with
 more danger than a journey to central Africa or Asia would be today.
 In addition to the ever-present Indian menace was the danger of starva-
 tion and sickness from improper food.
    A hundred miles of mountains lay between them and Hagerstown, the
 nearest point from which supplies could be secured in any quantity. Even
 salt had to be carried on horseback from the East. Their chief articles
 of food were venison and corn meal; anything else was a luxury, and
 coffee and tea were practically unknown. When the corn meal gave out
 they were compelled to live on venison. Doctors were unknown, but for-
 tunately those who lead an outdoor life seldom need medical attention.
    A journey to the settlements was made only about once a year, and
 all supplies brought back were packed on horseback; for wagons were
 unknown in those early days of the western country. The principal route
 used by the settlers from Washington County in traveling east and west
 was Braddock's road across the mountains to Laurel Ridge, and then the
 old Indian trail known as Nemacolin's path from that point to the Ohio
 country, a trail that was centuries old before the first white man tra-
 versed it.
   What furniture they had was of a kind that could be carried on horse-
back or was made with a broadax and crosscut saw after their arrival
here. China and silver were unknown. A few settlers possessed pewter
dishes, plates and spoons, relics of the eastern civilization they had left
behind; but the majority used wooden bowls, trenchers or wooden plates
and noggins. Some had only gourds and hard-shelled squashes; while the
cooking utensils consisted of iron pots and iron ovens, commonly known
as Dutch ovens, for baking with hot coals.
   When the annual journey east was made the horses were loaded with
furs and hides of wild animals, which were exchanged for the necessities


295





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of life, and these generally consisted of salt and iron with which the
horses were loaded on the return journey. In the last years of the eight-
eenth century, when freighting was done with the old Conestoga wagons,
the variety of supplies brought across the mountains was increased. But
for many years before that time the settlers were compelled to subsist
on what few crops they could raise, wild game, and a few hogs.
    Corn was about the only grain they had, and from it they made hominy
 and corn meal. Mush was generally eaten with sweetened water, and
 black molasses, or if these could not be obtained then bear's oil and gravy
 from fried meat were substituted. Truly it was a land of poverty, hard-
 ships and toil where men and women became old before they were fifty.
 Only the indomitable spirit of the American pioneer, who was always
 seeking a new home in the wilderness, kept them alive. But such a life
 bred a race of men and women, the like of which has never been known
 in the history of the world.
    The dress of the people of those early times, both men and women
 would look strange in any part of Washington County today. The first
 settlers who crossed the mountains quickly adopted Indian clothing as
 the most comfortable and practical in the wilderness. And it was the
 cheapest, too. As the clothing brought from the East became worn out,
 it was replaced with buckskin, and in a short time the men looked half
 Indian and half civilized.
    The hunting shirt was worn by all men on the frontier. This was a
 loose frock of linsey or buckskin which reached almost to the knees. It
 was open in front, but big enough to lap over several inches when belted.
 The seams and the bottom were fringed. A belt was always worn around
 the waist, not only to hold the scalping knife and tomahawk but to hold
 the garment tight against the body at the waist so that the bosom of the
 garment could be used as a receptacle in which to carry food, tow and
 other articles necessary to the hunter and Indian scout. Suspended over
 the shoulders with a buckskin strap where the bullet pouch and powder
 horn. On the head was either the broad-brimmed felt hat of that period
 or a cap made of the skin of some animal with the fur-side out. The
 dress was completed with almost skin-tight breeches and leggings of the
 same material as the shirt, and generally fringed down the outside seams.
 The close fitting shoes of civilization were quickly discarded for the more
 comfortable Indian moccasin, which was quickly made in a short time.
   The moccasin answered the purpose well except in wet weather, when
the feet were always wet. This was a common cause of rheumatism, and
led to the custom of all men sleeping with their feet to the fire.
   Even this attire changed after the Indian wars started, and many of
the young men discarded the close-fitting breeches for the Indian leggings
that reached to the thighs, which were left bare; and the Indian breech
clout was adopted. Young men in this attire were often seen in church.
   The women wore plain linsey petticoats and gowns, devoid of all finery,
with sunbonnets made from linen of home manufacture. In the summer
they went barefooted, and in the winter they wore either the universal
moccasin, or heavy shoes of shoepacks. They had no time for finery, for
life to them was one continual round at the spinning wheel, cooking meals


296





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and working in the gardens. Pleasures were unknown to them, and it was
their lot to always remain at home. When the men became tired of work
they could secure relaxation by hunting either game or Indians. But life
held little for the women beyond raising large families and working from
early dawn until sunset.
    The only diversions of the early pioneers were weddings and attending
 church. A wedding on the frontier was a big event, and was attended by
 everyone for many miles around without the formality of an invitation.
 After the ceremony and the jollification which followed, the entire neigh-
 borhood joined in erecting a cabin and clearing ground for the young
 couple. The completion of the new home was followed by a house warm-
 ing, which sometimes lasted for several days.
    Dancing was a common amusement indulged in by both sexes, but it
was of the simplest kind, being confined to three and four-handed reels
and jigs. The dances of today were unknown on the frontier.
    Shooting at a mark was a common diversion of the men and boys; and
shooting matches were frequently held. Running, jumping and wrestling
were athletic sports frequently indulged in.
   Washington County abounded in all kinds of game in early times.
Deer and bear were very plentiful, and supplied the principal article of
diet. It is also reported that an occasional buffalo drifted into this sec-
tion in early times, but this animal was not native here. Wild turkeys,
foxes, raccoons, squirrels, birds and all kinds of small game were found
in great numbers. Truly it was a hunter's paradise, and the men often
engaged in circular hunts.
   In these circular hunts, the men surrounded a wide territory and grad-
ually closed in, driving every kind of game before them. When the circle
closed, deer and other large game were slaughtered in large numbers.
   Game laws were not passed for many years, and these circular deer
hunts were indulged in until long after the frontier had passed. In later
times dogs were used to course deer, the same as they are now used in
fox hunts. After newspapers were published in Washington, a circulai
deer hunt was advertised in the press. One of the last of these events of
which we have any record took place in 1834, as appears from the follow-
ing announcement which appeared in the Washington Examiner on Jan-
uary 25, 1834:
                             DEER HUNT.
                   Lots of fun and fast racing,
                   Dog running and deer chasing;
                   The swiftest dog takes the prize,
                   No difference if he runs or flies.

   Chase to commence on Friday, the 31st day of January, 1834; on the
farm of Henry Plymire, Jr., 7 miles west of the borough of Washington
near the National Road, leading from Washington to Wheeling, where
all owners and keepers of dogs are invited to attend.-No dogs under the
age of three months will be permitted to take part in the chase, unless
the owners or keepers will give security that they disturb no sheep or
other stock. Chase to commence at ten o'clock A. M. where all those


297





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


intending to enter their dogs will please to be at the appointed place at
the above hour.
                                        Henry Plymire.
                                        Anthony Tennis.
    Circular fox hunts were a favorite form of sport until the beginning
 of the present century, but they no longer take place. The last one of
 which the author has any knowledge in Washington County took place
 on February 22, 1901, near Canonsburg, where they had been held for
 several years prior to that time. The system as in the deer hunt de-
 scribed was used. The hunters gathered at various points, starting from
 Canonsburg, Hill's Station, Thomas, Linden and other points in that sec-
 tion. They were advertised in the newspapers, and hunters with dogs
 were invited from all points. Usually several foxes were captured when
 the circle closed, but in that last hunt in 1901, in which the author took
 part, not a single fox was captured. The circle closed at a point about
 three miles east of Canonsburg. Several hundred people and a large
 number of dogs took part.
    The big game, such as deer, bear, panther and wolves disappeared from
 Washington many long years ago. The wolves disappeared in the early
 years of the nineteenth century, while this section was still a wilderness.
 The reason for this is not known definitely, but it is believed to have been
 due to hydrophobia. Wolves afflicted with rabies frequently attacked
 settlers, and at one time were a great menace, for they became very bold
 and attacked men almost at their cabin doors.
    Several men are known to have died from hydrophobia after having
 been bitten by a mad wolf. One of these men of whom we have record
 was Captain Rankin, of Raccoon Creek, and another was John McCamatt.
    The panther disappeared from this section many long years ago. The
 Examiner for December 5, 1829, states that on December 1, 1829, a panther
 was killed by Adam Rickett on the farm of George Wise in West Bethle-
 hem Township. It measured 7 feet 9 inches from the nose to the point
 of the tail. Others were probably in the county for several years after
 that time.
   The Washington Review of January 21, 1864, informs us that a few
days before that date a flock of wild turkeys were seen in Amwell and
Franklin townships. These were the first wild turkeys seen in the county
for many years prior to that time, and as far as I have been able to learn,
they were the last.
   That eagles were once abundant in Washington County we know, but
they disappeared before the advance of civilization, and are now only
found in remote mountainous sections of the state. However, as late as
1866 they were evidently rather abundant in this county, as two were
killed and another seen during that year. The Washington Review and
Examiner for February 28, 1866, states that on February 17, 1866, Levi
Meyers shot a grey eagle in Somerset Township, which measured 7 feet
1 inch from tip to tip of its wings. It was feeding on the dead carcass of
a sheep at the time. This was probably the species known as bald eagle.
That it was really an eagle there can be no doubt from its size.
   The Review and Examiner for April 25, 1866, informs us that while


298





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


several men were plowing in a field of Squire Shannon, in Fallowfield Town-
ship, on April 13, 1866, a large American eagle swooped down and seized
a week-old lamb in an adjoining field, and "with a loud scream flew off
far above the tree tops, bearing the bleating lamb in its talons." The
men shouted and made such a noise that the bird became frightened and
let go of the lamb which fell to the ground. It is also stated that the bird
has since been seen in that neighborhood.
    The same newspaper for June 20, 1866, states that a short time before,
 Samuel M. Shiller, of Buffalo Township, shot an eagle which measured
 seven feet from tip to tip of its wings.
    These are the last definite records which I have been able to find of an
 eagle being seen in this county until 1910, when a golden eagle was killed
 near McConnells Mills, in Chartiers Township. On December 19, 1910,
 a Mr. Morgan, of McConnells Mills killed this bird while feeding on the
 carcass of a dead calf, about three-quarters of a mile southeast of that
 village. It had been seen in the neighborhood for some time before, but
 was believed to be a turkey buzzard until Mr. Morgan killed it. Mr. Mor-
 gan had it mounted and on March 29, 1912, the author saw it and positively
 identified it as a fine specimen of the golden eagle. The locality where it
 was killed is very thickly settled, and it had probably strayed there from
 the mountains of Fayette County, or from West Virginia.
    Another unusual occurrence of game in Washington County was the
 appearance in Cecil Township in December, 1922, of a porcupine, which
 was killed on the William McPherson farm in that section, by Harry Smith.
 About twenty-five years ago a porcupine was killed on the Cook farm,
 near Meadowlands, Chartiers Township. A few days later another was
 killed near the pump station of the Citizens Water Company, in South
 Franklin Township.
    An old resident of the county once informed the author that he saw
a deer at West Alexander in the early sixties, which had been killed in
that vicinity. Another old resident saw a bear that had been killed in
the western section of the county about the same time. These are the
last records we have of either of these animals having been killed which
were native in the county.
   In 1910, a buck deer was killed in the valley near the pump station
of the Citizens Water Company, just west of Washington. This animal
had probably strayed from the mountains in Fayette County, or had
escaped from some private park.
   George Washington owned a tract of 2,813 acres of land in what is
now Mount Pleasant Township, which was patented to him by Lord Dun-
more, governor general of the colony of Virginia, on July 5, 1774. This
is now divided into many farms; and some of the descendants of the early
owners of these farms claim that their ancestors purchased the lands
direct from General Washington himself. Stories of deeds signed by
Washington, which are still in possession of members of certain fam-
ilies, are told in that section; but as a matter of fact the deeds on record
in the Washington County recorder's office show that George Washington
made only one deed for land in this county. That was to Matthew Ritchie
on June 1, 1796, for the entire tract. It was divided up after that, and


299





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


later owners received their deeds from other persons, as will be related
hereafter.
    On May 8, 1774, Col. William Crawford, who acted as Washington's
 agent, wrote to Washington as follows: "Sir-Inclosed you have the
 drafts of Round Bottom and your Chartiers land, finished agreeable to
 Mr. Lewis's direction."
    This land, which is today very productive, lies between Miller's Run
 on the east and Raccoon Creek on the west. The history of this land dates
 back to the first settlement of Washington County. Washington had been
 through western Pennsylvania in 1753 and again in 1755; and when the
 region west of the Alleghany Mountains was opened to settlement by In-
 dian treaty in 1767, he decided to make an effort to secure several tracts.
 Accordingly he instructed his friend, Col. William Crawford, then living
 at Stewart's Crossing on the Youghiogheny River, to locate several tracts
 for him.
    Through Crawford as agent, Washington purchased in 1768, four tracts
 of 1,661 acres in Perry Township, Fayette County. As has already been
 stated in a previous chapter, George Croghan had been deeded a large
 tract of several thousand acres by the Six Nations in Western Pennsyl-
 vania, part of which was in Washington County. In 1770, Washington
 made a tour through what is now Washington County, and was so favor-
 ably impressed with the country that he instructed Crawford to secure
 a tract in this section.
    Crawford tried to purchase a part of the Croghan land, but it had not
been surveyed, and after an examination he was afraid that the latter
would not be able to give a good title. He accordingly looked elsewhere.
On August 2, 1771, he advised Washington by letter that he had found
some good land about fifteen or sixteen miles from Fort Pitt, and located
on Chartiers Creek. This must have been a branch of that stream, which
drains the tract. In subsequent letters, Crawford advised Washington that
he had selected land for him; but it seems that when Croghan learned of
this he claimed that the lands were within the limits of his grant. He
used every means in his power to induce settlers to settle on the lands
claimed by Washington, promising them his assistance in holding their
claims. This was the beginning of the squatters on the Washington lands
in this county.
   On December 29, 1773, Crawford advised Washington that a dozen peo-
ple had settled on his land. Croghan employed a man named Thompson
to survey his grant, but when it did not take in Washington's land, Cro-
ghan refused to accept. He then employed a Mr. Campbell to run the
lines, but again Croghan refused to accept his survey. Another surveyor
named Hooper ran the line, and evidently included the Washington land,
for Croghan accepted the survey. Dorsey Pentecost then made a survey
of 30,000 acres for Croghan on Chartiers and Cross creeks, which left out
the Washington land.
   On January 10, 1774, Crawford advised Washington to take out a Vir-
ginia patent for the land. Washington had this surveyed, and received a
grant from Lord Dunmore on July 5, 1775. The squatters, however, re-
mained on the land undisturbed until after the Revolution.


300





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   In the fall of 1784 General Washington came to this county and in-
spected his lands here. Accompanied by Doctor Craik, his physician, he
crossed the Monongahela River at Devore's ferry, now Monongahela city,
on September 18th, ate at Hamilton's about four miles from that place,
and then stopped for the night with Colonel Canon, at Canonsburg. Local
tradition states that the house in which he was entertained stood near the
present old mill of the Canonsburg Milling Company in Canonsburg.
   The next day, September 19th, was Sunday, and so the general waited
until the 20th to visit his land. On that day with a guide he made an
inspection of the tract and found a number of squatters living there. In
his diary he gives the names of the following who had located on the
land: James McBride, Thomas Biggart (Bigger), Robert Walker, William
Stewart, Matthew Hillast, Brice McGeehen, Duncan McGeehen, David
Reed, John Reed, William Hillas, John Glen, James Scott, Matthew John-
son, and Samuel McBride, all of whom had improved sections varying
from three to seventy acres.
   He dined at David Reed's, after which James Scott and Squire John
Reed asked if he would sell the land, stating that they did not believe
they could be dispossessed, but that to avoid litigation they would buy
if his terms were reasonable. Washington informed them that he did
not wish to sell, but after hearing of their hardships and religious prin-
ciples, which had brought them together as a society of Seceders, he in-
formed them that he would sell the entire tract at 25 shillings per acre
to be paid in three annual payments with interest; or he would lease it
to them for 999 years. When informed that some were disposed to t -
linquish their claims he received their answers individually. James Scott,
William Stewart, Thomas Lapsley, Samuel McBride, Brice McGeehen,
Thomas Bigger, David Reed, William Hillas, James McBride, Duncan Mc-
Geehen, Matthew Johnson, John Reed and John Glen stated that they in-
tended to stand suit and abide by the issue of the law. This version is
taken from Washington's own diary.
   The story that Washington was fined for using profanity during this
interview with the squatters has been told so many years that it has be-
come one of the traditions of the county; but there is really nothing to
base this upon. According to this version, Washington declared with an
oath that he would have the land and Squire John Reed promptly fined
him five shillings, which the general immediately paid, apologizing at the
same time. This story states that the interview took place at the home
of John Reed.
   Boyd Crumrine, in his history written in 1882, states that at that
time (1882) Joseph Reed, a son of David Reed mentioned above, was still
living. This man stated that he had often heard his father tell the story
of Washington's visit. The interview mentioned took place at David
Reed's house, and he made no mention of Washington having used any
profane language on that occasion.
   After the dinner the business of the squatters' rights was taken up.
Squire Reed presented the case for the settlers, mentioning that there
was grave doubts as to the validity of Washington's title. The general
replied with dignity and some warmth, stating that they had been warned


301






                        CONTENTS                      xxiii

   UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONS OF 1790 AND 1838--PRESIDENT JUDGES-
   JUDGE McILVAINE'S LONG RECORD-ADDITIONAL LAW JUDGES-CRE-
   ATION OF THE ORPHANS' COURTS-JUDICIAL ELECTION CONTESTS-
   WASHINGTON COUNTY'S FOUR COURTHOUSES-THE COUNTY BUILD-
   INGS-LIST OF JUDGES AND COURT OFFICERS FROM 1781 TO 1925-
   COURTHOUSE OFFICIALS FROM 1781 TO 1925-ATTORNEYS OF THE
   WASHINGTON BAR                                      323

                     CHAPTER LXVI.
                         1784-1925.
                   CRIMINAL HISTORY.
 EXECUTIONS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-THE DOANE GANG-NOTORIOUS
   MURDER CASES-MARY STEWART-WILLIAM CRAWFORD KILLS HIS
   SON FOR SINGING "THE BLACKBIRD"-ROBERT CARLYLE-REBECCA
   McCRORY-MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF D. B. COOPER-THE
   OWENS MURDER-SAMUEL H. WHITE-JOHN BISTLE-ROBERT W. DINS-
   MORE-THE CROUCH MURDER-THE DURR BROTHERS-MARTIN REED'S
   CAREER-MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF HARRY LANE-WHO
   KILLED SAMUEL DORSEY?-FRANK MOSEBAY ESCAPES THE GALLOWS
   -ALEXANDER WUSTLICH-THE FERGUSON MURDER CASE-MOSS BAY
   -MURDER OF THE PEARCE FAMILY-JAN RIBARICK-THE CECELIA
   FUNKA MURDER MYSTERY-THE BLACKHAND-FRAGASSA AND DAN-
   IELE-BANK ROBBERIES-HOUSTON BANK ROBBERY-THE FINLEY-
   VILLE BANK-JESS P. MILLER'S BANK ROBBED            370

                     CHAPTER LXVII.
                        1781-1845.
            SLAVERY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
SLAVES BROUGHT TO WASHINGTON COUNTY BY THE HOGES AND OTHER
   SETTLERS-ACT OF 1780 ABOLISHING SLAVERY-SPECIAL ACTS FOR
   WASHINGTON AND WESTMORELAND COUNTIES-REGISTRY OF
   SLAVES AND SERVANTS-STATISTICS OF SLAVES FROM 1790 TO 1840-
   SLAVERY DEEDS ON RECORD IN THE RECORDER'S OFFICE   406

                    CHAPTER LXVIII.
                        1824-1861.
              THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
THE FIRST ABOLITIONISTS-WESTERN ABOLITION SOCIETY-CENTER-
   VILLE ABOLITION SOCIETY-WEST MIDDLETOWN ABOLITION SOCIETY-
   ABOLITION SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON AND FAYETTE COUNTIES-
   WESTERN ANTI-SLAVERY CONVENTION-WASHINGTON ANTI-SLAV-
   ERY SOCIETY-ANTI-SLAVERY MEETING AT WEST MIDDLETOWN-DR.
   FRANCIS J. LeMOYNE-THE ABOLITION PARTY-JOHN BROWN ESTAB-
   LISHES THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY THROUGH WASHINGTON
   COUNTY-ESCAPING SLAVES-THE McKEEVERS, WEST MIDDLETOWN
   -OLD NAYLOR-TAR ADAMS                              415

                      CHAPTER LXIX.
                        1794-1925.
                  INTERESTING EVENTS.
THE BURNERS OF 1794-BIG SNOW OF 1799-BIG SNOW OF 1886-BIG SNOW
   OF NOVEMBER, 1913-EARLY SNOW IN OCTOBER, 1925-COLDEST DAY




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


by his agent, and declared that there was no doubt as to his claim being
valid. Rising from his seat and holding a red silk handkerchief by one
corner, he said: "Gentlemen, I will have this land just as surely as I
now have this handkerchief." This story agrees with Washington's own
version, and is, no doubt, correct.
    After the interview closed Washington returned to Canonsburg with
 Colonel Canon, Colonel Neville, Sheriff Van Swearingen, and Craig Ritchie,
 all of whom had accompanied him on the trip. Washington was accom-
 panied as far as Wickerham's mill, near Devore's Ferry, where they dined.
    A short time later Washington employed Thomas Smith, an attorney
 of Bedford County, to fight the case for him, and ejectment suits were
 brought at the December term of court, 1784, against Samuel McBride,
 James McBride, Thomas Bigger, William Stewart, Brice McGeehen, Duncan
 McGeehen, Squire John Reed, David Reed, John Glen, James Scott, Sr.,
 William Hillis, and Matthew Johnson. Hugh M. Brackenridge represented
 the defendants.
   The squatters claimed that Washington had purchased the land from
Col. George Groghan, who had obtained title through an Indian grant,
which was not recognized by either Pennsylvania or Virginia. Washing-
ton's right under the Virginia patent from Lord Dunmore was well estab-
lished, and he was upheld by the court. After this decision some of the
settlers remained on the land as tenants. Thomas Bigger removed to
the land in Robinson Township, near Fort Dillow, where he had settled
in 1773.
   Matthew Ritchie acted as Washington's agent for this land, and on
June 1st, 1796, he purchased the entire tract for $12,000. Ritchie then
advertised the land for sale, but he evidently sold none of it, as there are
no deeds on record. He was a merchant in Washington and died there
in the spring of 1798. He was a brother of Craig Ritchie, of Canonsburg,
and John Ritchie, of Washington.
   He left the Washington lands by will to Alexander Addison, "subject
to account for the profits after payment of the purchase money." It seems
that Ritchie gave Washington a mortgage on the land, and after the gen-
eral's death this was held by Bushrod Washington, William Augusta
Washington, George Steptoe Washington, Samuel Washington, and Sam-
uel Lewis, executors, and Martha Washington, executrix of Gen. George
Washington. In March, 1802, there were still two payments amounting
to $6,409.20 due on this mortgage, and Absalom Baird, then sheriff of
the county, was ordered to levy upon and sell this land to satisfy this
claim. The property was sold at public sale to Alexander Addison for $60,
and a deed given by Sheriff Baird on May 4th, 1802.
   Judge Addison began the sale of this land in small tracts on April 3,
1802, by the sale of 301 acres to James Scroggs, 140 acres to John Cowden,
and 194 acres to James McDowell. Others who bought land from this
tract were Matthew Hillis, 99 acres on September 8, 1802; John Berry,
251 acres, on August 15, 1804; Robert George, 150 acres on April 10,
1805; and Samuel Scott, 309 acres, on May 4, 1805.
   After Judge Addison's death on November 27, 1807, his widow and
executrix, Jane Addison, conveyed on April 1, 1810, 200 acres to John


302




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Johnson, and on April 5, 1810, the remainder of about 1,300 acres to the
same man. Johnson sold 265 acres to Vincent Cockins on August 1, 1817;
104 acres to Dr. James Irwin on May 7, 1810; 180 acres to John Hogseed,
on April 1, 1813; 180 acres to David McConehey, on September 10, 1817.
The remainder of the land was sold to others in later years.
   When David Hoge laid out the town of Washington in 1781, he pre-
sented Lots 43 and 102 to Gen. George Washington. Lot 43 is now owned
by the First Presbyterian Church, and Lot 102 is part of the Washington
and Jefferson College campus. However, it is doubtful if General Wash-
ington ever really owned these lots, as there are no deeds on record convey-
ing them by Mr. Hoge; nor are there any deeds on record from Wash-
ington to any other person or society.
   It is interesting for us of the present day to know that at one time
the Pennsylvania legislature passed an act declaring Chartiers Creek nav-
igable. Col. John Canon, who built a flour mill at Canonsburg about 1781,
or shortly thereafter, sent two keel boats loaded with flour from his mill
to New Orleans. This incident is best described from an item taken from
The Pittsburgh Gazette of May 15, 1790:
   "About five or six days since, a number of men to the amount of thir-
teen left Canonsburg, on Chartiers Creek, and with the advantage of a
rising flood conducted two boats from thence in about twelve hours to the
Ohio River. One was large and heavy, built for the purpose of carrying
flour to New Orleans, forty-seven feet in length and twelve in breadth,
a small part of the cargo, to the amount of forty barrels, on board; the
other a barge, twenty-five feet in length, built for the genteel reception
of passengers. The amazing facility with which these boats passed down
the creek to the mouth, their safe crossing of two milldams, one of which
was about twelve feet high, with the rudeness of the creek in its natural
state, especially at the falls, sufficiently show what immense advantage
might arise to thousands of people in the County of Washington were the
legislature to attend to the improvement of its navigation. From Canons-
burg and nearer Washington the carriage charge to Pittsburgh, on account
of hills and deep roads, is not less than three shillings and ninepence per
barrel for flour; yet were attention paid to the cultivation of this excel-
lent stream of water, one boat of the afore-mentioned size would, in all
probability, carry two hundred barrels to the Ohio without detriment
thereto or a farthing of expense."
   David Bradford, of Washington, who operated a mill farther up the
creek, sent a boat load of flour down the stream about this same time.
This mill was afterwards owned by Dr. Robert R. Reed, of Washington.
The legislature took notice of these trips, and on April 8, 1793, passed an
act declaring Chartiers Creek a public highway for boats and rafts from
its mouth to David Bradford's mill. Under this law all natural and arti-
ficial obstructions were required to be removed.
   It is generally supposed that the method of marking cattle and horses
running at large by means of brands and ear-marks originated on the
western plains before the Civil war; but the records in the recorder's
office show that this method of marking stock was used by the settlers
of Washington County as early as 1786. That these brands and ear-marks


303




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


were recognized by law is shown by the fact that they were put on record.
Whether this was used by people in other counties of Pennsylvania has
never been shown elsewhere, but the recorder's offices in other localities
may contain some interesting facts on this subject. At any rate the
method was in use in this county.
    In pioneer times cattle were allowed to graze upon unfenced land, and
 it was necessary for the owners to have some means of identification; thus
 it was that the method of branding and cutting the ears was devised.
 These old brands are interesting, for they tell the story of a stage of
 settlement and civilization of Washington County 140 years ago. Just
 who originated the idea is not known at this late date, but in Deed Book 1,
 Volume C, we find the first recorded mark to be as follows:
    "Eliezar Williamson, his Mark: Viz. A crop off the Left ear-upper
 part of the right ear. Recorded the 5th day of June, A. D., 1786. Thos.
 Stokely, register and recorder."
    All of these brands and marks were recorded before 1790. The second
 is: "Brand of Daniel Elliott, Mark is as follows: Viz. Crop off Each ear,
 a slit & underbit off ye Right-Brand DE. Recorded June 11th, 1786."
    Some of the other brands and marks are: Aron William, a swallow
 fork in the left ear and two under pieces in the right; recorded October
 10, 1786. Joseph Pyles, a crop off each ear and a slit in the same; re-
 corded December 22, 1786. James Efgar, a crop off left ear and a slit in
 the same; recorded February 5, 1787. Thomas Hill, two swallow forks
 and a under bit off the left ear; brand TH; recorded May 26th, 1787. John
 Welsh, a crop off the right ear, an underbit off the same and an underbit
 off the left ear; recorded May 13th, 1787. Richard Welsh, a crop and an
 underbit off the left ear, and an underbit off the right ear; recorded May
 13, 1787. William Hill, Sr., right ear cropped and slit, and an underbit
 off the left; recorded May 13, 1787. John Ankrom, a crop and two slits
 in each ear; brand J A; recorded August 6, 1788.
    The following are found in Deed Book 1, Volume B, page 103; Samuel
Blackmore, a swallow fork in the right ear and an over half in the left;
recorded July 4, 1787. Philip Ross, a crop off the left ear and a crop and
underbit off the right; recorded July 5, 1787. George Williams, a crop
off the left, or near ear, and a slit in the right, or off ear; brand G W B;
recorded July 6, 1787.
    The following are found in Deed Book 1, Volume B, page 225: John
Bell, a crop off the left ear and underbit out of the right; recorded March
28, 1787. John Small, "a poplar leaf the left ear and the right." The
brand is a heart in which are the letters J S; recorded March 28, 1787.
Thomas Pouramous, a crop off the right ear and a slit in the left; recorded
March 30, 1787. Abigil Martin, two slits in the right ear; recorded April
16, 1787.
   The following are found in Deed Book 1, Volume E, page 60: John
Thresher, a crop and a slit in the left ear; recorded January 31st, 1789.
Andrew Farley, a half crop off the left ear and the under side, and a
whole crop off the right; brand A F; recorded March 28, 1789. Henry
Frakes, a hole in the right ear, and a half penny out of the under and
upper side of the left ear; recorded March 30, 1789. Robert Croutch, a


304




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


crop off the right ear; brand R C; recorded May 18th, 1789. Boston
Burgett, a crop and two slits in each ear; recorded May 27, 1789.
   Many of these ear marks such as the swallow fork, the underbit, and
the slit are still in common use among cattlemen on the open ranges of the
far West. From the fact that many of the cattle in the olden times were
only marked with ear marks and no brands, it is evident that cattle steal-
ing was not common. Such brands as have been recorded would be very
easy for a modern Western cattle rustler to work over into something else,
while cattle with only ear marks would be an easy prey.
   When the early settlers came to Washington County their lands were
granted to them under Virginia certificates, and after 1780 by Pennsyl-
vania. These were surveyed and after the county was erected the records
were entered in survey books in the recorder's office. There are four of
these original survey books, which are still on file in the recorder's office.
Books 1, 2 and 3 each contain two parts, which make six volumes. The
first entry found in Book 1 is:
   "Salebrity, is a draught of a survey made Dec. 9th, 1784, in pursuance
of a warrant granted to Robert Smith dated Sept. 13th, 1784, situated on
the waters of Wheeling, containing 400 acres."
   The custom in early times was to give the tract a name, as will be seen
by the first entry. This custom prevailed until the latter part of 1789 or
some time in 1790. After that time the tract was simply described with-
out a name. Some of the names under which surveys were made at an
early date were Indian Camp, Winter Meadow, Indian Grave, Walnut Hill,
Servis Bush, Alarm Post, Buffalo Lick, Beaver Dam, Fox Hill, Lyons Den
(probably meaning Lion's Den), Field Fort, Club Law, Charleroy, Bomb
Proof, Duck Run, Tadpole Branch, Scalp Point, Panther Pitt, Elk Ridge,
Bark Cabin, Battle Hill, Peace and Plenty, Turkey Hill, Hunters Lick,
Black Bear Camp, Indian Ridge, Owls Head, Deer Lick, Grave Bottom,
Panther Lick, Crab Orchard, Maiden Spring, Wolf Den, Come and See,
Panther Hollow, Lead Mine, Porcupine, Snake Den, and many others.
   On page 423, of Book 1, is the survey of "A tract of land on the Mon-
gahalia river, called Fair View, executed in pursuance of an order for 300
acres granted Nathan Hammond, the 26th day of August, 1769, and No.
3768, containing 3041/4 acres and the allowance of 6 per cent. Surveyed
November 20, 1792." While this was not surveyed until 1792, it was
probably among the first grants in the county, as will be seen by the date
of 1769.
   Land was granted and surveyed in this county for large tracts as late
as the '30s and '40s, and even in the '50s and for many years later there
were many for small tracts of from one to six acres. These were for
small tracts that had been overlooked in the original surveys. One of
these surveys is as late as 1873, "made in pursuance of a warrant granted
to James Boon bearing date of Nov. 17, 1873, for one acre of land unim-
proved, containing 46 perches and allowance situated in Independence
Township, Washington County. Surveyed April 13th, 1874, by James
Gayman, county surveyor."


(20)V1


305











CHAPTER LXIII.


                            1771-1781.
               WASHINGTON COUNTY CREATED.
WASHINGTON COUNTY TRACED FROM THE ORIGINAL CHESTER COUNTY
    OF 1682-PART OF BEDFORD COUNTY OF 1771-PART OF WESTMORE-
    LAND COUNTY OF 1773-WESTMORELAND COUNTY RECORDS IN THE
    RECORDER'S OFFICE-THE VIRGINIA-PENNSYLVANIA BOUNDARY DIS-
    PUTE-VIRGINIA'S CLAIM TO THIS SECTION-VIRGINIA CREATES THE
    DISTRICT OF WEST AUGUSTA-THE FIRST VIRGINIA COURT HELD AT
    FORT DUNMORE-THE WEST AUGUSTA COURT MOVED TO AUGUSTA
    TOWN-THE FIRST COURT HELD BY ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE WEST
    OF THE MONONGAHELA RIVER-THE COURTHOUSE ON THE GABBY
    FARM-WEST AUGUSTA DIVIDED INTO OHIO, YOHOGANIA AND MONON-
    GALIA COUNTIES, VIRGINIA-THE YOHOGANIA COUNTY COURT-MASON
    AND DIXON'S LINE-VIRGINIA SURVEYS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-
    PENNSYLVANIA PROTESTS-THE BOUNDARY SETTLEMENT-WASHING-
    TON COUNTY CREATED IN 1781 FROM PARTS OF OHIO, YOHOGANIA AND
    MONONGALIA COUNTIES, VIRGINIA.
    Prior to the settlement of the boundary dispute between Pennsylvania
and Virginia in 1779, all of the land west of the Alleghany Mountains
was claimed by both states; but after Pennsylvania ratified the Baltimore
agreement of August 31, 1779, all of the land as far west as the present
West Virginia line and south to the Mason and Dixon line, which was at
that time the southern boundary of Washington County, was given to
Pennsylvania.
   According to Pennsylvania's claim, Washington County is traced back
to the original Chester County of 1682, which at that time included all
of the land west of that place, although no Englishman had ever been
west of the mountains. On May 10, 1729, Lancaster County was created
from Chester County, and it in turn included all of the land claimed by
Pennsylvania to the west. The white settlers gradually pushed farther
into the wilderness, and on January 27, 1750, Cumberland County was
created from all of that part of Lancaster County lying to the west.
   During the next few years Braddock and Forbes pushed into the West,
and in 1758 the French were forever driven from what is now Western
Pennsylvania. Fort Bedford, built in the mountains, had become a per-
manent settlement, and so on March 9, 1771, Bedford County was created.
Then the great migration west of the mountains set in, and it became
necessary to create a new county, and so Westmoreland was formed on
February 25, 1773, which included all Western Pennsylvania, west of the
Alleghany Mountains. After the settlement of the boundary dispute,
Washington County was created on March 28, 1781, from that part of
Westmoreland lying west of the Monongahela River; and it included what
is now all of Allegheny, Greene, Beaver, and the present Washington
counties.
   Among the old deeds on record in the Washington County recorder's
                               306




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


office are several for land in Westmoreland County. These are deeds that
were given before Washington County was created, and when this section
was claimed by both Pennsylvania and Virginia.
   We have already traced the descent of Washington County from the
original Chester County of 1682, but how near we came to being part of
old Virginia few of us understand today. If the latter state had been
successful in its claim, then this county would today be a part of the West
Virginia Panhandle. While the Revolution was at its height this boun-
dary dispute came near to bringing on a civil war between the settlers
west of the mountains; for they were divided on the question.
   The majority of those early settlers came from Pennsylvania, Virginia
and Maryland. Those from the latter two states espoused the claims of
Virginia. Each state, Virginia and Pennsylvania, had its own separate
courts and officers in this section, and the bitterness became so intense
that it was not forgotten for a generation. In fact, this feeling was so
intense that the partisans of each side could not forget their differences
in the face of their common foe, the Indians, and that more than anything
else contributed to the defeat of George Rogers Clark's plans to invade
the Northwest in 1781 and capture Detroit; because Clark was a Virginian
many of the people of Washington County refused to support him.
   In order to understand this properly we must go back to the first Eng-
lish settlement. In 1583 Queen Elizabeth granted the first patent to Sir
Walter Raleigh; but the grant was indefinite and might be construed to
include practically all of North America. This patent became extinct
through misconduct of the settlers, opposition of the Indians and other
calamities.
   In 1606 James I granted a new patent to the South Virginia Company,
commonly called the London Company, and the North Virginia Company,
known as the Plymouth Company. The London Company was not to go
below thirty-four degrees, and the Plymouth Company was not to go above
forty-five degrees, and each was limited by a square of 100 miles back
from the sea.
   The London Company received a new grant in 1609 which gave it
greater territory. This was rather indefinite, for it included the land
from sea to sea, west and northwest. Virginia claimed that the west line
should be drawn from the southern limit of its long coast line and the
northwest line from the northern end. In this case the northwest line
would run right through the heart of Pennsylvania, and east of Lake
Erie. In 1624 the London Company was dissolved in the English courts,
and from a proprietary colony Virginia became a crown colony, and re-
mained so until the Revolution.
   It is claimed that by the royal decree of October 10, 1763, Virginia
was limited to the ridge of the Alleghany Mountains, but after the treaty
of Fort Stanwix in November, 1768, Lord Dunmore, governor of Virginia,
granted warrants and patents for land west of the mountains; and for
this he was reproved by the British secretary of state.
   Washington County as claimed by Virginia was a part of Spottsylvania
County, which was created on May 1st, 1721, to include all of the Virginia
land to the west. In 1734 Orange County was created from Spottsylvania,
and it comprised the whole of Western Virginia. Four years later, 1738,


307




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Frederick and Augusta counties were erected from Orange County.
Augusta County embraced all of Virginia west of the Blue Ridge Moun-
tains, and included what is now Western Pennsylvania.
   The British government abandoned Fort Pitt in 1773, and Dr. John
Connelly took possession in the name of the Colony of Virginia, naming
it Fort Dunmore. Staunton was the county seat of Augusta County, and
on December 12, 1774, Lord Dunmore issued a writ adjourning the county
court of Augusta County from Staunton to Fort Dunmore. The first term
of court was held at Fort Dunmore on February 21st, 1775, when George
Croghan, John Campbell, John Connelly, Thomas Smallman, Dorsey Pente-
cost, John Gibson, George Vallandigham, and William Goe took the oaths
as justices, with Croghan as presiding justice. From this date there were
two different sets of magistrates, assessors and commissioners over the
people of Western Pennsylvania. Two different courts, one under Vir-
ginia and the other under Pennsylvania, administered justice.
   On February 22, 1775, Robert Hanna and James Caveat, Pennsylvania
justices, were arrested by the Virginia authorities for performing acts
under authority of Pennsylvania, and imprisoned at Fort Dunmore. Three
months later the sheriff of Westmoreland County, with a posse, released
Hanna and Caveat, and made Dr. John Connelly a prisoner. He was held
for several days in the jail at Hannastown, then the Pennsylvania county
seat of Westmoreland County, and released upon demand of the Virginia
authorities. On his way back to Fort Dunmore, Doctor Connelly arrested
several Pennsylvania adherents and held them for trial.
   At the second day's session of the Augusta court at Fort Dunmor
on February 22, 1775, the following took the oath as Virginia justices:
Edward Ward, William Crawford, John Stephenson, John McColloch, John
Canon, Silas Hedge, and Davis Shepherd. The same day viewers were
appointed to lay out a road from Providence Mounce's mill, east of the
Monongahela, by Ausberger's ferry at Catfish Camp. Among these viewers
were Henry Taylor, the first presiding judge of Washington County, and
Van Swearingen, our first sheriff.
    On May 17, 1775, viewers were appointed to view a road from the
foot of Laurel Hill by William Teagarden's ferry, now Millsboro, to the
mouth of Wheeling Creek. Among these viewers were Abraham and
William Teagarden, who resided at the mouth of Ten Mile Creek, and
Rezin Virgin, of near Catfish Camp. This road was ordered on September
27, 1775, to be established.
    Augusta County had been created by Virginia in 1745, and in 1774
and '75 the district of West Augusta was created as a part of Augusta
County. We now come down to the first mention of Augusta Town, where
the first court was held by English speaking people west of the Mononga-
hela River. On August 20, 1776, the court at Fort Pitt (Fort Dunmore of
1775) made this order: "David Shepherd and John Canon, Gent., are
appointed to contract with some person or persons to build a house, 24 by
14, with a petition [partition] in the middle, to be used for a gaol at
Catfish Camp Augusta Town." The words "Catfish Camp" were erased
and the words "Augusta Town" substituted. At the same day's session
this entry was made: "Ordered that the Court be adjourned until the
Third Tuesday in September next to Catfish Camp Augusta Town." In


308





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


this entry the words "Catfish Camp" were erased and "Augusta Town"
substituted.
   This brings us down to the first court held in what is now Washington
County, and the first court held by English speaking people west of the
Monongahela. It is a record of much importance, and one which should
be known to every citizen of this section:
   "At a Court at Augusta Town for the district of West Augusta Sep-
tember 17th, 1776, Pres't Edward Ward, Dorsey Pentecost, John Cannon,
David Shepherd.
   "Pat McElroy, deputy Sheriff, protested against the Insuff. of the
Gaol, & on his Motion Ord to be certified.
   "Ord. the Sheriff Summon 24 Freeholders to serve as a Grand Jury of
this court in November next.
   "Ord that the Court be adjourned until to-Morrow morning 6 o'clock.
                                                 "Edward Ward."
   Edward Ward, the presiding judge of this court that held its first
session at Augusta Town, was the same Ensign Edward Ward who, on
April 17, 1754, surrendered the fort then being erected by the English at
the forks of the Ohio to the French and Indians. This was completed as
Fort Duquesne by the French. At the time this first court was held at
Augusta Town, Edward Ward was a resident of Pittsburgh; Dorsey Pente-
cost had moved only a short time before from the forks of the Youghio-
gheny to the east branch of Chartiers Creek, in what is now North Stra-
bane Township; John Canon had lived for three or four years on the site
of Canonsburg, and for several years David Shepherd had lived at Elm
Grove, West Virginia.
   On August 20, 1776, Shepherd and Canon had been ordered to have
erected the gaol referred to in one of the above entries, but when court
was held it was probably not completed, as shown by the protest made by
Deputy Sheriff Pat McElroy. In those times the courthouse and jail were
in one building, the first floor being used as a gaol and the second for the
courtroom, with a stairway on the outside. And in this log building, 14
feet wide by 24 feet long, the first court west of the Monongahela River
was held on September 17, 1776.
   The record of the next day's session, held September 18, 1776, the
same "Gentlemen Justices" as on the preceding day were present, to-
gether with "John McColloch, Gent., who took the oath appointed by
Order of Convention as a Justice." This man resided at what is now
West Liberty, West Virginia, and was the father of John McColloch and
Maj. Samuel McColloch, who gained everlasting fame by his leap on horse-
back over Wheeling Hill. This has already been described in a preceding
chapter.
   At the session of September 18th, a recommendation was made for the
appointment of Richard Yeaters and others as proper persons as coroners.
Dorsey Pentecost was also appointed clerk of the court, and John Madi-
son, Jr., then deputy clerk, was ordered to turn over to him the records
of the court in his custody on October 25th, next.
   No sessions of the court were held in October, but on November 19th
and 20th two brief sessions were held. Little business was transacted,
for a change in the district of West Augusta had been made.


309





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The spot where this first courthouse stood at Augusta Town was
definitely located and permanently marked with a granite monument
erected in 1905 by the Washington County Historical Society, under the
direction of the late Boyd Crumrine. In fact, it was through Mr. Crum-
rine's efforts that the exact spot was located and the marker placed. It
stands on what is known as the William A. Gabby farm, on the road
from the Prosperity Pike to the National Highway, and upon which the
pump station of the Citizens Water Company is located, in the Chartiers
Valley. The land was owned at the time of its erection by John W.
Donnan, D. M. Donehoo, A. M. Brown, John Slater, Ernest F. Acheson,
Alex M. Templeton, J. V. Clark, Robert L. McCarrell, and Edward M.
Behen. They not only gave permission for its erection, but paid $50 of
the cost and agreed to care for it in the future.
   That this is the exact spot Mr. Crumrine established beyond all doubt.
The fact that the land where Catfish Camp, now Washington, was located,
was owned at that time by David Hoge, a Pennsylvanian, is given by Mr.
Crumrine as sufficient reason for the West Augusta court being held at
another place, and this is undoubtedly the real reason. Richard Yeates, a
Virginian, owned the land just over the hill, and so the courthouse was
built there and Augusta Town founded.
   Just how large Augusta Town was we cannot say today, but it was
probably only a cabin or two. On June 5, 1784, Daniel Leet sold 120
acres to John Gabby, of Washington County, Maryland, and on June 8,
1784, Richard Yeates sold 160 acres to this Gabby, which included the
site of Augusta Town. John Gabby never lived in Washington County,
but his brother, James, settled here, and acquired the land from his
brother.
   James Gabby was the father of William Gabby, who was born on this
land in 1803 and died on May 21, 1883. He was the father of James F.
Gabby and William A. Gabby. Both of the latter men pointed out the
spot where their father told them the old courthouse stood. The appear-
ance of the soil when ploughed showed that some building had stood there
long ago.
   This brings us down to the division of the district of West Augusta
into the Virginia counties of Ohio, Yohogania and Monongalia by an act
of the Virginia Assembly in October, 1776. Boyd Crumrine, the best
authority on this subject, says that they all came together either at Char-
tiers Creek, directly west of Washington, or on the ridge beyond the creek.
Ohio County lay from Chartiers Creek or the ridge beyond to the west and
southwest, extending from the mouth of Cross Creek to the mouth of
Middle Island Creek. Yohogania County lay to the northeast and ex-
tended from the mouth of Cross Creek to the mouth of Beaver, thence up
the Ohio to Fort Pitt, up the Allegheny to the mouth of the Kiskeminitas;
thence across the Alleghanies and southwest with the mountains to about
where the National Highway crosses, and thence by that road to Chartiers
Creek, and thence to the mouth of Cross Creek. Monongalia County lay
to the southeast of Washington, extending from the dividing ridge between
the waters which flow eastward into the Monongahela and those which
flow westward into the Ohio; down to Middle Island Creek, thence south-


310





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


east to the headwaters of Greenbrier River; thence with the Alleghany
Mountains to the line of Yohogania.
   The act establishing the counties provided that an election should be
held by the landowners of the respective counties on December 8, 1776, to
decide the places where the courts of each county should be held. This
election day, which fell on Sunday, was unsatisfactory to the Scotch-Irish
pioneers of this section, and caused complications, but it finally resulted
in the selection of the seat for Ohio County at Black's cabin on Short
Creek, twelve miles northeast of Wheeling. The seat of Yohogania County
was to be at the plantation of Andrew Heath on the west side of the
Monongahela, near old Elizabeth Town and about a mile from the present
West Elizabeth. This was near the line between the present Washington
and Allegheny counties. The Monongalia County seat was fixed at the
plantation of Theophilus Phillips, east of the Monongahela River, about
two miles above the mouth of George Creek, in the present Fayette County.
   The Yohogania County court directed Thomas Smallman, John Canon,
and John Gibson, or any two of them, to provide a house at the public
expense for the use of the court. The sheriff was directed to contract
with workmen to put the same in repair. Isaac Cox was directed to con-
tract with some person to build a complete bar and other work inside the
courthouse to be completed by the next term.
   On December 23, 1776, the Yohogania County court issued a commis-
sion of the peace and a commission of oyer and terminer to John Camp-
bell, Dorsey Pentecost, John Stephenson, William Goe, John McDowell,
George McCormick, William Harrison, Thomas Freeman, Oliver Miller,
Andrew Swearingen, Edward Ward, John Gibson, John Canon, John Nea-
ville, Richard Yeates, Philip Ross, Samuel Newell, John DeCompt, Ben-
jamin Frye, Jacob Haymaker, Thomas Smallman, William Crawford,
George Vallandingham, Isaac Cox, John McDaniel, Benjamin Kirkindall,
Thomas Brown, Joshua Wright, Matthew Ritchie, Benjamin Harrison, and
Zachariah Connell.
   Dorsey Pentecost was appointed clerk of the court. The records and
papers were demanded from John Madison, Jr., deputy clerk of East
Augusta, but he refused and process was ordered to enforce compliance
with the demand.
   Edward Ward was appointed sheriff, but he refused to act until the
lines between Pennsylvania and Virginia, then in dispute, should be
definitely established. His reasons were considered sufficient and he was
excused, but he accepted the commission as presiding judge of the Vir-
ginia court. Joshua Wright, great-grandfather of Joshua Wright, late
of Washington, was appointed sheriff, but he also refused.
   At that first day's session of the Yohogania County court the appoint-
ment of Dorsey Pentecost, great-grandfather of T. M. Pentecost, sheriff
of Washington County in 1905, as county lieutenant of the militia of
Yohogania County, was recommended to the governor of Virginia. John
Canon was appointed colonel of the militia, Isaac Cox as lieutenant-colonel,
and Henry Taylor, great-grandfather of the late Hon. J. Frank Taylor,
afterwards additional law judge of Washington County, as major.
   Although the place of the session of the Yohogania County court above
noted is not given in the records, it was probably held at Augusta Town,


311






CONTENTS


   OF 1810-ICE IN AUGUST, 1817-COLD WEATHER RECORDS IN 1899-
   COLD WEATHER RECORDS IN 1912-WEATHER RECORDS KEPT AT
   PUMP STATION OF CITIZENS WATER COMPANY SINCE 1916-BIG
   STORM OF APRIL 21, 1925-BIG FROST OF JUNE 4, 1859-NATURAL
   PHENOMENON IN 1801-COMET OBSERVED IN 1821-COMET OBSERVED
   IN 1824-HALLEY'S COMET OBSERVED IN MAY, 1910-EARTHQUAKE
   SHOCK IN 1828-REPORTED EARTHQUAKE SHOCK IN 1885-FORTY-
   NINERS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY GO TO CALIFORNIA-THE KLON-
   DYKE RUSH-REPORTED DISCOVERY OF GOLD NEAR COAL CENTER
   IN 1885-MAMMOTH BONES FOUND IN FINLEY AND AMWELL TOWN-
   SHIPS-HYDROPHOBIA AMONG WOLVES-JOSEPH G. CHAMBERS' RE-
   PEATING RIFLE-OTHER INVENTIONS-ROBERT FULTON'S LAND IN
   WASHINGTON COUNTY-NEW COUNTY PROJECT IN 1799-CHARLES
   DeHASS' COUNTY PROJECT IN 1814-MONONGAHELA COUNTY PROJECT
   IN 1895-CURIOUS DOCUMENT ON RECORD IN RECORDER'S OFFICE-
   OLD-TIME ADVERTISEMENTS ....... . .. ... ... .--  428

                      CHAPTER LXX.

                COLONEL GEORGE MORGAN.

AN INDIAN TRADER OF THE OLD FRONTIER-FIRST INDIAN AGENT AT
   FORT PITT-SETTLES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN 1796-THE MORGAN
   LANDS-THE MORGAN HOUSE STILL STANDING, ONE OF THE MOST
   HISTORIC WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS-AARON BURR'S VISIT-DEATH
   OF COLONEL MORGAN-THE MORGAN FAMILY _._.. __.._.___449

                      CHAPTER LXXI.

                TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES.

THE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN TOWNSHIPS-SUBDIVISION OF THE ORIGINAL
   THIRTEEN TOWNSHIPS INTO SMALLER TOWNSHIPS-EARLY SET-
   TLERS ___                                       __ __459

                     CHAPTER LXXII

                   COAL DEVELOPMENT

COAL DISCOVERED AT AN EARLY DATE-BANKS OPENED IN WASHING-
   TON IN 1781, IN CANNONSBURG IN 1788-BAIRD'S MINE AT WASHING-
   TON BEFORE 1800-ALLISON MINE OPENED IN 1802-WEST COLUMBIA
   IN 1814-MINE NEAR COAL CENTER IN 1820-CINCINNATI MINE-
   CATSBURG MINE OPENED IN 1860-WASHINGTON MINE IN 1864-PITTS-
   BURGH AND MONONGAHELA COAL COMPANY OF 1865-MINE AT
   PROSPERITY IN 1867-EARLY MINES IN CHARTIERS VALLEY, THE
   PANHANDLE DISTRICT, FINLEYVILLE, AND MONONGAHELA VALLEY
   -COAL PRODUCERS IN 1881-LATER COAL DEVELOPMENT-MINE
   DISASTERS-BRAZNELL MINE EXPLOSION NEAR BENTLEYVILLE IN
   1905-EXPLOSION IN CLYDE COAL COMPANY'S MINE AT FREDERICK-
   TOWN IN 1905-THE MARIANNA EXPLOSION IN 1908-THE CINCIN-
   NATI MINE EXPLOSION IN 1913-THE HENDERSONVILLE MINE EX-
   PLOSION IN 1917 ......... .                  __546

                     CHAPTER LXXIII

                     OIL AND GAS.

OIL REPORTED IN THE COUNTY AT AN EARLY DATE-FIRST DISCOVERY
   OF GAS IN 1821-LATER HISTORY OF THE WELL-GAS REPORTED NEAR
   MONONGAHELA CITY AT AN EARLY DATE-OIL STRUCK IN GREENE


xxiv





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


as no change had then been made to the new county seat at Andrew
Heath's plantation.
   The selection of Andrew Heath's plantation as the county seat was
evidently not satisfactory to either the people or a majority of the justices,
and many monthly sessions were held at Augusta Town before it was
finally acquiesced in. It seems that after December 23, 1776, some of the
regular sessions were omitted, though the reason for this is not apparent.
The next session was on April 28, 1777, but after a short session it
adjourned to meet the next morning, when the term ended. Isaac Cox
presided at the next term, held May 26 and 27, 1777, when districts were
laid off for the assessment and collection of taxes.
   An act passed by the Virginia Assembly provided that the court in
each county should erect near the courthouse a pillory, a pair of stocks, a
whipping post and a ducking stool. If this was not done within six
months after the passage of the act the court should be fined 5,000 pounds
of tobacco. At the term of the Yohogania County court beginning June
25, 1777, the following order was made: "Ordered-that the sheriff cause
to be Erected a pair of Stocks and a whipping post in the Court-House
yard by the next court." Richard Yeates and Isaac Leet were appointed
to meet persons from Ohio and Monongalia counties to adjust the boun-
dary between Yohogania and Ohio and Yohogania and Monongalia coun-
ties. Court then adjourned to the next "Court in Course."
   We now come down to the first record of any meeting held at the house
of Andrew Heath; and it is reasonable to assume that all previous sessions
of the Yohogania County court had been held at Augusta Town. At the
session of the "Court in Course," held on August 25, 1777, the following
entry was made:
   "Ordered: That for Conveniencey of Seting and Expediting Business,
That the Court be adjourned to the House now occupied by Andrew
Heath." Isaac Cox presided, and after this order court adjourned. The
record also shows that on the same day "At the house of Andrew Heath,
Court met according to adjournment," John Campbell presiding.
   Whether both sessions of August 25th were held at Andrew Heath's
house, and the first entry made as a matter of record to show the change,
or whether court actually moved from Augusta Town to Heath's after the
first entry, is a matter of conjecture today. It is possible, although it
was about thirty miles' journey.
   On August 26th, 1777, men were appointed to make a tour of Yoho-
gania County to "Tender the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to the Com-
monwealth of Virginia to all free Male Inhabitants." The men appointed
for this purpose were Matthew Ritchie, Samuel Newell, John McDaniel,
Andrew Swearingen, Isaac Cox, Benjamin Kuykendall, William Goe,
Thomas Freeman, Zachariah Connell, Benjamin Frye, Richard Yeates, and
John McDowell.
   At this same session Isaac Cox, Oliver Miller, and Benjamin Kirken-
dall, or any two of them, were appointed to make a contract with the
proper person, or persons, for the erection of a gaol and courthouse, to
be completed in one month, on the plantation of Andrew Heath. This
building was similar to that at Augusta Town, with the gaol on the first
floor and the courtroom on the second.


312





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   This courthouse stood on the farm owned in recent years by George
Gilmore, in Jefferson Township, Allegheny County. It stood one mile
from the line of the present West Elizabeth, and about 100 yards south
of the present Gilmore house, near the upper corner of what is now known
as the Lobb graveyard.
   From these records it is safe to say that the court for the district of
West Augusta, Virginia, was held at Augusta Town from September 17,
1776, to December 23, 1776; and the court for Yohogania County, Vir-
ginia, was held at the same place from December 23, 1776, until August
25, 1777.
   As already stated, Black's cabin was selected as the courthouse for
Ohio County, Virginia. This was located at what is now West Liberty,
West Virginia. The first session was held on January 6, 1777, and sessions
were continued until 1797, when the county seat was removed to Wheeling.
   The county seat of Monongalia, the third county, was on the farm of
Theophilus Phillips from 1776 to 1782, near the present New Geneva,
Fayette County. By an act of the Virginia Assembly, passed in May, 1783,
the courthouse of Monongalia County was changed from the Phillips farm
to the house of Zachwell Morgan, at the present Morgantown, West Vir-
ginia. The reason for this change was the fact that the extension of the
Mason and Dixon line had thrown the former location within the limits
of Pennsylvania.
   Taverns were licensed by the Yohogania County court, and in 1778
the following prices were fixed for tavernkeepers: Whisky by the half
pint, 2 shillings; whisky made into toddy, 2 shillings and 6 pence; beer,
per quart, 2 shillings and 6 pence; hot breakfast, 3 shillings; cold break-
fast, 2 shillings and 6 pence; dinner, 4 shillings; supper, 3 shillings; lodg-
ing with clean sheets, 1 shilling and 6 pence; stabling with hay and fodder,
5 shillings; corn, per quart, 9 pence; oats, per quart, 6 pence. In 1781,
when Continental money had depreciated, the court changed the prices to
the following: Half pint of whisky, $4; breakfast or supper, $15; dinner,
$20; lodging with clean sheets, $3; one horse over night, $3; one gallon
of corn, $5; one gallon of oats, $4; strong beer, per quart, $6.
   The Yohogania County court licensed the following persons from 1776
to 1779 to establish ferries at different locations: Henry Heath, on his
own plantation on the Monongahela River; William Lynn, on the Monon-
gahela River, from his house to the land of Francis Hall; Michael Cresap,
at Redstone Old Fort to the land of Indian Peter; James Devore, from
his house on the Monongahela River to the mouth of Pigeon Creek; Samuel
Sinclair, who lives in the forks of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny
rivers, to have a ferry over each of the rivers; Jacob Bausman, across
the Monongahela River, from his house to the town opposite (Fort Dun-
more) ; Christopher Carpenter, across the Monongahela River, for the
purpose of conveying over the militiamen on muster days; William Ander-
son, on the southeast side of the Monongahela River, to the lands of
Andrew Heath. The prices which a ferryman could charge as established
by the court were 4 pence 1/2 penny for any head of neat cattle, and the
same for a foot person; 2 shillings and 6 pence for a man, and the same
for a horse.
   After having passed the required test and taken the oaths, the follow-


313




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ing were admitted to the practice of law in the district of West Augusta
and Yohogania County in 1776: George Brent, Philip Pendleton, George
Rootes, David Semple, James Berwick, Andrew Ross, Henry Peyton, John
G. Jones, Charles Simms, and Samuel Irwin.
    From 1775 to 1780, John Christian, Joseph Horton, George McCormick,
 Matthew Ritchie, William Harrison, Benjamin Kuykendall, Thomas Small-
 man, and Edward Ward acted as sheriff, and Patrick McElroy, Francis
 Worm, David Steel, William Hawkins, Hugh Sterling, John Dossman,
 John J. Wood, and Richard Burns were deputies.
    While Virginia claimed jurisdiction over this section, it was necessary
 for a surveyor to present to the court a certificate or commission from a
 college, and the following were appointed by the court as surveyors under
 Virginia in this section: David Steel, William Crawford, Edward Sharp,
 Gabriel Green, Samuel Finch, John Harry and Daniel Leet.
    In his proclamation issued at Fort Dunmore, on September 17, 1774,
Lord Dunmore laid claim to all of the land west of Laurel Hill for Vir-
ginia, and called upon all of his Majesty's subjects in this territory to pay
due respect to this proclamation; to strictly prohibit any act of authority
on behalf of Pennsylvania, and to give obedience to the laws of Virginia.
On October 12, 1774, as soon as the news of this proclamation reached him,
John Penn, governor of Pennsylvania, issued a proclamation calling upon
all of the inhabitants of this section to give obedience to the laws and
magistrates of Pennsylvania.
   We have already seen how Virginia went so far as to set up courts and
erect counties in the disputed territory. With the close of Dunmore's war
and before the outbreak of the Revolution, the boundary controversy
raged furiously. Most of this centered around Dr. John Connelly, who
claimed appointment from Lord Dunmore as governor of the disputed
territory.
   Had it not been for the common interest in the protection against
Indian raids, a tie that bound all white people west of the mountains to-
gether, it is more than probable that there would have been an armed
conflict between the adherents of both sides. The feeling engendered at
that time lasted for a generation. In fact, the outbreak of the Revolution
is all that stopped a civil war in the disputed territory.
   We have already seen that Washington County was claimed by Penn-
sylvania as part of Westmoreland County, and the officers and courts
appointed for that county claimed jurisdiction over this section; but we
cannot find where that jurisdiction was exercised to any extent. The
Virginia authorities and courts seem to have had the best of it in the
territory west of the Monongahela.
   Many of the inhabitants of this section became weary of the dispute.
Hon. Boyd Crumrine, in his "History of Washington County," gives a
"Memorial for the Erection of a New State," which was presented to the
Continental Congress by a number of persons residing in this section.
This petition, the first ever presented to Congress asking for the creation
of a new state, sets forth in detail in the territory west of the Alleghanies
the wrongs suffered by the inhabitants as a result of the boundary dispute,
and asks Congress to erect a new state from this section. The fact that
Congress did not have the power to grant the petition at that time prob-


314





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ably had little or nothing to do with its failure to act in the matter. This
failure was in all probability due to the more pressing business of the
Revolutionary war, which claimed all the attention of the Continental
Congress.
    The famous Mason and Dixon line, which forms the southern boundary
of Pennsylvania, had its origin in a dispute over the boundary between
Pennsylvania and Maryland, and on August 4, 1763, the proprietors of
those provinces, being in London, agreed with Charles Mason and Jere-
miah Dixon, two surveyors, to run and mark the boundary line between
these provinces. Messrs. Mason and Dixon arrived in Philadelphia on
November 15, 1763, and started their work at once, but it was 1765 before
they completed the circle and tangent, and started on the parallel. They
then started to run the line west. At the end of every fifth mile east of
the mountains, they set a stone upon which was cut the arms of the Penns
on the north side, and that of the Baltimore family on the south side. The
intermediate miles were marked with smaller stones, with a P on one
side and an M on the other. The stones with the arms were made in
England, and hauled to the points where they were set up. Many of these
stones are still in place, and were relocated when the line was surveyed in
modern times. A different and less permanent mode of marking was
used through the mountains because of the difficulty of transportation.
   Mason and Dixon ran their line to a point a little west of the present
site of Mount Morris, Greene County. We have already described in
Chapter I how they "at length reached a point 246 miles from the Dela-
ware River, and within 36 miles of the whole distance to be run. And
here in the bottom of a valley, on the border of a stream marked Dunkard
Creek on their map, they came to an Indian war path, winding its way
through the forest. And here, their Indian escort tells them, it is the will
of the Six Nations that the survey should be stayed. There is no alterna-
tive but obedience, and retracing their steps they return to Philadelphia,
and reporting all these facts to the commissioners under the deed of 1760,
receive an honorable discharge on the 26th of December, 1767." This
marked the end of the Mason and Dixon line for fifteen years.
   In company with Joseph F. McFarland, Samuel Amspoker, and A. T.
Anderson, the author visited this historic spot in the fall of 1916. The
spot where Mason and Dixon were stopped is on the south bank of Dunkard
Creek, just beyond an iron bridge on the road from Mount Morris. It was
learned at that time from an authority in Waynesburg that Mason and
Dixon did not stop at the Catawba war trail, but continued the line to
the summit of a high hill a mile farther west, which is the real end of
the line. This spot is marked by a stone placed in 1883, when a resurvey
of the line was made.
   From this point to the present southwest corner of Pennsylvania the
line was not run until the settlement of the boundary dispute, and the
western boundary of Pennsylvania as we now know it was at that time
unknown.
   The authorities of both Pennsylvania and Virginia were anxious to
settle the dispute, and early in 1776 the Virginia Assembly passed a resolu-
tion proposing a boundary which would have given all of the present
Fayette and Greene counties and a large part of Washington County to


315




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Virginia. Pennsylvania refused this, but during 1777 and 1778 some
negotiations were made through the Virginia delegates in Congress, with
no success.
    Pennsylvania appointed George Bryan, John Ewing, and David Ritten-
house as commissioners to meet with Virginia and adjust the boundary.
Just when this action was taken is not known, as the papers have been
lost. On May 20th, 1779, the Virginia Assembly instructed the governor
to notify the Pennsylvania commission that Virginia would appoint com-
missioners. Those appointed by Virginia were Rev. James Madison, Rev.
Robert Andrews, and Thomas Lewis. They met at Baltimore on August
27, 1779, all being present except Mr. Lewis, the former county surveyor
of Augusta County. They remained in session until August 31st, when it
was finally agreed "to extend Mason and Dixon's line due west five degrees
of longitude, to be computed from the river Delaware, for the southern
boundary of Pennsylvania, and that a meridian drawn from the western
extremity thereof to the northern limit of the said state be the western
boundary of Pennsylvania forever."
   On November 19, 1779, Pennsylvania ratified this agreement. But
Virginia did not accept the boundary until June 23, 1780, and then only on
condition that "the private property and rights of all persons acquired
under, founded on, or recognized by the laws of either country, previous
to the date hereof, be saved and confirmed to them, although they should
be found to fall within the other, and that in the decision of disputes there-
upon preference shall be given to the elder or prior right whichever of the
said states the same shall have been acquired under."
   In the meantime action on the part of Virginia nearly precipitated
open warfare. Francis Peyton, Philip Pendleton, Joseph Holmes and
George Merriweather had been appointed in May, 1779, as commissioners
for Yohogania, Monongalia and Ohio counties to hear proofs of settlement
rights and to grant certificates to claimants. These commissioners came
to the Monongahela Valley in December, 1779, and sat at Redstone Old
Fort and Cox's Fort. During the next few months many certificates were
granted to claimants under Virginia settlement rights.
   The old record book of Col. William Crawford, county surveyor for
Yohogania County, contains all of the surveys made by him and his
deputies within the present Washington under certificates granted by
these commissioners at either Redstone or Cox's forts. One of these
tracts, containing 902 acres, was occupied at that time by Henry Taylor,
the first president judge of the Washington County courts. This was
surveyed under three certificates dated at Cox's Fort, February 21, 1780,
and issued to Richard Yeates. In 1782 Judge Taylor brought ejectment
proceedings against Yeates, and his title was sustained because of prior
settlement. This land is within sight of the present Washington, and part
of it is still owned by the Taylor family, the present owners being Mrs.
Jane Taylor, widow of Matthew Taylor; her daughter, Mrs. Rachel Craft,
and her son, John R. Taylor. In later years this was part of the largest
oil field in Washington County.
   Another part of this land is owned by Robert R. and J. R. Forrest, of
Washingtcn. Upon it is an old log cabin, which was probably erected by
Henry Taylor, the pioneer. A large frame addition w-- afterwards built,


316



















                  -A4


Li I
                    4 ,

p,: !


%


   This stone marks the real end of the Mason and Dixon line. This marks the farthest
point west reached by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the fall of 1767 when
surveying the famous Mason and Dixon line. It is located a little west of Mount Mor-
ris, Greene County, once a part of Washington County.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and this is occupied as a dwelling. It was there that the late Judge J.
Frank Taylor, a great-grandson of Henry Taylor, was born.
   Colonel Crawford's survey book shows that at least forty-five surveys
of land were made by him and his deputies on Virginia certificates granted
by the above commissioners, the last being dated June 3, 1782. Other sur-
veys were made under Virginia certificates as late as 1785. But even this
does not include all of the surveys made at this period under Virginia
certificates. The survey books in the Washington County recorder's office
contain a great number.
   Pennsylvania was indignant over this action on the part of Virginia,
and a storm of protests followed. Its people were thoroughly aroused,
and for the first time they wanted to abandon the peace policy and fight,
but fortunately the final ratification of the Baltimore agreement by both
states prevented this hostile action. However, her surveyors and deputy
surveyors continued to receive land entries and make official surveys of
land in Washington County as late as June 3, 1782, more than a year after
the erection of this county.
   Preparations for running a temporary line were made, and Alexander
McClean was appointed by Pennsylvania, and Col. Joseph Neville by Vir-
ginia, early in 1782, to do the work, but it was not until November that
it was started. They were furnished a guard of 200 militia. Their work
was completed, and Mr. McClean made a report to the Supreme Executive
Council of Pennsylvania on February 19, 1783. However, it was not until
several years later that the permanent line was completed. Several com-
missioners were appointed, and changed or resigned, and it was not until
1786 that it was finally completed by Col. Andrew Porter and Alexander
McClean. On October 4th, 1786, they made their report to the Supreme
Executive Council.
   In the meantime Washington County had been erected by an act of
the General Assembly, passed March 28, 1781. Even this did not settle
the matter, and the old antagonism still remained between the two fac-
tions in this section. Col. James Marshel and Hon. Thomas Scott were
the principal leaders of the old Pennsylvania adherents, while Col. Dorsey
Pentecost and Col. John Canon were the leaders of the Virginians. They
called each other "villainous banditti" and other similar terms. The new
state project revived in 1781 brought about so much trouble that a law
was passed, in 1782, making it treason to advocate the scheme.





                         CHAPTER LXIV.

                             1781-1800.
               ORIGINAL WASHINGTON COUNTY.
AREA OF THE ORIGINAL WASHINGTON COUNTY-FIRST OFFICERS AND
    POLITICAL TROUBLES-ELECTION     OF JUSTICES-ORIGINAL TOWN-
    SHIPS-NEW STATE PROJECTS-NEW COUNTIES CREATED FROM PARTS
    OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.


318





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    On November 6, 1780, President Reed in his message to the Pennsyl-
vania Assembly, said: "The final settlement of the contested boundaries
of this state and Virginia induces us to lay before you the propriety and
policy of setting off one or more counties so as to induce law, order, and
good government, where they have been long and much wanted. We
think it would also conduce much to the defense of the frontiers and safety
of the interior country, as the strength of those parts might then be
organized and systematically drawn forth in case of necessity."
    This section at that time was a part of old Westmoreland County,
Pennsylvania. Hon. Thomas Scott brought this matter to the attention of
President Reed in a letter dated March 20, 1781, and eight days later,
March 28, 1781, the act creating a new county was passed. This new
county included "all that part of the State of Pennsylvania west of the
Monongahela River and south of the Ohio, beginning at the junction of
said rivers; thence up the Monongahela River aforesaid, to the line run
by Mason and Dixon, thence by said line due west to the end thereof; and
from thence the same course to the end of five degrees of west longitude,
to be computed from the river Delaware; thence by said meridian line
extended north, until the same shall intersect the Ohio River, and thence
by the same to the place of beginning; shall be and the same is hereby
declared to be erected into a county, henceforth to be called Washington."
   This shows that the original Washington County included all of the
present county of that name, all of the present Greene County, and all of
Allegheny and Beaver counties south of the Monongahela and Ohio rivers.
   The act provided further that the trustees appointed by the act should
select a piece of land upon which to erect a courthouse and prison, and
divide the county into townships on or before July 1, 1781. The qualified
electors were to "meet at the house of David Hoge, at the place called
Catfishes Camp, at the same time that inhabitants of other counties shall
meet for a like purpose, and then and there elect two representatives to
serve them in Assembly, one councilor, two fit persons for sheriffs, two
fit persons for coroners, and three commissioners."
   Two fit persons were also to be elected justices of the peace in each
township on July 15th. The trustees were limited to the sum of 1,000
pounds for the purchase of land and the erection of public buildings.
Henry Taylor was appointed excise collector, and the sheriff and coroner
of Westmoreland County was to officiate in Washington County until those
officials were elected here.
   On April 2nd, 1781, the Supreme Executive Council appointed the
following officers for Washington County: Thomas Scott, as prothono-
tary; James Marshel, as lieutenant of the county; John Canon and Daniel
Leet, as sub-lieutenants; James Marshel, as register of wills and recorder
of deeds.
   The new county was confronted with many embarrassing situations.
In spite of the settlement of the boundary dispute, feeling between the
adherents of both Pennsylvania and Virginia in this section still ran high,
and this led to some political troubles. There was much jealousy between
both sides, and great rivalry for the possession of offices in the new county.
The new state project came up again and added to the general confusion.
   Colonel Marshel experienced much trouble in organizing the militia.


319




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


In this he was opposed by Dorsey Pentecost and the old Virginia faction,
who were determined to continue with the jurisdiction of Virginia, both
civil and military, until the line should be actually run. Pentecost assumed
command of the militia under authority of an old Virginia commission as
county lieutenant. Colonel Marshel charged that John Canon, one of his
sub-lieutenants, was using his influence to prevent him, Marshel, from
organizing the militia under Pennsylvania. Daniel Leet, the other sub-
lieutenant appointed by Pennsylvania, refused to assist Marshel until the
surveyors should actually start work on the line. Feeling became very
intense, and the leaders of each side called the other "rascals," "banditti,"
and "mobs."
    On June 27, 1781, Colonel Marshel informed President Reed that the
Virginia adherents were doing everything possible to prevent the organiza-
tion of a government in Washington County. On June 5th he stated that
the Yohogania officials had met in their courthouse and had drafted a fifth
part of the militia for Gen. George Rogers Clark's expedition against
Detroit, but they refused to go. In fact, most of the people denied all
authority, and a state of civil war almost existed. Marshel postponed the
organization of the militia until the commissioners appointed to run the
line should arrive.
    Dorsey Pentecost wrote to President Reed on July 27, 1781, from
General Clark's camp three miles below Fort Pitt. At that time he was
with the Washington County militia that had been drafted by him to
accompany Clark's expedition. In this letter he set forth his reasons for
his actions, declaring that this section had been under the jurisdiction of
Virginia without controversy from 1774 until the Baltimore agreement of
1789. He declared that since the agreement the whole of this section
(Washington County) had been thrown into anarchy and confusion. He
claimed that his actions had been for the common good of the community
for the defense of the frontier against the Indians, who had butchered
many of the settlers. He told how thirty men had been hired and sent
to defend the frontier, but this action had "alarmed the pockets of some
gentlemen."
   In explaining his action in raising the militia for General Clark, Mr.
Pentecost stated that when Colonel Marshel was in Philadelphia the prin-
cipal people had advised him to exercise his authority as county lieutenant
of Yohogania to raise the militia for defense against the Indians. He
accused Colonel Marshel of misconstruing his activities in this respect.
Colonel Pentecost explained that his sole object was the defense of the
frontier. When Colonel Marshel returned from Philadelphia, Colonel
Pentecost explained the situation to him, and offered to retire if he, Mar-
shel, would take charge, protect the frontier, and give General Clark
assistance. It seems, according to Pentecost, that Marshel refused to
have anything to do with him.
   James Edgar, Hugh Scott, Van Swearingen, Daniel Leet, and John
Armstrong had been named as trustees to divide the county into town-
ships on or before July 1, 1781. The exact date this was done cannot
be given with certainty, but it is presumed that it was on or before July
1st. The boundaries followed the larger streams or dividing ridges be-
tween smaller ones. The county was divided by these men into thirteen


3200




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


townships, following the plan of the thirteen original states. The names
given to them were: Amwell, Bethlehem, Cecil, Cumberland, Donegal,
Fallowfield, Hopewell, Morgan, Nottingham, Peters, Robinson, Smith, and
Strabane. Amwell was taken from the name of a township in Hunterdon
County, New Jersey, and a Presbyterian church in the same vicinity from
which the Lindleys, Cooks, Reverend Dodd and other early settlers in that
section had come. Cecil was from Cecil County, Maryland. Fallowfield
and Nottingham were named from townships in Chester County. Hope-
well was from a township in York, Cumberland, and Bedford counties.
Donegal and Strabane are good old Irish names, as many of the settlers
in both were Scotch-Irish. Bethlehem was so named because of the large
number of Quakers settled there. Mr. Edgar named Smith a township
after the Rev. Joseph Smith, the pioneer minister of that section.
    The act of Assembly had set July 15, 1781, as the date for the election
 of justices of the peace, but this date fell on Sunday, and so the election
 was held on Monday, the 16th. The records of the Supreme Executive
 Council for August 24, 1781, show the following with reference to the
 election of justices of the peace:
    "Return of Justices for the following townships in the county of Wash-
 ington were received and read, by which it appears that the following
 gentlemen were elected:
    "Peters township-John Douglass and Robert Thompson.
    "Township of Nottingham-Benjamin Parkinson and Joseph Park-
 inson.
    "Strabane township-(in which is the place called Catfish Camp,
 ordered by law to be the seat of justice)-Daniel Leet, Henry Taylor, John
 White, Nicholas Little, Alexander Eddy, and David Clark.
    "Amwell township-Abner Howell and John Craig.
    "Donegal township-Samuel Mason and Samuel Williamson.
    "Hopewell township-William Scott and John Marshall.
    "Fallowfield township-John Parker and John Hall, east end; and
John Stevenson and Patrick McCullough, west end of said township.
    "Smith's township-Samuel Johnston and James Edgar.
    "Cecil township--Matthew McConnell and John Reed.
    "On consideration,
    "Resolved That Henry Taylor, William Scott, John Craig, John White,
Daniel Leet, John Marshall, John Douglass, Benjamin Parkinson, John
Reed, Abner Howell, Matthew McConnell, Samuel Johnston, and Samuel
Mason be appointed and commissioned to be Justices of the Peace of the
Court of Common Pleas and of the Orphans' Court, of the County of
Washington, and that a general commission be issued accordingly."
   No returns of elections for justices of the peace were made for the
townships of Bethlehem, Cumberland, Morgan, and Robinson; but on
November 21, 1781, the return of an election held at the house of Ezekiel
Ross, in Bethlehem Township, was made. This was declared void by the
council as the election had not been appointed by a justice of the peace
for the county, where a vacancy existed, as provided by law. The council
then appointed and commissioned Thomas Crooks as justice of the peace
for Bethlehem Township.
   It seems that the above election was held on the day that General
       21-V1


321






CONTENTS


   COUNTY IN 1865-THE WASHINGTON COUNTY OIL BUBBLE OF 1865-
   REPORTED DISCOVERY OF GOLD AND SILVER IN GREENE COUNTY IN
   1865-GOLD REPORTED IN THE PIKE RUN OIL WELL IN 1865-THE LONE
   PINE WELL-EARLY OIL COMPANIES-NIAGARA OIL COMPANY RE-
   FUSED LEASES IN 1880-THE McGUGIN GAS WELL-THE HESS GAS
   WELL-OIL FIRST STRUCK IN THE GANTZ WELL IN 1885-GAS NEAR
   CANONSBURG IN 1885-THE FARLEY WELL-THE GORDON WELL-
   THE GABBY WELL-OLD-TIME OIL SCOUTS-EARLY OIL OPERATORS-
   ENOCH PRIGG RECEIVES FIRST CASH BONUS-ARTERS & O'DON-
   NELL'S OIL AND GAS BROKERAGE OFFICE-WELLS ON NOVEMBER 30,
   1885-THE WILSON WELL-GAS COMPANY AT MONONGAHELA-THE
   SMITH NO. 1-OIL WELL SUPPLY COMPANY-JOHN McKEOAN SECURES
   THE WM. J. MUNCE LEASE-OIL LEASES IN 1886-CLAYSVILLE FIELD-
   -THE CAMERON NO. 1-MARTIN LEASE-OIL RUNS IN 1886-THE MAR-
   TIN WELL-THE BUNG HOLE WELL'S ROMANTIC HISTORY-WASHING-
   TON REFINING COMPANY-BEAVER REFINERY-LATER HISTORY OF
   THE WASHINGTON FIELD-THE TAYLORSTOWN FIELD-THE McDONALD
   FIELD-THE CROSS CREEK FIELD-LATER DEVELOPMENTS      556

                     CHAPTER LXXIV.

                   RELIGIOUS HISTORY
PIONEER PREACHERS - BAPTISTS AND PRESBYTERIANS - REV. JOSEPH
   SMITH-REV. JOHN McMILLAN-REV. THADDEUS DODD-UNITED PRES-
   BYTERIANS-THE ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMIN-
   ARY-THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS-THE QUAKERS-THOMAS
   AND ALEXANDER CAMPBELL-THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST-HALY-
   CONITE, RHODIANITE AND NEW LIGHT SECTS OF FINLEY TOWN-
   SHIP-THE CATHOLIC CHURCH-HISTORY OF THE VARIOUS CHURCHES
   OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                                588

                     CHAPTER LXXV.

                  THE BOOK OF MORMON.
SOLOMON SPAULDING, THE REPUTED AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF MOR-
   MON- SETTLES AT AMITY - "MANUSCRIPT FOUND" - DEATH OF
   SPAULDING-HIS GRAVE AND THE HOUSE IN WHICH HE LIVED AT
   AMITY-RISE OF THE MORMON CHURCH  _-. . _............. 636

                     CHAPTER LXXVI

                 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
THE FIRST SCHOOLS-OLD-TIME RURAL SCHOOLS-BIRTHPLACE OF WIL-
   LIAM HOLMES McGUFFEY-DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
   -RURAL SCHOOLS OF TODAY _      ._          ______   644

                    CHAPTER LXXVII.
HISTORY OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY TEACHERS' INSTITUTE ____ 653

                    CHAPTER LXXVIII.

           INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
WASHINGTON ACADEMY, 1792-JEFFERSON ACADEMY, 1869-MRS. BAKER'S
   YOUNG LADIES' SEMINARY, 1811-THE LADIES' SEMINARY, 1817-UNION
   GROVE SEMINARY, 1828-WEST ALEXANDER ACADEMY, 1828-CROSS
   CREEK ACADEMY, 1828-FLORENCE ACADEMY, 1833-FLORENCE SELECT


XXV




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Clark ordered the militia to assemble at the rendezvous for the Detroit
expedition, and as a result all of the men of the Virginia faction who
accompanied him were absent. A letter of protest dated August 15, 1781,
signed by Van Swearingen, John Canon, Richard Yeates, Isaac Israel,
James Allison, B. Johnston, John McDowell, George W. McCormick,
Thomas Crooks, Demas Lindley, and George Myers, was sent to the council
setting forth that as a result of so many men being absent from home,
the justices elected were men of obscurity and not fitted for the duties.
There must have been some truth in this, for the men signing this letter
were not all Virginians; some were Pennsylvanians. But the letter reached
the council too late.
    It is not out of place to speak at this time of a letter from President
Reed to Thomas Scott, dated August 27, 1781, with reference to Washing-
ton County militia joining Clark's expedition. It is stated that General
Clark had no authority from Pennsylvania to draft militia, but his expedi-
tion appeared to the council to be an excellent means of defending the
frontier. The council was of the opinion that "too many excuse them-
selves under pretense of unsettled boundary, some deny any duty and
seek to transfer it entirely to those who are willing and active." West-
moreland County agreed to raise 300 men, and did send a large number,
and the Supreme Executive Council informed Mr. Scott that it would have
been "glad to have heard that the County of Washington had assisted in
a measure which seems to us to have been calculated for their own safety
in particular as well as the Publick in general."
   The new state project which has been mentioned as having first been
brought to the attention of Congress by a petition signed by a number
of residents of this section about 1776 or 1777, again broke out in 1780.
This was due to the unrest of the times, and the political troubles in
Washington County and other sections of the Western Border. The pro-
posed new state was to be named Westsylvania. The boundaries were:
"Beginning at the eastern bank of the Ohio, opposite the mouth of the
Scioto, and running thence in a direct line to the Owasito Pass, thence to
the top of the Alleghany Mountains, thence with the top of said mountains
to the northern limits of the purchase made from the Indians in 1768 at
the treaty of Fort Stanwix, thence with the said limits to the Allegheny or
Ohio River, and thence down the said river as purchased from the said
Indians at the said treaty of Fort Stanwix to the beginning."
   The scheme was supported chiefly by the Virginia adherents, who were
dissatisfied with the Baltimore agreement. On June 25, 1780, a meeting
was held at the house of Col. Edward Cook, east of the Monongahela, to
find out the general feeling among the people, but there is no record of
what was done at this meeting. The matter was finally brought to an
end when the Pennsylvania Assembly passed an act making it high trea-
son, punishable with death, to set up notices calling meetings for the
purpose of setting up a new and independent government.
   The original area of Washington County was greatly reduced by acts
of the Pennsylvania Assembly creating new counties. The first was
passed on September 24, 1788, when a large section of northern Wash-
ington County and the western part of Westmoreland was erected into
Allegheny County; and on September 17, 1789, another act reduced Wash-


322





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ington County by adding an addition from the northern part to Allegheny
County.
   On February 9th, 1796, the Assembly passed an act erecting Greene
County from the southern part of Washington County; but on January 22,
1802, another act restored to us a small section of the land taken in 1796.
   On March 26, 1800, another slice was taken from the northern section
of Washington County to add to Beaver County, which was erected by the
act passed on this date. Since the act of January 22, 1802, when part of
Greene County was restored to Washington, there has been no change in
our boundaries, although a "river county" was talked of in later years.






                         CHAPTER LXV.

                            1781-1925.
                WASHINGTON COUNTY COURTS.
ORGANIZATION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY COURTS-THE FIRST GENERAL
    ELECTION-UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF 1776-JUDICIAL DISTRICTS
    UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONS OF 1790 AND 1838--PRESIDENT JUDGES-
    JUDGE McILVAINE'S LONG RECORD -ADDITIONAL LAW JUDGES-CRE-
    ATION OF THE ORPHANS' COURTS-JUDICIAL ELECTION CONTESTS-
    WASHINGTON COUNTY'S FOUR COURTHOUSES-THE COUNTY BUILD-
    INGS-LIST OF JUDGES ANDI COURT OFFICERS FROM 1781 TO 1925-
    COURTHOUSE OFFICIALS FROM 1781 TO 1925-ATTORNEYS OF THE
    WASHINGTON BAR.
    By virtue of being the first named justice in the general commission
from the Supreme Executive Council issued following the election of jus-
tices of the peace in the townships of this county, Henry Taylor became
the first president judge of the courts of Washington County. His com-
mission is dated August 24, 1781. On September 17, 1781, he issued the
first venire for a grand jury. The return made by Levi Wells, sub-sheriff,
shows that the following composed the first grand jury in this county:
David Riddle, Josiah Scott, Alexander Eddy, Nicholas Littell, David Fin-
ley, Alexander Karr, Patrick Scott, Arthur Forbes, Patrick McCullough,
John Stephenson, Hugh Scott, James Furman, Samuel Freazer, George
Vanemmon, Henry Dunnavan, James Scott, Joseph Cowenhoven, Henry
Newkirk, James Graham, Larance Ralasson, Norard Francway, John
Morison, George Gillespie, James Clemons, Thomas Wilson, Samuel
Adlick.
   The venire for the first petit jury was also issued on September 17,
1781, and the sheriff summoned the following: David Dilly, Peter Lether-
man, George Demut, Jonathan Markland, Fhilip Lewellin, Matthew Steen,
Joseph Shadan, David Clark, John Smith, Samuel Osburn, James Brown-
lee, David Irwin, William Holmes, William Johnson, Archibald Neal, John
Beard, David Enoch, James Fitzpatrick, Ezekiel Rose, John Mannon,
Nathaniel Redford, and John Varvil.
   The records of this, the first court held in Washington County after


323




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


its organization, are of historic importance and very interesting at this
late date. The old records show that it was held at the house of David
Hoge, at Catfish Camp, on October 2, 1781, before Henry Taylor, president
judge, and his associates. The grand jury which met that day was com-
posed of Alexander Eady, foreman; David Riddle, David Finley, Patrick
Scott, Arthur Forbes, Patrick McCullough, Hugh Scott, Samuel Frazer,
George Vanemon, Henry Dunnavan, James Scott, Joseph Cowenhoven,
and John Morrison.
    An item by Judge Wilkeson in his "Early Recollections of the West,"
 with reference to this session of the court, is interesting at this time. He
 says: "So great was the destitution of comfortable clothing, that when
 the first court of common pleas was held at Catfish, now Washington, a
 highly respectable citizen, whose presence as a magistrate was necessary,
 could not attend court without first borrowing a pair of leather breeches
 from an equally respectable neighbor, who was summoned on the grand
 jury. The latter lent them and, having no others, had to stay at home."
    At this first session of the court Hugh Montgomery Brackenridge,
Samuel Irwin and David Sample were admitted as attorneys and sworn
into court; and David Sample, who had been admitted to the bar of Bed-
ford County in 1771, was appointed to prosecute for the state.
   Alexander Eady, Thomas Hambleton, James Patterson, Abraham Van-
midleswarth, and Nathaniel Brown were appointed to view and if neces-
:sary to lay out a road from Catfish Camp to, the Presbyterian meeting
house at the forks of Chartiers Creek; action taken upon petition of a
number of inhabitants of Strabane Township.
   Two complaints were made by Hugh Montgomery Brackenridge of
roads needed, one from Catfish Camp to Pittsburgh, and the other from
John Canon's mill to Pittsburgh. Henry Hulce, Andrew Hood, Moses Coe,
Joseph Beelor, James Bradford, Jr., and John White, Jr., were appointed
viewers for the first, and Robert Ralstone, William Long, Thomas Braken,
John Springer, John Henry, and Nathaniel Stokes for the second.
   James Wilson was given permission to keep a public house of enter-
tainment at Catfish Camp.
   The only other business disposed of by this court of quarter sessions
was the binding of John Fisher in a recognizance to appear at the next
term and in the meantime to keep the peace "towards all the liege sub-
jects of the Commonwealth, and particularly towards William Bowan,
Elizabeth Bowan, and Elce Fisher, wife of said John Fisher."
   The Hugh Montgomery Brackenridge mentioned above is the same
Hugh Henry Brackenridge already mentioned in a previous chapter in
connection with Wolfe's Fort.
   The first suit in the Court of Common Pleas of this county was that of
Philip Gililan against Mary Peters, widow of "Indian Peter," who lived
where West Brownsville now stands. This was filed September 17, 1781.
It never came to trial, being nolle prossed after a first and second rule to
declare. The nature of the case is not known beyond the fact that it was
a summons in trespass. The second was that of Sarah Taylor against
David Williamson.
   At this first term of Common Pleas Court there were fifteen actions,
ten of which were ejectments; and during the first year there were 285,


324



















































    House erected by Henry Taylor, the first president judge of the Washington
County courts in 1781. The old log section to the right is believed to have been built
prior to 1780. The late J. Frank Taylor, additional law judge of the Washington
County courts, and a great-grandson of Henry Taylor, was born in this house.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of which fifty-seven were actions over land titles. These grew out of the
condition attached by Virginia to the Baltimore agreement providing that
private property and the rights of all persons acquired under, founded
on, or recognized by the law of either country previous to the date thereof.
be saved and confirmed to them, although they should be found to fall
within the other; and that in all decisions or disputes thereon preference
should be given to the elder or prior right, whichever of the said states the
same should have been acquired under. This was the source of many of
the disputes in the early days following the boundary settlement, and it
was often necessairy to resort to the courts to determine the title to land.
    Some of the business transacted at the first term of the Orphans' Court
is very interesting at this time. Elizabeth Green, a minor of the age of
fourteen years, was apprenticed to Patrick Allison, "till she arrives at the
age of eighteen years, to learn to read and also the art of housewifery."
George Green, a minor of the age of two years, was apprenticed to Patrick
Allison, "till he arrives at the age of twenty-one years, to learn reading,
writing, the five rules of arithmetic, also the art of farming." Abraham
Teagarden was appointed guardian of Jesse Bumgardner, a minor.
    Representatives in the Supreme Executive Council and the Assembly
from Washington County, a sheriff, a coroner, and county commissioners
had not been chosen. By the Constitution of 1776, the second Tuesday of
October was the date for holding general elections throughout the state,
and this remained in force until the Constitution of 1874. In 1781 this
day fell on October 9th. The return of this election, which did not reach
Philadelphia until November 30th, 1781, on the records of the Supreme
Executive Council shows the following:
   "A return of the general election of the county of Washington was
read, by which it appears that the following gentlemen were duly elected,
viz:
   "Councellor, Dorsey Pentecost.
   "Representatives, James Edgar, John Cannon.
   "Sheriffs, Van Swearingen, Andrew Swearingen.
   "Coroners, Wm. McFarlane, Win. McComb.
   "Commissioners, George     Vallandigham, Thomas     Crooks, John
McDowell.
   "On consideration
   "Resolved, That Van Swearingen, Esquire, be appointed Sheriff of the
county of Washington, and that Wm. McFarlin be appointed Coroner of
the said county, and that they be commissioned accordingly."
   Under the Constitution of 1776, the election for sheriff and coroner
was only a recommendation, and the council could commission either of
the persons. The results of this election show that the Virginians were
in the majority in this county, for all of the persons elected to these
important offices had been identified with that faction before the boundary
settlement.
   The efforts of Dorsey Pentecost as county lieutenant of Yohogania
County, Virginia, to draft militia for General Clark's expedition in 1781,
had a sequel in the second term of the Quarter Sessions Court of Wash-
ington County, held on January 1, 1782, when Col. Gabriel Cox, Isaac
Gibson, Richard Parkinson, Hugh Sterling, John Vanata and Michael


326





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Tygart were charged with assault and battery as a result of the com-
pulsory measures used to draw out the militia for General Clark. Colonel
Cox was acquitted and a nol-pros was entered in the other cases.
    The arrest of these men and their trials resulted in complaints being
 made to the Virginia authorities, and they in turn to the Supreme Execu-
 tive Council. That body requested a report of the affair from Thomas
 Scott, the clerk of the court. Mr. Scott not only explained the matter, but
 told of the disrespectful manner in which the defendants acted towards
 the court. According to his letter, Colonel Cox was at the head of a party
 that during the night made "an attempt upon the house in which the court
 was held," and part of it was "thrown down."
    It is interesting to note at this point that at the December session of
 1783, the court fixed the following rates for tavernkeepers:
    "Breakfast of Tea, Coffe or Chocolate, with a beef stake, Mutton
 Chap or other Relish, one shilling, six pence.
    "Do. With Bread and butter & tost, without Relish, one shilling three
 pence.
    "Do. of Cold Victuals, ten pence.
    "Dinner of Roast and Boil, Consisting of more than one course, with
 proper Sauce & Table Drink, viz: Small Beer, Cider or Weak Grogg, two
 shillings.
    "Common Dinner of Roast and Boil, with do., one shilling, six pence.
    "Supper of Tea, Coffe, or Chocolate with proper materials, one shill-
 ing, three pence.
    "Do. of other Warm Victuals, one shilling.
    "Do. of Cold Victuals, ten pence.
    "Lodging in Good beds with Clean Sheets, four pence.
    "A horse 24 Hours at Good Timothy or Clover Hay, one shilling, six
pence.
    "Do. at Good Pasture, six pence.
    "Corn or oats Pr. quart, two pence.
    "Whisky full proof pr. Gill, four pence.
    "Toddy pr. Bowl containing 1/2 pint Whisky with Loaf Sugar, one
shilling, three pence.
    "Do. with Brown Sugar, one shilling.
    "Beer pr. quart, six pence.
    "Cider pr. quart, six shillings.
    "Half pint Good Rum made into Toddy with Loaf Sugar, one shilling,
six pence.
   "Half pint Good Rum, one shilling.
   "Pint of Good Medara Wine, one shilling, ten pence."
   Which rates were published by the crier of the court and set up to
public view according to law. This order of the court was made under an
act of Assembly passed May 31st, 1718. The act of January 22, 1777,
made the Spanish milled silver dollar the equivalent of 7 shillings, 6 pence.
This made the Pennsylvania shilling worth 133 cents.
   There is no record of any ducking stool having been erected in Wash-
ington County. On February 22, 1775, the Augusta County court ordered
the erection of a ducking stool at the confluence of the Ohio and Monon-
gahela rivers. This is the only evidence of a ducking stool having been


327





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


erected west of the mountains. On the minutes of the Board of County
Commissioners for 1784 is found an entry for a tax levy "laid on for
making stocks by order of Henry Taylor, Esq., four pounds."
    There was also a whipping post in Washington County. This is shown
by the court records for the December session, 1784, at which a man was
found guilty of larceny. "The judgment of the Court is that he restore
the Goods stolen to the owner, if not already done, pay the like sum to the
State &c., & be publically Whipped with 25 Lashes on his bare Posteriors
well laid on, pay the Costs of Prosecution & stand Committed till the whole
be complied with." Again at the June session of 1786, another man was
found guilty of larceny and sentenced to receive seventeen lashes at the
public whipping post, well laid on.
     Under the constitution of Pennsylvania, adopted September 28, 1776,
there were three president judges and thirty-eight associate judges in
Washington County. As already stated Henry Taylor was commissioned
August 24, 1781, and served until October 31, 1783, when he was displaced
as president judge of the court of common pleas by Dorsey Pentecost, who
had resigned his seat in the Supreme Executive council on October 6,
1783. Henry Taylor continued to act as judge of the court of quarter
sessions. Dorsey Pentecost held this office until November 29, 1786, when
his commission was revoked by the council, he having settled in a neigh-
boring state.
   In 1788, the courts were reorganized and on September 30th, the Su-
preme Executive council commissioned Henry Taylor president judge of
the courts of common pleas and quarter sessions, and James Edgar, who
had been elected a justice of the peace from Smith Township, and William
McFarland, a justice of the peace from Amwell Township, were commis-
sioned justices of the court of common pleas.
   The new constitution adopted in convention on September 2, 1790,
made a change in the judicial system. The state was divided into cir-
cuits, each district to include not more than six nor less than three coun-
ties. The fifth circuit or district included Westmoreland, Fayette, Wash-
ington and Allegheny counties, by the assembly on April 3, 1791. The
law provided that the governor should appoint not less than three nor
more than four judges in each county. They were to hold office during
good behavior, or until removed by the governor on the address of two-
thirds of each branch of the legislature.
   Alexander Addison, who had been admitted to the bar of Washington
County in March, 1787, was appointed as the first president judge of the
fifth district on August 22, 1791. He served until he was impeached by
the senate on January 27, 1803. His impeachment grew out of the bitter
partisan hostility of the Anti-Federal or Republican party of that time.
One of his associates on the Allegheny County bench was John B. Lucas;
and he was charged with interfering with Judge Lucas in the latter's
instruction to juries in opposition to what Addison believed to be the law.
Judge Addison resided in Pittsburgh at that time, and he died there on
November 24, 1807.
   Samuel Roberts was commissioned president judge of the fifth district
on June 2, 1803. He remained as judge of this district until 1818, when
a new fifth district was created, and Washington, Fayette, Greene, and


328





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Somerset counties were placed in the new fourteenth district, Samuel
Roberts remained judge of the new fifth district, and on October 19, 1818,
Thomas H. Baird, of Washington, was commissioned president judge of
the fourteenth district. On March 29, 1824, Somerset County was re-
moved from the fourteenth district, leaving Washington, Fayette and
Greene. These counties remained in this district until the twenty-seventh
district was created on January 23, 1866.
    Thomas H. Baird was a son of Dr. Absalom Baird who had served as a
 surgeon in the Pennsylvania line during the Revolution. His father, John
 Baird, a Scotchman who came to America with Braddock's army, was
 killed at the defeat of Major Grant's Highlanders on Grant's hill, Pitts-
 burgh, on September 14, 1758. Thomas Baird was one of the leading citi-
 zens of Washington in his day. He resigned as judge in December, 1837,
 and removed to Pittsburgh where he was engaged in the practice of law
 for twelve years. He then retired to his farm near Monongahela city,
 where he lived for many years. He died at the home of his son-in-law,
 Charles McKnight, in Allegheny city, November 22, 1866, and is buried
 in the Washington cemetery.
    Nathaniel Ewing, of Washington, was commissioned as president judge
 on February 15, 1838, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge
 Baird. He held the office until 1848.
    The judicial system was changed by the constitution of February 22,
 1838, which set the term of the president judge at ten years and that of
 the associate judges at five years. Judge Ewing held office until 1848,
 when he was succeeded on February 28th, by Samuel A. Gilmore, a resi-
 dent of Butler, who practiced in this county. When he was appointed
 president judge of the fourteenth district, he removed to Uniontown. He
 served until he was succeeded by Judge Lindsey in 1861.
    An amendment to the constitution, which was ratified by the people
at the election of October, 1850, provided that the president judge should
be elected by the qualified electors of the respective districts, and the
associate judges by the electors of the counties. At the election on Octo-
ber 14, 1851, Judge Gilmore, a democrat, was elected president judge with-
out opposition.
   James Lindsey, democrat, of Waynesburg, was elected president judge
of the fourteenth district over James Veech, of Uniontown, republican,
in 1861, and was commissioned November 20, 1861. He was ill before the
August term, 1864, but he came to Washington and held court at that
time, although still sick. He started for home at the close of the term,
but was taken ill again, and had to stop at Prosperity, where he remained
overnight. The next day he went to his home six miles from Waynes-
burg, where he became worse, and died suddenly on the night of Sep-
tember 1st.
   Governor Curtin appointed James Watson, of Washington, on Novem-
ber 9, 1864, to fill the vacancy until the next general election in 1865. This
appointment was a surprise to Mr. Watson, as he had not sought the office,
and he declined the honor with gratitude.
   On November 19, 1864, Governor Curtin appointed J. Kennedy Ewing,
of Uniontown, the only son of Nathaniel Ewing, who had served as judge
from 1838 to 1848. At the general election held on October 10, 1865, Sam-


329





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


uel A. Gilmore, democrat, who had twice before been commissioned, de-
feated Mr. Ewing on the republican ticket. He was commissioned to begin
the first Monday of December, 1865, but no term of the court was held
until February, 1866. Before that date, namely, on January 25, 1866, the
assembly removed Washington County from the old fourteenth district,
and created the new twenty-seventh district of Washington and Beaver
counties.
    On February 3, 1866, Governor Curtin commissioned B. B. Chamber-
 lin, of the Beaver County bar, as judge of the twenty-seventh district, to
 serve until December, 1866,
    At the general election, held on October 9, 1866, Alexander W. Ache-
 son, republican, of Washington, defeated Judge Chamberlin, on the demo-
 cratic ticket. He was commissioned on November 15, 1866, and served
 until he was succeeded by Judge Hart in 1877. On November 3, 1874,
 during Judge Acheson's term, a new constitution was adopted. This
 changed the judicial system in Washington County. The new constitu-
 tion provided that counties having a population of 40,000 should become
 a separate judicial district, with one judge learned in the law as president
 judge. The office of associate judge not learned in the law was abolished,
 but it provided for additional law judges as the business of the district
 required the same.
    At the election held on November 7, 1876, the first since Washington
 County was created into a separate judicial district, George S. Hart,
 democrat, of Washington, defeated Judge Acheson, on the republican
 ticket by just four votes. This is the closest election of which we have
 a record, Hart receiving 5,598, and Acheson,'5,594. Judge Hart was com-
 missioned December 11, 1876, and took his seat on the first Monday of
 January, 1877. He served his full term.
    John Addison McIlvaine, republican, who on November 2, 1886, de-
 feated D. F. Patterson, democrat, by 482 votes, served as president judge
 for thirty-five years. At that first election he received 6,728 and Patter-
 son, 6,246. Judge McIlvaine was commissioned December 14, 1886. His
 record of service is not exceeded by any judge in the state. In fact, only
 one other judge in Pennsylvania, Aaron S. Swartz, of Norristown, can
 equal this record. Judge Swartz began his term as president judge of the
 courts of Montgomery County on January 3, 1887, the same day as Judge
 McIlvaine.
   Judge McIlvaine began his long career on January 3, 1887, and was
elected four times in succession by the people of Washington County,
serving until he retired on January 2, 1922, when he was succeeded by
James I. Brownson, then additional law judge. On the day Judge McIl-
vaine went on the bench there were only twenty-six lawyers practicing
at the Washington bar, and on the day he retired thirty-five years later,
there were one hundred ten.
   On the day Judge McIlvaine went on the bench in 1887, Judge Hart,
his predecessor, welcomed him, and after a few brief words, the regular
motion and rule court was held. The first paper presented to Judge McIl-
vaine was a petition for the appointment of viewers for a new road. This
was presented by the late Freeman Brady, a prominent attorney at the
local bar forty years ago. The appointment of these viewers was the


330





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


first official act of Judge McIlvaine. The new judge heard a case argued
before court adjourned, and the next day handed down an opinion, thus
setting a precedent for prompt disposition of cases that was kept up dur-
ing all the years that followed.
    On January 2, 1922, the day Judge McIlvaine retired, there were still
 living fourteen members of the bar who had been in active practice when
 he assumed his duties thirty-five years before. Four of them, George O.
 Jones, Joseph F. McFarland, James M. McBurney, and Samuel Amspoker,
 in addition to Judge James I. Brownson, were present in court the day he
 retired. This was one of the most important events in all the history of
 Washington County's courts; and the court room was filled with friends
 and relatives of the judge. The occasion was one of sadness as well as
 joy; sadness that the career of Washington County's great jurist should
 end, and joy that he had been spared to serve so long. It was an historic
 occasion that will go down not only in the annals of the county but will
 be preserved in the legal archives of Pennsylvania; for probably never
 again will any of the present generation live to see another judge serve
 the people for over a third of a century.
    On the bench with Judge McIlvaine that last morning were Judge
 James I. Brownson, who by virtue of his office as additional law judge
 became president judge upon Judge McIlvaine's retirement, and Judge
 Haldain B. Hughes, president judge of the orphans' court of this county.
    Judge McIlvaine was admitted to the local bar at the August term,
 1867, and out of the fifteen law students admitted that year only Judge
 McIlvaine and John W. Donnan survive. J. R. Forrest, who was admitted
 at the May term, 1869, is the third oldest member of the local bar, but he
 has not practiced for many years. On account of illness he was not able
 to be present when Judge McIlvaine retired. George O. Jones, the fourth
 oldest, was admitted at the August term, 1871. On account of advancing
 years he practices his profession but little. John II. Murdoch, admitted
 at the August term, 1873, and practicing at the time of Judge McIlvaine's
 retirement, has since died. T. Jeff Duncan, admitted at the October term,
 1875, is now the oldest member of the local bar engaged in active practice.
   The names of the lawyers in active practice when Judge McIlvaine
went on the bench, with the term of their admission to the bar follow:
George O. Jones, August, 1871; John H. Murdoch, Sr., August, 1873;
T. Jeff Duncan, October, 1875; J. Carter Judson, January, 1877; Joseph
F. McFarland, October, 1878; Albert S. Sprowls, October, 1879; James M.
McBurney, April, 1885; Thomas B. H. Brownlee, April, 1885; Samuel
Amspoker, December, 1885, Norman E. Clark, December, 1885; Ernest
E. Crumrine, February, 1886; Andrew M. Linn, March, 1886, and James
A. Wiley, August, 1886.
   It is more than passing strange how small incidents will change the
whole course of a life. After John A. McIlvaine was admitted to the local
bar he decided to go West. In those days Kansas was the far west. The
great cattle trails from Texas to the Santa Fe railroad, which was just
being built across Kansas, were just being opened up; and so young McIl-
vaine went to this new land. His destination was Topeka, the capital of
the state, but he joined a party going to the opening of the Osage Indian
reservation, and he landed at what is now Wichita, which was then nothing


331






CONTENTS


    SCHOOL FOR YOUNG LADIES, 1832-HAZZARD'S MONONGAHELA ACAD-
    EMY, 1838-WOTRING'S "HORSE MILL" ACADEMY, 1844-UPPER BUFFALO
    ACADEMY, 1853-OLOME INSTITUTE, 1844-PLEASANT HILL SEMINARY,
    1847-PLEASANT VALLEY ACADEMY, 1853-LONE PINE ACADEMY, 1878
    -PARIS COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE, 1878-TRINITY HALL MILITARY
    ACADEMY, 1879-IIICKORY ACADEMY, 1891-CALIFORNIA NORMAL
    SCHOOL, 1852-LINDEN HALL SEMINARY, 1860-HOGE SUMMIT ACAD-
    EMY, 1860-WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON COLLEGE-WASHINGTON
    FEMALE SEMINARY - INSTITUTE OF PRACTICAL ARTS, OLD CON-
    CORD                                               658

                     CHAPTER LXXIX.

                         POLITICS.

 CONGRESSMEN FROM THIS DISTRICT-STATE SENATORS-REPRESENTA-
   TIVES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY-GOVERNORS FROM WASHING-
   TON COUNTY, JOSEPH RITNER AND JOHN K. TENER     687

                     CHAPTER LXXX.

         ANDREW RALSTON'S THRESHING MACHINE.

 FIRST THRESHING MACHINE AND SEPARATOR IN THE UNITED STATES IN-
   VENTED BY ANDREW RALSTON, OF HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP-THE OLD
   PATENT RECORDS OF 1842-MANUFACTURED IN WEST MIDDLETOWN
   BY ROBERT B. McCLURE-LOSS CAUSED BY THE BIG FROST-LATER
   HISTORY-HENRY FORD SECURES ONE OF THE LAST OF THESE MA-
   CHINES MANUFACTURED -- RALSTON'S POCKET LANTERN PAT-
   ENTED                                               696

                     CHAPTER LXXXI.

           AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES AND FAIRS.

MORGANZA FAIR OF 1798-AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF 1818-AGRICUL-
   TURAL SOCIETY OF 1821-THE WASHINGTON SOCIETY FOR THE PRO-
   MOTION OF AGRICULTURE AND DOMESTIC MANUFACTURE IN WASH-
   INGTON COUNTY, 1847-WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SO-
   CIETY, 1855-UNION AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1856-FLORENCE
   MUTUAL AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1858-MOUNT PLEASANT EQ-
   UITABLE AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1859-MONONGAHELA VAL-
   LEY AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1855-CHAR-
   TIERS VALLEY AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1874-WESTERN PENN-
   SYLVANIA AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1885-SANDY PLAINS FAIR,
   1873-WEST ALEXANDER FARMERS' FAIR ASSOCIATION, 1898-WASH-
   INGTON FAIR ASSOCIATION, 1911                       699

                     CHAPTER LXXXII

INCORPORATED CITIES AND BOROUGHS                       704

                    CHAPTER LXXXIII.

      THE NATIONAL PIKE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.

THE ROUTE OF THE PIKE THROUGH THE COUNTY-THE MOST HISTORIC
   HIGHWAY IN THE EAST-THE CONESTOGA WAGON--OI.D-TIME
   WAGON STANDS-OLD-TIME WAGONERS-FREIGHT BUSINESS ON
   THE NATIONAL PIKE-THE STAGE COACH-LUCIUS W. STOCKTON,


xxvi





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


but a trading post on the old Chisholm cattle trail. He saw the first house
erected there in what is now a large city.
    Wichita soon became a county seat, and was in the district of Judge
 Brown. The district court had just been organized, with a man named
 Bright as the clerk. After serving for a short time he resigned, and he
 informed Judge Brown that a young lawyer named McIlvaine, who was
 stopping at the hotel, would make a good clerk. Judge Brown immediately
 appointed him; and young Attorney McIlvaine served until July, 1872,
 when he was called home by the illness of his father. He came back to
 Pennsylvania, fully intending to return to Wichita, which had grown to
 a town of between 1,500 and 2,000, with very few lawyers. After his
 father's recovery, the late George V. Lawrence persuaded young McIl-
 vaine to remain at home. During the remainder of that year and for
 1873, he served as secretary of the Republican Vigilance committee; and
 in 1874 he was elected district attorney of Washington County, serving
 two terms, or until 1881. While in this office he formed a law partnership
 with M. L. A. McCracken, one of the older members of the bar who died a
 few years ago. Judge McIlvaine's success as district attorney brought a
 large practice to this firm, and after his second term he devoted his entire
 time to the law until he was elected judge. His success as a great jurist
 in Pennsylvania is unquestioned; but who can say what honors might not
 have come to him had he returned to that new country just being opened
 to settlement, where lawyers of his ability were few and far between.
    One of the big events during the closing days of Judge McIlvaine's
regime took place on the evening of December 20, 1921, when more than
one hundred members of the Washington County bar gathered at the
Masonic temple, in Washington, at a banquet and entertainment given in
honor of Washington County's great jurist. At noon on January 2, 1922,
the day he retired from the bench, Judge McIlvaine was host at a dinner
served in the bar association rooms on the third floor of the court house
to Judges Brownson and Hughes, and all of the courthouse officials to-
gether with a number of Judge McIlvaine's personal friends. It was an
enjoyable occasion, tinged with sadness, which will never be forgotten
by those who were present; and it is very doubtful if any of them will
ever attend a similar event.
   Judge McIlvaine retired under the law which grants half salary to a
judge who retires while still in office after serving more than thirty years.
Since then he acts in an advisory capacity, and a chamber was fitted up
for him on the second floor of the courthouse.
   In order to complete the history of Judge McIlvaine on the bench, we
must go back thirty years. At the election of November 4, 1896, Judge
McIlvaine was reelected over John C. Bane, of Washington, the democratic
candidate, by a majority of 2,600. McIlvaine received 10,159 votes and
Bane, 7,559.
   Judge McIlvaine was elected for the third time on November 6, 1906,
when he defeated Boyd Crumrine, of Washington, the candidate of the
democratic and Lincoln parties. McIlvaine received 9,258, while Crumrine
received 4,550 democratic and 1,989 Lincoln party votes. His third com-
mission is dated December 6, 1906.
   By the change in the election laws which provides that all county offices


332





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


shall be filled at the election in the odd year, Judge McIlvaine gained a
year, and he did not come up for reelection until November 8, 1917. At
that time he had no opposition and was elected on the non-partisan ticket
by 10,205. His fourth and last commission was issued on December
11, 1917
    During the first twenty years and six months Judge McIlvaine was on
 the bench he never missed a session of court at which it was his duty to
 be present. His summer vacation at Battle Creek in 1907 was prolonged
 to eight weeks, which caused him to miss the two weeks' session of the
 August term of criminal court that year. After 1907 he missed no session
 of court until February, 1920, when, on account of sickness, he was absent
 from his post of duty for over three months. Truly this is a wonderful
 record.
    The business of the courts of Washington County became so great
 that another judge was needed, and an act of the legislature in 1895 cre-
 ated the office of additional law judge. The office was filled at once by
 appointment by Gov. Daniel Hastings, who commissioned James Franklin
 Taylor, of Washington, on June 24, 1895, to serve until the first Monday
 of January, 1896. A successor was to be elected at the November elec-
 tion, 1895.
    It is interesting to note at this point that Judge James Franklin Taylor
 was a great grandson of Henry Taylor, the first president judge of the
 Washington County courts in 1781.
    Judge Taylor was elected on the republican ticket on November 5, 1895,
to succeed himself, defeating Robert W. Irwin, of Washington, the demo-
cratic candidate, by 431 votes. Judge Taylor received 7,688 and Mr. Irwin,
7,257. Judge Taylor's second commission was issued December 19, 1895.
    On November 7, 1905, Judge Taylor, republican, defeated Josiah M.
Patterson, of Washington, the democrat, and Boyd Crumrine, of Wash-
ington, the candidate of the Citizens' party, Taylor receiving 9,978 votes,
Patterson, 1,776, and Crumrine, 5,763. Judge Taylor's third commission
was issued on December 19, 1905. Judge Taylor did not live to complete
his second term, and by a strange coincidence died on December 19, 1913.
the date of his second and third commissions.
   The office of additional law judge, made vacant by the death of Judge
Taylor, was filled by Robert Wilson Irwin, of Washington, who was ap-
pointed by Gov. John K. Tener on December 31, 1913, to serve until the
next general election.
   At that time the election to the bench was removed by law from the
party ballot, and placed on the non-partisan ticket. The law provided that
any candidate who received more than one-half of the total number of
votes cast for all candidates, should be elected at the following election
without opposition. While this law was in force Judge Irwin was the only
candidate so elected. At the primary on September 21, 1915, Judge Irwin
received 7,826 votes; Norman E. Clark, of Washington, 5,502, and Samuel
Amspoker, of Washington, 1,064. Judge Irwin was elected on November 2,
without opposition by 13,494. He was commissioned on December 11, 1915.
   Judge Erwin was found dead in bed at his residence in East Beau
Street on the morning of November 11, 1917, his death being due to heart
trouble.


333




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The vacancy was not filled until January 4, 1918, when Gov. Martin
G. Brtmibaugh appointed James I. Brownson, of Washington, until the
next general election. At the primary on September 16, 1919, Judge
Brownson had no opposition, and received 13,240 votes. At the election
on November 6, he was elected by 9,797 votes. His second commission
was issued on December 18, 1919. When Judge McIlvaine retired on
January 2, 1922, Judge Brownson automatically became president judge;
and his commission as such was issued on January 19, 1922.
   Judge Brownson's advancement to president judge left the office of
additional law judge vacant, and on February 11, 1922, Gov. William C.
Sproul appointed Erwin Cummins, of Houston, then district attorney, to
fill the vacancy until the next general election. At the primary on Sep-
tember 18, 1923, Judge Cummins was nominated on the republican ticket
without opposition, the non-partisan law having been repealed. On No-
vember 6, he defeated R. W. Knox, of Washington, the democrat, by 7,039,
Cummins receiving 18,323 and Knox, 11,284.
   By an act of assembly the orphans' court of Washington County, which
had been under the judges of the courts of common pleas since the or-
ganization of the county in 1781, was made a separate institution. The
law provided that this should not take effect until the first Monday of
January, 1920, and the office of president judge should be filled at the
1919 election.
   There were four candidates on the non-partisan ticket for this office
at the primary on September 16, 1919, Haldain B. Hughes, George P.
Baker, Andrew M. Linn, and Norman E. Clark, all of Washington. Hughes
received 5,427 votes, Baker, 4,446; Clark, 3,832, and Linn, 3,142. Accord-
ing to the nonpartisan law, Hughes and Baker were the candidates.
   At the election on November 6, 1919, Haldain B. Hughes defeated
George P. Baker by a majority of 4,231, Hughes receiving 9,669, and
Baker, 4,231. Judge Hughes died suddenly on June 15, 1923, while on his
way home from Waynesburg, where he had held court. He was in his
automobile with his wife at the time, and the exertion of putting chains on
his machine when about half way to Washington brought on an attack of
heart trouble.
   The vacancy was filled by the appointment of Norman E. Clark, of
Washington, who was commissioned by Gov. Gifford Pinchot on July 16,
1923, to serve until the next general election. Judge Clark was a candi-
date for the nomination on the republican ticket at the primary on Sep-
tember 18, 1923, but was defeated by J. Boyd Crumrine, of Washington,
who received 11,391 votes to 9,993 for Clark. At the election on November
6, Mr. Crumrine defeated A. G. Braden, of Washington, the democrat, by
10,401, the former receiving 19,842 and the latter, 9,441.
   Washington County has had four courthouses since it was first organ-
ized in 1781. We have seen that the act creating Washington County in
1781 directed "the court to be held at the house of David Hoge, Esq., until
a courthouse shall be built or otherwise provided for." This house stood
on the lot now occupied by the Strean building, at the northwest corner of
South Main Street and West Strawberry Alley. In October, 1781, it was
sold to Charles Dodd.
   The taxes for 1781-82 were exonerated, and in the first tax levy made


334




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


for the county, which was in September, 1783, we find this interesting
item: "Laid on to pay the Court-House rent to Charles or John Dodd, 40
pounds." The treasurer's account of 1783 contains this item: "To pay
Charles Dodd Court-House rent, 15 pounds." One term of court in 1783
was evidently held in the house of James Wilson, who kept a tavern on
the lot at the northwest corner of Main and West Beau streets, now occu-
pied by Smith's Iron Front building, for the treasurer's account for 1783
contains this item: "To pay James Wilson, by order of trustees, the rent
of a house to hold Court in, nine pounds."
   The tax levy made May 12th, 1784, laid twenty pounds to pay Charles
Dodd for use of courthouse. The tax levies for 1785 and 1786 each con-
tain an item of twenty pounds for courthouse rent to John Dodd, who had
purchased the property from Charles Dodd. These items show that the
first courts were held on the sites already mentioned until the first court-
house was completed in 1787.
   The act erecting the county appointed James Edgar, Hugh Scott, Van
Swearingen, Daniel Leet and John Armstrong as trustees to purchase land
sufficient for the county buildings. Under this authority the trustees
purchased from David Hoge on October 18, 1781, the lots now known as
the public square where the courthouse, jail, and warden's residence are
located. In consideration "for his good will he beareth to the inhabitants
of the said county of Washington, and for the sum of five shillings to him
in hand paid," David Hoge conveyed this land to Washington County.
   Before the courthouse and jail were completed the prisoners of the
county were kept in Charles Dodd's log stable, which was fitted up and
strengthened for this purpose. But it was insecure and the court, sheriff
and others made frequent complaints. When some desperate criminals
were confined there in 1784, it was necessary for the sheriff to ask the
county lieutenant for a detachment of militia to prevent their escape, and
Capt. Joseph Bane and forty men were called for this service in July, 1784,
and twenty-three men acted as guards from August 14th, to October 2,
1784. In December, 1784, the grand jury, on request of Sheriff James
Marshel, viewed the jail and unanimously pronounced it insufficient. In
1785, the grand jury went even further and declared that the jail was a
disgrace to the county.
   The erection of the first courthouse was brought about by the follow-
ing item which is found in the minutes of the April term, 1782: "The
Court orders that the Prothonotary write to the Trustees of the County,
informing them of the urgent necessity of a Court House and Gaol; and
that the Court will find themselves under the disagreeable necessity of
representing the remissness of the said Trustees, if something is not
speedily done in that respect."
   The trustees started the erection of a courthouse and jail in 1783, but
they were not completed until July, 1787. It appears that the courthouse
and jail were in the same building, which was a two-story log structure,
situated near the southwest corner of the public square. From an original
cost sheet now in the possession of the Washington County Historical
Society, it appears that John Hoge and Andrew Swearingen were the con-
tractors who erected this first courthouse, and it seems that it was not
entirely completed until 1789. The total cost was 701 pounds, eight shill-


335




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ings, 93/ pence. Among the items of expense we find twelve pounds,
sixteen shillings and four pence paid for 102 gallons of whisky, evidently
for the workmen.
    According to an old account given by Mordecai Hoge, son of John Hoge,
 who attended school in this building, it was of hewed logs; the courthouse
 and jail were on the first floor and an academy, the origin of Washington
 College, was taught on the second floor by Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, and later
 by Rev. David Johnston.
    The new jail was about as unsatisfactory as Dodd's stable, and several
 prisoners broke out. This building was used as the courthouse and jail
 until it was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1790-91. This is the first
 fire of any importance of which we have a record. After the courthouse
 was burned, court was held in the house of James Wilson, already men-
 tioned.
    A new courthouse was started immediately and completed on July
 19th, 1794. Like the first courthouse, the second contained two stories,
 but it was erected of brick, and was quite a building for its day. It stood
 until 1839, when it was razed to make room for the third courthouse,
 which those of the present generation remember so well. This second
 courthouse cost about 3,000 pounds, or about $8,000.
    Henry Brown, Washington's oldest native born resident who is now in
his ninety-eighth year, is probably the only man living in Washington
County who remembers this second courthouse, and to him the author is
indebted for a description. It stood near the corner of Main Street and
West Cherry Avenue, and was about fifty feet by seventy-five feet deep.
At the front entrance was a porch, reached by several stone steps in
front and at the sides. There was a large window in front, and just inside
of the door was a vestibule or hallway, with a brick floor, which extended
some distance into the building. On each side of this hall were long
seats for the public. The court room was in the rear half of the building.
It was floored with boards, and was separated from the hall by a railing.
The judge's bench was at the rear, facing the entrance, with a large win-
dow on each side. On the left was the large, enclosed jury box, and on
the right were seats for the witnesses, while the members of the bar sat
in front. The jury rooms were on the second floor, while the county
offices were in the front half of the building on each side of the hall. The
roof sloped for a short distance at the sides, and was then flat on top; and
often the boys of the town climbed up there. On the front top of the roof
was a cupola and weather vane about as high as the building itself, and
resembling a church tower. The weather vane consisted of an arrow on
top of a large tin globe. When the building was razed in 1839, this tower
was pulled down with ropes in the hands of men in the street.
   In this steeple was the courthouse bell, which was used to summon the
people to court, and also as a fire alarm. It was tolled while funeral pro-
cessions passed from the residence of the dead to the old graveyard.
What became of this bell is not known definitely, but it is reasonable to
suppose that it was installed in the third courthouse, which stood until
1898; and during more than fifty years it was used as the court and town
bell of Washington. After the third courthouse was razed it was taken
to the old South Washington schoolhouse in Elm Street, where it was


336





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


used to call the children to school during the several years that borough
was in existence. Later it was used as a church bell during some years
following when church was held in that building; and finally after South
Washington was admitted to Washington Borough, the bell was removed
and stored in a room of the fire department, where it is now located. On
it is the name of the maker, "A. Fulton, Pittsburgh," beneath which is
an eagle. This was one of the old-time foundries of Pittsburgh. Before
it is forgotten and sold for junk, it should be rescued and given a place
in the rotunda of the courthouse. If this is not the original bell from the
second courthouse, then at least it was the first bell used in the third court-
house.
   This second court house was not the only building that stood in the
public square. South of the courthouse was a high one-story brick build-
ing containing first the prothonotary's office, then the clerk of court's
office, and finally the register of wills and recorder of deeds. Next to this
was an alley used as a driveway to the borough scales on the rear of the
lot behind the old jail. South of this driveway was a two-story brick
building in which were the offices of the county commissioners and the
county treasurer.
   In one room of this building an Irishman named Jimmy Brown kept
a small grocery and fish store at one time. Brown was a well known
character of the town in years long past, and few, if any, persons now
living remember him.
   Samuel Surratt, who at one time kept "Surratt's Inn," on the lot
opposite where the Washington Female seminary is now located, was
borough weigh-master in later years, and lived in the room over the
weigh-master's office in the building on the rear of the lot. He was the
friend of the boys of the town, and was another town character of those
days. He died in his room on the second floor, and the stairway was so
narrow that the coffin could not be carried down. It was lowered with
a rope from a window in the second floor, and taken to the old graveyard.
   The sheriff's office was in a small frame building north of the court-
house, and his stable was on the rear of the lot, on Cherry Avenue. North
of the sheriff's office was the old market house, which stood on the corner
of Beau Street. This market house contained two stories, the second being
of frame, supported by brick pillars four feet square. The lower floor,
which was open, was paved with brick. The second floor was divided into
four large rooms, in one of which Stephen Woods taught school about
1820, and later John Irwin taught school there. In another room Isaiah
Steen had a chair factory, which was the loafing place for certain char-
acters of the town in those days.
   In the rear of the market house was the old stone jail, built in 1824.
The main building was surrounded by a wall of limestone, about fifteen
feet high and four feet thick, and inside of this was the jail. This build-
ing was also of limestone, and contained two stories. The outer walls
were about four feet thick, and the cells were divided by stone walls. It
stood until torn away to make room for the new jail in 1867-68. It was
started in February, 1824, by John Wilson and John Orr, contractors, and
completed late that year or early in 1825. The price was $3,500.
   The need of a new courthouse was discussed at a public meeting held
       22-V1


337




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


in Washington on October 18th, 1836; but when the matter was referred
to the voters at the spring election in 1837, it was voted down. Finally,
in 1839, the county commissioners placed the matter before the grand
jury, which found the old buildings unfit for public use and recommended
the erection of a new courthouse.
   In June, 1839, contracts for the work were let as follows: Carpenter
work to Henry Shearer, at $4,000; stone work to Freeman Brady, at
$1,200; stone cutting to Alexander Ramsey, at $1,233, and furnishing and
laying the brick to David White, at $3,000. Other items of expense
brought the total cost up to $24,958. The cost of the sheriff's residence
was $4,448 additional.
   The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1840, with some ceremony. In a
zinc box under this stone was placed papers on which were the names of
the officers of the general and state governments; contractors for the
courthouse; teachers in the Washington Female seminary; clergymen, phy-
sicians, justices of the peace, borough officers, school directors of Wash-
ington; members of the bar, trustees of the seminary, teachers in the
Washington schools; candidates for president and vice president of the
United States in 1840, and the market prices in Washington in that year.
When the third courthouse was razed in 1898, John Brady, a son of Free-
man Brady, the contractor, secured the box and gave it to Dr. Wray
Grayson. Later both the box and contents were given to Boyd Crumrine
for the Washington County Historical Society, where they are still pre-
served.
   While the third courthouse was in course of construction, court was
held in the old Methodist Protestant Church in West Beau Street.
   The statue of George Washington, which stood on the dome of this
courthouse, was furnished by James P. Millard. During the long years
that it stood there it is a wonder that some of the boys of the town were
not killed; for there was little or nothing to restrain them from going
through any part of the building they wished, and it was considered
quite a feat of daring to climb out of the little trap-door onto the roof of
the dome and then up beside the statue. Some of the most venturesome
even climbed on the statue itself and sat upon its shoulders until ordered
down by the outraged janitor.
   The most daring feat of this kind occurred more than fifty years ago
when Frank H. Judson, then a boy of sixteen or seventeen, climbed to the
statue and stood upon George Washington's shoulders, balancing himself
by placing his hands on the head. Mr. Judson's father, the late James
L. Judson, resided at that time in East Chestnut Street, and from the
back yard of the home the dome of the courthouse could be plainly seen.
Mrs. Judson was in the yard at the time, and saw the feat, little dreaming
that it was her own boy. At the dinner table that day she related the
incident to her family, said how frightened that boy's mother would be
if she knew it was her son. Later, when she learned it was her own son
he received a good lecture. Persons walking along the street were electri-
fied by the feat, and they watched in horror, expecting every instant to see
the daring lad pitch headlong to the ground; but he managed to climb
down safely, and today he conducts a printing shop in South Main Street.
   When the courthouse was razed this. statue was purchased by Charles


338

















if
-4


rs -
a


9 4




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Hallam, and after necessary repairs were made, it was set up in the yard
of his residence at the corner of Locust and Highland avenues, where it
stood for many years. What finally became of it I have been unable to
learn.
   The clock, which for over half a century tolled the time every hour
to the people of Washington, was placed there by the borough at a cost
of $1,000. After its removal in 1898 it was sold to James McCullough, Jr.,
of Kittanning, and was removed from Washington.
   The third courthouse was built of brick and contained two very high
stories. At the front entrance was a porch with high columns which
extended to the roof of the second story, and gave it a colonial appearance.
On the first floor were the county offices, reached from a hall just inside
of the door. Two sets of winding stairways went to the court room
which occupied most of the second floor. This was finished after the style
of the old time court rooms, with long pew-like benches for the public, and
a high inclosed jury box on the north side. The portion occupied by the
bench and bar was separated from the rest of the room by a railing. TfIis
building was completed in the fall of 1842.
   The old stone jail erected in 1824 was in use for over forty years, but
it became insufficient for the purpose, and in 1865 a new one was proposed.
The next year it was decided to erect a new jail and make some much
needed additions to the courthouse. Barr & Moser, architects, of Pitts-
burgh, were employed to draw plans, which were approved on February
28, 1867, by the county commissioners. On April 22, 1867, Barr & Moser
were appointed general superintendents of the work; Nelson Vankirk was
named as superintendent and foreman of the carpenter work and Samuel
Hargreaves superintendent and foreman of the masonry and brick work.
The contract for furnishing the brick was awarded to Forrest Brothers,
The entire work was completed in the summer of 1868 at a cost of $48,500
for the jail and enlargement of the courthouse, and $3,500 for the stone
wall and improvement to the sheriff's residence, making a total of $52,000.
   The fourth and present courthouse, the jail and the warden's residence
were started in the spring of 1898, and completed in the fall of 1900, a
period of about two and one-half years being required for the entire job.
The need of new county buildings had been discussed for several years.
The third courthouse was not large enough for the county's business. All
of the offices were crowded, and the cellar was filled with valuable docu-
ments. A fire would have destroyed records of great value to the people,
especially the records of the recorder's and register of wills' offices.
    The act of April 19, 1895, gave the county commissioners power to
have plans drawn, and, upon approval of the judges, they had the power
to advertise for and let the contracts for new county buildings. On No-
vember 16, 1897, McCollum & Ely, of Washington; Rankin & Kellogg, of
Philadelphia; F. C. Sauer, of Pittsburgh; F. J. Osterling, of Pittsburgh;
William Kauffman, of Fittsburgh, and John W. Vester, of Washington,
joined with Orff & Gilbert, of Minneapolis, made a contract with County
Commissioners John M. Dunn, William G. Shillito, and John P. Charlton
to furnish severally on or before December 28, 1897, preliminary plans
and specifications for the new courthouse and jail.
    The plans submitted by F. J. Osterling, of Pittsburgh, were selected


340





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


as the most satisfactory, and on April 4, 1898, the commissioners presented
their petition to the court. The court set April 11, 1898, at 10 o'clock
a. m. as the time for the public hearing on the question. The grand jury
at the February term, 1897, and at the May term, 1897, had approved the
project, which action had been approved by the court on May 27, 1897.
   There was no denying the need of the new buildings, but there was a
great difference of opinion among the people as to the amount of money
that should be expended. Looking into the future needs of the county,
many farsighted persons claimed that buildings that would cost from
$800,000 to $1,000,000 would be necessary; but on the other hand it was
contended by others that from $250,000 to $300,000 would be sufficient.
It was finally decided that completed buildings costing about 8500,000
would meet the requirements. A contract was entered into with Mr. Oster-
ling to furnish plans and specifications for completed buildings costing
$425,000.
   A petition protesting against the expenditure of more than $250,000
was circulated throughout the county and presented to the county commis-
sioners with the names of three hundred seventy-two persons attached. At
the public hearing, Attorney R. C. McConnell presented a motion to the
court asking that: The approval of the plans be withheld until it was
definitely known what the maximum cost would be; to appoint a committee
of three or more to investigate the needs and cost, and to defer further
action until the title of a lot in the rear of the county buildings, which it
was proposed to purchase and add to the public square, should be exam-
ined. The court refused this motion, and nothing now stood in the way
of the new buildings.
   On May 24, 1898, the county commissioners awarded the contract for
the erection of the new courthouse and jail to William Miller & Sons, of
Pittsburgh, at their bid of $379,900. This was approved by the court on
May 28th, and the work was started.
   The first step was the removal of the old buildings. The courthouse,
jail and sheriff's residence were sold at public sale to William Hockley, of
Washington, for $200, who agreed to remove the same without expense to
the county. This was done during the spring and summer of 1898. Wash-
ington Borough held a lease on the ground occupied by the old Town Hall,
erected in 1869, which did not expire until 1919, but this was canceled by
the payment of $12,000 by the county to the borough. This building was
removed by the borough to its present location at the corner of West
Cherry and Brownson avenues, at a cost of about $14,000. This building
was removed during the spring and summer of 1898, and was then leased
to the county as a temporary place in which to hold court during the
erection of the courthouse.
   A temporary jail was erected on the lot in the rear of the county
buildings, which had been purchased by the county, and which is now a
part of the public square. The need for the jail was the greatest, and
work on this was rushed until it was completed and occupied in June, 1899.
   The cornerstone of the new courthouse was laid with appropriate cere-
monies on March 7, 1899, but on account of a heavy rain the ceremonies
were carried out in the Town Hall. Addresses were made by Judges J. A.
McIlvaine and J. F. Taylor, and Attorney James I. Brownson. Many


341






CONTENTS


   TIHE STAGE COACH KING-STAGE COACH LINES OF THE EARLY DAYS
   ---MEMIORIES OF MRS. MARGARET STOCKTON McKENNAN-WAGON
   AND STAGE COACH BUILDERS-HOTELS, TAVERNS, AND INNS--
   TOWNS THAT CAME WITH THE PIKE-LAST DAYS OF THE OLD ROAD
   -I.ATER DEVELOPMENTS-THE AUTOMOBILE-REVIVAL OF TRAVEL
   -I()I))RN IMPROVEMENTS                            7;


                   CHAPTER LXXXIV.

           OTHER TURNPIKES IN THE COUNTY.

WAS IINGTON AND PITTSBURGH TURNPIKE-MONONGAIIELA TURNPIKE
    TIlE IPLANK ROAD, LATER THE PROSPERITY TURNPIKE--WASH-
    INGTON ANDI WELLSBURG PIKE-PITTSBURGH AND STEUBENVILLE
    i,;1.:                                           762


                    CHAPTER LXXXV.

                      RAILROADS.

('IIARTIERS VALLEY RAILROAD-HEMPFIELD-PITTSBURGH SOUTHERN
   -BALTIMORE AND OHIO-PITTSBURGH AND STEUBENVILLE-PITTS-
   BURGH, VIRGINIA AND CHARLESTON-WAYNESBURG AND WASH-
   IN(GTO'()N .---WABASII-CIIARTIERS SOUTHERN1-MARIANNA LINE  786


                   CHAPTER LXXXVI.

         NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES AND BOOKS.

NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN THE COUNTY FROM 1795 TO 1924-MONTHLY
   AND QUARTERLY MAGAZINES-BOOKS PUBLISHED IN THE COUNTY
   -WASHINGTON COUNTY AUTHORS                       798


                   CHAFTER LXXXVII.

                      HOSPITALS.
WAS1INGTON HOSPITAL -- CITY HOSPITAL - CANONSBURG HOSPITAL -
   MEMO!RIAL HOSPITAL, MONONGAHELA-CHARLEROI-MONESSEN HOS-
   PITAL                                            818


                  CHAPTER LXXXVIII.

             HISTORY OF THE COUNTY SEAT.
ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE LAND-CATFISH CAMP-DANDRIDGE-BAS-
   SETT TOWN-WASHINGTON, NOT THE FIRST TOWN NAMED FOR
   WVASHINGTON-FIRST SETTLERS-EARLY MERCHANTS-PHYSICIANS
   -TRADESMEN-BOROUGH INCORPORATED-THE COUNTY CENTEN-
   NIAL-THE BOROUGH CENTENNIAL-THIRD CLASS CITY INCORPOR-
   ATE - OLD BUILDINGS STANDING IN WASHINGTON - HENRY
   BROWN'S RECOLLECTIONS OF WASHINGTON - CHURCHES - OLD
   GRAVEYARDS                                       827


                   CHAPTER LXXXIX.


TAVERNS AND HOTELS OF WASHINGTON


xxvii


-857





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


papers of interest at that time were placed in the box deposited in a
receptacle in the northeast corner.
   The opposition to the expenditure of more than $250,000 had by this
time melted away, and those who had formerly been opposed to it now
urged the commissioners to spare no expense in making the county build-
ings the best and a credit to the county and state. Additions and changes
were made to the courthouse which brought the completed cost up to
$512,000, with an additional $110,000 for decorating, furnishings, etc. The
cost of the jail buildings was $123,000, with $28,000 for cells and equip-
ment. The cost of improving the grounds was $52,000, while other
expenses brought the total cost up to $934,027.45.
   A session of court was held in court room No. 1, on Monday morning,
November 12, 1900; and on the afternoon of the same day the grand jury
for the November term of court was charged by Judge J. A. McIlvaine in
the same room. The first grand jury which met in the new courthouse
was composed of the following, summoned by Sheriff Joseph T. Hemphill:
Samuel Allender, laborer, Mt. Fleasant Township; William Bamford,
farmer, Robinson Township; Edwin A. Christman, printer, Washington;
Enos Coulson, fruit grower, Union Township; John Donaldson, miner,
Stockdale; Charles Forsythe, dealer, Union Township; A. J. Hertzog,
printer, East Pike Run Township; John Hupp, farmer, Morris Township;
Charles Hormell, farmer, Centerville; Cyrus Lindley, carriage maker,
West Washington; E. E. Mulholland, farmer, Independence Township;
J. E. Miller, gentleman, Washington; M. P. Mollenauer, farmer, North
Strabane Township; William McCutcheon, carpenter, Washington; R. J.
Nesbit, farmer, Chartiers Township; William T. Robinson, hotel keeper,
Canonsburg; Charles G. Stroud, farmer, Hanover Township; R. G. Smith,
contractor, Centerville; William R. Wilkins, carpenter, Coal Center;
Joseph A. Wise, laborer, West Bethlehem Township.
   Out of this number, E. E. Hormell was excused, and Samuel A. Myers,
W. D. Simpson, and Elmer Wall failed to attend. William Bamford was
appointed foreman.
   No attempt will be made here to describe the present courthouse. It
is absolutely fireproof, and will, no doubt, stand for many generations to
come; and the excellent description found on pages 127 to 143 of the
"Bench and Bar of Washington County," by Boyd Crumrine, cannot be
improved upon. The charge delivered by Judge McIlvaine to the first
grand jury, together with the speeches at the laying of the corner stone,
and at the dedication may be found in the same work, but they will be
omitted from this history, and the space given to other historical items
not recorded in any of our former histories.
   The courthouse was dedicated on November 17, 1900. The building
was thrown open for the inspection of the public at 8 o'clock that morning,
and during the entire day hundreds of people passed through it. The
ceremonies took place at 2 o'clock that afternoon, the speakers standing
at the railing in the corridor in the second floor in front of court room
No. 3, from which place they could be seen and heard by hundreds of
persons on all three floors of the building.
   Hon. J. A. McIlvaine, president judge, made the opening speech, after


342





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


which Dr. Theodore Bland Noss, principal of the Southwest State Normal
School, at California, took charge as master of ceremonies. Prayer was
made by Rev. Frank Fish, at that time pastor of the Presbyterian Church
at Claysville, after which J. Murray Clark, of Canonsburg, made the
presentation speech on behalf of the county commissioners to the tax-
payers. J. Wiley Day, of Morris Township, D. S. Fulton, of Hanover
Township, and James S. Buchanan, of Mt. Pleasant Township, made
responses on behalf of the taxpayers, and Hon. J. F. Taylor, additional
law judge, on behalf of the court, and Alexander Wilson, of Washington,
on behalf of the bar and county officers.
   Attorney James I. Brownson, of Washington, at the present time presi-
dent judge, gave a complete history of the new courthouse. At that time
Judge Brownson was solicitor for the county commissioners.
   Attorney Boyd Crumrine, Washington County's great historian, made
the dedicatory address, and no man in all western Pennsylvania was
better fitted for this than he. Rev. Father John Faughnan, of the Church
of the Immaculate Conception, of Washington, made the prayer of bene-
diction. It is interesting to note at this point that on November 11, 1900,
Dr. James H. Snowden, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, of
Washington, preached a sermon to his congregation on the completion
of the new courthouse.
   Upon the completion of the new courthouse, the court appointed H.
Ed. McCutcheon as superintendent of the building on November 17, 1900,
and he has remained in that position ever since. In May, 1901, Louis G.
Mosebay was appointed as a tipstaff to the court, which position he held
during the sessions of court, and then acted as assistant superintendent
between sessions. After serving in this capacity for several years, Mr.
Mosebay was appointed as assistant superintendent, and is still serving in
this capacity.
   The statue of George Washington on the dome of the courthouse was
struck three times by lightning. The first time was in 1915, when the
nose was knocked off. This was repaired by Charles Curran, of Washing-
ton, who climbed to the statue, and made the necessary repairs. The
second time the chin was knocked off, and it was repaired again by Mr.
Curran, but the entire head was knocked off the third time. This was in
1917, and after the insurance companies paid the amount of damage, the
statue was removed. On account of the high cost of material, especially
bronze, the county commissioners decided to wait until the war was over
to replace it; but after eight years nothing has been done, and the iron
staff which supported the former statue is the only ornament on the
dome. This has since been struck by lightning, but no damage resulted.
   The following is the list of court and county officials who have served
since the county was organized in 1781:

                         PRESIDENT JUDGES
              Appointed under the Constitution of 1776.
Henry Taylor, commissioned September 30, 1788.
   Dorsey Pentecost, commissioned October 31, 1783.
   Henry Taylor, commissioned September 30, 1788.


343





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


              Appointed under the Constitution of 1790.
   Alexander Addison, commissioned August 22, 1791.
   Samuel Roberts, commissioned June 2, 1803.
   Thomas H. Baird, commissioned October 19, 1818.
   Nathaniel Ewing, commissioned February 15, 1838.
              Appointed under the Constitution of 1838.
   Samuel A. Gilmore, commissioned February 28, 1848.
               Elected under the Amendment of 1850.
   Samuel A. Gilmore, commissioned November 6, 1851.
   James Lindsey, commissioned November 20, 1861; died in office on
September 1, 1864.
   James Watson, commissioned November 9, 1864, but declined to serve.
   J. Kennedy Ewing, commissioned November 19, 1864.
   B. B. Chamberlin, commissioned February 3, 1866.
   Alexander W. Acheson, commissioned November 15, 1866.
               Elected under the Constitution of 1874.
   George S. Hart, commissioned December 11, 1876.
   John A. McIlvaine, commissioned December 14, 1886.
   John A. McIlvaine, commissioned December 19, 1896.
   John A. McIlvaine, commissioned December 6, 1906.
   John A. McIlvaine, commissioned December 11, 1917; retired on Jan-
uary 2, 1922, after thirty-five years' continuous service.
   James I. Brownson, by virtue of his office of additional law judge,
became president judge and was commissioned January 19, 1922.

                      ADDITIONAL LAW JUDGES.
   James F. Taylor, appointed by Governor Hastings on June 24, 1905.
   James F. Taylor, commissioned December 19, 1895 (elected).
   James F. Taylor, commissioned December 19, 1905; died in office on
December 19, 1913.
   Robert W. Irwin, appointed by Governor Tener on December 31, 1913.
   Robert W. Irwin, commissioned December 11, 1915 (elected) ; died in
office on November 11, 1917.
   James I. Brownson, appointed by Governor Brumbaugh on January 4,
1918.
   James I. Brownson, commissioned December 18, 1919 (elected) ; be-
came president judge January 19, 1922, on retirement of Judge McIlvaine.
   Erwin Cummins, appointed by Governor Sproul on February 11, 1922.
   Erwin Cummins, commissioned December 10, 1923 (elected).

              PRESIDENT JUDGE OF THE ORPHANS' COURT
   The Orphans' Court was created by an act of assembly in 1919, to
become effective the first Monday of January, 1920.
   Haldain B. Hughes, commissioned December 18, 1919; died in office
on June 15, 1923.
   Norman E. Clark, appointed by Governor Pinchot on July 16, 1923.
   J. Boyd Crumrine, commissioned December 10, 1923 (elected).


344





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                     ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
           Appointed under the Constitution of 1776.
William Scott, commissioned August 24, 1781.
John Craig, commissioned August 24, 1781.
John White, commissioned August 24, 1781.
Daniel Leet, commissioned August 24, 1781.
John Marshel (also spelled Marshall), commissioned August 24, 1781.
John Douglass, commissioned August 24, 1781.
Benjamin Parkinson, commissioned August 24, 1781.
John Reed, commissioned August 24, 1781.
Abner Howell, commissioned August 24, 1781.
Matthew McConnell, commissioned August 24, 1781.
Samuel Johnston, commissioned August 24, 1781.
Samuel Mason, commissioned August 24, 1781.
Matthew Ritchie, commissioned October 6, 1784.
John Canon, commissioned October 6, 1784.
Henry Vanmetre, commissioned February 11, 1785.
William Johnston, commissioned February 9, 1786.
John Hoge, commissioned November 21, 1786.
Thomas Scott, commissioned November 21, 1786.
John Worth, commissioned November 21, 1786.
Joseph Scott, commissioned iSeptember 25, 1787.
Samuel Glasgow, commissioned May 7, 1788.
William Wallace, commissioned June 30, 1788.
James Edgar, commissioned September 30, 1788.
William McFarland, commissioned September 30, 1788.
John Reed, commissioned November 8, 1788.
Hugh Scott, commissioned November 8, 1788.
William Smiley, commissioned November 11, 1788.
Eleazer Jenkins, commissioned March 3, 1789.
Absalom Baird, commissioned March 3, 1789.
John Douglass, commissioned March 3, 1789.
Thomas Ryerson, commissioned April 8, 1789.
John Minor, commissioned November 30, 1789.
William Smith, commissioned December 21, 1789.
James Bell, commissioned January 11, 1790.
James Archer, commissioned April 16, 1790.
Zephania Beall, commissioned July 28, 1790.
James Mitchell, commissioned August 24, 1790.
John Canon, commissioned August 24, 1790.
Henry Graham, commissioned August 24, 1790.
           Appointed under the Constitution of 1790.
Henry Taylor, commissioned August 17, 1791.
James Edgar, commissioned August 17, 1791.
James Allison, commissioned August 17, 1791.
Matthew Ritchie, commissioned August 17, 1791.
William Hoge, commissioned April 6, 1798.


345





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   John McDowell, commissioned April 7, 1802.
   Boyd Mercer, commissioned January 1, 1806.
   John Hamilton, commissioned January 15, 1820.
   Thomas McKeever, commissioned October 11, 1837.
              Appointed under the Constitution of 1838.
   Samuel Hill, commissioned March 26, 1840.
   John Grayson, Sr., commissioned March 18, 1843.
   James Gordon, commissioned March 8, 1845.
   Isaac Hodgens, commissioned March 18, 1848.
   William Vankirk, commissioned March 12, 1850.
               Elected under the Amendment of 1850.
   Abraham Wotring, commissioned November 10, 1851.
   John Freeman, commissioned November 10, 1851.
   James G. Hart, commissioned November 12, 1856.
   Jacob Slagle, commissioned November 12, 1856.
   James G. Hart, commissioned November 23, 1861.
   William Vankirk, elected October 8, 1861; his election was declared
illegal after a contest, and the seat was awarded to his opponent, Thomas
McCarrell.
   Thomas McCarrell, commissioned June 3, 1862.
   James C. Chambers, commissioned November 9, 1866.
   John Farrer, commissioned November 9, 1866.
   Thomas W. Bradley, commissioned November 7, 1871.
   John Scott, commissioned November 17, 1871.
   The last two, Thomas W. Bradley and John Scott, were the last to hold
this office, as the Constitution of 1874 abolished the associate judgeship.

                    DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL.
                            Appointed.
   David Sample, appointed October 2, 1781.
   David Bradford, appointed December, 1783.
   Henry Purviance, served from March, 1795.
   Parker Campbell, served from April, 1796.
   James Ashbrook, qualified May, 1801.
   Thomas H. Baird, served from March, 1809.
   William Baird, served from March, 1814.
   Walter Forward, served from June, 1814.
   Thomas McK. T. McKennan, served from June, 1815.
   William Baird, appointed December 27, 1816.
   William Baird, reappointed March 26, 1821.
   William Waugh, served from June 28, 1824.
   Isaac Leet, served from March, 1830.
   Isaac Leet, reappointed February 5, 1833.
   Alexander W. Acheson, qualified January 26, 1835.
   Richard H. Lee, qualified March, 1836.
   William McKennan, qualified August 23, 1837.
   Alexander W. Acheson, served from March, 1839.
   William Montgomery, qualified February 17, 1845.


346





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Alexander W. Acheson, served from February, 1846.
    George S. Hart, served from August, 1846.
    Robert H. Koontz, qualified February, 1848.

                         DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
                    Elected under the Act of 1850.
    George S. Hart, elected 1850; served 1851-53.
    William Linn, elected 1853; served 1854-56.
    Alexander Wilson, elected 1856; served 1857-59.
    Alexander Wilson, elected 1859; served 1860-62.
    James R. Ruth, elected 1862; served 1863-65.
    Boyd Crumrine, elected 1865; served 1866-68.
    Ianthus Bentley, elected 1868; served 1869-71.
    Thomas H. Baird, Jr., elected 1871; served 1872-74.
    John A. McIlvaine, elected 1874; served 1875-77.
    John A. McIlvaine, elected 1877; served 1878-80.
    Ralph C. McConnell, elected 1880; served 1881-83.
    James F. Taylor, elected 1883; served 1884-86.
    James F. Taylor, elected 1886; served 1887-89.
    William S. Parker, elected 1889; served 1890-92.
    William S. Parker, elected 1892; served 1893-95.
    Thomas B. H. Brownlee, elected 1895; served 1896-98.
    Alexander M. Templeton, elected 1898; served 1899-1901.
    Owen C. Underwood, elected 1901; served 1902-04.
    Owen C. Underwwod, elected 1904; served 1905-07
    C. L. V. Acheson, elected 1907; served 1908-11. An act of the legisla-
ture increased the term from three to four years during his term, thus
giving him one more year.
   Richard G. Miller, elected 1911; served 1912-15.
   Isaac W. Baum, elected 1915; served 1916-19.
   Erwin Cummins, elected 1919; served from first Monday of January,
1920, until February 11, 1922, when he was appointed additional law
judge to fill the vacancy caused by the advancement of Judge Brownson
to president judge.
   Howard W. Hughes, appointed February 13, 1922, to fill the vacancy
caused by the appointment of Erwin Cummins as additional law judge.
   Howard W. Hughes, elected 1923; served 1924 to present.

                   ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
                 This office created by the act of 1905.
   C. L. V. Acheson, appointed under Owen C. Underwood in May, 1905;
served 1905-07. Mr. Acheson had assisted District Attorney Underwood
with the trial of cases prior to his appointment.
   T. H. W. Fergus, appointed under C. L. V. Acheson; served 1908-11.
   T. H. W. Fergus, appointed under Richard G. Miller; served 1912-15.
   Woodward M. Taylor, appointed under Isaac W. Baum; served from
first Monday of January, 1916, to October, 1916, when he resigned.
   Howard W. Hughes, appointed under Isaac W. Baum; served from
November 1, 1916, until May 24, 1918, when he resigned and entered the


347





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


United States army, serving during the World war; discharged Decem-
ber 6, 1918.
   John H. Murdoch, Jr., served from May 25, 1918, until April 1, 1919,
when Howard W. Hughes returned.
   Howard W. Hughes, served from April 1, 1919, until first Monday of
January, 1920.
   T. H. W. Fergus, appointed under Erwin Cummins; served from first
Monday of January, 1920, until his sudden death, January 16, 1920.
   Howard W. Hughes, acted as assistant at February term, 1920.
   Harry F. Moore, acted as assistant at May term, 1920.
   Warren S. Burchinal, appointed under Erwin Cummins; served from
August term, 1920, to February 11, 1922.
   Warren S. Burchinal, appointed under Howard W. Hughes; served
from February 13, 1922 to present time.
   John A. McGlade, additional assistant; appointed under Erwin Cum-
mins; served 1920 to February 11, 1922.
   John A. McGlade, additional assistant; appointed under Howard W.
Hughes; served from February 13, 1922, to present time.
   Thomas L. Anderson, additional assistant; appointed under Howard
W. Hughes; served from February 13, 1922, to present time.

                            SHERIFFS.
                   Under the Constitution of 1776.
   Van Swearingen, served from November 30, 1781.
   Van Swearingen, served from November 10, 1783.
   James Marshel, served from November 3, 1784.
   James Marshel, served from November 21, 1786.
   David Williamson, served from October 26, 1787.
   David Williamson, served from January 17, 1789.
   William Wallace, served from November 9, 1790.
                   Under the Constitution of 1790.
   John Hamilton, served from October 21, 1793.
   Thomas Hamilton, served from November 2, 1796.
   Absalom Baird, served from November 2, 1799.
   George Hamilton, served from November 6, 1802.
   John McCluney, served from October 21, 1805.
   Robert Anderson, served from October 25, 1808.
   George Baird, served from November 23, 1811.
   Thomas Officer, served from November 1, 1814.
   Dickson Roberts, served from November 6, 1817.
   Robert Officer, served from October 23, 1820.
   Samuel Workman, served from October 25, 1823.
   Robert McClelland, served from October 27, 1826.
   Joseph Henderson, served from October 26, 1829.
   Samuel Cunningham, served from October 16, 1832.
   John Marshel, served from November 5, 1835.
   John Wilson, served from October 24, 1836.
   James Spriggs, served from October 20, 1837.


348





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                   Under the Constitution of 1838.
   Sheshbazzar Bentley, Jr., commissioned November 7, 1840.
   Jehu Jackson, commissioned November 4, 1843.
   Alexander G. Marshman, commissioned October 23, 1846.
   Peter Wolf, commissioned October 22, 1849.
   John McAllister, commissioned October 23, 1852.
   Andrew Bruce, commissioned October 22, 1855.
   Norton McGiffin, commissioned October 23, 1858.
   James M. Byers, commissioned November 18, 1861.
   Edmund R. Smith, commissioned November 8, 1864.
   Hugh Keys, commissioned November 25, 1867.
   William C. Ramsey, commissioned November 11, 1870.
   William Thompson, commissioned November 21, 1873.
                   Under the Constitution of 1874.
   George T. Work, commissioned December 20, 1876.
   George Perritte, commissioned December 4, 1879.
   William B. Chambers, elected 1882; served 1883-85.
   James T. Hemphill, elected 1885; served 1886-88.
   George E. Lockhart, elected 1888; served 1889-91.
   William P. Cherry, elected 1891; served 1892-94.
   J. Vernon Clark, elected 1894; served 1895-97.
   John H. Kennedy, elected 1897; served from first Monday of January,
1898, until his death on June 30, 1898.
   John J. Fitzpatrick, coroner, served as sheriff after Mr. Kennedy's
death until the appointment of a successor on July 12, 1898.
   John A. Kennedy, son of John H. Kennedy, appointed July 12, 1898,
to fill the vacancy; served until first Monday of January, 1899.
   Joseph T. Hemphill, elected 1898; served 1899-1901.
   C. E. Carothers, elected 1901; served 1902-04.
   Thomas M. Pentecost, elected 1904; served from first Monday of Janu-
ary, 1905, until his death on May 14, 1907.
   W. H. Sipe, coroner, served as sheriff after Mr. Pentecost's death until
the appointment of a successor on May 27, 1907.
   Samuel J. Howe, ap ointed on May 27'. 190'7; served until first Monday
of January, 1908.
   John C. Murphy, elected 1907; served 1908-11.
   Robert G. Lutton, elected 1911; seved 1912-15.
   Frank B. Wickerham, elected 10   ser7ed 1916-19.
   Alexander B. Gray, Jr., el(t -: . ; served from first Monday of
January, 1920, until his death on February 17, 1921.
   William Greenlee, coroner, served as sheriff after Mr. Gray's death
until the appointment of a successor on March 3, 1921.
   Alexander B. Gray, Sr., father of Alexander B. Gray, Jr., appointed
March 3, 1921; served until first Monday of January, 1922.
   Otto Luellen, elected 1921; served 1922-25.
   Ody C. Abbott, elected 1925; served 1926 to present time.


349





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                         CORONERS.
                Under the Constitution of 1776.
William McFarland, commissioned November 30, 1781.
William McFarland, commissioned November 10, 1783.
William McCombs, commissioned November 1, 1784.
William McCombs, commissioned December 10, 1785.
William McCombs, commissioned November 1, 1786.
Robert Benham, commissioned October 26, 1787.
Robert Benham, commissioned January 17, 1789.
Samuel Clark, commissioned November 6, 1789.
                Under the Constitution of 1790.
Samuel Clark, commissioned December 14, 1790.
John Marshel, commissioned December 19, 1793.
William Slemens, commissioned November 18, 1799.
Dorsey Pentecost, commissioned November 6, 1802.
Thomas Hutchinson, commissioned November 4, 1805.
Dickerson Roberts, commissioned October 25, 1808.
William Marshall, commissioned January 23, 1812.
William Carter, commissioned February 22, 1815.
James Ruple, commissioned November 6, 1817.
John Johnson, commissioned October 23, 1820.
George Sowers, commissioned November 10, 1823.
Alexander Gordon, commissioned November 20, 1826.
Moses Linn, commissioned November 2, 1828.
James McFadden, commissioned October 16, 1832.
John Wilson, commissioned November 18, 1835.
John R. Griffith, commissioned October 20, 1837.
John R. Griffith, commissioned December 23, 1837.
                Under the Constitution of 1838.
William Tweed, Jr., commissioned November 7, 1840.
William J. Wilson, commissioned November 4, 1843.
Oliver Lindsey, commissioned November 24, 1846.
James D. Best, commissioned November 9, 1849.
William B. Cundall, commissioned November 8, 1852.
Moses Little, commissioned November 13, 1854.
Jonathan Martin, commissioned October 26, 1858.
John E. Black, commissioned November 27, 1861.
Isaac Vance, commissioned November 16, 1864.
Charles W. McDaniel, commissioned November 16, 1867.
Lewis Barker, commissioned December 11, 1868.
Samuel M. Decker, commissioned December 4, 1871.
               Under the Constitution of 1874.
James M. Byers, commissioned January 19, 1875.
Samuel D. Harshman, commissioned February 13, 1878.
Charles V. Greer, commissioned December 17, 1880.
Charles V. Greer, commissioned January 22, 1884.


350





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   J. F. Kennedy, commissioned December 14, 1887.
   T. R. H. Johnson, elected 1890; served 1891-93.
   T. R. H. Johnson, elected 1893; served 1894-96.
   John J. Fitzpatrick, elected 1896; served 1897-99.
   John J. Fitzpatrick, elected 1899; served 1900-02.
   W. H. Sipe, elected 1902; served 1903-05.
   W. H. Sipe, elected 1905; served 1906-08.
   James T. Heffran, elected 1908; served 1909-11.
   James T. Heffran, elected 1911; served 1912-15.
   James T. Heffran, elected 1915; served 1916-19.
   William Greenlee, elected 1919; served 1920-23.
   William Greenlee, elected 1923; served 1924 to present time.

                          PROTHONOTARIES.
                   Under the Constitution of 1776.
   Thomas Scott, commissioned April 2, 1781.
   Alexander Scott, commissioned March 28, 1789.
                   Under the Constitution of 1790.
   David Redick, commissioned August 17, 1791.
   David Redick, commissioned March 14, 1792.
   William McKennan, commissioned January 11, 1803.
   Alexander Murdoch, commissioned March 6, 1809.
   Alexander Murdoch, commissioned January 1, 1815.
   Alexander Murdoch, commissioned April 9, 1818.
   William Sample, commissioned May 6, 1819.
   Thomas Morgan, commissioned February 12, 1821.
   William Sample, commissioned December 30, 1823.
   William Sample, commissioned December 21, 1826.
   Thomas Officer, commissioned February 10, 1830.
   Thomas Officer, commissioned January 25, 1833.
   George W. Acheson, commissioned January 8, 1836.
   John Urie, commissioned October 25, 1837.
   John Grayson, Sr., commissioned February 5, 1839.
                   Under the Constitution of 1838.
   John Grayson, Sr., elected 1839; served from first Monday of De-
cember, 1839.
   Ephriam L. Blaine, elected 1842; served from first Monday of De-
cember, 1842.
   Obadiah B. McFadden, elected 1845; served from first Monday of
December, 1845.
   James Brown, elected 1848; served from first Monday of December,
1848.
   James Brown, elected 1851; served from first Monday of December,
1851.
   William S. Moore, elected 1854; served from first Monday of December,
1854.
   James B. Ruple, elected 1857; served from first Monday of December,
1857.


351






xxviii                  CONTENTS

                      CHAPTER XC.

                        1790-1924.

                THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES-HOPE FIRE COMPANY-WASHINGTON
   FIRE COMPANY-GOOD INTENT FIRE COMPANY-EAGLE FIRE COM-
   PANY-GOOD WILL FIRE COMPANY-LITTLE GIANT FIRE AND HOSE
   COMPANY-PATRICK CURRAN'S CAREER-MECHANICS' HOOK AND
   LADDER COMPANY-CENTRAL FIRE DEPARTMENT-GREAT CON-
   FLAGRATIONS . ---                                  883

                      CHAPTER XCI.

             WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT.

EARLY SUBSCRIPTION SCHOOLS-OLD-TIME TEACHERS-BEGINNING OF
   THE PRESENT SCHOOL DISTRICT-OLD SCHOOL BUILDINGS-THE
   HIGH SCHOOL-THE UNION SCHOOL-MODERN SCHOOL BUILDINGS-
   TEACHERS-WASHINGTON BUSINESS COLLEGE               900

                     CHAPTER XCII.

                FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

BANKS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                            913

                     CHAPTER XCIII.

             THEATRICAL AND AMUSEMENTS.

EARLY THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES IN WASHINGTON-TRAVELING AT-
   TRACTIONS-OLD-TIME CIRCUSES-DAN RICE-OAK HALL-SMITH'S
   IRON HALL-THE TOWN HALL-THE LYRIC, NOW THE GLOBE THEA-
   TRE-MOVING PICTURE HOUSES-THE CASINO, NOW THE PALACE-
   THE CAPITAL, NOW THE STATE-THE FIRST ROLLER SKATING
   RINKS-THE NATATORIUM-WASHINGTON AMUSEMENT RINK- ROL-
   LER SKATING RINK IN WEST CHESTNUT STREET-THE GARDENS__921

                    CHAPTER XCIV.

THE LEMOYNE CREMATORY                             __ 927

                     CHAPTER XCV

                NOTED MEN AND EVENTS.

LOUIS PHILIPPE, AFTERWARDS KING OF FRANCE, AND HIS TWO BROTHERS
   -LAFAYETTE'S VISIT-JAMES MONROE-ANDREW JACKSON-WILLIAM
   HENRY HARRISON-ZACHARY TAYLOR-HENRY CLAY-DANIEL WEB-
   STER-JAMES K. POLK-SANTA ANNA, EMPEROR OF MEXICO-GENERAL
   GRANT--WILLIAM McKINLEY-BENJAMIN HARRISON - WILLIAM H.
   TAFT-WARREN G. HARDING-JAMES G. BLAINE-WILLIAM JENNINGS
   BRYAN-GENERAL NELSON A. MILES-"UNCLE" JOSEPH CANNON-GIF-
   FORD PINCHOT-THOMAS R. MARSHALL--GENERAL DAWES- HENRY C.
   WALLACE-WILLIAM N. JARDINE-ADMIRAL SIMMS-MAYPOLE OF 1798
   -SMALLPOX VACCINATIONS IN 1798--BATH HOUSE-58 FREE NEGROES
   PASS THROUGH WASHINGTON-MALCOLM AND EVANS PAROLE-
   "DADDY" KOECHLINE-GAS EXPLOSION OF 1884-JOHN McCONOUGHY
   LOG PUMPS-"UNCLE" BILLY BURTON-OTHER CHARACTERS-FIRST





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   James B. Ruple, elected 1860; served from first Monday of December,
1860.
   John E. Bell, elected 1863; served from first Monday of December,
1863.
   John L. Gow, Jr., elected 1866; served from first Monday of December,
1866.
   Daniel M. Donehoo, elected 1869; served from first Monday of Decem-
ber, 1869.
   Julius P. Miller, elected 1872; served from first Monday of December,
1872.
                   Under the Constitution of 1874.
        The term of each began on the first Monday of January.
   Julius P. Miller, elected 1875; served 1876-78.
   William A. Barr, elected 1878; served 1879-81.
   John W. Seaman, Jr., elected 1881; served 1882-84.
   John W. Seaman, Jr., elected 1884; served 1885-87.
   Elmer R. Deems, elected 1887; served 1888-90.
   Elmer R. Deems, elected 1890; served 1891-93.
   Wilson S. Campbell, elected 1893; served 1894-96.
   Wilson S. Campbell, elected 1896; served 1897-99.
   John I. Carson, elected 1899; served 1900-02.
   John I. Carson, elected 1902; served 1903-05.
   H. Frank Ward, elected 1905; served 1906-08.
   H. Frank Ward, elected 1908; served 1909-11.
   A. V. Lewis, elected 1911; served 1912-15.
   A. V. Lewis, elected 1915; served 1916-19.
   Harry E. Pollock, elected 1919; served 1920-23.
   Harry E. Pollock, elected 1923; served 1924 to present time.

                         CLERK OF COURTS.

   Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions, Oyer and Terminer, and Or-
phans' Court.
                   Under the Constitution of 1776.
   Thomas Scott, commissioned April 2, 1781.
   Alexander Scott, commissioned March 28, 1781.
   David Redick, commissioned August 17, 1781.

                   Under the Constitution of 1790.
   David Redick, commissioned March 14, 1792.
   William McKennan, commissioned January 11, 1803.
   Alexander Murdoch, commissioned March 6, 1809.
   Alexander Murdoch, commissioned January 1, 1815.
   Alexander Murdoch, commissioned April 9, 1818.
   William Sample, commissioned May 6, 1819.
   Robert Colmery, commissioned February 12, 1821.
   Joseph Henderson, commissioned December 30, 1823.
   Joseph Henderson, commissioned December 21, 1826.
   James Ruple, commissioned February 7, 1828.


352





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


James Ruple, commissioned February 19, 1830.
James Ruple, commissioned January 25, 1833.
James Blaine, commissioned January 8, 1836.
James Ruple, commissioned February 5, 1839.
                Under the Constitution of 1838.
James Ruple, served from December 1, 1839.
Alexander G. Harshman, served from December 1, 1842.
William Hays, served from December 1, 1845.
Robert F. Cooper, served from December 1, 1848.
George Passmore, served from December 1, 1851.
David Aiken, served from December 1, 1854.
David Aiken, served from December 1, 1857.
David Aiken, served from December 1, 1860.
William Kidd, served from December 1, 1863.
William Kidd, served from December 1, 1866.
Samuel Ruth, served from December 1, 1869.
James S. Stocking, served from December 1, 1872.
               Under the Constitution of 1874.
    Term beginning first Monday of January for three years.


   James S. Stocking, served 1876-78.
   Benjamin F. Hasson, served 1879-81.
   Benjamin F. Hasson, served 1882-84.
   Clark Riggle, served from first Monday of January,
death in 1887.
   Norman E. Clark, appointed; served from August 10,
Monday of January, 1888.
   Maynard R. Allen, served 1888-90.
   Maynard R. Allen, served 1891-93.
   Henry T. Bailey, served 1894-96.
   Henry T. Bailey, served 1897-99.
   Charles E. Baker, served 1900-02.
   Charles E. Baker, served 1903-05.
   David L. Williams, served 1906-08.
   David L. Williams, served 1909-11.
   William S. Lockhart, served 1912-15.
   William S. Lockhart, served 1916-19.
   Edward G. McGregor, 1920-23.
   Edward G. McGregor, served 1924 to present time.


1885, until his

1887, until first


               CLERK OF THE ORPHANS' COURT
          Established First Monday of January, 1920.
John Aiken, served 1920-23.
John Aiken, served 1924 to present time.
                     REGISTER OF WILLS.
                Under the Constitution of 1776.
James Marshel, commissioned April 4, 1781.
Thomas Stokeley, commissioned November 19, 1784.
Thomas Stokeley, commissioned September 14, 1790.
    23-V1


353





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                Under the Constitution of 1790.
James Marshel, commissioned August 17, 1791.
Samuel Clarke, commissioned March 6, 1795.
John Israel, commissioned January 15, 1800.
Isaac Kerr, commissioned December 1, 1806.
Isaac Kerr, commissioned March 6, 1809.
Isaac Kerr, commissioned December 10, 1811.
Isaac Kerr, commissioned April 9, 1818.
Robert Colmery, commissioned May 6, 1819.
Samuel Lyon, commissioned February 12, 1821.
Robert Colmery, commissioned December 30, 1823.
Robert Colmery, commissioned December 21, 1826.
John Grayson, Sr., commissioned March 19, 1830.
John Grayson, Sr., commissioned February 25, 1833.
Samuel Cunningham, commissioned January 8, 1836.
James Gordon, commissioned February 5, 1839.
                Under the Constitution of 1838.
George Morrison, commissioned December 1, 1839.
James Spriggs, commissioned November 12, 1842.
William Workman, commissioned November 17, 1845.
Odell Squier, commissioned November 25, 1848.
John Grayson, Jr., commissioned November 22, 1851.
John Meloy, commissioned November 14, 1854.
Harvey J. Vankirk, commissioned November 13, 1857.
William A. Mickey, commissioned November 23, 1860.
William A. Mickey, commissioned November 13, 1863.
George Buchanan, commissioned November 8, 1866.
I. Y. Hamilton, commissioned November 20, 1869.
A. O. Day, commissioned November 7, 1872.
                Under the Constitution of 1874.
A. 0. Day, served 1876-78.
W. H. Underwood, served 1879-81.
John F. Cooper, served 1882-84.
John F. Cooper, served 1885-87.
James B. Kennedy, served 1888-90.
James B. Kennedy, served 1891-93.
O. M. Hartley, served 1894-96.
O. M. Hartley, served 1897-99.
W. C. Robison, served 1900-02.
W. C. Robison, served 1903-05.
Cyrus Morrow, served 1906-08.
Cyrus Morrow, served 1909-11.
Boyd C. Parshall, served 1912-15.
Boyd C. Parshall, served 1916-19.
John Aiken, served 1920-23.
John Aiken, served 1924 to present time.


354





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                        RECORDERS OF DEEDS.
                   Under the Constitution of 1776.
    James Marshel, commissioned April 4, 1781.
    Thomas Stokeley, commissioned November 19, 1784.
    Thomas Stokeley, commissioned September 14, 1790.
                   Under the Constitution of 1790.
    James Marshel, commissioned August 17, 1791.
    Samuel Clarke, commissioned March 6, 1795.
    John Israel, commissioned January 15, 1800.
    Isaac Kerr, commissioned December 1, 1806.
    Isaac Kerr, commissioned March 6, 1809.
    Isaac Kerr, commissioned December 10, 1811.
    Robert Colmery, commissioned May 6, 1819.
    Samuel Lyon, commissioned February 12, 1821.
    Robert Colmery, commissioned December 30, 1823.
    Robert Colmery, commissioned December 21, 1826.
    William Hoge, commissioned January 25, 1830.
    William Hoge, commissioned January, 1833.
    William H. Cornwall, commissioned January 8, 1836.
                   Under the Constitution of 1838.
   James Brown, commissioned November 14, 1839.
   James Brown, commissioned November 12, 1842.
   James Brown, commissioned November 17, 1845.
   T. C. Morrison, commissioned November 25, 1848.
i  T. C. Morrison, commissioned November 22, 1851.
   Cyrus Underwood, commissioned November 14, 1854.
   Freeman Brady, Jr., commissioned November 13, 1857.
   William H. Horn, commissioned November 23, 1860.
   Alvin King, commissioned November 13, 1863.
   M. L. A. McCracken, commissioned November 8, 1866.
   John P. Charlton, commissioned November 20, 1869.
   Selden L. Wilson, commissioned November 7, 1872.
                   Under the Constitution of 1874.
   James A. Galbraith, served 1876-78.
   W. Hughes, Jr., served 1879-81.
   W. Hughes, Jr., served 1882-84.
   D. M. Pry, served 1885-87.
   A. F. Hemphill, served 1888-90.
   L. M. Axtell, served from first Monday of January, 1891, until his death
in 1891.
   Patrick Hoey, appointed May 26, 1891; served until first Monday of
January, 1892.
   E. N. Dunlap, served 1892-94.
   E. N. Dunlap, served 1895-97.
   W. Frank Penn, served 1898-1900.
   W. Frank Penn, served 1901-03.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


John G. Hall, served 1904-06.
John G. Hall, served 1907-09.
J. Chester Sutherland, served 1910-13.
J. Chester Sutherland, served 1914-17.
August Valentour, served 1918-21.
August Valentour, served 1922-25.
L. Frank Baker, served 1926 to present time.

                     COUNTY TREASURERS.
                Under the Constitution of .1776.
Andrew Swearingen, served from 1783 to June 22, 1795.
                Under the Constitution of 1790.
David Redick, served from June 22, 1795.
Isaac Kerr, served from June 23, 1801.
Daniel Kehr, served from June, 1806.
Robert Colmery, served from August 18, 1809.
James Blaine, served from August 24, 1812.
William Baird, served from August 11, 1815.
Thomas Good, served from August 11, 1818.
Samuel Workman, served from August, 1822.
James Daugherty, served from November, 1823.
James Allison, served from January, 1824.
Isaac Leet, served from January, 1826.
Samuel McFarland, served from January 6, 1830.
Samuel Marshall, served from January, 1832.
Benjamin S. Stewart, served from January, 1833.
Samuel Marshall, served from January, 1834.
Henry Langley, served from February, 1835.
Zachariah Reynolds, served from January, 1838.
                Under the Constitution of 1838.
William Workman, served from October, 1841.
William Hughes, served from October, 1843.
James D. McGugin, served from October, 1845.
Robert K. Todd, served from October, 1847.
Norton McGiffin, served from October, 1849.
John Hall, served from October, 1851.
Thaddeus Stanton, served from October, 1853.
H. B. Elliott, served from October 22, 1855.
Thomas Martindale, served from November 13, 1857.
John E. Bell, served from November 30, 1859.
James Pollock, served from November 27, 1861.
William S. Moore, served from February 22, 1862.
J. W. Douds, served from November 13, 1863.
A. W. Pollock, served from November 16, 1865.
James P. Hart, served from December 3, 1867.
James B. Gibson, served from November 20, 1869.
James P. Sayer, served from November 17, 1871.
J. C. French, served from November 21, 1873.


356





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                Under the Constitution of 1874.
Alexander L. Hawkins, served from December 16, 1875.
S. C. McGregor, served 1879-81.
George L. Hill, served 1882-84.
Samuel P. Fergus, served 1885-87.
Andrew S. Eagleson, served 1888-90.
William B. Chambers, served 1891-93.
Samuel L. Kennedy, served 1894-96.
John W. Hallam, served 1897-99.
W. Scott Armstrong, served 1900-02.
W. H. Ulery, served 1903-05.
John C. Morgan, served 1906-08.
William E. Lane, served 1909-11.
Samuel M. Downer, served 1912-15.
William H. Alexander, served 1916-19.
Robert G. Lutton, served 1920-23.
J. E. Masters, served 1924 to present time.

                   COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
                Under the Constitution of 1776.
George Vallandigham, served from November 30, 1781.
Thomas Crooks, served from November 30, 1781.
John McDowell, served from November 30, 1781.
George McCormick, served December 4, 1782.
Demas Lindley, served from November 10, 1783.
James Allison, served from November 1, 1784.
James McCready, served from November, 1785.
James Bradford, served from November, 1786.
Thomas Marquis, served from November, 1787.
Henry Vanmetre, served from November, 1788.
James McCready, served from November, 1789.
                Under the Constitution of 1790.
William Meetkirke, served from November, 1790.
James Brice, served from November, 1791.
Zachariah Gapen, served from November, 1793.
Isaac Leet, Jr., served from October 24, 1793.
Samuel Clarke, served from October 23, 1794.
William Zeator, served from October 24, 1795.
John Cotton, served from October 19, 1796.
Robert McCready, served from November 8, 1796.
James Brice, served from October 11, 1797.
William Campbell, served from October 19, 1798.
Joshua Anderson, served from October 12, 1799.
Isaac Leet, Jr., served from October 23, 1800.
Robert Machan, served from October 19, 1801.
John Lyle, served from October 25, 1802.
Thomas Hopkins, served from October 24, 1803.
Edward Todd, served from October 22, 1804.


357





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


John Colmery, served from October 29, 1805.
Aaron Lyle, served from October 23, 1806.
Joseph Alexander, served from October 26, 1807.
William Marshall, served from October 31, 1808.
Moses McWhister, served from October 18, 1809.
Isaac Leet, served from October 29, 1810.
Daniel Kehr, served from October, 1811.
William Vance, served from October, 1812.
John Brownlee, served from October, 1813.
John Reed, served from October, 1814.
William Craig, served from October, 1815.
James Gordon, served from March 18, 1816.
David Little, served from October, 1816.
Jonathan Knight, served from October, 1816.
Moses Lyle, served from October, 1817.
John Lacock, served from October, 1818.
Alexander Scott, served from October, 1819.
Matthias Luce, served from October, 1820.
William McCreary, served from October, 1821.
John Urie, served from October 18, 1822.
John McCoy, served from October, 1823.
Robert Moore, served from October, 1824.
Robert Patterson, served from October, 1825.
Wallace McWilliams, served from October, 1826.
Robert Love, served from November 5, 1827.
Thomas Axtell, served from October 27, 1828.
Isaac Hodgens, served from November, 1829.
Samuel Cunningham, served from November 1, 1830.
James McBurney, served from December 5, 1831.
William V. Leet, served from June 30, 1832.
James Miller, served from November 5, 1832.
Jesse Cooper, served from December 3, 1832.
William McElroy, served from January 6, 1834.
James Lee, served from December 6, 1834.
Sheshbazzar Bentley, Jr., served from December, 1835.
Benjamin Anderson, served from ---, 1836.
Jehu Jackman, served from -     , 1836.
Matthew Linn, served from November, 1837.
Andrew Shearer, served from November 5, 1838.
                Under the Constitution of 1838.
James Pollock, served from November, 1839.
Samuel Linton, served from November 2, 1840.
Hugh Craig, served from November 8, 1841.
Thomas Byers, served from November 7, 1842.
George Passmore, served from November 6, 1843.
James Donehoo, served from November 4, 1844.
Alexander Frazier, served from November 3, 1845.
Dutton Shannon, served from November 3, 1846.
John McAllister, served from November 1, 1847.


358





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


John Birch, served from November 6, 1848.
Andrew Bruce, served from November 5, 1849.
Samuel Becket, served from November 4, 1850.
Isaac Thompson, served from November 3, 1851.
Thomas McCarrell, served from November 1, 1852.
Daniel Swickard, served from November 7, 1853.
John Stewart, served from November 6, 1854.
John N. Walker, served from November 5, 1855.
Nathan Cleaver, served from November 3, 1856.
Joseph Vankirk, served from November 3, 1857.
O. P. Cook, served from November 1, 1858.
George Taylor, served from November 7, 1859.
James S. Elliott, served from November 5, 1860.
Abel M. Evans, served from November 5, 1861.
Francis Nelson, served from November 3, 1862.
Joseph W. Cowen, served from November 2, 1863.
Thomas J. Bell, served from November 7, 1864.
James Walker, served from November 6, 1865.
Samuel K. Weirich, served from November 1, 1866.
H. B. McLean, served from November 1, 1867.
James Kerr, served from November 2, 1868.
S. P. Riddle, served from November 1, 1869.
James Craighead, served from November 7, 1870.
John Hemphill, served from November 6, 1871.
J. G. Barr, served from November 4, 1872.
Alexander McCleary, served from November 3, 1873.
Joseph A. Gaston, served from January 4, 1875.
                Under the Constitution of 1874.
             Elected for a term of three years.
Josiah Cooper, served 1876-78.
William Hazen, served 1876-78.
Joseph Gaston, served 1876-78.
Elijah Townsend, served 1879-81.
M. M. Brockman, served 1879-81.
S. R. Hawkins, served 1879-81.
William Perrin, Sr., served 1882-84.
John T. Roberts, served 1882-84.
I. V. Riddle, served 1882-84.
David Bradford, served 1885-87.
Joseph L. Ross, served 1885-87.
A. T. Holder, served 1885-87.
Demas W. Regester, served 1888-90.
David E. McNary, served 1888-90.
Robert G. Taylor, served 1888-90.
William S. Bailey, served 1891-93.
James W. Pollock, served 1891-93.
John E. Stewart, served 1891-93.
William S. Bailey, served 1894-96.
Samuel Farrer, served 1894-96.


359





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   James Nelson, served 1894-96.
   John M. Dunn, served 1897-99.
   William G. Shillito, served 1897-99.
   John P. Charlton, served from January 4, 1897, until his death on July
24, 1898.
   J. Murray Clark, appointed July 26, 1898; served until January 1, 1900.
   John M. Dunn, served 1900-02.
   William G. Shillito, served 1900-02.
   Tom P. Sloan, served 1900-02.
   J. Frank McClay, served 1903-05.
   Smith F. Scott, served 1903-05.
   James B. Gibson, served 1903-05.
   Robert D. Wylie, served 1906-08.
   D. W. Myers, served 1906-08.
   J. A. Huffman, served 1906-08.
   John A. Berry, served 1909-11.
   Thomas Hill, served 1909-11.
   W. J. Smith, served 1909-11.
   John A. Berry, served from first Monday of January, 1912, until his
death in April, 1914.
   Robert J. Munce, appointed April 22, 1914; served until the first Mon-
day of January, 1916.
   Thomas Hill, served 1912-15.
   A. P. Barnum, served 1912-15.
   John O. Watson, served 1916-19.
   Thomas Hill, served 1916-19.
   A. P. Barnum, served 1916-19.
   J. Elmer Johnson, served 1920-23.
   James W. Walker, served 1920-23.
   William H. Ecker, served 1920-23.
   J. Elmer Johnson, served 1924 to present time.
   James W. Walker, served 1924 to present time.
   Willard A. Barnes, served 1924 to present time.

                        COUNTY CONTROLLER.
              Office created by the act of May 6, 1909.
   John H. Moffitt, appointed by Governor Stewart on August 25, 1909;
served until first Monday of January, 1910.
   John H. Moffitt, elected; served 1910-13.
   Thomas J. Underwood, served 1914-17.
   Thomas J. Underwood, served 1918-21.
   Thomas J. Underwood, served 1922-25.
   Thomas J. Underwood, served 1926 to present time.

                 CLERKS TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
   James McCreary, served from 1782 to February 6, 1793.
   John Colerick, Sr., served from February 6, 1793.
   Isaac Kerr, served from October 12, 1799.
   Robert Moore, served from October 19, 1801.
   John Gilmore, served from October 4, 1803.


360





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   David McKeehan, served from October 22, 1804.
   Alexander Blair, served from October 29, 1805.
   William Baird, served from October 31, 1808.
   John Baird, served from October, 1814.
   Robert Jackson, served from October, 1819.
   Thomas Good, served from October, 1822.
   James Palmer, served from October, 1834.
   William Hughes, served from November 8, 1841.
   William R. Oliver, served from November 6, 1843.
   Adam Silvey, served from November 3, 1845.
   David P. Lowery, served from November 7, 1853.
   John Gamble, served from November 6, 1854.
   Elias McClelland, served from November 3, 1857.
   Samuel Linton, served from November 1, 1858.
   Isaac H. Longdon, served from November 7, 1864.
   Joseph A. McKee, served from November 1, 1869.
   John Grayson, Jr., served from December 5, 1870.
   John E. Bell, served from December 3, 1872.
   Addison Winters, served from July 6, 1874.
   William A. Mickey, served from January 1, 1879.
   N. R. Baker, served from January 5, 1885.
   J. R. Blair, served from January 2, 1888.
   Wilson S. Campbell, served from January 5, 1891.
   W. Frank Penn, served from January 1, 1894.
   George E. Lockhart, served from January 4, 1897.
   Harry R. Campbell, served from first Monday of January, 1906, until
April, 1917.
   John Mathias, served from April, 1917, to March, 1918.
   Harry I. Campbell, served from March, 1918, to April, 1920.
   John G. Hall, served from April, 1920, to present time.

                         COUNTY SOLICITOR.

   Julius P. Miller, Sr., 1890.
   Henry Gantz, 1892-93.
   Ralph C. McConnell, 1894-95.
   Charles W. Campbell, 1896.
   James Q. McGiffin, 1899.
   James I. Brownson, 1900-1908.
   Isaac W. Baum, 1909-15.
   James P. Eagleson, 1916-19.
   Alvan E. Donnan, 1920-22.
   Andrew M. Linn, 1923 to present time.

                        DEPUTY SURVEYORS.
                        Appointed by Virginia.
   James Hendricks, appointed July 15, 1769.
   Daniel Leet, appointed April 17, 1776, for Yohogania County, Virginia.
   Appointed for Washington County by the Surveyor General of Penn-
sylvania.
   Thomas Stokeley, appointed March 27, 1780.


361






CONTENTS


   BASEBALL CLUB-B. & O. WRECK OF 1885-B. & O. WRECK AT THE "Y"
   IN 1888-NITROGLYCERINE EXPLOSION IN 1891-CUNDALL AND KING
   SHOOTING MATCH-THE FIRST TELEPHONE-THE FIRST TELEGRAPH
   -PATRICK GASS, LOUIS AND CLARK LAST MEN-FIRST STREET RAIL-
   WAY-OTHER ELECTRIC LINES--BOLSHEVIKI IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
   -OLDEST INMATES IN COUNTY HOME-THE CURRY FEUD IN AMWELL
   TOWNSHIP                                        _  _-- --- 934

                     CHAPTER XCVI.

                       LIBRARIES.

BAIRD'S LIBRARY - WASHINGTON LIBRARY COMPANY - ARCHIBALD
   KERR'S LIBRARY-MECHANICS LIBRARY-WASHINGTON LIBRARY
   ASSOCIATION--CITIZENS FREE LIBRARY-CANONSBURG LIBRARY__967

                     CHAPTER XCVII.

                           1794.

               THE WHISKY INSURRECTION.

CAUSES OF THE INSURRECTION-WRIT SERVED ON PETER MILLER-RISE
   OF THE "WHISKY BOYS"-ATTACK ON NEVILLE'S HOUSE AT BOWER
   HILL-THE FIRST BLOOD-DEATH OF CAPTAIN JAMES McFARLANE-
   NEVILLE'S HOUSE BURNED-THE McFARLANE BROTHERS-FUNERAL
   OF CAPTAIN McFARLANE-GRAVES IN MINGO CEMETERY-McFARLANE
   HOUSE-JOHN HOLLCROFT, "TOM, THE TINKER"-MEETING AT MINGO
   CHURCH-DAVID BRADFORD AND OTHER LEADERS-BLACK HORSE
   TAVERN AT CANONSBURG-ROBBING THE MAIL-MEETING AT BRAD-
   DOCK'S FIELD-MARCH ON PITTSBURGH-MEETING AT "WHISKY
   POINT," PARKINSON'S FERRY-ARRIVAL OF TROOPS UNDER GENERAL
   LEE-"THE DREADFUL NIGHT"-MINGO FALLS-ESCAPE OF BRADFORD
   -BRADFORD'S HOUSE, WASHINGTON-DAVID HART WITH WASHING-
   TON-END OF THE INSURRECTION                      _977


                    CHAPTER XCVIII.

                         MILITIA.
MILITIA OF 1784-COUNTY LIEUTENANTS-OUTRAGE ON THE CHESA-
   PEAKE FRIGATE, 1807-JULY 4TH CELEBRATION IN WASHINGTON IN
   1810-EARLY MILITIA COMPANIES--CLAYSVILLE BLUES-TEN MILE
   RANGERS-WILLIAMSPORT RANGERS-WASHINGTON BLUES-GEN-
   ERAL THOMAS PATTERSON-MILITIA COMPANIES BEFORE THE CIVIL
   WAR-THE TENTH PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD-COLONEL
   ALEXANDER L. HAWKINS-COMPANY A OF MONONGAHELA-COM-
   PANY H OF WASHINGTON-REORGANIZATION OF BOTH COMPANIES
   AFTER THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-COLONEL JAMES E. BARNETT
   -GENERAL EDWARD MARTIN - REORGANIZATION AFTER THE
   WORLD WAR                                  _       995


                     CHAPTER XCIX.

                     WAR OF 1812.
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS-COMPANIES FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-
   WILLIAMSPORT RANGERS-WASHINGTON INFANTRY-COMPANIES OF
   CAPTAIN THOMAS PATTERSON, SAMUEL RANKIN, JOHN VANCE, ROB-
   ERT WITHROW AND SHOUSE'S CAVALRY-TEN MILE RANGERS-


xxix





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


John Hoge, appointed March 8, 1784.
David Redick, appointed December 7, 1784.
Presley Neville, appointed August 12, 1785.
Matthew Ritchie, appointed August 12, 1785.
Alexander McClean, appointed August 12, 1785.
Presley Neville, appointed November 23, 1789.
Matthew Ritchie, appointed November 23, 1789.
David Redick, appointed February 2, 1790.
John Hoge, appointed February 2, 1790.

                     COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Jonathan Leet, June 5, 1801.
Jonathan Leet, December 21, 1802.
William Hawkins, May, 1809.
Jonathan Mendenhall, September 10, 1811.
William Hawkins, January, 1812.
James Reed, July, 1817.
William V. Leet, April 12, 1822.
Stephen Woods, February 8, 1825.
Stephen Woods, May 24, 1827.
James McQuown, May 10, 1836.
E. G. Creacroft, August 27, 1839.
T. C. Noble, March 19, 1846.
H. J. Vankirk, March 17, 1851.
T. C. Noble, December 10, 1854.
Thomas J. Boyd, December 13, 1858.
Francis Reader, October 28, 1862.
Demos Bennington, December 1, 1865.
Jacob Gayman, October, 1869.
Jacob Gayman, January, 1872.
Allen J. White, January, 1875 to 1879.
J. H. Brown, 1879.
Michael Moninger, 1881.
John H. Moninger, 1883.
R. J. McCleery, 1885-89.
R. V. Johnson, 1890-92.
George D. Jenkins, 1893-1902.
Andrew S. Eagleson, 1903-04.
W. Harry Armstrong, 1905-08.
W. Harry Armstrong, 1909-11.
George S. Chaney, 1912-15.
George S. Chaney, 1916-19.
George S. Chaney, 1920-23.
George S. Chaney, 1924 to present time.

                   COUNTY ROAD ENGINEER.
           Appointed by the county commissioners.
J. Russell Wilson, 1904-06.
William Wylie, 1906-08.


362





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Chaney & Armstrong (George S. Chaney and W. Harry Armstrong),
served from 1909 to 1918.
    George S. Chaney, served from 1919 to present time.

                          COURT REPORTERS.
                       Appointed by the court.
    Samuel C. Clark, served from 1885 to November, 1902.
    William H. McEnrue, assistant, served from 1895, to November, 1902.
    William H. McEnrue, appointed court reporter November, 1902; served
to the present time.
   Miss Alice Jones, assistant; served from November, 1902, to July,
1911, when she was appointed court reporter.

                      ORPHANS' COURT REPORTER.
   Frank E. Pireaux, appointed January 20, 1920; served to the present
time.
                          COURT LIBRARIAN.
   Miss Alice Jones, November 19, 1900, to the present time.

                         COUNTY DETECTIVES.
   William McCleery, appointed 1896, served to 1915 when he was retired
on half pay which he still receives, but he remained in active service un-
til 1920.
   Frank H. Mitchell, appointed parole officer and county detective on
August 1, 1913; served until January 1, 1916.
   Bert M. Laird, from January 1 to July 1, 1916, when he resigned and
enlisted in Troop H. First Pennsylvania Cavalry, serving on the Mexican
border.
   Dewitt Parkinson, from July 1 to December 31, 1916.
   Byron Knestrick, from January 1 to December 31, 1917.
   George Marker, from January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920.
   John Weiner, appointed January, 1920; appointed chief of county detec-
tives by Howard Hughes in 1922; resigned January 1, 1923.
   Bert M. Laird, appointed January, 1920; served to present time.
   Thomas M. Reese, appointed chief, January 1, 1923; resigned January
1, 1924.
   William B. Dinsmore, appointed January 1, 1923.
   William B. Dinsmore, appointed chief, January 1, 1924; served to the
present time.
   David W. Creigh, appointed January 1, 1924; served to the present
time.
          PAROLE OFFICER AND INVESTIGATOR FOR THE COURTS.

   Frank H. Mitchell, appointed January 1, 1916; served continuously to
the present time.
                            ATTORNEYS.
   List of attorneys who have been admitted to the Washington bar from
1781 to the present time. The names appear in the order of admission.
   1781, Hugh M. Brackenridge, Samuel Irwin, David Sample; 1782,


363





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Thomas Smith, David Espy, David Bradford, Robert Galbraith, George
Thompson, Thomas Duncan, David Redick, Michael Huffnagle; 1783, John
Woods; 1784, James Ross; 1786, James Carson; 1787, Alexander Addison;
1788, George Vallandigham; 1789, John Young, Daniel St. Clair; 1790,
Henry Purviance, John Ralph: 1791, Thomas Scott, Steel Sample; 1792,
Hugh Ross, Joseph Pentecost, David McKeehan; 1793, George Armstrong;
1794, Arthur St. Clair, Henry Woods, Parker Campbell; 1795, Thomas
Collins, George Henry Keppele, James Morrison; 1796, James Allison, John
Simonson, Thomas Creigh, Joseph Shannon, James Montgomery, Thomas
Hadden, Samuel Sidney Mahon; 1797, Thomas Nesbit, Thomas Bailey,
John Lyon, Robert Whitehill; 1798, John Cloyd, Thomas Mason, James
Ashbrook, Thomas Johnston, Cunningham Semple, William Ayers; 1799,
George Heyl, Robert Callender, John Kennedy; 1800, Isaac Kerr; 1801, Rob-
ert Moore, John Gilmore, Obadiah Jennings, James Mountain; 1802, Alex-
ander William Foster, Sampson Smith King; 1803, Isaac Meason, Jr., Jona-
than Redick; 1805, Elias E. Ellmaker, Hill Runyan, John Purviance, Jr.,
Joseph Douglass, John Porter; 1806, George Paull, James Taylor; 1807,
Thomas McGiffin, John Marshel, John McDonald; 1808, William Wilkins,
Thomas H. Baird, Charles Wilkins, John Tarr, John Shannon, John White,
Morgan Neville; 1810, Richard Carr Lane, John H. Chapline, Jesse Edg-
ington, Joseph Weigley, David Redick, Thomas Irwin; 1811, Philip Dodd-
ridge, Andrew Buchanan; 1812, William Baird, Joseph P. Beckett, Walter
Forward; 1813, John C. Wright, Thomas Morgan, David Jennings, Thomas
Cunningham; 1814, Thomas McK. T. McKennan, H. H. Brackenridge,
Samuel Lyon; 1815, J. Philpot, C. Sampson, Henry Baldwin; 1816, Nathan-
iel Ewing, Samuel Stokely; 1817, James L. Bowman, Charles Shaler, Alex-
ander Caldwell, John M. Goodenow, John S. Brady; 1818, Alexander Brack-
enridge, William Waugh, Henry M. Campbell, John Hoge Ewing, Walter B.
Beebee, James S. Craft, Harmar Denny; 1819, Hiram Heaton, William
Harvey, John Dawson, Stephen D. Walker, Asa Andrews, Ephriam Roote,
Samuel H. Fitzhugh, James Shannon; 1820, Isaiah Winge, John M. Aus-
ton, Alexander Addison, John S. Garrett; 1821, Jacob B. Miller, William
G. Hawkins, James Piper, Thomas Gibbs Morgan; 1822, Samuel Evans,
Joshua Seney, John H. Waugh; 1823, A. S. Mountain, Jonathan B. Smith,
William H. Brown, John H. Hopkins, Dorsey B. Pentecost, John C. Camp-
bell, Roswell Marsh, James R. Pentecost, Thomas Ustice White; 1824,
James C. Simonson, Richard Biddle, Thomas L. Rodgers, James Todd,
George Watson, W. W. Fetterman, Charles H. Israel; 1825, William W.
King, John Louden Gow, James W. McKennan, H. B. Tomlinson, Richard
Bard; 1826, Alexander Wilson, Isaac Leet, Charles Coleman; 1827, Edward
D. Gazzam, Samuel McFarland; 1828, George Selden; 1829, John Glenn,
Benjamin S. Stewart, Samuel Creigh, Ethelbert P. Oliphant; 1830, Samuel
Gormly, Francis C. Campbell, Griffith J. Whithey, George W. Acheson;
1831, William R. McDonald, Nathaniel P. Fetterman, Joshua B. Howell,
Thomas L. Shields, James Watson; 1832, Alexander W. Acheson, Charles
W. Kelso, Thomas S. Humrickhouse, Samuel Cleavinger, David Walker;
1833, Benjamin Patton; 1834, James Veech, Thomas J. Gass, Richard H.
Lee, Thomas B. Beall; 1835, R. F. McConnauhey, William Allison; 1836,
David Blair; 1837, William McKennan, Thomas J. Bigham; 1838, Daniel
Baldwin, T. J. Fox Alden; 1839, Samuel Frew, Daniel M. Edgington, Dan-


364





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


iel Leet, Joseph Henderson, A. P. Avery; 1840, Lewis Roberts, Isaiah Steen,
Robert Woods, Robert H. Koontz, Peter F. Ege, Thomas R. Hazzard;
1841, Ross Black, John H. Deford, Thomas McGiffin, Seth T. Hurd, Samuel
Kingston, Simon Meredith, William Montgomery; 1842, Robert F. Cooper,
John Watson, Jr., Francis G. Flenniken; 1843, Obadiah B. McFadden,
George Acheson, Solomon Alter, Alexander Murdoch, William F. Johnston,
Jonathan D. Leet; 1844, Uriah W. Wise, James Dunlop, John D. Creigh,
J. W. F. White, Henry H. Clark, William Wilson, Ebenezer Boyce, G. W.
McIlvaine, R. F. McIlvaine; 1845, Job Johnston, Alexander Miller, Richard
J. Allison, J. Bowman Sweitzer; 1846, Thomas H. Baird, Jr., R. C. Ingall,
David Reed, George Scott Hart, William Grayson, Elbright G. Creacraft,
George E. Appleton, Wilson McCandles, George W. McGiffin, John P.
Penny; 1847, Joseph S. Morrison, John McKee, Andrew Hopkins; 1848,
David Craig, R. S. Moody, John J. Pierson, W. M. Farrar, William S. Moore,
George H. Oliver, J. A. J. Buchanan; 1849, Thomas W. Porter, Daniel
Donehoo, Daniel M. Stockton, William Baird, David S. Wilson, Daniel
Kaine, John C. Flenniken; 1850, William Linn, Samuel G. Pepper; 1851,
Ellis Gregg, Harvey J. Vankirk, Alfred Howell, John M. Stockdale, Huston
Quail, J. Lawrence Judson; 1852, Marcus W. Acheson, D. W. Bell, William
L. Bowman, Jacob F. Slagle; 1853, Alexander Wilson, George W. Miller,
John D. Braden, John B. Krepps, Robert M. Gibson, Samuel M. Semmes,
George A. Peare; 1854, Charles Naylor, A. S. Ritchie, A. P. Morrison,
A. S. Fuller, John C. Messenger, John Nicholls, Robert F. Strean, B. W.
Lacy; 1855, Samuel N. Cochran, Samuel Cole, Jr., Peter B. McMahon, Wil-
liam Mills, Eugene Ferero; 1856, John H. Craig; 1857, Jasper E. Brady,
Addison Oliver, Alexander M. Gow; 1858, Thomas Ewing, John R. Donehoo,
William A. Stokes, Ira J. Lacock, Francis P. Fitzwilliams, Jonathan W.
Mott; 1859, William E. Gapen, R. P. Lewis, Archibald McBride, James
Lindsey; 1860, Andrew A. Purman, Freeman Brady, Jr., Wilson N. Pax-
ton, William F. Templeton, Charles McClure Hays, H. G. Rogers.
   Note. William F. Templeton was killed at Bull Run, August 29, 1862,
the first man from Washington County killed in battle during the Civil
war. William F. Templeton Post No. 120, G. A. R., of Washington, Pa.,
is named in his memory. 1861, John G. Ruple, Leroy W. Little, Isaac Y.
Hamilton, Mordecai B. Massey, James R. Ruth, Boyd Crumrine, Thomas
Boyd, William J. Patton, James Murray Clark; 1862, David Crawford,
Robert A. McConnell, William C. Lindsey, Isaac Bailey, George W. Cald-
well; 1863, Hill Burgwin, James S. Rutan, Samuel B. Wilson, Wesley Wolf,
Samuel O. Taylor, A. W. Wilson, Simon Buckingham, Daniel W. Leet, Eu-
gene Tarr; 1864, A. W. Aiken, Samuel F. White; 1865, Marshal Swartz-
welder, David F. Patterson, Henry Gantz, R. Galy Barr, David S. Smith,
Joseph Hays; 1866, John L. Gow, Ianthus Bentley, Charles M. Ruple, John
S. C. Weills, David T. Watson, J. W. Kirker; 1867, M. L. A. McCracken,
George L. Gow, William Owens, Jr., Ebenezer Williams, Jr., George Shiras,
Jr., Bishop Crumrine, John W. Donnan, John A. McIlvaine, John W. Wiley,
W. C. Moreland, John W. McWilliams, J. G. Wood, Solomon Bell, John W.
Donaldson, R. B. Patterson; 1868, A. G. Cochran, R. L. Morrison, R. C.
Hoffman, Alexander M. Todd, George W. Cochran, W. M. Nickerson; 1869,
Marcus W. Acheson, Henry M. Dougan, Joshua R. Forrest, Cicero Has-
brouck, James W. McDowell, David W. Brown, L. McCarrell, James L.


365





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Black, James P. Sayer, John Aiken; 1870, Franklin Ezra Oliver, John Mil-
ton Oliver, Clark Riggle, George Petterman, Oscar L. Jackson, H. P. Muel-
ler, John Mueller, William McEnrue; 1871, Jacob Davis, Joseph McK. Ache-
son, Daniel N. McCracken, B. F. Lucas, George O. Jones, Leopold Becker;
1872, W. G. Guyler, G. W. G. Waddle, S. A. McClung, William S. McFad.-
den, William Blakely, B. C. Christy; 1873, J. Hanson Good, Nathaniel
Richardson, E. G. Creacraft, John H. Murdoch, John McCracken Hoon;
1874, Edgar Galbraith, John Dalzell, William H. White, J. B. Jones, Thomas
Henry, John R. Braddock; 1875, John M. Kennedy, David M. Martin, T.
Jefferson Duncan, Charles W. McCord, James L. Berry, George A. Hoff-
man, Jr.; 1876, John W. Morehead, Isaac S. Van Voorhis, John A. Mon-
inger, B. Frank Montgomery, William 0. Crawford, John H. McCreary,
A. S. Miller, Julian B. Crenshaw; 1877, Alvan Donnan, William F. Wright,
John M. Davis, J. Carter Judson, James M. Sprowls, Ralph C. McConnell,
John F. O'Mallery, David F. Enoch, Joseph S. Haymaker, William Archi-
bald Barr, Ernest F. Acheson, W. C. Stillwagen, William M. Boggs, J. B. R.
Streator; 1878, I. N. Patterson, Charles C. Montooth, Louis R. Smith, J. H.
S. Trainer, George C. Burgwin, John Barton, William M. Watson, James
Irwin Brownson, Joseph F. McFarland, W. McBride Perrin, James Mc-
Fadden Carpenter; 1879, Samuel C. Cook, James M. Braden, John S. Mar-
quis, Jr., William Reardon, William H. Playford, Thomas J. Lazear, John
D. McKennan, Julius P. Miller, Albert S. Sprowls, James Franklin Tay-
lor; 1880, Samuel C. Clarke, Thomas McK. Hughes, Thomas Fleming Birch,
William G. Stewart; 1881, Hugh A. Rogers, Joseph M. Swearingen, Robert
Wilson Irwin, Joseph T. Noble; 1882, George W. Guthrie, William Sanders
Parker, James Q. McGiffin, Joseph M. Dickson, John L. Rodgers, J. M. Pat-
terson, George Payton Miller; 1883, Winfield McIlvaine; 1884, John W.
Martindale; 1885, James M. McBurney, Thomas B. H. Brownlee, Samuel
Amspoker, Norman E. Clark, Matthew H. Stevenson; 1886, Ernest Ethel-
bert Crumrine, Andrew M. Linn, James A. Wiley, William McKennan, Jr.;
1887, James C. Ewing, Charles G. McIlvaine; 1888, David Sterrett, James
S. Nease; 1890, John C. Bane, Charles W. Campbell, James E. Barnett,
Frank E. Baird, W. Parkinson Warne.
   James E. Barnett was lieutenant colonel of the Tenth Pennsylvania Vol-
unteers in the Philippines during the Spanish-American war. 1891, James
R. Burnside, J. W. Berryman, Thomas C. Noble, Odell A. Chalfant; 1892,
George Plummer Baker, Grant E. Hess, Alexander M. Templeton; 1893,
Bertram E. McCracken; 1894, Robert Gibson, Oliver M. Henderson, Owen
C. Underwood; 1895, Albert G. Braden, Julius P. Miller, Jr., Haldain B.
Hughes, Charles C. Sterrett, Boyd E. Warne, Joseph K. Wier; 1896, Isaac
W. Baum, Blanchard G. Hughes, James P. Eagleson, Frank E. Bible, Rob.-
ert W. Knox; 1897, A. H. Anderson, William N. Butler, Clarence Rehn,
Harry Russell Myers, Byron E. Tombaugh, Robert W. Parkinson.
   William N. Butler is the first and only member of the colored race
ever admitted to the local bar to date. 1898, John C. Hart, Harry A.
Jones, Charles L. V. Acheson, Robert H. Meloy, William A. H. McIlvaine:
1899, Willison K. Vance, W. Merwin Craft, Albert T. Morgan, Edgar B.
Murdoch; 1900, James A. Magill, Maynard Allen, Jr., John W. McDowell,
James P. Braden; 1901, Oliver S. Scott, James P. Brownlee, Harry L. Wil-
liams, Blaine Aiken, Lawrence R. Boyd, Vernon Hazzard, Francis H.


366





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Woods; 1902, Carl E. Gibson; 1903, Charles E. Carter, Frank H. Andrews,
Ralph Martin Allison, Bert B. Barr, John N. Patterson, John H. Donnan,
David M. McCloskey; 1904, Thomas M. W. Fergus, John M. T. Hana, Wil-
liam Austin Davis, Charles E. Phillips; 1905, Erwin Cummins, John R.
McCreight, J. Boyd Crumrine.; 1906, William Reed Dennison, John I. Car-
son, Richard G. Miller, John R. Pipes; 1907, Hugh E. Fergus, Paul A. A.
Core, Harry F. Moore; 1908, Harry W. Cannon, Joseph Bell; 1909, Rufus S.
Marriner, S. M. Williamson (of Greene County Bar) ; 1910, Alexander W.
Acheson, Arthur R. Witherspoon, John Wiley Day, Jr., Alexander P. Reed.
   John Wiley Day, Jr., first lieutenant, Machine Gun Company, 110th
United States Infantry, died September 7, 1918, in base hospital of wounds
received July 29, 1918, at Sergy Hill, France; 1911, Guy Moffitt, Charles M.
Hull, J. Olan Yarnell, Osborne Mitchell; 1912, Matthew H. Borland, Glenn
P. Carson, Alexander M. Donnan, Alvan E. Donnan, Paul V. Neel, Homer T.
Gaut, George W. Scott, Woodward M. Taylor; 1913, John C. Judson, John
W. Martin (of bars of Jefferson and Indiana counties); 1914, Dwight M.
Anderson, Robert E. Burnside, Lloyd O. Hart, Clyde Hufford, Howard W.
Hughes, R. James Knox, John H. Murdoch, Jr., Clyde S. Pipes, Carl D.
Schultz, Joseph C. Spriggs, Smith N. Whitworth; 1915, Vance Booher,
Warren S. Burchinal, J. Albert Reed; 1916, Adolph L. Zeman, Lucius McK.
Crumrine; 1917, Roy I. Carson, Meyer Goldfarb, J. R. Irwin Knox, A. Kirk
Wrenshall; 1918, Clarence O. Devore; 1919, John A. McGlade; 1920, Bruno
J. Taszarek, George W. Weaver, Leslie Zimmerman; 1921, George O. Fra-
zier, Isidore M. Goldsmith, John F. Wiley, Bernard R. McBurney; 1922,
Thomas L. Anderson, George I. Bloom, Israel Bloom, David McC. Cum-
mins, David I. McAlister, David H. Weiner; 1923, James C. Bane, J. Salem
Flack, Eugene C. Sloan; 1924, Robert Abel, Mrs. Ethel Burnside (Mrs. Rob-
ert E.), Paul D. Carmichael, Donald R. Hart, Willison K. Vance, Jr.
   Mrs. Ethel Burnside, the wife of Attorney Robert R. Burnside, is the
first woman admitted to the Washington County Bar. 1925, Russell Z.
Moninger, Ralph W. Peacock, Frank E. Pireaux, George T. Walker, Jr.
   It is interesting to note at this time that there are just four attorneys
living who were admitted to the bar more than fifty years ago, although
they are now all retired. Hon. John A. McIlvaine, Washington County's
veteran judge who served thirty-five years on the bench, and John W.
Donnan were both admitted in August, 1867. The next oldest is Joshua R.
Forrest, who was admitted in May, 1869; while George O. Jones,* who re-
mained in active practice until within the last few months, was admitted
in August, 1871.
  T. Jefferson Duncan, who is still engaged in active practice, has rounded
out half a century as a lawyer in Washington, and he is today the oldest
attorney at the local bar both in years and in service. John H. Murdoch,
who was admitted in August, 1873, was engaged in active practice until
within about a year before his death in the summer of 1925.
   Of those admitted between forty and fifty years ago, very few are liv-
ing today. Of the sixty-five admitted from 1876 to 1885, inclusive, there
are eight known to be living, seven of whom are still practicing in Wash-
ington. J. Carter Judson, admitted in January, 1877, and Joseph F. Mc-
   * Mr. Jones died November 18, 1925.


367





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Farland, admitted in October, 1878, are still active members of the local
bar.
    Hon. James I. Brownson, now president judge of the courts, was ad-
 mitted in October, 1878. Samuel C. Clarke, who was court reporter from
 1885 until 1902, was admitted in January,. 1880, and is now located in a
 western state. Four of the five lawyers admitted in 1885 are still en-
 gaged in active practice. They are James H. McBurney, admitted in
 April; Thomas B. H. Brownlee, admitted in December; Samuel Amspoker,
 admitted in December, and Norman E. Clark, also admitted in December.
    There have been 618 lawyers admitted to the local bar since the county
 courts were organized in 1781. At the present time there are 123 on the
 list of local attorneys, but at least three of these have ceased to practice,
 while ten others are now located in other cities.
    Washington County has produced some families that have had lawyers
 from one generation to another. Woodward M. Taylor, who is now located
 in California state, is a son of the late Hon. J. F. Taylor, former additional
 law judge, and a great-great grandson of Henry Taylor, the first presi-
 dent judge.
    Edgar B. Murdoch and John H. Murdoch, Jr., are sons of the late John
 H. Murdoch, Sr., who was admitted in August, 1873, and grandsons of
 Alexander Murdoch, who was admitted in August, 1843. Lucius McK.
 Crumrine is a son of Ernest E. Crumrine, who is still practicing after forty
 years, and a grandson of the late Boyd Crumrine, admitted in August,
 1861, who was Washington County's great historian.
    Alexander W. Acheson is a grandson of Hon. Alexander W. Acheson,
 president judge from 1866 to 1876, and a son of the late Ernest F. Ache-
 son, admitted in August, 1877, and for many years congressman from
 this district. There are also a number of others practicing whose fathers
 were lawyers at the local bar.

                         THE JUVENILE COURT.
    The Juvenile Court of Washington County owes its beginning to the
Current Events Club and the Children's Aid Society of Washington. The
act of 1903 provides that all persons under sixteen years of age arrested
on a criminal charge shall be taken before the Juvenile Court if such an
organization exists in a county, and not in the regular court of quarter
sessions. The movement was started in Washington in the fall of 1903,
and in spite of some opposition there was enough sentiment to arouse
public interest.
   This resulted in a public meeting being held in the courthouse on Feb-
ruary 15, 1904, at which Attorney John H. Murdoch, Sr., presided. Miss
Alice Montgomery, chief probation officer of Allegheny County, was the
principal speaker, and at the close of her address Mrs. Joseph Waugh
made a motion that a permanent juvenile court committee of five be ap-
pointed. This committee was composed of Miss Margaret Wiley, chair-
man; Mrs. James P. Braden, Mrs. J. A. McIlvaine, Mrs. Robert R. Reed,
and Mrs. John W. Hallam.
   Under the law this committee had to raise the money for the expenses
of the juvenile court for a number of years following its organization.
This included the salary of the probation officer and other expenses. At


368




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the meeting of February 15, 1904, contributions amounting to $180 were
pledged, the Current Events Club and the Children's Aid Society each
giving $50. During the years that the support of the court was placed
on this committee it raised the money through various enterprises and
private subscriptions, strawberry festivals and entertainments. From
the beginning this committee had the support and consent of the court.
   The juvenile court was formally established by an order of the court
of common pleas handed down on May 10, 1904. Mrs. Allena M. Jones
was appointed probation officer at a salary of $30 a month. Through her
efforts sub-committees were appointed in Canonsburg, McDonald, Bur-
gettstown, Monongahela, Charleroi, Donora, California, Claysville, and
West Alexander.
   Instead of being placed in jail the youthful prisoners were confined
in a detention room established in the third floor of the sheriff's residence,
where it remained until May, 1910, when a house was leased by the county
at 70 East Beau Street. This was used until the county purchased the
former I. Y. Hamilton residence at 80 West Beau Street several years ago,
and since then this has been the detention room.
   The personnel of the committee was increased by the addition of Mrs.
Edwin Linton, Miss Ella Winters, Miss Elizabeth C. Stockdale, Mrs. J. F.
Taylor, and Mrs. Owen C. Underwood. This committee served until
November 14, 1917, when it was dissolved, its need having ceased to exist,
as the law had provided that the county should bear the expenses of
the court.
   In the course of the first year 24 children were confined in the deten-
tion room; 32 the second year; 56 the third year; 71 the fourth year;
89 the fifth year; 76 the sixth year; 110 the seventh year; 132 the eighth
year; 148 the ninth year, and .106 the tenth year. Since the beginning
in 1904 there have been 2,401 children in the detention home.
   The first case before the juvenile court was a boy from Charleroi on
July 9, 1904; and during the first year there were eighteen children be-
fore the court. During 1924 a total of ninety-three cases were disposed
of. Since the first case on July 9, 1904, a total of 2,377 children have been
before the court, but many other cases have been disposed of by the pro-
bation officers out of court.

                         PROBATION OFFICERS.
   Miss Allena M. Jones (Mrs. William E.), served from May 10, 1904,
to 1906.
   Mrs. Emma W. Spear, served from 1906 to March 1, 1910.
   Miss Elizabeth Christman, from March 1, 1910, to the present time.

                    ASSISTANT PROBATION OFFICERS.
   Miss Pearl K. Naser, appointed under Mrs. Emma A. Spear, and served
until June, 1912, when she resigned.
   Miss Alice S. Lambie, served from June 1, 1912, to July, 1914; resigned.
   Miss Mary E. McKean, served from July, 1914, to September 1, 1916;
resigned.
   Mrs. Mae B. Ecker (Mrs. William H.), has served from September 1,
1916, to the present time.
       24--V


369









CHAPTER LXVI.


                            1784-1925.
                      CRIMINAL HISTORY.
EXECUTIONS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-THIE DOANE GANG-NOTORIOUS
   MURDER CASES-MARY STEWART-WILLIAM CRAWFORD KILLS HIS
   SON FOR SINGING "THE BLACKBIRD"-ROBERT CARLYLE-REBECCA
   McCRORY-MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF D. B. COOPER-THE
   OWENS MURDER-SAMUEL H. WHITE-JOHN BISTLE-ROBERT W. DINS-
   MORE-THE CROUCH MURDER-THE DURR BROTHERS-MARTIN REED'S
   CAREER-MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE       OF   HARRY   LANE-WHO
   KILLED SAMUEL DORSEY?-FRANK MOSEBAY ESCAPES THE GALLOWS
   -ALEXANDER WUSTLICH-THE FERGUSON MURDER CASE-MOSS BAY
   -MURDER OF THE PEARCE FAMILY-JAN RIBARICK-THE CECELIA
   FUNKA MURDER MYSTERY-THE BLACKHAND-FRAGASSA AND DAN-
   IELE-BANK ROBBERIES-HOUSTON BANK ROBBERY-THE FINLEY-
   VILLE BANK-JESS P. MILLER'S BANK ROBBED.
   Thirteen men have been executed for murder in Washington County
during the 144 years of its existence, and while a great number of other
murders have been committed in the county during this period, only the
best known, or those that attracted the greatest interest, will be described.
This naturally includes the first degree cases and those which were never
solved. Of the thirteen men executed, eleven were hung in this county,
and two electrocuted in the Rockview penitentiary. The list of executions
follows:
   Thomas Richardson, for burglary; hung on Gallows Hill by Sheriff
Van Swearingen, on October 2, 1784.
   William Crawford, for the murder of his son, Henry Crawford, in
Fallowfield Township, on July 30, 1822; hung on Gallows Hill by Sheriff
Robert Officer, on February 21, 1823.
   Christian Sharp, commonly called "Kit," a Negro slave, for the murder
of his master, Robert Carlyle, of Woodford City, Kentucky, near the Red
barn, on the National Pike, one mile west of Washington, on February 1,
1828; executed on Gallows Hill by Sheriff Robert McClelland, on Novem-
ber 22, 1828.
   Robert Fogler, for the murder of Robert W. Dinsmore, in Hopewell
Township, on December 4, 1866; executed inside the jail yard by Sheriff
Edward R. Smith, on May 15, 1867.
   William West, Negro, for the murder of John Crouch and wife, and
their son, Andrew Crouch, near Bentleyville, on May 13, 1890; executed
inside the jail yard by Sheriff George E. Lockhart on February 26, 1891.
   George Ward and James Jones, Negroes, for the murder of Alexander
Wustlich, a merchant of Stockdale, while attempting to burglarize his
residence and store on the night of September 29, 1899; executed in the
rotunda of the new jail by Sheriff Joseph T. Hemphill on January 9, 1901.
This was the first double execution in the history of Washington County,
and the first to take place in the new jail.
   Milovar Kovovick (also wrote his name Miladin Kovacevic), a Croa-

                               370




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


tian, for the murder of Samuel T. Ferguson, one mile north of West
Middletown, on September 25, 1903; executed in the rotunda of the new
jail by Sheriff C. E. Carothers, on September 8, 1904.
   James Callihan, Negro, for the murder of Moss Bay, a Negro, in
Washington, on February 21, 1904; executed in the rotunda of the new
jail by Sheriff C. E. Carothers, on October 4, 1904.
   Elmer Dempster, Negro, for the murder of Mrs. Mary E. Pearce, wife
of Samuel D. Pearce, and their three children, Margaret, aged four years;
Robert, aged three years, and Dwight, aged six months, in the Pearce home
in Cecil Township, on the afternoon of July 29, 1906; executed in the
rotunda of the new jail by Sheriff Samuel J. Howe, on January 17, 1907.
   Jan Ribarick, for the murder of Mike Novak, Matavi Novak, his wife,
and Frank Stavanijo, in Alexander Place, Canonsburg, on December 18,
1911; executed in the rotunda of the new jail on June 11, 1912, by Sheriff
Robert G. Lutton.
   This was the last man hanged in Washington County. Since then the
law changing the death penalty to electrocution has been passed.
   Angelo Fragassa and Marcantonio Daniele, Italians, for the murder
of Gabriele Fiori, at Canonsburg, on May 29, 1922; executed in the electric
chair at Rockview Penitentiary, on December 10, 1923; Fragassa was
executed first, and then Daniele, the latter making the thirteenth from
Washington County.
   Like all frontiers, Washington County and the entire country west of
the mountains was infested in early times by bands of outlaws, who gave
the settlers in Western Pennsylvania much trouble. The worst of these
bands of banditti was known as the Doane gang, led by one Abraham
Doane. It had its headquarters somewhere in the mountains of Fayette
County, or in Washington County, but not much is known concerning its
activities. Thomas Richardson, the first man executed in the county, was
a member of the band.
   The activities of this band were so extensive that it was necessary to
call out the militia against them. Abraham Doane, the leader, was once
rescued from the old log stable in West Strawberry Alley, which was used
as a jail, and when captured again it was necessary to place a heavy guard
of militia over the building. The condition of affairs in the county is best
described by a letter written by the county commissioners to President
Dickinson, of the Supreme Executive Council, dated June 28, 1784, after
the capture of Doane and Richardson:
"To His Excellency, President Dickinson:
   "Sir: This county, as well as Fayette, has for some time past been
greatly infested by a troop of robbers from the lower parts of the state,
namely, Doane and others, who, by frequent burglaries and robberies,
under the countenance and protection of divers evil disposed persons
amongst ourselves, have reduced us to the necessity of calling out parties
of militia and making general search for the burglars and their accom-
plices, whereupon the said burglars, with numbers of horses, negroes, and
other valuable property, of which they had robbed the inhabitants (in the
most daring and insolent manner), set off for Detroit, our party pursued
about one hundred miles from this place before they overtook them. How-
ever, we have now got of the said party lodged in the gaol of this county,


371






CONTENTS


   SERVICES ON NIAGARA FRONTIER-COMPANIES OF CAPTAINS BEN-
   JAMIN ANDERSON, WILLIAM JOHNSTON AND JONATHAN GRABLE
   WITH GENERAL HARRISON IN OHIO-BUILD FORTS FERREE AND
   MEIGS-SERVICES OF OTHER WASHINGTON COUNTY COMPANIES-
   END OF WAR                      ..                1001

                       CHAPTER C.

         TEXAS REVOLUTION AND MEXICAN WAR.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO JOIN THE TEXAS ARMY-PUBLIC MEETING
   -COMPANY FORMED BY CAPTAIN THOMAS JEFFERSON MORGAN-
   ARRIVAL IN TEXAS-MEXICAN WAR-CALL TO ARMS-PUBLIC MEET-
   ING-WASHINGTON COUNTY MEN SERVED IN MEXICO-DEATH OF
   LIEUTENANT IRONS-BODY RETURNED TO WASHINGTON-FUNERAL
   OF LIEUTENANT IRONS-HENRY BROWN, THE ONLY LIVING PERSON
   WHO MARCHED IN THE FUNERAL PROCESSION             1006

                      CHAPTER CI.

                      THE CIVIL WAR.

FIRST COMPANIES FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-JAMES B. KENNEDY,
   FIRST VOLUNTEER IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-COMPANIES E AND
   G, 12TH REGIMENT, LEAVE FOR THE FRONT-FIRST WASHINGTON
   COUNTY SOLDIER TO DIE IN THE WAR-HIS FUNERAL IN WASHING-
   TON-SURVIVORS OF COMPANY E--COMPANY K, 8TH RESERVES, THE
   NEXT TO GO-OTHER WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMANDS THAT
   SERVED IN THE WAR-HOME GUARDS-THREATENED INVASION OF
   PENNSYLVANIA-MORGAN'S RAID-THE DRAFT IN WASHINGTON
   COUNTY-CAMPAIGN POSTER OF 1864-RECEIVING THE NEWS IN
   WASHINGTON IN 1864-THE CELEBRATION IN WASHINGTON AT THE
   CLOSE OF THE WAR-LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS              1019

                      CHAPTER CII.

                SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

NEWS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE-CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS-
   TWO LOCAL COMPANIES ORGANIZED-TENTH REGIMENT ORDERED OUT
   -COMPANY H LEAVES WASHINGTON FOR MT. GRETNA-ORDERED TO
   THE PHILIPPINES-LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BARNETT RETURNS FOR
   MORE RECRUITS-SERVICES BEFORE MANILA-PHILIPPINE INSURREC-
   TION-JACOB O. CLINE AND GEORGE A. TAYLOR KILLED-WILLIAM M.
   BRADEN AND JAMES G. MONROE DIED OF DISEASE-FUNERAL OF
   JACOB O. CLINE-DEATH OF COLONEL HAWKINS-THE BODY REACHES
   WASHINGTON-RECEPTION OF THE TENTH IN PITTSBURGH-FUNERAL
   OF COLONEL HAWKINS-RECEPTION FOR COMPANIES A AND H-WASH-
   INGTON COUNTY SOLDIERS IN OTHER REGIMENTS         1035


                     CHAPTER CIII.

                     THE WORLD WAR.

             Selective Service and Local Activities.

UNITED STATES ENTERS THE WORLD WAR-SELECTIVE SERVICE DIS.
   TRICTS IN COUNTY-LOCAL BOARDS-FIRST REGISTRATION FIGURES-
   THE FIRST SOLDIERS TO LEAVE WASHINGTON COUNTY-JUDGE McIL-
   VAINE'S FAREWELL SPEECH-LIST OF SELECTIVE SERVICE CONTIN-


xxx




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the following persons, viz: Abraham Doane, one who calls himself Thomas
Richardson, and two women who profess themselves wives to some of the
party, the remainder having escaped our most vigilant pursuit, although
we have recovered the greatest part of the property. We have also divers
others in confinement and under recognizance as accomplices, and expect
yet to make further discoveries, but our gaol being insufficient, and this
same Abraham Doane having been rescued from it once before by an
armed party, we are obliged to keep a strong guard constantly over them,
and not having seen a supplement to the act for apprehending these vil-
lains (which we are informed exists), are at a loss what to do with them,
therefore pray the direction of the council in the premises."
   The headquarters of the band were believed to have been in some
deserted part of Washington County, from which the bandits made fre-
quent incursions into the settlements at night, terrifying and robbing the
inhabitants, and frequently beating persons who fell into their hands.
   Horse stealing, one of the crimes charged against Richardson, was
punishable by hanging at that time. The trial of Thomas Richardson, a
member of this band, took place in the old log building rented by the
county from Charles Dodd as a courthouse, which stood on the lot now
occupied by the Strean Building at the northwest corner of South Main
Street and West Strawberry Alley. Unfortunately there are no records
to be found in the local court documents of this trial. In fact, there is not
a scratch of a pen or a word with reference to either Richardson or Doane
on any of the old records, although the index and minute book of that time
have been searched by the author.
   The only record we have of this execution is contained in the minutes
of the Supreme Executive Council under date of September 10th, 1784,
from which the following is taken:
   "The record of the conviction of Thomas Richardson of burglary in
the county of Washington, was read and considered, upon which it was
   "Ordered, That execution of the sentence of the court be made and
done upon him, the said Thomas Richardson, on Saturday, the 2d day of
October next, between the hours of ten of the clock in the forenoon and
two of the clock in the afternoon of the same day, at the most proper and
public place within the said day."
   Richardson was executed on the hill just south of Washington, and
known ever since as Gallows Hill from the fact that the first three hang-
ings in the county took place there. Tradition tells us that the place of
execution was the large natural amphitheater on the west side of the hill
at the junction of what is now Acheson and Stokeley avenues. The people
could gather on the hill above and watch the spectacle. The late Henry
H. Hull, an old-time resident of Washington, once told the author that
the tree from which these first three men were hung was standing during
his boyhood. Attempts have been made in later years to change the name
to Thornycroft Hill, but with little success, for the old name, "Gallows"
Hill, still sticks.
    Following the custom of the time, Thomas Richardson was hauled to
the place of execution in a cart. Sheriff Van Swearingen officiated, and
it is reasonable to suppose that he fixed the rope around the condemned
man's neck. It was customary in those times for the man about to be


372





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


hanged to stand in the cart, which was driven under the tree. The end
of the rope was then tied to a limb of the tree, the noose fixed around the
victim's neck, and the cart driven from under him, launching him into
eternity.
   Every section of the country has its murder mysteries, disproving the
old saying that "murder will out." It also proves that the finger of
suspicion may point to an innocent man. Washington County has had its
share of these unsolved murders and disappearances.
   The first murder of which we have any record, and which will remain
a mystery until the end of time, is that of Mary Stewart, a child of about
ten years of age, who was killed at the home of her stepfather on Cross
Creek. Her murderer was never apprehended, but for years her step-
father, James Ridgway, was under suspicion and was shunned by his
neighbors. That this was an unjust suspicion there is little doubt today.
   James Ridgway, one of the early settlers in the western country, settled
on a tract of land in Hopewell Township for which a warrant was issued
to him on August 28th, 1789, under the title of "Forest." He married
Mary Stewart, a daughter of John Leman, another early settler in that
section, and the widow of a Mr. Stewart. She had a daughter by her first
husband, whose name was Mary. After his marriage, Ridgway lived with
his wife and stepdaughter on a farm in what was then Cross Creek Town-
ship, but which is now in Mount Pleasant Township.
   On Sunday evening, September 4, 1796, the Ridgway family started
for church, leaving the little girl, Mary Stewart, aged about ten years, in
charge of the house. After they had gone some distance, Mr. Ridgway dis-
covered that he had forgotten his tobacco and returned for it; and this
afterwards led to his being suspected of the crime, for he was the last
person who saw her alive. When the family returned from church they
found the girl dead, her head split open with an ax.
   It was believed at first that robbery was the motive, for about $100
was missing. At first suspicion pointed towards a man named James
Stewart, sometimes called Brown, who had been seen about the place for
several days. The alarm was spread and searching parties set out, but no
trace of the murderer was ever discovered; and the man named James
Stewart completely disappeared from this section of the country.
   It became known that the life of the girl was all that stood in the way
of Ridgway's joint ownership with his wife of the farm on which they
resided; and when it became known that Ridgway had returned for his
tobacco, many people accused the stepfather of committing this terrible
crime to gain a share of the land. He always maintained that he had
found the girl alive when he entered the house; but his neighbors refused
to believe, and he lived under this terrible cloud to the day of his death.
   The verdict of the coroner's jury was that Mary Stewart came to her
death at the hands of some one to the jury unknown. And thus the matter
ended as far as the authorities were concerned, for no effort was ever
made to apprehend the murderer.
   An old account of the crime states that a young man named S-
(probably the James Stewart mentioned above) was suspected; but the
evidence was not strong enough to warrant his arrest, and he disappeared
from the community in a short time. Years later John Brownlee, Sr., a


373





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


cousin of the murdered girl, who had been with the Ridgway family at
church on the night of the murder, was traveling down the Ohio River in
his vocation as a New Orleans trader, and one night he met the man
named S--- in a barroom. They recognized each other, and while
talking over the events of their home section, the murder of Mary Stewart
was mentioned. S-        asked Mr. Brownlee if he had ever heard his
name connected with the crime.
   Feeling that it was a time for plain talking, Mr. Brownlee replied:
"Yes, I have so heard," and, looking the other straight in the eye, said
further, "I believe that you were the murderer of my cousin, Mary
Stewart."
   Without a word S---      left the room and was never seen or heard
of again by any one who knew him.
   Although Mrs. Ridgway lived for many years after the terrible death
of her daughter, she never ceased to mourn for her loved one; and it is
said that she never smiled afterwards. By those who knew him best,
James Ridgway was considered to be above reproach, and they considered
the suspicion directed against him as unjust. He died in 1834 in West
Middletown, at an advanced age.
   Another murder committed in early times in Washington County,
which is talked of to this day, was the shooting of Henry Crawford by
his aged father, William Crawford, because the son persisted in singing
and whistling "The Blackbird." This occurred at the Crawford home in
what was known as the Horseshoe Bottom, in Fallowfield Township, on
Tuesday, July 30, 1822.
   William Crawford was a peculiar character, to say the least. He had
been a British soldier during the War of 1812, and he proudly referred
to himself as "Old Britannia." He and his son, Henry, did not get along
well together, for the latter had inherited some of his father's spirit and
resented his parent's severity. "The Blackbird" was a popular patriotic
American song of that day, and the son took great delight in aggravating
his father by singing and whistling it.
   The trouble seems to have had its origin in difficulties between Craw-
ford and his wife, and the son naturally took the mother's side. Relations
had become so strained that Henry and his mother left the old man and
were living in another house nearby. Henry baited his father, and when
he discovered that it angered the old man to either sing or whistle "The
Blackbird," he lost no opportunity of arousing his parent's ire. The old
man had frequently threatened to kill his son, but on account of the
former's age, Henry did not fear him. He was afraid that he might
shoot, and so he had broken his father's gun, but the old man had it re-
paired unknown to his son.
   On July 30, William Crawford held a "frolic" of hauling manure, a
custom of early times, in which a man's neighbors would all join forces
and help him in a certain line of work, such as harvesting, ploughing,
building a house, or in fact anything about the farm. This is still observed
by farmers of the present day in harvesting and threshing.
   During the morning, when Crawford invited several of the men into
his house for a drink of whisky, he told them that his son, Henry, had
come to torment him and he would kill him before night if he did not go


374





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


away. Some of the men went to the barn and warned Henry, but he only
said that he did not think "Britannia would shoot."
    That evening Henry was sitting on a log near the door singing "The
Blackbird"; and just as he started the second verse he was shot and
almost instantly killed by his father. As the young man fell several men
rushed from the barn, and one bent over him and asked, "Henry, are
you hurt?"
    "I am not as bad hurt as you think I am," he replied, and died within
a few minutes. He was aged twenty-eight years.
    In firing the fatal shot the old man rested his rifle against the door
frame and took deliberate aim. He was captured immediately, and while
waiting for the arrival of Parker Scott, a justice of the peace, the old man
stated that he had intended to kill his son, and would do it again if he had
it to do over.
   William Crawford was lodged in the county jail at Washington, and on
Thursday, November 21, 1822, was put on trial for the murder of his son,
before Hon. Thomas H. Baird, president judge, and Boyd Mercer and
John Hamilton, associate judges. The best legal talent of that day was
arrayed on opposing sides. William Baird, the prosecuting attorney, was
assisted by Joseph Pentecost, while Crawford was defended by James
Ross, Parker Campbell, Thomas M. T. McKennan, and John Kennedy, all
of whom ranked with the best of that time.
   Thirty-four jurors were called before the twelve were finally selected
to decide the old man's fate. The case was hard fought, but it was finally
completed and given to the jury at 3:20 o'clock November 22nd, and an
agreement was reached at 4:30. The little courtroom was crowded with
people as the jury filed in, and the foreman announced the verdict, "Guilty
of murder in the first degree."
   On the following morning Crawford was sentenced by Judge Baird
"to be taken from hence to the jail of the county of Washington from
whence you came, and from thence to the place of execution, and be there
hanged by the neck until you are dead. And may the God of mercy speak
pardon and peace to your soul."
   This was followed by a long address to the prisoner by Judge Baird,
but the condemned man showed little or no concern in what was said; and
at the conclusion he said that he felt no remorse of conscience. Such were
his feelings to the very end. A writ of error was refused by the attorney
general of the state, and an appeal was taken to the Supreme Court, but
this tribunal refused to interfere. This ended the last hope of William
Crawford for escaping the death penalty.
   The death warrant from the governor was received by the sheriff on
January 21, 1823, and when it was read to the old man in his cell, Craw-
ford exhibited very little emotion. Crawford refused to eat for several
days following, and it was feared that he would starve himself to death;
and this was evidently his intention, but hunger finally overcame his
resolution.
   The hanging of William Crawford was, in many ways, one of the most
extraordinary affairs of the kind that ever took place in Pennsylvania.
While in jail awaiting execution he wrote a history of his life, which was
afterwards published in The Examiner. To the very last this gray-haired


375





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


man, who was past seventy years of age, exhibited an indifference that
was amazing. He never expressed a regret for his terrible deed, and he
went to his death without once asking for spiritual consolation.
   This execution, the second in Washington County, and the first for
murder, took place on Gallows Hill, where Thomas Richardson had been
hanged for robbery over thirty-eight years before. The case had attracted
wide attention throughout Western Pennsylvania, and on Friday, February
21, 1823, between 8,000 and 15,000 people gathered in Washington to
witness the public hanging of this man; and it was necessary to call out
a company of militia to keep back the crowd and preserve order. The
hanging was in charge of Sheriff Robert Officer and his deputy, Robert
McClelland.
   When taken from the jail to the place of execution, Crawford's conduct
was most amazing, and it is doubtful if any man ever went to his death
on the gallows either before or since who appeared to care as little. His
face was full of color and his eyes were clear and untroubled. The ground
was covered with snow, and he was taken through the streets of Washing-
ton on a sled, riding beside his own coffin. As he rode to the gallows,
between lines of thousands of people, he leaned on the coffin, peeled and
ate an apple, and talked of worldly affairs with an astonishing air of in-
difference, telling the boys who ran beside the sled not to hurry, as the
hanging would not take place until he got there. He was accompanied
by the sheriff, his deputy and several clergymen, while the militia marched
with the sled to keep back the crowd. In the narrative of his life, which
he had written in jail, he said: "I do not fear, but I can not hope. I
shall die like a soldier; but I dare not die like a saint."
   When the gallows was reached he exhibited a complete indifference to
the divine services conducted by the ministers for the salvation of his soul.
At the close he mounted the platform, and while Sheriff Officer read the
death warrant sat with his back against a post. In a last attempt to get
some expression of repentance from him, the Rev. Charles Wheeler, the
Baptist minister, entreated him to forgive his enemies, and especially the
members of his own family, but Crawford only replied: "God may for-
give them, but I will have nothing to do with them. They want my life.
Let them take it. I am ready to die. I am a murdered man. My death is
occasioned by a set of rascally, perjured witnesses, and a weak, partial
jury."
   When the Rev. Mr. Wheeler urged him to pray, the condemned man
told him to mind his own business.
   Crawford was placed over the trap door, and the rope was tied around
his neck, after which those on the gallows, with the exception of the
sheriff, bid him farewell and descended to the ground. When Sheriff
Officer asked him if he wished the execution delayed to the last minute
allowed by the warrant, he replied that he wished it over with, as he
wanted to give his friends time to take him home that night. The black
cap was drawn over his eyes by the sheriff, who shook hands with him,
and picking up a hatchet, cut the cord that held the trap, and plunged
the soul of William Crawford into eternity.
   On a small headstone in the old graveyard in Spruce Alley, Washing-
ton, is the following inscription: "In memory of Robert Carlyle, of Wood-


376





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ford City, Ky., who was murdered by his slave, Christian, near this
borough, on the 1st of February, 1828, in the 25th year of his age."
   That is all; and although nearly a century has passed since then, this
inscription tells a story that is still related among the annals of the olden
times. It goes back to the old slavery days, long before the Civil war was
dreamed of, when Washington County bordered on a slave state and when
a majority of the people of this section favored slavery. This was the
first free state, and, although that was long before the time of John Brown
and his famous "Underground," many runaway slaves came this way.
The abolitionists were just beginning, and there were a few of them
here, always willing to help a runaway slave on his way to freedom, while
the free Negroes in this section always gave aid to members of their
race trying to reach Canada.
   On the morning of Friday, February 1, 1828, the body of a murdered
white man was found on the National Pike, near the Red barn, a short
distance west of the present Baltimore & Ohio Railroad crossing, west of
Washington. This building is still standing, one of the old landmarks on
the pike, and is still known as the Red barn.
   The murdered man was recognized as a "Negro Drover," who had
passed through Washington a few days before on his way south with
several runaway slaves, whom he had captured. The first news of the
crime was given at the nearest house by a Negro, who stated that his
master had been attacked by three men while walking along the road. The
alarm soon spread, and in a short time a number of people had gathered
at the spot. The man's head had been crushed with a club or a stone,
and the freshly fallen snow that covered the ground was stained with
blood. The murdered man was afterwards identified as Robert Carlyle,
from Woodford City, near Frankfort, Kentucky.
   Carlyle had been in Washington several days before with his slaves,
and had started for Wheeling with them, but some distance west of here
one named Christian Sharp, better known as "Kit," escaped. Leaving the
other slaves under guard, Carlyle returned in search of the runaway and
captured him somewhere between Washington and Brownsville, for on
Thursday night, January 31st, he had arrived in Washington with Kit on
the westbound mail stage. They stopped that night at Briceland's Tav-
ern, now the Hotel Auld; but before daylight the next morning they set
out on foot for Wheeling. Carlyle was not taking any chances of escape
again, and he had the Negro handcuffed.
   The remains of the murdered slave owner were interred in the grave-
yard at Washington, where his grave may still be seen, a grim reminder
of the old slavery days before the "Underground."
   Blood stains on the Negro's clothing led to his arrest for the crime, and
the coroner's jury returned a verdict that Robert Carlyle came to his
death by the hands of his slave, Christian Sharp.
   Kit was brought to trial on June 25, 1828, before Hon. Thomas H.
Baird, president judge, and Boyd Mercer and John Hamilton, associate
judges. William Waugh, deputy prosecuting attorney, assisted by John
S. Brady, conducted the case for the commonwealth. The accused slave
did not lack friends; for, although he was without money, no less a person
than Samuel McFarland, one of the prominent members of the bar of his


377





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


day, defended him. Mr. McFarland was one of the early abolitionists in
Washington, and this brought about his interest in the case. He was
assisted by William Baird and John Kennedy, two other well known local
lawyers of a century ago.
    The defendant's counsel, led by Mr. McFarland, fought hard to save
 the slave's life. Many of the important points of the evidence have been
 lost with the passing years, but the blood stains on the Negro's clothing
 and certain tracks in the snow were things which the jury could not over-
 look and led to his conviction. The story told by some of the older resi-
 dents of Washington, which has been handed down to them by persons
 who attended the trial, is that the tracks in the snow made it appear that
 two men had been walking along the pike, one in front of the other. Just
 before the body was found, the tracks showed that the man in front had
 stepped to one side, and marks showed where he had picked up something,
 either a club or stone. The theory of the commonwealth was that the
 man in front was Kit, and that he had only intended to stun Carlyle while
 he made his escape, but when he discovered that he had killed him he
 invented the story of the three men. Attorney McFarland firmly believed
 in Kit's innocence to the day of his death, and he took the Negro's con-
 viction very hard.
    Kit declared to the very last that his master had been set upon by
three men, one of whom was a large, black Negro of powerful build. There
was living in Washington at that time a free Negro named "Tar" Adams,
the first name being given on account of his black skin. He was a powerful
man, and was never accused of doing anything except to help runaway
slaves on their way to Canada. In this business he was a past master,
and many a Negro from the Southland owed his freedom to Tar Adams.
He is still remembered by some of the older residents of Washington,
especially among th6 colored people, and many remarkable stories are told
of his exploits in aiding members of his race on the road to freedom.
Many people of that day believed that Tar Adams was one of the three
men whom Kit claimed attacked his master. This version is firmly be-
lieved by the older colored residents, who knew the man when they were
children, and they well remember the stories of him and the Carlyle mur-
der, which their elders told.
   On June 28, 1828, Kit was sentenced by Judge Baird to be hanged.
His execution took place on Friday, November 21, 1828. A hanging in
those days was always in public and was a big event. Between 10 and 11
o'clock that morning the two local volunteer battalions of militia, com-
manded by Majors McFarland and McBurney, formed in a hollow square
in front of the jail. The condemned man, preceded by the Rev. Mr.
Brunson and Rev. Mr. Cook, and followed by Sheriff Robert McClelland
and other civil officers, physicians, and attorneys, entered this square, and
the procession moved down South Main Street to the place of execution.
   There seems to be some doubt as to the exact place where Kit was
hanged. Dr. Alfred Creigh states that it took place on Gallows Hill, but
an old newspaper account, published at the time, says that it was on the
"commons south of the borough." This would indicate that it might have
been near the present Pennsylvania station, on South Main Street, at the
foot of the hill.


378





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    At his own request Kit was allowed to walk to the gallows, surrounded
 by the militia and county officers, in the order given above, the whole
 procession marching in the form of a hollow square. When the gallows
 was reached the two ministers ascended the platform with the condemned
 man, and after talking with him, the Rev. Mr. Brunson addressed the
 people. He stated that during all of his interviews with Kit, the latter
 had never denied having killed his master. The minister said that after
 the death warrant from the governor had been received, Kit had taken an
 oath that he would not confess, and he kept that oath to the end.
    After prayer by the minister, the prisoner bid farewell to the sheriff
 and others present. The rope was tied around his neck, the black cap was
 adjusted, and the cord holding the trap was cut by the sheriff, and the
 slave dropped through the opening. But a feeling of horror passed
 through the crowd, for the rope broke about three feet above the prisoner's
 head, and he fell to the ground unharmed. The people pressed forward
 as though to interfere, but the militia held them back, while Kit once more
 ascended the gallows; and this time the rope held. It was believed that it
 had been cut, but this was never proven.
    It is a strange coincidence that when the next Negro, William West,
 was executed in Washington County sixty-two years later, the rope broke
 as the trap fell.
    The slave's body was placed in a coffin and buried in the old graveyard.
 The exact location of the grave is not known, but the story is told that it
 was just over the fence in the public road, which is now West Walnut
 Street extended.
    While the slave, Kit, was in jail awaiting his execution, the people of
Washington County were shocked by the brutal murder of Miss Rebecca
McCrory, a young lady who lived near where the town of Charleroi now
stands. On Monday, October 27, 1828, her body was found lying in the
road within 200 yards of her father's house in Fallowfield Township. Her
throat had been cut from ear to ear, and in one hand was a bloody knife,
giving the impression that she had taken her own life. The hand was
badly cut, and this led to the belief that she had been murdered. Suspicion
pointed to a young man named Edward Nixon.
   On the previous evening Miss McCrory had left her father's home in
company with Nixon, intending to visit some relatives across the Monon-
gahela River. This was the last ever seen of her alive. She never reached
the relatives, and nothing was thought of her absence from home, as her
father supposed that she had remained on the other side of the river for
the night. Nixon had disappeared, and this strengthened the suspicion
against him. He was captured shortly afterward, and held by the cor-
oner's jury for the murder of his sweetheart.
   He was placed on trial in Washington on Thursday, March 26, 1829,
before Judge Thomas H. Baird. The commonwealth was represented by
Attorneys McGiffin, Brady and Todd, and the prisoner was defended by
Messrs. Kennedy, Baird and McKennan. The evidence was all circum-
stantial and many witnesses were heard for both sides. The old accounts
of this trial do not give the testimony in detail, and little is known of it.
The case was given to the jury on Friday evening, and on Saturday morn-


379





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ing a verdict of not guilty was brought in. Nixon immediately dis-
appeared, and nothing more is known of him.
   The murder of this girl remains a mystery to this day. It is possible
that she really did commit suicide, because of her condition, but this was
doubted by her friends, and suspicion always pointed to Nixon.
   A mysterious disappearance which created as much excitement as that
of Harry Lane of later times, was that of D. B. Cooper in 1840. This
young man was a son of Sylvanus Cooper, of Morris Township, and while
on his way to his home disappeared in Wheeling. A body found in the
Ohio River a few days later was identified as that of the missing man,
and then excitement ran high.
   Cooper had been living at Lowell, Ohio, and in January, 1840, left
that place with one William Long on a visit to his home here. They
reached Wheeling on the 7th and went to a hotel, eating supper together.
Cooper then went out, and after attending to some private business,
Cooper met Long at a barber shop. They returned to the hotel, slept in
the same bed, and ate breakfast together. Walking past the market house,
they stopped to examine a load of bear and deer meat brought in from
the neighboring hills by a man named Saunders.
   Cooper strolled on while Long remained at the meat, and thus they
became separated. Long waited at the hotel for Cooper, but when the
missing man failed to appear, the friend took his horse and came to
Washington, and delivered the animal to Sylvanus Cooper, in Morris
Township, at the same time telling the story of Cooper's disappearance.
   Long was suspected of having murdered Cooper, and a warrant was
issued by Justice Blaine, of Washington, for his arrest. The excitement
was intense, and the accused man was committed to jail for thirty days
unless demanded sooner by the governor of Virginia. Fuel was added to
the flames of public indignation by the finding of a body near Granville
Island, in the Ohio River, below Wheeling, on January 10. The father
of the missing man and several friends immediately went to Wheeling,
had the grave opened and examined the body. The features could not be
recognized, but after an examination of the clothing, they were convinced
that the body was that of Cooper, and a statement to this effect was signed
by Sylvanus Cooper, John A. Dille, Joseph Bryant, Samuel Day, Ezra
Dille, and Zebulon Cooper, a brother. This was published in "Our Coun-
try," a Washington newspaper.
   At a hearing before Justice Blaine, in Washington, on January 21st,
Long was held for the murder after Sylvanus Cooper and the others tes-
tified that they had identified the body.
   Two months later it became known to the public and the authorities
that D. B. Cooper was alive and well, and living in Illinois. It seems that
his father had learned of this some time before, but on account of the
statement he made when he identified the body found in the river, he had
felt some shame over the matter, and had been loath to admit of his error.
   It seems that after reaching Wheeling, D. B. Cooper had heard of the
many land speculations then being made in Illinois, and, having con-
siderable money, he decided to go to that state and invest. For some
reason, wh ~h was never explained, he kept this a secret from Long, and


380





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


when they became separated at the market house he set out for Illinois
immediately, leaving his horse behind.
   Long was released from jail immediately, and it is said that he was
paid by Sylvanus Cooper to drop the matter and leave this section. At
any rate, he never took any action in the matter, and soon disappeared.
   At the foot of the long hill traversed by the National Pike as it leaves
West Brownsville is a small, old-fashioned stone house, a relic of the early
days of the famous highway when the travel of the nation went over this
route. This building, which is now in a good state of preservation, is
owned by the Sam Thompson Distillery. It must be considerably over a
hundred years old; for it was a tavern in the early days of the pike, and
for many years thereafter. In fact, that was so long ago and the murder
which is here related occurred so many years since that few persons living
today know the history of the ancient building. This old house was
probably built before the pike was constructed west of the river. It be-
longed to the Krepps family, and was at the northwest landing of Krepps'
ferry, which transported travelers across the river before the old wooden
bridge was built. As this was the route of emigrant travel before the
pike was built, it is more than probable that the house was run as a tavern
before the pike.
   One of the first proprietors of this roadhouse was a man named Vin-
cent Owens, who had fought for American independence through the
Revolutionary war. Living with Mr. Owens was his aged father. One
night the latter was brutally murdered, supposedly by two travelers who
had stopped there for the night. Whether they were really guilty or not
was never known, for they fled immediately and were never apprehended.
Many of the details of this murder have been lost with the passing years;
and the motive for the crime was always shrouded in mystery.
   The brutal murder of Samuel H. White, a young farmer living five
miles north of Washington, in Chartiers Township, is still told by the older
residents of the county; and although one man was tried and several others
suspected, the murderer was never found, and it is as much of a mystery
today as it was sixty-eight years ago.
   Early in the morning of Monday, March 30, 1857, the people of Wash-
ington were shocked by the news of the murder of Samuel H. White the
night before, in his home about five miles north of town, on the valley road
to Burgettstown. Within a short time a great number of people gathered
at the scene of the tragedy. The body of the murdered man still lay on a
bed, so covered with blood that the features could not be distinguished
until the face was washed. The bed clothing and pillow were saturated
with blood. The body lay in a pool of it, and the whole room looked like
a shambles. The headboard and posts of the bed, the walls above the bed,
the window, and even the wall six feet away, and the ceiling were red
with gore. In fact, the room looked like a slaughter pen, and it did not
seem possible that only one person had been killed.
   At the foot of the bed lay a large, sharp ax, which White had used at
his woodpile, and which the murderer had used. The skull had been ter-
ribly crushed by a number of blows rained upon the man, and death had
been instantaneous.
   While their father was murdered, two little girls, aged four and two


381






CONTENTS


   GENTS WITH DATES OF LEAVING-STUDENT ARMY TRAINING CORPS
   OF W. & J.-THE COMMUNITY DRUM CORPS-LIBERTY LOAN PARADE-
   WORLD WAR WORK IN THE COUNTY-COUNTY PHYSICIANS IN THE
   SERVICE-LAWYERS IN THE SERVICE                     1067


                      CHAPTER CIV.

               THE WORLD WAR (Continued).
          The One Hundred Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry.

COMPANIES A AND H, TENTH PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY, ORDERED TO
   MOBILIZE-CAMP JAMES E. BARNETT-THE REGIMENT ORDERED TO
   CAMP HANCOCK-IN TRAINING-ORDERED OVERSEAS-FIGHTING IN
   FRANCE-THE RETURN TO CAMP DIX-THE MARCH OF THE IRON DIVI-
   SION IN PHILADELPHIA--MUSTERED OUT                 1077


                      CHAPTER CV.

               THE WORLD WAR (Continued).

       WASHINGTON COUNTY SOLDIERS OVERSEAS.

THE 331ST AND 332ND REGIMENTS IN ITALY-THE 330TH REGIMENT IN
   FRANCE-AIR SERVICE-GROUPE ROBINSON RESERVE MALLET-319TH
   INFANTRY IN FRANCE-322ND LIGHT FIELD ARTILLERY IN FRANCE-
   WAR WORKERS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY
   RED CROSS                                          1096


                      CHAPTER CVI.

                THE UNRETURNING BRAVE.
WASHINGTON COUNTY SOLDIERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE CIVIL
   WAR AND THE WORLD WAR                      ..      1109


                      CHAPTER CVII.

REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS BURIED IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
LIST GATHERED FROM OLD NEWSPAPER FILES AND PERSONAL VISITS TO
   OLD GRAVEYARDS-ELIZABETH GILMORE'S RECORD IN THE REVOLU-
   TION-THE LAST REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER IN THE COUNTY ...1135


                     CHAPTER CVIII.

               PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS.
HISTORY OF THE G. A. R. POSTS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-SPANISH-AMER-
   ICAN WAR VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS-THE AMERICAN LEGION-
   DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION-SONS OF THE AMER-
   ICAN REVOLUTION                                    1144


xxxi





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


years, were asleep in a small bed at the side. Neither was awakened until
taken from the bed by neighbors, and the first word uttered by the young-
est was "Pappy."
   Robbery was evidently the motive. White had just lived on this farm
twenty-five days, and he was to have made a payment early in April. He
had collected $750 for this purpose. The desk where he kept his money
was rifled, but there were no bloody marks about it. This led to the belief
that two had engaged in the affair.
   Mrs. Nancy M. White, the wife of the murdered man, stated that they
had retired about 9 o'clock. Between 2 and 3 o'clock she was feeling ill
and went to the kitchen. Hearing a noise, she looked out and saw two men
at the woodpile. They went to the house and entered the bedroom by a
door on the opposite side of the house. She then ran out the other door to
the rear of the yard. Seeing and hearing nothing in the house, she started
for the house of James Allison, three-quarters of a mile away. She had
never been there, and she became lost in the woods. When she finally
reached Allison's an hour later she told that burglars were at the house.
   Archibald and Hugh Allison started back with her, securing John
Nesbit on the way, and when they reached the house they discovered the
terrible crime.
   The next day a public meeting was held in the courthouse, and a resolu-
tion was passed asking the county commissioners to offer a reward of
$1,000. The commissioners promptly complied, and the police from Wash-
ington, Pittsburgh, and Wheeling, and officers from other sections of
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and even Ohio, joined in the man hunt.
   On the night of Thursday, April 30, 1857, George Wilson and Eliza-
beth McMasters were murdered at McKeesport, just one month after the
White murder. Two days later the Allegheny County authorities arrested
Henry Fife, Monroe Stewart, and Charlotte Jones. The latter lived at
Dunningsville, this county, and great excitement followed her arrest.
When she was taken to Monongahela and examined by the police, she
declared that Samuel H. White had been murdered by her brother, William
Jones, Jr., and James Williams, both of whom had escaped from the Wash-
ington jail in November, 1856, where Jones was held on a charge of
poisoning a young man named John Archer, and Williams on an assault
and battery charge.
   Learning that Jones was at his father's house, near Dunningsville,
Harvey Lyon, William Hamilton and several others in Washington organ-
ized a posse and captured him; and on June 2nd, Williams was arrested
by the Pittsburgh police in that city. However, Williams was able to
prove beyond all doubt that he was in Liverpool, England, on March 30th,
the date of the White murder, and he was released.
   From information secured by District Attorney Alexander Wilson, the
officers of this county believed that Henry Fife, who was convicted in
Allegheny County of the Wilson-McMasters murder, was the second man
with Jones. At the August term, 1857, the grand jury found a true bill
against Henry Fife and William Jones.
   Fife was never brought to trial for the White murder, for the very
good reason that both he and Charlotte Jones, sister of William Jones,


382




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


were convicted of the murder of George Wilson and Elizabeth McMasters,
and both were hung in Pittsburgh.
   William Jones was placed on trial in Washington on November 17,
1857, before Judge Samuel A. Gilmore. District Attorney Alexander Wil-
son was assisted in the prosecution by Attorneys Robert H. Koontz and
George S. Hart, while Jones was defended by James H. Hopkins and
Jacob F. Slagle, of Pittsburgh. Fifty-one jurors were called before the
twelve were finally selected.
   One of the principal witnesses for the commonwealth was Margaret
Tuton, who declared that Jones had told her he had killed White while
Henry Fife robbed the house. Charlotte Jones and Madison Jones had
waited in the orchard for them.
   The case was not given to the jury until noon of November 20th; and
at 3:30 o'clock the next afternoon the jury informed the court that it
was unable to agree and asked to be excused. Judge Gilmore refused this
request, and the jury did not reach an agreement until the 23rd, after
being out for seventy-two hours. This is probably a record for Wash-
ington. At 3 o'clock that afternoon a verdict of guilty of murder in the
first degree was brought in. Counsel for the defense immediately filed a
motion for a new trial, which was granted by the court on February
25, 1858.
   The second trial of William Jones for the murder of Samuel H. White
was started on May 19, 1858. Now comes the strangest part of this case.
The evidence against Jones was all circumstantial, and was based on the
testimony of Margaret Tuton, and his sister, Charlotte Jones, herself a
convicted murderess. Both were women of ill-fame whose reputations
for truth were very poor. Jones himself was considered capable of com-
mitting any crime; yet during the few months between the first and
second trials public opinion turned in his favor; for the finger of sus-
picion had pointed to another man. The case was given to the jury at
4:45 o'clock on the afternoon of May 21st, and a verdict of not guilty was
brought in the next day, after being out twenty-four hours.
   The man towards whom the suspicion was directed lived near the
White home. There was no direct evidence against him, and not even
enough circumstantial to warrant his arrest. But older people living today
recall the feeling against him in that neighborhood became so strong that
he finally left, and was never heard of again. Several years later Mrs.
White married again, some say to a preacher, and died in Ohio. And so
the killing of Samuel H. White was added to the unsolved murders of
Washington County.
   As soon as the first trial of the commonwealth against William Jones
for the murder of Samuel H. White was ended and given to the jury,
John Kerr, of East Pike Run Township, was placed on trial for the killing
of John Bistle, near Greenfield, now Coal Center, on September 26, 1856.
Kerr, who was about seventy years of age, owned a house at Coal Center,
which was occupied by Bistle and his family. On April 1, 1856, Bistle had
leased the house and lot from Kerr, and the latter's horses. Kerr was to
board with Bistle and sleep in the house. Kerr could terminate the agree-
ment by giving five days' notice.
   They did not get along well together, and one disagreement led to


383





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


another. Finally Kerr served him with the five days' notice, and Bistle
rented a house in Bentleyville. On the night of September 25, Kerr was
sleeping in the hay loft of the barn, but it was rather cold, and Bistle
tried to get him to go into the house. This angered Kerr, and he threat-
ened to shoot Bistle.
    The next day they were both drinking and quarreling frequently. Jacob
Bistle, a half-brother of John Bistle, went to the house in the afternoon,
and he tried to make peace between them. Kerr went to the barn, secured
his shotgun, and returned to the house. As he entered the house he shot
John Bistle in the left side, killing him almost instantly. Kerr was
arrested immediately, and lodged in the county jail.
    On November 20, 1857, John Kerr was placed on trial for murder in
the first degree. District Attorney Wilson, assisted by Attorneys Koontz
and Hart, conducted the case for the commonwealth, while Kerr was
defended by Attorneys Montgomery, Gibson and Johnson, all well known
lawyers of that day. This was the second time in the history of the
county that a man seventy years of age was tried for first degree murder,
the first being William Crawford, thirty-five years before. Both were
old men with ungovernable tempers and they drank heavily; they were
childish and hard to get along with.
   As Kerr was brought into the room, every one there pitied him, he
looked so old and feeble; but for Crawford there had been no pity. He
had killed his own son and had fought against the Americans in 1812,
only ten years before his trial.
   The case was given to the jury at 7 o'clock on the evening of the 21st,
but an agreement was not reached until 11 o'clock on the morning of the
23rd, when Kerr was found guilty of murder in the second degree. A
motion for a new trial was filed, but this was withdrawn on the 26th, and
Kerr was sentenced to six years in the Western Penitentiary.
   Robert W. Dinsmore, a farmer living in Hopewell Township, was mur-
dered about 10 o'clock on the night of December 4, 1866, during an attempt
to burglarize his house. The county commissioners immediately offered
a reward of $1,000 for the apprehension of his murderer, and on the
following day Robert Fogler, of Washington, was arrested. Dinsmore
had been killed during a struggle with the robber, and in the scuffle the
latter lost a heel from one of his boots. After Fogler's arrest the heel of
one of his boots was found to be missing; and this led to his conviction.
   He was placed on trial on February 20, 1867, before Judge Alexander
W. Acheson. The commonwealth was represented by District Attorney
Boyd Crumrine, assisted by H. J. Vankirk, of Washington, and N. P.
Fetterman, of Pittsburgh. Fogler was defended by James R. Ruth, I. Y.
Hamilton, and L. R. Woods. The case was given to the jury at 4:30
o'clock on the afternoon of the 23rd, and at 6 o'clock a verdict of murder
in the first degree was rendered. Judge Acheson pronounced the death
sentence on February 28th.
   Fogler was executed by Sheriff Edward R. Smith on May 15, 1867,
inside of the old jail yard, in the presence of about seventy persons who
had received tickets from the sheriff. This was the first hanging in the
county that was not in public, and the first since the execution of Chris-
tian Sharp, thirty-nine years before.


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    On May 13th, 1890, all Western Pennsylvania was shocked by the
 news of the brutal murder of the Crouch family, near Bentleyville. On
 that day John Crouch and his wife, and their son, Andrew, were beaten
 to death with a club and their home robbed. There was little to work on
 in the beginning, but some days later suspicion pointed to a Negro named
 William West, who had worked for the Crouch family, and knew the
 habits of the members well. He knew that Mr. Crouch kept money about
 the house. He was arrested as the murderer.
    William West was placed on trial on October 8, 1890, before Judge
 Stowe, of Allegheny County, who presided in place of Judge J. A. McIl-
 vaine. District Attorney William S. Parker was assisted in the prosecu-
 tion by M. L. A. McCracken and H. M. Stevenson, and West was defended
 by H. J. Vankirk and J. M. Patterson, all well known lawyers of that time.
 The evidence was all circumstantial, but it was of the strongest kind, and
 the jury brought in a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree.
    Every effort was made to save his life, but it was all in vain. A new
 trial was refused, and the governor would neither commute the sentence
 nor grant a stay of execution, and William West was condemned to die on
 the gallows on February 26, 1891.
    This hanging, which took place in the old jail yard between the sheriff's
 residence and the old courthouse, was one of the most sensational in the
 history of the county. The Negro swore that he would never die on the
 gallows and he came very near to keeping his oath. On the day before the
 hanging he secured a rusty nail, in spite of the watchfulness of the guards,
 and tried to jab it through the jugular vein. He made some ugly wounds
 but did not succeed in taking his life. Later he secured some kind of
 poison, though how is a mystery to this day, but it is supposed it was
 smuggled to him by a friend. He took this in an attempt to cheat the law,
 but for the second time within twenty-four hours Doctors Scott and Ache-
 son saved the Negro's life to be snapped out on the gallows.
    The execution was in charge of Sheriff George E. Lockhart. A high
board fence was erected between the courthouse and jail to conceal the
hanging from the public. When his attempts to commit suicide failed,
West became hard to handle, and he was given morphine and chloroform,
strapped to a board and carried onto the gallows unconscious.
    His brother, Bazil, was admitted, but it was discovered that he had
been drinking, and two deputies took him before the sheriff. He was
searched and relieved of a .44 caliber six-shooter and a pint of whisky, a
bad combination.
   As a precaution against trouble, Sheriff Lockhart appointed Charles
Greer, John Orr, Fred Naser, George Thompson, Henry Newman, William
Seaburn, Alexander Rankin, Robert Thompson, Andrew Means, and Rob-
ert W. Bolton as special deputies.
   Tickets were given out to the hanging, and 175 people gathered in the
jail yard to see a human life jerked into eternity. The black cap was
adjusted and the hangman's knot tied, and at exactly 2:34 o'clock the trap
was sprung. The Negro, still strapped to the board, dropped through
the opening, but the rope snapped in two. As the board struck the ground
with terrible force a groan came from the unconscious man. The mur-
derer was carried back onto the gallows, and the rope was tied again, and
       25-V1


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


six minutes after the trap had been sprung the first time, William West
paid the penalty for his crime. West claimed to the last that he was
innocent; but, although the evidence was circumstantial, nothing has ever
developed since then to show that the jury made any mistake in its verdict.
   While William West was on trial for his life for the killing of the
Crouch family, a murder was committed within a mile of Washington,
which created great excitement. On the night of October 10, 1890, three
men knocked at the door of the house at the Toledo toll gate, on the
Prosperity Turnpike, about a mile southwest of the Washington Cemetery.
The toll gate was kept by Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Saunders, who lived there
alone. When she went to the door one of the men pointed a revolver at
her and demanded, "Money or your life."
   She denied having any money in the house, but at the same time the
courageous woman stepped back to a desk in the hall, seized a revolver,
and fired at the robbers. The leader returned the shot, firing several
times, and one of the bullets struck Mrs. Saunders in the abdomen. The
robbers then fled.
   The next day George E. Teeters, Bush Durr and Ed Durr were arrested
on suspicion. Teeters was a grown man, but the Durr brothers were
only boys. The former and Bush Durr were taken to Mrs. Saunders'
bedside, and she identified Teeters as the man who had fired the shots,
and made an ante-mortem statement to that effect.
   Mrs. Saunders died on October 12, and the Durr brothers made a con-
fession to save their necks.
   George Teeters was placed on trial before Judge J. A. McIlvaine on
February 18, 1891, for the murder of Mrs. Saunders. The case was given
to the jury in the afternoon of February 23rd, and that evening it was
reported that the jury was deadlocked. However, a verdict of second
degree murder was brought in the next morning at 9 o'clock, after eighteen
hours. It developed after the jury came in that on the first ballot eleven
voted for murder in the first degree and one for second degree; and thus
it was that one man eventually saved George Teeters' life. On February
25th he was sentenced to twelve years in the Western Penitentiary.
   Bush and Ed Durr had previously entered pleas of guilty to second
degree murder, with the consent of the court and district attorney, in view
of their having confessed. On account of their youth each was sentenced
to seven years in the penitentiary. After their release from prison they
returned to Washington County, and a series of burglaries followed. They
were arrested again, and in August, 1897, were found guilty of seven
charges of burglary. Judge J. F. Taylor sentenced them to twenty-five
years in the penitentiary.
   The story of Martin Reed's conviction for murder, his escape from the
Washington County Jail, and his death in the icehouse at Noblestown,
reads like a romance of the Wild West. In all the criminal history of
Washington County, no other man had as spectacular a career. Convicted
of murder in the first degree, he broke out of jail while waiting to be hung,
and was finally brought to bay in an icehouse, where he killed one man
and wounded another and then shot himself when the building was set on
fire by the crowd that had gathered.
   Reed was convicted of the murder of Alexander Chappell, at the Bur-


386





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


gettstown Fair, in October, 1891. Reed and Chappell were both at the fair
on October 8th, and it was charged that the former gave the latter a bottle
of whisky containing strychnine. The motive for the crime was an alleged
affair between Reed and Mrs. Chappell.
    After leaving the fair grounds on October 8th, Chappell went to the
 Old Town Hotel, in Burgettstown, where he talked with James Harris and
 Anthony Leggett. During the conversation Chappell took a flask from
 his pocket and offered the other two whisky. Leggett drank very little,
 but Harris took two good sized swallows, after which Chappell drained
 the bottle. The latter started to drive to Candor a short time later, but
 was taken sick on the road, for he evidently got out of the buggy and lay
 down. And there his body was found the next day.
    Shortly after Chappell left the hotel, both Harris and Leggett were
 taken sick. The latter had taken only one drink, and he was not bad, but
 Harris suffered considerably. Both subsequently recovered, and their tes-
 timony did much to convict Reed.
    Martin Reed was arrested for the murder, and was held by the cor-
 oner's jury. On February 15, 1892, he was placed on trial before Judge
 J. A. McIlvaine. The case was given to the jury in the afternoon of the
 19th, and at 9 o'clock the next morning a verdict of murder in the first
 degree was brought in. He was sentenced by Judge McIlvaine on Feb-
 ruary 22nd to be hanged.
    Reed's escape from the Washington County Jail, which occurred dur-
 ing the evening of May 19, 1892, was one of the most sensational that ever
 took place in Western Pennsylvania. Reed, being under sentence of death,
 was kept locked in a cell by himself, but the other prisoners were given
 the liberty of the corridor and the other cells. Five entered into a con-
 spiracy to not only break out of jail, but to release Reed. Whether the
 latter had anything to do with the plans for the affair is not known, but it
 is more than probable that he had. The five were Fred Cotthem, a thief;
 Ted O'Neil, a burglar; George Evans, charged with selling whisky, and
 Fred Smith and Joe Brown, two gamblers.
    During the evening these men remained close together until about 8
o'clock, when they walked into a cell in the center of the jail where all of
the other prisoners were gathered. After seeing that all were inside the
five suddenly'ran out, and shut and locked the door, thus stopping any of
the others from raising an alarm. The conspirators had secured an iron
pump handle from some unknown source, and with this they started to
dig a hole in the west wall of the jail, about twenty feet from the ground.
The mortar was old, and not made with cement, and it was an easy matter
to knock a hole through the brick wall.
   While some were engaged at this, the others removed a cell door from
its hinges, carried it to the top of Reed's cell, and used it as a lever to bend
two of the bars in the top, making a hole about 12 by 24 inches. Reed was
a large man, weighing about 200 pounds, but he managed to squeeze
through this opening and joined the others.
   By this time the hole had been knocked through the wall, and a rope
made from pieces of blankets in the cells was lowered to the ground.
Cotthem and Brown went first, reaching the ground in safety, but when


387





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Reed started out his weight broke the rope when he was about fifteen
feet from the ground.
    The escape was witnessed by J. B. Shaffer, who was getting a drink
from the pump in the courthouse yard. He saw Reed fall, and when he
called to him, the latter leaped to his feet and ran. Mr. Shaffer then
spread the alarm, and the man hunt started immediately. However, Reed
made good his escape and, although his movements were traced from time
to time, the officers were unable to catch up with him.
    The county commissioners offered a reward of $500 for his capture.
Stimulated by this reward, officers were continually on his trail, but for
weeks he eluded them. It was known that he was in the vicinity of his
old home, in the northern part of the county.
   Two officers instrumental in running him down were William B. Mc-
Bride, a deputy sheriff, and John Orr, a Washington policeman. Both
men kept the hunt up for weeks until they finally received definite infor-
mation that he was in the vicinity of Noblestown, which is just over the
line in Allegheny County.
   Taking Samuel Williamson, another officer, with them, they arrived at
Noblestown at 1 o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday, August 6, 1892, and
were informed that Reed had been seen that day going into an icehouse
about 2,500 feet north of the railroad station. Each officer was armed
with a Winchester rifle, and they prepared to capture their man. Know-
ing that he would probably shoot to kill, they took every precaution. Wil-
liamson was sent to the rear to prevent escape in that direction, and Orr
entered the front door, followed by McBride, each with his rifle ready.
It was gloomy on the inside, but as soon as Orr had accustomed his eyes
to the change in light he located Reed on top of a high platform. Just as
the officer located him, Reed arose and fired directly at Orr, the bullet
striking him in the left forearm, passing out and entering at the shoulder
and then across to the right side of the spinal column. Reed dropped back
instantly after shooting and before either Orr or McBride could fire.
   Realizing their danger, both officers backed through the door to the
outside, and upon looking up they saw Reed at a small door high up on
the side of the building, evidently about to make his escape. They leveled
their rifles, but he sprang back out of sight before they could shoot. Orr
had his wound dressed, but remained at the icehouse on guard.
   The news that Martin Reed had been cornered in the icehouse spread
like wildfire, and in a short time a large crowd had gathered. The shoot-
ing of Orr showed the desperate character of the man, and many plans for
his capture were advanced. A number of men finally went to McDonald
by train and secured rifles from Captain Nesbit, of the National Guard,
and returned on a special, bringing many additional men with them.
   Among the new arrivals was Hugh Coyle, a deputy sheriff who had
been acting as a policeman at McDonald. Coyle was a brave man, but
foolhardy. He announced his intentions of entering the building and
bringing Reed out. Orr begged him not to make the attempt, but he per-
sisted. Reed was standing on the floor of the building directly in front
of the door, and when Coyle entered he fired at the officer but missed.
Coyle sprang out and to one side, where he would have been safe had he
not attempted to enter again. This time Reed fired just as Coyle stepped


388





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


in front of the door, the bullet passing through his heart. The stricken
man staggered back several paces and then fell. He was married and left
a wife and several children.
   The crowd went mad, and cries of "Hang him; burn the building; blow
him up," were heard on every side. A terrific rifle fire was directed on
the ice house, and it was completely riddled. The wonder is that Reed
escaped the bullets.
   Richard Singleton, a torpedo shooter in the oil fields, secured twelve
quarts of nitro-glycerine, and it was decided to blow out one end of the
building so that Reed would be at the mercy of the riflemen. A can of
five quarts was placed against the corner farthest from the platform on
which Reed lay, but the explosion only made a hole in the ground and
tore off a few boards. A dynamite charge placed under the edge of the
building did little more damage.
   The mob was now getting impatient; it was 6 o'clock and darkness
would soon make it possible for Reed to escape from the building. Sam
Norcross piled some boards against the side of the ice house, poured a
bucket of oil over them and set them on fire. Quickly the building caught,
and as the flames leaped up a pistol shot was heard. Then cartridges
began to explode one after another like firecrackers until about 150 had
gone off. Finally, when one side of the building fell in, the body of a man
was seen lying against the opposite wall wrapped in flames. A hole was
chopped through, and the body was recovered but it was terribly burned.
And thus ended the tragic, thrilling story of Martin Reed.
   One of the most sensational mysteries of modern times in Washing-
ton County was the disappearance of Harry E. Lane, a young huckster
and farmer of South Strabane Township. It was believed at first that he
had been murdered, and Robert J. Lane, his father, offered a reward ot
$100 for the recovery of his body, and $1,000 for the apprehension of his
supposed slayers. Officers from three states joined in the search, which
was kept up for many months; but this man had disappeared completely.
and the only trace left was a bloody hat. Long afterwards it dawned
upon the people that they had been the victims of one of the greatest
hoaxes of modern times; but to this day there are still a few who believe
he was murdered.
   Harry E. 'Lane was a young farmer and huckster who lived about a
mile from the National pike on the road from the pike near the John
Burr farm to Eighty-four, and about six miles from Washington. Lane
was just thirty years of age at that time.
   On Saturday evening, June 10, 1893, Lane rode horseback from his
home to Washington. Just where he went in Washington has never been
learned, but between 8 and 9 o'clock that night he stopped at a store in
Pancake, and displayed a large roll of bills as he paid for several small
purchases. He then mounted his horse and started towards home. The
last man who ever saw him in this section was James H. Ferguson, a
neighbor, who met him near the R. M. Carrons home about 9 o'clock;
and from that hour Harry Lane was never seen again by any of his friends
or acquaintances in this county. He disappeared as completely as if the
earth had swallowed him.
   About 11 o'clock that night his horse was found grazing along the


389





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


road near his father's house, which was on the next farm from Harry's
home. The father believed that his son had hurriedly caught a train for
Pittsburgh on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and he put the horse in
his stable. When Mrs. Lane found her husband absent the next morning
she also believed he had gone to Pittsburgh, but when he failed to return
qn the morning train she became alarmed and communicated with the
father. The horse showed that it had been ridden very hard, and an in-
quiry was started.
   Daniel Lane, a brother, and Stewart Early started for Pancake, but
on the way they made a gruesome discovery which led to the belief that he
had been murdered. Lying at the side of the road, near a watering trough
within a few feet of the National pike they found his hat, covered on the
inside with clotted blood, and with a big dint as though the wearer had
been struck a blow with some blunt instrument.
   The news of this discovery spread like wildfire, and in a short time
hundreds of people had gathered at the scene of the supposed murder.
Searching parties, stimulated by the large rewards offered by the father,
were formed. The greatest excitement prevailed, and for days hundreds
of people searched the entire country. The hills were black with people
and searching parties could be seen in all directions, combing every con-
ceivable hiding place. The river at Brownsville was dragged, and an oil
tank, where it was believed that the body might have been concealed, was
drained. But Harry Lane had disappeared completely.
   The authorities took the matter up under the belief that a murder
had been committed. Robbery was thought to have been the motive and
they worked on this theory. A tramp had been seen in the vicinity and
it was supposed that he had seen the roll of bills Lane displayed at the
store. Late that Saturday night two men were seen boarding a freight
train at Eighty-four, and a search was made to locate them, but they
had also disappeared. The blood in the hat was pronounced by local physi-
cians to be that of a mammal, but whether man or beast was not deter-
mined. Pittsburgh detectives expressed the belief that an amateur in
crime had committed the murder; for they reasoned if professionals had
killed Lane they would never have taken the trouble to conceal the body.
Blood stains were found on the top rail of a fence several hundred yards
from the scene of the supposed murder, and a few spots that were pro-
nounced blood were found in the road in front of R. J. Lane's house; but
there the trail ended.
   When the amateur theory was advanced, neighbors expressed the be-
lief that the supposed crime had been committed by another farmer who
had had some trouble with Lane. A party went to this man's house to
lynch him, but the advice of cooler heads was heeded, and the would-be
avengers of Harry Lane did not carry out their purpose. But for several
years this man rested under an unjust suspicion.
   After many. weeks of fruitless searching the hunt was given up, but
people still continued to speculate on the fate of the missing man. Many
people became suspicious; for they could not believe that the body of a
full-grown man could be made away with so completely in a thickly settled
country. On the other hand many people personally acquainted with Lane
believed that he was dead. His relations at home were of the best, and
no reason was known for such action. It was also known that several


390





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


business men owed him money, which he had not collected before his
disappearance.
    Later it was reported that he had been heard from in Canada, and
it was definitely learned that he was alive, either in Canada or the West.
It was claimed that he had left on account of some impending trouble;
and this seems to be the most plausible explanation.
   Years afterwards the story was told that a friend, who was a practical
joker. knew of Lane's plans to leave, and he decided to have a little fun
on his own account without Lane's knowledge. After Lane left on that
Saturday night, this friend secured a hat belonging to the missing man,
made a dint in the crown, placed blood on the inside and left it at the
watering trough. When this man realized the serious manner in which
his joke was taken, he was afraid to relate his part in the disappearance,
and so the matter remained a mystery. This may be the true explanation,
but it is not vouched for, as it is one of the stories told in the neigh-
borhood.
   In 1908 some bones were dug up near Zediker Station, not far from
the scene of the supposed murder. The finders believed them to be human,
and took them to the sheriff's office in Washington with the announcement
that they had discovered the long sought remains of Harry Lane. The
deputy in the office had worked on the Lane case, and when he examined
the bones he admitted that they did look like those of a human being.
For an hour or two the Harry Lane excitement broke out again in Wash-
ington, and many people recalled the exciting events of fifteen years be-
fore. A physician was summoned, but after a careful examination he
pronounced them to be the last earthly remains of some unfortunate calf.
   Few murders in the history of Washington County have created as
much interest as the killing of Samuel Dorsey, in Washington on the night
of October 21, 1893; and although a third of a century has passed since
then his murderer has never been found. Samuel Dorsey, a well known
colored barber of Washington, was of a genial disposition and had many
friends among the white people as well as his own race. His shop, located
the first door north of the Hotel Auld, was the most popular and best
patronized in town at that time. He was always well dressed, wore sev-
eral diamonds, and carried several twenty dollar gold coins as pocket
pieces. It was ~known that he always carried a large sum of money home
with him from his shop on Saturday night, and robbery is believed to
have been the motive, although other theories have been advanced.
   On Saturday night, October 21, 1893, Dorsey closed his shop about
12:30 o'clock, and started home on North Lincoln Street. He stopped at
the Allison Hotel restaurant, where the William Henry Hotel now stands,
for a bowl of soup. After leaving there he went up Main Street and met
Alexander Rankin, chief of police, at the corner of Main and Deau streets;
and he was the last man who saw Dorsey alive. From there he evidently
went to East Chestnut Street, intending to go to Lincoln Street. This
was his usual route after leaving his shop.
   About 1:10 o'clock a shot was heard by several persons on East Chest-
nut Street, just above the corner of College Street. Miss Nettie Roberts,
who resided with her parents in East Chestnut, was awakened by the
shot, and when she looked out of the window she saw two men bending


391







HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


over a prostrate form on the sidewalk in front of the second house east
of the corner of College Street, and on the north side of Chestnut. As she
watched them they started to run, and disappeared up the street.
   Mrs. Charlotte Mills, who lived in the house just above where the body
was found, was on her back porch with her daughter, Mrs. W. N. Thomp-
son. When they heard the shot, Mrs. Mills called W. N. Thompson, who
was asleep. He dressed and went out to investigate, and found the body
of a man huddled against the fence. He started in search of an officer,
and found Policeman John Orr in Conner's restaurant, in the town hall
basement. They returned to the scene of the murder, where a crowd had
gathered around the still form on the pavement.
   Policeman Orr turned the murdered man over and discovered for the
first time that he was Samuel Dorsey. After making an investigation
the officer found that his watch and chain, a diamond stud worth about
$400, and the money in one pocket, which was turned inside out, had
been taken. A valuable diamond ring on one finger had not been dis-
turbed, and $100 in bills in an inside vest pocket and $7.10 in change had
been overlooked.
   John Buchanan, Sam Tobias, Fred Mills and William Mills were stand-
ing at the corner of East Walnut and North Lincoln streets when the
murder was committed. Shortly after the shot was fired they saw two
men hurriedly cross Lincoln Street under the electric light, and disappear
over the hill on their way out East Chestnut Street; and that was the
last ever seen of the murderers. Although officers were on the trail within
a short time they never even gained a clue that would lead to their
detection.
   From facts afterwards learned it was believed that the murderers
planned the holdup on East Chestnut Street, just off of Main. Shortly
after midnight John Godfrey heard two men talking in low tones as he
was passing Seybold's alley, and shortly afterwards two men fled from
a back yard adjoining this alley, when the residents of the house ap-
proached.
   The greatest excitement followed the murder, and all of Sunday large
crowds thronged the streets. The telegraph operator at Wylandville wired
the police that two men had tried to sell a watch there, and Officers Ran-
kin and Orr made an investigation, but found nothing of them. Several
arrests were made by the Wheeling police, but all parties were able to
prove alibis. Several persons were also arrested by the local officers, but
the evidence against them amounted to little or nothing and they were
released.
   The search was stimulated by a reward of $500 offered by the county
commissioners. Pittsburgh detectives expressed the belief that the mur-
der was committed by men who were well acquainted with Dorsey's habits,
and this theory is still held.
   The day after the murder, Robert A. Ashmore, who resided on the
Willetts farm on the old Pittsburgh road, about a mile northeast of the
borough line, found two coins lying in the road. Engraved upon one was
the name "Samuel Dorsey 1877." It had been carried by the murdered
man as a pocket piece since the Pittsburgh riots of 1877. The murderers


392





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


had evidently escaped in that direction; but their trail ended at the Wil-
letts farm, and it has never been found again.
   Dorsey was shot through the head and killed instantly. When found
he still held a cigar tightly clenched between his teeth. It was generally
believed at the time that this had only been intended as a holdup, but the
bandits' gun was discharged prematurely.
   Two years after the murder a young man who had been seen in Wash-
ington prior to the murder, but who disappeared shortly afterwards, was
arrested in Pittsburgh. He was tried in the local courts and acquitted,
as the evidence against him amounted to little or nothing. The general
belief at the time was that he knew nothing of the murder. And so this
will remain another murder mystery which will probably never be solved.
   Only one man ever convicted of murder in the first degree in Wash-
ington County escaped the gallows. That man was Frank Mosebay, a
coal miner, who, on March 4, 1895, shot and killed Andy Price, another
miner, in a quarrel at the Jumbo Mine, near McDonald. Price owed Mose-
bay a dollar, and when the latter demanded his money, Price promised to
give it to him on the next pay day. A quarrel followed, and Mosebay se-
cured a revolver and killed Price.
   Mosebay was arrested immediately, and when arraigned in court he
entered a plea of guilty to murder generally, leaving it to the court to fix
the degree of crime. Evidence was taken by the court and on Septem-
ber 9, 1895, Judge J. F. Taylor read an opinion which was concurred in
by Judge J. A. McIlvaine, in which the defendant was declared guilty of
first degree murder. The case was appealed, and his sentence was finally
commuted to life imprisonment.
   Alexander Wustlich, a German coal miner and storekeeper at Stock-
dale, was murdered on the night of Friday, September 29, 1899, during
an attempt to burglarize his residence and store. The robbery and murder
were committed by three negroes named George Ward, James Jones and
Thomas Baird, known as "Chicken Jim." Wustlich was supposed to have
considerable money about the house, and Ward and Jones afterwards
told that the affair was planned at the house of Henry Freeman, another
negro who lived near by.
   The trio went to Freeman's early in the evening and planned the af-
fair, after which Freeman went to bed, not taking any part in the at-
tempted robbery. The three men went to the Wustlich house about 12:30
o'clock that night. Ward stood guard in the road while Jones and Baird
entered through the kitchen. Mrs. Wustlich, who was asleep in the next
room with her husband, was awakened by cold air coming from the
kitchen. She arose to investigate, and just as she entered the door she
was shot in the breast.
   The shooting awakened Wustlich, and he arose immediately and went
to the kitchen, but just as he reached the door he was shot, the bullet
severing an artery in his thigh, and he bled to death in a few minutes.
Jones claimed afterwards that Baird became excited when Mrs. Wustlich
appeared, and fired both shots. The burglars made their escape.
   Jones' hat was found in the kitchen, and suspicion fell upon him and
Ward. The latter had gone to his home at Courtney, and when he heard
that he was suspected he made his escape, and remained in hiding until


393





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Monday when he went to Washington, and surrendered, telling all that
he knew of the murder.
    Jones went to his home in Pittsburgh, and then in a few days went to
 Bishop, where he was captured by Officer M. R. Conley, of McDonald, after
 a fight in which Jones emptied his revolver. Baird made good his escape.
    George Ward was placed on trial before Judge J. A. McIlvaine on
May 16, 1900. Alexander M. Templeton, district attorney, prosecuted the
case for the commonwealth, and Robert W. Parkinson and A. T. Morgan
were appointed by the court to defend the prisoner. The case was given
to the jury at 12:30 o'clock on May 18, and a verdict of guilty of murder
in the first degree was brought in at 7:50 o'clock that evening. He was
sentenced the next day by Judge McIlvaine to be hanged.
   The case against James Jones was called before Judge McIlvaine on
August 27, 1900. As in the Ward case, District Attorney Templeton rep-
resented the commonwealth, and the court appointed Byron E. Tombaugh
and C. L. V. Acheson to represent the defendant. The case was given to
the jury at 4:50 o'clock on the afternoon of the 28th, and a verdict of first
degree murder was brought in at 9:15 o'clock the next morning. He was
sentenced at once by Judge McIlvaine.
   Ward's execution was set for October 30, 1900, but it was postponed
until December 4th, by Governor Stone. On account of the fact that Ward
had surrendered and confessed, The Journey, a weekly newspaper of
Washington, raised funds and employed Attorney J. R. Burnside to place
the case before the pardon board, but it refused to interfere.
   Henry Freeman and Turner Niblick who boarded at the Freeman house
were also arrested, but it was proved that Niblick knew nothing of the
affair, and he was released. Freeman who was represented by Attorney
W. N. Butler, turned state's evidence and it was largely through his testi-
mony that Ward and Jones were convicted. He was kept in jail for a
year, and then his case was nol prossed.
   Mrs. Wustlich afterwards recovered from her wound, but she always
carried the bullet in her breast.
   The execution of Ward and Jones, which took place in the new jail
on January 9, 1901, was the first double hanging in Washington County,
and also the first in the new jail. The execution, which was in charge
of Sheriff Joseph T. Hemphill, was witnessed by about 300 people, gathered
on the main floor of the rotunda of the jail and the two balconies.
   Thomas Baird, the man credited with firing the shot that killed Alex-
ander Wustlich, was finally located in South Carolina, and brought back
to Washington County. He was placed on trial, but as both of his ac-
complices were dead, there was no direct evidence against him, and he
was found not guilty.
   One of the most famous cases in all the criminal history of Washing-
ton County was the murder of Samuel T. Ferguson, about a mile from
West Middletown, on the afternoon of September 25, 1903. Mr. Ferguson,
a member of the Ferguson Construction Company, a firm building the
Wabash Railroad through Washington County, was killed by dynamite
placed in the road, as he was on his way from Washington to the com-
pany's camp with the payroll, the object being robbery. The chase of the


394





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


murderers extended across the ocean to England, and attracted interna-
tional attention when Detective Thomas R. McQuaide brought two of them
back to Washington County for trial.
    On the morning of September 25, Mr. Ferguson, accompanied by
Charles T. Martin, his bookkeeper, drove to Washington and drew $3,600
from the First National Bank, and then started back to the camp not far
from West Middletown. They reached the latter place, and had started
on the last lap of their journey. As they were driving over a small stone
culvert, at the foot of Seminary Hill, one mile north of West Middletown,
a charge of dynamite was exploded. Ferguson was killed and Martin was
so badly injured that he lay between life and death for a long period. A
hole ten feet long and four feet deep, was torn in the road, and stones
were hurled hundreds of feet. The falling stones and explosion attracted
the attention of Lewis Liggett. a farmer working in a near by field, and
when he went to investigate he met a man leaving the scene of the ex-
plosion, carrying a satchel. The man made his escape, and Mr. Liggett
went to see what had occurred.
    He spread the alarm and in a short time hundreds of people had gath-
ered. Searching parties were soon scouring the country, and for days
every corner of that section of the county was carefully searched, and
word was telegraphed to every town and city in the land. An abandoned
coal mine with tracks leading into it was searched, together with every
other conceivable hiding place, but the murderers had made good their
escape.
   A copper wire was found leading from the scene of the explosion to a
tree, where a battery and an old shotgun, with a home-made stock were
found; and these proved eventually valuable clues. A person standing
behind this tree would have a good view of the road for a quarter of a
mile in each direction, but could not be seen himself.
   The county commissioners offered $1,000 and the Ferguson Construc-
tion Company $5,000 additional for the capture of the murderers; and this
stimulated the search. Finally, after several days of fruitless hunting,
the quest was abandoned, and the officers decided that they must look
elsewhere. Men were arrested on suspicion by the police in many cities in
the land, but none of them proved to be the men wanted.
   During this period, while others had been scouring the land, Thomas R.
McQuaide, superintendent of detectives of Pittsburgh, had been working
quietly on the case. One morning the entire country was electrified by
Superintendent McQuaide's announcement that at least two of the mur-
derers were on the high seas, bound for England. He had traced them
to New York, but by changing their names and sailing on another vessel
than the one for which they had purchased tickets, they had eluded the
police.
   Superintendent McQuaide, in his search, learned that Milovar Kovo-
vick and Milovar Pattrovick, two natives of Croatia, a crown province of
Austria, had been seen on the Southside, Pittsburgh, with plenty of money.
They had purchased some clothing, and a draft for $2,000 on a town in
Croatia. He had followed this up, and learned that Kovovick had worked
for the Ferguson Construction Company during the summer, and had
had charge of the batteries used in exploding dynamite.


395





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Word was cabled to England, and on October 21st the British officers
went on board the vessel at Southampton and arrested both men, who had
$1,200 with them. They were placed in prison to await extradition pro-
ceedings. While the men were on the ocean steps were taken here for
their extradition, and everything was carefully carried out, so that there
would be no hitch, for the laws of England are very strict in this respect.
Governor Pennypacker signed the papers on October 22nd, and a week
later they were filled out in Washington, D. C.
   Armed with the necessary papers, Superintendent McQuaide and De-
tective Richard Kelly sailed for England. Arriving on November 12th,
they went direct to London, and the next day met the men in prison. On
November 21st, the men were arraigned before Magistrate Fenwick, and
the extradition was granted, but in compliance with English law they were
remanded to jail for fifteen days to permit of an appeal. No appeal was
taken, and on December 9th, the officers sailed from England with their
prisoners, arriving in New York on December 17th, and on the 19th the
prisoners were lodged in the Washington County jail.
   The case was called before Judge J. F. Taylor on February 15, 1904,
and a severance was granted. The trial of Kovovick was taken up at once.
Lewis Liggett testified that the man he saw leaving the scene of the
crime with the satchel was not Kovovick, and the defense tried to prove
an alibi. It was shown that Kovovick had worked for Ferguson, and hav-
ing had charge of the batteries, knew where they were kept. He had
been seen in the vicinity of the camp the day before the murder, and that
night the chest containing the batteries was broken into and one stolen.
The old shotgun with the home-made stalk found behind the tree was
shown to have been owned by the prisoner.
   The case was given to the jury at 2:45 o'clock in the afternoon of Feb-
ruary 20th, and at 4:25 the jury returned a verdict of murder in the first
degree. On February 29th, Judge Taylor sentenced Kovovick to be hanged.
A motion for a new trial was refused, and the case was carried to the
Supreme Court, but the lower court was sustained.
   Milovar Pattrovick was placed on trial before Judge Taylor on May 23,
1904. The defendant claimed that he met Kovovick at Jefferson, Ohio,
after the murder, and there was considerable testimony to show that he
had had no part in the affair. The case was given to the jury at 5 o'clock
on the afternoon of May 27, 1904, and a verdict was returned on Sunday,
May 29th, at 10 o'clock in the morning. This was the first time that a
verdict had been taken by the local court on a Sunday for many years.
   After all hope was gone Kovovick made a confession in which he de-
clared that Pattrovick had not taken any part in the murder. He de-
clared that it had been committed by himself and three others named
Joseph Buckovic, Nikola Katic, and Pero Barac. He charged Buckovic
with making the plans for the robbery and murder, and declared that it
was the latter who had exploded the dynamite. They met in a tunnel
after the murder, and that night walked around, hiding the next day in
the Gillespie tunnel. After dividing the money they separated. The
others escaped immediately to Europe, but Kovovick remained in this
country for a short time, and this led to his detection.
   Pattrovick was refused a new trial, and on June 6, 1904, Judge Taylor


396





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


sentenced him to the Western penitentiary for. twenty years. After serv-
ing about fifteen years of his term he was paroled.
    Milovar Kovovick was hanged in the rotunda of the jail by Sheriff
C. E. Carothers on September 8, 1904, in the presence of a large number
of people. He went to his death chanting, "Oh farewell, everything in
this world, so dear."
    On the morning of February 22, 1904, the body of Moss Bay, a negro,
was found lying in a pool of blood in a narrow passage on the south side
of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, on Brookside Avenue, Washington.
Suspicion pointed to another negro, named James Callihan, who had
charged Bay with intimacy with Mrs. Callihan. He was arrested and
placed on trial before Judge J. A. McIlvaine on May 18, 1904, and on
May 20th, a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree was returned.
He was sentenced by Judge McIlvaine on May 25th.
    Callihan was hanged by Sheriff C. E. Carothers on October 4, 1904,
on the same scaffold on which George Ward, James Jones, and Milovar
Kovovick had been executed.
   The murder of Mrs. Mary E. Pearce and her three children in their
home in Cecil Township, on Sunday afternoon, July 29, 1906, was the most
horrible ever committed in Washington County. Samuel D. Pearce, a well
known oil pumper, resided with his family in Cecil Township, just north
of Canonsburg. Besides his wife there were three children, Margaret
Esther Pearce, aged four years; Robert Edward Pearce, aged three years,
and Dwight Pearce, aged six months.
   On Sunday, July 29th, Miss Nancy Pearce, of Burgettstown, spent the
day with her brother, Samuel, and his family. Late in the afternoon,
Mr. Pearce left the house with his sister, to take her to the train at
Canonsburg. He was gone less than two hours, and as he came within
sight of his home he knew that something was wrong, as no smoke came
from the chimney; and his wife should have been cooking supper.
   Hastening to the house he found the front door unlocked, and the
kitchen door standing wide open. He found his two children lying in
front of the fireplace, his wife stretched out on the floor, and the baby
lying in its crib, all fatally shot. The fiend who had committed the deed
had set fire to the house to conceal his crime, and after extinguishing this,
Mr. Pearce hastened to Alexander Thompson's house, his nearest neighbor.
The mother, daughter, and infant were dead, but the son, Edward, was
still living, but he died two weeks later.
   The news spread quickly, and in a short time parties of enraged men
were scouring the country. Suspicion quickly fell upon Elmer Dempster,
a young negro, who was very active in the man hunt, and he was arrested
that night. The evidence against him was very strong, and he finally
confessed. He had gone to the Pearce home to rob it, but when he was
discovered by Mrs. Pearce he turned on her with a revolver he had found
in the house, and in blind fear he wiped out the entire family of four.
   He was placed on trial before Judge J. F. Taylor on September 3, 1906.
The evidence against him was overwhelming. The case was given to the
jury the next afternoon at 2:15 o'clock, and in less than fifteen minutes
a verdict of guilty of murder was returned, the jury having taken only


397





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


one ballot. This stands as a record for first degree murder verdicts in
Pennsylvania. Dempster was sentenced at once by Judge Taylor.
    Elmer Dempster was executed for this murder in the rotunda of the
jail on January 17, 1907, by Sheriff Thomas M. Pentecost. He went to
his death without a feeling of sympathy from anyone.
    The last man hung in Washington County was Jan Ribarick, an Aus-
trian, who murdered three people at Alexander Place, adjoining Canons-
burg, on December 18, 1911. He and his daughter, Antoinette Ribarick,
lived in the second floor of a house at Alexander Place, the first floor being
occupied by Mike Novak and his wife, Matavi. Living with them was a
boarder named Frank Stavanijo.
    Ribarick made an improper proposal to his daughter, which she re-
sented, and when she told Mrs. Novak about it, the latter advised the girl
to sleep with her. The daughter did so, and this incensed Ribarick very
much. He accused Mrs. Novak of coming between him and his daughter,
and declared that he would have revenge.
   On December 18, 1911, he purchased a new revolver, and then got
drunk. The day before he had told his daughter that she had just twenty-
four hours more to live, and as soon as he went home he entered the Novak
kitchen to carry out his threat. Drawing the weapon he told the daughter
he would shoot Mrs. Novak first and then her turn would come. The
older woman had her back turned and was stooping over a stove, when
he shot her. He then turned to his daughter and fired but missed her
and she fled out of the door. When Mike Novak appeared, Ribarick killed
him, and fatally wounded the boarder, Frank Stavanijo.
   Ribarick was arrested immediately, and on February 21, 1912, was
placed on trial before Judge J. F. Taylor for the triple murder. He seemed
very indifferent during the entire trial, except when he saw his daughter.
He blamed her for his trouble, and would have nothing to do with her.
At sight of her he flew into a terrible rage, and when she visited him in
the jail he would curse her.
   The case was given to the jury at 2:40 o'clock in the afternoon of Feb-
ruary 22nd, and at 3 o'clock the jury brought in a verdict of first degree
murder, after having taken only one ballot. He was sentenced imme-
diately by Judge Taylor.
   Ribarick had committed a murder in Austria. It seems that a Gypsy
woman was at his home telling fortunes. She told Mrs. Ribarick that
her husband was not true to her, and in a rage Ribarick struck her on the
head with a club, killing her instantly. He served eighteen months in
prison and then came to America.
   Ribarick was hanged in the Washington County jail by Sheriff Rob-
ert G. Lutton, on June 11, 1912, in the presence of a small number of
people. He refused to see his daughter to the last, even before he went
on the scaffold. Just before the execution the rites of the Catholic church
were carried out by the Rev. Father A. Rudnicki, of Pittsburgh.
   The murder of Cecelia Funka, an eighteen-year-old German girl, near
Manifold, on Saturday, August 3, 1912, is another mystery that has never
been cleared, and probably never will be. About 10:30 o'clock that morn-
ing she left the home of her father, August Funka, at Manifold, and
started for Washington to exchange a wrapper for her mother at Cald-


398





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


well's store. She had also intended to go to the house of some friend in
town. When nothing was heard from her that afternoon her parents
became worried, and when they learned that she had not reached Wash-
ington they started to search for her. The father hunted until 1 o'clock
Sunday morning, but found no trace of her, and he returned home.
   He started out again at 4 o'clock that morning, followed by the girl's
pet dog. He tramped over a wide area, and about 10:30 o'clock that
morning on top of the hill between Manifold and Washington he was at-
tracted by the actions of the dog. The animal scented something in a
clump of bushes, and upon investigation the father found the body of
his daughter, covered with grass and brush. The only marks on the girl
showed that she had been choked to death, but her clothing was almost
torn from her body, and there was every indication that she had made a
desperate struggle for her honor.
   The alarm was given immediately, and Sheriff Robert G. Lutton led a
large posse in a search of the entire county, but no trace of the murderer
was ever found. Two Russians and two Englishmen were arrested, but
there was no evidence against them, and they were released.
   George Green, who lived within sight of the spot where the murder
was committed, had taken a very active part in the search, stimulated by
the reward of $1,000 offered by the county commissioners, and suspicion
finally pointed to him. He seemed anxious to figure in the case, and had
volunteered much information to the officials. Green was arrested on
August 8th, charged with the murder, but the evidence against him was
slight, and the investigation of the county officers brought out very little
real information.
   He was placed on trial before Judge J. A. McIlvaine on November 20,
1912, and all of the evidence was completed at 5 o'clock the next afternoon.
In order to complete the case, the court held a night session, and the case
was given to the jury at 8:35 o'clock. A verdict of not guilty was re-
turned at 9:22 that same night. Green immediately went back to his
home, and tried to secure employment at Manifold, where he had worked
previous to the murder, but he was ostracized by everyone, and he soon
disappeared, no one knew where. Although no additional evidence has
ever been discovered since then, there are many who still believe that
Green was guilty of the murder.
   During the past few years Washington and other counties in Western
Pennsylvania have been under a reign of lawlessness and murder that was
not surpassed by any other section of the country. This has been due to
the Blackhand, an organization which lives off tribute levied upon Ital-
ians, who are under the threat of death from this dreaded organization.
Its members are expert gunmen, who seem to know no fear when they are
ordered to kill some of their countrymen who have refused to pay tribute.
For a period of years murders were committed in Washington County at
the rate of more than twenty-five a year, and many of these were traced to
the Blackhand. The power of the Blackhand in this county seems to have
been broken, however, since the execution of Marcantonio Daniele and
Angelo Fragassa on December 10, 1923, for a murder at Canonsburg on
May 29, 1922. Since then there has not been one murder in the county
traced to this organization.


399





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    One of the boldest murders ever committed in Washington County was
 the shooting in broad daylight of Joseph Dameano on the streets of Wash-
 ington on December 13, 1915. Dameano was alleged to have been the
 leader of the Blackhand in Washington. According to the best informa-
 tion, there had been a split in the membership of the local Blackhand,
 and it is alleged that the members of the one faction were after Dameano.
    About 10 o'clock in the morning of December 13th, Dameano walked
 out of an Italian barber shop in West Chestnut Street. As he appeared in
 the door, Frank Caruso, who had been watching on the opposite side of
 the street, walked across and stopped him. They stood for several min-
 utes talking in front of the shop, when suddenly Caruso drew a revolver
 and fired. Dameano fell to the pavement, mortally wounded, but Caruso
 wanted to make sure of his work, for he stood over the prostrate body of
 his victim and sent five more bullets into his body; and thereby he lost
 his one chance of escape. When he turned to flee he was overpowered by
 George Clutter, a former officer, and several others who had witnessed
 the shooting.
    Two days after this murder, the body of a young Italian named Zaccac-
 nini Rodolfo, was found in a ditch in a field near the Italian section of
 the Eighth Ward, Washington. Besides a bullet hole in his breast, there
 were two knife wounds through the heart, and the head had been hacked
 and beaten until the features were badly disfigured. The murderers of
 this man were never apprehended, but it is believed to have been a Black-
 hand affair, and thought to have been connected with the killing of
 Dameano.
    Frank Caruso was tried before Judge Robert W. Irwin, and when on
the stand in his own defense, the Italian declared that Dameano had been
the Blackhand king of Washington and that all Italians had had to pay
him tribute. Caruso declared that Dameano had frequently threatened
his life because he refused to pay, and he gave this as his only excuse
for the shooting, claiming that he believed his life to be in danger. The
jury brought in a verdict of second degree murder, and Caruso was sen-
tenced to the Western penitentiary for a term of from twelve to twenty
years.
   However, officers working on the case told a different story. They
claimed that the Blackhand king of Western Pennsylvania lived in Pitts-
burgh. Dameano was a local leader, but for some reason it was believed
at the time that the king had ordered his death and had sent Caruso to
Washington to carry out the death sentence.
   The Blackhand was more active in Canonsburg than in any other sec-
tion of the county. During 1917, the bodies of ten Italians were found in
the country surrounding that town, but only five were ever identified.
All of these murders are still shrouded in mystery. All of the victims
were strangers in that locality, and it is believed that they were lured
from a distance, after being marked for death. In all cases papers and
marks on the clothing that might lead to identification had been removed.
No trace of the murderers was ever discovered.
   One victim was finally identified through a tailor's tag on the inside of
the coat, as Salvatore Sasso, of Joliet, Illinois. His body was found in


400





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the hills near Canonsburg on September 23, 1917, but his slayers were
never discovered.
    About 10 o'clock on the night of March 2, 1918, Gaziano Francisco
was shot down in an alley within sight of several persons. He had been
seen to go into the alley with three strangers, and a few minutes later sev-
eral shots were heard. He had attempted to draw his revolver, but his
assailants had shot him through his gun hand and then through the heart.
His murderers were never apprehended.
    These murders continued until the Italian population of East Canons-
burg lived under a reign of terror. None knew when his turn would come,
and business among them was almost at a standstill. The credit for break-
ing up the Blackhand is largely due to the daring work of Thomas Reese,
Bert M. Laird, William B. Dinsmore, and David W Creigh, of the county
detective force.
    On the night of May 29, 1922, Gabriele Fiore was shot and killed in
his room in East Canonsburg, and Thomas Reese, of Canonsburg, then a
clerk in the district attorney's office, was notified. Calling officers to his
assistance he began an investigation which resulted in the arrest of
Marcantonio Daniele, his son, John, and a young Italian barber named An-
gelo Fragassa. The fight to convict these men was long and bitter. County
Detectives Bert M. Laird and John Weiner worked up a strong case in
defiance of many threats received from mysterious sources. Attempts
were made to intimidate valuable witnesses, but a guard was placed over
their homes, both night and day. Threats were made against the life of
Thomas Reese and the other two detectives, but they worked on in spite
of this with a grim courage that brought about final victory and peace to
the Italians in East Canonsburg. Threats were even made against De-
tectives William B. Dinsmore and David W. Creigh, for the part they
played, although they were not appointed until after the conviction of
Daniele and Fragassa.
   Angelo Fragassa was placed on trial before Judge Erwin Cummins on
November 20, 1922, and forty-three jurors were examined before the
twelve were finally selected. The case for the commonwealth was con-
ducted by District Attorney Howard W. Hughes and Assistant District
Attorney Warren S. Burchinal, while Attorneys Alex M. Templeton and
R. Kirk Wrenshall represented the defense.
   There was no direct testimony against the defendant, but the circum-
stantial evidence was very strong. For this reason Fragassa not only
surprised the commonwealth, but his own lawyers as well, when he ad-
mitted on the witness stand that he fired the shot that killed Gabriele
Fiore, claiming self-defense. He said that he went to the Jacobi house
where Fiore roomed and was talking to the latter at a window, Fragassa
standing on the porch and Fiore on the inside. He claimed that during
the conversation Fiore grabbed him by the throat. Believing that his
life was in danger he drew his revolver and fired. He then told of leaving
the house through the window, but he was unable to explain under cross-
examination how he got into the house. Under rigid cross-examination
by Assistant District Attorney Burchinal he became badly mixed and
almost broke down.
   The case was given to the jury at 2:55 o'clock in the afternoon of No-
       26-V1


401































                        PART 1.

              PIONEER DAYS OF LONG AGO.

THE INDIAN WARS OF THE WESTERN BORDER IN WHICH SETTLERS AND
   SOLDIERS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY WERE ENGAGED-THIS IS AN
   HISTORICAL RECORD OF WILD ADVENTURES, HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES,
   HEROIC DEFENSES BY THE WHITES AND HORRIBLE MURDERS BY THE
   RED WARRIORS.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


vember 24, and an agreement was reached at 2:30 o'clock the next morn-
ing. A verdict of first degree murder was brought in at 10:30 o'clock in
the morning of November 25th.
    Marcantonio Daniele was charged by the commonwealth with being
the man who, as leader of the Canonsburg Blackhand, had ordered Fra-
gassa to kill Fiore. It was alleged that he had accompanied him to the
house and had helped him through the window. His case was taken up
before Judge Cummins at 2:55 o'clock in the afternoon of November 24th,
immediately after the Fragassa case had been given to the jury. More
care was taken in the selection of this jury, and it was 3:05 o'clock the
next afternoon before the twelve had been agreed upon and after sixty-
two had been examined. As in the former case, Hughes and Burchinal
represented the commonwealth, and Templeton and Wrenshall, the de-
fendant.
   During both trials large numbers of Italians swarmed into the court
room. District Attorney Hughes informed the court that these men he
believed to be Blackhanders, and he asked that all except witnesses and
Americans be excluded from the court room, and the blinds on the doors
pulled down, as he was afraid their very presence would intimidate com-
monwealth witnesses. This was done by order of the court.
   Two of the commonwealth's witnesses were prisoners from the West-
ern Penitentiary: Jim Piscrelli, serving a long term for burglary, and
Alfonso Polifrone, serving from twelve to forty years for pandering. The
latter was from Canonsburg, and had been sent from this county. Both
men were known to be members of the Blackhand, and they agreed to
tell what they knew of that organization. They had been kept separated
in the penitentiary, and after being brought to the Washington jail were
not allowed to communicate. Neither was allowed in the court room when
the other testified, and thus there was no way of the one knowing what
the other said. Yet their stories of the initiation ceremony of the or-
ganization agreed exactly.
   This was probably the first time in any court room in the United
States that the secrets of the Blackhand were laid bare. Jim Piscrelli
had joined the society in Italy eighteen years before. He said that this
is a society to rob and kill if necessary to secure money, and the leaders
have the power of life and death over its members. They must obey the
leader without question.
   In a graphic manner he described the initiation ceremony and the oath.
Using five penholders, representing five stilettos, he placed them on a
white cloth in the form of a star with the points meeting at the center.
This he covered with a red handkerchief which represents the blood of
the dead members. When a new member is sworn in, the leader lifts the
red handkerchief and picks up one of the stilettos. The candidate picks
up another, and three members pick up the other three. Holding them
aloft with the five points touching, the candidate swears that he will de-
fend the society with his life and be the worst enemy of the law; that he
will obey the chief absolutely in all things without question and not think
of his own life. The witness then stated that the death penalty will be
inflicted on any member who reveals the secrets of the society.
   One of the men present when Jim Piscrelli was initiated in Italy was


402




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Marcantonio Daniele. Seven years later Piscrelli came to America, and
at the Blackhand headquarters in Pittsburgh he again met Daniele. He
declared that there are Blackhand societies in Washington, Canonsburg,
Pittsburgh and other towns in Western Pennsylvania. He attended meet-
ings in Canonsburg, where he declared that Daniele was the leader, and
he was present when Fragassa was initiated.
    Piscrelli's testimony was corroborated in every detail by Polifrone,
although the latter had not heard the former's story.
    The Daniele case was given to the jury at 4 o'clock in the afternoon
of November 29th, and at 8:25 o'clock that evening a verdict of first
degree murder was brought in.
   Appeals to the Supreme Court were taken in both cases, but that
tribunal upheld the verdict of the lower court. The cases were then placed
before the Board of Pardons, but it refused to interfere, and Governor
Pinchot set the date for the execution. The prisoners were taken to the
State Penitentiary at Rockview for execution in the electric chair, but on
the night before, Governor Pinchot granted a stay of execution to allow
the cases to come before the Board of Pardons again, as it was claimed
that more evidence had been discovered. However, at the hearing nothing
new developed, and the board again refused to interfere.
   Daniele and Fragassa were executed behind the gray prison walls of
Rockview early in the morning of December 10, 1923, in the presence of
only the jury and the necessary officials of the penitentiary. Fragassa
was placed in the chair first. He gave no trouble of any kind, and died
quickly; but when Daniele was brought out of his cell he fought the
attendants, and was placed in the chair only after a struggle; and he died
with a curse on his lips.
   In 1924 both Piscrelli and Polifrone were released under parole. The
former returned to Indiana, Pennsylvania, where he had lived just before
his conviction, and within a few days paid the penalty of his betrayal of
the Blackhand oath with his life. His murderers were never apprehended.
Polifrone has disappeared, no one knows where.
   Shortly after noon on April 6, 1916, the news was telephoned from
Houston over Western Pennsylvania that two bandits had held up the
First National Bank of that place, and escaped in an automobile. Then
the man hunt was on, but no trace of the bandits was found. J. K.
McNutt, the cashier, had just returned from dinner shortly after 12
o'clock, and walked into the bank, accompanied by Mrs. Erwin Cummins.
Two men were busy writing at the desk, and no attention was paid to
them, as it was supposed they were there on business. After receiving a
deposit from Thomas Hudson, a butcher, Mr. McNutt transacted some
business for Mrs. Cummins, who departed.
   The cashier was busy over the counter making out a deposit slip when
he was told not to move or he would be a dead man. He paid no attention
until the command was repeated, when he looked up into the barrel of a
revolver in the hands of one of the men who had stood at the desk. One
of the men went behind the cage, and Mr. McNutt was ordered to lie
down on the floor. The men then gathered up all of the money in sight,
amounting to $16,646.95 in silver, gold and bank notes, which they placed
in a sack, and then departed. Just a few seconds after they went out of


403




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the bank an automobile was heard, and Mr. McNutt believed they had
escaped in a machine.
   The search was taken up by the W. J. Burns Detective Agency in Pitts-
burgh, and about a week after the robbery Thomas Talbot was arrested
at his home near Russellton. This man had formerly lived near Arden,
and it was afterwards learned that he had served a term in the Colorado
State Penitentiary for robbery. The detectives learned that on the Satur-
day following the Houston bank robbery he had purchased a farm near
Russellton, paying $1,800 in cash, in addition to buying a quantity of
lumber and making other cash purchases amounting to several hundred
dollars.
   When his home was searched $1,005 were found concealed about the
house, and $600 in a Mason fruit jar buried in the filth of an outhouse.
Among the bank notes found were a number of new $10 bills, which had
never been in circulation. These were afterwards identified by Cashier
McNutt through their serial numbers, as they had just been received from
the United States Treasury. James Dillon, a companion of Talbot, was
suspected, but he had disappeared. Talbot tried to place the blame upon
him, stating that Dillon, who had been at his home, had concealed the
money.
   Dillon was known to have a sister living in Montreal, and her home
was watched, with the result that he was captured shortly afterwards and
brought to Washington County. It was then learned by the detectives
that the robbers, instead of escaping in an automobile, had stepped into
the hallway beside the bank entrance, changed their hats, concealed the
money in a basket by covering it with eggs, and had then gone out of the
side entrance to the building and down the street to the Pennsylvania
Railroad. Walking up the railroad to McGovern, they had gone to the
home of Dillon's wife. From there Talbot had gone on board an electric
car to Fittsburgh and then to Russellton.
   Now comes the strangest part of this whole affair. After Dillon was
suspected, the officers secured a photograph, which was published in a
Pittsburgh newspaper. This eventually found its way to the office of the
penitentiary at Canon City, Colorado, where he was immediately recog-
nized as a trusty who had escaped over a year before. As soon as he
was arrested the Colorado authorities claimed him, and he was returned
to the penitentiary to complete a sentence for murder.
    On December 11, 1902, Dillon had killed a gambler who had fleeced his
 (Dillon's) partner, in a gambling hall in Conejos County, Colorado. His
 partner was tried in connection with the killing, but Dillon cleared him of
 all blame, and received a life sentence. He was a model prisoner, and
 was placed on the prison farm in charge of the hogs. The superintendent
 of schools of Canon City became interested in him, and succeeded in hav-
 ing his sentence commuted to twenty-five years. For good behavior he
 was given one-third off.
    The school superintendent wished to go into the cattle business in
Arizona, and agreed to make Dillon his foreman as soon as he was released
from prison which would be in a few months. One day in November, 1914,
Dillon was in Canon City with one of the guards, when he met the super-
intendent and talked for some time over their plans for the ranch in Ari-


404





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


zona. That night he made his escape from the state farm and no trace
of him was found until his picture appeared in the newspaper at the
prison office.
    Talbot was placed on trial before Judge J. A. McIlvaine on May 25,
1916, and on May 29th, he was found guilty. On June 1st, Judge McIl-
vaine sentenced him to the Western Penitentiary for a term of from
eight to twelve years.
   On the night of December 21, 1919, the private bank of Jess P. Miller,
at Beallsville, was entered by burglars. The combination was burned out
of the vault door with an acetylene torch, and a quantity of bonds and
negotiable securities were taken. The exact amount was never made
public, but it was reported at the time to have been in the neighborhood
of $5,000. It was thought that they were frightened away before they
completed their work, as some valuables were overlooked.
   No trace of the bandits was ever found, but it was believed that the
same gang that broke into the Fredericktown post office on May 25, 1920,
and also robbed the First National Bank at Finleyville on the same date,
had something to do with the Miller robbery. Most of the bonds and
securities were found later by a hunter near St. Clairsville, Ohio. They
were in a metal box lying in a ravine. The robbery of the First National
Bank of Finleyville, on May 24, 1920, when a total of $188,906.75 was
secured in cash, bonds and stocks, was one of the largest bank holdups
that ever took place in Western Pennsylvania. The cashier, J. H. Boyer,
left the bank at 12:10 o'clock to go to dinner, and the only person in the
bank was John H. Jones, the assistant cashier.
   About 12:30 o'clock, as Mr. Jones was working at the desk, four men
entered the bank, three with drawn revolvers, and ordered him to unlock
the door leading back of the counter. They then forced him to unlock
the boxes containing the cash, bonds and securities, after which they
bound him hand and foot and laid him on the floor. After securing the
loot one of the bandits struck Jones a blow over the right temple with his
revolver, and the four walked calmly out of the bank, jumped in a waiting
automobile in which a fifth bandit was at the wheel, and they sped away.
   John J. Zwick walked up the steps just as the four came out, and when
he saw them carrying a bag he suspected a holdup. Running into the bank
he called to Jones, but when he received no answer he ran out and called
to a colored man across the street that the bank had been robbed. He
then returned, and when he called for Jones again received a faint reply.
Hastening back of the counter he found the assistant cashier lying in a
pool of blood. Jones was not seriously injured.
   Word of the holdup was telephoned to all sections, and armed parties
of officers scoured the country in all directions, but no trace of the bandits
was found. It was learned later that they had escaped to Pittsburgh over
the road through McMurray. They ran into a ditch near McMurray, and
Martin Viastel, who later identified John Hogan as the driver of the car,
helped pull them out of the ditch.
   On the night of May 25, 1920, the post office at Fredericktown was
robbed of $140 in cash and $300 in stamps. John Hogan was arrested at
Elco on May 30th in connection with this robbery, but was turned over to


405





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the Washington County authorities when he was identified as the driver
of the bandits' car.
    In addition to securing $15,328.24 in cash the robbers took $29,100 in
Victory and Liberty bonds, and other negotiable stocks and bonds amount-
ing to $144,478.41. Some time later two men known as the Davis Broth-
ers presented $64,000 in bonds at a broker's office at Detroit for sale. Se-
lecting such bonds as he could use, the broker told them to return the
next day. In the meantime the broker from his list of stolen bonds
learned that a number of these presented had been taken from the Finley-
ville bank and a bank at Hayes station, Allegheny County. When the
brothers appeared the next day they were arrested.
   County Detective Bert M. Laird was sent to Michigan to bring them
back, but they fought the extradition, and were released on $20,000 bond.
They demanded a hearing before the governor, and when the latter signed
the extradition they took an appeal to the Michigan supreme court. Detec-
tive Laird returned with $37,000 in bonds that had been taken from the
Finleyville bank, but from that day to this nothing has ever been heard
of the appeal, and the Davis Brothers are still at large.
   John Hogan was placed on trial before Judge J. A. McIlvaine on No-
vember 23, 1920, defended by Attorney John N. Piatt, of Pittsburgh, and
Attorney A. G. Braden of Washington. The prosecution was conducted
by District Attorney Erwin Cummins and Assistant District Attorney
Warren S. Burchinal. Hogan tried to prove an alibi, but he was identi-
fied by witnesses as the driver of the bandits' car, and was convicted on
November 24th, after the jury had taken only one ballot.
   In 1916, John Hogan was convicted of the robbery of the Pennsylvania
railroad station at Midway, this county, and was sentenced to ten years
in the penitentiary. He had been paroled after serving three years. On
November 29, 1920, Judge McIlvaine sentenced him to the Western peni-
tentiary for a term of from eighteen to twenty years for the Finleyville
robbery, in addition to which he must serve the remainder of his former
sentence, making a total of twenty-five years.






                         CHAPTER LXVII.

                             1781-1845.
              SLAVERY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.

SLAVES BROUGHT TO WASHINGTON COUNTY BY THE HOGES AND OTHER
   SETTLERS-ACT OF 1780 ABOLISHING SLAVERY-SPECIAL ACTS FOR
   WASHINGTON     AND   WESTMORELAND      COUNTIES-REGISTRY     OF
   SLAVES AND SERVANTS-STATISTICS OF SLAVES FROM 1790 TO 1840-
   SLAVERY DEEDS ON RECORD IN THE RECORDER'S OFFICE.
   That slaves were once owned by the people of Washington County is
a well known fact today, but the extent of the business in this section is
not generally known. The first slaves were brought into the province of


406





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Pennsylvania in April, 1681, when William Penn received his charter; and
ninety-nine years later an act was passed by the general assembly for the
gradual abolition of slavery in this state.
    The Virginia settlers who came to this county prior to 1780, when this
 region was claimed by Virginia, evidently introduced slavery; for a regis-
 try list of slaves owned in the county in 1782 shows that many of the
 people living here at that time were slave owners. The list of negro and
 mulatto children in bondage in the county from 1788 to 1820, gives the
 names of many prominent people as holding slaves. Some of them were
 David Bradford, Washington; Zephaniah Beall, Bethlehem; Benjamin
 Parkinson, Nottingham; Neal Gillespie, Nottingham; Thomas Scott, Wash-
 ington; Abraham Fry, Fallowfield; Rev. John Brice, Nottingham; Joseph
 Bentley, Nottingham; Sheshbazzar Bentley, Somerset; James Gillespie,
 Hopewell; Andrew Swearingen, Washington; John Dodd, Washington;
 James Ross, Washington; James McFarlane, Fallowfield; James Edgar,
 Smith; Adam Wickerham, Jr., Nottingham; Charles Valentine, Washing-
 ton; Absalom Baird, Washington; James Hughes, Strabane; Alexander
 Sweeney, Peters; James Kerr, Strabane; Hugh Wilson, Washington; John
 Simonson, Washington; John Hoge, Canton; Daniel Moore, Washington;
 Alexander Reed, Washington; Thomas Smith, Cross Creek; Joseph Pente-
 cost, Washington; Thomas Smith, Washington; Mary McCamant, Wash-
 ington; Thomas McGiffin, Washington; John McDonald, Robinson; Eliza-
 beth Cunningham, Washington; John Krepps, East Bethlehem; Thomas
 Cherry, Mount Pleasant; William Hoge, Canton; Isabella Hoge, Washing-
 ton; Rev. Thomas Hoge, Washington; John Neal, Washington; John
 Mitchell, Smith; Thomas Brice, Washington, and many others. The
 majority of these owned only one or two at the time the registry was
 made.
    That the Hoges were slave owners is a well known fact, and there is
 a tradition that the many log cabins in what is now the third ward of
 Washington, embracing North Lincoln and East Walnut streets were
 built by slaves of John and William Hoge. According to this ancient tra-
 dition the Hoges gave a lot to each slave who would erect a cabin; and
 that is the reason that section of the town has been from the beginning
 of the town the negro section.
   On March 1, 1780, the general assembly passed an act for the gradual
abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania. This law was so worded that it
would not work a hardship on slave owners by suddenly depriving them
of their property, but it was to be accomplished gradually over a period
of years. It provided that no negro or mulatto child who should be born
within the state after the passage of the act should be deemed or consid-
ered as servants for life, and that all slavery of children by reason of the
slavery of their mothers should be and was utterly taken away, extin-
guished and abolished. The act provided further that every negro and
mulatto child born within the state after the passage of the act, who
would in case the act had not been passed, have been born a slave, should
be deemed to be a servant until the age of twenty-eight years, to be held
as servants bound by indentures are holden, and to like freedom, dues,
and other privileges.
   All slave owners had to register on or before November 1, 1780, with


407





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the clerk of the peace of his county, giving the ages of their slaves. The
owners of unregistered slaves were liable for their support to the over-
seers of the poor. Slaves were to be tried the same as free people, but no
slave could testify against a freeman. When sentence of death was pro-
nounced upon a slave his value was to be determined by the jury and paid
by the state to the owner.
   This act of 1780 passed in Pennsylvania was the first in any state for
the gradual emancipation of slavery. A slave born prior to the passage
of the act continued in slavery for life, if registered, but the children of
slave mothers remained in servitude for twenty-eight years after which
they were to be free.
   On account of the boundary dispute between Pennsylvania and Vir-
ginia, together with the fact that the definite line between Washington
County and Virginia was not established until 1785, it was necessary to
pass a special act for the benefit of both Washington and Westmoreland
counties. On April 13, 1782, the general assembly passed an act which
provided that all of the inhabitants of these two counties who had taken
the oath of allegiance and fidelity to Pennsylvania, and who on September
23, 1780, were "possessed of negro or mulatto slaves or servants until the
age of thirty-one years, to register such slaves or servants agreeable to
the directions of the acts aforesaid for the gradual abolition of slavery
on or before the 1st day of January next," meaning January 1, 1783.
   Another act for the gradual abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania, passed
March 29, 1788, provided that slaves brought into this state by persons
intending to reside here were deemed to be free; slaves for a term of years
were not to be removed out of the state without their consent; persons
possessed of children liable to service for twenty-eight years were required
to make entry thereof on or before April 1, 1789, or within six months
next after the birth of the child.
   The old slave registry of Washington County, made under the act of
March 1, 1780, and the amendment of April 13, 1782, applying to this sec-
tion, was on file for many years in the courthouse, but it has long since
disappeared, probably taken by some curio hunter. It was a small manu-
script book, yellow with the age of many years, but fortunately it was
accessible to the late Boyd Crumrine, when he wrote his History of Wash-
ington County in 1882, and thus we have its contents preserved. The first
entry from this interesting book follows:
                                               Washington County.
   List of Negroes Registered pursuant to the late act of assembly for
Redress of Certain Grievances in the Counties of Westmoreland and
Washington.
   October 1st, 1782.
   William Fry of Peters Township, miller.
   One man named Jame, aged 25 years.
   One wench named Nell, aged 20 years.
   One wench named Sarah, aged 14 years.
   All of the entries in this registry were made between October 1st and
December 31, 1782. The number of slave owners in Washington County
at that time was one hundred fifty-five, and the number of slaves was four
hundred forty-three.


408





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   It is interesting to note that James Edgar, one of the judges of the
county courts, was a slave owner, as shown by the following entry: "James
Edgar, gentn., of Smiths township. One woman named Press, Aged 21
years. One woman named Hannah, Aged 5 years."        He subsequently
granted freedom to Hannah as will appear later.
   Immediately after the registration of slaves under the act of 1780 and
the amendment of 1782, is a registry of the slaves made under the act of
March 29, 1788, which applied to the children liable to servitude for twenty-
eight years, who had to be registered on or before April 1, 1789. The first
entry was by David Bradford, made July 22, 1788, and follows:
   The following is a list of Negro and Mulatto children Recorded agree-
able to the Act of assembly intituled an Act to explain and amend an Act
intituled an act for the gradual abolition of Slavery, passed at Philadel-
phia on Saturday the twenty-ninth day of March in the year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight.
                                                  July 22nd, 1788.
   David Bradford of Strabane Township in the County of Washington
Attorney at Law hereby makes application to Thos. Scott, Esquire, Clerk
of the Peace of the County of Washington aforesaid, that he enter upon
Record agreeably to an Act of assembly a female mulatto child born since
the 1st March, 1780, named Hester, alias Het, aged two years.
   Given under my hand the date aforesaid.        David Bradford.
Oath made according to law
        before me the date above.
                       Thomas Scott.
   A total of two hundred thirty-two entries are contained in this list,
covering a long period of years, beginning in 1788 and extending through
1820, although one was made in 1845. The number of entries each year
during this period follows: 1788, five owners with five slaves; 1789,
twenty-nine owners and forty-eight slaves; 1790, eight owners and eight
slaves; 1791, seven owners and eight slaves; 1792, nine owners and nine
slaves; 1793, seventeen owners and seventeen slaves; 1794, eight owners
and eight slaves; 1795, twelve owners and twelve slaves; 1796, five owners
and five slaves; 1797, seven owners and seven slaves; 1798, six owners and
six slaves; 1799, eight owners and eight slaves; 1800, six owners and six
slaves; 1801, eight owners and eight slaves; 1802, three owners and three
slaves; 1803, four owners and four slaves; 1804, four owners and four
slaves; 1805, eleven owners and eleven slaves; 1806, three owners and
three slaves; 1807, eight owners and eight slaves; 1808, two owners and
two slaves; 1809, five owners and five slaves; 1810, seven owners and seven
slaves; 1811, two owners and two slaves; 1812, one owner and two slaves;
1813, four owners and four slaves; 1814, two owners and two slaves; 1815,
five owners and five slaves; 1816, one owner and one slave; 1817, four
owners and four slaves; 1818, three owners and three slaves; 1819, two
owners and two slaves; 1820, four owners and four slaves.
   This gives a total of two hundred ten owners and two hundred thirty-
one slaves, during a period of thirty-three years from 1788 to 1820, inclu-
sive. No entries appear from 1820 until 1845, in which year there was one.
This slave, which was the last of which we have any record in Washing-


409





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ton County, was registered and held in bondage less than sixteen years
before Fort Sumter was fired upon; and strange to say her master was a
minister. This entry follows:
    James A. D. Henderson, of Morris township, Cumberland Presbyterian
 Minister, enters of record, a female mulatto child named Harriet, born
 of the body of Margaret, of Marion County, Kentucky, in the year A. D.
 1836, on the 9th day of September, 1845.
                                  Cognovit, September 9, 1845.
                                           A. G. Marshman, Clerk.
    Probably the most extensive slave owner of that time was Col. George
 Morgan of Morganza. Although we find no record of his slaves, it is known
 that he had several. The old graveyard where the slaves are buried is still
 pointed out by old residents on a hill a short distance from the ruins of the
 mansion house. All of the headstones have long since been carried away,
 and the slaves on what was once the largest private estate, or plantation
 as it was called, west of the mountains, sleep in unmarked graves, await-
 ing the resurrection morn. The place is now part of a pasture.
   As late as 1873 there was living in Canonsburg an aged negro named
Elias Praul, who had been brought from Delaware as a slave by Thomas
Morgan, Colonel Morgan's youngest son.
   In 1840 there was living in Cross Creek Township a female slave over
forty-five years of age, and another in Cecil Township, both of whom were
held in slavery at that time. The late James Simpson, historian of Cross
Creek Township, informed Boyd Crumrine that this slave in Cross Creek
in 1840 was Hannah Kelly, the grandmother of Charles C. Kelly, who, in
1882, was a candidate for the office of jury commissioner in Washington
County. She was brought from Africa when about three years old, sold
in Virginia from the ship, and afterwards bought by John Elliott, a mer-
chant in Pittsburgh. At his death she was sold by his administrators to
John Gardner, of Cross Creek, who died September 10, 1821. The old
slave woman remained with the family until after the death of Mrs. Gard-
ner on October 1, 1853. Hannah Kelly, herself, died on January 31, 1863,
from burns received on the first of that month. She was believed to have
been about one hundred ten years old at the time of her death; but of
course this was uncertain, and would probably vary several years. The
fact that she remained with the Gardner family until 1853, or afterwards,
makes her probably the last slave held in Washington County; and this
was just eight years before the outbreak of the Civil war.
   Some interesting statistics with reference to slavery in Washington
County, and western Pennsylvania were compiled in 1882 by Boyd Crum-
rine for his History of Washington County. This table follows:
1782, total number of slaves in Washington County  .             443
1790, total number of slaves in Washington County                263
1800, total number of slaves in Washington County                 84
1810, total number of slaves in Washington County                 36
1820, in Amwell Township, both females and over 45_.__     ... 2
1820, in Cross Creek Township, both females and over 45        2
1820, in Smith Township, a female and over 45                  1   5
1820, in Allegheny County, total ..                    _           1
1820, in Westmoreland County, total    ..                          5


410





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1820, in Fayette County, total                                   41
1820, in Beaver County, total                                     5
1820, in Greene County, total  -- --  --- -----.... .. . . ...  7
1820, in Western District of Pennsylvania, total ------ .------- 81
1820, in Eastern District of Pennyslvania, total         ----- 130
1820, free negroes in Washington County          ..742
1830, in Cross Creek Township, a female slave and over 45         1
1830, in Western District of Pennsylvania, total   --.---.----- 182
1830, in Eastern District of Pennsylvania, total             -  221
1830, free negroes in Washington County, total         . 855
1840, in Cross Creek Township, a female slave and over 45         1
1840, in Cecil Township, a female slave and over 45  .        -   1
1840, in Western District of Pennsylvania, total  -------31
1.840, in Eastern District of Pennsylvania                       33
1.840, free negroes in Washington County, total                1113
1845, in Morris Township, a female slave and aged 9               1
   In The Western Telegraphe and Washington Advertiser for May 23,
1797, the following interesting advertisement appears:

                        TEN DOLLARS REWARD.
   "RAN AWAY from the Subscriber on Saturday morning the 13th inst.,
A NEGRO WENCH named HAGAR, about five feet high, thick set, had on a
lindsey bed gown of blue and red, and a stuff petticoat of a brown colour
and much worn, and a wool hat much worn. The above Reward will be
given to any person for securing her in any jail, or delivering her to her
master, near Budd's Ferry, Westmoreland County.
                                       "John Richey, Coppersmith.
   "May 17th, 1797.
   "All persons are cautioned against harbouring of her, and all Ferrys
from putting her across."
   By a deed dated April 24, 1809, on record in the Washington County
recorder's office, volume 1, book U, page 613, John Cook and wife, of
Smith Township, conveyed to "Hagar, a black woman, of the same place,"
twenty acres of land in Smith Township, in consideration of $100.
   In the old cemetery at Cross Creek village is the grave of "Old Hagar,"
a negro woman, once the slave of William Campbell, but who was freed
by him in 1801. She died on May 11, 1854, supposed to be about one hun-
dred five years of age. Whether she was the same Hagar who had escaped
from her master in Westmoreland County is not known, but she was evi-
dently the same who purchased the land mentioned above.
   Among the deeds on record in the Washington County recorder's office
are a number by which masters gave freedom to their slaves. These show
that even at that early date the seeds of abolition were taking root. Among
these old documents are appraisements of estates in which negro slaves
are listed.
   In Deed Book 1, volume E, we find in the inventory and appraisement
of the estate of Jonathan Reed, deceased, made by Benjamin Davis, Sam-
uel Burns, John Wright, and Dorsey Pentecost, on December 18, 1777,
under an order from the court of Yohogania County, the following:


411






HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


        1 Negro Man named Pompy                 250 pounds
        1 Negro Boy named Frank                 200 pounds
        1 Negro Garle named Such                150 pounds
   The inventory and appraisement of the estate of Edward Griffith,
deceased, from Deed Book 1, volume E, page 10, dated May 19, 1778, made
by John Smith, Nathaniel Brown and Henry Daniel, by order of the
Yohogania County court, shows the following:
        A Negro Woman named Sall                 88 pounds
        A Negro Garle named Esther               64 pounds
        A Negro Garle named Siddis               54 pounds
        A Negro Boy named Harry                  54 pounds
   In Deed Book 1, volume E, page 51, appears the inventory and appraise-
ment of the estate of Batts Colloier, deceased, made December 11, 1780,
by Nathaniel Brown, John Shanon, and Nathaniel Blackmore, by order
of the Yohogania County court. It contains the following slaves:
   One Negro Girl named Sarah about thirteen years of age, 2,250
pounds.
   One Negro Man named David, about sixty years of age, 1,200 pounds.
   On April 30, 1780, we find that the estate of Alexander McCandless sold
a negro girl for sixty pounds.
   The first certificate of freedom we have been able to find for a slave
in Washington County appears in Deed Book 1, volume E, dated June
25, 1.789. It follows:
                "Certificate of Negro Yara's Freedom.
                            "Pennsylvania, Washington County Sst.
   "To all to whom it may concern, we, John Hoge and Absalom Baird
Esquires, two of the Justices of the peace in and for the said County, do
Certify that the bearer hereof a Negro man. named Yara is free and as
such may be employed by any person. Given under our hands and Seals
the 25th day of June, A. D. 1789.
                                            "J. W. Hoge,
                                            "A. Baird."
   As far as can be learned from the deeds on record in the recorder's
office, Neill Gillespie, an ancestor of James G. Blaine, was the first man in
Washington County to grant freedom to a slave. This deed, dated Sep-
tember 17, 1792, is found in Deed Book 1, volume I, page 535. It follows:

                EMANCIPATION FROM SLAVERY.
                  NEILL GILLESPIE TO NEGRO HARRY.
   Be it remembered that I, Neal Gillespie of Washington County, Penn-
sylvania, for divers good causes and considerations have of my own free
and voluntary will and accord emancipated and do hereby set free my
Negro man Slave named Harry and I do hereby declare to all men that
he the said Harry is and shall be a free man to all intents and purposes
henceforth from me and my heirs forever. Given under my hand and
seal this seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thous-
and seven hundred and ninety-two. Neal Gillaspie (S. L.) Tests, James
Lang, Patl. Turnan.
   On June 3rd, 1795, Reason Pumphrey sold the following slaves: Lot,


412





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


aged eighteen, for seventy pounds; Ben, aged fourteen, for one hundred
pounds; Dinah, aged ten years, for seventy-five pounds.
   On March 20th, 1795, John Moore liberated two slaves named Abra-
ham and Jonas.
   On January 6th, 1796, James Edgar, of Smith Township, one of the
judges of the county courts, whose name appears in the registry list of
slaves, granted freedom to a negro woman named Hannah. This deed,
which appears in Deed Book 1, volume L, page 703, follows:

                 "EDGAR TO NEGRO WENCH, HANNAH.

   "Know all men by these presents that whereas I, James Edgar, of
Smiths Township and County of Washington and State of Pennsylvania,
being on the twenty-sixth day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty-two in the Township and County
aforesaid possessed of a Negro Girl held as a slave and thereof of the age
of five years did register the said Girl being of the name of Hannah on
the said day and so described in the ofice of the Clerk of Sessions of the
said County according to the Act of Assembly of Pennsylvania for the
Gradual abolition of slavery, whereby the said Negro Girl Hannah re-
mained a slave to the said James Edgar and whereas I am under a serious
conviction that involuntary servitude beyond a just compensation for
maintenance and education is incompatible with a sense of duty to God
and my fellow creatures, I the said James Edgar do hereby release and
forever quit Claim to the said Hannah all my right or claim, or all right
and claim which any may derive under me to the time of service of the
said Hannah and after she shall have arrived at the age of twenty-seven
years and do hereby declare that the said Negro woman Hannah as soon as
she shall arrive at the age of twenty-seven years and thereafter remain
entirely free. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal
this sixth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and ninety-six.
                                            "Jas. Edgar (Seal)."
   The inventory of the estate of Jacob Jones, deceased, dated November
28, 1785, which appears in Deed Book 1, volume B, page 279, shows the
following slaves:
        "One Negro man Named Nage                100 pounds
        One Negro girl Named Jane               . 60 pounds"
   The manner in which slaves were bequeathed by will is shown by the
will of Jacob Johnson, found in Will Book 1, page 1, dated August 16,
1780, and recorded August 16, 1781. This was the first will probated in
Washington County after its erection. Extracts from it with reference
to slavery follow:
   "I give and bequeath unto my wife, Mary Johnson, for and during the
term of her natural life the Plantation whereon I now live together with
all such tools, farming utensils, stock, provisions & household goods as
shall be in my possession at my death, and the use service and possession
of a negro woman slave named Suke, and a negro girl named Hanes,
which last my will and desire is that she at her demise leave to such of
my Children as she in her discretion shall think proper.


413





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   "Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Nicholas Johnson a Negro
Boy named Bood.
   "Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Esther Johnson, at
her mother's demise the before named Negro woman slave named Suke
with her future increase after her said mother's death.
   "Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Pearce, a
Negro Girl named Zilph with her future increase.
   "Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Eleanor Dacker, the
first Child male or Female of the above named Suke should she hereafter
have any.
   "Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Mary Jacobs, the sec-
ond child which the said negro woman Suke shall hereafter have male
or female.
   "Whereas it may so happen that the said Negro woman Suke may not
have any children hereafter, my will and desire in that case is that
whereas John Buchanan stands indebted to me on bond in the sum of one
hundred pounds, Old Tenor, the said hundred pounds shall be appropri-
ated and apply'd to the purchase of two Negro girls for the use of the
said Eleanor Dekar and Mary Jacobs.
   "Item. My will and desire is that should there be at the demise of my
wife more Negroes than one apiece for my said children, such negro or
Negroes so over or the value thereof be also equally divided among my
five children."
   That slaves could be bequeathed by will as late as 1828 is shown by
the will of Colonel Gabriel Bleakeney, a Revolutionary soldier, and one
of the early residents of Washington. On his death bed, however, the
colonel changed his mind and gave his slave mentioned in his will her
freedom, as shown by affidavits. This will is dated September 10, 1824,
and probated January 5, 1828. At the time of his death Colonel Bleakeney
was a farmer in Amwell Township. He was the first postmaster of Wash-
ington, being appointed by President Washington on April 1, 1795, and
serving until January 1, 1799. Extracts from the will referring to this
slave follow:
   "Item. I give and bequeath to Mrs. Hoge, widow of my late friend
John Hoge Esquire decd. my Negro slave Betsy."
   At the end of the will is an affidavit made by John K. Wilson to the
effect that Colonel Bleakeney requested him to change this part of his
will as he wished to liberate this slave in payment for her kindness to him.
   In 1813 a slave was sold in Washington County, or at least offered
for sale, as shown by the following advertisement which appeared in The
Reporter on March 8, 1813:
   "For Sale: A negro boy who has thirteen years to serve; he is stout
and healthy. Apply at the Office of The Reporter."
   Again on March 28, 1814, we find the following advertisement in The
Reporter:
              "AN INDENTED NEGRO BOY AND GIRL FOR SALE.

   "The Boy has 17 and the Girl 12 years to serve. They are both active
and well disposed-Enquire at this office."


414





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   As late as 1818 a negro girl was offered for sale in The Reporter
for December 7th, that year:
   "FOR SALE. A Negro Girl, Eight years old, & ten to serve. Enquire
of the Editor."
   The following advertisement from The Reporter, Monday, February 28,
1814, is of interest in connection with the old slavery days in Washington
County:
                            "CAUTION.
   "All persons are cautioned against harboring my negro girl Anne, as
her negro-man, Thos. Faris, has made a practice of taking and concealing
her. I am determined to put the law in force against him, or any person
who will harbor her without a pass from me. She has a child about five
months old.
                                              "JOHN COOPER.
   "Fallowfield Township, Washington Co., January 10, 1814."




                       CHAPTER LXVIII.

                            1824-1861.
                THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
THE FIRST ABOLITIONISTS-WESTERN ABOLITION SOCIETY-CENTER-
   VILLE ABOLITION SOCIETY-WEST MIDDLETOWN ABOLITION SOCIETY-
   ABOLITION SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON AND FAYETTE COUNTIES-
   WESTERN ANTI-SLAVERY CONVENTION-WASHINGTON ANTI-SLAV-
   ERY SOCIETY-ANTI-SLAVERY MEETING AT WEST MIDDLETOWN-DR.
   FRANCIS J. LeMOYNE-THE ABOLITION PARTY-JOHN BROWN ESTAB-
   LISHES THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY THROUGH WASHINGTON
   COUNTY-ESCAPING SLAVES-THE McKEEVERS, WEST MIDDLETOWN
   --OLD NAYLOR-TAR ADAMS.
   The first abolition movement in Washington County is traced back
to 1824 when slaves were still held here; and although slavery was fast
becoming extinct here, the sentiment of a majority of the people at that
time and for several years later was in favor or rather sympathy with
the system. Those early abolitionists must have had an uphill fight, for
they seem to have been given little support; but the seeds which later
developed into the Underground Railway that aided many a slave on the
road to freedom, were sown in those early years. About all we know
of those first years of the movement in this county is contained in an
occasional notice published in The Examiner and The Reporter, and for
the most part we will have to confine ourselves to them.
   The first mention found of the abolition movement is in the following
notice which appeared in The Examiner and The Reporter early in Janu-
ary, 1824;
                         "TO THE PUBLIC.
   "The citizens of Washington County and its vicinity favorable to the
formation of a Society for the Abolition of Slavery, and for endeavoring


415





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


to ameliorate the condition of the African Race, are requested to meet at
the Court House in the borough of Washington, on the fourth Monday of
January, 1824, being the first day of the court, at 6 o'clock P. M.
                                                  "Philanthropist.
   "N. B. An address will be delivered by the Rev. A. Wylie explanatory
of the object of the meeting."
   At this meeting, which was held on January 26, 1824, the Western
Abolition Society was organized with fifty members. The Rev. Obadiah
Jennings presided at this gathering, and the Rev. J. Graham acted as
secretary. A constitution was adopted after the address by the Rev. A.
Wylie, and Freeman Brady, James Burgin, John Vance, John McCoy,
William Lindley, William McGinn, John Cleaver, Samuel England, Walter
Maxwell, Andrew Sutton, Thomas McKeever, Thomas McCall, Dr. Jona-
than Leatherman, John Reed, Ephriam Estep, Joseph Kerr, and Joseph
Stevenson were appointed as a committee to secure additional members.
   Nothing else is known of this society except a notice that appeared in
The Examiner on December 23, 1826, which shows that it was still in
existence at that time. This notice follows:

                     "WESTERN ABOLITION SOCIETY.
   "THE members of this society who are in arrears, are requested to
pay the Treasurer the amount due without delay. It is hoped that every
member will be punctual in making payment, as the society have con-
tracted debts which must be satisfied.
   "By order of the society.                "S. Workman, Treas."

   Another anti-slavery organization known as the Centreville Abolition
Society, existed in the county in 1826, but very little is known of it.
From the name it is safe to say that it was located at Centerville, on the
National pike, eighteen miles east of Washington. All that we know of
it appears in the following taken from The Examiner for January 13,
1827:
                              "SLAVERY.
   "The following preamble and resolution were unanimously agreed to
and Jehu Lewis & Isaac Cleaver were appointed to present them to the
editors of the Reporter, Examiner, American Observer, and Genius of
Universal Emancipation for publication, viz:
   "Whereas the system of slavery has proven to be an evil of immense
magnitude; threatening at no very distant period to subvert our free
institutions; to involve our country in the horrors of insurrection, and
perhaps, prove the overthrow of our otherwise happy government; and
seeing it is acknowledged by the humane part of our citizens in the slave-
holding, as well as the non-slaveholding states, to be contrary to humanity,
justice and sound policy-and in opposition to the purity of the religion
we profess. And as even slaveholders frequently express a wish for the
evil to be removed. Therefore,
   "Resolved, That in the opinion of this society, it is the duty of every
friend to our country, to unite in proper measures for the abolition of so
criminal, so disgraceful, and so dangerous an evil.


416







































   Mrs. Martha Taylor Brownlee, widow
of Joseph Brownlee, of Washington. While
a girl living on her father's farm near
Iberia, Ohio, Mrs. Brownlee saw Eliza and
her son, Harry, of "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
fame, when they stopped at her father's
house on their way to Canada over the
"Underground Railway."    Mrs. Brownlee
has died since this was taken.


    Historic West Middletown. This was one of the stations on the "Underground
Railroad" before the Civil War. When the war broke out many of the young men
of the village joined the Union army. The large building in the center was the McClure
threshing machine factory, where the first combined thresher and separator in the
United States was made after the patent of Andrew Ralston.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    "Resolved, That we would approve of Congress laying off a district in
 the southern part of our territory, where it is not otherwise disposed of
 for such persons of color as are opposed to emigrating to Hayti or Liberia.
    "Resolved, That we would highly approve of Congress appropriating
 one million of dollars annually, with such additional sum as may hereafter
 be found necessary, for the removal of colored persons from any state,
 or states in this Union; provided the legislature of such state, or states,
 enact laws for the gradual but entire abolition of slavery within their
 respective limits.
    "Extracted from the minutes of the Centreville Abolition Society, held
 December 16th, 1826.
                                    "Lewis Morris, Pres't pro. tem.
    "Jos. Mill, Secretary."
    That an abolition society was in existence in West Middletown in 1827
 is shown by a notice that appeared in The Examiner on May 26, 1827.
 This town was a hotbed of abolitionists in the years that followed, and
 was the center of the Underground Railway activities in this county. The
 notice referred to follows:
                          "ABOLITION SOCIETY.
    "The Annual Meeting of the West Middletown Auxiliary Abolition So-
ciety will be held in the borough of West Middletown, on Saturday the 2d
of June next at 1 o'clock P. M. As the election of officers for the ensuing
year, and other important business will be attended to on that day, it is
hoped that members will be punctual in their attendance.
    "By order of the standing committee.
                                              "J. M'Fadden, R. S."
    Another anti-slavery organization, known as the Abolition Society of
Washington and Fayette Counties, was also in existence at this same time
as is shown by the following notice that appeared in the same issue of
The Examiner:
    "The Annual Convention of the Abolition Society of Washington and
Fayette Counties will be held at the Baptist Meeting House in Washing-
ton, on Tuesday, June 15th, at 11 o'clock A. M., at which time an
address will be delivered by Charles Wheeler."
   Another notice of interest in this connection appeared in The Exam-
iner, May 1, 1830:
                               "NOTICE.
   "The Western Anti-Slavery Convention will hold an annual meeting
in the Methodist meeting house, in Brownsville, on the Fourth Tuesday
in May next, at 11 o'clock A. M. It is expected that a Discourse will be
delivered on the occasion by the Rev. John Waterman.
                                                  "A. Conrad, Sec."
   Whether this was the Western Anti-Slavery Society that existed in
Washington in 1834 is not known, as no other notices of its meetings
have been found.
   A notice of a meeting for the formation of an anti-slavery society in
Washington appeared in The Examiner on July 12, 1834, but nothing
further is known of the movement. This notice follows:


418





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    "All persons favorable to the formation of an Anti-Slavery Society in
 this place are invited to attend the meeting to be held at the Court House,
 on Tuesday evening the 15th inst. at 8 P. M. for that purpose. (Signed)
 R. F. Biddle, Patterson Scott, Robert Latimer, Alex Sweney, James McCoy,
 F. Julius LeMoyne, George K. Scott, John S. Brady, Wm. Hamilton,
 Richard Curran, Z. Eddy, John Carey, D. Blair, W. L. Lafferty, J. Harper."
    The Washington Anti-Slavery Society was organized July 4th, 1834,
 and Joseph Henderson elected president. Nothing more was done until
 July 4, 1835, when at a meeting in the Methodist Episcopal Church the
 following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Dr. F. J. LeMoyne,
 president; Dr. J. Templeton, vice president; Samuel McFarland, secretary;
 George K. Scott, treasurer; Rev. William Kenney, Patterson Scott, Samuel
 Hazlett, James Reed, Robert Latimore, and Samuel Mount, managers. At
 a meeting held in August, 1835, an address was delivered by Dr. F. Julius
 LeMoyne, Dr. Joseph Templeton, and Alexander Sweeney. This was pub-
 lished in Our Country on August 13th, and occupied five columns.
    This society became very active, and violent opposition was aroused in
 Washington, which resulted in public meetings being held and resolutions
 being passed denouncing the abolition movement and those in favor of
 it. This resulted in an attempt to suppress free speech in Washington
 so far as anti-slavery was concerned, and resulted in open violence in
 June, 1836, when the Rev. Samuel Gould, a traveling minister speaking
 against slavery, delivered an address in Washington.
    This meeting was held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, now
occupied as a garage by H. L. Robinson, in West Wheeling Street. The
abolitionists were warned that the Rev. Mr. Gould would not be allowed
to speak. Dr. LeMoyne was determined that free speech should not be
interfered with, and he secured the support of several stalwart friends,
who, though not in favor of anti-slavery, were in favor of free speech.
They took their places in front of the pulpit.
    A mob gathered on the outside, and just after the speaker started a
young man walked up the aisle with a paper in his hand. He was stopped
by Dr. LeMoyne, who demanded to know his errand. The intruder replied
that the speaker must stop, saying that the paper was a notice to that
effect, and when he insisted upon delivering it, Dr. LeMoyne informed
him that he could not do so. When he insisted and the doctor told him
that he must first pass over him, he turned and walked out, followed by
the jeers of the audience.
   The mob then attacked the building, bombarding it with stones, sticks
and eggs, many of which went through the windows. No one was injured,
and the speaker continued with his address, amid great uproar. After the
lecture the friends of the speaker and those in favor of free speech formed
a hollow square with the Rev. Mr. Gould in the center, and started from
the building. The mob surged around them, and it looked for a time as
if serious trouble would result. In a rush the mob broke the square. Then
someone opened a door leading into the Bryson building from Wheeling
Street, and Mr. Gould was thrust in with a number of his friends. They
came out of the building on Main Street. From there they went down to
Dr. LeMoyne's home in Maiden Street, which is still standing, one of the
most historic buildings in the county. The mob remained on the outside


419





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


for some time and then dispersed. Dr. LeMoyne had several of those
engaged in the attack arrested, but the matter was finally fixed up.
   The action of this mob resulted in a public meeting being held by the
leading citizens of the town. John R. Griffith, burgess, presided, and
Hon. Thomas H. Baird and Thomas McGiffin made speeches. That the
sentiments of the people of Washington were opposed to the abolition
movement is shown by the following resolutions drawn at that meeting
by Thomas H. Baird, Thomas McGiffin, and John G. Brady, all among
the leading men of the town ninety years ago:
    "Whereas, The late violence and irregular consequences which have
resulted from the attempt of certain abolition agents in intruding their
opinions upon the public in this place are calculated to alarm our citizens
for the peace and order of our community and the supremacy of the law,
and whereas it is necessary to vindicate our society from injurious imputa-
tions in relation to the past, and also to provide means of prevention for
the future, therefore
   "Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting it is unwise and highly
inexpedient to intrude upon the people of this county and particularly of
this borough, by public addresses the peculiar and offensive doctrines
maintained and urged by the agents of the Abolition Society.
   "Resolved, That any further movement of the kind will be received
with disapprobation as calculated to disturb the peace of our society with-
out presenting the least hope of probable or even possible good.
   "Resolved, That this meeting express the most decided reprobation of
all tumultuous and disorderly acts in endeavoring to prevent the abolition
movements that are evidently so offensive to the great mass of our
population."
   It is doubtful if there was ever another community in all the North
that was as truly abolition or more radical in its sentiments against slav-
ery than West Middletown. It is no wonder that old John Brown went
there nearly twenty years later and made it one of the important stations
on his Underground Railway. Even in 1836 the people were opposed to
slavery almost to a man, and the resolutions passed by Washington on
June 24th was even worse than a red rag in the face of a bull. On
June 27th, the people of West Middletown held an indignation meeting,
Thomas McCall presiding and James McFadden secretary. On motion
of Thomas McKeever, afterwards the personal friend of John Brown and
one of the abolition leaders in this county, a committee composed of
Thomas McCall, John C. Hanna, Dr. John Ramsey, Colonel D. McGugin,
and James Thompson, was appointed to draft resolutions and report at
the next meeting.
   This meeting was held the next day and resolutions were passed con-
demning not only the action of the mob at Washington, but the resolutions
passed at the subsequent meeting there.
   Not daunted in the least by the action of the mob or the resolutions
passed by the citizens of Washington, the Washington Anti-Slavery So-
ciety held its annual meeting in July, 1836, at the house of Dr. F. J.
LeMoyne, which is still standing in East Maiden Street, at which the
Rev. Samuel Gould again made an address. The resolutions of the West


420





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Middletown meeting were read and adopted and other resolutions were
passed, one of which follows:
   "Resolved, That because slavery is an outrage upon humanity, dis-
graceful and dangerous to the country, and diametrically opposed to the
letter and spirit of the Bible, every philanthropist and patriot and Chris-
tian is called upon to aid in its extermination."
   Before the meeting adjourned the following officers were elected by
the society for the ensuing year: Dr. F. J. LeMoyne, president; Samuel
McFarland, corresponding secretary; William Cornwall, recording secre-
tary; George K. Scott, treasurer; Col. Daniel McGugin, Henry Enlow,
Alexander Sweeney, Joseph K. McDowell, Col. John McCoy, Dr. John
White, Samuel Hazlett, Stephen Parcell, Rev. Alexander Donnan, Thomas
J. Odenbaugh, Samuel Vance, and Dr. Stephen Smith, managers; James
Reed, Thomas McKeever, Alexander Gordon, Samuel Mount, and Robert
Latimore, executive committee.
   Whether The Reporter and Examiner were opposed to the abolition
movement is not known, but neither paper contains much in regard to the
anti-slavery movement in this county. However, another newspaper, Our
Country, published at that time, contains a full account of this meeting,
and from it this information is secured.
   The abolitionists had expected trouble at this meeting, but they bravely
held it in Dr. LeMoyne's yard, but they were prepared for trouble. A
dozen men who were in favor of free speech were armed with hickory
clubs, and were determined to stop any interference. Of course there
were many opponents of the anti-slavery movement present, but they evi-
dently respected those clubs in the hands of determined men.
   Luther Day read the Declaration of Independence, and in the midst
of his reading a man in the crowd, a leader of the opposition who could
neither read or write, believed that abolition doctrines were being read,
cried out, "Stop that; we don't want to hear any more of that d-d stuff."
Instead of having the effect the man desired, this remark brought forth
loud bursts of mirth.
   The people of Williamsport, now Monongahela city, were as strongly
opposed to the anti-slavery movement as was Washington. This is shown
by the treatment received by the Rev. Mr. Gould when he went there on
July 15, 1836. After an abolition meeting he went to the house of a citizen
to spend the night, when a mob surrounded the place because of his
presence there. At a meeting held by the people of the town the next
next day, great indignation was expressed at this action. Although Mr.
Gould's views were not held by many, they believed in the doctrine of
free speech.
   Now we will go back two years to West Middletown in 1834, when an
anti-slavery meeting was held on October 11th, and another was held on
the 20th. The following account of both meetings is taken from The
Examiner, November 8, 1834:
                      "ANTI-SLAVERY MEETING.
             "Held at West Middletown, October 20, 1834.
   "On the evening of the 11th inst. after prayer by Mr. James Sloan,
Mr. James Loughead, agent of the American Anti-Slavery Society, deliv-


421












CHAPTER I.


                            1700-1769.

                   THE FIRST INHABITANTS.
DELAWARES AND SHAWNESE-THE OLD CATAWBA WAR TRAIL--MASON
   AND DIXON LINE-THE MINGO PATH-TINGOOCQUA           (CATFISH)-
   GREAT COUNCIL OF 1759-TINGOOCQUA'S SPEECH-KUSKUSKEE-
   TINGOOCQUA SETTLES ON WISSAMAKING (CATFISH) CREEK-"THE
   GRAVE OF CATFISH"-FIRST WHITE SETTLERS AT CATFISH CAMP
   (WASHINGTON)-NEMACOLIN-BALD EAGLE-INDIAN MOUNDS NEAR
   McDONALD-MOUNDS IN MONONGAHELA VALLEY-CAMP SITE NEAR
   HILL CHURCH-INDIAN FORT AT ZOLLARSVILLE-MOUNDS AT MARI-
   ANNA AND CANDOR-THE PICTURE ROCKS-FOOTPRINTS OF PREHIS-
   TORIC MAN DISCOVERED IN WASHINGTON IN 1925.

               Ye say no lover wooes his maid,
                 No warrior leads his band;
               All in forgotten graves are laid,
                 E'en great chiefs of the clan;
               That where their council fires were lit
                 The shepherd tends his flocks,
               But their names are on your mountains
                 And survive the earthquake's shock.
                                      -Norman B. Wood.

   When the first white men came to what is now Washington County
they found the land in possession of the Delaware and Shawnese Indians,
with a few small bands from other tribes scattered here and there. This
section was the northern limit of that great hardwood forest which
extended down through West Virginia and Kentucky to the South. Wild
animals abounded in great numbers, and this was the hunting ground of
many tribes; but the Iroquois dominated the entire region, and their
consent was necessary before any others dared to come within its borders.
A violation of this law of the powerful Six Nations meant war.
   Several Indian trails crossed the county, the most important of which
was the old Catawba or Cherokee War Trail, which was traveled by war
parties from the north and south. Its history dates back many centuries;
for it was used long before the white man came, by war parties from the
northern and southern tribes in making raids against each others' villages.
   The importance in which this trail was held by the Iroquois is shown
by an incident which occurred when Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon,
the first white men to reach it in this section, were running the now
famous Mason and Dixon line. In the fall of 1767 when these surveyors
reached their second crossing of Dunkard Creek, a little west of the
present Village of Mount Morris, in what is now Greene County (origi-
nally Washington County), they were stopped at a war trail by their
Indian escort.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ered a lengthy address in the Methodist church, of this place, on the above
subject. At the close of which, he proposed hearing and answering any
objections that might or would be offered against his scheme.
   "Mr. Thomas M'Call arose and made a brief and pithy address, in
which he agreed in part with the gentleman (Mr. Loughead), but stated
several objections and urged a plea in favor of colonization, or rather
to abolish and then colonize. To which Mr. L. proposed to reply, provided
the audience did not think it too late, being then 10 o'clock. It was then
(in consequence of being Saturday night and quite late) moved, That the
meeting adjourn until Monday the 20th inst. at 2 o'clock P. M.

                    "Monday, 20th October, 1834.
   "Pursuant to adjournment, a meeting was held in the Methodist church
at this place, for the purpose of hearing the principles of the Abolition
or Anti-Slavery Society presented and defended-and also to hear any
objections that might be offered against the same.-On motion of Mr.
M'Call, James Thompson was appointed chairman, and James M'Fadden,
secretary. Whereupon,
   "Dr. F. J. LeMoyne presented and defended the principles of the Anti-
Slavery Society at considerable length, to which Mr. M'Call replied and
urged the Colonization scheme as far preferable to that of the Abolition-
ists; still maintaining that he would rejoice to see the two societies acting
in concert and aiding each other.
   "Dr. LeMoyne then rejoined by answering objections; and showed that
the colonization plan had fell far short of accomplishing the design pro-
posed by its founders.
   "On motion the meeting adjourned three-quarters of an hour.
   "Seven o'clock met again, And on motion
   "Resolved, That each speaker shall have the privilege of speaking only
20 minutes each time he takes the floor.
   "Mr. G. M. Hall then proceeded and spoke 20 minutes in favor of
Colonization and warmly against Abolition.-To which Mr. James Sloan
replied in an animated speech occupying 20 minutes. After which Dr.
LeMoyne and Mr. M'Call spoke twice, each one occupying the floor his
full length of time.
   "It was then on motion
   "Resolved, That the Chairman appoint a Committee of five persons to
draught a Constitution and appoint a meeting for the purpose of forming
an Anti-Slavery Society in this place, (West Middletown).
   "The chairman then appointed Col. Daniel M'Gugin, Thomas M'Keever,
Esq., Dr. A. C. Hamilton, John Boyd, and William Sharp, that committee.
   "On motion of Mr. M'Keever, Esq.
   "Resolved, That the Chairman and Secretary of this meeting be added
to the above committee.
   "Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the
Chairman and Secretary, and published in the Washington Reporter and
The Examiner.
   "The utmost harmony and good feeling having prevailed, the meeting
adjourned with prayer by Mr. James Sloan.
"James M'Fadden, Secretary.         "James Thompson, Chairman."


422




































    Home of Thomas McKeever, West Middletown. Thomas McKeever was a prom-
inent abolitionist and personal friend of John Brown. The latter was a frequent visitor
at West Middletown and was entertained in this house.


    Barn of Thomas McKeever. Mr. McKeever's home at West Middletown was a
famous station on the "Underground Railroad." In this old barn he concealed the
escaping slaves.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    That those early abolitionists had the courage of their convictions is
 shown by the heroic work they did in establishing the Underground Rail-
 way and in aiding escaping slaves on the road to freedom. In no part of
 Washington County were there more abolitionists than at West Middle-
 town, the home of the McKeevers, and the center of Underground activi-
 ties in this section.
    One of the first abolitionists in western Washington County was Wil-
liam McKeever, of West Middletown, father of Thomas and Matthew
McKeever, who will be spoken of later. One day in 1830 several slave
owners passed through West Middletown with a number of slaves chained
together. They were weary and footsore. As they were passing his
house, William McKeever was aroused by the sight, and when the owners
flogged and cursed the slaves for lagging behind, his wrath knew no
bounds and he denounced the slave drivers. They paid no attention to him
at first, but when he followed them out of the village, heaping a steady
stream of invectives, interspersed with Bible quotations, they turned and
told him that it would be safer for him to return to town. The old aboli-
tionist tore open his shirt and dared them to shoot him through the heart,
declaring that this was all that would stop him. They dared not harm
him and were forced to listen to him for some distance farther. Reared
in such an atmosphere, it is little wonder that his sons, Thomas and
William, were such strong abolitionists.
   It was to West Middletown that old John Brown went in the fifties
to lay out one of his routes for the famous Underground Railway. He
had already met Matthew McKeever in a business way, and it was through
the latter's influence that the great abolitionist came to Washington
County. And during the years prior to the raid at Harper's Ferry, John
Brown was a frequent visitor and guest at the McKeever home. He always
went to "buy sheep," but in reality to aid in the work of the Underground.
   The first station on the Underground north of the Mason and Dixon
line was Crowe's Mills on the line between Virginia and Greene County.
From there the route went to the home of Isaac Teagarden, on Wheeling
Creek; then to the farm of Joseph Gray, near Graysville, in northern
Greene County, where the escaping slaves were concealed in a wooded
ravine. This was in view of the public road, and a number of persons not
in sympathy with the movement lived near by, but so well was the secret
hiding place guarded that it was never discovered.
   It was three hours' journey from Gray's farm to the next station,
which was at Kenneth McCoy's farm at West Alexander. When this
place became known to the slave hunters, the station was changed to the
Bell farm near by. The late Thomas Sutherland, who died in Washington
at an advanced age, once informed the writer that the old two-story frame
house at the foot of the Coon Island hill, on the National pike, west of
Claysville, was another station, used at different times.
   It was twelve miles from West Alexander to West Middletown, which
was probably the most noted station in Pennsylvania. There were several
hiding places in the town and vicinity. In fact the homes of almost every-
one there were open to escaping slaves, but the most noted were those of
Thomas and William McKeever, both of which are still standing.
   When slaves were brought in in the dead of night, they were generally


424




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


delivered to one or the other of the McKeevers who concealed them until
they could be sent on to the next station or to the "Penitentiary" woods,
a famous hiding place. At the foot of the hill below the Thomas McKeever
homestead was an old frame barn, now in a dilapidated state in which
many slaves were concealed, while the attic of William McKeever's resi-
dence in the town was used as another hiding place. A secret cellar under
this same house concealed many a negro until his master passed on to
some other section. A trap door in the kitchen floor, covered with a rag
carpet, was the only entrance to this cellar, where as many as a dozen
might lie undiscovered. In the stone chimney of another house was a
small room in which one or two men might hide. Even the old United
Presbyterian Church was used on several occasions as a hiding place
for slaves.
   Joseph A. Gray, who died in Washington on January 8, 1906, was the
owner of Gray's farm, near Graysville, which was one of the stations
already mentioned. In later years Mr. Gray often related how he hauled
slaves from his farm to the McCoy place at West Alexander. The negroes
were concealed in wagons under grain, hay and in some cases with pigs.
Although the journeys were made at night, this method of concealment
was necessary to keep the fugitives from the prying eyes of anyone they
might meet on the road, for the conductor never knew who was friend
and foe.
   The "Penitentiary" woods covered a hill about a mile from West Mid-
dletown on the Washington road. Apparently the trees were unbroken
over a large area; but in the center of this woods was a clearing where
a cabin had been erected, and in this clearing were fields under cultivation,
worked by escaping slaves hiding there when the pursuit made it danger-
ous to conduct them farther for a time. Sometimes these slaves remained
through the harvest season, helping on the farms of their benefactors.
Then they were conducted to the next station, which was in Beaver County.
   Engaged in this work on the Underground were a number of free
negroes who gave great aid to members of their race on the road to
Canada. One of these was Tar Adams, who lived in Washington many
long years before the Civil war. Even before the Underground was
established he aided negroes to escape, in which connection he has been
mentioned in the account of the murder of Robert Carlyle in 1828. He
was a wonderful runner, but he often went around on crutches as a blind
to slave hunters. The story is told that on one occasion he was standing
in a blacksmith shop in West Chestnut Street, leaning on his crutches,
when he saw some slave hunters ride past with the sheriff. Some slaves
were concealed at West Middletown at that time, and Tar Adams immedi-
ately dropped his crutches, and sped over the hills to that place, where he
gave the warning.
   After the slave hunters had ridden past the shop, the sheriff informed
them that it was useless to proceed farther as the old darky leaning on
the crutches would reach West Middletown before they could. The South-
erners laughed at him, but when they reached their destination they found
that the slaves had escaped.
   In Wheeling was another negro known as "Old" Naylor, or "Free"
Naylor, from the fact that he was free. He devoted his life to helping


425




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


slaves on their way to freedom. He had many hiding places in Wheeling,
where he kept the negro until he could arrange to have him transported
to West Middletown. After the war he went to West Middletown, but he
was absolutely without means. However, his friends in that section
donated land, labor, lumber and they erected a house for him, where he
spent the remainder of his days.
    "Peachy" Herron, a negro of West Middletown, joined a colony and
went to Liberia, where he remained several years. However, he became
disgusted with the evils and abuses that arose, and he returned to America.
He and his wife died at sea, and a child died in New York, all of a strange
malady. It was rumored at the time that they had been poisoned to
prevent their exposure of the corruption in the negro republic.
   Ermine Cain, janitor of the old courthouse forty-five years ago, was
another negro who aided many a slave over the Underground. At that
time he was located in Waynesburg. Samuel W. Dorsey, a colored barber
of Washington, was another who devoted his life before the war to the
cause of members of his race.
   Mrs. Martha Taylor Brownlee, who died in Washington several years
ago at an advanced age, told the writer of her experience with Eliza and
her son, Harry, of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" fame. Mrs. Brownlee's father,
James Taylor, lived on a farm, near Iberia, Ohio. He was an abolitionist
and his place was a station on the Underground through Ohio. Eliza and
her son were brought to her father's house one night and remained several
days. When they left the boy was given one of Mrs. Brownlee's dresses
to help conceal him. Both were taken to Cleveland by Mr. Taylor and
escaped to Canada.
   All of the Taylor family was familiar with the story of how Eliza had
escaped from Kentucky by crossing the Ohio River on the ice with the
slave hunters at her heels, and when "Uncle Tom's Cabin" appeared some
time later they at once recognized the incident.
   Of special interest in connection with the Underground activities in
Washington County is a letter written many years later by Matthew
McKeever, which was in possession of Mrs. Phoebe Stewart, of Washing-
ton, his niece. This letter follows:
   "Dear Sir:-You wish to know something of my experience with the
'Underground Railroad.' I was a director of that road for 40 years. The
kind of cars we used was a good spring wagon, with a chicken coop in each
end and the darkies in the middle, with a good cover over them. The
highest number of slaves I ever shipped at once was eight. They came to
our house about daybreak one morning before any of us were up, except
a colored man, John Jordan. He took them and hid them in the sheep
loft and kept them there four weeks and although we had a family of
eighteen or twenty, not one of them knew they were there, not even my
wife.
   "They were fed all that time out of our spring house and kitchen by
John Jordan. There was never anything missed, only the hired girl told
Mrs. McKeever somebody was stealing the bread.
   "That was the first time we ever kept any of them and our reason


426




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


this time was because we supposed their masters were watching the
Canada shore, which happened to be true, but they got tired waiting.
   "The next lot was one which was brought from Wheeling, Virginia, to
Bethany, Brooke County, Virginia, to Joseph Bryant, my brother-in-law,
who lived there. He was a great Abolitionist.
   "At that time my son, Campbell, was going to school there, and Bryant
sent the slaves up to my house with William Arney and Campbell, and
I shipped them to Pittsburg. The fellow who brought them to Bryant's
turned states evidence and told their masters of Bryant having fed them
and of sending them away. The masters got the sheriff on Bryant and
took him to Wheeling. Bryant refused to give bail and they put him in
jail in Wheeling.
   "He was in jail there for fifteen days and in the meantime they
offered $500 to anyone who would bring my body 'dead or alive' into
Wheeling. But I did not venture down about that time.
   "They kept the fellow who brought the slaves to Bryant's for a witness,
and when court came off, the judge decided that they could not punish
an accomplice while the principal was at large, and Bryant was sent home.
I had experience in other similar cases. My brother, Tommy, shipped a
good many. I think as near as I can recollect the number I shipped was
about thirty-five or forty.
   "I was acquainted with a great many slaves and their masters, and I
never advised a slave to run away from his master, but when they came
to me I helped them all I could."
   Probably the most noted abolitionist in Pennsylvania in his day and
one of the leaders of this movement in the entire United States, was
Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne of Washington, who has already been mentioned.
In his day he was one of the town's leading citizens. In 1841, the Aboli-
tion party became active in Washington County, with Dr. LeMoyne as
its acknowledged leader and a candidate for governor. He received
eighty-five votes in this county, but in 1843 he received four hundred ten
votes when he ran for congress on this same ticket.
   In 1843 the abolitionists had a full county ticket in the field. For
assembly Thomas McKeever, of Hopewell Township, received 285 votes;
Maj. Samuel McFarland, of Washington, 267 votes. For sheriff, John
McCoy, of West Finley Township, received 206 votes; for treasurer, Abner
Clark, of Amwell Township, 255 votes; for county commissioner, Samuel
Andrews, of Morris Township, 250 votes.
   Dr. LeMoyne was again the candidate for governor in 1844, and
Thomas McKeever ran for congress. In 1848, John Clark was the candi-
date for congress, and Russell Errett, the editor of The Patriot, the
abolition paper, was a candidate for state senate. Mr. Errett afterwards
went to Pittsburgh, and became editor of the Pittsburgh Gazette, and in
1876, 1878 and 1880 he was elected to congress on the republican ticket.
Dr. E. Bemis, of West Middletown, and Francis Fitzwilliams, of Washing-
ton, were the candidates for assembly.
   For some unknown reason the abolition party did not appear in local
politics until 1855, when, under the name of the liberty party, William
H. McNary and John Reed were candidates for assembly.
   At the convention of the liberty party, which was in reality the aboli-


427





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


tion party, held at Albany, New York, on April 1, 1840, James G. Birney,
of New York, was nominated for President of the United States, and
Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne of Washington, for vice president. This shows
the standing of Dr. LeMoyne among the abolitionists of the nation at
that time. At the national election that year, the liberty party candidates
received 7,059 votes. William Henry Harrison, the whig candidate,
received 1,275,017, and Martin Van Buren, the democrat, 1,128,762. In
the three years Dr. LeMoyne ran for governor of Pennsylvania on the
abolition ticket he received the following vote: In 1841, 763 votes; in
1844, 2,566 votes, and in 1847, 1,861 votes.






                         CHAPTER LXIX.

                           1794-1925.

                    INTERESTING EVENTS.

THE BURNERS OF 1794-BIG SNOW OF 1799-BIG SNOW OF 1886-BIG SNOW
   OF NOVEMBER, 1913-EARLY SNOW IN OCTOBER, 1925-COLDEST DAY
   OF 1810-ICE IN AUGUST, 1817-COLD WEATHER RECORDS IN 1899-
   COLD WEATHER RECORDS IN 1912-WEATHER RECORDS KEPT AT
   PUMP STATION OF CITIZENS WATER COMPANY SINCE 1916-BIG
   STORM OF APRIL 21, 1925-BIG FROST OF JUNE 4, 1859-NATURAL
   PHENOMENON IN 1801-COMET OBSERVED IN 1821-COMET OBSERVED
   IN 1824-HALLEY'S COMET OBSERVED IN MAY, 1910-EARTHQUAKE
   SHOCK IN 1828-REPORTED EARTHQUAKE SHOCK IN 1885-FORTY-
   NINERS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY GO TO CALIFORNIA-THE KLON-
   DYKE RUSH-REPORTED DISCOVERY OF GOLD NEAR COAL CENTER
   IN 1885-MAMMOTH BONES FOUND IN FINLEY AND AMWELL TOWN-
   SHIPS-HYDROPHOBIA AMONG WOLVES-JOSEPH G. CHAMBERS' RE-
   PEATING RIFLE-OTHER INVENTIONS-ROBERT FULTON'S LAND IN
   WASHINGTON COUNTY-NEW COUNTY PROJECT IN 1799-CHARLES
   DeHASS' COUNTY PROJECT IN 1814-MONONGAHELA COUNTY PROJECT
   IN 1895-CURIOUS DOCUMENT ON RECORD IN RECORDER'S OFFICE-
   OLD-TIME ADVERTISEMENTS.
   Immediately after the close of the Whisky Insurrection in 1794, the
farmers of Washington County were thrown into a state of panic by the
actions of the so-called "Burners," who demanded money, and in the event
of failure to pay they threatened to burn buildings. Many farmers were
blackmailed and suffered severely if they failed to comply with the
demand.
   These notices were posted in the night on houses and on the roads.
Certain individuals named were ordered to pay a sum of money by a
certain date, or their houses and barns would be burned. Most of the
operations were carried on in the vicinity of Finleyville, where many
public meetings were held, as well as at other points in the county, and
efforts were made to detect the men who carried out this outrageous plot.
   Dr. Alfred Creigh, in his History of Washington County, states that


428




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


at that time (1870) Dr. W. B. Link, of Finleyville, had in his possession
one of the original notices, which had been given to him by Samuel Gaston,
who had lived in the days of the "Burners." This notice is directed to
John Finley, James Cildoo, and Henry Hulee, and $30 were demanded
from each. The notice follows:
    "Jacobus Curkindale, if you don't carry this to John Finley your barn
 will be burnt.
    "My friend, if you don't pay this demand five days after sight, I will
fall to burning your property, such as haystacks, barns, mills, and still-
houses. If you pay this demand no more will be asked of you-fail not,
for the sake of your property. The undertakers of this plot are sure
but slow. You may pay it to Thomas McMuhn. Nothing will put a stop
to this business but the detection of the authors."
    After losing his barn, haystacks, outbuildings and cattle, Robert James
 brought prosecution against a man whom he suspected as the ring-leader.
 Before he could be arrested this man fled from the country, and the burn-
 ing operations ceased.
    The first record we have of a big snow was in the winter of 1799,
when it is stated that the greatest snow fell that was ever known at
one time in the county. It began to fall on a Friday evening and continued
without stopping until the following Monday morning, when it was three
feet deep. It was almost impossible for cattle and horses to reach water,
and they suffered greatly. One woman in Finley Township, whose hus-
band was absent, went to a neighbor's house for fire; for in those days
there were no matches. The snow was so deep that she had to borrow a
horse on which to return to her home. Many deer and other wild animals
died from starvation.
   The next big snow of which we have a definite record is well remem-
bered by many of our older residents, as it fell just forty years ago. On
Friday evening, January 8, 1886, snow began falling at 5 o'clock, and
continued without stopping until noon Saturday, when eighteen inches
were measured on the level. A high wind which had blown for forty
hours had piled the snow in great drifts, some of them twenty-five feet
deep. Immediately after the snow ceased falling the mercury fell to eight
degrees below zero. It was the worst storm in many years, and business
was almost at a standstill. There was an immediate shortage of gas,
and coal was hauled with the greatest difficulty. Very few of the churches
attempted to hold services on the following Sunday.
   Washington and other towns in the county were practically cut off
from the outside world. All trains on the Chartiers and Baltimore and
Ohio railroads were several hours late, and all telegraph wires were down.
A train left Waynesburg at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon, made up of
one car and three engines, to clear the track, and nothing more was heard
of it until 6 o'clock Monday morning, when the news came to Washington
that it had reached Vankirk's station six miles from town. It reached
Washington several hours later.
   Work on all of the oil wells was suspended. The Smith well, just
northeast of Washington, had come in on January 5th, a gusher, flowing
six hundred barrels in the first twenty-four hours. There were no tanks
large enough to hold this deluge, and men were put to work throwing up


429





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


dams to catch the flowing gold. Then the blizzard enveloped the land, and
men could not work; but the oil continued to flow and flood the country.
More men were rushed to the scene, but they could only work in short
relays on account of the intense cold. Even then many of them sustained
frozen hands and feet.
    The next big snow was early in November, 1913, which is the earliest
date on record for a big snow storm. The storm started with rain on
Saturday night, November 8th, and about 3 o'clock Sunday morning snow
started to fall and continued until Monday, when the entire country was
buried under a white blanket from two to six feet deep. A terrific wind
accompanied the snow, and piled up drifts many feet deep.
    Business was at a standstill. Telephone and telegraph wires were
down in all directions, and railroad service was stopped completely on
the night of the 9th. Two passenger trains on the Waynesburg and Wash-
ington Railroad were stalled three miles south of Washington on the
afternoon of the 9th, where they were held for thirty-six hours, with sixty
passengers, who were compelled to seek shelter in near-by farm houses.
These trains did not reach Washington until 5:54 o'clock in the morning
of the 11th. Another train from Waynesburg on the morning of the 12th
became stalled in a drift at Chambers' station, six miles south of town,
and it was necessary for men to shovel it out in drifts over their heads. It
was several days before conditions were normal again.
   There have been many other big snows in Washington County in the
course of the past century, but the records have not been preserved. How-
ever, we have a few. In February, 1880, there was a big snow which
crippled traffic. On January 17th, 1884, there was a snowfall of 15.6
inches. On December 17, 1890, 22 inches fell, one of the biggest snow
storms in the history of the county. On February 26, 1894, 15.7 inches
fell; on April 3, 1901, 12.7 inches fell; on March 5, 1902, 15 inches fell, and
on February 11, 1910, more than a foot is recorded.
   The earliest snow that completely covered the ground, of which we
have a record, was on October 22, 1925. About two inches of snow fell
on that day, and again on October 28th the ground was covered with
about an inch of snow.
   The first extremely cold weather of which we have any record is found
in a letter written on February 19, 1788, by a Mr. Reddick, of Washing-
ton, to Doctor Franklin, in Philadelphia. Mr. Reddick says: "This coun-
try never experienced a more severe winter. The mercury here (Wash-
ington, Pa.) was twelve degrees below the extreme point; at Pittsburgh it
sunk within the bottle. It was forty degree below at Pittsburgh.
   The next coldest day in early times of which we have any record was
January 19, 1810. The temperature is not given, but Doctor Creigh
states that it was the coldest day in the recollection of the oldest inhabi-
tants, and many cattle were frozen to death.
   Some unusually cold weather for this section of the country in August,
is noted in The Reporter for August 25, 1817, which states: "We broke
ice this morning, 25th of August, as thick as common sole leather, which
had froze during last night." Never since then have we had such weather
in the summer, and probably never before.
   The next severe cold weather of which we have a record occurred in


430





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


February, 1899, although there were probably many times between 1810
and 1899 when the mercury went far below zero. The winter of 1899,
however, was the coldest in many years. On February 9th, the ther-
mometer registered ten degrees below zero in Washington, and eighteen
in some sections of the county.
    The next day, February 10th, was the coldest in the history of the
 Pittsburgh weather bureau. The mercury registered ten degrees below
 zero. On Main Street, Washington, it was twenty below; at the corner
 of Jefferson and Hall avenues, it was twenty-eight below; at Coffey's
 Crossing and Claysville, twenty-eight below; at Lagonda, forty below;
 at Hackney's station, forty-two below; at West Amity, thirty-eight below.
    On February 11th, it was eighteen below in Washington; at Lagonda,
eighteen below; at Coffey's Crossing, fourteen below; at Amity, twenty
below; at Hackney's station, twenty-four below; at Dunns station, twenty-
eight below.
    The next below-zero weather was in January, 1912. The first few
days of the month were very warm; but on the 4th there was a sudden
drop in temperature, followed by a terrific blizzard, the worst in many
years. On the night of the 5th, the mercury went down to six below;
and the 7th, when it was from six to ten below, was the coldest January
7th, since 1888. On the night of the 12th, the official thermometer at the
pump station of the Citizens Water company, one mile west of Wash-
ington, registered thirty-six below. At Oak Grove, it was thirty-five
below at 6 o'clock in the morning. At Coffey's Crossing it was twenty-
seven below; at Taylorstown, thirty below; at Lagonda, thirty-four below,
and at Hackney's station, thirty-two below. On the 13th it was still
twenty below in Washington, and at noon it registered ten below at Oak
Grove.
   At the pump station of the Citizens Water company, one mile west of
Washington, there is an official government thermometer, and since 1916,
Mr. G. S. Buchanan, who is in charge of the station, has kept a complete
record of all changes of temperature the year around. He also makes
other weather observations, such as the amount of rainfall, velocity of the
wind, etc., and reports the same once a month to the government weather
bureau. The following temperatures, both maximum and minimum dur-
ing the year, together with other weather information, was supplied by
Mr. Buchanan:
   1916-December 17th, three degrees below zero.
   1917-July 24th, 25th, 31st, and August 1st, 94 degrees above; these
were the hottest days of the year; December 29th, 19 degrees below zero;
this was the coldest day of the year.
   1918-January 14th, seven below zero; January 16th, two below zero;
February 2nd, two below zero; February 4th, seven below zero; February
11th, five below zero; February 12th, ten below zero; March 5th, one
below zero; December 8th, four below zero; December 9th, four below
zero; December 10th, four below zero; December 11, three below zero;
December 12th, four below zero; December 14th, eight below zero; Decem-
er 15th, six below zero; December 22nd, two below zero; December 25th,
zero; December 29th, 19 below zero (the coldest day of the year) ; Decem-
ber 30th, two below zero; December 31st, ten below zero.


431





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    This incident, which is of great historic importance, is best described
by an early historian: "At length they reached a point 246 miles from
the Delaware River and within thirty-six miles of the whole distance to
be run. And here in the bottom of a valley, on the border of a stream
marked Dunkard Creek on their map, they came to an Indian war path,
winding its way through the forest. And here their Indian escort told
them it was the will of the Six Nations that the survey should be stayed."
This command was peremptory, and for fifteen years Mason and Dixon's
line ended there. The old records tell us that this path was the Warrior
branch of the Catawba War trail, which was of sufficient importance that
the Iroquois would not permit even an imaginary barrier to cross it.
   On November 2nd, 1916, the author in company with Samuel Am-
spoker, Joseph F. McFarland, and A. T. Anderson, of the Washington
County Historical Society, visited this historic spot where the surveyors
of the famous boundary line between the North and South were stopped
by their Indian escort a century and a half before. Instead of being
buried in the wilderness where the foot of white man had never trod
before, it is now the center of one of the most beautiful sections of
the state.
   The spot where Mason and Dixon were halted is on the south bank
of Dunkard Creek, just beyond an iron bridge and at the side of the road
from Mount Morris to West Virginia. The ground once traversed by the
ancient war trail is now farming land, and at the time of our visit was
a potato patch. From an authority in Waynesburg we learned that Mason
and Dixon did not stop at the war trail, but pushed on alone for a mile
farther to the summit of a high hill, after their white helpers and Indian
escort had deserted them. By the time they reached this hill the intrepid
surveyors realized that they could not proceed without the aid of axmen
to clear the way. The top of that hill is the real end of the Mason and
Dixon line. In 1883, when a resurvey of the line was made this historic
spot was permanently marked by a stone monument.
   The Mingo path, another Indian trail through this section, crossed
Washington County from southeast to west, passing through Catfish Camp
(now Washington). This was a continuation of Nemacolin's path from
Brownsville, and extended to the Ohio River. The main line of travel
for red men and white in early times, it later was the principal route for
emigrants going west. The National pike of a later generation follows
the general course of this old trail of ancient times.
   Tingoocqua's, or Catfish's camp, on the site of Washington, was the
most important Indian settlement in this region. Tingoocqua, who was the
principal chief of the Delawares in this section, had his camp on the banks
of the small stream which traverses the southern and western sections
of the county seat and is still known as Catfish Creek. Just when he
came here with his little band is not known.
   He was a man of considerable prominence among the tribes west of
the mountains. The records of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania
state that he attended the great council held in the State House at Phila-
delphia, December 4th, 1759, as the representative of the Delawares of
Kuskuskee.





432            HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

    1919-January 2nd, 25 below zero; this was the coldest day of the
 year; August 6th, 109 above zero; this was not only the hottest day of
 the year, but it is the hottest record we have for Washington County;
 December 19th, 12 below zero.
    1920-January 3rd and 4th, three below zero; this was the coldest
 weather of the year.
    1921-February 21st, three below zero; this was the coldest day of
 the year; July 4th, 99 above zero; this was the hottest day of the year.
    1922-February 17th, two below zero; this was the coldest day of the
 year; July 12, 98 above zero; this was the hottest day of the year.
    1923-February 24th, five below zero; this was the coldest day of the
 year; June 21st, 98 above zero; this was the hottest day of the year.
    1924-December 28th, three degrees below zero; this was the coldest
 day of the year; August 5th, 98 degrees above zero; this was the hottest
 day of the year.
    1925-January 28th, 25 below zero; this was the coldest day of the
 year; June 4th and 5th, 99 degree above zero; September 11th, 99 above
 zero; these three days were the hottest of the year.
    Since Mr. Buchanan has been keeping the rainfall records, the greatst
amount of rain that fell at one time was on September 4, 1921, when 2.09
inches were recorded. The greatest amount of snowfall was on January
29, 1925, when 10.5 inches fell.
    The big storm of Sunday, April 19, 1925, was one of the worst that
visited Washington County in a number of years. In many sections of
the county it reached the proportions of a cyclone, ana amage to tin
amount of $125,000 was reported. Oil and gas derricks to the value of
more than $50,000 were blown down, and many silos were destroyed, the
value amounting to about $15,000; while fences, haystacks, and farm
buildings in all sections were damaged. A section of roof was blown off
of the Methodist Protestant church at Amity, and from the room of the
Upper Buffalo Presbyterian church at Buffalo village, both occurring
while services were in progress. The Mount Zion Methodist church near
Prosperity was also damaged.
   The big frost of June 4, 1859, is remembered only by our oldest resi-
dents; but its legend has been handed down from one generation to another
until the people of today speak of it after the passing of fifty-seven years,
as though it occurred in their own time. The Reporter of those times
informs us that all day Saturday, June 4th, "the sky was overhung with
clouds, dark as winter, and overcoats and shawls were worn as a protec-
tion against the northwestern wind that was as chilly as November's
blasts."
   During the evening the sky cleared and that night there was a big
frost "the like of which we have not seen for many years." All fruits
and vegetables suffered, and the wheat and barley crops were practically
ruined. The corn, which was leveled to the ground, looked as if it had
been seared by a fiery blast; while potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage and all
garden vegetables shared a similar fate.
   In speaking of it The Reporter says: "This is certainly a most calami-
tous visitation. After a period of comparative scarcity, we had flattered




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ourselves that we were on the threshold of a season of teeming plenty,
when the earth gave promise of an abundant yield."
   A meeting of the Farmers' Club of Washington County was held in
the Valentine house, Washington, on Saturday, June 11, 1859, to gain
information as to the extent of the damage. There was a large attend-
ance, and the reports of farmers from all sections of the county showed
that, with the exception of a few isolated fields on very high ground, the
wheat crop was a total loss and would not be worth cutting. Plans were
discussed for sowing quick growing grain that would yield a crop before
winter. A committee was appointed to secure three hundred bushels of
buckwheat for seed, and all farmers decided to plant their corn and pota-
toes again.
   It is interesting to note in this connection that more than half a cen-
tury after the big frost a sheaf of wheat, which had been cut during the
summer of 1859, was brought to the Reporter office from the Burgetts-
town section. The owner of this wheat had cut it and stored it in an old
barn, evidently for the straw, for it was not worth threshing. And there
some of it had lain all those years. The grain had not matured.
   A curious natural phenomenon, which occurred in 1801, is recorded by
Dr. Alfred Creigh. About 8 o'clock in the evening of January 12th, when
the sky was cloudy and the night very dark, an extraordinary glare of
light, which illuminated the whole sky was seen on the southern horizon
for about five seconds. About four and a half minutes later an explosion,
similar to the discharge of a large cannon at a distance, was heard. The
detonation "considerably shook the houses in Washington and kept the
windows and door-latches in continual trepidation for a space of about
twenty seconds."
   In reference to a comet observed in 1821, The Examiner of March 5,
1821, states: "A comet has been observed from this place in the western
sky a little above the horizon. It has been seen every night when clear,
during the past week, shortly after dark."
   We find by reference to the old newspaper files that another comet was
observed in Washington on January 23, 1824, and was seen for several
nights.
   It is interesting to note in this connection the appearance of Halley's
comet in May, 1910. For a number of nights it was clearly seen in the
southern sky, and attracted much attention at that time.
   That southwestern Pennsylvania has not been entirely free from earth-
quake shocks is shown by the following interesting item from The Exam-
iner, of March 15, 1828: "The shock of an earthquake, which we perceive
by the newspapers, was felt at other places in the west, on Sunday night
last, was also felt very sensibly at this place. At Pittsburgh, two were
noticed, with about the interval of a minute between them." This places
the exact date of the earthquake shock as on March 9, 1828; and the refer-
ence to "this place" means Washington and the entire county.
   A strange incident, which was never explained, occurred in Washing-
ton County and other sections of western Pennsylvania on September 26,
1885. The cause was never explained, and it was believed by many to
have been an earthquake shock. This incident has been long forgotten,


28--V


433





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and would have remained forever lost but for the records found in The
Reporter of September 28, 1885.
   The report of this incident states that at 4 o'clock, Saturday afternoon,
September 26, 1885, four loud reports in quick succession startled the
residents of Mansfield (now Carnegie), and vicinity. The earth trembled
very perceptibly. At first it was believed to have been a storm, but the
sky was clear at the time, and it was then thought to have been a mine
explosion; but later investigation proved that nothing had occurred in
any mine in the western part of the state. The explosion was distinctly
heard and the shock felt in Washington and throughout Washington
County. At Jonathan Allison's mine, at McGovern, the men were greatly
alarmed. The workmen at the Gabby well near Washington felt the shock.
Murray A. Cooper, who then lived at Van Buren, on the Prosperity pike,
reported having heard the explosions and feeling the shock.
   When the news of the discovery of gold at Sutter's fort in California
reached the East in 1849, many men from Washington County, filled
with dreams of sudden wealth and the love of adventure, joined the big
rush to the new Eldorado; for the lure of the precious metal has ever
drawn men to the far corners of the earth. Not only in 1849 but in the
succeeding years of 1850, 1851 and 1852, when the big rushes were on to
the gold fields on the Pacific coast, many men left their homes in Wash-
ington County and went to California. Many of them were never heard
of again. Others remained in California and other western states, and a
few returned to this county; but we have no record of any of them hav-
ing gained great wealth.
   The journey to the California gold fields in 1849 and the fifties was
fraught with great danger and hardship, no matter by which way you
went. There were three routes followed by the gold seekers, but they all
proved equally dangerous. The first and most direct, was overland across
plains and mountains, but the trails were so infested by Indians and the
hardships of overland travel so severe, that many were deterred from
going this way. The second route was a little longer, but it was some-
times made in as quick time. This was by ship to the Isthmus of Panama;
thence by a short journey overland to the Pacific and again by water to
San Francisco. The third and longest, and often the most dangerous was
by water around Cape Horn and up the western coast of South America
to San Francisco.
    Added to the dangers from Indians on the overland journey, cholera
broke out on the plains and in the mountains in 1850, and thousands of
gold seekers left their bones to bleach along the dreary trails of the far
West. It is indeed hard for us of today to realize just what the journey
to California meant in those days. Modern transportation facilities have
reduced it to a matter of hours and it may be made in the greatest luxury;
but during the gold days it required months, and was undertaken only
by the hardy and brave. Even the Indians and the worse scourge of
cholera and starvation did not deter them; and those pioneers of old,
lured by the tales of gold, started on this terrible journey, the like of
which is not known in any part of the world today, with the full knowl-
edge that the chances were ten to one against their ever reaching the
end alive. The fact that many men from Washington County joined in


434




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the gold rushes to California, with a full knowledge of the dangers that
awaited them along the way, is as high a tribute as can be paid to their
heroism and courage.
   The exact number of men who went from this county to California
in the early gold rushes will never be definitely known, but in an issue of
The Weekly Review, of Washington, in 1860, it is stated that over two
hundred made the journey in 1849 and the early fifties. Their names have
been lost with the passing years, but a few of them have been found by
the writer in the newspapers of those times.
   In The Reporter for April 4, 1849, we find this item:
                      OFF FOR THE GOLD FIELDS.
   On Wednesday last six of the young men of our Borough started for
California. Their names are: James W. Kuntz, Joseph Cooper, Richard
Lane, Peter Wolf, Enoch Dye, and Michael Hannigan, most if not all of
whom are natives of this county. They started for Wheeling where they
took steamboat for Independence, Missouri, at which place they expect
to join a large California Company, and leave for the gold regions about
the 20th inst. May they enjoy good health, have a pleasant trip, be abun-
dantly successful in gathering the glittering ore, and eventually return
to their homes and friends, to spend many years in peace, plenty and
prosperity.
   This was without doubt the first party that left Washington County
for the California gold fields. Of their adventures in the far West we
know nothing, with the exception of James W. Kuntz, who returned to
Washington several years later and died here some twenty years ago. He
is well remembered by the present generation, for he was one of Wash-
ington's prominent men of the past generation. His home was the front
section of the present Masonic temple, in West Wheeling Street.
   The author has in his collection an Indian arrow quiver, made of buck-
skin and beaded, which Mr. Kuntz brought back with him from Cali-
fornia. The circumstances by which it came into his possession are not
only interesting but worthy of record here, as the incident occurred to a
native of Washington County. One day Mr. Kuntz saw several rough
miners jeering at and making sport of an Indian chief in one of the min-
ing camps. He immediately interfered and after stopping the men by
threats he conducted the chief out of the camp, and saw him safely on the
trail to the Indian camp not far away. Several days later an Indian went
to where Mr. Kuntz was working and asked him to go to the camp, as the
chief wanted to see him. He was conducted into the presence of the man
whom he had defended and told to sit down in the tepee. The Indians
then went through the ceremony of adopting Mr. Kuntz into the tribe.
Thereafter he made frequent visits to the camp, and was always welcomed.
   Some months later a messenger sought him out at the mines and
informed him that the chief was dying and wanted to see him. Hastening
to the camp, Mr. Kuntz found the aged warrior lying in his tepee in great
agony. He was overjoyed at seeing the white man and he placed the
arrow quiver in his hands, telling him it was his dying wish that he should
preserve it. For several hours afterwards Mr. Kuntz sat while the old
chief held his hand tightly until he died.


435





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   One of the men who crossed the plains in 1850, braving the cholera
which killed thousands of California gold seekers, was John W. Boyle, a
son of William Boyle, of North Strabane Township. In a long letter
which he wrote from Sacramento, California, to his relatives in Wash-
ington County, on April 25, 1852, three days before he sailed for Peru, he
described his journey of 1850. This letter, which is in possession of the
author, was found among the papers of Mrs. Alice Forrest Boyle, widow
of Hugh Boyle, after her death in Washington in 1915. John W. Boyle
was an uncle of the author's mother, and Hugh Boyle, his brother, mar-
ried Alice Forrest, an aunt of the author.
   In speaking of his trip across the plains, Mr. Boyle says: "The jour-
ney was doubtless as hard a one as was ever performed by men. I do not
mean by this that it has been equally hard to all who have crossed the
overland route to this country, for such is not true. The emigrants of
'49 and '51 know nothing of hardships, as compared with the emigration
of '50. You will naturally ask what the difference was; in answer to
which I will remark in the first place, that in [His] wisdom God saw
proper to follow us up with the cholera which slayed its thousands, and
left its tens of thousands to mourn their loss as they journeyed on; and
again we suffered from a scarcity of feed for our stock which was our
only dependence. Such was not the case in '49 or '51, for where the bones
of our dead almost covered the ground, the stock of '51 fattened; and
again from the advice of the emigrants of '49 we started with merely a
sufficiency of provisions to last us through without making any allowance
for time spent in recruiting our teams or waiting upon the sick. Hence
it was that three-fourths of the emigrants fell short of provisions and had
to pay from one to three dollars a pound for every bite of flour and meat
they ate for weeks, while many lived upon dead mules and cattle. And
some, thank God they were not many, starved to death."
   On April 28, 1850, Mr. Boyle reached Hanktown, now Placerville,
California, where for eighteen months he was engaged in the hotel busi-
ness and bought and sold stock. On April 27, 1852, he gave a temperance
lecture in Dolores mission, San Francisco, probably the first of its kind
ever given in California; and the next day he sailed for Peru. Later he
returned to the United States and studied law. At the time of the Civil
war he was appointed by President Lincoln as judge of the United States
district court in Dakota territory, where he served until the close of the
war. The remainder of his life was spent in the West. In 1893 he was
in the land rush into Oklahoma and finally settled at Oklahoma City,
where he was killed some years later by being thrown from a buggy.
   James M. Slagle, of Washington, made the journey across the plains
in 1850, going by way of Fort Laramie, Wyoming, but then in Nebraska
territory. This is shown by a letter which appeared in The Reporter,
July 24, 1850, written to his father in Washington. It is dated Fort Lara-
mie, May 15, 1850. What finally became of Mr. Slagle is not known.
   Two brothers, Henry M. Coleman and William Coleman, sons of James
Coleman, of Canonsburg, both went to California in 1851, and spent the
remainder of their lives there. William, the elder, was twenty-seven years
of age at the time, and had graduated from Jefferson college as first honor
man of his class. He was afterwards a teacher of some note, and was a


436




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


member of the California legislature from 1857 to 1863, and served in the
state senate from 1863 until his death on January 10, 1867, at Diamond
Springs, California.
   Henry M. Coleman was just seventeen years of age when he went to
California, where he spent his entire life as a prospector and mining man
in the mountains of California. During his later years he resided at
Banning and San Bernardino, California, dying at the latter place Septem-
ber 10, 1919, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. The Coleman family
was a noted one at Canonsburg at an early date, and more will be found
in another chapter.
   Another native of Washington County who went to California during
the gold rush was David Hart, who died in Canonsburg on January 17,
1919, aged ninety-three years. In 1851 he made the journey to California
across the plains with an ox team. He remained in the West until the
Civil war when he returned to Washington County and joined the Ring-
gold cavalry.
   Major Enos L. Christman, who was so long identified with The
Reporter, was one of the Forty-niners to California. At that time he
lived in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He sailed from Philadelphia on
July 3, 1849, and reached San Francisco after a journey of 222 days.
After working for some time in the mines on the upper Mariposa River, he
started a newspaper near Stockton, which he named the Sonora Herald.
He returned to West Chester in 1852, and in November of that year came
to Washington. He died there several years ago.
   On March 15, 1852, a party of fourteen young men left Washington
for the California gold fields. In May they left the Missouri River and
made the long journey across the plains by ox teams, arriving in Sacra-
mento, California, on August 4, 1852. This party was composed of the
following: John Thompson, of Buffalo Township; Col. James Byers, of
Washington, afterwards sheriff of Washington County; Theodore Bosher,
a baker of Washington; William Chatland, of Washington; Samuel Imhoff,
a farmer of near Buffalo village; James Dryden, a farmer of Hopewell
Township; Michael Wolf, a farmer of Canton Township; John Wolf, a
farmer of Canton Township; Robert Hart, of Washington, brother of
Mason Hart, Alexander Hart, George S. Hart, and William Hart, all dead:
Perry Morgan, of Beallsville; Levi Baldwin, of Washington; Mr. Mor-
row, of Steubenville, Ohio; James Vankirk, of Pittsburgh; Richard Wil-
cox, of Washington, a blacksmith in the old S. B. & C. Hayes carriage
factory.
   John Thompson, the last survivor of this band, died in Buffalo Town-
ship, in November, 1905.
   The next big gold rush in which Washington County men took part
was in 1897, when the whole country went mad over the news of the dis-
covery of the precious metal in the Klondyke region of Northwest terri-
tory, Canada. While thousands of men went from this country it can not
be compared to the gold rush to California in 1849. This new Eldorado
was a bleak, forbidding land, and the intense cold of the long winter;
deterred many men from making the journey. The hardships encountered
by the California emigrants of half a century before were as nothing
compared with what those men met in the early years of the Klondyke gold


437





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


fever. Only the hardiest and bravest answered the call of adventure and
gold in the far northland, and among them we have been able to learn of
only five from Washington County, but there were doubtless others. They
were Thomas Luellen, now superintendent of the Children's Home; Max
Groitzsch, now a merchant at Arden Mines, and Albert Anchors, Elmer
Anchors, and Ralph Anchors, all of Washington.
   Thomas Luellen, who lived at Beallsville at that time, was the first
gold seeker from Washington County in Alaska. In March, 1896, he
went from Colorado to Juneau, Alaska, where he worked in a placer mine
for several months. That was before news of the big strike made in 1896
by George Carmack on the Klondyke reached the outside world; and so
in the fall he returned to his home at Beallsville. Early in the spring of
1897 the news of the big strike reached the United States, and Mr. Luellen
returned on the first ship that carried gold seekers to Alaska.
   He landed at what is now Skagway, but at that time there was only
one man there. Gathering an outfit of about 30 men together, Mr. Luel-
len started for the interior with a pack train, over what later became
famous as the White Pass trail of the gold seekers. They were hunting
a lake, which they never found, and after seven days turned back. When
they reached the coast they found that Skagway had grown from one tent
to a city of five thousand in a week, and every one of those five thousand
was determined to get to Dawson as soon as possible.
   Mr. Luellen informed them that it would be impossible to get through
that way, and they all went to Dyea, five miles up the coast and over the
famous Chilkoot pass. Mr. Luellen secured a surveyor and with his party
returned and opened what later became famous as the White Pass trail
to Lake Bennett. He remained at that point all summer, making boats
which he sold to the gold seekers, and just before navigation closed that
fall he went to Dawson.
   The next spring he was compelled to return to his home at Bealls-
ville on business for a short time, and while there met Elmer Anchors,
a young man of Washington, whose brother, Albert, had gone to Alaska
with the rush the year before. Mr. Anchors was determined to go to
the new gold fields, and on March 28, 1898, they left Pittsburgh, traveling
together as far as Lake Bennett. Mr. Anchors remained there for some
time, while Mr. Luellen pushed on to Dawson.
   Albert Anchors, the first of the Klondyke gold seekers from Washing-
ton, left here in July, 1897, and sailed from Seattle on the steamer, Hum-
boldt. This vessel was loaded down with gold seekers and supplies. Each
passenger had been compelled to sign a ticket agreeing to do any work
called upon until they should land at Dawson. All necessary material for
the construction of a river steamer had been taken on board the Humboldt,
and when the vessel reached the mouth of the Yukon, the cargo was
landed, and the passengers built the steamer.
   After it was finished they set out up the Yukon, but the season was far
advanced, and they were caught in the ice before they reached their des-
tination. Thus they were forced to spend the winter on the banks of the
Yukon. Before the ice broke in the spring many of them had proceeded
on foot, but Mr. Anchors waited for the steamer, and went with it to


438




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Dawson; and to his surprise he found his brother, Elmer, who left Wash-
ington nine months later, waiting for him.
    In the meantime Mr. Luellen had leased two claims on Sulphur Creek
from Alexander McDonald to work on royalty. When news of another
discovery reached Dawson, Mr. Luellen sublet the claims to Albert and
Elmer Anchors, and went to the new gold fields. The Anchors Brothers
worked the claim until they decided it was worthless, and went to a new
location. Mr. Luellen afterwards sublet it to some foreigners, who in
turn gave it up. In 1901, Mr. Luellen returned to Beallsville, and has
remained in Washington County ever since. Eight years later when
Albert Anchors returned to Washington, he visited Mr. Luellen at Bealls-
ville, and informed him that a man who had later worked their claim dis-
covered gold and cleaned up between two and three hundred thousand
dollars.
   Albert and Elmer Anchors remained at Dawson for several years
where they were engaged in the logging business, cutting logs and selling
them to miners for their cabins. Elmer returned to Washington in
1905, and remained there until his death several years ago. Albert
remained in the gold fields until 1908 when he also returned.
    Ralph Anchors, the third of these brothers who went to the Klondyke
gold fields, left Washington in July, 1900, and sailed from Seattle to
Skagway on the steamer Queen. From Skagway he went over the White
Pass and Yukon railroad, which had been constructed over the White
Pass trail of the early gold seekers as far as Lake Bennett. Crossing the
lake on a steamer, he went on another narrow gauge railroad to Dawson.
While there he ran a mail route with a dog team from Dawson to the
mines, conducting this business until the fall of 1901 when he returned to
Washington, where he still resides.
   Max Groitzsch was another Washington County man who went to the
Klondyke gold fields in the early days. While at Dawson he engaged in
the truck gardening business with a German, and they were very success--
ful. He later returned to Washington County, and is now engaged in the
mercantile business at Arden Mines.
   It is interesting to note at this point that when the oil excitement broke
out in Washington County in 1885, gold was reported to have been dis-
covered in an oil well drilled near Coal Center. It was only in small quan-
tities, but old-timers who had worked in the gold fields reported it to be
genuine.
   Bones and teeth of the mammoth or mastodon have been found in at
least two widely separated locations in Washington County-Finley and
Amwell townships, the first in 1818 and the other many years later. All
that we know of the mammoth bone found in Finley Township is contained
in an item in The Examiner for December 28, 1818:

                          "MAMMOTH BONE.

   "Was found in October last, in digging a mill-race in Finley Township,
in this county for Mr. Charles Mayes, at the depth of seven feet below
the present surface of the earth, a fragment of a bone, about five feet in
length and about eight or nine inches in diameter.
   "This bone, when found, was in a very decayed state, so much so as to


439





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


render it quite fragile. It is supposed by those who have seen it that it
had been of much greater length, as there was no appearance of a joint
at either end, but bore the plain appearance of having been cut off in a
square direction as if with a saw. Sundry persons of credibility can
attest to the above as a fact."
   Many years ago the late J. Shan Margerum, of Washington, had in
his collection a mammoth tooth found in Washington County. This was
found in the vicinity of Amity, Amwell Township, and is now in the pos-
session of Washington and Jefferson college.
   At another period two mammoth teeth were found by the late Hugh
Curry on his farm near Hart's Mills, Amwell Township, and about six
miles from Washington. Both of these teeth are now in the collection of
the Washington County Historical society, in the courthouse, where they
may be seen. No further details of either discovery are known today, as
all connected with them have died.
   In pioneer times there were great numbers of wolves in Washington.
The early settlers reported that they were so numerous as to be a menace
to both human beings and to stock. They were killed whenever possible,
but on account of their nature they were not easy game for the hunter
to bag. Then for some unexplained reason they disappeared, long before
the county was settled thick enough to drive them out. Dr. Joseph Dodd-
ridge, who lived in those times, states in his Notes than this was due, in
his opinion to hydrophobia, which wiped them out completely in this sec-
tion; and he was no doubt correct. In speaking on this subject Dr. Dodd-
ridge says:
   "An animal so ferocious as a wolf, and under the influence of madness,
bites everything he can reach; of course the companions of his own den
are the first victims of his rage. Hence, a single wolf would be the means
of destroying the whole number of his fellows, in his immediate neigh-
borhood at least. In the advanced state of the disease they lose their
native wildness, leave their dens and thickets and seek the flocks and
herds about farmhouses, and in some instances have attempted to enter
the houses themselves for the purpose of doing mischief."
   He then speaks of a Captain Rankin, of Raccoon Creek, who was bit-
ten by a mad wolf. Another victim of this animal was John McCamant,
of Washington County. The wolves were killed in both cases, and both
men died after suffering great agony.
   The repeating rifle, which is now so common, was first invented in
1812, by Joseph G. Chambers, of Washington County, and later by Free-
man Brady, Jr., of Washington, and John Noble, of Claysville. Very lit-
tle is known today of either invention, and what finally became of them
cannot be learned. The first notice of Mr. Chambers' invention is found
in the following item which appeared in The Reporter for December 14,
1812:
                          "NEW INVENTION.
   "We understand that Mr. Joseph G. Chambers, of this county, has
invented a gun, which he can discharge in such a manner, that by a single
operation of the trigger it will discharge several loads in succession (say
six or eight) with the space between each, sufficient to take another aim.
This gun has but one barrel, and it does not exceed a common gun in size."


440















































    Mastodon or Mammoth teeth found by Hugh Curry, on his farm
in Amwell Township, many years ago; now in the collection of
the Washington County Historical Society.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   This was one of the most memorable Indian councils ever held during
Colonial times in Pennsylvania. It is hard for us today to grasp the
importance of such an event to the early settlers; for their very lives
depended upon the results of such a gathering. If the red warriors did
not agree to the terms of the whites, a bloody Indian war was certain
to follow.
   This council of 1759, the like of which will never be seen again, must
have been picturesque to the highest degree: for nothing appealed to the
Indian mind like pomp and splendor, and nothing impressed him as much
as a great amount of ceremony. No chairs were ever used at an Indian
council; f'or the delegates, both white and red, squatted on the floor.
   Governor Hamilton and his staff were there, attired in all the finery
and splendor of Colonial times; while the Indians of Pennsylvania were
represented by the head chiefs of eleven different tribes, reenforced by
dozens of sub-chiefs, prominent men and orators, all dressed in fringed
buckskin, gorgeously decorated with beadwork, and with headdresses of
eagle feathers to denote their rank. The council of this nature was always
opened with the pipe of peace, passed from hand to hand and mouth to
mouth around the circle, each man taking a few puffs before passing it
on to his neighbor.
   In this great assembly was Tingoocqua, messenger from the Delawares
of Kuskuskee, in the far western end of the state, and an orator of con-
siderable renown among his people. When he arose to speak he must
have made a striking picture, gorgeously arrayed in all of the Indian
finery of the times, with a blanket held about his shoulders with onc hand
and the other extended in gesture.
   The old records of this council, which have been preserved, tell us
that when Tingoocqua's turn came, he arose to his feet, and, taking two
strings of wampum in one hand, addressed the council: "Brothers; I
have not much to say; I am only a messenger. I come from the Kuskuskee.
The nation that I belong to, as well as many others to the west of us as
far as the setting sun, have heard that you and Teedyuscung (chief of
the Delawares) sat often together in council and at length agreed upon
peace; and we are glad to hear that the friendship and harmony, which
of old always subsisted between our and your ancestors, was raised up
again and established once more. This was very agreeable to us and we
came here to see if what was related was true; and we find it is true, which
gives us great satisfaction."
   Then taking two more strings of wampum he proceeded: "Brothers;
now that Teedyuscung and you have, through the goodness of Providence,
brought about a peace, we entreat you to be strong; don't let it slip. Don't
omit anything to render it secure and lasting; hold it fast. Consider our
aged men and our young children, and for their sakes be strong. Never
rest until it be thoroughly confirmed. All the Indians at Allegheny desire
you to do so, and they will do all they can likewise."
   At this point he gave another string of wampum and proceeded:
"Brothers; We make eleven nations on the west of the Allegheny who
have heard what you and Teedyuscung have concluded at the treaty of
Easton (in 1758), and as we all heartily agree to it and determined to
join it, we have opened a road to where Teedyuscung lives; and we, the




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Doctor Creigh states that on January 15, 1815, the Pennsylvania sen-
ate appointed a committee to examine the utility of Colonel Chambers'
gun, and at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of January 22, 1815, an experi-
ment was made on the state house hill in the presence of the legislature
and other citizens. The gun was considered a very extraordinary piece
of machinery, and a powerful instrument in the destruction of an enemy.
   This is the last we have been able to find on the Chambers repeating
gun, but in The Reporter for June 6, 1829, the following death notice
appears: "Died-on Thursday the 28th ult. of dropsy, Mr. Joseph G.
Chambers, of Hopewell Township, inventor of the Repeating Gun, and also
author of 'A Critical Orthography'."
   In later years Freeman Brady, Jr., of Washington, and John Noble,
of Claysville, patented a repeating or magazine gun, which would fire
about twenty effective and forty random shots in a minute. Doctor Creigh
in 1870 says that this gun was equal in range and far exceeded in loading
facilities and rapidity of firing any gun of modern improvement, mean-
ing about 1870.
   The Brady repeating rifle was made by Mr. Brady and Mr. Noble in
a little gun shop which Noble conducted in Washington at that time, in
the little frame building still standing in West Pine alley, just in the rear
of Fred S. Marshall's store. Mr. Brady took this rifle to a gun manufac-
turer in Maine shortly before the close of the Civil war and was offered
$10,000 for the patent. However, he held out for $20,000, but before they
could complete negotiations the war closed, and the gun manufacturer
refused to buy it at any price. The original model is still in possession
of his son, James Brady, of South Main Street.
   Frank Parkinson, of Morris Township, also invented a repeating rifle
shortly after the Brady and Noble gun. The Review and Examiner, of
January 31, 1866, contains the following interesting item on this subject:

              "MAGAZINE GUN-A WONDERFUL INVENTION.
   "Frank Parkinson, of Morris Township, has had several of his breach
loading magazine guns manufactured, and it is a perfect success. The
magazine holds twenty-four loads, war size, which can be discharged in a
minute. The magazine can be filled in half a minute. The wonderful and
terrible character of this weapon will be realized by the reader when he
thinks that a regiment of men could in one minute discharge upon an
enemy twenty-five thousand loaded missiles of death. Of course such a
hurricane of lead could not be resisted by human courage, and would make
the army possessing it perfectly impregnable. We understand the pat-
ent is for sale, and we have no doubt Mr. Parkinson will find plenty of
purchasers."
   On February 21, 1842, Andrew Ralston, of West Middletown, was
granted a patent for an improved machine for threshing and winnowing
grain. The patent on this machine was reissued to Mr. Ralston on Janu-
ary 15, 1856. This, the first threshing machine made in the United States,
afterwards was known as the McClure threshing machine from the fact
that it was manufactured at West Middletown by Robert McClure, and
it was shipped to all sections of the United States. It will be described
in detail in another chapter.


442




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Andrew Ralston was of an inventive turn of mind, for he also pat-
 ented a small lantern that burned oil, the first of its kind in the United
 States. Little is known of this invention, and the only one of the lanterns
 known to be in existence is in possession of James L. Bell, of West Middle-
 town, who related the story to the author. It was invented by Mr. Rals-
 ton some time in the forties, and was made by James Bell, father of James
 L. Bell, in the frame house in which the latter still lives. James Bell died
 in 1855, and the lanterns were made by him prior to that date.
    Doctor Creigh states that Dr. George W. Moffit invented a self-acting
 car coupler to couple cars without any preliminary preparation, using the
 common link and pin in use on the railroads many years ago. It is stated
 that it was perfect both for coupling and uncoupling cars.
    James S. Wolf, of Washington, is credited with making an important
 discovery in charging bomb shells. When the shell exploded it burned
 with a flame that would set fire to any combustible material, thus com-
 bining the power of an explosive shell and hot shot. It was also claimed
 that it would light up any battery or fort into which it was thrown.
    Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat, owned a farm in the
 county, and several lots in Washington. The farm which was purchased
 by Fulton in 1786, contained eighty-four acres in Hopewell Township,
 where his mother lived until her death there in 1799. This farm, now
 owned by the Maxwell heirs, is located on the Washington-West Middle-
 town road, just at the foot of the hill upon which Buffalo village stands,
 and between that place and West Middletown. This road is a state route,
 and an important link in the route from Washington to Ohio. About a
 year ago a movement was started among the people of West Middletown
 and Hopewell Township to name this road the Fulton highway, from the
 fact that this farm once owned by Robert Fulton is located along it.
    Robert Fulton purchased three lots in the town of Washington, Nos. 4,
 125, and 218 in the original plan. Doctor Creigh states that "while
 sojourning in London in 1793, Robert Fulton directed Mr. Hoge to make
 deeds of these three lots to his three sisters, Mrs. David Morris, Mrs. Isa-
 bella Cook, and Mrs. Peggy Scott."
    Mrs. Mary Fulton Morris received Lot No. 4, which is located on the
north side of West Maiden Street, the fourth west of the corner of South
Franklin Street. She was the wife of David Morris, proprietor of the
famous old Globe inn, of Washington, from 1798 until his death in 1834.
This hostelry was famous from one end of the National pike to the other.
Many noted men of other days, including five presidents of the United
States and General La Fayette were entertained there, but that will be
spoken of in another chapter. The popularity of the Globe was due in a
large degree to Mrs. Morris' energy and good management. Mrs. Morris
died before 1815. Louisa Morris married Dr. Alexander Blair, a surgeon
in the United States Army during the War of 1812. Their daughter,
Eliza, became the first wife of William Thaw, of Pittsburgh.
   Besides Mrs. Morris, two other sisters of Robert Fulton, Mrs. Mar-
garet Scott and Mrs. Isabella Cook, and one brother, Abraham Smith
Fulton, were residents of Washington at one time. Lot No. 218, at the
southwest corner of North Main Street and West Spruce Alley, was deeded
to Mrs. Cook. This lot is now occupied by the citadel of the Salvation


443





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Army. Lot No. 125 was deeded to Mrs. Scott, but for some unknown
reason the deed to her was not made until June 8, 1810. This lot is the
second west of the courthouse property. On February 8, 1811, Mrs. Scott
sold this lot to Samuel Cunningham. The frame house which still stands
on this lot was built at an early date, and was probably occupied by
Mrs. Scott. Later it was the residence of Joseph Pentecost, a prominent
lawyer in his day.
    Robert Fulton died in New York City on February 24, 1815, and by his
will left $500 to each of the six surviving children of his deceased sister,
Mary Morris. He also left $2,000 to his sister, Mrs. Isabella Cook, who
lived in Washington at that time, and $1,000 and his farm in Hopewell
Township and the stock thereon to his other sister, Mrs. Margaret Scott,
during her life. Mrs. Scott afterwards removed from this farm to Wash-
ington and lived in the old frame house that stood on the Shirls farm on
the south side of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad tracks. She died
there, leaving no children. Mrs. Cook left one daughter, a Mrs. Wythe,
of St. Louis, who afterwards gained quite a reputation as an artist.
    There have been eight new county projects for the establishment of a
county along the Monongahela River during the past century and a quar-
ter. These were designed to take part of the territory of Washington
County lying along the Monongahela River, but none of them was suc-
cessful.
   The first was September 11, 1799, when a number of the inhabitants
of Washington and adjoining counties met at Parkinson's Ferry, now
Monongahela city, to form plans for the formation of a new county, most
of which was to be taken from Washington County. Joseph Beckett was
chosen chairman and John Hoge, of Washington, secretary. At this
meeting the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
   "1. That it is the opinion of this meeting that a new county ought
to be established by the following lines, viz: Beginning on the Monon-
gahela River, at the mouth of Peters' Creek, thence up the said creek to
that branch thereof which runs from the Rev. David Phillips' farm, thence
by a direct line to include the place on which James Mitchell, Esq. now
lives, thence by a like line to include the place on which George Myers,
Sen., now lives, thence to Bentley's upper mill on Pigeon Creek, thence
to the Monongahela River opposite the mouth of little Redstone Creek,
thence by a direct line to the mouth of Washington's Run on the Youghio-
gheny River, thence down the same to F. Moses' place, and thence by a
direct line to the place of beginning.
   "2. That in the opinion of this meeting the seat of justice for the new
county should be established at Parkinson's Ferry on the Monongahela
River.
   "3. That John Hoge, Major Devore and Captain Royall be appointed
a committee to draft a petition to the next legislature praying for the
establishment of a new county."
   Even at that time there were many people opposed to the division of
Washington County, and the measure was killed by a remonstrance
against it.
   The movement came up again in 1814 when Charles D'Hass laid out
a new town in Carroll Township, which he called Pittsborough, on the site


44




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of the present Donora. On September 12, 1814, he advertised in The
Reporter that lots were for sale in the new town of Pittsborough located in
the Horseshoe bottom of the Monongahela. In the advertisement he
states: "As it is in contemplation to form a new county, and from its
being so very central in the contemplated county, and its handsome situa-
tion induced the subscriber to lay off a town with large lots and wide
streets and alleys, with public grounds for a church and burying ground
and also for an academy."
    On November 12, 1814, Mr. D'Hass changed the name of the town to
 Columbia, and on February 15, 1815, he sold part of the plot to John Neal.
 It seems that the new county project was still in their minds; for on
 January 12, 1816, the joint proprietors notified the public that a market
 square, eighty by one hundred twenty feet, and a public square composed
 of Lot 69, both bounded by Market and Third streets, Scott and Decatur
 alleys, had been laid out subject to the condition that if the said square
 was not occupied by a courthouse and other public buildings in fourteen
 .years, then this square was to revert to John Neal.
    The new county project was brought before the people of Washington
 County again in 1820, and in 1822 and 1835, when it was proposed to
 make the county twenty miles square. The plan was brought up again
 in 1837 and 1838, but each time it was defeated by the people.
    Again in 1849 the new county project was renewed when it was pro-
 posed to call it Monongahela County. It went so far that year as to be
 presented to the legislature, and it was lost by only one vote. All we
 know of it at that time is contained in the following item which appeared
 in The Reporter on April 4, 1849: "Monongahela County was defeated
 by a tie vote on Monday, the 26th ultimo, was reconsidered on last Thurs-
 day, and again lost by one vote."
    The plan seems to have lain dormant for forty-six years before it
,broke out again, when in 1895 the proposition was renewed with consider-
:able vigor, and came very near to being successful. Charleroi, the "Magic
City," had been founded five years before, and from the start it was a
booming place. It grew rapidly, and in 1895 its people revived the
Monongahela County project in hopes of making Charleroi the county
seat. The plan was to take portions of Washington, Allegheny, Westmore-
land and Fayette counties, an area containing 98,000 population, with an
assessed valuation at that time of $66,000,000.
    The movement was headed by John S. McKean, one of the founders of
 Charleroi and a prominent river politician of that time. It was not a
 sporadic effort as the former projects had been. A big campaign on the
 barnstorming order was launched, but there was much opposition. How-
 ever, it received the support of such powerful men in state politics as
 M. S. Quay, Chris L. Magee, and David Martin, and it looked very much as
 if it would prove successful. It was felt generally throughout this sec-
 tion that if the bill passed the legislature Governor Hastings would sign it.
    It was planned to use the new Masonic building at Charleroi, then in
course of construction, for a courthouse, and a site for the jail was
selected.
    E. F. Acheson, of Washington, congressman from this district and then
the leading politician of Washington County, was credited with having


445





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


defeated the measure. But this is not correct. While opposed to the
scheme, Mr. Acheson and Mr. Quay were not on friendly terms politically,
and the former figured very little in the final defeat of the bill. Before
the measure came before the legislature the break came between Mr.
Quay and Governor Hastings.
   The opposition was not slow to take advantage of this, and it acted
quickly. Frank M. Fuller, of Uniontown, then secretary of the common-
wealth, who had been in favor of the scheme, was enlisted by the opposi-
tion. Mr. Fuller was on excellent terms with Mr. Quay, who was then
at San Lucie, Florida, on a fishing trip. Mr. Fuller immediately went to
Florida and interviewed Mr. Quay. What passed between them will
never be known, but when the new county measure came before the legis-
lature it was defeated. And the credit or the blame for that defeat must
be given to Mr. Fuller and not Mr. Acheson. Since then the new county
scheme has rested quietly in its grave.
   While searching through the books in the Washington County record-
er's office the author found the following curious document on record:

                   "DEPOSITION OF NICHOLAS CRIST.
   "Personally appeared before me, Thomas Scott, one of the Justices of
the Common Pleas in and for said County, Nicholas Crist and being duly
sworn depoaseth and saith that on the fifteenth or sixteenth day of Febru-
ary in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & eighty-seven
in the County of Washington aforesaid a quarrel happened between Wil-
liam Sinnard and a certain Joshua Griffin in which quarrel the said
Joshua did as this deponent apprehended Bite of a piece of said William
Sinnard left ear and further saith not.
   "Witness my hand and seal this 4th day of October A. D. 1787.
                                                      "Tho. Scott.
   "Recorded the 4th day of October, A. D., 1787. Thos. Stokely, Re-
corder."
   There are probably many other curious documents in the old deed
books in the recorder's office, but this is the most interesting that has
come to my attention.
                     OLD-TIME ADVERTISEMENTS
   Found in the old issues of The Western Telegraphe and Washington
Advertiser, The Reporter and the Examiner, all published in Washington
at an early date. A few of these are given here to show the changes in
the manners and customs of the people during the last century.
   From The Western Telegraphe of Tuesday, August 30, 1796:
                         "SIX-PENCE REWARD.
   "RAN AWAY, on the 10th of the seventh month of 1796, from the Sub-
scribers, an Apprentice Lad, named BENJAMIN UNDERWOOD, who under-
stands some little of the Smithing Business, between 17 and 18 years of
age, of a disorderly life and conversation 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, stout
build, of a fresh hearty look, walks with his toes outwards, his heels
frequently striking his ancles; had on and took with him, a wool hat, a
grey-coating sailor's jacket, a coarse casimere under jacket, linen shirt
and trousers and new shoes.


446





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   "Whoever delivers the said Apprentice to the Subscribers shall have
the above reward, paid by
                                         "ABNER & ELI UPDEGRAFF.
   "Bridgeport, Eighth Month 15th, 1796."

   From The Examiner, Saturday, June 19, 1824:
                         "MINERAL WATER.
                           "DOCTOR BLAIR
"INFORMS the public that he keeps a constant supply of SELTZER & SODA
WATER, Equal in quality and salubrity to any made elsewhere.
   "Persons wishing to preserve their health, correct disease, or gratify
their taste, will call at this shop, a few doors below Maiden, on the west
side of Market Street. Prices.-Half pint glass-plain 3 cts.; with Syrup,
6 cts. Tickets-37 cts. per dozen."
   Dr. Blair was an early physician in Washington.

   From The Examiner, Saturday, May 22, 1824.

                        "SIX CENTS REWARD.
   "Ran away from the subscriber, living in Burgettstown, Washington
County, Pa. about the 7th April, an indented apprentice to the house
carpenter and cabinet business, named George Stevenson. He is about
18 years of age, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, fair complexion; had on when
he ran away, a new white fur hat, blue cloth coat and gray cassinet panta-
loons. Whoever takes up said boy, and returns him shall have the above
reward but no charges.
   "All persons are forbid harboring him at their peril.
                                                 "ROB'T. BROWN."

   From The Examiner, Saturday, May 29, 1824:
                        "FEATHERS & LINEN.
"WILL be taken in exchange for CABINET FURNITURE at my shop in Maiden
street, Washington, Pa.
                                              "DAVID MORRIS, JR."

   From The Examiner, Monday, July 5, 1819:
                              "BATHS.
   "The Bath-House at the Washington S. Mill having undergone con-
siderable improvements, is now ready for visitors, who may be accommo-
dated with WARM or COLD BATHS at the shortest notice."
   This was the Washington Steam mill, located in Washington.

   From The Examiner, Monday, October 11, 1819:
                     "SEVENTY DOLLARS REWARD.
"WILL be given to any person who will apprehend and bring to justice
CHARLES M'CLOSKY and JOHN WHAILING (Turnpikers), or thirty-five dol-
lars for either of them, who were rescued by about thirty turnpikers, after
being legally arrested.
                                                     "W. HOGE."


447





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    From The Western Telegraphe, Tuesday, October 25, 1796:
                         '"DANIEL THOMPSON,
                      "(Just from Philadelphia)
                    "BREECHES MAKER AND GLOVER,
 "RESPECTFULLY informs the Public, that he has commenced the above
 Business in all its Various branches, next door to McCluney's Store, in
 the town of Washington, where he makes the best of Oil dressed Leather
 Breeches, pantaloons and Gloves of the newest fashion; he hopes from
 his attention to business, and a constant supply of the best materials from
 Philadelphia, to merit the attention of those who may want anything
 in his way.
    "N. B. Buckskins dressed and made upon the shortest Notice."

    From The Western Telegraphe, Tuesday, May 16, 1797:
                        "THOMAS THOMPSON.
"UMBRELLA and Sword Cane Maker, respectfully informs his friends and
the Public that he has removed from Hamilton's Sawmill to the town of
Washington, next door to Mr. James McCluney's, where he proposes carry-
ing on the above business in all its various branches. Those who wish to
favor him with their custom, may be furnished either by wholesale or
retail, at Philadelphia prices. Old Umbrellas and Sword Canes repaired,
oiled anew, or taken in exchange. Storekeepers weights from four pounds
upwards may be had, warranted just, or old ones adjusted."

   From The Western Telegraphe, August 8, 1797:
                           "CHEAP GOODS.
   "THE subscriber being noticed to provide himself in another House this
fall, and not knowing as yet whether he can procure one that will suit his
business or not, is fully determined to sell by Private Sale, at first Cost
and Carriage, a large and well chosen assortment of Dry Goods, Hard-
Ware, Queens-Ware, Groceries, and best London Pewter assorted; either
Whole-Sale or Retail.
   "The Sales to commence on Monday, the 14th instant, and to continue
from day to day until all are sold. He earnestly requests all those who
stand indebted by Bond, Note, or Book Account, to settle off their respec-
tive balances by the first of September next, as no longer indulgence can
possibly be given."

   From The Reporter, Monday, March 14, 1814:
             "'SIX CENTS AND ONE BOX OF CINDERS REWARD.
   "For apprehending an apprentice to the blacksmith business named
Samuel Fisher, who absconded in March, 1810-he is about 5 feet 8 inches
high, swarthy complexion, a scar in one corner of his mouth; blue eyes,
gallows look and evil disposed. The above reward will be given to any
person who will bring him to his said master in Burgettstown, but no
charges. All persons are forbid harboring him at their peril.
                                                   "DAVIS JONES.
   "April 3, 1810. (February 14, 1814)."


448











CHAPTER LXX.


                  COLONEL GEORGE MORGAN.

AN INDIAN TRADER OF THE OLD FRONTIER-FIRST INDIAN AGENT AT
    FORT PITT-SETTLES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN 1796-THE MORGAN
    LANDS-THE MORGAN HOUSE STILL STANDING, ONE OF THE MOST
    HISTORIC WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS-AARON BURR'S VISIT-DEATH
    OF COLONEL MORGAN-THE MORGAN FAMILY.
    One of the most prominent men west of the Alleghany Mountains in
Colonial times was Col. George Morgan, who afterwards settled on the
Morganza tract of land, where the Pennsylvania Training School is now
located. His life story reads like a romance. He was successively Indian
trader, soldier, Indian agent, and finally farmer, always taking a promi-
nent part in everything he undertook.
   For some years before the Revolution he was engaged in the Indian
trade as an active member of the firm of Baynton, Wharton and Morgan,
of Philadelphia, and of the old Indiana Company. Both concerns had
stores at Fort Pitt and at other points in the Indian country. Of this
firm, Colonel Morgan was the man who made the long, dangerous journeys
into the Indian country, and he was the man who dealt directly with the
red men. Unlike many Indian traders of that time and of later days, he
always dealt fairly with the Indians, never taking advantage of their
ignorance of business or the white man's ways, and they soon learned
to trust him implicitly. His influence over the western tribes was greater
than that of any other white man who ever lived, not excepting Sir William
Johnson, of Johnson Hall, New York; and during the years of the Revolu-
tion Colonel Morgan used this influence to good advantage by holding
many of the tribes to the American cause. For this reason he was
appointed as the first United States Indian agent of the Western Depart-
ment, with headquarters at Fort Pitt.
   Colonel Morgan was born at the corner of Market and Second streets,
Philadelphia, in 1741, and at an early date he entered the Indian trade,
and in 1760, after some long years of wilderness experience, he formed
a partnership with Messrs. Baynton and Wharton, of Philadelphia, under
the firm name of Baynton, Wharton and Morgan. Colonel Morgan, be-
cause of his wilderness experience, went to the Ohio Valley to establish
trading posts. He was the founder of New Madrid, the first English
colony established in the Province of Louisiana. He was the first Ameri-
can to make the journey by water from the mouth of the Kaskaskia River
to the mouth of the Mississippi. This was in 1766.
   The story of how Colonel Morgan and his business associates lost by
one vote the title to three million acres of the most valuable land in the
Ohio Valley is one of the most remarkable romances of the old frontier.
   In 1763, the Shawnese and several other tribes seized property of the
Indiana Company to the value of 85,916 pounds, ten shillings and eight
                                449
       29-V1





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


pence, New York currency. The Indians afterward repented because of
the fair treatment they had always received from Colonel Morgan, and
to compensate him and his partners for their loss, these tribes conveyed
to Baynton, Wharton and Morgan by deed a tract of three million acres.
This land began at the mouth of the Kanawha River and extended up the
Ohio to where Wheeling, West Virginia, now stands, and thence east to
Laurel Ridge, the western slope of the Alleghanies. There was some
trouble in regard to the ratification by all the tribes interested, and in
1768 a grand council was held at Fort Stanwix.
    This was one of the greatest conferences that ever took place between
 Indians and whites in Colonial times. The former were represented by
 the head chiefs of the Mohawks, Onondagos, Senecas, Oneidas, Cayugas,
 Tuscarawas, Shawnese and Delawares, who met Sir William Johnson,
 royal superintendent of Indian affairs; the governor and chief justice of
 New Jersey; commissioners representing Pennsylvania, and Thomas
 Walker, sent by Virginia.
    At that gathering the famous treaty of Fort Stanwix was concluded,
and the land grant to Baynton, Wharton and Morgan was ratified by all
the tribes interested, with the full consent of Thomas Walker for Virginia.
On account of the value of the land, Virginia protested, and Mr. Wharton,
one of Mr. Morgan's partners, went to London to either secure the con-
firmation of the British Government or reimbursement in money for the
goods lost; but before the matter was concluded the Revolutionary war
broke out and England, of course, refused to rectify the trouble. After
the war closed the matter was brought before the House of Delegates of
Virginia, but that body refused to ratify the grant by the vote of the
presiding officer. And so Mr. Morgan and his partners lost the entire
amount.
   When the Revolution broke out Colonel Morgan raised and commanded
the first volunteer company that left the city of Philadelphia. In 1776
he was appointed the first United States Indian agent for the Western
Department, with headquarters at Fort Pitt, which position he held until
1779, when he resigned. His long experience as a trader among the
Indians and his familiarity with their manners and customs made him
well fitted for this delicate position, and his straightforward and scrupu-
lously honest manner of dealing with them had won their unbounded con-
fidence. He used his influence over the western tribes to good advantage,
and it is significant that after his resignation many of them openly fought
for the British.
   Colonel Morgan was known among the red men as "Taimenend," from
which Tammany is derived. The regard in which he was held by the
Indians and his manner of dealing with them is shown by an incident
which occurred at his home at Princeton, New Jersey, on May 12, 1779,
just before he resigned as Indian agent. On that day he was visited by
ten chiefs of the Delaware nation, which claimed western Pennsylvania,
eastern Ohio, and portions of West Virginia. In appreciation of his many
services and friendship for that tribe, they offered to make him a present
of the now famous Sewickly Bottom, now a suburb of Pittsburgh. The
value of this land at the present time would be hard to estimate, but it
would be well into the millions; and the Colonel would not accept it. The


450




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


chiefs urged, but their friend refused this generous gift, even for his
children. At the time this incident occurred Colonel Morgan was educat-
ing at his own expense the sons of several Delaware chiefs at Princeton
College.
    There were present at that council Gen. Lewis Morris, Gen. Daniel
 Sullivan and Joseph Nicholson, an interpreter. The details of the council,
 together with the speeches delivered by the Delaware chiefs and Colonel
 Morgan are still preserved among the latter's private papers, which are
 in possession of his descendants. They were last known to be in the
 hands of the late D. T. Morgan, a former prominent attorney of Pitts-
 burgh, who was a grandson.
    One of Colonel Morgan's warmest friends was White Eyes, the famous
 Delaware chief. It has been generally reported that he died of small pox
 at Fort Laurens, Ohio, in 1778, but a letter written by Colonel Morgan
 to a member of congress, dated May 12, 1784, indicates that he was
 murdered by treachery. A son, George White Eyes, aged thirteen years,
 was then (1784) under the care of Colonel Morgan at Princeton. In
 writing of this young Indian, Colonel Morgan says: "Having now entered
 Virgil and begun Greek, and being the best scholar in his class, he will
 be prepared to enter college next fall."
    In speaking of the death of Chief White Eyes, Colonel Morgan says
 further in this letter: "His father was treacherously put to death at the
 moment of his greatest exertions to save the United States, in whose
 service he held the commission of a Colonel. I have carefully concealed
 and shall continue to conceal from young White Eyes the manner of his
 Father's death, which I have never mentioned to anyone but Mr. Thomp-
 son (the secretary) & two or three members of Congress."
    Few men would have refused the generous gift offered to Colonel Mor-
 gan by these Indians in 1779. It is lamentable that his example of fair
 dealing with the Indians was not followed by more white people in later
 years. It might have prevented many a massacre.
    In 1786, while Colonel Morgan still resided at Princeton he was
 awarded the first premium ever given in America for agriculture. It is
 a handsome gold medal, three quarters of an inch in diameter, presented
 by the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, for the best essay
 on a farmyard. On the obverse side is engraved, "Philadelphia Society
 for Promoting Agriculture. To George Morgan, for his Essay on a Farm
 Yard. Adjudged February 7th, 1786." On the reverse is a representa-
 tion of Industry holding a plow drawn by a yoke of oxen, and in the back-
 ground are farm buildings and trees, with the motto, "Venerate the plow."
 Hon. Timothy Pickering, secretary of the society, forwarded the medal
 to Colonel Morgan; and it is still in the possession of his descendants.
   Dr. John Morgan, of Philadelphia, the first surgeon general of the
United States Army during the revolution and the founder of the medical
department of the University of Pennsylvania, was a brother of Col.
George Morgan. He became interested in land in Western Pennsylvania,
and bought four tracts containing 1,138 acres, two roods and twenty-two
perches in the Chartiers valley, just below the present town of Canons-
burg. The first three were bought from William Preston, 374 acres;
Robert Harrison, 273 acres, 3 roods and 33 perches, and Paul Fooks, 288


451





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


messengers, have traveled, much to our satisfaction, on the road which
he has made from his habitation to this town (Philadelphia). We have
found it a very good road, and all our nations will use this road for all
time to come. We say nothing of the Six Nations. We leave you to treat
with them yourselves. We make no road for them. This is your own
affair. We only tell you we do not include them in anything we say. I
have done." Then he gave four strings of wampum.
   Some historians claim that Tingoocqua was not a chief, and cite his
own words, "I am only a messenger," as proof. There can be no question
but that he was a chief. The fact that he was chosen as messenger for
the Delawares west of the Alleghenies, to speak for them at such an
important council, is proof enough. No Indian without rank was ever
sent to represent a tribe at such an important council. Such a thing would
not have been considered dignified. None but a chief could represent a
tribe on such an occasion. A chief was always the messenger of his people.
   Before the council ended he pointed to Sarah Gladdin, a woman pres-
ent, and told her that he held her son a prisoner at Kuskuskee, which
stood near the present New Castle, Pennsylvania. His promise to release
this son is another proof that he was a chief. From the date of this
council until his death many years later, Chief Tingoocqua was the friend
of the whites.
   Just when Tingoocqua settled on Wissamaking, the Indian name for
Catfish Creek, is not known; but that he was camped on the present site
of Washington as early as 1769 was known by William Huston, Joseph
Hunter, Abraham Hunter, and other pioneer settlers in this section.
Colonel George Kuntz, who has been dead for many years, once stated
that he heard his father, who came to Washington in 1788, say that he
knew Chief Catfish when he and his band were camped on the rear of the
lot where William Huston's inn stood for nearly a century, on the east
side of South Main Street, just south of Maiden Street. The lot is now
occupied by the Morgan apartments. Three springs marked on the origi-
nal plot of Washington were on this lot and the next, now occupied by the
Beck building.
   From this point, Catfish moved his camp to the south bank of Catfish
Creek, just above the Pennsylvania station. The spring used by the
Indians may still be seen in the rear of the old Cracraft house. From
there Catfish moved to what was afterwards known as Shirl's woods, just
opposite the Chestnut Street station, where West Washington is now
located. Just when he left this section is not known, but he finally moved
to the Scioto River, Ohio, where he died.
   At one time local tradition falsely placed his last resting place as in
the old graveyard in Washington, and for many years it was claimed that
his grave was marked by a large, uncut stone. However, this stone was
placed by Alexander Lytle, dead many years, at the grave of his wife.
His daughter, Harriet, on her deathbed requested that the bodies of her
father and mother and other members of the family be removed, with the
stone, to the Washington cemetery.
   However, the stone in the old graveyard gave the inspiration for a
few verses written by Hiram Kane, a printer on the Washington Reporter
many years ago, entitled:





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


acres, 3 roods and 3 perches, by deeds dated May 1, 1769. The fourth,
containing 201 acres, 3 roods and 26 perches, was purchased from Wil-
liam Evans on May 1, 1771. Doctor Morgan did very little towards de-
veloping this land. By an article of agreement dated October 18, 1774,
we find that one William Wilson had settled on the land and made some
improvements, which Doctor Morgan agreed to buy at a price to be fixed
by referees.
   Dr. John Morgan died in 1789 with this land still in his possession,
and by his will dated July 22, 1788, he left all of his estate, real and per-
sonal, except some bequests, to his brother, George Morgan. It was in
this manner that title to the tract of land on Chartiers Creek became
vested in the latter.
   In 1796, some authorities say 1793, Colonel Morgan gave up his home
at Princeton, packed his possessions in wagons and on horseback, and
with his family made the long journey across the mountains to build a new
home in what was then the wilderness of the far West. The date of his
settlement at Morganza is established by a letter written to his son,
George, who was then attending school at Princeton, preparing himself
for a three years' college course. In this letter Colonel Morgan asks his
son if he wishes to remain at Princeton to complete his education or go
west with the family, stating that he expected to leave his home in Octo-
ber. He must have moved at the time stated or before, as will appear
from the following advertisement which appeared in the Pittsburgh Ga-
zette, of November 26, 1796:
   "I have six farms in and adjoining the forks of Chartiers Creek, twelve
or thirteen miles due south from Pittsburgh, which I will rent for one
year or a term of years, taking a share, or cash, or a certain quantity
of produce in payment. On each farm are buildings with from forty to
eighty acres of clear land under fence, with a proportion of good meadow.
On one of them is an orchard of one hundred bearing apple trees, and on
two of them are distill houses. Lots will be ceded on easy terms to those
who wish to build for themselves, which may be done as cheap in stone
and lime as in wood. One able to erect suitable buildings here for an
inn to accommodate travelers will meet particular encouragement, as the
great number passing the route stand in daily and hourly need of sup-
plies and accommodations here.
    "Mrs. Moses Coe's saw and grist mill adjoins Morganza about nine
hundred yards down the Little Chartiers from the Cross-Roads, and Mr. J.
Struthers' Fulling Saw and Grist Mills adjoin it on the West, one mile
from the intersection of the above-mentioned public road, from whence
it is two miles to Mr. McMillan's Presbyterian Meeting House, three miles
to Canonsburg, and nine miles to the county town of Washington.
    "Morganza, Nov. 26, 1796.                     GEORGE MORGAN."
    This is the first mention we have of this tract being called Morganza,
a name that has stuck through all the years since then.
    Immediately after his arrival, Colonel Morgan began the erection of
 a large brick and frame dwelling, the ruins of which are still standing
 in a state of picturesque decay; but in its day it was one of the first
 houses west of the mountains. Colonel Morgan planted trees along the


452





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


main road which passed south of the house, and in the rear he erected a
large barn 130 by 150 feet. The colonel was a man of culture and good
taste and he brought many articles of comfort from his New Jersey to
his new home in the western wilderness, where he lived like a feudal
baron, monarch of all he surveyed.
   During the years that followed his settlement there Colonel Morgan
entertained many famous men in his home. Every party of Indians
traveling east and west stopped there, and many noted chiefs of Colonial
and Revolutionary days came that way to visit their old friend; and they
always received a warm welcome.
   While in the Revolutionary army Colonel Morgan had met Aaron Burr,
and they became very intimate; and when Burr was Vice-President of
the United States this friendship was continued. In fact, the colonel was
on intimate terms with many famous men of his day, among whom were
Washington, Jefferson, Lafayette and Franklin.
   When Burr made his famous tour of the West in the summer of 1806,
he stopped at Colonel Morgan's home at Morganza. And in August, while
a guest in this historic house which is now standing in ruins, he revealed
for the first time to any man his project for founding a new empire west
of the mountains, with himself as dictator.
   The old traditions of the Morgan family, handed down from father
to son, say that after the other members of the family had retired, Burr
told the colonel and the latter's son, Thomas, his plans for raising an
army and capturing the vast territory from the mountains to the Missis-
sippi. He urged Colonel Morgan and his son to join the movement and
share in the spoils; but both were too patriotic and were very indignant
at their guest.
   According to the old story, Thomas Morgan told Burr that he could
not capture the little village of Canonsburg, located a mile and a half
away, with such an army as he could raise. After remaining two or
three days at Morganza, Burr gave up his efforts to persuade the Mor-
gans to join him, and continued his journey to the West.
   Some of the first information the Federal Government received of
Burr's conspiracy was contained in a letter written on August 29, 1806,
by Colonel Morgan to President Thomas Jefferson. The reply, which is
still preserved in the Morgan family, follows:
                                           "Monticello, Sep. 19, 06.
"Sir.
   "Your favor of Aug. 29 camie to hand on the 15th inst. I thank you
for the information, which claims the more attention as it coincides with
what has been learned from other quarters. Your situation and the
knowledge you already possess would probably put it in your power to
trace the footsteps of this enterprise on the public peace with more effect
than any other with whom I could communicate. Whatever zeal you might
think proper to use in this pursuit, would be useful in the fulfilment of the
duties of a good citizen, and any communication you may be so good as
to make to me on the subject will be thankfully received, and so made
use of as not to commit you any further than yourself may think proper
to express. A knowledge of the persons who may reject parricide propo-


453





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


sitions will be peculiarly useful. Accept my salutations & assurances of
esteem & respect.
                                                   "Th. Jefferson.
    "To George Morgan, esq."
    The room in which Aaron Burr outlined his plans to the Morgans, and
the chamber in which he slept while a guest at Morganza, are still pointed
out by some of the old residents of that section.
   Colonel Morgan furnished additional information to the Government
and he and his son, Thomas, were summoned as witnesses against Burr,
when he was tried at Richmond, Virginia, for treason. Both remained
there during the progress of the case.
   Colonel Morgan was a slave holder and as late as 1873, there was liv-
ing in Canonsburg an aged negro named Elias Praul, who had been brought
from Delaware as a slave by Thomas Morgan. The old graveyard where
the slaves are buried is still pointed out on a hill a short distance from
the ruins of the mansion house. All of the headstones have been carried
off, and the slaves on what was once the largest private estate west of
the mountains sleep in unmarked graves, awaiting the resurrection morn.
The place is now part of a pasture.
   Col. George Morgan died at his home at Morganza on March 10, 1810,
and was buried in this graveyard, surrounded by his slaves who had
served him during life. His wife followed him in 1825, and was laid at
his side. In December, 1873, their remains were rescued from oblivion
and removed to the lot of his grandson, the late D. T. Morgan, in the
Washington Cemetery, and their graves marked with a handsome marble
monument.
   Colonel Morgan married Miss Mary Boynton, of Philadelphia, on Octo-
ber 24, 1764. To this union five children were born, John, Ann, George,
Thomas, and Maria.
   John Morgan, the oldest was born in 1770, and was educated at Prince-
ton College. In 1795 he married Miss Margaret Bunyan, daughter of
James Bunyan, of New York City, and then came to Washington County.
His father-in-law, James Bunyan, also settled here, purchasing a farm near
Morganza, in Cecil Township. John Morgan lived there until his death
in 1819, leaving five sons and three daughters. Thomas Gibbs Morgan,
his son, went to New Orleans in 1824, and became one of the leading law-
yers of the state, and in 1882, his son, Philip Gibbs Morgan, was minister
to Mexico.
   Ann Morgan, the oldest daughter of Col. George Morgan, born in 1772,
married Thomas S. Gibbs, of John's Island, South Carolina, in 1793. He
died in 1798, leaving three sons and one daughter. She afterwards mar-
ried John Gibbs, a brother of her first husband.
   George Morgan was born in 1780, and after receiving his education
at Princeton College came to Washington County. After the sale of his
father's land he settled at Bower Hill, Allegheny County. His children
were David T., Mary B., Elizabeth, Nancy, Maria, George, Matilda, Wil-
liam McK., and Lauretta.
   While attending Burr's trial at Richmond, Thomas Morgan, son of
Col. George Morgan, met Catherine Duane, a daughter of Col. William
Duane, editor of "The Aurora," one of Philadelphia's leading newspapers


454





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


at that time. They fell in love and were married on October 1, 1807, and
he took his bride across the mountains to Washington County. He was
born August 25, 1784, and after studying law in Pittsburgh was admitted
to practice in Washington County in 1813. He practiced law in Washing-
ton, where he became prominent, and was sent to the legislature in 1814-
15. He was prothonotary from 1821 to 1823, and postmaster of Wash-
ington from 1829 to 1839. He helped organize the Franklin Bank, now
the First National Bank, of Washington, and the Washington Female
Seminary. He died in Washington on July 19, 1855, aged seventy-one
years, leaving his wife and four children to survive him. Mrs. Morgan's
brother, William Duane, was a member of Andrew Jackson's first cabinet.
    Thomas J. Morgan, their oldest son, was born at Morganza on April 3,
 1815, and studied law in Washington under Isaac Leet. He established
 a newspaper in Washington, which he called "Our Country," which he
 published for several years. In the summer of 1836 he raised a com-
 pany of volunteers to aid the Texas revolutionists, and was elected their
 captain, at the age of twenty-one. His younger brother, George W. Mor-
 gan, was chosen second lieutenant, although he was only a boy. But the
 Texas revolution was won by just such boys. The brothers reached the
 Lone Star State with their company just in time to participate in the final
 battle of the war at San Jacinto. They remained in the new republic for
 several years, and George Morgan was made a captain in the Texas army
 by Gen. Sam Houston. He was stationed at Galveston.
    After returning east Thomas Morgan, Jr., located at Columbus, Ohio,
 and in the spring of 1847 was appointed secretary of the United States
 legation at Brazil, dying of yellow fever at Rio de Janeiro on March 30,
 1850. His uniform may be seen in the collection of the Washington County
 Historical Society.
    After George Morgan returned from Texas he settled in Knox County,
 Ohio, and when the Mexican war broke out he raised and drilled a com-
 pany from that section. When the troops were mobilized at Camp Wash-
 ington, Cincinnati, he was elected colonel of the Second Regiment, Ohio
 Volunteers, and went to Mexico as its commander. While leading a charge
 at Cherubusco he was severely wounded; and for his gallantry he was
 made colonel of a regiment of United States Regulars, serving under
 General Scott.
   When the war closed he was appointed United States consul at Mar-
seilles, France, and during Buchanan's administration he was minister
to Portugal. Immediately after the Civil war broke out he returned to
this country, and was commissioned a brigadier-general, serving with dis-
tinction throughout that great conflict. It is of special interest to note
that he was at one time democratic candidate for governor of Ohio. Later
he was talked of as a candidate for Vice-President of the United States
on the democratic ticket, but refused to consider the nomination. After
the Civil war he settled at Mount Vernon, Ohio, where he died.
   In 1818, the Morganza tract was divided into smaller farms and sold.
In the early '70s the State of Pennsylvania purchased 503 acres of the
original Morgan land for $88,621.20. On May 1, 1873, the contract was
made for the two main buildings of the Pennsylvania Training School,
which was removed to this place from Allegheny as soon as the buildings


455





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


were completed. The Pennsylvania Railroad station at this place was
named Morganza, and thus the original name has been preserved.
    Col. George Morgan's historic old home still stands along the Wash-
ington-Pittsburgh pike not far from Morganza Station, on land owned by
William B. Pollock. Several years ago it was divided into lots, but no
buildings have been erected on any and it is doubtful if any lots have
been sold. According to the plot of these lots, an alley will go directly
through the old house.
    This famous old house, erected in 1796, is fast falling in ruins and
in a short time only a pile of bricks and stones will mark the site of this
famous mansion of the old frontier. Built at a time when the savage
war cry of the wild Indian still rang through the forests of the western
country, it has come down to the present generation as one of the last
reminders of the stirring days of long ago and of men who helped make
the early history of the nation. For many years it was used as a store-
house for farm machinery; then it was abandoned, and now, neglected
and almost forgotten, it stands a dilapidated relic of the historic past.
The roof is caving in and the chimney has long since fallen down; the
doors and windows are all gone, gaping holes are in the walls, and the
interior is a complete wreck. Indian chiefs and frontiersmen, Revolu-
tionary heroes and famous statesmen were entertained within those (now
crumbling) walls in the days of long ago. In fact, this ancient building
is so closely associated with some early historical events of national im -
portance that it should be preserved for all time to come.


























    Home of Col. George Morgan, near Morganza. Built in 1796 by Colonel Morgan,
who emigrated there from Princeton, N. J. Morgan was a famous Indian trader in
this section during Colonial times, and he was the first Indian agent of the United
States government, with headquarters at Fort Pitt in 1777. This was a noted family
in the history of Washington County. Aaron Burr was entertained in this house in
1805.


456
































                        PART III.

             WASHINGTON COUNTY SINCE 1800.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE GENERAL GROWTH OF THE COUNTY DURING THE
   PAST CENTURY AND A QUARTER, INCLUDING THE COAL, OIL, GAS,
   AGRICULTURE, RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY,
   TOGETHER WITH THE HISTORY OF EACH CITY, BOROUGH AND TOWN-
   SHIP.












CHAPTER LXXI.


                   TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES.
 THE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN TOWNSHIPS-SUBDIVISION OF THE ORIGINAL
    THIRTEEN TOWNSHIPS INTO SMALLER TOWNSHIPS-EARLY SET-
    TLERS.
    After Washington County was erected by the act of March 28, 1781,
 one of the first and most important duties was to divide the new county
 into townships. The act referred to provided that this division should
 be made by the trustees named, James Edgar, Hugh Scott, Van Swear-
 ingen, Daniel Leet, and John Armstrong. The act provided that this di-
 vision should take place on or before July 1, 1781. There is no record to
 show just when this division took place, but it is presumed that it was
 on the date indicated. At any rate the division was made, and on July 15th,
 the freeholders of each township met at places indicated and elected jus-
 tices of the peace for each.
    Taking the number of the original thirteen colonies, or states, the
trustees divided Washington County into thirteen townships as follows:
Amwell, Bethlehem, Cecil, Cumberland, Donegal, Fallowfield, Hopewell,
Morgan, Nottingham, Peters, Robinson, Smith, and Strabane. Amwell
was named from Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, adjoining Morris
County, New Jersey. A Presbyterian church in that vicinity had the
same name, and from that section came the Lindleys, Cooks, Rev. J. Dodd,
and other Washington County settlers. Bethlehem was probably so named
because a number of Quakers settled in that region; Cecil was taken from
Cecil County, Maryland; Cumberland, probably from Cumberland County;
Donegal is Irish, and was no doubt selected because of the large number
of that nationality settled there; Fallowfield, from a township in Chester
County; Hopewell, from a township of that name in York, Cumberland
and Bedford counties; Morgan was probably named after the Morgan
family of Revolutionary fame; Nottingham was a township in Chester
County; Peters was probably from Peters Creek and an early settler in
that region; Robinson is not known; Strabane was another Irish name,
and Smith was probably from the Rev. Joseph Smith, a pioneer preacher
in that section.
   Somerset Township, originally spelled Summerset, was created at the
January term of court, 1782, from parts of Fallowfield, Nottingham, Stra-
bane, and Bethlehem townships. Greene Township, which is now the
southeast corner of Greene County, was created at the same time. During
the winter of 1784-85, Washington Township was erected from that part
of Peters lying along the right bank of Chartiers creek down to the Mo-
nongahela River. On January 17, 1786, the court erected Hanover Town-
ship from part of Smith.
   Franklin Township was erected from a part of Amwell Township on
July 16, 1787. Old Finley Township was taken from part of Donegal by
the court on May 6, 1788, and Morris from Amwell, in September, 1788.
                                459





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


On January 18, 1790, old Bethlehem was divided into two townships, East
Bethlehem and West Bethlehem. On March 23, 1790, Chartiers Township
was erected from the southern part of Cecil. Cross Creek Township was
taken from Hopewell in 1789.
    On June 10, 1791, Canton Township was taken from parts of Morris,
Hopewell, Strabane and Chartiers. Old Pike Run Township was erected
from Fallowfield on January 8, 1792, and Rich Hill Township, now in
Greene County, was created on March 13, 1793. Buffalo Township was
formed from the territory of the original Donegal Township on May 8,
1799. Mount Pleasant Township was taken from parts of Smith, Cecil,
Hopewell and Canton on May 12, 1806.
   The next township was created on December 24, 1828, when old Fin-
ley was divided into East Finley and West Finley; and on May 2, 1831,
old Strabane was divided into South Strabane and North Strabane. Car-
roll Township was taken from Fallowfield and Nottingham on Septem-
ber 30, 1834. Union Township was created on March 31, 1836, from that
part of Peters and Nottingham lying along the Monongahela River.
   Old Pike Run Township was divided on March 9, 1839, into East Pike
Run and West Pike Run. In August, 1852, Allen Township was taken
from Fallowfield and East Pike Run. Jefferson Township was part of
Cross Creek until June 16, 1853, when it was erected. In February, 1856,
Independence Township was taken from Hopewell.
   Franklin Township was divided on February 8, 1892, into North and
South Franklin, and on November 4, 1894, Blaine Township was created
from a part of Buffalo. The next and to date the last division of town-
ships in the county was in 1921, when North Bethlehem Township was
created from the northern section of West Bethlehem. This division was
brought about by the dissatisfaction of the residents of North Bethlehem
Township over the location of a high school.
   This now brings us down to the present townships of Washington
County, of which there are thirty-four. The territory of the original
thirteen townships of 1781 has been greatly reduced by divisions into
smaller townships. Of those original thirteen we still have Amwell, Cecil,
Donegal, Fallowfield, Hopewell, Nottingham, Peters, Robinson and Smith,
Amwell being the largest.

                         AMWELL TOWNSHIP.
   Amwell Township, one of the original thirteen into which the county
was divided in 1781, is one of the largest in area at the present time. It
originally embraced Morris, North and South Franklin and part of the
present Canton, but its original area has been reduced from time to time.
This region was one of the first settled in the county; and among the first
to take up land in what is now Amwell were the five Bane brothers, Jesse,
Nathan, Isaac, Ellis, and Joseph. Originally from New England, they
had drifted to the west branch of the Potomac River, and then about 1768
came to this county. Others who came about that same time were Na-
thaniel McGiffin, David Evans, Enoch Enoch, James Milliken, Abel Mc-
Farland, George Cooper, and John Bates.
   They were quickly followed by others among whom were the Rev.


460





































  Ruins of the old water wheel at
Chambers' Mill, Amwell Township,
as it appeared in 1909.


    Chambers' Mill, Amwell Township, five miles south of Washington,
now the oldest mill standing in Washington County, built by William and
Robert Chambers in 1823 on the site of a former mill that had fallen in
ruins. This was one of the largest and best known of the old-time mills
of the county.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                    THE GRAVE OF CATFISH.
              A fitting monument was that
                 For one so proud and stern;
              More striking than a marble bust
                 Or consecrated urn.

              Unbending as that massive rock,
                 You braved the battle storm,
              And reared amidst its fiercest shock
                 Thy dark, majestic form.

              Thou needst not fear the pale face race,
                Who slumber by thy side;
              They cannot tear the home from thee,
                Which living they denied.

              Unlettered stone above thy head
                 Is not more still than they,
              The marble not more motionless
                 That tells where they lay.

              The rank green grass is twining,
                 Its wreath above thy head,
              As it ever richly twineth
                 Round dwellings of the dead.

               Oh, does thy spirit ever come
                 To gaze upon this mound,
              And tread upon the springing grass
                 Above the hallowed ground?

               Dost ever wander o'er the hills
                 Where once thy tribe did roam,
              And curse the race, who on their graves
                 Have built themselves a home?

              Thou hearest not, dark Chieftain-
                 Thy funeral song is sung;
              The emblems of thy power have flown,
                 Thy last war-whoop hath rung.

              But yet thy name, by kindred ghosts,
                 Is heard by yonder rill,
              As comes its murmuring midnight chime
                In echoes from the hill.

   Nemacolin, another Indian chief of importance in the Colonial history
of this section of the state, was camped at an early date where Browns-
ville now stands in Fayette County, just across the Monongahela River





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Thaddeus Dodd and his brother Daniel Dodd, David McCracken, Daniel
McFarland, Jacob Cook, Demas Lindley, and many others who came in
after the Revolution. These people were of old English and Scotch stock,
a God-loving people, who carried the Bible into the western wilderness
along with the rifle and the plow.
    It is interesting at this time to note that these were the people who
 organized the first religious congregation of any kind in Washington
 County. That was the North Ten Mile Baptist Church, organized in
 1772 at the house of Enoch Enoch. A detailed history of this congrega-
 tion will be found in another chapter.
    Amwell Township is also noted as being the location of the first classi-
 cal school west of the Alleghany Mountains, established about 1781 or '82
 by the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, pastor of the Upper and Lower Ten Mile
 Presbyterian congregations.
    Little industrial development has touched this township, but it is to-
 day one of the agricultural sections of the county. It is a beautiful sec-
 tion. The smoke and grime of coal mines have not defaced it or blackened
 its hillsides or green fields, and the sordid, unsightly little mining towns
 are not yet to be found scattered over its hills and valleys. However, it
 is underlaid with large deposits of coal, and the day will come when its
 pastoral beauty will be spoiled by the advance of industry.
    There are no coal towns or mines of any size in this township, although
the borough of Marianna joins it on the southeast side. There are a few
local or wagon mines scattered here and there, worked by some farmer
upon whose land they are located. However, all of the big coal companies
own large tracts of the Pittsburgh vein, which will eventually be developed.
The following are the coal companies, together with the number of acres
owned by each: Union Coal & Coke Co., 8,758 acres; Pittsburgh Coal Co.,
6,642 acres; Piedmont Coal Co., 4,033 acres; Vesta Coal Co., 2,769 acres;
Lilley Coal Co., 2,072 acres; Hecla Coal & Coke Co., 1,219 acres.
   There are several towns or villages in Amwell Township, only four of
which are of any size-Lone Pine, Amity, Ten Mile, and Sunset, but they
are all what may be called little country towns or farming communities.
There are only two post offices, Amity and Ten Mile, the rural free de-
livery system having long ago done away with the necessity of the others;
but there were formerly post offices at Lone Pine and Bane Town.
   In addition to the villages there are such places as Hackney, Braddock,
Judge Chambers, Vankirk Station, Chambers' Dam, McCracken, Condit
Crossing, and Dutch Glory, all locations for stores or railroad stations on
the Waynesburg & Washington Railroad.
   There are fourteen village and rural schools as follows: Lone Pine,
Amity, Horn, Chambers, Reese, Vankirk, Pleasant Hill, Montgomery,
Pershing, Reed, Chestnut Ridge, Amwell High School, Ridge, and Swart.
These will all be treated in more detail in another chapter on the rural
schools of the county.
   There are now eight churches in this township: the Lone Pine Chris-
tian Church; Lower Ten Mile Presbyterian Church, and Methodist Protes-
tant Church, at Amity; Mount Herman Baptist Church, near Amity; Lib-
erty Chapel, a Methodist Episcopal Church; Swartz Methodist Protestant


462




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Church; Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church, at Ten Mile, formerly the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the North Ten Mile Baptist Church,
two miles from Ten Mile. These will be described at more length in the
chapter on rural churches.
   The oil development has never been large in this township, but a num-
ber of good gas wells have been struck, the first dating back to 1865.
These, together, with a history of the coal industry will be treated in
other chapters.
   The following interesting statistics for 1925 taken from the county
commissioners' office, show the present state of this township: Number
of taxables, 974; acres of cleared land, 26,500; acres of timber, 1,408;
value of all real estate, $5,356,380; value of real estate exempt from taxa-
tion, $41,500; value of real estate taxable, $5,314,880; number of horses
and mules over four years of age, 514; value of the same, $33,875; number
of neat cattle over four years of age, 624; value of the same, $21,350;
value of salaries, occupations, offices, posts of profit, professions, etc.,
$97,125; aggregate value of all property taxable for county purposes,
$5,467,230; amount of money at interest, including mortgages, judgments,
bonds, etc., $292,280; amount of county tax levied or appropriated for
the construction of roads and bridges, $29,356.39; amount of tax levied
for schools, not including any state appropriation, $24,402.24; amount of
tax levied or appropriated for other purposes, $42,174.36; total amount of
tax levied or appropriated for all purposes, $95,933.17; amount of tax
levied on personal property, $2,080.33; amount of tax levied on occupa-
tions, $4,127.06; amount of tax levied on corporations and limited part-
nerships, other than railroads, $58,587.05.
   The oldest village in the township is Amity, known in history as the
last residence and the burial place of the Rev. Solomon Spaulding, the
reputed author of the Book of Mormon. This ancient village which dates
back to 1797, when it was laid out by Daniel Dodd and Ziba Cooke, has
changed but little in the past half century, and it is one of the most
picturesque in the county. The houses are all of the older style, many
of them dating back many years.
   Probably the oldest in the village is the house in which Rev. Solomon
Spaulding lived from 1809 until his death on October 20, 1816. It is now
owned by Alexander E. Bolton, who occupies it as a residence. In a small
building adjoining the house, Mr. Bolton has conducted a blacksmith shop
for more than half a century. The old house is of frame, and is in a rather
dilapidated state of repair.
   The first mention we find of the village of Amity appears in The West-
ern Telegraphe and Washington Advertiser, for June 20, 1797:

                              "OBSERVE.
   "The subscribers have laid out a number of lots for a Town in the
township of Amwell, near Mr. Moor's meeting-house, on the main road
leading from Washington to Waynesburgh, nearly central between the
two. The situation is pleasant, near several grist- and saw-mills, in thriv-
ing settlement, etc. Persons inclining to purchase are desired to meet
on the premises on the 25th day of July next, at ten o'clock, when the lots


463





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


are to be offered for sale to the highest bidder; terms will be easy, and a
good title given by the subscribers.
                                       "Daniel Dodd,
                                       "Ziba Cooke."
    It appears that lots were sold at this auction to Daniel Thompson,
 Jacob Applebaum, and James Milleken, and perhaps others. The deed to
 Thompson shows that the consideration for Lot No. 13 was $11.50. Henry
 Wick at that time operated a distillery on land adjoining the town. On
 September 14, 1803, Dodd sold lots Nos. 18, 20 and 22 to John Cooke, who
 was licensed to keep a tavern in Amity in 1807.
    The first store of which we have a record was opened by Thomas
 Brice, who advertised on November 5, 1810, that he kept a line of linen,
 lining, hemp, bags, beeswax, feathers, whisky and rags; but there were
 probably others before that time.
    Amity has always been a patriotic village, and it is interesting to
note at this time that on July 4, 1811, the citizens of the town celebrated the
birthday of American Independence at the house of Leslie Carsons.
Maj. Thomas Vaneman was president of the day and Thomas Brice, vice-
president. After the Declaration of Independence was read by Abel Mc-
Farland, speeches were made and firearnis discharged by Capt. William
Gordon's rifle company.
   The manner in which the town was named is not definitely known, but
Mrs. Joseph A. Smith, of Washington, an old-time school teacher of Amity,
informed the author that in early times two prominent men of the village
had a very bitter fight. After it was all over they became firm friends;
and thus gave the town the name of "Amity."
   During the Civil war practically all of the male population able to bear
arms enlisted in the Union army, and only four old men were left in the
village. They were James Hughes, Obediah Clutter, Isaac Bebout, and
John Hammers.
   During the Confederate General Morgan's famous raid through Ohio,
it was reported for several days that he was coming up through West
Virginia and into Pennsylvania by way of Waynesburg. There were no
troops to oppose him in this section, and it was believed that he was at-
tempting to reach Pittsburgh. Many of the old-time residents of Wash-
ington remember how the men of this section flocked to Waynesburg to
stop Morgan, and excitement ran high for several days.
   During that time word reached Amity that Morgan had captured
Waynesburg and was headed for Washington, in which event he would
pass right through Amity. For several nights thirteen women of the vil-
lage slept in the old stone house that stood back of the store which was
burned several years ago.
   In olden times the churches were lighted with tallow candles, and
Mrs. Obediah Clutter, the wife of one of the four old men left in the town
during the war, made the candles that lighted the old Methodist Protestant
Church, which was organized in 1832.
   In 1882 there were twenty-seven houses in the town, and there are
not many more than that number today. At the present time there is
one physician, Dr. W. L. Dodd, the ninth physician to practice in Amity.


464




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Of the business houses, there are three general stores conducted by D. H.
Swart, W. Z. Johnson, and William Hughes. Mankey Brothers conduct
a garage, and John C. Condit is a carpenter and painter.
    A telephone exchange was established here about eighteen years ago
by the Amity Farmers Telephone Company, but this is now part of the
Bell system. For the past seven years the exchange has been located in
the residence of A. C. Ullom, with Mrs. A. C. Ullom as the operator.
There are twenty-two telephones in the town, and a number am6ng the
farmers in the adjoining territory.
    In the old frame house in the bottom of Ten Mile Creek, just beyond
Swart's old store, on the main road to Waynesburg, the Rev. William
Phipps, a brother of Henry Phipps, the Pittsburgh millionaire, lived many
years ago. He made a living by preaching and teaching school in Amity.
It is told of him that at one time he tapped a number of black walnut
trees, believing them to be sugar maples.
    On May 19, 1859, Ten Mile Lodge No. 552, I. O. O. F., was established
at Amity with the following first officers and charter members: Apollos
Loar, noble grand; Henry Swart, vice grand; Samuel Walton, secretary;
Wilson McCollum, assistant secretary; Henry Miller, treasurer; James
A. Bebout, Nelson McCollum, John McAfee, James Manin, Benjamin Yo-
ders, and Samuel Martin. In March, 1896, Council No. 265, Junior Order
United American Mechanics, was organized, but neither of these lodges
meet at present. A lodge of the P. O. S. of A. is also located there.
   There is not a Civil war veteran left in Amity, the last having died
several years ago. But at one time there were a number in the village
and vicinity, and there was a Grand Army post known as the Philo Paul
Post, named for an Amity soldier killed at the battle of Spottsylvania. It
ceased to be active a number of years ago, although at one time its mem-
bership was more than twenty. It will be described in greater detail in
the chapter on the Grand Army of the Republic.
   Ten Mile village, originally called Clarktown, is another old village of
this township. The town was named in honor of Abner Clark, and stands
on the tract of land called the Mill Site. Freeman Hathaway erected a
grist mill at this place in 1834, and in 1838, a post office was established
and called Ten Mile, with Freeman Hathaway as the first postmaster,
the post office department refusing to accept the name of Clarktown be-
cause it was named after a family.
   Dr. George Reed, a physician, located there about 1840, and in the
years since then there have been eight others, the last and present being
Dr. L. W. Braden, who has practiced there for nearly half a century.
   Many years ago there was one large flour and sawmill, a blacksmith
shop, a dry goods store, a carriage and wagon factory, a general store,
a shoemaker's shop, and two physicians. The flour mill ceased to operate
long ago, and has now entirely disappeared. The sawmill has also ceased
operations, and the carriage and wagon factory is no more. There is
one store at the present time, kept by A. W. Voorhees, who is also the
postmaster. At one time there was a band known as the Ten Mile Cornet
Band. A Masonic lodge was organized there many years ago, but it ceased
to operate in 1876; but at the present time there is a P. O. S. of A. lodge.


30-V1


465




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


The Pleasant Hill school and Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church are lo-
cated within half a mile of the town.
    James Smith, a very old man, is the only Civil war veteran left in that
 section. He lives near the village. At the present time there are about
 eighteen houses in Ten Mile.
    Martin's Mill, which is still in operation, is located about half way
 between Ten Mile and Marianna. This is one of the old-time grist mills
 of that section which is still in operation. It is now run by Williant Mar-
 tin. Years ago there was a post office named Bissell, located there, but it
 ceased with the establishment of rural free delivery within the last twenty
 years.
    Lone Pine, eight miles from Washington, is another important village
 in Amwell Township, located in the valley of the North Fork of the North
 Branch of Ten Mile Creek, now known as Little Ten Mile Creek. From
 this beautiful valley the original settlers there gave the town its original
 name of Pleasant Valley.
    The beginning may be said to date back to the establishment of the
 Pleasant Valley Christian Church in 1844. As time passed a town was
 gradually built around the church. The first store was established there
 by the late J. D. Huston, prior to 1870. Mr. Huston conducted this store
 for many years, and when he retired his son, Harry H. Huston, succeeded
 him and he still runs the business.
    The name of Lone Pine was given to the town in rather a romantic
 manner, as related to the author by Harry H. Huston. On the West
 Bethlehem side of the creek, about one hundred yards below the J. D.
 Huston homestead were twin pine trees. Shortly before 1872 one
 was struck by lightning and knocked over, leaving only a snag. In 1872
 a post office was secured for the town, and J. D. Huston was appointed its
 first postmaster, but when he sent in the name of Pleasant Valley the
 post office department refused to accept it as there was at that time an-
 other post office of this name in the eastern part of the state.
    Mr. Huston brought this subject of a name for the post office before
the nightly gathering in his store and several names were suggested, but
none seemed to strike the popular fancy until someone suggested the name
of "Lone Pine" from the lone pine tree left on the banks of the creek.
Just who suggested this name is not certain, but it was probably either
Mr. Huston or J. S. Carlyle, but it met with instant favor; and so the
town became Lone Pine after this lone pine tree which is still standing.
Mr. Huston was its only postmaster, serving until the office was removed
by rural free delivery. The first mail was carried from Washington bi-
weekly. Later it was changed to tri-weekly and then daily.
   This town is popularly known as "Pin Hook"; and the manner in
which it was given this not very dignified name, was related to the author
by Harry H. Huston. Years ago there was a local character there named
"General" Andrew Frazee. One day he saw several boys fishing in the
hole at the old horse-chestnut tree just below the town. After watching
them for a while he discovered that they were using bent pins for hooks.
This so tickled the old man that he immediately christened the town "Pin
Hook"; and the name has stuck ever since.
   Two of the original houses built in Lone Pine are still standing, the


466


































    Hart's Mill, Amwell Township, five miles south of Washington; built by Dunning
Hart about sixty years ago; razed about 15 years ago.


    Village of Amity. The first house on the left is the house in which Solomon
Spaulding, claimed to have been the real author of the Book of Mormon, lived. Spauld-
ing died in this house and is buried in the cemetery nearby.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


J. D. Huston residence and the old Silas Crispin house, both owned by
Harry H. Huston. Just how old they are is not known today, but they
must have been built at least eighty years ago. Which is the older can
not be said today. The Huston house has been greatly changed by addi-
tions during the years, but the Crispin house appears today just as it was
originally, except that it is in a very dilapidated condition. It is no longer
used for any purpose.
   There is an old mill at Lone Pine, which was built many years ago by
David Frazee, one of the founders of the town. Later it was owned by
a man named Chamberlin, who sold it to Samuel Lindley, and he in turn
to A. H. Paul, the present owner. No flour has been made there for about
twenty-five years, but feed is still ground there. It was always a steam
mill.
   At the present time there are two general stores, Harry H. Huston,
who conducts the store that his father founded nearly sixty years ago,
and Mrs. Dale P. Gregg, who has the store of her father, the late W. W.
Paul. Percy Martin runs an automobile repair shop, and James Reynolds
is the blacksmith. The Carnegie Natural Gas Company has a station
there.
   There is no physician at Lone Pine at present. More than forty years
ago the late Dr. D. H. Lewis, afterwards one of Washington's prominent
doctors, located there. He was followed in turn by Doctors McColloch,
Crumrine and David Hootman. There is one church, the Lone Pine Chris-
tian, and a school. The Pleasant Valley Academy was located there many
years ago, but it discontinued long since. A more complete history of it
will be found in the chapter on academies in the county. A lodge of the
P. O. S. of A. was founded at Lone Pine about fifteen years ago, and is
still active. No other fraternal orders have ever been located there.
    At the present time there are three Civil war veterans left in Lone
Pine: Samuel Martin, aged ninety-two years; David Potts, aged eighty-
five years, who served in Company I, 116th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infan-
try, and Clinton V. Lewis, aged seventy-eight years, who served in Com-
pany K, 18th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry.
    A telephone exchange was established in Lone Pine about twenty
years ago by the Lone Pine Telephone Company, which now has connec-
tion with the Bell system at Washington. At the present time there are
ninety-five telephones on this exchange, only seven of which are in the
town, the others being farmers' lines, some extending as far as Ten Mile
village.
    Peddler's Knob, the high hill just south of Lone Pine, is hardly known
by that name to the present generation. It will be remembered by all
of the old-time residents as the spot where a peddler was murdered many
years ago. The details, however, have been lost with the passing years.
    Sunset, or Baker's Station, is a little hamlet of twenty-five houses on
the Waynesburg and Washington Railroad about seven miles south of
Washington. This village is on the site of a fulling and grist mill estab-
lished by Nathan Bane about 1790, on Bane's Fork of Ten Mile Creek,
the mill and house being under the same roof. An advertisement in The
Western Telegraphe on September 22, 1796, by Gordon Douglass states:
"That he means to carry on the fulling business in all its various branches


468





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


at Nathan Bane's fulling mill on the Middle Fork of Ten Mile Creek." The
last sign of this old mill was torn away about forty-five years ago, and
nothing now remains.
    This place was originally called Bane Town, then Evansville, but when
 the post office was established there more than forty years ago the name
 was changed to Sunset, by which it is still known. The post office was
 discontinued about twenty years ago when rural free delivery was estab-
 lished. The railroad station at this place is known as Baker's. There are
 two general stores, one conducted by Baker & Pickett in the railroad sta-
 tion, and another by E. T. Hatfield.
    Sunset Union Chapel was established here about twenty-five years ago
by the people of that section. A frame church about thirty by forty feet
was erected by the people of that community. This is non-denominational,
and its attended by people of all faiths. There has never been a regular
pastor, the pulpit being filled by ministers of different denominations from
surrounding churches.
    The Chambers' Mill resort is a station on the Waynesburg and Wash-
 ington Railroad five miles south of Washington. This is located at the
 old mill dam built more than a century ago by William and Robert Cham-
 bers when they constructed the brick mill in 1823, which still stands below
 the breast of the dam. This is the largest private dam in the county,
 and during the past eight years has become a summer camp resort for
 Washington people. In 1917 the Chambers' Mill Resort Company was
 incorporated by C. E. Houston, Earl McVehil, Walter Hall, James Dever,
 Arthur Post, T. H. W. Fergus, H. B. Jeffreys, R. C. Garber, J. Clarence
 Day, and Leasure Schull, of Washington. Earl McVehil was president
 and Clarence E. Houston, secretary and treasurer.
    A lease was secured on the mill property, and summer camps and cot-
tages erected in the woods adjoining the dam. A bathing beach was estab-
lished and a dancing pavilion erected over the water. This has become a
very popular resort for Washington people and during the past season
there were about thirty permanent camps. A history of the old mill will
be found in another chapter. Picnics are held there, and most of the
persons having summer camps work in Washington, going back and forth
each day in automobiles.

                          ALLEN TOWNSHIP.
   Allen Township lies along the Monongahela River. This was part of
both Fallowfield and East Pike Run until August, 1852. In 1859, a small
portion of Allen was attached to East Pike Run Township, and during
the years since then the original area of Allen has been greatly reduced
by several boroughs incorporated from its territory: Long Branch, Au-
gust 21, 1893; Twilight, February 12, 1894; Speers, February 12, 1894;
Stockdale, April 28, 1894; Roscoe, May 14, 1894; Elco, originally called
Wood's Run, May 14, 1894, and Dunlevy, November 10, 1913.
   One of the first settlers in this region was Henry Speers, a German,
who settled there about 1780, or shortly thereafter. Rev. William Riggs
settled in that section about 1773; Lawrence and John Crow in 1784;
Joshua Dixon, in 1784; David Englands, in 1784; William Jackman, in


469





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1788; Jeremiah Proctor, in 1785; Thomas Stockdale, in 1799; Peter Hazel-
baker, in 1800, and Joseph Chester, and William Huggins, at other dates.
    With an excellent river frontage, Allen Township is in the very heart
of the early coal development of the river district of Washington County.
The township was formerly underlaid with large deposits of the Pitts-
burgh vein of coal, but the coal has been exhausted under much of the
township. The Vesta Coal Company formerly had three mines there
which supplied coking coal for the Jones & Laughlin mills in Pittsburgh.
It still has an office, house and stables at the town of Vesta.
    One of the first schools in that section was located near Mount Tabor
Church, now in Long Branch borough. In 1859, Allen Township had three
schools and in 1860 four, at the present time there are three school houses
in the township-Allenport, Vesta, and the Allen school.
   The following statistics show the present state of Allen Township:
Taxables, 476; value of all real estate, $981,310; value of real estate ex-
empt from taxation, $11,500; value of real estate taxable, $969,810; num-
ber of horses and mules over four years of age, 15; value of same, $1,050;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 29; value of same, $1,160;
value of salaries, trades, posts of profits, professions, and occupations,
$47,305; aggregate value of all property taxable for county purposes,
$1,019,325; amount of county tax, $7,646.21; money at interest, mort-
gages, judgments, bonds, etc., $60,050; county tax on money at interest,
$240.20; amount of tax levied or appropriated for roads and bridges,
$5,096.63; tax levied for schools, not including state appropriation, $10,-
196.20; tax levied and appropriated for other purposes, $7,886.41; total
amount of tax levied or appropriated, $23,179.24; tax levied on personal
property, $289.92; tax on occupations, $1,064.31; tax on real estate of
railroads, $38.25; tax on real estate of corporations, other than railroads,
including limited partnerships, $18,481.24.
   Allenport, originally called Independence, is the principal town in this
township. It stands on land originally granted to Henry Dixon on Au-
gust 13, 1784, containing 142 acres. Henry Dixon sold this land to John
Baldwin on April 29, 1816, but Baldwin had evidently agreed to purchase
the tract before that time, as he made arrangements to lay out a town,
as shown by the following advertisement in The Reporter, on March 18,
1816:
                   "New Town-Town Lots for Sale.
   "The Subscriber has laid out a new town on the western bank of the
Monongahela River, in Washington County and State of Pennsylvania,
called West Freeport, immediately opposite to Freeport, which is on the
eastern bank of said river, in Fayette County, and offers for sale therein
forty-five lots of ground, which will be sold at public vendue on the 15th
day of April next, on the premises, sale to commence at 10 o'clock in the
forenoon.
   "West Freeport is situate in the very midst of a very wealthy settle-
ment, and presents as many natural advantages to men of enterprise and
industry as any other site in the western country. Glass-works as well
as other manufactories might be established and carried on at this place
to great advantage, as materials for such purposes are found in great
abundance within its vicinity. There is an excellent grist and saw-mill at


470





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the place, and places of public worship within a very short distance. A
turnpike road is expected to be made from Bedford, in Bedford County,
to Washington, in Washington County, Pa., which, if carried on or near
to a straight line from the one place to the other, will pass through West
Freeport.                                            John Baldwin.
    "West Freeport, March 7, 1816."
    This attempt to lay out a town seems to have been a failure, as
 Mr. Baldwin sold no lots and on May 1, 1817, he sold seventy-nine acres to
 John Allen, who on May 29, 1828, purchased 172 acres from David Eng-
 land. On January 30, 1839, the estate of Joseph Allen sold 122 acres to
 Francis McKee.
    The town of Independence was laid out by Mr. McKee about 1850, but
 the lots sold very slowly. On August 17, 1852, Lots 55 and 56 were pur-
 chased by Davenport Phillips, and on July 27, 1853, Henry Stimel bought
 Lot No. 9. The next sale was not until five years later, and is rather in-
 teresting. On December 4, 1858, Mr. McKee conveyed Lot No. 2 on Water
 Street to Robert Fields, "for and in consideration of the sum of twenty
 cents (the price of taking me and old Charley across the river and back).
 The consideration and principal reason for my giving the above described
 plot of ground is because I think him a poor, good boy, and hope he may
 make a rich, good man, never steal, get drunk, swear, or play cards, but
 be honest and industrious, and it is my desire and design that if Robert
 should die before he becomes to years of twenty-one the lot should go
 to his sister Eliza." Whether Robert Fields lived up to these hopes is
 not known.
    The name of the town was changed in 1865 from Independence to
Allenport. When the post office was established it was named Belle Zane,
but it was never popular and the place is known today as Allenport. The
first postmaster was John Fields, who served for many years. A ferry
started by Francis McKee is operated at this point.
   John Baldwin built a water mill about 1816, north of the town, and in
1848 a new steam power mill was erected. It was afterwards owned by
Joseph Allen, Abia Allen, William Brightwell, Isaiah Frost, Francis Mc-
Kee, James B. Angell, George Maxwell and Jesse Boyd. The latter turned
it into a distillery, and in later years it was known as the J. M. Vander-
grift Distillery No. 29 building.
   Coal was mined extensively in this township at a very early date, one
mine being the famous Clark's Coalery. Other early mines were the
Champion, Limestone, Courtney's, Lucyville, and American Bottom, or
Wood's Run, now in Elco borough. The Vesta Coal Company has a colliery
at Vesta at the present time, but the coal has practically all been re-
moved from Allen Township. On May 2, 1882, the Alps Coal Company
laid out a town of thirty-eight lots. There are now five stores in Allenport.
   Vesta is a small mining town built about thirty years ago by the Vesta
Coal Company at Vesta Mine No. 2. It contains about fifty dwellings,
three stores, a schoolhouse, a United Brethren Church, Local No. 187,
United Mine Workers of America, is located here. The Monongahela Di-
vision of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the electric line of the Pittsburgh
Railways Company run through Allen Township.


471





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


from Washington County. This Indian is of importance in our history;
for it was he who guided Colonel Thomas Cresap in 1749 on his first
journey for the Ohio Company, from Old Town, Maryland, across the
Allegheny Mountains. This route, which was afterwards known as Nema-
colin's path, was afterward followed by Washington in 1753 and 1754,
and by General Braddock in 1755. It crossed Washington County as the
Mingo path, and is now the route of the National pike.
    An old Delaware Indian lived at some point on the upper Monongahela.
 He was a peaceable old fellow, always friendly to the whites; yet he was
 murdered in 1770 near the mouth of the Cheat River. His body was
 placed upright in his canoe with a piece of cornbread in his mouth, and
 set adrift down the river. The boat, with its ghastly passenger, ran ashore
 just above the mouth of Ten Mile Creek, where it was discovered by the
 wife of a settler. This was regarded as a cold blooded murder by both
 Indians and whites, and while not definitely known, it is charged against
 Jacob Scott, William Hacket, and Elijah Runner, solely to gratify a thirst
 for Indian blood.
    Indian mounds and burial grounds are scattered over the county, some
 of which have been opened, while others remain untouched. Three or four
 mounds are located on the farm of the late Richard Crooks, in Robinson
 Township, one mile north of McDonald.
    "The Mounds," the home of the late I. S. Crall, at Monongahela city,
 took its name from two Indian mounds on this land. In 1880 a number
 of copper implements were taken from these mounds by a representative
 of the Smithsonian Institution. Another was located at the present town
 of Donora. One is on the Bentley farm at Shire Oaks; another is on the
 VanVoorhis farm, three miles up Pigeon Creek from Monongahela city,
 where a number of skulls were found, and one is on the Hickman farm,
 four and one-half miles up Pigeon Creek. The latter was opened in 1855.
 On the Colvin farm, on Pigeon Creek, is a burial ground.
   Remains of a settlement and burying ground were found by the first
white settlers on the hill just back of the Hill church, in North Strabane
Township. Mussel shells, arrowheads, flint chips, pieces of broken pot-
tery, a tomahawk and stone ax were found here. Stones found at this
place were used in the foundation of the present Hill church.
   On the summit of the high hill overlooking Ten Mile Creek at Ulery's
mill, near Zollarsville, was an Indian fort, the remains of which may be
traced to this day. The author visited this spot in October, 1924, and
traced one line of what was evidently an earthwork. Bones, pipes, and
arrowheads have been found on this site, while old residents tell of a tree
cut down within the lines of the fort which showed by the annual rings of
growth that it had lived three hundred years.
   On the old Overholt farm, one mile west of Marianna, is a mound; and
another is reported on the David A. McCalmont farm, near Candor. Indian
graves are also reported from many sections of the county.
   On the old farm of Joseph Horner, near Millsboro, was a large rock
upon which were carved a number of Indian pictographs, or hieroglyphics,
the only one of its kind in southwestern Pennsylvania. Many years ago
Mr. Horner destroyed this valuable relic with dynamite, and used the frag-





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                          BLAINE TOWNSHIP.
   Blaine Township, named in honor of Hon. James G. Blaine, Washing-
ton County's most illustrious son, was included in the territory of old
Donegal Township until Buffalo Township was erected on May 8, 1799,
when what is now Blaine was included in that territory, where it remained
until it became a separate township on November 4, 1894.
   It is small in area, and is located in a farming district, the coal never
having been developed. Most of the Pittsburgh vein is owned by private
individuals, but the Pittsburgh Coal Company has 269 acres. In the mid-
dle '80s oil was struck in the Taylorstown field, which became one of the
largest in that section of the county, and today there are still some pro
ducing wells.
   At the present time there are four schools in Blaine Township: a high
school and grade school at Taylorstown, and the Neely and Greenwood
schools.
   The following statistics show the condition of Blaine Township in
1925: Number of taxables, 320; acres cleared land, 6,695; acres of tim-
ber, 200; value of real estate, $643,140; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $9,500; value of taxable real estate, $633,640; number of horses
and mules over four years of age, 127; value of the same, $6,740; number
of neat cattle over four years of age, 173; value of the same, $5,395;
value of salaries, posts of profits, trades, professions, occupations, etc.,
$31,800; aggregate value of all property taxable for county purposes,
$677,575; amount of county tax assessed, $5,081.96; amount of money at
interest, mortgages, judgments, bonds, etc., $137,777; amount of county
tax assessed on money at interest, $551.12; amount of tax levied or ap-
propriated for the construction of roads and bridges, $4,398.40; amount
of tax levied for schools, not including the state appropriation, $7,417.75;
amount of tax levied or appropriated for all other purposes, $5,633.08;
total amount of tax levied or appropriated for all purposes, $17,449.23;
amount of tax levied on personal property, $836.29; amount of tax levied
on occupations, $1,383.30; amount of tax levied on real estate of corpora-
tions other than railroads, and including limited partnerships, $1,122.48.
   Taylorstown, the only town or village in Blaine Township, is one of
the old settlements of Washington County. Robert Taylor, the original
settler there, patented 331 acres under the name of Beaver on March 15,
1788, and on September 9, 1795, he conveyed this land to his son, William.
However, on February 9, 1795, David Heaton, a surveyor, had laid out a
plan of lots for William Taylor, which he named New Brunswick.
   The first sale was to David Craig, who purchased Lot No. 3 on Octo-
ber 9, 1795, and on the same day Lot No. 2 was bought by Samuel Taylor.
On October 10, 1795, James Ralston purchased Lot No. 37, and John Hea-
ton, Lot No. 18, the consideration in each case being $3. On October 24,
1795, John Irwin bought Lot No. 14 for $3, and on December 12, 1795,
Charles and John McRoberts, Lot No. 44, for $3. Other lots were pur-
chased during the next few years by John Anthony Weyer, John Fisher.
Robert Russell, John Anthony, John Dillon, William Dimsey, William
Clemmens, John Young, Henry Dillon, Thomas Stokely, Adam Allison,
James Kerr, and Daniel McKehan.


472





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Immediately buildings were started, and in a short time there was a
fair sized settlement. Eleven Williams is said to have erected the first
house in which he kept a tavern about 1800. A tannery was built by John
Dillon, and a man named Galbraith started the first store. Frank Mat-
thews kept a store there in 1810. About 1810 or before that time William
Richardson worked at his trade as a hatter. At the present time Mumper
Brothers run a grocery and meat market, and Charlotte Kuhn has a mil-
linery and ladies' furnishing store. Fred Hilbury runs a blacksmith shop.
    In pioneer times Taylor's fort was located within half a mile of the
present town on land now owned by the James Hodgens heirs. In 1907
a brass band of twenty-four pieces was organized in Taylorstown.
    On October 21, 1807, William Taylor sold 214 acres of land adjoining
the town to Thomas McKinstry, and moved to Ohio. From that time the
name New Brunswick ceased to be used and the place has been known
ever since as Taylorstown.
   A post office was established at Taylorstown on June 1, 1831, with
Oliver Wallace as the first postmaster. He was succeeded by his widow,
Christiana Wallace, who in turn was succeeded by Alexander Wilson,
Alexander McCleery, Rev. John Morrow, and G. W. Dickey. This is still
a postoffice.
   A log mill was built there at an early date. This was replaced in 1854
by another mill, which was destroyed by fire, and the present steam mill,
operated at present by Buchanan Brothers, was built.
   The Taylorstown Farmers Telephone Company was organized a num-
ber of years ago, and an exchange is located in Taylorstown. At the
present time there are 129 telephones connected with this exchange,
forty-three of which are in the town.
   The present physicians are Dr. R. W. Wolfe, who has been located there
for many years, and Dr. G. R. Conger. There is a United Presbyterian
and a Disciple Church there, and a K. of P. lodge, organized about thirty-
five years ago.
   Taylorstown Station, also known as Carothers, is located on the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad, one mile from the town, on an improved road
which connects the two places. An oil refinery was operated at this point
in the early oil days by A. B. Caldwell and several others from Washington.

                         BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.

   Buffalo Township, originally part of old Donegal, was created by the
court on May 8, 1799, and was probably named after Buffalo Creek, which
flows through the central part of the township. Buffalo Creek takes its
name from that noble animal, the American bison, more popularly known
as buffalo, which was found in Washington County by the pioneers in
very early times.
   One of the first settlers in this township was Ezekiel Boggs, who took
up land on Buffalo Creek in 1774. It is interesting to note in this con-
nection that Francis Boggs, a lineal descendant of Ezekiel Boggs bought
318 acres from James Clelland on October 13, 1784, one mile northwest
of Taylorstown, in what is now Blaine Township. His daughter was the
noted Lydia Boggs, the belle of the Western Border, who lived on this
farm at one time, and who attended school with Christiana Clemens in


473





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the old schoolhouse that stood on the Carothers farm, taught by Mr. Haw-
thorn and Mr. Gibbons. The adventures of these girls have been related
in another chapter.
    Another early settler in Buffalo Township, was James Allison, who
 settled there in the spring of 1776 with his family. Basil Lee Williams
 came to that section which is now Blaine Township in 1780. In that same
 year Nathaniel McDowell came from near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania,
 and settled in Buffalo Township, where his descendants still live. Prob-
 ably one of the first settlers in that section was Charles McRoberts, Sr.,
 and his son, Charles McRoberts, Jr., who was born there in 1774, was
 probably one of the first white children born in Western Washington
 County. Nathaniel Templeton came in 1776. James Clemmens settled on
 Buffalo Creek at an early date, bringing slaves with him from across the
 mountains. He served as a general in the War of 1812.
    Col. David Williamson, one of Washington County's most noted Indian
 fighters in the days of the old frontier, was an early settler in Buffalo
 Township. Williamson will be remembered as the leader of the militia
 from Washington County that committed the Moravian massacre, which
 has been described in another chapter. He was also second in command
 of the Crawford expedition. He owned 300 acres of land on Buffalo Creek,
 upon which he built a fort, consisting of a triple log cabin, known on the
 frontier as Williamson's station. This has also been described in an-
 other chapter. The ruins of the springhouse erected by him at that time
 stood until a short time ago.
   Jacob Wolfe, another early settler in this township, built Wolfe's fort
in what is now the garden at the old McDowell homestead on the National
pike, five miles west of Washington. This has also been described in an-
other chapter.
   Joseph Ritner, the first of two governors of Pennsylvania from Wash-
ington County, was a resident of Buffalo Township. His farm was one-
half mile south of the North Buffalo United Presbyterian Church. He
first ran for governor in 1829, but was defeated by George Wolf. He was
defeated again in 1832, but in 1835 he was elected over Wolf and Mulen-
berger. He was defeated in 1838 by David Porter, after which he removed
to Cumberland County. During the War of 1812, he served in Capt. Ben-
jamin Anderson's company, of the First Pennsylvania Infantry, with Gen.
William Henry Harrison in Ohio.
   Buffalo Township has five schoolhouses-East Buffalo, Cleland, Rural
Valley, Highland and White. There are three churches-East Buffalo
Presbyterian, North Buffalo Presbyterian, and South Buffalo United Pres-
byterian, all of which are described in another chapter.
   This is a farming section with no coal mines. However, the Lincoln
Gas Coal Company owns 1,443 acres of coal; the Pittsburgh Coal Com-
pany, 546 acres, and the Pittsburgh and New York Coal Company, 152.
There was considerable oil development in this section in the early days,
and there are still some producing wells.
   The only village in this township is Taylorstown Station, also known
as Carothers, part of which lies in Buffalo Township and part in Blaine.
   The following statistics taken from the commissioners' office show the
present condition of the township: Number of taxables, 430; number


474





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


acres of cleared land, 11,575; number of acres of timber land, 125; value
of all real estate, $1,134,500; value of real estate exempt from taxation,
$7,500; value of real estate taxable, $1,127,000; number of horses and
mules over four years of age, 188; value of same, $9,400; number of neat
cattle over four years of age, 240; value of same, $6,000; value of salaries,
trades, professions, occupations, etc., $42,250; value of all property taxable
for county purposes, $1,184,650; aggregate amount of county tax,
88,885.28; money at interest, including mortgages, judgments, etc.,
$167,100; aggregate amount of county tax on money at interest, $668.40;
amount of tax levied or appropriated for roads and bridges, $5,947.75;
amount of tax levied or appropriated for schools, not including state ap-
propriations, $9,286.80; amount of tax levied or appropriated for all other
purposes, $9,553.68; total amount of tax levied or appropriated for all
purposes, $24,788.23; amount of tax levied on personal property, $968.70;
amount of tax levied on occupations, $1,794.13; amount of tax levied on
corporations other than railroads, and including limited partnerships,
83,272.19.
                          CANTON TOWNSHIP.
    Parts of Morris, Hopewell, Strabane and Chartiers townships were
taken by the court for the territory of Canton Township on June 10, 1791,
but in 1853, the present territory of North and South Franklin townships
was taken from Canton to form old Franklin. During the last twenty-five
years the territory now composing the Seventh and Eighth wards of
Washington was taken from Canton.
   In 1774 Zachariah Pumphrey settled in what is now Canton Township.
Other settlers who came in during the years that followed were Enoch
Dye, in 1778; John Leman, in 1779; John Wolfe, 1780; William Johnston,
in 1778; John and Thomas Douglas, in 1782; William Reed, in 1783;
James Taggart, in 1784; John Dodd, in 1785; William and John McCombs,
in 1785; Robert McGowen, in 1785; William Slemmons, in 1787; Matthew
Morrow, in 1791; James Dinsmore, in 1795; Joseph Jonathan, in 1800;
John Nesbit, in 1800; Samuel McCoy, in 1800. It is also known that
Thomas Allison, David Irwin, and Francis Cunningham settled there at
an early date. Three blockhouses were erected by the early settlers, two
on the Samuel Prigg farm, and one on the James Dinsmore farm.
   The first school of which we have a record was in a log building on
the Morrow farm, about 1815. This building was burned in 1829. Some
of the teachers who taught there before its destruction were Stephen
Woods, John Allison, John Connor, and John Smiley. Another early school-
house was located on the William Wolfe farm, where Benjamin Work
taught. At the present time there are eight schoolhouses, two of which,
Wylie Avenue and Hayes Avenue, are graded. The others are McClay,
Scottdale, Log Pile, Morningside, and Daugherty.
   A section of this township, adjoining the Seventh and Eighth wards
of Washington, has been laid out in lots and is built up extensively.
This includes the Gordon Plan, Scottdale Plan, and Goat Hill. Several
large industries are located there, including the Jessop Steel Mills, Hazel-
Atlas Glass Company's factory No. 2, Charcoal Iron Products Company
(formerly the Griffiths Charcoal Iron Mill), Finley Clay Pot Company,


475





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Washington Tin Plate Company, Pittsburgh Sheet Glass Company (now
in the hands of a receiver), and the Beaver Refinery (now in the hands
of a receiver).
    Wolftown, the principal village in Canton Township, is about one mile
 northwest of Washington on the Washington-West Middletown road, known
 years ago as the Charles Town pike. This was one of the first roads in
 the county built under the Flinn Law, and it extended five miles up the
 valley. In recent years it has been taken over by the State Highways De-
 partment, and is now a concrete highway.
    Wolftown was founded in 1889 when the Wolf Brothers' plan of fifty-
 one lots was laid out. These lots sold rapidly on account of the new mills
 erected by the Tyler Tube and Pipe Company near by, and in a short time
 Wolftown was a distinct community, and, although it has been within a
 mile of Washington all these years, it is still a separate community. In
 1898 another plan of nine lots, known as the DeNormandie Addition to
 Wolftown was laid out, and on January 15, 1901, Alice Wolf and Maggie
 DeNormandie laid out another addition of fifty-two lots. Many of these
 have been sold, and there is now a large town at this place. Many lots
 have been sold during the last three years in the Wallace Plan, fronting
 on the West Middletown road, and the time is not far distant when this
 will be connected with Washington. Two years ago Finkel Brothers laid
 out the Finkel Heights Plan, adjoining Wolftown on the northwest. There
 is a schoolhouse at this town, a service station, green house, and two stores.
 Before rural free delivery was established the post office was called
 Fortune.
    The coal development in Canton Township was started twelve years
ago when the Lincoln Gas Coal Company purchased the Eagleson farn,
and several adjoining tracts, and laid out the mining town of Lincoln Hill.
This is located on the National pike, just beyond Sugar Hill, two miles
west of Washington. It is partly in Canton and partly in North Franklin
townships. This is a prosperous mining community, with a large tipple
and mine, which runs most of the year. It contains a school, a service sta-
tion and a store of the Lincoln Hill Supply Company. The town receives
mail from Washington by rural delivery. An automobile bus line con-
nects it with Washington, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad has a
coal siding in at the mine.
   Lincoln Hill is the only mine located in this township, but the workings
of the Washington Gas Coal Company, which has a tipple in the Seventh
Ward, Washington, extend into the territory of Canton Township. The
Lincoln Gas Coal Company owns forty acres of coal in this township; the
Pittsburgh Coal Company has 4,452 acres of coal and 2,400 acres of
surface, and the Washington Gas Coal Company, 494 acres of coal.
   Oak Grove, a station on the Pennsylvania Railroad, is located in Can-
ton Township, at the corner of Washington and Canton and Chartiers
townships. This was established in the latter '80s when the Beaver
Refinery was built at that point by E. A. Kelly and C. A. Wales during
the first days following the discovery of oil in the Washington field. It
takes its name from a large grove of oak trees that stood at this point,
located on the Wallace farm. Years ago it was a noted ground for picnics
and camp meetings; but the grove has disappeared long ago, and there


476




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


are few of the present generation who remember it as it was thirty years
and more ago. At one time there was a post office at the Beaver Refinery,
but it was abolished years ago.
   Woodland Park was another amusement place for Washington people
a quarter of a century ago. It was established by the Washington Street
Car Company in a large grove on the hill west of the Washington Tin
Plate Mill. There was a dancing pavilion, and some of the first motion
pictures ever shown in Washington was about 1899, when the pictures of
the Corbett-Fitzsimmons prize fight were exhibited there. Like other
amusement parks in the vicinity of Washington, it long ago gave way
to the advance of the town. This is now a part of the section known as
"Goat Hill."
   Woodell, a stop on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad a short distance west
of Washington, was the center of the oil and gas field of Canton Township
years ago. Northwest of this place was the big gas well on the farm of
W. W. Price and brother. It caught fire and burned for several years
with a roar that could be heard for miles, and its light could be seen for a
long distance. The operator made no attempt to use the gas, as he con-
sidered the royalty he would have to pay the land owner as too high.
Today such a well would be worth a large sum.

                        CARROLL TOWNSHIP.
   Carroll Township, situated in the Horseshoe, also known as the Great
Bend of the Monongahela River, includes the Horseshoe Bottom in which
Donora is now located. There has been much coal development in this
township, and along the river are many mills, principally owned by the
American Steel and Wire Company and located in Donora, which is built
on the site of West Columbia.
   The territory now in Carroll was formerly parts of Fallowfield and
Nottingham. A new township was formed in 1834 and named Knox, but
when the court made the decree it was changed to Carroll. The reason for
this is not now apparent.
   Just who the first settlers of this section were we can not say, but it is
known that prior to 1790 the following men lived there: Daniel and
Joseph Depue, Samuel Cole, Thomas Nichol, Jacob Stillwagon, Cornelius
and Peter Weyandt, Robert Galloway, Harmonus Cole, Andrew Platter,
Thomas Shaver, John Ammon, James Coulter, Jacob Rape Jr., William
VanHorn, Thomas Legg, Joseph Hall, George Grant, Samuel Baxter,
Nicholas Depue, Samuel Quimby, Martin Wirt, David Grant, Isaac Teeple,
Richard and Stacy Storer, Robert and Alexander George, Conrad Ammon,
Peter Castner, Daniel and James Rice, John Shouse, Jacob Ammon,
Samuel VanVoorhis, Gen. John Hamilton, David VanVoorhis, Vincent
Colvin, Isaac Cole, Jonathan and Daniel Hamilton, Abraham Frye Sr.,
Abraham Frye Jr., Frederick Cooper, Samuel Frye, Abraham Brokaw,
and many others.
   Thomas Nichol kept a ferry at the point where Donora now stands.
Before 1800 and during the early years of the past century there were a
number of grist and saw mills on Pigeon and Mingo creeks. Benjamin
Parkinson, of Williamsport, now Monongahela city, came into possession
of the mills at the mouth of Mingo Creek as early as 1800, and operated


477




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


them for a number of years. One of these was the old River mill, at the
mouth of Mingo Creek, which was one of the best known in the Western
country. He carried on quite a manufacturing business at both Mingo
and Elkton, where he had two distilleries, three grist mills, a woolen fac-
tory, a comb factory, a sickle factory and a gun factory.
    The VanVoorhis mill, on Pigeon Creek, was also famous in its day,
 as was Cowan's mill. Joseph Beckett ran a distillery opposite the old
 brick house at Baird Station. Where Yohe's slaughter house now stands,
 on Pigeon Creek, was Black's mill. A dam crossed the creek just above
 this point.
    One of the first glass factories west of the Alleghany Mountains was
 established in this township by Maj. H. A. Warne, a soldier in the War
 of 1812, in connection with his boat building business. Another glass
 factory was erected at Dry Run by Samuel Black in 1824, who also built
 the first mill at that point. This was a tramp mill, the power for which
 was supplied by oxen.
    The churches in Carroll Township are the United Brethren Church,
 a mile and a half from Monongahela city, on the Washington-Mononga-
 hela Pike, and the Ginger Hill Lutheran Church. In early days the Horse-
 shoe Bottom Presbyterian and the Horseshoe Bottom Baptist churches
 were located in Carroll Township, but these congregations have removed
 to Monongahela city.
    The first school in Carroll Township was in a log building near Withe-
row's blacksmith shop, three and one-half miles southeast of Monongahela
city. The date this school was started is uncertain. In 1796 another
school was opened in a log building at Parkinson's Ferry, now Monon-
gahela city. There are now twenty-six teachers in the township's ten
schools, as follows: Victory Hill, Star, Sampson, Alexander, Taylor's
Run, Wylie, Stone, Haywood, Valley Inn, and Mingo.
    Coal mining in Carroll Township goes back to a very early date. In
1814 there was a small mine at West Columbia. As this township has a
big river frontage, there were formerly a number of tipples for loading
coal on barges as well as the railroad. There were such mines as Black
Diamond, Catsburg, Ivil, Schoenberger, Dunkirk, and Hazelkirk. Recently
Black Diamond and Schoenberger have been dismantled, the coal all hav-
ing been removed. The following coal companies still own coal in this
township: Pittsburgh Coal Company, 1,326 acres coal; Mingo Coal Com-
pany, 1,132 acres coal; H. C. Frick Coal and Coke Company, 577 acres
coal; Youghiogheny & Ohio Coal Company, 185 acres coal; Union Coal and
Coke Company, Dunkirk mine, 114 acres coal; Hazelkirk mine, 13 acres
coal; National Mining Company, 114 acres coal; Smith Coal Company, 1.3
acres coal.
   The following statistics from the commissioners' office show the present
condition of the township: Number of taxables, 1,410; acres of cleared
land, 8,398; acres of timber land, 75; value of real estate, $1,996,965;
value of real estate exempt from taxation, $60,000; value of real estate
taxable, $1,936,965; number of horses and mules over four years of age,
284; value of the same, $21,310; number of neat cattle over four years
of age, 471; value of same, $18,020; value of salaries, posts of profit, pro-
fessions, trades, etc., $140,940; aggregate value of all property taxable


478





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


for county purposes, $2,117,235; aggregate amount of county tax assessed,
$15,879.99; amount of money at interest, mortgages, judgments, bonds,
etc., $204,566; aggregate amount of county tax assessed on money at
interest, $818.27; amount of tax levied or appropriated for roads and
bridges, $17,379.52; amount of tax levied for schools, not including state
appropriation, $38,670.63; amount of tax levied or appropriated for all
other purposes, $16,698.26; total amount of tax levied or appropriated for
all purposes, $72,748.41; amount of tax levied on personal property,
$2,057.16; tax levied on occupations, $9,229.57; tax levied on real estate
of railroads, $29.93; tax levied on real estate of corporations, not including
railroads, $42,042.10.
   At Frye Station, on the Marianna branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
is the Dunkirk mine, of the Union Coal and Coke Company. This mine
was opened by the Dunkirk Gas Coal Company about twenty-three years
ago. Later it was owned by Pittsburgh and Westmoreland Coal Company,
but was recently purchased by the present owner. Near by is Roth's
brewery, operated for a number of years before national prohibition.
   Hazelkirk is another mining town, located on the Marianna branch
of the Pennsylvania Railroad. There was formerly a post office here
called Ivanhoe, but it has been abolished. VanVoorhis is another mining
town in this township, with a post office of the same name.
   Riverview is a town of some size, which was laid out by J. S. Markell
in 1901. It adjoins New Eagle, and will probably some day be a part of
Monongahela city.
   The old Black Diamond mines adjoin Monongahela city, part of the
village there being located in that place. For many years this was an
important coal mine, but it was recently dismantled. The post office here
is called Hazzard.
   Eldora was laid out in 1901 by James A. Pahe with an amusement park
which is popular among the people of Monongahela city. Since the town
was first laid out additions have been made, the largest by John M.
Wanner.
   The small village of Baidland is located on the Washington-Mononga-
hela Pike, two miles from Monongahela. In early times a tavern known
as Valley Inn was kept on the pike at this point, and the place was so
known until about thirty-five years ago, when the name was changed to
Baidland when the post office was established. William Lamont, who kept
a store there, was the first postmaster. The office was abolished by rural
free delivery.
                          CECIL TOWNSHIP.
   Cecil, third of the original thirteen townships of Washington County,
was organized July 15, 1781. Its area was very large, and when Alle-
gheny County was erected in 1788 part of the territory of Cecil Township
was taken to add to the new county. Its area was again reduced in 1789,
when an addition was made to Allegheny County. Cecil suffered again
when part of its territory was taken for the new township of Chartiers
in March, 1790. Once more a large slice was taken from Cecil by the
erection of Mount Pleasant Township in 1808.
   In the year 1776 John Donnell, or sometimes called John Daniel,


479




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


crossed the mountains from Winchester, Virginia, and settled on Char-
tiers Creek, where he was afterwards granted a patent for 400 acres of
land. In the autumn of 1777 Samuel Parks crossed the mountains and
purchased from Matthew Rodgers 566 acres on Chartiers Creek. David
and John Reed came in before 1780.
   From Charlotte County, Virginia, came Matthew and Alexander
McConnell about 1780, and settled on land in this township, which is still
owned by their direct descendants. Both served in Crawford's expedition
against the Sandusky Indians in 1782, an account of which is found in
another chapter. In 1794 Alexander McConnell erected the largest barn
west of the Alleghany Mountains at that time, and in fact there are few
that can equal it in size today. A four-horse team and wagon can be
turned on the mow floor. Expert workmen were brought from as far
away as Philadelphia to work on this building, the framework of which
is of logs, morticed and pinned together, without the use of a nail or piece
of iron. This barn is now the oldest in Washington County, and one of
the oldest in Western Pennsylvania. The old McConnell homestead, a
large stone residence which stands near the barn, was erected by Alex-
ander McConnell in 1805, as shown by the date cut on a stone in the
gable. It has always been occupied by the McConnell family, and de-
scendants of the builder still live there.
   The following were also early settlers in Cecil Township: Thomas
Bracken, about 1778; Stephen Richards, prior to 1781; Robert Miller, in
1780; John Armstrong, prior to 1781; John Waits, in 1785; Joseph Brown,
in 1785; Matthew Ritchie, in 1788; James Leech, 1782; Robert and
Thomas Hill, prior to 1791; James Little, in 1785; James and Hugh
Sprowls, in 1788; James Bunyan, in 1795; John Fife, in 1799. Others
who came in at an early date were John Slater, Robert Wilson, John
Berry, William Berry, Alexander May, William Acheson, Robert Wilson,
Cornelius Borland, William Gladden, Benjamin Hockman, Samuel Moore-
head, Joseph Cowden, A. J. Hopper, Neil McCoy, Samuel McPherson, and
William Elliott.
   John Berry, who emigrated from Ireland in 1775 and fought under
Washington, settled in this township about 1782. Prior to that time he
had married Elizabeth Gilmore, who came to America with her sister Ann,
on the same ship with John Berry. The Gilmore sisters followed Wash-
ington's army in the capacity of nurses, and carried food to the soldiers
and nursed the sick during the winter at Valley Forge. Elizabeth Gil-
more is one of the few women who were enlisted in the Revolutionary
army, and her name is found among the "Rangers of the Frontier" from
Northumberland County. Both she and her husband will be mentioned
in the chapter on Revolutionary soldiers. They lived and died on a farm
near the old Jumbo mine, and are buried in Robinson's Run graveyard.
   Cecil Township is now an independent school district, with H. S. Kuder
as superintendent. Besides a high school and a junior high school, there
are thirteen other schools, several of which are graded, employing a total
of forty-eight teachers. These schools are Montour, Venice, Bishop, Cecil,
Henderson, Hickman, McConnell, Hills, South Side, Jumbo, Gilmore, Na-
tional and Music.
   The coal in this township has been extensively developed and there


480

































    Old stone house erected by Alexander McConnell, in Cecil Township, in 1805. It
is still owned by his descendants. Alexander McConnell was with Crawford's army
against the Indians on the plains of Sandusky, Ohio, in 1782.


    Barn erected by Alexander McConnell on his farm in Cecil Township, in 1794.
is the oldest barn in Washington County, and for many years was the largest.
four-horse team can be turned in it.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ments in the construction of a smoke house, giving as his only reason that
he was tired of people running over his land to see it.
    What is probably the oldest evidence of man in North America was
 discovered early in December, 1925, during the excavating for the new
 service station of the Gulf Refining Company on the lot at 27 East Maiden
 Street, Washington. About seven feet below the surface of the ground
 the contractor found a bed of hard limestone, and on the surface of this
 stone were about a dozen human footprints. They were very plain, and
 it could be easily seen that the man had walked across this place when the
 strata was soft, thus leaving the indisputable evidence. Not realizing the
 value of the find, Mr. R. L. Ewing, of Vanport, Pennsylvania, the con-
 tractor, blasted the rock away. All of the footprints were destroyed with
 the exception of one which was loosened from the surface of the rock. He
 preserved this and showed it to the author several days later. The foot-
 print is perfect, showing the imprint of a human foot made with a moc-
 casin. It is exactly twelve inches long and four and one-half inches across
 at the widest part. Although the footprint had been removed from the
 rock, it is a solid piece of limestone. The lime flux was evidently of just
 the consistency to receive and retain the impression as the man walked
 across, and there it has remained through a myriad of years, perhaps
 many thousands. Just across Maiden Street from the site of this dis-
 covery, Chief Tingoocqua, or Catfish, the Delaware, had his camp when
 the first white men settled at what is now Washington.





                           CHAPTER II.

                             1720-1769.
                 THE COMING OF THE WHITES.
INDIAN TRADERS-PETER CHARTIER-JAMES LE TORT-JOHN FRASIER-
    GEORGE CROGHAN-GIFT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES FROM
    THE IROQUOIS TO CROGHAN-OLD DEEDS ON RECORD FOR THIS LAND.

                 "If a path were dangerous known,
                 That danger's self were lure alone."
   The first white men to visit what is now Washington County belonged
to that roving class known as Indian traders. They were brave, hardy
men, always pushing into the wilderness in search of new tribes, wanderers
forever upon the face of the earth. They dared the King's wrath for trad-
ing without royal permits and laughed at the King's soldiers who vainly
tried to capture them. With pack horse or canoe loaded with whisky and
the white man's goods they pushed beyond the frontier, often alone, and
went without fear among hostile tribes. They were the one class of white
men who were always on friendly terms with all Indians. They adopted
the Indian manner of dress, his customs and mode of living, and were
more at home in the wigwam than in a mansion; and many of them even





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


are such mining towns as Bishop, Cecil, Venice, Jumbo, Hills, Lawrence,
Southview, Hendersonville, Muse, and National mines. The Pittsburgh
Coal Company, owner of the extensive mines at Hills Station and Law-
rence, has 7,884 acres; the National Mining Company, 3,432 acres of coal;
the Henderson Coal Company, 497 acres of coal; Chartiers Gas Coal Com-
pany, 30 acres of coal; and the Canonsburg Gas Coal Company, 2 acres.
    The churches in Cecil Township are the United Presbyterian of Venice,
 Miller's Run Presbyterian, Fawcett Methodist Episcopal, Assumption of
 the Blessed Virgin Roman Catholic of Cecil, with missions at the United
 States mines.
    The following statistics taken from the commissioners' office show the
present condition of the township: Number of taxables, 2,490; acres ol
cleared land, 14,890; acres of timber land, 151; value of real estate,
$4,316,734; value of real estate exempt from taxation, $36,000; value of
real estate taxable, $4,280,734; number of horses and mules over four
years of age, 390; value of the same $28,715; number of neat cattle over
four years of age, 706; value of the same, $30,325; value of salaries, posts
of profits, professions, trades and occupations, $248,700; value of all prop-
erty taxable for county purposes, $4,588,474; amount of county tax
assessed, $34,414.94; amount of money at interest, mortgages, judgments,
bonds, etc., $168,951; amount of county tax assessed on money at interest,
$818.27; amount of tax levied or appropriated for roads and bridges,
$71,319.50; amount of tax levied for schools, not including state appropria-
tion, $102,304.80; amount of tax levied or appropriated for all other pur-
poses, $35,090.74; total amount of tax levied or appropriated for all pur-
poses, $208,715.04; amount of tax levied on personal property, $3,066.92;
amount of tax levied on occupations, $6,839.25; amount of tax levied on
real estate of corporations, not including railroads, but including limited
partnerships, $130,035.78.
   Venice, the oldest town in Cecil Township, was laid out in 1844 by
James McLaughlin on land owned by Ephraim Johnson. A store was
opened in 1848 and a post office established which remained until abolished
by rural free delivery. There was a hotel there for many years, but it
was closed about twenty-five years ago.
   Samuel McLaughlin operated a mill at Venice for many years. At an
early date this mill was operated by Davis Andrews, who was succeeded
by a man named Walker, and then William Berry took charge. Later
J. Byerly operated this mill, which stood until 1903, when it was torn
down to make room for the Wabash Railroad.
   One of the familiar landmarks at Venice for many years was the old
log house erected by William Berry in 1813. The date was cut in a stone
over the old fireplace.
   Venice was the center of the oil fields of Cecil Township a quarter of
a century ago. Now there are extensive coal mines all about the town.
   Cecil, another important town, was started when a branch of the
P., C., C. & St. L. Railway was built in 1885. When the railroad was
built the Ohio & Pennsylvania Coal Company opened the Creedmore mine,
and thus the town had its beginning. In 1903 the Wabash Railroad was
constructed to the town. As early as 1789 Armstrong's mill stood on the
site of Cecil. This is now a prosperous mining town with a bank, organ-


482





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ized January 2, 1904, and known as the First National Bank of Cecil.
There is a post office at this town.
    Hills Station, originally a milk shipping depot on the Chartiers Valley
branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, is now an important mining town.
The village was laid out by John Hill after the railroad was constructed in
1871. About 1900 a coal mine was opened here by the Provident Mining
Company, and in 1903 it was purchased by the Pennsylvania Mining
Company, now the Pittsburgh Coal Company. It was not worked for a
number of years, but it was later developed by the Pittsburgh Coal Com-
pany and is now one of the most important in the county. It is now known
as Montour mine. The mining town of Lawrence was built a few years
ago on the hill just above Hills Station, and is really part of the same
place. The post office is located at this village.
    The town of Bishop was laid out in 1892, when the Miller branch of
the P., C., C. & St. L. Railroad was constructed from Cecil. The Ridgeway
mines of the Pittsburgh Coal Company are located here.
    Hendersonville is another important mining town, located on the
Washington-Pittsburgh Pike. It was built about fifteen years ago, when
the mines of the Henderson Coal Company were opened here. A branch
of the Pennsylvania Railroad runs to this point. A post office is located
at Hendersonville. Jumbo, Southview, Muse and National mines are other
mining towns in Cecil Township.
    Morganza is the railroad station of the Pennsylvania Training School,
located a mile and a half northeast of Canonsburg. This will be described
in another chapter.
                        CHARTIERS TOWNSHIP.
    On March 23, 1790, the court erected Chartiers Township from the
southern part of Cecil Township. Parts of Chartiers were afterwards
taken when Mount Pleasant and Canton were created. A change was
made in the line of Chartiers in October, 1831, and a small portion was
taken from its territory and added to Mount Pleasant.
   Andrew Swearingen, one of Washington County's noted Indian fighters,
settled in this section as early as 1772. His old homestead is now owned
by the heirs of W. W. Smith, and is occupied by the Washington Country
Club. Andrew Swearingen, the pioneer, is buried in the old graveyard
near the clubhouse.
   John Struthers came from Chester County in 1772 and purchased land
from James Patterson, who had evidently settled there before that time.
In 1773 Col. James Allison came from Cecil County, Maryland, and settled
in this same section. Other settlers who are known to have settled in
what is now Chartiers Township at an early date are: Gavin Morrison,
in 1773; Samuel Thompson, in 1774; John Hayes, about 1775; Rev. Mat-
thew Henderson, in 1779; Samuel Agnew, in 1780; James Ryburn, about
1780; Andrew Russell, in 1782; Hugh McKnight, in 1784; John McNary,
in 1780; Robert McCluskey, in 1785; John Weaver, in 1787; and John
Welch, before 1800. Other early settlers who came in at dates unknown
were Rowland Hughes, William Moore, James Ramsey, Matthew Bowland,
William Harsha, John McClean, Paul White and Thomas White.
   As early as 1800 there were four log schoolhouses in Chartiers Town-


483





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ship, while the assessment roll for that year contains the names of William
Guthrie, Samuel Miller, Isaac Miller, George Munro, William Tate, and
George Welch, as teachers. In 1836 there were seven schools, and by
1863 there were eight. At the present time there are thirty teachers and
twelve schools, located at McGovern, Taggart, Welsh, Henderson, Wilson,
McConnells Mills, Midland, McNary, Moninger, McClanes, Meadowlands,
and Arden mines.
   The churches are the Methodist Episcopal Church of Meadowlands,
Allen's African Methodist Episcopal Church of McGovern, the Chartiers
Cross Roads United Presbyterian Church, and Miller's Run Reformed
Presbyterian Church.
   The coal has been extensively developed. In fact, this is one of the
oldest mining sections of the county, as coal was first discovered on the
land of James Allison about 1800, and it has been mined ever since,
although for many years it was for domestic use and for blacksmiths only,
and sold at 25 cents per bushel. Prior to 1874 the only market for the
coal from this mine was local and by that time the drift was only about
100 yards in extent. However, when the Chartiers branch of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad was completed the mining of coal was started at this
mine by the late Jonathan Allison on an extensive scale and shipped out
by rail, and during the next eight years the workings were extended.
This mine and the town there was long known as Allison, but of late years
the name has been changed to McGovern. It is now owned by the Pitts-
burgh Coal Company, but had been worked so little of recent years that
it is practically abandoned. The workings are very extensive. Other
mines in this township are located at Meadowlands, Rich Hill, Arden
Mines, Westland, Midland, McConnells Mills, and Export. The following
companies own coal in this township: Pittsburgh Coal Company, 10,388
acres of coal; National Mining Company, 725 acres of coal; McClane Min-
ing Company, 215 acres of coal; Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Corporation,
204 acres of coal; Chartiers Creek Coal Company, 52 acres of coal; Export
Coal Company, 41 acres of coal; Red Star Coal Company, 5 acres of coal;
Allison Valley Coal Company, 4 acres of coal; James S. Arthur & Com-
pany, 7 acres of coal.
   The following coal companies still own mining equipment: Pleasant
Valley Coal Company, Houston Coal Company, Thomas McHenry Mine,
J. Barnickle Coal Company, Brown & Andreolli Coal Company, Newton
and James Jeffers Coal Company.
   The following statistics from the commissioners' office show the present
condition of the township: Number of taxables, 1,945; acres of cleared
land, 14,730; acres of timber, 80; value of all real estate, $4,087,610; value
of real estate exempt from taxation, $165,000; value of real estate tax-
able, $3,922,610; number of horses and mules over four years of age, 333;
value of the same, $27,460; number of neat cattle over four years of age,
584; value of the same, $28,600; value of salaries, posts of profits, pro-
fessions, trades, etc., $194,225; value of all property taxable for county
purposes, $4,172,895; amount of county tax assessed, $31,297.25; amount
of money at interest, mortgages, judgments, bonds, etc., $99,315; amount
of county tax assessed on money at interest, $397.26; amount of tax levied
or appropriated for roads and bridges, $345,356.55; amount of tax levied


484









































    Ewing's Mill, erected in the '30s by Major John H. Ewing, and run by him for
many years. It still stands at Meadowlands.


    The old Leech Mill, at Arden Station, formerly the Cook Mill; built about sixty-
five years ago on the site of a former mill and operated for many years by Godfrey
Cook.


A




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


for schools, not including state appropriation, $57,469.04; amount of tax
levied or appropriated for all other purposes, $31,659.51; total amount of
tax levied for all purposes, $434,520.10; amount of tax levied on personal
property, $537.41; amount of tax levied on occupations, $12,234.93;
amount of tax levied on real estate of corporations, not including rail-
roads, $63,263.63.
    McConnells Mills, situated on the Western Washington Railroad, or
 the Westland branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, is the oldest village
 in Chartiers Township. Located on the north branch of Chartiers Creek,
 this was an excellent location for a gristmill, and in 1847 Alexander
 McConnell built a gristmill at this point. This was the beginning of a
 town, which was first called Locust Hill. Later it was known as McCon-
 nellsville, but for many years it has been called McConnells Mills, from
 the gristmill that stood there for many years. This mill was in con-
 tinuous operation for about fifty years by Mr. McConnell and his son,
 Milton. After standing idle for several years, it was torn down about
 ten years ago.
    A store was started at McConnells Mills in 1857 by Daniel Leggett,
 and in 1865 a post office was established. This was kept by Joseph
 McKnight, Joseph Miller, and James Cotter for many years. It was finally
 abolished by rural free delivery.
    Meadowlands, the largest town in this township, was originally known
 as Ewing Station. In 1826 John H. Ewing purchased the land at this
 place and erected the large mansion house in which he resided for many
 years. This is one of the few old-time farm houses of a century ago that
 is in an excellent state of preservation, and it retains its original appear-
 ance. The house and farm is now owned by Boyd E. Warne, of Wash-
 ington, and is one of the best dairy farms in the county.
    After settling here, John H. Ewing erected a gristmill, probably about
 1826, which he operated for many years. The building still stands, but
 no flour has been ground there for nearly half a century.
    After the Chartiers branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad was com-
pleted in 1871, this place was known as Ewing Station, but the name was
changed by the railroad to Meadowlands following some trouble with
Mr. Ewing. When oil was discovered near Washington in 1885, tanks
were erected here and this soon became a pump station for oil, which was
stored in a large number of iron tanks, some of which still stand, but not
many years ago the entire valley was dotted with them. Several of these
tanks were struck by lightning, and it was the scene of several big fires,
the worst of which was in June, 1908, when two tanks burned. The last
was in 1914, at which time several houses were burned and others threat-
ened. An important pump station of the Southwest Pennsylvania Pipe
Lines is still located here, and it is known as Ewing Station.
   This place has developed rapidly during the last twenty-five years.
About 1900 the Hallam brothers, of Washington, purchased the Ewing
farm, laid out a plan of lots and opened a coal mine. Other plans were
laid out, and the town has grown rapidly until now it has a population
of about 2,000. The coal at this mine has been practically exhausted, but
the big mine at Richhill, adjoining Meadowlands, gives employment to
many miners. This mine, which was opened about twenty-five years ago,


486




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


is now owned by the McClane Mining Company, of Washington. There
are a number of small mines in the valley nearby.
    Arden Mines takes its name from Arden Station, on the Pennsylvania
 Railroad, in South Strabane Township, about a mile from the mines. The
 mine at this point was opened about 1900 or 1901 by the Meadowlands
 Coal Company, which recently sold its holdings to the Pittsburgh Ter-
 minal Coal Corporation. A post office is located here. The exhibition
 grounds of the Washington Fair Association, known as Arden Downs, are
 located at Arden Station, but on the Chartiers Township side of the creek.
 This was formerly known as the Hagan Stock Farm. Nearby is the Wash-
 ington County Home.
    McGovern is a station on the Pennsylvania Railroad, a mile north of
 Meadowlands. The old Allison mine, already mentioned, is located at
 this point, and nearby is Shingiss Station, formerly known as Johnson.
 In the days of the oil excitement a number of oil tanks were located here.
 Near McGovern is a plan of lots known as Kindredville.
    Westland is a mining town built about twenty-five years ago by the
 Pittsburgh Coal Company. There was formerly a large mine and tipple
 located here, but since the war this has been worked very little, and in
 the summer of 1925 it was completely dismantled. Now it is occupied by
 miners working in the Midland mine, over the hill to the east. It is located
 at the end of the Westland branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad from
 Houston.
    Midland, another mining town of the Pittsburgh Coal Company, is
 located on Plum Run, a mile north of Houston. It is at the end of the
 Midland branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, from Houston. The rail-
 road station is called Palanka. The town was built about 1900. After the
 World war this mine was closed for a long period, but during the fall of
 1925 it was opened by the Pittsburgh Coal Company, and is now being
 operated on a non-union basis.
    Export, the youngest mining town in Chartiers Township, is a product
of the World war. When coal was in great demand the Export Coal Com-
pany began the operation of daylight coal mining at this point. This was
made possible by a vein of coal only a few feet under the surface. The
earth was removed by large steam shovels, and the coal was thus exposed.
After ruining a large area of land, a shaft was sunk and the lower vein
of coal mined by the old method. Nearby is the old John M. Greek mine,
abandoned some twenty years ago. Export is located midway between
McConnells Mills and Westland. Just north of Westland is the Red Star
mine, a small wagon mine.
   Gretna is a small village on the valley road from Washington to Bur-
gettstown. A creamery was built there about 1890 by J. K. Stevenson.
It had a capacity of about 1,800 pounds of butter a week. Joseph Miller,
the next owner, razed the old building and built a smaller one in 1903. It
was afterwards owned by Leo Febre, but it is not now in operation.

                       CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP.
   Cross Creek Township was created from a part of Hopewell on Decem-
ber 10, 1789. It was originally very large, and in May, 1806, a portion of
it was taken to form Mount Pleasant; and in 1853 Jefferson Township


487





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was taken from the western part of Cross Creek. Since then no further
reductions have been made in its territory. This township was named
after Cross Creek, a stream that rises in Hopewell and Mount Pleasant
and runs through the West Virginia Panhandle to the Ohio River.
    Much of the pioneer history of Cross Creek Township, which was for
 years a storm center of Indian warfare, has already been related in pre-
 vious chapters. It was in Cross Creek that Vance's Fort, one of the most
 famous on the old frontier, not to mention forts at Wells', Marshel's,
 Wilson's, and Reynolds', was built.
    This section was settled by Presbyterians, of that God-fearing, hard-
 fighting type of men and women who, with a Bible in one hand and a
 rifle in the other, carried civilization into the Western wilderness. Of
 such stock were Alexander Wells, John Tennel and Samuel Johnston, who
 settled in Cross Creek in 1772; Rev. Thomas Marquis and his brother,
 John Marquis, Thomas Crawford, and Henry Highland, in 1774; William
 Reynolds, in 1775; Henry Graham, in 1776; William Patterson and his
 two sons, one of whom was Gen. Thomas Patterson, after whom Patter-
 son's Mills are named, and Col. James Marshel, in 1778; Thomas Beatty,
 John Campbell, Joseph Reed, Rev. Joseph Smith, Col. John Marshall, Rob-
 ert Marshall, Thomas Marshall, William Marshall, in 1779; Jacob Buxton,
 William Scott, in 1780; Aaron Lyle, in 1784; James Stevenson, before
 1790. Thomas Bay settled at a very early date.
   When Joseph Reed came to this section he brought the Rev. Joseph
Smith with him. James Stevenson was a half-brother of Col. William
Crawford, who was burned by the Indians on the Plains of Sandusky,
June 11, 1782.
   The Cross Creek Presbyterian Church dates back to 1779, and the
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church at Patterson's Mills was
founded in 1864.
   The schools of Cross Creek Township are among the oldest in the
county. As early as 1782 school was taught by Joseph Patterson in the
old log church at Cross Creek village; and about the same time Robert
McCready taught a school at Wells' Fort. In 1803 a school was built on
the Presbyterian Church ground at Cross Creek, where Robert Lee was
the first teacher. Thomas Best afterwards taught there for many years.
About 1801 William McCaskey taught at the McNary school on the John-
son farm. George Davis was the first teacher in the school built in 1803
near the residence of Lysander Patterson. There are now twenty-three
teachers, a supervising principal, and ten schools as follows: Nosco Hall,
Cross Creek High School, Cross Creek, Cedar Grove, Patterson's Mills,
Willow Valley, Bushy Rock, Beech Knob, Muddy Lane, Avella.
   The township is uYnderlaid with the Pittsburgh vein of coal, the develop-
ment of which began about twenty years ago, when the Cedar Grove mine
was opened by the Washington County Coal Company. This is now owned
by the Carnegie Coal Company, which has at present 371 acres of coal.
The following coal companies now own tracts of coal and mines: Pitts-
burgh Coal Company, 1,724 acres of coal; Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Cor-
poration, 1,885 acres of coal; Carnegie Coal Company, 5,505 acres of coal
in addition to the Cedar Grove mines; American Zinc and Chemical Com-
pany, 243 acres of coal; Pittsburgh & Southwestern Coal Company, 234


488



















































    Historic Cross Creek village. The brick house in the foreground is said to have
been erected about 1800.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


acres of coal at the Donehoo mine near Avella; Pryor Coal Company, 155
acres of coal, tipple in Independence Township; John A. Bell, 123 acres
of coal at the Paxton mine near Avella; Middletown Coal Company, 344
acres of coal; Oak Hill Mining Company, 4 acres of surface, with mine
and tipple at Cedar Grove; South Fayette Coal Company, 492 acres of coal.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
 Number of taxables, 740; acres of cleared land, 14,805; acres of timber,
 794; value of all real estate, $2,371,300; value of land exempt from taxa-
 tion, $25,500; value of real estate taxable, $2,345,800; number of horses
 and mules over four years of age, 305; value of the same, $29,170; number
 of neat cattle over four years of age, 588; value of the same, $24,840;
 value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $73,635; value
 of all property taxable for county purposes, $2,473,445; aggregate am:)unt
 of county tax assessed, $18,551.25; amount of money at interest, mort-
 gages, judgments, bonds, etc., $203,439; aggregate amount of tax assessed
 on money at interest, $813,175; amount of tax levied or appropriated for
 roads and bridges, $35,367.47; amount of tax levies for schools, not includ-
 ing state appropriation, $24,098.39; amount of tax levied for all other pur-
 poses, $19,365.04; total amount of tax levied or appropriated for all pur-
 poses, $78,830.90; amount of tax levied on personal property, $953.90;
 amount of tax levied on occupations, $4,968.61; amount of tax levied on
 real estate of corporations, not including railroads, $31,398.25.
    Cross Creek village is the oldest settlement in the township. Its be-
ginning dates back to the first church in 1779, and around it clings much
of the early history of that section. The old cemetery in connection with
the church contains the graves of many of the pioneers and well known
men of other days, and it is one of the most historic in the county. It is
still used and is kept in excellent condition. There are two general stores,
kept by Fonner & Garret and Alex Rubenstein; a confectionery, by S. C.
Cummins; two blacksmith shops, by F. M. Adams and Samuel Scott; and
a shoe repair shop, by L. A. Baker. I. N. Reed kept a store here for about
fifty years, beginning in 1870. Dr. A. 0. Hindman, now of Burgettstown,
was the only physician there for several years, and since he left no other
has taken his place.
   In 1906 oil was struck on the farm of R. C. Vance, near the village,
and during the next few years a number of other good producers were
brought in. Many of them are still pumping.
   The first store in Cross Creek was opened in January, 1825, by Joseph
Cook, and immediately a post office was established, with Mr. Cook as the
first postmaster. His successor was George McClean, a wagonmaker, who
moved the office to his shop. He held the office for one year, when he was
succeeded by Andrew McFarland for a few months. He was succeeded by
Dr. Cornelius Simmons, who held the office from 1838 until 1841. Ben-
jamin Murray was postmaster from 1841 to 1845, when Doctor Simmons
was again appointed, holding office until 1860. From 1860 to 1861 James
Donehoo was postmaster; and in the latter year Andrew McFarland was
appointed by President Lincoln, holding the office until 1871. He was
succeeded by his son, Samuel T. McFarland, who held it until 1881. The
next was John S. Cummins, who was postmaster from 1881 until 1887,
when he was succeeded by J. MI. Reed, who held office until 1889. Mr.


490




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Cummins was again appointed in 1889, and served until 1893. On October
1, 1893, H. W. Donehoo was appointed and held office until September 1,
1897, when he was succeeded by S. C. Cummins, who has served ever since.
    Cross Creek village has been visited by two disastrous fires. The first
 occurred on June 23, 1906, when several buildings and trees were struck
 by lightning during a terrific storm. The loss was about $15,000.
    The second was about 3 o'clock in the morning of Saturday, December
 6, 1924, when the entire village was threatened with destruction. Seven
 buildings were destroyed and one partly burned before the flames were
 checked. This included Andrew Stacey's store and stock of merchandise
 and six dwellings owned by T. S. Farner, Benjamin Crane, Miss Cora
 Simmons, J. S. Cummins, and E. B. Baker. The total loss was about
 $40,000. The fire started in the hall over Stacey's store, after a dance on
 Friday night.
    Woodrow can scarcely be called a village, but a store and post office
 have been located there for many years. The first store was established
 by I. M. Reed, of Cross Creek, with A. R. White as manager. Later it
 was kept by C. M. Marquis and the Woodrow Supply Company. A butter
 factory was established there a number of years ago, but it failed after a
 short time. A post office was established many years ago, but was abol-
 ished by rural free delivery. However, it was re-established in 1905, and
 has remained ever since.
    Patterson's Mills is a small village built at the site of the grist mill
established there by Gen. Thomas Patterson in 1793. Another mill was
built in 1843 and remodeled in 1893. It ceased operations several years
ago, and was torn down in the spring of 1925. This is now in the center
of the mining district of the township.
    Cedar Grove is a mining village, established by the Washington
County Coal Company in 1905. This company failed after a few years,
and the mine is now owned by the Carnegie Coal Company. It is con-
nected with the Wabash Railroad at Avella by a branch line. An improved
concrete road connects it with Avella and Burgettstown.

                         DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.
   Donegal, one of the thirteen original townships, was erected in July,
1781. While it is still very large, its original territory has been greatly
reduced by other townships created from its area. The first was when
old Finley Township was created in May, 1788; and in March, 1799, it
was again reduced by the erection of Buffalo Township. Claysville was
incorporated on April 2, 1832, and West Alexander on August 18, 1873,
from parts of Donegal Township.
   The first white settlement of which we have any record in Donegal
Township was by Thomas Clark in 1773. Just who Thomas Clark was
we do not know. He assigned his interest in 363 acres to John Chapman,
who was issued a certificate for the land by the Virginia commissioners
at Redstone Old Fort on November 16, 1779. Other early settlers in that
section were Jacob Rice, in 1774 or earlier; Jacob Miller, about the same
time; Jacob Lefler, in 1774; Thomas Chapman, in 1775; William Hawkins,
before 1780; John Hupp, before 1780; Col. Isaac Cox, at a very early
date; Jacob Rizor, before 1787; James Glover, before 1787; John Laird,


491






HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


took Indian wives. It is little wonder that the forest warriors looked upon
them as friends.
   The name of the first white man who came to Washington County is
not known definitely, but from the evidence at hand after two hundred
years, the honor probably belongs to Peter Chartier, a French Indian
trader, after whom Chartiers Creek is named. He first came to this sec-
tion about 1728 with the Shawnese migration over the mountains. He
was the son of a French glover of Philadelphia, and was in sympathy
with the French, although he crossed the mountains as an English trader.
Tradition tells us that he established a trading post at King Shingiss'
village, on the Ohio River, at the mouth of Chartiers Creek. We next
hear of him at the Shawnese village on the Allegheny River, about twenty
miles above the present site of Pittsburgh, which place was known as
Chartier's Old Town. Living within a few miles of Washington County,
it is hardly possible that he did not visit this section many times on hunt-
ing and exploring trips in search of sites for new trading posts and
valuable minerals.
   During this period the French made successful efforts to secure the
Indian trade, and Chartier openly espoused their cause. Leading a party
of Shawnese, on April 18th, 1744, Chartier captured two English traders,
John Dinnew and Peter Tostee, on the Allegheny, and robbed them of
their goods, valued at 1,600 pounds. In 1745 he persuaded the Shawnese
to go to the Scioto River, Ohio. Later he received a commission from the
French, after which he disappeared and no more is known of him.
   James Le Tort, another French trader, is known to have been on the
Allegheny as early as 1720, and he may have been in what is now Wash-
ington County, but there is no record of this. Abraham Wendall, a Ger-
man trader, was living on the Allegheny in 1735, but little is known of
him.
   The first English trader in Western Pennsylvania was John Frasier,
who was located at the mouth of Turtle Creek, on the Monongahela River,
in 1753. Washington stopped at his cabin there in that year. It is very
probable that Frasier visited Washington County at some time during his
wanderings.
   Christopher Gist, the noted explorer for the old Ohio company, was in
Washington County as early as 1752 while returning from his second
exploring expedition for his company. He crossed the Monongahela River
where McKeesport now stands, and traveled up the west bank of the
stream to a point opposite the mouth of Nemacolin (now Dunlap) Creek
and about where West Brownsville now stands. Thus it will be seen that
he traversed a large section of the eastern part of the county. Crossing
the river at Dunlap Creek, he met his old friend and guide, Nemacolin,
who asked him this question: "If the French claim all the land north of
the Ohio, and the English all on the south, where do the Indians' lands
lie?" Time has fully answered this question.
   George Croghan, afterwards deputy Indian agent at Fort Pitt under
Sir William Johnson, came west of the mountains as a trader in 1748.
Whether Croghan was ever in Washington County is not known, but he
is directly connected with the early history of the county from the fact
that he owned a large tract of land within its borders. This was part of





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Robert and William Humphreys, Robert and James Stephenson, Christo-
pher Winter, Charles Bonar, Mark McCausland, John McQuown, and John
Laird, at a very early date; John and William Bryson, in 1792; William
Bonar, in 1797; Robert Gourley, in 1798; and James Campsey, in 1801.
   This is one of the most historic sections of Washington County. More
Indian raids took place in this township than in any other one section
of the county. Among the early settlers mentioned above, John Hupp
and Jacob Miller, Sr., were killed by Indians in the attack on Miller's
Blockhouse on March 31, 1782. The last battle of the Revolution was
fought at Rice's Fort, in this township, on September 13, 1782. Jonathan
Link's cabin, where Frank Hupp and Jacob Fisher were killed and Capt.
Jacob Miller and Link were captured in September, 1781, also stood in
this township. William Hawkins, mentioned above as one of the early
settlers, lived near Coon Island, and on that same day in 1781 his cabin
was raided and his daughter captured, while other cabins in that same
vicinity were raided. The detailed account of all of these raids has been
given in a previous chapter.
   This township has always been a farming district, and at one time
large quantities of wool were grown by its farmers. The coal has never
been developed extensively, there being but one mine in the township, that
of Owen Murphy at Coon Island. However, it has never been worked
extensively and has been a losing proposition. The following tracts of
coal are owned in this section: Louchs Brothers, 4,949 acres; Owen Mur-
phy, 1,355 acres; Pittsburgh Seam Coal Company, 153 acres; M. S. Louchs,
135 acres. A large number of smaller tracts are owned by private indi-
viduals, totaling 9,818 acres.
   Among the early settlers in Donegal Township were a number of
Catholics, and the first Roman Catholic church built in Washington
County stood on the National Pike a short distance east of West Alex-
ander. The church was razed and moved to Claysville many years ago,
but the old burial ground may still be seen at the side of the pike. The
Dutch Fork Christian Church, northwest of Claysville, and the Zion
Chapel of the United Brethren, near Budaville, are the only churches in
the township at present.
   One of the oldest schools in the township is the White school, which
has been in continuous existence since the public school law was passed
in 1834. At the present time there are nine teachers and eight schools,
as follows: McMillan, White, Dutch Fork, Brown, McAdoo, Stoolfire,
Byers, and Coon Island.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 910; acres of cleared land, 24,075; acres of timber,
147; value of all real estate, $2,458,450; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $18,000; value of real estate taxable, $2,440,450; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 434; value of the same, $31,255;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 798; value of the same,
$26,060; value of salaries, posts of profit, professions, etc., $90,950; aggre-
gate value of all property taxable, $2,588,685; aggregate amount of county
tax assessed, $19,416.01; amount of money at interest, mortgages, judg-
ments, etc., $452,833; amount of county tax assessed on money at interest,
$1,811.37; amount of tax levied or appropriated for roads and bridges,


492





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


$13,648.31; amount of tax levied for schools, not including state appro-
priation, $15,218.68; amount of tax levied or appropriated for all other
purposes, $21,227.38; total amount of tax levied or appropriated for all
purposes, $50,094.37; amount of tax levied on personal property,
$2,813.86; amount of tax levied on occupations, $3,863.88; amount of tax
levied on real estate of corporations, not including railroads, $12,564.21.
   Coon Island, also called Vienna, is the only village of any size in
Donegal Township, but formerly both Claysville and West Alexander were
within its precincts. This village dates back to the time when John Canode
kept a tavern there in the days when the National Pike was at the height
of its glory. This tavern was in the old two-story frame house still stand-
ing at the junction of the road that leads to the railroad station. Just
when it was built is not known, but Canode was keeping a tavern there
before 1840. This was a popular wagon stand, although the stages stopped
there at times, and it was a regular relay for express wagons. It was a
busy place in those days, and other houses were erected at the place.
After Canode the tavern was kept by John Brotherton and sons, and as
late as 1853 it was kept by a Mr. Reed. The Hempfield Railroad, now
the Baltimore & Ohio, from Washington to Wheeling, was completed
shortly after this, and in a short time travel on the pike commenced to
wane and soon ceased altogether. This ended the days of the old tavern.
   Just why this place was named Coon Island is not known. There were
probably many raccoons in the neighborhood, but not within the memory
of man has there been an island at that point. When the railroad was
built a station was established there, and called Vienna. The reason for
this change in name is even stranger than Coon Island. The latter did
not meet with the approval of some aesthetic railroad official; but the
original name has stuck, and with the exception of the railroad time table,
the place is never called anything today except Coon Island. A post office
was established there in 1856, with George Chaney as postmaster, but it
was removed when rural free delivery was started some twenty years ago.
   Just west of the old tavern and on the opposite side of the pike was
the cabin of William Hawkins, which was raided by Indians in September,
1781. Hawkins and his daughter were captured and he was afterwards
killed, but the daughter married a chief. The full details of this are given
in another chapter.
   About fifteen years ago Owen Murphy, of Latrobe, purchased a tract
of surface and coal land along the railroad just west of the station and
erected a coal tipple and built a mining town. This has never been a
financial success. After operating it for a time Mr. Murphy turned it
over to the Producers Coal C0,rporation, which failed, and it is now back
in Mr. Murphy's hands. The hill on the National Pike at this point, known
as the Coon Island Hill, is one of the longest and most dangerous on the
pike west of the mountains. It has been the scene of several automobile
accidents in which people have been killed.
   Dunsfort is located on Buffalo Creek, on the northern boundary of
Donegal Township, and is named after Dunn's Fort, which was built there
in pioneer times. A grist mill was operated there at one time by D. Wilson
Vanetta and later by Charles Cracraft. At the present time only a store
is located there. The old log building used as the fort stood until 1866.


493





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


It was located on the J. O. Scott farm, and was at one time the site of an
Indian camp. Human bones, stone implements and pieces of pottery have
been found when the ground was plowed up in years past.
    Donley and Budaville are other locations in the northern part of the
 township, but they can hardly be dignified by being called villages. Years
 ago post offices were located at Dunsfort, Donley and Budaville.

                     EAST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.
    East Bethlehem is a part of old Bethlehem, one of the original thirteen
 townships of the county. In 1788 a petition was filed in court asking for
 the division of Bethlehem Township, and on January 8, 1790, the court
 ordered that the division be made by a straight line from Peter Drake's
 to Wise's mill. In 1843 East Pike Run was given a small part of East
 Bethlehem, and in 1848 the court gave to East Pike Run Township all of
 that part of East Bethlehem north of the National Pike, except West
 Brownsville.
    The first white settlement in Washington County and west of the
Monongahela River was in what is now East Bethlehem Township. About
1768 Everhart Hupp and George Bumgarner came from Culpeper County,
Virginia, and took up land about two miles above the mouth of Ten Mile
Creek. Shortly afterwards Abraham Teagarden settled there, and for
some time they were the only settlers. A full account of this settlement
has been given in a former chapter.
   In 1770 Oliver, James and Josiah Crawford settled at the mouth of
Fish Pot Run, on the Fayette County side of the Monongahela. James
Crawford owned land on the Washington County side, where he built a
cabin and lived a part of the time, operating a ferry across the river at
this point. He also operated a salt works there, probably the first west
of the mountains.
   Other settlers who came there at an early date were Joseph Dorsey,
James Regester, Thomas Bishop, Thomas Farquhar, Thomas Hughes, and
the Bane and Morgan families. Christian Hames came in 1774; John
Welch, in 1785; John and Jacob Hormel, in 1786; Solomon Smith, in 1786;
David Enochs, in 1787; John Bower, in 1796; Benjamin Kenney, in 1800;
and George Crumrine, in 1801.
   William Montgomery built a mill on Ten Mile Creek, two and one-half
miles above its mouth, at an early date. This was purchased by Evan
McCullough in 1833, and in 1843 he sold it to James Hawkins. The latter
added three carding machines, a picker and a fulling mill. These mills
were prosperous until 1870, when the carding and fulling mills were dis-
mantled and moved to Waynesburg. George Crumrine built a mill at an
early date on Plum Run.
   Schools were taught in this township early in the last century by
John Donaghoo and Peter R. Hopkins. In a school that stood in the woods
on the hill northeast of the Daniel Crumrine farm, George Dobbs taught
in 1815. Jeff McClelland taught there in the winter of 1818-19. Other
teachers there were Hiram Baker, a Mr. Boyd, and Peter Crumrine. There
are now a supervising principal and thirty-five teachers, a high school and
seven schools, as follows: Sandy Plains, Union, Vestaburg, Frederick-
town, Millsboro, Clarksville, and Besco.


494





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   A salt works was established in 1822 by Henry Wise on the Tiver bluff
two miles below Millsboro, where he drilled a well for salt water. The
well was drilled to a depth of 508 feet, and the salt was evaporated for a
long period in large kettles. This salt works was operated for about half
a century, and at one time had a capacity of 600 bushels of salt a month.
It was last owned by Regester & Bair.
   The entire township is underlaid with rich deposits of coal, and mining
has been going on there for many years. At the present time the largest
is Vesta No. 5, located at Vestaburg, and owned by the Vesta Coal Com-
pany. This is said to be one of the largest bituminous coal mines in the
world, and has a very large production. Its workings extend over a large
area. This company has 314 acres of coal in East Bethlehem, but it owns
large areas in adjoining townships and boroughs.
   In addition to the Vesta, the Clyde Coal Company has a mine and 310
acres of coal; the Clarksville Gas Coal Company, a mine and 151 acres of
coal; the -Champion Gas Coal Company, a mine and 110 acres of coal;
the Madison Gas Coal Company, 100 acres of coal; the Trumbull Coal
Company, a mine and 583 acres of coal; the Springer Coal Company, a
mine and one acre of coal.
   A number of small mines have been operated near Millsboro and
Fredericktown during the last few years, but most of them are now out
of business. Among them are: Culler Gas Coal Company, Edwina Coal
Company, Fredericktown Coal Company, Lacy Coal Company, Millsboro
Coal Company, and the Horner Coal Company.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 1,525; acres of cleared land, 2,805; acres of timber,
none; value of all real estate, $2,337,135; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $45,000; value of real estate taxable, $2,292,135; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 18; value of the same, $740;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 18; value of the same, $450;
value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $152,320; aggre-
gate value of all property taxable for county purposes, $2,445,645; amount
of county tax assessed, $18,341.58; amount of money at interest, mort-
gages, judgments, bonds, etc., $96,163; amount of county tax assessed on
money at interest, $384.63; amount of tax levied or appropriated for
roads and bridges, $28,896.72; amount of tax levied or appropriated for
schools, not including state appropriation, $64,958.13; amount of tax
levied or appropriated for all other purposes, $18,726.21; total amount of
tax levied or appropriated for all purposes, $112,581.06; amount of tax
levied on personal property, $435.20; amount of tax levied on occupations,
$10,280.60; amount of tax levied on real estate of railroads, $212.50;
amount of tax levied on real estate of corporations, not including railroads,
$56,448.50.
   The churches are:    Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Saint
Michael Archangel Roman Catholic, at Millsboro; Methodist Episcopal,
at Fredericktown; and the East Bethlehem Baptist.
   Fredericktown is the oldest settlement in southeastern Washington
County. The town was laid out by Frederick Wise in August, 1790, and
it was named after him. A survey and town plot was made by Isaac
Jenkinson, but for some reason it was never put on record. Wisa died


495




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


before his plans could be carried out, but his widow and administrators,
Isaac Jenkinson and Peter Nossinger, carried out the work. This is
probably the reason the plan was never recorded. I am also informed
by a local attorney that the patent for this land is not on record. Each
purchaser of a lot was required to pay half a dollar per annum quit-rent
on each lot.
    Wise entered into an agreement with the purchaser of each lot by
 which they were to have the use of all streets, alleys, and public grounds,
 all springs on the Wise premises, stone from his quarry, and timber from
 his land. Each purchaser then agreed that he would "with all convenient
 speed erect thereon a stone, brick, frame, or hewed logg house at least
 twenty feet square, or equal thereto, with shingled roof, stone or brick
 chimney, and enclose the said lot or lots within post and rail fence or
 good pailing within four years from the purchase." In the event of
 failure to comply with these conditions, the penalty was forfeiture of the
 lot or lots.
    This agreement further provided that "no Distillery for the destruc-
tion of grain or fruit shall be at any time erected on the premises, either
by or under the said Frederick Wise or any purchaser." In view of this
provision, it is more than passing strange that three distilleries were
erected in our own times and operated for many years, one, that of Burson
& Boyd, being in Fredericktown. The Emery distillery was at Millsboro,
and the Vandergrift distillery at Vestaburg.
    The article of agreement mentioned above was signed by Frederick
Wise and the following purchasers of lots: Isaac Jenkinson, John Baker,
Francis Townsend, Joseph Green, Andrew Nossinger, John Richardson,
Solomon Shepherd, John Shepherd, Solomon Shepherd Jr., Peter Nos-
singer, and Edward Moran for himself and Blain Moran.
    The first house erected after the town was laid out was by Isaac
Jenkinson, who kept a store in the village as early as 1795; for we find
that on December 7, 1795, he announced in The Western Telegraphe that
he had lately received from Philadelphia a fresh assortment of dry goods,
groceries, iron mongery, and a valuable collection of books.
   From The Western Telegraphe of September 22, 1795, we also find
that David Townsend had opened a screw making business at Frederick-
town. He also manufactured fuller's shears, oil mill rollers, and millers'
brands. In his screw making business he made and repaired screws for
raising mill stones, packing flour, tobacco, for timber wheels and fuller's
and printer's presses.
   David Blair was a gunsmith and he manufactured guns at Frederick-
town at an early date. This was an important business in every com-
munity of Washington County at that time, for guns were a necessity.
He carried coal in sacks by pack horse from Fish Pot Run for his forge,
never dreaming that there was plenty in the hills around the town.
   Coal was first discovered at a very early date by John Bower while
digging a mill race. However, he paid little attention to it, and it re-
mained for Nathan Pusey to open the first bank or mine in that vicinity.
   John Bower manufactured red pottery at Fredericktown. He was
succeeded by Jacob Wise, John Row, and finally by Eli Gapen, the last to


496




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


engage in this business. Stoneware was also manufactured here as early
as 1843 by Polk Donahoo.
    On November 28, 1796, Archibald Hood advertised that he had opened
 a tannery. It is also known that prior to 1797 the firm of Samms &
 Dilhorn conducted a store at Fredericktown. This was afterwards
 operated by Nathaniel Samms.
    One of the first libraries in the county was opened at Fredericktown,
 some say as early as 1793, and others on March 7, 1796. David Townsend
 was treasurer of the society, and Isaac Jenkinson secretary.
    Jonathan Knight, the famous surveyor of the first Baltimore & Ohio
 Railroad, taught school at Fredericktown in 1810. The steam mill was
 built there in 1826 by Isaac Thompson. Joseph Avescat kept a public
 house at an early date. The Hotel Bower is now located there.
    The First National Bank of Fredericktown was organized on August
 5, 1901, and is now in a very flourishing condition.
    Millsboro, formerly spelled Millsborough, adjoins Fredericktown,
 although it is a separate village. It was started about 1817, when Robert
 White and Henry Wise built taverns, the first by White, and the second, a
 brick building, by Wise. Millsboro was incorporated as a borough by a
 special act of the Legislature on June 12, 1840, and at the election held
 July 6th, John H. Bowell was elected burgess, and Weaver Heaton, David
 Spindler, P. F. Vernon, and Paul Rankin, council. The charter was sur-
 rendered and the Legislature repealed the act incorporating the borough
 of Millsboro in 1878, and it again became a part of East Bethlehem Town-
 ship. The last borough officers were Thomas H. Carmer, burgess; Isaac
 Bell, Joseph Dunn, Jesse Virgin, and George W. Horner, council.
    Jesse Bumgarner built a water mill at Millsboro at an early date, but
 it has not been operated for many years. In 1822 Henry Wise drilled a
 salt well on the river bluff, and evaporated salt in kettles as already men-
 tioned in the township history. Baen, Eaton & Company operated the
 Millsboro foundry at an early date.
    James Emery built a distillery at Millsboro in 1867, costing $2,000.
 It had a capacity of twenty bushels of grain daily. The first distillery
 was located for a number of years next to the old Franklin factory build-
 ing, a three-story stone structure still standing, which Mr. Emery used in
 connection with his business. This was later converted into a distillery,
 and after the death of the father, his son, E. Fred Emery, operated it
 until national prohibition closed it forever.
   The First National Bank of Millsboro was organized on June 24, 1904,
with a capital of $25,000. It is now in a very prosperous condition.
   The Southwest Normal School, now       located at California, was
originally started at Millsboro in the spring of 1862 by Thomas J. Horner,
under the name of the Union Normal School. The next term, however,
the name was changed to Southwest Normal School. It was operated
until 1865.
   Riverville was a mining town built a number of years ago by the
Riverville Coal Company, two miles north of Fredericktown. The com-
pany was unable to penetrate the rock, and the mine was operated less
than a year, when the town was abandoned. The property was after-
wards purchased by the Vesta Coal Company, but the buildings were all
       32-V1


497





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


moved away; and today there is nothing left to mark the site of the van-
ished town.
    Vestaburg is a mining town built several years ago by the Vesta Coal
 Company when it opened Vesta No. 5 mine, one of the largest bituminous
 coal mines in the world. This is one of the most important mining dis-
 tricts in the county.
    The Vandergrift distillery stood near this town until it was destroyed
by fire on June 2, 1925. This was one of the old-time distilleries on the
Monongahela River, which helped make Monongahela rye famous the
world over.
   Besco is another mining town, located on Ten Mile Creek a mile and
a half above its mouth. It was built by the Bessemer Coal and Coke
Company, and originally contained 100 coke ovens.
   Williamstown is a plan of lots laid out on the Greene County line, and is
really a part of Clarksville, a town just over the line in that county.

                       EAST FINLEY TOWNSHIP.
   On May 6, 1788, the southern part of Donegal was created into Finley
Township, which extended into what is now Greene County. The area
was reduced in 1792, when the township of Richhill was created from a
part of Finley; and in 1796 Richhill became a part of Greene County.
This reduction in area still left Finley Township a very large territory,
and on December 24, 1828, it was divided into East and West Finley town-
ships by a line run straight north and south across the middle.
   Abraham Enlow was one of the first settlers in this section. As early
as 1775 he pushed through the wilderness and built a blockhouse on
Wheeling Creek. Others drifted in during the next few years, John and
Hugh Sprowls, brothers, coming about 1780; Charles Cracraft, in 1780;
Andrew Kerr, in 1781; Benjamin and Isaac Elliott, about 1780 or 1781;
Charles, William and Barnett Boner, before 1785; Enoch Vansyock and
Isaac Elliott, about 1795, and Joseph Ayers, about 1802.
   Benjamin and Isaac Elliott were brothers and were Quakers, as were
several other early settlers in this township. In 1797 they erected a
Quaker meeting house, the first building in the township for religious
purposes. This was a log cabin and did duty as a schoolhouse as well. In
1800, while a Mr. Heaton was teaching school there, it was burned down,
and the Quakers were without a regular meeting house until 1803, when
one of -hewed logs was built. Besides Benjamin and Isaac Elliott, there
were Enoch Vansyock, Robert, Joseph and Samuel England, and their
families. The society was never strong, and it decreased as the years
passed until they were all sleeping in the little graveyard at the church
and their descendants scattered over the country. The last meeting was
held on July 14, 1841, and the last survivor of the little band was Samuel
England, who was living as late as 1882, at the age of more than eighty
years. The old graveyard is still pointed out.
   Other churches in East Finley Township are the Fairmont United
Presbyterian, sometimes called the Dogwood Church; Stony Point
Methodist Episcopal, Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal, Wheeling United
Presbyterian, Pleasant Grove Baptist, Enon Baptist, and the Fairview
Presbyterian, formerly Cumberland Presbyterian.


498





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The first school of which we have a record is that already mentioned,
which was taught in the Quaker Church in 1800 by Mr. Heaton. Sub-
scription schools were taught in the Jordan and Ely districts. Among the
early teachers were James Hunter, George Plants, Samuel England and
John Adams. At the present time there are nine teachers and nine schools,
as follows: Pleasant Grove, Sawhill, Hairs, Stony Point, Jordan, Rockey,
Newland, Marshall, and Joint.
    From the beginning of its first settlement, East Finley has always
been an agricultural district, and today it is one of the most remote sec-
tions of the county; no railroads traverse it, and there are no coal mines
to spoil its pastoral beauty. Several large tracts of coal have been pur-
chased, and at the present time there are 15,144 acres held by two com-
panies and a number of private individuals. The largest holdings are as
follows: Pittsburgh & New York Coal Company, 6,540 acres; George F.
Auld, trustee, 3,291 acres; Ten Mile Coal Company, 638 acres.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 460; acres of cleared land, 21,325; acres of timber,
675; value of real estate, $1,754,755; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $10,500; value of real estate taxable, $1,744,255; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 365; value of the same, $13,3015;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 429; value of the same,
$12,140; value of salaries, posts of profit, professions, etc., $45,540; value
of all property taxable for county purposes, $1,815,240; amount of county
tax assessed, $13,729.66; amount of money at interest, mortgages, judg-
ments, etc., $191,468; amount of tax assessed on money at interest,
$765.87; amount of tax levied or appropriated for roads and bridges,
$9,076.20; amount of tax levied or appropriated on for schools, not includ-
ing state appropriation, $10,079.65; amount of tax levied or appropriated
for all other purposes, $14,495.53; total amount of tax levied or appro-
priated for all purposes, $33,651.38; amount of tax levied on personal
property, $1,198.43; amount of tax levied on occupations, $3,186.65;
amount of tax levied on the real estate of railroads, $2.13; amount of tax
levied on the real estate of corporations, other than railroads, $5,550.84.
   The little village of Pleasant Grove is located near the northern part,
and is the largest in the township. It was started when the Pleasant
Grove Baptist Church was organized on November 14, 1840. A few
houses were gradually built around the church, and it now contains, be-
sides the church, a store, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, and about ten
dwellings.
   In the central part of the township is the place known as East Finley
village. This simply contains a store kept by Hugh Plants, a blacksmith
shop and a dwelling. A schoolhouse and church are a short distance west
of the village.
   Other points which can scarcely be dignified as being called villages
are: Gale, on the eastern edge of the township; Fargo, in the northern
part; Bartholdi, in the central part, and Plants, in the western part.
Simpson's store is located on the southern border. Old Concord is on the
boundary line of Morris and will be described under that township.
   An interesting bit of history centers around a large tract of 30,000
acres of land owned in old Finley Township by Robert Morris, the Revo-


499





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


lutionary patriot, who financed the colonies in their struggle for freedom.
He purchased this land, and it was one of the disastrous speculations
which brought him to poverty in his old age. The tract was divided into
seventy-five farms of 400 acres each.
   Duncan McArthur, afterwards of Ohio, lived in old Finley Township in
pioneer times. He was an Indian fighter of considerable renown, and
served under Gen. George Rogers Clark. He was one of the party that
pursued the Indians after the McIntosh massacre, which has been de-
scribed in another chapter.

                      EAST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP.
   East Pike Run is part of old Pike Run Township, which was formed
from part of Fallowfield on April 23, 1792. Upon petition of the residents
of that section, the court divided Pike Run on March 9, 1839, into East
and West Pike Run townships. The line between these two townships was
changed in 1850, and again in 1857.
   As early as 1769 Thomas Swearingen, Jr., settled in what is now East
Pike Run Township; and that same year Adam Young took up land there.
William Peters, known as "Indian Peter," also settled there at an early
date, on land adjoining Swearingen's. This property was afterwards
purchased by Neal Gillespie, an ancestor of Hon. James G. Blaine, and' it
is now the site of West Brownsville. Other early settlers were James
Dorsey, Henry, William and John Gregg, Jacob Springer, John Almond,
Amos Ayles, John and Seth Buffington, Samuel Bailey, John Krepps, Con-
rad Weaver, and Nathan Heald.
   This township is underlaid with the Pittsburgh vein of coal, which has
been extensively mined for a number of years, and is still the center of
extensive mining operations. Jordan S. Neal & Company opened a coal
mine many years ago near Coal Center. The Globe mine, operated by
Crowthers, Musgrove & Company, was another early mine. At the present
time the following coal companies own tracts in the township: Vesta
Coal Company, 149 acres of coal and a tipple; Pittsburgh Coal Company,
690 acres of coal and a tipple; Lilley Coal and Coke Company, 430 acres of
coal and a tipple; Hector Coal Company, 5 acres of coal; Hillman Coal and
Coke Company, 23 acres of coal; Bradford Gas Coal Company, a tipple;
Barnum-Lilley Coal Company, a mine with coal all worked out.
   A school was taught in this township by Robert Quail as early as 1807.
At the present time there are a supervising principal, thirty teachers, and
eight schools, as follows: Republic, Blainesburg, Granville, Daisytown,
Beadell, Galbraith, Ridge and Knob.
   The old Monongahela distillery was located near the center of the
township, on Gorby's Run. It was started more than fifty years ago by
a man named Mess, who sold to Zephaniah M. and John Boyle in 1876,
who ran it for several years. It has not been in operation for a long
period, and has been forgotten by most people of today.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 2,002; acres of cleared land, 6,778; acres of timber,
100; value of all real estate, $2,009,005; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $95,500; value of real estate taxable, $1,913,505; number of


500





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


horses and mules over four years of age, 175; value of the same, $13,675;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 348; value of the same,
$12,805; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc.,
$199,845; value of all property taxable for county purposes, $2,139,830;
amount of county tax assessed, $16,049.81; amount of money at interest,
mortgages, judgments, etc., $231,733; amount of county tax assessed on
money at interest, $926.93; amount of tax levied or appropriated for roads
and bridges, $24,656.99; amount of tax levied or appropriated for schools,
not including state appropriation, $75,969.49; amount of tax levied or
appropriated for all other purposes, $16,976.74; total amount of tax for
all purposes, $117,603.22; amount of tax levied on personal property,
$2,290.65; amount of tax levied on occupations, $13,487.29; amount of tax
levied on real estate of railroads, $298.70; amount of tax levied on real
estate of corporations, not including railroads, $55,277.53.
    Granville, or Minersville as it is sometimes called, is the oldest village
 in East Pike Run Township. It is situated on both sides of Pike Run and
 its tributary, Gorby's Fork, just over the hill west of Coal Center, on
 the Pike Run improved road. This town was laid out many years ago by
 James Gregg, who settled there at an early date. A woolen factory was
 in operation there for many years before and after the Civil war. At
 one time William Winfield manufactured pottery there. Henry Dowler in
 1882 laid out an addition to Granville on the east side of Gorby's Fork, and
 named the place Minersville. However, it is part of Granville and is
 known by that name. An attempt was made to change the name of the
 place to Wilna about a quarter of a century ago, and in 1903 several resi-
 dents of the place tried to incorporate Granville as the borough of Wilna,
 but this was not successful; and the village is better known today as
 Granville. In fact, few people would know what you were talking about
 if you asked for Wilna.
   Up the Pike Run Valley some distance above Granville is Walkertown,
a village founded during the past ten years on the old Walker farm, owned
by the father of James W. Walker, one of the present county commis-
sioners. This town was laid out by James W. Walker and other mem-
bers of the family, and is a mining community, adjacent to Daisytown.
   Daisytown is located on the boundary line between East and West Pike
Run townships. This is a mining town built by the Vesta Coal Com-
pany about twenty years ago as the town for Vesta No. 4 Mine located
in the Pike Run Valley. This is said to be the largest bituminous coal
mine in the world, its nearest competitor for this honor being Vesta
No. 5, in East Bethlehem Township. The tipple for Vesta No. 4 is be-
tween Coal Center and California, on the Monongahela River. The coal
is hauled from the mine a distance of four miles by electric power, the
tracks running through four hills. Many persons have wondered why
such a sordid place should be called by such a name. The story is told
that when the surveyor for the coal company arrived on the ground to
lay out the town, he found the land covered with field daisies in full bloom.
His assistant remarked, "This will be a daisy of a town," and from this
the place was called Daisytown.
   Phillipsburg lies immediately east of the Borough of California, and is


501





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


a grant of 100,000 acres made to him by treaty with the head chiefs of the
Iroquois league at Fort Stanwix, New York, on August 2nd, 1749, and
November 4th, 1768. The chiefs who signed the deeds to Croghan were
Johonorissa, Scarayadia, and Coswantinecea.
   This land lay in the northern section of the county, along Raccoon
Creek. That the deed from the Iroquois was valid is shown by the fact
that Croghan afterwards sold it to white settlers by deeds which are on
record in the Washington County recorder's office.
   The first, dated January 9th, 1772, is found in Deed Book 1, Volume A,
page 3. This conveys fifteen hundred acres to Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr.,
for one hundred and fifty pounds. On February 20th, 1776, George
Croghan conveyed to William Croghan 6,424 acres of this land for seven
hundred two pounds and twelve shillings. The record is found in Deed
Book 1, Volume A, page 23. By another deed, dated July 9th, 1776, re-
corded in Deed Book 1, Volume C, page 308, George Croghan conveyed
2,000 acres on Raccoon Creek to Edmund Milne for three hundred pounds.





                          CHAPTER III.

                            1765-1774.
                THE COMING OF CIVILIZATION.
THE FIRST WHITE SETTLERS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY NOT KNOWN-
    EVERHART HUPP'S CLAIM DISPUTED-WRIGHT BROTHERS-SQUATTERS
    -BANE BROTHERS-ANDREW POE-RANKIN AND CHRIST-DATE OF
    HUPP'S SETTLEMENT-MARGARET HUPP, THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN
    WEST OF THE MONONGAHELA RIVER-ATTACK ON ROEFELTY FAMILY
    -GEORGE   BUMGARNER-ABRAHAM       TEAGARDEN-HUPP'S     BLOCK-
    HOUSE-JACOB    WOLFE-THOMAS     CHERRY-SETTLERS    IN  ALLEN
    TOWNSHIP.

            "The eagle hath its place to rest,
               The wild horse where to dwell;
             The spirit that gave the bird its nest,
               Made me a home as well.
             Then back, go back from the red man's track,
               For the hunter's eyes grow dim
             To find that the white man wrongs the one
               Who never did harm to him."-Eliza Cook.
   Everhart Hupp has been given credit as the first permanent settler in
Washington County. Former historians have placed the date of his settle-
ment in East Bethlehem Township as 1766, but the old survey records in
the Washington County recorder's office state that Hupp settled in this
county in 1769. Therefore, we must leave him out of consideration; for
there were others before that year.
   In fact, it is impossible to say just who was the first permanent settler,
for we must rely on tradition for this information, and that is unreliable





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


really part of that town. It was laid out on the farm of James Phillips
and was named in his honor. The inhabitants work in the near by mines.
   Blainesburg is a small town on the hill just west of West Brownsville.
It was laid out about twenty years ago, and named in honor of Hon.
James G. Blaine, who was born at West Brownsville. Like all other towns
in this section of the county its people are miners.

                       FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP.
   Fallowfield, the sixth of the original thirteen townships of Washing-
ton County, was laid out in July, 1781. It was formerly much larger than
today, but its territory has been greatly reduced by the formation of Som-
erset in 1782, Pike Run in 1792, Carroll in 1834, and Allen in 1853. Since
the incorporation of Charleroi Borough it has no river frontage, but years
ago a large part of it was on the Monongahela.
   The first land survey entry was to Joseph Brinton on May 2, 1780,
but he had probably been there for several years before that time. Vin-
cent Colvin was another early settler in that region. Others who came
in before 1780 were Joseph and Christopher Graybill, John Cramer, James
Innis, Noah Williams, William Wood, Nicholas Plattor, Alexander Hill,
Phillip Miller, Thomas Carson, Frederick Cooper, Henry Krepps, John
Reef, and Abraham Frye.
   Joshua Pennel taught school in a log building as early as 1810. This
stood near West's church. John Sutton taught another school at an early
date on the John S. Carson farm on Maple Creek. At the present time
there are a supervising principal, twenty-four teachers and eleven schools
as follows: Johnstown, Carson, Fallowfield, Curtin, Pigeon Creek, Dickey,
Cooper, Lockview, Van Voorhis, Warner and Gibson.
   The churches are Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal, Newkirk Methodist
Episcopal, Maple Creek Baptist, and Maple Creek Christian.
   A number of coal companies are operating in this township, and sev-
eral own large tracts of coal as follows: H. C. Frick Coal and Coke Com-
pany, 3,257 acres of coal; Mingo Coal Company, 1,921 acres of coal; Pitts-
burgh Coal Company, 1,430 acres of coal; Union Coal and Coke Company,
334 acres of coal; Valley Camp Coal Company, 555 acres of coal; Hill-
man Gas Coal Company, 518 acres of coal; Warner-Youghiogheny Coal
Company, 148 acres of coal; Youghiogheny and Ohio Coal Company, 397
acres of coal; National Mining Company, 121 acres of coal; Ellsworth
Collieries Company, 9 acres of coal; Slovan Coal Company, 3.5 acres of
coal.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 1,110; acres of cleared land, 10,980; acres of tim-
ber, 80; value of all real estate, $3,734,350; value of real estate exempt
from taxation, $20,000; value of real estate taxable, $3,714,350; number
of horses and mules over four years of age, 209; value of the same, $12,335;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 483; value of the same,
$22,225; value of salaries, posts of profits, trades and professions, $110,500;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $3,859,410; amount of
county tax assessed, $28,945.87; amount of money at interest, mortgages,
judgments, bonds, etc., $166,101; amount of county tax assessed on money
at interest, $664.41; amount of tax levied or appropriated for roads and


502




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


bridges, $38,789.64; amount of tax levied for schools, not including state
appropriation, $43,458.01; amount of tax levied for all other purposes,
$29,610.28; total amount of tax levied for all purposes, $111,857.93; amount
of tax levied on personal property, $1,649.37; amount of tax levied on
occupations, $4,143.75; amount of tax levied on real estate of railroads,
$2.85; amount of tax levied on real estate of corporations, not including
railroads, $86,002.60.
    Ginger Hill is the oldest village in the township. Located on the
 Monongahela pike, six miles east of Monongahela city, it has always been
 the center of a farming community until within the last four or five years,
 when the mining town of Ginger Hill was built near the old settlement.
 The old town dates back to before 1794 when Squire David Hamilton lived
 there. An amusing story is told of how the town was named Ginger Hill.
 One dark night in 1794, during the Whisky insurrection, Robert John-
 son, excise collector, seized Squire Hamilton's still. The squire persuaded
 the officers to remain with him for the night. The evening was spent in
 discussing the excise tax, interspersed with frequent drinks of whisky,
 which the squire had previously doctored with Jamaica ginger. The offi-
 cers became intoxicated and fell asleep. The still was then hurriedly car-
 ried many miles across country and safely concealed from the officers;
 and ever afterwards the little village was known as Ginger Hill.
    Jonestown was laid out by John Jones in 1828, six miles from the
Monongahela River, on the road from Canonsburg to Bellevernon. A post
office was established in 1857 with Edward Creighton as postmaster. This
is still a small country village of about a dozen houses.
    Lover is the name of a former post office in the southwestern part of
the township. It is only a small village of a few houses.
    Van Voorhis is a mining town located near the boundary of Carroll
Township. Hazelkirk No. 2 mine is located near this place. A post office
was established here a number of years ago, and is still maintained.

                         HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
   Hanover, the extreme northwestern township in the county, was organ-
ized on March 11, 1786, from a large part of Smith. When Allegheny
County was erected in 1788, Hanover Township lost a large part of its
territory, and again, on March 24, 1800, a part of it was taken for Beaver
County. On March 30, 1830, a part of the northern section of Smith was
added to Hanover.
   One of the first settlers in this section was Michael Dillow, who went
there about 1780, and built a fort. Dillow was killed by Indians two years
later, as already related in a previous chapter. Samuel Johnston was
another early settler, but the date that he went to Hanover Township
is not known. Thomas Armor came in 1776, and Samuel Merchant in
1778. Others who settled there during the next few years were Robert
Wallace, in 1782; James Proudfit, in 1782; Alexander Duncan, in 1783;
James McNary, in 1783; Humphrey Montgomery in 1785; Nathan Dungan,
in 1785; William McConnell, in 1784; John Tucker, in 1786; Philip and
Benjamin Jackson, in 1786; James Simpson, in 1785; John Kirby, in 1785;
Hugh Miller, in 1786; Jonas Potts, in 1787; Augustine Moore, in 1790;
John Travis, in 1798. Andrew and Adam Poe, who were probably the
first settlers in Smith Township, took up land in Hanover Township in 1786.


503





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    As early as 1805 a Mr. Shaw taught school in a log cabin on the D. C.
Fulton farm; and in 1810 George Cunningham taught one year at the same
place. Richard Shillock taught in 1817 in another school on the Duncan
farm. This school was afterwards taught by Hugh Barton and John
McCreary. Douglas Geary at one time taught in a school on the Joseph
Scott farm. There are now ten teachers and ten schools as follows: Cov-
entry, Dillo, Sturgeon, Florence, Hamilton, Boyd, Fulton, Purdy, Paris, and
Miller. The Sturgeon school, however, is closed.
   The following are the churches: United Presbyterian and Presbyterian
at Paris; Cross Roads Presbyterian at Florence, Tucker Methodist
Episcopal.
   The following coal companies own coal in this township: Hanover
Coal Company, 501 acres of coal and a tipple; Pittsburgh-Hanover Coal
Company, 371 acres of coal and a tipple; Harmon Creek Coal Company,
256 acres of coal; McDonald Coal Company, 149 acres of coal and surface;
John A. Bell, 31 acres of coal; Carnegie Coal Company, 56 acres of coal.
   Florence, formerly known as Briceland's Cross Roads, is the oldest
village in the township. Years ago before the Panhandle railroad was
completed across the northern part of Washington County, Florence was
an important town, and had the railroad gone through it this would have
been one of the important towns in that section. Located at the junction
of the Pittsburgh-Steubenville turnpike and the Washington-Georgetown
road, Florence was a booming town in the days of stage coach travel. It
had at one time a newspaper, an academy, a female seminary, a tavern,
a fair, and numerous business houses. Now it might almost be termed
a deserted village in comparison with those days sixty years and more ago.
   Long years before the Pittsburgh-Steubenville turnpike was built this
place was known as the "Cross Roads," and in 1798 the Presbyterian church
at Kings Creek was removed from that place to the "Cross Roads." The
town was laid out by Moses Proudfoot (now spelled Proudfit) and James
Briceland in 1814. This immediately became an important point on the
main road from Pittsburgh to the west, and when the Pittsburgh-Steuben-
ville turnpike was completed in 1822, an era of prosperity began.
   A Mr. Anderson opened the first store in the new town, James Allison
started a tannery, and Benjamin Kindrich opened a silverplating estab-
lishment.
   James Briceland, who afterwards kept what is now the Auld Hotel
in Washington and who was one of the founders of Florence, opened a hotel
there in 1813, and conducted it for many years. The name of Mount
Bethel was never popular, and for many years the town was known as
Briceland's Cross Roads. In fact it was not until about 1833 that it became
known generally as Florence, although it had been given that name some
years before. In 1818 a post office was established with Moses Bradford
as the first postmaster; and it has been there continuously since that time.
   The Florence Academy was established in 1832 by Robert Fulton, and
the Rural Female seminary in 1835 by Mrs. Paull and Miss Cutter. A
small newspaper called the Florence Enterprise was published in 1845;
and in 1858 the Florence Mutual Agricultural association held its first
fair. This was continued until 1865. The decline of Florence set in when


504





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the Panhandle railroad was built through from Pittsburgh to Steubenville
in 1865.
   Paris was another town of the stage coach days of the Pittsburgh-
Steubenville turnpike. It was laid out by Samuel Hill and Richard Ward.
The latter built the first house in which he kept a tavern for many years.
At one time there was a threshing machine factory, a cabinetmaker, and
several wagon shops. The Paris Collegiate institute was established in
October, 1878, by Prof. William I. Brough, and conducted for several
years. At one time there were military companies at both Florence and
Paris.
   Murdocksville, called Murdochtown in the early days, really dates back
to 1780 when John White built a grist mill at that place; and from that
time until after 1800 the place was known as White's mills. A mill was
conducted there for many years, and as late as fifteen years ago it was
still run by water power. The name of the town was changed to Murdoch-
town, after James Murdoch, the first postmaster; but the post office was
removed a number of years ago.
   Five Points is the junction of five roads in the northern part of the
township. This was an important point when oil was struck in the Mur-
docksville field in 1888, and there are still some producing wells in that
section.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 630; acres of cleared land, 29,190; acres of timber,
270; value of all real estate, $1,346,505; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $28,500; value of real estate taxable, $1,318,005; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 411; value of the same, $30,140;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 542; value of the same,
$19,245; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $62,925;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $1,430,315; amount of
county tax assessed, $10,727.74; amount of money at interest, $165,002;
amount of tax assessed on money at interest, $660.02; amount of tax levied
or appropriated for roads and bridges, $6,251.36; amount of tax levied
or appropriated for schools, not including state appropriations, $9,149.34;
amount of tax assessed for all other purposes, $11,387.76; total amount of
tax levied, $26,788.46; amount of tax levied on personal property, $1,524.25;
amount of tax levied on occupations, $1,667.14; amount of tax levied on real
estate of corporations, $14.00; amount of tax levied on real estate of cor-
porations, not including railroads, $5,987.63.

                        HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP.
   Hopewell, the seventh of the original thirteen townships of July 15,
1781, originally embraced Cross Creek, Independence and a part of Mount
Pleasant. These townships greatly reduced the original territory of Hope-
well, until it was scarcely one-fourth its original size. It has always been
a farming section from the beginning down to the present time.
   Jesse Martin, who came in prior to 1779, was one of the first white set-
tlers in this township. In 1779 William Smiley settled there, and in the
spring of that year the Rev. Joseph Smith came there from the east.
Other early settlers were Robert Caldwell, Thomas Polke, David Boyd,
Thomas Urie, James Davis, George Work, Peter McKee, and William
Vasbinder.


505




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Schools were taught in Hopewell Township at an early date by John
 Ross, Bartley A. McClean, Nathaniel Jenkins, Samuel Elder, George For-
 ester, and Joseph G. Chambers. At the present time there are six teachers
 and four schools as follows: White, Farrar, Buffalo and the high school.
    The historic Upper Buffalo Presbyterian church is located at Buffalo
 village.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
 Number of taxables, 320; acres of cleared land, 12,265; acres of timber,
 114; value of all real estate, $1,433,195; value of real estate exempt from
 taxation, $21,500; value of real estate taxable, $1,411,695; number of
 horses and mules over four years of age, 258; value of the same, $14,785;
 number of neat cattle over four years of age, 267; value of the same,
 $9,140; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $31,910;
 value of all property taxable for county purposes, $1,467,530; amount of
 county tax assessed, $11,006.73; amount of money at interest, $203,569;
 amount of tax assessed on money at interest, $814.27; amount of tax levied
 or appropriated for roads and bridges, $4,769.47; amount of tax levied for
 schools, not including state appropriation, $12,454.96; amount of tax levied
 for all other purposes, $11,821; total amount of tax levied for all pur-
 poses, $29,045.43; amount of tax levied on personal property, $1,274.56;
 amount of tax levied on occupations, $1,300.03; amount of tax levied on
 the real estate of corporations, not including railroads, $11,154.
   The coal of Hopewell Township has not been developed, but the fol-
lowing companies own coal: Pittsburgh Coal Company, 2,227 acres of
coal; J. B. House and others, 200 acres; Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Cor-
poration, 1,375 acres of coal; Youghiogheny-Pittsburgh Coal Company, 706
acres of coal; Middletown Coal Company, 4,848 acres of coal; George H.
Theiss, 632 acres of coal.
   Buffalo village, the only town in Hopewell Township, is located about
six miles from Washington on the main road from the county seat to
West Middletown and Wellsburg, Ohio. This is a farming community
which dates back to the founding of the Upper Buffalo Presbyterian church,
which was organized in May or June, 1779. The village was slow in build-
ing, and today it is still a small hamlet.
   The first post office in the township was established in 1800 at the
Wotring farm, with Abram Wotring as postmaster. The first horse-mill
in Hopewell was also located on the Wotring place, northeast of the pres-
ent Buffalo village. Col. John Smith succeeded Mr. Wotring as postmaster,
and then came Samuel Merchant, who was also postmaster at Brush Run,
mentioned below.
   Hanovertown was the original name of the Brush Run postoffice. This
was never anything more than a store located in the early days in the
northern part of the township. Later the place was called Gillespietown,
but when the post office was established there in 1846 it was changed to
Brush Run. Samuel Merchant was postmaster there for a time, and later
James Clarke held the position. This place is now a tenement house on
the J. G. Gillespie farm. Mr. Merchant was postmaster there again, and
under his administration it was consolidated with the office at the Wotring
farm and moved to Buffalo village in 1866.
   Hopewell Town is one of the lost towns of Washington County. James


506




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Gillespie settled there prior to 1788 on land adjoining the present Buffalo
village. In 1797 he decided to start a town and laid out a plan of lots, but
the plan was never put on record. In The Western Telegraphe and Wash-
ington Advertiser of February 10, 1797, he inserted the following ad-
vertisement:
    "The Subscriber has laid out a town on his plantation (called Hopewell
town) in Hopewell Township, on the great road leading from Henderson's
Mills to Charlestown, mouth of Buffaloe, the 20th ultimo. The corner lots
will be sold at twenty dollars each, the others at ten dollars each. The
situation is elegant, about twenty rods from Henderson's Mills, and within
one mile and a half from the two meeting houses. Those that choose to
purchase will have a title in fee simple forever.
                                                 "James Gillespie."
   The town was evidently not a success for no further mention is found
of it until June 10, 1800, when Michael McClung sold to Francis Henry
Lot No. 20 in Hopewell Town. This was sold by Henry on August 26, 1809,
to John Trimble, William McClelland, Thomas Gillespie, and James Clark.
No further record is found of the town, and even the oldest inhabitants
know nothing of it. The only record of it found in the recorder's office is
this reference to Lot No. 20. No other lots seem to have been sold.

                      INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP.
   Independence was originally part of Hopewell until February, 1856,
when it was taken from the territory of the latter and erected by an order
of court. Within this township was the first white settlement in that sec-
tion of the county. In 1773 John Doddridge emigrated from the east and
built Doddridge's fort, one of the most historic on the western frontier.
Over the hill to the east was Samuel Teeter's fort, built by him a year or
two previous, in what is now Hopewell Township. There were many other
early settlers in that section, but the names of many of them have been lost
with the passing years. Some of them were Samuel Buchanan, Samuel,
Arthur and Josiah Scott, James Welch, Balbraith, Benjamin and William
Stewart, Matthew Mitchell, Robert Cummings, George Plumer, Dennis
Dorsey, and James Boyd.
   We find that about 1800 Dr. John Cuthbertson was a physician in this
township, and for a number of years later. John Buchanan and Robert
Wilkins were also inn keepers about this same time, and Benjamin Wells
was engaged in the tanning business just west of Independence village
from 1817 to 1824.
   One of the first schools, and probably the first in this township, was
that taught by John Robinson in the old log schoolhouse that stood for
many years on the James Welch farm. It was before 1800 that Robin-
son taught there, and he was followed by Thomas McCready, Lawrence
Gardner, and Isaac Sharp. In 1810 there was another log school on the
Widow Wells farm, near the Forks, taught by an Irishman named Moses
Hanlan. Oiled paper was used in place of glass for windows in this
building. At the present time this township has a supervising principal,
twenty-four teachers, a high school, and seven graded schools as follows:
Independence, Boyd, Scott, Jamison, Manchester, Waverly, and Avella, the
latter having twelve rooms.


507





508             HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

    The churches are Lower Buffalo Presbyterian and Methodist Epis-
 copal, of Independence village, United Presbyterian of Mount Hope, and
 Saint Michael's Roman Catholic of Avella. A Christian church was organ-
 ized in this township in 1865, but it disbanded in 1876.
    The Doddridge chapel, built by the Rev. Joseph Doddridge, author of
 the "Notes" and a son of John Doddridge the first settler, stood on the old
 Doddridge farm in this township. The land upon which it was located is
 now known as the William Thompson farm. It was built at a very early
 date and continued in use for many long years. In the ancient graveyard
 John Doddridge and his wife were buried together with many of the orig-
 inal settlers in that region. Some of these were later removed to the
 Brooke County cemetery, at Wellsburg, West Virginia. The building sub-
 sequently passed into the hands of the Methodist Episcopal denomination.
 Later, it was used as a place of worship for the African Methodist Epis-
 copal congregation, and colored camp meetings were held there before it
 was finally abandoned in 1860. All trace of the old building has long since
 vanished.
    The coal of Independence Township has been developed extensively
 in the vicinity of Avella near the Cross Creek boundary line, and there are
 several mines in that vicinity. The Duquesne Coal and Coke Company
 owns a mine and 1,384 acres of coal; the Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Corpo-
 ration, the Meadowlands mine and 4,303 acres of coal; the Pittsburgh and
 Southwestern Coal Company owns a tipple; the Weirton Steel Company,
 256 acres of coal; Geprhe H. Theiss, 1,485 acres of coal; Pryor Coal Com-
 pany, a mine and 46 acres of coal; L. M. Irwin, the Station mine and 187
 acres of coal; the Waverly Coal and Coke Company, 459 acres of coal and
 a mine; Youghiogheny-Pittsburgh Coal Company, 784 acres of coal; L. M.
 Irwin and others, 154 acres of coal.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 1,255; acres of cleared land, 14,855; acres of timber,
271; value of all real estate, $2,535,610; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $16,800; value of real estate taxable, $2,518,810; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 319; value of the same, $20,850;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 389; value of the same,
$15,955; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $125,250;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $2,680,865; amount of
tax assessed for county purposes, $20,107.17; amount of money at interest,
$130,714; amount of tax assessed on money at interest, $522.86; amount
of tax levied or appropriated for roads and bridges, $36,849.07; amount of
tax levied for schools, not including state appropriation, $57,837.30;
amount of tax levied for all other purposes, $20,630.03; total amount of
tax levied or appropriated, $114,866.40; amount of tax levied on personal
property, $1,903.05; amount of tax levied on occupations, $8,451.88;
amount of tax levied on real estate of corporations, not including rail-
roads, $55,326.
   Independence village, the oldest in the township, was laid out in 1803
by William McCormick on land purchased from William Maguire on Octo-
ber 14, 1802. Each lot was 60 by 110 feet, and the prices paid at the first
sale ranged from $8.50 to $20. The names of the first lot purchasers were
Philip Everhart, Patrick Fowler, Benjamin Stewart, William Maguire,






















































  Patrick Gass, the last survivor of the
Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific
Coast in 1804-05-06. In his boyhood, Gass
lived in Washington County. From a paint-
ing made by John C. Hallam of Washing-
ton, from the only photograph that is known
to exist.


  Mrs. Rachel Gass Brierley, of Independ-
ence, the youngest daughter of Patrick
Gass.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


James Sellers, James McMurray, Caleb Wells, John Crutchfield, Alexander
Irwin, John Cuthbertson, James Carr, Samuel Davidson, and Robert
Cummings.
   The original name of this town was The Forks, because it was at the
intersection of two roads, but when William McCormick laid out the village
he gave it the name of Williamsburg by which it was known until 1836,
when it was changed to Independence.
   In 1830, Richard Carter purchased the Wells tannery near the village
and opened a store. Robert Shaw kept a tavern from 1833 to 1836, when
he sold to James McCreery, who conducted it for a year and then pur-
chased the hotel and store conducted in later years by William Leggett.
This, the first brick building in the town, was built by Thomas Potts. Sev-
eral years later Mr. McCreery sold to Jesse Litton, who sold to William
Leggett. Ephriam Johnston opened a tavern about 1837, and conducted
it until after the Civil war.
   The post office was established in 1836 with Richard Carter as the
first postmaster. This is still a post office. Masonic Lodge No. 448 was
located there for many years, but was later removed to Patterson's Mills.
   Avella, a thriving mining town located partly in Independence and
partly in Cross Creek townships, was laid out in 1903 by S. S. Campbell,
who owned the land. The Wabash railroad was constructed through this
section in 1902 and 1903, and on July 2, 1904, the first passenger train
reached Avella. The town has grown rapidly since that time, and it now
has many business houses and a population of several hundred. There is
a hotel conducted by W. W. Weigman and the Lincoln National bank,
which was opened for business on August 11, 1905.
   Penowa is a small mining town, located near Avella, with a station on
the Wabash railroad.
   Acheson is the name of a former postoffice in the southeastern corner
of the township, and on the line of Blaine Township. This office was
originally spelled Atchison and was named in honor of Senator David R.
Atchison, of Missouri, a noted pro-slavery leader during the early strug-
gles in Kansas. It was established on August 1, 1866, at the store of
Barr & McCoy, with Alex C. Boyle as postmaster and was known as Atchi-
son until about 1900 when it was changed to Acheson in honor of the late
E. F. Acheson, of Washington, congressman from this district for many
years. The office was removed after rural free delivery was established.
There is no village there, but the place is still known by this name.

                        JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
   Jefferson Township, erected on June 16, 1853, was originally a part of
Hopewell from which Cross Creek was taken. One of the first settlers in
that region was Robert McCready, a soldier of the Revolution who settled
there shortly after 1776. Other early settlers were Edward and John
Brown, James Cresswell, Caleb Brown, John Crist, Joshua Brown, Nicholas
Crist, James Clark, David Davis, William Clark, James Dunbar, John
Gardner, John Leeper, Samuel Leeper, William McGarragh, John Mor-
rison Sr., Joseph Morrison, Hugh Newell, John Pough, Robert Robb, and
James Watson.


510





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    At the present time there is a supervising principal of schools, fifteen
 teachers and six schools as follows: Turney, Eldersville, Cole, Hanlin,
 Bertha Mines, and Lees.
    The churches are Bethel Methodist Episcopal, Bethel Methodist Prot-
 estant, and Eldersville Methodist Protestant.
    One of the first coal mines in this section was that of the Keystone
 Coal Company, near Hanlin station, which was opened about fifty years
 ago. Other mines were opened in later years by the Penobscot Coal Com-
 pany and the Washington County Coal Company near Avella. Since then
 several other mines have been opened, and at the present time the follow-
 ing companies own coal: American Zinc and Chemical Company, 811
 acres of coal; Avella Coal Company, 654 acres of coal and a tipple; Bertha
 Consumers Company, 1,038 acres of coal at Bertha mines; Carnegie Coal
 Company, 4,414 acres of coal; Pryor Coal Company, six acres of coal;
 Superior Mining Company, 1,416 acres of coal and a tipple; Jefferson Gas
 Coal Company, 510 acres of coal and a tipple; Pan Handle Block Coal
 Company, 45 acres of coal and a tipple; South Fayette Coal Company,
 127 acres of coal.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 1,240; acres of cleared land, 13,980; acres of timber,
286; value of all real estate, $2,291,690; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $7,800; value of real estate taxable, $2,283,890; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 304; value of the same, $23,870;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 391; value of the same,
$16,800; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, $123,565;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $2,448,125; amount of
county tax assessed, $18,361.32; amount of money at interest, $228,884;
amount of county tax assessed on money at interest, $915.53; amount of
tax levied or appropriated for roads and bridges, $24,481.25; amount of
tax levied or appropriated for schools, not including state appropriation,
$29,445.60; amount of tax levied for all other purposes, $19,267.85; total
amount of tax levied for all purposes, $73,203.70; amount of tax levied on
personal property, $2,033.96; amount of tax levied on occupations,
$8,337.39; amount of tax levied on real estate of corporations, not includ-
ing railroads, $45,773.75.
   Eldersville, located six miles west of Burgettstown, was laid out in
1814 by Thomas Ward, and was first called Wardsville. Fifty-three lots
were sold, and that same year (1814) John Miller built a store. Thomas
Elder purchased two acres from Ward, and erected the first tavern, which
stood until about 1880. The old licenses show that Elder had kept a
tavern in that neighborhood as early as 1809. His last license was granted
in 1818. When the post office was established in the early thirties the
name of the place was changed to Eldersville, and as such it is still known,
the post office still being located at that place. Cynosure Lodge No. 805,
I. O. O. F., was established there on May 24th, 1872, and is still in exist-
ence.
   Hanlin Station on the Pennsylvania Railroad is now a small mining
town. Bertha is another mining town, built by the Bertha Consumers
Company several years ago.


511





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


after so many years. According to tradition, two brothers, Joshua and
James Wright, crossed the mountains from the Cumberland Valley about
1765 and settled on Peters Creek, in what is now Nottingham township.
After clearing some land, Joshua returned east, married Miss Charity
Harris, a daughter of John Harris, the proprietor of Harris' ferry, where
Harrisburg now stands, and brought his bride back to Washington County.
On September 16th, 1779, James sold his interest in this land to Joshua,
and went to Kentucky, where he was killed by Indians.
   Joshua became a New Orleans trader; and in 1783, while going down
the Ohio River in one of the big flat-bottomed, square-prowed boats of the
period, he was captured by Indians, and burned at the stake near San-
dusky. His widow afterwards married a Mr. Colvin. The original Wright
land remained in the family for many years, until it was sold by the late
Joshua Wright, of Washington, a great grandson of the original settler.
   Tradition tells us that the first settlers in Amwell Township were
squatters who crossed the mountains and purchased land in that section
at an early date from the Indians, giving trinkets in return. The names
of some of these squatters, tradition says, were John Rutman, who died
at the age of ninety-nine years; Dennis Rutman, who lived to be 104 years
old; William Gordon, Russell Reese, John Morrison, and John James.
   The first settlers in Amwell Township of whom we have definite record
were the five Bane brothers-James, Nathan, Isaac, Ellis, and Joseph-
who came from the west branch of the Potomac River, Virginia, in 1768,
and settled one mile west of Amity. The old records show that Nathan
patented 304 acres under the title of "Bane's Forest," and Isaac, 149/4,
acres under "Fickle." They all took part in Dunmore's war, which is
related in that chapter.
   Some other settlers in Amwell Township of which we have definite
record were Abel McFarland, proprietor of Fort McFarland; James Milli-
ken, proprietor of Fort Milliken; Nathaniel McGiffin, David Evans, George
Cooper, and John Bates, all of whom came after 1770.
   Andrew Poe, the renowned Indian fighter of the western border, who
settled on Harmon's Creek, Hanover Township, in 1768, was one of the
first settlers in Washington County, probably next to the Wright brothers.
The old survey records show that he located 333 acres on Mill Creek,
which he called "Poe Wood." He was accompanied by Andrew Rankin
and Joseph Christ, and in 1770 his younger brother, Adam, joined him
from Maryland. The part they took in the Indian wars is told in another
chapter.
   Everhart Hupp, heretofore given credit as the first settler in Wash-
ington County, actually settled in East Bethlehem Township in 1769, as
shown by the old survey records in the recorder's office, which has been a
great source of information in preparing this history. The record of his
land, which is found in Survey Book 3, page 297, follows:
   "The above is a draft of a survey made October 15th, 1787, called
Hupp Bottom, containing 295 acres. Surveyed in pursuance of the an-
nexed certificate viz. We the Commissioners for adjusting claims to
unappropriated Land in the County of Monongalia, Yohogania and Ohio
do hereby certify that Everhart Hupp is entitled to three hundred acres
of Land in the County of Monongalia on Ten Mile Creek to include his





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                           MORRIS TOWNSHIP.
    Morris Township was formed on March 13th, 1788, from a large sec-
 tion of Amwell. It has always been a farming district, and today is one
 of the most beautiful sections of the entire county. Among its first settlers
 were Demas Lindley and Jacob Cook, who at the head of a party of
 twenty settlers crossed the mountains from Morris County, New Jersey,
 in 1773, and settled in what is now Morris Township. Near the present
 site of Prosperity they built Lindley's Fort, one of the strongest in the
 western country. After the Revolution closed, Caleb and Levi Lindley,
 brothers of Demas, came to this section. Demas Lindley afterwards built
 Lindley's grist mill near the fort. This was replaced by a second mill on
 the same site about seventy-five years ago, and it stood until recent years.
    Other early settlers who came in with Demas Lindley and later were
 David McCollum, Samuel Rutan, Mathias and Philip Minton, Caleb Win-
 get, Hugh Hanna, Arthur Langdon, Bethuel, Luther and Daniel Day,
 William Ringland, James Connit, and George Harris.
    At the present time there are ten teachers and eight schools as follows:
 Prosperity high school, Prosperity graded school, Dunns, Sparta, Craft,
 Wilson, Archer and Ringland.
    The churches are Upper Ten Mile Presbyterian at Prosperity, the Old
 Concord Presbyterian, formerly a Cumberland Presbyterian, and the
 Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal.
    There are no coal mines in Morris Township, but large tracts of coal
have been purchased by coal companies and private individuals. In fact
there is not another township in the county where as much of the coal has
been sold by the farmers and it is still undeveloped. The largest block is
owned by the Piedmont Coal Company. This consists of twenty-four
tracts, containing a total of 6,507 acres. The Pittsburgh Coal Company
holds 1,435 acres of coal, and Ten Mile Coal Company, 360 acres, and a
number of private individuals own an aggregate of 6,699 acres.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 465; acres of cleared land, 16,295; acres of timber,
464; value of all real estate, $2,006,785; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $15,200; value of real estate taxable, $1,991,585; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 341; value of the same, $15,350;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 318; value of the same,
$9,640; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $46,300;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $2,062,875; amount of
tax assessed for county purposes, $15,472.44; amount of money at inter-
est, $300,876; amount of county tax assessed on money at interest,
$1,203.50; amount of tax levied or appropriated for roads and bridges,
$20,812.40; amount of tax levied or appropriated for schools, not includ-
ing state appropriation, $8,763.80; amount of tax levied or appropriated
for all other purposes, $16,675.94; total amount of tax levied, $46,252.14;
amount of tax levied on personal property, $1,740.79; amount of tax
levied on occupations, $1,504.75; amount of tax levied on real estate of
corporations, not including railroads, $12,703.49.
   Prosperity is the only village of any size in the township. It is only
a country hamlet, but it is the most important place in that section.


512

































  Home of Squire Lindley, Morris Township, built be-
fore 1800; razed about twenty years ago.


     Site of Lindley's Fort, a stockaded fort and one of the strongest in the western
country in pioneer times. It stood near Prosperity, Morris Township.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Robert Wallace laid out the town in 1848 and built the first house, which
is still standing. Thaddeus D. Minton conducted the first store and was
the first postmaster, but the post office was removed a number of years
ago. There are at the present time about twenty dwellings, two general
stores, a garage, blacksmith shop, an undertaker, and a hotel. The nearest
railroad point is Dunns Station, on the Waynesburg and Washington,
three miles away. In 1885 there was a band there known as the Pros-
perity Cornet band. The Upper Ten Mile Plank road was built from
Prosperity to Washington, a distance of ten miles, in 1851-52.
   The oldest school building now standing in Washington County is
located about half a mile from Prosperity on the brick road to Dunns
Station. The date it was built is not known. Mr. Lindley, of Prosperity,
informed the author that he went to school in this building just before
it was abandoned sixty-eight years ago; and his father attended school
there before him. A new school was then built nearer Prosperity, and
it still stands, although it has not been used as a school for many years.
The present school in the village was built about forty years ago.
   On the brick road from Prosperity to Dunns Station was Lindley's
mill already mentioned. Farther down the road, near Dunns Station, is
another mill known as Lindley's mill, built by Adam Wris, Sr., in 1854.
It was originally a water power mill, but when gas was struck in the
Fonner field about fifteen years ago, a boiler was installed and the mill
was run by steam. It ceased operations about eight years ago.
   Dunns Station near this mill was originally called Pulm Sock. Later
the name was changed to Conger, and about twenty-five years ago it was
named Dunns Station, after the Dunn family of that section, when the
post office was established.
   The Peter Young Mill stood two and one-half miles north of Pros-
perity. It was torn down about fifteen years ago.
   Sparta, two and one-half miles south of Prosperity on the improved
road to Old Concord, is another of the lost towns of Washington County.
It was laid out by John Brooks in January, 1816, each lot containing one-
fourth of an acre. At that time there were five grist and five saw mills
and a fulling mill near by. Among the inducements held out to prospective
purchasers of lots were plenty of building stone, a coal bank, and a rich,
fertile country. But the town never existed except on paper, as no lots
were ever sold. However, the place is still known as Sparta, although
there are only two or three scattered houses in the immediate vicinity.
A post office was located there as early as 1818 with Aaron Kerr as post-
master. He conducted a store at that place until 1822 when he was
succeeded in both store and post office by John Lindley. Leonard Vail
opened a store there in 1830, and did a good business for several years.
The post office was removed a number of years ago.
   Old Concord is a little hamlet containing a store, church and three
dwellings. It was never laid out as a village, but for nearly a hundred
years it has been known by this name. On August 16, 1831, a Cumber-
land Presbyterian Church was established at this point by the Rev. Alex-
ander Chapman and Rev. John Morgan. This is the oldest Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in the county, but it is now in the Presbyterian
denomination. Near the church is an old graveyard in which are graves


514




































  Lindley's Mill near Conger Sta-
tion, Morris Township, still stand-
ing, but not in use.


  Lindley's old mill, built by Demas Lindley about 1854
on the site of the old log mill built at Lindley's Fort,
Morris Township. It was razed about fifteen years
ago.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


as old as the church. The Institute of Practical Arts for the education of
foreign born residents was established at Old Concord several years ago,
the first of its kind in the country. Its history will be found in another
chapter. A post office has been located at Old Concord for many years.

                     MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
   On May 12, 1806, Mount Pleasant was erected from parts of Cecil,
Canton, Hopewell and Smith townships, and in 1831 a slight addition was
made to it from Chartiers. The first settler of which we have a record
in this section was Daniel McGugin, who came there with his family in
1770. William Campbell settled there in 1772, but was driven away by
Indians, and returned in 1778. In 1773, John McCarty went there, and
during the years that followed others came in. Some of them were Barton
Lucas, Robert Guthrie, Joshua Pyles, Andrew McCarroll, James Ridgeway,
David Rankin, Thomas Cherry, Matthew Atchison, William Hughes, John
Cloud, James Simpson, Robert and Thomas Thompson, James Farrar,
Robert Simanton, James McElroy, David Reed, John Reed, James Scott,
and Duncan McGechen.
   The large tract of land owned by Gen. George Washington was located
in this township, and his action to eject squatters brought about consider-
able trouble and litigation. This has been described in a preceding
chapter.
   It is of interest at this point to note that the famous McGugin gas
well, struck in March, 1882, was located on the lands of Daniel McGugin,
the first settler. A full history of this well will be found in the chapter
on oil and gas development.
   One of the first schools taught in Washington County was located on
the Cowen farm in this township. This school was taught in the winter
of 1783 and '84. Daniel Johnston, who attended this first school taught
there in 1795. In 1797 another school stood near the present Mount Pros-
pect Church. It was taught first by a widow, whose name has not been
preserved. This teacher afterwards married a man named Reynolds, who
paid court to her while she was teaching. At the present time there are
a supervising principal, twenty-seven teachers, and seven schools, as
follows: Hickory Vocational school, Hickory grade school, Southview,
Primrose, Westland, Miller and Fort Donaldson. The Westland school,
which is located at the village of Westland, is just over the line in Mount
Pleasant Township.
   There are several coal mines in this township, in the vicinity of West-
land and Primrose. The following companies own tracts of coal: Char-
tiers Mining Company, 1,394 acres of coal; Carnegie Coal Company, 261
acres of coal and a tipple; John A. Bell, 202 acres of coal; Pittsburgh
Terminal Coal Corporation, 899 acres of coal; Pittsburgh and Eastern
Coal Company, nine acres of coal; Westland Coal Company, eight acres
of coal and a tipple; Pittsburgh Coal Company, 16,248 acres of coal and
a tipple.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 1,335; acres of cleared land, 21,369; acres of timber,
221; value of all real estate, $4,248,925; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $52,000; value of real estate taxable, $4,196,925; number of


516




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


horses and mules over four years of age, 492; value of the same, $36,415;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 1,120; value of the same,
$61,220; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $133,-
365; value of all property taxable for county purposes, $4,427,925; amount
of county tax assessed, $33,210.64; amount of money at interest, $810,523;
amount of county tax levied on money at interest, $3,242.11; amount of
tax levied or appropriated for roads and bridges, $26,615.02; amount of
tax levied or appropriated for schools, not including state appropriation,
$55,539.72; amount of tax levied for other purposes, $36,452.75; total
amount of tax levied for all purposes, $118,607.49; amount of tax levied
on personal property, $5,731.80; amount of tax levied on occupations,
$5,799.42; amount of tax levied on real estate of railroads, $230.78;
amount of tax levied on real estate of corporations not including railroads,
$66,587.51.
   Hickory, the most important village in the township, is one of the
oldest settlements in the northern section of the county. The first attempt
to lay out a town was made in 1797, and at that time the place was known
as the Hickory Tavern. The manner in which it got its name is an
interesting story of the olden times. A road was being cut through the
forest from Wells' mill, on Cross Creek, to Canon's mill, on Chartiers,
now Canonsburg. Opening a road in those days consisted principally in
cutting a way through the forest. One day at noon when the axemen
arrived at the present site of the town of Hickory they found a broken
sled, which they used for a table. After the meal was over, one of the
men pulled the top of a hickory sapling over far enough to fasten the sled
to it, and when the tree was released it sprang upright again, carrying
the sled with it. In a spirit of fun the men called the spot the "Hickory
Tavern," a name which remained; and when, in a few years, two roads
crossed there and a tavern and blacksmith shop were built, the place was
known as the "Hickory Tavern." This name remained for many a year,
until the "tavern" was finally dropped.
   That the place was known as the "Hickory Tavern" before 1797 is
shown by the following advertisement which appeared in The Western
Telegraphe and Washington Advertiser for March 20, 1797:

                            "TO BE SOLD.

   "By the Subscriber on the first day of May next by Public Vendue a
number of Town Lots situate in Smith Township Washington County at
a place commonly known by the name of Hickory Tavern or Mount
Pleasant.
                                               "Andrew McCown.
   "March 20, 1797.
   "N. B.-A Horse Mill will be erected this summer for the convenience
of the town."
   This shows that the place was also known as Mount Pleasant. but the
name of Hickory seems to have met with popular approval. McCown
opened a tavern there in 1797, but no lots were sold until February 8,
1803, when two were sold to William Hammond and Richard Donaldson,
and on February 9th, one to Thomas Cooper. The next was sold on


517





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


March 6, 1804, to Neill McFarland. Between that time and May 1st lots
were sold to John Hoge, William Marshall, John Griffith, and one acre to
the Mount Pleasant congregation. On May 1, 1804, McCown sold one
hundred acres, including the town of "Mount Pleasant" to Samuel Miller.
    Thomas Miller, a son of Samuel Miller, kept a tavern at Hickory in
 1812; and James and John McCluskey bought a lot there in 1820, where
 James opened a tavern, which he conducted for many years. The post
 office was established in 1830 with William Walker as the first postmaster.
 At one time Hickory was a thriving place, with several stores and wagon-
 making shops, a fair association, a militia company, and an academy,
 which was conducted for many years. Now it has a number of stores, a
 garage and other business houses, and the Farmers National Bank. The
 Wabash Railroad was built through that section in 1903 and '04, and on
 July 2, 1904, the first passenger train passed through from Pittsburgh.
 Since then the town has grown rapidly.
    Primrose is a small mining town on the Panhandle Railroad a short
 distance west of McDonald.

                     NORTH BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.
    North Bethlehem, which is the northern half of the former West
Bethlehem, is the youngest township in the county. It was created by a
decree of court on November 14, 1921, after considerable trouble between
the people in the northern and southern sections of old West Bethlehem
over the question of the location of a high school. Those in the northern sec-
tion wanted the school at Scenery Hill, while the other faction wanted
the location at West Zollarsville. The southern contingent had a majority
in the school board, and that body decided to place the high school at West
Zollarsville. This resulted in much bitter feeling, and an action was
brought in court to stop the directors from locating the school at this
place. However, the court refused to interfere, and the residents in the
northern half of the township filed a petition on March 14, 1921, signed by
forty-one qualified voters, asking for the erection of a new township. The
court appointed Grant E. Hess, William Wylie and James S. Lee as com-
missioners to inquire into the propriety of granting the petition. Mr. Lee
died before the commissioners made a return to the court, and W. F. Rich-
ardson was appointed in his place.
   On August 22, 1921, the commissioners filed their report, recommend-
ing the division of the township, and the court ordered a special election
to be held so that the people of the township could vote on the matter.
This was settled by a vote of 496 in favor of the division to 396 against it.
   The court handed down a decree on November 14, 1921, granting the
division, the northern half to be named North Bethlehem, and the south-
ern part to remain as West Bethlehem. The new line begins at the Am-
well Township line in the center of Brush run, south 47/ 4 degrees east
from the west side of the front door of Calvin Frazee's brick house and
extended across the old township by varying courses and distances in a
general east and west direction a distance of 34,341 feet to a stake on the
Deemston borough line on the land of Paul Clark.
   The churches in this township are: Bethlehem Lutheran, five miles
west of Scenery Hill; Pigeon Creek Dunkard, a mile and a half northwest


518




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of Scenery Hill; Fairview Methodist Episcopal, between Scenery Hill and
Beallsville; Mount Calvary Lutheran and Methodist Episcopal, both at
Scenery Hill. The Redstone Church was formerly located one mile east
of Scenery Hill, but it long ago ceased to exist.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
 Number of taxables, 669; acres of cleared land, 15,798; acres of timber,
 305; value of all real estate, $2,973,855; value of real estate exempt from
 taxation, none given; number of horses and mules over four years of age,
 272; value of the same, $17,705; number of neat cattle over four years of
 age, 367; value of the same, $14,575; value of salaries, posts of profit,
 trades, professions, etc., $66,625; value of all property taxable for county
 purposes, $3,072,760; amount of county tax assessed, $23,046.17; amount
 of money at interest, $485,377; amount of county tax assessed on money
 at interest, $1,941.50; amount of tax levied or appropriated for roads and
 bridges, $24,582.08; amount of tax levied or appropriated for schools, not
 including state appropriation, $21,042.95; amount of tax levied for all
 other purposes, $24,987.67; total amount of tax levied for all purposes,
 $70,612.70; amount of tax levied on personal property, $2,667.80; amount
 of tax levied on occupations, $1,499.07; amount of tax levied on real estate
 of railroads, $103.52; amount of tax levied on real estate of corporations,
 not including railroads, $51,661.01.
    Scenery Hill, known among all of the old-time residents and "pike
 boys" as Hillsborough, is one of the best known and oldest of the towns
 along the National pike through Washington County. Its history dates
 back to February 23, 1785, when the land upon which it stands was
 surveyed to Isaac Bush as "Springtown." A tavern was kept here as
 early as 1794, in the old stone building which has been a tavern ever since.
 The first proprietor of this place of whom we have a record is Thomas
 Hill, a relative of Stephen Hill, one of the men who laid out the town.
 Whether Hill built the present building is not known, but it is certain
 that it was standing there as a tavern in 1794, and it has been used for
 this purpose continuously since that time. It is the oldest on the National
 pike from Baltimore west. A more extended history of the old building
 will be given in the chapter on the National pike.
    Isaac Bush sold his land to George Hill on June 18, 1796, and on
February 13, 1800, the latter conveyed it to his son, Stephen. In the deed,
Stephen Hill agreed to furnish his father and brother, George Hill, "in
good and sufficient meat, drink, washing, lodging, and wearing apparel,
in sickness and in health, during their natural lives."
   This was an important point on the old trail across Washington County
which was followed by the early emigrants to the West, and when the
National Pike was completed over the same route in 1818 and 1819,
Stephen Hill and Thomas McGiffin, to whom he had sold a half interest,
laid out the present town of Hillsborough. In The Washington Reporter
for July 26, 1819, they advertised that on August 19th, the lots would be
sold at "publick" auction. A post office was established immediately with
Samuel Stanley as the first postmaster. The post office was called Hills-
borough in the beginning as is shown by an announcement in The Reporter
of October 3, 1819, and it was not called Scenery Hill until April 10, 1867,
when the post office was re-established; it evidently having been taken


519





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


away for some years. The first store was opened by Jeremiah Coleman,
and the first physicians were Dr. Henry Halleck, and a Dr. McGougan.
After travel ceased on the National pike the town remained at a standstill
for more than half a century, but with the development of coal mines in
that vicinity and the rejuvenation of the old pike by the automobile during
the past twenty years, the town is now prosperous. The First National
Bank of Scenery Hill was organized in 1904.
    Needmore is the name of a little village containing several houses and
 a garage, on the National pike about a mile west of Scenery Hill.
    Two miles farther west on the old pike is Odell, the site of a tavern in
 the old days of the famous highway. This tavern was first kept by
 William Plymire more than seventy-five years ago. He was succeeded by
 Henry Yorty, who kept the place until his death, after which Widow
 Joanna Yorty conducted a house of entertainment for a long period. Prior
 to that time the place had been known as Yortyville, after the proprietor
 of the tavern, but in January, 1866, a post office was established there,
 with Mrs. Yorty as postmistress. Just when the name was changed to
 Odell is not known, but it was probably about the time the post office was
 established. The office was removed many years ago, but the place is still
 called Odell, although it cannot be dignified as being called a village.

                     NORTH FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
    On August 13, 1855, Franklin Township was erected from parts of
Canton and Morris which had originally been included in Amwell in 1781.
This territory remained Franklin Township until February 8, 1892, when
it was divided into North and South Franklin townships. It adjoins
Washington on the south, and about thirty-five years ago several plans of
lots were laid out in the township. This section has been built up, but it is
still in the township, although it is really part of the county seat.
   Within this township is the site of old Augusta Town where the first
courthouse west of the Monongahela River was erected. This has been
described in a previous chapter. Near by is the pump station of the Citi-
zens Water Company and two large impounding dams for the storage of
water which supplies Washington. Near the pump station is the site of
the flour mill erected by David Bradford, of Whisky Insurrection fame,
before 1790. In 1792 the state legislature passed an act making Chartiers
Creek a public highway for boats and rafts from its mouth to Bradford's
mill.
   In the southeastern corner of the township on the farm of William
Coursin is Mount Wheeler, said to be the highest point west of the Alle-
ghany Mountains. On its summit is a stone monument placed some years
ago by the United States Geological survey.
   At the present time there are eighteen school teachers and five schools
as follows: Bellevue, McElree, Gabby, Lincoln Hill, and the Trinity High
school. The Gabby school is probably the oldest in the county in continu-
ous use. It was erected in 1858 by Elisha Vankirk, the father of Mrs.
John Crosby, who has in her possession the contract for the erection of
the building, dated June 29, 1858. It replaced the old brick schoolhouse,
which stood near the old Gabby barn. The Trinity High school occupies


520




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the old building in which the late William W. Smith conducted the Trinity
Hall Military school for many years. It is a joint township high school
established by South Franklin, North Franklin, Amwell, Canton and South
Strabane.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
 Number of taxables, 935; acres of cleared land, 3,942; acres of timber,
 none; value of all real estate, $1,250,910; value of real estate exempt from
 taxation, $14,000; value of real estate taxable, $1,236,910; number of
 horses and mules over four years of age, 88; value of the same, $4,700;
 number of neat cattle over four years of age, 145; value of the same,
 $5,285; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $93,295;
 value of all property taxable for county purposes, $1,340,190; amount of
 tax assessed for county purposes, $10,051.45; amount of money at interest,
 $187,384; amount of county tax assessed on money at interest, $749.53;
 amount of tax levied for roads and bridges, $10,721.52; amount of tax
 levied for schools, not including state appropriation, $14,635.16; amount
 of tax levied for all other purposes, $10,800.98; total amount of tax levied
 for all purposes, $36,157.66; amount of tax levied on personal property,
 $984.18; amount of tax levied on occupations, $6,106.06; amount of tax
 levied on real estate of corporations, not including railroads, $6,295.65.
   The coal has never been developed in this township, but the following
coal companies own tracts: Piedmont Coal Company, 404 acres of coal;
Lilley Coal and Coke Company, 575 acres of coal; Lincoln Gas Coal Com-
pany, 451 acres of coal, mined from the Lincoln Hill tipple in Canton
Township.
   There are no villages in this township, but during the past few years
Harry Gabby has laid out a number of lots fronting on the Prosperity
pike, just over the hill from Washington. Many of these have been sold
and today there are between thirty and forty houses erected there by
people who are employed in Washington. E. W. Rodgers conducts a
service station near the Gabby school.

                     NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.
   Old Strabane, the twelfth of the original thirteen townships of 1781,
was divided into North Strabane and South Strabane townships by order
of the court on October 7, 1831. The Morganza tract, described in another
chapter, was located in this township. One of the first settlers in the
township was William Wilson, who was located on the Morgan land prior
to 1774. Another early settler, and one of the first in the county, was
Dorsey Pentecost, who took up land in this section in 1769. He was one
of Washington County's most prominent men of frontier times.
   John McDowell settled on Chartiers Creek in 1773, and at his house
on the fourth Sunday of August, 1775, the Rev. John McMillan preached
his first sermon in Washington County. The Rev. Mr. McMillan, famous
as the founder of the Hill Presbyterian church and Jefferson College, was
an early settler in this section. Others were Col. George Craighead, a
soldier of the Revolution; Jonathan Crawford, Samuel Pollock, Daniel
Weller, James Bradford, George Vaneman, Andrew Vaneman, James


521





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


actual settlement in the year One thousand seven hundred & sixty-nine.
Also a right to Preemption of one thousand acres adjoining. Ent. 2 March
1780. Retd. 21st Nov. 87.
   "Given under our hands at Coxs fort the eighteenth day of February
1780, in the Fourth year of the Commonwealth.
   James Chew Clee, Comm.                (Signed)  Francis Leyton
                                                   Phil Lemdleton
                                                   Joseph Holmes.
"John Lukens Esq.
   "S. G. State Penna.                             Jn. Hoge, D. S.
   "Retd. &c 28th Nov. 1781 to David Evans on sst. to accept dated 26
inst."
   This is typical of all of the early survey entries on file in the Wash-
ington County recorder's office.
   In 1769 Hupp, accompanied by George Bumgarner and Abraham Tea-
garden, emigrated from Culpeper County, Virginia, and settled in East
Bethlehem Township, on this land, located on the north bank of Ten Mile
Creek, two miles from its mouth.
   The first white woman to cross the Monongahela River was Margaret
Hupp, wife of Everhart Hupp, who accompanied her husband in 1769.
   Hupp's cabin stood on the hill just west of what is now Black Dog
Hollow. He wisely cultivated the friendship of the Indians, and purchased
the land from them, paying "one black mare and one rifle gun." The hos-
pitality of the Hupp home soon became famous among both Indians and
whites on the frontier, and no man, red or white, ever left it hungry; and
during the long years of Indian warfare that held the border in its bloody
grip, this cabin was never molested.
   The story is told that on one occasion Hupp saw several Indians march-
ing around his cabin. Rushing to the house, he met his wife coming from
the springhouse with a pan of milk. The savages were invited in to a
hearty meal, after which they went on their way, well pleased with the
white man's hospitality.
   All of the settlers in that section were not on as friendly terms with
the Indians as Everhart Hupp, and one of the first raids in the county was
made on the Roefelty family. The date is not known, but one day, during
the absence of the father, a war party attacked the cabin. Mrs. Roefelty
and her two daughters fell easy victims to the red warriors, who knocked
the white women down, scalped them and left them for dead. When Mr.
Roefelty returned he found one daughter dead and his wife and the other
daughter badly wounded. Mrs. Roefelty survived only a few hours, but
the girl recovered and lived to a good old age. She afterwards made her
home with Edward Burson until she married a man named Haines.
   A blockhouse, surrounded by a stockade, was built by the early settlers
of East Bethlehem Township, for protection against the Indians, but it
was never attacked. It is said to have stood just west of the site of the
old Clarksville schoolhouse of later years. Like all other frontier forts
of Washington County, it has entirely disappeared, and even its location
is almost forgotten.
   The western section of the county was nearer the Ohio country-the
land of hostile Indians-yet the settlers came in rapidly, and by 1780 there





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Leeper, John Altman     (in 1769), Thomas McNary, John Murdoch,
Nicholas Pees, James Linn, Richard Johnston, and Alexander McClure.
    The only church in the township is the Chartiers Presbyterian, better
known as the Hill Church, one of the oldest and most historic in the
county. An account of it will be found in another chapter.
    At the present time there are a s upervising principal of schools,
twenty-two teachers, and ten schools as follows:     Scott, Brownlee,
Christie, McBride, Hardy, McClelland, Linden, Alexander, Weavertown,
and a high school.
    The first brick building in this county was an experimental section
constructed under the supervision of the state about twenty-five years ago.
Prisoners from the county jail worked on it, the first labor ever done in
the county by prisoners away from the county buildings. It is located
at the Hill church.
    Near the Hill church is the old Buffalo mine, opened by the Pittsburgh-
Buffalo Coal Company about twenty years ago. The following companies
now own coal land in this township: Republic Collieries Company, 1,687
acres of coal; Pittsburgh Coal Company, 13,116 acres of coal; Chartiers
Creek Coal Company, 722 acres of coal and a tipple; Linden Coal Com-
pany, 368 acres of coal and a tipple.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 1,530; acres of cleared land, 16,273; acres of timber,
50; value of all real estate, $4,100,025; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $30,500; value of real estate taxable, $4,069,525; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 373; value of the same, $31,635;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 801; value of the same,
$55,545; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, $152,900;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $4,309,605; amount of
tax assessed for county purposes, $32,322.67; amount of money at interest,
$193,815; amount of county tax assessed on money at interest, $775.17;
amount of tax levied for roads and bridges, $60,600.91; amount of tax
levied for schools, not including state appropriation, $32,156.94; amount
of tax assessed for all other purposes, $33,097.84; total amount of tax
levied for all purposes, $125,855.69; amount of tax levied on personal
property, $2,562.36; amount of tax levied on occupations, $5,122.15;
amount of tax levied on real estate of railroads, $298.79; amount of tax
levied on real estate of corporations, not including railroads, $55,833.39.
   Linden, a little hamlet located near the center of the township, is
one of the oldest settlements in the county. Prior to 1777, Paul Froman
settled on the land now occupied by the town and erected a mill, known
in early times as Froman's Mill on Chartiers Creek. This was purchased
from him in 1777 by Dorsey Pentecost, who laid out a town in 1778,
which he called Louisburgh. This is another of the lost towns of Wash-
ington County, as no settlement was made there in early times except that
of Pentecost himself. On May 20, 1779, Pentecost conveyed to Benjamin
Mills Lots Nos. 1 and 2 "in the town of Louisburgh, laid out on the man-
sion plantation of Dorsey Pentecost, adjoining the lots whereon the said
Pentecost's Mills are erected." On June 11th, 1779, Pentecost conveyed
Lots 72 and 73 to Charles Records. These are the only references we find
to Louisburgh.


522




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    This neighborhood was also known in pioneer times as the "Shirtee"
 of Chartiers settlement, and from that vicinity came the men who assisted
 Dr. John Connolly in trying to hold Washington County for Virginia
 during the boundary controversy. Dorsey Pentecost was the leader of
 the Virginia faction in this county, and these men were called "Pente-
 cost's Banditti" by the Pennsylvania adherents.
    In later years James Hamilton opened the first store at this place,
 which is now the center of a prosperous farming community. A post
 office was located there at one time with James Hamilton as the first
 postmaster.
    The village of Thomas is a station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
 eleven miles east of Washington. Its origin dates from 1874 when the
 late J. M. Thomas established a store at this point which is still in exist-
 ence. A village has grown up around this store, which is one of the best
 known in that section of the county.
    Wylandville is located on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad about six
miles east of Washington. There are a few houses here and a railroad
station, two general stores, conducted by Robert J. Dunn and Paul How-
ard; a hardware and farming implement business, owned by John H.
Laird, who has been there for many years, the Wylandville garage, and a
blacksmith shop.
                       NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP.
    Nottingham was the ninth of the original thirteen townships, organized
on July 15, 1781; but the original territory did not long remain undis-
turbed, for in December, 1792, part of this township was added to Stra-
bane. A change in the boundary line was made again and the township
was reduced slightly when Carroll was formed on September 30, 1834;
and again, when Union was organized on March 3, 1836, Nottingham was
slightly reduced.
   Hugh Scott, one of the first settlers in Nottingham, came to this county
in 1772 with his brother, Josiah, who took up land in what was later
Strabane. Hugh was a blacksmith, and he immediately erected a black-
smith shop on Mingo Creek, which was probably the first shop of its kind
in the county. He was one of the commissioners appointed to purchase a
site for the county courthouse in 1781.
   David Hamilton settled in this section at an early date, and like most
of the other early residents of Nottingham Township, took a part in the
Whisky Insurrection of 1794. In fact, Nottingham was a hotbed of insur-
rectionists. Benjamin Parkinson, one of the leaders of the insurrection,
lived near Kammerer from 1792 until his death in 1834.
   Andrew Devore, who settled in Nottingham Township in the summer
of 1792, fought under both flags in the Revolution. He was one of the
Hessian soldiers captured by Washington at Trenton. He entertained
no love for the English, and it is said that he despised his own king for
selling the Hessian soldiers to a foreign power. He refused to accept the
chance to return to the British service by an exchange of prisoners, but
instead enlisted in the army of liberty, and fought for the colonies until
the close of the war.
   In 1804, Daniel Williams built a sawmill on what is now the Raney


523





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


farm. A saw and grist mill was built on the Devore farm on Mingo
Creek by Robert and John Scott in 1830. It was burned in 1846 and
never rebuilt. John Kenton built a tannery in 1807 on Mingo Creek, east
of Dunningsville. Another tannery was operated on Mingo Creek, on
the farm of Hiram Warren from 1827 to 1836 by Charles Farquar; and
in 1830 Adam Devore established a tannery on what is now the Gamble
farm. This ran until 1853. In 1830 George Miller also built a tannery
on his farm.
   For several years prior to 1798, Forgee Johnson taught a subscription
school at different points in the township, but in that year a schoolhouse
was built for him on the farm of Andrew Devore on Mingo Creek. At the
present time there are eleven teachers and eight schools as follows:
Devore, Munntown, Bryant, Sumney, Henry, Venetia, Ginger Hill and
Thomas.
   The churches are Mount Prospect United Presbyterian and Fairview
Presbyterian, both at Munntown; Wright's Methodist Episcopal, on Peters
Creek and Edwards' Methodist Episcopal, at Ginger Hill.
   The following coal companies own coal: Eclipse Gas Coal Company,
78 acres and a tipple; Mingo Coal Company, 4,659 acres of coal; Oak Hill
Coal Company, six acres of coal; Pittsburgh Coal Company, 6,430 acres
of coal.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 490; acres of cleared land, 12,251; acres of timber,
100; value of all real estate, $3,274,075; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $20,500; value of real estate taxables, $3,253,575; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 274; value of the same, $15,210;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 499; value of the same,
$16,300; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $48,925;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $3,334,010; amount of
county tax assessed, $25,005.33; amount of money at interest, $142,831;
amount of county tax assessed on money at interest, $571.32; amount of
tax levied for roads and bridges, $23,432.47; amount of tax levied for
schools, not including state appropriation, $28,413.22; amount of tax
levied for other purposes, $25,576.65; total amount of tax levied for all
purposes, $77,422.34; amount of tax collected on personal property,
$1,296.05; amount of tax collected on occupations, $1,198.41; amount of
tax levied on real estate of corporations, not including railroads,
$57,091.18.
   Dunningsville, a small village of a store, service station, and two or
three houses on the Monongahela pike about twelve miles east of Wash-
ington, really dates back to 1801 when Alexander Scott built a horse
gristmill at this place. Scott had purchased the land from Joseph and
Alexander Campbell on December 10th, 1791. About 1803 or '04, Scott
built a tavern and blacksmith shop, John Kehoe running the tavern and
William Sheets the blacksmith shop. Scott was an Englishman and dur-
ing the Revolution had been a Tory, and the feeling was so strong against
him during the War of 1812, that he went to the county seat and took the
oath of allegiance. In 1835, Scott sold his tavern and store to John
Dunning, who had had a post office established at that point in 1830 with
himself as first postmaster. The office was called Dunningsville.


524




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The tavern kept by Dunning at this place was famous in its day. His
 sign was two golden keys, and the inn was called the "Crossed Keys."
 After his death in 1843 it was kept by a man named Bell, and then by
 Aaron Brawdy, who was proprietor when it was burned in 1858. In 1863
 William Welch built a wagon shop and John Dornan started a blacksmith
 shop. The post office was continued for many years until rural free
 delivery was established.
    Kammerer is another hamlet of a few houses on the Monongahela
 Pike, a short distance east of Dunningsville. In 1832 Thomas Officer leased
 this land from William McFeeley and placed John Kammerer in charge.
 The latter built a store and dwelling, and on April 1, 1841, he purchased
 the property from McFeeley. Kammerer also built and conducted a tavern
 at this place before the Civil war. This was a famous place in its day and
 was know as "Dutch John's."
    In 1859, Joseph Kammerer, son of the proprietor, built his first dis-
tillery, which he operated until 1871. In 1881 he formed a partnership
with Christian Hootman and John Leyda for the manufacture of liquors.
An old sawmill built in 1851 was changed into a distillery and called
Mingo. Kammerer continued in the liquor business there for many years.
    In 1865 the present stone warehouse at the store was erected by
Joseph Kammerer, after his father's death, and he conducted a store over
half a century. A post office which is still located there was established
under him. This was for many years one of the best country stores in
the county. With reference to it The Review and Examiner of May 16,
1866, contains the following item: "Kammerer's Store and Mills,
operated by J. and F. G. Kammerer, is beyond all question the finest and
most complete establishment in the county, outside of this borough (Wash-
ington), and there are few here equal to it. It is the most extensive
country establishment we have ever visited." Since Mr. Kammerer's
death this store has been conducted by his son-in-law, A. W. Morrison,
who is postmaster.
   Munntown is a small village on the hill south of Thomas Station. It
takes its name from David Munn, who purchased the land on May 4, 1793.
A post office was established there in 1843, with Samuel Hamilton as the
first postmaster. The office was later removed to Thomas.

                          PETERS TOWNSHIP.
   Peters, the tenth of the original thirteen townships, originally em-
braced the territory now in Union and a part of Allegheny County. On
Novenber 21, 1786, Dickinson Township was erected from a part of the
territory of Peters, but this was thrown into Allegheny County in 1788;
and in 1789 Peters was further reduced by the extension of Allegheny
County. In 1834 Union Township was formed from a large section of
Peters. Since that time no further changes have been made in its area.
   At a very early date, some say in 1765, two brothers, Joshua and James
Wright, settled in Peteirs Townip,. and in 17'71- James Matthews came to
that section. Others who came in during the succeeding years were
Anthony Dunleavy, John Swearingen, Daniel Townsend, Col. Joseph Beelor,
John McLoney, Robert Bell, John _Moore, Rev. David Phillips, James Mit-
chell, Enoch Phillips, and Andrew Devore.


525





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   At the present time there are fourteen school teachers and nine schools
as follows: Peters Township High school, Thompsonville, Wright, Pleas-
ant Valley, Bower Hill, Venetia, Turkeyfoot, McMurray and Hackett.
   The churches are: Peters Creek Baptist, Peters Creek United Presby-
terian, Peters Creek Christian, and Center Presbyterian.
   The Pittsburgh Coal Company is the only corporation assessed with
coal in the township. It owns 11,388 acres of coal and a tipple.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 839; acres of cleared land, 10,776; acres of timber, 73;
value of all real estate, $2,971,168; value of real estate exempt from taxa-
tion, $25,500; value of real estate taxable, $2,945,668; number of horses
and mules over four years of age, 254; value of the same, $18,695; number
of neat cattle over four years of age, 333; value of the same, $19,350; value
of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $83,615; value of all
property taxable for county purposes, $3,067,328; amount of tax assessed
for county purposes, $23,006.34; amount of money at interest, $261,898;
amount of county tax assessed on money at interest, $1,047.59; amount of
tax levied for roads and bridges, $26,104.03; amount of tax levied for
schools, not including state appropriation, $16,596.57; amount of tax levied
for other purposes, $24,053.93; total amount of tax levied for all purposes,
$66,754.43; amount of tax levied on personal property, $1,808.49; amount
of tax levied on occupations, $3,013.84; amount of tax levied on real estate
of railroads, $31.40; amount of tax levied on real estate of corporations,
$42,084.20.
   Moses and John Thompson settled in Peters Township in 1814 and
opened a store at the present site of Thompsonville. They were prosperoxus
and carried on a trade between Pittsburgh and New Orleans in addition
to their store, and a village grew up around the place. In 1815 a post
office was established, with Moses Thompson as the first postmaster. The
office remained there for many years until rural free delivery was estab-
lished. The village is now a station on the Washington-Pittsburgh electric
line of the Pittsburgh Railways Company, built in 1909.
   A woolen mill was built at the present site of McMurray in 1830 by
James and William Hannah. This soon became an important point in that
section of the township, and in later years the woolen mill was changed
to a flour mill, and was operated in 1881 by Harvey McMurray. On August
12, 1880, a post office was established at McMurray's store with James
McMurray as the postmaster. There is still a store conducted here and
several houses compose the village.
   Bower Hill is the name of a little hamlet in Peters Township. At an
early date one Sandy Flack conducted a hotel and saloon at this place. A
post office was established there about 1856 or 1857, with John Bower
as the first postmaster. The office was continued for a long period, but
was abolished about twenty years ago.
   Venetia is the name of a post office on the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road. This was originally known as McComb's station, but it was later
changed to Anderson in honor of Dr. D. M. Anderson, who operated a coal
mine at that point many years ago. A horse grist and saw mill was built
there about seventy years ago, and operated for many years, later as a
water power and finally as a steam mill. At the present time the post office


526




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


is still called Venetia and the railroad station is Anderson. The mine is
now owned by the Pittsburgh Coal Company.
  Hackett is a mining town on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, a short
distance east of Anderson, named after Thomas Hackett, of Pittsburgh,
who opened a coal mine there many years ago. This mine was aban-
doned about 1900.
                        ROBINSON TOWNSHIP.
   Robinson, the eleventh of the original thirteen townships, has been
greatly reduced in size since it was erected in 1781. A large part of it
was given to Allegheny County in 1788, and in 1836 a slight change took
more of its area. In 1889 and 1903 it was further reduced in size by the
incorporation of McDonald and Midway boroughs.
   One of the first settlers in Robinson Township was Capt. Samuel Beelor,
who built a two-story log fort near the present village of Candor in 1774.
This place was used frequently as a refuge for the settlers of that region
during Indian raids. The following are some of the other early settlers in
that region: James Clark, Robert Shearer, Sr., Hugh Shearer, William
McCandless, Mathew Bailey, Thomas Bigger, Josiah Scott, William Aten,
Samuel Pollock, John Donaldson, Peter, Alexander and William Kidd, John
Witherspoon, James McBride, Alexander Bailey, Christopher Smith, James
McBurney, and John McDonald.
   The churches are Raccoon Presbyterian and Robinson United Pres-
byterian.
   The first schoolhouse was built on the Richard Donaldson farm about
1800 and was taught by John Elliott. Thomas Crawford and William
Geary taught in a school on the Morland farm from 1810 to 1813. At the
present time there are a supervising principal, eleven teachers and seven
schools as follows: Robinson, Donaldson, Candor, Geary, McAdam, Dick-
son, and Taylor Run.
   Coal mining began more than fifty years ago in this township. In 1869,
the Pittsburgh and Walnut Hill Company opened a mine; and in 1870 the
Midway Coal Company started a mine near Midway, which is still in opera-
tion. In 1874, the Robbins Block Coal Company opened a mine near Mid-
way; and in 1890 the Black Diamond mine was also opened near Midway.
The Shaw mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Company was opened in 1900 two
miles north of Midway. At the present time the following companies own
coal in this township: Carnegie Coal Company, Primrose mine, and
McDonald mine, with 215 acres of coal; Midway Coal Company, 215 acres
of coal and a tipple; Montour and Lake Erie Coal Company, 15 acres of
coal; McCrea Coal Company, 11 acres of coal and a tipple; McCaffrey Coal
Company, one acre of coal; Harmon Creek Coal Company, 270 acres of
coal; Pittsburgh Coal Company 3,179 acres of coal and the Shaw mine;
Penn Coal Company, a tipple; Daudet Brothers, eight acres of coal; Noble
Coal Company, a tipple; Weir Coal Company, 12 acres of coal, and a tipple;
Sallie Creek Coal Company, formerly owned by the Willcott Coal Company,
ten acres of coal and a tipple.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 985; acres of cleared land, 12,764; acres of timber,
none; value of all real estate, $1,676,758; value of feal estate exempt from
taxation, $15,000; value of all real estate taxable, $1,661,7.-: number of


527





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


horses and mules over four years of age, 276; value of the same, $16,750;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 692; value of the same,
$24,765; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $98,445;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $1,801,718; amount of
county tax assessed, $13,508.46; amount of money at interest, $543,726;
amount of county tax assessed on money at interest, $2,174.90; amount of
tax levied for roads and bridges, $18,1.77.43; amount of tax levied for
schools, not including state appropriation, $21,691; amount of tax levied
for other purposes, $15,683.36; total amount of tax levied for all purposes,
$55,551.79; amount of tax levied on personal property, $3,358.08; amount
of tax levied on occupations, $4,674.79; amount of tax levied on real estate
of railroads, $4.28; amount of tax levied on real estate of corporations, not
including railroads, $23,870.89.
    The village of Candor was built near Beelor's fort of pioneer times,
 but the village was really started by the Rev. Moses Allen, pastor of the
 Raccoon Presbyterian church. This was about 1817, and in time the vil-
 lage grew around the church and graveyard. The village was named
 Candor by Watson Allen, son of the Rev. Mr. Allen, who opened the first
 store there. The place had no name and when he was in Philadelphia
 buying merchandise he was asked for the address to which to ship the
 goods. He thought a minute and then replied, "Candor, Washington
 County."
    In the early days the old drovers' road from the west to Pittsburgh
passed through this place, and Christopher Smith opened a tavern for
their accommodation, which he called Green Tree Inn.
    North Star was the name of a post office on the Pittsburgh-Steubenville
turnpike in early days. A man named Crawford  conducted a tavern there
at one time, but it ceased operations about sixty-five years ago.

                          SMITH TOWNSHIP.
    Smith, the thirteenth and last of the original townships of Washing-
ton County in 1781, was named in honor of that noted pioneer preacher,
the Rev. Joseph Smith, whose name comes down to us across one hundred
fifty years of time as one of the greatest ministers that ever carried the
word of God into the western wilderness. He was an heroic figure; a
product of an heroic age, and his name is now only a memory. He came
to Washington County in April, 1779, and after preaching a few sermons
to the settlers of the Cross Creek region, returned east. That fall he was
brought out to this section by Judge James Edgar as the minister for the
Presbyterian congregations of Cross Creek and Upper Buffalo at a salary
of seventy-five pounds a year from each church.
   Money was scarce in those days, and the years passed without the
pastor receiving the promised money. He had purchased a farm, expecting
to meet the payments with his salary which failed to materialize. But still
he labored on in the cause of his God. Those pioneers had no money, but
they had plenty of wheat, and they agreed to donate it. A Mr. Moore, who
conducted a gristmill, promised to grind it for a nominal fee; but after
the flour was ready there was none to undertake the long journey of fifteen
hundred miles by water to New Orleans, the nearest market. Many boat
crews had been swallowed up in that wilderness, never to return.


528




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Then Father Smiley, one of the most heroic characters of those times,
 volunteered to lead the boat crew on this perilous journey. He was an
 elder in the Upper Buffalo congregation, but he was sixty-four years of
 age. Inspired by the example of this white-haired patriarch, enough young
 men volunteered to accompany him to take the boat load of flour through.
 After many months all returned in safety, and Father Smiley reported
 that he had sold the flour for twenty-seven dollars a barrel. There was
 enough to pay the Rev. Mr. Smith three years back salary and one year
 in advance, give each of the young men one hundred dollars, Father
 Smiley three hundred dollars, which the congregations had to force him
 to take, and to pay each man who had contributed wheat a dividend.
    The Rev. Joseph Smith and Father Smiley have been sleeping the last
long sleep these many years in the old churchyard at Upper Buffalo, at
Buffalo village, where their graves are marked by plain, sandstone slabs.
It is fitting that a township should have been named in honor of this pas-
tor; but another should have been named Smiley in honor of the heroic
old man who piloted that boat load of flour to far off New Orleans. The
name of Smith Township was suggested by Judge James Edgar, but
Father Smiley seems to have been forgotten.
    On March 11, 1786, Hanover Township was erected from part of Smith,
and on March 11, 1830, more territory was taken from Smith and added
to Hanover. One of the first settlers in Smith Township was Andrew Poe,
who was shortly followed by his brother, Adam. These were the noted
Poe Brothers, famous Indian hunters of the old frontier, whose adven-
tures have already been related.
   Other early settlers were Arthur Campbell, Henry Houghland, Henry
Rankin, James Leech, George McCullough, John McKibben, Abram Scott,
John Riddle, David Hayes, Joseph Vance, David Wilkin and his son, John
Wilkin, Thomas Whittaker, and John Wishart.
   The churches in this township are Center United Presbyterian and the
Mount Vernon Associate Reformed.
   The first school in Smith Township was taught about the close of the
Revolution by William Lowrie on a farm near the present town of Cherry
Valley. In 1796, the names of James Cresswell, Robert Colvill, and
Nathaniel Jenkins appear as teachers, but the locations of their schools
are not known; and a man named Sinclair taught in 1800. At the present
time there are a supervising principal, seventy teachers, and twelve schools
as follows: Bulger, Cherry Valley, Raccoon, Mount Pleasant, Slovan,
Atlasburg, Francis Mines, Erie Mines, Glenview, Russell, Harmon Creek,
and Langeloth.
   This is the center of a very active coal region. Among the first mines
opened were the Midway Block Coal Company, one-fourth mile west of
Midway, and the Whitestone Coal works, half way between Bulger and
Burgettstown. Both were in operation about fifty years ago. The tipple
at Whitestone, located at Whitestone village on the Simpson farm, was
burned a number of years ago, and was never rebuilt. Even the miners'
houses at the village have disappeared and there is nothing to mark the
site. The Midway mine was abandoned long ago. In 1903 the Francis
Mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Company was opened, followed that same
year by Verner mine of the Verner Coal and Coke Company, and the mine
       34-V1


529




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of the Bulger Block Coal Company. All three have been producing ever
since. The following coal companies now own coal in this township:
Bulger Block Coal Company, 360 acres of coal and a tipple at Bulger,
Bertha Consumers Company, two acres of surface at Dinsmore; John A.
Bell, 165 acres of coal; Greensburg-Connellsville Coal and Coke Company,
224 acres of coal at Francis mine, between Burgettstown and Dinsmore;
Harmon Creek Coal Company, 857 acres of coal and a tipple at a daylight
mine north of Burgettstown; Langeloth Coal Company, 937 acres of coal
and a tipple, just north of Burgettstown; Pittsburgh and Erie Coal Com-
pany, 1,190 acres of coal and a tipple at Erie mine, adjoining Burgetts-
town; Pittsburgh Coal Company, 414 acres of coal; Pittsburgh and East-
ern Coal Company, 813 acres of coal and a tipple at Cherry Valley; Rac-
coon Creek Coal Company, eight acres of coal and a tipple near Raccoon;
William H. Shinn Coal Company, 109 acres of coal and a tipple at Raccoon;
Winona Coal Company, six acres of coal and a tipple.
   The Carnegie Coal Company owns the following mines in the town-
ship: Patterson Mine, northwest of Burgettstown and 300 acres of coal;
Atlas Mine at Atlasburg and 1,017 acres of coal; Armide mine east of
Burgettstown, and 446 acres of coal; Louise Mine, near Raccoon and 93
acres of coal; Primrose Mine at Primrose and 122 acres of coal; Verner
Mine, near Bulger, and 443 acres of coal, all worked now from the Armide
Mine; 676 acres of coal not being mined.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 4,079; acres of cleared land, 18,560; acres of timber,
127; value of all real estate, $4,569,355; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $20,500; value of real estate taxable, $4,548,855; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 430; value of the same, $33,065;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 1,100; value of the same,
$37,635; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $407,400;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $5,026,955; amount of
county tax assessed, $37,704.65; amount of money at interest, $234,388;
amount of county tax assessed on money at interest, $937.50; amount of
tax levied for roads and bridges, $30,314.62; amount of tax levied for
schools, not including state appropriation, $126,644.77; amount of tax
levied for other purposes, $38,642.15; total amount of tax levied for all
purposes, $195,601.54; amount of tax levied on personal property, $3,518.05;
amount of tax levied on occupations, $25,869.90; amount of tax levied on
real estate of railroads, $29.20; amount of tax levied on real estate of cor-
porations, $16,296.67.
   The village of Bavington dates back to February 22, 1786, when the
land there was warranted to John Bavington, who built a grist and saw-
mill. Before 1795 David Bruce opened a store at the mill, but in Decem-
ber, 1795, he moved to Burgettstown. John Bavington was drowned while
crossing the Ohio River at Kelly's ford with a wagon load of whisky and
flour. His son, Daniel, afterwards ran the mill and then sold to James
Clark. Another son, Thomas, conducted a tavern at Bavington for several
years. About 1812, James Donnan kept a store at Bavington, which was
kept about 1819 by William Moody, who was appointed the first post-
master that year. The mill was burned about forty years ago while op-
erated by Edward Hindman.


530




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   A station was established at Dinsmore when the old Pittsburgh and
Steubenville Railroad was completed in 1865. A store was started by
John Pry, who was appointed postmaster when the post office was estab-
lished. The station was named after John Dinsmore who owned the land.
   Bulger is another settlement that was established when the Pittsburgh
and Steubenville Railroad was completed in 1865. The village was laid
out by John Woodburn. On July 1, 1881, a cheese factory was started
by The Cheese and Butter Association, and operated for a number of
years, but it afterwards passed into the hands of Peter Hermes, of Pitts-
burgh. In 1903, the mine of the Bulger Block Coal Company was opened.
   Raccoon is an old settlement three miles west of Bulger. It dates back
to pioneer times when all that section was known as "the Raccoon Settle-
ment." Since the coal development of the past twenty-five years, this
has become a prosperous mining town. A post office was established here
a number of years ago, and since the World war the name of the office
has been changed to Joffre, but the village is known by both names.
   Cherry Valley is a mining town that stands near the site of Leech's
mill of pioneer times. The mine at this place was established here about
twenty-five years ago by the Pittsburgh and Eastern Coal Company, which
still operates it.
   Langeloth, Slovan, Eastonville and Atlasburg were all founded about
1912. The American Zinc and Chemical Company purchased the Acheson
farm near Burgettstown, and erected a mill and smelter, which is one of
the largest of the kind in the country. The towns of Langeloth, Easton-
ih!!o and Slevan grew up around it, and are all really one place.
   Atlasburg was laid out about the same time by the Carnegie Coal
Company, when it established the Atlas Mine. It is located about three
miles north of Slovan, on the Burgettstown-Hickory state road.

                        SOMERSET TOWNSHIP.
   On April 3, 1782, Somerset, originally spelled Summersett, was erected
from parts of Nottingham, Fallowfield, Bethlehem and Strabane townships.
The first settlers in this section were William Colvin and Isaac Newkirk,
who went there prior to 1777. Others who came in shortly afterwards
were George Kutner, Isaac Leonard, John Wherry, Daniel Swickard, John
Study, George Gutner, George Myers, Adam Weir, Sheshbazzar Bentley,
Frederick Ault, Thomas Hall, William Wallace, Rudolf Huffman, John
Stevenson, William Jones, Robert Morrison, Michael Moyers, Robert
McCombs, Nicholas Vaneman, Greer and George McIlvaine, James Coch-
ran and Henry McDonough.
   As early as 1798 a school was taught by Samuel Lawrence on the
Vance farm on the Middle Fork of Pigeon Creek. John K. McGee after-
wards taught there. In 1800 a school was taught on the Richardson farm,
and in 1804 another was located near Carey's mill on the south branch of
Pigeon Creek. From 1814 to 1834 a school was located on the Greer McIl-
vaine farm, where John McIlvaine was the first teacher. As early as 1814
Mordecai Hoge taught school, and from 1827 to 1833 he conducted a
school at Hoge's Summit. During the next two years he was at a school
at Pee's mill, and from 1835 to 1860 he taught at Hoge's Summit. At


531





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


were a large number west of Washington. Among those first settlers was
Jacob Wolfe, a German, who built a stockaded fort, known as Wolfe's Fort,
on what is now the McDowell farm, on the National pike five miles west
of Washington. This was one of three forts erected by the settlers in that
region.
   Another early settler in the county was Thomas Cherry, who built
Cherry's Fort, in Mount Pleasant Township, in 1774.
   The first settlers in what is now Allen Township were William and
Edward Riggs, who came there from Maryland in 1773. William was
accompanied by his wife, Mary Downdson Riggs.





                          CHAPTER IV.

                            1768-1773.
             THE DEATH KNELL OF THE RED MAN.
INDIAN PETER-SETTLERS ON INDIAN LANDS-MEETING AT REDSTONE
    OLD FORT-TREATY OF FORT PITT-THE RUSH OF SETTLERS-SET-
    TLERS ORDERED BACK EAST.

          Oh, why does the white man follow my path,
            Like the hound on the tiger's track?
          Does the flush of my dark cheek waken his wrath?
            Does he covet the bow on my back ?
          He has rivers and seas where the billows and breeze
            Bear riches for him alone;
          And the sons of the wood never plunge in the flood
            Which the white man calls his own.
   One of the early settlers in the eastern section of the county was
William Peters, known on the frontier as "Indian Peter," who came here
from the Youghiogheny Valley about 1768, and settled on 339 acres of
land where West Brownsville now stands. This tract was warranted to
him by the land office on April 5th, 1769, and surveyed by James Hen-
dricks on October 7th, 1769, under the name of "Indian Hill." Indian
Peter died before 1781, and in 1784 the land was sold by his widow to
Neal Gillespie, great-grandfather of James G. Blaine. The deed, which
is a curious document, is on record in Deed Book 1, Volume B, page 406.
It follows:
                                               March ye 3 1784.
   "Memerandom of a Bargain mead Between marey Petters and William
oldest son and Neal Gealespey, the Agrement is thos that we the Above
do bargain and seal to Sead Neal Gealespey the Tract of Land which we
now poses and all the tenements and boundries of said Land at forty five
Shillings pr. Acker the tearm and Peaments the 15th of Next October
fower hundred Pounds to be Paid in money or moneys worth for this
Peament to3 ton of Iron at teen pence Pr pound and one Negro at Prease-
ment of two men, one hundrd pound more to be pead at the seame time of




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the present time there are eleven teachers and ten schools as follows:
Farquhar, Howden, Wherry, Vanceville, Whitley, Hoge Summit, McDon-
ough, Kerr, Cokeburg, and Eighty-four.
    The churches are Pigeon Creek Presbyterian, Pigeon Creek United
Presbyterian, Pigeon Creek Baptist, and German Lutheran.
    The following coal companies own coal in this township: Acme Coal
 and Coke Company, 271 acres of coal and the Wilson mine at Cokeburg
 Junction; Pittsburgh Coal Company, 1,914 acres of coal; Pittsburgh Coal
 Company and W. H. Donner, 681 acres; Hillman Gas Coal Company, 39
 acres of coal; Valley Camp Coal Company, 60 acres of coal and the Sudan
 mine at VanVoorhis; Mingo Coal Company, 6,633 acres of coal; Ellsworth
 Collieries Company, 6,067 acres of coal; J. D. C. Miller, 974 acres; James
 Junk Estate, 208 acres of coal; six private individuals own 840 acres of
 the Freeport vein of coal.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 740; acres of cleared land, 18,395; acres of timber,
400; value of all real estate, $4,462,955; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $41,400; value of real estate taxable, $4,421,555; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 379; value of the same, $25,540;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 601; value of the same,
$24,925; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $73,525;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $4,545,545; amount of
county tax assessed, $34,092.16; amount of money at interest, $366,642;
amount of county tax assessed on money at interest, $1,466.56; amount
of tax levied for roads and bridges, $38,199.24; amount of tax levied for
schools, not including state appropriation, $21,226.09; amount of tax levied
for other purposes, $35,558.72; total amount of tax levied for all purposes,
$94,984.05; amount of tax levied on personal property, $2,463.24; amount
of tax levied on occupations, $3,344.64; amount of tax levied on real
estate of railroads, $9.88; amount of tax levied on real estate of corpora-
tions, not including railroads, $63,031.63.
   Eighty-four is the most important village in the township. It is lo-
cated on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, six miles east of Washington,
and on the old Washington-Monongahela turnpike, now improved by the
state. The main part of the village is in Somerset, although a corner on
the west side of the railroad is located in North and South Strabane town-
ships. Many stories have been told as to the manner in which this place
received its name, but the following was related to the author by William
J. Smith, who conducted the mill there for many years and named the
village. Mr. Smith conducted a store at this point, and after the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad bought the old Pittsburgh Southern and built
the present broad gauge track, a station was established at Smith's store,
which was then known as Smithville. This was about 1884, and the next
year Mr. Smith secured a post office with himself named as postmaster.
He sent in the name of Smithville, but the department refused to accept
it as there was already a post office of that name in Pennsylvania, in addi-
tion to which there was a number of Smithvilles throughout the country.
   Mr. Smith was at the Burgettstown fair in the fall of 1885, and in
talking to Mr. Lewis Armstrong, of Beaver County, he told his trouble,
saying that he did not know what name to give the new office.


532


























            / ;    :

KI        --
'N /7


    Smith's old mill at Eighty-four; built of logs and weatherboarding at an early
date. It is now one of the oldest mills standing in Washington County.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    "Why not give it a number?" asked Mr. Armstrong. "We had that
same trouble in Beaver County and settled it by calling the office Seventy-
six."
    "All right," replied Mr. Smith. "I will call it Eighty-four in commem-
oration of President Cleveland's election in the fall of 1884."
    This name was sent in by Mr. Smith and accepted; and the place is
known as Eighty-four to this day. Mr. Smith has been a staunch demo-
crat all his life, and was elected county commissioner on that ticket. Be-
sides a store, there is a feed mill, and a grange hall.
   Vanceville is a small village in the center of the township, named aftei
the Vance family, Isaac and John Vance, who settled there at an early date.
A post office was located there at one time, but it was abolished with rural
free delivery. The Church of Christ was located there for a number of
years, but the membership dwindled until it was finally abandoned, and
a few years ago the property was sold.

                     SOUTH FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
   South Franklin was formed from the division of old Franklin Town-
ship on February 8, 1892, the other section being called North Franklin.
Among the early settlers in this section were Henry Dickerson, Abraham
Dill, Luther Axtell, the Cracrafts, the Days, the Coopers and the
McCrackens.
   At the present time there are four school teachers and four schools,
Jolley, Point Lookout, Bethel, and Dickerson. The only churches in the
township are the Bethel Presbyterian and Liberty Chapel, a Methodist
congregation.
   There are no coal mines in this township, but the following coal com-
panies own tracts of coal land: Lincoln Gas Coal Company, 351 acres;
Piedmont Coal Company, 19 tracts containing 5,343 acres of coal; Green
Improvement Company, 62 acres of coal; and seven private individuals,
owning 2,240 acres of coal.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 335; acres of cleared land, 12,464; acres of timber,
402; value of all real estate, $1,829,210; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $5,800; value of real estate taxable, $1,823,410; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 259; value of the same, $10,170;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 294; value of the same,
$7,725; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $33,125;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $1,874,430; amount of
county tax assessed, $14,058.49; amount of money at interest, $329,052;
amount of county tax assessed on money at interest, $1,316.21; amount
of tax levied for roads and bridges, $6,560.50; amount of tax levied for
schools, not including state appropriation, $9,040.22; amount of tax levied
for other purposes, $15,374.70; total amount of tax levied for all purposes,
$30,975.42; amount of tax levied on personal property, $1,584.64; amount
of tax levied on occupations, $2,011.09; amount of tax levied on real estate
of corporations, not including railroads, $5,451.45.
   VanBuren, a little settlement at Bethel Church, dates back to the early
years of the past century, when Daniel Goble built a home and established
a tavern there, which he conducted for a number of years. On April 18,


534




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1818, Adam Weir purchased the property and opened a store there. A
post office was established shortly afterwards, with Mr. Weir as post-
master. He was succeeded by Stephen Pipes, and then Adam Weir, Jr.,
took charge, conducting it for many years. Sample Sweeney ran a store
here for some years about the time Adam Weir, Sr., purchased the land.
Both the store and post office ceased to exist many years ago, and the place
is only a hamlet of a few houses, Bethel Church and a school. It is located
on the Upper Ten Mile Plank Road, known as the Prosperity Pike.
    Another settlement, known as Lagonda, is located at the Jolley school-
 house, on the Prosperity Pike, about three miles from Washington. In
 February, 1886, a post office was established here, and conducted until
 abolished by rural free delivery. The place is still known as Lagonda,
 and in recent years several houses have been added to the village.

                     SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.
    South Strabane Township was formed on May 3, 1831, by the division
 of old Strabane Township into North and South Strabane. Richard
 Yeates, a Virginian, settled there at an early date, but one William Riely
 had settled there previous to that time. Another early settler was Henry
 Taylor, first president judge of the Washington County courts, who went
 there about 1770. Other early settlers were Capt. James Buchanan, Rob-
 ert Howelton, Josiah and Hugh Scott, Isaac Vance, Thomas Dill, Henry
 Wilson, Nicholas Little, Robert Doak, James Wilson, Robert Henry,
 Thomas Woodward, Lodowyck Smith, John and David Zediker, Hugh,
 Samuel and James Workman.
   At the present time there are eighteen school teachers and eight
schools, as follows: Arden, Craft, Davis, Henry, Laboratory, Manifold,
Reynolds, and Vance.
   The churches are Laboratory Community Church, Davidson Methodist
Chapel, and Mount Pleasant Presbyterian.
   The first coal mine in this township was opened on April 1, 1873, when
the work of sinking a shaft was started at the old Enterprise coal works
on what is known as the Shaft or Country Club Road, about two miles
north of Washington. This mine was operated for a number of years
until another entry was made on Chartiers Creek near the present Wash-
ington County Home. The original shaft was then abandoned, and in
later years both came into the possession of the Youghiogheny & Ohio
Coal Company, which also owns the Manifold mine, which was opened
about twenty years ago. The Country Club mine, near the Washington
Country Club, was opened several years ago by Washington men, but the
coal has about all been worked out. The following coal companies own
coal in this township: Youghiogheny & Ohio Coal Company, Manifold
mine and 2,791 acres of coal, and the Enterprise mine and 620 acres of
coal; Country Club Coal Company, a mine, but little or no coal left; Oliver
Hartley estate, 35 acres of the Freeport vein of coal; Lilley Coal and Coke
Company, 721 acres of coal; Pittsburgh Coal Company, 4,131 acres of
coal; Pittsburgh Coal Company and W. H. Donner, 1,370 acres of coal;
Republic Collieries Company, 332 acres of coal; Nelson Brothers, 5 acres
of coal.


535





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
 Number of taxables, 1,370; acres of cleared land, 13,538; acres of timber,
 none; value of all real estate, $3,074,710; value of real estate exempt from
 taxation, $79,500; value of real estate taxable, $2,995,210; number of
 horses and mules over four years of age, 356; value of the same, $12,630;
 number of neat cattle over four years of age, 640; value of the same,
 $16,335; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc.,
 $136,600; value of all property taxable for county purposes, $3,160,775;
 amount of county tax assessed, $23,706.51; amount of money at interest,
 $309,704; amount of county tax assessed on money at interest, $1,238.80;
 amount of tax levied for roads and bridges, $23,981.26; amount of tax
 levied for schools, not including state appropriation, $22,397.14; amount
 of tax levied for other purposes, $24,945.32; total amount of tax levied
 for all purposes, $71,323.72; amount of tax levied on personal property,
 $1,847.07; amount of tax levied on occupations, $4,712.70; amount of tax
 levied on real estate of railroad corporations, $27.14; amount of tax levied
 on real estate of corporations, not including railroads, $39,173.61.
    Pancake is the name of one of the most historic and interesting towns
on the National Pike in Washington County. Located just east of Wash-
ington, it is separated from the county seat by only a short distance; yet
it is a separate place. Ever since George Pancake settled there about
1815 and conducted a tavern in a log building when the overland trail of
the Western emigrants passed that way before the pike was built, this
spot has been known as Pancake, although efforts have been made to
change it to Williamsburg, Martinsburg, and Laboratory; but the original
name still remains the popular one, and is the most appropriate, for it has
some historical associations.
   George Pancake bought land there on March 2, 1815, from Christian
Dusman. Whether this marks the date of his first settlement there I have
been unable to learn. He evidently died or left that region about 1828,
for on January 14 of that year Jonathan Martin purchased his land. The
log building in which Pancake kept his tavern disappeared so long ago
that no one now living can remember it.
   In 1816 Maj. James Dunlap kept the Mount Vernon Tavern, a short
distance east of the present village, and in 1817 he laid out the town of
Williamsburg. On July 1, 1817, William Whistle purchased lots Nos. 6
and 7 for $130, and Andrew Red bought lot No. 4 for $61. Other lots sold
were: March 18, 1818, to Jonathan Martin, 15 acres and 33 perches, for
$1,108.03; March 20, 1818, George Harrison, lot No. 5, for $100; January
7, 1819, Samuel Farrell, lot No. 3, for $150; December 29, 1819, Thomas
Wheeler, lot No. 10, for $100; July 1, 1817, George Sower, lot No. 9, for
$120; April 9, 1818, Cyrus Hunter, lot No. 8, for $110. On September 12,
1825, Major Dunlap sold his farm, tavern, and the remainder of his lots.
All of the lots were on Union Street, which is now the National Pike.
   In 1825 Jonathan Martin built the brick tavern which was destined
to become famous as a house of entertainment along the length of the old
pike until travel closed on the road some thirty-five years later. Among
the men who stopped there were Presidents James K. Polk and Andrew
Jackson. A more detailed history of this famous tavern will be found in
the chapter on the National Pike. The old building, now a century old,


536



































     Martin's tavern at Pancake; built by Jonathan Martin in 1825 and kept by him
 during all the long years of pike travel. Some famous men, among whom were
 Andrew Jackson and Alexander Campbell, were entertained there.




























    Pancake. the historic village on the National Pike just west of Washington.
Efforts have been made to change the name of this place; but ever since George Pancake
built the first house and kept the first tavern there early in the last century, on the
old road before the pike, it has been known as Pancake; officially it is Laboratory,
which is little improvement. Martin's old tavern is the second house on the right.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


is still standing and is one of the landmarks in that section. The old stone
house just across the road from this tavern was erected in 1814.
    Jonathan Martin laid out the town of Martinsburg about 1825, but the
 name was never popular, and after his death, in 1872, it ceased to be
 known, Pancake proving more popular. Since then several additions have
 been made to the village, and it is now a prosperous country town.
    About thirty years ago the late Dr. Byron Clark, who resided near the
 end of East Maiden Street, Washington, established a chemical laboratory
 for the manufacture of patent medicines, which he sold throughout the
 country. He had a post office established and named the place Laboratory,
 by which it is still known, although the original name of Pancake still
 sticks.
    Six miles east of Washington, on the National Pike, is the little village
of Strabane, a hamlet of five houses. A store and post office were once
located there, but they disappeared about twenty years ago.
    A mile farther east on the pike, just at the foot of Egg Nogg Hill, is
Glyde, another hamlet of a few houses. A store and garage are located
at this place, and during the past summer a tourist camp was established,
with a park and swimming pool. A post office was located at this place
years ago. Davidson Chapel, a Methodist Episcopal congregation, has
been there since 1866.

                          UNION TOWNSHIP.
   On March 31, 1836, Union Township was erected from portions of
Peters and Nottingham. This section is noted as a hotbed of the Whisky
Insurrection of 1794, and it was from there that the army of "Whisky
Boys" marched against General Neville's home at Bower Hill. Among
the early settlers were John Campbell, Philip Dailey, Nathan Dailey,
Richard James, John Anderson, James Anderson, James Barclay, John
Barr, John Cox, Robert Estep, John Finley, and Thomas Williams. John
Holcroft, famous as "Tom the Tinker" during the Whisky Insurrection,
was an early settler in this township.
   The first school was taught in 1800 on Peters Creek, about half a
mile above Finleyville. Another was taught in the township in 1808-09,
and still a third in 1812. At the present time there are twenty-one
teachers and eight schools, as follows: Gastonville, Elrama, Courtney,
Mingo, Huston Run, Coal Bluff, Pleasant View, and Pollock.
   The churches are: First Methodist Episcopal of Gastonville, Mingo
Presbyterian, Peters Creek Methodist Episcopal, known as James' Stone
Church, Peters Creek Baptist, Courtney Presbyterian, Methodist Protes-
tant of Coal Bluff.
   One of the first coal mines opened in Washington County is the old
Cincinnati mine, near Courtney, which was first started nearly a hundred
years ago, and has been worked continuously ever since. It now has
several openings and its workings extend over several miles. The follow-
ing coal companies own coal in this township: Pittsburgh Coal Company,
3,052 acres of coal, and the Cincinnati mine; Diamond Coal and Coke Com-
pany, 167 acres of surface, and a mining town; Henderson Coal Company,
21 acres of coal and a mine near Finleyville; South Fayette Coal Company,


538





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


40 acres of coal and a mine near Finleyville; National Mining Company,
mine at Riverview, Star Mine, and Courtney; Courtney Coal Company,
now has only its equipment.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
 Number of taxables, 1,739; acres of cleared land, 8,734; acres of timber,
 100; value of all real estate, $2,069,275; value of real estate exempt from
 taxation, $27,500; value of real estate taxable, $2,041,775; number of
 horses and mules over four years of age, 203; value of the same, $15,800;
 number of neat cattle over four years of age, 230; value of the same,
 $7,565; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $173,775;
 value of all property taxable for county purposes, $2,238,915; amount of
 tax assessed for county purposes, $16,792.60; amount of money at interest,
 $262,382; amount of county tax on money at interest, $1,049.72; amount
 of tax levied for roads and bridges, $22,389.15; amount of tax levied for
 schools, not including state appropriation, $27,063.82; amount of tax levied
 for other purposes, $17,842.32; total amount of tax levied for all purposes,
 $77,295.29; amount of tax levied on personal property, $1,762.35; amount
 of tax levied on occupations, $8,252.06; amount of tax levied on real estate
 of railroads, $1,777.99; amount of tax levied on real estate of corpora-
 tions, not including railroads, $34,969.78.
    Limetown is the original name of the little settlement now known as
Coal Bluff, on the Monongahela River below Monongahela city. A post
office was established there in 1850, with Mark Borland as first postmaster.
Owing to the coal development, it soon became a mining town, and as time
passed the name was gradually changed to Coal Bluff, due to the develop-
ment of coal, but as late as forty years ago it was still called Limetown.
There are good shipping facilities both by rail and water. In April, 1880,
John F. Logan established the Coal Bluff Steamship and Exchange Agency,
which was operated for a number of years.
    Gastonville is a small village about a mile from Finleyville, on the site
of the land originally owned by John Cox. Later it passed into the hands
of John Gaston; and in 1854 Joseph M. Curry, who purchased the land
from Gaston, laid out the town and named it after the latter, a name which
it still retains. A saw and grist mill was operated there for some time
by Maj. J. M. Gaston.
   Elrama was laid out in 1900 by Fred W. Edwards, and it is a railroad
town. The Pennsylvania Railroad has extensive yards and repair shops
at this place. The town derives its name from Ella Ramsey, who lived
there at one time. The name Elrama is a combination of this woman's
name.
   Shire Oaks was originally a mining town, but in December, 1907, when
the Pennsylvania Railroad moved its shops from Monongahela city, it be-
came a railroad town. It is close to Elrama, and may be said to be part
of that town. The Shire Oaks brewery was located here at one time, and
in Elrama the Sunnyside distillery was operated for several years.

                    WEST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.
   West Bethlehem was originally one of the largest townships in the
county, but its territory has been greatly reduced. The area now embraced
by North Bethlehem, West Bethlehem and East Bethlehem composed the


539





.HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


original Bethlehem Township of 1781. The first division took place when
Bethlehem was divided into East and West Bethlehem townships on
January 18, 1790. West Bethlehem then remained without a change until
1921, when part of its territory was taken for North Bethlehem, as already
related.
   Among the early school teachers were Walter Thomson, John Donahoo,
and Peter R. Hopkins, in 1800, and a little later there were Robert Jones,
Jonathan Warner, and Peter Nonnasmith. At the present time there are
twenty-eight teachers and sixteen schools: West Bethlehem High School,
Ulery, Barr, Myers, Highland, Knestrick, Fairbanks, Wherry, Roberts,
Pleasant Hill, Patterson, Mount Lookout, Nicholls, Scenery Hill, Franklin,
and West Zollarsville.
   The churches are German Baptist, of Dunkard; Ten Mile Methodist
Episcopal, near Zollarsville; Horn's Lutheran, near Zollarsville.
   This township is the center of a very extensive coal field, the develop-
ment of which began in 1908, when the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Company
opened its mines in Marianna. The following coal companies now own
coal in this township: Union Coal and Coke Company, 4,089 acres of
coal; Vesta Coal Company, 7,319 acres of coal; W. Y. Humphries, 417
acres of coal; W. J. Rainey, Inc., 193 acres of coal; Clyde Coal Company,
Field No. 2, 183 acres of coal; Madison Gas Coal Company, 324 acres of
coal; Hecla Coal and Coke Company, 140 acres of coal; Pittsburgh Coal
Company, 70 acres of coal.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 715; acres of cleared land, 10,000; acres of timber,
305; value of all real estate, $2,880,330; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $55,450; value of real estate taxable, $2,824,880; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 302; value of the same, $15,290;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 404; value of the same,
$14,590; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc.,
$71,670; value of all property taxable for county purposes, $2,926,430;
amount of county tax assessed, $21,948.84; amount of money at interest,
$196,691; amount of tax assessed on money at interest, $786.76; amount
of taxes levied for roads and bridges, $23,584.14; amount of tax levied for
schools, not including state appropriation, $20,485.01; amount of tax levied
for all other purposes, $22,735.60; total amount of tax levied for all pur-
poses, $66,768.75; amount of tax levied on personal property, $1,909.06;
amount of tax levied on occupations, $1,612.58; amount of tax levied on
real estate of railroads, $99.34; amount of tax levied on real estate of cor-
porations, not including railroads, $31,980.38.
   Zollarsville is a little town of a few houses, a store and mill, located on
Ten Mile Creek. It was founded at an early date by Jacob Zollar, and
named for him. In 1835 Jacob Ulery built a grist mill which is still stand-
ing, and erected a brick house in 1838, where he conducted a hotel for
many years. This is still owned by the family, and was conducted as a
hotel until recent times. A post office was established here at an early
date, but the place is now served by rural free delivery.
   West Zollarsville lies near Marianna, and was laid out in 1906 by Haw-
kins and Hoskinson, of Waynesburg, on land bought from Samuel Gay-
man. Several other plans of lots have been laid out adjoining, and many


540



































  Old Unity Mill, West Pike Run Township;
built about 1780; operated by the Griffith
family until 1868; photo taken in August,
1900, just before it was razed.


Ulery Mill at Zollarsville; built in 1835 by Jacob Ulery.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


this preasment or Elso to draw Intrust for one year the Remender of the
Purches money to be Pead in two Peaments Dirst in the 1786, the Next
the year 1788. Eash of these Peaments to be mead in October 15 the
Above Bound Marey Petters and William Petters asserts to meak the said
Neal Geleaspey a Proper Right to said land for which we have seat our
hands and Seals.
                              (Signed)        her
                                       marey XII Petters (S).
   John MaCortney                            mark
   John Nixon.                                  his
                                       William XIX Petters (S).
                                               mark
                                       Neal Gilespie (S).
   "I do hereby sertify that Peters Peters & Elizabeth Baforton Both
Came and acknowledged the within Bill of Seale to be theyr acts and
Deeds Before me the 25 Day of Febr. 1786.
                                          (Signed) Thos. Crooks."
   The spelling and punctuation of the original document are preserved.
   In 1768 there was a rush of white settlers west of the Allegheny Moun-
tains. Their settlement was opposed by the Indians, who claimed that it
was in violation of a former treaty. Governor John Penn, of Pennsyl-
vania, appointed commissioners to expostulate with the settlers and adjust
the matter with the tribes, for an Indian war was threatened.
   On March 27th, 1768, the commissioners met the settlers at Redstone
Old Fort to read them the proclamation of Governor Penn. Eight Indian
chiefs from the Mingo towns in the Ohio country were camped across the
river on Indian Peter's land, and they were invited to attend. Their
names as preserved in the records of the commissioners are Captain
Haven, Captain Hornets, Captain Mygog Wigo, Captain Nogowach, Cap-
tain Strikebelt, Captain Pouch, Captain Gilly, and Captain Slewbells.
When the purpose of the council was explained to them they agreed with
the whites that no move would be made by either side until the conclusion
of the treaty then pending between George Croghan, deputy Indian agent,
and the Iroquois.
   The council which met at Fort Pitt on April 26th, 1768, to settle this
dispute over the Indians' lands, was a notable one in the history of West-
ern Pennsylvania. It was of great importance to the handful of settlers
then in Washington County, for upon it their very lives depended. An
Indian war at that time would probably have wiped every white person
out of 'vhat is now Washington, Greene, Fayette and Westmoreland
counties.
   Gathered at that council were twelve head chiefs of the Iroquois league,
nine chief warriors, and 311 warriors, together with a large number of
women and children, making a total of 1,103 Indians.
   The whites were represented by George Croghan and Commissioners
John Allen and Joseph Shippen, Jr.
   The restraining hands of Sir William Johnson, of Johnson Hall, New
York, and George Croghan were all that stopped a bloody Indian war.
Sir William Johnson was the Indian agent of the King over all the Indians
in British America. His influence over the red men was greater than that





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


lots have been sold. For a time after the mines were opened at Marianna,
this was a prosperous community, but of recent years it has been almost
dormant, due to the fact that the mines are not operated steadily.

                       WEST FINLEY TOWNSHIP.
   West Finley, the extreme southwestern township of Washington
County, is part of old Finley Township, which was divided into East and
West Finley on December 24, 1828. James Beham, Alexander Burns, Her-
cules Roney, John Sutherland, James and Thomas Byers, Andrew Frazier,
William Rose, John Toland, William Porter, George Davidson, Samuel
Davis, Isaac Lucas, James Roney, and the McIntosh family all settled in
West Finley at a very early date, when the wild Indian still raided through
that region.
   This is the most remote part of Washington County, and has always
been a farming section. No coal mines have been opened, no railroad
passes through it, and it is not reached by any improved road. This has
kept it more or less primitive, and even since the advent of the automobile
there is very little travel through it. Small game is still plentiful there.
   John McDowell, a Scotchman, was the first school teacher of whom we
have a record. Others who succeeded him were David Frazier, David
Coventry, Alexander Burns, and Jonathan Parkinson, all of whom taught
subscription schools. At the present time there are a supervising prin-
cipal, twelve teachers, and eleven schools, as follows: Maple Glenn, Knobb,
Kimmins, Davidson, Good Intent,-Gunn, Taylor, Burnsville, Liberty, Frac-
tion, and Harmony.
   The churches are Burnsville Christian, Windy Gap Presbyterian,
Beham Christian, North Wheeling Baptist, and the Salem Methodist
Episcopal.
   The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 560; acres of cleared land, 23,266; number of acres
of timber, 66; value of all real estate, $1,726,615; value of real estate ex-
empt from taxation, $48,000; value of real estate taxable, $1,678,615;
number of horses and mules over four years of age, 423; value of the same,
$25,520; number of neat cattle over four years of age, 593; value of the
same, $20,635; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc.,
$55,535; value of all property taxable for county purposes, $1,780,305;
amount of county tax assessed, $13,352.82; amount of money at interest,
$180,205; amount of county tax on money at interest, $720.81; amount of
tax levied for roads and bridges, $10,681.83; amount of tax levied for
schools, not including state appropriation, $9,486.24; amount of tax levied
for all other purposes, $14,073.63; total amount of tax levied for all pur-
poses, $34,241.70; amount of tax levied on personal property, $1,597.94;
amount of tax levied on occupations, $1,055.16; amount of tax levied on
real estate of railroads, $89.59; amount of tax levied on real estate of cor-
porations, not including railroads, $9,366.62.
   Burnsville is the only village of any size in the entire township.
Located high among the hills of this section, it is a pleasant and attractive
place, but it has no connection with the outside world, and for about six
months in the year is practically cut off on account of the bad roads. It


542





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


stands on the land where Alexander Burns settled at an early date. He
was captured by Indians and held a prisoner for several years, and during
this period one Phillip Sommers took up the land, but upon Mr. Burns'
return he relinquished his claim. The town was laid out early in the last
century by John Burns, son of the original owner, and called Burnsville.
A post office was established there in 1832, with William C. Burns as the
first postmaster. This office, which was called West Finley, was first
located at Mr. Burns' residence, half a mile southeast of the village. The
town is today known by both West Finley and Burnsville, the post office
still being called by the former name, but the latter still survives and
seems to be the most popular.
    Good Intent is a little hamlet in the eastern part of the township,
located on the land originally settled by Peter Wolf, who built a mill there
at an early date, which he sold to Weaver Potter. A post office was estab-
lished in 1837, with John Ensel as the first postmaster. A tannery was
located there at an early date. Thomas Frazier opened the first store in
1845, and was succeeded by Hall and Frazier. There is still a store there
and about six houses. The post office was abolished about twenty years
ago.
   Beham is located on the western boundary of the township, and is a
little village of a few dwellings. It is near the site of Beham's Block-
house, where the Beham boys were tomahawked and scalped by Indians
in early times. A post office called Businessburg was located there at an
early date, but it was abolished years ago.
   Elvilla is a former post office located in the northeastern part of the
township. There is no village there, and only a farmhouse marks the spot.

                      WEST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP.
   West Pike Run is part of old Pike Run Township, which was formed
from a section of Fallowfield in April, 1792; and on March 9, 1839, it was
divided into East and West Pike Run townships. Dr. Charles Wheeler,
who went to that section in the fall of 1774, was one of the very first
settlers in that part of the county. Other early settlers in that section
were William Griffith, Joseph Jeffreys, Seaborn Crawford, James Moffitt,
Benjamin White, John Baker, William Almond, and Edward West, Sr.
   Jonathan Knight, the first surveyor of the original Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad, was an early resident of this township. He was born in Bucks
County, November 22, 1787, and moved with his parents to Washington
County in 1801. In his day he was one of the best known men in the
county. He became a school teacher at an early date and later studied
surveying. In 1816 he was appointed to make a map of Washington
County, which was completed on February 19, 1817, after 100 days' work.
He located the Washington and Williamsport Turnpike (now known as
the Washington-Monongahela Pike) by survey. After serving three years
as county commissioner, he was appointed to make the survey for the
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, and the National Pike between Cumberland and
Wheeling. In 1825 he was commissioned by the Government to extend
this road from Wheeling through Ohio and Indiana to Illinois. For six
years, beginning in 1822, he served in the Pennsylvania Legislature and


543





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


State Senate, resigning in 1828 to enter the service of the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad. He was sent to England by the company to acquire a
knowledge of railroad engineering, and was chief engineer for that rail-
road from 1830 to 1842. In 1854 he was elected to Congress from Wash-
ington, Fayette and Greene counties. He failed of re-election in 1856, and
retired to his farm in West Pike Run Township, where he died at the age
of seventy-one years. This farm was a part of the land of Dr. Charles
Wheeler, the first settler in that section, which Knight had purchased on
March 29, 1839.
    At the present time there are twenty-four school teachers and seven
 schools, as follows: Deems, McGirr, Clover Hill, White Pigeon, Walker-
 town, Daisytown, and Red Hill.
    The churches are Taylor Methodist Episcopal, Clover Hill Methodist
 Episcopal, Little Zion African Methodist Episcopal, Saint Thomas Epis-
 copal. The Pike Run Quaker meeting house, which went out of existence
 many years ago, stood in this township.
    An interesting sight in this township is the obelisk, sixty feet high,
 over the grave of James S. McCutcheon, in the graveyard at Taylor
 church, on the National Pike. It was erected in 1905, under Mr. Mc-
 Cutcheon's will, at a cost of $20,000. Practically his entire estate went
 into this monument, and it is said that a sister was left in destitute circum-
 stances. This is purely an exhibition of vanity on the part of a man who
 accomplished nothing worth while in life.
    The following coal companies own coal in this township: Ellsworth
Collieries Company, 1,695 acres of coal; Union Coal and Coke Company,
219 acres of coal; Pittsburgh Coal Company, 2,091 acres of coal and a
mine between Centerville and Beallsville; Vesta Coal Company, 1,930 acres
of coal and the Vesta No. 4 mine, with a town at Richeyville; Hector Coke
Company, 1,616 acres of coal; Clifton Coal Company, 5 acres of coal;
Reliance Coal Company, 583 acres of coal; Hillman Gas Coal Company, 11
acres of coal.
    The following statistics show the present condition of the township:
Number of taxables, 465; acres of cleared land, 9,411; acres of timber,
none; value of all real estate, $3,045,745; value of real estate exempt from
taxation, $16,500; value of real estate taxable, $3,029,245; number of
horses and mules over four years of age, 160; value of the same, $3,980;
number of neat cattle over four years of age, 199; value of the same,
$7,240; value of salaries, posts of profit, trades, professions, etc., $46,020;
value of all property taxable for county purposes, $3,089,485; amount of
county tax assessed, $23,171.38; money at interest, $269,814; county tax
assessed on money at interest, $1,079.26; amount of tax levied for roads
and bridges, $44,862.68; amount of tax levied for schools, not including
state appropriation, $30,434.65; amount of tax levied for all other pur-
poses, $24,250.64; total amount of tax levied for all purposes, $99,547.97;
amount of tax levied on personal property, $1,470.31; amount of tax levied
on occupations, $1,265.55; amount of tax levied on real estate of corpora-
tions, not including railroads, $68,897.81.
   Clover Hill is a little village about three miles southeast of Bentley-
ville. A post office called Garwood was established there a number of
years ago, but was abolished with the advent of rural free delivery. The


544




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


name of the office has been forgotten, and the place is known as Clover
Hill.
    Richeyville is a mining town built by the Vesta Coal Company about
 five years ago for its miners at Vesta No. 4 mine. It is located east of
 Beallsville and within sight of the National Pike. Parts of Daisytown, in
 East Pike Run, now extend over the line into West Pike Run.
    This ends the history of the townships and villages in Washington
 County. The following statistics for 1925 show the present condition of
 the entire county: Number of taxables, 89,958; acres of cleared land,
 487,688; acres of timber, 7,693; value of all real estate, $143,597,587; value
 of real estate exempt from taxation, $6,061,050; value of real estate tax-
 able, $137,536,536; number of horses and mules over four years of age,
 10,619; value of the same, $693,620; number of neat cattle over four years
 of age, 16,974; value of the same, $675,865; value of salaries, posts of
 profit, trades, professions, etc., $8,977,120; value of all property taxable
 for county purposes, $147,883,142; amount of county tax assessed,
 $1,109,286.23; amount of money at interest, $26,608,788; county tax
 assessed on money at interest, $106,436.32; amount of tax collected for
 support of the poor, $160,918.35; amount of tax collected for roads,
 bridges, and streets, $1,985,332.69; amount of tax collected for schools,
 not including state appropriation, $2,519,895.25; amount of tax collected
 for all other purposes, $1,215,722.56; total amount of tax collected for all
 purposes, $5,720,950.50; amount of tax collected on personal property,
 $140,427.98; amount of tax collected on occupations, $548,295.34; amount
 of tax collected on licenses of all kinds, $5,647.25; amount of tax collected
 on real estate of railroads, $7,276.60; amount of tax collected on real
 estate of corporations, not including railroads, but including limited part-
 nerships, $1,875,861.06.
   In 1881 the county valuation was $35,828,485; in 1890, $40,058,956; in
1900, $47,828,507; in 1910, $114,783,618; in 1915, $124,247,389; in 1920,
$139,421,872; in 1925, $147,883,142. The bonded debt of the county last
year was $3,191,000.
   Washington County still retains its position as one of the greatest agri-
cultural and stock raising counties in the state, as shown by the following
figures for 1924 compiled by the Department of Agriculture, at Harris-
burg: Number of horses, 11,719, value, $1,031,272; number of mules,
362, value, $31,856; number of dairy cows, 20,580, value, $1,080,450; num-
ber of other cattle, 16,860, value, $564,810; number of sheep, 109,811,
value, $576,507.75; number of swine, 22,150, value, $232,470; number of
chickens, 340,237, value, $353,846.48; number of hives of bees, 1,907,
value, $10,111.75; total value of all stock, $3,881,223.98.
   The agricultural products are: Hay, 75,177 tons, value, $1,522,334.25;
wheat, 348,684 bushels, value, $362,631.36; corn, 1,122,121 bushels, value,
$1,099,678.58; rye, 7,467 bushels, value, $6,869.64; oats, 876,758 bushels,
value, $482,216.90; buckwheat, 2,172 bushels, value, $1,954.80; barley,
5,254 bushels, value, $4,308.28; potatoes, 157,296 bushels, value, $199,-
765.92; apples, 171,001 bushels, value, $188,101.10; peaches, 93,930
bushels, value, $150,288; pears, 4,418 bushels, value, $5,964.
   Since 1909 the number of horses and mules in the county have been
slowly decreased, due to the increased use of the automobile and tractors
       35-V1


545





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


for many purposes for which the horse was heretofore used. The follow-
ing shows this decrease: In 1883 there were 9,687 horses and mules over
four years of age; in 1886, 11,782; in 1892, 13,093; in 1895, 14,102; in
1904, 15,278; in 1907, 15,178; in 1909, 15,458; in 1910, 15,338; in 1911,
14,761; in 1912, 14,443; in 1913, 14,587; in 1914, 14,573; in 1916, 14,332;
in 1919, 13,166; in 1922, 11,960; in 1923, 11,475; in 1924, 10,619.






                       CHAPTER LXXII

                     COAL DEVELOPMENT
COAL DISCOVERED AT AN EARLY DATE-BANKS OPENED IN WASHING-
   TON IN 1781, IN CANNONSBURG IN 1788-BAIRD'S MINE AT WASHING-
   TON BEFORE 1800-ALLISON MINE OPENED IN 1802-WEST COLUMBIA
   IN 1814-MINE NEAR COAL CENTER IN 1820-CINCINNATI MINE-
   CATSBURG MINE OPENED IN 1860-WASHINGTON MINE IN 1864-PITTS-
   BURGH AND MONONGAHELA COAL COMPANY OF 1865-MINE AT
   PROSPERITY IN 1867-EARLY MINES IN CHARTIERS VALLEY, THE
   PANHANDLE DISTRICT, FINLEYVILLE, AND MONONGAHELA VALLEY
   -COAL PRODUCERS IN      1881-LATER COAL DEVELOPMENT-MINE
   DISASTERS-BRAZNELL MINE EXPLOSION NEAR BENTLEYVILLE IN
   1905-EXPLOSION IN CLYDE COAL COMPANY'S MINE AT FREDERICK-
   TOWN IN 1905-THE MARIANNA EXPLOSION IN 1908-THE CINCIN-
   NATI MINE EXPLOSION IN 1913-THE HENDERSONVILLE MINE EX-
   PLOSION IN 1917.
   Coal was known to exist in western Pennsylvania at a very early
date. In fact, when George Washington visited Col. William Crawford
at the latter's cabin at Stewart's Crossing, now Connellsville, in 1771,
Crawford showed him where the stone coal cropped out. The first coal
bank known in Washington County was one marked on the original plan
of Bassett Town, now Washington, located on the edge of or near the
present College Field, the athletic field of Washington and Jefferson
college. Whether this ever amounted to anything is not known.
   Prior to 1800 Dr. Absalom Baird had a coal bank in what is now
the Kalorama addition to Washington. This was probably worked for a
time, as the coal cropped out of the hill at that point. At the present
time there is a small vein, about eighteen inches thick in the old stone
quarry owned by Forrest Brothers and Roberts, and for many years
people living in that vicinity have dug the coal for their own use. It
has been a sort of community mine among the people living in that
section. This is probably the location of the old Baird mine of more than
a century and a quarter ago.
   When John Canon laid out the first plan of Canonsburg in 1786, he
gave each purchaser of a lot the right to take coal for "their own use
forever gratis." This was probably from a small mine at that point.
   The Allison mine at McGovern is the oldest in continuous operation
in the county today. This was opened in 1802 by James Allison, an
early settler at that place. It was mined for many years for domestic


546




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


use and for blacksmiths, and was sold at twenty-five cents per bushel.
In 1870, Hon. Jonathan Allison opened the mine on a larger scale, as
a drift, and after the Chartiers Valley railroad, now the Pennsylvania,
was opened through that section, a tipple was erected on the railroad,
and coal was mined and shipped for commercial purposes for many
years. The mine did not develop rapidly, and by 1874 it did not extend
more than a hundred yards. By 1882, the main entry extended back
about one thousand yards, with four side entries, each about six hundred
yards long. This was one of the main sources of supply at that time for
Washington.
   When the town of Columbia, which is now part of Donora, was laid
out in 1814 by Charles DeHass, the purchaser of each lot was given the
right to mine stone coal gratis from a bank on the property.
   Coal mining was commenced on a small scale in 1820 near Green-
field, now Coal Center, and three years later at Limestone, also in the
Monongahela Valley. The poineer coal operators in this section were
John Jenkins, Enoch Cox, Samuel French, and Jesse Bentley. In 1875,
Jordan S. Neal and Company opened a coal mine, and operated coal boats,
barges, a sawmill, store and two blacksmith shops at this point. The
production of this mine amounted to one million bushels a year, and
one hundred twenty-five miners were employed at three and one-half
cents a bushel. One mile below this point this firm operated the Eclipse
mine, with an output of 800,000 bushels annually.
   The Globe Coal works, of Crothers, Musgrove and Company was
also operated in this same section at that time. In 1881 it had an annual
production of 1,200,000 bushels of coal.
   That coal mining was started on an extensive scale along the Mo-
nongahela River is shown by the fact that in 1837 there were between
thirty-five and forty small mines between Pittsburgh and Brownsville,
with an annual production of 12,000,000 bushels of coal, all shipped by
boat on the river.
   One of the oldest mines along the river is the Cincinnati mine, at
Courtney, Union township. This was opened about 1835, or earlier,
and has been in continuous operation ever since. It was owned in later
years by the Monongahela River Consolidated Coal and Coke Company,
and is now the property of the Pittsburgh Coal Company. Its workings
extend over several miles, and it has several entries. At one time in
the early days, the coal was hauled out of the mine by dogs. In 1913
one of the worst mine explosions in the history of Pennsylvania occurred
in this mine, an account of which will be found in another section of
this chapter.
   The old Catsburg mine at Monongahela City, which was abandoned
during the summer of 1925, was opened in 1860 by H. H. Finley. It was
operated for more than sixty years by a number of subsequent owners
among whom were the Dravos, Steaibs, and Joneses, and finally by the
Pittsburgh Coal Company. The mine was completely worked out and
abandoned, the tipple being dismantled in June, 1925.
   Parkin, Marshall and Company purchased a tract of coal adjoining
Washington borough in 1864, and on August 24th, commenced to sink a
shaft on what was later known as the lead works property, the shaft


547





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


being in the rear of the wholesale house of J. M. Spriggs' Sons, in West
Chestnut Street. On August 12th, 1865, the shaft was completed to a
depth of three hundred fifty feet and at an angle of forty-five degrees.
The length of the shaft was five hundred feet, and the cars were brought
out by means of a stationary engine. Thirty-five men were employed and
the daily production was one thousand bushels. The coal was purchased
under the land owned by Harry Shirls, and is what is now the Eighth
ward, and part of the Second. A large amount of coal was taken from this
mine during the next five years, and the miners working in it declared
that the coal was removed from under a part of Washington. According
to these miners the coal was taken from under the courthouse, the Wash-
ington Trust Building, and other sections adjacent.
   In 1870 an act of the legislature required that all coal mines must
construct other ventilation and other means of escape than by the main
entry. This shaft was so deep that the expense of making this change
would be very great, and an effort was made to induce the borough
council to become a partner in the enterprise, but the legislature had
passed an act forbidding boroughs to subscribe money for any purpose
of this kind, and the project was given up and the mine permanently
abandoned. On May 17th, 1880, the property was sold to Edward Little,
who transferred it to the Washington White Lead Works Company,
which operated a lead works there for several years until it was burned
about five years later.
   The Review and Examiner states that on January 23rd, 1867, the
Little Saw Mill Run Coal Company, started to sink a coal shaft in the
western limits of Washington. A five foot vein of coal was struck on
August 5th, 1867. No further mention is found of this mine, and I have
been unable to locate it today. It was evidently never very extensive.
   A coal mine was opened in 1865 on the Monongahela River one mile
below Monongahela city by Andrew Hopkins. He afterwards sold one-
half interest in the leasehold and improvements to Capt. Nathaniel Irish,
who was joint owner with James N. Hopkins in the real estate. The Pitts-
burgh and Monongahela Coal Company was organized by them in Feb-
ruary, 1866, with a capital of $50,000. The following were the officers:
President, Andrew Hopkins; secretary and treasurer, Nathaniel Irish;
superintendents, John Neish and James Jenkins; directors, Andrew Hop-
kins, Nathaniel Irish, and Abraham Neish.
   On February 20, 1867, the citizens of Morris and adjoining town-
ships organized the Prosperity Coal Company to mine the coal found
in drilling an oil well near Prosperity two years before. On March
27, 1867, John Porter, one of the men engaged in sinking the coal shaft
already mentioned near Washington, took the contract for putting down
the shaft at Prosperity, and on September 7th, 1867, a seven-foot vein
of coal was struck. This mine was never worked extensively, and has
long been abandoned.
    The old Enterprise mine was opened in 1873, by V. Harding, and
later leased to T. H. Simmons. This was located about two miles from
Washington on what is known as the Shaft or Country Club road, and at
that time a spur was run from the old Pittsburgh Southern railroad, and
another from the Chartiers Valley railroad. There were two shafts,


548




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


each one hundred fifty feet deep. One was used for hauling coal to the
surface and the other for ventilation. In the air shaft was a stairway
used by miners in entering the workings. This mine operated for a
number of years, but was afterwards abandoned when the workings ex-
tended to the present Enterprise mine near Arden station. The old shaft
still remains, but it is covered by a building. The mine is now owned by
the Youghiogheny and Ohio Coal Company, the owner of the Manifold
mine, opened in this same section about 1900.
   The Locust Grove mine was opened about 1880 near Canonsburg,
by Shoaf and Company. The Cook mine near Canonsburg, was also
opened about this same time by H. Cook.
   J. D. Sanders and Company opened the Brier Hill mine about 1870
near McDonald. This mine was operated for many years by the Sanders
Company, but was purchased by the Pennsylvania Coal Company, now
the Pittsburgh Coal Company on September 6th, 1899. This was a very
extensive mine at one time, but is now practically exhausted.
   The Primrose mine was opened by the Robbins Block Coal Company
before 1880, in Mount Pleasant township. Walnut is another mine
opened by the Robbins company near McDonald, before 1880. In its day
this was one of the big mines of the county, employing two hundred fifty
men. The Midway Block Coal mine, operated by G. W. Crawford and
Company, near Midway, and the Whitestown Coal Works, near Raccoon,
were opened about this same time. The former fell into the hands of
T. B. Robbins, one of the poineer coal men of northern Washington
County. The tipple at the latter place was burned many years ago, and
nothing now remains to mark the spot.
   After the old Pittsburgh Southern road was opened from Washing-
ton to Pittsburgh in 1879, the Union Valley mine, owned by Jacob Legler
and operated by Florsheim and Young, was opened two miles north of Fin-
leyville, about twenty men being employed.
   The old Anderson mine, two and a half miles west of Finleyville, was
operated at this time by Dr. David M. Anderson, of Anderson station,
on the Pittsburgh Southern, now the Baltimore and Ohio. About twenty
men were employed here, and the coal was shipped to Washington over
the Pittsburgh Southern, a narrow gauge, and then transferred to the
Baltimore and Ohio, over which it was taken to Wheeling to be manu-
factured into gas. Dr. Anderson afterwards increased his workings,
and shipped coal to Chicago, Michigan, Indiana and other western states.
   In 1885 there was a mine near Anderson, operated by the Pittsburgh
and Peters Creek Gas Coal Company, but it was sold in that year to
Carlin and McLaughlin, of Saw Mill run. There was also an extensive
mine at Gastonville in 1885, which employed one hundred sixty miners.
In that year a new coal mine was opened on Dr. Finley's farm between
Finleyville and Anderson station.
   Late in 1885, W. P. Rend installed a coke crusher and several ovens
at McDonald. This operated very successfully and in 1886 he erected
twenty-five more ovens.
   The original Coal Bluff mine in Union township, was opened at a
very early date by William and Samuel Bossley, who sold out to J. K.
Logan and Captain Dorman. They operated the mine until 1846, when


549




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Logan purchased Dorman's interest. A new mine was later opened and
connected with the old one, and both were owned in 1880 by George
Logan, but J. K. Logan was still in charge. The coal was shipped by
river until the railroad was completed in 1873, when it was transported
entirely by rail.
   The Shire Oaks mine was opened in 1864 by William Hodgson, and
later leased to Stone, Robbins and Company. The coal was originally
carried on a tramway to the river and shipped by water.
   The following is a list of the coal mines in operation in 1880 in the
Monongahela section: New Eagle, opened in 1863, by James H. Hop-
kins, of Pittsburgh, and operated in 1880 by Lindsey and McCutcheon;
Dry Run, opened about 1860 by Biddle and Tower, owned in 1880 by
Holmes Brothers; Warne, opened in 1862 by Crowthers, Coulter and
Warne; Barr, opened in 1863 by J. D. Johnson and Company, and owned
in 1880 by the Allegheny Savings Bank; Black Diamond, opened by the
Black Diamond Coal and Mining Company and sold in 1869 to William
H. Brown; Abe Hayes, opened in 1863 by Robert Robinson; Victory,
opened in 1860 by Rodgers, Rea and Company, suspended in 1874; Har-
lem, opened in 1844 for Judge Thomas H. Baird by H. H. Finley, owned
in 1880 by the Harlem Coal Company; Stockdale, opened in 1875 by
John Shoaf and Charles Cokain, owned in 1880 by Jacob Toomer and
Michael McKinley; Banner Mines Nos. 1 and 2, owned in 1880 by Gamble
and Risher; Cliff, owned in 1880 by Scully and Company; Buffalo, owned
in 1880 by J. A. Steitler; Garfield, owned in 1880 by Holmes Brothers
and J. S. Neel; Black Hills, owned in 1880 by John Byers, John Scott,
and J. B. Miller; Courtney, owned in 1880 by John L. George and Com-
pany; Mingo, opened about 1860, closed down in 1873, and owned in
1880 by Lloyd, Black and Company, but not in operation; Gilmore, opened
by Mr. Bissell, and exhausted before 1880, when it was owned by Capt.
John Gilmore; Clipper, near Allenport, owned in 1880 by the Clipper
Coal Company; American, owned in 1880 by F. H. Corson; Wood's Run,
owned in 1880 by W. H. Gregg and Company, and operated by William
Thompson; Champion, owned in 1880 by William Thompson, and oper-
ated under lease by Morgan, Dixon and Company; Eclipse, owned in
1880 by Jordan S. Neel; Caledonia, owned in 1880 by William Thomp-
son and operated under lease by Thomas J. Wood and Company; Globe
and Dexter mines, owned in 1880 by Crowthers, Musgrove and Com-
pany; Neel, owned in 1880 by Jordan S. Neel; Knob, near West Browns-
ville, owned in 1880 by the Knob Coal Company.
    The following is a list of the coal producers in Washington County
 in December, 1881, with the number of men employed in each and the
 amount of coal produced that year: A. Hays Coal Company, 54 miners,
 21,311 tons; F. H. Coursin, 71 miners, 13,300 tons; D. M. Anderson, 13
 miners, 8,376 tons; Gamble and Risher, 115 miners, 68,152 tons; Harlem
 Coal Company, 224 miners, 64,306 tons; Miller and Company, 50 miners,
 18,752 tons; R. Wellington, 34 miners, 12,000 tons; Crowthers, Musgrove
 and Company, 120 miners, 42,558 tons; Keystone Coal Company, 82 min-
 ers, 18,288 tons; Knob Coal Company, 76 miners, 18,497 tons; Black-
 burn and Mort, 29 miners, 20,672 tons; T. J. Wood, 48 miners, 10,000
 tons; Lindsey and McCutcheon, 48 miners, 10,310 tons; J. Allison, 62


550




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


miners, 30 tons; Chicago Gas Coal Company, 150 miners, 55,968 tons;
Patterson and Sauters, 125 miners, 50,000 tons; J. S. Neel, 135 miners,
48,114 tons; Robbins Block Coal Company, 175 miners, 75,000 tons;
Pittsburgh and Walnut Hill Coal Company, 123 miners, 40,000 tons;
W. S. White and Son, 6 miners, 2,774 tons; V. Harding, 40 miners, 12,800
tons; G. W. Crawford and Company, 80 miners, 18,000 tons; John H.
Ewing, 13 miners, 125 tons; J. V. H. Cook, 10 miners, 4,446 tons; A. A.
Hutchinson and Brother, 180 miners, 125,000 tons; George Crawford
and Company, 78 miners, 8,200 tons; Jacob Legler, 19 miners, 1,260
tons. This shows that a total of 2,140 miners were employed by these
companies, which had an annual production of 800,162 tons.
   The coal business increased during the next forty years until in 1919
it was the largest industry in Washington County. In that year there
were one hundred four mines in the county, owned by sixty-five com-
panies. Since then the business has declined, due to union troubles, until
at the present time many of the mines are closed down, and others
operate only part time. In 1919 the mines of the county produced
18,676,452 tons of coal as compared with the production of 800,162 tons
in 1881.
   Washington County is one of the great coal producing fields of the
world, and is equal in size to the famous Saar basin, lost by Germany in
the World war. However, the Saar basin never produced as much coal
in any one year as was turned out by the mines of Washington County in
1918. The greatest production ever achieved in the Saar basin was
17,013,014 tons, while in 1918, the banner year for Washington County,
its mines turned out more than 22,000,000 tons to help win the war.
In 1919 this fell down to 18,676,452 tons, more than the Saar basin ever
produced in any one year.
   The two largest bituminous coal mines in the world are located in
Washington County. These are Vesta Nos. 4 and 5, owned by the Vesta
Coal Company. Vesta No. 4 is the largest, with a production in 1918 of
1,536,740 tons, while Vesta No. 5 was a close second with 1,349,269 tons.
This company operates five mines in the county, and in 1919 employed
2,984 miners, who received a total wage of $3,604,342, and produced
2,841,450 tons of coal.
   The largest coal company operating in Washington County is the'
Pittsburgh Coal Company, which in 1919 had fourteen mines, employing
4,037 men with a total payroll of $4,753,252. These mines had a produc-
tion of 3,332,886 tons. The largest mine of this company is the Crescent,
which in 1919 produced 837,846 tons. In 1925 this company abandoned
six of its mines as follows: Allison, at McGovern; Catsburg, at Monon-
gahela; Cincinnati, at Courtney; Coal Bluff, at Finleyville, Laurel Hill
No. 5, at Bishop, and Midland No. 3, at Westland.
   According to the figures of experts there is enough coal left in Wash-
ington County to last two hundred years, at present rate of mining. At
the rate the coal was mined in 1918 an average of 1,700 acres were ex-
hausted each year, but since then it has fallen off to the pre-war produc-
tion when 1,800 acres were exhausted every five years. Beginning with
1890, 274 acres were exhausted a year. This gradually increased to
1,020 acres in 1903, but in 1918, the banner year, there were 2,600 acres


551





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of any other white man who ever lived, either before or since his time.
Croghan was one of his deputies.
    The Indians were angry at the white settlers who had crossed the
 mountains. They asked Croghan to send them back, and in case they
 refused to go, the Indians expected Governor Penn and the Pennsylvania
 Assembly to force them to leave this new land. The Pennsylvania author-
 ities attempted to comply with this request, and all settlers were ordered
 to return back across the mountains, with death as the penalty for all
 who refused. But the settlers refused to move, and the governor and
 assembly were unable to enforce the order.
    This condition of affairs continued until, by the treaty of Fort Stanwix,
 New York, on November 4th, 1768, the Iroquois lords of the wilderness
 consented to the settlement of Washington, Greene, Fayette and West-
 moreland counties. A rush followed, and by the spring of 1774, when the
 bloody Indian war known as Dunmore's war swept the western frontier,
 thousands of settlers had found new homes in what had been an unknown
 wilderness.





                           CHAPTER V.

                             1773-1785.
     BLOCKHOUSES AND FORTS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
THE FIRST BLOCKHOUSE-A LIST OF THE BLOCKHOUSES AND FORTS IN
    WASHINGTON COUNTY-PRESENT LOCATION.

              Our forest life was rough and rude,
                And dangers closed us round;
              But here, amid the green old trees,
                Freedom was sought and found.
              Oft through our cabins, wintry blasts
                Would rush with shriek and moan;
             We cared not. Though they were but frail,
               We felt they were our own.
             Oh, free and manly lives we led,
                Mid verdure or mid snow;
             In the days when we were pioneers
                Full fifty years ago.
                                  -W. D. Gallagher.
   Stockaded forts and blockhouses for protection against Indian raids
were the first requirements of the settlers in this new land. These were
always built of logs and near a spring, in some central location, so that
all of the settlers in the vicinity could reach them in a short time when
the alarm was given. Very few of the blockhouses in this county were
built with an overshot. The only one of this type which we know of
positively was Stricker's blockhouse, near Wolfe's Fort, five miles west of




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


mined. During the period from 1890 to 1918 there was a total of 32,822
acres exhausted. In 1919 there were 356,947 acres of coal owned sep-
arately from the surface, and 70,423 acres owned with the surface, mak-
ing a total of 427,370 acres of coal.
   The following is a list of the coal companies operating in Washing-
ton County in 1919. Since then there have been some changes; some of
these mines have been abandoned, and others have been sold, but the
present figures are not available:
   Pittsburgh Coal Company-Mines, Allison (abandoned 1925), Black
Diamond, Catsburg (abandoned in 1925), Cincinnati (abandoned 1925),
Coal Bluff (abandoned 1925), Crescent, Eclipse, Knob, Midland No. 1,
Midland No. 3 (abandoned 1925), Montour No. 1, Montour, No. 2, Mon-
tour No. 4, Montour No. 9, Laurel Hill (abandoned 1925) ; total produc-
tion in 1919, 3,332,886 tons.
   Vesta Coal Company-Mines, Vestas Nos. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7; total pro-
duction in 1919, 2,841,450 tons.
   Ellsworth Collieries Company-Mines, Ellsworth and Cokeburg;
total production in 1919, 1,384,736 tons.
   Carnegie Coal Company-Mines, Armide, Atlas, Louise, McDonald,
and Primrose; total production in 1919, 1,141,491 tons.
   Youghiogheny and Ohio Coal Company-Mines, Charleroi, Enterprise,
and Manifold Nos. 1 and 2; total production in 1919, 799,867 tons.
   Union Coal and Coke Company-Mines, Acme, Dunkirk, Hazel Kirk
Nos. 1 and 2, Marianna; total production, 792,000 tons.
   Meadowlands Coal Company-Mines, Meadowlands Nos. 2 and 3; total
production, 509,618 tons.
   National Mining Company-Mines, National No. 2; total production,
459,278 tons.
   Verner Coal and Coke Company-Mines, Verner and Cedar Grove;
total production, 42,645 tons.
   Lilley Coal and Coke Company-Mine, Lilley; total production, 420,-
000 tons.
   Pittsburgh and Eastern Coal Company-Mines, Cherry Valley Nos.
1, 2 and 3; total production, 400,000 tons.
   Valley Camp Coal Company-Mine, Soudan; production, 397,397 tons.
   Reliance Coke Company-Mine, Reliance; production, 353,131 tons.
   McClane Mining Company-Mines, Richhill Nos. 1 and 2, and Mil-
dred; total production, 281,127.
   Clyde Coal Company-Mine, Clyde; production, 278,499.
   Fredericktown Coal and Coke Company-Mine, Hawkins; production,
264,896 tons.
   American Zinc and Chemical Company-Mine, Langeloth; produc-
tion, 254,545 tons.
   Bertha Coal Company-Mines, Bertha and Jean; production 244,243
tons.
   Chartiers Creek Coal Company-Mine, Hazel; production, 239,467.
   Harmon Creek Coal Company-Mines, Fulton, Wilson and Florence;
total production, 234,510 tons.
   Duquesne Coal and Coke Company-Mine, Aurora; production, 223,640
tons.


552




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Diamond Coal and Coke Company-Mine, Diamond; production, 213,-
713 tons.
   Pittsburgh and Erie Coal Company-Mine, Erie; production, 200,000
tons.
   Warner-Youghiogheny Coal Company-Mines, Maxwell and Rider;
production, 193,190 tons.
   Maple Glen Coal Works-Mine, Maple Glen; production, 191,177 tons.
   Henderson Coal Company-Mine, Henderson; production, 172,175
tons.
   Bulger Block Coal Company-Mine, Bulger; production, 161,173 tons.
   Greensburg and Connellsville Coal Company-Mine, Francis; produc-
tion, 149,329 tons.
   Lindley Coal Company-Mine, Lindley; production, 142,938 tons.
   Canonsburg Gas Coal Company-Mines, Davis and Arthur; produc-
tion, 140,878 tons.
   Clarksville Gas Coal Company-Mine, Clarksville; production, 129,743
tons.
   Waverly Coal and Coke Company-Mine, Waverly; production, 124,-
649 tons.
   Wm. H. Shinn Coal Company-Mine Marie; production, 115,940 tons.
   Champion Gas Coal Company-Mine, Champion; production, 112,500
tons.
   Lincoln Gas Coal Company-Mine, Lincoln No. 1; production, 110,932
tons.
   Superior Coal Company-Mine, Superior; production, 103,604 tons.
   South Fayette Coal Company-Mine, Presto; production, 103,144 tons.
   Pitt Gas Coal Company-Mine, William Pitt; production, 95,319 tons.
   Pittsburgh and Southwestern Coal Company-Mine, P. & S. W. No. 1;
production, 88,939 tons.
   Country Club Coal Company-Mine, Lutton; production, 86,674 tons.
   Eclipse Gas Coal Company-Mine, Eclipse; production, 72,538 tons.
   Hanover Coal Company-Mine, Hanlin; production, 68,985 tons.
   Bradford Gas Coal Company-Mine, Bradford; production, 63,400
tons.
   Avella Coal Company-Mine, Penobscot; production, 62,793 tons.
   Home Coal Company-Mine, Home; production, 52,908 tons.
   Midway Coal Company-Mine, Midway; production, 45,557 tons.
   Pittsburgh-Hanover Coal Company-Mine, Hanover; production,
45,243 tons.
   Export Coal Company-Mine, Beech Hill; production, 36,348 tons.
   Fifth Pool Coal and Coke Company-Mine, Fifth Pool; production,
32,882 tons.
   Star Fuel Coal Company-Mine, Star; production, 31,226 tons.
   Millsboro Coal and Coke Company-Mine, Millsboro; production,
30,927 tons.
   Lacy Coal Company-Mine, Black Dog; production, 28,941 tons.
   Edwina Coal Company-Mine, Edwina; production, 26,891 tons.
   W. M. Chase-Mine, Victory; production, 20,760 tons.
   Weaver Coal Company-Mine, Weaver; production, 20,280 tons.
   Masten Coal Company-Mine, Dandy; production, 18,572 tons.


553




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Wise Coal Company-Mine, Wise; production, 17,768 tons.
   Producers Coal Company-Mine, Masten; production, 11,223 tons.
   Springer Coal Company-Mine, Springer; production, 10,899 tons.
   Consumers Coal Company-Mine, Consumers; production, 10,038 tons.
   Cochran Coal Company-Mine, Mingo; production, 9,891 tons.
   Haney Coal Company-Mine, Haney; production, 8,126 tons.
   Barnum and Lilly Coal Company-Mine, Barnum; production, 7,433
tons.
   Greek Coal Company-Mine, Sallie; production, 7,000 tons.
   Finleyville Gas Coal Company-Mine, Elm; production, 4,381 tons.

                          MINE DISASTERS.
   Like all coal fields, Washington County has had its mine disasters, some
of them very large and ranking among the big ones of the country, not-
ably Marianna and Cincinnati. In the early days there were a number
of small explosions in which a few men were killed but we have no record
of them. The number of killed and injured were few and no records
were kept.
   The first of which we have a record occurred in the Clyde mine of the
Clyde Coal Company, at Fredericktown, on October 14th, 1905, when the
mine was fired by an explosion of gas. All of the men escaped with the ex-
ception of six who were entombed. The mine caught fire from the explo-
sion, and after vainly trying to reach the entombed men, the mine was
flooded with water to extinguish the flames. It was not until November
17th, that the rescue crew reached the men caught by the explosion. They
were all dead, killed by suffocation or by the gas and the bodies were
badly decomposed.
   The next occurred in the mine of the Braznell Coal Company, near
Bentleyville, on November 15th, 1905, when six men were killed by an
explosion of gas.
   The worst mine disaster in the history of Washington County and one
of the largest in the country occurred in the Marianna mines of the Pitts-
burgh-Buffalo Company, at Marianna, on November 28th, 1908,. when
154 men were killed. The Pittsburgh-Buffalo Company, John H. Jones,
president, was a new concern, and had just opened these mines. There
were three shafts known as the Rachel, Agnes and Blanche, Nos. 1, 2 and
3, respectively. The deepest was 460 feet, and the shallowest 340 feet.
   The explosion occurred at 11 o'clock in the morning, the worst effects
being felt in the Agnes, which was the air and supply shaft, surmounted
by a steel tipple. The force of the explosion was so great that the cage
was blown from the shaft, through the opening and against the top ma-
chinery, falling back, badly damaged into the mouth of the mine. The
ground for rods around was shaken as by an earthquake, and the noise
was heard at Bellasville and Scenery hills, several miles away.
   Henry Thompson, a mine foreman, was just descending in the cage,
and his body was thrown several hundred feet above the ground. One
other man on the surface was killed, and one hundred fifty-two met death
four hundred fifty-six feet in the bowels of the earth. Fred Elinger was
the only man to escape from the mine alive. He was brought to the sur-


554




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


face by a rescue party thirty-six hours after the explosion. He was ter-
ribly weakened by his experience, but he subsequently recovered.
   The verdict of the coroner's jury at the inquest held December 17,
1908, was that the explosion was caused by a blown out shot in Blanch
entry No. 3, which ignited gas and dust, which caused a secondary explo-
sion in the main dip entries almost simultaneously. This was the opinion
of mining experts who examined the workings after the explosion.
   The explosion in the Cincinnati mine, of the Monongahela River Con-
solidated Coal and Coke Company (now owned by the Pittsburgh Coal
Company), on April 23, 1913, in which ninety-six men lost their lives,
ranks among the big mine disasters of the state. This mine is located in
Union Township, between Courtney and Coal Bluff, one mile from the
former town.
   The explosion occurred at 12:15 o'clock in the afternoon. The de-
tonation was terrific, and the force was distinctly felt outside of the mine.
The explosion took place in that part of the mine almost directly under
the Mingo cemetery. A large number of men were at work in the mine,
and seventy escaped through the Mingo entrance, and several others got
out by the Courtney and Finleyville entrances.
   The rescue work started at once. Three volunteers named McCarty,
Kelly and Ferguson, were overcome by the terrible black damp. McCarty
died but the other two were brought to the surface and revived. William
Bainbridge was the first man found alive in the mine. He was badly
injured but was brought out and subsequently recovered. On April 26,
at 2 o'clock in the morning, a rescue party found Philip Legler and
Charles Crall living in the mine. They had been entombed for fifty-three
hours without food, but had managed to live by drinking sulphur water.
Both were very weak, but were uninjured.
   One pathetic incident was the devotion of the little dog of Emile
Leroy, a Frenchman, who worked in the mine. The dog had always gone
to the entry to meet his master as he came from work. Late in the aft-
ernoon of the day of the explosion the little dog went to the Courtney en-
trance to meet his Leroy. The little animal waited patiently for more
than two days for his master who would never come again; and during
all this time he refused food. Leroy was the first man found dead.
   This had always been known as a very gaseous mine, and was re-
garded as dangerous, and at the inquest held on May 13th, many wit-
nesses testified that the mine was full of gas. The verdict of the jury
was that the explosion was caused by an entryman who fired a butt shot
which opened a clay vein, exposing a feeder of gas, which was ignited by
the open lamp of this man when he returned from eating his dinner.
The jury found that the explosion might have been averted had safety
lamps been used in that section of the mine. The blame was placed on
the law and those responsible for its enactment. Safety lamps and bet-
ter legislation for the safety of miners were recommended.
   The last explosion of any magnitude in the county occurred on March
14th, 1917, in the mine of the Henderson Coal Company, at Henderson-
ville, Cecil township, five miles north of Canonsburg, when fourteen min-
ers were killed. A number of men escaped from various parts of the


555





556           HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

workings. Rescue parties started into the mine at once, and late that
afternoon the first bodies were brought to the surface. The work was
continued until late into the night, when the last of the dead were found.




                       CHAPTER LXXIII

                         OIL AND GAS.
OIL REPORTED IN THE COUNTY AT AN EARLY DATE-FIRST DISCOVERY
   OF GAS IN 1821-LATER HISTORY OF THE WELL-GAS REPORTED NEAR
   MONONGAHELA CITY AT AN EARLY DATE-OIL STRUCK IN GREENE
   COUNTY IN 1865-THE WASHINGTON COUNTY OIL BUBBLE OF 1865-
   REPORTED DISCOVERY OF GOLD AND SILVER IN GREENE COUNTY IN
   1865-GOLD REPORTED IN THE PIKE RUN OIL WELL IN 1865-THE LONE
   PINE WELL-EARLY OIL COMPANIES-NIAGARA OIL COMPANY RE-
   FUSED LEASES IN 1880-THE McGUGIN GAS WELL-THE HESS GAS
   WELL-OIL FIRST STRUCK IN THE GANTZ WELL IN 1885-GAS NEAR
   CANONSBURG IN 1885-THE FARLEY WELL-THE GORDON WELL-
   THE GABBY WELL-OLD-TIME OIL SCOUTS-EARLY OIL OPERATORS-
   ENOCH PRIGG RECEIVES FIRST CASH BONUS-ARTERS & O'DON-
   NELL'S OIL AND GAS BROKERAGE OFFICE-WELLS ON NOVEMBER 30,
   1885-THE WILSON WELL-GAS COMPANY AT MONONGAHELA-THE
   SMITH NO. 1-OIL WELL SUPPLY COMPANY-JOHN McKEOAN SECURES
   THE WM. J. MUNCE LEASE-OIL LEASES IN 1886-CLAYSVILLE FIELD-
   -THE CAMERON NO. 1-MARTIN LEASE-OIL RUNS IN 1886-THE MAR-
   TIN WELL-THE BUNG HOLE WELL'S ROMANTIC HISTORY-WASHING-
   TON REFINING COMPANY-BEAVER REFINERY-LATER HISTORY OF
   THE WASHINGTON FIELD-THE TAYLORSTOWN FIELD-THE McDONALD
   FIELD-THE CROSS CREEK FIELD-LATER DEVELOPMENTS.
   The story of the Washington County oil fields is one of the most
romantic and interesting in all the industrial development of western
Pennsylvania. There is always a halo of romance attached to the dis-
covery of gold in any section of the world, but for pure romantic interest
read the history of the early oil and gas wells and the wild excitement that
gripped all of Washington County from 1885 to 1890. Fortunes were
made and lost in a day, and men talked in the thousands when they spoke
of a bonus for a lease in good territory.
   After oil was struck in 1885 this story of the first oil found in the
county before 1800 was told among some of the old-time residents of
Canonsburg. We cannot vouch for the truth of the story, but it is given
here for what it is worth. In 1781, Samuel Hindman, great grandfather
of Dr. S. J. Hindman, who resided in Canonsburg in 1885, settled on the
farm owned in 1885 by Hon. R. V. Johnson, at what is still known as
Johnson's station on the Pennsylvania railroad near Houston. Samuel
Hindman lived there from 1781 to 1795, when he removed to Brooke
County, West Virginia. His son, Dr. Hindman's grandfather, was about
fifteen years of age when he left this county. This man in later years
frequently told his son, Dr. Hindman's father, how he and other mem-
bers of the family used to gather "rock oil" off the waters of Chartiers
Creek, which they used as liniment.
   The first discovery of natural gas in Washington County dates back
to 1821, when a salt well was drilled on the farm now owned by Isaac N.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


557


Paxton, on Little Chartiers Creek, about three-fourths of a mile west of
Houston. This was probably the first discovery of natural gas in Penn-
sylvania, and was the same year as the discovery at Fredonia, New York,
where gas was first used for lighting houses.
   The rdport of this discovery is contained in The Reporter for August
6th, 1821, and follows:
   "Messrs. McCook & McClelland, of this county, have been enterpris-
ingly engaged in boring for salt water on Little Chartiers Creek, about
six miles from Washington, near the road to Canonsburg, on the west
side. In their progress they have found very large quantities of fluid,
or what is called gas. We have seen the well and the air issuing from
the mouth of the cistern. The gas collected through tubes, and burning
at night has a most brilliant appearance. When standing on the plank
over the cistern on the mouth of the well, the rumbling sound and the
tremor of the timber laid over the well is distinctly felt, and perceived
when the gas is coming up. The issuing of gas through the orifices in
the ground, the noise and agitation of the water exhibit a sight awfully
sublime."
   The old records show that this well was between four and five hun-
dred feet deep. Salt had appeared on stones and in the creek at this
point, and the well was drilled to secure salt water for the manufacture
of salt. Salt water was struck before reaching the depth just given, but
not in sufficient quantity and it was sunk deeper.
   On June 23rd, 1821, while the men were engaged in arranging or
altering the tubes, such large quantities of gas rushed out of the copper
tube that the men were compelled to stop work, and for some time they
would not go near the well. Salt water was thrown out in jets to a height
of sixty or seventy feet above the well. This continued from 9 to 3 o'clock
when the tubes were, by accident or mistake, forced down to a lower dis-
tance in the well. The gas then forced a passage up between the outside
of the tube and the bore of the well. Immediately afterwards the gas
was discovered coming from the ground and in the bed of the creek ad-
joining the well, by several orifices. This gas was pronounced by local
men as hydrogen gas or fire damp.
   Tradition says that gas escaped at this point for years afterwards,
and that the people residing on what is now the I. N. Paxton farm used
it to heat water for laundry purposes. Another tradition says that the
people of that time believed that the well was drilled too close to the re-
gions of his Satanic majesty. Mr. Paxton says that the well was finally
filled with earth and an attempt made to stop the flow of gas.
   No further move was made to develop this well for thirty-nine years.
The next mention of it appears in the newspaper accounts of 1860, when
it is stated that Joseph Speer, a Mr. Cowden and other residents of Can-
onsburg formed a company to drill a well at this point. This was just
after oil was struck by Col. Edwin L. Drake, on August 28th, 1859, in his
well on Watson's flats, near Titusville, Pennsylvania, and the oil fever
spread to other sections. Oil had been reported on the waters of Little
Chartiers Creek near the old salt well, and these men started an oil well
at this point. Ebenezer McBurney, of Washington, secured the contract




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


for drilling, but how deep it went I have been unable to learn. The work
was probably stopped by the Civil war the next year.
   After the war closed in 1865 the oil fever broke out again in Wash-
ington County, and the Washington Oil Company was organized in Wash-
ington by twenty men of that town for the purpose of drilling a test
well at the site of the old salt well of 1821. J. D. Braden was president
and David Aiken, treasurer. Shortly before this some test wells had
been drilled on Dunkark Creek, Greene County, and a vein of gold bearing
quartz was discovered, more extended mention of which is made later.
James Murray was the operator of the well on Little Chartiers Creek, and
he reported that the same vein of quartz was discovered at that point.
   On November 16th, 1865, a man rode wildly into Canonsburg with
the news that oil had been struck in the well on the McLaughlin farm,
and he declared that he would not take $75,000 for his farm, which was
close by; but he was never given the opportunity of refusing such an
offer. The wildest excitement followed this announcement, and hundreds
of people visited the spot. Oil was found in the well and spilled over the
floor of the derrick, and specimens of it were pronounced to be of excel-
lent quality. The story reached Pittsburgh that it was flowing from
ten to fifteen barrels a day, but this was not correct.
   The stockholders refused to become excited over the discovery, as they
strongly suspected that someone had poured oil into the hole while
the workmen were absent; and this afterwards proved to be the case in
spite of the fact that oil was reported on November 29th, to be found in
paying quantities. But oil was never secured from the well, and in fact,
during the later years of oil drilling in that section none was found at
that locality. However, a good gas well was struck at the site in the
latter eighties.
   Gas and oil were reported near Monongahela City at a very early date.
In February, 1886, an aged lady, a daughter of Samuel Black, stated that
she well remembered in 18,08 when her father lived on a farm where the
Third ward of that city now stands. The water of a spring near the
house was covered with grease and scum, and cattle refused to drink
the water. This lady said that it smelled and tasted like oil. Her father
stopped the water by forcing logs into the spring.
   On Huston run, three miles west of Monongahela City, gas was dis-
covered coming to the surface of the water and it would burn when
lighted. The same condition existed on Mingo Creek, on the Moses
Scott farm.
   When a well was dug on the Joseph Kennedy lot, Third ward, Monon-
gahela city, in 1884, gas was found so strong at thirty feet depth that
the workmen were driven from the hole. A large pipe was placed in
the well, the escaping gas was lighted and it burned for several weeks.
   There were indications of oil and gas on the William McIlvaine farm,
in Somerset township. In the Pigeon Creek bottom the soil was of a
greenish, oily appearance, and Mr. McIlvaine noticed water bubbling
up in a hole. A funnel was placed over the hole and the gas was lighted.
A well was drilled on this farm in 1865 to a depth of seven hundred
feet, and then abandoned.
   In February, 1865, the Pigeon Creek Valley Oil Company was organ-


558




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ized by a number of citizens of Somerset township, to drill a well on the
Moses Divan farm, at the junction of the middle and north branches of
Pigeon Creek, two and a half miles above Bentleyville. The following
officers were elected; John A. Huffman, president; Solomon Huffman,
vice president; H. H. McDonough, secretary, and William Wherry, treas-
urer. All of the stock was subscribed and the company was ready to
begin operations by February 22nd; but the result of the well is not
known today.
   Oil was struck in paying quantities on Dunkark and Whitely creeks,
Greene County, and one well is reported to have flowed one hundred
barrels in eight hours. The Monongahela and Kanawha Oil Company
was organized in New York state for the purpose of drilling in Penn-
sylvania, and much of the stock was sold in Washington.
   The oil excitement spread to Washington County, and several com-
panies were organized in this section for the purpose of drilling here.
   The Indian Creek Oil Company, organized in 1865, was composed of
Washington men. At a meeting in the old Valentine house on October
21st, 1865, an assessment of $5 per share was made on the members for
the purpose of testing the well; but the location of this well is not known.
Dr. Hoffman was superintendent, and William Haggerty and Jonathan
McWilliams were two of the men interested. No further mention is
found of this company.
   The Rocky Gulch Oil Company was organized at Beaver, on November
29th, 1865. It was composed of Washington men and at a meeting in the
Valentine house, Washington, on January 27th, 1866, William Smith
was elected president; Charles Driehorst, secretary and treasurer; Dr.
Samuel Fulton, A. M. McKee, W. W. Smith, Isaac C. Leet, and Robert
Feister, as the executive board. Its operations were in Beaver County,
and on January 31st, 1866, Dr. Fulton advertised for a practical oil man
to work the well of the company.
   On January 16th, 1865, the Mingo Valley Oil Company held a meet-
ing at the house of Samuel Thomas, in Washington, and elected the fol-
lowing officers: President, William Smith; secretary, Hiram Warne;
treasurer, T. H. Long; managers, T. H. Long, Isaac Mitchell, William
Smith, S. E. Hill, Christian Hootman and Hiram Warne. It was decided
to start drilling at once. This well was located at Swickard's mills, in
the Mingo valley, of Somerset township. In January, 1866, the well was
being drilled, but no further mention is found of it.
   In this connection it is interesting to note that gold was reported
to have been discovered in the oil wells on Dunkark Creek, Greene County,
in 1865. In November, 1865, this same vein was reported as having
been found at a depth of two hundred feet in an oil well on Grassy Run,
Springhill township, Fayette County.
   Specimens of gold rock were sent to the United States mint, in Phila-
delphia by Capt. M. G. Corey, and the assay report made November 14th,
1865, signed by J. R. Eckfeldt assayer, was published at that time in
The Review and Examiner. The assayer stated that the ore was copper
pyrites, containing copper, iron, silver and gold. The yield per ton of
2,000 pounds was, silver, $496; gold, $804; total $1,300. The Amber
Gold Mining Company was organized in Philadelphia, early in 1866, for


559




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the purpose of sinking a shaft, six by twelve feet, on the Keener farm,
Greene County. It was incorporated at $350,000 with a working capital
of $150,000. Charles E. Seidel, superintendent of operations, went to
Greene County, and started a shaft on Dunkark Creek in June, 1866.
This shaft was sunk to a depth of two hundred feet and on April 24th,
1867, the work was abandoned. It was rumored at the time that the
officers of the company made a handsome fortune from the sale of stock
and did not care to push the mining operations. As far as I have been
able to discover, nothing more was ever done toward developing this
discovery.
    Lead was discovered in another well in Greene County, which was
assayed by Otto Wuth, chemist of Pittsburgh. The report showed Gelena
lead, 85-62; sulphur, 13-36; silica sulphuret of iron, 1.08-100. The ore
was free of silver and other metals and the chemist reported that it would
probably produce pure soft lead.
    This is of special interest to Washington County, for what was evi-
dently the same vein of gold bearing quartz was found in the Pike Run
oil well, drilled in 1865 by the United States Oil Company, on the B. C.
Jackman farm, about three miles from Coal Center. The hole at that
time was four inches in diameter. A vein of gold quartz, from three to
five feet thick, was reported to have been found at a depth of four hun-
dred feet. At that time some old California gold hunters pronounced
it was gold quartz. Samples were assayed in Cincinnati, and reported
genuine, but I have been unable to find the assay report. Evidently
nothing ever came of the discovery. On November 29th, 1865, oil was
reported to have been struck, but this was a mistake, and the well was
abandoned at six hundred fifty feet depth.
   About this time the Eureka Oil Company, Washington, drilled a well
on the John Johnson property at Amity to a depth of nine hunderd feet
before it was abandoned. This was the deepest of the early wells.
Another well was drilled in 1865 near Old Concord, but it was also aband-
oned without going deep enough.
   The Review and Examiner of July 11th, 1866, reports that a showing
of oil had been found in the "Grit" oil well being drilled on King's Creek,
within one mile of Paris, in Hanover township; but no further reports
of the well are found. On July 25th, 1866, a company was drilling a well
near Coon Island, Donegal township. At that time it was being rimmed
out preparatory to casing. It was the intention to go one thousand feet,
but whether this depth was ever reached is not known.
   The Ten Mile Creek Oil Company was organized in Washington on
January 12th, 1865, for the purpose of drilling a well on the Russ farm
later owned by Levi Sowers, a mile and three quarters from Lone Pine.
Samuel Walton, an uncle of Harry H. Huston, of Lone Pine, was the
driller. This well was drilled by steam power to a depth of seven hun-
dred feet, with a three-inch bit on a two-inch stem. Gas was found and
when salt water was struck the well was abandoned. The gas came up at
this well for years afterwards, and when lighted burned fifteen feet
high. The farm is now owned by D. W. Sowers. Some of the members
of this old company were Henry Bane, David Bane and Samuel Russ.
   When oil was found at Washington in 1885 several companies took


560




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


leases in the Lone Pine field, and an attempt was made to drill another
well. A. B. Caldwell and Company, of Washington secured leases on
5,000 acres and drilled a well to a depth of 1,000 feet, when gas was
struck in sufficient quantity to burn fifteen feet high. The well was
drilled to depth of 2,700 feet, but was permanently abandoned July 17,
1886. The Citizens Natural Gas Company, of Washington, owner of
the famous Gantz well where the first strike of oil was made, secured
leases on three hundred acres, and T. J. Vandergrift and Company and
Dyer and Company, large operators in the Washington field in 1885,
secured other leases, but no extensive finds were made.
    One of these wells drilled in 1885 was on the Adam Marsh farm,
 now owned by G. E. McCrory, on the edge of Lone Pine. Frank Miller,
 now living in Washington, was one of the drillers. Gas was struck in the
 salt sand, but it was too far to a market and no commercial use was made
 of it, but the gas is still used in the McCrory home.
    About ten years ago a well was drilled by Rish and Mung for the
 Manufacturers Light and Heat Company, about 1,000 feet from the
 original well of 1865 at Lone Pine. A small quantity of gas was struck.
    No oil having been found in the Washington County wells drilled in
the sixties, the boom died and there were no activities for a number of
years. On April 29, 1874, the Citizens Oil and Gas Company was incor-
porated in Washington, but it remained inactive for ten years. In 1880
the Niagara Oil Company sent agents to Washington County and at-
tempted to secure leases for oil development, but they met with much
opposition from the land owners, and the project was abandoned.
    The later development of oil and gas in Washington County, which
resulted in the big boom of the eighties and nineties, began with the
famous McGugin gas well, struck in March, 1882. This well was drilled
by the Morgan Oil Company, composed of C. D. Robbins and others, on
the old McGugin farm, two and a half miles southwest of Hickory, Mount
Pleasant township. This was one of the most historic wells in all western
Pennsylvania. The information on the early development of this well was
furnished the author by William Moore, of Hickory.
   The McGugin well, generally regarded as the world's greatest gas
well, was the epoch-making well of that generation. It was located on
the Alexander McGugin farm, now owned by James A. McGugin, his son.
Up in a little ravine from the Hickory-Woodrow road one may view today
the desolate spot which was a Mecca towards which thousands journeyed
forty-four years ago. Work was started about 1880 on a location near
the spot that later became famous, but this well was abandoned when
the tools stuck in the hole.
   The McGugin well was then started and in March, 1882, gas was
struck in vast quantities at a little more than 2,200 feet. The tools were
blown through the top of the derrick, and the whole countryside soon
knew that one of nature's marvels had been "uncorked." The great
amount of gas escaping made some fear that the air would become be-
fouled for miles around. The roar of the escaping gas could be heard for
miles, and after all efforts to shut the well in had proved unavailing, it
took fire and burned with a great light for about two years. Whether it
was set fire by accident or design will never be known. The light could
       36-V1


561




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Washington. The blockhouse was generally a one-story log cabin, some-
times surrounded by a stockade.
   There were a few forts in the eastern section of the county, and none
was ever built at the county seat, although there were settlers there as
early as 1769; but along the western border of the county was a strong
chain of blockhouses and forts that saved the settlers from many a bloody
raid.
   These forts have all disappeared during the century and a half that
has passed since the first was erected. A few, such as Stricker's and
Doddridge's, stood until very recent times, and in 1922 the author found
the ruins of the springhouse built at Williamson's Fort, on Buffalo Creek.
   From information at hand, the first blockhouse in the county was
erected in 1769 by Everhart Hupp, in East Bethlehem Township; but it
disappeared long ago. A detailed list of forty-four of these forts and
blockhouses, together with their locations, follows. This is believed to be
complete.
   Allen's Fort-Built before 1774 by John Allen, near the line between
Smith and Robinson townships, in the vicinity of Beelor's Fort.
   Bayon's Blockhouse-Built by Thomas Bayon, in Cross Creek Town-
ship. It stood on the farm afterwards owned by J. D. Braden.
   Beckett's Blockhouse-Location unknown, but supposed to have been
near the Monongahela River. There are no records concerning it, and it
is only mentioned occasionally in frontier chronicles.
   Beelor's Fort-Built by Captain Samuel Beelor in 1774; a two-story
log cabin, which stood about one hundred yards southwest of Raccoon
church at Candor, Robinson Township.
   Beeman's Blockhouse-On Beeman's Run, West Finley Township. No
records are available concerning the date of its erection or by whom. Bee-
man's Run empties into the north fork of Wheeling Creek.
   Burgett's Blockhouse-Built by Sebastian Burgett about 1780 on the
site of Burgettstown. Burgett's house was near the site of the Robert
Scott home in later years and the blockhouse was nearby. When Boston
Burgett, a son of the builder, built a new house years later, the old block-
house was moved across the street and used as a cow stable. Tomahawk
and bullet marks were plainly visible at that time. The historic building
was struck by lightning and burned many years ago.
   Campbell's Blockhouse-Built by Scotch Presbyterian settlers who
came direct from Scotland and settled in old Finley Township. Situated
on Blockhouse Run, West Finley Township, on the farm now owned by
Carson Blayney, one and one-fourth miles west of Good Intent. In 1847
the logs from the building were piled on the opposite side of the road. In
August, 1789, the McIntosh family was massacred there by Indians. A
party of settlers, led by Hercules Roney, pursued the raiders as far as
the Flats of Grave Creek, now Moundsville, West Virginia. The body
of an infant and beside it an old prayer book were found by the pursuers.
This book is now in the collection of the Washington County Historical
Society.
   Cherry's Fort-Built in 1774 by Thomas Cherry, an early settler in
Mount Pleasant Township. It consisted of three log cabins, one twenty-
five feet square, arranged in triangular form and enclosed by a stockade.
       (4)V1




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


be seen at night from Washington ten miles away, and thousands swarmed
to see the marvel. The country for miles around was lighted at night by
the reflection; and today one may see gravel that was baked red by the
intense heat of the flames during the two years that it burned.
    Conservative gas men have attempted to estimate the millions of
feet of gas that were wasted daily at this well, but neither pressure nor
volume could be determined. Efforts to bring the well under control
were finally successful, and for two years or more the gas was piped to
the Pittsburgh district. Water eventually drowned out the most pic-
turesque well in Washington County's history.
   Old-timers can recall other wells that approached the record of the
McGugin but none are believed to have equalled it. Efforts were after-
wards made for a big strike on adjoining farms, and gas was struck in
paying quantities in almost every instance, but not in such abundance as
to make any one rich over night.
   For four years, the roar of the mighty McGugin, the king of all gas
wells was heard. It was feared that the hole would cave in and stop
the flow forever, and on December 28, 1885, drilling was started in an-
other well 100 feet away. On February 25, 1886, the well reached a depth
of 2,238 feet, the same at which gas was struck in the McGugin, but
nothing was found. Twelve feet deeper a strong flow of gas was found,
and the roar of the McGugin became less as great quantities of gas issued
from the new hole, blowing the tools over the top of the derrick. The
McGugin was then shut down, and the flow increased at the new well.
   The McGugin well did not make anyone rich, but it added an in-
teresting chapter to the history and romance of the county. Many a
couple, now aged and gray, look back to happy courting days at parties
held in the light of the old McGugin gas well, which was once the talk
of every household, and the marvel of that generation. Today it is a
touchstone upon which grandsire and youth lay the gold of their affec-
tions for the olden times.
   At present a Pittsburgh concern known as the McGugin Oil and Gas
Company operates a pump station within a stone's throw of the old
McGugin well. This concern pumps several small wells that fringe the
great well of nearly half a century ago. New drilling is under way,
for it has been proven that if the cream is gone there still remains
enough "skimmed milk" to command a good price.
   Many years ago, long before the Civil war, the old "Kettle Hole" in
Chartiers Creek, in what is now the Seventh ward of Washington, was
the favorite swimming place for the boys of the town. At an early
date, sometime in the '50s, these boys discovered gas bubbling up in
the creek, and they found that it would burn when lighted. It was a
great sport to apply a match to the vents along the creek shore and watch
the fire from the earth.
   The years passed, and those boys who once went to the old "Kettle
Hole" to swim, grew to manhood. After the McGugin well was struck
they recalled the days of their youth when they lighted the gas escaping
from the creek. In 1883, several of them organized the Peoples Light
and Heat Company in Washington; and on February 14th, 1884, they
made a contract with William G. Gibson, an oil man from the upper oil


562




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


country, to drill a well in the creek bottom of the Hess farm, in what
is now the Seventh ward. A month later Mr. Gibson had the rig up and
the tools on the ground, and on March 19th, he began spudding. The
projectors of that first well in the Washington field were laughed at by
many who considered them "fools sinking their money in a hole."
   The work progressed rapidly and on April 30th, 1884, gas was struck
at a depth of 2,068 feet. The gas was immediately piped into Wash-
ington, and in a short time this company was supplying gas to several
dwellings in the town. This was the beginning of the Washington field,
and in a short time leases were secured on adjoining farms. The oper-
ations of the company were extended, and in a few months other wells
were struck, both oil and gas, and in a short time the Peoples company
was supplying the town with gas. This company continued as the leading
gas corporation of the town for a number of years.
   An interesting story of the origin of the Peoples Light and Heat Com-
pany, now the Manufacturers Light and Heat Company, was related
recently to the author by Hugh A. Rogers, of Washington, one of the
incorporators of the original company. In 1883, after the strike at the
McGugin well in 1882, five men of Washington, James B. R. Streator,
Alexander M. Todd, Hugh A. Rogers and two others whom Mr. Rogers
has forgotten, decided that they would like to drill a well for gas near
Washington and supply the town. None of them knew anything about the
business; but they did want to drill a well. They first talked over the
best territory, and decided to drill east of town, near East Washington.
   A. B. Caldwell and Samuel Hazlett became interested in the project
with them and the Citizens Light and Heat Company was incorporated
at $25,000. Then they remembered how the boys of thirty years before
set fire to the gas in the creek at the "Kettle Hole" and they decided to
drill near that place. If they had continued with their original plan of
drilling east of Washington they would have tapped the big pool which
poured out millions of barrels of oil from 1885 to 1895, and even later.
   After they struck gas at the Hess well they were besieged by farmers
from all sections adjoining Washington to drill a well, and they were
tendered leases free of the bonus which was afterwards paid for this
land. They hired an expert geologist who came to Washington and estab-
lished an anticline along which he declared they would find gas, but he
declared that if they drilled away from this line they would get nothing.
Acting on this they refused the leases east of Washington which were
afterwards the center of the big strike.
   The Peoples company purchased the Gordon farm, and drilled the
Gordon No. 1, which is described in this chapter. This well was not on
the anticline established for the company, but the men at the head de-
cided to take a chance, and it netted them big returns. Ten wells were
drilled on this farm, six of which (Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10) are still pro-
ducing. They are owned by the Manufacturers Heat and Light Com-
pany. The big strike at the Gordon No. 1 started the real oil boom in
the Washington field.
   After piping the gas to Washington from the Hess and other wells,
the Peoples company charged $1 a month for a cook stove, and 75 cents
for each additional fire. The streets of Washington were lighted for


563





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the first time by standing gas lights. These were simply pipes on the
street, with gas burning at the top. One of these still stands at the
corner of Highland Avenue and North Lincoln Street, but it has not been
used for many years.
    There were no gas regulators in those early days, and so water re-
 gulators were used instead. Three were placed in the main gas lines
 in Washington, one at Mr. Rogers' home, 251 Jefferson Avenue, one in
 North Avenue and another in South Main Street. In cold weather these
 regulators would freeze up, and the gas was run by a "pass around" the
 regulator. "It is a wonder the whole town was not blown up," Mr. Rogers
 said in relating the story.
    One warm Sunday some boy turned the valve at the North Avenue
 regulator, and the gas was increased throughout the town to twenty-five
 pounds pressure. It broke through all weak fittings and caused much
 trouble.
    It was necessary to dismiss all churches in town while the trouble
was being located and repairs made.
    About this same time the Manufacturers Natural Gas Company was
organized at Canonsburg, and in later years the two companies were
merged into the Manufacturers Light and Heat Company.
    Two years after the Hess well was struck by "fools sinking their
money in a hole," a wonderful change was wrought in Washington. By
February 15, 1886, a million dollars had been invested in this field, and a
hundred derricks could be counted almost within sight of Washington,
and there was a yield of more than six hundred barrels of oil per day.
   Another pioneer oil well of Washington County was drilled in 1884
on the Joe Scott farm, near Venice, by the Niagara Oil Company. Work
was started in August, and a small quantity of oil was struck at 2,000
feet. Drilling was continued but salt water was found, and for many
months thereafter salt water mixed with oil spouted from the hole every
forty-five minutes.
   The Hess well of 1884 was the beginning of the Washington field, but
at that time no one dreamed of the immense reservoir of riches concealed
in the earth which would soon flow forth through hundreds of wells.
   The drilling at Washington stirred up interest in other sections of the
county, and on April 28th, 1884, two days before gas was struck in the
Hess well, the Carroll Gas Company and the Cecil Gas Company were in-
corporated. Excitement broke out in all sections of the county after the
strike and on May 19th, the local court granted charters to the following
gas companies: Cross Creek Township Natural Gas Co., Canton Town-
ship Natural Gas Co., Cecil Township Natural Gas Co., Citizens Light and
Heat Company of Canton township, Citizens Light and Heat Company
of Franklin Township, Citizens Light and Heat Company of Chartiers
Township, Citizens Light and Heat Company of South Strabane Town-
ship. On October 9, 1884, the Claysville Heat and Light Company was in-
corporated to drill a well near that town. This was followed by the Citi-
zens Natural Gas Company on October 14th, and the Burgettstown Heat
and Light Company on October 16.
   The Citizens Natural Gas Company was a Washington concern, and
was organized for the purpose of drilling for gas near the town. Alex-


564




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ander Murdoch was elected president; William C. Bryson, secretary;
C. M. Reed, Jr., treasurer, and L. McCarrell, solicitor. The managers
were Alexander Murdoch, Julius P. Miller, C. M. Reed, Jr., William C.
Bryson, H. U. Seaman, L. McCarrell and John McGuffie. The only one
living today (1926) is H. U. Seaman, who conducts a jewelry store in
South Main Street, Washington.
    A small piece of ground was leased from Samuel Gantz, at the Gantz
 flour mill, just west of the West Chestnut Street railroad station, and a
 contract was made with William C. Marr, of Bradford, to drill a well.
 Work was started at once, and a pocket of gas was struck at 1,300 feet.
 When lighted this burned from six to eight feet high. Drilling was con-
 tinued, and after a number of delays incidental to the drilling of a well,
 oil was struck on December 31st, 1884, at 2,210 feet. Work was stopped
 that night and by the next morning there was 800 feet of oil and salt
 water in the hole. The oil bearing rock in which this strike occurred was
 named the Gantz sand and is known as such to this day.
    The most intense excitement followed the discovery, especially among
 the owners of the adjacent land. A guard was placed over the well and
 it was kept a mystery for some time afterwards. There was an immedi-
 ate rush to Washington, which became the new Mecca for all oil men,
 who tried to secure leases in this vicinity. Oil was quoted at 743g cents
 per barrel when the Gantz well was struck. Drilling was continued, as
 the company decided to sink to the third sand. More oil was struck and
 by April 1st, 1885, the well was flowing from twelve to fourteen barrels
 a day. The well was then in charge of James Matthews, who died in
 Washington several years ago.
    The first car load of oil ever shipped out of Washington County was
 sent from the Gantz well on March 27, 1885, to Holmes and Adams, of
 Buffalo, New York, and consisted of 101 barrels. The third car was sent
 on April 1st, and on August 19th, the eleventh car was shipped to the
 same firm, and contained eighty barrels. The total of the eleven cars of
 oil shipped between March 27th and August 19th, was 945 barrels.
   By September 7th, the production had fallen down to two or three
barrels a day; but drilling was continued and on the night of November
28th, the Gordon sand, where a strike had been made in the Gordon No. 1,
on August 10th, was penetrated. The hole filled rapidly and as it was
feared that the well would flow, in which case there was danger of it
catching fire from the open lights, work was stopped until the next day.
By 9 o'clock the next morning there were 1,500 feet of oil in the hole.
On December 10th, a flow of sixty barrels in fifteen minutes was caused
by a sand pump lowered in the hole.
   From the time oil was struck up to January 1, 1886, 1,415 barrels of
oil were sold from this well, in addition to which a large amount ran
down the creek and was lost. On February 16, 1886, the well was pump-
ing about thirty-six barrels a day. The Gantz well was never a big pro-
ducer in the same sense as other early wells in this field, but it was
steady. It was pumped for about thirty years, but it finally gave out
about ten years ago, and was torn down.
   After the strike of gas at the Hess No. 1, drilling was started near
Canonsburg by Guffey and Company, of Pittsburgh, and on August 10,


565




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1885, gas was struck at 930 feet on the Bamford farm. On October 12,
1885, a strong flow of gas was found at 1,900 feet in the well on the D. C.
Houston farm at Houston. This was the fifth producing gas well which
Guffey and Company had brought in near Canonsburg.
   Immediately after striking gas in the Hess No. 1, the Peoples Light
and Heat Company extended its operations, and started wells on the
Gordon farm, adjoining what is now the Eighth ward, Washington, on
the McNary farm, at Arden Station. A little gas was struck in this well
in August, and it was drilled deeper, but no oil was found. A well was
drilled on the Farley farm, one mile northeast of Washington, and on
August 10, 1885, gas was struck. It was then sold to the Peoples Light
and Heat Company.
   The Gordon No. 1, drilled by this same company, was the first big oil
well struck in the Washington field. Drilling was started in the summer
of 1885, and on August 8th, oil was found. Drilling was stopped that
night, as it was believed to contain 1,200 feet of oil, but by Monday morn-
ing, August 10th, there were 600 feet of oil in the hole, and drilling was
continued. A big flow of oil was found in what is now known as the
Gordon sand on August 22, and it flowed over the top of the derrick at the
rate of seventy-five barrels a day. The production fell off some, and
drilling was continued. On September 5th, it doubled its production at
that time, reaching fifty-five barrels a day, but the next day this was in-
creased to seventy-seven barrels. It was then 2,400 feet deep and was
the deepest producing oil well in the world at that time. It was quite a
factor in the oil market. It started to flow at noon on September 8th,
and in twenty-four hours produced 157 barrels. The owners contracted
with the Standard Oil Company to deliver the oil to it at an advance of
321/2 cents above the market price.
   The contractor who drilled the Gordon was William C. Gibson, who
came here from Bradford to drill the Hess No. 1. The drillers who
worked on the Gordon No. 1, for Mr. Gibson were David Iseman, Mr.
Neal and Mr. Barr. Mr. Iseman afterwards became a big oil producer
in this section, and made a large fortune at the business. Mr. Gibson
was a successful contractor in this field for years and made considerable
money, but afterwards lost much of it in silver mines in Mexico. He is
still living in Washington at an advanced age.
   On September 8, 1885, L. W. Gibson, of Bradford, a brother of William
C. Gibson, came to Washington and took charge of the Gordon well.
Drilling was stopped permanently at the well on September 11th, be-
cause of the fear of endangering the production by going too deep. When
the drill was removed from the hole for the last time a column of oil
shot above the derrick.
   The first oil, eighty-one barrels, was shipped from the Gordon well on
August 31st, and between that time and September 9th, six more cars
were sold. The total for this period was 564 barrels. From the time the
well was struck on August 8th, to January 1, 1886, a total of 8,957 bar-
rels were shipped.
   Oil was struck in the Gordon No. 2, drilled by Mr. Gibson for the
Peoples Light and Heat Company, on the night of December 14, 1885.
When the drill penetrated the Gantz sand a column of oil unexpectedly


566




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


shot up eight feet above the hole. Instantly the oil caught fire from the
open lights, and three workmen, J. C. Neil, J. B. Jackson and G. S. Bu-
chanan, had narrow escapes. Mr. Buchanan's clothing caught fire, but
he saved himself by jumping into the creek nearby. The derrick was
burned as far as the engine house. This was the first oil fire in Washing-
ton County.
    The Gordon No. 4, drilled by this same company, struck the pay
streak in April, 1886, but the production was light. The well was shot on
May 21, 1886, and during the twenty-four hours following it produced
236 barrels. This was another big well in this field.
   Another well drilled near Washington about the same time as the
Gordon No. 1, was the Gabby well, drilled on the William Gabby farm,
southwest of Washington, by Pew and Emerson, of Titusville. On August
9, 1885, the next day after the strike at the Gordon No. 1, oil was found
in the Gabby well at a depth of 2,300 feet, and by night there were one
hundred feet of the golden fluid in the hole. The production in this well
never reached a paying basis, and eventually proved a losing proposition
to the owners. By September 9, it was down 2,400 feet, and the hole had
filled up to within thirty feet of the top. For some time the well was
worked as a "mystery," that is a guard was placed over it, no informa-
tion was given out, and no one was permitted near the rig. Finally, this
was given up, and it was decided to no longer work it as a "mystery."
The Gordon sand was reached at 2,548 feet, but no indications of oil were
found, even at a depth of 2,608 feet. The well was shot on December
14th, and a flow of about forty barrels followed, after which the hole
filled to a depth of 2,200 feet. All hope of making a big producer of this
well was abandoned, but it was believed that it would prove a fair pumper.
It cost the owners between $8,500 and $9,000.
   Almost immediately after oil was struck in the Gantz well and while
the Gabby and Gordon wells were being drilled, operators from the upper
oil country sent scouts into the Washington field to watch the progress
of the wells, and secure leases on promising territory. One of the best
known of these early oil scouts was James C. (Jim) Tennant. He had
no superiors at this business and few equals. In fact, he could gain in-
formation of "mystery" wells when all others failed. Jim Tennant was
one of the first oil scouts sent to Washington in 1885 to watch the prog-
ress of the field, and the information which he sent to his employers
brought a number of the big producers here from the upper oil country
that year.
   Other oil scouts who came to Washington from the upper oil country
in 1885 were Frank Lowrie, Owen A. Evans, J. P. Sappeau, Samuel Wat-
son, and L. Beaumont, all keen men at this business, and they kept their
employers well posted on the early development of the wells about Wash-
ington. Their names have long since been forgotten by most men in
this section, but all of the old-time oil men of today remember them well.
   E. H. Tague, another oil scout who came to the Washington field in
the early days, ranged among the best. Mr. Tague is probably the only
one of these oil scouts of forty years ago, who is left here. For many
years he has been a successful contractor, and is today regarded as the
best scout for oil and gas in Washington County. His latest strike was


567




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


made in January, 1926, when he brought in a big gas well on the farm
formerly owned by Murphy Brothers, but now owned by J. W. Wallace
and others in Canton Township, in the bottom just north of the Tyler
Tube and Pipe Mills.
   As soon as the oil scouts reported that the Washington field promised
to produce oil in paying quantities, a host of producers from the upper oil
country swarmed to Washington. The first in the field were local men,
who organized companies, but strange to say they did not secure some of
the best territory. Among the first were the Peoples Light and Heat
Company, owner of the Hess and Gordon wells; the Citizens Natural
Gas Company, afterwards changed to the Citizens Oil and Gas Company,
owner of the Gantz well; Caldwell and Marsh, Hallam and Company;
C. M. Reed, Jr., Hart Brothers, Wm. C. Bryson, George W. Reed, H. S.
McKennan, as Reed, Bryson and Company, owners of the famous Bung
Hole well; A. J. Montgomery, J. B. Miller.
   Among the first who came here from the upper oil country were: T. J.
Vandergrift, Union Oil Company, John McKeown, Mulholland and Com-
pany, Thayer and Settheimer, Niagara Oil Company, Pew and Emerson,
Young, Willetts and Dyer, Conroy and Johnson, Guffey and Miller, and
John Coast and Sons.
   T. J. Vandergrift came from Jamestown, New York, and in October,
1885, bought the General Hall and Andrew Ford farms, and leased the
Israel Weirich and Simeon Wilson farms. His manager was Mr.
Babcock.
   Col. E. H. Dyer, Phil W. Roth, Jacob Pfeffer, and Mr. Coleman, of
Bradford, in October, 1885, secured a lease on the Alvin Smith farm,
and brought in the Smith No. 1, early in January, 1886, which proved the
biggest well in this field up to that time. They afterwards sold out at a
big price to the firm of Willets, Young and Dyer, of Bradford.
   C. D. Robbins, H. W. Williams, and Pew and Emerson, of Titusville,
came here early in 1885, and secured leases in Franklin, Mount Pleasant,
Peters, Cross Creek, Buffalo, West Finley, South Strabane and North
Strabane townships.
   J. O. Marshall was from Jamestown, New York; R. H. Thayer and
Joseph Settheimer, operating as Thayer and Settheimer, of Buffalo, se-
cured a lease on the Clark farm, near the Gordon No. 1, in 1885, and
John Coast and Sons were of Richburg, New York. Conroy and Johnson
was another early producing firm.
   No mention of the early oil producers would be complete without the
name of Col. James B. R. Streator, a native of Washington, who was the
first superintendent of the Peoples Light and Heat Company, owners of
the Hess No. 1 and the Gordon No. 1. Mr. Streator continued as superin-
tendent of this company for nearly twenty years, and is well remembered
by all of the early oil men in this field as well as by the older residents of
Washington. He left Washington a number of years ago and located
in the western oil field, dying several years ago in Arkansas.
   Among the early oil men who worked in the Washington County fields,
both as producers and drillers were W. F. Borchers, John B. Murphy,
Owen Murphy, Edward C. Murphy, Peter Murphy, T. J. Burns, Edward
C. Caffrey, Patrick Conners, William C. Gibson, John W. Leonard, Henry


568




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


(Hank) Kelly, John Shea, M. W. Larkin, William McBride, George
Drury, M. C. Treat, David Iseman, David McKain, John McKain, C. C.
Chamberlin, Henry Martin, Frank Campbell, Isaac Willetts, John Duffy,
Robert Ashmore, John Preston, Joseph Preston, Joseph Craig, and James
Sweeney. This is not nearly all of that list of early oil operators, for
there were many others. Many of these men are dead, while a few still
live in Washington.
   Some started in as drillers and tool-dressers, and worked their way
up until they became operators. some making large fortunes. The four
Murphys named operated for many years as Murphy Brothers, and were
successful in other fields. John W. Leonard started in as a driller, and
after making considerable in the Washington field as an operator, he lost
much of it in other ventures. He then went to Mexico where he made an-
other big strike. Later he went to South America and was the discoverer
of oil in Colombia, where he still has large interests. John Preston,
Joseph Preston and Joseph Craig were the owners of the famous Joe-Joe
well, in the Taylorstown field. There were hundreds of others, long
forgotten.
   The most successful and largest individual operator in the Washing-
ton field was John McKeown, who was probably the best known man in
the Pennsylvania oil fields from 1880 to his death in Washington on Feb-
ruary 8, 1891. Space will not permit of an extended biography of those
early oil men, but no history of the Washington oil country would be
complete without some account of the phenomenal career of this man,
which is not surpassed by any in the western gold fields. Coming from
Ireland at the age of twenty-six years he landed in New York on the day
of President Lincoln's funeral with less than ten dollars in his pocket.
Hearing of the oil fields, he borrowed twenty-five dollars from a cousin
in 1866 and went to Petroleum Centre, where he started as a day laborer,
gradually working up to contractor and finally producer. In 1870 he
was engaged with partners, but due to misfortunes they were sold out by
the sheriff; and John McKeown resolved to never again do business with a
partner, and he never did. He was successful again, and when the Brad-
ford field was opened he went there, soon becoming one of the largest in-
dividual producers there. Receiving information from his oil scouts in
the Washington field he transferred his activities to this place late in
1885, where he operated first under the name of the Union Oil Company
and later as the McKeown Oil Company.
   The first big bonus ever paid in the Washington field was by John
McKeown for the William J. Munce tract of 600 acres in South and North
Strabane townships. The famous Smith No. 1 was struck early in Janu-
ary, 1886, and all adjoining land was held by the owners for a big bonus.
The most promising of this territory was the Munce land. Every oper-
ator in the field was after the lease, but Mr. Munce was a shrewd man,
and was holding it for a big bonus. The story of how John McKeown
secured that lease was related to the author by William C. Gibson, who
was one of Mr. McKeown's contractors.
   All of the big operators in the field were dickering with Mr. Munce
for the land, but he held them off for the largest offer. John McKeown
was a shrewd judge of character. Big offers had been made for the


569




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


lease, but nothing definite had been accomplished. Finally, Mr. McKeown
arranged a meeting with Mr. Munce in a lawyer's office in Washington,
on January 13, 1886. Before going to the office Mr. McKeown secured
$60,000 in cash in a grip, walked in and spread the entire amount out on
a table before Mr. Munce's eyes, telling him that it was his right there
for that lease. Mr. Munce had been a hard working farmer all his life,
and this was more than he could resist, and the deal was closed right
there. There were other operators in the field who would have given
more, but none of them ever thought of spreading the cash out before the
land owner; and they lost out. The papers for this deal were finally
signed on January 25th. The customary one-eighth royalty went to the
land owner in addition to the $60,000 bonus.
    His next big coup was the lease on the Martin farm, adjoining the
Munce tract. A few days later he secured this at a bonus of $100 an acre,
paying $18,000 in cash for the 180 acre tract. Both the Munce and Mar-
tin leases proved to be the most profitable in the Washington field. Thirty-
four wells were drilled by Mr. McKeown on the Munce lease, all of which
returned big dividends. The Munce No. 2 came in at 2,000 barrels a
day, and the Munce No. 12, at 1,200 barrels. These were the largest.
There are still fourteen pumping wells on this tract, now owned by the
South Penn Oil Company, which bought out the McKeown interests a
few years ago. The production is now small.
   Eight wells were drilled by Mr. McKeown on the Martin farm, Mar-
tin Heirs No. 1, the largest well in the Washington field and the biggest
in the county outside of the McDonald field, came in on June 21, 1887,
at 5,830 barrels in twenty-four hours; and during the first sixty days it
produced over 300,000 barrels of oil. Three wells are still producing on
this farm. They are also owned by the South Penn Oil Company, but the
production is small.
   At the time of his death at his home at the southeast corner of East
Maiden and South College streets, Washington, John McKeown was worth
several million dollars. Much of this was made in this field.
   One of the oil contractors who came to Washington from the upper
oil country in the fall of 1886 was William Forgie, who is still living in
that town. After working on one contract Mr. Forgie invented and pat-
ented the "Forgie Jack," a tool for wrenching and unwrenching the
tools. There were infringements on this patent, which Mr. Forgie had
to fight through the courts at considerable cost. He afterwards engaged
in the business of supplying and manufacturing rig timbers in Washing-
ton, and for many years was in the lumber business.
   B. D. Northrup, who now operates a machine shop in Washington,
came to this field in 1886 from the upper oil country, and during the
early years of the oil business manufactured oil well tools for the Wash-
ington field.
   J. J. Davin and E. G. McClure came to Washington in the early days
and as Davin and McClure operated a machine shop for the manufac-
ture of oil well tools. Mr. Davin later purchased Mr. McClure's interest
and operated the plant until his death a few years ago, when it was sold
to the Davin Tool Company.
   Zahniser Brothers and Sten began the manufacture of oil well tools


570




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and equipment in Washington in the early days, and continued in the
business for many years. They afterwards operated as the Zahniser
Manufacturing Company, and several years ago sold out to the Penn
Manufacturing Company, which is still in the business of manufacturing
oil well tools on a large scale.
    The first oil pipe lines were opened in the Washington field in the fall
of 1885. Prior to that time it had been necessary to ship all oil out in
cars, but after the pipe lines were established it was pumped out by this
method. In October Mr. Taylor of the National Transit Company, known
as the Union Pipe Lines, came to Washington and on October 15th,
opened an office in the Smith building.
    The first oil well supply business was opened in Washington by the
Oil Well Supply Company, of Bradford and Oil City, early in 1886. On
January 15th, 1886, it leased the room in what is now the Globe Theatre
building, North Main Street, from Forrest Brothers and Roberts, who
owned the building at that time and are still the owners. This was for-
merly known as the Rankin building, and it had just been purchased by
J. R. Forrest, Robert R. Forrest, and W. D. Roberts. During the next
thirty-five years the Oil Well Supply Company conducted a store in this
room, finally moving to West Chestnut Street on April 1, 1921. During
all those years this was the gathering place for the oil men of Washing-
ton and vicinity. Probably more oil wells were drilled in all parts of the
world, more territory leased, and more fortunes made and lost in that
room during those thirty-five years than in any other spot in Western
Pennsylvania. The room is now occupied by the Atlantic and Pacific Tea
Company.
   Among those old-time oil men in the Washington field were Ross
Criswell and Charles Ford, both of whom were the earliest torpedo men
in the county. Ford came here from Butler late in 1885 and shot some of
the first wells. What finally became of him I have been unable to learn.
Ross Criswell continued in this hazardous business, working out of Wash-
ington, for more than thirty years. He died only a few years ago.
   John McKeown, operating as the Union Oil Company, was one of the
first if not the first operator to open an office in Washington. In No-
vember, 1885, he opened his office in the Strean building at the corner
of South Main Street and West Strawberry Alley.
   The first lease for which a cash bonus was paid in addition to the
usual one-eighth royalty, as far as we have been able to determine, was
$2,500, paid on November 4th, 1885, by John McKeown (Union Oil Com-
pany), to Enoch Prigg for fifty acres in Franklin township. A few days
later, on November 12, 1885, Coast and Sons paid Robert Wylie $10,000
bonus and one-eighth royalty for 300 acres, and if this turned out to be
good oil territory Mr. Wylie was to receive an additional $5,000.
   On November 30, 1885, there were sixteen wells either being drilled
or producing in the Washington field, and the rigs were being erected
for twelve more. Only a very few were producing at that time. The
following list shows the condition of these wells at that time:
   Peoples Light and Heat Company.-Gordon No. 1, producing; Gor-
don No. 2, 1,650 feet deep; Gordon No. 3, rig up; Gordon No. 4, rig up;


571




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


The largest house was two and one-half stories high, and was built to
withstand a formidable attack. Thomas Cherry was accidentally shot at
the spring in 1775, and in 1782 his son, John, was killed on the same
expedition as the famous fight between the Poes and Bigfoot. John Cherry
was buried beside his father in the Cherry burial ground near the fort.
The farm is now owned by R. R. Cummins. Until a few years ago traces
of the fort could be seen back of the house. The burial ground is still
located on the farm.
   Cox's (Coxe's) Fort-Built before the Revolution by Gabriel Cox, on
Peters Creek, Peters Township. This was a stockaded fort of considerable
importance, and was garrisoned by troops. It was headquarters for the
land commissioners granting Virginia land certificates until some time in
1780. This is shown by some of the old certificates on record in the
recorder's office, which were dated at Cox's Fort. There is some doubt as
to its exact location; but it is believed to have been on the farm owned
in later years by Samuel Myers, one mile from Gastonville and one mile
from Shire Oaks. In 1892 a son of Mr. Myers ploughed up a twelve-
pound cannon ball in the field where it was supposed to have stood.
   Dillow's Fort-Built about 1780 by Michael Dillow on Fort Dillow
Run, Hanover Township, near the farm owned in later years by Robert
Cooley. Michael Dillow was killed in an attack by Indians in 1782 and
his son carried into captivity. In pioneer times the road ran southeast
from this fort to Beelor's and east to Turner's Fort.
   Dinsmore's Blockhouse-Built about 1795 by James Dinsmore on what
was known in later years as the William Dinsmore farm, Canton Town-
ship.
   Doddridge's Fort-Built in 1773 by John Doddridge, the first settler in
Independence Township. This fort, one of the best known on the western
frontier, was the boyhood home of Dr. Joseph Doddridge, author of the
famous "Doddridge's Notes." There were several cabins, enclosed by a
stockade. This took the place of Teter's Fort, on the Manchester farm,
three-quarters of a mile northwest, which was abandoned as indefensible
when Doddridge's was completed. It was never attacked, but the settlers
from miles around fled there on numerous occasions during Indian raids.
The stockade and all buildings, except the log cabin in which the Dodd-
ridge family lived, were torn down many years ago; and in the spring of
1913 this historic cabin was razed by the tenant on the farm without
authority from the owner. In 1914, when the author visited the place, a
few logs and a pile of stones that had been the chimney and foundation
marked the spot. Over the spring that stood just outside the stockade is
a log springhouse built from logs from the stockade about seventy-five
years ago. This spring is still in use. The site of this fort is on the old
Brown farm, three miles west of West Middletown, on the state highway
at the junction of the Doddridge road.
   Downey's Fort-Believed to have been in Cross Creek Township. The
records are very meager and its exact location is unknown.
   Dunn's Fort-Located at Dunnsfort, on Buffalo Creek, near the West
Virginia line, in Donegal Township. The site is still marked by earth-
works from which Indian bones and pottery have been unearthed.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Hess No. 1, 2,173, fishing job, producing gas; Hess No. 2, 1,240 feet deep;
McClane, 650 feet deep.
    Citizens Oil and Gas Company.-Gantz No. 1, in the sand and produc-
 ing, fishing job; J. S. Wilson, 1,850 feet deep, fishing job; Weaver, spud-
 ding.
    T. J. Vandergrift-Hall No. 1, 500 feet deep; Weirich No. 1, 1,320
 feet deep; S. Wilson, rig up.
    Union Oil Company (John McKeown).-Weirich No. 1, rig up; Mc-
 Govern, rig up.
   Thayer and Settheimer.-Clark Heirs No. 1, 1,200 feet deep; Clark
Heirs No. 2, rig up.
    Hallam and Company.-Brownlee, rig up; Clark Heirs No. 1, rig up.
    Pew and Emerson-Gabby No. 1, mystery; Barre No. 1, rig up.
    Coast and Sons.-Weirich No. 1, 180 feet deep.
    Mulholland and Company.-Lead Works No. 1, 350 feet deep.
    Caldwell and Marsh.-Lead Works No. 2, rig building.
    Niagara Oil Company.-Montgomery No. 1, 1,600 feet deep.
    Young, Willetts and Dyer-Smith No. 1, in Gantz sand.
    Conroy and Johnson.-Davis No. 1, rig building.
    Guffey and Miller-Cradle Factory, rig up.
    The J. S. Wilson well, located in Franklin township, near the Wash-
ington cemetery, was drilled by the Citizens Oil and Gas Company, own-
ers of the Gantz well. Misfortune followed this well from the start. The
tools were lost in the hole, and recovered several times. Finally the
tools were lost in September, 1885, and for three months efforts were
made to recover them, but after repeated failures, the well was finally
abandoned on December 6th, at the depth of 1,850 feet. The loss was
about $4,000.
   Late in the fall of 1885, Hugh T. Arters and John L. O'Donnell came
to Washington and opened the first oil and gas brokerage office in the
county. This was under the firm name of Arters and O'Donnell.
   On December 9th, 1885, a meeting was held at Monongahela City by
a number of citizens of that place, and a gas company was organized
with a capital of $10,000. There had been a former gas company at
that place years before called the Bellewood and Monongahela City Nat-
ural Gas Company, and this name was adopted for the new concern.
The following men were interested: R. E. Byers, Morton Black, T. H.
Williams, J. B. Finley, and R. R. Abrams. The price of the shares was
fixed at $25.
   The famous Smith No. 1, was drilled on the farm of Alvin Smith,
about a mile and a half northeast of Washington, by Col. E. H. Dyer,
Phil W. Roth, Jacob Pfeffer and a Mr. Coleman, operating as the Belmont
Oil Company, and also known as Dyer and Company. Work was started
in the late summer of 1885. On November 7th, oil and gas were struck
the gas being in such quantity as to throw the oil over the derrick, and
work was closed down until a tank was built. A 600-barrel tank was
completed on January 4, 1886, at which time the well was flowing about
twenty barrels a day. Drilling was continued and by that night the flow
had inceased rapidly, and by the next evening, January 5th, 600 barrels
of oil had flowed during the preceding twenty-four hours. This was the


572





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


largest well yet struck in the field, and the excitement was intense. Work
was started on additional tanks, but on the evening of January 8th, snow
started to fall, and by noon the next day there were eighteen inches on the
level. The temperature went down to two degrees below zero, and the in-
tense cold continued for several days. As soon as a road was opened
through the snow men were rushed to the well and a pipe line was laid
by the National Transit Company from the well to the company's large
35,000-barrel tank on the General Hall farm. The suffering of the work-
men during this work was very great and Daniel Binns had his hands
frozen. This line was completed on January 12th, on which date the well
flowed 400 barrels.
    On February 5th, Joseph Craig, of Pittsburgh, then regarded as one
 of the biggest oil operators in this section, purchased one-half interest in
 the Smith No. 1, for $75,000. This included not only the lease on the
 Smith farm, but on the Cameron farm, of 265 acres, adjoining. Mr.
 Coleman sold his sixth interest in the well to Willetts and Young.
    The strike at the Smith well created a big boom in the field, and
 there was a rush to secure leases. The story of how John McKeown se-
 cured the William J. Munce lease has already been related. During the
 ten days from January 6 to 16, 1886, oil operators paid owners of land
 in the vicinity of Washington $157,000 for leases and for the land pur-
 chased outright. On January 19th, the following leases were secured in
 the block of land surrounding the Smith well:
    Pew and Emerson.-From Joseph Miller, 75 acres; from J. Manifold,
 30 acres; from J. W. Kuntz, 117 acres; from William Barre, 157 acres;
 from R. H. Wiley, 50 acres; from J. H. Ewing, 100 acres; from John
 Munce, 100 acres.
    Peoples Light and Heat Company.-From Matthew Taylor, 100 acres;
from M. and J. Farley, 137 acres; from Mr. Ghent, 8 acres.
    Coast and Sons.-From W. W. Smith, 80 acres.
    Frank Campbell for Union Oil Company.-From Matthew Taylor, 100
acres.
    T. J. Vandergrift.-From William Barre, 105 acres.
    Dyer and Company, and Loan and Company.-From J. M. Cameron,
166 acres.
   Union Oil Company (John McKeown).-From William J. Munce, 600
acres.
   Isaac Willetts.-Purchased the George Munce farm, 140 acres, at $400
an acre.
   The following is the number of wells in the field on February 1, 1886;
producing oil wells, seven; wells being drilled, 14; fishing jobs, two; mys-
tery well, one; spudding, one; producing gas wells, two; rigs up or build-
ing, 27; rigs completed during January, two; total, 55.
   On January 19, 1886, the first oil case was filed in the Washington
County courts, when C. G. Elwood, of Pittsburgh, filed a bill in equity
against Frank Howard, of Washington. Elwood claimed that he had
employed Howard to secure oil and gas leases in Washington and Greene
counties, in which Howard was to receive one-fourth and Elwood, three-
fourths interest. The latter claimed that Howard entered into a part-
nership with Henry W. Williams, of Washington, the two sharing ex-


573





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


penses and taking leases in their joint names. Elwood sought to compel
Howard to assign three-fourth interest of his, Howard's, interest in these
leases to him, Elwood. Howard claimed that this was an attempt to
freeze him out.
    Another oil well supply company that opened a store in Washington
just after that of the Oil Well Supply Company already given, was that
of the Jarecki Company. On January 19, 1886, this concern leased part
of the Lead Works property in West Chestnut Street, upon which it
erected a building and opened an oil well supply store, with an office in
Main Street.
    On February 1, 1886, there were five wild cat wells in the territory
surrounding the Washington field, but some miles distant. These were:
Claysville Natural Gas Company, well near Claysville, 200 feet deep,
a mystery; Todd, Caldwell and Company, well at Lone Pine; Associated
Producers, well at Wyland Station, spudding; T. J. Vandergrift, well at
Taylorstown, 350 feet deep; Fisher Brothers, well at Old Concord, rig
building.
    It is interesting to note at this time that on February 19, 1886, William
C. Gibson, the first contractor in the field, who on that date was drilling
the Hess No. 2, purchased an incandescent electric light with an engine
and generator to manufacture electricity. The outfit was placed at this
well so that-the drilling could be continued at night without danger of the
rig catching fire from the open lights in case there should be a sudden
f1uw f oil. This was the first electric light used in the Washington
County Oil fields, but now they are used at all wells. It was also the first
electric light plant in the county.
   The first well drilled in the Claysville field was by the Claysville
Natural Gas Company in 1885 and 1886.      In later years a number of
wells were struck in this field, but they all produced gas, oil not being
found in paying quantities. As already related a well was drilled near
Coon Island in 1866, but it did not go deep enough. At the present time
practically all of the gas wells in this field are owned by the Philadelphia
Company and the Manufacturers Light and Heat Company. The larg-
est strike was made on the Mehaffey farm, and from it the location was
named the Mehaffey field.
   The Cameron No. 1, drilled by the Belmont Oil Company, on the
George M. Cameron farm adjoining the Alvin Smith farm, was the next
big well struck in the Washington field. This was within a stone's throw
of the Smith No. 1, The story is told that after the Smith No. 1 was
struck the Belmont Oil Company, or Willetts, Young and Company as the
firm was also known, wished to put down a well in Smith's orchard, but
Mr. Smith refused to allow his fruit trees to be ruined. The company
then drilled a well just over the fence a short distance on the J. M. Cam-
eron farm, which was known as Cameron No. 1. The first oil was struck
on May 20th, 1886, with a production of about fifty barrels a day. Drill-
ing was continued and when the third pay streak was reached on May
22, the production increased rapidly. Drilling was continued and by the
next day it was flowing fifty barrels an hour. This increased and that
afternoon its production was 160 barrels an hour. Drilling was stopped,
and by ten o'clock that night it was flowing 197 barrels an hour. The


574




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


production varied the next day from 140 barrels an hour to 287 barrels
in an hour and a half; but the next morning it fell down to 106 barrels
an hour. Its greatest production was about 5,000 barrels a day. During
the twenty-four hour period ending on the evening of the 26th, it had pro-
duced 2,724 barrels of oil. On this date oil was quoted at 637/8 cents a
barrel. This well is still pumping, but the production is very small.
   On May 25, 1886, the total production of the Washington field was
9,500 barrels a day. Some of the big wells were: Willetts No. 3, 22 bar-
rels an hour; Gordon No. 1, between 85 and 90 barrels a day; Cameron
No. 1, 106 barrels an hour; Barre No. 1, 45 barrels an hour; Barre No. 2,
285 barrels in ten hours; Thayer No. 2, 38 barrels an hour; Smith No. 1,
456 barrels a day; Union Oil Company's well on the Matthew Taylor
farm, 540 barrels in 16 hours.
   The Martin heirs tract of about thirty acres was leased by John
McKeown at a bonus of $20,000 cash and one-eighth royalty; and on this
lease the largest well in the Washington pool was struck. This famous
well, known among the old-time oil men as Martin Heirs No. 1, was
drilled by David McKain, who is still living in Washington. It came on
June 21st, 1887, at fifteen barrels an hour, but this production soon in-
creased to 265 barrels an hour, or 5,830 barrels a day. The most remark-
able part about this well was the fact that it kept this up for sixty days,
producing nearly 350,000 barrels of oil during the first two months. Mr.
McKain worked on the well during this period.
   The story of the Bung Hole, another famous well of the Washington
field, is one of the most romantic to be found on the Pennsylvania oil
fields. It is a story of how vast riches came to a widow with a large
family, whose only possession in the world was one acre of ground and a
log cabin. This woman was Mrs. Mary Ann Miller, a negress, who lived
in a little log cabin on a strip of one acre of land, on the Monongahela
pike just east of East Washington. It was located just east of the house
erected a few years ago by a Mrs. Miller, but not the same woman.
   This strip of land was located in the center of the big oil pool. On
the north was the William Barre tract; on the east by Matthew Martin's
land, and on the south and west by William Davis. It seems to have been
overlooked by the big operators on account of its small size, and on Janu-
ary 6, 1886, C. M. Reed, of Washington, leased it from Mrs. Miller for
oil, at a rental of $5 a month until operations should be started. She
was to receive one-eighth royalty and $700 a year for a gas well.
   On June 1, 1886, an agreement was made between C. M. Reed, Hart
Brothers, William C. Bryson, George W. Reed, and H. S. McKeenan, by
which they associated themselves together under the name of Reed,
Bryson and Company, to drill a well on Mrs. Miller's acre of ground.
Mr. Reed transferred the lease to this firm. Mrs. Miller was to receive
the one-eighth royalty, and Mr. Reed one-fourth if the production was
under 100 barrels, but one-eighth if over that amount. The estimated
cost of the well was $7,000, which was to be paid in by July 15th.
   Drilling was started at once, with Guy and Thomas Hart as the drill-
ers, and oil was struck on September 16th. By the 18th it was producing
30 barrels an hour, but it fell down to twelve barrels on the 20th, and
on the 21st it increased to 234 barrels in twelve hours. This increased to


575





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


355 barrels in five hours on the 23rd, and on the 25th it was doing 54
barrels an hour. It varied considerably during the time it produced,
dropped down to 42 barrels an hour on October 1st, but increased to 60
barrels on the 6th, but on the 21st it was down to sixteen barrels an hour.
    The full amount Mrs. Miller received from her one-eighth royalty
 will never be known, but it was well into the thousands. She had never
 had money before, and both she and her family evidently believed that
 the well would produce for ever, for they spent it about as fast as they
 could get their hands upon it. And it went foolishly, for every conceiv-
 able purpose. An example was that one of the boys had a cake as big as
 a wash-tub baked. When Mrs. Miller died she had little left, and her
 children soon disposed of that. As far as can be learned only two of
 these children are left. One was an inmate of the county home a few
 years ago, and the other was employed in Washington.
    Some of the oil runs during 1886 are interesting in connection with
 the wells in the Washington field. The market on December 8, 1885,
 was 911/4 cents; on January 5, 1886, 90 cents; on January 6, 881/4 cents;
 and on June 30, 67;8 cents; on August 31, 615/j cents; on September 30,
 62"'8 cents; on October 28, 661/8 cents; on November 30, 78 cents; on
 December 31, 691/L cents.
    On May 26, 1886, the production from 31 wells was 8,817 barrels a
 day; the Cameron No. 1, holding up at 2,720 barrels and the Barre No. 1,
 1,080 barrels a day. On June 12, the Cameron No. 1, was 1,580 barrels;
 the Smith No. 1, 289 barrels; Smith No. 3, 2,900 barrels; Barre No. 1,
 679 barrels.
    The field reached its greatest production in 1886, on September 24,
 with 18,575 barrels a day. The daily production for some other days dur-
 ing the remainder of the year was: September 30, 17,000 barrels; Octo-
 ber 2, 16,514 barrels from 99 wells; October 12, 13,912 barrels; October
 21, 12,653 barrels; October 30, 11,118 barrels; November 3, 9,900 bar-
 rels; November 4, 10,400 barrels; November 5, 11,000 barrels; Novem-
 ber 27, 9,092 barrels from 109 wells; December 11, 9,645 barrels from 117
 wells; December 14, 8,800 barrels, the smallest for any day of the year;
 December 18, 9,250 barrels from 118 wells.
   We must now go back to old United States well drilled in 1865 on Pike
Run, two miles from California. In the early days of 1885 Henry Horn-
bake and Company secured a lease on this well, located on the B. C. Jack-
man farm, under the name of the Pike Run Valley Oil, Gas and Mining
Company, with an office at Coal Center. Work was started late in 1885,
or about January 1, 1886, with Henry Hornbake in charge of operations.
The discovery of the gold bearing rock in the well in 1865 was remem-
bered and the company hoped to test this as well as drill for oil. Jacob
Hornbake was the driller and Jesse Hornbake was fireman. Drilling was
continued at various times during 1886 and 1887 until June 16, 1887,
when it was found to be a dry hole. What came of the search for gold
I have been unable to find out.
   The first oil refinery was the Washington Refinery Company, organ-
ized in August, 1888, at a capital of $150,000. The president was Louis
Morris, of Oil City, and N. P. Hoover was secretary and treasurer. S. Y.
Ramage, of Oil City, and Mr. Hoover, were the principal owners of the


576




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


stock. Some of the local men interested were William Davis, George
Davis, J. R. Davis, and W. H. Davis. The company purchased twenty-
eight acres from the Hess farm, located in the present Seventh ward,
Washington, at $400 an acre. A refinery was erected, thirty-five tank
cars were purchased, and illuminating oil was manufactured and shipped
to Boston, Cincinnati, New Orleans, and other points.
    President Morris was drowned at Lake Chautauqua in the spring of
 1894. His death created a big stir in insurance circles as he had taken
 out a $200,000 life insurance policy only a short time before. After his
 death the stock was transferred to Mr. Ramage, who laid out the land
 in lots, and sold a number, although he still owns a few. The refinery
 was sold on December 27, 1895, and moved from Washington, and the
 company surrendered its charter. The spot where the building stood is
 still marked by a deep depression in the ground, near the Pennsylvania
 railroad.
    The Beaver Oil refinery was established at Oak Grove before 1890
 by Eugene A. Kelly and C. A. Wales, both of whom came to Washington
 during the oil boom. This refinery operated very successfully for many
 years, and increased its plant, manufacturing all of the by-products of
 petroleum, as well as illuminating oil. When gasoline came into general
 use it commenced the manufacture of this on a large scale, and Beaver
 gas was well known. Mr. Kelly sold his interest to Mr. Wales about 15
 years ago, and after the latter's death the plant was sold to a Pittsburgh
 concern. It was not very successful, and due to mismanagement it went
 into bankruptcy in the summer of 1925.
    Many other oil and gas wells were struck in the Washington field dur-
 ing the period from 1885 to 1896, and even in later years, an occasional
 strike being made even today, but none of them are large. They cannot
 be compared with the wells of the early days. In fact, wells that are
 considered good today at from five to fifteen barrels a day would have
 been abandoned in those times.
   No complete records were kept in the field during those early years,
and the total number of wells and their greatest production is not known
with certainty. The greatest number of wells in the field which we have
been able to find recorded was 201 on August 13, 1887, on which date the
production was 8,710 barrels a day. The greatest production of the field
in any one day which we have found recorded was September 24, 188.6,
when it reached 18,575 barrels. It probably did not on any one day ever
exceed 20,000 barrels. The annual production for those years is not
known with certainty.
   Many other big wells not listed above were struck in the district.
On May 6, 1888, the Fergus No. 10, of the Chartiers Oil Company, came
in at 180 barrels an hour, and on the same day the Samuel Fergus well
was doing 900 barrels. On June 29, 1888, the Davis No. 4 was increased
from 60 to 90 barrels an hour by agitation.
   It is interesting to note that during the great storm on August 22,
1888, all railroad and telegraph communication in Washington County
was badly crippled. The Western and Atlantic Pipe Line lost a large iron
tank and other property at Taylorstown by this storm, with a total loss
       37-V1


577





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of $12,000. The Southwest Pennsylvania Pipe Lines also lost heavily
through this storm.
    After the Gantz well was struck at Washington development was
started near Taylorstown, ten miles west of Washington, early in 1885,
when a well was drilled by Robinson and Guffey on the John McMannus
farm in Blaine township. This well, known as McMannus No. 1, was
struck in July, 1885, but the production at that time is not known. It
proved big enough to tempt others, and the field developed rapidly during
1885 and 1886. By August 30th, 1886, the production of the field had in-
creased to such an extent that the Southwest Pennsylvania Pipe Lines
started to lay a line to that section, although there seems to have been
only one well there, the McMannus No. 1. On December 11th, 1886, the
Taylorstown well is listed as producing 70 barrels a day.
   Another well drilled in this field was on the Carson farm. On Febru-
ary 15, 1887, it struck the sand with a small showing of oil; but the next
day it was reported through the Gordon sand without oil. This well was
reported a failure on February 17th.
   On February 17th, 1887, the well drilled by Hart Brothers on the
Blayney farm, struck the Gordon sand, and the next day it produced
thirteen barrels an hour. On the 19th it made 212 barrels a day, and on
the 23rd it was down to 165 barrels.
   On February 17th, the Cundell well at Taylorstown filled up 800 feet
with oil, and Lee and Shank's Thome well came in at 25 barrels an hour.
On February 24, the Noble well made 277 barrels, and the Cundell well,
183 barrels.
   The gauge of wells in the Taylorstown field on February 26, 1887,
showed the following production; McMannus No. 1, 51 barrels; Blayney,
144 barrels; Noble, 266 barrels; Cundell, 172 barrels; Wright No. 6, 15
barrels. The production on the 28th was: Blayney, 183 barrels in 36
hours; Noble, 204 barrels in 24 hours, and Cundell, 348 barrels in 72
hours. On March 26th, the gauge was: McMannus No. 1, 480 barrels;
Blayney, 180 barrels; Noble, 215 barrels a day. The four wells at Tay-
lorstown (McMannus No. 1, Cundell, Blayney, and Noble) on April 16,
produced a total of 572 barrels, and on the 30th it was 567.
   On March 19, 1887, the well drilled by Stone and Company on the
Sheller farm in the Taylorstown field, was reported a dry hole; and on
May 7, the McGraw run well near West Alexander was a failure. The
Blayney No. 2, at Taylorstown, came in on June 10, at 200 barrels a day,
making seven wells in that field, which gauged 908 barrels on the 11th.
On the 16th the Donehey well, at Taylorstown, was doing 225 barrels a
day. Nine wells in this field produced 1,200, barrels on the 21st. In July,
1887, the well on the Flack farm came in and on the 15th was producing
14 barrels an hour; but on the 18th it was down to 185 barrels a day, and
on the 26th it was 145 barrels.
   Blayney No. 3, drilled by Hart Brothers, struck on August 3, 1887, and
came in at 90 barrels a day. The sand was reached in Noble No. 2, on the
5th, and the well produced 180 barrels the first twenty-four hours. The
twelve wells in the Taylorstown reached their biggest production on
August 6th, with 1,324 barrels. The well on the Hodgens farm came in
on August 10, at twelve barrels an hour, but on the 12th it dropped to


578




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


150 barrels in twenty-four hours. The well brought the number in the
field up to thirteen, which produced 1,408 barrels on August 13th. No.
2 well on the Crothers farm, drilled by the Marshall Oil Company, came
in on August 19th, at 80 barrels a day, making fourteen wells in the field
with a daily production of 1,447 barrels; but this fell down to 1,393
barrels on the 27th. On the 26th, the Caldwell well drilled on the Croth-
ers farm was reported a dry hole.
    Other strikes were made during the next few days and on September
 3rd, the production was 1,530 barrels from 17 wells; September 10th,
 1,793 barrels from 18 wells; September 24, 1,665 barrels from 19 wells;
 October 8th, 1,851 barrels from 20 wells.
    On October 4th, work was stopped on the well on the Major Work
 farm on account of the heavy flow of gas; on the 26th the well drilled
 by Guffey and Company, was reported dry. The Carson well, south of
 Taylorstown, also came in dry on December 2nd, and thus cut off the sup-
 posed southern extension of the field.
    The Washington Oil Company was organized on October 7, 1887, by
 several of the companies in the Taylorstown field combining. This com-
 pany is still in operation.
    Between Washington and Taylorstown were a number of producing
wells in the early days. Near the head of the basin, northwest of Woodell,
in the central part of Canton township, one of the largest gas wells in
this section was struck on the farm of W. W. Price and Brother. It
caught fire and boomed and roared for years, lighting the country for
miles around. It is said that the operator refused to try to control it as
he considered the royalty to the land owner too high. A number of wells
were located on the ridge in the vicinity of Duvalltown, and some of them
are still producing.
    The Leader Refining Company, composed of George L. Caldwell,
Charles S. Caldwell, Mrs. Minnie McKeever, E. E. Bottenfield, and Frank
W. Streator, of Washington, was chartered on July 18, 1895, and a re-
finery was built in the Taylorstown field. This operated for several years,
and was then dismantled.
   The Canonsburg field, where gas was struck in 1885, was never a
big oil producer. Drilling was continued through the eighties and nineties
and a number of small wells were brought in, but there were none of
the big gushers that marked the Washington and McDonald pools. The
development in this field reached its highest stage in 1888 and 1889, and
many good gas wells were discovered. At one time there were wells in
almost every field in that section. Most of the oil wells struck were good
pumpers, and after thirty years some of them are still producing oil in
small quantities.
   We will now return to the Washington field and relate some of the in-
teresting incidents that occurred there. On August 12, 1886, a boiler
at the well of Coast and Son, on the W. W. Smith farm, in what is now
East Washington, exploded and instantly killed John Bryan, and seri-
ously injured J. White and Cooney Shoup.
   August 19, 1886, the Smith No. 3, on the Alvin Smith farm, produced
4,000 barrels of oil the first twenty-four hours after shooting.
   September 19, 1886, the McKeown No. 1 well was struck by lightning


579




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and was burned to the ground with two tanks of oil containing 1,050
barrels, producing a very spectacular fire.
    September 23, 1886, Mrs. Butcher, of Linden, colored, was killed by
 the explosion of an oil lamp, which she attempted to fill while it was
 lighted.
    June 6, 1887, the Barre No. 6 well was struck by lightning and burned
 with a tank of 250 barrels of oil.
    In the bottom along Chartiers Creek at Meadowlands the Southwest
 Pennsylvania Pipe Lines established a pump station in the early days on
 the Ewing farm, and a large number of iron storage tanks were located
 at that point for many years. This pump station is still located there
 with a number of tanks but not as many as years ago. At Johnson Sta-
 tion, about two miles farther down the creek, the Western and Atlantic
 Pipe Lines had a number of tanks years ago, but these have all been re-
 moved.
    Several of these tanks were struck by lightning in years past, and
 very spectacular fires resulted. Nothing in the world, not even a vol-
 cano, can exceed a burning oil tank for awe-inspiring beauty and fierce-
 ness. The fierce flames leap high into the air, and the dense columns of
 coal-black smoke roll into the heavens for thousands of feet. Once one
 of these big tanks catch fire, nothing can extinguish the flames; they
 are beyond- control immediately, and sometimes they burn for several
 days. Like all oil regions, Washington County has had a number of these
 ~   v    A complete list of them is not on record, but a few of the larg-
 est follow.
    During a heavy electric storm on the night of July 2, 1889, a 40,000
barrel tank of the Western and Atlantic Pipe Line at Johnson Station,
about two miles north of Meadowlands, was struck by lightning, and
35,000 barrels of oil were burned with a loss of $50,000. Trains on the
Chartiers Valley road were unable to pass until the fire was out.
   On July 10, 1889, the tank house of Vandergrift and Reed, north of
Taylorstown, was struck by lightning, and four wooden tanks with 1,200
barrels of oil were consumed, and the Cundell well was destroyed.
   About 1890, a 40,000 barrel tank of the Southwest Pennsylvania Pipe
Lines was struck at Meadowlands, and consumed. Trains on the Char-
tiers Valley railroad were held up for several hours by the intense heat.
This was a very spectacular fire and hundreds of people visited the place.
A photograph of this fire was taken by John R. Hallam, photographer,
of Washington, and is now produced on post cards sold in Washington.
   About 1:30 o'clock in the morning of June 23, 1908, two large 50,000
barrel oil tanks of the Southwest Pennsylvania Pipe Lines were struck at
Meadowlands. They were very close together, and the one tank exploded.
Thousands of barrels of burning oil floated down Chartiers Creek, and
killed all vegetation and trees along the stream for over a mile. All win-
dows were broken in Meadowlands, and the town was in danger of de-
struction from the flames. The second tank burned until late in the night.
   The last oil fire in the county occurred in 1914. During a heavy
storm on the night of June 21st, two large tanks of the Southwest Penn-
sylvania Pipe Lines at Meadowlands were struck by lightning, and burned
for two days. A third tank was in danger and the oil was pumped out.


580





































  An oil tank containing 40,000 barrels
of oil, burning at Meadowlands after be-
ing struck by lightning in 1890.


  A Washington County Oil gusher of the
early days, spouting "flowing gold" over
the top of the de,-rick.


   Two oil tanks struck by lightning and burning at Meadowlands,
containing 40,000 barrels each.





               HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                       51

    Enoch's Fort-Built about 1770 by Enoch Enoch, about one mile from
 Lone Pine, Amwell Township.
    Enlow's Blockhouse-Built in 1775 by Abraham Enlow on the "Big
 Flat" of Wheeling Creek, East Finley Township. It stood on the farm
 owned in later years by Elliott Enlow and William McCleary.
    Forman's or Frohman Fort-One of the strongest forts in the western
 country, but the exact location is unknown. It stood on the south side of
 Chartier's Creek in the present limits of Canonsburg. Not much is known
 of its early history. It is mentioned as the place where a party of Vir-
 ginians, who had plundered a Pennsylvanian's cabin near Fort Pitt in
 1774, sold the goods.
    Hoagland's Fort-Built about 1780 by Henry Hoagland, near the site
 of Leech's old mill, on the north branch of Raccoon Creek, Smith Town-
 ship. There is a tradition that the women of this fort once repulsed an
 attack by Indians with hot water. Hoagland was a s'luatter. The land
 was granted to Lund Washington by a Virginia certificate dated November
 24th, 1779. The site of the fort was owned in later years by John Keys.
 The corner stones remained in place until recent years.
    Lamb's Fort-Situated in Hopewell Township, four miles from Rice's
 Fort, on Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek. The exact spot is in doubt, but is
 believed to have been at a place known locally as "The Fort," on the
 Luther Davis farm. Mr. J. M. McAllister informed the author recently
 that this fort was located on the old Hanna farm, now owned by J. G.
 McAllister.
    Lindley's Fort-Built about 1773 by Demas Lindley and Jacob Cook,
in Morris Township, near Prosperity. This was the strongest fort in the
western country, but it was never attacked. It stood in the garden of the
farm now owned by J. Forrest Longdon, on the road to Dunn's Station,
and about two hundred yards from the Upper Ten Mile Presbyterian
Church, which was organized by Demas Lindley in 1781. Demas Lindley
built a grist mill a short distance from the fort.
   McDonald's Fort-Built about 1782 by John McDonald, where the
town of McDonald now stands. It is said to have stood on the site of the
old McDonald schoolhouse. This was a stockaded fort.
   McFarland's Fort-Built before 1772 by Abel McFarland, in Amwell
Township, near the Greene County line. The early records of the North
Ten Mile Baptist Church show that many of the early meetings of the
congregation were held in this fort on account of Indian raids. This was
probably during Dunmore's War of 1774, when Logan, the Mingo, and his
warriors terrorized the settlers of that section. It stood on the Peter
Garrett farm.
   Marshel's Fort-An important refuge for settlers during the early
days, built by Colonel James Marshel on "Marshall's Delight." A spring
near the fort is still in use on the farm owned in later years by Mrs.
Margaret McCorkle.
   Miller's Blockhouse-Built by Jacob Miller, Sr., about 1780 or shortly
before; one of the most historic blockhouses in Washington County, and
the site of Ann Hupp's heroism. This was the headquarters for the
settlers of the Dutch Fork region, and the rendezvous for the scouts, or





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Nine miners' dwellings caught fire and were burned, and it was neces-
sary to destroy three others by dynamite to stop the flames and save the
town. During the fire these tanks frequently boiled over and produced
a very spectacular fire, which attracted thousands of people.
   During those early days Washington was a big oil camp, and many
wells were drilled right in the town. Some idea of the number of wells
in and around the town may be gained from the fact that over one hun-
dred derricks were counted by one man from the top of the Julius Le-
Moyne well on a lot in Prospect Avenue. Some of the wells right on the
southern edge of town, which is now covered with dwellings, were: B. B.
Campbell's well on the LeMoyne lot; the Mason and McConaughey well;
Kerr and McConaughey well; Sharpe and Baker well; George M. Swingle
well on the William Oller lot; Reed well at the foot of Lincoln Street;
Judge McKennan well; LeMoyne Sisters No. 1 well; Donley Nos. 2 and 3
wells; Hout and Davis well; Mrs. Mary Welch well; B. B. Campbell's
Wade No. 2 gusher; several wells on the Morgan and Smith farms, on
the east side; wells on the Wolf, Whittlesey and Wade properties; the
Donley gusher; Johnson gusher; Wade No. 7 well, and the Lustick
gusher.
   On September 13, 1886, there were sixty-one producing wells in the
field. The average cost of these wells was $8,000, or a total of $488,000.
At that time there were twenty-five dry holes, which with an average cost
of $7,000, would amount to $175,000. The amount paid in bonuses up
to that time was $466,000, and the estimated running expenses were
$75,000. The total estimated cost was $1,184,700. Of course this total
was much higher during the next few years.
   The Washington field was declared by oil men to be a thing of the past
as far as big producers were concerned, but this did not mark the end of
the big oil excitement in the county. Drilling was started by the Royal
Gas Company near McDonald in the winter of 1890 and '91, and the
greatest white sand oil pool ever discovered in the entire world was de-
veloped. The gushers brought in during the next year were never equalled
outside of the big Texas gushers of later years, and they are still the talk
of old-time oil men.
   On March 6, 1891, the Royal Gas Company struck oil in the Gordon
sand on the K. McDonald farm. The same company had a well at this
time on the Robb farm, and another on the Sauters place. Jennings and
Company was also drilling a well at Noblestown, nearby, and there was
a moderate producer on the Alexander farm. On April 7th, the Royal
well on the Sauters farm sprayed oil over the derrick, and by the 15th it
was through the fifth sand and producing 500 barrels a day. This well
created a rush, and operators began leasing land in the vicinity. On
April 25th, the Guffey and Jennings well on the Matthews farm was re-
ported as a fifty-barrel pumper.
   On June 10th, there were twenty wells being drilled on town lots
in the village of McDonald, which was soon to be transformed into one
of the largest oil camps in the country. The development had extended
until on June 19th the work extended over twelve miles in a northeast
and southwest direction on a forty-five degree line from McDonald. The
Sauters No. 2 well of the Royal Gas Company was drilled in on this date


582




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and made three flows over the derrick. The excitement in the town
reached a high pitch on June 30th, when Clark and Bannister's well on
the Butler lot came in at thirty barrels an hour from the fifth sand.
   On July 11th, the test well drilled by the Chartiers Oil Company on
the Jules Chartiers farm came in dry; and on the 18th Finnegan and
Downing's well on the Fayal lot in the town, was also dry. On July 15th,
the coal operators in the McDonald field brought suit against the oil men
to restrain them from drilling through their mines.
   Drilling had been started in the Guffey and Jennings well on the
Matthews farm and continued after the first strike, and on July 17th it
started at forty barrels an hour when the fifth sand was reached. This
afterwards turned out to be one of the big gushers of the district. The
first real gusher of the field was the Sauters No. 3, of the Royal Gas Com-
pany, which started at 120 barrels an hour on July 23d, but it was not
the largest by any means. On the same day the well of Guffey and Jen-
nings on the Adams farm came in at forty barrels an hour.
   On July 24th, there were seventy-five drilling wells in this field, and
the daily production was 3,000 barrels. On the 25th, the Sauters No. 3
was increased to 150 barrels an hour by deeper drilling, but the next day
it dropped to eighty barrels, and on August 4th, it was only producing
twenty barrels an hour. On this same day there was a well on nearly
every town lot in McDonald. On August 5th, the well of the Royal Gas
Company on the Mary Robb farm came in at fifty barrels an hour, and
Garfield and Hay's well on the Miller farm at eighty-five barrels an hour.
On August 11th, it was reported that drilling was held back by a scarcity
of water in the field.
   August 14th was a day of big surprises in the McDonald field. Guckert
and Steel's Mevay No. 1 started at 150 barrels an hour. The Wheeling
Gas Company's well on the Cook lot came in at 15 barrels an hour and
by evening had increased to 200 barrels an hour. Vankirk and Com-
pany's well on the McDonald hotel lot was doing twelve barrels an hour.
The production of the field on this date was 9,000 barrels. On the 17th
the well of the Royal Gas Company at Jumbo mines came in very light
in the fifth sand, and this put a blanket on the territory to the southwest
of McDonald. The daily production of the field on the 20th was up to
15,000 barrels and still increasing.
   By August 26th, the famous Matthews well of Guffey and Jennings,
was forty-two days old and had produced 60,000 barrels of oil, and it
was still flowing at the rate of 140 barrels an hour. On September 11th,
the big wells in the McDonald field gauged as follows: Matthews No. 1,
150 barrels an hour; Baldwin, 120 barrels an hour; Elliott, 110 barrels
an hour; Gamble, 60 barrels an hour; Miller No. 1, 160 barrels an hour;
Miller No. 2, 70 barrels an hour; Mevay No. 1, 60 barrels an hour; Mary
Robb No. 1, 30 barrels an hour; Short lot, 25 barrels an hour; Cook lot,
40 barrels an hour; Sauters and Company's No. -, 40 barrels an hour.
On September 26th, the production jumped to 32,000 barrels a day; and
on the 28th the Matthews well, which had been drilled deeper, increased
to 250 barrels an hour.
   On September 25th, the Mary Robb No. 1 well of the Royal Gas Com-
pany, was fifty days old and had produced 50,000 barrels of oil. The


583





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


daily production on that date of the McCurdy well was estimated at 4,150
barrels.
    The greatest oil well of all time, outside of the Texas gushers, was
 the famous Mevay No. 1, drilled by Greenlee and Forst on the James
 Mevay farm, in the McDonald field. Oil was struck in this well on Sep-
 tember 26, 1891, and it came in at 150 barrels an hour. The next day it
 was flowing all over the ground at a furious rate. There was not enough
 tankage in the field to hold the oil from this and the Matthews well which
 was also flowing, and thousands of barrels of oil flowed into Robbs' run and
 were lost to the producers.
    The production of the Mevay well quickly increased to 14,000 bar-
 rels daily, and the Matthews well to 12,000 barrels. The Standard Oil
 Company refused to handle the oil, and thousands of dollars were flowing
 away down Robb's run. Ed. Kirk and a Mr. Reed immediately erected a
 number of wood tanks of 250 barrels capacity on the hill above the
 creek, and began to salvage the escaping oil. This proved a very profit-
 able venture, for the tanks were quickly filled, and they cleaned up sev-
 eral thousand dollars before the gushers were under control.
    It is interesting to note that the famous Matthews well, which reached
the height of its production at 12,000 barrels a day, is still pumping a
few barrels a day. This well has the distinction of having produced more
oil than any other well in the entire eastern fields.
    Greenlee and Forst, owners of the Mevay No. 1 well, afterwards sold
it to the Forest Oil Company. Barney Forst, one of the original owners,
afterwards went to New York with his riches, and purchased a seat in
the stock exchange at a large sum. He committed suicide a short time
later, but no one ever knew the reason. He was a genial man, and well
liked by all of the old-time oil men.
   Another well known oil operator of the early days at McDonald, was
William F. Borchers, now of Washington. He was afterwards organizer
of the Borchers Gas Company at Washington, and continued as an oil
operator in the Washington county fields until the fall of 1925, when he
disposed of his interests.
   One of the most spectacular oil fires in the history of Washington
County's oil fields occurred at McDonald. On August 14, 1891, the Wheel-
ing Gas Company struck oil in its well on the Cook lot near the Pennsyl-
vania railroad station in McDonald. This well came in at fifteen barrels
an hour, but by evening it had increased to 200 barrels.
   On August 21st, the oil caught fire, either from a passing train or
from the boilers at the derrick, and in a short time the rig and four
tanks of oil were burned down, and the great geyser of oil, spurting
forth its golden stream from the bowels of the earth, sent a column of fire
high into the heavens, which was continually fed from the seemingly in-
exhaustible reservoir more than 2,000 feet deep. For days the fire burned
in spite of all efforts to control it. Such a terrible, beautiful spectacle
had never been seen before in the Pennsylvania oil fields, and its like will
never appear in this region again. Thousands of people were attracted
to the spot, and excursion trains were run from Pittsburgh, Washington
and other points to the geyser of fire at McDonald.
   The burning well was finally brought under control on August 27th,


584




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and extinguished under the supervision of Glen T. Braden, superintend-
ent of the Southwest Pennsylvania Pipe Lines, and Daniel Fisher, of Oil
City. It was estimated that 30,000 barrels of oil went up in smoke during
this fire.
   Another big oil fire occurred at McDonald on November 10th, 1891,
when the well on the Butler lot caught fire and was destroyed. While
not as spectacular and large as the Cook well, for several hours the town
was in danger, and several houses were burned before it was finally
brought under control.
   Drilling progressed rapidly in the field, and gushers were completed
in a short time on the Bell, Herron, Robb, McDonald and McMurry farms,
and by November, 1891, the production of the McDonald field reached
the enormous total of 87,000 barrels a day. In addition to this, oil men
estimate that from 15,000 to 20,000 barrels a day ran into Robb's run and
was lost. This was the highest production reached in any one day during
the history of the pool. The daily production varied considerably, and
as more wells were drilled the next year, the annual production increased,
but the daily output never again reached this enormous total. The great-
est annual production of the McDonald pool was in 1892 when a total of
8,400,000 barrels were gauged.
   As already stated the pool adjacent to Canonsburg was never a big
oil producer, but there were a number of good pumpers. The Cecil
Township pool, which might be called a continuation of the Canonsburg
field, produced considerable oil in the late eighties and early nineties.
The first well was struck in June, 1886, on the farm of John Conner, Sr.,
a mile and a half north of Canonsburg. It came in at only two barrels
a day, but it was pumped for two or three years and then drilled deeper
when a strong flow of gas was secured. A well on the David R. Bebout
farm late in 1886 came in at ten barrels a day, and one on the J. W.
McKeown farm the same year, came in at sixty barrels a day. At this
same period, Fisher Brothers brought in a well on the John Buchanan
farm, which pumped from thirty to forty barrels a day. Fisher Brothers
then leased the John C. Phillips farm of fifty acres at $5,000 bonus and
one-eighth royalty, but their well proved to be a duster. Flinn and
Magee, of Pittsburgh, leased the Pennsylvania Training school farm from
the state, and drilled eight wells, all of which turned out good pumpers.
   Forty producing wells were drilled on the Hugh Sterling farm at
Venice, and several of them are still pumping. William F. Borchers, of
Washington, leased the W. W. Gladden farm, a mile northeast of Canons-
burg, and made a strike in the fifty-foot sand, which began flowing at
the rate of twenty-five barrels an hour. This was increased a week later
by deeper drilling to sixty barrels an hour. This created considerable
excitement, and the McKeown Oil Company paid $10,000 cash bonus and
one-eighth royalty for the lease of the Robert McNary farm adjoining
the Gladden. The James Tannehill farm brought in $12,000 bonus, and
$100 an acre was paid for leases on other farms in that vicinity.
   On July 7, 1895, the Royal Gas Company struck a well on the B. K.
McConnell farm near Cecil village, which produced 450 barrels a day
from the fifty-foot sand, but this dropped to 165 barrels on the 11th. No.
3 well drilled by this company on the McConnell farm was declared to be


585




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


a dry hole on December 13th; and on the same day the test well of the
Wheeling Gas Company on the Edgar farm adjoining, was a failure.
   The McWhinney No. 2 gusher, on the McWhinney farm, near Cecil
village, was drilled by John McKain, of Washington, contractor for the
Royal Gas Company, and on November 27, 1895, it came in at 400 bar-
rels a day, but this soon increased to 160 barrels an hour. This strike
was made at 2,200 feet depth. On the 30th, the well of Hite, Gruver and
Company, 1,000 feet northeast of the McWhinney, turned out a duster.
The Walker No. 2 well, of this same company, just east of the McWhinney
gusher, came in on January 22, 1896, at twelve barrels an hour. A light
showing of oil was found in the well of the Fisher Oil Company on the
Mrs. Roxie Bell farm in this same field. The P. H. Walker No. 2 well
came in on January 30th, at 150 barrels a day. By deeper drilling the
well of the Midway Gas Company on the Chambers farm was increased
to twenty barrels an hour. This opened up a new extension to the freak
Cecil pool, and there was a stampede for town lots in the village of Cecil.
   The Cross Creek pool, near Cross Creek village, was discovered when
oil was struck in 1906 on the farm of R. C. Vance, one mile northeast
of the village. A number of wells were drilled on this farm, all of which
produced oil in paying quantities, but the largest was 100 barrels a day.
Good strikes were made on the farms of Abram Pry, W. T. Porter, John-
son heirs, and the Lyle farm, adjoining the Vance place. A number of
wells were drilled in Cross Creek village.
   The Cross Creek Presbyterian church leased its ground in 1907, re-
ceiving $500 cash bonus for the cemetery lot and $750 bonus for the par-
sonage lot. The well on the cemetery lot proved a good producer, during
the first two years $1,500 was paid in royalty to the church. Strikes
were made in both wells drilled on the parsonage lot, and for a time brought
in an income of $45 royalty to the church.
   Drilling has been going on all over Washington County since the
early days, but no big strikes have been made; that is big in comparison
with the gushers of former years. The last strike which created any ex-
citement was in July, 1924, on the farm of Robert G. Lutton, in North
Strabane Township, about five miles northeast of Washington. Lutton No.
1, came in 100 barrels and Lutton No. 2, at 200 barrels a day. The latter
is still pumping about twenty barrels a day. This strike created con-
siderable excitement, and a number of wells were drilled by the same
concern on adjoining farms. Of three drilled on the Quail farm, two were
dry, as was a well on the Thompson farm. A small amount of oil was found
in the Conklin well, and one barrel a day was produced from the fifty-
foot sand in the well on the Thom farm. This was drilled deeper, but
a string of tools stuck in the Gordon sand and it was abandoned.
   Of the old-time oil wells in the Washington field, there are now two
of the original wells left on the Alvin Smith farm, and four on the George
M. Cameron lease, all owned by the Chartiers Oil Company. The total
production is about ten barrels a day. As already stated the famous
Cameron No. 1, is still pumping.
   Nine wells were drilled in 1886 on the William Davis farm by the
Union Oil Company, and four of these are still producing. They are
owned by the Associated Producers. In January, 1926, a well was drilled


586




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


on the Davis farm by Dallmeyer and others, of Washington. It is very
close to the site of the famous Bung Hole well of forty years ago, but it
came in at only three barrels a day. Davis No. 1, struck May 25, 1886, at
800 barrels a day, is now abandoned; but Davis No. 2, is still pumping
after forty years. This well came on June 12th, 1886, at 175 barrels a
day. Of the thirteen wells drilled by T. J. Vandergrift and Company on
the Barre farm, three, Nos. 2, 4, and 6 are still producing. These are
now owned by the South Penn Oil Company. Of the thirty-two wells
drilled by the Willetts Oil Company on the Isaac Willetts farm, there are
still three or four left, but they have produced no oil for years. The
Matthew Taylor, which was in the center of the big pool, still has three
wells producing. These are owned by the South Penn Oil Company.
There are still two wells left on the W. W. Smith lease, also owned by
the South Penn Oil Company. There were twelve wells drilled by the Union
Oil Company on the farm of the Morgan heirs just east of East Wash-
ington. There are now three producing some oil, and are owned by the
South Penn Oil Company. The information in regard to the later history
of these wells was furnished by Mr. C. E. Perkins, of Washington, local
superintendent of the South Penn Oil Company.
   Of the recent development there is not much to be said. Some good
gas strikes are being made in old territory which gives rise to the belief
that the gas is coming back. On November 3, 1924, Day and Hughes
struck a gas well on the Miller farm, formerly owned by the Frazees,
on Brush run, near Lone Pine. It came in at 500,000 cubic feet a day.
   After producing oil for forty years from the fifty-foot sand, a gas
strike of 1,000,000 cubic feet a day was made on October 15th, 1924, when
the well on the Todd M. Conklin farm in North Strabane Township, was
drilled to the Gordon sand.
   On February 7th, 1925, work was started on a well on the George
Weaver farm, near Canonsburg, which it is expected will be drilled to a
depth of three miles, James Kifer, of Pittsburgh, an old-time oil operator
in many fields, who goes on the theory that greater riches will be dis-
covered at greater depths.
   On December 12th, 1925, a strike was made right on the northern
edge of Washington, which seems to bear out the theory that the gas
is coming back. This was on the P. P. Humbert farm by the Young Oil
Company, composed of E. J. Young and Frank Chivers, of Washington.
A strike of 2,000,000 cubic feet of gas a day was made in the Big Injun
sand. This well was drilled by E. H. Tague, the old-time oil scout, who
is now in the contracting business. Nearly forty years ago a gas well
was struck on this same farm.
   Another recent strike made in old-time territory was on January 27th,
1926, on the 0. C. Durbin farm, in Canton Township, just northwest of
the Tyler Tube and Pipe mills. This well was also drilled by E. H. Tague,
who with Wallace Brothers, has an interest in it. It came in at 2,000,000
cubic feet a day. Years ago a good gas well was struck near this same
spot.
   The daily or annual production of the Washington County oil fields
when they were at their zenith is not known today, as no complete re-
cords were kept in early times, but it reached millions of barrels a year.


587





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


The greatest production of the McDonald field was 8,400,000 barrels in
1892; and the entire county probably reached as high as 10,000,000
barrels. The greatest daily production of the McDonald field was in
November, 1891, when 87,000 barrels were reached, according to the
figures furnished the author by the Oil City Derrick, the best known
authority in the country. While Washington County is no longer a factor
in the oil fields, it still has an annual production of nearly half a million
barrels. In 1921 the annual production was 531,117 barrels; in 1922,
499,893 barrels; in 1923, 474,765 barrels, and in 1925, 401,604 barrels,
or about 1,100 barrels a day.
   It is interesting to note that during the period from 1859 to 1897 in-
clusive a total of 96,085 wells were drilled in Pennsylvania. Of this
number, 67,040 were productive, and 13,545 were unproductive. Prior
to 1877 there had been 15,500 drilled. The greatest number drilled in
any one year was 7,811 in 1896, of which 5,910 were productive and 1,901
unproductive.




                        CHAPTER LXXIV.

                      RELIGIOUS HISTORY
PIONEER PREACHERS - BAPTISTS AND PRESBYTERIANS - REV. JOSEPH
   SMITH-REV. JOHN McMILLAN-REV. THADDEUS DODD-UNITED PRES-
   BYTERIANS-THE ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMIN-
   ARY-THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS-THE QUAKERS-THOMAS
   AND ALEXANDER CAMPBELL-THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST-HALY-
   CONITE, RHODIANITE AND NEW LIGHT SECTS OF FINLEY TOWN-
   SHIP-THE CATHOLIC CHURCH-HISTORY OF THE VARIOUS CHURCHES
   OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
   When the early settlers came into Washington County they brought
their Bible with them, and one of the first things they each did after
erecting a cabin was to gather from far and near for religious worship.
They were a sturdy people, those first settlers, or they would not have
dared the dangers of the western wilderness in search of new homes.
They were mostly Baptist and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, those first
settlers, and with them came a brave, sturdy class of men who asked
nothing better than to carry the word of God into the wilderness. Their
wants were few, and their pay was small or generally nothing. Theirs
was a labor of God; and if their people had money or worldly goods with
which to pay them for their services, well and good; but if their people
were poor it was all right. Such was the pioneer in Washington County
of a century and a half ago.
   Such names as the Rev. Joseph Smith, Rev. John McMillan, Rev. Thad-
deus Dodd, Rev. Alexander Campbell, Rev. Joseph Doddridge, Rev. Mat-
thew Henderson, and others are high on the roll of fame of those times in
Washington County. They came with little of worldly goods and they de-


588




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


parted just as rich but their names will live in the memory of civilized man
to the end of time. More will be given of them later.
    The oldest congregation in the county is the North Ten Mile Baptist
 Church, in Amwell Township, which dates back to 1773 (some authorities
 claim 1772). Four other churches in the county are 150 years old, and
 during the past summer held their sesquicentennial celebrations. They
 are the North Buffalo United Presbyterian of Buffalo Township; the
 Pigeon Creek Presbyterian, of Somerset Township; the Chartiers or Hill
 Presbyterian Church, of North Strabane Township, and the Chartiers
 United Presbyterian, of Canonsburg. In addition to these there are a
 number of others in the county that were founded more than a century
 ago.
    The Rev. Joseph Smith came to Washington County from Wilmington,
 Delaware, in the spring of 1779 at the solicitation of James Edgar. After
 remaining a short time he returned east, and on June 12, 1779, re-
 ceived a joint call from the united congregations of Upper Buffalo and
 Cross Presbyterian, at a salary of seventy-five pounds from each. Rev.
 Mr. Smith accepted this call on October 29, 1779, and the following year
 moved his family to his new charges, and settled in what is now Hopewell
 Township. How he labored for three years without receiving any salary,
 and how it was paid by contributions of flour which were taken to New
 Orleans and sold has already been related under Hopewell Township,
 and more will be told of this historic incident under the history of the
 Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church in this chapter.
    In 1785, Rev. Mr. Smith opened a select school on his farm for the
purpose of training young men for the ministry. James McGready,
Samuel Porter, and Joseph Patterson had been pupils of Rev. Thaddeus
Dodd in his school on Ten Mile Creek, which had just closed, and so they
continued their studies with Mr. Smith. James Hughes and John Brice
soon afterwards joined the class, which was taught in a room of Mr.
Smith's house which he had built for a kitchen. The school was continued
for some time and then merged with Dr. McMillan's academy near Can-
onsburg, which afterwards became Jefferson college. Rev. Mr. Smith died
on April 19th, 1792, and is buried in the old graveyard at the Upper Buf-
falo Church, in Buffalo village.
   Dr. John McMillan, founder of the Chartiers Presbyterian Church and
of Jefferson College, is probably the best known of all the frontier
preachers of Washington County. Dr. McMillan began his labors in this
section in 1775, when only twenty-three years of age. He preached his
first sermon west of the mountains on August 27th, 1775, at the log cabin
home of John McDowell. This house, made historic by this famous in-
cident, stood for many years on the farm of 0. C. C. Pollock, in North
Strabane township, and was still standing as late as 1907.
   He made such a favorable impression on the Scotch-Irish Presby-
terian settlers in that region that they extended to him a call in March,
1776, which he accepted, and thus began his long career in the Western
country. The Revolution was then in progress and on account of Indian
trouble he did not take his young bride to the West until 1779. For nine-
teen years he served jointly the congregations of Chartiers and Pigeon
Creek churches, and then devoted himself exclusively to Chartiers. He be-


589





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


longed to that old-time type of minister, who was not afraid to speak his
thoughts and it is on record that he ridiculed the first man who appeared
at his church carrying an umbrella, and likewise the first family that
drove to church in a carriage.
    As early as 1782 (some authorities claim 1780), Dr. McMillan estab-
 lished a classical academy in a small one-roomed log cabin on his farm
 not far from the Chartiers Presbyterian church; and this is famous
 today as the real beginning of Jefferson College, at Canonsburg, which
 was afterwards merged with Washington College into the present Wash-
 ington and Jefferson College. After Dr. McMillan ceased his labors there
 the building was used in later years as a private school, during the days
 of the old-time subscription schools. In the forties George Freeby, after-
 wards a teacher in the Washington public schools, taught a subscription
 school in this building. Mr. Freeby was the father of Miss Isabelle Freeby,
 a teacher in the Washington schools for upwards of half a century. This
 famous old log school was later removed to Canonsburg, where it is still
 preserved on the old Jefferson College campus. When Jefferson College was
 organized at Canonsburg in 1802, Dr. McMillan became president of
 the board of trustees and professor of divinity. He died at the home of
 Dr. Jonathan Letherman, on November 16th, 1833, aged eighty-one years.
 and was buried in the old graveyard at the Chartiers Presbyterian
 church, where his grave may still be seen, covered by a sandstone slab.
    Rev. Thaddeus Dodd first came to this county in the spring of 1777,
and after preaching several sermons to the settlers in the Ten Mile
section, returned east in August. In October, 1777, he was licensed by
the Presbytery of New York, and then returned to this county for a short
time. He promised to return to these people as their pastor, and in
September, 1779, moved to this county with his family.
   In 1780, (some authorities claim in 1782), Dr. Dodd started his class-
ical academy in a log cabin on his farm in Amwell township. This
is noted as "the first classical and mathematical school or academy west of
the mountains," and it was the real beginning of Washington College.
The school was conducted by Dr. Dodd until 1785, when the farm was
sold. The location of this historic building was definitely established
some years ago by investigations made by Dr. W. L. Dodd, of Amity;
Rev. John B. Miller, at that time pastor of the Lower Ten Mile Pres-
byterian church, at Amity, and John K. Lacock and S. B. Braden, of
Amwell township. From old church records they found that the building
had stood in a field in which were three springs. On the old Dodd farm,
which is now owned by Harvey McCollum, the investigators found a
field in which are three springs, and Mrs. Sara McCollum, who was then
a very old woman, remembered a log building that had stood in this
field near the springs. This farm is about a mile and a half north of the
present village of Amity.
   Dr. Dodd was pastor of the Ten Mile Presbyterian congregation,
which was later divided into the Upper Ten Mile church, now located
at Prosperity, and Lower Ten Mile congregation, now at Amity. The
original church stood near the present Cross Roads school house, about
three-quarters of a mile east of Van Buren, South Franklin Township.
The spot is marked by the old graveyard, in which a few headstones


590





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


may still be seen. In 1789, Dr. Dodd was principal of Washington
Academy, in Washington, which later became Washington College. He
died on May 20th, 1793.
    Among the first settlers in Washington County were a number of the
United Presbyterian denominations, and as early as 1774 a petition was
sent by settlers in the Canonsburg section to Philadelphia, asking for
the election of elders. Settlers of Buffalo Township joined in the petition,
and the next year the Rev. Matthew Henderson became pastor of the con-
gregations of Chartiers United Presbyterian, one mile from Canonsburg,
and the North Buffalo United Presbyterian, in Buffalo Township. He
served them at an annual salary of 100 pounds hard money or 400 bushels
of wheat, until he was killed by a falling tree on October 2nd, 1795.
Other congregations have been established with the passing years until
there are now twenty-nine.
   The first theological seminary in the United States was established
by the Associate Presbytery of Philadelphia on April 21st, 1794, and
Dr. John Anderson, then pastor of the United congregations of Mill Creek
and Harmon Creek, Beaver County, was elected as the first theological
professor.
   As a result of this action the first seminary was established at Service,
Beaver County. In 1810, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Synod
decided to make two theological seminaries of this school at Service, the
one to be called the Eastern Hall and to be located in Philadelphia, and the
other the Western Hall, to be situated at Canonsburg.
   The Western Hall was opened in Canonsburg in 1821 with Dr. James
Ramsey as its one professor. In 1826 the Eastern Hall was transferred
to Canonsburg and united with the Western Hall. In 1823 the trustees
completed plans for the erection of a building, and the contract was
let, but it was not completed until 1835. In this building, part of which
still stands on the south side of West Pike street, Canonsburg, the school
remained until it was removed to Xenia, Ohio, in 1855. During the years
it was located at Canonsburg it did a large and important work. Dr.
Ramsey remained as professor for twenty years. It possessed a library
of 800 theological books, mostly from Scotland. In October, 1833, Dr.
David Carson was elected as an additional professor.     He died on
September 25th, 1834, and Dr. Abraham Anderson was elected to fill
the vacancy, but he refused to accept, and in October, 1836, Dr. Thomas
Beveridge was elected to the place. Dr. Ramsey resigned in 1842, and
Dr. James Martin was elected to fill his place. He died on June 15, 1846,
and Dr. Abraham Anderson was elected in 1847. He held the position
until his death on May 9, 1855, when the Synod decided to move the
seminary to Xenia, Ohio. During the period that this seminary was at
Canonsburg a total of 184 of its students were licensed as ministers of
the gospel.
   The Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, which grew out of the
great revival of 1800, had its beginning in Washington County in May,
1829, when Rev. M. H. Bone and Rev. John W. Ogden, two traveling mis-
sionaries of that church, preached in Washington. In January, 1831, five
members of the Upper Ten Mile Presbyterian congregation at Prosperity,
wrote to Dr. F. R. Cossitt, president of Cumberland College, Princeton,


591






HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


rangers of the frontier who patrolled western Washington County under
command of Captain John Jacob Miller.
   On Easter Sunday, March 31st, 1782, Jacob Miller, Sr., and John
Hupp, Sr., were ambushed near the fort and killed by Indians, after which
seventy Shawnese warriors attacked the blockhouse, which was only de-
fended by the women and one old man, Mathias Ault. The frontier
heroine, Ann Hupp, wife of the man who had just been killed, led in the
defense, and saved the blockhouse until the arrival of Captain Miller with
two scouts that afternoon.
   There are no signs of the blockhouse today. It stood on a long point
of land at the junction of Miller's Run and Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek,
in Donegal Township, three miles north of Coon Island, on what is known
as the old Clinton Miller farm. The Miller homestead stands nearby. The
spring which supplied the blockhouse with water is still in use, and nearby
is a log house, probably built from logs from the blockhouse. The fort is
said to have stood between the spring and orchard.
   Miller and Hupp, who were killed by the Indians, together with Ann
Hupp, Captain John Jacob Miller, Frederick Miller, Jacob Rose, and sev-
eral others who were in the blockhouse are buried in the old graveyard
nearby.
   Milliken's Fort-Built about 1772 by James Milliken, near the Greene
County line, in Amwell Township. It is said to have stood on an Indian
mound on the farm owned in later years by Mrs. Samuel Braden.
   Norris' Blockhouse-Built in 1774 by William Norris and a party of
settlers from Cecil County, Maryland, who settled in Chartiers Township.
It stood in the rear of the old Quail place. About twenty families used
this fort, among whom were Colonel James Allison, William Norris, the
Scotts, Parks, Morrisons, McDowells, Struthers, and others.
   Reynolds' Blockhouse-Built about 1775 by William Reynolds, in Cross
Creek Township, a mile and a half southwest of Cross Creek village. It
was attacked by Indians in 1779, while Reynolds was absent, and Mrs.
Reynolds and her baby carried off. Reynolds pursued with a party of
settlers, but his wife and child were killed before they could be rescued.
This was on the old Wilson farm, the blockhouse standing where the barn
is now located. William Dunbar owned this farm in later years.
   Rice's Fort--Built before 1781 by Abraham Rice on the Dutch Fork of
Buffalo Creek, in Donegal Township, about five miles northwest of Clays-
ville. The last battle of the Revolutionary war was fought here on Sep-
tember 13th, 1782, when the fort was attacked by one hundred Indians,
allies of the British. This was part of a party of three hundred Indians
and fifty British regulars, known as the Queen's Rangers, commanded by
Captain Pratt, that had attacked Fort Henry, at Wheeling, West Virginia,
on September 11th and 12th, 1782. After the repulse at Fort Henry, one
hundred picked warriors went to Rice's Fort, which was successfully de-
fended by six men, one of whom was killed at the second volley from the
Indians. The redskins withdrew that night. This fort stood just in the
rear of the Dutch Fork schoolhouse, on land owned in later years by
Charles Burrick.
   Roney's Blockhouse-Built before 1779 by Hercules Roney, on the old





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Kentucky, that they could not adopt the Confession of Faith of the Pres-
byterian Church, and they were anxious to become better acquainted
with the Cumberland Presbyterian doctrine. Other letters were written
by members of the Upper Ten Mile congregation, and as a result John
Morgan, Alfred M. Bryan and Alexander Chapman were appointed by
the general assembly as missionaries to visit Washington County.
    On July 14, 1831, Messers, Morgan and Byran reached Washington
 and on July 21st, Mr. Chapman reached the county and that night
 preached at West Alexander. Many meetings were held by these mis-
 sionaries during the next few weeks. They preached with great success,
 and camp meetings were held at Old Concord and at Clarktown.
    On August 16, 1831, the first Cumberland Presbyterian congregation
 in Pennsylvania was organized by Rev. Alexander Chapman and Rev.
 John Morgan, at Old Concord, Washington County, with thirty-seven
 members. This church is still in existence and is now known as the Old
 Concord Presbyterian church, the union of the two churches having taken
 place. Another result of those meetings of 1831 was the organization of
 the Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Amwell Township.
 The movement spread and on May 25, 1832, at a meeting of Cumberland
 Presbyterian ministers in Washington, the Washington Presbytery of
 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was constituted. On May 30, 1832,
 the Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian congregation was organized by Rev.
 John Morgan, at Van Buren, seven miles south of Washington.
    Members of the Society of Friends or Quakers were among the early
settlers in Washington County, and prior to 1800 they had four meeting
houses in the county. They came from eastern Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey, and Delaware about 1787, and during the next few years organized
meetings in various sections of the county. The first was the Westland
Meeting House in East Bethlehem township, in 1792. This was followed
by the East Finley Meeting House, in East Finley Township, in 1797;
the Pike Run Meeting House, in West Pike Run Township, in 1797, and
the Fallowfield Meeting House, in Allen Township in 1799. None of
these now remain and the congregations disbanded long ago.
   The first place of worship established by the Quakers in this county
was the Westland Meeting House in East Bethlehem Township. On
April 12, 1792, James Townsend and wife sold ten acres of the "Fecund
Valley" tract to "the society of people called Quakers of Westland Meet-
ing." This society had appointed Nathan Heald, James Crawford, Abra-
ham Smith, John Townsend, John Heald, and Isaac Jenkinson as trustees
for the purpose of purchasing land. The consideration was twenty
pounds. Upon this land the society built a stone church, forty-eight by
fifty-two feet and eleven feet high.
   This society, which was a branch of Redstone Quarterly Meeting, was
in existence for three-quarters of a century. Its numbers were decreased
by deaths and removals with the passing years until at its last meeting
held on April 21, 1864, its members were transferred to Salem Monthly
Meeting, Ohio. Joseph Lewis was the clerk of that last meeting, and he
records the the names of these members, together with the fact that the
Redstone Meeting took charge of the real estate. Amos Griffith and Lewis
Campbell were appointed to sell it, which they did on April 16, 1866, to


592




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


William Fisher, Amos Cleaver, and Joseph Farquhar for $300. The old
meeting house stood for a number of years in a dilapidated condition.
   David and Ruth Graves, both ministers of the Society of Friends, were
the first members of that sect to settle in West Pike Run Township. This
was probably about 1790 or shortly before, for we find that on June 26,
1797, John Samms sold four and one-half acres of land to David Graves,
Jacob Griffith, John Heald, John Almond, Joseph Pennock, and Alexander
Pedan, trustees on behalf of the Society of People called Quakers, ap-
pointed by the Westland Monthly Meeting for this especial purpose. They
erected the Pike Run Meeting House, a frame building twenty by thirty
feet, where the Quakers of that section held regular meetings until dis-
sensions arose among their ranks, caused by the preaching of Elias Hicks
who taught that "the devil had no existence, and that if we did right our
heaven was here." The society split over this doctrine into the "Hicksite"
and "Orthodox" Quakers.
   The latter continued to hold meetings in the Pike Run Meeting House,
and the Hicksite followers erected a brick building, twenty by thirty feet,
on the same lot. In these two houses, side by side, the two factions held
meetings until the members of both either died or drifted to other sections.
The Orthodox Quakers held meetings until 1851 when the only members
left were Amos Griffith and his family.
   On March 25, 1865, the Orthodox Meeting House was purchased by
Mrs. Ann Gregg, a widow, who lived there for a number of years, and
her son conducted a wagon shop in the brick building erected by the Hicks-
ites. Both factions laid out a graveyard on the property, and this was
used by them in common. There were many graves still to be seen
there a number of years ago, but there were no tombstones, the belief of
the society prohibiting the erection of markers.
   The Fallowfield Meeting House stood in Allen Township, on four and
a quarter acres of ground purchased on April 17, 1799, from Joseph Allen.
This was conveyed to Joshua Dixon, John Allmon, John Heald, and Jacob
Griffith, "trustees on behalf of the society of people called Quakers of
Westland Monthly Meeting." After the Hicksite dissention arose in the
society this branch was disbanded, and a portion of the lot was sold to
the Methodists, who erected the Mount Tabor Methodist Episcopal
church. A portion of the lot had been used as a burying ground; but the
graves of those early Quakers were unmarked and are unknown today.
   The first building erected in East Finley Township for religious pur-
poses was the East Finley Meeting House of the Quakers, built in 1797.
This was a log building, which also did duty as a school house. This meet-
ing house was burned in 1800 while Mr. Heaton was teaching school
there, and the society was without a place for holding regular meetings
until 1803, when a house of hewed logs was erected. The prominent
members of this society were Robert, Joseph and Samuel England, Enoch
Vansyock, Isaac Elliott, and their families. This society was never
strong, and its members finally died or drifted to other sections. The last
meeting was held on July 14, 1841.
   Samuel England, the last Quaker in that section of the county, was
still living there at an advanced age in 1885. He and the Rev. Mr. Free-
man, at that time (1885) pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
       38-V1


593




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of Morris township, were direct descendants of two men who came over
from England with William Penn. Mr. England held to his belief as a
Quaker until his death. James Coates, who was living in Washington, in
1885, claimed to be a direct descendant of William Penn.
   The denomination known throughout the United States as the Chris-
tian, or Disciples of Christ, called in the early days Campbellites, was
founded in Washington County, 116 years ago. The Rev. Thomas Camp-
bell, the founder of this denomination, was a native of Scotland, who
landed in Philadelphia in 1807. He was a minister of the Scotch Seceder
church, and he was assigned by the Synod at Philadelphia to the Presby-
tery of Chartiers, in Washington County.
   The trouble which led to the birth of the Christian denomination,
seems to have started when Rev. Mr. Campbell, while preaching in Wash-
ington, invited all pious persons belonging to the Presbyterian family to
join in communion. At the next meeting of Presbytery, Rev. Mr. Camp-
bell was charged with failure to a strict adherence to the church stand-
ard and usages. The result of this has been written many times in detail.
The final result was that Rev. Mr. Campbell was the subject of bitter
and persistent persecution on the part of the church which forced him to
withdraw from the Seceders. However, he continued his ministerial
labors, making a strong plea for Christian liberty and Christian union
upon the basis of the Bible. He preached weekly, sometimes in groves,
but generally in the houses of his friends he had known before coming to
America.
   The new denomination may be said to have been founded at a meet-
ing held by Rev. Mr. Campbell at the house of Abraham Alters, who
lived on the road between Washington and Mount Pleasant. At another
meeting held on the headwaters of Buffalo Creek, August 17, 1809, the
"Christian Association of Washington" was formed by Rev. Mr. Camp-
bell, Gen. Thomas Acheson and others. A log meeting house was erected
on the Sinclair farm, three miles south of Mount Pleasant (Hickory), at
the cross roads formed by the Washington-Mount Pleasant and Canons-
burg West Middletown roads.
   In 1810, Rev. Thomas Campbell ordained his son, Alexander Camp-
bell, as a minister of the gospel. The denomination seems to have gained
quite a following by this time, and the first sermon preached by Rev.
Alexander Campbell was on July 15, 1810, in a grove on the Major Tem-
pleton farm, eight miles from Washington. Many members lived in the
Buffalo Creek region and in the summer of 1810, a frame meeting house
was erected on the farm of William Gilchrist, on Brush run, two miles
above its junction with Buffalo Creek, in Hopewell Township, and there
Rev. Alexander Campbell preached the first sermon on June 16, 1811.
This church building was later removed to West Middletown, where it
was used as a blacksmith shop until it was purchased in later years by the
Christian church and removed to Bethany, West Virginia, and erected in
the yard of the Campbell homestead at that place. It now stands there
in its original condition, just as it was when Alexander Campbell preached
there in 1810. It is regarded as the first church of this denomination in
the United States.
   The first baptisms were administered by Thomas Campbell on July 4,


594




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1811, in a deep pool in Buffalo Creek, two miles from the mouth of Brush
Run, on the David Bryant farm.
   In 1818, Rev. Alexander Campbell opened a school for young men,
which he called Buffalo Seminary, located near the school taught by the
Rev. Joseph Smith four years before. This school continued for about five
years. It is interesting to note at this point that the old Pleasant Hill Fe-
male Seminary, near West Middletown, was founded by Mrs. Jane Mc-
Keever, a sister of Alexander Campbell.
   While in Washington Alexander Campbell resided in a two-story log
house which stood at the corner of South College Street and East Straw-
berry Avenue. It was razed about 1905. The church in which he preached
while here is still standing, but it is now a garage. It stands in West
Wheeling Street, and is the property of Dr. George Kelly. About eight
years ago an addition was erected in front and it is now used as the Rob-
inson garage.
   In 1821, Sidney Rigdon held many sessions with Rev. Alexander Camp-
bell, and as a result Rigdon received a call to the Baptist church in Pitts-
burgh in 1822, but on October 11, 1823, he was excluded from that church
and deposed from the ministry. Rigdon, with Joseph Smith was one of the
founders of the Mormon Church; and it was through Rigdon, according to
those opposed to the Mormons that Smith secured the famous "Manu-
script Found," written by Solomon Spaulding, upon which the Book of
Mormon is alleged to have been based. More will be found in another
chapter on this subject.
   The result of the early teachings of Thomas and Alexander Campbell
is the Christian Church of the United States today; and Bethany College,
at Bethany, West Virginia, one of the educational institutions of that de-
nomination, was founded by Alexander Campbell, after he left Washing-
ton County.
   Several religious organizations known as the Halyconites, Rhodianites
and New Light sects existed in old Finley Township about 1807. The
leader of the Halyconites was a man named Sergeant, who professed to
have received a revelation from heaven, through an angel, in which he de-
clared it was communicated to him that there was no hell. He preached
throughout that section for three years and had many followers. He was
afterwards arrested and imprisoned at Cumberland, Maryland, for for-
gery. This was the death blow to the Halyconites.
   Among the followers of Sergeant in Finley Township was an old lady
named Rhoda Fordyce, who now came forward, and in addition to the
doctrine that there was no hell taught that it was possible for people
to live entirely on a vegetable diet such as parched corn, sassafras buds,
and other vegetables and herbs, for a certain number of days after which
they would be transformed bodily to heaven. This sect was called the
Rhodianites.
   A man named Parker, who attempted to carry out this doctrine, was
starved to death in the Fordyce woman's house. She kept the body con-
cealed in her house for three days and three nights, after which he was
missed by neighbors, who broke in the door of the dwelling and found the
body.
   The forming of a chain was another doctrine taught by the Fordyce


595





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


woman. This ceremony required a man and a woman to make the chain.
Each was sewed in a separate sack by the Fordyce woman, with only their
heads out and their arms tied together against the body, after which they
were put in the same bed by the old woman. In the morning they were
brought before Mrs. Fordyce as inspector general, and if they stated that
they had slept innocently together they became a link in the chain of the
Rhodianite Church. Tradition says that many husbands were separated
from their wives to form a link in this organization.
   The New Lights, made up of converts of the Halyconites and Rhodian-
ites, grew very strong in that section after the downfall of Mrs. Fordyce.
They believed in immersion as the true mode of baptism, and that Christ
was not equal to God. They also believed in washing each other's feet at
their communion. This sect increased very rapidly and were strong in
Southwestern Washington County for several years where they held both
camp and bush meetings both in Pennsylvania and in West Virginia.
   The Roman Catholic religion dates back to the early pioneers, but it
was never strong in the county until later years. The first member of
this faith of whom we have a record in the county was a Mr. Robinson,
an Irishman, who settled near Claysville about the close of the Revolution.
In 1794 Henry Montague located near West Alexander. A few others
drifted in during the next few years; and about 1800 one Father Lanni-
gan from Westmoreland County, stopped near West Alexander and made
arrangements to buy several thousand acres for a Catholic settlement.
However, for some reason this deal was never closed, and instead he went
to Greene County.
   The first sermon preached by a Catholic in the county was in 1801.
While Father Lannigan was passing through Washington he preached in
the court house. We find no further mention of this priest after 1801. The
home of Mr. Montague seems to have been the center for the Catholics in
the county in the early years of the past century. It was located near the
old wagon road followed by the western emigrants before the National
pike was built, and over it passed the early Catholic missionaries to the
West. In 1809 Mr. Montague purchased the land adjoining his farm,
upon which stood the cabin of Edward Gaither, near Coon Island, which
had been raided by Indians in September, 1781. This has been described
in a previous chapter. The first record of the celebration of mass in the
county was by Father O'Brien in this cabin in 1811.
   In 1814, when Father Fenwick, afterwards the first Bishop of Cin-
cinnati, was on his first missionary journey to the West, he stopped for
the night with Mr. Montague, held divine services and ministered to the
few Catholic families in that region. He also consecrated and blessed a
small plot of ground on the Montague farm as a burial place. This is
the oldest landmark of the Catholic religion in the county. Mr. Mon-
tague, his family and several other early Catholic settlers are buried
there. This graveyard is on the road from Coon Island to Dutch Fork.
   St. James Chapel, the first Catholic church in the county, was built in
1821 under the direction of Father Maguire, who came through this sec-
tion during the construction of the National pike from 1818 to 1821. It
was built from contributions made by the workmen on the road and the


596





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Catholic families in that section. It was a frame building, located on the
Pike, about a mile east of West Alexander.
    Father Rafferty, of Pittsburgh, attended it at regular intervals from
1830 to 1833, after which Father Horner, of Wheeling, supplied the con-
gregation until 1836. Bishop Kenrick, of Philadelphia, visited the church
in 1836, and the next year he sent Father Gallagher to take charge of
this and surrounding missions, with headquarters at Brownsville and
he was the first regularly appointed pastor of the Catholic church in the
county. He held services at St. James Chapel once a month. He also
held services in Washington monthly, which was the real beginning of
the Catholic Church in that city.
    In 1840 Bishop Kenrick again visited St. James Chapel and held con-
firmation. In 1846, Father P. Duffy succeeded Father Gallagher, and he
immediately had the old frame building replaced by a brick church,
thirty-three by fifty feet. It is interesting to note here that the ground
for this church and the adjoining graveyard was donated by Michael
Dougherty, a Catholic, and Mr. Schaefer, a Protestant, whose farms
joined at this point. Although the church disappeared long ago, the
cemetery may still be seen on the north side of the pike, while a few pine
trees mark the spot.
    Father Duffy was succeeded by Father Gallagher again, who re-
mained until 1849, when Rev. James Kearney came. He only remained
a year, and in 1850 Rev. James McGowan was the priest, who in turn
was succeeded by Rev. Henry Duff Lambert. In 1852, Rev. Daniel
Hickey took charge of the Washington and Greene County missions. He
was the first resident priest in Washington County, having taken up his,
residence near St. James Church. The construction of the Hempfield
railroad at this time caused a large temporary increase in the member-
ship; for like all of the early railroads the Hempfield was built by the
Irish. Some of them remained in Washington and other parts of the
county after the completion. When this influx subsided, the congrega-
tion numbered about twenty families. Father Hickey died October 5th,
1854, aged thirty-one years, and was buried in the little cemetery at the
church.
   The next was Rev. John Farren, followed by Rev. Francis O'Shea in
1855; Rev. Jerome Kearney, in 1856; Rev. Francis O'Shea came the sec-
ond time in 1858, and in the spring of 1859 the Rev. Dennis Kearney suc-
ceeded him; Rev. James Nolan, in the spring of 1860; Rev. Patrick Shee-
han, in the summer of 1862; Rev. James Lahaney, in January, 1864; Rev.
J. Scanlon, in October, 1866.
   The Rev. J. McEnrue came in the summer of 1868 and remained until
1873. The old church built in 1846 had become unsafe, and in 1872 a site
for a new church was purchased in Claysville. The foundation was laid
by January, 1873, when Father McEnrue left. Rev. J. A. Canevin, aft-
erwards Bishop of Pittsburgh, came next, but he only remained until the
early summer. The next was Rev. F. McCarthy, and he remained until
the spring of 1877.
   The old building of St. James was sold for the material it contained
and while the new edifice was being erected mass was celebrated in pri-
vate dwellings and in the Claysville school hall.


597





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The new building at Claysville, which was christened the Church of
the Sacred Heart, was completed in 1874. This is a brick building
thirty-five by eighty feet, with a brick tower in front. It was dedicated
in the summer of 1875 by Rev. M. Domenec. Father McCarthy was suc-
ceeded in 1877 by Rev. T. Howley, who remained until January, 1879,
when Rev. J. Malady came. He died in Washington on April 27, 1882,
aged twenty-eight years. There has been no regular priest in charge
of this congregation for many years, due to the fact that the member-
ship has fallen off. At the present time it is a mission of the Church of
the Immaculate Conception of Washington, and regular services are held
once a month for the benefit of the Catholic families residing in that
vicinity.
    The Church of the Immaculate Conception of Washington is so closely
associated with the early history of the sect in the county, that its his-
tory will be given next. As already related the first Catholic service held
in Washington was by Father Lannigan in the court house in 1801. Rev.
C. McGuire, founder of St. Paul's Cathedral, Pittsburgh, came through
here several times in 1820 and 1821. The Rev. P. Rafferty, of Pittsburgh,
accompanied by Rev. Mazachelli, held services in the house of Matthew
Blake at an early date; and in 1836, Bishop Kenrick, of Philadelphia,
upon an Episcopalian invitation, held services and confirmed in the court
house, at which time there were only -     Catholic families in town.
In 1837, Rev. M. Gallagher took charge of the Washington mission in con-
nection with St. James Church, and held services here once a month.
This was the real beginning of the Washington congregation, the same
priest having charge of both Washington and St. James congregations.
   The Catholics purchased about this time in East Maiden Street, op-
posite the site of the present S. M. Byers garage; but their Protestant
neighbors proved so hostile that they abandoned the project, and in
March, 1842, purchased the site of the present church, then outside of the
borough. Anthony Renz donated another lot.
   It is interesting to note that about this time when Bishop Kenrick
visited Washington, he dined in company with the Methodist minister,
Rev. Mr. Holmes, at the house of Mr. Rush in Chestnut Street. After
the dinner they adjourned to the minister's house, and he and the Cath-
olic bishop passed a pleasant evening.
   Work on the Washington church was not started until 1853, and in
the meantime services were held in the houses of the members of the
congregation. The new church was started under Rev. D. Hickey, and
completed under Rev. J. Farren. It was dedicated August 26, 1855, by
Bishop Whelan, of Wheeling. In 1885, this building was badly damaged
by fire, but it was repaired immediately and services continued there
until the present building was erected and dedicated. This beau-
tiful edifice was completely gutted by fire on the night of January 3, 1924;
leaving nothing but the walls. It was remodeled at once and completed
by June 7, 1924.
   After the first church was erected in 1853 the adjoining ground was
used as a cemetery until 1872, when a new burial lot was purchased by
Rev. J. McEnrue one mile northeast of Washington on the old Pitts-
burgh pike. In the meantime the graves remained in the old burial


598





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ground at Washington until the present church was erected when they
were removed to the new cemetery. This gradually became filled with
graves as the years passed and in 1910 an entirely new site was
purchased on the Pittsburgh Pike, just over the city line of Washington.
This has been laid out and is a most beautiful location.
   The Catholic churches at Washington and West Alexander, and later
at Claysville, have always been so closely associated that their history
blends together. The same pastors have always had charge of both ever
since the first Washington church was built in 1853. After the death of
Rev. John Malady in 1882, Rev. James F. Doyle took charge and remained
until 1898, when he was succeeded by Rev. John Faughnan. He remained
until 1911, when Rev. M. J. Hughes, the present pastor, took charge of
the parish. The first assistant was Rev. James Gilmore, who came un-
der Father Faughnan. While Father Hughes has been in charge he has
had the following assistants; Rev. Nicholas Fusco, Rev. Ladislaus Slie-
winski, Rev. Edward Pikulik, Rev. William Brennan, and Rev. Charles
Presy.
   The property at the northwest corner of West Chestnut and North
Franklin streets was purchased by the congregation in 1900 and upon
this a large parochial school was erected, and is in charge of the Sisters
of Mercy. Adjoining this is the convent in which the sisters reside. This
was erected at the same time as the school.
   At the present time there are twenty-four Roman Catholic churches
in Washington County with six missions. The others will be described
under the various townships and towns in which they are located.
   This now brings us down to the history of the churches of the various
denominations in Washington County. The following is a history of each
in the various townships and smaller towns of the county:

                          ALLEN TOWNSHIP.
   The Methodist Episcopal congregation, of Allenport, was organized in
1892 by Rev. H. D. Whitfield, and during the following summer the
church was built. The present pastor is the Rev. R. E. Spangler. The
congregation is not large, but it is in a flourishing condition.

                         AMWELL TOWNSHIP.
   The North Ten Mile Baptist Church, which is the oldest congregation
in Washington County, dates back to 1773. The original minutes show
that on December 1, 1773, it met on business for the first time at Enoch
Enoch's. This was probably the place known as Enoch's fort, at Bane
Settlement, near the present Lone Pine. Rev. James Sutton, the first
pastor, took charge on February 4, 1774, and remained until 1780. His
ministry was during a stormy period in that section; for we find from the
old minutes that during 1774 and 1775 the members of the congregation
were scattered on account of the Indians and were not able to attend any
church before the fall of 1775. Rev. Mr. Sutton went back across the moun-
tains, but returned in October, 1775.
   The first license to preach was granted by this church on October 13,
1775, when William Wood and wife received a letter of honorable dis-
mission, he having been licensed to preach. He was probably the first


599





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


minister licensed to preach by any congregation in the county. The first
baptism on record was administered to James Sutton, Jr., in the spring
of 1776. The following entry taken from the records shows the manner
of church discipline: "February 16, 1776. An accusation brought against
Brother Enoch for leaving out the carcass of deer to waste contrary to
law and reason, he acknowledged his wrong and promised amendment."
    In 1777, known on the frontier as the "Bloody Year of the Three
Sevens," it was necessary to hold the meetings in Keith's fort on account
of Indian trouble.
    On June 16th, 1781, the Rev. John Corbley was called as pastor. This
was the same man whose wife and child were murdered by Indians near
Garard's Fort, Greene County, in May, 1782, while on their way to ser-
vices at Goshen Baptist Church, where Mr. Corbley was preaching at
that time.
   Rev. David Sutton was installed as pastor on May 1, 1783, and he re-
mained until his death in 1812. The first church edifice was a log build-
ing, erected on land purchased from Daniel McFarland for two pounds,
five shillings. Crumrine says that this building was erected in 1786, but
the church records state that the land was not purchased until 1794.
It is possible that the log church was built several years before the land
was deeded to the congregation. This property is still owned by the con-
gregation.
   The second house of worship, the first to occupy the present site, was
built in 1836. This building was erected on the land before it was pur-
chased, for the deeds show that it was not conveyed by Jacob Bane until
July 1, 1842. The consideration was twelve and one-half cents. The
erection of the third church was started in 1871, and dedicated May 18,
1873, the sermon on that occasion being preached by Rev. J. B. Solomon.
The fourth and present church, a brick building, was erected in 1904, at
a cost of $12,000. On May 25, 1878, the church took action to establish
a new cemetery, which is still the place of burial for members of the
congregation.
   From the death of Rev. David Sutton in 1812 until 1836, the records
of the congregation have been lost, and the names of the pastors are not
known. In 1836 Rev. A. B. Bowman took charge and remained until
1839, when Rev. Levi Griffith accepted a call, and remained until 1842.
The pastors who succeeded him were as follows: Rev. T. R. Richards,
1842-45; Rev. F. Downy, 1845-49; Rev. William Whitehead, 1849-51; Rev.
S. Kendall, 1851-58; Rev. T. C. Gessford, 1858-59; Rev. W. Scott, one-
half year in 1859; Rev. B. P. Furguson, 1859-61; Rev. K. Boyd, 1861-64;
Rev. W. B. Skinner, 1864-67; Rev. Charles Tilton, 1868-70; Rev. J. Y.
Burwell, 1870-72; Rev. J. A. Simpson, 1873-74; Rev. James Miller, 1874-
80; Rev. Robert Miller, 1881-82; Rev. L. Llewellen, 1882-83; Rev. Joseph
Lindsley, 1884-85; Rev. G. W. Archer, 1886-88; Rev. - Frumm, 1888;
Rev. S. L. Bovier, 1889-92; Rev. H. R. Lehman, 1892-93; Rev. J. C. F.
Scherick, 1894-95; Rev. R. McCullough, 1895-96; Rev. S. L. Bovier, August,
1896-April, 1897; Rev. W. G. Carl, June, 1897--
   The Lower Ten Mile Presbyterian Church at Amity, was organized
August 15, 1781, and was formerly joined with the Upper Ten Mile Pres-
byterian congregation, now at Prosperity, Morris Township. At that


600




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


time this was known as the United Congregations of Upper and Lower
Ten Mile, and the first meeting was held in the house of Jacob Cook, on
August 15, 1781, when there were twenty-three members. The congre-
gation really dates from 1777, when the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd came to
this section, and after the formal organization in 1781 he had charge
until his death on May 20, 1793.
   The first house of worship was a log building erected on the farm of
Jacob Cook in 1785. This log building was the meeting house of this
congregation until 1825, when a brick house of worship was built on the
farm of James Condit, five miles northwest of Amity, which was long
known as the brick meeting house. In 1831 the congregation also erected
a second church at Amity, a few feet north of the old log house. The
pastor preached one-half of his time in each of these churches until 1844,
when he spent two-thirds of his time in the Amity church; and in 1852
he spent one-half of his time at each. The brick meeting house was sold
in 1871 for $213.70. On the evening of February 4, 1842, one gable of
the Amity house was blown in, and the congregation immediately began
the erection of its third church at Amity, a frame building filled with
brick. The present brick church was erected in 1875 at a cost of $5,300,
and dedicated December 30, 1875, the sermon being preached by Rev.
James Gillespie.
   The ministers of this congregation have been as follows: Rev. Thad-
deus Dodd, August 15, 1781, to his death, May 20, 1793; Rev. Thomas
Moore, September or October, 1794, to December 14, 1804; Rev. Cephas
Dodd, a son of Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, September, 1805, to April 15, 1817;
he then studied medicine, and also acted as stated supply of the congre-
gation from July 10, 1817, until 1851; Rev. James W. McKennan, 1851 to
1854; Rev. William P. Harvison, April 26, 1856, to April 5, 1861; Rev.
James Black, 1861, to October 1, 1863; Rev. William B. Faris, supply
during winter of 1863-64; Rev. J. W. Hamilton, October, 1865, to May,
1870; Rev. J. C. Hench, June 17, 1871 to 1873; Rev. John S. Atkinson,
October 4, 1874, to September 8, 1880; the names of those from 1880 to
1912 are not available; Rev. John B. Miller, Nov. 14, 1912, to September 5,
1915; Rev. R. M. Kiskadden, October 13, 1915, to September 13, 1920;
Rev. W. W. Dinsmore, August 31, 1921, to the present time. The congre-
gation now has sixty-two members.
   The Methodist Protestant Church at Amity was organized in January,
1832. The previous fall William lams and Joel Woods, of Amity, had
invited Revs. John Wilson and Israel Thorp, itinerant ministers of the
church, to preach at the village. Soon after organization the congrega-
tion purchased the old log church erected in 1785 by the Lower Ten Mile
Presbyterians at Amity, for $50, and it was moved to a lot donated by
William Iams. This was used as the place of worship until 1851 when a
frame church was erected at a cost of $500. The congregation grew and
in 1867 the old church was sold to Dr. S. S. Strouse, and a new frame
building was built on the same site. This is still standing. The first
ministers of this congregation were Revs. John Lucas and Israel Thorp,
1831-32.
  The Mount Herman Baptist Church, near Amity, is a very old congre-
gation, but the records of it are not available. The first house of wor-


601





                HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                       53

Roney farm in West Finley Township. Hercules Roney, a noted Indian
fighter of Washington County, settled there with his brother, James.
    Stricker's Blockhouses-Two blockhouses built by Laurence Stricker
on his land in Buffalo Township, five miles west of Washington and one
mile south of the McDowell homestead, on the National pike. The land
is now owned by the estate of John McDowell, deceased. The main block-
house stood on a point of land at the junction of two small streams. It
contained two stories, the second being an overshot. It was a typical
frontier blockhouse. It stood until 1900, when it was razed and the logs
used in a barn, which was later struck by lightning and burned. The
second blockhouse stood about three hundred yards west of the first. This
was razed about 1850, and the logs used to build a log house, which is still
standing near the site of the first.
    Taylor's Fort-Built at a date unknown, on a knoll on the bank of
Buffalo Creek, where the village of Taylorstown, formerly New Bruns-
wick, now stands. The land was owned in later years by James Hodgens.
    Teter's (or Teeter's) Fort-Built about 1773 by Captain Samuel Teter.
This was a stockaded fort, enclosing about one-eighth of an acre. It stood
on the ground now occupied by the old Manchester homestead, in Inde-
pendence Township, near West Middletown. Captain Teter, one of the
early settlers in that section, was an old Indian fighter who had served
with General Braddock. This fort was abandoned when Doddridge's Fort
was erected three-quarters of a mile west. Captain Teter sold the farm
to Isaac Manchester, who built the present brick house between 1800 and
1815 on the site of the fort. Some of the logs from the stockade were used
in the construction of the woodhouse, and one of the corner stones of the
fort is still seen in the yard. This farm is still owned by the Manchester
family and is one of the best kept and most beautiful in the county. It is
still known as "Plantation Plenty."
   Turner's Fort-There are no records of when this fort was built or by
whom. It stood in the vicinity of Beelor's and Dillow's forts, in Robinson
Township.
   Vance's Fort-Built about 1774 by Joseph Vance, in Smith Township,
one mile north of Cross Creek village. This was one of the most noted
forts in Washington County, and settlers of the Cross Creek region sought
refuge there from Indians many times. The first gospel ever preached in
that region was under a large oak that stood just outside the gates of the
fort. In the fall of 1781 the plans for the expedition against the Moravian
Indians at Gnadenhutten, Ohio, which resulted in the massacre of ninety
Christians and six hostile Indians, were made in this fort. William Parks
was killed by Indians near this fort in the spring of 1782, and tradition
says that a little girl was killed at the spring just outside the stockade.
This spring is now little more than a seepage. This fort stood on the old
Vance farm, near the homestead. The site is marked by a slight depres-
sion, where one of the houses stood. Nearby are two large log barns.
   Walker's Blockhouse-Built in Donegal Township at a date unknown,
supposedly by a man named Walker. Very little is known of this block-
house, and its location is unknown.
   Wallower's Blockhouse-Very little is known of this blockhouse. It is
known to have stood in Donegal Township, but its location has been lost





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ship was a log building, and the second was of frame. The present brick
edifice was erected about seventy-five years ago. This congregation has not
always had a regular pastor; and services are held only on the second
and fourth Sundays of each month.
    The Lone Pine Christian congregation, originally known as the Pleas-
 ant Valley Christian Church began in 1840, when John F. Shrontz, Sr.,
 a member of the Disciples of Christ, agreed to give $50 towards the build-
 ing fund of the Ridge Baptist Church, on condition that he should be per-
 mitted to use the house occasionally when the Baptists were not using it.
    This offer was accepted, and Rev. John T. Smith, a Disciple preacher
 who lived on Pigeon Creek, was employed to preach once a month. In
 November, 1840, Revs. Marcus Bosworth and Lyman P. Streator preached
 in several sections of Washington County, including the Ridge Baptist
 Church. Mr. Bosworth returned to Ohio and left Mr. Streator to con-
 tinue the work.
    He agreed to preach once a month in the Ridge Church at a salary
of $50 a year. During the spring and summer of 1841 his meetings were
largely attended, and some members of the Ridge Baptist congregation
united with the Disciples of Christ. This aroused the jealousy of the
other members of the congregation, and in October, 1841, when Rev.
Streator went to hold his meeting at Ridge Church he found it locked and
under guard. Admittance was refused.
    The Disciples quietly gave up their right to use the building, and for-
mally started their church at Pleasant Valley, now known as Lone Pine.
This action was taken at a meeting held at the home of John F. Shrontz,
Sr. In the fall of 1843 a frame meeting house was erected on the land of
David Slusher, who on March 30, 1844, deeded the property to the con-
gregation. The congregation grew with the passing years, and on No-
vember 26, 1853, a charter was secured from the county court. Col.
David Frazee, on May 20, 1854, deeded the land on which the present
church stands and where the cemetery is located. The present brick
structure, the second house of worship of this congregation, was then
erected. In connection with this church was conducted the old Pleasant
Valley Academy, which is described in another chapter. The present
pastor is Rev. M. L. Marling.
   Liberty Chapel is a Methodist Episcopal Church on the Waynesburg
and Washington Railroad, about five miles south of Washington. This
congregation was organized about a quarter of a century ago. The con-
gregation holds services in a frame church about a mile from Chambers'
Dam. The Rev. J. H. Ward is the present pastor.
   Swartz Methodist Episcopal Church is a small congregation on the
line between Washington and Greene counties; but nothing has been
learned of its early history. Rev. L. E. Schaffer is the present pastor.
   The Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church, originally a Cumberland Pres-
byterian before the union of the Cumberland and Presbyterian churches
in 1907, is about half a mile from Ten Mile Village. This was one of the
first Cumberland Presbyterian churches organized in the county. In the
fall of 1831, Revs. A. M. Bryan, John Morgan, Alexander Chapman,
R. Burrow and R. Donnel held camp meetings in a grove on the farm of
Abel Milliken, near old Fort Milliken, of Indian times. These meetings


602





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


were continued during the next two years, and as a result the Pleasant
Hill Cumberland Presbyterian congregation was organized January 22.
1833, with Rev. John Morgan as the first pastor. A brick church was
erected at an early date, but this was replaced by the present structure
in 1882 at a cost of $4,000. It now has a membership of sixty-four, with
Rev. W. W. Dinsmore as the pastor.

                         BLAINE TOWNSHIP.
   The United Presbyterian Church of Taylorstown was organized on
August 15, 1872, by Rev. Samuel Taggart, and on August 31st, the or-
ganization was completed by the installation of Dr. J. S. Crawford as
ruling elder, who had been a ruling elder in the North Buffalo Church.
There were thirty charter members, of whom four were still living in
1922: Thomas O'Donnell, of West Alexander; Mira McMannus, of Tay-
lorstown; E. J. Grimes, better known as the wife of W. H. Clemens, of
Claysville, and Mrs. Clara Radcliffe, of Canonsburg. Only one was a
member of the congregation in 1922, Miss Mira McMannus, who was the
only one present at the fiftieth anniversary of the church in 1922.
   After the organization the pulpit was filled by regular supplies. The
installation of Rev. John Morrow, the first regular pastor took place in
the school hall at Taylorstown on September 30, 1873. A lot was pur-
chased from Dr. J. S. Crawford for $600, and the new church was
started in October, 1873. This was erected of frame at a cost of $4,059.97
and it was dedicated on August 15, 1873, on the first anniversary.
   This church has had five pastors during its fifty-three years: Rev.
John Morrow, from 1873 to 1883; Rev. T. P. Proudfit, from 1884 to 1895;
Rev. R. B. Harsha, from 1896 to 1919; Rev. Willard V. Ritchie, from 1919
to 1924, and Rev. H. B. Fairman, 1925, the present pastor.
   Three of these were present at the fiftieth anniversary, one of whom
was Rev. T. P. Proudfit, now living in Washington and past ninety years
of age. Rev. Proudfit was a United Presbyterian missionary in Nebraska
territory from 1864 to 1868, when he had charge of the second church
of that denomination founded in Nebraska.
   The old church was completely remodeled in 1917 at a cost of $5,000.
A parsonage was erected in 1879 by the congregation at a cost of $2,100
for the building and lot; and in 1924 this was repaired and modernized
by the Y. P. C. U., under the leadership of Vera Knox Stine, president
and chairman. The cost was $1,700, and the next year the trustees added
a porch and made other improvements.
   The Christian Church of Taylorstown was erected in 1904, and dedi-
cated in the fall of that year. This is a frame building, and cost $3,000.
The present pastor is Rev. David Neilson.

                         BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.
   The North Buffalo United Presbyterian Church, which was one of the
four congregations in Washington County that celebrated their sesqui-
centennial during the summer of 1925, ranks as one of the five oldest re-
ligious denominations in this county. This is a lineal descendant from
the Secession from the Church of Scotland, and previous to the formation


603





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of the denomination in 1858, the North Buffalo United Presbyterian
Church was of the Associate Presbyterian faith.
    The first pastor was the Rev. Matthew Henderson, one of that coterie
of pioneer preachers who braved the dangers of the tomahawk and scalp-
ing knife to carry the word of God to the few settlers in the wilderness
of Washington County 150 years ago. In 1775 he preached his first ser-
mon in that section that is now Buffalo Township. This was in a grove
not far from the present house of worship, and in that same grove the
congregation of North Buffalo was organized in 1778 under the name
of Buffalo, with James Brownlee, John Brownlee, Andrew Scott, Samuel
Johnson, and James Smiley as the first elders.
    They were a religious people, those early settlers, and they attended
services regularly, but they always went fully armed with their trusty
rifles, tomahawks and even scalping knives. Just imagine attending re-
ligious services today when each man listened to the sermon with his rifle
in his hands, ever alert for the wild war cry of the Indian warrior. Such
was the condition of affairs in those early years of the North Buffalo
Church for those early members of the congregation had learned the
value of the watchword, "Trust in God and keep your powder dry."
   When the congregation called a pastor in 1781 they selected Rev.
Matthew Henderson, who took charge in 1782, at a salary of one hundred
pounds hard money or 400 bushels of wheat. A log meeting house was
erected on the site of the present church, but this was only used during
inclement weather, as the congregation preferred to hold services in the
grove whenever the weather would permit. The next year Rev. Hender-
son, who was then forty-seven years of age, moved his family to this
county, and took up his residence in a log cabin about nine miles from
the meeting house. He served the congregation until he was killed by a
falling tree on October 2, 1795.
   Rev. Robert Laing, the second pastor, was a native of Scotland, who
came to this country in 1795, and took charge of the congregation in 1796.
He did not prove popular with the congregation, for he was many years
in advance of his time, and refused to partake of whisky when it was
passed at social gatherings of the members. In fact, he frowned upon it,
and this led to dissatisfaction between him and his people. Drinking
whisky was the custom of the country in those days, and even though we
of today know its evils and have banished it from the land we must not
criticise its use by our forefathers, for we cannot understand and ap-
preciate the conditions and times under which they lived. In 1805 the
Associate Synod removed Rev. Laing from this congregation.
   Rev. David French, the third pastor, began his labors with this con-
gregation in 1811, and remained forty-two years, also having charge of
the South Buffalo Church in this same section for forty-one years. A
new hewn log and weatherboarded building was erected at the beginning
of his ministry to replace the first log church, and it was named North
Buffalo to distinguish it from South Buffalo, which was organized in 1811.
This stood until 1848 when the present brick building was erected on the
same site. This, the third edifice of this congregation was later remodeled
and enlarged in 1896, since which time there has been no change. Ad-


604





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


joining it is the cemetery where the fathers of the congregation sleep
the last long sleep. It stands about two miles south of Buffalo Village.
   During his pastorate Rev. French had the distinction of never having
missed holding religious services at either North Buffalo or South Buf-
falo on account of sickness during the forty-one years he had charge of
both. This is a record that is probably not exceeded by any other pastor
in the history of the state. He was disabled by a paralytic stroke in
1853, and died in 1855 and was laid to rest in the churchyard beside his
first wife and ten children.
   In 1855, Rev. William M. Gibson, a native of this county, took charge
of the North Buffalo congregation, remaining until he resigned in 1861.
The Civil War came and another pastor was not called until April 1,
1867, when Rev. Robert Welch, who had served as lieutenant of Company
C, 22d Pennsylvania Volunteer cavalry, commenced his labors. He died
here, later, and in the spring of 1871, Rev. Josias Stevenson, who had
served eleven years at West Alexander, took charge. He was succeeded
in 1877 by Rev. Samuel J. Kyle, who remained for a decade. Rev. W. W.
Willis terminated his pastorate in July, 1908. The present pastor, Rev.
William S. Glass, was in charge when the congregation celebrated its ses-
quicentennial on June 18, 1925.
   South Buffalo United Presbyterian congregation was organized in
1811 under the pastorate of Rev. David French, who took charge of the
North Buffalo Church, July 2, 1811. He continued as pastor of the
South Buffalo and North Buffalo churches until November 22, 1852,
when he was relieved of the South Buffalo congregation.
   The first church, a log building, was erected in 1811, and there the
congregation worshipped until 1834 when a brick edifice was erected on
the site of the first church, two miles east of Claysville and south of the
National pike. In 1883 a new house of worship was erected in Clays-
ville, where the congregation is now located. The old graveyard of this
congregation is still located at the original site of the first church.
   Rev. J. G. Carson, the second pastor, took charge in November, 1856,
and remained until the spring of 1867. On April 15, 1873, the third pas-
tor, Rev. Alexander McLachlin, was installed and remained for nearly
half a century, or until 1922. He was succeeded by Rev. H. L. Hen-
derson, the present pastor at Claysville.
   East Buffalo Presbyterian Church, originally known as Wolfe's Meet-
ing House, stands about five miles west of Washington and one mile
south of the National Pike. It was organized at a very early date by the
settlers about Wolfe's Fort and Laurence Stricker's blockhouse. The
exact date of its beginning is not known, but it was within the limits
of Redstone Presbytery from 1781 to 1793. When the lands of Laurence
Stricker were sold to William Brownlee on June 12, 1820, an acre of
ground was reserved for the "Presbyterian and Lutheran Meeting House,
better known by the name of Wolfe's Meeting House."
    The first church,, known as Wolfe's Meeting House, stood in the north-
west corner of the present graveyard. The second structure, a brick
building, was erected in 1836, and occupied for the last time on May 30,
1880, after which it was razed, and the present church, also of brick,
was erected at a cost of $5,600. This was dedicated March 4, 1881.


605





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The pulpit of this church was filled by supplies until 1818, when Rev.
Thomas Hoge, of Washington, became the stated supply of East Buffalo
and Upper Ten Mile, now at Prosperity; and on January 27, 1821, he was
installed as pastor of East Buffalo and Claysville. He remained until
October 6, 1825, but from that time until 1832 there is no record of a
pastor at East Buffalo.
   Rev. W. P. Aldrich became stated supply on April 17, 1832, and re-
mained until the early summer of 1864, when he was succeeded by Rev.
James Black on October 1, 1864, remaining until August 2, 1868, when
he accepted the presidency of Iowa State University. Rev. W. J. Alex-
ander became pastor October 1, 1868, and remained until his death on
January 20, 1869. Rev. R. S. Morton was installed June 28, 1869, but
resigned in January, 1871.
   This brings us down to the long pastorate of Rev. Henry Woods,
D. D., of beloved memory among the members of this congregation for
half a century and among hundreds of students of Washington and Jef-
ferson College, where he was a professor during the forty years that he
was a member of the faculty of this institution of learning, and at the
same time pastor of East Buffalo Church. And during all those years
Rev. Woods preached faithfully to this congregation, making the journey
of six miles to this church. Today, when we have automobiles, it is not
much of a journey, but during those forty years Dr. Woods never knew
an automobile, and drove the distance each week with a horse and buggy.
Dr. Woods began his pastorate on January 29, 1871, and on January 29,
1911, forty years to the day and almost to the very hour on which he be-
gan his work, Dr. Woods opened the exercises held at that time in honor
of his long pastorate. The congregation now numbers 120, and Rev.
Jacob Ruble, of West Alexander is the pastor.
   Buffalo Baptist Church was organized at Buffalo Town on June 1,
1861, under the Wheeling Baptist Association, upon request of sixty mem-
bers of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church of East Finley Township. The
first pastor was Rev. H. R. Craig, who remained until June 11, 1864. The
church was later removed to Claysville.
   There was also at one time a Methodist Episcopal Church near Roney's
Point, but it is not in existence at the present time, and nothing definite
is known of its early history.

                         CARROLL TOWNSHIP.
   The Horseshoe Bottom Presbyterian Church was a log building,
erected about 1785, three miles south of Monongahela on the farm then
owned by William Crawford but more recently by the heirs of John
Wilson. It is said that while the building was used by the congregation
additions were made until it finally had sixteen corners. The first pastor
of which there is a record was Rev. Samuel Ralston, who served the con-
gregation from 1796 to 1807, in which year it was transferred to Monon-
gahela City, and is now known as the First Presbyterian Church of that
place. The later history will be found under Monongahela City.
   The Horseshoe Bottom Baptist Church was also a log meeting house,
built in 1790 on the land of Abraham Frye in the Horseshoe Bottom of


606




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the Monongahela River, south of Monongahela City. About 1810 a brick
building replaced the old log cabin, and this was used until the congre-
gation was transferred to Monongahela City about 1880.
   The Ginger Hill Lutheran Church was erected in 1847, near Ginger
Hill. This is a brick church, but the membership is small and it has no
stated pastor. Some of its early ministers were Revs. Mr. Waters, Mr.
Emory, Mr. Milhom, Mr. Wylie, and Mr. Rider.
   A United Brethren Church was located at an early date near the old
toll gate on the Monongahela Pike, a mile and a half west of Monongahela.
Henry Young, the principal member, died long ago and the other mem-
bers either moved away or passed away. The church building has long
been used as a private dwelling.

                          CECIL TOWNSHIP.
   The United Presbyterian congregation of Venice was organized Sep-
tember 24, 1849, by Rev. Thomas Hanna, D. D., as the Associate Con-
gregation of Miller's Run; and on March 1, 1850, Rev. James Greer or-
ganized the Associate Reformed Congregation of Venice. These two
congregations erected houses of worship on adjoining lots, struggled side
by side until the union of the Associate and Associate Reformed churches
in 1858, when these congregations were consolidated in the United Pres-
byterian Church of Venice.
   Rev. J. L. Fairley was the first and only pastor of the Associate Re-
formed Congregation of Venice. His pastorate began June 28, 1853, and
ended December 25, 1855. On November 8, 1858, the two congregations
were united. Rev. A. R. Anderson was installed as pastor April 17, 1860,
and served until 1907, when he was succeeded in 1908 by Rev. Theodore
Littel, the present pastor.
   Miller's Run Presbyterian congregation on the Allegheny County
line, five miles North of Canonsburg, was organized about 1800, and on
June 26, Rev. John Watson was installed as pastor. He died November
20, 1802, and was succeeded by Rev. James Dunlap, who preached as
stated supply until April 22, 1812. Rev. Andrew Wylie was installed
June 23, 1813, and remained until May 28, 1817, when he was succeeded
by Rev. William McMillan, who remained until April, 1823. On Decem-
ber 31, 1824, Dr. Smith was installed, and remained pastor for half a
century, when he resigned. He was succeeded by Rev. William Ewing.
   The first meeting house was built of logs about 1790, before the con-
gregation was organized. In 1835 a brick building was erected and used
until the church was disorganized in 1899. The place is marked by the
old cemetery.
   Fawcett Methodist Episcopal Church, one mile northeast of Hill's
station, was organized at a very early date, but just when is not known.
The lot for the church was donated by Andrew Fawcett in 1812 and a
log meeting house was erected. This was replaced in 1833 by a brick
church. From the date of organization until 1909 it was a station sup-
plied by ministers from other places, first from Canonsburg and later
from Bridgeville. In April, 1909, it was separated at which time it had
214 members. The first regular pastor after the separation was Rev.
R. H. Little. The present pastor is Rev. Homer Clark.


607





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    A Roman Catholic Church, known under the name of the Assumption
 of the Blessed Virgin, is now located at Cecil Village. The rector is Rev.
 John Kopera. It has a mission at the United States mines in the same
 township.
                        CHARTIERS TOWNSHIP.
    Miller's Run Reformed Presbyterian Church may be said to date back
 to September, 1779, when Rev. John Cuthbertson visited that section and
 preached in the house of John McGlaughlin. Rev. James McKinez came
 to this region in 1794 and organized a number of Covenanter families
 in that section into a society. Beginning with 1799 and for many years
 thereafter, Rev. James Black preached in the settlement. In 1808 the
 people of that section organized a congregation and erected a log meet-
 house opposite John Briceland's residence in Canonsburg. Rev. David
 Graham was called as pastor in 1810, but before his installation charges
 were brought against him, and he never took charge. Rev. William Gib-
 son was pastor from 1817 to 1826 and Rev. Gordon I. Ewing from 1827
 to 1830. At his suggestion the old log church was razed with the inten-
 tion of erecting a new building, but his health failed, and it was never
 started. From 1834 to 1842, Rev. John Crozier of Monongahela, served
 as a stated supply, and in 1843 Rev. William Slater was installed, remain-
 ing until.1887. Rev. S. G. Conner came in 1889 and remained for many
 years.
    No building having been erected on the site of the old log church, the
site of the congregation was changed in 1835 from Canonsburg to the
present location, and a new brick building erected. This stood until 1870,
when a larger building of frame was erected.
   Chartiers Cross Roads United Presbyterian Congregation, located five
miles north of Washington, on the Washington-Hickory Road, was or-
ganized by the Presbytery of Monongahela in 1810. No regular pastor
was called until 1814, when Rev. Samuel Findley came and divided his
time between this and the congregation at West Middletown. The first
meetings were held in a tent, which stood on the land now owned by the
church. On September 30, 1816, one and a half acres were purchased
from Nathaniel Woods and a frame church was erected within the limits
of the present graveyard. The present brick church, the second build-
ing of the congregation, was erected about sixty years ago. The Cross
Roads and West Middletown congregations were served by the same pas-
tor until after 1820. A parsonage was built a number of years ago.
   The following pastors have had charge of this congregation: Rev.
Samuel Findley, 1814-20; Rev. John Graham, 1820 until succeeded by
Rev. Alexander McCahan; then Rev. David Ferguson, followed by Rev.
T. L. Speer, who died while pastor of the congregation in 1851; Rev.
Joseph Andrews, 1853-58; Rev. J. C. Herron, June 19, 1860, to February
19, 1867; Rev. H. A. McDonald, October 14, 1869, to October 17, 1872;
Rev. J. A. Grier, June 23, 1874, to 1882; Rev. Joseph Timmons, 1884-
1901, when he resigned on account of old age and died in 1907; Rev.
Robert Littel, 1902-06; Rev. J. Alvin Campbell, September, 1907-July,
1911; Rev. William Dansord, 1912-June 28, 1914. The present pastor is
Rev. C. C. French.


608




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The United Presbyterian Mission at Westland is in charge of Rev.
Charles Stunkard, pastor of the Mount Prospect United Presbyterian
Church at Hickory.
   Methodist Episcopal Church at Meadowlands was established by Rev.
J. S. Ferris, while he was pastor of the Methodist Congregation at Hous-
ton, about twenty years ago. A lot was donated by Methodists living in
that vicinity and a frame church was erected within thirty days. Preach-
ing was held here each Sunday afternoon by the Houston pastor for
some time, when a regular minister was called. The present pastor is
Rev. M. L. Husted.
   Allen's Chapel of the Methodist Episcopal Church is located at McGov-
ern, midway between Houston and Meadowlands on the Pittsburgh Pike.
This is a small frame church built a number of years ago for the mining
families living in that vicinity.

                       CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP.
   Cross Creek Presbyterian Church at Cross Creek Village, one of the
most historic in the county, was organized in May, 1779. The early
settlers in that section of the county were mostly Scotch-Irish. Some
had come direct from the North of Ireland and the West of Scotland;
others from Winchester, Virginia, and Mechlenberg, North Carolina. As
early as 1776-77 these pious people began holding religious meetings, but
they had no regular pastor.
   An item of great historical interest is the fact that Rev. James Pow-
ers, from the Forks of the Youghiogheny, visited this section and on Sep-
tember 14, 1778, preached the first sermon ever heard in all that region.
An oak tree just outside of the gates of Vance's Fort was his pulpit and
the blue dome of heaven his auditorium. After the service he baptized
twenty-one children.
   Rev. Joseph Smith visited that section and preached several sermons
in April, 1779, and shortly afterwards Rev. John McMillan, the founder
of the Hill Church, preached a few sermons in Cross Creek. He made a
great impression with these people, and on June 21, 1779, members of
the congregation at Cross Creek met a delegation from the Presbyterian
Church at Upper Buffalo, now located at Buffalo Village, at the house of
James Marshel, midway between the two places and extended a formal
call to Rev. Joseph Smith, who had then returned to York County. This
call was taken to Rev. Smith by Judge James Efgar, of Cross Creek,
and through his influence it was accepted on October 27, 1779. It is in-
teresting to note that one of the men from Upper Buffalo, who was pres-
ent at that meeting which extended the call, was William Smiley, better
known as Father Smiley, an elder in the congregation. It was he who
guided the boat load of flour to New Orleans with which to pay Rev.
Smith his salary. This has already been mentioned at different times,
and more detailed account will be found in the history of the Upper Buf-
falo Presbyterian Church, in Hopewell Township.
   The sites where both of the present churches of Cross Creek and
Upper Buffalo now stand, were selected during the summer of 1779 by
a committee of three from each congregation. Those from Cross Creek
were Major William Vance, Robert McCready, and Henry Graham. It
      39-V1


609





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


is recorded that Mr. McCready drove the stake where the church was
located on land donated by Mr. Graham, another member of the board.
Two of the committee from Upper Buffalo were William Smiley and Rob-
ert Caldwell.
   The historic Cross Creek Graveyard, one of the oldest, if not the very
oldest burial ground in Washington County, was located this same year,
1779, when the first interment took place. This was a little child of David
and Sarah Vance, who lived on what was known as the David Gault place
in later years. It is a somewhat remarkable coincidence that when the
first interment was made in the new cemetery at Cross Creek, 111 years
later (1890), it was a child of Leander Vance, a relative of the first in
the old graveyard. The Vance child in 1779 had fallen in a fire and was
so badly burned that it died; and at a council held by neighbors and rela-
tives it was agreed to bury it in the woods surrounding the spot where
they intended to erect the church. And thus began the graveyard which
was destined to become the most historic of the pioneer burying grounds
in all Washington County. Many of the persons buried there in pioneer
times; settlers killed in the Indian wars, Indian fighters, soldiers of the
Revolution, the War of 1812, and the great Rebellion of the sixties are
described in other sections of this history. A detailed history of this
graveyard and the burials, written by the late James Simpson, the vener-
able historian of Cross Creek Township, was published by the church
in 1894.
   Rev. Joseph Smith served both congregations at Cross Creek and
Upper Buffalo from the fall of 1779 until his death on April 19, 1792.
The pulpit was then supplied by Presbytery until June 13, 1794, when
the Rev. Thomas Marquis was installed, and he divided his time between
the Cross Creek and Upper Buffalo churches until 1798, when the Upper
Buffalo congregation secured a separate pastor. Rev. Marquis remained
at Cross Creek until he resigned in October, 1826, a period of thirty-two
years.
   The third pastor was Rev. John Stockton, who was installed on June
20, 1827, and was pastor for half a century, resigning June 20, 1877. He
died in Cross Creek village, May 5, 1882, aged seventy-nine years.
   His successor was Rev. William H. McCaughey, who preached his first
sermon as stated supply on July 8, 1877, and was installed October 13th.
He remained until 1885, and in 1886, Rev. J. P. Anderson became pastor,
remaining until 1892. Rev. Charles D. Williams was pastor from 1893
until 1900; Rev. Raymond M. Houston, from 1901 to 1906; Rev. Harry A.
Rhodes, from 1906 until 1908, when he resigned to go as a missionary
to Korea; Rev. H. W. Hanna, from 1908 until 1911, and Rev. Scott Mc-
Farland took charge in 1912. The present pastor is Rev. H. B. Hudnit.
The present membership is 257.
   The first meeting house was erected of unhewn logs on the site of the
present church in 1779. This was replaced by one of hewn logs in 1784,
to which another story and gallery were added later. This building
was burned Sunday morning April 20, 1803, supposedly of incendiary
origin. The congregation immediately erected a stone building, fifty-six
feet square, but it became too small and in 1830 a brick church was built.
The walls cracked and the building became unsafe and was razed, and in


610




































  House in which Rev. Alexander Camp-
bell, founder of the Christian Church in
the United States, lived while a resident
of Washington. It stood at the northeast
corner of East Strawberry Avenue and
South College Street; razed about 1905.


   The old graveyard at Cross Creek village, one of the oldest and most his-
toric in the county.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


amid the years, and even the name of its builder and the date of its erec-
tion are forgotten.
   Wells' Fort-Built by Alexander Wells at a date unknown, near the
junction of the north and south forks of Cross Creek, in Cross Creek
Township. Wells also built a grist mill at this fort, and both were noted
in pioneer times. The fort stood a little east of the stone house of William
Knox at Breneman Post Office. Richard Wells built a fort six miles north-
west of this fort, but a short distance over the line in West Virginia.
Troops were stationed at both forts during the Indian wars, and both
were noted in the history of the old frontier.
   Williamson's Fort or Station-Built by Colonel David Williamson at a
date unknown, but probably about 1776. This consisted of a triple cabin
and springhouse. It stood on Williamson's farm, on Buffalo Creek, a few
miles northwest of where Taylorstown now stands and not far from
Acheson. Part of the cabin was still standing in 1881, and in 1922 the
ruins of the springhouse were still standing a few feet high. The spring
is still in use, and a giant oak that was old when the first white man set
foot in Washington County still stands. Williamson was the leader at the
Gnadenhutten massacre, and second in command of the Crawford expedi-
tion of 1782. He was a brave man and a noted Indian fighter. This was
known as the John McPherson farm in later years, and is now owned by
Albert Sickle.
   Wilson's Blockhouse-The builder and date of its erection are un-
known. It stood on the old Wilson farm, in Mount Pleasant Township,
afterwards owned by Andrew Russell and one Miller.
   Wolfe's Fort-Built by Jacob Wolfe about 1780 five miles west of
Washington, in Buffalo Township. A strong stockade around his house
provided a refuge for settlers from that region many times during Indian
raids. Stricker's two blockhouses were one mile south. This fort, which
disappeared many years ago, stood on the John McDowell farm, in what
is now the garden. Old fashioned tiger lilies planted by Jacob Wolfe
nearly a century and a half ago are still growing in the garden, while a
short distance away is an old pear tree, which tradition says Johnny
Appleseed planted. There were two of these pear trees, but the other was
blown down many years ago. The one that remains had the top blown out
at the same time. They were originally about fifty feet high.
   Wilson's Fort-Very little is known of this fort. It is believed to have
stood on the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek, in Donegal Township, about
twelve miles from the Ohio River.
   Woodruff's Fort-Located on the farm owned in 1870 by Nehemiah
Woodruff, in southern Amwell Township. It was built upon an Indian
mound, where many bones and Indian relics were found in later years.
There were a number of Indian graves in the vicinity.
   Wright's Blockhouse-The location of this blockhouse is not known.
In fact the only records which we have showing that it ever existed are
found in the records of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania
and in the Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Volume II, page 257,
under lists of Washington County Militia in the service of the frontier
from 1782 to 1785 are the names of a party of soldiers stationed at
Wright's Blockhouse, as follows: Sergeant Daniel Clark, Privates Brice





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1864, the present building was erected at a cost of $12,000. The parsonage
was built on a lot of two and one-half acres adjoining in 1878 at a cost
of $2,500.
   The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Congregation at Patterson's
Mills is said to have been the result of some members of surrounding
churches protesting against the part that some congregations took in the
Civil war. It began with the preaching of Rev. Alexanders Weills, a Luth-
eran minister, in the school house at Patterson's Mills in 1864 and 1865.
Rev. James Calderhead, an Associate Reformed Presbyterian minister,
went to that section and preached in 1866; and on July 8, 1866, organized
a congregation with forty members. Rev. Calderhead supplied the con-
gregation until May, 1867, when Rev. W. M. McElwee, a southern preacher,
came and preached until 1869. Rev. W. S. Moffitt preached part of 1869,
and in the spring of 1870, Rev. James A. Meyers, of Kentucky, came, being
installed April 24, 1871. He remained until May 1881, when he resigned.
Rev. R. H. McAulay then became pastor.
   After its organization this congregation held services in the school
house until 1869, when a frame church was erected at a cost of $2,500.
A graveyard is located in the same lot, and the first interment was a young
son of Simeon Marquis, on November 28, 1871.
   On May 12, 1883, this became a United Presbyterian church with Rev.
Joseph Petigrew as pastor from 1884 to 1886, after which it was filled by
supplies. The congregation was disbanded in 1898. About 1906 it became
a Methodist Protestant church.

                        DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.
   The Dutch Fork Christian church, located at Dutch Fork settlement
on the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek, about three miles north of Coon Island,
was an outgrowth of the great religious movement started in the
county in the early years of the past century by Rev. Thomas Campbell
and his son, Alexander Campbell. In 1828, a young man named Absalom
Titus, who lived with his widowed mother on Duch Fork, went to Bethany
and was baptized by Rev. Alexander Campbell. Soon afterwards Rev.
Campbell preached at Mrs. Titus' house, and in 1830 she was baptized.
In 1833, Rev. Campbell and Walter Scott held a meeting in a sugar grove
on the farm of Elizabeth Rodgers. Shortly after this persons who had
been baptized together with some former members of the Brush Run
Christian Church began to hold regular meetings for worship at Mrs.
Titus' residence, where the breaking of bread was first held by James
McVey in 1831. They occasionally met at the house of Jacob Deeds,
near the present church, and in 1833 the congregation was organized by
James McVey and Walter Scott, with forty members.
   Meetings were held in the Dutch Fork schoolhouse until 1834, when
ground was acquired and the first church erected. This was used until
1863, when the present house of worship was erected. This congregation
has been tended most of the time since its organization by young min-
isters from Bethany College. The present pastor is Rev. H. T. Brown.
   Zion Chapel of the United Brethren, about a mile southeast of Buda-
ville, was organized as far back as 1800, with ten charter members. A two


612





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


story log church was built on the farm of Christopher Winter. This was
replaced by the second building in 1839, which was used until 1859, when
the present church was erected.

                     EAST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.
   The Methodist Episcopal church at Millsboro dates back to 1830 at
which time there were several families in that section of East Bethlehem
Township of both the Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant de-
nominations. They joined and a log meeting house was erected on the
land of Jesse Bumgarner in 1830 or 1831, but the Methodist Episcopals
were to have the preference of occupancy, then the Methodist Protestants
were to come next in order. The reason for this was probably from the fact
that Jesse Bumgarner, the owner of the land, was a member of the Metho-
dist Episcopal. The first pastor was Rev. S. Broconner. A Sunday school
was established in connection, with Samuel Pedan, of Washington, as the
first superintendent.
   The Methodist Protestant society was formally organized in 1834 by
Rev. Thomas Flower, and for a number of years it grew and was very
strong. However, its members drifted west and to other sections until
only four were left, and the society was disbanded.
   A brick edifice was erected in 1855 on the site of the old log church,
and this was known as the Methodist church. It is still owned by the
Methodist Episcopal society.
   The Presbyterian church of Millsboro was organized on June 17, 1838
as a Cumberland Presbyterian congregation and remained as such until
the union of the two churches in 1907. A brick church was erected on the
road between Millsboro and Fredericktown in 1840, but the two places now
join. Rev. Mr. Bryan, the first minister remained until 1844, with the
exception of 1843, when the pulpit was filled by Rev. I. Adams. Other
ministers were Rev. I. N. Cary, 1847-1850; Rev. Williams in 1855; Rev.
Jacob Mornyer in 1858; Rev. John S. Gibson in 1870; Rev. A. W. White,
in 1877; Rev. R. J. P. Lemon, 1878; Rev. I. N. Cary 1881. The present
pastor is Rev. Frank Fish, D. D. formerly of Claysville, who for many
years was a leader in the temperance cause in Washington County. The
present membership is 140.
   Saint Michael Archangel Roman Catholic Church was established at
Millsboro in recent years to accommodate the great influx of coal miners of
that denomination. The present rector in charge is Rev. John Greshner.
   The Methodist Episcopal congregation of Fredericktown was organ-
ized in 1904, in which year a frame church was erected. The first pastor
was Rev. J. C. White, who was succeeded by Rev. H. C. Humbert. The
present pastor is Rev. L. G. Richey.
   The East Bethlehem Baptist church dated back to 1849, when fifteen
members of this denomination organized themselves into a congregation.
In a short time they built a frame church on land donated by James C.
Hawkins, and this was occupied until 1888, when the present frame build-
ing was erected. The first pastor was Rev. William Wolf.
   The history of the Quakers of Westland Meeting house has already
been given in this chapter.


613





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                       EAST FINLEY TOWNSHIP.
   The Wheeling United Presbyterian, or Dogwood Grove Church, four
miles south of Claysville, was organized in May, 1836, by a number of mem-
bers of South Buffalo congregation living in East and West Finley Town-
ships. Meetings were held for a time in private houses and in a tent. The
first house of worship was erected about 1841, and on September 5, 1843,
Rev. Joseph Shaw, the first regular pastor, took charge in connection
with the West Alexander Church. He continued as pastor until October
5, 1852, and on September 8, 1853, Rev. James C. Murch became pastor,
dividing his time between this and the West Alexander Church, remaining
until June, 1859. Rev. James A. McKee was installed on August 9, 1860,
and remained in charge more than twenty years. In 1867 the present
house of worship was erected about fifty rods north of the old church,
the site of which was in the graveyard which may still be seen at the
side of the road.
   Stony Point Methodist Episcopal, near the center of the township,
was organized about 1826. The first meetings were held at the house of
Luke Enlow and afterwards at the home of Elliott Enlow. The first
church was built in 1830, and when the second edifice was erected it was
from the.lumber in the first building. Seven out of the sixteen persons
who were the first members were of the Enlow family and for this reason
this is sometimes called Enlow church. In the burial ground connected
with this church is a handsome m -oiiui-ni-nt t tl- ..... ,i -
Sprowls, of Company K, 140th Pennsylvania Volunteers, who died in
Andersonville Prison, aged twenty-seven years. Jesse M. Sprowls, of the
same company, was killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
   Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal congregation, located five miles east
of Stony Point, was organized about 1900, and a frame church was erected.
   Fairmont United Presbyterian, six miles south of Claysville and a
mile west of East Finley village, was organized about 1824, and in 1850
George Plants donated the land on which a church was built. This was
replaced in 1874 by a new frame building.
   Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, near the eastern line of East Finley
Township, was organized November 14, 1840, when fifty-three members
of the Ten Mile Baptist Church asked for letters of dismissal. On that
date services were conducted by Simon Sigfried, John Thomas and others,
and on December 17, 1840, Rev. Levi Griffith, the first pastor took charge.
   Enon Baptist Church was originally organized in Rich Hill Township,
Greene County, but it had many members from East Finley Township,
Washington County. The early records have been lost, and the exact date
of organization is not known. In 1881 a new frame church was built
some distance above Enon, on the Washington County side of Wheeling
Creek, at a cost of $2,700, and dedicated January 29, 1882. The first pastor
after the removal to Washington County, was Rev. Mr. Miller, who
preached the dedication sermon.
   Fairview Presbyterian Church, originally of the Cumberland Presby-
terian denomination, was organized in 1873, with forty-five charter mem-
bers, mostly from Old Concord, Morris Township, not far away. The first
pastor was Rev. James S. Keener.


614




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                      EAST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP.
    The Christian Church of Phillipsburg grew out of the Christian Church
at California, nearby. This church was organized about twenty years
ago. The present pastor is Rev. T. J. Olsey.

                       FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP.
    Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal congregation was organized prior to
1850, and in that year a brick church was erected at a cost of $1,000, on
the Bellevernon road, one mile from East Bethlehem postoffice. This
stood until 1901, when a new building took the place of the old one. Rev.
Warner Long had charge of the congregation when the first church was
built.
   Newkirk Methodist Episcopal, formerly called Pigeon Creek Metho-
dist Episcopal Church was erected in 1836 on the road between Bentley-
ville and Monongahela city. About twenty years later Samuel Babcock
started a subscription to raise a fund to build a new edifice. He was
successful, and in 1857 the new building was completed on a new location,
near Weaver station, one mile from Bentleyville. Mrs. Anna Topper is
the present pastor.
   Maple Creek Baptist Church, first called Baptist Church Enon, was
organized in 1791. The first meeting house was a log building near the
mouth of Maple Creek, but it was replaced some years later by a brick
church. In 1875 a frame church was erected on the land of John S. Carson,
on Carson's ridge. The members have long since scattered, and the
church is abandoned.
   Maple Creek Christian Church was organized October 17, 1857, by
James B. Piatt and Samuel B. Teagarden. Services were held for ten
years in a school building, and in 1867 a brick church was erected on land
donated by Dutton Shannon and wife. Many of the members having gone
to Charleroi, those remaining about 1894 leased the Maple Creek Baptist
Church for ten years. In 1905 they erected a new frame church nearby,
but it seems to be abandoned at the present time.

                        HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
   United Presbyterian Church at Paris was organized originally as early
as the summer of 1785 as a Seceder congregation, and a log church was
built near where the present village now stands. After 20 years the
society had declined so much that the house of worship was given up to
the United Congregation. Rev. George Buchanan seems to have been the
first regular pastor. In 1813 he accepted a call to preach half of his time
at this church and half at the Associate Reformed society in Steubenville.
A new meeting house was erected of hewn logs shortly after he took
charge. It was built on the state line between Pennsylvania and Vir-
ginia, and it is curious to note that the preacher stood in one state while
his congregation was in another. The building was not heated for many
years, but finally a stove was put in. This set fire to the church once
during services, but the young men put it out with snow and water. In
1843 a new brick church was erected at the east end of the village of
Paris. This is still in use. The present pastor is Rev. D. S. Fulton.


615





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The Cross Roads Presbyterian Church at Florence dates back to the
old King's Creek Presbyterian congregation which was in existence as
early as 1785 at King's Creek. The first church was of logs built on King's
Creek in 1786. This was used until 1798 when the congregation moved the
location to Florence, and another house of worship was constructed of logs,
being in the form of a cross forty by eighty feet in size. This was used
until 1831 when a new church of brick was completed, but it was burned
to the ground September 23, 1845, and in 1847 the present brick church
was erected. The first call of which there is a record was extended to
Rev. Elisha McCurdy on November 20, 1799, and he accepted, serving
the congregation until 1835. The present membership is 135 and the
pastor is Rev. J. M. Leister. A historic graveyard adjoins the church.
   Tucker Methodist Episcopal congregation was organized in 1824 by
Rev. Thomas Jamison. Land for a meeting house was purchased on the
Steubenville pike from John Tucker, one of the original members, from
whom it received its name. A stone meeting house, which is still in use,
was erected on this property, midway between Paris and Florence. There
is a graveyard in connection.

                        HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP.
   The Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church is one of the most historic
in Washington, and much has already been given of this congregation in
connection with the Cross Creek Presbyterians. It was organized is May
or June, 1779. Some authorities give the date of June 21st, but that is
probably an error as it is the date of the joint call extended to Rev. Joseph
Smith by this and the Cross Creek congregation, and he continued as
pastor of both until his death on April 19, 1792.
   The story of the famous New Orleans flour expedition to raise money
with which to pay Rev. Smith his back salary is one of the great historic
incidents of pioneer Washington County. Each congregation had agreed
to pay Rev. Smith seventy-five pounds a year. But there was no money in
those days, and the people had no ready market for their produce. In fact,
the nearest market was the Spanish town of New Orleans; but the journey
must be made in flat boats down the river. It was a journey filled with
many dangers, and many were the men who had started out and were
never heard of again. Indians and robbers beset every mile of the way.
   The years passed and the pastor was unpaid. He did not complain, for
his was a labor of God and love for his people, but he must have money
with which to make a payment on his land or he would lose it. Finally,
the congregation met to devise means with which to pay the debt. They
had plenty of wheat, but it was far to the market, and they could not sell
it in this section for twelve and a half cents a bushel. In despair they
adjourned to meet again the following week; and in the meantime a Mr.
Moore, who operated a grist mill, agreed to grind wheat for them at
reasonable terms. At the next meeting they decided to take their wheat to
Mr. Moore's mill. Each man gave liberally in grain, some fifty bushels
and some more, according to their wealth in grain.
   A month later word came that the flour was ready for the market,
and then the problem of transporting it arose; "Who will run the flour


616


















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 ofpashinton hcunt, about its2 eitc as note geprallye kownh
first time.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


to New Orleans?" Months must pass before the hardy men who would
make the attempt could return, even though they succeeded in passing
through the dangers of the journey in safety. The gloomy tales of Indians
and bandits along the river had their effect and none was willing to make
the attempt; for many a boat's crew had disappeared in that wilderness
of 1,800 miles.
    Just when the scheme seemed likely to fail, a gray-haired elder of the
church, sixty-four years of age, arose and announced to the astonished
people; "Here am I; send me." This was William Smiley, better known
to the congregation as Father Smiley. The people gathered around him
to learn if he really meant what he had said, and they found that rather
than lose their beloved pastor he would lead the expedition himself. After
some delay two young men were induced by the hope of large rewards to
accompany him. These young men have never been definitely known,
but we will present what is probably their names for the first time.
    The New Orleans flour expedition of Father Smiley has long been
famous in the history of the county, and has been the theme of many a
thrilling tale of those times. The year in which it occurred and the names
of the two men who accompanied him have never been known, but it was
generally supposed to have been before 1785. This point has been de-
finitely settled by the discovery in 1912 of the original agreement made
between William Smiley, Archibald Allison and John McClean covering
the wages on the New Orleans Expedition.
   This document, the most valuable in the early history of Washington
County, was found in 1912 by Rev. Joseph Hamilton, of Washington, who
was pastor of the Upper Buffalo Church from 1910 to 1914, in the poss-
ession of Mrs. Agnes Caldwell, an aged member of his congregation and a
descendant of William Smiley. At that time Mrs. Caldwell, who has
since died, resided one mile from Buffalo village. Rev. Hamilton secured
the ancient document and had it photographed, and has furnished the
author with a copy, and it here appears for the first time in print:
   This indenture made and concluded this 29 of april between Archi-
bald Allison of the one part and John McCleain and William Smile of the
other part all of the County of Washington and state of pennsylvania
Witneseth that sd Allison obligates to go as a hand to go Down to new
orleans John McClein and William Smile obligates to pay sd Allison seven
Dollars a mounth from the Deat abouve til he arives at philadelphia or Bal-
timore and to have five Dollars after that to Carry his Charges home
likewise to have the privilege of taking four hundred weight on the Boot
Down the River for the performance of the above obligation we bind our-
selves as Witness our hands and Seles this April 179  *.
Witness present                   Archibald Allison (SL)
David Smiley                      John McClean (SL)
                                 Win. Smiley (SL).
   *The last figure of the year was written so close to the edge of the
paper that it is worn and is not now legible. The original spelling and
punctuation are preserved.
   From this it is reasonable to conclude that William Smiley was ac-
companied by Archibald Allison and John McClean. There is a tradition
in the congregation today that Father Smiley walked back the entire dis-


618




































    The ruins of the old chapel at Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church,
Buffalo village, built about 1793. This is the oldest building now standing
in the county, which was erected for religious purposes.


    Present church and old graveyard of the Upper Buffalo Presbyterian
congregation at Buffalo village.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


tance from New Orleans, but it is more than probable that he went to
either Baltimore or Philadelphia by boat, as would appear was the plan
from this document.
   At any rate all three made the journey in safety and returned to
their homes, after selling the flour for $27 a barrel. Enough was received
to pay the men their wages, to pay Rev. Smith what was due him and his
salary for a year in advance, and to give Father Smiley 8300, after which
each person who had contributed wheat received a good dividend.
   The first church was built in 1779 at the northwest corner of what
is now the graveyard. This was used until 1798 when a larger building
of hewn logs was erected. It was without stoves until 1806, and in 1808
it was weatherboarded. It was first used as a place of worship in 1798
and occupied for 47 years, or until 1845. The ruins of this ancient build-
ing are still standing in the rear of the present church, and it is without
doubt the oldest building in Washington County that has been used for
religious purposes. The third church was erected in 1845, at a cost of
$3,300, and used until 1872 when the present structure was built. Its
cost was $20,597. Among the pastors of laters years who preached at
this church were Rev. John C. Struble, from 1906 to 1910; Rev. Joseph
Hamilton, now living in Washington, from 1910 to 1914; then Rev. George
Snodgrass, who was succeeded four years ago by Rev, Frederick W.
Chadwick, the present pastor. The membership is 193.

                      INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP.
   The Lower Buffalo Presbyterian Church was organized between 1785
and 1790. The first building, a log church that would seat 300, stood a
mile and a quarter west of Independence village and just over the line in
Brooke County, West Virginia. The second was a stone building, built in
1822, also in West Virginia; and it was occupied until 1850, when the pre-
sent edifice was erected in Independence village. The first pastor was
Rev. James Hughes, from 1790 to 1814. The present pastor is Walter A.
Monks. The congregation has a membership of 98.
   Independence Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1840 at
Independence. The first church was built in 1848 and cost $800. The
present edifice was erected in 1896 at a cost of $2,500. Rev. George Holmes
was the first pastor.
   Mount Hope United Presbyterian Church was organized about 1800,
and in 1804 Rev. John Templeton, the first pastor, was installed. Just
when the first church was erected is not known, but a building was built
in 1845. This was replaced in 1867 by a frame building, costing $4,500.
Rev. A. P. Duncan is the present pastor.
   Saint Michael's Roman Catholic Church is located at Avella. The
Rev. J. Puscar is the rector.
   The history of Doddridge's chapel, famous in early times has been
given in the account of Independence Township.

                        JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
   Bethel Methodist Episcopal congregation was the first religious society
in Jefferson Township. It was organized early in the last century, but a


620
































  The cabin of John McDowell, on the 0.
C. C. Pollock farm, North Strabane Town-
ship, where Rev. John McMillan preached
his first sermon west of the Alleghany
Mountains on August 27, 1775. A great-
grandson of Dr. McMillan is standing at the
side of the building.


  Upper Ten Mile Presbyterian Church, built on the
site of the original church at Lindley's Fort, near Pros-
perity, Morris Township.


s ; :.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


McGeehan, James Hays, James Dungan, William Russell, James Colby,
Benjamin Wells, Joseph Davis, John Ralston, William Carpenter, Alex-
ander Wright, John Wilson, John Jenkins.
    The records of the Supreme Executive Council show that on March
 21st, 1783, an order was drawn on the state treasurer in favor of Matthew
 Ritchie, of Washington County, for twenty-five pounds species, to be paid
 by him to Alexander Wright, of Wright's Blockhouse, Washington, and
 William Minor, being rewards allowed by proclamation of the council for
 two Indian scalps taken in Washington County.
    These records show that Wright's Blockhouse was standing in 1782,
and it was probably built much earlier. The author believes that it stood
somewhere in East or West Finley Township.
   Zollarsville-There was a fort of some kind at Zollarsville, on the high
hill just back of Ulery's mill and overlooking Ten Mile Creek, West Bethle-
hem Township. Tradition says that it was built by Indians. This is
probably correct, as there is nothing on record to show that white people
ever had a fort there. On October 5th, 1924, when the author visited this
place, a section of the old earthwork could still be traced. Bones and
Indian implements have been found there.





                           CHAPTER VI.

                               1773.
                          INDIAN WARS.
BEGINNING OF TWENTY YEARS OF INDIAN WARFARE-SHERRARD, THE
    FIRST SETTLER KILLED-ORIGIN OF INDIAN SUMMER-POW-WOWING
    DAYS.
                    Through a long warfare rude
                      With patient hardihood,
                    By toil and strife and blood,
                      The soil was won.
                                    -L. C. Cist.

   The Indian warfare which held Washington County and the entire
western border in its bloody grip for more than twenty years began in
the spring of 1773. The first settler killed in the county was a young man
named Sherrard, who had just been married and was engaged in clearing
a tract of land which he had purchased between where Raccoon church and
Florence now stand, when he was killed and scalped. He was a son of
Hugh Sherrard, who had settled in 1772 between Miller's Run and Catfish
Camp (Washington). And from that time until General Anthony Wayne
and his "Legion" won a decisive victory over the Northwest tribes at
Fallen Timbers, on the Maumee River, Ohio, in 1794, the settlers of this
county were never free from the fear of an Indian raid. Many were the
fierce battles fought between red men and white for the possession of the





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


church was not erected until 1813, on the road from Eldersville to Wells-
burg. It was used until the congregation passed out of existence
about 1870.
   Bethel Methodist Protestant congregation was organized in 1829, and
services were held in the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church until 1834,
when a stone church was erected. This was used until 1874 when a new
building was completed. Josiah Foster was the first regular pastor.
   Eldersville Methodist Protestant congregation was organized in 1829
in which year a church was built. This was replaced in 1849 by a brick
edifice, and was remodeled in 1875. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Selby.

                         MORRIS TOWNSHIP.
   Upper Ten Mile Presbyterian Church at Prosperity, stands within
three hundred feet of the site of Lindley's Fort. As already related the
Upper and Lower Ten Mile Churches were organized as one on August
15, 1781, with twenty-five members, with Rev. Thaddeus Dodd as the first
pastor. They continued as one organization until 1817, when Lower Ten
Mile withdrew. Rev. Thomas Hoge, of Washington, succeeded Rev. Dodd
as stated supply for about two years, and in 1819, Rev. Andrew Wylie took
charge, remaining until 1821. Rev. Boyd Mercer came next and then Rev.
Ludovicus Robbins. This congregation has had many able pastors since
that time.
   The first meeting of the congregation was in Daniel Axtell's barn in
1777, and the first church was a log building erected on land donated by
Deman Lindley in 1792. In 1817 this was replaced by a large frame
building which was used until 1853, when the third was erected. This was
destroyed by fire in January, 1860 and the present brick church was built
immediately upon the ashes of the third. The parsonage was built in
1872. The present pastor is Rev. Stoops Davidson.
   Old Concord Presbyterian Church was organized on August 16th, 1831,
and was the first of this denomination to be organized in Pennsylvania.
Rev. Alexander Chapman and Rev. John Morgan, who were holding meet-
ings in that section, were the men responsible for its beginning. This
congregation became a Presbyterian Church with the union of the Cum-
berland and Presbyterian denominations in 1907. Rev. Martin Kuehn
is the present pastor. The present membership of 120 includes many in
that section of Morris Township and extends down into Greene County.
   Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at an early
date and in 1856 they erected a church two miles west of Prosperity.
For many years the pulpit was filled by the pastor at Claysville. The
old church erected in 1856 was replaced in 1892 by the present structure.

                    MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
   Mount Pleasant United Presbyterian Church, near Hickory, dates back
to 1795, but from the best information obtainable, the first meeting as
a congregation was held in a tent on December 29th, 1801, at which time
there were 325 members, but a charter was not secured until 1820. This
congregation has had three churches, the first being a log structure erected


622




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


on the site of the present building on May 3, 1803. In referring to this
church, the late Dr. William A. McConnell, pastor of the congregation for
forty-three years, once stated: "This was a log structure, and judging
from the amount of whiskey required for its erection, it must have been of
somewhat imposing dimensions." In this connection it must be remem-
bered that whiskey formed an important part of the "material" used in the
construction of all of the old log buildings in the early times.
   The second church was of brick, erected in 1824, on the site of the first.
This was used until 1868 or 1869 when the present edifice was constructed.
   From 1806 to 1812 the pulpit was filled by a stated supply, and the first
pastor was not called until May 28, 1819, when Rev. Alexander Donnan took
charge, remaining until April 20, 1852. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph
R. Thompson on April 28, 1853, and he remained until December 16, 1861.
On July 4, 1865, Rev. William A. McConnell took charge and remained
until December 1, 1808, when he was succeeded by Rev. Charles Stunkard,
the present pastor. The history of the pastors of this congregation is
not duplicated in this county and probably not in the United States. The
nearest record to this church is that of Bethel Presbyterian Church in
Allegheny County, which has had five pastors in 150 years. The Mount
Pleasant church during its 130 years now has only its fourth minister.
All three of Rev. Stunkard's predecessors are buried in the graveyard near
the church, and on a warm summer day it is possible for him to look out of
the window and see their graves as he stands in the pulpit. The Westland
mission at the village of Westland, not far away, is in charge of the pastor
of this church.
   Mount Prospect Presbyterian congregation, at Hickory, which cele-
brated its centennial on August 9, 1925, held its first meetings in the homes
of the members and later in a grove near the present church. On April
20, 1825, permission was secured to erect a house of worship on the
David Lyle farm a mile west of Hickory, and it was used until 1861, when
a new church was erected. This was destroyed by fire on March 23, 1871,
after which the present building was erected at a cost of $10,000.
   The pulpit was first filled by supplies, until December 3, 1828, when
Rev. David Hervey was installed, who remained until April 23, 1835. He
died in 1891, at an advanced age. The other pastors were Rev. John Moore,
1837-1845; Rev. David R. Campbell, 1849-1855; Rev. William Keeling,
1858-1863; Rev. John C. Caldwell, 1864-1868. Rev. Robert T. Price, 1868-
1873; Rev. Thomas R. Alexander, 1873-1892; Rev. Andrew T. Taylor, Rev.
John J. Strodes, Rev. James A. Cunningham, Rev. James E. Miller, Rev.
Uruah W. McMillan; Rev. A. F. Alexander, 1914-1923, and Rev. Dwight
B. Davidson, 1923 to the present time.

                   NORTH BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.
   Bethlehem Lutheran Church, five miles west of Scenery Hill, dates
back to 1788. In the beginning two congregations, the Lutheran and the
Dutch Reformed, worshipped in the same building, but the latter did not
last long, and soon died out. The first meetings were held in a log school
house, but in 1791 a brick church was built, the spot being marked by a
flat stone in the center of the present cemetery. This was replaced in


623





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1846 by a brick church, which was remodeled in 1880. The present build-
ing was erected in 1906 at a cost of $16,000.
    The Pigeon Creek Dunkard, or German Baptist Church was erected
 in 1858 a mile and a half northwest of Scenery Hill, by members of the
 old Ten Mile Dunkard (now known as the Ten Mile Church of the Bre-
 thren). The church on Pigeon Creek was built of frame and was to ac-
 commodate some of the members who lived in that section too far from Ten
 Mile Church to attend regular services. The members long ago either died
 out or drifted to other sections, aid the building was razed within the last
 twenty-five years. The graveyard which adjoined the church is still
 kept in good condition by a Mr. Letherman. A more detailed account of
 this interesting organization will be found in the history of the Ten Mile
 Church of the Brethren in West Bethlehem Township.
    Fairview Methodist Episcopal congregation was organized in 1876,
and a church erected the same year upon land donated by William Sargent
midway between Scenery Hill and Beallsville, and two and a half miles
south of the National pike. This was a frame building and it was used
until about 1905 when it was burned. Since that time the congregation
has attended worship at Scenery Hill.
   Mount Calvary Lutheran Church at Scenery Hill was built in 1850,
and was used jointly by the Lutheran and Presbyterian congregations,
but later the former occupied it alone. This church was replaced about
1895 by the present frame building.
   Methodist Episcopal Church of Scenery Hill was erected by Hiram
Winnett in 1852. This building was used until replaced by the present
brick edifice in 1878. The present pastor is Rev. W. E. Bean.
   Redstone Church was erected about 1797 on land purchased from Col.
Thomas Crooks a Revolutionary soldier and one of the first settlers in
that region on July 11, 1797. It is about half a mile north of the present
Scenery Hill. Little is known of this congregation. The church was built
under the charge and supervision of Rev. Joseph Doddridge, and it is
believed to have been Episcopal. The church was built of logs and was
named Redstone from the fact that the Redstone road, now the National
pike, passed near the spot. It was entirely abandoned so long ago that no
one now living can remember when the congregation worshipped there;
and the old building was torn away about 17 years ago. In connection
with this church was a graveyard known as Crooks' graveyard, and it, like
the church is practically unknown. Most of the headstones are gone, and
its very existence was forgotten until the summer of 1922, when an old
sandstone slab, upon which was the inscription, "Col. Thomas Crooks
died February 25, 1815, past 80 years of age," was discovered by troopers
from a regiment of cavalry camped there during the coal strike in that
year. Even then few people could recall that the old church had ever stood
there. The encampment was named "Camp Thomas Crooks" in honor of
this Revolutionary veteran.

                    NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.
   Chartiers Presbyterian, better known as the Hill Church, is one of the
most historic in the county, dating back to 1775 when Rev. John McMillan


624
















































  The oldest grave stone in Washington County,
located in the Hill Church Cemetery near Canons-
burg. Grave of Mary Ann Kelly, who died May
4, 1783.


  The historic Hill or Chartiers Presbyterian Church and graveyard; founded
by Rev. John McMillan in 1775.


40-V1




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


first came to Washington County, and preached his first sermon in this
region at the log cabin home of John McDowell, which has already been
related at the beginning of this chapter. In March, 1776, the congre-
gation called Rev. McMillan, who remained as pastor until April 21, 1830.
   The first church was built of logs in 1778, which gave way in 1800 to a
stone building, and it is said that many of the stones used in its construction
came from Indian graves on a nearby hillside. In 1832 the stone church
was improved but in 1841 it was found too small for the growing congre-
gation, and the present brick building was erected at a cost of $2,500.
The wood for this building was hauled from Pittsburgh in a Conestoga
wagon by the late William James Munce. This building was remodeled
in 1909, when the interior arrangement was changed; and in 1912 the
tower was added and other improvements made at a cost of $2,000. The
parsonage, known as Hill Manse, was erected in 1908, at a cost of $4,500,
on land donated by Jones Brothers.
   The sesquicentennial held by this congregation at the church on Au-
gust 27, 1925, was one of the largest events of the kind in the history of
the county. At that time Mrs. Ella McMillan Dawson, of Canonsburg,
a great granddaughter of Rev. John McMillan, the founder, was present
and wore the same dress in which her great grandmother, Catherine
Brown, was married to Rev. John McMillan, 149 years before. She also
had on exhibition lamps, pictures and other relics of the early days of
the congregation when Dr. McMillan was pastor.
   Dr. McMillan's record of 55 years of service is not equalled by any
other pastor in the county, and possibly not in Pennsylvania. The other
pastors of this congregation are: Rev. Samuel Leake, July 12, 1831-June
21, 1843; Rev. Alexander B. Brown, September 3, 1844-January 11, 1848;
Rev. Robert White, September 6, 1848-December 14, 1848, when he died;
Rev. Joseph R. Wilson, June, 20, 1849-January 15, 1851; Rev. William
Ewing, January 14, 1852-April, 1870; Rev. Matthew Bradley, June 10,
1874-1884; Rev. John F. Hill, November 8, 1884-January 1, 1907; Rev.
Murray C. Reiter, September 14, 1907-May 6, 1914; Rev. Paul G. Miller,
December 21, 1914-1921; Rev Dewalt D. Kiehl, 1922 to the present time.
   It is interesting to note in this connection that Rev. Joseph R. Wilson,
who was pastor from 1849 to 1851, was the father of the late President
Wilson. The old house in which he resided is still standing beside the
church. It is a small frame building, and was for many years the parsonage.

                       NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP.
   Mount Prospect United Presbyterian congregation was organized near
Munntown, February 4, 1860, through the efforts of David R. McNary,
who went to that town in 1858 and engaged in the mercantile business.
There was preaching first in the school house. Rev. Houston, pastor of the
Peters Creek Church, opposed the organization through fear that he would
lose some of his flock. A lot was secured from Joseph Hamilton on July
9, 1862, upon which a new church was erected at a cost of $1,840, the
first sermon being preached in it on April 5, 1863, by Rev. R. N. Boyd.
This building is still standing. The first pastor was Rev. Thomas Ralph,
who served until May 1, 1869. The present pastor, Rev. John S. Stoner,
was installed on June 27, 1922.


626




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Fairview Presbyterian Church, also located in Munntown, was orga-
ized February 24, 1860, in the old district school house with twenty-one
members. Services were held from that time until the completion of a
church in the fall of 1860. This is a frame building and is still occupied.
The pulpit was filled by supplies until September 1, 1864, when Rev.
John Ewing, the first regular pastor was called. The pulpit is vacant
at the present time. The membership is 255.
   Wright's Methodist Episcopal Church, at Venetia, on the road be-
tween Thomas and Finleyville, on Peters Creek, was built of brick in
1823, by Enoch Wright, who was a Baptist at that time. He built this
church himself on his own land for the Baptists, and it was used by them
until 1835, when Mr. Wright became a Methodist because of arguments
about sects among the Baptists. Rev. Shadreck was the Baptist min-
ister in charge, but when Mr. Wright joined the Methodists his church
was turned over to that denomination for their use, but Mr. Wright still
held title to it. At his death he willed it to his son, Rev. Joseph Wright,
a Methodist minister, and he in turn at his death left it to the Methodist
church, "to have and to hold so long as it was kept free from debt." The
additional clause was made that all religious bodies were to have free
use of it, providing they were not pro-slavery. There was also a condi-
tion that there was to be no talk in the church either for or against labor
or in favor of women's rights. This building was razed in 1923, when the
present church was erected. The present pastor is Rev. Lester F. Ault.
   The Methodist Episcopal Church at Ginger Hill, known as Edwards'
Chapel, was erected in 1868. It was named Edwards' Chapel in honor of
the first pastor, Rev. Charles Edwards. The original church was razed
a number of years ago and the present frame building erected.

                         PETERS TOWNSHIP.
   Peters Creek Baptist Church is the second oldest church in Washing-
ton County, having been constituted November 10, 1773, but at that time
it was located at Library, Allegheny County. On this date the covenant
was signed by the following: Rev. John Whittaker, minister; Thomas
Applegate, J. Barrett, Henry Semmons, Peter Elrod, Christopher Miller,
Mary Whittaker, Margaret Jaret, and Ailey Lemmons, members. Al-
though the church was organized at Library, the congregation used as
its first place of worship a log house on the Robert Estep property in what
is now Union Township but then in Peters. On September 10, 1788, the
congregation purchased a lot from John Cox, near the old Bradford mill,
in what is now Peters Township, and a church was erected. It seems
that at this time there were two branches of this church, one at Eliza-
bethtown and the other at or near Gastonville. The latter was sold April
3, 1810, and a hewed log church was erected on another site donated by
Rev. David Phillips at Library, which was used until 1832, when it was
replaced by a brick church.
   Peters Creek United Presbyterian Church, two miles from McMurray,
was organized as Mingo Creek Church, according to the best information
obtainable by Rev. J. H. Miller, the present pastor, in 1781; and accord-
ing to tradition the first meeting was held at the house of Daniel Darrah.


627




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


The first church was erected about 1781, near Finleyville, which remained
in use until 1795, when the location was moved to the site of the present
edifice and the name changed to Peters Creek. A log church was first
erected on the present site, and this was used until 1832 when it was re-
placed by the present brick building. The congregation celebrated the
centennial of the removal to the present location in 1895. The first pas-
tor, Rev. Matthew Henderson, served from 1781 to 1795. The following
are the other pastors: John Smith, 1795-1803; Robert Brice, 1808-1813;
Alexander Wilson, 1817-38; James Brown, 1840-43; J. C. Herron, 1845-
52; J. C. Whitten, 1854-56; A. Y. Houston, 1858-64; John Patterson,
1867-72; R. M. Patterson, 1873-82; R. H. Hood, 1884-91; W. A. McCly-
monds, 1892-95; J. H. Miller, 1897-06; R. E. Carson, 1909-13; M. B.
Maxwell, 1914-20; J. H. Miller, 1921 to the present time.
   John Patterson, aged 87 years, the oldest member of the congrega-
tion, remembers seeing the original log church on Mingo Creek; but this
was long after it had ceased to be used by the congregation.
   Peters Creek Christian Church, a mile and a half east of McMurray,
grew out of the agitation in the Baptist churches about 1830, and its
first members came from the Peters Creek Baptist congregation. The
Christian congregation was organized in 1836 at the house of Edward
Riggs, under the leadership of David Newmyre. They met in the houses
of members for about three years, and in 1839 a brick church was erected
on a lot east of the present building. In 1858 the present frame meeting
house was erected.
   Center Presbyterian Church, located six miles east of Canonsburg,
was called Center because it is about equidistant from, Chartiers, Bethel,
Bethany and Mingo cemeteries. It was organized on August 29, 1828,
and the first meetings were held in a grove near the present church until
a church was erected that same year on land donated by Daniel Bell.
The present edifice was erected in 1851, at a cost of $2,000, near the site
of the first building. The first pastor was Rev. John H. Kennedy, who
served from 1831 to 1840. The present pastor, Rev. John Waite, has
served since May 15, 1923.

                        ROBINSON TOWNSHIP.
   Raccoon Presbyterian congregation was in existence as early as 1778.
The first house of worship of unhewn logs was erected in 1781, on Rac-
cGon Creek, near Beelor's Fort, the name of which was given to the church
at that time. This church contained two recesses, one of which was for
the slaves then owned by members of the congregation. This house was
in use as late as 1830, when a brick church, almost square, was erected on
the present site. This building was razed in 1872, and a substantial brick
church was erected at a cost of $16,000.
   Robinson United Presbyterian congregation was started in 1830 by
a number of residents in that section, but their petition for a church was
not granted until August 27, 1833. In the meantime a brick church had
been erected. This was replaced in 1875 by another building at a cost of
$16,000. This was later destroyed by a cyclone, after which the congre-
gation moved to McDonald.


628





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                          SMITH TOWNSHIP.
   Center United Presbyterian Church, one-half mile south of Midway,
was organized May 2, 1859, by Rev. J. C. Campbell, who was appointed
for that purpose by Chartiers Presbytery. The first meetings were held
in private dwellings and in a school house. The church was built in 1859
and 1860, it being completed in February, on land donated by John Camp-
bell. A large graveyard is also in connection with this church. The first
pastor, Rev. D. S. Kennedy, was installed September 4, 1862, and re-
mained until 1872. He was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Waddell, 1873-1886;
Rev. W. J. Graham, 1888-1898; Rev. J. D. Gibson, 1898-1910; Rev. J. G.
Roany, 1911-1915; Rev. Earl D. Miller, 1915-1918; Rev. R. W. Nairn,
1918 to the present time.
   Mount Vernon Associate Reformed Church stood on the line between
Smith and Mount Pleasant townships, on the old Washington-George-
town road. It was organized in 1829, and in 1832 a brick edifice was
erected on land of James Leech. This was used until the church passed
out of existence in 1858 with the formation of the United Presbyterian
denomination. The building was purchased by the late Joseph Leech and
is today used as a barn. Rev. S. Taggart was its only pastor.

                        SOMERSET TOWNSHIP.
   Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church, which celebrated its sesquicenten-
nial at the church on August 25, 1925, is famous as the meeting place of
the first Presbytery west of the Alleghany Mountains, which was held Sep-
tember 19, 1781. In this church was also held the first meeting in the
interests of public school education in the state; and from that gathering
originated the county schools and the institute. The congregation was
the result of the labors of Dr. John McMillan, which has already been de-
scribed. Dr. McMillan, the first pastor, served the congregation nineteen
years. After him came Rev. Boyd Mercer, who served from 1794 to 1798.
During its 150 years this congregation has had 150 pastors, the last be-
ing Rev. Charles E. Snoke, who served from 1916 to 1924. The pulpit is
vacant at the present time. The first building was of hewed logs, erected
probably shortly after the church was organized. After this came a stone
edifice erected at a date unknown. The floor collapsed during services on
one occasion, and the entire congregation was precipitated into the cellar,
but fortunately none was injured. This was followed by another build-
ing, and in 1829 the present brick church was erected.
   Pigeon Creek United Presbyterian Church was organized in 1816 as
the Horseshoe Bottom Association congregation, and in 1820 the name
was changed to Pigeon Creek. Services were held the first year in the
house of Thomas Hall in 1816, and later in a tent. The first church was
of logs, erected in 1819, in what is now the graveyard. This was used
until 1838 when a brick church was erected and in use until 1869 when
the present edifice was started and completed in 1871 at a cost of $18,000.
The first pastor was Rev. Alexander Wilson, who served until June 10,
1834. The present pastor is the Rev. J. B. Jamison.
   Pigeon Creek Baptist, half a mile east of Vanceville, was organized
August 23, 1803. In 1830 land was donated by Solomon Huffman and a


629





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


brick church was erected. This was razed in 1858, and the present edi-
fice erected nearby.
    German Lutheran Church was organized at a date unknown, but in
1816 land was warranted to the trustees for the use of the German Luth-
eran and Calvinistic congregations of Somerset Township, and a log
church was erected soon afterwards. This was razed a few years later
and the present brick church erected.
    The Church of Christ of Vanceville was first designated as "The
Congregation of the Disciples of Christ at Pigeon Creek," in 1832. Many
of the members came from the Pigeon Creek Baptist congregation. Both
congregations continued to worship in the same building until 1858, when
the old church was disposed of. On January 16, 1858, David McDonough
had deeded to the trustees of the Disciples Church an acre of ground
where the present meeting house of worship is located. A church was
erected on this ground in 1860. The membership is at present very small.

                     SOUTH FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
   Bethel Presbyterian Church at Van Buren was organized as a Cum-
berland Presbyterian Church on May 20, 1833, and remained in that de-
nomination until the union of the Cumberland and Presbyterian in 1907,
after which it became a Presbyterian. The first meetings were held in
private dwellings until a building was erected, which was shortly after
the organization. This was replaced by the present edifice in 1869 and
1870 on the original location. The first pastor was the Rev. John Mor-
gan, from 1833 to 1834, who was instrumental in organizing the early
Cumberland Presbyterian churches in this county. He was followed by
Rev. S. M. Aston, in 1834, who remained until 1838. J. R. Longhner,
the last regular pastor, had charge from 1916 to 1925. Since his resigna-
tion the pulpit has been supplied by Rev. Charles E. Snoke, of Wash-
ington.
                     SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.
   Laboratory Presbyterian Church was organized at the historic village
of Laboratory, better known as Pancake, on June 4, 1913, although
preaching had been held in the school house there on Sunday afternoon
for several years prior to that time. A charter was secured on June 24,
1914, signed by twenty-eight members of the new congregation. After
the organization, meetings were held in the school house until the present
brick edifice was completed, when the first service was held therein May
10, 1914. The first pastor was Rev. George B. Irwin, who served from
1913 to 1915. He was succeeded by Rev. George W. Pollock in 1916, and
he remained until 1923. Rev. S. R. Brown, the present pastor took charge
in 1924.
   Davidson Methodist Episcopal Chapel, located at Glyde, on the Na-
tional Pike, seven miles east of Washington, dates back to 1840 when the
congregation was first organized. Meetings were first held in a school
house. About 1845 a church was erected on a site two miles north of
the present building, and services were held there until 1867, when the
location was changed to Glyde and the present frame building erected.
It was first called Providence Chapel, but when it was moved to the pres-


630




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ent location the name was changed to Davidson. The \Iount Pleasant
Presbyterian congregation now occupies the first site.
   Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church was organized July 2, 1872, with
twenty-eight members, the organization being largely due to the efforts
of Mrs. Jane Dill Wilson, who died June 20, 1877, at an advanced age.
The first preacher was Rev. W. Ewing. The present membership is
twenty, and the pulpit is vacant.

                          UNION TOWNSHIP.
   Mingo Presbyterian Church, famous as the headquarters and meeting
place of the Mingo Society during the Whisky Insurrection of 1794,
stands on the Pittsburgh-Charleroi electric line, about two miles south of
Finleyville. It was organized in August, 1786, and a log church was
erected sometime before 1794 as it was standing during the Whisky In-
surrection. It was fifty by fifty-five feet, with five by nine feet exten-
sions from the middle on the north and south sides. This church was
the meeting point of the expedition that marched against General Neville's
house at Bower Hill. The historic log building stood until 1832 when the
present brick church was erected. Its membership is now seventy-six;
and the Rev. R. Frank Getty is the present pastor.
   Peters Creek Methodist Episcopal Congregation, known as James'
Stone Church, is the oldest building in Washington County that has been
used continuously for religious purposes. This historic church is located
a mile and a half from Gastonville, on an unimproved road that is im-
passable in bad weather. This congregation was organized in 1810 in
the second floor of the stone house of Robert James, which is still stand-
ing a short distance from the church. The upper part of this house was
one room and in this large room the first service was held by Bishop Mc-
Kendree, who had been persuaded to come there by Mrs. James, who had
attended a camp meeting on Pike Run. Robert and William James and
their wives were among the first members.
   Robert James donated an acre of ground where, in 1816, the present
stone church was erected; and from that day to this it has been in con-
tinuous use, thus making it the oldest church in the county. During all
that period there has not been a month that services have not been held.
The walls are two and one-half feet thick; shortly after the War of
1812 had closed, it was constructed with an idea of using it as a fort
in case of another war with Great Britain. It is admirably located
for this purpose as it stands on the top of the highest hill in that section,
and the country can be seen for many miles in every direction. There
was no floor for several years, and the members of the congregation car-
ried kettles of hot coals in cold weather with which to keep their feet
warm. The building was remodeled inside and refurnished in 1876. Sur-
rounding the church is the graveyard.
   The First Methodist Episcopal congregation of Gastonville was or-
ganized in 1909, and a church erected at a cost of $3,000.
   Courtney Presbyterian Church was organized in 1894, and a church
built on land owned by Anna George, with Rev. J. F. Patterson as the
first pastor. The congregation ceased holding meetings in the church in


631





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


wilderness during those years. The one race fought for its native land in
which an alien people sought to establish new homes.
   It was during this bloody period of our history that the name of
"Indian Summer" was given to that part of the late fall when the weather
is warm and the days smoky, and which we now regard as the most
pleasant and delightful season of all the year. It is now the last chance
we have for outdoor pleasures before the cold of the long winter sets in;
but the early settlers looked upon it with dread, and there was no rejoicing
in pioneer times when Indian Summer came.
   In early times the winters were much longer than at present. Dr.
Doddridge, in his Notes, says that there was always a heavy fall of snow
early in the autumn, and often the ground would not be clear until spring.
This was the kind of a winter the settlers wanted; for as long as the snow
lay on the ground they were safe from Indian raids, to which they were
exposed from early spring until the first snows of winter closed in on the
wilderness.
   On account of these raids by the dreaded red warriors the early settlers
were compelled to spend the long, hot summers in the nearest fort or
blockhouse, the men going every day to their farms to cultivate their
crops. Each community had a blockhouse or fort, which was occupied
during the summer by several families, and they were always crowded.
It is not to be wondered at that the settlers of this county hailed the first
snow with joy; for it meant that they could return to their cabin homes,
and remain there with safety as long as the snow covered the ground.
   Occasionally, after the first snow had fallen and winter had apparently
set in, the snow would melt, and a period of warm weather would follow.
This was always dreaded by the settlers; for the red warriors would in-
variably take advantage of the thaw to make one more raid against the
whites before the snow drove them to their permanent villages for the
winter. And thus it was that the warm, smoky days of the late fall re-
ceived the name of "Indian Summer."
   A period of warm, open weather would generally come towards the
latter part of February, and the snow would melt. This period was called
"Pow-wowing Days" by the settlers; for it was then that the Indians began
holding their war councils and making their plans for the spring and
summer raids against the whites of the western border.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1907, as it did not have title to the land and could not hold it any longer.
It then met in the school house. It was reorganized in 1911, and a church
was secured. The membership is now fifty-one, and the Rev. R. Frank
Getty, of Finleyville, is the pastor.
   The Methodist Protestant Church at Coal Bluff was organized in 1871,
through the influence of Rev. James Robinson, of Pittsburgh. A house
of worship was erected in that year by the Methodist and Presbyterian
congregations of Coal Bluff in 1871, upon land donated by James K.
Logan, and used jointly by them on alternate Sundays.

                     WEST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.
   The Ten Mile Church of the Brethren, originally known as the Ten
Mile Dunkard Church, was organized about 1800 with Rev. Mr. Bruist as
the pastor, but from that time until 1832 this congregation had no house
of worship. The members of this congregation were originally Ger-
mans, the name Dunkard, Dunker or Tunker, being German and mean-
ing "to dip." From this they are sometimes called German Baptists.
Among the first Dunkard families in this section were the Helfts, Gar-
bers, Graybills, Sphans, Biglers, Wises, Thomases, Tanners, Millers,
Lanes, Leasers, Guttereys and Swiharts, all of whom were early settlers.
   These people are among the most picturesque and interesting in the
county. The old time Dunkards wore a distinctive dress. The men
would not wear buttons on their clothing, and dressed in plain black, with
long coats reaching almost to their knees and broad-brimmed felt hats.
The women wore plain clothing, and were distinctive by their plain gray
bonnets. Occasionally one of the old-time Dunkards may still be seen in
that section of the county. The ceremony of "washing each others' feet"
is still practiced at the services.
   Among the old-time Dunkards left in the county is Rev. Samuel W.
Bail, who is frequently seen in Washington, dressed in the conventional
black with long coat and wide felt hat. He is a tall man and makes a
striking appearance.
   The first and only church of this congregation was erected of brick in
1832 on a high ridge about three miles east of Lone Pine, where it is
still used by the congregation every Sunday. In the rear of the audience
room the old fashioned fireplace may still be seen, and on each side are
cupboards in which are preserved brass candle sticks used for lights in
early times. The church has not changed any in the past century and it
may be seen today just as it was when first built in 1832, except that
many of the members of the congregation are gathered in the little grave-
yard which surrounds the building.
   This congregation reached its highest point in the sixties under Rev.
James Quintet, an evangelist holding services at the church; and he se-
cured fifty-two members. Rev. Mr. Bruist was succeeded in 1838 by Rev.
Mr. Helft. Other ministers who have had charge of this congregation
are Revs. John Sphan, Andrew Wise, George Wise, John Wise, Samuel
Moore, Daniel Lane, George B. Shidler, J. M. Tombaugh, A. J. Sterling,
N. B. Christner, Jerry Betterff, D. W. Hestettler, Virgill C. Fennell,


632



































    James' Methodist Episcopal Chapel near Gastonville; built in 1816 and still in use.
This is the oldest church in continuous use in the county. It was built so it could be
used as a fort in case of another war with England.


    The Ten Mile Church of the Brethren, originally the Ten Mile Dunkard Church;
built in 1835 and still in use.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Samuel W. Bail, Joseph C. Swihart, and R. T. Idlemen, the present pastor,
who has been in charge since 1909.
    The Pigeon Creek Dunkard Church, built in 1858, but now out of
existence, was an offspring of this congregation. The Highland Dunk-
ard Church, a frame building, two and one-half miles from Lone Pine,
and on Indian Ridge, also grew out of this church. It is a frame build-
ing built about forty years ago, and still used occasionally.
    The name was changed to the Ten Mile Church of the Brethren within
the last forty years. This is the last Dunkard Church in the county,
and it now has about thirty members. During the last half century this
congregation has lost many of its members who moved away to other
sections and many others are scattered in western Pennsylvania. O. J.
Holsapple, of Bentleyville, a member who supplied the information to the
author for this sketch, is one of the last members. He is a direct descend-
ant of Henrich Holzapfel, who was one of the first Dunkards who came
to America in 1719 and settled at Germantown.
   The Highland United Brethren or Dunkard Church, already men-
tioned, was the result of dissatisfaction among the younger generation
over the customs of their fathers in the manner of dress and allowing
hair to grow on their faces. About forty years ago they broke away and
built the present frame church on Highland Ridge about a mile from the
old church.
   Ten Mile Methodist Episcopal Church at Zollarsville, was started in
1840 by John Gregg and Hiram Winnett, two local ministers in the old
Lutheran log church building near Adam Horn's residence. In 1842
Stephen Ulery erected a brick church at a cost of $3,000, for the use of
the society, which is set forth by a tablet in the gable. This church is
still in use. It was repaired in 1908 at a cost of $1,000.
   Horn's Lutheran Church, also near Zollarsville, was organized at a
very early date with Rev. Paul Henkle, the pioneer Lutheran minister in
the county. This was before 1791 for Rev. John Stough, one of Rev.
Henkle's students, took charge of the congregation in that year and
served until 1806. The same pastor served both this and the Mount Cal-
vary Lutheran until twenty-five years ago when they were separated. A
log church was built at a very early date, and it was replaced by a frame,
which stood until 1869 when the present church was built. The con-
gregation has now about passed out of existence.

                      WEST FINLEY TOWNSHIP.
   Windy Gap Presbyterian Church, one-half mile north of Burnsville,
was organized March 29, 1850, as a Cumberland Presbyterian Church
and remained as such until the union in 1907. It was first organized by
members of the Old Concord Cumberland Presbyterian who resided in
West Finley Township. Meetings were held in the Burnsville school
house until the summer of 1857, when a church was erected. This was re-
placed by the present building in 1887. The first pastor was Rev. Alex-
ander Robertson. The present minister is Rev. J. V. Mountain. The
membership is 100.
   The Burnsville Christian Church was started about 1835 as a result


634





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of meetings held at different houses and in the Liberty school. In 1851
a small frame church was erected and used until the congregation dis-
banded about 35 years ago.
   The Beham Christian Church was organized about twenty years ago,
as a result of the work of Joseph Robison and John Carl.
   North Wheeling Baptist Church was organized in 1850, and in 1850
a frame church was erected on the land of John Henderson, a mile and
a half south of Beham, at a place known locally as "Coonie Town," so-
called after "Coonie Ben" Fairly, a raccoon hunter of that region three-
quarters of a century ago. Revs. Walter Scott, J. Y. Burwell, and John
A. Simpson were among its pastors. This congregation has passed out
of existence.
   Salem Methodist Episcopal congregation was organized in 1830, and
a church was erected between 1850 and 1860 in the southwest part of the
township. It stands near the west Virginia line and is supplied by a
pastor from Dallas.

                     WEST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP.
   Taylor Methodist Episcopal Church, on the north side of the National
Pike, a mile east of Centerville, is believed to be the oldest congregation
of this denomination in Washington County. The early records have
been lost, but it is known that the first preaching in that section by a
Methodist minister was in the summer of 1792 by Rev. Eli Sickle, who
came from Ann Arundel County, Maryland, with Bezin Pumphrey. This
was in what was known as Hawkins (originally spelled Hockins) Meet-
ing House; but it is claimed by some authorities that the society was first
organized some time between 1772 and 1784. A log church was erected
by 1781, for in that year Robert Wooster preached there and made some
converts. In 1784 John Cooper and Solomon Breeze preached at Hawkins
Meeting House. In 1.784 Peter Taylor settled in that section, and Wil-
liam, the oldest, afterwards owned the farm where Hawkins Meeting
House stood, and the name was changed to Taylor's Meeting House. The
log church was replaced in 1801 by a stone building, which stood until
1857 when a brick edifice was erected. This was destroyed by fire in
1872, but rebuilt immediately. This building was remodeled in 1904.
   Clover Hill Methodist Episcopal Church was built about 75 years ago
near the center of the township, and near the sites of the old Westland
and Hicksite Quaker Meeting houses. The Methodists purchased the
property after the Quakers abandoned the place, and built the Clover
Hill Church.
   Little Zion African Methodist Episcopal congregation (colored) was
organized in 1844 under Rev. Augustis R. Green. Services were held
until 1850 at the house of Abraham Lowdrake; and in that year the
society purchased a lot and erected a log meeting house, which was called
Little Zion Church. This church became too small, and meetings were
held in a school house until 1881, when a frame church was erected sev-
eral miles northeast of Centerville.
   Saint Thomas Episcopal Church, known to have been in existence as
early as 1777, was the first of this denomination in the county. In 1791


635





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


a log meeting house was erected on the road from Pittsburgh to Browns-
ville, seven miles from the latter place. Rev. Robert Ayers, the first min-
ister, preached to this congregation until 1803. The church was re-
modeled in 1821, but the members died or became scattered and it passed
out of existence; and the church long ago fell in ruins.





                         CHAPTER LXXV.

                     THE BOOK OF MORMON.
SOLOMON SPAULDING, THE REPUTED AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF MOR-
    MON-SETTLES AT AMITY -"MANUSCRIPT          FOUND"- DEATH     OF
    SPAULDING-HIS GRAVE AND THE HOUSE IN WHICH HIE LIVED AT
    AMITY-RISE OF THE MORMON CHURCH.
    Who wrote the Book of Mormon has long been a disputed subject be-
tween Gentiles and followers of Joseph Smith. It is not the purpose of
the author to enter into any lengthy discussion of this subject. It is of
sufficient interest to us to know that Rev. Solomon Spaulding, the reputed
author of the Book of Mormon spent his last years in Washington County
and is buried in the old church yard at Amity.
   Those who claim that Rev. Spaulding wrote what was afterwards the
Book of Mormon, aver that it was simply a work of fiction from which he
expected to derive considerable income. The fact that he did write a
book under the title of "The Manuscript Found" is an established fact
but whether this was really the basis of the "Book of Mormon," is the sub-
ject which has long been in dispute.
   Solomon Spaulding was born in Ashford, Connecticut, in 1761, and
served in the Revolutionary Army after which he studied divinity and
graduated from Dartmouth College in 1875. He was a man given to
historical researches but was evidently not much of a success as a
preacher, for he gave up the ministry while living at Cherry Valley, New
York. Later he moved to Conneaut, Ohio, where he was in partnership
with Henry Lake in an iron foundry. The ancient mounds in that vicinity
were of great interest to him and he set some of his men to work making
excavations. His daughter in after years stated that she recalled very
vividly how excited he became when he heard that the workmen had
exhumed some human bones, portions of gigantic skeletons, and other
relics. These discoveries evidently gave him the idea of writing a fan-
ciful history of the ancient races of this country. "The Manuscript
Found" was the title of this book.
   In after years when the "Book of Mormon" was published, people
living in the vicinity of Conneaut, declared that it was very similar in
its character and theme to Spaulding's story, which he had read to them
while a resident of Conneaut.
   Mr. Spaulding moved with his family to Pittsburgh in an effort to find
a publisher for the work. It was taken to Patterson's Printing Office,


636











































Monument over the grave of Solomon
        Spaulding at Amity.


  The old house still standing at Amity, in which Solomon
Spaulding died in 1816C. Spaulding was the author of "The
Manuscript Found," from which it is alleged that the Book of
Mormon was copied by Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith.


:~~::- :
         - :i




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


who spoke well of the story to its author but was not willing to publish it.
A short time later, Mr. Spaulding moved to Amity, Washington County,
where he died, October 20, 1816.
   The house in which Mr. Spaulding and his family lived at Amity, is
still standing and is now owned and occupied by A. E. Bolton, the village
blacksmith, who has lived there for more than 50 years. The house is one
of the historic points of interest in Washington County and many people
interested in the authorship of the Book of Mormon, have made long jour-
neys to Amity to visit this ancient building. Today it stands in a very
dilapidated state of repair. The porch which formerly extended across the
entire front of the building, has fallen away and many of the weather-
boardings are only hanging by one end.
   Mr. Spaulding lies buried in the church yard near by. Originally
there was erected over his grave a plain sandstone marker, but with pass-
ing years, this was entirely carried away piece by piece by relic hunters,
until in 1899, it had entirely disappeared and even parts of it under the
ground had been dug up. The location of the grave would have been lost
but for the fact that several old men living in that vicinity, remembered
it and could even dig down and find what was left of the tombstone. Every-
one in the Amity section and for that matter in all Washington County,
firmly believes that Mr. Spaulding's manuscript was the original of the
Book of Mormon. In 1905, the people of Amity by popular subscription,
raised a sum of money to erect a substantial granite marker over the
grave before its location should be entirely lost. The original subscrip-
tion on the first headstone had been preserved and this was placed on the
monument. It was unveiled September 26, 1905, with appropriate cere-
monies which were attended by hundreds of people.
   Among the persons present that day was Elias F. Dodd, of Van Buren,
a man then well past eighty years of age. Mr. Dodd's father had per-
sonally known Solomon Spaulding and had heard him read portions of his
manuscript at Amity. Mr. Dodd on the occasion of the dedication stated
that his father had related to him passages from the Spaulding manu-
script which he claimed were almost identical with the Book of Mormon.
   Many other persons years before who had known Spaulding personally
both an Amity and Conneaut had made this same statement and this leads
to the nation-wide dispute over the origin of the Mormon Bible, but
Spaulding's "Manuscript Found" has disappeared utterly if it ever did
resemble the Book of Mormon. In fact from a non-prejudiced viewpoint,
there is a great deal of doubt as to whether Spaulding's manuscript act-
ually was the basis of the Mormon religion.
   After Mr. Spaulding's death in 1816, the widow and daughter went
to live with Mrs. Spaulding's brother, W. H. Sabine, at Onondaga Valley,
New York. Among the effects of Mr. Spaulding which his widow took
with her, was an old trunk containing his papers. In later years the
daughter stated that there were sermons and other papers and that she
saw a manuscript closely written, tied up with some stories her father
had written for her. On the outside of this manuscript was written the
title "Manuscript Found".
   Mrs. Spaulding next went to her father's house in Connecticut leaving
this old trunk at her brother's. In 1820, she married a Mr. Davison and


638




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the trunk was sent to her at her home then in Hartwick, New York. The
daughter married a man named McKinstry in 1828 and her mother after-
wards made her home with the daughter at Monson, Massachusetts, until
her death in 1844.
   About 1834, Mrs. Davison, Spaulding's widow, was visited at Monson
by D. P. Hurlbut, a former Methodist who had joined the Mormons and
had later been expelled by them. He claimed that he had been sent by a
committee to get the "Manuscript Found" to compare it with the Mormon
Bible. He carried a letter of introduction from her brother and Mrs.
Davison gave him an introduction to George Clark in whose house at Hart-
wick she had left the trunk, instructing Mr. Clark to permit Mr. Hurl-
but to have the manuscript. Mr. Hurlbut did find a manuscript in this
trunk but whether it was actually the "Manuscript Found", will never be
known. He had promised to return it to Mrs. Davison but he failed to
keep his word.
   In May, 1839, the Boston Recorder published a detailed statement from
Mrs. Davison in which she set forth what she knew of the "Manuscript
Found". Her statement in regard to the manner in which it came into
her possession, follows:
   "Here (in Pittsburgh) Mr. Spaulding found a friend and acquaintance
in the person of Mr. Patterson, who was very much pleased with it, and
borrowed it for perusal. He retained it for a long time, and informed Mr.
Spaulding that, if he would make out a title-page and preface he would
publish it, as it might be a source of profit. This Mr. Spaulding refused
to do. Sidney Rigdon, who has figured so largely in the history of the
Mormons, was at that time connected with the printing office of Mr. Pat-
terson, as is well known in that region, and, as Rigdon himself has fre-
quently stated, became acquainted with Mr. Spaulding's manuscript and
copied it. It was a matter of notoriety and interest to all connected with
the printing establishment. At length the manuscript was returned to its
author, and soon after he removed to Amity where Mr. Spaulding de-
ceased in 1816. The manuscript then fell into my hands and was carefully
preserved."
   The Mormons were greatly agitated over this statement and pro-
nounced the letter a forgery, later securing a statement from Mrs. Davi-
son in which she declared she did not write it. This was probably the be-
ginning of the dispute of the authorship of the Book of Mormon; a dispute
which will remain unsettled for all time.
   Rev. Dr. Austin, who had secured the interview from Mrs. Davison
came back with a counter-statement made up from notes of a conversation
he had had with her. Other statements followed from both sides, some
claiming that Mrs. Spaulding had written the letter and others, that she
had not.
   Sidney Rigdon, himself, under date of May 27, 1839, wrote to the Bos-
ton Journal and denied all knowledge of Solomon Spaulding and declared
that there had been no printer named Patterson in Pittsburgh during his
residence there, although he knew a Robert Patterson who had owned a
printing shop in that city. He then attacked D. P. Hurlbut and E. D.
Howe, the author of "Mormonism Unveiled". It is generally admitted by
those opposed to Mormonism, that if the Spaulding history stood on a no


639





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


firmer foundation than Mrs. Davison's statement, it would be exceedingly
weak, but there is more to it.
   In describing his recollections of the story of "Manuscript Found",
John Spaulding, a brother of Solomon, said, "It was an historical romance
of the first settlers of America, endeavoring to show that the American
Indians are the descendants of the Jews, or the lost tribe. It gave a de-
tailed account of their journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, till they
arrived in America, under the command of Nephi and Lehi. They after-
wards had quarrels and contentions, and separated into two distinct na-
tions, one of which he denominated Nephites, and the other Lamanites.
Cruel and bloody wars ensued, in which great multitudes were slain-I
have recently read the 'Book of Mormon' and to my great surprise, I find
nearly the same historical matter, names, etc., as they were in my broth-
er's writings. I well remember that he wrote in the old style, and com-
menced about every sentence with 'and it came to pass', or 'now it came
to pass', the same as in the 'Book of Mormon', and, according to the best
of my recollection and belief, it is the same as my brother Solomon wrote,
with the exception of the religious matter."
   Many other people came forward and declared that they remembered
names and incidents in the history and that they are exactly as appear
in the Book of Mormon. Joseph Miller of Amity, who was well acquainted
with Spaulding, stated on February 6, 1879, that he had heard portions of
the "Manuscript Found" read by Spaulding himself and that he had read
the Mormon Bible to compare the two. Another man from Amity who
declared that he had heard Spaulding read from a manuscript, was Redick
McKee. In the Reporter of April 21, 1869, Mr. R. McKee said, "I have an
indistinct recollection of the passage referred to by Mr. Miller about the
Amlicites making a cross with red paint on their foreheads to distinguish
them from enemies in battle."
   Rev. Abner Judson of Canton, Ohio, whose father had known Spauld-
ing at Conneaut, wrote to the Reporter under date of January 7, 1881, and
said, "He wiote it in the Bible style. 'And it came to pass,' occurred so
often that some called him 'Old Come-to-pass.' The 'Book of Mlrmons'
follows the romance too closely to be a stranger. When it was brought to
Conneaut and read there in public, old Esquire Wright heard it aild ex-
claimed, 'Old-come-to-pass' has come to life again.' "
   Of course, the testimony of all of these witnesses while simple might
be said to be very strong. On the other hand, they are all prejudiced
against the Mormons as are most people of today and they will give
undue weight to testimony which in the minds of the unprejudiced might
not be of much importance. Now we come down a little to the other side.
The question of what became of the "Manuscript Found" has never been
satisfactorily solved.
   At the present time, there is in the library at Oberlin College, Oberlin,
Ohio, a manuscript written by Solomon Spaulding. Asariah S. Root,
librarian of the college, informed the author that "this manuscript is
apparently not the original of the Book of Mormon. At any rate, it
resembles it very little, either in the names used or in the incidents of
the story. The only value which this manuscript, in our possession, can
have bearing on the question of the origin of the Book of Mormon, is


640




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


that it shows a specimen of his work. I suppose we are not to conclude
that Solomon Spaulding wrote only one manuscript story and that there-
fore the question may still be open as to whether he wrote some other
story besides this one in our possession."
    Now the manner in which this came into the possession of Oberlin
College is rather peculiar. The late president, James H. Fairchild, of
Oberlin College was seeking information on the anti-slavery question
about 1885. E. D. Howe, already mentioned as the author of Mormonism
Unveiled, had sold his printing establishment at Painesville, Ohio, long
before the Civil war to L. L. Rice, an anti-slavery editor for many years.
Mr. Rice afterwards moved to the Hawaiian Islands and President Fair-
child requested him to look over his old papers in search of anything of
interest on the anti-slavery question that might be of value to Oberlin
College. One result of this search, was an old manuscript bearing this
certificate: "The writings of Solomon Spaulding, proved by Aaron Wright,
Oliver Smith, John N. Miller, and others. The testimonies of the above
gentlemen are now in my possession.
                                                 "D. P. HURLBUT."
   It was announced to the world that Spaulding's long lost "Manuscript
Found" had been discovered and that it bore no resemblance to the Book
of Mormon. This manuscript was afterwards published by the re-or-
ganized church of Jesus Christ of Lamoni, Iowa, in defense of the story
of the origin of the Book of Mormon.
   However, this was not the original "Manuscript Found" according
to those opposed to Mormonism. Mr. Howe had made no effort to conceal
his possession of it. Hurlbut, who secured the manuscript from Mrs.
Davison, was in Howe's employ, and later in his book "Mormonism Un-
veiled" says with reference to this manuscript. "This is a romance, pur-
porting to have been translated from the Latin, found on twenty-four
rolls of parchment in a cave on the banks of Conneaut Creek, but written
in a modern style, and giving a fabulous account of a ship's being driven
upon the American coast, while proceeding from Rome to Britain, a short
time previous to the Christian era, this country then being inhabited by
the Indians."
   Of interest in this same connection is another letter written by Mr.
Root, of Oberlin College, February 17, 1926, which explains the manner
in which the Spaulding manuscript came into possession of the college.
This letter follows:
   The manuscript in the possession of this library, which was written by
Solomon Spaulding, was found by Mr. L. L. Rice, in Honolulu, Hawaii,
among his papers in 1885 when he was looking them over at the request
of our President Fairchild, who was spending a few weeks on the island,
and who had asked him to look among his papers and see if he had any
anti-slavery material which he could give him for our then-forming anti-
slavery collection.
   I am not sure that Mr. Rice recalled how the manuscript came into
his possession, but it seems to have been somewhat in this fashion: Some-
time, I think in the '40s he purchased the "Painesville Telegraph," and
probably, among the things in the office passed on to him was this manu-
script. This manuscript seems to have come into the possession of the
       41-VI


641











CHAPTER VII.


                             1774.

                       DUNMORE'S WAR.

CRESAP ACCUSED OF MURDERING LOGAN'S FAMILY--CRESAP, CLARK AND
   ZANE ON THE OHIO RIVER-LAND PROSPECTORS CAPTURED-SHAW-
   NESE ATTACKED-MURDER OF LOGAN'S PEOPLE THE CAUSE OF THE
   WAR-DANIEL GREATHOUSE PLANNED THE MURDER-INDIANS LURED
   ACROSS THE RIVER-ONE BOY SPARED-CRESAP AND CLARK AT CAT-
   FISH CAMP (WASHINGTON) -GREATHOUSE AND HIS MEN FLEE EAST
   AND STOP AT CATFISH CAMP-LOGAN'S OATH OF VENGEANCE-THE
   WAR PATII--FLIGHT OF SETTLERS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-
   LOGAN AMBUSHES MILITIA ON TEN MILE CREEK-CAPTAIN McCLURE
   KILLED-LOGAN'S RAID ON TEN MILE-BANE BROTHERS-MILITIA
   DEFEATED-McDONALD'S EXPEDITION BUILDS FORT FINCASTLE-
   WAPPATOMICA CAMPAIGN-CRESAP RECRUITS A COMPANY-ON DUNK-
   ARD CREEK-JOINED McDONALD-ORDERED TO DISBAND-DUNMORE
   TAKES THE FIELD-BATTLE OF POINT PLEASANT-LEWIS MARCHES
   INTO THE INDIAN COUNTRY-DUNMORE ORDERS HIM TO HALT BUT
   IHE REFUSE S-DISSATISFACTION OF THIE VIRGINIA TROOPS-CAMP
   LEWIS-DUNMORE'S ADVANCE-CAMP        CHARLOTTE - THE   PEACE
   TREATY--LOGAN'S FAMOUS SPEECH-THE HISTORIC LOGAN ELM.

         Gainst Brant himself I went to battle forth,-
           Accursed Brant; he left of all my tribe
         Nor man, nor child, nor thing of living birth;
           No, not the dog that watched my household hearth
         Escaped that night of blood upon the plains.
           All perished. I, alone, am left on earth
         To whom no relatives nor blood remain,-
           No, not a kindred drop that runs in human veins.
                                          -Campbell.

   One of the bloodiest years in the history of pioneer Washington County
was 1774, because it was the year of Dunmore's war, so-called from the
fact that Lord Dunmore, the last Colonial governor of Virginia, led the
expedition against the hostiles. Many causes brought about this war; but
the last incident that ignited the flame of hatred between the red men
and white men that had smouldered on the frontier since Bouquet's con-
quest of the Ohio tribes in 1764, was the murder of Chief Logan's family
at the mouth of Yellow Creek, on the Ohio River, thirty miles above
Wheeling. The encroachments of the whites on Indian lands, and an
occasional murder by each side during the period of general peace from
1764 to 1774, had created a feeling of intense hatred on both sides.
   The killing of Logan's people was as cold blooded a murder as was
ever committed. It was the last act, and in a single night the whole
western frontier was swept by fire, tomahawk and scalping knife. The
incident is given here because of the direct bearing it had on the war in
Washington County.
   Michael Cresap, who had been wrongfully accused of the murder,

                               57





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


"Painesville Telegraph" in the '30s, at the time when they were publish-
ing Howe's "Mormonism Unveiled," one of the first books written against
Mormonism.
   At that time, as set forth in the book "Mormonism Unveiled," the
reading of the Book of Mormon, as you recall, appeared in 1830, led many
people living in the vicinity of Conneaut, a little east of Painesville, to
declare that it was a copy of a manuscript by Solomon Spaulding, which
they had heard him read.
   Mr. Spaulding himself was at that time dead, but these Painesville
people apparently were interested enough to trace up his heirs and learn
from them that a trunk containing some manuscripts of Spaulding's had
been left in West Amity, Pennsylvania. They accordingly obtained per-
mission, went there, searched the trunk, and apparently found this manu-
script, which was brought to Painesville, identified by various people as
being a manuscript of Spaulding's, but said by the people of Conneaut not
to be the manuscript which was, in their opinion, the origin of the Book of
Mormon, that manuscript being in biblical phraseology, with frequent
repetitions of the words "and it came to pass"-a characteristic which
is not true of this manuscript. Apparently, therefore, this manuscript
which we have has been recognized from about 1839 or 1840 as not being
the manuscript of Spaulding's which was said to have been the original
of the Book of Mormon.
   A copy of this manuscript has been made and both branches of the
Mormon Church have published it under the title "The Manuscript Found"
which does not appear anywhere upon the story itself.
   In 1880, Mrs. Ellen E. Dickenson, a great niece of Spaulding, visited
D. P. Hurlbut at Gibsonburg, taking Oscar Kellogg as a witness of the
interview. Mrs. Dickenson states in her book "New Light on Mormonism"
that Mr. Hurlbut became very much excited at her visit. He spoke of se-
curing a manuscript for Mr. Howe at Hartwick but he declared that he
believed he had burned it with other papers belonging to Howe. When
asked the direct question if it was Spaulding's manuscript, he replied,
"Mrs. Davison thought it was; but when I just peeked into it, here and
there, and saw the names Mormon, Moroni, Lamanite, Lephi, I thought it
was all nonsense. Why, if it had been the real one, I could have sold it for
$3,000; but I just gave it to Howe because it was of no account." During
this interview, Mrs. Hurlbut begged her husband to tell what he knew but
he gave no answer. Later he wrote to Mrs. Dickenson with reference to
the manuscript and said, "I did not examine the manuscript until after I
got home, when upon examination, I found it to contain nothing of the
kind, but being a manuscript upon an entirely different subject. This
manuscript I left with E. D. Howe."
   From this it will be seen that Hurlbut contradicts himself and his
word is really not to be relied upon. It has always been an open question
as to how Spaulding's manuscript or story came into the possession of
Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion if it ever did come into
his possession, which of course, will always be in doubt despite claims
to the contrary.
   Joseph Smith was a man of little education but he was intelligent
and very smart, notwithstanding the claims of his enemies to the contrary.


642




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


It has been alleged by them that Smith did not have the ability to produce
such a work as the Book of Mormon and that there must have been some
master-mind behind it. This may be true.
   Sidney Rigdon who was closely associated with Joseph Smith in found-
ing the Mormon Church, was a native of Allegheny County and lived near
Library, not far from Findleyville. He resided in Pittsburgh for a time
during which he frequented the shop of Patterson's Printing office where
Spaulding's manuscript had been left. It is claimed by some that he stole
the manuscript, copied and then returned it to the office. This is hardly
probable. The manuscript if it was the original of the Book of Mormon,
was of considerable length and no man without some very definite object
in view would attempt to copy it. At that time, Mormonism had not
been dreamed of .
   The first edition of the Book of Mormon, as published by Joseph Smith
at Palmyra, New York, in 1830, contains 588 pages of about 450 words to
the page. This would make a manuscript of more than 26,000 words,
which is unreasonable to suppose that any man would copy in long hand
out of pure pleasure. Of course, it is possible that Rigdon read parts or
possibly all of the story while in Patterson's office. While it is doubtful
if he ever read all of it, he may have glanced through it enough to give
him an idea of the story. Providing, of course, that the "Manuscript
Found" in the Hawaiian Islands in later years was not Spaulding's
"Manuscript Found".
   When a young man Rigdon was a minister in the Baptist Church
and preached until 1821, when he accepted a call to a small Baptist Church
in Pittsburgh. Of course, this was long after Spaulding's Manuscript
had been taken from Patterson's Printing office by the author who died
in 1816. It is claimed that Rigdon had access to the manuscript prior to
that time when he was living on his father's farm near Library and fre-
quently went to Pittsburgh. It is claimed by the Mormons who have inves-
tigated the subject that Spaulding moved from Pittsburgh to Amity in
1814. and that Rigdon first visited Pittsburgh in 1822. However, there is
considerable evidence to show that he loafed around Patterson's Printing
office before 1816.
   It was afterwards claimed by Rev. John Winter, who taught school
in Pittsburgh when Rigdon preached there and was acquainted with the
latter, that Rigdon once showed him a large manuscript which he said a
Presbyterian minister named Spaulding had brought to the city for pub-
lication. That conflicts again with what are generally admitted to be facts
for it has never been disputed that Spaulding took his manuscript to
Amity with him. Mrs. Spaulding declared that it was in his possession
and among his eflects at the time of his death and was taken by her when
she moved to New York state. Thus it would be impossible for Rigdon to
have had it in his possession in Pittsburgh, in 1822, and there can be
scarcely any doubt that the actual solution of this, providing, of course,
that Spaulding's manuscript is the original of the Book of Mormon, is that
Hurlbut secured two manuscripts. The one, the original of the "Manu-
script Found" and the other, the manuscript that was found in the Ha-
waiian Islands. In this case, Hurlbut either destroyed the "Manuscript


643




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Found" or sold it to the Mormons. The latter theory has been frequently
advanced but the truth will never be known and the real origin of the
Book of Mormon will remain a mystery for all time to come.





                         CHAPTER LXXVI

                    EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
THE FIRST SCHOOLS-OLD-TIME RURAL SCHOOLS--BIRTHPLACE OF WIL-
   LIAM HOLMES McGUFFEY-DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
   -RURAL SCHOOLS OF TODAY.
   It has been generally believed that Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, a Presby-
terian minister, started the first school west of the Alleghany Mountains.
However, we find in the old court records of Yohogania County in the
proceedings on April 27, 1778, a reference to ] ichardson's schoolhouse in
connection with the view of a road from the courthouse at old Augusta
Township to Pentecost's mill on Chartiers Creek. Just who built this
school and when it was used, or how long, we do not know, neither have
we been able to find its location, as all other records of it have been lost.
This was evidently the first schoolhouse built west of the mountains.
   Next came Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, who about 1780 or 1781, started a
select school in which he trained young men for the ministry. This
school was located on his farm near the present village of Amity in Amwell
Township. A more extended mention of this has already been made in
the chapter of religious history.
   About the same time or a year or two later, Rev. John McMillan, the
pioneer minister and educator in North Strabane Township, started his
now famous log academy. During the years that followed, and up to the
passage of the present school law in 1834, the only schools in any part
of the county, were the old subscription schools taught by some man well
versed in reading, writing and arithmetic, for a small compensation from
the parents of each child. There were a great number of these old sub-
scription schools during the early years of the past century, and some of
those old-time teachers dead long ago, are still talked of by the grand-
children and great grandchildren of the pupils of a century and more ago.
The names of many of those old-time teachers and the locations of their
schools have already been given in the history of the townships in a pre-
vious chapter.
   Even before schoolhouses were built, teaching was done by some in-
structors in the rooms of private dwellings. The schools previous to 1834,
were conducted on the subscription plan and under the act of 1809. Those
who were unable to pay for the schooling, were permitted to attend and the
teacher made out a bill for the expenses, including tuition, books, etc., and
presented it to the county commissioners.
   The early schoolhouses were constructed of logs, which would be cut


644

































    The original log academy of Dr. John McMillan, erected by him about 1780. It
is the oldest school building west of the Alleghany Mountains. Although first used
by Dr. McMillan as a school to teach the young men of the neighborhood, it was the
real beginning of Jefferson College at Canonsburg. The building was removed from
the McMillan farm about 25 years ago and placed on the old campus of Jefferson Col-
lege, where it still stands.


    Educational Hall, the first high school in Washington. This was formerly the
old Methodist Church, but was bought by the Washington School District in 1850 and
used as a common school and high school until 1855, when the Union School was com-
pleted. It is now a garage.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


by some settlers while another would donate the ground. Others would
haul the logs to the site selected while some one else would erect the build-
ing. A log would be left out the entire length or a part to answer the pur-
pose of a window, while a huge fireplace would be constructed in one end,
of logs lined with stones, and large enough to hold a back log six feet long.
The chimneys were of the old "cat and clay" pattern, constructed of split
sticks and clay. Even the seats and desks were made in the adjoining
forest by some woodsman, who was an expert with the axe. Logs about
twelve feet long were split in half, the flat side was dressed smooth with an
axe and legs were driven into the round side for the benches. Generally the
floors were of earth. The dust would sometimes collect on the floor to a
depth of two inches or more and when school was in session, the scholars
would amuse themselves by "kicking up the dust," which is probably the
origin of this expression, to the great annoyance of the master, who would
generally procure a rod from the nearby woodpile to "settle the dust".
   In the olden times, they had a very curious Christmas custom, which
would hardly do today, and which has long since been laid aside with many
other pioneer institutions. On an appointed night, about a week before
Christmas, the large scholars would meet at the schoolhouse to "bar out
the master". The building would be securely fastened and the pupils
would gather on the inside. Upon the arrival of the teacher, he would
endeavor to force his way in, but, finding his efforts unavailing, he would
enter into an agreement with the scholars to give them a vacation between
Christmas and New Year, which is the origin of the Christmas holidays,
and also to give a gallon of whiskey and plenty of ginger cake as a treat
for Christmas day. He would also agree to play corner ball with them
on that occasion.
   Washington Academy which was the beginning of Washington College,
secured a charter in 1787 and opened its first session in 1789, in a room on
the second floor of the old log courthouse, with Rev. Thaddeus Dodd as
the first principal. In 1795 and for two years thereafter, Nicholas Charles
Visinier, a Frenchman educated in Paris, opened in Washington, a school
in which he taught French at four dollars per quarter. The lessons were
private and were given in the homes of the pupils.
   The famous old red schoolhouse which stood for many years on the
Washington and Jefferson College campus, dates back to 1796 and possi-
bly earlier. On November 29, 1796, William Porter opened an evening
school there. This building was later removed to the lot where the First
Presbyterian Church now stands in East Wheeling street, where it was
located for many years. Michael Law and William O'Hara were teachers
there as early as 1807 and in 1812, David Johnson, a former teacher in
the Academy, opened a school there with twenty-seven pupils. The
tuition was 3 pounds, 12 shillings, and 5 pence. In 1826, George K. Scott
taught there.
   In 1803, the county commissioners so far recognized the needs of
education that they voted $100 annually for the purpose of giving the
rudiments of an education to the children of the poor. This was dis-
continued in 1808 but the next year, the state legislature passed an act
providing for the education of poor children. The commissioners set


646




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the sum of $800 aside for this purpose and by 1833, it had been increased
to $2,500 annually.
    On December 22, 1830, a meeting was held at the courthouse by the
citizens of Washington and county for the consideration of the common
schools, and this might be said to be the birth of the present common
schools of Pennsylvania. The general subject of education was discussed
and a measure calling the attention of the state legislature to the matter
was adopted. This finally resulted in the present common school system
which was brought about by the law of 1834.
    In 1811, the Rev. D. D. Graham, of Canonsburg, advertised that he
would open a school and give instruction in the "study of rhetoric, Belles
lettres-comprehending the science of philology."  From    then until
the public school law of 1834 was passed, private schools were taught in
Canonsburg by a large number of instructors among whom were Samuel
Hindman, John Hindman, Samuel Guess, John Roberts, Mrs. Rankin,
Mrs. Greer, Joseph Gray, Samuel G. McNeil, Nancy Knox, Mary Ray,
David Bascom, Thomas Wilson, Hugh Sturgeon, John Stream, Samuel
Patton, James Norris, Robert Curry (from whom Curry Institute of
Pittsburgh took its name), Benjamin South, William G. Fee, James Patton,
James McClelland, and Betty Sampson.
   The passage of the public school law in 1834, brought the "District
School" into existence. The old system of private schools in which the
education of the children of the poor was paid for by the county commis-
sioners, drew a very distinct line between the richer and the poorer classes
and proved unsatisfactory. The act of 1834 did away with this by estab-
lishing the present common school system of Pennsylvania. It is claimed
that citizens of Washington were instrumental in having this act passed
by the legislature. The townships were divided into districts, which was
the origin of the "District School." Female teachers were sometimes
employed in the towns, but it usually took a man to handle the larger boys
of the rural districts.
   William Holmes McGuffey, D. D. LL. D., author of the famous Eclectic
Series of school readers of our grandfathers, was born in Washington
County September 28, 1800. The old house in which he first saw the light
of day, is still standing about seven miles west of Washington and one mile
north of the National pike, not far from Claysville.
   The old McGuffey farm is now owned by Mrs. Clara Kelley Lockhart
of Washington, widow of George E. Lockhart. A number of years ago,
Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart entirely enclosed the two-story log cabin in which
William H. McGuffey was born, with a modern bungalow. The interior
of the cabin, however, was left in the old style finish, of bare logs. Mrs.
Lockhart has furnished it in genuine colonial furniture and today it is
a museum of the articles used in a household a century and more ago.
   Shortly after the birth of William H. McGuffey, his father, Alexander
McGuffey moved with his family to Ohio, settling near Sand Hill, now
Coltsville, Mahoning County, where Mrs. McGuffey later told of cradling
her baby in a maple sap trough, hewn out for use in the sugar camp while
she picked brush and helped to clear the farm. Amid such surroundings,
young McGuffey,;vas reared.
   At 18 he began the study of Latin, borrowing books and walking


647




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


long distances once a week to recite to a country clergyman. When the
academy at Warren, Ohio, was completed in 1820, McGuffey applied for
the place of head master but he failed to pass the examinations. He after-
wards said that the mortification he felt, acted as an incentive for further
study to which he attributed his success in life.
    By teaching school McGuffey sustained himself through his collegiate
course, graduating with honor at Washington College in 1826. He was at
once elected to the chair of ancient languages in Miami University, at
Oxford, Ohio. At the end of seven years, he was transferred to the chair
of mental and moral philosophy, which he held four years. When holding
that professorship he was ordained to the ministry in the Presbyterian
church. In his lifetime, he preached 3,000 sermons, all unwritten.
    In 1836, he became president of Cincinnati College, and in 1839 he
accepted the presidency of Ohio University at Athens, Ohio. Four years
later, he was called to the Woodward High School at Cincinnati. In 1845,
he went to the chair of moral philosophy and political economy in the Uni-
versity of Virginia, at Charlottesville, where he remained until his death,
which took place May, 4, 1873.
   McGuffey has been called "the model teacher, studiously dignified and
polite, elegant and accomplished in social life, critical and exact in know-
ledge, with unusal capacity to impart knowledge to others. It was his
pride to teach the students of his class to be gentlemen." He wore a stove-
pipe hat and a solemn suit of bombazine, for which broadcloth was sub-
stituted on very formal occasions.
   It was at Miami University that McGuffey prepared the series of
school readers which gave him more than a nation-wide reputation. It
has been asserted by educators that these books have done more to improve
the methods of elementary education than any other books ever printed.
In preparing these works, the young professor took into his house a class
of village children and directed every step of their personal training from
the first letters of the alphabet. He kept notes of all their blunders and
tangles, and fitted lessons to their growing minds. Certain students were
permitted to help him in the work of revising the notes and copying manu-
script, notably Benjamin Chidlay, who prepared some of the selections
for the printer and received therefor $5.00.
   Anna Holmes, mother of William H. McGuffey, was also a native of
Washington County. She was born on the Blayney farm in West Finley
Township. Henry Holmes, her grandfather, settled there at an early
date, just when is not known, but he secured a patent for the farm in 1792.
Mrs. Etta H. Blayney, a descendant of the Holmeses, who now resides on
the farm, informed the author that part of the old log house in which
William H. McGuffey's mother lived when a girl, is still standing in a
dilapidated condition. This farm is located five miles southwest of Clays-
ville near the old Stewart mill.
   When A. J. Buffington was elected county superintendent in 1875 he
found that a great advance had been made by the county school since
the passage of the act of 1834. All of the rural districts except two had
good buildings, while the old slab desks and seats had long since been re-
placed by the new patent design which is still used. Many of the rooms
were furnished with maps, blackboards, charts, drawings, chromos, en-


648




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


gravings, and flowers, according to the varying tastes of the teachers. At
that time, there were 293 buildings with a school population of 12,908,
costing by state appropriation $10,708, and by taxes $97,515. The wages
paid to the teachers averaged $39.38, and the average term was 5.79
months. At that time the pupils generally attended school until they had
reached the age of majority.
   At the end of Byron E. Tombaugh's second term as county superin-
tendent just twenty years later, the number of schools had increased to
456, with a school population of 18,522. It cost just 8350,342.47, of which
amount the state appropriated $83,044.75, to run the schools at that time.
   At the present time, the oldest teacher in point of service, in Wash-
ington County, is G. L. Woodburn of Claysville, R. D. No. 2, a teacher
during the past year at the Jordon school, E. Findley Township. Mr.
Woodburn has taught forty-four years and now receives a monthly salary
of 8115.00. Miss Dora McCorkle of Burgettstown has spent thirty-eight
years of her life teaching school in Washington County. Another old-
time teacher is Miss Dora Boone of Houston, who has taught for thirty-
six years. James M. Long of Charleroi, now a teacher in the Allen school
in Allen Township, has taught for twenty-six years, and W. E. McDonell
of Burgettstown, R. D. No. 1, has taught for thirty years. He is now a
teacher in the Thomas school in Hanover Township. J. D. Peace of Wy-
landville, a graduate of the Lone Pine Academy in 1880, has been teaching
school for twenty-nine years, and is now a teacher in the West Bethlehem
Township high school.
   In 1890 when Byron E. Tombaugh became county superintendent,
there were forty-five school districts with 372 schools in the county. At
that time, the average term was 6.49 months and the male teachers were
paid an average salary of $41.58, and the female teachers, $35.22. The
number of pupils in attendance that year was 14,788. In five years
Mr. Tombaugh's report showed fifty-four districts, 430 schools and 18,000
pupils. The term at that time was a little more than seven months and
the average salary paid the male teachers had increased to $45.95 a month
and the female teachers to $38.14.
   The oldest building used for school purposes which is left in Wash-
ington County, is the old Prosperity school about one mile east of the
village of Prosperity on the brick road leading to Dunn station. Just
when this building was erected, is not known but Mr. Lindley of Pros-
perity informed the author that he went to school there sixty-five years
ago and that his father had attended school there before him. It has not
been used as a schoolhouse since the first term Mr. Lindley went there.
A new building which is also still standing, nearer Prosperity, was com-
pleted the next year and Mr. Lindley attended school there. It has not been
used for many years. Both of these buildings have been described more
in detail in the history of Morris Township.
   The oldest schoolhouse in continuous use is the Gabby school, just
over the hill from the Washington Cemetery on the Prosperity Pike.
Elisha Van Kirk was the the contractor who erected this   building
and his daughter Mrs. John Crosby of Washington has in her pos-
session, the originaltontract dated June 29, 1858, signed by Joseph Van
Kirk, a member of the board and John G. Clark, secretary. This building


649




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


took the place of a brick school that stood near the old Gabby barn and
was probably the first erected in that region.
    An interesting document, the paper yellow and faded by 105 years
 but the writing still perfectly legible, which furnishes a striking com-
 parison of the methods of electing teachers a century ago and at the
 present time, is in the possession of Harry Carson, of Fallowfield Town-
 ship.
    It was a contract entered into by residents of the community with
 John G. Davis, a pioneer schoolmaster, to instruct the boys and girls in
 their "R's." The citizens affixed their signatures to the agreement and
 opposite the names were the number of pupils each had in the school.
 From these figures, it is estimated that his salary for the nine months was
 about $216.00.
    One of the signers of the contract was Thomas Carson, great grand-
 father of Harry Carson. The school called "X Roads" in the document,
 is believed to be the present Fallowfield school. The document follows:
    "Articles of agreement between John G. Davis, schoolmaster of the
 one part and the undernamed subscribers of the other part, witnesseth
 that the said Davis does agree to teach an English school for the space or
 term of nine months in X Roads schoolhouse, consisting of reading, writ-
 ing, and arithmetic and he the said Davis doth agree to teach our children,
 as many as may be put under his care, reading, writing, and arithmetic,
 agreeable to their several capacities, according to the best of his skill and
 judgment. And we, the subscribers, do promise to pay or cause to be
 paid under the John G. Davis, or his order, the sum of two dollars per
 scholar subscribed for at the end of every three months for this teaching
 during the said term of nine months, and to find fewel ready prepared and
 delivered at the schoolhouse (when need requires it) and the said master
 is to find himself in boarding and lodging and, also reserve every other
 Saturday to himself and obliges himself to keep regular hours of teaching.
 To all and singular, of the above covenants, we agree to, by signing our
 names and number of scholars hereunto, witness our hands; Thomas
 Carson, 11/2; William Thompson, 21/2; George Cooper, 1/2; Nathaniel
 Redd, 1; Martin Gates, 1/ 2; William Helback, 11/.; Samuel West, 11/2;
 William Bond, 11/2; John Warren, 1/2; Matthew Carter, 1; Benjamin
 Luken, 21/2; Samuel David, 1/2; Jacob Grosscup, 1; William Blyth, 12;
 Enos Layton, 1, for three months, 1/3; Labernum Jimclaus, 1."
   At the present time, more than ninety years after the adoption of the
school system of Pennsylvania, there are about 350 school houses in
Washington County. The population of Washington County in 1900 was
92,181 and in 1925, it was estimated at 202,000, yet in 1900, there were
about 240 school houses. In 1925, the average number of months taught
was 8.4, and in 1900, 7.54. In the county schools in 1925, there were
153 male teachers as compared to 183 in 1900, and 748 female teachers
in 1925, as compared to 366 in 1900. The average salary paid to teach-
ers in 1900 was $41.09, and in 1925, $122.30. The number of male pupils
in 1900 was 9,656, and in 1925, 16,080. In 1900 there were 10,158 fe-
male pupils and in 1925, 15,936. In 1900, an average of 3.44 mills school
tax was levied and in 1925, 14.6 mills. The state appropriations received
by Washington County in 1900, was $86,116.18, and in 1925, it was
                      I


650



































    The old Union School, Washington, built 1855 and destroyed by fire February,
1899; taken from a corner of the Washington and Jefferson College campus. The old
college belfry is shown in foreground.


    The first building erected by the  Washington School District. It was built in
1837, three years after the district was organized, and used until the completion of the
Union School in 1855. It stands in South Franklin Street.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


owned a trading store at Redstone Old Fort. In April, 1774, he was with
a party at what is now Long Beach, Tyler County, West Virginia. Colonel
Ebenezer Zane, the founder of Wheeling, was with a party of surveyors
at the mouth of the Big Sandy River, and George Rogers Clark was with
another party of about ninety whites at the mouth of the Little Kanawha
River, where Parkersburg now stands. The Indians rightfully felt that
these encroachments would soon dispossess them of their lands.
    Hostilities really began when three land prospectors were captured by
 the Shawnese on Lawrence Creek, Mason County, Kentucky; and a few
 days later some surveyors killed several Shawnese Indians in Kentucky,
 nearly opposite the mouth of the Scioto River.
    When the news reached Clark he sent word to Cresap, fifteen miles
 above him, to join him with his force. Cresap immediately complied and
 was chosen leader of the whites in an expedition to destroy the Indian
 villages on the opposite side of the river; but he was opposed to this action,
 as war was not yet certain.
    The party then went to Wheeling, where Cresap received a letter on
April 21st, from Dr. John Connolly, at Fort Pitt, announcing that war had
commenced. Connolly was Lord Dunmore's agent, and he called himself
Royal Commandant of the District of West Augusta, of which Washing-
ton County was a part. Cresap called a meeting on the 26th, and when
he read Dr. Connolly's letter the whites voted to declare war. The next
day the whites attacked two canoes loaded with Shawnese, killing three
Indians and wounding three others.
   At a meeting held at Wheeling that night it was proposed to attack
Chief Logan's camp, opposite the mouth of Yellow Creek; but Logan had
always been the friend of the whites and Cresap opposed the scheme. The
records state that Daniel Greathouse, a settler from King's Creek, pro-
posed this murder. It would probably never have been carried out if
Cresap had remained, but on the 28th he set out for Redstone Old Fort,
where he ran a ferry across the Monongahela in connection with his trad-
ing store.
   George Rogers Clark and several others who had decided to return
east accompanied Cresap. Traveling over the old Indian trail, now the
National pike, from Wheeling to Catfish Camp, they arrived at the latter
place on the 29th, and spent the night with William Huston, who kept the
first tavern in what is now Washington. Huston's Tavern at that time
was a log cabin that stood near the spring in the rear of the Fifth Ward
School. He afterwards kept the Home Inn in the old stone building that
formerly occupied the site of the present Morgan Apartments, in South
Main Street.
   Cresap was blamed for the murder of the Logan family through the
mistake of William Huston. He heard the men of the party talking of the
fight with the Shawnese two days before, and when he heard of the killing
of Logan's people he believed that Cresap's men had been talking of that
affair. One of Cresap's men had been mortally wounded in the fight on the
27th, and his comrades carried him on a litter. On the 30th, the day of the
murder, they resumed their journey to Redstone Old Fort. Therefore it
would have been impossible for them to have taken part in this affair.
   Chief Tah-gah-jute, better known as Logan, the Mingo, was camped




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


$4,644.57. The total amount of the current expenses of the county schools
in 1925 was 81,693,235. This does not include the independent districts
of Canonsburg, Cecil, Charleroi, Donora, Monongahela, and Washington.
    At the present time, S. V. Kimberland, county superintendent, re-
quires three assistants to aid him in handling the large number of schools
under his jurisdiction. These assistants are J. L. Roberts, Glenn H. Wil-
liams, and William G. Burkett, who have held their positions since Mr.
Kimberland was elected in May, 1922. The annual cost of all of the
schools in Washington County, including the independent districts, men-
tioned, is $2,519,895.25, and there are nearly 1,100 teachers in the en-
tire county. For about 25 years, the school districts have furnished the
books and supplies to the pupils at a cost of about $30,000 for text books
and more than $40,000 for all supplies.
   At the present time, there are twelve township high and two town-
ship vocational schools in the county. Some of these have been in ex-
istence for a number of years, the oldest being the Cross Creek High
School, which was established in this same building as the Cross Creek
Academy in 1878. The principal at the present time is A. M. White.
   The largest township high school in the county is the Trinity High,
now located at the old Trinity Hall Military Academy, in North Frank-
lin Township, adjoining Washington. This school was first started in
September, 1921, as a joint high school by North Franklin and South
Strabane townships; and in the fall of 1924, Amwell and Canton town-
ships joined. It was first held in the third floor of the Real Estate Trust
Company's building, opposite the court house, in Washington, until March
28, 1925, when the first sessions were held in the Trinity Hall Building,
which had been purchased by these townships a short time before at a
cost of $66,000. Work on the remodeling of the buildings was started,
and many changes were made at a cost of $75,000 additional. Chauncey
Ewing has been principal ever since this high school was started in 1921.
The present enrollment is 300, from seventeen townships.
   The following is a list of the other township high schools in Wash-
ington, together with the principals:
   Burgettstown.-Smith Township Joint High School, at Burgettstown;
             , principal.
   Blaine Township, at Taylorstown; Roy W. Nyswaner, principal.
   Cecil Township, at Venice; D. M. Boyce, principal.
   East Bethlehem Township, between Millsboro and Fredericktown; A
D. Morganthall, principal.
   Hopewell Township, at Buffalo Village; C. R. Bane, principal.
   Independence Township, at Avella; B. F. Skillen, principal.
   Morris Township, at Prosperity; N. N. Jaquish, principal.
   North Strabane Township, at Linden; Glenn Quivey, principal.
   Peters Township, near McMurray; William S. Glass, principal.
   West Bethlehem Township, at West Zollarsville; S. E. Murphy, prin-
cipal.
   The two vocational schools are Hickory and Centerville. The Hick-
ory Vocational School was established by Mount Pleasant Township at
Hickory in 1915. H. L. Pedicord has been principal ever since it was
started.


652











CHAPTER LXXVII.


     HISTORY OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY TEACHERS'
                            INSTITUTE.
   The Washington County Teachers' Institute from a very small begin-
ning in 1850, has grown until at the present time there are more than
one thousand teachers in attendance and the large auditorium of the
Washington High School is required to accomodate them. The beginning
was very small. Just seventy-five years ago the first session was held in
the court room of the old courthouse. For a number of years previous
to that time there had been institutes or meetings of teachers of the var-
ious townships of the county, such as are still held during the winter
months. A few of the more enthusiastic conceived the idea of having a
central meeting in Washington of all of the teachers of the county. Just
who originated the idea is not known, nor is there much known at this time
of the success of those early meetings.
   In the county superintendent's office in the old courthouse, there was
an old minute book of the first meetings of the institute. Just what be-
came of it is not known, but when the old building was razed in 1898, it
was gathered up with other old records and was either destroyed or is
buried in some obscure corner of the new county building. At any rate it
has disappeared.
   That the old time institutes were not as popular as they are at the
present time is shown by the records of this old book. Attorney Byron E.
Tombaugh, of Washington, who was county superintendent just before
the old courthouse was torn down, well remembers this old minute book,
and in speaking of it he stated that he remembered the record of one
meeting which showed that the institute was evidently not popular that
year. The meeting was called to order in the courthouse by County
Superintendent, Isaac H. Longdon, who succeeded John L. Gow, in 1857
and served until 1861, and there were just three teachers present. They
waited for a day in hopes that more would come, but no one else made
their appearance, and so the three voted unanimously to adjourn until the
next year.
   It is not now known under whose direction the first institutes were
held. The act of 1854 created the office of county superintendent, and it
is probable that the county institute was held under his direction, al-
though this was not required by law until 1867. All of the old citizens
of Washington will remember John L. Gow, the first county superin-
tendent, who was elected in 1854 and served until 1857. As shown by
the old minute book, the interest in those days must have fallen pretty
low at times, and Mr. Gow and his successors are to be congratulated
for their perseverance in keeping the institute alive.
   In the course of time the state legislature recognized the benefits to be
derived by teachers from an annual gathering for the discussion of
                                653





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


school and teaching methods and on April 9, 1867, an act was passed which
required each county superintendent to hold an institute annually. It was
to be under the supervision of himself or a properly authorized com-
mittee of teachers acting with him, who would select the time and the
place for it. Not only the teachers of the common schools of the county
were invited to attend, but all instructors of institutions of learning were
asked to be present. The purpose, as stated by the law, was for the im-
provement of the teachers in the science and art of education. It was to
continue in session at least five days, including one-half day for going and
one-half day for returning from the place of meeting. The institute was
to be presided over by the superintendent or by someone chosen by him,
and subject in its general management to his control.
   The act gave the county treasurer the right to pay the sum of $200.00
for lecturers, apparatus, books, stationery, and in addition to this to pay
81.00 for each three days of attendance to each teacher. It also gave school
directors the right to allow teachers to attend the institute without
making a deduction from their salaries.
   That the institute was considered at that time to be very important,
although only in its infancy, is shown by the fact that this same act pro-
vides that any teacher who absents himself from the institute of his
county without a good reason, may have his want of professional zeal
indicated by a lower mark on his certificate in the practice of teaching
than hl would otherwise have received.
   The county superintendent was also required by this act to report to
the state superintendent of the common schools the number of teachers
attending, the names of the lecturers or instructors who officiated, the
subjects upon which instruction was given, and the degree of popular
interest awakened by the proceeding. This law created more interest
in the institute but it was still many years before it was brought up to
the present high standard and other legislation was necessary to bring
this about.
   The institute, with the exception of one and possibly two years, has
always been held in Washington. When William G. Fee, of Canonsburg,
was elected county superintendent in 1869, after the annual gathering of
teachers had come to be of some importance, he held it at his home
town. Canonsburg at that time was much smaller than it is today and
it was unable to accommodate the teachers. There was general dissat-
isfaction and it was brought back to the county seat where it has been
held ever since. Several times Monongahela tried to secure it at that
town and even went so far as to make it a campaign issue, attempting
to elect a county superintendent who was pledged to hold the institute at
the river town.
   During J. B. K. McCollum's term from 1878 to 1881, an attempt was
made to introduce music as a feature of the entertainment. Attorney
Joseph F. McFarland, of Washington, was placed in charge and he secured
a number of singers. The experiment, however, proved a failure finan-
cially, and it was discontinued for a time.
   "Proceedings of the Teachers' Institute of Washington County,
Twenty-Eighth Session," is the title of an interesting old pamphlet on ex-


654





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


hibition at the institute in 1925. The twenty-eighth session was held
December 30, 1878, to January 30, 1879, in the old town hall on the corner
of Main Street and Cherry Alley. J. B. McCollum was superintendent and
resolutions adopted by the teachers praised his rare efficiency and gave
his skillful management credit for the success of the meeting. The at-
tendance of 183 teachers was somewhat of a contrast to the gathering
of more than 1,100 in the High School Auditorium in December, 1925.
   The Washington Teachers of that time were Misses Lizzie Shannon
and Jennie Rodgers both still resident here; Misses Laura Rose, Lizzie
Howarth, Rebecca Turner, Jannie B. Hart, Anna Parker, Isabel Freeby,
Mattie Wiley and E. J. McClelland. W. L. Welsh was then the principal
of the borough schools and T. R. H. Johnson taught the school for colored
children.
   Were the roll of teachers present at that institute published, it would
bring a flood of memories to the older residents of Washington and the
county. Here is the name of R. W. Irwin, who was teaching at West
Middletown, afterward a successful attorney at the local bar and honored
by the voters of the county by elevation to the bench; and there the
name of W. S. Parker, also later an active and successful lawyer, serving
as district attorney. He was teaching in Franklin Township, and made
the address of welcome at the institute. C. W. Swain, now residing in
North Franklin Street, was then teaching in East Finley Township.
J. N. White, then teaching in Mt. Pleasant Township, was long a resident
of Washington, and a popular and successful clerk, in hardware stores.
B. F. Paul, who conducts a grocery store in the Y. M. C. A. Building,
J. Irwin Knox, residing at 263 Jefferson Avenue, and E. N. Enoch, re-
siding at 684 Jefferson Avenue, were then enrolled as teachers from Am-
well, Buffalo, and Amwell townships respectively. T. Ross Paden, now
ranking high in the ministery of the Presbyterian Church, the late W. N.
Hawkins, who spent the latter years of his life as a resident of Washing-
ton, and George L. Minton, long proprietor of East Beau Street Cafe, now
deceased, were at that time members of the teaching force of the county.
The music of the institute was in charge of Prof. J. C. Porter, and the
special singers, both for day and evening sessions, were a local quartet
composed of Miss Jennie Sherrard, Miss Anna McKean, J. F. McFarland
and Charles Wolf. Miss Sherrard became the wife of J. C. R. Ewing,
later prominent as a churchman and educator in India, who is now dead.
Mrs. Ewing lives at Princeton N. J.; Miss McKean also married a min-
ister of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Mr. White, and now resides at Los
Angeles. Mr. McFarland is still in the active practice of law in Washing-
ton. Mr. Wolf, long following here the trade of a painter, and for years
the bass of the Trinity Church choir, is now deceased. This quartet
during the week, sang several numbers from "The Bohemian Girl." One of
Mr. McFarland's solos was "Nancy Lee" and Miss Sherrard used "Baby
Mine" and "Katie's Letter" for solos.
   Eight pages of the pamphlet are devoted to the evening address of
Miss Maria L. Sanford, professor of history in Swarthmore College, on
"The Labor Question." Each day there was a period devoted to some
subject of immediate interest to the teachers, a sort of round table


655





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


session. One day the discussion was on ventilation, with W. C. Lyne,
of Pittsburgh, a former principal of the Washington Schools, Miss N.
Sherrard, principal of the Washington Seminary, A. M. Gow, then of
The Reporter editorial force, and Attorney T. Jeff Duncan, taking part.
On another day the topic was teaching arithmetic, and those participating
included Miss Turner, T. B. McCain, of Claysville, Miss Sherrard, and
Mr. Welsh, principal of the borough schools.
    The list of directors also makes very interesting reading to older resi-
 dents of the county. The Washington School Board at that time was com-
 posed of Rev. Henry Wood, Thomas McKean, W. H. Underwood, Dr. W. R.
 Thompson, James P. Sauer, and J. D. Braden, all long representative
 citizens of the community, but all now deceased. Of the six directors
 for Franklin Township (long since divided into North and South Frank-
 lin townships), Hiram McClain, residing in Allison Avenue, is the only
 survivor. The others were W. B. McKennan, H. M. Keeny, C. V. Geer,
 Demas Lindley, and H. Lindley. In the Canton Township district adjoin-
 ing Washington on the northwest, the directors were W. L. Dye, Vincent
 McBride, Robert Wylie, Finlay Scott and Robert McClay. And thus all
 over the county the directors' roll is a very fair cross-section of the repre-
 sentative citizenship of a generation now gone.
    The credit for the success of the institute and its development into
what it is today is due to Superintendent George A. Spindler who went
into office in 1882, and succeeded E. W. Mouck, who died in 1881. Mr.
Spindler immediately changed the methods and infused new life into it.
He was aided in this by a new act of the legislature which was passed on
June 7, 1881, and required school directors to allow wages to teachers
attending the institute of their county. Previous to this it had been op-
tional with the directors whether or not they would do this.
   Under Mr. Spindler the institute quickly became one of the greatest
and most popular affairs of the kind in the county. He began to engage
evening entertainers and lecturers and the general public soon took an
interest in the proceedings and the demand for course tickets to the
evening lecturers increased until it was soon found that the court room
was too small and so the place was changed to the old Town Hall, which
at the time was the only auditorium in the town. Many of the older
residents of Washington and teachers will recall how people used to form
in line before the hall on Sunday evening and remain there all night,
waiting for the course tickets to go on sale. The present system of re-
ceiving mail orders from the teachers for course tickets was introduced
by County Superintendent Byron E. Tombaugh in the early '90s and this
did away with the long line. In those days many teachers employed
people to get a place in the line and hold it all night for them.
   All of the older teachers and patrons of the institute will recall when
E. O. Excell was employed as musical director by Mr. Spindler. Mr.
Excell was a stonemason by trade and was from Brady's Bend, Arm-
strong County. He had, previous to that time held a few musical en-
tertainments and taught music in the schools of his native county and
when he came to the Washington County Institute as musical director,
his popularity begun to soar. Almost every year during his term as


656





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


county superintendent from  1882 until 1890, Mr. Spindler employed
Mr. Excell as the musical director, and he was employed by Mr. Tombaugh
three times. At the present time, Mr. Excell is the best known musical
director in the United States and is the owner of one of the largest
musical publishing houses in Chicago. He is a very old man now, and has
almost retired, but he is well remembered by his many friends in Wash-
ington County.
   By far the most popular instructor and lecturer that the Washington
County Institute ever had was the Hon. Henry Houck, who was elected
secretary of internal affairs in this state at the last election (1914.) Mr.
Houck has always been in close touch with educational affairs in this
state and he was one of the first instructors that Mr. Spindler brought
in the '80s. He proved to be such an entertaining talker that his popu-
larity immediately soared. He was known as the "funny Dutchman"
to all of the old time patrons of the institute and in speaking of him
former County Superintendent said that in the old days, whenever the
crowd began to get weary and restless with the session and wanted to
go, Henry Houck was always called upon to hold the session in order.
His appearance always settled the difficulty, for the teachers would
sit until darkness fell and until long after the supper hour to listen to the
jokes of the "funny Dutchman". Throughout Superintendent Spindler's
term and down through Byron E. Tombaugh's time, Mr. Houck's popu-
larity continued. He visited the institute a number of times later and
always received a warm welcome. His last visit was in 1914.
   The attendance of teachers, which in the early years was so small that
during one year at least, there was no session, has increased to nearly a
thousand. Of late years the boroughs of Washington, Charleroi, Monon-
gahela, and Donora have withdrawn from the supervision of the county
superintendent, and with the exception of Washington, hold their own
institutes. The number of teachers this year (1914), under the county
superintendent is 694, while there are 110 in Washington. There are
always a number from the other towns mentioned, which brings the
total number of teachers attending pretty close to the thousand mark.
   The following is the list of the county superintendents who have
served in this county:
   John L. Gow, 1854 to 1857.
   Isaac H. Longdon, 1857 to 1861.
   A. J. Buffington, 1861 to 1866.
   J. C. Gilchrist, 1866 to 1869.
   William G. Fee, 1869 to 1875.
   A. J. Buffington, 1875 to 1878.
   J. B. K. McCollum, 1878 to 1881.
   E. W. Mouck, elected in 1881 but died soon after election.
   George A. Spindler, elected in 1882 to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of E. W. Mouck, and served until 1890.
   Byron E. Tombaugh, 1890 to 1896.
   Frank R. Hall, 1896 to 1908.
   L. R. Crumrine, 1908 to 1922.
   S. V. Kimberland, 1922 to the present time.


42-V1


657










CHAPTER LXXVIII.


             INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
WASHINGTON ACADEMY, 1792-JEFFERSON ACADEMY, 1869-MRS. BAKER'S
    YOUNG LADIES' SEMINARY, 1811-THE LADIES' SEMINARY, 1817-UNION
    GROVE SEMINARY, 1828-WEST ALEXANDER ACADEMY, 1828-CROSS
    CREEK ACADEMY, 1828-FLORENCE ACADEMY, 1833-FLORENCE SELECT
    SCHOOL FOR YOUNG LADIES, 1832-HAZZARD'S MONONGAHELA ACAD-
    EMY, 1838-WOTRING'S "HORSE MILL" ACADEMY, 1844-UPPER BUFFALO
    ACADEMY, 1853-OLOME INSTITUTE, 1844-PLEASANT HILL SEMINARY,
    1847-PLEASANT VALLEY ACADEMY, 1853-LONE PINE ACADEMY, 1878
    -PARIS COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE, 1878-TRINITY HALL MILITARY
    ACADEMY, 1879-HICKORY ACADEMY, 1891-CALIFORNIA       NORMAL
    SCHOOL, 1852-LINDEN HALL SEMINARY, 1860-HOGE SUMMIT ACAD-
    EMY, 1860-WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON COLLEGE-WASHINGTON
    FEMALE SEMINARY-INSTITUTE OF PRACTICAL ARTS, OLD CONCORD.
    From the earliest settlement of Washington County down to within
the last few years there were a number of private educational institutions
throughout the county, known as academies or seminaries. Many of
these passed out of existence with the development of the present high
school system throughout the county, as the high school has taken their
places as preparatory institutions for colleges and universities. Of all
of the private academies and female seminaries that once existed in
Washington County only two are left. The Washington Female Sem-
inary, which is now ninety years old and the Southwestern State Normal
school at California, which is the outgrowth of an academy opened in
1852.
   Mention has already been made of the select school for young men
which was started by Rev. Thaddeus Dodd on his farm in Amwell Town-
ship, about 1780, as being the first institution of learning west of the
Allegheny Mountains. The famous log academy of Dr. John McMillan,
founded in 1781 or 1782 is another of which frequent mention has been
made, and it will be described further. The academy conducted by Rev.
Joseph Smith in Hopewell Township during this same period has also
been mentioned.
   The academy established by Dr. Dodd in 1780 may be said to be the
forerunner of Washington Academy, afterwards Washington College,
just as McMillan's log academy was the beginning of Jefferson College.
Dr. Dodd's academy was suspended in 1785. On September 24, 1787, a
charter was secured for Washington Academy, but it did not open until
April 1, 1789, when Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, as the first principal, started
holding sessions in the upper rooms of the old log courthouse that stood
at the corner of South Main Street and West Strawberry Alley. After
fifteen months he retired and was succeeded in 1790 by David Johnston,
who had been employed under Mr. Dodd as a teacher in English
branches. The courthouse was burned in the winter of 1791, and the
academy was forced to suspend, as no suitable quarters could be secured
in the frontier town of log buildings.
                               658
































    The new high school building on the Jefferson College campus, Canons-
burg. In front is the monument erected by the people of Canonsburg to its
soldiers in the World War.


OLD JEFFERSON COLLEGE, CANONSBURG.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   It was shortly after this that the original stone section of the old
academy building now standing on the Washington and Jefferson College
grounds was completed in 1793, and this then became the permanent
home of Washington Academy. It was reopened immediately and con-
ducted with varying success under James Dobbins and Benjamin Mills
until 1805, when Rev. Matthew Brown was elected as principal, assisted
by David Elliott the first year and George Baird the second. The success
of these men led to the incorporation of Washington College on March 28,
1806, four years after the formal incorporation of Jefferson College at
Canonsburg.
   After the incorporation in 1805, Washington College conducted a
preparatory department which was a continuation of Washington Acad-
emy. After the union of the two colleges in 1869, and the establishment
of Washington and Jefferson College at Washington, the preparatory de-
partment was known as Washington and Jefferson Academy from that
time until it finally passed out of existence many years later. Sessions
were always held in the college class rooms, but this was very unsatisfac-
tory, and in 1899, after the destruction of the Union School by fire, the
trustees of the college purchased the school property at the corner of East
Beau and North Lincoln streets; and the old school building remaining on
this site was used as the quarters of Washington and Jefferson Academy
during the remaining years of its life. Prof. J. Adolph Schmitz, instruc-
tor of German in the college, was made the first principal of the academy
after its removal, and for many years he resided in the Hays Hall dor-
mitory. He was succeeded a few years later by Prof. James N. Rule,
now connected with the state schools department at Harrisburg, and he
remained in charge until it was discontinued in 1912.
   In December, 1900, the college purchased the old William Hopkins
homestead at the corner of East Beau and North College streets, and a
new fire-proof dormitory was completed in 1902 at a cost of $76,000.
This was named Hayes Hall, in honor of Dr. George I. Hayes, the first
permanent president of the college after its removal to Washington.
Under Professor Schmitz and later Professor Rule, the academy reached
a high degree of excellence, but the many high schools throughout the
country gradually proved to the trustees that it was not a success finan-
cially, and it was was discontinued permanently.
    Jefferson Academy, at Canonsburg, was an outgrowth of Dr. John
 McMillan's famous log academy already mentioned. Dr. McMillan and
 Rev. Matthew Henderson found the work very discouraging, as there
 seemed to be little interest in its success. Finally, Col. John Canon don-
 ated a lot in Canonsburg in 1791, and advanced money for erection
 of a building as an academy. The Jefferson or Canonsburg Academy
 was opened in 1791, and in 1794 a charter was secured. The support
 given Washington Academy by the county at large was then transferred
 to Canonsburg, which quickly became a seat of learning in the county.
 David Johnson, who had succeeded Dr. Dodd as principal of Washington
 Academy, left that institution and became the first principal of Jefferson
 Academy, and Dr. McMillan transferred his Latin school to the new
 institution. In 1796, Mr. Johnston and James Mountain were the teachers.
 On January 25, 1796, the legislature was petitioned for a college charter.


660





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


This was renewed in 1800, and was finally granted on January 15, 1802,
when Canonsburg Academy became Jefferson College. A preparatory
department was conducted by Jefferson College as long as that institution
remained at Canonsburg, but in 1869 after the location of the united
colleges at Canonsburg, Jefferson Academy was chartered but not organ-
ized until 1872. During the interval an unchartered academy was con-
ducted by James Dickson and James Dunbar in the old Olome Institute
building, on the site of the First Presbyterian Church in North Central
Avenue, Canonsburg.
   Jefferson Academy was formally organized in 1872 with Rev. William
Ewing as the first principal and Dr. W. F. Brown as assistant. Dr. Ewing
resigned in 1882, and Dr. Brown was made the head. The academy was
conducted in the buildings formerly occupied by Jefferson College, and
it reached a very high degree of success under Dr. Brown. The latter
resigned because of the ill health of his wife and was succeeded by Dr.
Des Islets, and he in turn by Professor Philips, who died shortly after-
wards. Professor Anderson had charge for two years, and then Robert
H. Meloy, now an attorney in Washington, became the principal. Prof.
Harry Irwin came next, followed by Rev. J. A. A. Craig. The last princi-
pal was Prof. Walter Sharp, of Washington. Like Washington and Jef-
ferson Academy it found that the high schools were taking the places of
private preparatory institutions, and it was finally discontinued about
twelve years ago.
   The old log academy built by Dr. John McMillan on his farm east of
Canonsburg, which is now famous throughout the United States as the
oldest building standing west of the mountains, which was erected for
educational purposes, stands on the campus of old Jefferson College.
This stood on the McMillan farm in North Strabane Township until
1895, when it was moved to Jefferson College campus in Canonsburg,
after being presented to Jefferson Academy by Fulton Brothers, the
owners of the land where it had stood so many years. This removal was
completed on June 18, 1895, and the presentation made with appropriate,
ceremony.
   Mrs. Baker's Young Ladies Seminary was opened in Washington in
1811. Most of the records of this school have been lost with the passing
of more than a century, but it is believed to have been the first for young
ladies west of the mountains. It was opened in a house on South Main
Street, which had formerly been occupied by Dr. John Julius LeMoyne
as a drug store, where it remained until 1815. On April 24, of that year,
Mrs. Baker advertised that the May term would commence in "a new and
elegant house on Maiden Street, capable of accommodating forty young
lady boarders." This building occupied the site of the present Company
H armory in West Maiden Street, and was razed in 1915 to make room for
that building.
   This school gave a semi-annual exhibition on November 12, 1812,
at which time Miss Scott, of Gettysburg made an address, and Miss
Collins, of Pittsburgh, made the reply. Premiums were received by Miss
Collins, of Pittsburgh; Miss Clark, of Clarksville; Miss Buchanan, of
Canonsburg; and Miss McKennan, of Washington, of the first class, and
by Miss Campbell, Miss Cooke, and Miss Neal, of 'Tashington, of the


661





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


with his people at the mouth of Yellow Creek, on the west side of the
Ohio, opposite Baker's bottom, where Joshua Baker lived.
   After Cresap's departure there was no one to oppose Daniel Great-
house in his plans for the murder of these Indians, which was endorsed by
Benjamin Tomlinson and John Sappington. One account states there
were thirty-two men in the party; but under date of May 7th, 1774, Valen-
tine Crawford informed George Washington that there were twenty men,
and that ten Indians were killed and one child captured. This is, no doubt,
correct.
   The whites reached Baker's Bottom on the night of the 29th, and the
next morning Greathouse and several others crossed to the Indian camp.
Finding Logan and the warriors absent on a hunting trip, they persuaded
the remaining Indians, five men, three squaws and one child, to go back
to Baker's for rum. When the men were all intoxicated, the whites set
upon them, murdering all except the child, in cold blood.
   The story is told that the mother of this child was Logan's sister, who
was married to John Gibson, an Indian trader, who afterwards guided
Lord Dunmore's army. She begged that the life of her son would be
spared, and her request was granted, but she was killed. The child was
taken east by Greathouse, after which all trace of him is lost. Besides
Logan's sister, his brother was murdered, and it is supposed that his
mother was a victim, but this is not certain.
   Just as the murderous work was completed two canoes containing five
Indians was seen on the opposite shore. The whites fired, killing two,
but the others escaped. A short time later two big war canoes, containing
eighteen warriors, stripped and painted for war, came down the river.
In the short fight that followed one Indian was killed and the others put
to flight.
   Greathouse and his men immediately fled east, passing over the old
trail through Catfish Camp, where they stopped at William Huston's. They
had the Indian baby with them at the time.
   Logan, who had always been known as the friend of white people, now
became their most bitter enemy. Raising the war cry of his tribe, he
swore that he would never make peace until he. had taken ten white scalps
for each of his relatives murdered. History records that he kept his vow
by personally killing and scalping thirty white people during the summer
of 1774.
   A panic followed the news that Logan had gone on the warpath. There
were few blockhouses and forts in Washington and Greene counties, which
were united at that time, and they were soon filled to overflowing. Those
who could not gain shelter fled back over the mountains, leaving their new
homes in the wilderness; and many of those who remained paid the penalty
with their lives. It is recorded that in one day more than one thousand
people crossed the Monongahela on three ferries not one mile apart. Prac-
tically every settler on Chartiers and Raccoon creeks joined in the flight.
One writer of the times says that if forts had not been hastily constructed
there would not have been ten families left west of the mountains.
   Among those who remained was one James Chambers, who stopped at
William Huston's cabin at Catfish Camp, which was not attacked.
   At the head of his Mingos, Logan swept through Washington and




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


second class. Mrs. Baker advertised on April 14, 1814, that on May 7th,
she would reopen the school, and that arrangements had been made for
boarding all foreign pupils. The seminary continued for several years
after 1815.
    The Ladies Seminary was also conducted in Washington in 1817 by
Rev. Matthew Brown and James Williamson, in the second story of the
market house which was erected in 1816, in the public square on the
corner of Main and West Beau streets. Nothing is known of this school
beyond the following advertisement which appeared in The Reporter on
November 10, 1817, and The Examiner on November 19, 1817:

                         LADIES SEMINARY.
   An academy for Young Ladies will be opened in the public building,
lately erected near the courthouse, under the superintendence of Rev.
Matthew Brown and Mr. James Williamson, to comrrence on the 10th,
of November, next. In this academy will be taught Grammar, Com-
position, Belles-Lettres, Geography, and other branches of a liberal edu-
cation that may be required. The terms of tuition, eight dollars per
quarter. Young ladies can be accommodated with boarding in reputable
families on reasonable terms.
   Washington, Nov. 3, 1817.
   Union Grove Seminary was opened about 1828, in Hopewell Township,
with James Sloan as the principal. Little is known of its beginning
but the trustees in 1831 were Daniel McGugin, David Wherry, and William
Lindsey; and at the examination held November 15th, 1831, the trustees
appointed J. Anderson, William Wallace, and Dr. Al. Hamilton to take
charge. Rev. Charles Wheeler, of Washington, became principal when
the school opened on October 22d, 1832, with George Gordon as assistant.
George M. Hall was principal on April 7th, 1834. The school was finally
closed a few years after this date.
   West Alexander Academy, established in 1828 at West Alexander,
was one of the best known of those early educational institutions in the
rural districts. It was organized by Rev. John McClusky, who became
pastor of the West Alexander Presbyterian Church that year. He man-
aged the school until 1836, when at his request a board of trustees was
appointed to assist him on account of the large number of students. A
charter was secured in 1840, and in 1849 the school was taken under the
care of Washington Presbytery. After Dr. McClusky's reignation in
1853, Rev. William H. Lester became head of the school, and he contin-
ued in charge during the next quarter of a century, when the institution
was closed.
   Cross Creek Academy was opened about 1828 at Cross Creek village
by Rev. John Stockton, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at that place,
and it was continued under his charge until 1877, a period of fifty years.
Among some of the teachers who assisted him during that half century
were Samuel and George Marshall, John Marquis, Robert McMillan, and
Thomas M. C. Stockton. Among the pupils were thirty who became
ministers of the gospel. The academy was continued for a number of
years after Dr. Stockton's death, and in later years it was taken over


662




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


by the township and converted into the Cross Creek Township High
School of the present day. The present building used by the high school
in the village is the same as was occupied by the academy.
    Florence Academy, at the village of Florence, known for many years
 as Briceland's Cross Roads, was established about 1833, with Robert
 Fulton as the first principal. An academy building was erected shortly
 afterwards on a site conveyed by the Presbyterian Church. On account
 of a defective title he surrendered the property, and the academy was
 moved to the buildings occupied by Mrs. Lamdin's seminary on the
 McCurdy farm. Mr. Fulton continued as principal until 1839, when he
 was succeeded by Rev. William Burton. The attendence reached its
 highest point at seventy during Mr. Fulton's time. The academy closed
 about 1848.
    Florence Select School for Young Ladies was established at Florence
 in 1832 by Rev. Elisha McCurdy. It was conducted for about five years
 with excellent success with Mrs. Rachel Lamdin in charge. It had an
 average of from thirty to forty pupils.
    Hazzard's Monongahela Academy was established in 1838 at Monon-
 gahela city by Thomas R. Hazzard. The common branches and Latin,
 Greek, Mathematics and the sciences were taught. Mr. Hazzard was
 succeeded in a year or two by James D. Mason and W. P. Thompson.
 Rev. E. S. Blake, of Yale College, came next. Joseph S. Morrison had
 charge at one time. This academy was in existence for many years,
 and enjoyed a large attendance.
    Wotring's Academy in Hopewell Township, better known among its
 students as the "Horse Mill Academy," was established in 1844 by Hon.
 Abram Wotring in a building fitted up for that purpose. Mr. Wotring
 first established it for the benefit of his own children and secured W. A.
 McKee as instructor. Other pupils were taken in at the rate of $70 per
 annum. It enjoyed considerable success under Mr. McKee. It was fin-
 ally placed in charge of these trustees. Messrs. Wotring, Dawson and
 Allison, with Rev. John Eagleson as president. It dwindled down after
 Mr. McKee left and finally ceased in 1847.
   Upper Buffalo Academy was founded in 1853 at Buffalo village, by
Rev. John Eagleson, pastor of the church. It was conducted in a building
erected for that purpose and was under the control of a board of trustees.
It continued for about fifteen years, and about twenty of its students
became ministers; and in this time a number of teachers were in charge.
It finally closed about 1868.
   Olome Institute for young ladies was established at Canonsburg in
1844 by Mrs. Olivia J. French, widow of Rev. John M. French, who took
this means of making her way after the death of her husband. The name
Olome had been coined by Rev. French as a combination of his wife's name,
Olivia, with home. It was prosperous from the beginning, and in 1848
and 1853 it was necessary to purchase more ground and erect additional
buildings to accommodate the large number of students. In 1857 there
were 81 pupils, about one-half of whom were from Washington County.
This seminary was conducted by Mrs. French for a period of eighteen
years, when she closed its doors and retired. She died a few years ago
at Marysville, Ohio.


663




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Pleasant Hill Seminary, near West Middletown, is another of those
early schools for young ladies which was famous in its day. It was
founded by Mrs. Jane Campbell McKeever, wife of Matthew McKeever
and a sister of Alexander Campbell. Mrs. McKeever had charge of the
instruction, but her husband conducted the financial management. Mrs.
McKeever was assisted by her son, Thomas C. McKeever, and her son-in-
law, James Campbell. The first class consisting of four members, was
graduated in 1847. After conducting it for several years, Mrs. McKeever
retired owing to advanced years and turned the management over to her
son, Thomas C. McKeever, who conducted it with great success until his
sudden death in 1867, after which it rapidly declined. Buildings were
erected to accommodate 100 boarders, and these stood for many years
until the last was burned to the ground only a few years ago The Pleas-
ant Hill Seminary farm has been owned for several years by Mrs. Phoebe
Acheson Murdock, a daughter of the late Hon. E. F. Acheson, long Con-
gressman from Washington. The only building of this seminary now in
existence is the study of Thomas C. McKeever, which was removed to
West Middletown a number of years ago by Aaron McClure, and uscd
for a long period as a barber shop. This is a small octogan frame build-
ing at the west end of the village.
   Pleasant Valley Academy was established at Lone Pine in 1853, when
that place was known as Pleasant Valley, after the Christian Church there,
and from this the new school took its name. The founders were mem-
bers of the Pleasant Valley (now the Lone Pine) Christian Church, for
many years the leading congregation of this denomination in the county.
Instrumental in founding the academy was Rev. Lyman P. Streator, pastor
of the congregation at that time. A charter was granted to the Pleasant
Valley Academy on November 26, 1853, by the local court, upon petition
of David Frazee, Sr., Philo Paul, Samuel L. Hughes, David Bane, David
Slusher, David McElhinney, David McDonough, Lyman P. Streator, and
Edward Riggs. These were to act as trustees until $2,000 should be
subscribed.
   The capital stock was not to exceed $20,000, divided into shares of
$10 each. The academy was to be used for no other purpose than the in-
struction of the youth of both sexes in the various branches of literature
and science, especially moral science. It was to be managed by a board
of nine trustees, the first elected being as follows: Col. David Frazee,
Philo Paul, and Samuel L. Hughes, for three years; David Frazee, Sr.,
Thomas J. Reese, and David Bane, for two years; Lyman P. Streator,
Joseph Moore, and Asher Vankirk, for one year.
   On May 24, 1854, Col.'David Frazee gave a deed to the trustees for
one acre and 21 perches near the church in what is now Lone Pine, and
a two-story brick academy building was erected immediately at a cost
of $2,051.75, no small sum to be raised at that time by a rural community.
This building was used as long as the academy existed.
   Rev. Lyman P. Streator, the first principal, served for five years,
and under him the school reached a high degree of excellence, becoming
self-supporting. He was succeeded by Philip Galley, then William G.
Spear and finally by J. L. Darsie. Owing to unfavorable changes in its
surroundings, the academy was closed in 1871, and the building was


664
































    "The Gate of Trinity Hall," a reproduction of the famous painting by Malcolm
Parcell, Washington's noted artist. Mr. Parcell has made several paintings of this
picturesque gate, as a result of which the late Bertram Goodhue, of New York, noted
architect, pronounced this the finest example of a rural gateway in the United States.
This painting was made in 1920.


     Trinity Hall Military Academy, Washington, taken in the days when the school
was at the height of its glory. This shows the old style uniforms worn by the cadets.
This was one of the finest estates in the state in its day.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


sold. It was used as a residence until 1906 when it was razed and upon
the site David L. Frazee erected his present dwelling. However, J. H.
Hendron, of Lone Pine, revived the school in 1875, and taught until he
moved from the village in 1885.
    Lone Pine Academy was established in 1878, and school was opened
 the next year in Huston Hall, which had just been erected. This is a
 two-story building, the second floor of which was used by the academy,
 and the lower room for the public school. The first and only principal
 was J. H. Hendron who taught until the academy was discontinued in
 1885. The officers were: James D. Huston, president; James A. Mon-
 inger, secretary; Robert C. Vandergrift and Frederick Rasel, directors.
    Paris Collegiate Institute was established at the village of Paris, in
 October, 1878, by Prof. William I. Brugh, and was conducted for several
 years in a large square brick building erected for that purpose.
    Trinity Hall Military Academy was established at Washington in the
fall of 1879 by the late William W. Smith at his large home in the center
of his private estate just southwest of Washington. The main building,
which is still standing was erected by Joseph Knight about 1857 and was
the finest in the county at that time. He resided there until June 1, 1867,
when he sold the property and twenty-five acres of ground adjoining to
William W. Smith for $16,500. Mr. Smith saw the possibilities and he
spared no expense in beautifying the grounds, employing R. M. Copeland,
of Boston, a landscape gardener of national fame at that period, who came
to Washington and spent much time in laying out the drives, flower beds
and selecting the varieties of shade and fruit trees, and when he had com-
pleted his contract he had designed the most beautiful grounds surround-
ing any private residence in the state. The original plan and arrange-
ment were never changed by Mr. Smith.
   General Grant and his wife were frequent visitors at Mr. Smith's
beautiful home, but this will be described in another chapter.
   The house erected by Mr. McKnight contained twenty-five rooms,
and was one of the best built in the state. The walls are 24 inches thick,
with an air space. The window casings are 18 inches wide. William McK.
Smith, a son of the late W. W. Smith, has estimated that this building
would cost $125,000 today. The estate was named Spring Hill by Mr.
McKnight and was called this by Mr. Smith until be established Trinity
Hall in 1879.
   The project of a military boarding school in Washington was the
idea of Rt. Rev. John B. Kerfoot, bishop of the Pittsburgh diocese of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. The original plan was that the Pitts-
burgh diocese was to finance the school and it was originally to have been
located at the old Cooke homestead, owned by Mr. Smith, where the Wash-
ington Country Club is now located. Mr. Smith became interested and
later agreed to help the church by opening it at his beautiful home. After
some plans were made, the church backed out, and then it was through
Mr. Smith's generosity that the school was made possible. He threw him-
self heart and soul into the work, financed it entirely until his death, al-
though it was conducted at a loss until the last few years of its existence.
   The first principal was Rev. Samuel Earp, of Saginaw, Michigan,
but at that time rector of one of the leading protestant churches in New


666




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


York City. He was a man of wide experience and the school soon gained
a reputation for excellence. There were 34 pupils when the school was
first opened September 11, 1879, and the next two years it was increased
to such an extent that in 1881 Mr. Smith decided to enlarge the original
building. A brick addition, fifty by ninety-six feet, two stories high was
built. This contained a dormitory large enough for sixty boys, a dining
room, butler's pantry, kitchen, and recitation rooms.
   The architect employed to make these changes was the noted firm
of McKim, Meade and White, of New York. Stanford White, who was
shot and killed by Harry K. Thaw, at Madison Square Roof Garden on
the night of June 25, 1906, was the junior member of this firm. He had
just returned from a study of European architecture and formed a part-
nership with Charles F. McKim and William R. Meade. He came to
Washington and personally supervised the erection of this addition. The
contractors were Walker and Slater.
   In its day Trinity Hall was one of the best equipped private military
schools in the United States; and the hundreds of boys who attended
during the quarter of a century of its existence look back upon those
days with fond recollections.
   Among those first instructors who assisted Reverend Earp were
Francis Schmidt, instructor in ancient and modern languages; Rev.
Frederick W. White, assistant in English branches; W. C. McClelland,
afterwards professor at Washington and Jefferson College, instructor
in mathematics; W. Wallace, assistant in English; Miss Annie Moore,
music, and Miss Margaret Brownson, drawing teacher.
   Reverend Earp severed his connection with Trinity Hall on June 17,
1885, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Dorsey Pitts, of Baltimore,
who became rector and second principal at the beginning of the fall term,
1885. Just how long Reverend Pitts remained is not known, but he was
succeeded by Charles W. Wheeler, and he in turn by Major C. H. Tebbetts,
who remained until the end of the June term, 1895.
   U. S. Grant-Smith, a son of W. W. Smith returned to his home after
graduating from St. Paul College, New Hampshire, and acted as drill
master for a time while Major Tebbetts was in charge. In the fall of
1895, Mr. Grant-Smith returned from Paris, and took charge as head of
the institution to prove to his father that it could be made a financial
success. He conducted the school until 1903, receiving no salary, but
during that period he accomplished what he set out to do, and the school
was not only a financial success for the only time in its history, but it
had a large enrollment and a long waiting list of applicants. The one con-
dition that Mr. Grant-Smith made was that he should not be interfered
with in the management. During this period his father was titular head
of the institution.
   Mr. Grant-Smith then left the school and entered the United States
diplomatic service. Beginning as second secretary of the legation at
Constantinople on September 8, 1903 , he has risen very high in the service
of his country during the past 23 years, and he is one of Washington's
most distinguished sons. From Constantinople he went to the embassy
at London as third secretary. His rise was rapid, and during the next
few years he served his country at Santiago, Chili; Brussels, Belgium, and


667




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Vienna. He was counselor to the embassy at Vienna, Austria, from Sep-
tember 12, 1912, until the United States broke off diplomatic relations with
Austria-Hungary in January, 1917, just prior to its entrance into the
World war. While the United States was engaged in the great conflict,
Mr. Grant-Smith served as counselor to the legation at Copenhagen,
Denmark, and as charge d'affairs from August, 1917, to June, 1919.
   The story of how a native of Washington negotiated alone and signed
the last treaty of the World war, which officially brought to an end a state
of war between the United States and a European power, is one of the
most interesting in the county's history. Because of his position at Vienna
prior to this country's entrance into the war, Mr. Grant-Smith was
selected for the important position as commissioner to Hungary, in De-
cember, 1919, with headquarters at Budapest, while a state of war still
existed, and he was given full power by President Harding to negotiate
and sign on behalf of the United States, the treaty with Hungary. This
treaty was signed by Mr. Grant-Smith alone for the United States on
August 29, 1821, after he had completed all of the negotiations which led
up to the final agreement to all of the terms. In May, 1925, Mr. Grant-
Smith was appointed as minister to Uruguay, with headquarters at Mon-
tevideo, to which place he sailed in June.
   The last master of Trinity Hall after W. W. Smith's death, which
occurred August 4, 1904, was a Mr. Harden, of Garden City, Long Island.
He remained until the close of the term on June 7, 1905. During the year
following Mr. Smith's death the school was conducted by his son, William
McK. Smith, with Mr. Harden as head, and it was a big financial success.
Mr. Smith did not care to continue the management and he rented it te
Charles Eckels and Finish Montgomery, after Mr. Harden had refused
it. They conducted the school from September, 1905, to June, 1907, when
it was closed forever, they having failed to make a financial success. The
gymnasium building was erected in 1902, and after the school closed it
was used as an armory by Company H, from April 1, 1913, to April 1,
1916, when the new armory was occupied.
   Hickory Academy was organized at the village of Hickory in 1891 by
a board of fifteen trustees, each of whom invested 8100 in the project. In
the spring of 1892 a lot was purchased on Main Street from Joseph Hemp-
hill for $225, and a large frame academy building erected that summer,
by Vincent McPeak, at a cost of $1,200 in cash and $100 in stock. School
was opened in September, 1892, with B. B. Wolf as principal, and Miss
Lella McCarrell as assistant. Mr. Wolf remained until June, 1894, and
in September that year, W. A. H. McIlvaine took charge, with Miss
McCarrell as assistant. The other teachers were R. M. Offutt and Miss
Nettie Harsha, 1895-96; H. B. McElree and Miss Harsha, 1896-97; F. C.
McGill and Miss Lella McElroy, 1897-98; A. M. Reed and Miss Mary
Kithcart, 1898-1900; L. S. Paxton and Miss Iva J. Moore, 1900-01; Miss
Mary Kithcart and Miss Iva J. Moore, 1901-02.
   This academy graduated 68 students during the years of its existence,
the first being in 1894, but there were a great number of others who
attended without completing the course. The first class was remarkable in
that three are now physicians and one a dentist; Dr. D. L. McCarrell, of
Hickory; Dr. A. O. Hindman, of Burgettstown; Dr. Ralph Maxwell, of


668




































































The Southwest Pennsylani a State 'Normal School at Calif ornia.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Washington, and Dr. Clark Maxwell, a dentist, of Pittsburgh. Judge Erwin
Cummins, now additional law judge of the Washington County courts,
is a graduate of this old academy. The school closed in June, 1902, and on
June 25, 1903, the building was purchased by the Mount Pleasant Town-
ship school district for $1,300 and turned into a high school. It was
replaced ten years ago by the present Hickory Vocational School.
   The Southwestern State Normal School, located at California, is the
outgrowth of an academy first opened by the people of that town in 1852.
One of the principal men in the founding of this school was Job John-
son, one of the proprietors of California. One thing that has led to the
success of the school is a provision in the town's charter that the sale of
intoxicating liquors was forever forbidden in the borough.
   The academy gained a wide reputation under Prof. E. N. Johnson,
and on March 16, 1865, it was chartered by Governor Curtin and the
Southwestern Normal College. On August 26, 1868, the cornerstone of
the present main building was laid, the principal address being made by
Gen. John W. Geary, then governor of Pennsylvania. The work was
hindered because of a lack of finances, and it was not until May 26, 1874,
that it became a state institution under the name of the Southwestern
State Normal School for the Tenth District, composed of Washington,
Fayette, Greene, and Somerset townships. The school now occupies
seven buildings: The Main Building, first used in 1870; North Hall, in
1874; South Hall, in 1876; Science Hall, in 1892; the Gymnasium, in 1894,
and the Laundry and Power buildings in 1899. The last building erected
is Dixon Hall, used as a dining hall and dormitory, completed in 1907,
with accommodations for 500. The campus contains twelve acres, and
is now the most beautiful and attractive in the western part of the state.
   Under the new school code, the state board appropriated $25,000 for
the purchase of the Normal School, and on May 20, 1913, the stockhold-
ers accepted the proposition of the state board, and the corporation was
dissolved, and the actual transfer to the state took place on May 7, 1914.
   Prof. J. C. Gilchrist was the first principal of the Normal College but
in 1866 he was elected as county superintendent, and Prof. A. J. Buffing-
ton, the retiring superintendent, took charge. Prof. G. G. Hertzog, who
was connected with the school for a long period, had charge from Septem-
ber, 1870, until 1871, when Prof. C. L. Ehrenfeld was elected regular prin-
cipal. Many were the principals during the years that followed, the best
known of whom being Prof. Hertzog, and Prof. Theodore B. Noss, who
was head of the school for twenty-five years prior to his sudden death on
February 28, 1909. The present principal is Prof. John A. Entz. The
present enrollment is now nearly 500.
   Linden Hall Seminary was located at West Alexander in 1860. Just
when it was started and how long it continued is not known today; but
it must have been about 1858 or earlier, for we find that it closed its
term on August 20, 1860, under Miss N. R. Groome, who had been prin-
cipal for the two years previous. No further mention is found of it.
   Hoge Summit Academy was conducted in Somerset Township in 1860
by Prof. John Messenger, who built a small school building, and taught
there for several years. Many young men of that section received their
early education in this academy under Prof. Messenger, who was after-


670


























f4t. .J


WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON COLLEGE, WASHINGTON, PA.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Greene counties, leaving a bloody trail of mutilated victims and burned
cabins, the memory of which brought a shudder to the frontier for many
a long year afterwards.
    On June 6th Logan's warriors killed and scalped a man within sight
of Redstone Old Fort, after murdering a family of six and taking two boys
prisoners. Three more were killed not far away, and six more on Dunkard
Creek, Greene County. Still another man was shot from his horse while
riding through the forest.
    The region about Ten Mile Creek suffered more than any other section
of Washington County; and at least sixteen persons were killed in that
vicinity by Logan's warriors during the summer of 1774.
    While pursuing Logan along Ten Mile Creek on June 11th, a company
of rangers led by Captain Francis McClure and Lieutenant Samuel Kin-
kade, were attacked. The two officers, who were some distance in advance,
were ambushed, and McClure was killed and Kinkade badly wounded. The
timely arrival of the rangers saved Kinkade's life. Part of the company
remained to guard him, while the others pursued the savages; but the wily
Logan made his escape.
    The five Bane brothers had settled in Amwell Township in 1768, and
when the war broke out the settlers of that section elected Joseph Bane
captain of a company of rangers. During the summer of 1774 they pur-
sued a war party across the Ohio River below Wheeling. They surprised
the Indians, but in the battle that followed the whites were not as skilled
in the art of wilderness warfare, and were soon put to flight. Captain
Bane was wounded and rode for five days on horseback until he reached
a settler's cabin where Amity now stands. He recovered in a short time,
after which he went to Kentucky. On the journey he killed two Indians,
and sent their scalps back to his friends in Washington County as sou-
venirs of the trip.
   Dr. John Connolly, commandant at Fort Pitt, made a half-hearted
effort to raise an expedition to march against the hostiles, but his efforts
amounted to nothing.
   Early in May the news of the Indian war that was sweeping the west-
ern frontier reached Lord Dunmore, governor of Virginia, and he imme-
diately made plans to march with an army into the Indian country. He
sent orders to Dr. Connolly to build a fort immediately at the mouth of
Wheeling Creek, where Wheeling now stands, and two hundred men were
dispatched on June 13th for that purpose, but they failed.
   Colonel Angus McDonald, with four hundred Virginia troops, marched
across the mountains over the Braddock road to Laurel Hill; then over the
old Indian trail to Redstone Old Fort, and across Washington County to
Wheeling, stopping at Catfish Camp. He remained at Wheeling long
enough to build a stockaded fort, which he named Fort Fincastle, in honor
of Lord Dunmore. He then marched against the Indians on the Mus-
kingum, defeating them in two battles, one at Wappatomica town, near
the present site of Coshocton, Ohio, and the other on the Muskingum.
   A short time after returning to his store at Redstone Old Fort in
April, Michael Cresap went to Maryland. On June 10th he received a
captain's cmmission from Lord Dunmore, and immediately raised a com-
pany of rangers. On July 10th he arrived in the Monongahela Valley,





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


wards a member of the Legislature. It was named Hoge Summit after
Mordecai Hoge, who taught a school there as early as 1814. Just how
long he remained there is not known, but he was teaching at this school
from 1827 to 1833, after which he was at Pee's Mill for two years. Then
he returned to Hoge Summit and taught there from 1837 to 1860. A pub-
lic school called Hoge Summit is now located there.

                WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON COLLEGE.
   The origin of Washington College in Washington Academy, and Jef-
ferson College from Jefferson Academy has already been related in this
chapter. These two institutions of higher education have always been of
great importance in Western Fennsylvania, and their graduates number
more than 5,000 since the beginning. These two institutions, united in
1865 into Washington and Jefferson College, point with pride to the fact
that among its graduates are 6 cabinet ministers, 12 state governors, 12
United States senators, 66 congressmen, more than 230 legislators, 120
judges of county courts, 20 judges of state supreme courts, 33 college
and university presidents, more than 1,700 ministers of the gospel, nearly
600 physicians, and about 1,200 lawyers.
   Among its graduates were such men as Hon. James G. Blaine, once
secretary of state and a candidate for President of the United States;
David T. Watson, late of Pittsburgh, in his day a lawyer of international
fame; Senator E. E. Robbins, late of Greensburg; Rev. S. B. McCormick,
former chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh; Hon. James A. Beaver,
former governor of Pennsylvania; Rev. David Gregg, president of the
Western Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, and Rev. James D. Moffat,
D. D., president of Washington and Jefferson College for thirty-four
years.
   Jefferson College was incorporated on January 15, 1802, and Rev.
John Watson became its first president, but his administration was short,
for he died suddenly on November 30, 1802. Rev. James Duniap was then
elected and served until 1811, and during the next year Dr. John
McMillan, the vice president, had charge. Rev. Andrew Wylie was then
induced to accept the presidency and served until 1816, when he was
transferred by election to the head of Washington College, at Washing-
ton. This precipitated the strife or "College War" that existed b_tween
the two institutions at intervals until the union in 1865.
   The first effort to unite the two colleges took place in 1815, and on
October 26, committees of both boards met at Graham's tavern, midway
between the two places for this purpose, but were unable to agree. These
efforts at a consolidation were renewed in 1817, 1843, 1847, and 1852.
before they were finally successful in 1865. The prime reason for their
final success was the financial embarrassment of both following the Civil
War.
   Dr. Wylie was succeeded as president of Jefferson by Rev. William
McMillan, a nephew of Dr. John McMillan, and he served for five years,
when he resigned. Dr. Matthew Brown was elected to fill the vacancy
in September, 1822, and he served until 1845 when he retired. The next
president was Rev. Robert J. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, who served for
two years, and in 1847, Rev. Alexander Blaine Brown, a son of Dr.


672




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Matthew Brown became president, serving for nine years. The next
president was Dr. Joseph Alden, who served five years, and then came
Dr. David H. Riddle, the past president of Jefferson College, who was
elected three years prior to the union.
   Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, now the medical depart-
ment of the University of Pennsylvania, was founded in that city in
1824 as a branch of Jefferson College, at Canonsburg, one of the medical
professors at Philadelphia giving instruction in chemistry at Canons-
burg.
   Maryland Medical College of Baltimore was founded as a branch of
Washington college, although it was always conducted at Baltimore. Un-
der an arrangement between the two institutions, Washington College
conferred degrees in medicine on the graduates of the Baltimore insti-
tution.
   Phi Gamma Delta national college fraternity was founded at Jef-
ferson College in 1848 by Daniel Grofts, James Elliott, Ellis B. Gregg,
and Samuel John T. McCarty, students at that institution. In 1907, the
board of trustees of Jefferson academy entrusted the care of the old Mc-
Millan log academy on the Jefferson College campus to this fraternity. It
is of interest to note in this connection that in February, 1909, the na-
tional fraternity secured the mantel from the room in which Phi Gamma
Delta was founded at Canonsburg and removed it to its memorial hall at
Dayton.
   Phi Kappa Psi national college fraternity was founded at Jefferson
College on February 19, 1852, by C. P. T. Moore and W. H. Letherman.
On the campus of Washington and Jefferson College is a handsome gran-
ite drinking fountain with seats erected by the fraternity in 1909 as a
memorial to these men.
   Washington College was chartered March 28, 1806, and Dr. Matthew
Brown, head of the academy, was made the first president. The college
was conducted in the old stone academy building erected in 1793, which
still stands on the campus. In 1816, additions to this were started, and
in 1817, Dr. Brown retired as president. He was succeeded by Rev.
Andrew Wylie, who had been president of Jefferson College until 1816.
He remained until 1828, after which the presidency was vacant for two
years. Rev. David Elliott was elected in 1830 and resigned in 1831.
During his presidency the chair of English literature was established,
and as far as can be learned this was the first of its kind in this country.
In 1831, Dr. David McConaughy was elected, serving until 1849 when he
resigned. Rev. James Clark was elected in 1850, and remained until
1852, in which year the college became a Synodical institution by placing
itself under the care and partial control of the Synod of Wheeling.
   Rev. James I. Brownson, for fifty years pastor of the First Presby-
terian Church of Washington and father of Hon. James I. Brownson,
president judge of the Washington County courts, was president pro tem
from 1852 to 1853, when Rev. John W. Scott was elected and held the
position until the union in 1865.
   The Legislature granted a charter to the united colleges under the
name of Washington and Jefferson on March 4, 1865. Under the condi-
tions of this union the college proper was to be held at Canonsburg, and
       43-V1


673




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the freshman class, preparatory and scientific departments to be taught
at Washington. This arrangement proved unsatisfactory and in 1869
a reorganization was effected and a new charter granted on February
26, on condition that the college should be held in one location within the
state. This precipitated a fight for the location and besides Canonsburg
and Washington, the city of Pittsburgh and the towns of Kittanning,
Uniontown, Steubenville and Wooster entered the field and desired the
institution. The big fight was between Canonsburg and Washington.
The former subscribed $16,000 as an inducement, but Washington came
forward with $50,000; and on April 20, 1869, Washington was selected
on the eighth ballot.
   Rev. Jonathan Edwards was elected president of the united colleges
on March 6, 1866, and remained until 1869, when he resigned. Rev.
Samuel J. Wilson was elected president pro tem and served from April
20, 1869, until August 4. Rev. James I. Brownson next served as presi-
dent pro tem from February 1, to August 3, 1870, when Rev. George P.
Hays was elected. Dr. Hays resigned on June 3, 1881.
   Rev. James D. Moffat, D. D., who was head of the institution for a
third of a century, a longer period than any other president in the his-
tory of the institution, was elected on November 16, 1881, and served
until his resignation on January 1, 1915. On this date he was succeeded
by Rev. Frederick W. Hinitt, D. D., who resigned in June, 1918. Rev.
William E. Slemmons, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Wash-
ington, was elected president pro tem in September, 1918, and served
until June 1, 1919, when Rev. Samuel Charles Black, D. D., became the
head of the college. Dr. Black remained in this position until his sud-
den death on July 25, 1921.
   Dr. Simon Strousse Baker, a native of Washington and a graduate of
the institution, was elected acting president on October 17, 1921, and
served in this capacity until March 27, 1922, when he became president.
Under Dr. Baker, the college has grown until at the present time (1926)
it has an enrollment of 508 students, the largest in its history.
   During the World War the trustees of the college turned the institu-
tion over to the government to use as a training school for officers, and
Lieutenant Nelson E. Whitaker, of the regular army, was placed in
charge. The Students' Army Training Corps unit of Washington and
Jefferson was opened on October 1, 1918, with an enrollment limited to
300. This included all of the students of the college between 18 and 21
years of age, who were physically fit for military service. This con-
tinued until December 15, 1918, when it was demobilized. During this
period, Washington and Jefferson was a military school for the first time
in its history.
   In the chapel is a bronze tablet placed by the class of 1921 in memory
of the twenty-four men of Washington and Jefferson who made the su-
preme sacrifice in the World War from 1914 to 1918. Their names and the
years of their attendance follow: Henry T. Ashe, 1909-10; Earl B. Cham-
bers, 1915-16; Howard B. Coblentz, A. B., class of 1915; James F. Creel,
1916-17; Harvey A. Dean, A. B., class of 1909; John C. Ely, Jr., 1908-09;
James H. Hall, A. B., class of 1913; Clarence C. Kahle, A. B., class of 1916;
Harold J. Lewis, 1916-18; Edwin S. Linton, A. M., class of 1914; James P.


674





I




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Over, 1908-10; William F. Pogue, 1915-17; Leroy Quinn, 1910-11; William
S. Rese, B. S., class of 1918; G. LeMoyne Sargent, 1915-17; Emanuel R.
Schliffka, B. S., class of 1916; Clifford A. Sheppard, 1915-16; Robert W.
Spangler, A-B., class of 1914; Ralph L. Taylor, 1911-12; Roy Van Dyke,
A. B., class of 1914; Harold F. Wickerham, 1916-17; J. Volney Wilson,
A. B., class of 1918; Donald R. Wood, 1914-15; Leonard L. Whitehill,
1916-17.
   The old building at Jefferson College, which was erected during 1829
and 1832, is still standing on the campus at Canonsburg. The property
has been turned over to the school board of that town, and recently a high
school was built on the site of the old dormitory, which was razed a few
years ago.
   The growth of Washington College in the thirties required larger
quarters and in 1836 a new building was erected on the site of the pres-
ent main college building. This stood until 1875 and '76, when it was
completely remodeled and changed by a large addition into the present
structure. In the late '80s and early '90s the growth of athletics in col-
leges required some room for this branch, and after the old Washington
County Agricultural Association passed out of existence in 1885, the
college acquired its grounds. This was the beginning of the present
athletic field known as College Field. The students fitted up a gymnasium
under the old grandstand of the Fair Grounds days. This proved too
small, and in 1893 through the efforts of Dr. Moffatt the present gym-
nasium was erected at a cost of $40,000.
   The first baseball club at Washington and Jefferson dates back to
1867, and in 1890 football was inaugurated. The teams of this institu-
tion have always been very successful on the gridiron, and in 1921 it
turned out the greatest team in its history. This team was without doubt
the best in the United States. During the regular season it defeated all
opponents, and it was selected to represent the East against a western
team at the annual Tournament of Roses at Pasadena, California. After
making the long journey across the continent they held the University
of California team to a scoreless tie on January 2, 1922. Washington
and Jefferson made one touchdown against California, but it was not
allowed on account of an offside play. The University of California team
had defeated every rival for four years, among which were some of the
eastern champions.
   The success of Washington and Jefferson football teams during a
period of more than fifteen years, was largely due to Robert M. Murphy,
of the class of 1906, who was graduate manager of football, with the ex-
ception of two years, from 1907 until his death in the summer of 1925.
He was affectionately known among all of the students during this period
as "Mother" Murphy, and his memory will survive as long as the college
lasts.
   The Thompson Memorial Library was erected in 1905 through a gift
of $50,000 by the estate of William R. Thompson, of Pittsburgh, the
completed building costing $57,000. It is interesting to note that the
library of Washington College was founded through a gift of 850 made
by Benjamin Franklin. The library now contains 36,350 volumes. In


676




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


addition to the above sum, Mrs. Mary Thaw Thompson made a gift of
810,000 as a memorial to her mother, Eliza Burd Blair Thaw.
   The Thistle Physics laboratory was completed in 1912, at a cost of
851.000. This building was the gift of Dr. J. L. Thistle, for many years a
physician of Washington and long a trustee of the college.
   The present board of trustees, arranged on the basis of seniority,
follows: Josiah V. Thompson, Uniontown; Charles N. Brady, Washing-
ton; Edward McDonald, McDonald; Rev. William E. Slemmons, D. D.,
Washington; Judge James I. Brownson, Washington; Marcus W. Ache-
son, Jr., Pittsburgh; John L. Dickey, M. D., Wheeling, W. Va.; Robert
L. McCarrell, Washington; W. A. H. McIlvaine, Washington; John A.
Mathews, Ph. D., Sc. D., New York City; John H. Donnan, Washington;
Col. R. M. Thompson, New York City; Rev. C. C. Hays, D. D., Johnstown,
Pa.; John McCartney Kennedy, Pittsburgh; Alexander M. Templeton,
Washington; W. H. Davis, Washington; Walter H. Baker, Washington;
Rev. Henry A. Riddle, Greensburg, Pa.
   Alumni Representatives.-Judge James A. Beacom, Greensburg, Pa.;
Lyle W. Orr, Erie, Pa.; Rev. James V. Stevenson, Bulger, Pa.; Robert
W. Shaw, Harrisburg, Pa.; Frank S. Love, Pittsburgh; Patton L. Logan,
Pittsburgh; H. F. Behrens, Wheeling, W. Va.; Park J. Alexander, Pitts-
burgh; Judge Charles M. Thompson, Chicago, Ill.; Robert W. Smith,
Greensburg, Pa.
                   WASHINGTON FEMALE SEMINARY.
   This well known institution, the only one of its kind left in Washing-
ton County and one of the best in the entire state, is among the oldest
female seminaries west of the mountains. It has survived the storms of
ninety-one years, and has been brought to a very high standard. Dur-
ing all those years it has turned out hundreds of graduates. Mothers,
who attended when girls, have sent their daughters from one generation
to another.
   The Washington Seminary can point back to November 26, 1835, as
the real date of its foundation. On that day a meeting was held at the
home of Hon. T. M. T. McKennan, who resided at the house which has
been remodeled into the garage of the Scott Motor Corporation, in East
Maiden Street, and attended by Rev. David Elliott, John Harter, John
Wilson, James Reed, William J. Wilson, William Hunter, Jacob Slagle,
Robert Officer, William Smith, David Eckert, and John Koontz. The
object of the meeting was the formation of a society for the organization
of a female seminary, which all felt was badly needed in Washington.
Other meetings were held, and many of the leading citizens of the town
joined in the movement, among whom were Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne,
Alexander Reed, Thomas Morgan, Samuel McFarland, John Grayson,
John H. Ewing, Colin M. Reed, Hon. Abraham Wotring, Vachel Harding,
and many others.
   The result of these meetings was that a society was formed and a
committee was appointed to procure a suitable building for opening the
school. Contributions were taken at the rate of 850 per share to be bind-
ing when 84,000 was raised. Alexander Reed and Dr. LeMoyne each sub-
scribed for twelve shares, and others for smaller amounts. By December


677





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


18, 1835, a total of eighty-five shares had been sold and $4,250 received.
The committee on securing quarters reported that the old Masonic Lodge
Hall in East Maiden Street, now the residence of Dr. W. D. Teagarden,
had been secured, and it was there that the seminary was started in the
Spring of 1836. The building committee reported that the lots at the
corner of East Maiden and South Lincoln streets, would make an excellent
site for buildings, and an agreement was promptly made with Alexander
Reed for their purchase.
   Mrs. Frances Biddle, of Philadelphia, was secured to take charge at
a salary of $600 a year, clear of all rent, fuel, furniture and incidental
expenses. The trustees also agreed, without a request from Mrs. Biddle,
to pay her as additional salary any profit derived after the payment of
all expenses.
   A new constitution was adopted on February 14, 1837, and on April
14, 1838, a charter was granted by the Legislature. By 1840 there had
been such an increase of pupils that the trustees decided upon the erec-
tion of new buildings, and operations were started at once. As soon as
completed the school was moved from the Masonic Hall. The school grew
rapidly until in 1846 it was necessary to erect a wing to the main build-
ing. The West Wing was destroyed by fire on November 30, 1848, and
as it was not insured it was only by borrowing money and through ad-
ditional stock subscriptions that the damage was repaired. This old
building is still standing in use. A brick addition was made in later years;
and about twenty-five years ago the school had grown to such proportions
that a large building of vitrified brick was erected, fronting on Lincoln
Street.
   Mrs. Biddle was assisted by Miss Elizabeth Clarke until 1840, when
Mrs. Biddle resigned, and Miss Sara R. Foster, then a teacher at Cadiz,
Ohio, was chosen to succeed, and she remained in charge for a period of
thirty-four years. In 1848, she was married to Rev. Thomas Hanna, pas-
tor of the First United Presbyterian Church, and in 1850 he was ap-
pointed by the trustees as superintendent of the seminary. Under Mrs.
Hanna, the school grew and prospered until she finally resigned in 1874.
Her successor was Miss Nancy Sherrard, who was head of the institution
for twenty-three years; and during this period it became more widely
known. She retired in 1896, and Mrs. Martha Nichols McMillan became
principal. She resigned in 1901, and it was during her administration
that the new building on Lincoln Street was erected.
   Miss Christiana C. Thompson, who was associated with the seminary
for thirty-four years, began her career as a teacher under Mrs. Hanna
in 1869. During the seventies she was away for five years, but returned
in 1879 and became assistant principal under Miss Sherrard. In 1901,
Miss Thompson became co-principal with Miss Mary McDonald, which
continued until 1906, when Miss McDonald retired, and Miss Thompson
was the head until she resigned in June, 1908. The next fall Miss Lillian
M. Rosenkrans, of Newark, New Jersey, was elected and served until
June, 1914.
   This now brings us down to the present principal, Miss Mary de
Bure McCurdy, a graduate of the University of Chicago, and the Uni-
versity of Pittsburgh, who took charge in September, 1914. Under her


678































  Washington and Jefferson College, an old
view taken in the 70s. The old buildings in
the foreground, located in South College
Street, have been replaced by fine resi-
dences.


   Old-time teachers and members of classes of Washington Semi-
nary in the centennial celebration parade of the borough of Wash-
ington, October, 1910.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


management, the institution has kept up its old-time traditions. She has
in a most able manner carried on the work of her predecessors, and to-
day the school ranks as one of the best female seminaries in the state.
    The present board of trustees is composed of John L. Stewart, presi-
dent; M. W. McClane, vice president; Smith N. Whitworth, secretary;
Kathleen Elliott, treasurer; Frank H. Berthel, Mary Flack Brownlee
(Mrs. T. B. H.), Robert L. McCarrell, John H. Murdoch, Jr., Edith Tay-
lor Wassell (Mrs. Harry B.), James B. Wylie, A. Lloyd, and Sarah
Keziah Thompson All are residents of Washington with the exception
of Mrs. Wassell, who lives in Pittsburgh.

INSTITUTE OF PRACTICAL ARTS FOR IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR CHILDREN, AT
                            OLD CONCORD.
   This now brings us down to Washington County's latest institution of
learning, which is destined to become one of the most important in the
nation. The following history of this school was prepared for the author
by Rev. C. L. McKee, of Washington, who is better acquainted with its
history than any other living person.
   Washington County has ever been the home of men and movements
that have affected the progress of the state and nation.
   It is not strange then that it should step into leadership in the solu-
tion of the mighty problem of Americanization of the 37,000,000 of im-
migrants (14,000,000) and their children (23,000,000) reported by the
1920 census in America.
   This is the greatest migration of an alien people into another nation
ever known to human history.
   This invasion is not the less a menace because it is insidious. It is
a menace because it is insidious.
   If this vast mass of people had come with the "pomp and circumstance"
of war, it certainly would have roused a sleeping public.
   Or, if the invading peoples had been of another color, experience
shows that the American people would have been alarmed and long since
would have taken measures to protect themselves against such an inun-
dation.
   But as this invasion was industrial and not martial, was white and
not brown or yellow, little was thought of it, even by our public men,
until the World War revealed to us that we had received into our body
politic this enormous mass of alienism that had been assimilated only
slightly.
   Twenty-four and one-half per cent of the young men called to the
colors were found to be unable to read a newspaper to learn what the war
was about, nor to write a letter home when sent into camp.
   Millions in America were found to retain citizenship and loyalty to
the very powers we were forced to fight.
   And even though many of these aliens were not able or willing to join
the armies against America, neither were they keen to observe the
"wheatless" and "meatless" days necessary to conserve our food sup-
plies, nor were they trustworthy helpers in producing the fuel and muni-
tions of war necessary to our speedy winning of the war.
   The melting pot had not melted.


680




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   These millions, though white in skin, had come from civilizations
having little in common with ours. Their home lands had been ruled both
in church and state by autocracy and not democracy. In their home lands
free schools, free press, government by the people, the open Bible and in-
stitutions which have always followed the open Bible were little known,
and hence the masses of these people were not prepared to function as
free men in the American Republic.
   Every great problem of America, except the problem of the Negro,
is either occasioned, or much complicated by this huge undigested mass
of immigrants.
   Is it a problem of Honest Elections, of Enforcement of the Eighteenth
Amendment, of Bible Instruction in our Public Schools, of our Entrance
into the League of Nations, of Strikes and Industrial Peace ? Any of these
would be much simplified, or would melt away, were it not for these
masses of undigested aliens.
   Indeed this is not all. It is known to some who have been interested
to inform themselves that there is a fierce propaganda going on, directed
and financed from across the sea, for the avowed purpose of tearing the
Stars and Stripes from the National Capitol and supplanting it by the
Red flag of Communism.
   It is therefore deeply significant that old Washington County, that
has always rallied to the call of clean politics, of national and world evan-
gelization, and to Christian leadership in State as well as church, should
step into the forefront with a tangible and rational method of reaching
these masses of aliens with American ideals and Loyalty.
   Early in the Fall of 1914, Miss Jennie J. Rogers of Old Concord Pa.
disclosed to the Rev. C. L. McKee, who had for several years been active in
promoting Christian work among the immigrant peoples of Washington
and Greene counties, that she was desirous of doing something effective
for the growing foreign populations of the community and country, and
that she designed to leave her interest in the estate at Old Concord, in-
herited from her father Samuel Rogers, to help establish an industrial
school for the Christian education of immigrants and their children, and
asked Mr. McKee's counsel and help in bringing this about.
   Some weeks after this she revealed to Mr. McKee that she had dis-
cussed this matter with her brother, Milton B. Rogers, and her sister
Elizabeth S. Rogers, and they had agreed to join her in her purpose.
   As Mr. McKee was at that time acting as Superintendent of missions
of Washington Presbytery, with the consent of the Rogers Family, he
placed their purpose before Washington Presbytery at the meeting held at
Amity September 22, 1915.
   The following is a quotation from the Minutes of Presbytery of that
date:
   1. It was therefore moved that Washington Presbytery record its
grateful appreciation of the plan and purpose of these gracious donors in
dedicating their property to this most needy and worthy cause.
   2. That we appoint a committee of three ministers and two elders,
the chairman of which shall be the pastor of the donors, the Rev. U. W.
MacMillan D. D. to make a study of the whole plan and purpose of this
proposed school, its field, its forces, its courses, its relation to other edu-


681





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and on the 14th he received a report that nine men had been attacked
while working in a cornfield on Dunkard Creek. Hastening to the scene
of the fight, he found six men dead in the field, the other three having
escaped. He started in pursuit of the raiders, but they had gained a long
start and he could not catch up with them. Dr. Connolly afterwards re-
ported that there were thirty-five Shawnese in this band.
   From Dunkard Creek, Cresap marched to Fort Fincastle, where he
joined Colonel McDonald's command, and took part in the Ohio campaign.
After the battle of Wappatomica he started back through Washington
County, but at Catfish Camp he received a very insulting letter from Dr.
Connolly, ordering him to disband his men. Disgustedly he complied, and
returned to his store at Redstone Old Fort. In August he started for
Maryland; but he met Lord Dunmore with his army, and the governor
immediately placed him in command of a company of Virginians.
   This force of seven hundred men was marching against the Shawnese
of Ohio, the whites having failed to make peace with the Cornstalk con-
federacy. Going direct to Fort Pitt, Lord Dunmore proceeded from there
down the Ohio by boat and canoe to Fort Fincastle, which was reached on
September 30th.
   Lord Dunmore had originally planned to proceed down the Ohio to the
mouth of the Great Kanawha, where the town of Point Pleasant now
stands, in Mason County, West Virginia, where he was to meet General
Andrew Lewis, who was marching from Camp Union with eleven hundred
Virginia troops. But Dunmore changed his plans at Fort Fincastle, and
decided to march directly against the Shawnese towns without waiting
for Lewis. Continuing down the Ohio to the mouth of the Hock Hocking,
he started by land again, after dispatching a messenger to notify Lewis of
the change in plans.
   It is interesting to note here that Dunmore had for his guides George
Rogers Clark, Michael Cresap, Simon Kenton, and Simon Girty, all noted
fighters of the old frontier.
   Lewis reached the rendezvous on October 6th, and went into camp to
wait for Dunmore. The messenger reached him on the 9th, and he made
preparations to move the next day; but events of which he little dreamed
were destined to occur before he left that spot.
   Chief Cornstalk, the leader of the Shawnese, is believed to have re-
ceived information of this change of plans, and he decided to fight the
armies separately. Gathering one thousand picked warriors, the Shaw-
nese chief struck Lewis a staggering blow by attacking just at daybreak.
But the Virginians were fighters. They quickly rallied, and all day long
the battle raged with varying successes on both sides until the Indians
were routed by a desperate charge just before night fell.
   Under cover of the darkness Cornstalk withdrew his Indians across
the Ohio, and retreated to his towns on the Pickaway Plains.
   Although victorious, Lewis' army had received a staggering blow, with
a loss of two colonels, five captains, three lieutenants, a number of sub-
alterns, and seventy-five privates killed, and one hundred and forty
wounded. The Indian loss was never known exactly, but it was estimated
at two hundred and thirty-three.
   After the Battle of Point Pleasant, Lewis remained for several days





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


cational agencies, and to prepare a scheme of management, and to nom-
inate a Board of managers, all to be submitted to this Presbytery, at its
next regular meeting.
   3. That the above mentioned committee, together with the Board of
Trustees of Presbytery, if the way be clear, be constituted a committee
on incorporation of the school to be named the Rogers Industrial School,
and that they be instructed to devise ways and means of meeting the fin-
ancial conditions required by the Rogers land contract.
   The committee required by these resolutions was appointed as follows:
Rev. U. W. MacMillan, D. D.; Rev. W. E. Slemmons, D. D., pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church of Washington; Rev. James D. Moffat, D. D.,
LL. D., President of Washington and Jefferson College, and elders, At-
torney W. A. H. McIlvaine and W. R. Weirich.
   This committee went into its work thoroughly, visited the property,
consulted with the Rogers family, counseled with the State Department of
Public Instruction and the Federal Bureau of Education and also with
the proper secretaries of the boards of the church.
   This committee therefore continued its investigations and activities
during the better part of the next two years, considering every phrase of
the matter, consulting leading thinkers and workers along these educational
lines, and deciding the many momentous questions involved.
   Not the least of its duties, was to search out men of character and ex-
perience representing the varied problems and interests involved to act
as trustees.
   In November 1916 the committee suffered irreparable loss in the death
of Dr. Moffat who contributed without reserve to the cause, the wisdom
and vision acquired by a lifetime of eminent experience in education.
He was a most earnest friend of this enterprise and had consented to serve
as one of the trustees.
   On July 10 1917, Dr. MacMillan, the chairman of the committee ad-
dressed a letter to those who had considered acting as incorporators and
promotors of this school, putting up to them the following questions:
   1. Do you now, after mature deliberation, feel so strong an interest
in the educational project set forth in our prospectus that you are ready
to become an incorporator and promoter of such an enterprise to be
located somewhere in the bounds of the great Pittsburgh coal field?
   2. Now that you have thoroughly studied the proposition of the
Rogers family to turn over their estate for the use of such a school do
you now think there is sufficient value in this estate to justify the board
to undertake the proposition?
   Dr. MacMillan asked that all those who had consente d to act as in-
corporators and trustees meet in the chapel of the First Presbyterian
Church of Washington at one P. M. July 14th, and if prevented from
coming to the meeting to mail their written reply to the questions before
the meeting.
   The following tentative trustees were present and consented to act as
incorporators:
   Rev. U. W. MacMillan, D. D., Old Concord, Pa.; J. E. Parkinson, Old
Concord, Pa.; Cassius M. Day, Old Concord, Pa.; Dr. W. D. Martin, Old
Concord, Pa.; Rev. James Mease Potter, D. D., Wheeling, W. Va.; Andrew


682









®r'w  Jl4


i i'r~h F


!U#lt I


PRESENT AND PROPOSED PLANT OF THE INSTITUTE OF PRACTICAL ARTS, OLD CONCORD.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Brown, Fayette City, Pa.; Prof. O. F. H. Bett, Washington, Pa.; Rev.
C. L. McKee, Washington, Pa.
    Others who could not be present, but who gave full consent in writing
to become trustees and incorporators were:
    W. R. Wierich, Washington, Pa.; C. H. Andrew, Old Concord, Pa.;
Dr. Albert Mamatey, Pittsburgh, Pa.; George J. Henderson, Cleveland,
Ohio; Hon. H. W. Temple, Washington, Pa.; Millard B. King, Harrisburg.,
Pa.; D. S. Walton, Waynesburg, Pa.
    Decrees of incorporation were granted by R. W. Irwin, Additional
Law Judge of Washington County on September 17, 1917.
    The name of the corporation was by charter Institute of Practical Arts
For Immigrants and Their Children. But this name was soon found to
be too long for practical use and by decree of court the phrase "for immi-
grants and their children" was stricken off in 1922.
    The purpose of the corporation is the "maintenance of a Christian
school, inter-denominational in character, for the education, moral, reli-
gious, cultural and practical, of immigrants and their children, and others".
    "The corporation is to exist perpetually."
    "The number of directors, to be known as trustees shall not be less
than nine in number. Three fourths of the Board of Trustees shall be mem-
bers in good and regular standing of Evangelical churches."     "The
Trustees shall be a self perpetuating body and shall fill their own va-
cancies." The Trustees "shall have power to adopt By-laws for the
government of said corporation."
   "The Institution to be established under the provisions of this charter
shall be supported by fees from students, and by voluntary donations and
bequests, and from the increase and products from real estate owned or
leased, and all the funds so raised are limited to the purpose for which the
corporation is formed."
   Being now fully clothed with legal powers the new Board of Trustees
at once set about adopting By-laws for their government, transferring the
Rogers farms in fee simple to the new corporation, and taking steps
toward carrying out the purposes for which the corporation was formed.
   The property conveyed by the Rogers family consisted of their home-
stead adjoining Concord village in Morris Township, Washington County.
In this tract there are thirty-seven acres, all underlaid with coal, upon
which are a large dwelling house and barn.
   About a mile from the village, in East Finley Township they were
possessed of 334 acres of surface and three-fourths of the coal underlying.
This property was also conveyed by fee simple title together with all
their oil and gas rights, in both properties.
   While all who knew these farms recognized the richness of the soil
and the intrinsic values in the property, there were many doubting
Thomases who could not imagine a great school being built "away out at
Old Concord" which seemed "about fifteen miles from every place" with
neither improved road nor railroad.
   Nevertheless the improved road from Washington to Old Concord is
already built and will soon be connected through to Waynesburg, and the
Chartiers Southern R. R. from Pittsburgh to Wheeling is staked out
through the school grounds, and no more beautiful and suitable site, or


684




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


central location could be found anywhere for the building of the school.
And while the school is not legally tied to that location, reason and good
judgment ties it there.
   Meantime the great World war was raging, and about the time the
charter was issued, our own country was forced into the war, and it seemed
altogether inexpedient to launch this new enterprise.
   However the trustees were busy making plans and looking out the
forces.
   Finally, at the January meeting in 1920 the Board elected Rev. Joseph
W. Dunbar D. D., principal of the Ingleside Seminary Burkeville, Va., to
be the executive head of the school.
   Doctor Dunbar is a Washington County man, a graduate of Washington
and Jefferson College, and of Western Theological Seminary, and has had
successful experience as pastor and administrator of schools.
   Doctor Dunbar came on June 1, 1920. His first task was to get money
in an empty treasury to prepare the buildings and grounds for school
operations.
   The Board set the first financial goal at 810,000 and started the sub-
scription themselves.
   In ten days Doctor Dunbar had this amount subscribed and he set in
at once to remodel the Rogers mansion and modernize it by bringing water
from the hill and installing bath, lavatories, etc. He also built during the
summer the first school building.
   When fall came, he had assembled fourteen foreign boys and his
force of teachers in the remodeled Rogers home, and a day for the in-
auguration of the school was appointed.
   As Washington Presbytery had taken the leading part in organizing
the school, it was quite fitting that it should hold dedicatory and inaugural
services.
   Consequently the Presbytery met in regular session at Old Concord
September 28th, an audience assembled from several states that packed
the Presbyterian Church. Senator Walton presided. Rev. Mr. Norris,
the pastor, offered the invocation, Mrs. S. W. Bailes, with wonderful
effectiveness read the 25th chapter of Matthew.
   Miss Mabel Moke, one of the school faculty, sang a pleasing solo, and
Judge Buffington of the United States District Court, made the address of
the hour. From the extended report of the Washington Observer, we
quote: "Rarely has a Washington County audience ever heard such a
moving appeal for the just treatment of the foreign-born as that made by
Judge Buffington here today. "His address made a profound impression
on the audience.
   "He praised the project of the school unstintedly, and commended
Doctor McKee for his vision and his energy in getting it so well under
way. He compared the school to a mustard seed which, he prophesied
would develop into a great and useful institution.
   "He expressed gratitude that it is divorced from ecclesiastical control
while it is backed by Christian leadership and support.
   "He criticised much of the so-called Americanization work as being
at too long range. Much of it, he said, was mere tommyrot, being too
patronizing. The alien needs brotherliness, he declared, and said the


685




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


      school emphasized that essential feature of the problem. The problem of
      Americanization, as he sees it, is one of mere friendliness. They do not
      want to be patronized, exploited,or proselyted. They want to be treated as
      friends. What a wonderful thing if 37,000,000 Americans would make
      friends each of one alien."
         After this telling address the Secretary, Mr. McKee, proposed to
      Doctor Dunbar the inaugural questions, and Judge J. W. Ray of the
      Greene County courts gave a pointed charge to Doctor Dunbar, and the
      dedicatory prayer was offered by Doctor Slemmons.
         Thus was launched this signal enterprise.
         While as institutions are rated, this one is still in its infancy, the
      account of its teachers and scholars and their activities, and the rapid
      expansion of its interests and friends would itself make a long article.
         The institution has already attained a nation-wide fame and con-
      tributions come in from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
         Students from as many as nine different states have already been
      present at the Institute at one time.
         The long list of contributing judges, ministers, teachers, attorneys,
      physicians, merchants, manufacturers, farmers, bankers as well as
      churches and missionary societies, and Daughters of the American Revolu-
      tion, evidence the high humanitarian and patriotic character of its work.
         As a method of Americanization and of creation of a splendid Ameri-
      can leadership from and for our vast alien masses, the school has more
      than justified itself in the numerous products of its work it can already
      show.
         At the Institute the foreign boy, or girl, has every incentive to become
      a real American. He finds himself, perhaps for the first time, living in a
      real American home, among real American friends, in a wholly Ameri-
      can community; he sleeps in an American bed, eats at an American table,
      has American teachers and learns from American books and papers,
      and learns to do American work in the American way.
         While there is no effort to turn him from the faith of his fathers,
      every day he gets a lesson from the same Bible that was read and loved
      by George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the Bible whose ethical
      and altruistic principles gird our American civilization.















  The Rogers home as it appeared originally, be-
fore it was remodeled into the present building for  Present building of School of Practical Arts,
the School of Practical Arts, Old Concord.   Old Concord.


686










CHAPTER LXXIX.


                             POLITICS.
CONGRESSMEN FROM THIS DISTRICT-STATE SENATORS-REPRESENTA-
    TIVES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY-GOVERNORS FROM WASHING-
    TON COUNTY, JOSEPH RITNER AND JOHN K. TENER.
    Washington County has been juggled around over the map of western
Pennsylvania a number of times since it was organized in 1781, and it
has been combined with every county in the southwestern section of the
state in forming a congressional district. The last change became effec-
tive recently when Governor Sproul signed the bill which joined it with
Greene County in the new 25th Congressional District. For the past
sixty years this county has been a part of the 24th District, although it
has been combined with several other counties in the course of that
period. For the past twenty years it has been with Beaver and Law-
rence counties.
   It is of interest to note the many changes in the local congressional
district, and the men who have represented it in the past 140 years. In
that period, the district has been changed ten times, and thirty-five con-
gressmen have represented it, a majority of whom served several terms.
Many hard campaigns were waged during those years and many of the
elections were very close. The results add a very interesting chapter to
the political history of Washington County.
   From 1781 to 1796, Washington County was a separate district and
was represented by Thomas Scott. Under the constitution of Septem-
ber 2, 1790, it was formed into a new district. At the first election, held
in October, 1790, Mr. Scott was re-elected, and he represented the dis-
trict until 1796 or 1797. Some historians claim that he represented this
district until 1798, but this is evidently a mistake, for the Western Tele-
graphe, a weekly newspaper published in Washington at that time, gives
the results of the election of October, 1796, and Thomas Scott was not
a candidate. According to that paper, Washington and Allegheny coun-
ties formed one district, and the following is the vote of the district:
Albert Gallatin, 2,522; John Woods, 1,079; Thomas Stokely, 486.
   The following is the list of congressmen who have served Washington
County and the district from 1781 to the present time. The vote re-
ceived by each candidate is given where possible, but in some cases it is
impossible to secure this information. It was secured from the old files
of the Western Telegraphe, the Reporter, the Examiner, the Review and
Examiner, and the Observer. In many cases the vote is not the official
count, and therefore may vary one way or the other.
   In 1798, Washington, Allegheny, and Greene counties were combined
into one district; represented by Albert Gallatin.
   In 1801, Washington, Allegheny, Greene and Crawford counties were
combined into one district; represented by William Hoge, Federalist,
                                687





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


one of the founders of Washington, served from March 4, 1801, until
October 15, 1804, when he resigned and his brother, John Hoge, also of
Washington, was elected as a democrat and served from November 2,
1804, to March 3, 1805.
   From 1803 to 1843, Washington County was a separate congressional
district.
   October, 1804, John Hamilton elected.
   October, 1806, William Hoge elected.
   October, 1808, Aaron Lyle elected; represented the county until 1816.
October, 1808, Aaron Lyle, democratic-republican, received 3,425 votes;
John Hamilton, federalist, 1,053; Lyle's majority, 2,372.
   October, 1810, Aaron Lyle, democratic-Republican, received 1,344;
Thomas L. Birch, federalist, 564; Lyle's majority, 780.
   October, 1812, Aaron Lyle, democratic-republican, 2,410; Joseph
Pentecost, federalist, 823; Thomas L. Birch, independent, 48; Lyle's
plurality, 1,587.
   October, 1814, Aaron Lyle, democratic-republican, 1,953; Mr. Jen-
nings, federalist, 1,090; Thomas L. Birch, independent, 181; Lyle's plur-
ality, 863.
   October, 1816, Thomas Patterson, democratic-republican, 1,870; John
Hughes, federalist, 275; Patterson's majority, 1,595.
   October, 1818, Thomas Patterson, democratic-republican, 1,503;
Joseph Pentecost, federalist, 784; Patterson's majority, 719.
   October, 1820, Thomas Patterson, democratic-republican, 2,971;
Thomas McGiffin, federalist, 1,436; Patterson's majority, 1,535.
   October, 1822, Thomas Patterson, democratic-republican, 1,745; Wal-
ter Craig, independent democratic, 830; Patterson's majority, 915.
   October, 1824, Joseph Lawrence, federalist, 2,082; opponent's name
not given. Lawrence served until 1828.
   October, 1826, Joseph Lawrence, federalist, 2,413; no opposition.
   October, 1828, William McCreery, democratic, 2,689; Joseph Law-
rence, federalist, 1,641; McCreery's majority, 1,228.
   October 1830, Thomas M. T. McKennan, federalist and anti-Masonic,
2,087; Gen. William McCreery, democratic, 1,922; McKennan's majority,
165.
   October, 1832, Thomas M. T. McKennan, federalist, 3,113; Gen. Wil-
liam McCreery, democratic, 2,433; McKennan's majority, 680.
   October, 1834, Thomas M. T. McKennan, federalist, 2,703; Col.
Thomas Ringland, democratic, 2,569; McKennan's majority, 134.
   October, 1836, Thomas M. T. McKennan, federalist, 2,766; Col.
Thomas Ringland, democratic, 2,537; McKennan's majority, 229.
   October, 1838, Isaac Leet, democratic, 3,500; Joseph Lawrence, fed-
eralist, 3,483; Leet's majority, 17.
   October, 1840, Joseph Lawrence, federalist, 4,045; Isaac Leet, demo-
cratic, 3,712; Lawrence's majority, 323. Lawrence died in Washington,
D. C., while in office, on April 17, 1842. A special election was ordered by
the governor to fill the vacancy, on May 20, 1842.
   May, 1842, Thomas M. T. McKennan, federalist, defeated William Pat-
terson, democratic, by a majority of 257.
   The legislatures of 1841 and 1842, failed to make a congressional ap-


688



HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


portionment and the members of the 28th congress were not elected un-
til October, 1843.
   In 1843, Washington was united with Beaver County in the 20th con-
gressional district.
   October, 1843, John Dickey, federalist, of Beaver County, 4,962; Isaac
Leet, democratic, of Washington, 4,903; Dr. F. J. LeMoyne, Liberty Men,
of Washington, 681; Dickey's plurality, 59.
   October, 1844, John H. Ewing, federalist (whig), 6,469; Col. William
Hopkins, democratic, 6,124; Thomas McKeever, Liberty Men, 557. Ew-
ing's plurality, 345; all candidates were from Washington County.
   October, 1846, John Dickey, whig, of Beaver County, defeated John
R. Shannon, democrat, of Washington, by a plurality of 464. The vote of
the district is not available now. In Washington County, Dickey re-
ceived 2,947, Shannon, 2,931, and Dr. F. J. LeMoyne, Liberty Men, 250.
   October, 1848, Robert R. Reed, M. D., whig, of Washington, 6,427,
William Hopkins, democratic, of Washington, 6,359; John Clark, aboli-
tionist, 179; Reed's plurality in district, 68.
   October, 1850, John Allison, whig, of Beaver, 6,506; John J. Power,
democratic, 5,491; Allison's majority, 1,015.
   In 1852, Washington was united with Fayette and Greene counties
into the 20th congressional district.
   October, 1852, John L. Dawson, democratic, of Fayette County, de-
feated John L. Gow, whig, of Washington, by a plurality of 2,240, in
the district. The vote of the district is not available now. In Washing-
ton County, Dawson received 3,832; Gow, 3,640, and Peter Wilson, inde-
pendent, 30.
   October, 1854, Jonathan Knight, whig, of Washington county, 9,892;
William Montgomery, democratic, Washington, 7,522; Knight's majority,
2,340.
   October, 1856, William  Montgomery, democratic, of Washington,
7,246, in Washington and Greene counties; Jonathan Knight, republican,
of Washington County, 6,136 in Washington and Greene counties. Mont-
gomery's majority in the district was 855. As this was the first year of
the republican party it is interesting to note that Knight carried Wash-
ington County by 243.
   October, 1858, William Montgomery, democratic, 9,244; Jonathan
Knight, republican, 5,798; Montgomery's majority, 3,446; Montgomery
carried Washington County by seven votes.
   October, 1860, Jesse Lazear, democratic, of Greene County, 10,607;
Andrew Stewart, of Fayette County, 9,443; Lazear's majority, 1,164.
Stewart carried Washington County by 322.
   In 1862, Washington was united with Greene, Beaver and Lawrence
counties into the 24th congressional district.
   October, 1862, Jesse Lazear, democratic, 9,984; John W. Wallace, re-
publican, of Lawrence County, 9,557; Lazear's majority, 427.
   October, 1864, George V. Lawrence, republican, of Monongahela, de-
feated William Montgomery, democratic, by a majority of 1,400. The
vote for the district is not complete. In Washington county, Lawrence
received 4,576, and Lazear, 4,222. Lawrence was the first republican con-


44-V1


689




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


gressman elected from the district of which Washington County was a
part.
   October, 1866, George V. Lawrence, republican, defeated William
Montgomery, democratic, by a majority of 1,564, in the district. The vote
is not now available.
   October, 1866, George V. Lawrence, republican, 13,391; William Mont-
gomery, democratic, 11,853; Lawrence's majority, 1,538.
   October, 1868, Capt. Joseph B. Donley, republican, 13,860; David
Crawford, democratic, of Greene County, 12,734; Donley's majority, 1,126.
Crawford carried Washington County by 5 votes.
   October, 1870, Capt. William McClelland, democratic, of Lawrence
County, defeated Capt. Joseph B. Donley by a majority of 672; McClelland
carried Washington and Greene counties by 2,124; Donley carried Beaver
and Lawrence counties by 1,452; McClelland carried Washington County
by 319.
   October, 1872, William S. Moore, republican, of Washington County
14,195; William McClelland, democratic, 13,169; Moore's majority, 1,026.
Moore carried Washington County by 415.
   November, 1874, John W. Wallace, republican, of Lawrence County,
9,347; George W. Miller, democratic, of Washington County, 8,538; Wal-
lace's majority, 809; Miller carried Washington County by 595.
   November, 1876, William S. Shellenberger, republican, of Beaver, 13,-
151; R. B. McComb, democratic, 10,648; Shellenberger's majority, 2,503;
Shellenberger carried Washington County by 266.
   November, 1878, William S. Shellenberger, republican, 8,271; R. W.
Clendenning, democratic, 7,024; J. E. Emerson, Greenback, 1,387; Shel-
lenberger's plurality, 1,247; Shellenberger carried Washington by 375.
   November, 1880, William S. Shellenberger, republican, 15,562; J. Mur-
ray Clark, democratic, of Washington County, 10,986; Henry M. Close,
greenback, 958; Shellenberger's plurality, 4,576; Shellenberger carried
Washington County by 801.
   November, 1882, George V. Lawrence, republican, of Monongahela,
11,674; John G. McConahy, democratic, 10,888; Robert Peebles, prohibi-
tion, 319; James E. Emerson, greenback-labor, 296; Lawrence's plurality,
786; his majority over all candidates, 135; carried Washington County
by 68.
   November, 1884, Oscar L. Jackson, republican, of Lawrence County,
16,436; John M. Stockdale, democratic, 11,538; John Gourley, prohibition,
526; Jackson's plurality, 4,898; Jackson carried Washington County by
702.
   November, 1886, Col. Oscar L. Jackson, republican, 14,787; Thomas
H. Baird, democratic, of Monongahela, 10,347; Dallas C. Irish, prohibition,
1,465; Jackson's plurality, 4,440; majority over all, 2,846; Jackson car-
ried Washington County by 855.
   In 1888, Washington was combined with Greene, Fayette and part of
Allegheny counties into the 24th congressional district.
   November, 1888, J. W. Ray, republican, of Greene County, 26,246;
W. P. Wampler, democratic, 21,908; L. W. Morgan, prohibition, 1,161;
Ray's plurality, 4,238; Ray carried Washington County by 1,985.


690




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   November, 1890, Col. Andrew Stewart, republican, of Fayette County,
21,708; Alexander K. Craig, democratic, of Claysville, 21,585; Edward
Campbell, prohibition, 995; Stewart's majority over Craig was 123; Stew-
art carried Washington County by 350.
   Note: Craig contested the election and carried it to congress, claim-
ing that certain unregistered electors who had voted for Stewart, were
illegal. In February, 1892, the contest was referred to a democratic house
committee on elections and it voted ten for Craig and three for Stewart.
This report was presented to Congress and on February 26, 1892, the
House voted to seat Craig and ousted Stewart. Colonel Stewart was a son
of "Tariff Andy" Stewart, who had represented Fayette County before the
Civil war.
   Congressman Craig died at his home in Claysville, July 29, 1892, after
an illness of six weeks. He had been taken sick in Washington, D. C.
William D. Sipe, of Allegheny County, was elected in November, 1892, to
fill the unexpired term.
   November, 1892, unexpired term of A. K. Craig in 52nd Congress;
William A. Sipe, democratic, of Allegheny County, defeated Col. Andrew
Stewart, of Fayette County. The vote in Washington County was, Stew-
art, 7,653; Sipe, 7,125.
   Full Term, 53rd Congress; William D. Sipe, democratic, of Allegheny
County, 24,505; Ernest F. Acheson, republican, of Washington, 22,816;
Albert K. Williamson, prohibition, 427, in Washington County; Sipe's
plurality, 1,689; Acheson carried Washington County by 317.
   Sipe was elected for both the unexpired and the full term.
   November, 1894, Ernest F. Acheson, republican, 27,333; William A.
Sipe, democratic, 17,162; Acheson's majority, 10,171.
   November, 1896, Ernest F. Acheson, republican, 36,554; John Purman,
democratic and people's, of Homestead, 26,538; Butler C. McGrew, pro-
hibition, of East Washington, 903; Acheson's plurality, 10,016; carried
Washington County by 3,195.
   November, 1898, Ernest F. Acheson, republican, 25,524; M. M. Coch-
ran, democratic, 21,290; Acheson's majority, 4,234; Acheson carried
Washington County by 2,192.
   November, 1900, Ernest F. Achbeson, republican, 35,939; Wood N.
Carr, democratic, of Fayette County, 23,568; Acheson's majority, 13,646;
Acheson carried Washington County by 3,455.
   In 1901, Washington was united with Beaver and Lawrence counties
into the 24th congressional district.
   November, 1902, Ernest F. Acheson, republican, 15,147; Charles R.
Eckert, democratic, of Beaver County, 9,974; John A. Baily, prohibition,
1,335; George Frethey, socialist, 898; J. H. Cunningham, citizens, 142;
Acheson's plurality, 5,173; majority, 2,798; carried Washington County
by 3,949.
   November, 1904, Ernest F. Acheson, republican, 23,131; William J.
Mellon, democratic, of Beaver County, 8,420; John J. Ashenhurst, pro-
hibition, 1,798; Acheson's plurality, 14,711; majority, 12,913.
   November, 1906, Ernest F. Acheson, republican, 15,490; Robert R.
Aiken, democratic, and Lincoln, of Lawrence County, 14,163; Louis Van


691






HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


burying the dead and caring for the wounded. During this time he also
constructed a stockaded fort on the battlefield which was the beginning
of the present city of Point Pleasant. A messenger was dispatched to
Dunmore, advising him of the battle, and on the 13th the messenger
returned with orders for Lewis to proceed at once against the Shawnese
towns, and advise Dunmore when he was within twenty-five miles of Old
Chillicothe.
   Leaving Colonel Fleming and three wounded officers in command of
the new fort, Lewis crossed the Ohio on the 17th and started his march.
Each man was given ten days' rations of flour, one-half pound of powder,
and one and one-half pounds of bullets, and a packhorse of supplies was
assigned to each company.
   On the 24th he camped on Congo Creek, in what is now Pickaway
Township, Pickaway County, within striking distance of Old Chillicothe,
the main Shawnese town. The Indians were greatly alarmed, and sued
Dunmore for peace. A messenger was sent to Lewis with orders for him
to remain where he was, as a treaty had been nearly concluded at Camp
Charlotte, Dunmore's main camp.
   Lewis' army had been fired upon that morning, and his position was
untenable in case of an attack. He decided to move to a new location, but
a few hours later another messenger arrived with orders from Dunmore
for Lewis to halt immediately, as terms of peace had been almost con-
cluded.
   General Lewis knew the treacherous nature of the Indians better than
Dunmore, and he decided to join the main army. That night he camped
within five and a quarter miles of Old Chillicothe and the same distance
from Grenadier Squaw Town. The Indians were now in his power, and
Lewis decided to advance on Old Chillicothe the next morning.
   The Shawnese and Delawares in great alarm protested to Lord Dun-
more. Accompanied by Chief White Eyes, of the Delawares; John Gib-
son, a trader, and fifty volunteers, Dunmore hastened to Lewis' camp. He
threatened to kill Lewis with his sword if he persisted in the advance,
but this action nearly caused a mutiny among both commands, and a
strong guard had to be thrown about Lord Dunmore and White Eyes to
protect them from the enraged soldiers. The Virginians now regarded
Dunmore as the enemy of his country, and they never trusted him again.
   The next morning Lord Dunmore publicly thanked General Lewis for
his gallant service, but said that now that the Shawnese had agreed to
terms of peace, the presence of his division in their country might lead to
further bloodshed. He implored Lewis to return to Point Pleasant, which
he did. The encampment where this historic incident took place is known
in history as Camp Lewis.
   We will now return to Lord Dunmore's camp at the mouth of the Hock
Hocking, where he had established Fort Gower, in what is now Athens
County, Ohio. From there he marched up the Hock Hocking Valley into
the heart of the Indian country, where he established Camp Charlotte, on
Sippo Creek, in what is now Pickaway County, seven miles southeast of
the site of Circleville. He named his camp in honor of the young reigning
Queen of England. The camp was fortified by a stockade enclosing about
two acres, with a blockhouse in the center. This camp was on the edge




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Orden, prohibition, of Washington, 837; John W. Slayton, socialist, 1,004;
Acheson's plurality, 2,297; majority, 1,620.
   November, 1908, John K. Tener, republican, of Charleroi, 20,538;
Charles H. Akens, democratic, of New Castle, 10,985; Frank Fish, pro-
hibition, of Claysville, 5,982; Charles A. McKeever, socialist, 1,816; Tener's
plurality, 9,553; majority, 1,765; carried Washington County by 858
majority.
   November, 1910, Charles Matthews, republican, of New Castle, 15,177;
Henry M. Wilson, democratic-keystone, of Beaver, 14,365; M. S. Marquis,
prohibition, 1,523; Charles A. Collins, socialist, 3,332; Matthews' plural-
ity, 812; carried Washington County by 333; Matthews although elected
was a minority congressman; he was 4,043 in the minority of the com-
bined vote of the other candidates.
   November, 1912, Henry W. Temple, Washington party, of Washington
11,495; Charles Matthews, republican, 10,797; S. A. Lacock, democratic,
8,495; James Peebles, prohibition, 1,363; George C. Frethey, socialist,
5,082; Temple's plurality, 698; carried Washington County by 895; Tem-
ple was another minority congressman, being 14,242 in the minority of
the combined votes of the other candidates.
   November, 1914, William M. Brown, republican, New Castle, 14,694;
Henry W. Temple, Washington party, 10,771; Samuel B. Barnum, demo-
cratic, of California, 7,051; H. R. Norman, socialist, 2,370; J. T. Pender,
958; Brown's plurality, 3,923; carried Washington County by 2,052;
Brown's minority of all other candidates combined, 6,456.
   Note: William M. Brown, who was elected in the district at this elec-
tion, died before congress met. At the primaries, held September 21,
1915, Henry W. Temple defeated John A. Elliott, of Beaver, for the nom-
ination to fill the vacancy on the Republican ticket for the election in
November.
   Note: This was the third time that a congressman from this district
had died. The first was Joseph Lawrence, federalist, who died at Wash-
ington, D. C., April 17, 1842. The second was Alexander K. Craig, who
died at his home in Claysville, July 29, 1892. Both of these men had taken
their seats; Brown had not.
   November, 1915, Henry W. Temple, republican, 27,307; Carl E. Gib-
son, democratic, of Monongahela, 9,295; W. K. Ramsey, socialist, 3,362;
A. S. Hunter, prohibition, 1,694; Temple was elected to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of William M. Brown, by a plurality of 18,012, and a
majority over all candidates of 12,956; he carried Washington County
by 5,149. Although defeated by Brown, republican, for re-election to
Congress in November, 1914, Temple did not miss a session of Congress.
   November, 1916, Henry W. Temple, republican, Washington, 22,800;
William J. Mellon, democratic, of Beaver County, 14,676; W. K. Ramsey,
socialist, 2,839; J. B. Smith, prohibition, 1,664; Temple's plurality, 8,124;
majority, 3,621; Temple carried Washington County by 3,500. Mellon
opposed E. F. Acheson in 1904.
   November, 1918. Henry W. Temple, republican-prohibition, 18,799;
William M. Hartman, democratic, of Rochester, 7,398; Walter V. Tyler,


692




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


socialist, 1,033; Temple's plurality, 11,401; majority, 5,184; Temple car-
ried Washington County by 5,420.
   November, 1920, Henry W. Temple, republican-prohibition, 42,402;
Samuel Amspoker, democratic, of Washington, 15,405; Temple's majority,
26,997; carried Washington County by 10,630. This was the first election
in which women voted in the district. It shows an increase of 30,577 votes
in the district since 1918. Temple received 38,990 republican votes and
3,412 prohibition.
   Counties with which Washington County has been united in a con-
gressional district.
   From 1781 to 1796, Washington County was a separate district.
   1796, Washington Allegheny counties.
   1798, Washington, Allegheny and Greene counties.
   1801, Washington, Allegheny, Greene and Crawford counties.
   1803 to 1843, Washington County was a separate district.
   1843, Washington and Beaver counties formed the 20th district.
   1852, Washington, Fayette and Greene formed the 20th district.
   1862, Washington, Greene, Beaver and Lawrence counties formed the
24th district.
   1888, Washington, Greene, Fayette and part of Allegheny counties
formed the 24th district.
   1901, to present time, Washington, Beaver and Lawrence counties have
formed the 24th district.
   Congressmen who have represented the district of which Washing-
ton County was a part:
   Thomas Scott, of Washington County, from 1781 to 1796.
   Albert Gallatin and John Woods, 1797-1798.
   Albert Gallatin, 1798-1800.
   William Hoge, of Washington, 1801-1804; 1807-1808.
   John Hoge, of Washington, 1804-1805.
   John Hamilton, of Washington County, 1805-1806.
   Aaron Lyle, of Washington County, democratic-republican, 1809-1816.
   Thomas Patterson, of Washington County, democratic-reDublican.
1817-1824.
   Joseph Lawrence, of Washington County, federalist, 1825-1828: 1841-
1842; died in office, April 17, 1842.
   William McCreery, of Washington County, democratic, 1829-1830.
   Thomas M. T. McKennan. of Washington, federalist and anti-Masonic.
1831-1838; 1842-1843.
   Isaac Leet, of Washington, democratic, 1839-1840.
   John Dickey, of Beaver County, federalist, 1844; 1847-1848.
   John H. Ewing, of Washington County, federalist (whig). 1845-1846.
   Dr. Robert R. Reed, of Washington, whig, 1849-1850.
   John Allison, of Beaver, whig, 1851-1852.
   John L. Dawson, of Fayette County, democratic, 1853-1854.
   Jonathan Knight, of Washington County, whig, 1855-1856.
   William Montgomery, of Washington, democratic, 1857-1860.
   Jesse Lazear, of Greene County, democratic, 1861-1864.
   George V. Lawrence, of Monongehela, republican, 1865-1868; 1883-
1884; first republican congressman elected from the district.
   Joseph B. Donley, republican, 1869-1870.


693





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   William McClelland, of Lawrence County, democratic, 1871-1872.
   William S. Moore, of Washington County, republican, 1873-1874.
   John W. Wallace, of Lawrence County, republican, 1875-1876.
   William S. Shellenberger, of Beaver, 1877-1882.
   Oscar L. Jackson, of Lawrence County, republican, 1885-1888.
   J. W. Ray, of Greene County, republican, 1889-1890.
   Andrew K. Craig, of Claysville, democratic, 1891-1892; died July 29,
1892, while in office. Andrew Stewart, of Fayette County, was elected,
but Craig contested the election and congress gave the seat to Craig.
   William D. Sipe, of Allegheny County, democratic, 1892-1894.
   Ernest F. Acheson, of Washington, republican, 1895-1908.
   John K. Tener, of Charleroi, republican, 1909-1910.
   Charles Matthews, of New Castle, republican, 1911-1912.
   Henry W. Temple, of Washington, Washington party, 1913-1914;
1914-1926, elected by republican party.
   William M. Brown, of New Castle, republican, defeated Temple at
the election in 1914, but he died before assuming the duties of his office.
Temple was then elected by the republicans and did not miss a session
of congress.
   Washington County has had the honor of furnishing two governors
for Pennsylvania. The first was Hon. Joseph Ritner, who was governor
from 1835 to 1838. The second was Hon. John K. Tener, of Charleroi,
governor from 1911 to 1914.
   Joseph Ritner was elected governor of Pennsylvania while a resident
of Buffalo Township. Prior to that time, he represented Washington
County in the legislative branch of the House from 1821 to 1826, being
twice speaker. He was of German descent and had a strong following
among the Pennsylvania Dutch. He was four times the candidate of the
anti-Masonic party and each time, he carried Washington County. In
1829, he was defeated for governor by George Wolf and again in 1832
by a decreased majority. He was elected over Wolf and Mulenberger in
1835 but as a candidate to succeed himself, he was defeated by David
Porter in 1838. After leaving the governor's chair, he purchased a farm
in Cumberland County, where he spent the remainder of his days. When
elected governor in 1835, his plurality was 28,219.
   George K. Tener's political career began in 1908 when he defeated
Hon. E. F. Acheson for the republican nomination to Congress from the
24th district. He served one term in Congress from 1908 to 1910 in
which year he was elected governor of Pennsylvania on the republican
ticket, serving from 1911 to 1914. Since his retirement as governor, Mr.
Tener has devoted himself to his private interests, and he still resides at
Charleroi. Mr. Tener is a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, where he
was born July 25, 1863.
   The following state treasurers have been elected from Washington
County: Joseph Lawrence, 1835; James E. Barnett, 1900.
   Auditor-general, Edward Martin, 1925.
   The following have represented the Forty-sixth district composed of
Washington and Greene counties from 1870: James S. Rutan, 1869 and
1872; George V. Lawrence, 1875, 1877, 1879; Joseph R. McLain, 1877;


694





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Alexander L. Hawkins, 1898; John F. Budke, 1899; vacancy; Daniel S.
Walton, 1907; J. Carter Judson, 1911; Joseph W. Stewart, 1915; Joseph
A. Herron, 1919; George B. Sprowls, 1923.
   The following have represented the General Assembly from 1870:
   1870-D. M. Leatherman, W. A. Mickey, William C. Shurlock.
   1871-D. M. Leatherman, W. A. Mickey, William C. Shurlock, George
W. Fleeger.
   1872-Jonathan Allison, W. S. Waldren, David McKee, Samuel J.
Cross.
   1873-Jonathan Allison, A. S. Campbell, David McKee, Samuel J.
Cross.
   1874-James K. Billingsley, John Farrar, William G. Barnett.
   1875-John Birch to fill vacancy caused by death of Mr. Farrar.
   1876-James K. Billingsley, John S. Duncan, Joseph R. McClain.
   1878-John S. Stephens, Findley Patterson, John C. Messenger.
   1880-James K. Billingsley, John M. Boyse, Norton McGiffin.
   1882-Robert W. Parkinson, C. W. Townsend, Harvey J. Vankirk.
   1884-Brit Hart, George S. Graham, R. V. Johnson.
   1886-John B. Clark, J. B. Finley, J. K. Billingsley.
   1888-John B. Donaldson, James S. Stocking; J. B. Billingsley re-
signed in 1889, and J. B. Finley elected to serve the remainder of the
term.
   1890-J. B. Finley, T. M. Patterson, James S. Stocking.
   1892-David M. Anderson, J. C. French, George V. Lawrence.
   1894-David M. Anderson, J. C. French, George V. Lawrence.
   1896-J. C. French, David M. Pry, James C. Sloan.
   1898-James V. Clark. J. Harper McClaren.
   1900-David Anderson, James M. Clark, J. Harper McClaren.
   1902-David Anderson, died 1903; John M. Berry, David M. Campsey.
   1904-John M. Berry, David M. Campsey, Frank Craven.
   1906-Frank Craven, W. W. Sprowls, Charles Bentley.
   1908-Charles A. Bentley, C. E. Crothers, John B. Holland.
   1910-Charles A. Bentley, William Feeney, John B. Holland.
   1912-Charles A. Bentley, William Feeney, John B. Holland.
   1914-Thomas B. H. Brownlee, George Plummer Baker, Horace Rus-
sell Myers.
   1916-Cornelius Carson, John L. Post, Thomas B. H. Brownlee.
   1918-George C. McPeake, George Plummer Baker, Dr. J. Add.
Sprowls.
   1920-Dr. J. Add. Sprowls, David M. Curran, George T. Walker.
   1922-David M. Curran, Dr. J. Add. Sprowls, George T. Walker.
   1924-First District, John L. Post, George T. Walker.
   1924-Second District, Dr. J. Add. Sprowls, James T. Heffran.
   1926-First District, D. Glenn Moore, William S. Lockhart.
   1926-Second District, James T. Heffran, Claude E. Towner.


695










CHAPTER LXXX.


          ANDREW RALSTON'S THRESHING MACHINE.
FIRST THRESHING MACHINE AND SEPARATOR IN THE UNITED STATES IN-
   VENTED BY ANDREW RALSTON, OF HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP-THE OLD
   PATENT RECORDS OF 1842-MANUFACTURED IN WEST MIDDLETOWN
   BY ROBERT B. McCLURE-LOSS CAUSED BY THE BIG FROST-LATER
   HISTORY-HENRY FORD SECURES ONE OF THE LAST OF THESE MA-
   CHINES MANUFACTURED-RALSTON'S POCKET LANTERN PATENTED.
   Although it is a generally known fact throughout Washington County
that the first modern threshing machine ever made in the United States
was manufactured at historic West Middletown, the real history of this
invention is known to only a few. Robert B. McClure, for many years a
resident of West Middletown, is given the credit for inventing this, the
first threshing machine, but this is a mistake. The machine was actually
invented and patented by Andrew Ralston, of Hopewell Township, ad-
joining West Middletown borough, and the right to manufacture the
same was acquired by Mr. McClure, who continued in the business at
West Middletown for many years. For this reason it became known as
the "McClure Thresher," and the inventor was forgotten with the passing
years.
   Andrew Ralston was of an inventive turn of mind, and on February
21, 1842, a patent was issued to him by the United States Patent office
on a machine for threshing and winnowing grain. Before that time it
had been necessary to thresh grain by one machine, a very primitive de-
vice known as the "Bunty" thresher, and then clean it by another ma-
chine. This involved much labor and time. The machine patented by
Mr. Ralston in 1842, was a combination thresher and winnowing or clean-
ing machine, which did the work of both at one operation, and thus saved
much time and labor. It was operated first by horse power and in later
years by steam, but that was after Mr. Ralston's time.
   Just when the manufacture of these machines was first started by
Robert B. McClure is not known definitely today; some say in 1845, but
from the best information discovered by the author, it does not appear
that he engaged in this business, at least not extensively, until 1856 or
1857. Improvements on the threshing machine of 1842 were made by Mr.
Ralston, and on January 15, 1856, the patent was reissued to him, cover-
ing all such improvements; and this was the machine that was turned out
and known to this day as the "McClure" thresher. The records and de-
scription of this improvement were furnished the author by the patent
office through the courtesy of Hon. Henry W. Temple, congressman from
Washington, but it is not the purpose of this history to go into technical
details.
   Robert B. McClure, a son of Robert McClure of Washington, who was
a well known draftsman in his day, settled at West Middletown in 1844,
and Crumrine claims began the manufacture of threshing machines the
next year. However, there is nothing on record to back this up, and it
                               696





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


is probably only a tradition. After a careful search of the old newspaper
files, which always mentioned such events, the author is of the opinion
that Mr. McClure did not start this business before 1857, or possibly in
1856, after the reissue of the patent.
   At any rate Mr. McClure purchased from Mr. Ralston the exclusive
right to manufacture these threshing machines, and erected a large frame
building for that purpose at the western edge of the town. This building
stood until about 1916, when it was razed. The first extensive mention
we find of this threshing machine is taken from a description of the
exhibit of this machine at the Washington, Pa., fair in 1857, which ap-
peared in The Examiner on October 8, 1857:
   "The threshing and cleaning machine entered by R. B. McClure, of
West Middletown, in this county, was one of the main features of the fair.
The machine was patented by Andrew Ralston, from whom Mr. McClure
obtained the exclusive right to manufacture for this and several other
counties. The patent was reissued February 21, 1856, at which time
numerous improvements were made. It is an invention that will at once
recommend itself to a person capable of judging its merits. It has been
put to the severest test with other machines which have attempted com-
petition with it, and has proven to be the best threshing and cleaning
machine in use, both for durability and good work. It is less liable to get
out of order, runs lighter, and does better work than most of the cleaning
machines now on the market. The grain, after having been once cleaned,
is elevated and thrown into a shoe on top of the machine, and subjected
to a second fanning, which is a new and very important improvement.
All kinds of grain leave the machine in complete merchantable order. This
patent took the first premium at the Ohio State Fair, held at Cincinnati, a
few days ago, where, in order to thoroughly test the various machines in
competition, grain was brought to the ground and the machine put in mo-
tion. This fact is worthy the special attention of all farmers. Mr. Mc-
Clure has manufactured and sold four hundred of the machines since he
has had possession of the right. He has sold thirty-thousand dollars worth
in a single county in Illinois, and has disposed of as high as five a day
during the present season. Persons wishing to purchase should call upon
Mr. McClure at an early day, as he has but eight machines left. A pre-
mium was awarded him at the county fair last week."
   The big frost of 1858, almost ruined Mr. McClure, and he was several
years in recovering his financial losses. This was caused by the fact
that there was little or no grain to be threshed that year, and many of the
machines shipped to the West in anticipation of large business that year
were a total loss. James L. Bell, of West Middletown, who well re-
members the old threshing machine factory, informed the author that
many of these machines stood on the wharfs at St. Louis until they rotted,
all because of the fact that there was no market that year, and it was im-
possible to ship them back to West Middletown. Mr. Bell, who has
threshed with one of the old Ralston machines, declared that they did
better work than the modern thresher.
   Threshing machines were also repaired by Mr. McClure, and during
the season, West Middletown was a busy place. In those days it was
necessary to haul the machines to the factory for repairs. Some of them


697





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


were brought many miles. They all had to await their turn, and the
owners were often camped in the field adjoining the factory to the number
of a hundred or more, sometimes for two weeks or longer.
   The decline set in during the later sixties, when the railroads pro-
vided rapid transportation, and as West Middletown was not at that time
near a railroad, Mr. McClure gradually ceased the manufacture of the
threshing machines. Just when the last one was made is not definitely
known, but James L. Bell states that it was about 1868 or 1870. For sev-
eral years after that date machines were repaired at the factory by Robert
and James Rea.
   The last machine manufactured by Mr. McClure was purchased in
1923 by Henry Ford, and added to his museum. At the Michigan state
fair that year, Mr. Ford had on exhibition and in operation every method
of threshing grain from the flail to the Ralston and later threshing ma-
chines. At that time Dr. R. E. McClure, of Blairsville, Pa.; Dr. W. S.
McClure, of Taylorstown, Pa., and J. A. McClure were guests of Mr. Ford
at the fair.
   Andrew Ralston also has the credit of having invented the first oil
burning lantern in the United States, one of which is still in the pos-
session of Mr. James L. Bell, of West Middletown. This is a very small
lantern, which used a wick and oil, and was a great improvement over
the primitive candle-lantern. They were manufactured in the early fifties
by James Bell, father of James L. Bell, in the house in which the latter
still lives. Mr. Bell still has one of these old lanterns in his possession,
and as far as can be learned it is the only one in existence.




















                     The first oil-burning lantern. Invent-
                 ed by Andrew Ralston, of West Middle-
                 town, also inventor of the first threshing
                 machine. This, the only one known to be in
                 existence, is owned by James Bell, of West
                 Middletown.


698









CHAPTER LXXXI.


            AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES AND FAIRS.
MORGANZA FAIR OF 1798--AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF 1818-AGRICUL-
    TURAL SOCIETY OF 1821-THE WASHINGTON SOCIETY FOR THE PRO-
    MOTION OF AGRICULTURE AND DOMESTIC MANUFACTURE IN WASH-
    INGTON COUNTY, 1847-WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SO-
    CIETY, 1855-UNION AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1856-FLORENCE
    MUTUAL AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1858-MOUNT PLEASANT EQ-
    UITABLE AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1859-MONONGAHELA VAL-
    LEY AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1855-CHAR-
    TIERS VALLEY AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1874-WESTERN PENN-
    SYLVANIA AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1885-SANDY PLAINS FAIR,
    1873-WEST ALEXANDER FARMERS' FAIR ASSOCIATION, 1898-WASH-
    INGTON FAIR ASSOCIATION, 1911.
    Washington County has been an agricultural section from the earliest
times, and it is only natural that agricultural societies and fairs should
have been organized at a very early date. During the 128 years that have
passed since the first was held there have been no less than fourteen fair
associations in the county, but today only three are left, Washington,
Burgettstown, and West Alexander.
   The first held in the county was the old Morganza fair of 1798. This
was in reality an exhibition of cattle and sheep held for purposes of sale,
on one day, the last Saturday of October, 1798, at "the premises of Daniel
Purcel in the forks of Chartiers at the head of John Struther's Mill Dam."
This was advertised by Mr. Purcel as the "Morganza Fair," and in his
advertisement of October 1st, he states, "Fifty-five head of Beef Cattle,
Working Oxen, Cows and Sheep are already entered at this fair, and it
is expected more than double the number will be entered before the day
of sale." Mr. Purcel also stated that he purposed to hold two cattle fairs
annually, in May and October, each year. An entry fee of six pence per
head was charged by him. Cattle sent from a distance would be taken
care of at moderate cost. No further notices of this fair appear, and it
is probable that only one exhibit was held.
   The first effort to organize an agricultural society in the county was
in 1818, as shown by the following notice which appeared in The Reporter
on December 21st:

                      AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

   Gentlemen who are in favor of forming an Agricultural Society in the
County of Washington are requested to meet at Mr. Garrett's tavern on
Wednesday evening, the 30th instant, at 2 o'clock P. M.
   At this meeting John Cook was elected chairman and Samuel Agnew
secretary. It was adjourned to January 3, 1819, but we find no further
mention of it, and the matter was probably dropped at that time.
   The first serious effort to organize an agricultural society in the
county was in 1821. This was started in December, as shown by the
following notice from The Reporter of December 24:
                               699





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                       AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
   Many gentlemen have been solicitous that a meeting should be called
to make the necessary arrangements to form an Agricultural Society.
   To this object a meeting will be held at the Tavern of George Jackson,
in this borough, on Wednesday evening next at 5 o'clock P. M. The
farmers are particularly invited to attend this meeting. The policy
and vast importance of such associations must be obvious to every citizen.
   A large number of citizens attended this meeting at which James
Kerr was chosen chairman and Jonathan Knight, secretary. It was
stated that the county commissioners and grand jury had agreed to the
establishment of an agricultural society under the law of March 6, 1820.
Two committees were appointed, one to draft by-laws and a constitution
and the other to solicit subscriptions. The list of name of the persons
who subscribed to the constitution, published in The Examiner, on Octo-
ber 23, 1824, shows a total of 214. At the meeting held March 27, 1822,
"The Washington County Society for the Promotion of Agricultural and
Domestic Manufactures" was organized. A meeting of the officers and
directors was held April 4, 1822, at the house of John Fleming, and it was
decided to hold an annual exhibition on "Wednesday of the Supreme
Court in each year."
   The date of the fair in 1822 is not known, but a report made to the
county auditors shows a total of $193.00 received in subscriptions, and
$173.25 paid out in premiums for exhibits, leaving a balance of $19.75.
In 1823 a total of $301.00 was paid out in premiums, which left a balance
of $39.40. A total of 8610.40 was received in 1824, and $595.25 paid out
in premiums and expenses.
   This first fair in 1822 was held on a lot owned by James Ruth, in East
Maiden Street, just east of the present seminary; but the next year it
was changed to the farm of John Sample, now known as the Workman
property, farther east on the pike. For several years it was held on a lot
on the south side of West Chestnut Street, owned by Samuel McFarland,
and near the present Chartiers depot. Just when this fair ceased is not
known as no minutes were kept after 1833, but it was held until that
year at least.
   The society was reorganized on September 10, 1847, at the house of
S. B. Hayes, under the name of the "The Washington Society for the
Promotion of Agricultural and Domestic Manufacture in Washington
County." Any person signing the constitution and paying $1.00 was en-
titled to membership, and a total of 273 was secured. A premium list of
$323.00 was made out and a fair was held October 15, 1847. The next
year the exhibition was for two days, October 5th and 6th, with premiums
of 8207.00, The fair of 1849 was held October 17th and 18th.
   On May 21, 1850, the society decided to rent suitable grounds ad-
joining the borough. Accordingly a committee was appointed, but it
did not report until 1852, when it was stated that a suitable lot had been
secured, and buildings were immediately erected. This was located near
the present Chartiers depot, where the fair remained until 1855 when the
property known for more than thirty years as the "fair grounds," was
secured. The fairs were held there until the association finally passed out


700




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of existence in 1885. The property was purchased by Washington and
Jefferson College in the late eighties, and it is now the athletic field of
that institution. Among the buildings erected by the society, probably
in 1852, was the old grandstand, which stood at the northeast end of the
race track until it was destroyed by fire in November, 1906, by students
in celebration of the victory of the W. & J. football team over W. U. P.,
now Pittsburgh University. A former attempt had been made by the
students to burn the building on the night of October 31, 1898, but the
prompt action of the volunteer fire department saved it.
   It was now thought best to incorporate the society, and accordingly
a charter was secured on May 24, 1855. The signers of the charter were
A. Wotring, David Clark, James Lee, James McCluskey, J. H. Ewing,
James G. Strean, David Hay, William Davis, William Gabby, John
Bausman, Robert R. Reed, H. W. Wilson, O. R. McNary, Isaac Hewitt,
John McClean, Ebenezer McClean, R. F. Strean, James McNary, Wallas
McWilliams, Joshua Wright, Joseph Clark and S. B. Hays.
   The first fair held on the new grounds, now College Field, was in the
fall of 1855, and the last was in the fall of 1884. In 1860 the largest
floral hall of any fair in the state was erected. During all the years that
this fair was held in Washington it was very successful. In 1866 there
was a total of 1,422 entries, divided as follows: Horses, 300; Cattle, 84;
Sheep, 111; Wool, 3; Swine, 14; Poultry, 13; Jacks and Mules, 30; Do-
mestic manufacture, 165; agricultural implements, 10; crops, 3; horti-
cultural products, 242; preserved fruits, bread, pickles, etc., 223; floral
department, 64; fancy needlework, 121; fine arts, 43.
   At the fair of 1866, which was held October 17th and 18th, John A.
Light, an aeronaut, made a balloon ascension, descending on the farm of
F. Rossel, in West Bethlehem Township, nine miles from Washington.
This, the first balloon ascension of which we have a record, was under
the management of David Aiken and John McElroy.
   The last item with reference to this old fair is taken from The Re-
porter, December 2, 1885, after the grounds had been sold:
   "The old Washington County Agricultural Society, which for more
than half a century contributed to the pleasure of the people, is about to
pass into forgetfulness. The grounds have been sold and a decree of dis-
solution granted by the court. The report of the auditors shows that
each member is entitled to 864.43. All they have to do is call upon
Major A. G. Happer and get their money; and so ends what was once a
great institution."
   The Western Pennsylvania Agricultural Association, Washington's next
fair, was incorporated May 28, 1885, at $20,000 divided into 400 shares
of a par value of $50.00. What we now know as the old fair grounds
in Tylerdale were purchased, but at that time this section was out in the
rural districts. The grounds were immediately improved in time to hold
the first fair in the fall of 1885. The buildings were large and made an
excellent appearance; in fact no finer were to be found at any fair grounds
in the state, or in either West Virginia or Ohio. Among the men who
were instrumental in starting this organization were Julius LeMoyne,
Robert M. Carrons, A. G. Happer, R. D. Wylie, W. W. Hunter, John M.
Berry, Dunning Hart and others throughtout the county. This fair was


701




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of the famous Pickaway Plains. The land where Camp Charlotte stood
was afterwards settled by George Wolfe, and as late as 1899 it was owned
by his grandson, George Wolfe.
    Camp Lewis, already mentioned, was two and one-half miles southwest
of Camp Charlotte, on land settled in 1798 by Captain John Boggs. It was
owned in later years by Mrs. Mary A. Wallace.
    Great consternation among the Indians followed the advance of the
armies of Lewis and Lord Dunmore. They wanted peace at any price, and
runners were hastily dispatched to Dunmore, begging him to stop Lewis'
advance. After the latter returned to Point Pleasant, the treaty of Camp
Charlotte was concluded early in November.
   Logan, chief of the Mingos, was the only hostile leader who refused to
sign the treaty. Lord Dunmore sent John Gibson to ask Logan to attend
the council. Years afterwards Gibson told the story of the famous speech
attributed to Logan. When Gibson reached the villages (undoubtedly
meaning Grenadier Squaw Town and Cornstalk's Town), Logan sought
him out, probably for the reason that Gibson had married the chief's sister,
who was killed at Yellow Creek, and asked him to walk into the timber
with him. They sat down on a log beneath an elm tree, where Logan
delivered the speech. It was only natural that the Mingo should unbosom
himself to his brother-in-law. Gibson wrote the words down and trans-
lated them the next day to Lord Dunmore.
   Thomas Jefferson in his "Notes on Virginia" first brought this speech
before the public, and a bitter controversy over its authenticity followed.
Captain Michael Cresap, whose name was assailed, was then dead; but his
friends and family accused Jefferson with being the author of the speech.
Jefferson went into the matter thoroughly and established the authenticity
of the speech beyond all doubt.
   Others afterwards testified that Logan was the author of the speech.
On April 4th, 1800, John Gibson, then living in Pittsburgh, made oath that
the speech was delivered to him as related. On April 17th, 1797, Benjamin
Tomlinson, who had taken part in the massacre of Logan's people and was
an officer of the guard at the treaty at Camp Charlotte, testified that on
the day of the council he saw John Gibson leave the council circle with
Simon Girty. When they returned Gibson read the speech which he had
copied upon a sheet of paper. Years ago this famous speech was familiar
to every school child, for it appeared in many of the old-time readers, but
today it is almost forgotten. It follows:
   "I appeal to the white man to say if ever he entered Logan's cabin
hungry and he gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked and he
clothed him not? During the course of the last long and bloody war,
Logan remained idle in his camp, an advocate of peace. Such was my
love for the white man that my countrymen pointed as I passed and said,
'Logan is the friend of the white man.' I had even thought to live with
you but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in
cold blood and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan, not even
sparing my women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in
the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have
sought it. I have killed many. I have glutted my vengeance. For my
country I rejoice at the beams of peace; but don't harbor a thought that




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


very successful during its earlier years, but it gradually developed from
a general agricultural fair into an annual horse racing event, and then
the decline set in, and finally in the fall of 1901 the last fair was held.
These grounds were noted as the camping place of the recruits for Com-
pany H, Tenth regiment, raised during the summer of 1898, just before
the regiment sailed for Manila. The land owned by this association had
grown in value, and much of the stock was purchased by speculators
at $175.00 a share. The grounds were finally sold to the Fair Grounds
Land Company at 880,000, and laid out in lots. Julius LeMoyne, who
was long secretary of this association, was a son of Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne
the man who erected the crematory and founded the Citizens' library.
   Washington was without a fair for eleven years, or until the fall of
1911, when the first exhibition was held at the present Arden Downs.
The Washington Fair Association was chartered June 5, 1911, and in-
corporated at 840,000 divided into 800 shares of a par value of $50. The
first board of directors, composed of the following, were the prime movers
in the new organization: H. S. Grayson, B. M. Clark, W. H. Davis, John
W. Warrick, H. T. Cochran, Dr. G. B. Dunkle, and J. W. McKay, all of
Washington; James D. Callery, J. H. Moore, and George W. Baum, of
Pittsburgh, and H. L. Cockins, of Canonsburg.
   The old Hagan stock farm at Arden was purchased as the most suit-
able location on account of its excellent race track already laid out. This
farm had long been used for training race horses, and during the intervals
between fairs it is still used for the same purpose, race horses being
kept and trained there all months of the year. This fair has grown
rapidly and is now one of the most successful in the tri-state district.
It was during the fair of 1917 that DeLloyd Thompson, a professional
aviator of Washington who had gained national fame, came to Wash-
ington and gave the first exhibition of trick flying in an airplane ever
seen in the county.
   The Union Agricultural Association, which holds its exhibition at Bur-
gettstown, was first started in 1856, and it is now the oldest fair in
Western Pennsylvania. Men who took a prominent part in its organiza-
tion were Thomas Vance, W. P. Vance, and John B. Philles. At a meet-
ing held in Burgettstown in February, 1856, an organization was effected
with Joseph Vance, president; William M. Lee, James Rankin, Holland
Scott, Thomas C. Hunter, and William P. Vance, vice presidents; J. N.
Scott, David Gault, Lysander Patterson, J. S. Duncan, Thomas Vance,
O. P. Cook, J. L. Proudfit, James Hughes, John Symington, Milton Miller,
James Walker, William Van Ostrand and James McCalmont, directors;
Samuel G. Scott, recording secretary, and John B. Philles, corresponding
secretary and treasurer.
   The association was successful from the start, and by May 465 per-
sons had joined. Exhibitions were held until 1860 on land donated free
of rent by Mrs. Freegift Crawford, where the first fair was held August
23, 1856. On June 2, 1860, nine and one-half acres were leased from
B. G. Burgett for ten years, where the fair has been held ever since. The
Burgettstown fair is one of the best known in the state, and each exhibi-
tion is regarded as a home-coming time, and everyone who had ever lived
in that section of the township usually manages to attend this fair.


702




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The Florence Mutual Agricultural Association was organized by the
citizens of Hanover Township, and held at the village of Florence, an im-
portant town in those days on the Pittsburgh-Steubenville turnpike. The
first fair was held September 22 and 23, 1859, and the last of which we
have been able to find a record was on October 12 and 13, 1865. The fair
held October 9 and 10, 1860, was probably the best in the history of the
association. It is stated in the old accounts that the stock department
excelled every other exhibition held there.
   The Mount Pleasant Agricultural Association was organized in 1859
and held an annual fair at the village of Hickory, Mount Pleasant Town-
ship, for several years. Thomas Miller, father of John M. Miller, of
Hickory, was president of the association, and leased it the grounds,
which were located almost opposite the present residence of A. S. Cun-
ningham. Among those who were members of the association were Alex-
ander McCalmont, John M. Miller, William Russell, James Buchanan, Dr.
John Donnan, Andrew Miller, Andrew McCarrell, Alexander McGugin,
Dr. David McCarrell, Nelson Fullum, Reed Lyle, and W. S. White.
   An incident of note that took place during one year was when Nathan
Pollock drove a team of elks at the fair. Horse racing was spirited, which
caused much feeling, and fights were common. Finally, as a peace meas-
ure the fair was discontinued. This was after 1867, for the old news-
papers show that a fair was held that year, but it was probably the last.
   The Monongahela Valley Agricultural and Horticultural Association
was incorporated May 24, 1855, and held fairs at Monongahela city for
several years. Among those interested were T. R. Hazzard, R. Walker,
Henry M. Bentley, Thomas Manown, E. W. Keller, Samuel Dixson, B. F.
Bentley, Isaac Teeple, A. T. Gregg, William Ketcham, James McGrew,
William Manown, Joseph Taylor, R. M. Clark, Benjamin L. Pierce, Joseph
Pollock, John Power, Jr., John King, Jr., James S. Alexander, D. Moore,
Joseph Alexander, James W. Downer, Nicholas Whitfield, James Irwin,
Robert Baird, James C. Martin, Robert F. Niddle, William S. Millenger,
Andrew Brown, James Williams, Isaac McCullough, C. E. Beach, William
Coulter, A. H. Rial, William H. Smith, J. P. Brown, Abraham Yohe.
Just how long it was in existence is not known, but the old records show
that a fair was held October 6 and 7, 1859.
   The Chartiers Valley Agricultural Association was organized at
Canonsburg, January 31, 1874, at a meeting held at the Keystone house,
at which Robert H. Russell presided. By March 25, a total of 83,312.50
was subscribed, although the corporation when chartered had no capital
stock, all subscriptions being voluntary. A tract of 22 acres of the farm
of Mrs. Sarah Curry, in North Strabane Township, was secured, where
the first fair was held October 13, 14, and 15, 1874. This fair was con-
tinued for a period of ten years when it closed and no other attempt was
ever made to reorganize the society.
   The first officers were: President, James McClelland, Canonsburg;
vice president, J. B. Johnson, Canonsburg; secretary, William S. White;
treasurer, Dr. J. W. Martin; manager, H. M. Brown. In addition to
these, the following signed the charter: W. R. Craighead, Samuel Cham-
berlin, Mansfield Brown, Newin Brown, John Espy, E. B. Boyle, S. N.
Hopper, Thomas P. Welch, S. H. Cook, W. A. Herriott, J. M. Miller, John


703




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Paxton, John McDowell, H. McMurray, J. M. Berry, M. H. Boreland,
J. C. McNary, E. K. Rogers, Joseph Taggart, Isaac Vanvoorhis, and W.
S. Archer.
   The Sandy Plains fair, also known as the Millsboro fair, in East Beth-
lehem Township, was started by the Emerys in 1873, and continued until
1925, when the last was held. The late Jonas Emery was one of the
owners of the land, and one of the promoters. Although this was only a
small fair, it attracted thousands during the half century it was in exist-
ence, and it became famous for its horse racing events. In early days
and almost to the time it closed it was a great place for horse traders.
In later years the buildings were in bad repair. The end came in Novem-
ber, 1925, when a petition was filed in court asking for the sale of the.
property. This was granted on November 24, and thus ended the history
of this once famous fair.
   The West Alexander Farmers' Fair Association was organized in
1898, and grounds were leased from I. C. Mounts a mile and a half from
West Alexander and on the West Virginia state line. The first officers
were: President, W. S. Armstrong; vice president, John Whitman; sec-
retary, John M. Gibson. Fairs were held annually at this place until
1906, when a reorganization took place and in February, an option on
the Tony Strauss farm of 57 acres was secured at $7,000. The West
Alexander Agricultural Association was then incorporated on April 2,
1906, with a capital stock of $7,500 divided into 750 shares at $10 each.
The new grounds where the fair has since been held each year are located
a short distance northeast of West Alexander. Buildings have been
erected and it is a prosperous institution. The first board of directors
were W. S. Armstrong, H. B. Carroll, Olive Martin, John Guess, C. E.
Crothers, J. R. Ealy, Daniel McPherson, Jeremiah Post, H. M. Yates,
C. C. Will, H. H. McDonald, J. E. Allum, J. M. Timmons, Hamilton Craig,
and W. M. Dunlap.





                        CHAPTER LXXXII.

            INCORPORATED CITIES AND BOROUGHS.
                            CANONSBURG.
   The first settler and proprietor of the Town of Canonsburg was John
Canon, after whom the place is named. Colonel Canon settled in this sec-
tion of the Chartiers valley about 1773, and for many years was one of
the leading citizens of Washington County. In May, 1780, he was granted
Virginia certificates for 1,200 acres of land in four tracts called Mount
Airy, Abbington and Canon's Hill, on Chartiers Creek, and Sugar Tree
Grove some distance away. About 1781 he erected a mill on Chartiers
Creek which was one of the first in that section. This mill has already been
mentioned in other sections of this work. The author is informed by Mr.
David H. Fee, editor of the Canonsburg Notes and the best informed man


704




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


on the history of that borough, that this mill stood on the site of the pres-
ent mill of the Canonsburg Milling Company, which was erected about
100 years or more ago. John Canon has been mentioned frequently in
the Indian wars and the early settlement of the county and needs no
further introduction. He derived his title of colonel from his appoint-
ment in 1777 as a colonel of the Washington County militia.
   In 1787 Colonel Canon laid out the first town plat of Canonsburg,
with the main road, now Pike Street, as the central or main thorough-
fare. On March 15, 1787, he sold the following lots: No. 3, to Dr. Thomp-
son; No. 4, to Daniel McCoy; No. 5, to James Morrison; No. 6, to David
Gault; No. 7, to Donald Cameron; Nos. 9 and 10, to Andrew Monroe, all
on the west side of Market, now Pike Street; and Nos. 11, 12 and 13, on
the same side of the street, to John Todd, June 1, 1787. On the east side
of Market Street the following lots were sold on March 15, 1787: No.
3, to Capt. Craig Ritchie; No. 4, to Col. Matt Ritchie; No. 5, to William
Marshall; No. 6, to Abraham DeHaven.
   No date is on the next plat, but it was between 1790 and 1800. Dur-
ing this period we find the following to be some of the property owners:
Abraham DeHaven, Dr. Hugh Thompson, Daniel McCoy, shoemaker;
John McDowell, David Gault, tanner; Thomas Speers, merchant; Dr.
Thomas B. Creaghead, Andrew Munroe, tavern keeper; Jefferson Acad-
emy, John Todd, cooper; Charles White, hatter; William Webster, car-
penter; James Foster, brewer; William Criswell, weaver; Ann Cook,
Elizabeth Andrews, Adam Johnson, weaver; Robert Bowland, miller;
Craig Ritchie, Esq., Matthew Ritchie, Esq., William Thompson, mason;
John McGill, George McCooke, James Witherspoon, William Roberts,
William McCall; John Anderson, carpenter; James Morrison, butcher;
Thomas Morrison, tailor; J. Alex Miller, cooper; John Miller, school-
master; Samuel Miller, Dell Weaver, mason; David Ralston, stiller.
   Canonsburg is the oldest incorporated municipality in the county, its
charter dating from February 22, 1802, eight years before the borough
of Washington was incorporated. At an election held May 3, 1802, in
the college, the following were elected as the first officers: Samuel Mur-
doch, burgess; William Clarke, Thomas Briceland, William White, John
Johnson, and John Wattson, council; and John McGill, high constable.
The first meeting of council was held May 6, 1802.
   A market house was erected in Canonsburg on Main Street below the
college grounds, before the first meeting of council; and on May 6, 1802,
Andrew Munroe was appointed clerk to have entire charge. An ordi-
nance regulating the sales in the market was passed March 19, 1804;
and on June 4, 1808, it was ordered that the stalls be rented at $1.50 per
annum. This market stood for a number of years, the exact time not be-
ing known. On August 25, 1820, council moved that it be razed and a
new one erected, but this was held in abeyance until May 16, 1821, when
it was voted down. The building stood for some years after that date.
   The "Hibernia," a hand fire engine, was purchased by council in
1829, and it was used in the big fire of 1835; and in February, 1836, a
volunteer fire company was organized. This existed for several years
and was then discontinued for lack of attendance. Later the engine was
sold for $35. In recent years two fire companies were organized, one
       45-V1


705




- HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


with quarters in the borough building and the other on Ridge Avenue,
both being supplied with fire fighting equipment. Canonsburg's worst
disaster was the big fire of November, 1898, when several business build-
ings in Pike Street were destroyed with large loss. It was necessary to
use dynamite finally to stop the progress of the fire. Among the build-
ings destroyed was the borough building, which was replaced in 1899 by
a new pressed brick building of two stories.
   The first tavern kept in Canonsburg was by Andrew Munroe, who
was licensed at the October term, 1787. This was located at the south-
west corner of Main and College streets and was kept by him until 1801,
and Jennet Munroe succeeded him until 1805, when it ceased. In De-
cember, 1790, William Dehaven was licensed to keep a tavern, and Abra-
ham Dehaven in 1791. Francis Irwin kept a tavern from June, 1793
to 1801.
   Henry Westby, the proprietor of the Black Horse Tavern, famous as
the meeting place of the Whisky Insurrectionists in 1794, was licensed in
January of that year. He remained as proprietor until 1814, when he
moved to Washington and was succeeded by his son, John, who conducted
it for many years. This was Canonsburg's most noted tavern of the
early days.
   Briceland's Tavern was probably the most noted in all Canonsburg's
history. This old building stood on the present site of the Citizens Trust
Building, and was a landmark of the town for many years. The date of
the erection of this building and by whom is not known; but when the old
Washington-Pittsburgh Pike was at the height of its glory, in the days
before the Chartiers Valley Railroad was completed in 1871, this tavern
was a famous stand. Its history began back in the '40s and extended
through a period of thirty years or more. It was conducted for many
years by John Briceland, son of Thomas Briceland, one of the town's
first residents, and from him this stopping place received its name. For
years before the Civil war it was the popular stopping place for all visitors
at college events, and on the muster days of the militia it was head-
quarters for military men. During the Civil war all soldiers gathered
there when preparing to go to the front or when passing through the
town on furlough. When Company G, of the famous One Hundred and
Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Canonsburg's own company,
returned at the close of the Civil war, the survivors were welcomed home
at a big banquet in this tavern. It continued as the town's principal
hotel under the name of Sherman House and Central Hotel until it was
razed in 1903 to make room for the trust building.
   McFadden's Tavern at the corner of Central Avenue and East College
Street was opened by Hector McFadden in November, 1822, and kept until
1835. During those years it was a popular place, especially for college
students. This building is still standing.
   For ten years, beginning with 1819, William Finley kept a tavern on
the site of the old opera house. As early as 1794, David Lock and Mary
Hill were licensed to keep a tavern. Others who were licensed to keep
taverns in the early years of the past century were George Sellers, in
1806; John Patterson, in 1809; John Lowry and Joshua Emory, in 1810.
   In January, 1811, Rev. D. D. Graham advertised that he would give


706


































    The old mill at Canonsburg, owned by the Canonsburg Milling Com-
pany. The original section of this mill, shown here, was built more than
a century ago on the site of John Canon's mill, from which several flat-
boats loaded with flour were sent down Chartiers Creek.


    Hector McFadden's Hotel, now the oldest tavern building left in
Canonsburg.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


instructions in rhetoric, belles-lettres and the science of philology. The
first schoolhouse of which we have a record was erected of brick in 1816
by subscription of a number of prominent citizens. This school was in
operation for a number of years, and among some of the early teachers
as far back as 1828 were Samuel Hindman, John Hindman, Samuel Guess,
John Roberts, Mrs. Rankin, Mrs. Grier, Joseph Gray, Samuel G. McNeill,
Nancy Knox, Mary Ray, Davis Bascom, Thomas Wilson, Hugh Sturgeon,
John Strean, Robert Curry, Benjamin South and William G. Fee.
   When Chartiers Township adopted the school code in 1834, the schools
of Canonsburg were a part of that district and remained so until 1857,
when it became a separate district. The old town hall, built in 1843 by
the borough on the site of the old stone college, was used by the district
of Chartiers and Canonsburg for about thirty years. The old brick
schoolhouse mentioned above stood for seventy-seven years.
   A brick school of four rooms was erected in the '70s, and at that time
it was large enough to house all of the pupils of the town. At the present
time Canonsburg is an independent district with F. W. McVay as the
superintendent. In addition to a school nurse, supervisor of music and
two assistant teachers it has twenty-five teachers in the Central Schools;
a principal and sixteen teachers in the First Ward School; a principal
and seventeen teachers in the Third Ward School; four teachers in the
White Lawn School, and a principal and twelve teachers in the new high
school. The total number of teachers is seventy-eight with a total of
3,237 pupils, and an average daily attendance of 2,900. The assessed
valuation of the property of the district is $4,534,385, and the amount
of taxes collected for school purposes last year was $132,031.90 at 26 mills.
   On September 18 to 21, 1784, Gen. George Washington visited Canons-
burg in connection with the claims of squatters on his lands in Mount
Pleasant Township. This is the only time that General Washington was
ever in this county.
   On September 5, 1817, James Monroe, President of the United States,
visited Canonsburg and was escorted into the town by Miller's Company
of Light Infantry and a number of men on horseback. He was enter-
tained with refreshments at Emorys' Tavern on the corner of Pike Street
and Central Avenue, after which he visited Jefferson College, where
speeches were made.
   President Grant passed through Canonsburg once while on his way
to visit W. W. Smith in Washington.
   On July 4, 1866, the Eureka baseball team of Pittsburgh defeated the
Mechanics team of Canonsburg by a score of 50 to 150; and on July 21,
1866, the Jefferson College nine of Canonsburg defeated the Hygeia Club
of Pittsburgh by a score of 67 to 17.
   William McEwen was the first person in Canonsburg to use natural
gas in his residence. This was in the spring of 1885.
   On December 9, 1885, the residence of Wesley Greer, at the corner
of Central Avenue and Pike Street, was wrecked by an explosion of
natural gas. Mr. and Mrs. Greer, two small children and Mr. Greer's
mother were in the house and were injured, but not seriously. Fire
broke out immediately after the explosion, and the house was destroyed.
   The worst flood in the town's history was on the night of August 21,


708




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1888, when the bridge at Houston, the bridge at the foot of Central
Avenue and many buildings were carried away by the waters of Char-
tiers Creek. No trains were run on the Chartiers Railway for nearly a
week.
   During the winter of 1850-51 a young man named Wilson was killed
in a fight between college students and boys of the town. Someone plunged
a knife into young Wilson. A student named Ammon was implicated in
the affair, but he made his escape. Another student named Robinson was
arrested and tried in Washington, but was acquitted.
   On December 31, 1925, the plant of the Standard Chemical Company,
manufacturers of radium, was damaged by fire to the amount of $40,000.
The origin was unknown. In this connection it is interesting to note that
the Standard Chemical Company, located at Canonsburg, which is the
largest manufacturing plant for radium in the world, was started about
1911 through the efforts of the late Joseph Flannery, of Pittsburgh.
From the very beginning the plant has been in charge of L. F. Vogt, of
Washington, a chemist and metallurgist, and one of the foremost author-
ities on radium in the United States. This is the pioneer plant in this
country for the manufacture of radium, which is obtained from carbon-
ite which is shipped from Colorado, where this company owns extensive
mining operations for this valuable mineral. In appearance it resembles
yellow sandstone, the yellow appearance being caused by uranium. The
ore contains such a small amount of radium that it cannot be reckoned
on a percentage basis, and it takes up to 500 tons of ore to produce a
single gram of radium. Up to 1921 a total of 120 grams of radium,
valued at $14,400,000, covered the world's supply of this precious mineral;
and of this amount the Standard Chemical Company had produced 72
grams, valued at $8,640,000. An ounce of gold is worth approximately
$20, but an ounce of radium is valued at $3,480,000, and a single gram
is worth $120,000. The Canonsburg plant produces more radium a year
than all of the rest of the radium plants in the world combined.
   One of the most important historic events in the history of the Canons-
burg plant was the visit there on Friday, May 27, 1921, of Madame Curie,
of Paris, the Frenchwoman, who with her husband in 1898 discovered
and gave radium to the world. During her tour of this country Madame
Curie was presented by the people of the Pittsburgh district with a gram
of radium, valued at $120,000, which was produced at the Standard
Chemical Company's plant. This gift was presented to her at the White
House on May 20, 1921, by President Harding. On May 27 Madame
Curie, accompanied by her daughter and a party from Pittsburgh, ar-
rived at the Canonsburg plant and made a tour of inspection, when all
of the various processes in the manufacture of radium were explained
in detail.
   The Chartiers United Presbyterian Church, which celebrated its ses-
quicentennial September 22, 1925, was one of four churches in the county
which were 150 years old last year. This congregation was organized
in 1775. Rev. Matthew Henderson, the first pastor, was called in 1781
and served until he was killed by a falling tree in 1795. Other pastors
who succeeded him were: Rev. John Smith, 1797-1802; Rev. James Ram-
sey, 1805-49; Rev. D. H. French, 1850-53; Rev. John B. Clark, May, 1853,


709





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


to August, 1860; Rev. D. M. French, 1861-66; Rev. D. M. B. McLean,
1870-80; Rev. W. B. Smiley, and Rev. William P. Aiken.
   The first church was built of logs in 1782, on the present site of the
Oak Spring Cemetery, which is one of the old burying grounds of that
section. The second building was of limestone, built in 1834, and it in
turn was replaced by a brick structure. In 1868 the present church was
erected on Pike Street, Canonsburg.
   The Canonsburg United Presbyterian congregation, commonly known
as the Greenside Avenue Church, was organized in 1830 as the Speers
Spring congregation. Worship was held in a tent near a spring on the
Speers farm a mile east of Canonsburg until a brick church was com-
pleted in 1831, at the Speers Spring Cemetery, at the end of East Pike
Street. This was enlarged in 1851 and was used until the present edifice
was erected on Greenside Avenue in 1885, at a cost of $17,000, being dedi-
cated March 25. The first pastor was Rev. Alexander McCahon, who
was installed in April, 1831, and resigned in 1843. The present pastor is
Rev. H. Ross Hune.
   The First Presbyterian congregation was organized in 1830 and wor-
shipped in the chapel of Jefferson College. It used the chapel until 1889,
when the present building was erected on the site of old Olome Institute.
The cornerstone was laid August 22, 1889, and the church was dedicated
June 22, 1890, the cost being about $32,000. Rev. Robert L. Bracken-
ridge, the first pastor, was installed December 12, 1845, and resigned two
years later. The present pastor is Rev. George G. Kerr, and the member-
ship is 597.
   The Central Presbyterian congregation was organized December 1,
1888, with Rev. L. M. Lewis as the first pastor. He remained until 1896.
It worshipped in the chapel of Jefferson College for a number of years,
before the present church was erected. The present pastor is Rev. David
Demster, and the membership is 284.
   The Methodist Episcopal congregation was organized about 1845,
through the efforts of J. C. Pershing, a student at Jefferson College, and
John Hagerty, a stone mason. In 1847 John Ramsey donated a lot on
Greenside Avenue, upon which a church was erected and used until 1888,
when the present church was erected at West Pike and Iron streets. It
was dedicated April 22, 1888. The old brick chapel on Greenside Avenue
stood until 1907. Rev. C. R. Wolf is now the pastor.
   The Roman Catholic denomination held meetings monthly in Canons-
burg in the early '80s, and from that beginning St. Patrick's Roman
Catholic congregation developed. About 1887 a room was rented in the
Kerr Building and services held at regular intervals until 1891, when the
old Methodist chapel on Greenside Avenue was purchased, and it was
dedicated April 12, 1891, by Rev. J. F. Canevin, of Pittsburgh. Services
were conducted twice a month until 1903, when this was made a separate
parish and Rev. Apolonius Tyszka placed in charge. The present build-
ing, which cost $30,000, was dedicated April 7, 1907. Rev. Thomas Zach-
arski is the present rector.
   St. Genevieve Roman Catholic congregation grew out of the First
congregation. Its first building, erected in 1905, was destroyed by fire,


710



















































t


Residence of Charles M. Hull Canonsburg.


Z;A





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his
heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one."
   The tree known as the Logan elm, or the treaty tree, under which
Logan delivered this speech to John Gibson, is still standing in Pickaway
County, Ohio, seven miles south of Circleville. Captain David Williamson,
of Washington County, who was with Dunmore, afterwards described the
tree to Captain John Boggs, who settled and entered the land in 1798. In
1910 the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society purchased sev-
eral acres surrounding the tree and erected a monument. The tree will be
preserved as long as it lives.
   At the treaty council of Camp Charlotte, the Ohio River was made the
eastern boundary of the Indian lands; and beyond that stream no white
man dared go with safety for many a year.





                          CHAPTER VIII.

                               1774.
                       MICHAEL CRESAP.
CRESAP IN THE REVOLUTION-HIS DEATH-EVIDENCE THAT HE DID NOT
    MURDER LOGAN'S PEOPLE-STATEMENTS OF SAPPINGTON AND TOM-
    LINSON-DEATH OF DANIEL GREATHOUSE-THOMAS JEFFERSON'S
    EARLY LOVE-HE ACCUSES CRESAP OF THE MURDER.

              He left the bleak Atlantic Strand;
                He drove into an unknown land.
              He camped by Ohio's stream;
                He heard the panther's raucous scream.
                                   -Claude Thayer.
   Michael Cresap, who figured prominently in Dunmore's war, was one
of the first settlers at Redstone Old Fort, opposite West Brownsville, and
was frequently in Washington County during those early years. He came
from a family of pioneers and wanderers. His father, Thomas Cresap,
emigrated from England in 1717, when just fifteen, and in 1742 his son,
Michael, was born in the wilderness of Western Maryland. After being
educated in Baltimore, young Michael turned back to the frontier, where
the greater part of his life was spent.
   Thomas Cresap, the father, settled at an early date at Old Town,
Maryland, a few miles above the junction of the north and south branches
of the Potomac River, where he built a stockaded fort, which was used
by troops in the Indian wars of 1755 and 1763. With George Washington
and Colonel George Mason, he was a member of the first Ohio company,
which made the first English settlement at Pittsburgh, before Braddock's
defeat.
   Born and reared amid such surroundings as his father's fort, it is little
wonder that young Michael returned to the life of the frontier after com-




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


July 4, 1907, but another was erected later. The present rector is Rev.
Edward Piculick.
    St. Thomas Episcopal Church was organized October 1, 1890. Wor-
 ship was conducted in halls throughout the town until 1900, when a lot
 was purchased and the present building erected in 1901-02 at a cost of
 $5,000. It was dedicated December 20, 1902.
    The First Baptist congregation was organized in 1906 by a few fam-
 ilies of that denomination holding cottage prayer meeting in their homes.
 The present building on North Jefferson Avenue was erected and dedi-
 cated May 31, 1908. The present pastor is Rev. J. W. Parker.
    The Christian Church organized a congregation in Canonsburg a
 number of years ago, and meetings were held every Sunday for several
 years with Rev. J. F. White, of Washington, in charge. About 1909 the
 congregation was compelled to vacate its hall in the Ritchie diamond,
 and services were discontinued for a time, but later a church was erected
 on West College Street. Rev. E. K. VanWinkle, pastor.
    The Payne African Methodist Episcopal (colored) congregation dates
 back, according to some authorities, to 1833, but there are no early
 records. Worship was held for several years in private residences, after
 which the congregation was regularly organized, with Rev. S. Chingman
 as pastor. John Chase, a colored man, had died intestate, leaving a lot in
 the west part of the town. About 1853 or possibly 1854 the legislature
 granted a petition of the congregation to invest a body of trustees with
 title to this land for the purpose of erecting a church. This was built
 in 1856 and remodeled in 1875. It was used until 1903, when a new
 church was erected and dedicated in May.
    The Mount Olivet Baptist (colored) congregation was organized about
twenty-three years ago. Services were first held in the Ritchie diamond
and later in the frame schoolhouse in the rear of the Central Avenue
School until the new frame church was erected on Vine Street in 1908.

                              HOUSTON.
   On account of adjoining Canonsburg, the Borough of Houston will
next be described. The land on which this town stands was part of a tract
purchased from John Haft on January 24, 1827, by Daniel Houston, a
near relative of Gen. Sam Houston, leader of the Texans in their war
for independence from Mexico. After the Chartiers Valley Railroad was
completed through that section in 1871, David C. Houston, a son of
Daniel Houston, saw the possibilities of a town at that point and laid out
the present plan of Houstonville. The first house in the new town was
completed in the summer of 1871 by A. T. Haft and the second by J. C.
Johnson. A few years later H. E. Riggle laid out a plan adjoining which
was called Riggletown until the Borough of Houstonville was incorpor-
ated, May 13, 1901. The town grew slowly for several years, but with
the development of gas in the '80s and coal in later years the town has
grown until now it is of considerable importance. There are a number
of coal mines in that vicinity, and branch roads have been built from the
Chartiers Valley Railroad to Midland, McConnells Mills and Westland.
The main line of the Washington-Pittsburgh electric line passes through
the town.


712




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   After the incorporation of the borough in 1901 the following were
the first officers: Charles W. Banfield, burgess; George T. Cowan, D. L.
McConnell, Simon H. Arnold, John A. Berry, J. R. Henderson, John
Ritchie and R. M. Thompson, council.
   The first school was established at Houstonville in 1876 in a room
rented in the house of Stephen Champ, with Miss Clara Capron as the
first teacher. In 1877 a school building was erected on McNutt Street
and Samuel McWilliams was elected teacher. A brick school was erected
in 1887, and in 1895 a third school was opened. At the present time
Ross A. Mitchell is the principal, and he has charge of seven teachers.
   The Morrison Free Public Library was established in 1893 by the
teachers and pupils of the school with the aid of the citizens and school
board. Dr. John Morrison in 1899 purchased a number of books and the
school board furnished a room and book cases.
   The First United Presbyterian congregation was organized October
9, 1888, with eighty-two members, and on May 4, 1898, the present edifice
was dedicated. The first pastor was Rev. E. E. Douglass, and the present
pastor is Rev. W. F. Harkey.
   The Methodist Episcopal congregation was organized by Rev. J. B.
Uber on August 19, 1894, with thirteen members, as a branch of the
Canonsburg Methodist Church. In 1897 W. B. Houston donated two lots,
and in October the church was dedicated. Rev. J. J. Davis is the present
pastor.
   A Seceder Church was erected in 1874 and a small brick church was
erected on a lot on the creek bank. This was used for ten or twelve years,
after which the society was disbanded.
   From old deeds on record in the recorder's office it appears that
Houstonville was laid out originally as Jewettville. Just when the change
of name took place is not known definitely, but it must have been shortly
after the town was first started. It remained Houstonville until about
twenty years ago when the "ville" was dropped.

                        MONONGAHELA CITY.
   Originally called Parkinson's Ferry, then Williamsport and finally
Monongahela City, this town is the oldest settlement in the Monongahela
valley and one of the most historic. In addition it is probably the oldest
settlement in the county, as it dates back to 1770, when Joseph Parkinson
came here from Conococheague settlement, on the National Pike, just at
the foot of the eastern slope of the Alleghany Mountains in Maryland.
Prior to that time Abraham Decker had secured a warrant for the land
upon which Monongahela now stands. This was on August 26, 1769, but
whether Decker actually settled there is not known, and in fact is very
doubtful, as this land was afterwards claimed by Joseph Parkinson, who
obtained title under a Virginia certificate issued to him in 1780.
   It is proper to say that this site was first known as Devore's Ferry.
In February, 1775, authority was granted at the first session of Lord
Dunmore court, held at Fort Dunmore, to James Devore to keep a ferry
from his house on the Monongahela River to the mouth of Pigeon Creek.
This ferry was evidently not conducted by Mr. Devore for many years,
for by the time the Revolution closed quite a settlement had grown up there,


713




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and we find that Joseph Parkinson and Pacubus Devore were proprietors
of the ferry. About that time the place was known as Parkinson's Ferry.
    As early as 1792 Joseph Parkinson attempted to found a town on
his lands at Parkinson's Ferry, as shown by an advertisement in the
Pittsburgh Gazette for October 20, 1792, in which he stated that he had
laid out a plan of lots and would begin their sale on November 15. This
attempt evidently did not meet with much success for we find that on
July 25, 1796, Mr. Parkinson advertised that he had laid out a new town
called Williamsport, situated on his plantation at Parkinson's Ferry. A
lot was reserved in the center of the town for a market house, another
for a meeting house and a third for a "choll" house. The town originally
contained one hundred and four lots, and at the first sale, held August
26, 1796, twenty-four were sold for $1,385, at prices ranging from 822
up to 8239.
    That the town quickly became of some importance is shown by the
following taken from The Navigator for 1806:

                           "WILLIAMSPORT.
    "Situated on the left bank of the river, just below Pigeon Creek, is a
growing village in Washington County, Pa., twenty miles east of Wash-
ington and about twenty-three from Pittsburgh. The inhabitants have
been petitioning the Legislature for the privilege of forming into a new
county by taking off a portion of Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette, and
Allegheny counties, all of which corner near that place. It is said that
4,000 dollars have been already subscribed to meet part of the expenses
of the county buildings."
   Parkinson's Ferry was a hotbed of rebellion during the Whisky In-
surrection, and there on August 14, 1794, was held the famous mass
meeting which was attended by 200 delegates from the four western
counties engaged in the insurrection. The place where this meeting was
held is on the high bluff just in the rear of the Bentley theatre, in Main
Street, and is still known locally as "Whisky Point."
   Monongahela City has always been an important point in river trade,
and by 1810 it had 500 inhabitants. By 1840 there were two glass manu-
facturing plants and numerous minor industries located there. River
steamers made daily trips between that town and Pittsburgh.
   During the War of 1812 the Williamsport Rangers, Capt. James Warne
and Capt. John Shouse's Cavalry Company were from this section. The
activities of these units are given in another chapter.
   Williamsport was incorporated as a borough April 8, 1833, at which
time its population was 600. The first officers are not known as the re-
cords for the first nineteen years of the borough have been lost. Joseph
Parkinson, founder of the town, died April 28, 1834, aged nearly ninety-
five years. The name of the town was changed from Williamsport to
Monongahela, April 1, 1837.
   Monongahela has the distinction of being the first and for fifty years
the only municipality in Washington County with a city form of govern-
ment. By a special act of the legislature, approved March 24, 1873, a
city charter was granted and the town became Monongahela City. The
first election resulted in the choice of the following city officers: John


714
















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Municipal Buildinp' at Monongahela City.


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High School for the School District of Monongahela City.


' *;2




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Holland, mayor; select council,-A. T. Gregg, Thomas Wilson, first ward;
William Corrin, William P. Ketchum, second ward; P. A. Foster, M.
Saunders, third ward; common council,-Isaac Hodge, William H. Barr,
first ward; W. J. Markwell, John Teeters, second ward; John A. Ford,
William Coulter, third ward. These officers entered upon their duties
May 5, 1873.
   The old Union Paper Mill, the only industry of its kind ever in Wash-
ington County, was established in 1850 by Dr. Samuel Culbertson, of
Chambersburg, Pa. Straw board from wheat, rye, oat and barley straw
was manufactured here. It is noted as the first plant of its kind west of
the mountains in which air alone was used for drying. In 1862 steam
was adopted for drying. The buildings were destroyed March 4, 1864,
but were rebuilt and continued in operation for many years. The prop-
erty was finally sold and the mill dismantled about twelve years ago.
   The City Hotel was kept by Joseph Hamilton at an early date, and
this was headquarters for the stage coach line that ran over the Wash-
ington-Williamsport Turnpike. In 1835 B. H. Latrobe surveyed a rail-
road through the town, but there was great opposition to the project,
both in Monongahela and in other sections of the county. It was claimed
that if a railroad was run through Washington County grass would grow
over the National Pike and Pittsburgh would be ruined. This tavern
was built in 1811.
   The Chess Tavern was kept by George Rose at one time, and he was
also proprietor of a cake and beer stand. The Parkinson Tavern was
another old-time stand.
     In 1864 the Monongahela Valley Telegraph Company built a tele-
graph line to the town by way of West Newton. This was merged with
the Pacific and Atlantic Telegraph Company, which built a line across
Washington County in 1866, and in 1877 sold out to the Western Union.
   George V. Lawrence, still regarded as one of the shrewdest politicians
Washington County ever produced, was a citizen of Monongahela. He
was elected to the Legislature in 1843, '46, '58 and '59; and in 1848 he
defeated William Montgomery, of Washington, for the State Senate.
He was re-elected in 1860 and was speaker of the Senate in 1863. He was
also elected to the Senate in 1874, '76 and '78; and in 1864, '66 and '82
he was elected to Congress.
   It is claimed that when General Lafayette passed through Washington
County in May, 1825, he stopped at Monongahela, but the author has
been unable to find in any of the accounts anything to substantiate this
claim. Lafayette's route through Western Pennsylvania has been carefully
traced and no mention is found of his having stopped at Monongahela.
   Gen. William Henry Harrison once visited the city, when he was on
his way to Washington, D. C., to be inaugurated ninth President of the
United States. He passed up the Monongahela River on the steamer,
"Loyalhanna" and was given a royal welcome at the wharf by the people
of Monongahela.
   The most disastrous flood in the history of the city was on July 11,
1888, when much damage was done. Another was experienced on March
14, 1907.
   Edward G. Acheson, a native of Washington, Pa., noted to the world


716





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


as the discoverer of carborundum, discovered this great product in Mo-
nongahela in the old electric light plant. Associated with him were
William C. McAlister and W. K. Vance, of Monongahela, and John Hughes,
of New York. Mr. Acheson had been under contract with the Westing-
house Electric Company, and when this expired he went to Monongahela,
where he organized the old electric light company. He spent his nights
at the plant trying to convert heat into electric energy. In his experiments
in baking clay and carbon he discovered some white specks in the retort,
and upon experiments he found that these specks would cut a diamond.
He made a little vial of the product, which he named carborundum, and
sold it to a New York jeweler for $60. Acheson then made tiny carborun-
dum wheels for dentists. These came to the notice of George Westing-
house, who ordered 60,000 of the wheels from Acheson, and he manufac-
tured the entire order with his own hands. He received 87,000 from West-
inghouse for this order and immediately started a carborundum com-
pany. He soon realized that his small plant was not large enough, and
later succeeded in starting the present plant at Niagara Falls. He exhibited
the product at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, then sold the Austrian
rights for 820,000 and then to other European territory for 860,000.
   A school was opened in 1796 in a log building at Parkinson's Ferry,
with a Mr. Tilbrook as teacher. He was followed by a Mr. Thompson and
then Capt. Hughey Mitchell. The little brick school at Catsburg was also
used for many years. Two schoolhouses were built in 1805, and in 1854
a graded school was established with James H. Moore as principal and
Miss Webster, Miss Bebee and Miss Hodgson as assistants. This was
the first Union school in the county, and it was bitterly opposed at first
but gradually won favor. The Central school of ten rooms was dedicated
July 1, 1811, and on March 2, 1883, it was almost totally destroyed by fire,
but it was rebuilt and was rededicated September 27, 1883. The first
class of ten members was graduated from the high school in 1878.
   John H. Door is superintendent of the Monongahela school district at
the present time. Under him are five principals and sixty-eight teachers,
including the high school. In the latter, of which H. W. Crane is the
principal, are nineteen teachers; and the junior high school, Marlin E.
Hilty, principal, has eight teachers. William School, Matilda M. Mills,
principal, has eleven teachers; Waverly School, Garnet E. Ternent, prin-
cipal, eleven teachers; Lincoln School, Nelle G. Hanlon, principal, twelve
teachers.
   The Presbyterian Church of Monongahela was organized in 1796
at Horseshoe Bottom by Rev. Samuel Ralston, and in 1807 it was moved
to Parkinson's Ferry, where it first met in a tent. Services were held in
a schoolhouse until 1815, when the first house of worship was erected,
on the hill between Third and Jackson streets. In 1836 the second church
was erected on Chess Street on the site of the present Eagles Building.
The present church was built in the seventies at a cost of $35,000. The
first pastor was Rev. Samuel Ralston, D. D. The present minister is
Rev. W. F. McKee, D. D., and the membership is 765.
   The Methodist Episcopal Church is traced back to 1812, when the
Riggs brothers organized a class in the home of Samuel Baxter in Carroll
Township. The congregation grew rapidly and a log building was secured


717




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


on Main Street, Monongahela. A dwelling was purchased in 1826, and
converted into a church. In 1835 a brick church was completed and used
until 1864, when the present house of worship was erected. Rev. G. E.
Brenneman is the present pastor.
   The African Methodist Episcopal (colored) congregation was or-
ganized by Bishop Paul Quinn in 1834, and meetings were held in a build-
ing at the corner of Sixth and Railroad streets. Meetings were held in
various places until 1871, when the present church was erected at the
corner of Main and Seventh streets.
   The First Baptist Church was organized in the school hall February
9, 1860, with twenty-four members. For a number of years it met in
the Presbyterian house of worship; but in January, 1871, the present
church was dedicated, at a cost of 87,000. David Williams was the first
pastor. Rev. Howard Griffith, the present pastor, has been in charge
since 1922.
   The first Protestant Episcopal congregation dates from 1860 when
Rev. R. H. Lee, of Washington, Pa., held services in Monongahela. Other
ministers from Pittsburgh held services at intervals, and on November
17, 1863, St. Paul's Church was organized with Rev. Henry MacKay as the
first rector. The cornerstone of the present church was laid in 1866 by
Right Reverend Bishop Kerfoot, but it was not opened for services until
1870.
   The Church of the Transfiguration, Roman Catholic congregation,
goes back to 1816, when Rev. Father McGuire held services for the Cath-
olic families. The pastors of the Catholic Church at Elizabeth held
services in Monongahela for a number of years. The first church was
completed in 1865 under Rev. Dennis Kearney and was used until May,
1904, when it was moved to the rear of the lot, and on May 30, 1906, the
cornerstone of the present church was laid. This was completed at a
cost of $75,000, and was dedicated February 23, 1908, by Bishop Canevin,
of Pittsburgh. The present rector is Rev. M. Kitrick.
   St. Anthony Roman Catholic (Italian) congregation was organized
in May, 1904, by Rev. Cornelius Falcone, and on December 17, 1905, the
present church was dedicated by Bishop Canevin.
   The First English Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized
February 7, 1869, in the old Methodist Episcopal Church, with thirteen
members. Rev. L. Ryder, the first pastor, served until January, 1872.
Services were afterwards held in the Wesleyan Methodist Church, but the
present edifice was dedicated May 31, 1908.
   The second Baptist (colored) congregation was organized November
26, 1882, by Rev. R. M. Marshall, in the old school building. The present
church was erected in 1883.
   The Christian congregation was organized August 19, 1899, by Elder
J. A. Bennett, with thirty-eight members. This was the result of a Sun-
day school and Christian Endeavor Society held for several years prior
to that time in Markell Hall. The present building was dedicated in
October, 1900, by Rev. O. S. Reed, pastor of the congregation. The con-
gregation is now in charge of Rev. Alfred Johnson.
   The United Presbyterian congregation is the outgrowth of Sunday
school and preaching held by this denomination in the Baptist Church early




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


in 1905. The congregation was duly organized October 24, 1905, with a
membership of eighteen. Rev. J. H. Miller, the first regular pastor, took
charge December 1, 1906. The present chapel was dedicated May 1, 1908,
at a cost of $5,300.
   A Cumberland Presbyterian congregation was organized January 31,
1833, but was discontinued about 1845.

                            NEW EAGLE.
   New Eagle, originally called Riverview, adjoins Monongahela City
and was laid out in 1901 by J. S. Markell in Carrol Township and in-
corporated as the borough of New Eagle on September 9, 1912. It is
located on the Pennsylvania railroad and the Pittsburgh-Charleroi electric
line.
   C. S. Wilkins is principal of schools, with nine teachers under him.
There are 423 pupils. The property valuation is 86,640,315, and the tax
levy for school purposes is fifteen mills, which brought in $12,414 for
school purposes last year. Total receipts of the district were $25,053
in 1925.
                             CHARLEROI.
   About sixty-five years ago a Scotchman named Robert McKean em-
igrated from his native land and went directly to the Monongahela Valley,
purchasing one of the farms where the town of Charleroi now stands.
Other farms that made up the present site of the "Magic City" were owned
years ago by Thomas Redd and William McMahan. In 1870 the Penn-
sylvania Railroad was built up the Monongahela Valley, and a station was
established at the site of the present town, which was called "Railroad
Crossing."  In the course of years a glass manufacturing plant was
erected near the station, and a little town grew up around the factory.
In 1890 the railroad erected a station and changed the name to Charleroi.
  It was in this same year, 1890, that A. F. Chandler, M. J. Alexander,
George W. Crouse and A. M. Sloan organized the Charleroi Land Com-
pany. They purchased the farm of the late Robert McKean and laid out
a plan of lots, which was the beginning of the present town. These lots
were sold at auction and almost immediately a building boom started.
The men who purchased lots were enterprising, and almost in a night
a substantial city was erected. Its growth was so rapid that within less
than two years the people saw the necessity of a municipal government,
and on February 8, 1892, a borough charter was granted by the court.
Much credit is due James S. McKean, a son of Robert McKean, for the
development of the city. It was through his influence that the McKean
farm was selected as the site of the town. He was postmaster of Pitts-
burgh at one time years ago and later held a position in the Union Trust
Company of that city until his death. Besides being the center of an im-
mense coal district Charlerbi has many industries, one of the principal
ones being the MacBeth Evans Glass Company. Although this town is
only thirty-five years old, many interesting details of its early history
cannot be secured, as those who are in a position to know have failed to
respond to urgent requests for information, and therefore it will have to
be left to some future historian.


719





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    One of its leading citizens is Hon. John K. Tener, already mentioned
 as one of the two governors of Pennsylvania elected from Washington
 County. Mr. Tener has again announced his candidacy for the Repub-
 lication nomination for governor in the campaign of 1926.
    Gilbert Uptegraph, who celebrated his ninety-fifth birthday December
 17, 1925, is Charleroi's oldest resident. He has lived in that place for
 more than thirty years, and he had supervision of the construction of the
 Redstone branch of the Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston Railroad.
 He was a member of the first volunteer fire department of Pittsburgh,
 and is a veteran of the Civil war.
    Charleroi has a volunteer fire department of which O. Henderson is
president; G. Jacobs, vice president; J. G. Wolfe, secretary; R. M. Jimeson,
treasurer; Henry D. Lowstuter, chief; Carl McGuire, first assistant chief,
and D. S. Sims, second assistant chief.
    The Methodist Church was organized in Library Hall, Lock No. 4,
by Rev. W. E. Cummings, of the Venetia Circuit; and it has grown until
now it is one of the largest in the Monongahela Valley. In 1907 the pres-
ent church was erected at a cost of 820,000. Rev. J. E. Morrison, the
present pastor, has been in charge for the past two years.
   The First Presbyterian congregation was organized March 5, 1891,
and chartered April 25, 1892. Services were first held in the Allen build-
ing but in 1891 the present church was erected at the corner of Fifth
Street and Lookout Avenue. The following have been the pastors: Rev.
S. R. Farmer, from January, 1892, to November 1, 1894; Rev. C. E.
Edwards, October, 1895, to April, 1897; Rev. G. W. Snodgrass, May 1,
1898, to 1904; Rev. M. Custer, 1905-08; Rev. J. T. Hackett, 1908-14; Rev.
A. J. Whipkey, 1915-17; Rev. C. A. Keller, 1918-20; Rev. R. J. Shields,
1921 to the present time.
   The Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church was organized March
15, 1891, as a Cumberland Presbyterian congregation with eighteen mem-
bers by Rev. J. W. McKay, in the Allen Building. In 1893 a church was
erected and dedicated, with Rev. James Hamilton as the first pastor. The
present church was built in 1906, at- a cost of $20,000.
   The French Presbyterian congregation was organized to accommodate
the great number of French residents of Charleroi, many of whom are
of the Protestant faith. Rev. G. Charles, in charge of French Protestant
churches in the Pittsburgh district, started holding services in Charleroi
in 1896, and this resulted in the organization of the present congregation
in 1898, when Rev. J. E. Charles was called as the first pastor. Meetings
were held in the First Presbyterian Church until 1906, when the Cumber-
land Presbyterian Church was purchased.
   The first Christian Church is probably the oldest congregation in
Charleroi. It dates back to 1890, when on October 13, it was organized
at the home of Theodore J. Allen, at Lock No. 4, with a membership of
fourteen. Rev. A. C. Jobes, of Claysville, was called as the first pastor.
Services were held in the Library Hall, Lock No. 4, until 1891, when a
church was erected on Tenth Street, where services were held until June,
1901, when the congregation moved into the present edifice on Fallow-
field Avenue.
   St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal congregation dates back to 1891,


720




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


when a Sunday school of this denomination was organized on November
23, with F. L. Bayley as superintendent. During the years following
Dr. J. P. Norman, of Monongahela, held occasional services until October
30, 1898, when Reverend Blacklock was installed as the first rector, re-
maining until May 6, 1900. F. L. Bayley was the main man in the organ-
ization of this church and may be said to be the father of the congregation.
Its edifice, known as "The Little Church on the Hill," was erected at
a cost of $5,000.
    The Christ English Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized
 September 22, 1901. Worship was held in the Masonic temple building
 and in the Bank of Charleroi Building until 1908, when the corner stone
 of the present church was laid. This building was erected at a cost of
 $42,000.
    St. Jerome Roman Catholic congregation dates back to 1890, when
 meetings were first held in the Dowd home by the Rev. Robert McDonald.
 In 1893 the first church was erected on Crest Avenue, followed in 1913
 by the present edifice at the corner of Washington Avenue and Seventh
 Street. Rev. Robert McDonald served the parish until January 21, 1905,
 when he was succeeded by Rev. William Fries, the present rector. Father
 Fries has been assisted by the following: Rev. Thomas Connors, Rev.
 0. J. Kirby, Rev. B. N. Axmacher, Rev. S. A. Welch, Rev. John R.
 McKavney, Rev. C. H. Dermorest, Rev. James McKeever, and Rev. James
 Baley.
                          NORTH CHARLEROI.
    This borough, originally known as Lock No. 4 from the lock of that
number in the Monongahela River at this point, dates back to 1880, when
a station called West Monessen was established on the Pittsburgh, Vir-
ginia and Charleston Railroad at this point to accommodate a village of
eleven houses, a store and postoffice and a telegraph office. The plan of
lots was laid out first in 1885 by John Conrad and later by others. The
growth of the town started about 1890 when the industrial development
of Charleroi began. The place is still known by its original name of Lock
No. 4, from the postoffice, but the town was incorporated as the borough
of North Charleroi on May 14, 1894.
   Lock No. 4, one of the most important on the river, was built in 1844
by the United States Government and is now in charge of about twenty
men. The importance of this dam is shown by the shipments through
the locks during February, 1926, taken from the reports of Lockmaster
Caseber to the war department. A total of 606 steamboats and 3,205
barges, both loaded and empty, passed through during the twenty-seven
days the lock was in commission.
   The Charleroi-Monessen bridge across the Monongahela at this point
was constructed in 1906 by the Mercantile Bridge Company at a cost of
S275,000, in addition to the purchase price of real estate, which brought
the total up to 8320,000. This company was first organized in 1903 by
D. M. McCloskey, Tom P. Sloan and Henry Sheets, of Charleroi; Henry
Nelson, of the American Bridge Company, and John Percival, of Pitts-
burgh. The bridge was formally opened for service November 2, 1907.


46-V1


721





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


pleting his education. Crossing the Allegheny Mountains, he established
a trading post and ferry at Redstone Old Fort, or Fort Burd as it was
sometimes called. From there he made many journeys into the wilder-
ness farther west, until after the close of Dunmore's war.
    At the outbreak of the Revolution in 1775 he was made captain of a
 company of the Sons of Liberty, and marched with them to Boston, arriv-
 ing too late to take part in the battle of Bunker Hill. But he was com-
 missioned a colonel, and detailed for duty in New York City, where he
 died October 18th, 1775, from fever. He was buried with military honors
 in the historic Trinity Church graveyard, where his grave may still be
 seen among a host of other heroes of bygone days.
    That he was not present at the murder of Logan's people has already
 been shown, but to this may be added the statements of two who did par-
 ticil)ate in that affair. Years afterward, John Sappington, the man who
 killed Logan's brother at Baker's Bottom that day, stated that Cresap
 was innocent of the murder, and despised Greathouse for his part. He
 declared that Cresap was with George Rogers Clark on his way to Red-
 stone Old Fort the day of the murder. Benjamin Tomlinson, another
 member of the party, made a statement at Cumberland, Maryland, on
 April 17th, 1797, in which he declared Cresap was not present.
    I)aniel Greathouse, the leader of the whites who murdered Logan's
 people, died of measles in 1775.
    Later historians have claimed that an early love affair of Thomas
Jefferson was the prime cause of his accusation against Cresap in the
first edition of his "Notes on Virginia," published in 1787. This almost
forgotten romance was unearthed long years ago by historians, but very
little publicity was ever given to it, and the story remained buried for
almost a century and a quarter and was published by the Ohio State
Archaeological and Historical Society.
    According to the story, Thomas Jefferson was a suitor for the hand
of Michael Cresap's daughter, but he was rejected. Miss Cresap after-
wards married Luther Martin, who became attorney general for Mary-
land and was one of Aaron Burr's counsel during his trial for treason.
Jefferson was a Democrat and Martin was a prominent Federalist.
   After Jefferson placed the blame on Cresap in the first edition of his
"Notes," the matter was taken up by Cresap's relatives, who charged
Jefferson with accusing an innocent man because that man's daughter
had refused his attentions. Martin wrote Jefferson several letters on the
subject, all of which were ignored. In 1797 Jefferson wrote to Governor
Henry, of Maryland, excusing himself, and promising to do justice to
Cresap's memory in case he, Jefferson, was wrong. When the second edi-
tion of his "Notes" appeared in 1800, Jefferson published the statements
of John Sappington, John Gibson, Ebenezer Zane, Henry Innes, and
Charles Polke, all of which exonerated Cresap.
   In a letter written by George Rogers Clark to Dr. Samuel Brown,
dated June 17th, 1798, Clark stated that Cresap was with him on the way
from Catfish Camp to Redstone Old Fort on the day of the murder. This
letter was sent to Jefferson, at Monticello, but he failed to mention it in
the second edition of his book.


(5)v1




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                             CALIFORNIA.
    The early history of California was furnished by Miss Elizabeth Mor-
gan, of that place, from the writings of her father, L. W. Morgan, who
was one of the first settlers of the town. Prior to 1784 the first settler at
what is now California was Samuel Young, who in that year sold out to
Robert Jackman. In 1848 a company composed of W. W. Jackman, Job
Johnson, Abraham Frye, G. W. Hornbake, John Wood and Samuel Ash-
meade purchased 304 acres of this land and in May 1848, they laid out
a town, calling it California because it was laid out in the year in which
gold was discovered in that state. Job Johnson surveyed the original
plat, at which time not a building stood on the site of the present town.
    The first house in California was built in the summer of 1849 and oc-
cupied by Thomas W. Moore; and it was in that house that Job Johnson
Moore, the first child born in the new town, first saw the light of day in
1849. Mr. Moore spent his entire life in that vicinity, and for many
years worked on the Monongahela and Ohio rivers. He died of pneu-
monia in the Monongahela Memorial Hospital, July 18, 1923, at the age
of seventy-four years.
   The first general store was started in May, 1851, by Solomon Sibbitt
and L. W. Morgan, partners, in a brick building known as the Van Dyke
block. Mr. Sibbitt was the first burgess after the incorporation of the
borough on November 26, 1853, when the postoffice was established.
   In 1856 A. J. Gibson established the first newspaper, which he called
"The Valley Spirit," which was still in existence in 1866 but was discon-
tinued shortly after that year. At present "The Sentinel" is a weekly
newspaper published in the town.
   At one time boat building was the leading industry of the town, and in
1851 the old ship building yard was established by the founders of the
town. This continued in operation until 1879 when it was discontinued
to make room for the construction of the railroad. During those years
many river steamers were launched there.
   The Arlington, California's one hotel, was purchased by Dr. A. J.
Letherman in 1887 and has been managed by him ever since.
   The old California Glass Works was built in the early nineties, but it
failed, and in 1905 it was started up again by Robert C. Campbell and
conducted for several years. At the present time the Vesta No. 4 mine,
of the Vesta Coal Company, and the Crescent mine, of the Pittsburgh
Coal Company, are the principal industries of that vicinity,
   Harry Billingsley Post, Grand Army of the Republic, is still active,
although there are only three Civil war veterans left in the town. Cali-
fornia Post No. 377, American Legion, is now located in the town.
   E. M. Copenhaven, the present burgess, took office in January, 1926,
succeeding H. W. Wilson. In 1914 the present borough building was
completed at a cost of $20,957.54.
   A grade school building was erected in 1908 at a cost of $67,701.32.
This was followed in 1922 by the new high school, which cost $81,566.09
to date, but it is not entirely completed. R. G. Dean is the principal, and
under him are eleven grade teachers, eleven high school teachers and


722




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


eight special teachers. The assessed valuation is $965,600, which brought
in $31,605 for school purposes on 28 mills levy. There are 833 school
pupils.
    The First Methodist Episcopal is the oldest church in the town and
 the church erected at that time is still in use, although it has been re-
 modeled several times.
    The Presbyterian congregation was organized in 1897 as a Cumber-
 land Presbyterian Church. The building was destroyed by fire a short
 time later, and in 1900 the present edifice was erected. Rev. John R.
 Burson is the present pastor, and the membership is 254.
   The First Christian Church may be said to date back to 1858 when
Edward Riggs moved to the town and began to declare the gospel to
his neighbors. This resulted in the organization of a congregation on
March 24, 1859, in his home. This society began to hold meetings in
the old school house, January 7, 1866, where it continued until the pres-
ent edifice was erected. The present pastor is Rev. Thomas Wood.
   The First Baptist Church was organized in March, 1889, and the
present building, which was secured later, was erected as a Presby-
terian church in 1878.

                           COAL CENTER.
   This borough, which joins California, may be said to date back to
1820, when a coal mine was opened at that point. It was first called
Greenfield and as such was known for many years, or until about 1883.
Greenfield was laid out about 1814 by Robert Jackman, Jr., but there was
not much of a town until the mine was opened in 1820. It was incor-
porated as a borough on April 9, 1834, and in January, 1883, the name
was changed to Coal Center. In the eighties a weekly newspaper called
"The Coal Center Eye" was established, but it ceased publication about
1885. St. Thomas of Acquin Roman Catholic congregation was organ-
ized about 1888 in a hall over a store on Water Street, and shortly after-
wards a church was erected. Rev. J. O'Connor is the present rector. The
assessed valuation of real estate is now $1,184,340. At the present time
there are sixteen school teachers and 198 pupils.

                              DONORA.
   This important manufacturing town was laid out in 1900 by the
Union Improvement Company; but in 1814 Charles DeHaas attempted to
start a town there which he called Pittsborough. This was later changed
to Columbia, and was afterwards known as West Columbia. In the
summer of 1815 twenty houses were built, but that seems to have been
the limit of the town. A postoffice was established in June, 1819, after
which the prosperity of the place seems to have waned, and the dreams
of Charles DeHaas of establishing a county seat for a river county were
dissipated. The lots passed from one owner to another during the next
three-quarters of a century, generally for a very small sum. Then after
the present town of Donora was founded and the American Steel & Wire
Company built its present immense plant, many of the owners of these


723




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


old lots realized a handsome profit. A more extended history of old
Columbia will be found under Carroll Township.
    The history of modern Donora begins with May, 1899, when the
Union Improvement Company purchased 152 acres from Bert W. Castner;
seventy from the Robert Heslep heirs, 130 from Bradford Allen, and
thirty from Alexander & Company. The next year this company laid out
Donora, and when the lot sale was opened on August 30, 1900, there was
a rush of people to the new townsites. On the day of this sale there were
only four houses on the site of the town with twelve persons residing
therein. Three years later there were 1,000 buildings and 6,000 people.
    The borough of Donora was incorporated February 11, 1901, and J.
N. Mullin was elected the first burgess, and in May, 1903, the village of
West Columbia was taken in as a part of Donora.
    Donora owes its wonderful growth to its industrial development. The
Union Steel Company broke ground May 29, 1900, and since that time
one of the largest plants of the kind in the United States is located there.
It occupies 300 acres along the river front, now owned by the United
States Steel Corporation under the name of the American Steel & Wire
Company.
    Never in their most vivid dreams did Charles DeHaas and John Neal,
the proprietors of old Columbia, conceive of a city that would ever reach
the greatness of the present town. On the same ground where they
built the Columbia Steam Mill & Manufacturing plant 110 years ago are
now the great mills of the American Steel & Wire Company. Property
values have advanced to heights undreamed of by the early settlers. Two
lots sold seventy years ago for $500 were sold on August 27, 1915, to
the Union Steel Company by Mrs. Rebecca Boyd for $10,000.
   The assessed valuation of Donora last year was $6,719,625, which is
considered at 60 per cent of its true value. This is an independent school
district, with Thomas M. Gilland, as superintendent. There are a total
of 100 teachers and 3,680 pupils. The average daily attendance for last
year was 3,187.
   The First Presbyterian Church grew out of the old Union Sunday
School, which started June 2, 1901. On May 8, 1902, a Cumberland
Presbyterian congregation was organized, and this is now the First
Presbyterian Church. A brick church was built in 1902 at a cost of
$12,000. The first pastor was Rev. R. P. Lippincott, from March, 1903,
to December, 1906. Next came Rev. John E. Fulton, from September,
1907, to October, 1913, succeeded by Rev. William Stewart, from June,
1914, to the present time.
   The Methodist Episcopal was the first church built in Donora, being
completed in September, 1901, at a cost of $1,000. A more substantial
building was built in 1903, at a cost of $20,000, which was a great credit
to the enterprising town of only thirty months. The first pastor was
Rev. W. H. Kirkland. The present pastor is Rev. H. M. Carnahan.
   African Methodist Episcopal (colored) congregation dates from 1900,
when Rev. S. P. West began missionary work. On January 26, 1902, a
church was dedicated at a cost of $3,500.
   The United Presbyterian congregation began in the Odd Fellows hall
July 20, 1902, when Rev. John W. McClenahan began preaching. A


724





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


church was dedicated May 10, 1903. The present pastor is Rev. E. A.
Campbell.
    St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church was founded in July, 1902, by
 Rev. Father Pohorence among the Slavs. In 1903 a wooden church was
 erected, and was replaced in 1905 by a $35,000 structure. The present
 rector is Rev. E. E. Gellhof.
    St. Charles Boromeo Roman Catholic congregation was organized in
 1903 in a storeroom by Rev. C. J. Steppling. The church was erected in
 1904. Rev. P. Diskin is the present rector.
    Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic congregation
was organized in 1903, and in 1904 a brick church costing $27,000 was
erected. Rev. L. Odziemszewski is the present rector.
    St. Joseph Roman Catholic church was founded in 1906, when the
old Methodist Episcopal church building was purchased. The present
rector is Rev. Vincent T. Abromatis.

                             MCDONALD.
    This town stands on the land settled by John McDonald in 1775, and
is the site of a fort and Indian trading post built by him in pioneer times.
McDonald was Indian agent and one of the judges of the Youghiogheny
County courts. When the Panhandle railroad was completed through
this section in 1865, a station was established at McEwen's grist mill,
blacksmith shop and dwelling, and called McDonald, but the postoffice
was called Havelock until about 1870. From 1865 until the completion of
the Chartiers Valley railroad, stage coaches were run from Washington to
Havelock by Ed. Sexton, of Washington, and this was the first means by
which the people of Washington could reach Pittsburgh by rail. This
continued until the Chartiers Valley construction reached a point near
enough to connect with the Washington stages. The McDonald Hotel, the
first hotel, was one of the first buildings erected in the new town. It was
built and conducted for several years by William Johnston. When the
borough of McDonald was incorporated November 11, 1889, S. S. Johns,
the railroad agent, was first burgess.
   Edward McDonald, at present president of the First National Bank,
is a son of John S. McDonald, one of the first settlers at the new town.
Other early settlers, all of whom were prominent men in the county, were
David L. Williams, Samuel Moorehead, W. B. Moorehead, S. S. Johns,
J. D. Sauters, Cyrus Ferguson and William S. Lockhart. The latter was
twice clerk of courts of Washington County and is at present a member
of the State Legislature.
   McDonald experienced its first big boom when oil was discovered in
1889-90, and the real development of the town began. It is now the
center of a large coal mining section.
   McDonald has a high and grade schools, of which William L. Moore
is the principal. There are twelve teachers in the high school and twenty
in the grade. The assessed valuation is $1,329,600. There are 1,167
pupils in the schools.
   Robinson Run United Presbyterian congregation was organized in the
fall of 1790 at Noblestown, where meetings were held until 1791, when


725





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


a church was erected on the hill above Sturgeon. This was replaced by
another in 1835, and in 1867 the third was built on the same site to take
the place of the former building which was destroyed in a cyclone. This
stood until 1904, when it was again blown down, after which the con-
gregation moved to McDonald, where the present church was erected.
The old graveyard still surrounds the site of the original church. The
pastors are: Rev. John Riddell, August 15, 1793, to September 4, 1829;
Rev. James Grier, April 16, 1839, to March 26, 1878; Rev. J. W. English,
September 30, 1879, to August 30, 1909; Rev. J. B. Cavitt, June 28, 1910,
to February 10, 1918; Rev. Guy S. Brooks, August, 1918, to June, 1921;
Rev. R. B. Johnson, June, 1922, to June, 1923; Rev. J. I. Krohn, October,
1923, to present time.
   The First Presbyterian congregation was organized in 1885. The
first church was destroyed by fire in 1896 and the present structure was
erected immediately at a cost of $18,000. Rev. B. F. Heany is the present
pastor, and the membership is 665.
   The First United Presbyterian congregation was organized February
26, 1876. It built a frame church which was used until 1896, when the
present edifice was erected at a cost of $23,000 and the old building sold
to the Colored Baptist congregation. Rev. W. D. Irons is the present
pastor.
   The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1897. The present
pastor is Rev. H. E. Moose.
   The United Presbyterians organized a French mission in 1901, and
meetings were held in the United Presbyterian Church until 1905, when
the present edifice was erected.
   The German Lutheran congregation was organized in 1871, when
Rev. Schweiger began holding meetings in McCarrell's school house.
   St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic congregation was organized in 1888
and the first church erected soon afterwards. It was burned down and
the present brick building erected in 1900 at a cost of $30,000. The pres-
ent rector is Rev. Joseph Burgoon.
   The Colored Baptists organized a congregation about thirty years ago,
and purchased the old United Presbyterian church building.

                        WEST BROWNSVILLE.
   On the Monongahela River, just where the National Pike crosses into
Fayette County, is the old town of West Brownsville, one of the oldest
points of settlement in the county. This is a historic section, and dates
back to the days of William Peters, known among the whites as "Indian
Peters," who was granted a certificate for the land in 1769. Much has
already been said of this man and his association with West Brownsville.
   This town is noted as the birthplace of Hon. James G. Blaine, Wash-
ington County's most distinguished native son. He became a United
States Senator from Maine, was Secretary of State and in 1884 was the
republican candidate for President of the United States, being defeated
by Grover Cleveland.
   Neal Gillespie, an ancestor of James G. Blaine, purchased this land


726





































    The old Manchester farm, known as Plantation Plenty, near West Middletown.
This is one of the old farms of Washington County. Every implement used in farming
since the beginning of this farm, 125 years ago, is still preserved on the place. The
house occupies the site of Teter's Fort, built by Col. Samuel Teter about 1773.


    West Brownsville, where the National Pike enters Washington County. This
scene has changed but little since the old pike days, except that the old wooden bridge
across the Monongahela has been replaced by one of steel and concrete.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


from "Indian Peters'" widow and son in 1784, and the land finally
descended to Ephraim L. Blaine, father of James G. Blaine. He resided
on the site of the present town, and the house in which his distinguished
son was born stood until about 1896. A hamlet of a few houses was
located at the place until 1831, when Ephrian L. Blaine laid out the town
of West Brownsville. Other additions have been made since then until
now a town of considerable importance exists there. The old section is
a picturesque place and has not changed much since the early days of the
old National Pike. The present borough was incorporated in August,
1849, and the first meeting of council was held October 23, with Joseph
L. Taylor as the first burgess.
    The village at this place was known in early times as Krepps' Ferry,
from the ferry conducted there by John Krepps as early as 1794. Krepps'
Knob, a high hill just back of the town, is still a noted landmark. In the
days before national prohibition the town was famous as the home of
Sam Thompson's original Monongahela rye whisky. The old wooden
bridge, which spanned the Monongahela at this point from 1833 to 1910
was one of the most picturesque on the old National Pike.
   The principal industries are the shops of the Pennsylvania railroad
and the coal mines of the adjoining territory. There was formerly a
glass factory located there, but it was dismantled a number of years
ago. The schools at the present time are in charge of O. C. Mundell,
principal, and eight teachers. The assessed property valuation is
$57,706. There are a total of 429 pupils.
   St. John's Episcopal Church began with a Sunday school in 1850, and
in 1860 the parish was organized. Owing to the outbreak of the Civil
war it was impossible to complete a church until 1870.
   The Church of Christ was located at this place for a number of years,
but the members gradually died and moved to other sections until only a
few were in that section. The building was purchased about ten years
ago by another congregation, and resulted in considerable litigation in
court between the Church of Christ of Lover and the Church of Christ at
Vanceville, both of which claimed the proceeds of the sale. The latter
was finally awarded the money, it having established its claim.

                           BENTLEYVILLE.
   This town stands on the ground patented in 1777 by Sheshbazzar
Bentley, whose son, Sheshbazzar, laid out the first plot in 1816. The
town grew slowly until the opening of the coal in that section, since
which time its development has been very rapid. A number of additions
have been made with the passing years, and it is now one of the largest
and most important towns in the Pigeon Creek valley. In 1787 Shesh-
bazzar Bentley operated a mill on the site of the present town. In 1794,
during the "Dreadful Night" of the Whisky Insurrection, two stills be-
longing to Bentley were seized by Robert Johnston, excise collector. The
borough of Bentleyville was incorporated May 20, 1868, mainly through
the efforts of Hon. John W. Stevens, one of the first members of the
republican party and draft commissioner for Washington County under


728





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the national draft act passed by Congress in 1863. The present burgess
is I. N. South.
   Work on the first Flinn road was started May 10, 1904, on the road
from Bentleyville to Beallsville. This was constructed by the Hallam
Construction Company for the county. The state has since taken this
over and it is now a concrete highway.
   The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1848 and used until
1893, when the present edifice was erected. The present pastor is Rev.
G. M. Conner.
   The Bentleyville Presbyterian Church was organized March 9, 1884,
and a frame building erected. The first pastor was Rev. W. F. Silveus.
Other pastors were: D. A. Cooper, 1890-97; N. W. Clark, 1897-1900;
J. T. Neel, 1900-01; J. C. Francis, 1902-07; E. D. Reiter, 1908-09; J. E.
Miller, 1910-11; J. A. A. Craig, 1911-17; A. T. Carr, 1917, to the present
time.
   The Baptist church was built in 1908 at a cost of $4,000 and the con-
gregation organized the next year with Rev. J. F. Miller as pastor.
   The Union Holiness Association leased the Bentleyville Campmeeting
ground in 1866 from John W. Stevens and purchased the land November
16, 1891, for $3,000. Campmeetings have been held there annually since
1866, and in 1909 as many as 12,000 people attended.

                           BURGETTSTOWN.
   The original plot of Burgettstown was surveyed February 28, 1795,
by Peter Kidd, surveyor for George Burgett. Sebastian Burgett, the
first settler there, built Burgett's fort and grist mill about 1773, and this
was an important point in the early settlement of that section of the
county. The original name of the town laid out in 1795 was West Boston,
named after Boston Burgett. The growth of the town was slow for many
years, and until 1910 it was a country village, the center of a substantial
farming community. A postoffice was opened January 1, 1811, with
Thomas Miller as the first postmaster. The original section known as
"Old Town," was some distance from the railroad station, established
when the Panhandle railway was completed in 1865, at which time
another postoffice was established and conducted for many years. The
intervening space between the two villages was gradually built until
they formed one town. A movement to incorporate into a borough was
started as early as 1854, but was not successful until March 23, 1881,
when a charter was granted by the court.
   The present boom began about 1912 when the great mills of the Amer-
ican Zinc & Chemical Company were built on the Acheson farm, and
Langeloth was founded about a mile and a half north of Burgettstown.
Mines were opened at Atlasburg about this same time, and in a short
time property values increased in Burgettstown. The town has grown
during the past twelve years until it now resembles the farming village
of a quarter of a century ago very little.
   There is now a joint high school of Burgettstown and Smith Town-
ship, with R. E. Knarr as principal, and nine teachers. Howard J. Oviatt


729





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


is principal of schools and under him are twelve teachers and 630 pupils.
The assessed valuation of real estate is $1,383,720, which is considered 70
per cent of the real value.
    The First United Presbyterian congregation was organized in 1802,
 with Rev. William C. Brownlee as the first pastor. The first church was
 enlarged in 1860 and the present church built in 1873 at a cost of $25,000.
 Rev. R. C. Sutton is the present pastor.
    The Second United Presbyterian Church was organized September 7,
 1898, in the town hall, by Rev. D. W. Carson, who served as pastor until
 1911. In 1899 the present edifice was erected on Main Street. Since the
 death of Rev. Carson there was no regular pastor for a number of years,
 the pulpit being filled by supplies. The present pastor is Rev. M. M.
 Acheson.
    Westminster Presbyterian Church was organized June 26, 1893, and
a charter granted March 17, 1894. The present church was erected and
dedicated June 26, 1894. The following are the pastors: Harry Nesbit,
J. Mont Travis, T. A. Alexander, E. W. Byers, James Waite, Malcolm A.
Matheson, Isaac K. Teal and J. R. Thome. The membership is 351.
    The First Presbyterian Church was built in 1845 on the hill where
the cemetery is now located, and in 1849 the congregation was organized
by Rev. Joel Stoneroad. This building was enlarged in 1860 and in 1873
the present church was built in the town, the cost being $20,000. Rev.
W   M. Hays is the pastor, and the membership is 515.
   The Methodist Episcopal denomination erected a church in 1872 near
the present school, but the congregation ceased to exist in a few years.
   The Colored Baptist congregation was organized in January, 1906,
with Rev. S. L. Coleman as the first pastor.
   Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic congregation was organized
May 8, 1916, in the Pastime Hall at Slovan. Since then services have
been held in various places among which are Valek's Hall, Erie Mine,
Miners' Hall, Francis Mine; John Brown's residence, Dinsmore; Com-
pany House, Langeloth; Company House, Atlasburg, and Miners' Hall,
Eldersville. On December 8, 1918, the present church was erected on
Main Street. Missions are maintained at Atlasburg, Langeloth and Fran-
cis Mine. Rev. William J. McCashin, the present rector, has had charge
since the organization.

                         WEST MIDDLETOWN.
   This town has the distinction of being the third oldest incorporated
municipality in the county, the other two being Canonsburg and Wash-
ington. Its borough charter dates from  March 27, 1823. Galbraith
Stewart, one of the first settlers, moved to the site of the town in 1795,
and erected one of the first houses and a blacksmith shop. It was an
important point in the western section of the county, and at an early
date there were three taverns. A postoffice was opened in 1805.
   This was long the home of William McKeever, hatter by trade, whose
sons, Matthew and Thomas, were personal friends of John Brown and
were instrumental in the Underground Railway, as related in another


730





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


chapter. This was also the home of Andrew Ralston, inventor of the first
threshing machine, the history of which is found in another chapter.
That section was at one time the home of Col. David Williamson, noted
Indian fighter, whose descendants still reside there. Its early connection
with the founding of the Christian church by the Campbells has also been
given. Avery Holmes, the famous Methodist preacher, was born there,
and nearby was Plantation Penty and Doddridge's Fort, described in
previous chapters. Joseph Ritner, once governor of Pennsylvania, lived
near the town, and the ancestors of Mark Twain once settled there. John
W. Garrett, founder and first president of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad,
was born there.
   During the Civil war this town sent many of its sons to the Union
army, a large number of whom enlisted in Company A, One Hundredth
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and many of whom were killed in bat-
tle and died in the service. When the country needed soldiers again to
defend the flag in the World war, forty-four of the young men from this
town answered the nation's call. Thirty-nine saw service overseas and
two, C. R. Jones and P. U. Ferrell, died in the service.
   Dr. John Riddle preached the first sermon at West Middletown about
1802, and in 1810 the United Presbyterian Church was organized. The
first church, erected in 1818, stood until 1860, when the present edifice
was built. It is said that during the days of the Underground Railway
escaping slaves were frequently concealed in the old church. In the his-
toric graveyard surrounding the church are buried many soldiers who
fell on Southern battlefields. Rev. E. L. Eagleson is the present pastor.
   The Christian Church is closely associated with the Campbells in the
founding of this denomination. The congregation at West Middletown
was formed at Pleasant Hill Seminary in 1837. They met in private
houses until 1848, when a meeting house was erected and occupied until
1861, when the Methodist Episcopal church was purchased.

                             CLAYSVILLE.
   This is one of the towns in Washington County which came into exist-
ence with the completion of the National Pike. About 1800 John Pur-
viance started a tavern at the site of the present town, and when the
pike was projected in 1817 he laid out a town, which was named Clays-
ville in honor of Henry Clay, "the father of the National Road." It grew
rapidly during the early years of the pike and was incorporated into a
borough April 2, 1832.
   Samuel Sherr built the first house after the town was laid out, and
George Wilson opened a general store which did a thriving business dur-
ing the construction period of the pike. On June 11, 1921, James Sar-
gent opened the Black Horse Tavern. There were many hotels in the
town at various times during the palmy days of the pike from 1820 until
travel closed on the road with the completion of the Hempfield railroad
through there in the '50s. This town has always been and still is the
center of a farming community.
   The people of the new town subscribed $255.50 for the erection of a


731











CHAPTER IX.


                               1774.
                     LOGAN, THE CAYUGA.
BIRTHPLACE-THE WHITE MAN'S FRIEND-EMIGRATES TO OHIO-DISPUTE
   REGARDING AUTHORSHIP OF THE SPEECH-HIS DEATH.

        "I appeal to the white man, ungrateful, to say,
           If e'er from my cabin he went hungry away;
         If naked and cold unto Logan he came,
           And he gave him no blanket and kindled no flame?"
   Logan, who with his band of Mingo warriors terrorized the settlers
of Washington and Greene counties during the war of 1774, was a Cayuga,
born about 1725 near Shamokin, Pennsylvania. His Indian name was
Tah-gah-jute, meaning "his eyelashes stick out above." Tradition says
that his father, who was a Cayuga chief, was a white man, whom the
Indians had captured when a child in Canada. He was the firm friend of
the whites, and he taught his son to be the firm friend of the palefaces.
   When Tah-gah-jute grew to manhood he became the friend of James
Logan, then secretary and acting governor of Pennsylvania; and out of
friendship the Indian adopted this man's name by which he was known
for the remainder of his life.
   About 1770 Logan left his home near Reedsville, Pennsylvania, and
emigrated to Ohio with his family. In Ohio he joined the Mingoes, the
name given to the Six Nations who had drifted to the western wilderness.
He married a Shawnese woman, but never had any children. In 1774 he
was living at Old Chillicothe. He is described by writers of that period
as a man of fine personal appearance, six feet tall, strong and well pro-
portioned, with a brave, open countenance. After the murder of his
mother, sister, and brother he became a fiend and sought a bloody revenge
on the white race.
   For many years there was a dispute among historians as to whether
Logan was really the author of the famous speech; but this has all been
thrashed out long ago, and the evidence today seems to point conclusively
in his favor.
   After the treaty of Camp Charlotte, Logan never again raised his hand
against the whites. His intemperate habits which had commenced about
the time of his removal to Ohio grew upon him as he became older, and
in his later years he was a drunkard. At one time he was kicked out of
the trader's store at Fort Detroit. While on his way to Fort Detroit in
1780 he was killed by an Indian named Tod-kah-dos, a relative. The
location of his grave is not known, but a monument stands to him in the
Fort Hill cemetery, at Auburn, New York.
   In July, 1895, Andrew Downer, a blacksmith of Hammondsville, Jef-
ferson County, Ohio, unearthed an Indian tomahawk covered with rust.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


new schoolhouse in 1818. At present it has a high and grade school
with W. H. Church as the principal. There are five teachers in the high
and seven in the grade. The assessed valuation is $496,905. There are
363 pupils in the schools.
    During the Civil war this town was known throughout the county as
"Little Richmond," on account of its strong democratic sentiments. It is
said that at that time there was only one republican in the town.
    The United Presbyterian Church was organized April 2, 1811, as the
South Buffalo United Presbyterian Church, located three miles southeast
of Claysville until 1883, when it was moved to the town and the present
church erected. The first pastor was Rev. David French, from 1811 to
1852. The present pastor is Rev. H. L. Henderson, who has served since
1922.
   The Presbyterian Church was organized September 20, 1820, when a
frame church was built. This was used until 1830, when a brick church
was built, remaining until 1904, when it was replaced by the present edi-
fice at a cost of $25,000. Rev. Frank Fish, D. D., now of Fredericktown,
was long the pastor of this congregation. The present pastor is Rev.
Clarence E. Houk. The membership is 278.
   The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1830, when a small
brick church was erected. This was replaced in 1858, and in 1908 the
present edifice was erected, at a cost of $12,000.
   The Baptist Church was organized at Buffalo village in 1861, and
moved to Claysville, August 23, 1886.
   The First Church of Christ, or Christian congregation, was organized
January 11, 1909, and the building erected about 1890 by the United
Brethren congregation, was purchased for $2,500, this organization hav-
ing disbanded June 27, 1907. John Mulladay, the first pastor, served
from November 1, 1907, to September 4, 1910. Rev. Lee M. Moore, the
present pastor, has had charge since December 1, 1923.

                         WEST ALEXANDER.
   This town was laid out in 1796 by Robert Humphreys, a Revolution-
ary soldier, and in the next year Duncan Morrison started the American
Eagle Tavern. In 1817 Charles DeHaas, who has already been mentioned
in connection with the history of old Columbia, purchased many of the
lots in the town, and he succeeded in establishing a town, probably due to
the fact that it was known that the National Pike would pass that way.
The greatest event in the history of the town was when General Lafay-
ette passed through there on May 24, 1825, and dined at what is now the
Lafayette Hotel, as already related. West Alexander borough was incor-
porated May 21, 1873.
   At the present time there is a high school principal, Lucille F. Lor-
mier, and an assistant, and three grade teachers. The assessed valuation
is $223,400. There are 135 pupils.
   In the days before the passage of the present marriage license law in
Pennsylvania, West Alexander was known as the "Gretna Green" for all
states west. Squire Mayes, long known as the "marrying justice of the


732



































Old stone mill south of Beallsville, erected at a very early date.


    The National Pike through the village of Beallsville. This scene has changed but
little since stage coach and Conestoga wagon ran over the old pike.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


peace" at West Alexander, probably performed more marriage ceremonies
than any other man of his time. Up to October 1, 1885, when the license
law went into effect, he had performed 2,621 marriage ceremonies, and in
the last ten days of September, 1885, he married more couples than in any
other month in his long career. His father, Squire Isaac Mayes, had mar-
ried 934 couples.
    It is interesting to note in this connection that the first marriage
license in Washington County was issued October 1, 1885, to William E.
Wolfe, of West Pike Run Township, and Miss Jessie Odbert, of Somerset
Township. Mr. Wolfe is still living in Washington, but his first wife died
several years ago. Twenty-nine years later Mr. Wolfe secured another
license, October 22, 1914, and married Miss Lucy E. Crumrine. There
have been a total of 34,216 licenses issued in this county up to January 1,
1926.
    The Presbyterian congregation was organized October 19, 1785, under
an oak tree at the right of the present church. It was first called "Three
Ridges Presbyterian Church," from three ridges that meet there. The
first church was erected in 1787-88 near the present structure. The sec-
ond was a log house, and in 1830 the third church was built. This was
replaced in 1840 by the present edifice. The first regular pastor was Rev.
John Brice, from 1790 to 1808. Rev. William H. Lester, who was pastor
from 1854 to 1900, is still well remembered by the present generation, and
was one of its most beloved pastors. Rev. Glenn M. Crawford has had
charge since 1921. The membership is 430.
   The United Presbyterian Church was organized in 1793, with Rev.
Alexander McCoy as the first pastor. It did not prosper and disbanded
about 1801, but was reorganized in 1838. The present building was
erected in 1872.
   The Methodist Episcopal congregation was organized about 1825. The
present church was erected in 1901. The pastor is Rev. H. W. Belt.

                            BEALLSVILLE.
   Beallsville, another town that grew with the opening of the National
Pike, was laid out by Jonathan Knight, surveyor for Zephaniah Beall, Zeph
H. Beall, his son, Christian Kreider and George Jackson, in 1819. It grew
during the days of the pike and was an important stopping place. On Feb-
ruary 16, 1852, it was incorporated into a borough. It has Methodist
Episcopal and Presbyterian churches.

                            CENTERVILLE.
   This town was also built with the National Pike and was given this
name because it is exactly half way between Washington and Uniontown.
It was organized as a borough from East Bethlehem Township on Feb-
ruary 16, 1895.
                          OTHER BOROUGHS.
   Cokeburg-Founded by the Ellsworth Collieries Company, and incor-
porated into a borough September 17, 1906. This is the center of a large
mining section.


734




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Ellsworth-Joining Cokeburg, and was founded at the same time by
the Ellsworth Collieries Company, of which James E. Ellsworth was the
head. His son, Lincoln Ellsworth, of Uniontown, was the partner of
Roald Amundsen in the attempted flight to reach the North Pole by air-
plane during the summer of 1925. It was incorporated into a borough
August 20, 1900.
   Deemston-Incorporated as a borough November 12, 1894, from part
of East Bethlehem Township. This is really a first-class township, and
no town is located here.
   Dunlevy-Incorporated from Allen Township, November 10, 1913. This
is also more of a first-class township than a borough.
   Elco-Incorporated from Allen Township May 14, 1894. This is like-
wise more of a first-class township than a borough.
   Finleyville-Laid out by James Barclay in 1788, when he opened a tav-
ern. This was an important point on the old stage road from Brownsville
to Pittsburgh, and it was known in early times as Rogue Alley, from the
name of an early tavern "Row Galley," which degenerated into "Rogue
Alley." A postoffice was established in 1826 with Gen. Robert Finley as
postmaster. It was incorporated as a borough February 19, 1896, from
Union Township, and is an important town in the eastern section of the
county.
   Long Branch-Incorporated from Allen Township August 21, 1893.
This is another of the boroughs incorporated to include large areas of ter-
ritory with no town. Mount Tabor Methodist Episcopal Church is located
there.
   Marianna-This town was built by the Pittsburgh Buffalo Coal Com-
pany in 1907-08 and incorporated from West Bethlehem Township Janu-
ary 24, 1910.
   Midway-This place was called Egypt from a mill located there in the
early years of the past century. After the construction of the Panhandle
railroad in 1865 Midway was laid out by Thomas Mitchell & Company on
the site of old Egypt. It was incorporated into a borough February 9,
1903.
   Roscoe-This was originally known as Lucyville during the early years
of the past century and, in fact, until it was incorporated as a borough on
May 21, 1894. Just prior to that time a vote of the inhabitants was taken
and it was decided to change the name to Roscoe in honor of Mrs. Joseph
Underwood, whose maiden name was Roscoe. It is now a thriving town
in the Monongahela valley, with a bank, hotel and several churches.
   Speers-Laid out by the Apollo Speers heirs on May 21, 1860. It was
incorporated as a borough February 12, 1894, from Allen Township.
   Stockdale-The land on which this town stands was purchased in 1800
by Thomas Stockdale and held in the family until the town was laid out
by Dorcas Stockdale in 1891. It was incorporated as a borough April 28,
1894, from Allen Township.
   Twilight-Incorporated from Allen Township, February 12, 1894.
There is a small village here, surrounded by a large territory of farming
land.


735












CHAPTER LXXXIII.


        THE NATIONAL PIKE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
 THE ROUTE OF THE PIKE THROUGH THE COUNTY-THE MOST HISTORIC
    HIGHWAY IN     THE EAST-THE CONESTOGA WAGON--OI.D-TIME
    WAGON    STANDS-OLD-TIME    WAGONERS-FREIGHT BUSINESS ON
    THE NATIONAL PIKE--THE STAGE COACH-LUCIUS W. STOCKTON,
    THE STAGE COACH KING-STAGE COACH LINES OF THE EARLY DAYS
    -MEMORIES OF MRS. MARGARET STOCKTON McKENNAN-WAGON
    AND   STAGE COACH BUILDERS-HOTELS, TAVERNS, AND INNS-
    TOWNS THAT CAME WITH THE PIKE-LAST DAYS OF THE OLD ROAD
    -LATER DEVELOPMENTS-THE AUTOMOBILE-REVIVAL OF TRAVEL
    -MODERN IMPROVEMENTS.
    After the passing of nearly three-quarters of a century, the National
 Pike is coming back into its own. No other highway east of the Mis-
 sissippi River was as important in the early history of the United States
 and no other road has as many historic memories clinging around it.
 For many long years before the railroad became an important factor in
 overland travel, the nation rode east and west over this old highway.
 Famous men of other days have traveled its length in going to and from
 the National Capital.
    This old road crosses Washington County from east to west, entering
 at West Brownsville and passing out at the state line at West Alexander.
 It is not the purpose of this history to go into the details of the legisla-
 tion and the movement that brought about the National Pike. That has
 already been told, many times. We will endeavor to give a picture in this
 chapter of the historic old road as it was in the days of its greatest glory,
 a century ago and for many years afterward, when it was the greatest
 artery of commerce in the entire United States. That was long before
 the "iron trail" was considered anything more than a plaything.
   The history of the National Pike through Washington County begins
with the completion of the road during 1818 and 1820. From the sea
coast at Baltimore it wound its way over hill and vale, across mountain
and plain to the far-away Mississippi, which was then on the extreme
borders of western civilization. For years, all of the travelers and set-
tlers bound from east of the Alleghany Mountains to the middle western
states, and what was once the Far West, journeyed over the National
Pike in prairie schooners and stage coach, on horseback and on foot.
Practically all of the merchandise and supplies used in the territory west
of the mountains were hauled over the pike in the old Conestoga wagons.
   If a stage coach or a Conestoga wagon were to appear on the streets
of Washington today, either would be regarded as a great curiosity, and
would attract the attention of every man, woman and child in the town;
for very few people in Washington have ever seen them, except in some
Wild West show. And the people here who have ridden in either could
                               736




































    One of the last Conestoga wagons in western Pennsylvania. These were the
famous wagons used by the "Pike Boys" to haul the freight of the nation in the days
of the National Pike. This is the earlier type known as "Sharpshooter" because of
the narrow tread of its wheels. This stood for about ten years in a field on the farm
of D. C. Miller, near Hickory. In 1922, while in Washington County searching for one
of the Ralston threshing machines, Henry Ford saw this wagon and expressed a desire
to place it in his collection. It was presented to him by Mr. Miller.


    The last Conestoga wagon left in Washington County. This is one of the broad
gauge or wide tread type. It was built in 1828 and has been continuously in the
Andrews family since thatrtime. It made many trips east to Baltimore and return.
It is now owned by Miss Kate Andrews, of Washington and is on exhibition at the
Washington Fair Grounds. There was a time before the coming of the railroad that a
traveler on the National Pike was never out of sight of one of these wagons.


A M T 7


a
;P




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


be numbered on the fingers of one hand. Yet there was a time, within
the recollection of a few old residents still living, when thousands of
these wagons were to be seen on the old pike, threading their way back
and forth, drawn by six and eight horses, each hauling from 8,000 to
10,000 pounds, their white canvas tops glistening in the sun for miles.
   Old-time residents of Washington have told the writer that in the
days when the commerce of the old pike was at its height, up to the com-
ing of the railroad, there was never a time that a person on the pike was
out of sight of several of the Conestoga freight wagons. Some idea of the
amount of travel that passed through Washington may be gained from
the statement made by the same persons that the stage coaches went in
trains of as many as twenty-four at a time, each coach filled with pas-
sengers.
   Now, it is doubtful if a single stage coach can be found in all Western
Pennsylvania. After travel closed on the pike, these coaches were bought
by western stage lines and taken to the Far West. And in all Wash-
ington County, the writer knows of only one Conestoga wagon. It is
owned by Miss Kate Andrews, of East Maiden Street, and last August
it was on exhibition at the Washington fair. It is in perfect condition.
There was one other of these wagons in the county until it was secured
last fall by Henry Ford. It was located on the farm of D. C. Miller, on
the main road between Hickory and Burgettstown, and for about ten
years it stood in a field along the road. Mr. Miller purchased it at the
public sale of the estate of David McNary, deceased, but he never used
it. Mr. Ford saw the wagon while touring Washington County last sum-
mer in search of one of the old Andrew Ralston threshing machines, and
it was presented to him by Mr. Miller. It is now in Mr. Ford's museum
showing the evolution of farm machinery.
   This wagon was at least a hundred years old. It was one of the orig-
inal narrow tread, known among the old wagoners as a "sharpshooter"
with the brake in the rear. This was the earliest type of Conestoga
wagon, but shortly after the National Pike was completed, the broad
tread or "regular" wagon came into general use. The wheels had a
tread four inches wide, and the tolls were not as high for this type.
   The historic old Conestoga wagon is purely an American vehicle,
dating back to Colonial times. It might well be called the "Mayflower"
of the American continent; for in it the settlers of every state west of
the Alleghany Mountains, from the Ohio to the Pacific and from the
Saskatchewan to beyond the Rio Grande, have journeyed to their homes.
   The first were brought across the mountains in 1755, by General
Braddock to transport army supplies for his ill-fated expedition against
the French at Fort Duquesne. It was designed and built for hard service,
and because of its large capacity, it was used by the American army
during the Revolution.
   With its high sloping sides and protecting canvas top, it was large
enough for a house. The settler going to the New West beyond the moun-
tains found it just suited to his needs. In it he could not only carry his
few worldly possessions, but there was room for his wife and children,
and so in the closing years of the eighteenth century and the beginning of


738





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the nineteenth, they began to cross the mountains, carrying the future
residents of this land. As the days and years passed, their numbers in-
creased until they formed a continuous stream that was only stopped by
the shores of the Pacific, 3,000 miles away. It was the old Conestoga
that carried the early settlers to Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
Ohio and the Northwest territory before 1800; it was the Conestoga that
carried the merchandise of the Santa Fe traders across fifteen miles of
plain, desert and mountain in the '20s and '30s; it was the Conestoga
that carried the first Texas settlers during the same period; it was the
Conestoga that carried the Mormons to Utah in 1845, and the settlers
to Oregon and the far Northwest the same year; it was the Conestoga
that carried the Argonauts to California in '49 and for many years there-
after; it was the Conestoga that took the first settlers to Kansas in the
'50s, and even down to our times, they have been used by people seeking
homes in the last land openings just a few years ago, in all sections of the
West. It has truly been the home of the American people.
   The Conestoga wagon, so called in the East because it was first made
at Conestoga, Pa., was known in the West as the prairie schooner be-
cause its general construction, with high front and rear and sloping sides
resembled a boat. They were very large, clumsy affairs, with a curved
body, low in the center and high at the front and rear. The framework
was mortised and held together by horizontal and perpendicular slats.
The bodies were set on bolsters without springs, and the front wheels
had little play in turning.
   The brake handle of the original narrow-tread wagons, such as the
McNary and the Andrews wagons, just mentioned, was at the side of
the rear left wheel where it could be managed from the ground, and was
fastened down by a chain and hook, both of which are still in place on
these two wagons.
   A tar kettle for greasing swung from the rear axle, and a tool box
was in the middle of the left side.
   A Conestoga was generally drawn by six horses, the wheel horses
being hitched to the tongue; the middle leaders were hitched to double-
trees hung at the end of the tongue, and the leaders to a long chain
fastened to the end of the tongue. The driver used a single line fastened
to the bridle-rein of the near lead-horse. The left-hand side was the
"near" side and the other the "off" side. The first horses were the
leaders; the middle span, the "middle leaders," and the rear ones, the
"wheel horses."
   A saddle for the driver was on the near wheel horse, but he usually
walked at the side. The horses were guided by signal by means of a
single line. When the lead horse was to turn to the left, or "haw", the
driver gave a steady pull, but two or three short jerks, meant to turn
to the right, or "gee." In addition to these signals, the driver guided his
horses with his voice..
   Bells were worn by many teams, three or five being attached to an
iron or hickory bow fastened to the hame and arched over the neck of
each horse.
   By a strange coincidence, the Conestoga wagon and the "toby" or


739




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


"Stogie," both took their names from the Conestoga Indians, a former
powerful tribe that is now entirely extinct. The name means "at the
bottom of the immersed pool." Capt. John Smith found these Indians in
1607 in Eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1675, the Iroquois over-
whelmed and scattered them; and after nearly a century of wanderings
the remnants of the tribe returned to their old home at Conestoga, Pa.
They slowly wasted away until in 1763, when there were only twenty
left; they were all massacred by a party of rioters inflamed by the ac-
counts of the Indian war then sweeping the Pennsylvania frontier.
   The story of how the "toby" received its name is an epic of the early
days of the National Pike, that has been all but forgotten with the pass-
ing years. The drivers of the old Conestoga wagons were inveterate
smokers, and when the Government first laid a tax on tobacco, these old
wagoners were worried for fear they would have to give up their beloved
smokes because of the high prices which the tax made necessary.
   George Black, a cigar manufacturer at Washington, came to their
rescue with a cheap "roll-up" which he sold at four for a cent. These
"smokes" immediately became popular with the wagoners who first called
them "Conestoga Cigars," which was later corrupted into "stogies" and
"tobies."
   George Black came to Washington from Chambersburg in 1833, and
started to make "stogies" and "cigars" for the old wagoners and stage
coach drivers on the pike about 1840. He erected a brick building on
South Main Street which is still standing directly north of the Reporter-
Observer building. His store was located in the room now occupied by
the Boyer grocery. The tobacco factory was in a frame building on the
rear of this lot but it has been torn away these many years. George
Black was engaged in business in Washington until 1853. Many years
ago, his son who conducted the business after the father's death, estimated
that during the period from 1823 to 1853, Black manufactured twenty-
five million "tobies", which sold at $2.50 per thousand. These were
packed in barrels and hogsheads and shipped to all parts of the country
after their fame had spread.
   When traveling over the National Pike, with their big freight wagons,
the drivers preferred to stop at taverns which catered especially to their
trade. These were called wagon stands, and there were hundreds of
them along the National Pike from Baltimore to Wheeling. It was neces-
sary that they have plenty of stable room, a big wagon yard and plenty
of water. Each one also had a bar where the drivers could wash the
dust of the pike out of their throats.
   Many of these old wagon stands still remain, but they are now farm
houses. The proprietors of the early days were generally farmers, often
retired wagoners; and many a rich farmer of today owes the begin-
ning of his fortune to some grandfather or great grandfather who kept
a road house in the early days of the National Pike.
   Some of these old-time wagon stands in Washington were the Sample
hotel, now the Workman homestead in East Maiden Street; the Work-
man tavern, located where the residence of the late James Kuntz, Jr.,
now stands, opposite the Seminary; the "Rising Sun," where Robert H.
Hallam's building stands at the northeast corner of Main and Chestnut
streets; the "General Brown" and the "Fountain Inn," in West Chestnut


740


































    Miller's wagon stand on the National Pike, five miles west of Washington. Built
about 1818 and conducted by Levi Wilson until 1836, when he was succeeded by
John Miller. It was a well known stopping place for the drivers of the old Conestoga
wagons on the pike. Now owned by James E. Wilson.


    The old Black building, South Main Street, Washington, where George Black sold
the first stogies or tobies ever made in the United States. Black conducted a tobacco
store in the first room in this building during the days when the Conestoga wagons
passed over the National Pike in a continuous stream. The drivers were inveterate
smokers, and Black invented and made the first stogies to meet the demands of the
wagoners for a cheap smoke. He named them after the wagons.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


When Mr. Downer cleaned the ancient weapon he found engraved upon
it in rude characters this inscription: "Logan, 1773." Logan had lived
on Yellow Creek, not far from Hammondsville at one time, and it is
supposed that it belonged to him.





                           CHAPTER X.

                             1775-1776.
              SHORT PEACE FOLLOWING THE WAR.
THOMAS CHERRY, OF MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP-CHERRY'S FORT--
    DEATH OF THOMAS CHERRY-CHERRY BURIAL GROUND CONVERTED
    INTO A HOG LOT.
               No rumor of the foe's advance
                 Now swells upon the wind;
               No troubled thought at midnight haunts
                 Of loved ones left behind;
               No vision of the morrow's strife,
                 The warrior's dream alarms;
               No braying horn nor screaming fife
                 At dawn shall call to arms.
                                              -Theodore O'Hara.
   The treaty of Camp Charlotte brought peace to the settlers of Wash-
ington County for only two years, although a few raids were made by the
Indians from the Ohio country against the settlements of western Penn-
sylvania and Virginia. British agents were very active among the western
tribes at that time, and they were blamed for this, but there is no doubt
but that the whites themselves went around with a very large chip upon
their shoulders, and thus helped to bring about the trouble. Then in
1777, a general Indian war broke out on the western frontier with terrible
ferocity, and it was many a year before the settlers of this county were
free from the terrible fear of the scalping knife and tomahawk.
   Thomas Cherry, one of the early settlers in Mount Pleasant Town-
ship, emigrated from Maryland in 1774, and settled on what is now known
as the old Cherry farm, not far from the present village of Hickory.
Thomas Cherry built a fort of three log buildings, arranged in the form
of a triangle and inclosed by a stockade. The largest cabin was twenty-
five feet square, two stories high, with a half story on the top, as a sort
of lookout. This was one of the strongest forts in the county, and was
used as a place of refuge for the settlers for a large territory; for it was
considered impregnable to Indians.
   A short time after completing his fort, Thomas Cherry was found
dead at a spring near by with a bullet hole through his head. His empty
gun lying beside him and the fact that he had not been scalped led to
the belief that he had accidentally shot himself. His was the first grave
in the little private cemetery which is now just back of the barn.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Street, near Franklin Street, and Rankin's tavern in what is now West
Washington.
   One of the leading wagon stands in the early days east of Washing-
ton was the "Gen. George Washington," afterwards the "Mount Vernon
House," just east of Pancake. This was kept for many years by James
Dunlap and Charles Rettig. Others east of Washington were the "Up-
land House," Martin's at Pancake, Daniel Ward's, the "Gals House," con-
ducted by three maiden women named Dague; William Plymire's, Charley
Miller's, James Beck's, Hill's tavern, Greenfield's tavern, Railley's, "The
Constitution," John Rogers', and the famous old Malden tavern, which
is still standing.
   Some of those west of Washington were kept by Robert Smith, John
Coulson, John Miller, Abraham Bedillion, Andrew Caldwell, Mrs. Brown-
lee, Mrs. McClelland, Bazil Brown, James Dennison, David Bell, John
Canode, John Brotherton, Jacob and Michael Dougherty, Jacob Jones,
John Valentine, and Joseph Lawson.
   Many of the "Pike Boys" as the wagoners were called, are still remem-
bered by the present generation, but there are few, if any, living today.
The majority of the Pike Boys were thrifty and saved their money, and
the foundation of many a fortune of today was laid by some wagoner,
hauling freight in a Conestoga wagon at $4.25 per hundred from Balti-
more to Wheeling. The usual load was about 6,000, although sometimes
as much as 10,000 was hauled but not often. However, weeks were re-
quired to make the long journey, which is now a matter of hours.
   Some of those old-time wagoners were John and Moses Little, John
Munce, James Noble, John Flack, Battley White, John Thompson, George
Hallam, William King, Joseph Lawson, David Hill, George Widdle, Har-
rison Wiggins, Robert Carter, David Church, Robert Bell, Joseph Arnold,
Thomas Gore, Samuel Youman, James Ambrose, Joseph Doak, Samuel
Flowers, Eberon Hurton, James Bradley, Jerome Heck, James Dennison,
James Bard, Thomas Bailes, Charles Thurston, William Kirkman, Otho
Hartzell, Seldon King, Zeph Riggle, John Guttery, Samuel Charlton, Lewis
Hallam, Charles Reddick, John Reddick, Moses Kline, James Brownlee,
Elisha Brownlee, Charles Allen, Philip Slipe, John Valentine, Daniel Val-
entine, John Quinter, Robert Magee, William Robinson, Arthur Robinson,
John Cook, William Darlington, Griffith Darlington, Joseph Wisson, David
Blakely, Samuel Boyd, Joseph King, Joseph Sopher, Nimrod Sopher, Jack
Sopher, Peter Shires, John Smith, James Smith, Thomas Flack, James
Blakely, William Darr, Robert Beggs, Josiah Brown, better known as
"Squire" Brown; James Arthur, George Munce, Joseph Lawson, Robert
Judson, John A. Smith, Elisha Ely, Charles Bower, William Dennison,
John Phillips, Samuel Guttery, William Shouse, William Jones, Robert
Sprowl, William Hastings, James Thompson, Robert Doak, James Doak,
Charles Allen, John Hastings, and a host of others. The majority of
those named above were from Washington County.
   Each of these men ran wagons for themselves. All that was neces-
sary to start into business was a Conestoga wagon and six horses, and
money to pay tolls. In these times the freighting business would be con-
ducted by a corporation, licensed by a public service commission and the
wagoners would have to drive for the company or keep off the road.


742




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The freight business on the National Pike was at its height in the
'30s and '40s, but the decline set in with the coming of the railroads
across the mountains in the early '50s, and by the close of the Civil war
this business had practically ceased.
   When at last the Conestoga was driven from the pike by the railroad,
and the old wagoners, many of whom had spent their best years on the
road, realized that their occupation was fast passing never to return,
the following lament was composed and sung by them:

    "Now all ye jolly wagoners, who have got good wives,
    Go home to your farms, and there spend your lives,
    When your corn is all cribbed, and your small grain is good,
    You'll have nothing to do but curse the railroad."

    The name of the author, if it was ever known, has been forgotten
these many years. It can scarcely be considered as a classic; but it is
interesting as a literary relic of the early days of the National Pike and
the Conestoga wagon.
   There were many trails and lines of travel throughout the United
States before the coming of the railroad, but the two that stand out
as the most important since Colonial times, are the National Pike, which
follows the route of the old Indian trail to the Ohio country, and the
Santa Fe trail, originally from Old Franklin, Missouri, to Santa Fe,
New Mexico. These two were and still are practically one, from the
Atlantic coast, at Baltimore, to Santa Fe. The pike ends at St. Louis,
but it was connected in the early days with the Santa Fe trail at Old
Franklin, by another road.
   The most prominent figure in the stage coach history of the National
Pike was Lucius W. Stockton, who, for over a quarter of a century was
the best known man along the route from Baltimore to Wheeling. He
was not only well known along the old pike, but he was the leading stage
coach proprietor in the United States a century ago. He not only owned
the principal stage coach company that operated on the National Pike,
but he extended his lines to other sections. He resided at Uniontown,
and was well known in Washington.
   Mr. Stockton was born at Flemington, N. J., September 1, 1799, the
son of Lucius Stockton and a grandson of the Rev. Phillip Stockton,
famous during the war for Independence as the "Revolutionary Preach-
er." This man's brother, Richard Stockton, was a signer of the Declara-
tion of Independence.
   Mr. Stockton engaged in the stage line business when a very young
man with Richard Stokes, who was afterwards a member of the National
Road Stage Company, under the firm name of Stockton and Stokes. They
first operated a line of coaches from Gettysburg to Hagerstown, con-
necting the National Pike with the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia Pike.
   They began this business about 1821, before they came west, and their
advertisement, which appeared in The Reporter for that year, is one of
the first published locally of a stage line. It is of interest from a historic
standpoint:


743





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                     "NEW LINE OF STAGES
   "The public are respectfully informed, that the subscribers have just
established, and are now running a new line of Post Coaches from Gettys-
burg to Hagerstown, for the accommodation of passengers from Phila-
delphia to Wheeling and Pittsburgh. This line unites the one from
Washington and Baltimore to the former places, by way of the great
National Turnpike, with the line from Philadelphia to Gettysburg.
   "The public will now have an opportunity of going rapidly through
in the stages, by the most direct route, from the very best point of navi-
gation (Wheeling) to Philadelphia, (via Gettysburg), and so onward to
any of the eastern cities. These stages will run once a week until the
first of April, when they will continue three times a week, and meet all
of the arrangements of the old established lines.
                                             "Stockton & Stokes.
   "N. B. The arrangement of this line, will secure a passenger a safe
conveyance from Wheeling to Philadelphia (a distance of 346 miles) in
a little more than four days.                           S. & S."

   Just think of it; four days to travel from Wheeling to Philadelphia a
century ago, by the fastest method. Now the journey can be made in a
single night. In a short time this firm extended its operations and be-
fore 1824, Mr. Stockton appeared in Uniontown as a stage proprietor.
   One of the original stage line proprietors on the pike through this
section was Daniel Moore, who erected the present Auld hotel building
about 1818. In 1821, this hotel was kept by Samuel Dennison under the
name of "The Travelers' Inn and State Office." Stockton met Moore in
the stage business in Washington, and on November 24, 1824, married
his daughter, Rebecca.
   After coming west, Mr. Stockton organized the National Road Stage
Company, which was composed of Daniel Moore, of Washington; Rich-
ard Stokes, Stockton's former partner, and Moore N. Falls, of Baltimore,
and Dr. Howard Kennedy, of Hagerstown. This company absorbed a
number of smaller lines, which ran over sections of the pike, and soon had
a through line of coaches from Wheeling to Baltimore and Washington,
D. C. Other companies were organized during the years that followed,
when travel on the pike was at its height, and while there were some
equally good, the coaches of the National line were excelled by no others,
especially during the years of Stockton's active management.
   Mr. Stockton took active charge of the company, and managed all of
the details of the business. He had agents in every town from Baltimore
to Wheeling, generally some tavern proprietor, and the stages of the
National line made their headquarters at that particular hostelry. In
many places the local headquarters of this stage line was called the
National hotel.
   The headquarters of Stockton's stage line in Washington during all
the years of its existence was at the National hotel, now the Auld house.
The first agent of the line in Washington was Daniel Moore, already
mentioned. Others were James Briceland, John Irons, James Searight,
Daniel Valentine, Major George T. Hammond, Edward Lane, Elliott


744





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Seaburn and William Newman. The last three had been stage drivers
for this company at one time, and during the last years of travel on the
old pike, they were successively agents for the company in Washington.
   Mr. Stockton lived at Uniontown, the name of his residence being
"Ben Lomond." He made frequent tours of inspection over the pike
from Baltimore to Wheeling, and for this purpose, he had the fastest and
best horses in the state. He frequently made the trip from Uniontown
to Wheeling in 12 hours, with a team of handsome mares, stopping at
Washington to eat and to rest his horses. He always drove from Union-
town to Cumberland in a day, stopping at the stage stations along the
route to transact whatever business was necessary.
   After the Baltimore and Ohio railroad was built, he ran a race with
horse and buggy against a locomotive. This was on the original line,
when the railroad was looked upon as little more than a joke, or at best
a plaything. The race started at what was then known as the Relay
house, on the National Pike, west of Baltimore, and ended at Baltimore.
Mr. Stockton won the race with his favorite gray horse.
   He made the journey from Cumberland to Hagerstown, sixty-six miles,
in a day. His private carriage which he used on these trips he called "The
Flying Dutchman." His favorites were two sorrel mares, "Bet" and
"Sal." It is said that when he stopped to water them, he had a little
whisky placed in the water, and the animals became so accustomed to
the flavor that they would not drink unless the water contained the
spirits.
   Mr. Stockton did not confine his stage coach lines to the National
Pike. At one time, he operated a line from Washington to Pittsburgh.
He also established a tri-weekly stage line between Washington and
Cadiz, Ohio, to connect with the Lake Erie points. Just when he started
this line is not known today, but it must have been some time in the early
thirties. The headquarters during the time Stockton owned it were
at the National house (Auld).
   The Washington and Cadiz Line of Mail stages left Washington every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 4 o'clock. At Cadiz con-
nections were made with stages for Wooster, Cleveland, and other lake
points.
   An advertisement in the Reporter in April, 1836, shows that John
Irons, who had been proprietor of the National House for two years
before that time, had purchased the Washington and Cadiz Line of Mail
Stages from Mr. Stockton a short time before. The line was continued
under Mr. Irons on the same policy as before with the exception that
the headquarters were changed to the Mansion House, which had just
been rented by Mr. Irons from John N. Dagg, the owner of the building
and for many years proprietor. Mr. Irons had been proprietor of the
National House for about two years, during which time he had called it
the Washington House.
   Just how long the Washington and Cadiz Stage Line was in operation
is not known. In fact, the very existence of this line has been forgotten,
and there is no one living today who recalls it. It has been overlooked
by local historians of years ago, who were in a position to secure more


745




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


definite information, and it would have been overlooked entirely, but for
the chance discovery by the writer of the advertisements already
referred to.
   As already stated, Mr. Stockton operated a line of stages between
Washington and Pittsburgh, which connected with the National Road
Stage line on the National Pike, at Washington.
   Traveling by stage coach eighty years ago was not as expensive as
by railroad today. This may sound like a strange statement, but it is a
fact, as is shown by the following interesting advertisement taken from
The Reporter for July 22, 1843:

                        "FARES REDUCED
  On The Great Central Route Via National Road and Baltimore &
                           Ohio Railroad.
                  New Line of U. S. Mail Coaches.
    For Washington City, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York.
    This line is in full operation, and leaves Pittsburgh daily at 7 o'clock
A. M., via Washington, Pa., and the National Road to Cumberland, con-
necting there with Railroad Cars for all the above places. Travelers
will find this a speedy and comfortable line, facilities will be afforded
which have not heretofore been enjoyed. Extra coaches furnished at
the shortest notice, with the privilege of going through direct, or taking
one night's rest at their option.
   Fare from Pittsburgh to Baltimore-S10.00.
   Pittsburgh to Relay House, $10.00; thence to Washington City,
$2.00-812.00.
   Pittsburgh to Philadelphia-$13.00.
   For through tickets, apply at our Offices at Monongahela House, or
corner of Exchange Hotel.
   For seats in Washington, apply at D. Valentine's 'National Hotel.'
                                             L. W. Stockton,
                                President of the N. Road Stage Co.
   J. C. Acheson, Sec'y."

   One of the old mail coaches which traveled over the National Pike
100 years ago, would be a great curiosity in Washington today, although
they were once as common a sight as automobiles now are. The drivers
were men of skill in handling the reins, four and sometimes six horses
being hitched to the coach.
   The passengers rode inside, and sometimes on top, when the coach
was crowded. The baggage was carried in a leather "boot" in the rear,
but the mail and other valuables were with the driver. The best seat
was with the driver, and there was much rivalry among the passengers
for this place.
   The coach was driven at a rapid speed, and it was necessary to have
relays of fresh horses stationed about twelve miles apart. Ordinarily, in
the early days, a driver had charge of only one team, which he cared for
at all stations, a new driver starting out at the relays. However, mail


746





















.1


    The Lafayette Inn, on the National Pike at West Alexander. This was a wagon
stand kept by Joseph Lawson for many years. General Lafayette stopped there for
dinner when he passed through this section in May, 1825, and from that day to this
it has been called the "Lafayette Inn." It is still a hotel.


    Old tavern at Coon Island, on the National Pike, one mile west of Claysville.
Kept prior to 1836 by John Canode. John Brotherton kept the place afterwards, and
as late as 1853 it was kept by a Mr. Reed. Tradition says that it was a station on the
"Underground Railroad" for escaping slaves from the South.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


drivers drove three and four and often more teams, which were cared for
at the different relays by grooms.
    In the early times, when only four horses were driven, it was neces-
sary to use the "postilion" to aid the regular teams in making steep
ascents. The postilion was a groom with two horses stationed at the
foot of a long hill, and when the coach arrived, the extra team was
hitched to the front.
   The first line of passenger coaches on the National Pike, through
Washington County, was started at Brownsville, and run to Wheeling in
1818. It was owned and operated by Messrs. Hill, Simms, and Pember-
ton. This was Stephen Hill, the proprietor of the old stone tavern still
standing at Scenery Hill. This town was first called Hillsborough, and
as such it was known until the last of the old pike boys died. This old
tavern which is now kept by Jacob Gehrline, was built in 1794, and is
one of the oldest on the pike.
   The first stage line west of Cumberland was started in 1818 by James
Kinkead, Jacob Sides and Abraham Russell. This line was owned and
operated by these three men in sections. From Cumberland to Little
Crossing, Russell was the proprietor; Sides from Little Crossing to Som-
erfield, and Kinkead from Somerfield to Brownsville.
   George Dawson, of Brownsville, purchased Kinkead's interest, and
Alpheus Beall, of Cumberland, bought out Russell's section. This entire
line was subsequently purchased by Stockton and merged into the
National Road Stage Company.
   The National Road Stage Company did not have a monopoly of the
stage business on the pike. In a short time, other lines were started,
some of which did not survive, but others were worthy rivals of the "Old
Line," as Stockton's was called, and they lasted as long as travel con-
tinued on the pike.
   The Good Intent line, owned by the firm of Shriver, Steele and Com-
pany, however, was the strongest rival of the Stockton line, and it re-
mained in business until driven out by the coming of the railroad. The
general equipment of this company was equal to that of Stockton's line,
and the rivalry between them was intense.
   Pete Burdine, one of the best and fastest drivers on the pike, was
employed by the Good Intent. He composed the following, which soon
became popular among the drivers for that line:
            "If you take a seat in Stockton's line,
            You are sure to be passed by Pete Burdine."
   The local agents of the Good Intent Stage Company prior to 1840,
were S. B. and C. Hayes, proprietors of the American House, known in
later years as the Hotel Main. The stage stables were located in East
Beau Street, and were occupied in later years by J. C. Hoxworth, better
known as "Shorty," who died a short time ago at Canonsburg. These
stables were destroyed at the time of the fire of January 6, 1899.
   When S. B. and C. Hayes kept the Greene House, located on the east
side of Main Street, at the corner of Pine alley, the headquarters of the
Good Intent were removed to that place. Daniel Brown, the next pro-
prietor of the Greene House, was the local agent of this line, but about
1846, the headquarters were changed to the Mansion House.


748




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The Pilot Stage Company also ran on the National Pike, and when
the Good Intent line stopped at the American Hotel in the thirties, the
Pilot had its headquarters at the Mansion House, of which John N. Dagg
was the proprietor.
   During all the long years that Stockton's line had its headquarters at
the National (Auld) House, the stage stables were located in the brick
stables still standing in the rear and on West Maiden Street.
   The first through mail line on the National Pike, was run by James
Reeside, afterwards owner of the "June Bug" and Good Intent lines. In
1818, after the pike was completed to Wheeling, there was no through
line from Baltimore owned by one company. Reeside took the contract
for carrying the mail. Then he made contracts with Stockton & Stokes
to carry it on their coaches from Baltimore to Hagerstown. From there
it was carried to Cumberland by James Boyd, owner of the coaches on
that section; from Cumberland to Little Crossings by Abraham Russell;
from Little Crossings to Somerfield by Jacob Sides; from Somerfield to
Brownsville by James Kinkead; from Brownsville through Washington
County to Wheeling by Hill, Simms & Pemberton.
   Subsequently, Reeside became the largest mail contractor in the
United States. In conjunction with the mail contracts, he owned and
operated a number of stage lines, and at one time he had more than
1,000 horses and over 400 men in his service. He was owner of most of
the lines running out of New York and Philadelphia, and was known as
the "Land Admiral."
   In 1836, he purchased the Peoples Line between Cumberland and
Wheeling from John W. Weaver, and changed it from a tri-weekly to a
daily. Later it was changed to twice a day, and an additional tri-weekly
line was added. He named these the "Good Intent" lines. He sold his
interests in the National road stage lines in 1839 to Shriver, Steele and
Company, and this was afterwards merged into the Good Intent Stage
Company.
   Reeside established another line on the pike, which Mr. Stockton
called the "June Bug" line, because he said it would not survive the
coming of the June bugs. But it lasted for a much longer period and
was subsequently purchased by Mr. Stockton.
   One of the first drivers on the "June Bug" line was David Gordon,
still remembered by the old-time residents of Washington. Gordon drove
through Washington County to Wheeling until the "June Bug" line was
taken from the road, when he went to the Good Intent. He drove for
that line as long as through coaches were run on the pike. He was one
of the coolest and most skillful drivers on the road.
   Reeside was compelled to bring suit against the United States gov-
ernment to collect the money due him on the mail contracts on the
National Pike. In 1841, he was awarded a verdict of $196,496.06 by a
jury; but it was not paid for seventeen years, and then Reeside had been
dead for fifteen years.
   Lucius W. Stockton, the president of the National Road Stage Com-
pany, died at "Ben Lomond," his home in Uniontown, on April 25, 1844.
He was buried in the old Methodist graveyard at Uniontown, but a num-


749





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ber of years ago the remains were removed to the Washington cemetery
by his two daughters, Mrs. Rebecca Wishart and Mrs. Margaret McKen-
nan, of Washington. Mrs. Wishart died about eight years ago, and Mrs.
McKennan in 1924.
   It is a long journey back across the years to the old stage coach days
of the National highway; for it is eighty-two years since Lucius W.
Stockton died. He was twice married. Mrs. Margaret Stockton McKen-
nan, who died in 1924, was a daughter by his first wife. Mrs. McKennan
was the widow of Dr. Thomas McKennan, a prominent physician of
Washington years ago. She spent the greater part of her life in the old
McKennan homestead on East Maiden Street, where she died at the
age of ninety-three years.
   In an interview with Mrs. McKennan two years before her death, she
related to the author many incidents of the old days on the National Pike
three-quarters of a century and more ago. In spite of the fact that she
was ninety-one years of age at that time, her memory was remarkably
clear and she could recall the days very vividly when her father was
owner of the largest stage coach company in the United States.
   She related how, early in life, her father became associated with
Richard Stokes in the stage coach business under the firm name of Stock-
ton & Stokes, which has already been mentioned. A century ago, when
her father came to this section, it required four days to travel from
Wheeling to Philadelphia by the fastest means. Now the journey can be
made in a single night. One hundred years ago, it required as long, and
there were more inconveniences and discomforts attached to such a jour-
ney from Washington to Baltimore or Philadelphia over the National
highway by stage coach, than there now is to San Francisco. Today, we
think nothing of this trip; and if all accounts are correct, the people of
100 years ago thought no more of it and made it as often as we do today.
Now we can start on such a journey at almost any hour of the day or
night, but a century ago, it was a very different matter.
   The first regular line of coaches was started on the highway in 1818,
running three times a week. After Mr. Stockton started his stage in this
section, he changed them to daily, and the following notice which appeared
in The Reporter on March 11, 1822, marked an epoch in passenger trans-
portation in this section:

   "The line of mail stages, which heretofore ran three times a week,
have commenced running daily from Washington City and Baltimore
through this place to Wheeling. It is not four years since a regular line
of stages first started to run on this road."

   In this connection a schedule of the arrival and departure of stages,
published in The Reporter in May, 1822, is interesting:

        "Arrival and Departure of Stages at Washington, Pa.
                 The Brownsville, or Southern Stage.
   Arrives-Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at
meridian; and on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 8 P. M.


750


































    The old tavern at Malden on the National Pike just west of West Brownsville.
This was one of the prominent taverns in the days of the pike, but it is now a private
residence. It was built in 1822 and 1830, and called Kreppsville, but the name later was
changed to Malden by a party of emigrants.


    The old red barn, one of the historic landmarks on the National Pike just west of
Washington. On February 1, 1828, in front of this barn Christopher Sharp, better
known as "Kit," a negro slave, is supposed to have murdered his master, Robert Car-
lyle, of Woodford City, Kentucky. Kit had escaped from slavery and his master was
taking him back. The negro was hanged for this murder on Gallows Hill, south of
Washington, November 22, 1828. Both master and slave are buried in the old grave-
yard.






HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Seven years later his son, John, was killed in a battle between settlers
and Indians on the Ohio River, the same battle in which the famous fight
between Andrew Poe and Bigfoot took place. His body was carried on
horseback by his comrades back to Cherry's Fort and buried beside his
father. Their graves were marked by sandstone slabs, and as the years
passed other members of the family were laid to rest in this little
graveyard.
   Many of the older residents of that section remember the old Cherry
graveyard, and they state that it contained the graves of many members
of the family when the farm finally passed out of the Cherry name after
the death of William Cherry, the last of the family. Martin Rabb, a
German, purchased the farm, but he had no respect for the dead. He
removed the headstones from the graves and used them for other pur-
poses, and turned the ancient graveyard into a hog lot. Today all trace
of it has been obliterated, although not one of the bodies was ever removed.
   The farm is now owned by R. R. Cummins, who resides there. The
fort was located just in the rear of the house, and traces of it could be
seen for many years. Cherry Valley, in Smith Township, was named
for this pioneer family of the old frontier.






                          CHAPTER XI.

                            1777-1778.
          THE BLOODY YEAR OF THE THREE SEVENS.
COUNCIL AT CATFISH CAMP-COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED-BATTALION
   RAISED - McCLEARY AND LANIMORE ATTACKED - WASHINGTON
   COUNTY MEN PURSUE THE HOSTILES-ISAAC ZANE'S WARNING TO
   GENERAL HAND- SIEGE OF FORT HENRY-OGLE'S AND MASON'S COM-
   MANDS CUT TO PIECES-DEFENSE OF THE FORT-CAPTAIN ANDREW
   SWEARINGEN, OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, TO THE RESCUE-MAJOR
   SAMUEL McCOLLOCI'S FAMOUS LEAP-THE INDIANS RETIRE-CAP-
   TAIN FOREMAN'S COMPANY ATTACKED.

             "Cruel as death and hungry as the grave,
             Burning for blood, bony, gaunt and grim."
   The year 1777, which marked the beginning of the long, bloody Indian
war that swept the frontier until Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers in
1794, was known on the Western Border as the "bloody year of the three
sevens." The early records do not show that any murders were com-
mitted in Washington County during 1777, although a war party was seen
on the head waters of Buffalo Creek; but many men from this county
were active in patrolling the frontier and fighting the savages in West
Virginia.
   Alarmed by reports of raids to the west, the military leaders of Wash-
ington County took active measures for its protection early in the year,
and on January 28th, 1777, a council of war was held at Catfish Camp,




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Departs-Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 2 A. M., and on Sun-
day, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 11 A. M.
                  The Wheeling, or Western Stage.
   Arrives-Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 11 A. M., and
on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at 8 P. M.
   Departs-Sunday at 7 A. M., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Satur-
day, at meridian; and on Wednesday and Friday at 2 P. M.
                 The Northern, or Pittsburgh Stage.
   Arrives-Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at 8 P. M.
   Departs-Sunday, at 7 A. M., Wednesday and Friday at 2 A. M."

   The regular fare from Wheeling through to Philadelphia via Hagers-
town on the National highway, and Gettysburg, York, and Lancaster, was
advertised at the same time at $12.00. The headquarters at Hagerstown
was the Globe tavern, where stages were advertised to leave at 2 o'clock
in the morning. The time required to make the journey from Hagerstown
to Philadelphia over the route given above, was a day and a half. The
fare from Hagerstown to Baltimore was $5.50.
   Just think of getting up at 2 o'clock in the morning to catch the stage
for Pittsburgh or to go east. I am afraid many of us would miss it
today; yet that is just what the people of Washington had to do a hun-
dred years ago when they wanted to do some shopping in the city. But
times have changed since "Grandma was a girl."
   After coming west of the mountains, Mr. Stockton located his head-
quarters in Uniontown, and from there he made inspection trips to the
various stage stations on the entire length of the National highway. The
headquarters of the Stockton line in Washington during all the years of
its existence was at the same place, the National Hotel (now the Auld),
and Daniel Moore was the first agent.
   While making his inspection trips through here, Mr. Stockton met
Rebecca Moore, daughter of Daniel Moore. A romance developed between
the dashing young stage line proprietor, who was romantic and heroic
enough to capture the heart of any maiden, and Miss Moore. They were
married at the Moore residence in Washington on November 24, 1824.
   After his marriage Mr. Stockton continued to reside at Uniontown.
His residence, which is still standing, he called "Ben Lomond," and it
was there that Mrs. Margaret Stockton McKennan was born ninety-four
years ago. Mr. Stockton had six children by his first wife. Mrs. Rebecca
Stockton Wishart, widow   of Capt. Alexander M. Wishart, was Mrs.
McKennan's last sister.
   Mr. Stockton's second wife was Katherine Stockton, his first cousin,
by whom he had four children. Only one is living, Mrs. Henrietta
Leiper, widow of Charles Leiper, of Philadelphia, who was born in 1844,
the year her father died.
   Mrs. McKennan's life covered practically the entire history of the
National highway. She remembered long before the railroads, when
travel was at its height; she lived to see the coming of the railroads and
the old highway become a thing of the past, and she lived to see the auto-
mobile bring back the old road with a greater glory than ever.


752




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    In speaking of her father and the old stage coach days on the Nation-
al highway, Mrs. McKennan related some interesting facts. In making
his inspection trips over the pike, Mr. Stockton used two fast teams, one
white and the other black. He frequently made journeys between Union-
town and Baltimore and then to Wheeling and beyond. From Cumber-
land to Baltimore, sixty-six miles, he went in a day. He drove his
horses and guided them by the crack of his whip, and seldom used the
reins.
    The railroad people claimed that Stockton won his race against the
train because of an accident to the engine, and some historians still make
this claim; but as a historical fact, there was no accident to the engine.
It was a fair race and fairly won by the horse.
    Mrs. McKennan stated that the coaches of the Stockton line would
often go in trains of six and even more. Each coach was drawn by six
horses, and they were driven at high speed. There were relay houses
every twelve miles, when possible, where the teams were changed.
    Mr. Stockton often made the journey between towns on one of his
coaches, always riding on the seat with the driver. He was an expert
stage driver himself, and Mrs. McKennan related that on one occasion
when the driver of a coach of a rival line attempted to pass, her father
seized the reins from the hands of the driver of his coach on which he
was riding at the time, and drove the coach himself. He won the race,
for the driver of the other line found it impossible to even keep the pace
set by Stockton, and he fell far behind. This was not the only occasion
when the stage coach magnate drove his own coaches. Fancy the presi-
dent of a modern railroad in the cab of an engine running one of his
own trains.
   If one of those old-time stage coaches of Stockton's line of a hundred
years ago would drive up in front of the George Washington Hotel for
its passengers to alight, it would cause no end of curiosity, and the street
would soon be blocked. Yet such a sight was once common in front of
the Auld House and other leading hotels of that day. And on the other
hand, if an automobile had stopped in front of the Auld House a century
ago, the greatest excitement would have swept the town. Today the
motor car is a very common sight, and we take them as a part of our
every day life; but who will dare predict what it will be a hundred years
hence? Perhaps the George Washington will have to construct an air-
plane landing on its roof before the passing of the next century.
   In describing those old-time stage coaches, Mrs. McKennan stated that
they carried nine passengers, three on each seat. There was room for
one passenger with the driver.
   The mail coaches were described by Mrs. McKennan as being differ-
ent from regular passenger coaches. They were smaller so that they
could travel faster, and contained only two seats instead of three. The
mail was carried inside.
   No one was ever allowed to ride in the mail coaches, but Mrs. McKen-
nan was an exception. She often came from her home at Uniontown to
visit her grandfather, Daniel Moore, in Washington, when she was a
little girl, and of course, she always traveled in her father's stage coaches.
She preferred to ride in the mail coach, and so her father gave her in
       48--V


753




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


charge of the driver, who delivered her to Mr. Moore. She would make
the return journey back to Uniontown in the same way.
   Daniel Moore, Mrs. McKennan's grandfather, was one of the rich men
of his day. His residence was the building still standing at the south-
west corner of South Main and West Wheeling streets, now owned by the
estate of Mrs. James P. Braden. He built this many years ago, probably
before he erected the Auld House in 1818. He lived there for many long
years until his death in 1852.
   This was one of the town's finest residences in its day, and some of
the old men still living who were the boys of Washington three-quarters
of a century ago, remember this old man and the fine grapes he had in
his yard. The largest grapes in Washington were grown by Daniel
Moore; but the yard was surrounded by a high brick wall, and many a
boy gazed hungrily through the gate until he got up enough courage to
ask Mr. Moore for some grapes; and carefully as the old man guarded
those grapes, he never refused the request of a boy for a bunch.
   The first relay where horses were changed from Uniontown, was near
Brownsville, and the next was at Scenery Hill. Mrs. McKennan stated
that this was done in a very short time, all six being unhitched and the
new teams attached to the coach in five minutes. The stage left Union-
town in the morning and reached Washington at noon.
   Lucius W. Stockton died from blood poisoning caused by the bite of
a dog. His death, of course, broke up his home. His two daughters,
Mrs. McKennan and Mrs. Wishart, came to Washington to live with their
grandfather, Daniel Moore, and they remained at his home until their
marriage.
   Daniel Moore died in his home at the corner of South Main and West
Wheeling streets, in 1852, and was buried in the Washington cemetery.
   As mentioned before, Margaret Stockton married Dr. Thomas McKen-
nan, one of Washington's most prominent physicians of that time, in
1854, and until her death lived in the old McKennan homestead in East
Maiden Street. This remarkable old lady when on the last lap of the
journey toward the century mark, told of those times when her father
carried the travel of the nation in his stage coaches; when the automobile
was not even dreamed of and when the railroad was only a toy.
   The old McKennan homestead in which she lived, is one of the most
historic buildings standing on the National highway in Washington
County. The original section, which includes the present hall and the
four west rooms, was erected in 1779, and it has the distinction of being
the oldest building in Washington. It has seen the town grow from a
frontier village of log cabins to the present city. The interior is the old
colonial design, with wide halls, large rooms and many-paneled doors.
When you stepped inside, it was like going back across the years to those
times of which we of the younger generations, know only by tradition
and history.
   "Ben Lomond," the home of Lucius W. Stockton in Uniontown, is still
standing. It is now known as the old Judge Gilmore house, for the rea-
son that Judge Gilmore afterwards lived there. It is located on Fayette
Street, on the left side entering Uniontown from the west, just before


754




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


crossing the railroad. It is still surrounded by the old iron fence erected
many years ago. On account of the associations connected with this
house, and the man who once lived there, it is one of the most historic
buildings along the route of the National Highway.
   After Mr. Stockton's death, the National Road Stage Company was
managed by Dr. Howard Kennedy, of Uniontown, and J. C. Acheson, who
had served as secretary under Stockton. The line continued in operation
for a number of years afterwards. Ed Lane, and William Newman, pro-
prietors of the National Hotel, in Washington, during the '50s, both of
whom are still well remembered by the older residents, were stockholders
in the National Road Stage Company and local agents during the last
years of its existence.
   The most picturesque characters in the history of the old National
Pike, were the stage coach drivers. They were all men who had been
tried and not found wanting; men who could handle two, four, or six
horses, drive up and down any grade at the highest speed. These men
have all long since passed away but a few of the old-time residents of
today still recall these heroes of their childhood. One of the best known
was Pete Burdine, who has already been mentioned.
   Another was Jim Hutchison, who drove stage through Washington to
Wheeling in the early days. This man afterwards was among the forty-
niners to California, where he became famous as a stage coach driver
through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and he was known as the im-
mortal "Yuba Bill" made famous in the days of '49 as a stage coach
driver, by Bret Harte in the romances of the California gold fields.
Hutchison was one of the few men who dared drive the stage at full speed
down the hill known as McCullough's leap, east of Wheeling.
   Another well known driver of those early days was Paris Eaches, who
was regarded as one of the most expert drivers on the entire pike next
to Jim Hutchison. Eaches died in Pittsburgh, September 24, 1885.
   John Buck of Washington was another noted driver of the early days
and it was he who drove the coach which brought Lafayette to Washing-
ton, in May, 1825.
   Many of the following drivers will be recalled by the old folk who re-
member the road in the years before the war: John Griffiths, William
Witham, George Lukens, Wash Alters, Hank Smith, Barney Strader,
John Munson, Tobe Banner, West Crawford, James Chair, Billy Noble,
James McIlree, Jim Burr, John Parsons, Robert McIlheny, Hugh Drum,
William McCleary and a host of others too numerous to mention.
   The pike entered Washington County over the old wooden bridge
which stood at West Brownsville until 1910. Just after crossing the
river into the county was the tavern of Samuel Adams, kept as early as
1820. Then Josiah Armstrong occupied the building prior to 1840 and he
was succeeded by the popular Morris Purcell. Just at the foot of the
West Brownsville hill is an old stone house now owned by the Thompson
distillery which in early days was a tavern kept by Vincent Owen, a
revolutionary soldier.
   Two and one-half miles from West Brownsville is the old Malden tav-
ern, a popular stopping place in the palmy days of the road and which is


755




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


today one of the most picturesque of the old taverns left in Washington
County. This was first called Creppsville when the first part of the tav-
ern was built in 1822. The first tavern keeper here, was Bry Taylor.
    The next point on the old pike is Centerville, laid out in 1821 just after
the completion of the road, which received its name from the fact that
the town was equi-distant between Washington and Uniontown. The
first tavern there was kept by John Rogers, in a brick house still stand-
ing on the north side of the road, which was later kept by his son, Robert
R., then Solomon Bracken and a Mr. Wilson. On the hill at the west end
of the village was the noted wagon stand of Zephania Riggle, who was
succeeded in 1845 by Peter Colley. One-half mile west, was the old frame
tavern kept by Mr. Dutton as early as 1824, under the name of the Con-
stitution. Eli Railley kept a tavern about 1830 in a brick house on the
north side of the road one and one-half miles west of Centerville. This
house is now known as the Cleaver place.
    On July 2, 1821, Thomas G. Norfolk advertised that he had lately re-
moved from the Stone house at Ginger hill to a larger place at Bealls-
ville where he operated a house of public entertainment at "The Sign of
the Beallsville Inn".
    Beallsville, another town that grew with the pike, is three miles west
of Centerville. One of the old brick toll houses was located at this place
at an early date, but more than twenty years ago, it had entirely disap-
peared. Jonathan Knight, the famous engineer, surveyed the site of this
town. Andrew Keers kept the first tavern here. Another tavern was
kept here at an early date by Robert Cluggage, but most famous of all
was the Greenfield tavern now known as the National Hotel standing
in the center of the village. William Greenfield was the first proprietor
and in addition to keeping the tavern, he established the Beallsville Bank.
The old iron safe used by him to keep his valuables and the money of this
bank, still stands in the hotel office. Of a pattern made long before the
days of combinations, it attracts considerable attention among the tour-
ists who now stop there, for the hotel is still famous for its chicken din-
ners. Charley Miller kept a tavern opposite Greenfield's about 1830.
   Hillsborough, now known as Scenery Hill, lies three miles west of
Beallsville. This village boasts of the oldest tavern in the history of the
National Pike between Baltimore and Wheeling. For 132 years, a tav-
ern has been kept continuously in the old stone house on the north side of
the pike about the middle of the village, and now known as the Century
Inn. It was built as early as 1794 and kept by Stephen Hill at a time
when the old immigrant trail before the days of the pike passed that spot.
Later it was kept by Thomas Hill, then Samuel Youman, an old stage
driver on the road. John Hampson, John Gibson, William Dawson and
Oliver Lacock, each in his turn kept this tavern before travel ceased on
the pike. In later years it was kept by Jacob Gehrline.
   Another tavern was kept in Hillsborough in 1827 by James Beck, of
the old construction firm of Kinkead, Beck and Evans, who built the
bridges on the pike. John Wilson kept another tavern there at an early
date and Zeph Riggle conducted a house of entertainment near the west
end of the town.


756





































    National Hotel at Beallsville, conducted in the years of the National Pike by
William Greenfield. It was famous for its cooking in the long ago and, with the com-
ing of the automobile, has been revived.


    The old Hill Tavern at Scenery Hill (formerly Hillsborough). This is the oldest
tavern on the entire length of the National Pike. It was built in 1794 by   Stephen
Hill, founder of the village, and from that day to the present time it has been kept
continuously as a tavern. It is now known as the Century Inn.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Two miles west of Hillsborough was the famous Charley Hill tavern
kept in a large brick house on the south side of the road. A mile and a
half farther west, William Plymire kept a tavern at an early date. He
was succeeded by Henry Yorty, whose widow kept it after his death. A
postoffice known as Yortyville was kept here at one time. "The Gal's
House" was located on the north side of the road, about two miles west
of Miller's, which was kept by the Dague sisters and was a well known
stopping place among the old stage drivers. Daniel Ward kept a tavern
one mile farther west, in a building which is still known as Ward's. Four
miles west of Ward's was Thomas Hasting's wagon stand. Just beyond
it, is the famous Eggnog Hill, in the early days, one of the most dreaded
grades in Washington County. The Upland House, kept by Samuel
Hughes, was a short distance west of Hasting's.
   As early as 1816, Maj. James Dunlay kept a tavern called "The Mount
Vermon" House, just east of the village of Pancake. Just before reach-
ing this tavern, was an old round toll house kept by William Hill for
many years. The old Mount Vernon House was burned but a new one
was erected close by and kept by Charles Rettig as a wagon stand, prior
to 1860. The property is now owned by Fred Baumberger of Washing-
ton.
   The historic village of Pancake, afterwards called Martinsburg, and
in later years, Laboratory, is just west of the Mount Vernon House. The
first tavern was kept here at a very early date, by George Pancake, who
conducted a house of entertainment for travelers in a little log cabin in
the days before the pike was built. Later Jonathan Martin appeared on
the scene and in 1825, erected a large brick tavern, which became a
famous stopping place during the remaining days of the pike. Many
noted men stopped there. Some of whom were, General Jackson, Henry
Clay, and Alexander Campbell. As early as 1824, George Ringland kept
a wagon stand in what is now known as the Workman homestead on East
Maiden Street. John Sample succeeded Ringland at this place.
   No mention will be made here of the taverns kept in Washington, as
they are described in a separate chapter. John Rankin kept the first tav-
ern west of Washington at an early date. This was located at the top
of West Chestnut Street hill, which was then and for many years after-
wards known as Rankintown. As early as 1818, Robert Smith kept a
tavern two miles west of Rankintown. One-half mile beyond Smith's
was John Coulson's and a mile farther west was the popular wagon stand
kept by John Miller in 1836. Prior to Miller's time, Levi Wilson kept
this house. The old Bedillion Tavern at the foot of the hill, west of Mil-
ler's was kept as early as 1836 by a man named Scott and in 1848, by
Christy Wolf.
   The next point of interest is the picturesque S bridge, six miles west
of Washington. At the top of the hill beyond, is Caldwelltown, where
Andrew Caldwell kept a tavern at a very early date. On the south side
of the road, is the old tavern kept by Mrs. Hester Caldwell, the mother of
the late A. B. Caldwell of Washington. The tavern that stood on this spot
was burned about forty-five years ago, but an exact replica, which is still
standing, was erected by Mr. Caldwell in memory of his mother. This


758


































    Old toll gate on National Pike, East Maiden Street, Washington, look-
ing toward Washington. This has now been built up solid, and the toll
gate building has disappeared. One of the old log pumps made by John
McConoughy is seen at the side of the house. Toll was collected here until
the pike was made free in 1905.


    The last of the original toll gates on the National Pike, left in Wash-
ington County; located near West Alexander.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


tavern was originally kept by James Caldwell, who died there in 1838,
after which his widow ran the house until 1873.
   Claysville, another town which grew with the pike, is the next point
of interest reached. This town was named in honor of Henry Clay, the
champion of the road. In 1821, the Black Horse tavern was kept by
John Sargent. Bazil Brown kept a tavern in Claysville in 1836, which
was the stopping place of Stockton's stage lines. David Bell conducted
a tavern in a brick house still standing on the south side of the pike. At
the foot of the long grade known as Coon Island hill, three miles east
of Claysville, was the old wagon stand kept prior to 1840 by John Canod
and later by John Brotherton and Sons. About one-half mile beyond the
summit of Coon Island hill stands the only one left in Washington County,
of the original round, brick toll houses, built on the pike more than one
hundred years ago. Toll was kept in this house from the time the pike
was opened through this point in 1820 until the road was made free in
1905.
   A man named Rogers kept a tavern at an early date just beyond the
site of the old Catholic church near West Alexander. Later, Jacob and
Michael Daugherty were the proprietors of this place.
   The last town on the pike in Washington County, is West Alexander,
which was first laid out in 1796. The first tavern kept here was called
"The American Eagle," of which Duncan Morrison was the proprietor in
1796. The oldest tavern in the western part of the county and one of
the oldest on the road, is the Lafayette Inn, at West Alexander. When
General Lafayette passed over the road, from Wheeling to Washington
in May, 1825, he stopped at this tavern for dinner and ever afterward:
it was known as the Lafayette House or inn.
   The last stage line on the National Highway was run by a man
named Brimmer, who came to Washington shortly before the Civil war.
The few old-time residents of Washington who were well acquainted with
him, remember his as a sharp business man whom no one could get the
best of, but he was a man who was thoroughly honest. Strange to say
he could neither read nor write. He purchased what was left of the Good
Intent Line, which had absorbed the National Road Stage Company, and
he ran stages from Washington to Brownsville, Uniontown, Waynesburg,
and Pittsburgh, and carried the mail on all routes.
   During the Civil war he purchased the stage line from Wheeling to
St. Clairsville, Ohio, and other points on the pike west. Robert R. For-
rest and the late J. Dallas Jackson did his repair work in their shop on
East Wheeling Street. Mr. Jackson went to Wheeling and repaired the
old coaches on the St. Clairsville line, which were in very poor condition.
   James House later became a partner, and for a time the stages were
conducted by House and Brimmer. Then House purchased Brimmer's
interest and ran the stages himself for a time. He in turn sold out to Ed
Sexton, the last stage line proprietor in Washington. Sexton ran stages
to Brownsville, Uniontown, Waynesburg, Pittsburgh and Havelock, now
known as McDonald. At that place, he connected with the trains on the
Panhandle Railroad which was then under construction. He ran the stages
between Washington and Pittsburgh until the completion of the Chartiers


760





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Railroad on May 18, 1871, forever put an end to the business between the
two places. However, he continued to run stages from Washington to
Waynesburg, and Brownsville for a time. In fact, stage coaches were
run on the National Pike from Washington to Brownsville, stopping at
all points between and carrying mail until about twenty years ago; but
the people of the present generation called them by the unromantic name
of hack; and it is not many years since the Washington-Brownsville
hack ran daily on the National Highway, but it was a stage coach just
the same.
   The National Pike as a factor in overland travel and freight business,
ceased about the close of the Civil war and there was very little travel
on the road after 1870. However, for many years, hacks ran from Wash-
ington to Brownsville and a few points west. The Brownsville hack car--
ried mail and was in operation as late as twenty-five years ago. In 1905.
J. C. Hoxworth, better known as "Shorty," operated the daily hack be-
tween Washington and Beallsville during the quarter of a century prior
to 1905.
   Just east of Washington was a frame toll gate which stood until
1905. The toll house which stood on the top of West Chestnut Street
hill during the nineties is still well remembered by residents of that sec-
tion. It was a bone of contention for people living in West Washington
at that time, and in 1895, the West Washington council notified John M.
McDowell, National Road inspector, to move the gate beyond the borough
limits. He failed to do so, and on June 18, Sim Porter, John Porter, John
Allen, and Andrew Whiteman, went to the gate, ordered Daniel Martin,
the keeper out, loaded the little building on a wagon, and hauled it to a
point beyond the B. & 0. crossing. These men were later arrested and
tried in court. John Allen was acquitted, but the other three were found
guilty of obstructing the highway. However, sentence was deferred and
the matter was dropped there.
   When toll was removed from the pike, it was under the control of the
superintendent, whose duty it was to collect toll from the toll keepers and
see that the pike was kept in good condition. Moses McKeag of Wash-
ington, held this position in the eighties while John McDowell was super-
intendent in the nineties. After toll was removed, little was done in the
way of improvements for many years and the pike was almost impass-
able in some sections. With the coming of the automobile, the state
highway department took the matter up seriously and during the past
ten years, it has been improved until now it is one of the finest roads
in Washington County. During the World war, long trains of army
trucks were taken over the old pike from the West to the Atlantic sea-
board where they were shipped to France.
   The National Pike is now a link of National Old Trails Road from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, and it is one of the greatest in the East. During
the summer, thousands of automobiles pass over it through Washington
County, from every state in the Union. Many of the old taverns and
road houses have been reopened for the entertainment of the travelers.
Some famous in other days for the excellence of their cuisine, are equally
noted today. Many, however, are only ordinary.


761




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


now Washington, which was then in the district of West Augusta, Vir-
ginia. Dorsey Pentecost, then county lieutenant, called the council, which
was attended by Colonel John Canon, founder of Canonsburg; Major
Henry Taylor, the first judge of the Washington County courts, and
Captain David Williamson, afterwards lieutenant colonel and leader of
the militia at the Gnadenhutten massacre. As already stated Williamson
had served with Dunmore and was an Indian fighter of considerable
renown. Others present were Colonel David Shepherd, county lieutenant
of Ohio County, West Virginia; Colonel Silas Hedge, Lieutenant Colonel
David McClure, Major Samuel McColloch, County Lieutenant Zachariah
Mcrgan, Major John Evins, and thirty-two captains of militia in Wash-
ington and Ohio counties. Colonel Pentecost was chosen president of the
council and Colonel McClure clerk.
   Plans for the defense of the frontier were made, and a set of resolu-
tions were sent to the Council of Virginia at Williamsburg. Recommenda-
ticns for arms, supplies and ammunition were made and men dispatched
to Fort Henry and Grave Creek Fort where Moundsville, West Virginia,
now stands.
   Washington County men also served with General McIntosh that
summer when he built Fort McIntosh and Fort Laurens.
   On March 12th, the Council of Virginia appointed George Morgan,
who afterwards owned the Morganza farm, and John Neville, of Fort
Pitt, collector of the excise tax during the Whisky Insurrection, as com-
missioners to solicit the aid of the Delaware and Shawnee chiefs in a
proposed expedition against Pluggytown. These commissioners ordered
a battalion of three hundred men to be raised for this expedition, with
Colonel David Shepherd, county lieutenant of Ohio County, West Virginia,
as commander-in-chief, and Henry Taylor of Washington County, as
major. For some reason, not now known, this army was never fully
organized.
   During the summer of 1777, two companies from Washington County
were stationed at Fort Henry. One, commanded by Captain Brice Virgin,
was from Catfish Camp and vicinity, and the other, commanded by Cap-
tain Van Meter, was from what is now Greene County. Captain Virgin
was with Crawford's expedition against Upper Sandusky five years later,
and was well known in pioneer Washington County.
   Fort Henry, which stood on the site of Wheeling, was the same Fort
Fincastle that had been built by Colonel Angus McDonald in 1774, but
after the outbreak of the Revolution the name had been changed to Fort
Henry, in honor of Patrick Henry. General McIntosh refers to it in his
reports of 1778 as Fort Randolph, but the name did not stick.
   Fort Henry, one of the strongest and most noted forts on the western
frontier, stood on a bluff above the Ohio River, on what is now Main
Street, Wheeling. A marble tablet, erected by the state of West Vir-
ginia, on the pavement in front of Alexander & Company's shoe store,
marks the site. The stockade was three hundred fifty-six feet long by
one hundred fifty feet wide, and twelve feet high. On the inside, several
feet above the ground, was a platform for the defenders. At each corner
was a bastion, and in the center stood a blockhouse, two stories high.
Several cabins, a spring and a well were within the enclosure.











CHAPTER LXXXIV.


              OTHER TURNPIKES IN THE COUNTY.
WASHINGTON AND PITTSBURGH TURNPIKE-MONONGAHELA TURNPIKE
    -THE PLANK ROAD, LATER THE PROSPERITY TURNPIKE-WASH-
    INGTON AND WELLSBURG PIKE-PITTSBURGH AND STEUBENVILLE
    PIKE.
    It is doubtful if any road of the same length in Pennsylvania is as
rich in points of historic interest as the Washington and Pittsburgh
Turnpike, which has been renamed the "Black Horse Trail", after the
old Black Horse Tavern in Canonsburg, famous as the secret meeting
place of the Whisky Insurrectionists in 1794.
   The history of the old pike itself dates back over a century. On March
25, 1817, the "Washington and Pittsburgh Turnpike Road Company"
was incorporated by the Pennsylvania legislature to construct an im-
proved road between Washington and Pittsburgh. The promoters of the
scheme were John Hoge, one of the founders of Washington; George
Morgan, of Morganza, and Judge William Baldwin and a Mr. Cowan, of
Pittsburgh. The act of incorporation stipulated that work must be
started on the road within three years and that it must be completed in
ten. This seems like a long time for such a venture, but when we con-
sider that it has taken the state almost ten years to complete the section
between Morganza and Bridgeville, it is not to be wondered at that it re-
quired eighteen years to build the original road the entire distance be-
tween Washington and Pittsburgh. It met with many failures, chiefly
financial, and delays, and it was necessary to secure several extensions of
time.
   Books for the subscription of stock were opened June 16, 1817, and
the route was surveyed but it was nearly two years before construction
work was started, for the people were slow in subscribing and slower still
in paying for their stock. This was the first of the many delays.
   Many of the stockholders were Washington and Canonsburg men, and
consequently most of the business of the company was transacted in
those towns. The first meeting of the stockholders for the election of
eight managers and a treasurer, on January 24, 1818, was held in the old
Globe Inn, which stood on the lot now occupied by the DeNormandie
Building at the southwest corner of South Main Street and West Straw-
berry Alley, Washington. This old tavern is closely associated with
much of the early history of Washington. The following notice of this
meeting appeared in the Reporter for Monday, January 5, 1818:
        "Pittsburgh & Washington Turnpike Road Company.
   "The stockholders of the Pittsburgh and Washington Turnpike Road
Company are hereby notified that an election for a President, eight Man-
agers and a Treasurer for said company will be held at the house of
                                762




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


David Morris, in the borough of Washington, on Saturday, the 24th day
of January next (1818) agreeable to the act of incorporation.
   "Witness our hands this 27th day of December, 1817.
   "John Hoge, Parker Campbell, David Shields, Alex. Murdoch, George
Morgan, Thomas H. Baird, Alexander Reed, David Acheson, Thomas
Cromwell, George Ecans, Wm. M'Candless."
   The results of this election are given in the following notice, which
appeared in the Reporter for January 26, 1818:
                        "Turn Pike Election.
   "At an election held at the house of David Morris, in the borough of
Washington, on Saturday the 24th January, 1818, for the election of one
president, eight managers and one treasurer, in the Pittsburgh & Wash-
ington turn pike road company, the following gentlemen were duly
elected: viz: President, John Hoge; Managers, Parker Campbell, George
Morgan, John Watson, Nath. Plumer, James Espey, Samuel Burdoch,
Thomas H. Baird, James Allison; Treasurer, George Baird.
                     "Turn pike road Company.
                         "A Concealed Book.
   "The commissioners of the Pittsburgh and Washington turn pike road
company, for the town of Canonsburg are requested to give up the same
to the managers without delay; thereby save themselves trouble, cos
and their character.
                                             "January 26th, 1818."
   The stock was slow in being sold. It was to be paid for in payments
to be called for by the treasurer. These calls were in the form of no--
tices published in the newspapers, and it appears that there was con-
siderable trouble in collecting the money. George Baird, of Washington,
was the treasurer of the company. Col. John Ross, of Chartiers, was
appointed treasurer to collect subscriptions for stock in Allegheny
County, but he was succeeded in 1819 by Moses Middleswarth, another
resident of that county.
   Enough stock was finally sold to justify the board of managers in ad-
vertising for bids for a part of the road. The first advertisement for bids
for the beginning of the old pike is found in the Reporter for December
7, 1818, which is as follows:
        "Washington and Pittsburgh Turnpike Road Company.
   "The managers of the Washington & Pittsburgh turnpike road com-
pany, having located ten miles of the road, viz: five miles from the west
end of the Monongahela bridge, via, the mouth of Saw Mill Run, Chess's
hill, Col. Lee's, etc., and five miles beginning at the north end of Market
street in the borough of Washington, thence to the new bridge across the
creek at Hoge's mill, by Gen. Scott's, etc., towards Canonsburg, will re-
ceive proposals for making said road, or sections of it, 'till the 10th day
of December next, when those parts of said distance not disposed of,
shall be offered at public sale.         "S. MURDOCH, Sec. B. M.
   "Washington, Nov. 30, 1818."
   The second election of officers and a board of managers was held at
the home of George Morgan, at Morganza, January 4, 1819.
   The first advertisement for bids for the construction of ten miles of


763





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the pike evidently did not bring about the results anticipated for in the
Reporter of January 18, 1819, the following appeared:
             "Washington and Pittsburgh Turnpike Road.
    "Proposals Will Be Received by any one of the Managers of the
Washington and Pittsburgh Turnpike Road Company, till Tuesday, the
16th, of February next, for making about seven miles of the Road or
sections of it; beginning at the west end of the Monongahela bridge, and
proceeding on to Cowan's bridge, on Chartiers.
    "Holders of Stock in the above mentioned Company are hereby re-
quired to pay five dollars, on each share of stock by them held, on the
16th day of February next, it being the second installment. Members
of the company living in Washington will pay their installments to Mr.
George Baird, Treasurer, in Washington; those living in Allegheny
county will pay to Col. John Ross, who is appointed treasurer for the
Company in said county."
    After the stock was subscribed for, there was considerable trouble in
collecting the money and it was necessary to threaten court action. A
number of advertisements appeared in the Washington Reporter and the
Washington Examiner during 1819, threatening to bring action against
all delinquents unless the amount of their subscriptions was paid.
    Whether these advertisements brought about the desired results, the
old newspapers, upon which we have to depend entirely for the early
history of the old pike, do not show. The individual subscriptions
amounted to $50,000, and the state had to come to the aid of the road by
subscribing for $12,000 of the stock. This gave the road a start, and, as
shown by the above advertisement, contracts were awarded early in 1819.
However, the work progressed slowly, as many difficulties, chiefly finan-
cial, were encountered, and by March 23, 1822, only ten miles of the en-
tire distance of twenty-five miles, had been constructed.
   In August, 1819, the first regular communication by stage coach was
established between Washington and Pittsburgh by D. H. Blaine and
James Kinkead. The stages, however, did not go over what we now
know as the "old pike." They went by way of the old Pittsburgh road,
which was out North Main Street to Highland Avenue (formerly Pitt
Street), and then out what is now Ridge Avenue and the Hill Church
Road to Canonsburg. The Pittsburgh Pike leaves this route at Locust
Avenue. Stages were run only three times a week. The following ad-
vertisement, which appeared in the Reporter on August 16, 1819, is of
interest in this connection:
                        "New Accommodation
                               LINE.
                   D. H. Blaine & James Kinkead,
                   have commenced running from
                      Washington to Pittsburgh,
                         A NEW LINE OF
                             COACHES
                        Three times a week.
   "Leave D. H. Blaine's in Washington, Penn. on Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays at Noon, arrive at Pittsburgh at 7 o'clock P. M. same day;
returning, leave J. B. Oliver's, Wood Street, Pittsburgh, on Tuesdays,


764




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Thursdays, and Saturdays, at half past four A. M., arrive at Washing-
ton same day at eleven.
    "The above arrangement will suit the present mail line from Wheel-
 ing, W. Va., to the city of Washington and Baltimore; the whole route
 will be performed in four days from Pittsburgh to either of the last men-
 tioned places.
    "The fare on the coaches, will be regulated by that of the Mail line.
    "August 16."
    At the end of the ten years allowed by the charter to build the road,
only seventeen of the twenty-five miles had been constructed; seven miles
out from Pittsburgh and ten out from Washington. They were open for
travel and toll was charged. On March 20, 1827, the company succeeded
in having a supplemental act passed by the Legislature granting an ex-
tension of two years, so as not to forfeit the charter. This, however, was
not long enough and on March 19, 1829, it was necessary to secure an-
other extension. Later it was found necessary to secure further exten-
sions of time until the road was finally completed in 1835 by John H.
Ewing, who was superintendent of construction at that time.
   Before the road was finally completed, it was necessary for the state
to come to the aid of the company, and further subscriptions of stock, ag-
gregating $40,000 were made by authority of the legislature. The last
was dated February 18, 1836. In 1843, this stock was purchased from
the state by Judge Thomas H. Baird, of Washington, Judge William Wilk-
ins, of Pittsburgh, and several others. As it turned out this was only a
donation to the state by these men, for the stock was never worth any-
thing and was eventually a complete loss.
   A few years after its completion the people who used the pike went
into court and complained that the managers were collecting toll, and
that they failed to keep the highway in good condition, thus refusing to
give value for the money paid for its use. This resulted in a famous case
in the courts of Washington County, which was bitterly contested by
both sides for many years. The property of the company was seques-
trated.
   It seems from the old records, however, that this action on the part
of the courts was not because of the complaints of the people who had
filed the complaints as stated above, although this is the general suppo-
sition at this time. The company was a financial failure from the start,
and on November 11, 1839, just four years after the completion of the
road, the creditors of the company petitioned the court to appoint a se-
questrator to take charge of its affairs and pay the debts, if possible.
David Watson, of Washington, was appointed to the position and re-
mained in charge until August 18, 1842, when he resigned.
   From the date the first sequestrator was appointed in 1839, until the
toll was finally removed from the last section of the old pike, the com-
pany was never out of the hands of this official, and the creditors of the
company who had petitioned for him never received their money.
   Major John Urie was appointed sequestrator after the resignation of
Mr. Watson. It was about this time that the patrons of the road com-
plained to the court that they were not receiving value for the money
they paid in toll, and the court directed Major Urie to pay over to the


765





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


company $700 annually, and to spend the balance of the receipts on the
improvement of the road. The only source of income was from the toll
collected, and this was never enough to pay all of the expenses and proper
upkeep. As a result the company never received this $700 a year.
   On June 4, 1845, Major Urie resigned and John E. Black was ap-
pointed in his place. Just how long Mr. Black held this position is not
definitely known at this time. The next sequestrator of whom there is
any court record was Samuel B. Ewing, who was appointed in January,
1875. Whether Mr. Black served during the thirty years between the
time of his appointment and the date Mr. Ewing assumed the duties, we
cannot say.
   Mr. Ewing served until June 16, 1883, when he resigned, tired of a
hopeless and thankless task. Aaron Bebout was appointed to succeed
him on August 21, 1883, and he served until the office was abolished by
a decree of the court on May 1, 1885, at which time the toll was removed
from the section between Washington and Canonsburg, the last stretch
upon which it was collected.
   No dividends were ever paid on the stock of the Washington and
Pittsburgh Turnpike Road Company, in spite of the fact that toll was
collected on the entire distance from Washington to Pittsburgh for more
than thirty-five years. Some of the officials and stockholders held on to
the hope that it would eventually prove a paying proposition.
   All of the travel between Washington and Pittsburgh half a century
and more ago passed over this road, and all of the older residents of
Washington, Canonsburg and the towns along the route remember the
old pike in those days. In its way it was as famous as the National Pike,
or Cumberland Road, the only difference being that it was much shorter.
It had its stage companies that ran regular coaches between here and
Pittsburgh, and for many years a large amount of the merchandise used
in Washington, especially during the Civil war and the last days of the
pike, was transported from the former city in the old Conestoga freight
wagons.
   The number and names of all of the stage companies and proprietors
on the Pittsburgh Pike have been lost with the passing years, but a few
of them are recalled by some of the older residents of Washington, whn
remember the road from the time it was at the height of its fame to the
last days when it went the way of all turnpikes.
   As already shown, the first stage line on the Pittsburgh Pike was
owned and operated by D. H. Blaine and James Kinkead, who started the
first regular coach and mail service between Washington and Pittsburgh.
This is shown beyond all dispute by the advertisement which appeared in
the Reporter on August 16, 1819, which has already been published.
   James Kinkead was the senior member of the contracting firm of
Kinkead, Beck and Evans, who built most of the large stone bridges on
the National Pike. In 1818, James Kinkead, Jacob Sides and Abraham
Russell started the first line of stage coaches west of the Alleghany
Mountains. That was on the National Road, and the next summer Kin-
kead and Blaine started the stages to Pittsburgh, this latter being the
second stage line west of the maintains; and from that small beginning
a little over a century ago, the old Concord coach, the forerunner of civi


766




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


lization and the railroad, gradually made its way west until it reached
the Pacific Coast, nearly 3,000 miles away. During the century that has
followed since Kinkead, Sides and Russell started that line, in the early
days of the National Pike, there is not a section of the country west of the
Alleghany Mountains that the Concord stage has not traversed. Even
to this day it is used in remote sections of the far West which the rail-
road has not yet reached. The Concord coach and the Conestoga wagon
were the two greatest vehicles of civilization.in the last century.
   George Dawson, of Brownsville, and Alpheus Beall, of Cumberland,
afterwards succeeded Kinkead and Russell; but in a short time the stage
line on the National Pike was merged into the National Road Stage Com-
pany, owned by Lucius W. Stockton and Daniel Moore, of Washington,
Pennsylvania; Richard Stokes and Moore N. Falls, of Baltimore, Mary-
land, and Dr. Howard Kennedy, of Hagerstown, Maryland. This company
also owned the stage line from Washington to Pittsburgh.
   The Washington-Pittsburgh stage line was very important in those
days, for at that time all of the mail from Philadelphia, Baltimore and
other eastern points for Pittsburgh came over the National Pike to
Washington and was then transferred to the Pittsburgh Pike stages.
   On June 8, 1835, John Irons, of Washington, established a tri-weekly
stage service between Washington and Lake Erie, to carry mail and pas-
sengers. This line connected with the stages on the National Pike at
Washington, to and from Baltimore. At Pittsburgh they connected with
the Philadelphia stages, which traveled over the old Pittsburgh-Phila-
delphia Pike, now the Lincoln Highway. Just how long Irons ran this
stage line we do not know. Whether it was run independent of the stages
of the National Road Stage Company, or as a branch of that line is not
known at this time.
   During the years that Stockton was the leading man of the National
Road Stage Company, the headquarters of this concern in Washington
were at the Auld Hotel. This hostelry was started by Daniel Moore,
father-in-law of Mr. Stockton, and a member of the company, about the
year 1818. It was known first as "The Sign of the Travelers' Inn," or
simply the "Travelers' Inn and Stage Office." In 1821 Samuel Dennison
came from Greensburg and became the proprietor. He was succeeded in
1823 by James Briceland, who enlarged the place and called it the "Na-
tional House." It next passed into the hands of John Irons, who oper-
ated the stages from Washington to Lake Erie over the Pittsburgh Pike;
and it is more than probable that he was a member of the National Road
Stage Company. In 1836 James Searight became the proprietor. Other
proprietors were Daniel Valentine, George T. Hammond, Edward Lane,
Adam C. Morrow and Elliott Seaburn, many of whom are still remem-
bered by the older residents of Washington.
   William Newman was at one time manager of the local division of
the National Road Stage Company and had charge of the line to Pitts-
burgh.
   Another stage line was started on the National Pike in later years
by the firm of Shriver, Steele & Company and called the "Good Intent
Line." This company was a worthy rival of Stockton's National Road
Stage Company, and it survived until driven out of business by the com-


767




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ing of the railroads. Mention is made of it here for the reason that at
one time during the last years of its career, when stage travel on the
National Road ceased altogether, it was transferred to the Pittsburgh
Pike. One of the most noted and fastest drivers on the National Pike
in those days was Peter Burdine, who drove for the Good Intent Line.
    The Mansion House, which stood at the corner of North Main and
 East Chestnut streets on the lot now occupied by the Conners building,
 where Baker and Samson's store is located, was one of the most popular
 of the old time hotels in Washington during the stage coach days. It
 was a famous stopping place for travelers over both the National and
 Pittsburgh pikes, especially those to and from Pittsburgh. Washington
 was the junction point for stage passengers going to Pittsburgh from
 both east and west, over the National Pike.
    The headquarters of the Good Intent stage line were at the Mansion
House until it was burned in 1866. The stage stables were located on
East Chestnut Street, just in the rear of the hotel, and there the Pitts-
burgh stages and horses were kept during the years that the Good Intent
line ran over the old pike.
   Before the Mansion House was built, a man named Scott kept a tavern
in an old red frame house on this corner. Some time in the later '20s,
John N. Dagg, proprietor of the "Rising Sun Tavern," nearby, pur-
chased the lot at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets and erected a
large brick hotel, which he named the Mansion House. In 1834 he
leased it to John Irons, also proprietor of the National House and a
proprietor of the stage line from Washington to Lake Erie. Two years
later Dagg returned as proprietor and remained there until 1844, when
he leased it to S. B. and C. Hayes. They were succeeded in a short time
by Harrison Shirls and a man named Bryson.
   The Good Intent line at one time had its headquarters in the old
Fulton House which stood on the site of the present Washington Trust
building. This was some years before the Civil war, when Henry Fulton
was the proprietor of that place, but it was later changed to the Mansion
House, where it remained until 1866.
   The stage stables for this hotel, where the Pittsburgh coaches of the
Good Intent line were kept for a time, were on East Beau street, just in
the rear of the inn. This was in an old brick building, built for a stable.
Before it was burned it was occupied by J. C. Hoxworth, better known
as "Shorty," as a livery stable. "Shorty," who was a well known char-
acter in Washington in those days, ran a line of the old fashioned, closed
busses which "met all trains," and carried patrons to the Hotel Main.
Hoxworth was located there when the hotel was destroyed in the disas-
trous fire of January 6, 1899, at which time D. H. Goodwin was the pro-
prietor. It seems strange that two of the well known hotels in Wash-
ington during the days of the Pittsburgh Pike should have been destroyed
by fire.
   Some time during the Civil war, or possibly just after it closed, the
Good Intent stage line on the Pittsburgh and National pikes passed into
the hands of James M. House and a man named Brimmer, who operated
it under the firm name of House and Brimmer. Travel on the National
Pike had almost ceased by that time, and not many stages were run, but


768




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


there was still a large number of people who went to and from Washing-
ton and Pittsburgh on business.
   The headquarters of the Good Intent stage line, after it passed into
the hands of House and Brimmer, were at the Valentine House, on the
ground now occupied by the William Henry Hotel, at the corner of South
Main and East Wheeling streets. This is another old hotel site and at
the present day is the oldest spot in Washington where a hotel has been
conducted continuously, having been used for that purpose for the past
129 years.
   The Valentine House was the headquarters of the Pittsburgh stage
line when run by House and Brimmer until they sold out to Edward Sex-
ton, the last owner of the line before travel to Pittsburgh by this means
was finally stopped in May, 1871, when the Chartiers railroad was com-
pleted. The stage stables were in the old brick building which stood on
East Wheeling Street, just in the rear of the hotel. This was razed in
1925. These stables were owned by House and Brimmer, who also had
an addition just across the street on the lot now occupied by the First
Baptist Church.
   The headquarters of the Washington stages in Pittsburgh, during
many of the latter years of travel, were at Hare's Hotel, conducted by
Samuel Hare, on Liberty Street, facing the mouth of Fifth Avenue. For
many years this was a popular hostelry for Washington County people,
while in Pittsburgh. In those days it was at least a two-day journey to
that city. Another hotel that was used by many Washington County
people was the "Red Lion," at the corner of Sixth Street and Duquesne
Way, near the bridge. Most of the farmers from Washington County
stopped at the "Black Bear," on the Diamond, because this was the near-
est hotel to the Market House, and they wished to be near the latter place.
   Some time before travel finally stopped on the Pittsburgh Pike, House
and Brimmer sold out to Edward Sexton, a local liveryman, who con-
ducted the "Havelock Stage Line." Mr. Sexton built the livery stable at
the corner of South College and East Wheeling streets, which is now
occupied by the Mansfield Auto Company as a garage. The headquarters
of the Pittsburgh stages were located there during the last days of travel
on the pike. Before that, Sexton owned the livery stable which had
formerly belonged to James M. House.
   From the evidence at hand, it appears that Sexton came into posses-
sion of the Pittsburgh stage line in the Spring of 1870. Sexton also
owned the stage line from Washington to Waynesburg and from Wash-
ington to McDonald, or Havelock, as it was called in those days. Sex-
ton called his stage the "Havelock Line," after that town, where connec-
tions were made with the trains for Steubenville, Ohio. This interesting
bit of history is shown by the following advertisement, which appeared
in the Reporter on May 25, 1870:

                         "NEW HACK LINE.

   "The undersigned will run on and after Monday, 23d of May, 1870,
a daily hack line (Sundays excepted), from Waynesburg to Havelock,
on the Panhandle Railroad; leaving Waynesburg at 6 o'clock, A. M.,
       49-V1


769




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


reaching Washington at 12 meridian, and Havelock at 4:40 P. M., con-
necting with eastern and western trains at that point. Also, leaving
Havelock each day, Sundays excepted, at 8 o'clock A. M.; arriving at
Washington at 12 meridian, and Waynesburg at 6:30 o'clock P. M., con-
necting with the early trains from Pittsburgh and Steubenville.

                        "THROUGH FARE $3.50.

   "Seats can be taken at the Sherman House, Waynesburg, at the stable
of the undersigned in Washington, at Briceland's Hotel, Canonsburg,
and at the hotel at Havelock. By this line, a passenger reaches Pitts-
burgh from Waynesburg for the very modest charge of Four Dollars and
Fifteen Cents.
   "The undersigned, having secured the best hacks and teams as well
as the most Careful Drivers, will take every pains to make the trip over
this line speedy and comfortable.
   "May 27.                                         ED. SEXTON."

   Of the hundreds of men,-contractors, toll gate keepers, stage drivers,
stage proprietors, freighters, blacksmiths, coach builders and others,-
who took prominent parts in the history of the old Pittsburgh Pike,
Robert R., Richard R. and J. R. Forrest are among the few survivors who
remember the road in the days of its greatest glory. Of course, there are
many residents of Washington still living who recall it, but few of them
were closely associated with its history.
   The Forrest brothers were coach blacksmiths and builders, who
learned the trade in the old Hayes carriage factory on South Franklin
Street. Robert R. Forrest and the late J. D. Jackson, who conducted a
carriage factory on East Wheeling Street for many years, formed a part-
nership and started a carriage works and repair shop on West Wheeling
Street, just east of the stage stables of James M. House. They erected a
two story brick building, which is still standing, part of which is now
occupied by T. W. Long as a machine and repair shop. This was during
the time the stage line to Pittsburgh was owned by House and Brimmer,
with the stables located in the rear of the Valentine House; and in this
shop of Forrest and Jackson all of the repair work on the Pittsburgh
stages was done during the last seven or eight years of the pike's history.
It was a favorite loafing place for the stage drivers when not on duty
and when waiting for their coaches. Both Richard R. and J. R. Forrest
worked in this shop at different times.
   The last stage coach that ever left Washington, either for Pittsburgh
or any other point, was built by Richard R. Forrest, who was a coach
builder by trade. Further mention will be made of the last trip of this
coach on May 18, 1871, when the Chartiers Valley Railroad was com-
pleted. It is a matter of great historical interest, known to but very few
people, that this was the first round-bodied stage coach ever built west
of the Alleghany Mountains, and the only one of the kind ever construct-
ed in Western Pennsylvania. It was the regulation type of Concord
coach, so popular on the National Pike in the early days and on the plains
of the West in later years. At that time, coach builders claimed that a


770




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


coach of this kind could not be constructed in the West, and as a result
none ever attempted it.
   After the close of the Civil war, when Richard R. Forrest was mus-
tered out of the Union army, he returned home to find that he was out
of a job. Coach building had declined since the outbreak of the war.
   The late John Hallam, father of G. G. and John R. Hallam, of Wash-
ington, was a brother-in-law of the Forrest brothers, and he conducted
a wagon and carriage shop on East Wheeling Street, on the lot now oc-
cupied by the Burte Building on the corner of the alley just east of the
First Baptist Church. This was another shop where much of the repair
work was done on the Pittsburgh coaches.
   James M. House needed another coach for the Pittsburgh line, and he
engaged Richard R. Forrest to build it for him, while the latter was
looking for work just after his return from the army. Mr. Forrest saw
no reason why a round-bodied coach could not be built in Washington,
Pennsylvania, as well as at Concord, New Hampshire. He was laughed
at by the other coach builders in Washington, who claimed that only the
square type, known as the hack coach, could be built here. In spite of
this, Mr. Forrest set to work on his round-bodied coach and finally
completed one of the best that was ever driven over the roads of Western
Pennsylvania. This coach was ironed by J. D. Jackson, and John Hallam,
who will be remembered by the older residents as "Pud" Hallam, made
the gearings for it. For his work on the coach Mr. Forrest received a
good horse. This was considered good wages in those days, but today
the price of the best horse would not go far in paying the wages of either
a carpenter or a coach maker.
   Mr. House was so proud of this coach that he christened it the "Queen
of the Road," and as such it was known among the stage drivers of this
section. During the next six years, or until travel closed on the road,
it carried most of the passengers over the old pike between Washington
and Pittsburgh, and after Edward Sexton came into possession of the
line it was used on the run to Waynesburg. This was a test of its dura-
bility, for it took a good coach to stand much travel on the roads of those
times.
   The construction work of the Chartiers Valley Railroad between
Washington and Pittsburgh, which brought to an end the travel over
the pike, was pushed rapidly. The stages from Washington met the
trains at the end of the track, as the road steadily neared this place.
There was considerable romance in all this; just as there was in the
construction of the western railroads, where the stage coaches met the
trains at the track's end.
   The last stage coach to leave Washington over the Pittsburgh Pike
was the "Queen of the Road," which had been built by Richard R. For-
rest. This was a historic event in the history of both the old pike and
the town of Washington. That was on May 18, 1871, and the next day
the first train from Pittsburgh steamed into Washington. The coach
that day went as far as Meadowlands, and it was driven by Jacob Brigle,
an old time stage driver on the run between Washington and Pittsburgh
and later between Waynesburg and the end of the track when the rail-


771





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   This settlement was founded in 1769 by Ebenezer Zane and his four
brothers, Silas, Andrew, Jonathan, and Isaac, and such noted families as
the Wetzels, McCollochs, Bennetts, and Metzars. All were prominent in
the early history of the Western Border, of which Washington County
was a part.
   Isaac Zane, the youngest of the brothers, was one of the most romantic
characters ever produced by the Western Border. When nine years old
he was captured by Indians, and held a prisoner four years without seeing
a white man. Like many another white captive, he developed a love for
the wild, free life of the Indian. Later he married the sister of a Wyandot
chief, and spent his entire life with this tribe, raising a family of eight
children. But he always remained true to the whites, and it was largely
through his influence that the Wyandots often remained friendly to the
Americans. The news of many a proposed raid was sent by this man to
the forts in time to save scores of lives. The city of Zanesfield, Ohio, is
named for him.
   Jonathan Zane was one of the most experienced hunters and Indian
fighters on the frontier, and he knew the Ohio country better than any
other white man of his time. He was chief guide of Crawford's expedi-
tion of 1782.
   While the two Washington County companies were at Fort Henry in
the summer of 1777, the Indians became so troublesome in the vicinity
that it was not safe to venture outside of the stockade. On June 7th,
Thomas McCleary and a man named Lanimore from Captain Van Meter's
company, were attacked while fishing in Wheeling Creek, half a mile above
the fort. Lanimore escaped, and Captain Samuel Mason, commander of
the fort, sent eight men from Captain Virgin's company in pursuit of the
hostiles. They found McCleary dead and scalped, but the Indians had fled
across the Ohio, where the whites dared not follow.
   One of the most thrilling battles of the Western Border was fought
at Fort Henry on September 1st and 2nd, while Captains Virgin and Van
Meter were still stationed there with their men; and during the night
Captain Andrew Swearingen, of Washington County, went to the relief
of the besieged fort with fourteen of his rangers.
   Early in August, Isaac Zane sent word from his Wyandot village on
Mad River, to General Hand, commandant at Fort Pitt, that the North-
west tribes, backed by the British, were making preparations to raid the
settlements of the Western Border. Not knowing where the blow would
fall first, General Hand sent a general warning.
   Fort Henry was considered to be the most likely point of attack, and
every precaution was taken to prevent a surprise. The vicinity of the
fort was carefully patrolled by experienced scouts. On August 31st,
Captain Joseph Ogle returned with fifteen rangers from a scouting expedi-
tion, and reported everything quiet. But the whites had a cunning foe
to deal with. Suspecting they were watched, the Indians traveled in small
parties and abandoned all regular trails, reaching Boggs' Island, two miles
below Fort Henry without discovery.
   That night they crossed the river and before daylight the entire force
of two hundred ten (some say four hundred) picked warriors, the flower




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


road was started. Brigle, who died just a short time ago in Missouri,
was one of the last of the old stage drivers on the Pittsburgh Pike.
   The passengers that day were as follows: J. B. Gibson, of Mononga-
hela, county treasurer at that time, who is the only one of those passen-
gers now living; William Ramsey, sheriff; A. G. Happer, internal revenue
collector at Pittsburgh and founder of the A. G. Happer Insurance
Agency; J. H. Little, agent; William Ross, liveryman; R. Hodgens, mer-
chant; E. K. Rogers, liveryman; Z. B. Kent, surgeon; J. S. McElree,
M. D.; Samuel Hare, proprietor of Hare's Hotel, in Pittsburgh; S. Flane-
gan, Sr., and S. Flanegan, Jr., porters; E. Wheeler, hostler; J. Simpson,
J. VanVoorhis and William McClellend.
   After that eventful journey the "Queen of the Road" was sold by
Mr. Sexton to the Overland Stage Company, then operating a line of stage
coaches across the plains from the Missouri River to California and other
sections of the far West. It was taken out West where it was lost sight
of among the thousands of other coaches; and what finally became of it
is not known.
   Like the National Pike, the Pittsburgh Road had its coterie of stage
drivers and freighters. More than half a century has passed since the
last stage coach was driven out of Washington over the old pike, and
during that period practically all of those old time road men of other
days reached the end of life's turnpike. They left nothing behind them
except memories of "ye olden time," but they are still remembered by
the few survivors of those days who traveled the pike in the old stage
coaches and Conestoga wagons, which have also disappeared almost ut-
terly from the face of the earth.
   Unfortunately, there is no written record of those stage coach drivers
and freighters, and we are compelled to depend upon the memories of
people still living and who were closely associated with the events of the
old road. Before the Civil war and during the last years of the Pitts-
burgh Pike the stage line was owned by a company that also operated
stages on the National Pike, and frequently drivers on the latter road
were sent on the run to Pittsburgh to give the others a change. The
list here given is by no means complete; it contains the names of only
a few who drove stages during the latter years of the road, but it is
correct as far as it goes.
   Among the regular drivers on the Pittsburgh Pike were the follow-
ing: Paris Eaches, Lem Teasdale, James Lovejoy, Jacob Brigle, William
Noble, Joseph Grubbs, Richard Butts, Joseph Hughes, Harrison Skinner
and Martin Mosebay, the last two being colored. There were many
others, however, whose names have been long forgotten and lost in the
misty records of the past. Some of the regular drivers on the National
Road who sometimes drove stages to Pittsburgh were David Gordon,
Archibald McNeal, John Bayless, William Dickie and "Tobe" Banner.
   Paris Eaches, one of the most popular of the regular drivers to Pitts-
burgh, drove a stage on the road for many years. Just how long is not
known, but he worked for Stockton and Newman when they owned both
the stage lines to Pittsburgh and on the National Pike. At that time
the main office of both lines was at the Railroad House, now the Auld
House; and there the stage drivers gathered during the evenings and


772


































    The last stage coach to leave Washington upon the completion of the
Chartiers Valley railroad between Washington and Pittsburgh, May 18,
1871. This coach was built in Washington by Richard R. Forrest in
1865, and was the first round-bodied coach constructed west of the moun-
tains. It was afterwards taken west and run on the plains.


    Old tavern at Clokey, on the Monongahela Pike; believed to have
been erected more than 100 years ago.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


when not on duty. It was the custom of Stockton and Newman to give
their married drivers a turkey on Christmas. That was before turkeys
cost 90 cents a pound. The following story is told by Robert R. Forrest,
who was in the Railroad House one night when these turkeys were being
given out. Just when this occurred is not known now, but it was before
the Civil war.
   On a table in one corner of the office was a large number of dressed
turkeys. Paris Eaches entered the office and William Newman said to
him, "Paris, you're a married man, ain't you?"
   "Yes," replied Paris.
   "Well, then, go and pick your turkey," said Mr. Newman.
   Paris turned and looked at the table loaded with turkeys and then
said to his employer, "Beggars should not be choosers, Mr. Newman."
   "Go and pick your turkey, Paris," insisted Mr. Newman; and Paris
did, taking home with him a large bird that would have brought joy to
the heart of any hotel proprietor in Washington on last Christmas.
Whether this saying originated with Paris Eaches, or whether he had
picked it up on the road is not known, but that was the first time it was
heard in this section.
   Richard Butts, better known as "Old Dick," who drove the coach to
Pittsburgh during the early '60s, could neither read nor write. The
story is told of him that one winter evening he was sitting in the stage
office looking at an illustrated magazine. He had the magazine turned
upside down and the pictures presented a different appearance to his
eyes than when turned the right way. One picture gave him the impres-
sion of a storm and he said to a friend, "There's been a devil of a storm."
   Just what the picture was is not known now, but it was not a storm;
and it was many a day before Butts heard the last of the "devil of a
storm."
   William, better known as "Old Billy" Noble, who came from Clays-
ville, drove the Pittsburgh stage for several years. Just when he com-
menced or how long is not now known, but he was driving in 1865. He
was a well known character on the old road and was among the popular
drivers.
   William Dickie, who was a regular driver on the National Road an
only drove occasionally on the Pittsburgh Pike, was the dude among the
stage drivers of Washington. He was always dressed in the height of
fashion, his stage was always kept neat and clean and his horses pre-
sented a fine appearance, their harness always being in the best of condi-
tion, and the animals themselves had always been rubbed down until they
fairly glistened. Dickie was proud of his profession and proud of his
outfit.
   Archibald McNeal, or Archie, as he was known among his friends,
was a driver on the National Pike who sometimes went on the run to
Pittsburgh. He was known as a "fancy driver," because of the manner
in which he handled his horses. He was a first class driver; in fact, it
is said that there was none better in this section. He could turn his coach
with six horses around a corner at full speed and on two wheels without
the least danger of upsetting. He performed many similar feats on the
long hills and sharp curves of both pikes, while his passengers held their


774





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


breath, each instant expecting the vehicle to turn over; but it is said of
him that he never had an accident.
   "Tobe" Banner was another driver on the National Pike who oc-
casionally made the run to Pittsburgh, but that was very seldom. He
was a well known character in Washington in the old pike days before
the Civil war. His given name has been forgotten these many years;
in fact it is doubtful if it was ever known here, for he was always known
as "Tobe." He was the father of the "Tobe" Banner of later times, who
was a well known local character for many years and who is well remem-
bered by the present generation. He died only a few years ago.
   Martin Mosebay was a colored driver on the Pittsburgh Pike for
many years, and he is well remembered by many Washington people.
He was a popular driver and remained at that occupation until forced
to retire because of his age. He was seventy during the last winter that
he drove a stage to Pittsburgh. He had heard someone ask the question,
"Is that according to Hoyle?" and always thereafter whenever he heard
something a little out of the ordinary, he would ask, "Is that according
to Hoyle ?"
   Harrison Skinner was another well known colored driver on the
Pittsburgh Pike. He and Mosebay were the only two men of their race
who ever drove a stage on the old road, and both are well remembered
to this day. Louis G. Mosebay, assistant superintendent of the court-
house, is a son of the old stage driver.
   Of all the men who drove stages on the Pittsburgh Pike during the
fifty-two years it was the only route between Washington and Pittsburgh,
Jacob Brigle is probably better remembered than all the others. He
drove for a number of years, and during the last years of the pike, when
Edward Sexton owned the stage line, he was on the run from Washing-
ton to Waynesburg as well as on the Pittsburgh route.
   Brigle was the driver of the last stage driven out of Washington on
May 18, 1871, when trains commenced running regularly on the Char-
tiers Valley Railroad between Washington and Pittsburgh; and strange
to say, he was the last survivor of that band of drivers on the old pike.
He settled in Missouri shortly after travel closed on the road. The writer
well remembers him when he returned to Washington about ten years
ago, after an absence of nearly forty years. After visiting his boyhood
friends who were still living, he returned to his home in Missouri, where
he died just a few years ago.
   In addition to the stage drivers on the Pittsburgh Pike, there was a
great number of freighters who hauled merchandise over the road. In
those days, and especially during the latter years of the pike, most of the
merchandise used in Washington, Canonsburg and other towns along the
pike was hauled from Pittsburgh in the old time freight or Conestoga
wagons. There were many men in Washington who made a regular
business of freighting, and during the winter many farmers along the
route engaged in this occupation. They would haul grain and other pro-
duce to the markets in Pittsburgh and bring back supplies for the mer-
chants. A number of local business men did their own freighting.
   Among the local men who made a regular business of driving freight
wagons between Washington and Pittsburgh were "Windy" Marshall,


775





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


David Sample, Lewis Hallam, George Hallam, John Morrow and John
Little.
    Col. John P. Linn, a well known local man sixty years ago, was a
farmer who ran a freighting business between Washington and Pitts-
burgh during the winter. Jonathan Allison, of McGovern; John McCon-
nell, of near Canonsburg, and David Oller were others. There were many
more, but their names have been forgotten during the years since the
Conestoga wagon was replaced by the freight car.
    David T. Sample, of Washington, is one of the old timers who remem-
bers traffic on the Pittsburgh Pike when he was a boy. His father,
David Sample, was one of the freighters on the old road and at one time
did a big business. That was during the Civil war. In addition to his
freight business, Mr. Sample ran a stage line between Washington and
Pittsburgh. At that time his headquarters were on what is now known
as the Workman farm, which he owned. He had about forty head of
horses and in addition to his freight and stage business drove large
numbers of cattle, hogs and turkeys to Pittsburgh.
   Mr. Sample, his son, states that in 1863 he engaged in driving hogs
over the old pike for his father. He was a boy just eight years of age
at that time and recalls vividly the events of those days. Large herds
of cattle were driven to Pittsburgh by Mr. Sample, sometimes as many
as three hundred at a time. It required three days to make the trip with
cattle. The average number of hogs taken to Pittsburgh was forty in a
drove, and four days were required for the journey. A large freight
iWagon always accompanied the herd. This was to haul any of the larger
hogs that gave out and could not stand the trip. When turkeys were
driven by Mr. Sample over the pike, one wing was clipped so that they
could not fly away, and sometimes as many as three hundred were in
one flock.
   Mr. Sample states that they would stop at taverns along the route for
meals and at night. One of the most popular of these was one kept by
Mrs. Collins, a widow, at the top of the hill just before reaching Bridge-
ville. The place was well known among the pike boys because of the
excellent meals served by the Widow Collins. When approaching this
tavern one of the songs the drovers sang was,
        "Soo-boy, soo-boy, forty cents a day,
        And no meals. How far is it to the Widow Collins'?"
   Another popular stopping place in those days was the tavern run by
John Jarrett on the summit of Coal Hill, what is now the Southside,
Pittsburgh. The drovers of cattle, hogs, and turkeys always tried to
reach this place at night and remained there until the next day, so that
they could get an early start and reach the Pittsburgh market the next
morning.
   At that time the old Pittsburgh market and stockyards were located
where the Exposition ball park of later years stood in Allegheny. This
was directly opposite the Point, and a ferry ran across the river from
Birmingham (now the Southside), to the stockyards. It carried all of
the live stock taken from Washington County to the Pittsburgh market.
This ferry was conducted by the late William Thaw, father of Harry
Thaw. The same ferry boat that formerly carried the stock and drovers


776




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


across the river in the days of the old pike still ran until about ten years
ago. After delivering their stock in Pittsburgh, Mr. Sample's drovers
returned home on his stages.
    J. Add Hall, who died late in 1925 in Washington, was the last mail
agent on the stage coach of the Pittsburgh Pike during the construction
days of the Chartiers Railroad. Mr. Hall had charge of the mail from
Washington to Pittsburgh, and he recalled vividly the stirring days of
the railroad construction period.
   After the completion of the Chartiers Valley Railroad, all hope of
the Pittsburgh Pike ever becoming a paying venture was abandoned by
the officers and stockholders of the company, and with the exception of
the seven miles between Washington and Canonsburg it was surrendered
to the various townships through which it passed. The section between
Washi'ngton and Canonsburg was retained in the hope of realizing a little
money on the investment, and toll was charged on that stretch. How-
ever, no charge was made for travel over the remainder of it, from
Canonsburg to Pittsburgh. No effort was made by the company to keep
this section in condition, for practically all of the money received in toll
was taken to pay the toll gate keepers. This state of affairs continued
for several years. However, the revenue of the road was never enough
to keep it in any kind of repair and to pay the salaries of the toll gate
keepers; and the latter had to be paid first.
   Matters were finally brought to a head while Aaron Bebout was
sequestrator. He was appointed August 21, 1883. Mr. Bebout made a
desperate effort to make the section between Canonsburg and Washington
pay expenses, at least. He erected a toll gate at the south end of Canons-
burg and proceeded to take toll on that section. The opposition became
very bitter. Many people refused to pay toll and drove through the gates
at high speed. As time passed the opposition became bolder, and one
night the toll gate at Canonsburg was pulled down. The court author-
ized Mr. Bebout to offer a reward of $50 for the apprehension of the
guilty parties, but no one was ever arrested.
   The fight between the company and the people who used the road
became more bitter each day. The number of persons who refused to
pay toll increased from day to day, and they became bolder and bolder,
not even attempting to drive through the gate at a rapid speed. The
company finally brought suits against a number of these people to collect
the toll and the fight was dragged into the courts.
   This was one of the most noted cases of the kind ever in the courts
of the state, and it was carried on for several years before toll was finally
taken off and the whole matter was ended. The defense in all cases was
that the road had been abandoned and turned over to the various town-
ships; that after it had been put into repair again at the expense of
Chartiers Township, which had constructed several bridges and made
other improvements with the taxpayers' money, it was made a toll road;
and the defendants finally objected to paying both toll and taxes on the
same road.
   An effort was made to have Mr. Bebout removed as sequestrator, and
on October 23, 1883, W. R. McConnell and a number of others petitioned
the court to revoke his appointment. A rule was granted on Mr. Bebout


777




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


to show cause why he should not be removed as sequestrator and pro-
ceedings allowed for the condemnation of the road. This was fought
bitterly by both sides, and finally, on May 5, 1884, the court made a decree
in which the petitioners were given leave to begin proceedings for the
condemnation of the road, under the act of January 26, 1849.
   The opposition to the road had entered the fight to the finish, and
proceedings were started along this new route at once. Joseph Willison,
W. R. McConnell, James Morrison, J. C. McNary, A. W. Miller and Fred
Lesnett entered suit against the Washington and Pittsburgh Turnpike
Road Company before Justice D. M. Donehoo, of Washington, under the
provisions of the act referred to, to have the road condemned.
   William C. Campbell, Robert VanVoorhis and John N. McDonald were
appointed viewers. They held a meeting on August 11, 1884, and later
filed their report with Justice Donehoo. This report as certified to the
court was as follows:
   "In pursuance of the summons issued by D. M. Donehoo, a justice of
the peace of the said county, a copy of which is hereto attached and made
a part of this report: 'We, the undersigned freeholders in the neighbor-
hood of the Washington and Pittsburgh Turnpike in the said county
have been chosen viewers to go upon said turnpike and view the same
between Washington, Pennsylvania, and the Allegheny County line and
especially complained of as set forth in the information and embodied
in the summons aforesaid hereto attached, after being duly sworn accord-
ing to law, to view said turnpike faithfully and impartially and a true
report of the condition of said turnpike made within five days after said
view to D. M. Donehoo, Esq., justice of the peace aforesaid, on the 11th
day of August, 1884, at 1 o'clock P. M., met on the said turnpike where
the same intersects the line of the Borough of Washington, Pennsylvania,
and proceeded to view said turnpike from said borough line to said
Allegheny County line, and especially parts complained of in said infor-
mation. That after carefully and impartially and to the best of our
judgment and ability, viewing the whole of said turnpike within said
points and especially the points complained of, we do find as follows:
   "'That the north side of what is known as Wilson's Hill is in bad
condition, also the flat at the foot of Ewing's Hill; also the bridge over
Chartiers Creek is in bad condition and repair, also the bridge or culvert
near toll gate is in bad order, also the hill south of bridge at Houston-
ville is in bad condition, also the bridge over the creek at Houstonville
is old and weak, also from bridge to Canonsburg the road is in bad condi-
tion from Canonsburg to Morganza and on to the Allegheny County
line in very bad condition, also the flat from the head of Cooper's Hill
to the head of Ewing's Hill is in bad condition.'
                          (Signed) "WILLIAM C. CAMPBELL,
                                    "ROBERT VANVOORHIS,
                                    "JOHN N. MCDONALD,
                                                        "Viewers."
   This report brought matters to a head. The report was made to the
court by Justice Donehoo, and on January 9, 1885, Judge George S.
Hart handed down a decree in which the rule revoking the appointment
of Mr. Bebout as sequestrator was made absolute.


778





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   One of the heaviest creditors of the company was Maj. John H. Ewing,
who had been superintendent of construction when the road was finally
completed in 1835; and during the half century intervening, the company
had never been able to settle its account with him. Mr. Ewing had been
very instrumental in having the road finally completed. He was also
one of the prime movers in the first attempt to build the Chartiers Valley
Railroad in 1830, which was the second railroad project in the United
States; but that is another story. Major Ewing lived at what is now
Meadowlands, then Ewing's Station, where he owned several hundred
acres of land. His old home is still standing near the Meadowlands stop
on the Washington-Pittsburgh electric line and is owned by Boyd E.
Warne, of Washington, who operates the Meadowlands dairy there. It
is one of the most interesting of the old time farms near Washington.
   Major Ewing took an appeal from the decision of Judge Hart in
revoking the appointment of Mr. Bebout as sequestrator; but the supreme
court of Pennsylvania upheld the local tribunal in the decision. Follow-
ing this final decision, a petition signed by a large number of people
who used the pike, asking for the dismissal of Mr. Bebout as seques-
trator, was presented to the local court on April 7, 1885. This petition
was granted by the court in a decree made on May 1, 1885. Mr. Bebout
was directed to cease acting as sequestrator and to close up the affairs
of the company.
   Thus ends the history of the Pittsburgh Pike as a toll road. After
the decree just mentioned, the road was abandoned by the old company
and it was turned over to the various townships through which it passed.
If its condition had been bad under the old toll system, it became much
worse when taken over by the townships. During the next quarter of a
century it is doubtful if a stone was ever placed on it, and its condition
was worse than any of the old township or mud roads. In bad weather
it was almost impassable.
   With the coming of the automobile, the public began to demand better
roads, and what was more to the point, the county and township officials
began to realize that these demands coming from such a large number
could not be ignored as had been done before that, when only the farmers
who were in the minority at the polls wanted improvements.
   Twenty-eight years passed before anything was done in Washington
County towards improving the old pike. The year before, the county
commissioners decided to improve a part of it, beginning at the Wash-
ington Borough line, but they decided to change a part of the route. At
the foot of the second hill north of the borough line is a road that turns
to the left, known as the "Shaft Road" at that time, from the fact that
an old coal shaft, one of the oldest in the vicinity of Washington, was
located on it. It is better known today as the "Country Club Road," the
Washington Country Club having since purchased the old Cook home on
the highway. The commissioners decided to improve this road and thus
eliminate Ewing's Hill, one of the worst on the whole route. In the old
days several stage coaches had turned over when trying to turn the sharp
curve at the foot, over Chartiers Creek.
    This route was built of macadam from the borough line as far as
McClane's Bridge, a distance of two miles and six hundred feet. The


779




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


original cost of construction was $25,591.79. There is probably not a
section of road in all Washington County that has had as much heavy
traffic over it as this. During the terrible winter of 1917-18, when it
was necessary, in order to conserve fuel, for the fuel administrator to
order all stores and industries closed every Monday, this road was all that
saved Washington from a coal famine. It was impossible to get railway
cars for coal, and the big trucks ran night and day from the mines in the
Chartiers Valley to Washington. The same was true the next winter
and, in fact, ever since then most of the coal used here has been hauled
by truck over this road. During the war this was very important, as
there were a number of local industries engaged in the manufacture of
war materials.
   This heavy traffic soon wore out the old macadam     surface. The
county commissioners realized the importance of the route, and they de-
cided to resurface it with concrete. This work was started in the summer
of 1918, but on account of the scarcity of material and labor it was not
completed until the summer of 1920. The total cost of resurfacing was
$64,086.24, or more than the original cost of the entire route to Pitts-
burgh. This made the total cost of this section $89,678.03. The cost of
the resurfacing was about three times what it would have been in ordinary
times,-but it was not done in ordinary times. The work was started
while the war was in progress and it was necessary to pay war prices;
but the people of Washington could not wait until prices came down.
They needed coal in the meantime.
   The next section improved by Washington County was that between
the borough lines of Houston and Canonsburg, a distance of 2,900 feet.
Automobiles had brought about the need of a road that would wear better
than the old macadam, so the county commissioners, as an experiment,
decided to build this section of brick. The cost of such a road prior to
that time had prevented the use of such material. One big item of cost
was the curb, and the county decided to experiment with a telford or loose
stone curb. While not a success, this telford curb was not altogether a
failure. It answered its purpose of a cheap curb, which held the brick
until resurfaced with concrete in 1918. However, it did allow the brick
to spread a little; but the main trouble with this road was that the entire
distance is across low bottom land, which years ago was always swampy.
It was necessary to make a fill across this stretch for the entire distance
of 2,900 feet. This fill should have stood for several years before the
bricks were laid, but it was impossible to do this, and as a result the
road sunk in holes, and in a few years it was pretty rough riding over it.
This trouble was blamed on poor construction, but that was not the case.
The road was built as good as possible under the circumstances. Another
thing that helped wear the road out was the increased travel over it by
heavy trucks.
   This, the first brick road built by Washington County, was completed
in 1909 at a cost of S11,691.56. In 1918 it was resurfaced with concrete,
six inches thick at the edges and eight in the center, at a cost of $15,-
899.75. The total cost of this section to date is 827,591.31.
   The next year the county commissioners decided to continue the
Shaft Road from McClane's Bridge to Meadowlands. The Union Coal &


780




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Coke Company, which owned the land between, gave the right of way
for a new route across the bottom, past the Richhill mine. This is shorter
and a much better grade than the old township road across the bottom,
and it was constructed, the distance being exactly one mile. It inter-
sects with, the old route of the pike at Meadowlands, just north of the
railroad.
   This road was built of macadam at a cost of $13,993.97, and it was
started and completed during the summer of 1910. It was also a fill
across swampy land, and it did not last long. This was partly due to
the settling of the fill and partly to the truck travel. It was resurfaced
with concrete, six inches thick at the edges and eight in the center, during
the summer of 1914, at an additional cost of 812,444.92, making the
total cost of this section 826,438.89.
   The whistle of the railroad locomotive had sounded the death knell
of turnpikes and the old order of travel by stage coach and freight wagon
three-quarters of a century before. Time brings about many changes,
and in its turn it was seen that the railroad would have to give way, at
least to a great extent, to the automobile, both for travel and as a means
of freight transportation. Of course, this meant improved roads. The
Washington County commissioners saw that they must keep up with the
times and meet the changing conditions of travel and transportation,
and they decided to push the improvement of the old pike to Pittsburgh
as rapidly as possible, as it was seen that this was one of the most im-
portant routes entering Washington.
   The improvement was continued and in 1911 the section between
Meadowlands and the Houston borough line was completed. This be-
gins at the Ewing Bridge over Chartiers Creek, on the road leading from
Meadowlands to Houston, the distance between exactly 2.45 miles. This
was built of brick, ten feet wide, at a total cost of 841,487.56. No re-
surfacing or other work has been done on it since then, except to repair
several small stretches of it.
   Most of the construction work of these sections of the old pike was
done by the Hallam Construction Company, a former well known con-
tracting firm of Washington. William Picket & Company did most of
the resurfacing.
   The completion of the Meadowlands-Houston road ended the work
done by Washington County on the old pike, for the State Highways de-
partment took the whole road over as a state route before more work
could be done. If the state had done as well as the county, the entire
route would have been completed long ago. The total amount spent by
Washington County on the section constructed by it was $185,195.85.
   The State Highways department started the improvement of the old
pike as far back as 1907. During that year it improved the section from
the bridge over Chartiers Creek just at the borough line of Canonsburg
as far as the bridge over the Chartiers Valley Railroad just north of
Morganza, a distance of 7,308 feet, or 1.385 miles. It was improved
with macadam, and that is still the same road, but it has been resurfaced
a number of times; in fact, about every two or three years. The last
time, it received an oil surface treatment. The road was originally con-
structed on the state aid plan; that is, the state paid one-half of the cost


781




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of the Wyandot, Shawnese and Mingo tribes, had surrounded the fort, all
well armed with the best guns the British could supply. Some accounts
say that Simon Girty led the hostiles; but this is a mistake for he had not
deserted the American cause at that time, and was still at Fort Pitt. It
was probably one of his notorious brothers, James or George.
    Early in the morning of September 1st, a man named Boyd and a negro
 slave were fired upon while hunting horses. Boyd was killed but the negro
 escaped to the fort and spread the alarm. Captain Samuel Mason with
 fourteen men went in pursuit of the Indians, little dreaming of the trap
 he was being led into. Meeting six warriors, the whites fired upon them,
 and almost instantly they were surrounded by an overwhelming force of
 Indians.
    Mason ordered a retreat, and the whites, fighting for their lives,
 attempted to cut their way through to the fort, but the gallant little band
 was cut to pieces, only two, Captain Mason and one other, escaping by
 hiding in the brush. The Wheeling market house stands on the site of
 this battle.
    A dense fog covered the river bottom, and the whites in the fort were
 unable to see the results of the battle. Hearing the wild war cry and the
 shots, Captain Joseph Ogle rushed to Mason's relief with twelve men. As
 the fort closed behind them and they vanished in the fog, those left behind
 heard more shots, followed by the blood-curdling war whoops, and then
 all was still, but the little garrison knew the terrible fate that had over-
 taken their comrades. Only four of Ogle's force, including the brave
 leader, Martin Wetzel, Sergeant Ogle and one other escaped the massacre
 and reached the fort.
    The garrison was now reduced to a few men and boys and the women;
but many a fort of the old frontier was saved by the heroism of the
pioneer mothers, who could handle a rifle equally as well as their husbands.
They were experts at moulding bullets, loading rifles and caring for the
wounded.
    Flushed with victory, the Indians advanced on the fort in two divisions,
the right taking possession of the cabins between the stockade and the
hill, and the left taking a strong position under cover of the river bank,
close to the fort. There must have been some British soldiers with the
Indians, for an old account says that they advanced with drum and fife
playing, and the flag of England flying in the breeze.
   Their leader, a white man, probably George Girty, demanded the sur-
render of the garrison, promising protection. This was a critical moment;
but after a hasty consultation the whites decided to fight to the last man,
and then kill the women and children rather than let them fall into the
hands of the Indians.
   Brave old Colonel Shepherd, the commander whose son had fallen in
Mason's command, shouted the reply: "Sir, we have consulted our wives
and children, and all have resolved to perish at their posts rather than
place themselves under the protection of such savages with you at their
head."
   The Indians rushed the gates, and attempted to batter them down,
but they had been built with just this in view, and they held. When this
failed they opened a terrific fire on the portholes; and all day long the




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


of construction, the county one-fourth and North Strabane Township
one-fourth. The figures showing the original cost are not available at
present, but it was in the neighborhood of $10,000 per mile.
   Several years ago the agitation to complete the road clear through
became so great that the State Highways department entered into an
agreement with Washington and Allegheny counties by which each
county was to pay a specified amount and the state the balance. About
1915 or 1916 this agreement was signed by the Allegheny County com-
missioners, after which it was signed by the Washington County com-
missioners. It was then sent by them to the State Highways depart-
ment, at Harrisburg.
   Nothing was done under this contract until September 4, 1918, when
the state started work on the remaining section from the bridge at Mor-
ganza to the Allegheny County line, a distance of 3.65 miles. This has
not been formally completed yet, although it was opened for travel De-
cember 15, 1920. There are still some walls to build.and some slopes
to be graded. The exact cost of this is not definitely known as yet, but
the contract price of the 3.65 miles from Morganza to the Allegheny
County line is $210,000. Of this sum, Washington County agreed to pay
$18,000, and this has all been paid out. Allegheny County paid 825,000
of the cost of the section between Bridgeville and the county line.
   This makes a total of $208,695.85 that Washington County has spent
to date on the 11.128 miles of the road within its borders. This does not
include the sections through the boroughs of Houston and Canonsburg,
which were paved at the expense of those towns.
   The total cost of the construction of the 11.128 miles within Wash-
ington County, as paid out by the county, state and North Strabane Town-
ship, is $427,195.85, or an average of about $38,390 per mile.
   Thus ends the story of the old Washington-Pittsburgh Pike to the
present day. Its history has been no different from that of every other
toll road and turnpike in the country. Built as private enterprises, as
were the railroads in later times, or a few by states and the Federal
Government, at a time when the only means of land travel and transpor-
tation was by stage coach and freight wagon, the coming of the railroads
sealed their fate, and in a few years after the whistle of the locomotive
was heard the old turnpikes were only memories of the olden times.
Then, many years later, the automobile came and in a few short years
brought back the old time glory of the historic turnpikes. Whether the
automobile will during the coming years be replaced by the aeroplane
and the turnpikes again be allowed to fall into a state of bad repair is
one of the questions that only time can answer.
   The Monongahela turnpike road, now known as the Monongahela
Pike, was first started by an act of the Legislature passed March 10,
1816. It was to have been a state road from Washington to the Monon-
gahela River at Williamsport, a distance of about eighteen miles. The
commissioners were appointed to open books for subscriptions for stock.
They were Alexander Murdoch, Joseph Pentecost, Thomas H. Baird,
James Mitchell, David Hamilton, Alexander Reed, John Hill, Jacob Kint-
ner and Andrew Monroe, all of Washington County.
   The act provided that the books must be opened on or before the first


782





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Monday of July, 1816, and when eighteen shares or more at 850 each
should have been subscribed for by at least forty persons and the fact
certified to the governor, he was empowered to grant and erect a sub-
scriber into a post politic and corporate by the name and style of "The
Washington and Williamsport Turnpike Road Company." It was re-
quired to begin construction within five years and to complete the road
not later than ten years after the passage of the act, the road to be not
less than fifty nor more than sixty feet wide, with an artificial road bed
of stone and gravel twenty feet wide. This road was to be one of the
series of four leading to Williamsport, Robbstown, Mount Pleasant and
Somerset and the site to have been on the summit of the Alleghanies to
intersect the Harrisburg-Pittsburgh Turnpike at Bedford.
   The company encountered the usual financial difficulties of all the
early turnpike corporations, and on March 26, 1821, an act was passed
which authorized the governor to subscribe $10,000 for the state. An-
other state subscription was authorized February 18, 1836.
   The work was started within the required time of five years, but it
was not completed in ten years, and on March 18, 1826, an extension of
three years was granted. However, before the road was finished it was
necessary to grant two more extensions, one on March 19, 1829, and the
other on February 7, 1831, after which the road was finally completed.
The work was, all done by contract by farmers and others living along
the route. It was laid out in sections of five miles with a toll gate on
each section.
   Like all turnpikes, the road was never a financial success, especially
after the railroads took away the old time means of travel by stage
coach and hauling freight in the old Conestoga wagons. However, the
Monongahela Pike was kept as a toll road, although it was generally in a
bad state of repair, until 1895, when it was condemned and made free of
tolls for public use. This action was started May 12, 1894, when a peti-
tion signed by a large number of people residing along the road was
presented to the Washington County courts, asking that the pike be made
free of toll. On August 17, 1894, the viewers appointed by the court
reported that it would be for the best interests of the people of Wash-
ington County to remove the toll from this road. The final decree of the
court awarded the turnpike company $650 damages.
   After the passage of the final road law of 1905, plans were made
by the Washington County commissioners for the improvement of vari-
ous sections of the old pike. These were carried out, but before the road
was wholly completed by Washington County it was made a state route
and has since been improved with concrete and brick the entire distance
between Washington and Monongahela city.
   The Upper-Ten-mile Plank Road Company, which constructed the
road now known as the Prosperity Pike between Washington and the
village of Prosperity, was incorporated by an act of the Legislature
passed April 15, 1851. When originally constructed this road was built
of plank, hence the name, plank road; but this was later changed to
macadam and it was operated as a toll road until 1906. There were three
toll gates erected on this road, one of which was near the top of what is
known as Cemetery Hill just out of Washington. The second was the


783




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Toledo toll gate located about three miles farther, and the last was just
before reaching Prosperity. All of these gates have been torn down with
the exception of the one near Washington.
    Proceedings to free this road of toll were started in the May term of
 court, 1905, and on June 5, N. B. Evans, J. B. Johnson, D. M. Pry, John
 B. McBride and James Buchanan were appointed viewers and a hearing
 held September 13. The company employed an attorney and entered
 strong opposition. At this hearing it was shown that out of the 1,200
 shares of stock issued by the company only 898 were sold and of this
 number fifty were never paid for. A portion of the balance were only
 paid for in part. The amount paid in to the company's treasurer in
 stock dues and in interest on deferred payments was $19,663.45. It was
 estimated by the company that $58,000 had been spent in improvements
 on the road during the period from 1880 to 1905. Although it was never
 a paying proposition, estimates placed on the value of the stock were as
 high as 820 a share.
    The report of the viewers filed September 30, 1905, recommended
that the road be made free of toll and a valuation of $9,000 placed upon
it as compensation to the company. Under an order of court the road
was made free of toll within thirty days, but an appeal was filed by the
company and it was not until January 24, 1906, after the opposition was
disposed of, that the court finally approved the report of the viewers and
the toll was removed from the old Prosperity Pike. This road has since
been made a state route and is now one of the best improved macadam
roads in the county.
   In 1818 a movement was started for the construction of a free turn-
pike from Washington to Wellsburg, West Virginia. The route selected
was out Jefferson Avenue, over the valley road through what is now
Wolftown, then Buffalo village, West Middletown and Independence. On
September 2, 1818, the people of Cross Creek and Hopewell townships
held a meeting at West Middletown for the purpose of considering such
a road from Washington to Wellsburg, or at least as far as the Virginia
line. Gen. Thomas Patterson, William Smyth, David Boyd, William Rea,
Samuel McKibben, Isaac Manchester, John Adams, James Clark and
Walter Craig were appointed as a committee to make addresses and to
recommend another meeting, to be held September 26, at West Middle-
town. This seems to have ended the matter, for nothing more is found
of the movement.
   The Pittsburgh and Steubenville turnpike road was built across Rob-
inson, Smith and Hanover townships, a distance of twelve miles being in
this county. This was an improved road for its day and such townships
as Brice Landing, Cross Roads (now Florence) and Paris flourished dur-
ing the boom period of stage coach travel over this route between Pitts-
burgh and Steubenville. The construction of the road was authorized
by an act of Legislature passed March 3, 1818, and on March 26, 1821,
the Legislature authorized the governor to subscribe $12,000 to the stock
of the company on behalf of the state.
   About $30,000 was raised from the sale of stock and the road, after
many delays and financial troubles, was completed in March, 1822. Travel
over the road was very heavy until 1855, but with the completion of the


784


































    The Toledo tollgate on the Prosperity pike, taken while toll was still
collected on the pike. On the night of October 10, 1890, Mrs. Elizabeth
Ann Saunders, the keeper of the gate, was murdered by George E. Teeters,
Bush Durr and Ed Durr.


    The original store and warehouse erected by Joseph Kammerer on the
Monongahela pike. This was a noted place half a century ago.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Panhandle railroad from Pittsburgh to Steubenville in 1861 the travel
ceased.
   It is interesting to note in connection with this road that one of the
first through telegraph roads followed its route, but it was abandoned
before 1860. Toll was removed from this road many years ago.





                        CHAPTER LXXXV.

                           RAILROADS.
CHARTIERS VALLEY RAILROAD-HEMPFIELD-PITTSBURGH SOUTHERN
   -BALTIMORE AND OHIO-PITTSBURGH AND STEUBENVILLE-PITTS-
   BURGH, VIRGINIA AND CHARLESTON-WAYNESBURG AND WASH-
   INGTON-WABASH-CHARTIERS SOUTHERN-MARIANNA LINE.
   An important but little known chapter in the early history of railroads
in the United States is the story of the original plan to build the Chartiers
Valley line from Pittsburgh to what was then the little village of Wash-
ington in southwestern Pennsylvania, a distance of thirty-two miles. This
was the second project of its kind in the United States and one of the first
in the world, a fact known to very few people, even those familiar with
railroad history. The original company was organized, stock was sold and
the route surveyed in 1831, but it took forty years to build the road.
   There were twenty-three miles of railroad in operation in the United
States in 1831. That was two years after the first rails were laid on the
Baltimore and Ohio; and there were only four railways in operation in
the world, three of which were in England. Only six years had passed
since trains had started running on schedule on the Stockton and Darling-
ton road in England, the first successful passenger line, and just seventeen
years before that time George Stephenson's famous "Puffing Billy," the
first steam locomotive, had made its trial trip. Four years passed after
the organization of this company for the construction of a line in western
Pennsylvania before a railroad was operating on the continent of Europe;
and it was not until 1836 that trains were running in Canada. In 1829
George Stephenson won a prize on the Liverpool and Manchester line
with his "Rocket," an improvement over his "Puffing Billy" of 1814; and
the next year this road was opened to the public.
   The story of the hopes and disappointments, the bitter fight against
overwhelming odds and the heart-breaking failure of the promoters of
the original Chartiers Valley Railway of 1831, is one of the long forgotten
romances of railroad construction. Most of this early history has been
buried these many years in musty court files and old newspapers, yellow
and rotten with age.
   The promoters were all men of vision, far in advance of their day.
The successes in England and the opening of the Baltimore and Ohio had
fired them with enthusiasm, and they were willing to risk their last dollar


786




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


on a line from their village to Pittsburgh. At a public meeting held De-
cember 27, 1830, in the courthouse in Washington they made the first
plans for this, the second railroad project in the United States; but fate
decreed that it should not be completed for forty years, and only one of
the orginal promoters lived to see the dream materialize.
   All of the men who attended that gathering were prominent in the
affairs of the town a century ago. John Judson was made president of
the meeting; Captain William Hunter, vice-president, and Joseph Hender-
son and Thomas Morgan, secretaries. Hon. Thomas H. Baird, judge of
the district courts, gave a lengthy address and offered the following reso-
lutions, which show the keen foresight of those men:
   "Resolved: That the town of Washington, being situated at the ex-
treme northern angle of the Cumberland Road, presents the nearest point
of practicable junction with the Pennsylvania Canal at Pittsburgh.
   "Resolved: That a connection between these great commercial av-
enues is desirable, as respects the interests of this town and section of
the country, and also the interests of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the
intermediate line.
   "Resolved: That the inclined plane of Chartiers Creek presents a
practicable and direct route for a railway, and at the least possible
expense.
   "Resolved: That a petition be addressed to the Legislature praying
for the incorporation of a company to construct a railroad from Wash-
ington to Pittsburgh, or the bank of the Monongahela opposite the de-
bouche of the Pennsylvania Canal."
   A general committee, appointed to carry out these plans, employed
Charles DeHass, a well known civil engineer in western Pennsylvania at
that time, to make a preliminary survey. Two routes were laid out. The
first was the same which was followed down the Chartiers Valley when the
road was actually built forty years later. The other was longer and had
heavier grades.
   The Washington and Pittsburgh Railroad Company was incorporated
by an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, which was approved by the
governor March 18, 1831; and on the 30th, Mr. DeHass made his report
to the committee, presenting plans, maps of the routes, masonry and cuts
necessary, with an estimate of a cost of $89,267 for all material and
grading.
    The little group of promoters was enthusiastic over the report and
they named commissioners for the sale of the stock throughout western
Pennsylvania; but they encountered an opposition that was deadly. At
that time, the Cumberland Road, or National Pike, and the Pittsburgh-
Philadelphia Pike were the two principal lines of travel and commerce
across the mountains, and practically all of the freight from the east to
the west passed over them. Hundreds of people in western Pennsylvania
gained a living as stage drivers, freighters, blacksmiths, and tavern
keepers on both highways, and the coming of a railroad was regarded
by them as a great calamity for they believed it would take the bread and
butter out of their mouths. Even the newspapers opposed the scheme and
declared that a road .of this kind would eventually bring to an end the


787




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


travel over the two turnpikes, thus throwing thousands of men out of
employment.
   Public meetings were held in opposition to the plan and a bitter feeling
developed against the railroad. In spite of this, the promoters went
ahead with their plans and opened books for the subscription of stock at
the Globe Inn at Washington and at Nicholas Griffith's hotel at Pittsburgh.
Those pioneer railroad builders have been long forgotten these many
years. Just how many there were is not known today, but those whose
names can be found in the old records were Judge Thomas H. Baird,
Hon. T. M. T. McKennan, David Morris, Alexander Reed, James B. Ruple,
John K. Wilson, Isaac Leet, John Watson, and John H. Ewing, of Wash-
ington County; and Charles Cowan, Nicholas Griffith, William Lea, James
Herriott, John McKee, Francis Baily, and Ross Wilkins, of Allegheny
County.
   Just how much stock was sold outside of this group is not known,
but it is doubtful if there was a single share; for Judge Baird paid the
cost of the survey, and other expenses came out of the pockets of the
others.
   The success of the first twenty-three miles of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad encouraged its directors to make plans for extensions, and they
contemplated running a line through Pennsylvania to the Ohio River.
This was finally built, but it was not until many years later.
   In an effort to interest outside capital in the proposed Western Penn-
sylvania Road, which now seemed doomed, Alexander Reed, a prominent
merchant of Washington, wrote to Jonathan Knight, chief engineer of the
Baltimore and Ohio, asking him to use his influence to induce his com-
pany either to build or to aid the line between Washington and Pittsburgh.
Mr. Knight replied that his company had more extension planned than
it had money to construct, but it would be glad to connect with the Wash-
ington and Pittsburgh Railroad and use it as an auxiliary.
   Because of the failure to sell the stock the proposed road failed, and
at the expiration of the specified time, the charter was declared for-
feited; but the fact remains that this was the second railroad planned
in the United States.
   The first failure to construct a railroad from Washington to Pitts-
burgh did not mean the death of the project, for it was kept alive almost
continuously until its successful completion over forty years later. It
was revived in 1837 and on April 1st, the legislature passed another act
incorporating the "Washington and Pittsburgh Railroad Company."
Eighteen prominent business men of Allegheny County and sixteen from
Washington County were appointed commissioners to open books for
subscriptions in Pittsburgh, Washington and Canonsburg.
   The act of incorporation provided that this road should begin "at some
point within the borough of Washington, in the county aforesaid, and
terminate at some suitable point at or near Allison's Run in the town-
ship of Chartiers." The company was also given power to "construct,
continue and extend in a northerly direction the line of their said railroad
from the said point at or near Allison's Run to a point at or near the city
of Pittsburgh." Very little interest was taken in it by the public and
nothing was ever done.


788


























    The original station of the Chartiers Valley railroad into which the.
first train from Pittsburgh steamed on May 18, 1871.


    The original railway station at Ewing's or Meadowlands. During the
last days of the construction of the Chartiers Valley Railway this station
was the "track's end," where the stage coaches from Washington met all
trains to and from Pittsburgh.


    Home of Major John H. Ewing at Meadowlands. Erected by John H. Ewing in
the '30s, it was one of the finest residences in the county. Mr. Ewing was one of the
most prominent men of his day and one of the original promoters of the Chartiers
Valley Railroad in 1830. This was the second railroad project in the United States.


          ;i

-"b~;
          i'




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    On April 22, 1846, the legislature passed a supplemental act reviving
a part of the original act and appointing commissioners to open books
for subscriptions of stock on or before December 1st. This attempt also
failed, and for several years the idea was given up.
    The construction of a railroad from Wheeling to Washington, Penn-
sylvania, by the Hempfield Railroad Company in the early fifties revived
the old project of a line from Washington to Pittsburgh, and on February
7, 1853, the legislature incorporated the Chartiers Valley Railroad Com-
pany with the right to "construct a railroad from the City of Pittsburgh,
in Allegheny County, by way of Canonsburg to the Borough of Wash-
ington, in Washington County." The following incorporators were named
to receive subscriptions for stock: John H. Ewing, John Bausman, L.
P. Hitchcock, Jacob Morgan, William S. Calahan, George S. Hayes, John
Boyce, Thomas Watson, John Weaver, Daniel Houston, Robert McKnight,
David P. Morgan, James O'Hara Denny, Thomas Bakewell, Henry Graff,
John K. Mooreland, Frederick Lorenz, William Larimer, Jr., George
Ledlie, Lecky Harper, Mansfield Brown, William M. Daniel and Charles
Paulson.
   The authorized capital was $500,000, and the following quotas were
assigned to the various communities interested: Pittsburgh, 5,000 shares;
Birmingham, East Birmingham and South Pittsburgh, each 500 shares;
Canonsburg, 500 shares; and Washington, 500 shares. The law author-
ized the commissioners of Allegheny and Washington counties to subscribe
on behalf of their respective counties, upon the approval of the grand jury.
   During the twenty-two years that had passed since the original project,
public sentiment had changed in favor of the road. The people recognized
it as a necessity, and at a mass meeting of the citizens of Washington,
held December 31, 1853, a resolution was passed authorizing the borough
council to subscribe for 500 shares.
   This time it looked as if the road would be a success, for the stock
was all subscribed. The route now followed by the Chartiers Valley
branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad from Pittsburgh to Washington was
surveyed and laid off in one-mile sections. Contracts were awarded and
the grading was started simultaneously on all sections. By this plan,
the officers expected to complete the line in a short time; but the work met
with many delays.
   On January 1, 1857, the report made by D. Mitchell, Jr., chief engineer,
showed that a total of $162,525.26 had been spent to date and that an
additional $88,139.45 would be needed during 1857. The engineer stated
that the grading could be completed by May 1, 1858, at an additional cost
of $88,309.40. This did not include the ballast, and it was estimated that
this, together with the bridges, rails, right-of-way and other incidentals
would require an additional $263,525.89.
   The panic of 1857 brought about the failure of the Chartiers Valley
Railroad Company. Money became very scarce and credit was almost
impossible to obtain. Its assets, consisting of the right-of-way and the
work already completed, were sold to William J. Howard, solicitor for
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, for $45,100. Construction work
had been stopped before the sale, and before the new owners could start,


790




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the Civil war broke out. This caused another delay, and it was not until
late in the sixties that the plans were again revived.
   This time, it was more successful. The Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany agreed to complete the road if the various communities interested
would take $5,000,000 worth of stock in a new company. Public meetings
were held in Washington, Canonsburg and other towns along the line and
committes were appointed to secure subscriptions; but the people were
slow to respond on account of the former failure, and it required much
hard work to sell the stock.
   The story of the final completion of the Chartiers Valley line reads like
a romance of western railroad building, accompanied by all of the ex-
citement of a new road in the early days. All of the lawlessness of con-
struction camps and grading gangs and the final public celebration in
the town of Washington when the first train arrived tell the final story
of a long forgotten romance of Pennsylvania railroad construction.
Indian fighting was the only thing lacking to give it a complete "Wild
Western" touch.
   True to its promise, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company started work
as soon as the stock was sold. The rails were laid on the old roadbed of
the Chartiers Valley Railroad Company which went down in the panic
of 1857. The Pittsburgh and Steubensville Railroad had been completed,
and construction work on the Chartiers Valley line was started at Mans-
field (now Carnegie). From there the original line surveyed up the
Chartiers Valley by Charles DeHass forty years before was followed,
and as fast as the rails were laid trains were run to the end of the track.
   For a hundred years following the English settlement of western
Pennsylvania the only means of transportation between Pittsburgh and
Washington was by stage coach and freight wagon, first over the old trail
and in later years by the Pittsburgh and Washington turnpike. The first
railroad from Washington to Pittsburgh had been opposed in 1831 because
the people were afraid that it would destroy traffic on the National Pike;
but by 1870 travel over this historic highway had ceased altogether, and
the only stage coaches seen in Washington were those of the old Havelock
line to Pittsburgh.
   Mr. Becker, chief engineer of the new railroad, pushed the work
rapidly, and as the rails were laid from Pittsburgh the stages from Wash-
ington met the train daily at the end of the track as it steadily advanced
towards the latter town.
   Early in December, 1870, a construction train steamed into Canons-
burg. This was the first train that ever entered that town, and it was
a great event in its history. It created more excitement than the arrival
of the first airplane there half a centruy later. A holiday was declared
and every man, woman and child turned out to greet it.
   The first shipment of live stock by rail from Washington County to
Pittsburgh was made December 8, 1870, by A. G. McPherson, a farmer
near Canonsburg. The train was in charge of Charles W. Paisley.
   On Monday, December 19, passenger service was established between
Pittsburgh and Canonsburg, and for the first time in the history of Wash-
ington the people were able to go to Pittsburgh and return the same day.
Two trains were run daily, each way. The first left Canonsburg at 7


791




















































































































































































































































































































......  ....
                          .. .. ... .. .




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


battle raged. The women took their places at the port holes and aided in
the defense. The Indians were repulsed with heavy loss at each attempt
to storm the fort. During the night an attempt was made to capture the
fort by storm, but this failed.
    Before dawn Captain Andrew Swearingen came down the river in a
 boat with fourteen men from Holliday's Cove, and just as the enemy was
 preparing for a last assault, these reinforcements entered the fort without
 loss. Andrew Swearingen was leader of a company of rangers from Wash-
 ington County, who patrolled the frontier at that time. They were all ex-
 perienced Indian fighters, and their entrance probably saved the fort.
    The next morning Major Samuel McColloch appeared with forty men
 from Van Metre's Fort on Short Creek, charged through the Indian lines
 and reached the fort, all except Major McColloch, who remained in the
 rear to see that all got in safely. But before he could ride into the stock-
 ade he was cut off by Indians, and was in danger of capture. Mounted on
 a powerful white horse he turned and dashed back over the road to the
 summit of Wheeling hill.
    Just when it looked as if he would escape, McColloch was confronted
by another band of Indians on the hill. With exultant yells, the savages
closed in on him from all sides. The only avenue of escape was over the
perpendicular cliff, nearly two hundred feet high, and to leap it seemed
certain death. But without a moment's hesitation the brave McColloch
turned his gallant steed and plunged over the precipice, followed by a
crashing of timber and the roar of falling rock. Rushing to the edge of
the cliff, the Indians naturally expected to see the daring white man
and his horse a shapeless mass of bruised flesh and broken bones in the
creek below; but to their astonishment he was galloping away across the
bottom.
   Some accounts state that Major McColloch entered the fort by riding
up the creek bottom and around the hill, while others say that he returned
to Short Creek. These reinforcements raised the siege, and the Indians
departed.
   The garrison suffered one wounded during the siege, but had lost fif-
teen brave men killed and five wounded when Mason's and Ogle's com-
mands were ambushed. It is estimated that the Indians lost between forty
and fifty.
   While it has nothing to do with our history, it is interesting to note
at this point that brave Captain Mason, whose command was almost wiped
out, afterwards became the leader of a notorious band of highwaymen and
river pirates on the Natchez Trace and at Cave-Inn-Rock, on the lower
Ohio. He was killed by two of his band in 1803 in Mississippi for the
large reward offered for him dead or alive.
   After the siege at Fort Henry, the garrison was strengthened by forty
men under Captain William Foreman. On September 26th smoke was
seen in the direction of Grave Creek Fort, now Moundsville, twelve miles
below Wheeling. Fearing Indians, Colonel Shepherd sent Captain Fore-
man and his company, forty-six men in all, to investigate. Everything
was found in order at Grave Creek, but when the company was returning
the next day it was ambushed by a war party of forty Wyandots at the
Narrows with a loss of twenty killed.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


o'clock in the morning, and the connecting stage left Washington at
6 o'clock. Pittsburgh was reached at 9:40. On the return trip it was
necessary to leave Pittsburgh at 3 o'clock. The train arrived at Canons-
burg at 5:45 and the coach reached Washington at 7:30.
   The afternoon train for Pittsburgh left Canonsburg at 1 o'clock, and
the stage coach left Washington at 11:30. The morning train from Pitts-
burgh reached Canonsburg at 10:15 o'clock, the stage arriving in Wash-
ington at noon. This was known as the Havelock line, owned by Edward
Sexton, the last stage coach proprietor in western Pennsylvania.
   The work was pushed rapidly that winter, and in a short time the
track's end had reached Ewing's Station, named in honor of John H.
Ewing, one of the promoters of the original Chartiers Valley Railroad
of forty years before. He gave the ground where the station and tracks
are located. Still standing on the hill north of the railroad at Meadow-
lands is his old home, a palatial residence of a hundred years ago. During
those weeks of the construction of the last lap of the road to Washington,
the stage coaches met the trains at Ewing's Station. The last spike was
driven in May, 1871, and on the 18th, the first through train was run from
Pittsburgh. The arrival of this train, which marked the completion of
the Chartiers Valley line after forty years of effort, was celebrated by the
people of Washington with the biggest demonstration in the history of
that town.
   On May 18th, the day of the formal opening of the road, an excursion
was run from Pittsburgh, and many persons from that city were among
the passenger on the first through train, which was made up of ten coaches
drawn by two gayly decorated locomotives. W. W. Card, assistant mana-
ger of the road, was in charge. The orders for transportation were issued
by J. N. McCullough, at that time general manager of the Pennsylvania
line west of Pittsburgh. The cars were arranged by Mr. Patterson of
Carnegie.
   A reception committee composed of prominent men and the borough
authorities of Washington, accompanied by Rankin's Cornet Band, left
that town in a special at 6:30 o'clock and met the Pittsburgh train at
Mansfield. The excursionists had the Great Western Bend of Pittsburgh.
Eight cars were packed when the train left Pittsburgh, and as it pro-
ceeded towards Washington more passengers were added at each stop
until all the cars and even the platform were crowded.
   The arrvial of the train at the old Chartiers station in Washington
at exactly one o'clock was an event long remembered. Both bands were
playing and the passengers were cheering and waving flags. The depot
grounds and the surrounding hills were black with people, and all of the
houses were decorated. A procession, headed by the two bands, was
formed, and it marched to the town hall, where a program was carried
out in honor of the event of the final completion after forty years of the
second railroad project in the United States. John H. Ewing was
the only one of that group of men who had       promoted   the orig-
inal Chartiers Valley Railroad in 1831 who lived to see the dream a
reality, and he was present at the celebration. Mr. Ewing called the
meeting to order and upon his recommendation Samuel Hazlett, chief
burgess of Washington, was made chairman. Judge George S. Hart, of


792





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Washington, made the address of welcome to the visitors, to which John
H. Hampton, of Pittsburgh, solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad re-
sponded. Mr. Ewing delivered the principal speech, after which dinner
was served at the Fulton and Valentine houses, the best hotels in Wash-
ington. The train left Washington on the return trip at 3:45 o'clock.
   Some of the city officials and business men from Pittsburgh and Alle-
gheny who attended that celebration over fifty years ago were: J. M.
Brush, mayor of Pittsburgh; Alex F. Callow, mayor of Allegheny; John
H. Hampton, solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; T. J.
Keenan, prothonotary of the supreme court; John Harper, of the old Bank
of Pittsburgh; C. B. Shea, of Joseph Horn & Co.; Judge E. H. Stowe,
postmaster, and J. H. Stewart, Hon. James Blackmore, Alderman W. B.
Neeper, James Veech, Rev. Dr. Passavant, Dr. Gross, Dr. Gilmore, S. F.
VonBonnhorst, J. P. Penny, Robert Woods, William Bageley, James Bryan,
James M. Cooper, William J. Alderson, David Reed, J. F. Slagle, W. G.
Johnston, Samuel Dalzell, J. H. Borland, Alexander Chambers, George A.
Berry, M. Porter, Rev. Dr. Pressley, Thomas J. Bigham, Rev. Dr. Davidson,
George R. White, W. K. Nimick, William M. Bell, Robert Finney, Samuel
H. Baird, Harvey Oliver, John Floyd, George Neeld, Dr. Arthurs, B. L.
Fahnstock, Alexander Gordon, James McCord, Joseph Weldin, John Chal-
fant, and Charles Spang.
   The Hempfield Railroad Company was the first company that entered
Washington in the early '50s. It was incorporated under an act passed
May 15, 1850, to construct a railroad from Greensburg to West Newton
with authority to build branches to Washington and Allegheny counties.
   On March 14, 1851, the company was incorporated in Virginia. Under
the Pennsylvania act, the Hempfield Railroad Company was organized
in January, 1851. T. M. T. McKennan, of Washington County, who has
already been mentioned, was employed to select a route between Wash-
ington and Wheeling. Five surveys were made before the final location
was decided upon. Mr. Knight was unable to accept the position of
chief engineer and Charles Ellet, Jr., was appointed.
   By November 17, 1857, a total of $754,000 had been subscribed by
Ohio County, Virginia, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and by vari-
ous individuals. Construction work was started in 1851 and on Novem-
ber 19, 1859, it was reported at a stockholders' meeting that the first nine
miles east of Wheeling were ready for the rails and that the first rail
had been laid October 23.
   A locomotive had been purchased from the Morristown Railroad Com-
pany and was being used in the construction work. A total of $1,247,200
had been expended on the construction work of a roadbed between Wheel-
ing and Greensburg up to that time. The estimated cost of the road be-
tween Wheeling and Washington, including stations and equipment, was
$1,434,000, of which $983,500 had already been expended. The road was
not completed until September 30, 1857, into Washington, when the first
passenger train ran the entire length of the new road from Wheeling to
Washington.
   It is interesting to note at this time that the Reporter, on October 7,
1857, had the following very brief notice of this important event: "The
Hempfield Railroad is finished at this place and the cars are now running


793




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


regularly every day, Sunday not excepted, from this place to Wheeling.
We expect in a few days to let our readers know the time of starting
of the train and also the fare from the various points of the road. We
will also inform them of shipping rates."
    Another interesting announcement of the progress of the road ap-
peared in the Reporter on October 14, 1857, as follows: "This road is
now in pretty good running order and will in a short time be put in fine
order from this place to Wheeling. The cars run regularly every day
from this place to Wheeling, leaving Washington at 2 P. M. each day
and returning-leaving Wheeling every morning at 9 o'clock. The freight
business of Washington seems to be centering in Wheeling. Scarcely
a day passes that there is not one or more loads of lumber brought by the
cars, and farmers and others find it much easier to ship lumber by the
railroad than by the old fashioned way of wagoning it from Pittsburgh.
Unless Pittsburgh does something to the Chartiers Railroad soon, she
will lose the entire trade of Washington."
   But in spite of this prediction, it was fourteen years before the Char-
tiers Railroad was completed. The crew which brought that first train
to Washington, September 30, 1869, was composed of Capt. J. C. McCoy,
conductor; Frank Moran, engineer; L. W. Stockton, express manager;
and Jacob Cline and Joseph McIlwaine, brakemen. The last survivor of
this train crew, Jacob Cline, died in Washington about ten years ago.
Mr. Cline was employed by the Hempfield Railroad Company from 1857
to 1864.
    In describing this train in later years Mr. Cline stated that it was
made up of three cars, two passenger coaches and a baggage car. Soon
after this, a combination freight and passenger train was running. The
brakemen were obliged to load and unload the heavy freight at different
points along the line. In its earlier years the train made one round trip
a day between Washington and Wheeling, leaving the latter place in the
morning and returning in the evening. Passengers from here to Wheel-
ing were compelled to remain overnight in the latter place, and on peti-
tion the schedule was changed to make Washington the night stop. It
took three hours to make the trip one way.
   Like all other railroads in those days and for many years after, the
Hempfield was built by Irishmen. During the construction period the
camps were erected just west of Washington at what is now the entrance
to the B. & 0. cut at West Chestnut Street. Many of these Irishmen
remained in Washington and vicinity after the road was completed, and
among their descendants are some of the prominent people of this section.
During the early years of the road the service was anything but good.
When a passenger started from Wheeling he was not sure just when he
would reach Washington. The story is told that on one occasion, during
the Civil war, two cavalrymen returning to Washington on furlough,
rode on the track ahead of the train from Wheeling for several miles,
refusing to leave the rails in spite of the repeated toots of the whistle.
After delaying the train for several hours, they permitted it to pass them.
   The history of the Hempfield Railroad Company, like that of all other
first railroads, shows that it was not a financial success. In 1855 the


794




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


company had issued bonds and mortgaged the road and in 1861 fore-
closure proceedings were started and the road placed in charge of trustees.
   In 1871 the Supreme Court ordered the sale of the road and in June
it was purchased by John King, Jr., of Baltimore, vice-president of the
B. & 0., for $131,000. Mr. King and others whom he represented held
bonds of the road to the amount of 880,000, many of which had been
purchased below 15%1 of their face value.
   The old line between Washington and Greensburg was graded but
never constructed, and to this day cuts and fills may be seen through the
county at various points, as far as California, where a large amount of
stone work and bridges were constructed. Several large stone piers
far cross the Monongahela River stood at California until recent years.
   After the purchase of the Hempfield railroad by Mr. King, the com-
pany was reorganized under the name of the Wheeling-Pittsburgh and
Baltimore Railroad Company. The intention was to connect with the
main line of the B. & O. to Dawson station. The Ohio and Baltimore
Short Line Railroad Company was organized and some construction
started in 1873, but it was soon stopped on account of the money panic
that year. The company was reorganized May 5, 1881, with a capital of
$1,000,000 and construction started again over the old route, east of
Washington. The work advanced rapidly, and almost the entire distance
was graded and a number of piers were built; but in 1882 it was sus-
pended again and nothing more was ever done. Later the B. & O. Rail-
road acquired the old Hempfield and the Pittsburgh Southern and a new
road was built through from Wheeling to Pittsburgh.
   The Pittsburgh Southern Railroad Company was first organized in
1876 as the Pittsburgh-Castle Shannon and Washington Railroad Com-
pany and in July, 1877, the construction of a narrow gauge railroad was
started between Washington and Pittsburgh. The road was completed
in 1879 and the name changed to the Pittsburgh Southern Railroad, and
an extension was planned to run from Virginia junction, south through
Bentleyville and Hillsboro to Morgantown. Work was started on this
branch and after some construction it was suspended and never resumed.
George P. Hays, president of Washington and Jefferson College at that
time, and Frank Cammerer were the promoters of this railroad. Mr. Hays
believed that the branch to Morgantown would prove a big success in
taking people from that place to Pittsburgh. It is interesting to note at
this point that thirty years after Mr. Hays projected this branch, the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company laid out what is now known as the
Chartiers Southern, which crosses the National Pike at about the point
where Mr. Hays expected his road to cross. Like all the former rail-
roads, the Chartiers Southern was never completed.
   The Pittsburgh Southern met with financial troubles and was soon
sold in a sheriff's sale to James H. Hopkins. On January 7, 1885, it was
sold to Thomas M. King of the B. & 0. for $50,000. Mr. King almost
immediately turned it over to the B. & 0. and a broad gauge track was
laid between Washington and Pittsburgh over an almost new route, many
of the grades and curves of the narrow gauge being eliminated. What
were the old Pittsburgh Southern and Hempfield railroads are now part
of the main road of the B. & O. between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.


795




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The Pittsburgh and Steubenville Railroad Company was chartered
 March 24, 1849, and construction was started in 1852 but was suspended
 in 1855. It was recommenced by King and Thompson, contractors, in
 1857 for the Western Transportation Company. This company also met
 with many financial difficulties, and after many delays and changes of
 ownership the road was completed in October, 1865; but in May, 1868,
 the Pittsburgh and Steubenville, the Panhandle and Hollowday, St. Louis
 and Cincinnati and Indiana railroads were consolidated into the Pitts-
 burgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad.
    By the addition of other railroads, another consolidation was effected
June 10, 1890, and the name changed to the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chi-
cago and St. Louis Railroad Company. The old Pittsburgh and Steuben-
ville railroad across northern Washington County was then made the
main line. A number of branch lines have been constructed from this
road to the various coal mines in that section of the county.
   The Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston railway was built by the
Monongahela Valley Railroad Company, which was organized April 8,
1867, with authority to build a railroad from Pittsburgh to Rices Land-
ing. The name was changed February 4, 1870, to the Pittsburgh, Vir-
ginia and Charleston Railway Company and construction of the road com-
menced the same year. In 1873 it was completed as far as Monongahela
city, and the first train steamed into that place before the close of the
year. Construction work was slow during the last few years and it was
not until May, 1881, that the road reached Brownsville, but it was not
continued to Rices Landing as originally planned. In May, 1879, the
Pennsylvania railroad purchased the franchises of the company and
changed the name to Monongahela Division, and on January 11, 1905,
the old Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston was formally merged with
the Pennsylvania.
   The Uniontown branch was started by the Pennsylvania company
in January, 1881, from West Brownsville across the Monongahela River,
thence to Uniontown.
   The Pennsylvania, Monongahela and Southern Railroad Company was
organized October 27, 1902, to construct a railroad along the west bank
of the Monongahela River from West Brownsville to Rices Landing. The
Pennsylvania Railroad Company immediately brought action to stop the
new road, but the court decided that the Pennsylvania had forfeited its
right to the west bank by building on the east bank, so the Pennsylvania,
Monongahela and Southern railroad was constructed from West Browns-
ville to Rices Landing, with a branch from Millsboro up Tenmile Creek
to Besco. A short time later it was taken over by the Pennsylvania
company.
   The Waynesburg and Washington Railroad Company was organized
May 18, 1875, for the purpose of connecting Washington with the Greene
County capital by a narrow gauge railroad, 271/2 miles long. The work
of construction was started immediately and on September 17, 1877, the
track crossed the Greene County line and the first locomotive, christened
"The General Greene," steamed into that county. The road reached
Waynesburg about October 1, 1877, and trains commenced running regu-
larly between Washington and Waynesburg. The cost of construction


796




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was $4,975 per mile. This road for many years past has been under the
control of the Pennsylvania company.
   In 1885 the Chartiers and Waynesburg roads in Washington were
connected by a link from Main to Chestnut streets known as the Chartiers
connecting railroad. This was a separate company, originally. The
original charter to it was granted April 4, 1868, and renewed November
21, 1881. Work was not started until June, 1885, after 818,000 had been
paid to property owners for the right of way. A dispute arose between
this company and the B. & O. over a lot which the latter owned at the
Maiden Street trestle. An injunction secured by the B. & O. stopped
work for a short time. However, Judge Hart granted permission to the
Chartiers Connecting Railway Company to lay one track over the trestle
pending the final injunction hearing. Workmen started to lay the track
immediately and at 9:30 o'clock in the evening of August 6, 1885, the
first engine passed over the trestle.
   The connecting railroad between the B. & 0. and the Chartiers up
the Gordon Valley from Tylerdale to a point just west of the B. & 0.
cut in West Washington was first started December 7, 1895, but work
was stopped by Benjamin Clark through whose land the road passed.
Mr. Clark afterwards gave permission for the right of way when as-
sured that the road was to be constructed. This road was completed as
planned and is now known as the Connecting railway.
   The Wabash railroad was constructed through Cecil, Mount Pleasant,
Cross Creek and Jefferson townships in 1903. This was through un-
developed territory from Steubenville through to West Virginia, passing
through Hickory, Bishop and Novella in this county. During the con-
struction work, Samuel Ferguson, of the Ferguson Construction Com-
pany, which had a contract for a section of the road, was murdered and
robbed near West Middletown. This has been related in another chapter.
The road was finally completed through this county in July, 1904, when
the first through train was run from Pittsburgh.
   A charter was granted to the Buffalo, Taylorstown and State Line
Railroad Company on December 5, 1905, which planned to construct a
line from Taylorstown, down Buffalo Creek to West Virginia. However,
this was never anything more than a "paper railroad."
   About 1908 the Chartiers Southern railroad was started from the
Pennsylvania at a point in Vanemon Station. This line was surveyed
directly across Washington County to Greene County, the intention being
to open up large coal fields in both counties. The roadbed was con-
structed, trestles built, cuts made and large concrete piers put in during
the course of the next few years. Rails were laid for a distance from
the junction just before the World war broke out, when construction
was stopped on account of the scarcity of labor, and the work was never
resumed. This road goes up the little Chartiers Valley, crosses the
Monongahela Pike at Eightyfour and goes under the National Pike
through a long trestle near Odell. It is doubtful if a road ever will be
built, due to the advent of the automobile as a means of transportation.
   The Marianna Division of the Pennsylvania railroad was built from
Monongahela city up the Pidgeon Creek Valley to the main town of
Marianna in 1909 and 1910. This road goes by way of Bentleyville. A


797




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


feature is the means by which it goes under the National Pike, one mile
east of Scenery Hill. Instead of making a trestle, a deep cut was put in
at that point and the concrete bridge constructed for the pike. This cut
is several hundred feet long and the highest point where the bridge
crosses is 92 feet deep.





                        CHAPTER LXXXVI.

            NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES AND BOOKS.

NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN THE COUNTY FROM 1795 TO 1924-MONTHLY
    AND QUARTERLY MAGAZINES-BOOKS PUBLISHED IN THE COUNTY
    -WASHINGTON COUNTY AUTHORS.
    A total of thirty-three newspapers have been started in Washington
during the past 131 years of its newspaper history. In the early days,
or until The Reporter was changed to a daily on August 4, 1876, all of the
newspapers here were published weekly and two were issued only once a
month. Of this total of thirty-three only two dailies, The Reporter and
The Observer, and one weekly, The Red and Black, published by the
students of Washington and Jefferson College, have survived the passing
years. Twenty-nine of these thirty-three were started as weeklies, four
of which were afterwards changed to dailies. Four others were started
as dailies in later years, making a total of eight daily newspapers since
August 4, 1876.
   The newspaper history of Washington began August 17, 1795, when
John Colerick, William Hunter and W. H. Beaumont published the first
issue of The Western Telegraphe and Washington Advertiser, the first
newspaper in Washington County and one of the first west of the Alle-
ghany Mountains. In fact, The Pittsburgh Gazette was about the only
other newspaper published in the "Western Country" at that time. Like
all of the pioneer newspapers of the mountains, it was a weekly and con-
sisted of only four pages. It was an ultra-federalist journal with the
motto, "Free, but not licentious." The office was located nearly opposite
the old market house which then stood at the corner of Main and West
Beau streets.
   This was the beginning of the printing business in Washington; for
the firm of Colerick, Hunter and Beaumont published a number of books.
Washington was then a frontier village of log cabins. The old Brad-
ford House, which is still standing on South Main Street, was the finest
building in town. The majority of the houses were log cabins, and it
was in one of these that The Western Telegraphe was published.
   The publishers also opened a book store, the first in Washington, and
on January 5, 1796, advertised as follows: "We have completed the
necessary arrangements for carrying on the book-binding business and
we are prepared to put a spelling-book on the market." In that month


798




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


it was issued,-"Mrs. Barbaud's Lessons," the first book ever published
in Washington. The following books were published by this firm: June
28, 1796, "Dilworth's Spelling Book Improved," price twenty-five cents;
October 8, 1796, "The New England Primer;" January, 1797, "Bever-
idge's Private Thoughts;" May, 1797, "The Gentleman's Pocket Farrier,"
price twenty cents.
   On May 17, 1797, John Colerick bought out the interest of his partners
in the paper and continued the publication. On June 6, 1797, William
Hunter and W. H. Beaumont notified the public by advertisement in The
Western Telegraphe that they had been invited to establish a newspaper
in Washington, Kentucky, which they intended to publish as a "Royal
Sheet in folio."
   John Colerick continued to publish The Western Telegraphe until
1808, when he died. Alexander Armstrong then took charge as editor,
publishing it for the family of the late John Colerick and himself, which
would indicate that he, Armstrong, had an interest in it.
   Just when The Western Telegraphe discontinued publication is not
known, as there are no complete files of it in existence. The last issue
which is still preserved was published on Thursday, June 20, 1811, but
it is known to have existed after that date, probably until some time
in 1812.
   The only copies of The Western Telegraphe in existence are in the
possession of the Washington County Historical Society and are con-
tained in two bound volumes and a few single copies. The first bound
volume begins with the issue of August 30, 1796, volume II, No. 53, and
ends with Tuesday, August 7, 1797, volume II, No. 105. This was pre-
sented by the Grayson estate in June, 1905. The other volume begins
with the issue of Tuesday, December 29, 1795, volume I, No. 20, and ends
with Tuesday, July 8, 1797, volume II, No. 101. This also contains the
issue of Thursday, June 20, 1811, the last known copy in existence. The
single copies are for March 19, August 13 and December 24, 1804; August
19 and December 23, 1805; July 21 and November 15, 1806; August 14,
1807; October 21, 1808, and January 11, 1810. The subscription price
of The Western Telegraphe was two dollars per annum. These old papers
contain many valuable records of the early history of Washington and
the county which are not found in any other source.
   The next newspaper published in Washington was The Herald of
Liberty, which made its first appearance February 6, 1798. It was estab-
lished by one John Israel in a building on Main Street (then Market)
opposite the courthouse. This paper contained four pages of four columns
each. In politics it was evidently independent, for it contained articles
criticizing both the federalists and the democrats. On February 11, 1799,
in volume II, No. 59, the circulation is given at 1,296 papers, and in-
creasing.
   Books also were published by John Isreal, and on February 12, 1799,
he issued "A Dose for Federalists, or the Letters of Curtius," together
with "A Pill for Democrats," vulgarly called the "Alien and Sedition
Laws," price "eleven-penny bit." Other volumes that appeared from time
to time from this office were as follows:
   "A Defense of Believers' Baptism with a reply to the arguments made


799




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


use of against it in a public dispute held at Georges Creek, Fayette
County, September 29, 1797, between Rev. V. Cook, Methodist preacher,
and John Corbley, pastor of the Baptist Church, Muddy Creek, Greene
County," published June 12, 1799.
   "A Touch at the Times," price six cents, published November 25,
1799.
   "An Introduction to English Grammar Designed for the Use of
Schools," published April 4, 1800.
   On August 16, 1800, John Isreal & Co. began the publication of The
Tree of Liberty, a weekly newspaper in Pittsburgh, but how long it was
continued is not known. The publication office of The Herald of Liberty
was removed in February, 1801, to the property of Daniel Moore at the
southwest corner of what is now South Main and West Wheeling streets.
Just how long this paper continued is not known, but it was after January
18, 1802, as there are copies of that issue in existence. Nothing more is
known of John Isreal, the editor and publisher, than is given here.
   The Reporter is one of the very few newspapers in the United States
that has been in continuous existence for 117 years, and it is the second
oldest west of the Alleghany Mountains. It was founded in Washing-
ton, August 15, 1808, as a weekly, and it continued as a weekly until
August 4, 1876, when it was changed to a daily as an experiment, and
proved very successful. The proprietors and editors of The Reporter
follow: William Sample and William B. Brown, August 15, 1808, to
February, 1810; William Sample, February, 1810, to July 1, 1833 (Mr.
Sample served in the War of 1812, and from May 31, 1819, to May 28,
1821, Samuel Workman was editor while Mr. Sample was prothonotary
of Washington County; B. S. Stewart and George W. Acheson, July 1,
1833, to November 3, 1835; John Ramsey and S. B. Robinson, November
3, 1835, to November 1, 1836; Uriah W. Wise, November 1, 1836, to
November 9, 1839; John Bausman, November 9, 1839, to April 22, 1848;
John Bausman and J. W. F. White, April 22, 1848, to February 16, 1852;
John Bausman, February 16, 1852, to February 16, 1856; James G. and
Robert Strean, February 16, 1856, to 1858; William S. Moore, Robert
Strean, and Enos L. Christman, 1858 to March 28, 1860; William S.
Moore, H. A. Purviance, James Armstrong and Enos L. Christman, March
28, 1860, to August 30, 1863, when Colonel Purviance was killed in battle
(James Armstrong also enlisted and was colonel of the 100th P. V. I. at
the close of the war) ; William S. Moore, James Armstrong and Enos L.
Christman (the latter also in the army), from August 30, 1863, to No-
vember 20, 1867; William S. Moore, J. W. McWilliams and Maj. Enos
L. Christman, November 20, 1867, to February 11, 1869; William S.
Moore, James R. Kelley and Maj. Enos L. Christman, February 11, 1869,
to April, 1873; William S. Moore and Maj. Enos L. Christman, April,
1873, to October, 1877; Maj. Enos L. Christman and Alexander Gow,
October, 1877, to January, 1878; Maj. Enos L. Christman, to 1891; Christ-
man Publishing Company, 1891 to May, 1902; William Christman, May,
1902, to January 1, 1903; Observer Publishing Company, January 1,
1903, to the present time, with John L. Stewart, president, owning the
controlling interest. Minor H. Day, the present managing editor, has
been connected with The Reporter since 1890 and has served as editor


800




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


since 1892. Howard L. Christman, the present advertising manager, is
the third generation of this family connected with the newspaper. He is
a grandson of Maj. Enos L. Christman and a son of William Christman,
who was long connected with the paper. In 1922 and 1923 the Observer
Publishing Company erected its present building and moved in in May,
1923. This is one of the finest newspaper plants in the state. Both The
Reporter and The Observer are published by this company. John L.
Stewart is also president of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers'
Association.
    It is interesting to note in connection with this newspaper that on
 December 25, 1885, there was living in Washington an old typesetter
 named James McDermott, aged 91 years, who had worked on The Re-
 porter sixty-seven years before.
    The Western Corrector, a democratic weekly newspaper, was pub-
 lished in Washington about 1809. Just when it began is not known, as
 no copies have been preserved, but in the assessment list for 1809 Thomas
 Thompson is listed as its editor. This is the first record of the paper.
 It is known to have been in existence in 1811, when some handbills were
 printed at its office for David Redick, advertising lands in Beaver County.
 No further records of it have been found.
    The Washingtonian, founded December 15, 1812, was the sixth weekly
 newspaper established in Washington. It was published by James A.
 Bayard, Jr., on Market (now Main) Street, opposite The Recorder's
 office. It contained four pages of four columns each. How long it con-
 tinued is not known, as the only known copy is of the issue of Tuesday
 morning, December 15, 1812, volume I, No. 1. This copy is now in the pos-
 session of the Washington County Historical Society. The subscription
 price was two dollars per annum.
    The Patriot, was in existence in 1816, but nothing is known beyond
the mention of it in The Reporter for January 15, 1816. Who published it
or how long it lasted cannot be stated. This had nothing to do with The
Washington Patriot, established in 1845, which is mentioned later.
   The Mercury, was another weekly newspaper published in Washington
at an early date. There are no copies of it known to be in existence. All
that is known is the mention of this paper in other newspapers published
in Washington in 1812.
   The Washington Examiner, founded by John Grayson, was for many
years one of the leading newspapers in the county. The first issue ap-
peared May 28, 1817. There was no democratic newspaper in Wash-
ington at that time. Mr. Grayson was a newspaper man in Baltimore in
1817, but he preferred to live in a smaller place. On March 4, 1817,
William Findlay was nominated as democratic governor of Pennsylvania.
A friend notified Mr. Grayson that a democratic newspaper was about
to be started in Washington to support Mr. Findlay, and that an editor
was wanted to take charge. Mr. Grayson took the matter up with George
Baird, of Washington, with the result that the former agreed to manage
the paper. Mr. Grayson went from Baltimore to Philadelphia, where he
purchased type, presses and other material and forwarded them to Wash-
ington. Mr. Baird himself arrived here by stage coach May 10, 1817, and
       51-V1


801





















































    A war poster by the Americans during the Revolution to illustrate the practice
( f the British in buying s-alps of white sett!ers from the Indians. This was discovered
in 1921 in the attic of the old Langley building. South Main Street, Washington, Pa.,
just before it was razed to make room for the George Washington hotel. It is the
only one known to be in existence.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


on the 28th, he issued the first number of The Examiner, with a subscrip-
tion list of 400 to start with.
   The first office of The Examiner was in an old frame building that
stood on the lot occupied by the old Masonic Hall, now the residence of
Dr. W. D. Teagarden, on West Maiden Street. It is interesting to note
that the paper used was manufactured at the old Redstone paper mill in
Fayette County, from which Mr. Grayson often secured it personally,
bringing only enough for a week's supply at a trip.
   On July 9, 1817, the office was removed to South Main Street, two doors
south of "The Sign of the Buck" tavern, the old stone building that oc-
cupied the site of the present Morgan apartments just below the corner of
East Maiden Street, and on April 1, 1818, it was removed to the second
floor of the old market house. It remained there until April 28, 1827,
when it was removed to the old Masonic lodge Hall, a stone building that
stood in the rear of the Grayson home, on the east side of South Main
Street, just north of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, where it remained
for many years.
   John Grayson was sole proprietor of The Examiner until November
18, 1833, when William Jack purchased an interest; but on May 14, 1836,
he retired, and Mr. Grayson again became sole proprietor. On May 18,
1839, he took his son, Thomas W. Grayson, in as a partner. The paper
was published by them until June 6, 1840, when John Grayson sold his in-
terest to Cornelius C. Kaine, and retired. Mr. Kaine had just purchased
Our Country, another local paper, from Thomas Morgan, and he combined
this with The Examiner.
   From June 6, 1840, until September 14, 1844, The Examiner was pub-
lished every Saturday morning by Grayson and Kaine. During the period
from June 25, 1842, until September 14, 1844, Thomas W. Grayson was the
editor. On September 21, 1844, James B. Ruple purchased Mr. Kaine's
interest. Mr. Kaine will be remembered as the author of "The Grave of
Catflesh," "Braddock's Fields" and other poems of that time. He went
from here to Pittsburgh.
   Mr. Ruple remained with The Examiner until November 11, 1848,
when he sold his interest to Andrew Hopkins; and on May 2, 1853, Mr.
Hopkins sold his interest to George S. Hart. The latter remained with
the paper until December 20, 1856, when he sold his interest to Adam
Ecker, the father of W. H. Ecker, one of the present county commissioners.
   The paper was published under the firm name of Grayson & Ecker
until December 31, 1859, when Thomas W. Grayson sold his interest to
John R. Donehoo. Mr. Grayson had been active editor for twenty years.
   The firm of Ecker and Donehoo published The Examiner until August
20, 1863, when Mr. Donehoo sold his interest to D. F. Patterson, after-
wards an attorney at the local bar and in Pittsburgh. The firm of Ecker
and Patterson published the paper until October 4, 1865, when it was con-
solidated with The Washington Weekly Review, the other leading demo-
cratic newpaper in Washington. Mr. Patterson retired and William Swan,
proprietor and editor of the Review, became a partner.
   The firm of Swan and Ecker then launched The Washington Review
and Examiner, by which name the paper was known until it ceased pub-
lication some twenty years later. The office was moved to the Swan build-


802





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ing, which stood at the corner of South Main Street and East Cherry
Alley until razed last year to make room for the George Washington
Hotel.  The printing establishment was in the small two-story brick
building at the rear. The paper was continued by this firm until the
death of Mr. Swan, October 10, 1876. Mr. Ecker continued the publica-
tion of the paper until January 31, 1877, when it was sold by Mr. Ecker
at public sale in front of the courthouse to Andrew Hopkins, a prominent
resident of Washington at that time.
   Shortly afterwards Mr. Hopkins took in W. C. Lyne, of Pittsburgh,
as a partner and they published the paper until Mr. Hopkins' death, March
5, 1880. For a short time during this period John Swan, a son of the late
William Swan, who had been one of the owners for many years, was
editor. After Mr. Hopkins' death John M. Cooper managed the paper
until it was purchased by Hon. John M. Stockdale about 1881, and he
ran it until about 1887.
   Again it was sold, and this time it passed into the hands of Rufus
Wilson, of Pittsburgh, and a man named Alexander. The office was
moved to the second floor of the Bartlett building, on West Maiden Street
just west of the Auld Hotel stable. Wilson and his partner changed it
to a daily and ran it for about a year, when it ceased publication, and it
has never been revived.
   With the exception of The Reporter, this newspaper was in existence
longer than any other in Washington. It was always democratic, and for
many years it was the leading organ of that party in this county. The files
from the first issue on May 28, 1817, down to January 31, 1877, when it
was sold by Adam H. Ecker, have all been preserved complete and are
now in the rooms of the Washington County Historical Society.
   The Democratic Eagle was started in Washington by Thomas Morgan
in 1827, the first issue being on September 15. This paper was published
every Saturday. Just how long it continued is not known. The only
copies of it known to be in existence are those beginning Saturday, March
22, 1828, volume I, No. 27, and ending with Monday, March 16, 1829,
volume II, No. 26. These are bound and are in the collection of the Wash-
ington County Historical Society. It is more than probable that it ceased
publication with the issue of March 16, 1829, for it contains a notice to
the effect that "the ill health of the principal person employed in this
office has occasioned an irregular publication of the paper and it is un-
certain when the next will issue." It is stated that this number completes
the third half year.
   The Luminary, was a democratic weekly newspaper started in Wash-
ington in 1834 by William Appleton and William H. Cornwall. Little is
known of it as there are no copies in existence.
   Our Country, published by Thomas Jefferson Morgan, was the next
newspaper venture in Washington. The first issue was on June 6, 1835.
It was democratic in politics, and the first number contains the names
of Martin Van Buren for President, Richard M. Johnson for Vice Pres-
ident, and Henry A. Muhlenburg for governor.
   During the summer of 1836 the editor, Thomas Jefferson Morgan,
who came from the family of fighting Morgans of Revolutionary fame,
recruited a company in Washington to serve in the Texas revolution, which


803




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was then being waged. He left his brother, William Duane Morgan, in
charge of the publication and editorial chair of Our Country, and marched
away to Texas.
    This company arrived in Texas too late to take any part in the war;
 but Thomas J. Morgan received a captain's commission in the Texas
 army from Gen. Sam Houston and remained in the service of the new
 republic for several months. He returned to Washington in September,
 1837. The issue of Our Country for September 27, 1837, states that the
 paper was then "printed and published by T. Jeff. & Wm. D. Morgan."
    Just how long Our Country was published by the Morgans, is not
known. The files of this paper beginning with the first issue, June 6,
1835, and including the issue of May 22, 1839, are bound and in the pos-
session of the Washington County Historical Society. The Morgan broth-
ers were the publishers on May 22, 1839, and as nothing is said in that
issue regarding any change of ownership, it is believed that they con-
tinued for some time afterwards.
    Although the name of Thomas Jefferson Morgan appears as one of
the publishers, it is evident that the active management was under William
Duane Morgan after the return of Thomas from Texas; for in December,
1837, Thomas was appointed chief clerk in the postoffice at Columbus,
Ohio, where he was studying law. He was admitted to the bar there in
1841 and became very successful. In 1847 he was appointed secretary of
the United States legation at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under Governor
David Todd, of Ohio. He died of yellow fever at Rio de Janeiro, March
30, 1850. The uniform which he wore is in the collection of the Wash-
ington County Historical Society.
   Both Thomas Jefferson and William Duane Morgan were sons of
Thomas Morgan, who started The Democratic Eagle in 1827. He was a
son of Col. George Morgan, the founder of Morganza and the first United
States Indian agent for the Western department, with headquarters at
Fort Pitt during the Revolution. Prior to that he had been an Indian
trader in the Western country. The house built by him at Morganza in
1796 is still standing.
   Some time after May 22, 1839, Thomas Morgan, the father and the
man who had published The Democratic Eagle in 1827, took charge of
Our Country, and he published it until May 30, 1840, when he sold it to
Cornelius C. Kaine, who has already been mentioned in connection with
The Examiner. On June 6, 1840, John Grayson, the founder of The Ex-
aminer sold his interest in that paper to Mr. Kaine, who immediately
combined Our Country with The Examiner, which was published by
Thomas W. Grayson and Cornelius C. Kaine, who published that paper
until September 14, 1844.
   It is interesting to note here that just under the head of Our Coun-
try, the following slogan appeared: "Error of opinion may be tolerated
so long as reason is left free to combat it.-Jefferson." This same slogan
was adopted many years ago by The Observer and is still used.
   The Western Pennsylvanian was a monthly literary newspaper which
is supposed to have been published in Washington in 1835. All that is
known of this publication is contained in a small advertisement in The
Examiner for May 30, 1835, in which it is stated that T. W. Haynes prc-


804




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


poses "to publish monthly in pamphlet form, a Newspaper devoted to
Poetry, News, Science, Literature, Morality, Temperance, Liberty, and
Christianity, at one dollar per annum, payable upon the receipt of the
first number. It will be styled 'The Western Pennsylvanian' and will be
issued from the office of 'The Examiner.' " Whether this paper ever
appeared is not known, as no further mention of it is found.
   The Champion of Whig Principles was a strong whig paper started
in Washington in 1844, with John Bausman as editor. Little is known
of this paper as there is only one known copy in existence, the issue of
September 25, 1844, which is in the possession of the Washington County
Historical Society. Whether it was a weekly, a monthly or just issued
occasionally during the presidential campaign of 1844 is not known. The
copy mentioned is No. 20, but it does not state how often it was pub-
lished. The price was twelve and a half cents.
   The Washington Patriot was an abolitionist newspaper established in
Washington in 1845 by Dr. Francis J. LeM.oyne, one of the anti-slavery
leaders in the United States in his day, and a pioneer of this cause in
Western Pennsylvania. Several copies are in the possession of the Wash-
ington County Historical Society, the first being the issue of Saturday,
November 29, 1845, volume I, No. 33. This would make the date of the
first issue April 19, 1845. The subscription price was 82 a year in ad-
vance, or 82.50 if payment was delayed until the end of the year. It was
a strong anti-slavery paper and was a four-page paper of six columns.
The first place of publication was on Main Street, one door north of Beau
Street. Some time in the summer of 1846 this was changed to "the sec-
ond story of the building occupied by Dr. R. P. Lane, on Main Street,
immediately opposite the Mansion House." By 1848 the office was located
"in the building occupied by Major McFarland as a wool warehouse, on
Main Street, nearly opposite the Mansion House." During that year the
day of publication was Friday instead of Saturday. The last known copy
is dated December 22, 1848. It ceased publication April 6, 1849, for lack
of support. Russell Errett was the editor during all the years of its
publication.
   The Advance and Day Spring was published in 1845 by W. H. T.
Barnes. Nothing more is known of it.
   The Commonwealth, a democratic weekly newspaper founded in
Washington early in July, 1848, by Seth T. Hurd, is still well remem-
bered by the old-time residents. The first office was located in Oak Hall,
which stood at the northwest corner of Main and West Beau streets on
the site of Smith's Iron Hall. In 1851 Mr. Hurd sold a half interest to
George C. Stough, of Berks County, who shortly afterwards purchased
the entire paper. Mr. Hurd afterwards went to Brownsville and in June,
1853, started The Brownsville Clipper. Major E. L. Christman came to
Washington in 1852 and in November purchased a half interest in The
Commonwealth from Mr. Stough. This firm published the paper until
Mr. Stough's death in December, 1855. Joseph S. Clokey bought Mr.
Stough's interest and he and Mr. Christman continued the publication un-
til February 4, 1857, when Mr. Clokey sold his interest to Hon. William
S. Moore. The firm of Moore and Christman continued the paper until
March 24, 1858, the date of the last issue, when it was consolidated with


805




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


The Reporter, which was then published by Strean, Moore & Co. Mr.
Christman retained his interest but took no active part in the work.
The Commonwealth was started as a whig paper, but when the republi-
can party was first started in 1856 it came out strongly in favor of its
candidates. The office was removed from Oak Hall in 1857 to the Mounts
Building on South Main Street, where The Reporter was located after
1858. It was published every Wednesday at $2 a year.
   The Washington Weekly Review was a democratic newspaper started
by William Swan and William Ritezel, October 9, 1851. It contained
four pages, 20 by 26 inches, and eight columns. The subscription was
$1.50 in advance or $2 within the year. It was published every Thurs-
day morning "a few doors south of the Mansion House, on the west side
of Main Street, on the second floor." Early in June, 1853, Mr. Swan
went to California, going across the plains, and Barnet W. Lacy took his
place as one of the editors of The Review. Mr. Swan, however, retained
his interest in the paper. From June 9, 1853, until June 8, 1854, the
paper was issued under the editorial management of Ritezel and Lacy.
Mr. Swan returned from California in 1854, reaching Washington on
June 3. He purchased the interest of his partner, William Ritezel, and
became sole proprietor and editor with the issue of June 15, 1854. Mr.
Swan remained editor and proprietor of the paper until it was consoli-
dated with The Examiner on October 4, 1865, and it was published for
nearly twenty-five years thereafter under the name of The Review and
Examiner. Mr. Swan and Adam H. Ecker were the editors of The Re-
view and Examiner until the former's death in 1876.
   The Collegian was issued in 1852 by Barnet W. Lacy as editor. Prac-
tically nothing is known of this paper except that it must have been very
short-lived, as Mr. Lacy became one of the editors of The Review on June
9, 1853. In its politics is was democratic.
   The American Republic and Spirit, issued in 1853 by the American
Association, was also democratic. It was evidently published only a short
time, as it was not in existence in 1854.
   The American Union was a democratic weekly established in Wash-
ington in 1854 by J. B. Musser. It is not known how long it survived, but
it was two or three years.
   The Tribune was established in 1856 by John Bausman, who had
owned and published The Reporter from November 6, 1839, until April
22, 1848. It was first located where the Driver Building now stands on
the west side of North Main Street. Later it was removed to South
Main Street below the corner of East Strawberry Alley. Mr. Bausman
sold his interest to H. A. Purviance and James Armstrong, both of whom
served in the Union army during the Civil war. Mr. Purviance enlisted
in the Eighty-fifth Regiment, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
He had command of the regiment when he was killed on August 30, 1863,
by the explosion of a shell during the Union advance on Fort Wagner.
Mr. Armstrong served in the regiment and was promoted to lieutenant
colonel. They published The Tribune until March 28, 1860, when it was
consolidated with The Reporter. Hon. William S. Moore, congressman
from this district, was one of the owners of The Reporter at that time,
and a new partnership was formed composed of Moore, Purviance and


806























































    The new building of the Observer Publishing Company,
Washington, publisher of The Reporter and The Observer.
This is one of the finest and best equipped newspaper plants
in the state.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Armstrong. They published the combined paper under the name of The
Reporter and Tribune, until June, 1866.
    The Aurora was started in Washington on May 1, 1857, by Cyrus B.
 King and Joseph Wilson. It was democratic in politics. It is not known
 how long it lasted.
    The Colleaguer was published here in 1859 by J. W. Moss. It was
 also a democratic paper and was evidently short-lived, as little is known
 of it.
    The Maul and Wedge was a campaign paper published from the office
 of The Reporter in 1860 in the interests of Lincoln and Hamlin.
    The Washington Observer was founded September 18, 1871, by
 Horace B. Durant and Murray A. Cooper as a four-page monthly news-
 paper. When first started it was called The Advance. It was issued
 monthly until January 4, 1872, when it was called The Weekly Advance.
 It went under this name until March 4, 1874, when it was changed to The
 Washington Observer. It is of interest to note that John L. Mustard, a
 farmer of Franklin Township, was the first subscriber to The Monthly
 Advance, and the subscription price was 50 cents a year. The first office
 was in the Woodward-Wright Building at the corner of Main and East
 Chestnut streets. On January 4, 1872, Mr. Cooper sold his interest to
 Erasmus Wilson, of Belmont, Ohio, afterwards the "Quiet Observer" of
 the Pittsburgh Gazette Times for half a century. The following are the
 publishers and editors: Durant and Wilson, January 4, 1872, to April
 25, 1872; Erasmus Wilson, April 25 to September 5, 1872; Erasmus Wil-
 son and Murray A. Cooper, September 5, 1872, to January 1, 1873; Mur-
 ray A. Cooper, January 1 to October 2, 1873; Murray A. Cooper and B.
 F. Hassan, October 2, 1873, to January, 1874; B. F. Hassan and Capt.
 Alexander Wisehart, January, 1874, to January, 1876; name changed
 and first issued as The Observer, March 4, 1874; B. F. Hassan and Harry
 J. Shellman, January to September 29, 1876; Harry J. Shellman and
 Charles M. Campbell, September 29, 1876, to October 17, 1879; James S.
 Stocking and Hon. E. F. Acheson, October 17, 1879, to October 12, 1882;
 E. F. Acheson, October 12, 1882, to October 16, 1883; E. F. Acheson and
 Winfield McIlvaine, October 16, 1883, to October 30, 1890; October 21,
 1889, the first daily issue of The Observer; E. F. Acheson, October 30,
 1890, to May, 1892; E. F. Acheson and Clark T. Bartlett, May, 1892, to
 July 24, 1902; Observer Publishing Company, July 25, 1902, to the pres-
 ent time. E. F. Acheson was president until July 12, 1912, when John L.
 Stewart, the present president, purchased the controlling interest. Mr.
 Stewart has been connected with the Observer Publishing Company since
 its organization in 1902, and with The Observer since 1897. Lem Day,
 the present managing editor, has been with The Observer since 1892.
   The Advertiser was another local paper, but very little is known about
it. It was founded in 1875 by John B. Scott, but it evidently found an
early grave.
   The Washington Democrat was founded by Adam H. Ecker, who had
long been associated with William Swan in the management of The Re-
view and Examiner. It was published for a quarter of a century and then
stopped for several years, only to be revived again. It finally ceased
publication early in 1920, at which time William H. Ecker, the son of


808




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the man who had founded it forty-two years before, was the editor. It
was always a weekly, except for a short period in the '90s, when it was
changed to a daily.
    The first issue of The Democrat appeared April 3, 1878. It was pub-
 lished on Wednesday. The original Democrat was always published from
 the same place, in the old building which stood on West Beau Street,
 directly in the rear of Smith's Iron Hall. Mr. Ecker conducted the paper
 until his death on February 28, 1881. Mr. Ecker's estate continued the
 publication of the paper until June 10, 1881, when it was sold by William
 Workman, administrator, to Alexander Hart and John P. Charlton. The
 first issue under the proprietorship of Hart and Charlton was June 15,
 1881. In April, 1893, it was changed back to a weekly.
   Hart and Charlton continued the publication until January, 1896,
when John Foster, who was postmaster of Washington for several years,
purchased Mr. Charlton's interest. The firm of Hart and Foster pub-
lished the paper until Mr. Hart's death on October 17, 1903.
   Mr. Foster continued to publish The Democrat until June 1, 1904,
when he sold the plant to James W. P. Hart, a former well known local
newspaper man, who organized The Record Publishing Company. This
concern was incorporated July 14, 1904.
   The Washington Record was started by The Record Publishing Com-
pany as the successor of The Democratic early in June, 1904, with James
W. P. Hart as managing editor. William H. Ecker, the present demo-
cratic county commissioner, was at one time city editor. This paper was
never a financial success, and after going through several heated cam-
paigns its backers refused to put up any more money, and the plant was
sold by the sheriff in 1908. The Jones brothers of the Pittsburgh-Buffalo
Coal Company, purchased the plant and business and continued the pub-
lication of The Record; but its politics was changed from democratic to
republican. However, the new owners failed to make a financial success
of the paper, and when the Jones brothers failed in 1913, The Record
went into the hands of a receiver, Charles Howell, a Pittsburgh news-
paper man, being appointed by the court. Mr. Howell ran the paper
for several weeks, but in December, 1913, it ceased publication.
   The Washington Daily News was the next and last newspaper ven-
ture in Washington. The Record plant was again sold by the sheriff and
purchased by H. C. Ogden, a Wheeling newspaper owner, and a number
of Washington County republican politicians. The Daily News Publish-
ing Company was organized and incorporated and on April 2, 1914, the
first issue appeared, this time as an afternoon paper. Ellis Martin, of
Claysville, was the managing editor and William H. Ecker, the city editor.
This arrangement continued until October, 1914, when Mr. Martin re-
tired and Charles W. Voitle, of the Wheeling News, came to Washington
and took charge. He remained about a year and a half and then resigned
on account of poor health. For several months following the paper was
managed by Lambert Smith, also of Wheeling, until January, 1917, when
Harry W. Bloomfield took charge. In April, 1919, he was succeeded by
Emil Calman, who remained until the paper ceased publication May 29,
1920, on which date it was sold to the Observer Publishing Company and
consolidated with The Reporter. The plant was dismantled and all the


809




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


machinery moved to Wheeling. The paper was never a financial success.
In politics it was republican.
   The Washington Journal was established as a daily newspaper in
1889, the first issue appearing on Saturday, January 26. A number of
local business men and politicians were instrumental in starting this
paper, which was published for several years.   The first editor was
Thomas F. Irwin, of Claysville, who is now on the editorial staff of the
Pittsburgh Post. The first editorial office was in the Boyle Building,
which stood on the site of the present Brown Building opposite the court-
house and which was destroyed in the big fire in January, 1899. The
printing office of H. F. Ward was located at that time in this same build-
ing and reprinted The Journal until it secured presses and a printing
establishment. This was the first newspaper in Washington with a pri-
vate leased wire service. It was furnished by the United Press. The
offices remained in the Boyle Building until the spring of 1890, when it
purchased its own printing establishment and moved to the rear rooms
of the Hazlett Building, now occupied by the First National Bank. It
remained there until it ceased publication.
   George A. Spindler, at that time superintendent of the schools of
Washington County, took charge of The Journal in 1890, succeeding Mr.
Irwin, but he did not assume the editorial responsibilities for some time.
W. F. Penn, now superintendent of the Pennsylvania Training School
at Morganza, succeeded Mr. Irwin as editor. He remained "on the desk"
for some time when Mr. Spindler took charge. The latter remained until
the paper ceased publication. He is now in charge of the schools on the
Northside, Pittsburgh.
   Although The Journal was started in 1889, The Journal Publishing
Company was not incorporated until June 3, 1892. The capital stock was
$7,000. The first board of directors under its charter was composed of
A. M. Todd, A. S. Eagleson, Jonathan Allison, James E. Barnett, R. C.
McConnell and Dr. William Denny. Of these only Colonel James E. Bar-
nett is living.
   Just how long The Journal was published before its headstone ap-
peared in the local newspaper graveyard, cannot be stated definitely, but
it was probably until about 1894 or '95. If files were kept, they have
been lost or destroyed, and the only known copy is of the first issue, which
is in possession of the Washington County Historical Society.
   On December 4, 1897, James H. Allen, now connected with the Wash-
ington Printing Company, purchased the Journal plant and revived the
paper as a weekly, publishing it every Thursday. It was located in the
rear of the old Thistle Building, at No. 40 North Main Street. Mr. Allen
had founded The Saturday Evening Supper Table, which will be men-
tioned later.
   The Journal Printing and Publishing Company was organized by Mr.
Allen with the late James H. Stocking as the main financial backer. Mr.
Allen was president and general manager until 1909, when The Journal
passed into the hands of the Washington Printing Company, a new com-
pany then located in the basement of the Washington Trust Building on
East Beau Street. The name of the paper was changed April 8, 1909, to
The Democrat. An attempt was made by the Record Publishing Com-


810




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


pany to restrain the Washington Printing Company from using that
name, the former concern claiming that it had bought the right to it
when it purchased the plant of the old Democrat in 1904. The court,
however, refused to interfere in the matter, and the paper continued un-
der the name of The Democrat.
   The Democrat was continued as a weekly for about eleven years. About
1915, William H. Ecker, whose father, Adam H. Ecker, had founded
the old Democrat in 1878, became editor and continued in that capacity
until after he was elected democratic county commissioner in Novem-
ber, 1919. He took office January 4, 1920. He soon found that he did
not have time to attend to the duties of both editor and county commis-
sioner, and two or three months later The Democrat ceased publication.
  The Petroleum Exchange, established October 21, 1889, was a morning"
daily newspaper brought about by the oil excitement which was then at
its height in the vicinity of Washington. It was published by the Petro-
leum Exchange Publishing Company, which was incorporated.
   Rush T. Jones was editor and manager of the paper as long as it was
published, and Floyd C. Jones was business manager. It was republican
in politics, but it made a specialty of news from the oil fields. The office
of publication was at No. 51 North Main Street, in the old Phoenix Row,
at the corner of West Pine Alley. It ceased publication November 12,
1890, when it was consolidated with The Observer.
   The Scotch Irish Picket was published in Washington in the '80s.
In February, 1886, it was consolidated with The Record, of Monongahela
city.
   The Telephone, an eight-page monthly journal, was begun in Wash-
ington on October 1, 1885, with Grattan G. Best as editor. Just how long
it existed is not known.
   The Red and Black, weekly newspaper devoted to the interests of
Washington and Jefferson College, is published by the students of that
institution. The first issue appeared November 15, 1909, and it has been
published continuously each week during the college year ever since.
Karl Keffer was the first editor-in-chief.
   The first magazine printed west of the Alleghany Mountains and the
first in America devoted strictly to home and foreign missionary work
was published in Washington. This was The West Missionary Magazine
and Repository of Religious Intelligence, or simply The Western Mission-
ary Magazine, as it was known. It is claimed by some authorities that
The Western Review and Miscellaneous Magazine, devoted to literature
and science, edited and published by William Gibbs Hunt, at Lexington,
Kentucky, was the first magazine published west of the mountains, but
this is a mistake. This periodical did not appear until August, 1819,
while The Western Missionary Magazine made its appearance at Wash-
ington Pennsylvania, in February, 1803.
   The Western Missionary Magazine was published under the patron-
age and direction of the Presbyterian Synod of Pittsburgh. It contained
original sketches on religious subjects to aid in the work of propagating
the gospel among the inhabitants of the new settlements and to evan-
gelize the Indian tribes. It was published monthly and each issue con-
tained not less than forty pages. The price to subscribers was 121/.


811








CHAPTER XII.


                             1772-1782.
                    PERSONAL NARRATIVES.

THE SWEARINGEN FAMILY-CAPTAIN ANDREW SWEARINGEN'S FRONTIER
    SCOUTS-AT FORT HENRY-WITH McINTOSH'S EXPEDITION-AT FORT
    LAURENS-DEATH OF ANDREW SWEARINGEN-"INDIAN" VANN SWEAR-
    INGEN-FIRST SHERIFF OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-MAJOR SAMUEL
    McCOLLOCH-COMMANDER OF FORT VAN METRE-KILLED BY INDIANS
    -HIS BURIAL-MONUMENT AT "McCOLLOCH'S LEAP"-HIS LONELY
    GRAVE IN THE WEST VIRGINIA HILL.

                   They knew no dread of danger
                     When rose the Indian's yell;
                   Right gallantly they struggled,
                     Right gallantly they fell.
                                           -The Pioneer.
   The Swearingen family, which figured so prominently in the pioneer
history of Washington County, came here from Berkeley County, Virginia,
at an early date. The two brothers, Andrew and Vann, sons of John
Swearingen, resided in this county, and served as captains of companies
in the Pennsylvania Line during the Revolution. Both were noted Indian
fighters on the old frontier, Vann being known on the Western Border
as "Indian Vann" because of his many exploits against the savages.
   Andrew Swearingen entered several tracts of land in Chartiers town-
ship under Virginia certificates in 1772. This land was confirmed to him
by warrants of acceptance from the board of property of Pennsylvania
on April 19th, 1786.
   At the outbreak of the Revolution he was commissioned captain of a
company of frontier scouts or spies, which was of great service in pro-
tecting Washington County's frontier from Indian raids. As already
noted he went to the relief of Fort Henry on September 1st, 1777, with
his men. In 1778 he and his scouts served with General McIntosh's expe-
dition when Forts McIntosh and Laurens were built; and he was in almost
every expedition organized against the Indians on the Western Border.
   In October, 1776, he was appointed a justice of the peace for Yoho-
gania County, Virginia, which included Washington County at that time.
After the close of the Revolution he was a justice of the peace in Chartiers
Township, serving until his death. In an old newspaper account of his
death he is described as "a judicious, upright magistrate, who did every-
thing in his power to promote peace and harmony among the citizens. It
was his constant aim to accommodate differences between neighbors with-
out recurring to law suits."
   He was appointed treasurer of Washington County in 1783 and served
until 1786.
   Andrew Swearingen owned two tracts of land on George's Run, a
branch of Chartiers Creek. "Canaside" tract of 398 acres was patented
to him April 1st, 1798, and the other, containing 167 acres, was patented
                                74




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


cents and to non-subscribers it was 14 cents. Any person who took
twelve copies or obtained twelve subscribers was to receive one gratis.
The publication was to commence as soon as 500 copies were subscribed
for, the first issue appearing in February, 1803.
   Rev. John McMillan, of Canonsburg; Rev. Thomas Moore, of Ten-
mile, and Rev. John Anderson, of Upper Buffalo, all in Washington
County, were the three chief editors. They were assisted by Rev. Joseph
Badger, Rev. John McPherin, Rev. William Wick, Rev. James Hughs,
Rev. Samuel Porter, Rev. William Wylie, Rev. David Smith, Rev. Samuel
Ralston and Rev. George Scott, all members of the Synod of Pittsburgh.
   The magazine was printed in Washington for the editors by John
Colerick, one of the founders of The Western Telegraphe and at that time
(1803) sole owner and publisher of this newspaper and of the only print-
ing office in Washington. He published several books and pamphlets on
religious subjects.
   A bound copy of volume I of this magazine is in the possession of the
Washington Historical Society. It was presented to the late Dr. William
Speer of Washington in 1851 by Joseph Kerr, an elder in the Presby-
terian Church, and on November 3, 1904, by Mrs. Speer to the Historical
Society. This magazine was published until 1806.
   The Washington Museum was another local magazine, but all that
is known of it is contained in an advertisement that appeared in The
Reporter of January 7, 1811, and was continued until March 25, 1811.
Whether it was ever actually published or not cannot be stated. The
advertisement was for "Proposals for publishing by subscription a lit-
erary periodical work entitled The Washington Museum, under the pat-
ronage of a society of gentlemen." William Baird was to be the editor.
   It was to contain sixteen pages octavo and to be published weekly, the
first number to appear as soon as the number of subscribers justified the
issue. The subscription was to be 83 a year, 81 payable on delivery of
the first number, $1 at the end of six months and $1 at the end of the
year. For every default in payment, 25 cents would be added to the sum
due. Subscriptions were to be received at The Reporter office.
   "It will embrace a variety of matter, literary, moral and entertaining,
adapted, as much as possible, to the state of society in the western coun-
try. The farmer, the merchant, the mechanic, as well as the man of
science, may expect to find in the pages of 'The Museum' instruction and
amusement. It is not intended in this work to enter minutely into all the
political discussions of the day. As far as 'The Museum' shall partake of
a political character, it shall be decidedly republican.
   "Communications from literary correspondents, post paid, will always
be thankfully received, and met with proper attention."
   The only other notice regarding this magazine appeared in The
Reporter on March 25, 1811, as follows: "Gentlemen holding subscription
papers for The Washington Museum will please forward them to the
editor (Mr. Wm. Baird, Washington), before 15th April."
   The Western Register was another magazine published over a century
ago in Washington. It was published by Robert Fee from The Reporter
office, during the winter of 1816-17. How long it lasted is not known. A


812





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


short time later Mr. Fee moved to Uniontown, where he published a mag-
azine until after 1823.
   The School Echo, published by the students of the Washington High
School, is the next local magazine of which there is any record. This was
launched in January, 1874. It was issued monthly and contained eight
pages of three columns each. The subscription was 50 cents per term,
or 10 cents a single copy. The first editors were Lizzie Howarth, Sam
Hall, Lizzie Ingles and B. Enoch. It contained contributions and notes
of local interest from 'the pupils of the grades and high school. It was
published for about six months. A copy of the April, 1874, issue is in
the collection of the Washington County Historical Society.
   The Washington-Jeffersonian, a monthly published during the college
year, was founded by the students of Washington and Jefferson College
in 1877, the first number being issued in December of that year. The
first editorial staff was composed of G. H. Welshons, class of 1878, man-
aging editor; T. L. Hazzard, '78; James Beacon, '80; E. W. Day, '79,
and George Hickman, '81. Thomas F. Irwin, of the class of 1880, after-
wards first editor of The Washington Journal in 1889, was business man-
ager during 1879-80. The first issues were printed at the Observer job
rooms and contained about fourteen pages. The subscription price during
the first year and for a long time afterwards was $1.25; and during all
the years of its existence it was never over $1.50. The Washington-Jef-
fersonian was the recognized publication of the students of the college
for forty years. After The Red and Black was established, interest in
the monthly waned, and the quality of its productions was not up to its
former high standard. Finally the support and interest became so poor
that it was discontinued after the issue of June, 1917.
   It is known that three publications were issued by the students of
Washington and Jefferson prior to 1877, but nothing is known of them
at the present time except their names-The Catfish Thunder Bug, The
Dickey Bird and The Repertoire.
   The Saturday Evening Supper Table, a weekly family paper, was
established in Washington by James H. Allen on May 30, 1885. The office
was located on the second floor of Phoenix Row, at No. 61 North Main
Street. The issues of the first two volumes contained four pages of four
columns each. This was increased to ten pages on May 28, 1887. The
paper took on a new dress and the subscription price was raised from 50
to 75 cents a year. On May 30, 1891, the magazine was increased in size
to sixteen pages and an outside cover. The subscription was raised to
$1.50 a year. With the issue of February 9, 1895, Frederick B. Wilson,
now living in California, purchased an interest, and the magazine was
published thereafter by Allen and Wilson. This continued until some
time in 1896, when Mr. Allen sold his interest to Mr. Wilson, who con-
tinued the publication until about 1900. "The Supper Table" was always
filled with interesting items and stories and at one time enjoyed a large
circulation.
   The Blue and Black was a monthly magazine published by the students
of the Washington High School for about fifteen years. It was similar
to The Washington-Jeffersonian and contained many contributions of a
high standard, all from students of the high school. The first issue was


813





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


published in November, 1904, with P. H. York, editor-in-chief; John C.
Judson, associate editor-in-chief, and Samuel Ruben, business manager.
It ceased publication three or four years ago.
   The Scroll, the monthly published by the students of the Washington
Seminary every month during the school year, was founded in Novem-
ber, 1906, by the class of 1907. Lena J. Richmond was the first editor-
in-chief and Mary K. McKinnie was the associate editor. It is still
published.
   The following is a list of newspapers published in Washington County
outside of Washington. The date opposite each is the year in which it
was founded.
                            BEALLSVILLE
   Telegram, published by Robinson & Son from 1886 to 1889. Dis-
continued.
                           BENTLEYVILLE
   Times, established October, 1908. Still continued. Snyder, local
editor.
                           BURGETTSTOWN
   Enterprise, published monthly in 1879 by J. P. Donnan and C. Knep-
per. Weekly, in September, 1881, with J. Howard Cramer, editor. Now
issued by Burgettstown Publishing Company. B. M. Talbot, editor and
manager.
   The Call, founded by M. R. Allen, August 2, 1881, was the first news-
paper printed in Burgettstown. Was consolidated with The Enterprise,
December 31, 1887. J. Howard Cramer, editor.
   Herald, founded by W. G. Cramer, June, 1909.

                             CALIFORNIA
   Valley Spirit, established in 1856 by A. J. Gibson. Discontinued on
May 27, 1867.
   Valley Leader, founded by Weddell and Patton in 1876, was of short
duration.
   Valley Messenger, established in 1884 by William Minehart. This
publication was sold to the California Printing Company in 1890 and the
name changed to Sentinel. H. L. and A. H. Lamb are the present editors.

                            CANONSBURG
   The Luminary, published in 1833. Discontinued.
   Students' Enterprise, in 1852. Discontinued.
   The Herald was established by T. M. Potts in 1872.
   The Notes was founded in 1875 by Fulton Phillips. Later D. H. Fee
purchased the publication and in 1896 established a sprightly daily edi-
tion, which still continues. Now issued by the Notes Publishing and
Printing Company. D. H. Fee, president.
   The Local was established by Sepe and Charlton in 1887 and in 1888
they purchased The Herald and consolidated the two papers and con-
ducted them for a number of years. The publications were discontinued a
few years sin-


814





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                            CHARLEROI
   Mirror, established in 1890 by J. M. Lang. A short time afterward
H. C. Wilson purchased the publication and in 1892 sold it to E. C.
Niver.
   The Daily Mail was started in 1900 by W. H. Cramer and in 1901
sold to the Mail Publishing Company.
   The Daily Mail and Mirror were consolidated in 1909 and the two
publications were issued from the same office. E. C. Niver, editor.
   The Sun, published weekly for about six months in 1898 by Frank
Smith.
   L'Union des Travailleurs, established in 1900 by Joseph Godisart.
Only French newspaper in the county. Lewis Coazian, present editor.

                            CLAYSVILLE
   Sentinel, by Horace B. Durant.
   Cross and Crown, by Rev. Faulks about 1884.
   Recorder, founded by W. A. Irwin, June 15, 1888. H. L. Melvin &
Brother are the present owners and editors.

                              DONORA
   American Herald, founded April 19, 1901, by F. Vernon Hazzard.
During the year Romon E. Koeler purchased one-half interest.
   The Daily News was established in 1892 by J. McAlvin and A. Calvin.

                           FINDLEYVILLE
   Exponent, published in 1894 by Sid. C. Wilson. Discontinued in 1909.

                             FLORENCE
   Enterprise, published in 1845 by James Robb. Was of short duration.

                              MIDWAY
   News, established August, 1908, by August Dailly. Discontinued.

                        MONONGAHELA CITY
   Williamsport Chronicle, established in 1813. Discontinued.
   Village Informant, published in 1818 by Joseph Celingan. Discon-
tinued.
   Pennsylvanian, published in 1818 by John Bausman. Discontinued.
   The Phoenix, May 7, 1821, by John Bausman. Discontinued.
   Williamsport Patriot, 1833, by John Bausman. Discontinued.
   Monongahela Patriot, 1834, by Sam G. Baily and John W. Hammond.
Discontinued.
   Carrol Gazette, 1836. Discontinued.
   Neutral Grounds, 1841, by John McNeal. Discontinued.
   Weekly Republican, 1848, by Solomon Alter. Discontinued.
   Daily Republican, 1881, by Chill W. Hazzard.


815




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Valley Record, 1876, by William Boggs; in February, 1886, it was
 consolidated with The Scotch Irish Picket, of Washington, Pennsylvania;
 publication was continued at Monongahela City with Fulton Phillips as
 editor. About 1890 The Record issued a daily edition and continued for
 many years. Discontinued.
    The Juniors' Friend and Pennsylvania Reserve News Letter, 1876, by
 Chill W. Hazzard.
    Monongahela Democrat, 1892. Discontinued.
    Monongahela Times, 1902. Discontinued.
    Monongahela Record, 1875.

                             MCDONALD
   Budget, published a short time by Charles Knepper about 1882. Dis-
continued.
   Argus, published by John Johnson about 1883. Sold to Fulton Phil-
lips, who changed the name to Outlook in 1885. Now published by the
Outlook Publishing Company.
   Telephone, founded in 1893 by J. A. Smith and sold to W. H. Cramer
in 1897, who changed the name to Record. About 1889 G. C. Kuehnert,
the present editor, became the owner.

                              ROSCOE
   Forum, established by Moses Lowens in 1892.
   Sunshine, founded by George Collins about 1893. Later Collins pur-
chased the Forum and the two were consolidated in 1901. Joseph T. S.
Cowen purchased the plant and still continues the publication.
   Gospel Reflector, paper of the Church of Jesus Christ, published
every month. It was started at Roscoe about 1905 by William Bickerton.
Alexander Cherry, now editor.

                         WEST ALEXANDER
   Call, established in 1885 by W. A. Barry. Discontinued.
   The following books have been published in Washington County:
   "Poems Chiefly From the Scottish Dialect, originally written under
the signature of the Scots-Irishman, by a native of Scotland." Printed
in Washington, Pennsylvania, in 1801, by John Colerick.
   "The Reformed Pastor: A Discourse on the Pastoral Office," by Rev.
Richard Baxter; abridged and reduced to a new method by Samuel
Palmer. Printed in Washington, Pennsylvania, at the office of The West-
ern Telegraphe, in 1810.
   "Sermons, Chiefly on Sacramental Occasions," by Alexander Shanks,
late pastor of the Associate Congregation, Jedburgh. Printed in Wash-
ington, Pennsylvania, by John Grayson in 1820.
   "The Arcana of Arts and Sciences, or Farmers' and Mechanics' Man-
ual," by Dr. M. Parker. Printed in Washington, Pennsylvania, by J.
Grayson in 1824.
   "Evils of the Work Now Prevailing in the United States of America,
Under the Name of A Revival of Religion; Shewn by a Comparison of


816




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


That Work, as It is Represented by Its Friends and Promoters, with the
Word of God," by John Cree, John Anderson, William Wilson, Thomas
Alison and E. Henderson. Printed in Washington, Pennsylvania, for the
authors, in 1804, probably by John Colerick, the first publisher in Wash-
ington County.
   "A Review of a Debate on Christian Baptism, Between John Walker,
a Minister of the Secession, and Alexander Campbell, a Baptist Min-
ister," published by Mr. Campbell in a Series of Letters addressed and
dedicated to the United Presbyterian Congregations of Mingo Creek and
Williamsport, by their affectionate pastor, Samuel Ralston. Second edi-
tion corrected and amended, to which is added "A Reply to Objections
Made by Both Mr. Campbell and Mr. Walker." Printed in Washington,
Pennsylvania, by John Grayson in 1825.
   Many other books and pamphlets have been published in the county
in later years, but a complete list is not available. Those given above are
valuable from a historical point of view as showing the first books pub-
lished in Washington County and among the first in western Pennsyl-
vania.
   Washington County has had many authors, some of them of consider-
able note in their time. It is impossible to give a complete list, so we
will have to confine ourselves to some of the most prominent.
   Alfred Creigh, LL. D., of Washington, Pennsylvania, author of "His-
tory of Washington County, Pennsylvania," (the first history of the
county), published in 1870; and "A History of Masonry as It 'Has Ex-
isted in Pennsylvania Since 1792," published in 1854.
   Boyd Crumrine, of Washington, Pennsylvania, author of "History of
Washington County, Pennsylvania," published in 1882; also "The Courts
of Justice, Bench and Bar of Washington County, Pennsylvania," pub-
lished in 1902; also "The Old Virginia Courts in Pennsylvania in 1775-
1780," published in 1902.
   Joseph F. McFarland, of Washington, Pennsylvania, author of "His-
tory of Washington County, Pennsylvania," published in 1910.
   Rev. James H. Snowden, D. D., for many years pastor of the Second
Presbyterian Church, of Washington, Pennsylvania, and editor of The
Presbyterian Banner, of Pittsburgh, author of "Scenes and Sayings in
the Life of Christ," published in 1903; also "A Summer Across the Sea,"
published in 1908; also "The World a Spiritual System," published in 1910.
Dr. Snowden has written several other books, a complete list of which we
do not have.
   Rev. William Speer, D. D., of Washington, Pennsylvania, formerly a
missionary in China and among the Chinese in California in the '50s,
author of "The Oldest and the Newest Empire: China and the United
States," published in 1877; also "The Great Revival of 1800," published
in 1872.
   J. R. Forrest, of Washington, Pennsylvania, author of "Retribution, a
Border Mystery," published in 1906; also "The Student Cavaliers," pub-
lished in 1908; also "Shifting Sands," published serially; also "Troubled
Waters," published serially; also the author of a great number of poems
which have been published from time to time during a period of the past
fifty years.
       52-V1


817




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Hiram Kaine, of Washington, Pennsylvania, author of "Braddock's
 Field and other Original Poems," published in 1842.
    Joseph Doddridge, of Washington County, author of "Notes on the Set-
 tlement and Indian Wars, of the Western Parts of Virginia and Pennsyl-
 vania from 1763 to 1783, inclusive, together with a review of the State of
 Society and Manners of the First Settlers of the Western Country." First
 edition published in 1824; second edition in 1876; third edition in 1912.
    Andrew Lyle Russell, of Midway, Pennsylvania, author of "The
 Freighter, a Tale of the Pittsburgh Frontier," published in 1915.
    Prof. Dunlap J. McAdam, of Washington, Pennsylvania, for many
years a member of the faculty of Washington and Jefferson College; auth-
or of a number of technical books on mathematics and coal, of which he
had made a close study.
   Rebecca Harding Davis, the noted authoress and the mother of Richard
Harding Davis, was born in Washington.
   There are many others, but space will not permit a detailed list.





                       CHAPTER LXXXVII.

                           HOSPITALS.

WASHINGTON HOSPITAL- CITY HOSPITAL-CANONSBURG HOSPITAL-
    MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, MONONGAHELA.-CHARLEROI-MONESSEN HOS-
    PITAL.
    The hospital movement in Washington dates back nearly forty years.
That was about the time that Washington started to grow, just prior to
the discovery of oil in the early '80s. The pioneers of the hospital move-
ment were Drs. Wray Grayson, Thomas McKennan and Harry McKennan,
leading physicians of Washington at that time, all now deceased.
   A hospital was opened in the house in North College Street, now the
parsonage of the Trinity Episcopal Church, but that hospital was short-
lived.
   The hospital idea was revived a few years later by Miss Nellie Reed,
now Mrs. McCord, of New York, who started a vigorous campaign to
reawaken interest. A series of entertainments were given in the old Town
Hall, and several hundred dollars were raised. This was the beginning of
the fund which afterwards founded the Washington Hospital. Public
interest flagged, and Miss Reed placed the money in safe hands until such
time as the project should be revived; for it was felt by her and others
connected with that movement that Washington would have a hospital
sooner or later.
   The present Washington Hospital owes its existence directly to Drs.
J. Y. Scott, William Denny and George M. Kelly, three of Washington's
leading physicians of a quarter of a century ago. The only one of this trio


818




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


now living is Dr. Kelly. He is still connected with the institution, being a
member of the consulting staff of physicians.
   Early in 1897, these three physicians undertook the task of reviving
public interest in a local hospital. Several other public-spirited men came
to their aid, and the matter progressed rapidly. The matter was not
allowed to rest, and on May 25, 1897, the local court granted a charter to
Washington Hospital, under the act of April 29, 1874.
   The corporation had no capital stock and was formed for the purpose
of "providing by means to be raised by itself, by contributions, and other-
wise, medical and surgical aid, nursing and care for sick and injured per-
sons indigent or otherwise, the establishment and maintenance of a school
for the training of nurses of the sick and injured; the maintenanec of a
free dispensary, for the supplying of necessary medicines and relief of
indigent sick persons; and the acquiring of such lands, buildings and the
equipment as may be necessary for the accommodation and relief of such
objects of benevolence and charity."
   The subscribers to tlhe petition for the charter were J. K. Mitchell,
John A. Howden, Dr. J. Y. Scott, George M. Kelly and John Slater.
   The hospital was to be managed by a board of nine directors, and those
chosen for the first year were James K. Mitchell, Dr. J. Y. Scott, John
Slater, Dr. George M. Kelly, Gratten G. Best, J. B. Brittain, T. B. H.
Brownlee, Thomas L. Nichol and John A. Howden, all of Washington.
Others interested were Henry Schoenthal, A. G. Happer, John H. Murdoch,
John W. Seaman, J. C. Cullinan and W. C. McBride.
   After this preliminary work was completed, it was necessary to secure
a suitable building, for the institution did not have the money to erect a
building. In fact, it did not have the money to purchase a building; but
backed by the public-spirited men on the board and others, it went ahead
and secured the A. W. Acheson homestead in Acheson Avenue.
   Miss Reed had left the funds raised at the entertainments several years
before in the hands of A. G. Happer, and this was used as the nucleus.
Other contributions were received, and the building was purchased for
$10,000. It was impossible at first to raise this sum, and so J. B. Brittain,
Dr. J. Y. Scott, Dr. George M. Kelly, Henry Schoenthal, John Slater, and
A. G. Happer guaranteed the payinent of the purchase price, and the prop-
erty was deeded to them as trustees on April 2, 1898. In two years this
debt was wiped out and these trustees deeded the property to the hospital
on March 13, 1900.
   The first hospital, which was opened in May, 1898, was very small as
compared with the institution of today. It was necessary to make cer-
tain changes and additions at first to change the building from a private
home to a hospital. This was done very quickly, and in May, 1898, the
Washington Hospital was opened to the public. There were just five pri-
vate rooms and two wards at first, with a total of about twenty beds.
There was no operating room at that time, and it was necessary to perform
operations in the room now used as the class room for nurses.
   It is interesting to note in this connection that the first operation per-
formed in Washington Hospital was in June, 1898, upon George Seybold,
of Washington. The operating physicians were Drs. George M. Kelly and
William Denny, while Dr. J. F. Donehoo administered the anesthetic.


819




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Of the physicians who were members of the first staff, Dr. J. F. Done-
hoo is the only one still serving on the active staff, but several of the oth-
ers are now members of the consulting staff. The first staff was as follows:
   Medical Staff-D. H. Lewis (now dead) ; J. F. Donehoo (still a mem-
ber of the active staff), C. R. Weirich (now on staff at Cresson Sanitar-
ium), and J. A. Patterson (now on consulting staff).
   Surgical Staff-W. D. Teagarden (now on consulting staff), J. Y. Scott
(now dead), William Denny (now dead), and George M. Kelly (now on
consulting staff).
   Gynecology-G. B. Woods (now on consulting staff), Gertrude M.
Streeper (left Washington a number of years ago), and R. S. Stewart
(retired).
   Obstetrics-J. B. Irwin (now dead), 0. P. Dearth (now practicing at
Akron, Ohio).
   Consulting Staff-G. A. Daugherty, H. D. Enoch, J. W. Kelly, J. H.
Little, and A. C. Streator. All of these were among the older physicians
living in Washington a quarter of a century ago, and they are now all
dead.
   Pharmacist and Bacteriologist-L. F. Kirchner (now physical director
at Washington and Jefferson College).
   Mrs. John Braden, of Washington, who is now dead, was the first
superintendent of Washington Hospital. She was followed by Miss Det-
weiler. She was succeeded by Miss McMasters, who resigned about July,
1903.
   Miss Winnie Baker, of Washington, now the wife of Dr. James W.
McKennan, was the fourth superintendent. She took charge about July,
1903, and remained until December, 1905. During the summer of 1905,
while Miss Baker was superintendent, the second addition was made to
the hospital.
   Miss Elizabeth M. Gainor, who is well remembered by everyone con-
nected in any way with the hospital during recent years, succeeded Miss
Baker, and remained for twelve years. During this period practically all
of the other additions and changes were made, and the institution was
brought to a very high standard.
   Since Miss Gainor resigned the institution has had four superintend-
ents. Major R. G. Sellers, who had charge of an army hospital during the
war, succeeded her. He remained until about January 1, i920, when he
was succeeded by Miss Agnes Gordon, who left on January 1, 1922. Miss
Ethel Blair, the present acting superintendent, took charge at that time,
and will remain until May 15, 1926, when Miss Eleanor Charleston, the
new superintendent, will have become familiar with her duties.
   The first addition to the hospital was made shortly after the institu-
tion was started, and consisted of the erection of a brick kitchen and the
installation of an operating room on the second floor. Prior to this time
there had been no operating room. The back porches were also enclosed.
The second addition was built during the summer of 1905, while Miss
Baker was superintendent. At that time, the roof was raised and a full
story added, making the four stories, as at present. This added twelve
rooms and an operating and sterilizing room. The elevator was also in-
stalled at that time. The nurses were then placed in a large room on the


820





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


821


fourth floor, where they remained until the Dr. Henry Woods home, just
adjacent, was purchased on December 5, 1916, and converted into a
nurses' home.
   All other additions were made while Miss Gainor was superintendent.
These consisted of two new wards, with twelve beds each, and two sun par-
lors attached; kitchens on first and second floors; linen closets, dressing
rooms for patients on each floor; rooms for storage of patient's clothing,
bath and toilets for patients and bath and toilets for nurses on each floor.
   The first campaign for the hospital took place several years after the
institution was founded. The State of Pennsylvania was directly respon-
sible for this by offering an appropriation of 810,000 on condition that the
hospital would raise $10,000 in two years. A spirited solicitation followed,
but it was not known whether the campaign was successful until midnight
of the last day. Even then it would not have been possible if the county
commissioners had not come to the rescue with an appropriation of $3,000,
on condition that the hospital would supply beds and medical attention for
all jail and county patients.
    The hospital now owns considerable property adjoining the original
building, which it has purchased during the last fifteen years. The first
was on August 1, 1907, when it bought from M. C. Acheson, of Pitts-
burgh; Martha W. Acheson, E. F. Acheson, Jennie S. Acheson and H. M.
Acheson, of Washington, a lot in the rear of the present building. This
fronts 280 feet on Dewey Avenue, and gives the institution an exit on that
street. The consideration was $5,500.
   On December 5, 1916, the Henry Woods home was purchased from
Miss Mary N. Woods for $5,000. This property fronts eighty feet on
Acheson Avenue, and extends back 180 feet. It adjoins the original build-
ing on the west, and was immediately converted into a nurses' home. A
covered entry was built from the first floor of the main building to this
home.
   The old John Lockhart homestead was purchased on April 1, 1920, for
a consideration of $10,000. This fronts sixty feet on Acheson Avenue and
extends back 180 feet, with an additional frontage of 33.75 feet on Dewey
Avenue. This is located directly west of the Woods property and it was
immediately converted into a nurses' home, and it is now used for the
juniors.
   The former nurses' home (the Woods property), was converted into
a maternity hospital. This has been made ideal in every respect for this
purpose by making a delivery room and four private rooms on the first
floor; a nursery, kitchen and other private rooms in other parts of the
building, giving additional room for twelve beds for children, eight for
new babies, and nine beds for adult patients.
   The new nurses' home in the Lockhart property has been remodeled
since 1920. There are two bedrooms, bath and sitting room on the first
floor; five bedrooms and bath on the second, and three bedrooms on the
third floor.
   On May 14, 1920, the hospital purchased a lot 60 by 190 feet across
the street, from the main building, from Thomas A. Hindman for $1,600.
This was sold in 1925.
   The Washington Hospital has reached a very high degree of efficiency.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


under the name of "Drusella," after the daughter of his brother, Vann.
His home on Chartiers Creek, Chartiers Township, where he lived and
died, is now the property of the Washington Country Club, two miles
north of Washington. On September 27th, 1799, he conveyed this land
to his daughter, Sally Cooke, the wife of John Cooke. The late Mrs.
Helena Cooke Beatty, former secretary of the Washington County His-
torical Society, was a great-granddaughter of Andrew Swearingen.
   Andrew Swearingen died June 26th, 1824, in his 78th year. The
Examiner for July 17th, 1824, contains an account of his death and a short
sketch of his life. He is buried beside his wife in the old Cooke burial
ground, near the Washington Country Club house, where his grave may
be seen today, overgrown with weeds and briars.
   Vann Swearingen emigrated from Berkeley County, Virginia, in 1774,
and settled on the Monongahela River, in Westmoreland County, opposite
the present town of Coal Center, where he served as justice of the peace
for several years. He soon became a noted Indian fighter, and soon gained
the name of "Indian Vann" because of his many exploits among the
savages.
   At the outbreak of the Revolution he was commissioned a captain in
the Eighth Pennsylvania regiment of the Continental Line, commanded
by Colonel Mackey, and served from August 9th, 1776, until the close of
the war. Sam Brady, the noted scout and Indian fighter of western Penn-
sylvania, was a captain in this same regiment, and afterwards married
Vann Swearingen's daughter, Drusella.
   Vann Swearingen was appointed the first sheriff of Washington County
when it was organized in 1781 and served until 1784. He resided in
Washington while sheriff, but in 1785 he purchased a tract of land from
Captain Isaac Cox, on which was Cox's Fort on the Ohio River, just
above Wellsburg, West Virginia. He died there December 2nd, 1793,
survived by his wife, Eleanor, and six children, Elizey, Zachariah, Vann,
Thomas, Lucy and Drusella Brady, and two grandsons, Vann and John
Brady, sons of Captain Sam Brady.
   Major Samuel McColloch did not survive his famous leap many years.
He commanded the little garrison at Fort Van Metre, on Short Creek,
five miles from the Ohio, for several years. This was afterwards called
the Court House Fort because the first civil court in that section of the
state was held there after the organization and separation of Ohio County
from the district of West Augusta in 1781, when Washington County was
organized from the same section.
   Samuel and his brother, John, were noted Indian fighters, and were
both feared and hated by the red warriors, who had tried every scheme
and trap known to Indian warfare to either kill or capture them; but the
brothers seemed to bear charmed lives, for they always escaped just in
time.
   On July 30th, 1782, the brothers were ambushed near the fort. Samuel
was shot from his horse, but John escaped to give the alarm and when he
returned with a party of settlers he found the scalped body of his gallant
brother. The Indians had cut out his heart, and it was afterwards learned
had eaten it to make them brave like the major.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


The American College of Surgeons is attempting to bring about a system
of hospital standardization throughout the United States. In order to
receive recognition from the American College of Surgeons, a hospital
must reach a certain standard. Of course a hospital cannot be compelled
to adopt this standard, but it is a great honor to receive this recognition,
and every institution of the kind in the country strives for it. These
requirements are:
    1. The doctors must sign an agreement that there must be no fee
splitting; that is, one physician must not turn a patient over to another,
and the latter charge a double fee, which will be divided between the two.
   2. A complete history of all cases must be kept in the archives of the
hospital. This history must be written immediately when the patient is
admitted, and kept up as long as he remains.
   3. There shall be a paid laboratory man connected with the institu-
tion.
   The offices, chart and record room, nurses' class room, drug room,
nurses' dining room, conservatory, and three private rooms, are located
on the first floor. In the addition to this floor is the women's ward, con-
taining sixteen beds, and the sun parlor in which are five beds. One side
of the ward is for medical cases and the other for surgical.
   The men's ward, containing sixteen beds and a sun parlor with five
beds, is in the addition on the ground floor, or basement. The two labor-
atory rooms, in charge of Dr. G. W. Ramsey and Frank H. Judson, and the
X-Ray laboratory, in charge of Dr. R. A. Stewart, are located on this
floor. There is also a room for accident cases not considered serious
enough to require an operation. The drug room on the first floor is com-
pletely equipped, and there any prescription may be made up.
   There are fifteen private bedrooms on the second floor. The male ward
was formerly located on this floor, but it has now been converted into small
private rooms.
   The third floor contains five private rooms; two operating rooms, one
for major cases and the other for minor cases; physicians' dressing and
locker room and shower baths and a sterilizing room. The laboratories,
now in the basement, were formerly on this floor. Before the maternity
hospital was established in the former Woods home, the nursery was also
on this floor.
   After the nurses' home was established, in 1916, the fourth floor was
converted into small private rooms and semi-private rooms. There are
nine rooms, containing thirteen beds.
   The former nurses' home, which is now the maternity hospital, is well
equipped for this purpose. On the first floor are the delivery room and
four private rooms. The second floor contains two private bedrooms and
one semi-private bedroom, containing three beds. The kitchen for this
department is located on the ground floor.
   A private nursery large enough for six babies is on the third floor.
There are also three children's rooms, one containing five beds, one con-
taining three and one with four, making a total of twelve beds for chil-
dren and eight for new babies. A new fire escape has been added to this
building. Before this department was opened, the delivery room was
located on the second floor of the main building.


822




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   There are now a total of 100 beds in the Washington Hospital but
really 110, when the nursery is counted.
   Individuals, organizations and churches have established various rooms
in the hospital, each of which is kept up by that person, church or organ-
ization. In such cases, these rooms are named in honor of or in memory
of some certain person or society. These rooms are not for the private
use of these societies or persons, but are for the public. On the door of
each is the name of the room. At the present time, these rooms are as
follows: Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Dr. William Denny, Sarah
McKeown, S. J. Katzenstein, James Duncan, Watson-Happer, Dr Kelly
and P. O. S. of A. rooms.
   From the time the hospital was opened in May, 1898, to January 1,
1909, a total of 2,951 cases were treated, and from January 1, 1909, to
January 1, 1922, a total of 22,300 were treated, making a grand total of
25,251 during the life of the institution. The number treated in 1921
was 1,716.
   The present staff of physicians connected with the hospital follows:
   Consulting Staff-Drs. George M. Kelly, J. A. Patterson, G. B. Woods,
W. D. Teagarden, and T. D. M. Wilson.
   Surgical Staff-Drs. J. R. Maxwell, Homer P. Prowitt, A. E. Thomp-
son, J. I. Corwin, O. G. Lewis, J. F. Donehoo, W. J. L. McCullough and
J. H. Shannon.
   Medical Staff-Drs. David Beveredge, L. D. Sargent, W. J. Burns and
0. T. McDonough.
   Children's Staff-Drs. F. I. Patterson and Robert Knox.
   Gynecology-Drs. J. C. Knox, D. H. Edwards, S. A. Ruben and Roy
S. Clark.
   X-Ray Staff-Dr. R. A. Stewart.
   Laboratory-Dr. G. W. Ramsey and Technician Frank H. Judson.
   Obstetrical Staff-Drs. F. A. Hare and J. H. Carey.
   Historical and Chart Room-Miss Hamilton.
   The members of the staff meet ten months in the year, and must attend
all meetings.
   The nurses' training school of the Washington Hospital has reached a
very high degree of proficiency, and, as already stated, is recognized by
the state board. All nurses who complete the course of study and pass the
examinations are placed on the accredited list of the state board which
gives a nurse a first class standing in Pennsylvania, and in other states
when they have taken the board examination of this state. Each nurse is
given two months' training in the South Side Hospital, Pittsburgh, in the
care of children.
   It is interesting to note in this connection that the first pupil nurse
admitted to the training school after the hospital was opened in May, 1898,
was Mrs. Mabel Drake, who afterwards married Joseph T. Ryburn, of
Chartiers Township. She died several years ago.
   On account of the scarcity of nurses during the war, the students fell
behind in their studies, but at the present time, this has all been made up,
and each class now has only to take care of the studies assigned during
the year.
   In addition to the student nurses, there are six graduate nurses on the


823




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


staff as follows: Miss Ethel Blair, superintendent; Miss Neva Jackson,
assistant superintendent; Miss Mary Hanlon, night superintendent; Miss
Jean McGuffey and Miss Nellie Cudahy, supervisors, and Miss Mary
Ewing, instructress.
   The idea of consolidating the Washington and City Hospitals was
advanced in 1920, and it was finally brought about in 1921, when every-
thing from the latter institution was moved to the former, and the two
merged into the Washington Hospital. On November 15, 1921, the City
Hospital authorities deeded the property of that institution to the Wash-
ington Hospital, and on February 6, 1922, the merger was approved by a
decree of the local court.
   Since the consolidation of the two institutions has taken place no his-
tory of the Washington Hospital would be complete without some mention
of the City Hospital.
   Dr. G. B. Woods is the man who conceived the idea of a second hos-
pital in Washington. The idea was brought about by the fact that at that
time the Washington Hospital was not nearly so large nor well equipped
as at'present, and the need of another had been felt. Finally, on May 9,
1906, Dr. Woods called a meeting of several other physicians in his office,
which was located in the Braden Building, South Main Street, and the
movement was started. The matter was pushed rapidly and on June 25,
1906, the local court granted a charter to the "City Hospital Association
of Washington, Pennsylvania," under the act of April 29, 1874. There
was no capital stock.
   There were twenty-seven subscribers to this petition for a charter, as
follows, all of whom were physicians: H. M. Acheson, G. B. Woods, T.
D. M. Wilson, James W. McKennan, D. H. Lewis, W. R. Thompson, A. E.
Thompson, T. F. Cashman, C. M. Lindley, George A. Daugherty, W. D.
Teagarden, E. M. Hazlett, O. P. Dearth, J. A. Patterson, H. D. Enoch,
J. H. Corwin, L. C. Honesty, R. S. Stewart, C. R. Weirich, J. A. McKean,
U. B. Murray, J. M. C. Reynolds, G. B. Dunkle, J. B. McMurray, George
M. Kelly, Guy E. Patterson, all of Washington, and J. A. Gormley, of
Meadowlands.
   The number of directors was fixed at seven. Those for the first year
were Drs. W. R. Thompson, George M. Kelly, T. F. Cashman, R. S.
Stewart, D. H. Lewis, J. A. McKean, and C. R. Weirich.
   The name City Hospital was first suggested by Dr. George B. Woods,
and it was immediately adopted. One of the most active men in the early
history of the hospital was Dr. C. R. Weirich, and much credit for its suc-
cess is due to his untiring efforts, but this success was made possible by
the strong support given by the physicans.
   From the beginning it was decided to erect a new building and many
locations were considered before the site was finally decided upon. The
present building was erected, and ground for the building was broken on
August 27, 1906. The building was completed and dedicated on April
26, 1907, and on April 29, the institution was opened for patients. There
were twenty-six private rooms for patients, and two wards, one for men
and the other for women, each with a capacity for twelve making a total
of fifty beds. The new institution was well equipped with operating,
sterilizing rooms, and other appliances necessary for a modern hospital.


824




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The first staff was as follows:
   Surgical Staff-Drs. A. E. Thompson, O. P. Dearth, W. D. Teagarden,
J. H. Corwin, J. R. Maxwell, G. B. Woods, G. M. Kelly and Guy E. Pat-
terson.
   Medical Staff-Drs. C. R. Weirich, T. F. Cashman, J. A. Patterson, W.
J. Burns and David Beveridge.
   Children's Diseases-Dr. F. I. Patterson.
   The first superintendent was Miss Jean McNelly, of Washington, who
remained for about two years. Miss McNelly afterwards married Frank
Mickey and is now living at Forest Ranch, California.
   Miss Mabel Fellows, assistant superintendent under Miss McNelly,
became the second superintendent, and she remained about eight years.
She is now Mrs. Samuel Weirich.
   Miss Victoria E. Armstrong was the third superintendent. She was
made superintendent about 1917, and remained in that position until the
consolidation with the Washington Hospital.
   After the hospital organization was formed, it was decided to add a
number of laymen to the association, thus bringing the community at large
in closer touch with the institution. The first officers of the City Hos-
pital Association were A. C. Marsh, president; W. B. Ritchie, vice presi-
dent; and Dr. T. F. Cashman, secretary.
   A movement to erect a new hospital building in Washington was
started several years ago after the Wilson Development Company pur-
chased the old Wilson farm on the northern edge of Washington. This
company donated seven acres of ground on the crest of the hill, and in
1923 a campaign in Washington raised over $600,000, for the erection of
a new hospital building.
   Work, however, was not started until the summer of 1925, but it has
progressed very rapidly ever since and on November 1st, the corner-stone
of the new building was laid by John L. Stewart, president of the board
of trustees, with ceremonies appropriate to the occasion.
   The Canonsburg General Hospital really owes its beginning to Samuel
Munnel above all other men. Mr. Munnel started this work about 1900
by attempting to secure 100 persons who would give $25 each. He was
finally successful after two or three years, and in the spring of 1903, the
ladies of the Shakespeare Club of Canonsburg took the matter up and
aided very materially in the work.
   The Barr property was secured and on November 30, 1903, a charter
was granted by the local court. During 1904 extensive repairs and
alterations were made on the Barr house and it was formally opened as
a hospital, October 17th of that year. The institution increased until in
1907 an addition of four rooms was erected at a cost of about $2,000.
   The new hospital building was started in 1914, and completed in 1918
at a cost of $95,000, and the Barr property is now used as a nurses'
home. This hospital has a capacity of fifty patients and there are si)
teen nurses.
   Dr. J. B. Donaldson, one of the prime movers in the organization ot
this hospital, was the first president of the staff. The present superin,
tendent, Miss Edna R. Little, has been in charge of the institution since
January 1, 1922. In the early years of The hospital, Miss Roberts was


825




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


superintendent for a long period. The following are the charter mem-
bers of the hospital association: W. P. Morgan, D. H. Fee, M. C. Wilson,
Rev. J. M. Work, H. L. Cockins, Mrs. J. B. Johnson, Mrs. D. H. Fee,
Mrs. R. H. Coulter, Mrs. W. C. Black, Mrs. M. C. Wilson, Mrs. George
B. Hiles, Mrs. M. Hanson, Mrs. Lizzie Caldwell, Mrs. Harry Clark, Mrs.
R. J. Pursell, Miss Jeannette Dickson, Miss Lizzie Harper and Miss Darley
Bebout.
   The following are the first board of directors of the hospital associa-
tion: R. H. Coulter, D. D., president; D. H. Fee, secretary; J. V. H.
Cook, vice president; M. C. Wilson, treasurer; J. B. Johnson, T. A.
Straub, G. A. Simpson, W. P. Morgan, Samuel Munnel, Sr., Rev. J. M.
Work and H. L. Cockins. J. H. McBurney is now president of the asso-
ciation and C. H. Schade is secretary.
   The Memorial Hospital at New Eagle might be said to date back to
1882, when J. Sutton Wall, James Luttit and Dr. G. A. Linn made an
attempt to start a hospital at Monongahela city. Nothing, however, ever
came of this but it was revived again in 1891 by Post 60 of the G. A. R.
in an effort to have such an institution erected as a memorial to the sol-
diers of the Civil war. This plan was not carried into effect until 1902,
when, on April 12, Joseph A. Herron, chairman of the executive com-
mittee reported the gift from Hon. J. B. Finley of the Parkinson prop-
erty in New Eagle. The Memorial Hospital was opened for patients on
December 18, 1902, with Dr. C. F. Linn as acting superintendent. He
was succeeded by Miss Cook, who died suddenly. The next superintend-
ent, Miss Elizabeth B. Reid, was elected May 15, 1913, and Miss Ethel
Dushane became superintendent on March 1, 1917. Others who have fol-
lowed are: Miss Margaret P. Mahoney, elected October 1, 1918, served
until March 1, 1919; Miss Olive McWilliams, the present superintendent,
was elected March 19, 1919.
   The new building was erected in 1913 and 1914 at the cost of $85,000
and opened for patients on May 30, 1914, and it is a fitting memorial to
the citizens of Monongahela and vicinity who gave their lives to pre-
serve the Union from 1861 to 1865.
   The first board of trustees was composed of the following: George
A. Linn, Monongahela, president; C. B. Wood, vice president; J. G. Sloan,
secretary; J. B. Finley, treasurer; Harry Brown, Pittsburgh; D. M. Walt,
Pittsburgh; Theodore Jones, Allenport; P. J. Forsythe, Coal Center; J. B.
Yohe, Pittsburgh; W. J. Alexander, Monongahela; C. W. Hazzard, James
Jones, J. P. Norman, H. J. Gamble, Hugh McLaughlin, Pittsburgh. The
officers at the present time are, Joseph A. Herron, president; James B.
Hagart, vice president; 0. H. William, secretary; and W. A. Alexander,
treasurer.
   The hospital has a capacity of 72 beds as follows: 8 in the children's
ward; 10 in the women's ward; 10 in male surgical ward; 10 in male
medical ward; 10 private rooms and 2 semi-private rooms.
   The Charleroi-Monessen Hospital Association was incorporated by
court on January 13, 1913. A property was secured immediately at Lock
No. 4, North Charleroi, and the hospital was opened. The first board of
directors or trustees was composed of the following: William R. Gaut,
Charleroi; Kerfoot W. Daly, Charles O. Frye, John W. Carroll, Richard


826




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


A. Roberts, Herman A. Heupel, D. N. Hall, George S. Might, Miss R. S.
Miller, Lock No. 4.
   This hospital really dates back about twenty years when Drs. Cramer
and Griffith, of Monessen, and Dr. Sloan, of Charleroi, first started it in the
old Theodore Allen homestead at orth Charleroi. After conducting it for a
time the state took charge, and later it was turned over to the present hos-
pital association. The superintendents have been Misses Miller, Watson,
King, Adabell Watson, from January 1, 1920, to January 1, 1926, when
Miss Retta Sheridan took charge.






                      CHAPTER LXXXVIII.

               HISTORY OF THE COUNTY SEAT.

ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE LAND-CATFISH CAMP-DANDRIDGE-BAS-
    SETT TOWN-WASHINGTON, NOT THE FIRST TOWN NAMED FOR
    WASHINGTON-FIRST SETTLERS-EARLY MERCHANTS-PHYSICIANS
    -TRADESMEN-BOROUGH INCORPORATED-THE COUNTY CENTEN-
    NIAL-THE BOROUGH CENTENNIAL-THIRD CLASS CITY INCORPOR-
    ATED - OLD BUILDINGS STANDING IN       WASHINGTON - HENRY
    BROWN'S   RECOLLECTIONS   OF   WASHINGTON - CHURCHES - OLD
    GRAVEYARDS.
    The first white settler at Catfish Camp was William Huston, who
kept a tavern in a log cabin that stood on the lot now occupied by the
Fifth Ward school, in East Maiden Street. In those days, that was on
the old Indian trail from Fort Cumberland, across the mountains and on
to the Ohio country. In early times, it was the main line of travel, first
by the Indian warrior, then by the wandering Indian trader; then came
the hunter and trapper, and finally the pioneer settlers and Indian fight-
ers. This was Nemacolin's path, named for the Indian chief, Nemacolin,
Washington's guide and friend, who lived where Brownsville now stands
in Fayette County.
   In those days, a century and a half ago, William Huston's little log
cabin was the stopping place for all travelers who trudged by foot and on
horseback over the weary miles, back and forth to the Ohio country, on
Nemacolin's path. The National Pike from Cumberland to the Ohio River
and even beyond follows approximately the route of this old Indian trail.
   The second name of the town was "Bassett, alias Dandridge," given it
by David Hoge, the original proprietor, when he laid the town out in
1781. Bassett was from Hon. Richard Bassett, a relative of Mr. Hoge.
   The third and last name of the town was Washington, given it in
1781, when John and William Hoge, sons of David Hoge, had it replotted
and started the sale of lots again.
   David Hoge never came to the town of Bassett and consequently the
sale of lots progressed slowly. Only two are known to have been sold
between 1781 and 1785, when he transferred the property to his two sons.


827




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


The first was to Charles Dodd, in October, 1781, and was for the lot where
the Strean Building now stands at the northwest corner of South Main
Street and Strawberry Alley. The ticket, a copy of which follows, is-
sued for this lot, is interesting:
"No. 15                                     Bassettown, October, 1781.
    "This will entitle Charles Dodd to receive a sufficient title, subject to
 one dollar a year in specie, for a lot marked in the original plan of the
 town, 58, provided there shall be erected thereon, on or before the thir-
 tieth day of October, 1784, a house 18 feet square at least, with a stone or
 brick chimney therein.                             "DAVID HOGE."
    This lot and the house was sold July 21, 1784, to John Dodd, for 300
 pounds, Pennsylvania currency.
    A description of the ground where Washington now stands, as it ap-
 peared at that time, is interesting. In 1845, William Darby, who came
 to Bassettown with his parents in 1781, thus described the place:
    "In the fall of 1782, the site where Washington now stands, was a
vast thicket of black and red hawthorn, wild plums, hazel bushes, scrub
oaks, and briars; often I have picked hazelnuts where the courthouse now
stands. The yell of the savage rung in fancy's ear and alas, too often in
the heart of the dying victim. The whole country was a dense forest, only
broken by small patches, with dead trees, made so by the axe of the early
pioneer."
    The original part of Washington as laid out, first by David Hoge on
October 13, 1781, and later by his two sons, John and William, on No-
vember 4, 1784, was located on two tracts of land called "Grand Cairo,"
and "Catfish Camp," and containing a total of 6621/4 acres. When David
Hoge purchased this land, he also bought another tract called "Martha's
Bottom," containing 339 acres and 69 perches. The original town was
not on this latter tract.
   The largest part of the original town is located on "Catfish Camp."
The old deeds on record in the courthouse show that on April 26, 1771,
Abraham Hunter, Joseph Hunter and Martha Hunter, children of Joseph
Hunter, sold "Catfish Camp," to David Hoge for five shillings. Hoge also
purchased "Grand Cairo" and "Martha's Bottom." The land is thus
described in the deed: "All that tract or parcel of land situate on the
head forks or branches of Shirtee Creek and taking in both sides thereof
about thirty miles from the place where Shirtee empties into the Ohio
and known by the name of Cat Fishes Camp, containing 12 acres, to be
the same more or less."
   Bassett Town, alias Dandridge, was first plotted and surveyed by
David Reddick, deputy surveyor, October 13, 1781, for David Hoge. As
already stated, the sale of lots progressed slowly. On November 4, 1784,
the plan was resurveyed and the name changed to Washington.
   On November 7, 1785, David Hoge and Elizabeth, his wife, conveyed
the whole of the three tracts, including the town of Washington to their
two sons, John and William Hoge, for 100 pounds. This land was pat-
ented by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to John and William Hoge,
on March 24, 1788, in consideration of 43 pounds and 15 shillings.
   Washington County has always been proud of the claim that it was
the first town in the United States to be named after George Washing-


828



































    One of the original log cabins of Washington. This was the home of George
Potter, one of the first school teachers of Washington.


    One of the original log cabins of Washington, East Walnut street; built at a date
unknown.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ton. This was never disputed and we rested safe in the belief that it was
true for many years. However, a few years ago, the Chamber of Com-
merce unearthed two other towns that had been named after the first
president before Washington, Pennsylvania, was laid out by the Hoges in
1781. The evidence which was presented to the Chamber of Commerce
at that time, was absolutely authentic, and so Washington, Pennsyl-
vania, has to take third place instead of first.
   The first town to be named in honor of the illustrious "Father of His
Country" was Washington, Georgia, which received this name in 1776.
In the public square of that town, is a postoffice upon which is a tablet
placed by the authority of the secretary of the treasury, which states that
this is the first Washington.
   The second town is Washington, North Carolina, which was so named
in 1780, one year before Washington, Pennsylvania.
   Among the settlers in Washington, were the following:    David
Redick, James Wilson, Van Swearingen, David Bradford, Matthew
Ritchie, Thomas Stokeley, who came in 1781 or shortly afterwards; John
Acheson, 1784; Thomas Acheson, 1786; David Acheson, 1788; James
Williams, 1786; John and Marcus Wilson, 1789; Alexander Cunningham,
1784; Michael Koontz, 1788; Hugh Workmen, 1781; Alexander Addison,
1785; Col. James Marshel, 1785; James Langly, 1790; Isaiah Steen, 1794;
Joseph Hunter, 1796; Capt. William McKennan, 1800; Obadiah Jen-
nings, 1801; Robert Hazlett, 1805; Hugh Wylie, 1796; Robert Hamilton,
1799; Patrick Bryson, 1796; James Shannon, Joseph Reynolds and
Thomas Reynolds, 1783; Alexander Murdoch, 1797; Col. James Ruple,
1795; Joseph Tentecost, 1782; James Ashbrook, 1798; Thomas Reed,
1794.
   The following are among some of the early property owners in Wash-
ington: John Dodd and Edward Lynch, 1786; John Standley, 1786; John
Adams, Philip Coe, James Goudy, Ann Roberts, James McKay, James
Ross, William Faulkner, 1787; Joseph Acklin, John Adams, John Flake,
1788; Saunders Darley, Hugh Means, William Wilton, John Montgomery,
Daniel Moody, John Hannah, John Acheson, Andrew Swearingen, Leon-
ard Boyer, 1789; Thomas Stokeley, David Redick, 1790; James Marshel,
James McGowan, Daniel Cohr, Hugh Workmen, 1792.
   Among the early merchants of Washington, were Hugh Wilson, dry
goods; John Fisher, saddler; Matthew Ritchie & Company, general store;
Dr. Absalom Baird, drugs; John Reed, brewery; Jedediah Post, watch-
maker; James Buchanan, dyeing; Alexander Reed & Company, signs;
William Erskine, spinning wheels; David Acheson, dry goods and hard-
ware; Hugh Workmen, tanyard.
   Among some of the trades and business followed in those days were
the following: Robert Adams, bootmaker; Isaiah Steen, windsor chair-
maker; Thomas Wilson, watch and clockmaker; Thomas Thompson, um-
brella and cane manufacturer; James McKennat, smith; James Wilson,
coppersmith; John Wilson, cabinetmaker; John Harter, stocking weaver;
Christian Kieber, tanner; Abraham Latimore, cooper; James McGowan,
reed manufacturer; Henry Tar, booter; Robert Anderson, silversmith;
George Allison, gentleman; James Brice, revenue officer; John Koontz,
hatter; and James Chambers, saddle tree maker.


830





























    Old frame house that stood in the center of Main street, Washington, during the
War of 1812. It originally stood at the southwest corner of Main street and Cherry
avenue, now occupied by the Real Estate Trust building. Col. James B. Ruple contracted
to move it. He had started to work and it was in the middle of Main street when the
War of 1812 broke out. He enlisted, and the people of Washington allowed it to
remain in the street until his return when he moved it to the lot now occupied by the
Daniel Schneider building, South Main street. It was razed about four years ago.


    Old frame building in South Main street, Washington, erected at a very early
date and razed to make room for the present Morgan building. The brick building
near the right, erected in 1796, is now the oldest brick building in the town. The old
frame building on the extreme right is at the corner of Main and East Maiden streets,
and still stands.


Z40





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Narcissa Doddridge, in the appendix of the second edition of Dodd-
ridge's Notes, stated that Major McColloch was buried in Fort Van Metre,
but this is evidently a mistake, for tradition points to the grave of this
hero of the old frontier in a little cemetery on the Ridgley farm, near
Clinton, Ohio County, West Virginia, several miles from this fort. All of
the old residents of that section know this as McColloch's grave, even to
this day.
   McColloch's leap is without a parallel in all the history of Indian war-
fare. Performed at a time when brave deeds by fearless men were the
order of the day, this gallant exploit has come down to us through the
years as one of the most courageous of that heroic age. The exact spot
where the major and his big white horse leaped over the cliff into everlast-
ing fame is not definitely known today, and it is doubtful if M\IcColloch
could have pointed it out himself a week later; but tradition places it at
the summit of Wheeling hill just over the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnel,
at the point where the National pike crosses. For many years after the
beginning of the last century a board nailed to a tree at this spot bore
the inscription, "McColloch's Leap." Today a handsome stone and bronze
monument erected at this spot by the Daughters of the Revolution of West
Virginia in 1917 tells the passing traveler over the National pike the story
of this famous adventure of the long ago.
   In a neglected and almost forgotten grave in a lonely section of the
West Virginia hills are the bones of this daring Indian fighter of the old
frontier. This is in a little private graveyard on a high hill near the
old Ridgley homestead, near Clinton. This was the old McColloch farm,
later owned by the McClearys, another pioneer family closely associated
with the McCollochs. In more recent years it passed into the hands of
E. M. and H. K. Ridgley, and at the time of the author's visit was owned
by the Ridgley estate. The only monument is a small metal marker placed
by the Daughters of the Revolution. The surrounding country where
Major McColloch hunted and fought Indians so long ago can be seen for
many miles, and if the gallant frontiersman could have selected his last
resting place he could not have been better suited.






                          CHAPTER XIII.

                               1778.

            CLARK'S AND McINTOSH'S EXPEDITIONS.
GEORGE ROGERS CLARK'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE BRITISH IN THE
   NORTHWEST STARTS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY-ROGERS' EXPEDI-
   TION TO NEW ORLEANS-PROPOSED EXPEDITION AGAINST DETROIT-
   McINTOSH IN COMMAND-WASHINGTON COUNTY MEN WITH THE EX-
   PEDITION-GUARDING THE FRONTIER-TREATY WITH THE DELA-
   WARES-FORT McINTOSH-FORT LAURENS BUILT IN THE INDIAN
   COUNTRY-SIEGE OF FORT LAURENS-GENERAL BENJAMIN BIGGS AT
   FORT LAURENS-HIS GRAVE-RELIEF OF FORT LAURENS.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Some of the early physicians were Drs. Absalom Baird, who came in
1786; John Culbertson, J. Julius LeMoyne, Isaiah Blair, Fred L. Conyn-
han, Francis Barr, William Barr, Henry Stevenson, Alexander Blair,
John Wishart, David G. Mitchell, James Stevens, Robert Lane, Samuel
Murdoch, Matthew Henderson, Clark, and John F. B. Koontz.
   While Washington as a settlement dated back to 1781, it was not in-
corporated as a borough until 1810, although there was considerable
talk of securing a charter before that date. One of the main reasons why
Washington was incorporated was to get it out of the mud. A writer in
the Western Telegraphe, who signed himself "A Bachelor" states that
the mud was so deep that it was above the ankles of the ladies and their
skirts swept the top.
   The town, however, was not incorporated for about fifteen years after
this first movement, but on February 13, 1810, it secured its first char-
ter, and Alexander Reed and John Wilson were elected burgesses, while
the first town council was composed of Hugh Wilson, Thomas Acheson,
Hugh Workmen, Robert Anderson and Harter Campbell.
   One of the most important events in the history of Washington, was
the Centennial celebration of the erection of Washington County in 1781,
which was held September 7th and 8th, 1881, under the auspices of the
Washington County Historical Society. The town was decorated with
arches in front of the courthouse at the corner of Main and Maiden
streets and at the corner of Chestnut and Main streets. The celebration
was held in Shirl's Grove where West Washington now stands.
   Another centennial held in Washington was in honor of the incorpora-
tion of the town as a borough in 1810. This was held during the first
week of October, 1910, and was an event of great importance in the his-
tory of the town. The streets were decorated as they never had been be-
fore. An immense arch was erected across Main Street in front of the
courthouse, while columns were erected on each side at intervals along
Main and Chestnut streets.
   It is of interest at this point to note that the first airplane ever seen
in this section was brought to Washington at this time and flights were
held twice a day during the centennial. The field from which these flights
were made was the Bottom, just north of the tube mill, on the Wolftown
Road.
   Washington remained a borough for 114 years but efforts were made
on several occasions to secure a third class city charter. This had to be
by vote of the people although it never became an issue until 1915, when
it was overwhelmingly defeated. It came up again in 1921, and was
carried by a small majority. It became effective the first Monday of
January, 1923. The following were elected as the first officers of the
third class city government: Mayor, William W. Hoyt; councilmen,
Harry D. Hamilton, Frank C. Lewis, Albert Zelt, and William T. Drie-
horst; controller, John McClay; treasurer, Samuel Workmen. These men
were all elected for a term of four years beginning the first Monday of
January, 1924, with the exception of Zelt and Driehorst, whose term was
only for two years. In November, 1925, Mr. Zelt was elected to succeed
himself, and Mr. Driehorst was defeated by Clark A. Shrontz.
   An attack was made by those opposed to the third class city upon the


832
































    Residence of Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne, erected by him in
1812, in East Maiden street, Washington. This is the finest ex-
ample of Colonial architecture to be found west of the Allegheny
mountains, and is one of the most historic buildings in Western
Pennsylvania. It is now the home of Mrs. Madaline LeMoyne
Reed, a daughter of the builder.


    The old McKennan homestead, East Maiden street, Washington. This, one of
Washington's historic homes, was built about 1810. For nearly 60 years it was the
home of Mrs. Margaret Stockton McKennan, widow of Dr. William McKennan. Mrs.
McKennan was a daughter of Lucius W. Stockton, the leading stage coach proprietor
on the National Pike. She died there in 1923. The building has since been remodeled
for an automobile salesroom and garage.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


constitutionality of its charter under a technicality of the law. How-
ever, Judge James I. Bronson, declared the constitution valid. An ap-
peal was taken to the Supreme Court but the decision of Judge Bronson
was upheld in the fall of 1925 and the third class city charter of Wash-
ington became an established fact.
   There are very few buildings left in Washington that were built when
the town was incorporated in 1810. One by one the most of them have
disappeared before the advance of progress but a few of the original
houses of the old town of Washington of 1810 may still be seen scattered
about the town.
   One of the oldest houses standing in the town today, and the oldest
according to tradition, is the old McKennan residence in 40 East Beau
Street which has already been described in connection with the history of
the National Pike. It is interesting at this point to add a few facts that
were not given in that account. The house was built in 1809 by John
Hughes and was immediately occupied by Col. William McKennan, who
served as an officer of the famous "Flying Camp" Regiment attached to
Washington's Army. This house was the home of Thomas M. T. Mc-
Kennan, one of Washington's noted men for forty years. He served in
Congress and was appointed Secretary of the Interior in President Fil-
more's cabinet on August 15, 1850.
   Many famous men were entertained in that old house while Mr. Mc-
Kennan resided there, among whom were three presidents of the United
States, John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison and Zachary Tay-
lor, while Daniel Webster and Henry Clay were also guests there.
   One of the most historic buildings in Washington is the old Bradford
House, 173 South Main Street, which also has the distinction of being the
oldest building of any kind now standing in the town. It was erected in
1788 by David Bradford, leader of the Whisky Insurrection in 1794, and
in its day, it was the finest residence west of the Alleghany Mountains.
The stairway is of solid mahogany and tradition says that it cost a guinea
a step. Bradford was living in this house when the troops set out from
Brownsville to capture him, but he was warned and escaped by leaping
from a rear window. He rode away on a horse he had kept saddled in a
stable in the rear. He fled to the Spanish possession of Louisiana, but
his wife remained in Washington for several years, disposing of his real
estate. One of Bradford's sons married a sister of Jefferson Davis.
   Mrs. Rebecca Harding Davis, author and mother of the late Richard
Harding Davis, was born in this house on June 24, 1831. It is now
owned and occupied by Mrs. Margaret Finn, widow of Patrick Finn.
   The original Washington College Building which is still standing on
the campus, was erected in 1793 for Washington Academy. The building
is of stone and is now used as the executive offices of Washington and
Jefferson College. The Pennsylvania Legislature appropriated 83,000 for
the erection of the stone section. The brick wings on the north and south
of the stone section, were built soon after Washington College was char-
tered on March 28, 1806.
   Standing in East Walnut Street, between College and Lincoln streets,
are four of the original log houses erected in Washington, probably be-
fore 1800. These cabins were built by slaves of Thomas and William


834


















.a


m


-i


    The oldest brick house in Washington; built in 1796.
It still stands in South Main street, just north of East
Maiden street.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Hoge, the original proprietors of Washington, who, tradition says, gave
each of their slaves a lot in that section of Washington on condition that
they build a house. At that time, the Pennsylvania Legislature had passed
a law limiting slavery in this state. By this law slaves became free after
a certain number of years of service.
   One of these cabins stands on the south side of Walnut Street, and is
the first east of College Street. Phillip Potter, one of the school teachers
of Washington a hundred years ago, lived in this house for many years
and died there. In 1824, Potter taught a subscription school here, and
when the local district was organized in 1835, he was elected to teach the
"African School" in West Pine Alley. He taught the colored school for
many years, and some of the old residents of Washington can remember
when he died in this old log house. He was a member of the Masonic
fraternity and he was buried by the Masons from this building.
   Just across the street from the Potter house are three other log cabins,
which are still inhabited, although they are in a dilapidated state. The
central one is owned by J. R. Forrest, who is remodeling the old building
by covering the logs with weather-boarding and erecting an addition.
While digging under the logs at the side recently, workmen found an old
ax which had evidently been lost there by the workmen who built the
house.
   Another original log house stands on the east side of North Lincoln
Street, the third building from the corner of Highland Avenue. It is
owned by Robert Forrest.
   There are several other log buildings in Washington but none of them
are known to have been standing when The Reporter was founded.
   The oldest brick house on Main Street and probably the oldest in
Washington stands on the east side and the second north of the corner
of East Maiden Street. Jacob Schaffer bought this property on Decem-
ber 16, 1795, from Samuel Wiley. Schafer built this house in 1796. For
many years, it has been one of Washington's landmarks, and it remained
unchanged until a few months ago when a storeroom was constructed on
the ground floor. It was long the residence of the late Thomas Morgan,
a prominent merchant for many years.
   Another old brick house which is probably as old as that just men-
tioned is the back section of the Sample Building, at the southeast cor-
ner of South Main Street and East Strawberry Alley. The old section
fronts on Strawberry Alley. George Henry Keppele, a local attorney,
bought this property on October 20, 1795, from Thomas Scott and he is
believed to have built the house in 1796. The original house stood back
forty feet from Main Street with a porch in front. Dr. Isaiah Blair, an
early physician, had his office in this building. He was a trustee of Wash-
ington Academy and the first secretary of the board of trustees of Wash-
ington College. He died on September 22, 1808, just after The Reporter
was founded. The building is now owned by David T. Sample.
   The original Methodist Episcopal Church of Washington is still stand-
ing at the southeast corner of West Chestnut and North Franklin streets,
although so many additions have been built that nothing of the old log
church can be seen. This lot was conveyed by John Hoge to the Method-


836























































                HENRY BROWN,
  Washington's oldest native born resident.  Mr.
Brown was born in Washington, September 26,
1827, and is now 98 years of age. He is one of the
three survivors of Company E, 12th regiment, the
first to leave Washington at the outbreak of the
Civil War. He is the only person living who took
part in the funeral of Lieut. J. F. Irons, held in
Washington, September 26, 1848. Lieutenant Irons
was killed in Mexico during the Mexican War.
"Uncle Henry" enjoys good health, and expects to
round out the century mark. His mind is remark-
ably clear on early events, and he has contributed
much to the history of old Washington town.






HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ist Church on February 5, 1801, and that year the log church was erected.
The building is now owned by John Reed.
   The three-story brick building at the southwest corner of South Main
and West Wheeling streets, now owned by the estate of Mrs. James P.
Braden, was erected about 1801. On January 1, 1801, Samuel Clark
sold this lot to Daniel Moore, a former well known merchant and stage
line proprietor. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Moore erected this building,
which he occupied as a residence for many years. He afterwards built
the present Auld Hotel. He was the grandfather of Mrs. Margaret Stock-
ton McKennan.
   One of the original log houses of Washington, which was built at a
date unknown, stands on the west side of South Main Street just below
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. It is known that in 1803, John H. Koontz
moved into this house and lived there for many years. It has been cov-
ered with weatherboarding for many years.   Thomas Armitage owned
it for many years, but it is now the property of the Hazel Atlas Glass
Company. The old frame house which stands on the west side of North
Main Street, just north of the corner of West Chestnut Street, was
erected at least 120 years ago. James White bought the lot on Novem-
ber 27, 1786, from William Hoge. White sold the property on Novem-
ber 14, 1801, to James Orr, but whether White built the house is not
known, as no mention is made of it in his deed to Orr.
   The old brick building in South Franklin Street, now occupied by
C. A. Manrow, tinner and furnaces, was erected in 1805 by the Presby-
terian congregation of Washington, now the First Presbyterian Church,
which was organized in 1793. It was during the pastorate of Dr.
Matthews Brown that this brick church was built. For many years it
was used as a glass factory.
   Just east of the Pocahontas Gardens in West Beau Street is the old
Methodist parsonage. This is a two-story log building, erected at a date
unknown. Edward Lynch bought the lot from the Hoges on September
18, 1786, and it is probable that he built this house.
    Henry Brown, Washington's oldest native-born resident, who now
resides in Burton Avenue, recalls many interesting incidents in Wash-
ington during the past three-quarters of a century and more. Mr. Brown
was born September 25, 1827, in the old log house still standing on the
north side of West Wheeling Street just below the corner of South Frank-
lin Street, which is now owned by the estate of Thomas Harsha. This log
building was erected in 1815 by James Brown, his father, who came to,
Washington in 1798 and died here March 12, 1866.
   Henry Brown was a harness-maker by trade, and when President Lin-
coln made the first call for 75,000 volunteers in April, 1861, Henry Brown
enlisted in the first company that went from Washington to the front.
This was old Company E of the Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment. Mr.
Brown is now the oldest Civil War veteran in Pennsylvania and one of the
oldest in the United States.
   In spite of the fact that he is within two years of the century mark,
he enjoys remarkably good health and his memory of early times is very
clear.
   Two years ago Mr. Brown attended the G. A. R. Encampment at


838


































    The house in which Henry Brown was born, September 26, 1827; erected by his
father, James Brown, in 1815. Still standing in West Wheeling street, Washington.


     Home built by John N. Dagg in the '30s, northeast corner of East Chestnut and
North College streets, Washington. Mr. Dagg was proprietor of the Mansion House
for many years, and was one of Washington's rich men of his day.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Boston and found only one Civil war veteran older than himself. He was
manager of the old Washington Blue, a militia company that took part in
the funeral of Lieutenant Irons, who was killed in battle near Mexico
City in 1846. His body was brought back to Washington and buried here
in 1848, and Henry Brown is the only person living today who either
took part in the funeral or was a spectator at that time. A fuller descrip-
tion of this historic event as related to the author by Mr. Brown will be
found in another chapter.
    Mr. Brown attended school in the old red school house when it stood
 on the site of the present Presbyterian Church. Later he attended the
 school taught by Rev. Charles Wheeler, near where the Washington Ceme-
 tery now stands.
    Much of the descriptions of Washington which appeared in various
 sections of this history, were furnished the author by Mr. Brown.
    An interesting description of Washington and the county is found in
 "Harris' Pittsburgh and Western Business Directory," published in 1837.
 The population of the county at that time was 45,000 and for Washing-
 ton, 2,200. At the last census, the county had a population of 188,992,
 and the city, 21,480. This old directory which is of interest at this time
 follows:
    "Few portions of our country are more happily situated than Wash-
 ington County, Pennsylvania. With nearly a central position in the
 United States, as to population. she enjoys great facilities of communica-
 tion, and intercourse with the Union. Bordering upon the Monongahela
 River on the east, and near to the Ohio upon the west, intersected by the
 National road, the great thoroughfare from the seat of National gov-
 ernment to the Ohio, and the western waters, and connected by a turn-
 pike with Pittsburgh. Her natural advantages in the exportation of her
 own products and in general commercial advantages, may be readily
 comprehended. A remarkably fertile soil, over a sometime abrupt, but
 generally a gently rolling surface, is covered and cultivated by a popula-
 tion industrious in their habits, and moral and religious in their char-
 acter; and a climate healthful, even to a proverb, forms a striking feature
 in her natural advantages.
   "The principal towns in the county are the borough of Washington,
the center and county seat of justice; Monongahela City, on the Monon-
gahela, a neat, flourishing and manufacturing village: Canonsburg, West
Alexander, Claysville, Hillsboro, Florence and a number of others of
minor note.
   "Among the striking advantages of the county are its literary insti-
tutions, the prominent of which are Washington college at Washington;
Jefferson college at Canonsburg, seven miles north of Washington, and
the incorporated Female Seminary at Washington. These are all in a
flourishing condition, adding not only to the advantages of the place in
which they are located, but benefiting the country at large.
   "The population of the county is upwards of 45,000. Its staple com-
modities are wool, wheat, flour, horses, hogs, cattle, sheep, etc. In 1830,
there were in the county 145,000 sheep, the exact number at this time is
not known, but by reasonable calculation, must exceed 200,000, yielding


840































    Old Zelt Flour Mill, Washington, built in 1844. This is one of the
historic spots of the county seat. Daniel Boyle, who erected many grist
mills in Western Pennsylvania, was the millwright.


    The old Zelt Brewery, Washington, built about 1844, and still standing. This
was used continuously as a brewery until national prohibition. It has been closed
since then.






HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


              "Their shivering swords are red with rust,
                 Their plumed heads are bowed;
              Their haughty banner, trailed in dust,
                 Is now their martial shroud.
              And plenteous funeral tears have washed
                The red stains from each brow,
              And the proud forms, by battle gashed,
                Are free from anguish now."
                                               -Theodore O'Hara.
    British agents had been active among the Ohio tribes ever since the
 outbreak of the Revolution, and when 1778 dawned it looked as if the
 whole western frontier would be laid waste by the tomahawk and scalping
 knife. Washington County settlers answered the call to arms, and rallied
 around the standard of their leaders, and there was not a single raid in
 this county that year; but all that saved the frontier from a general
 massacre were the expeditions of General George Rogers Clark and Gen-
 eral Lachlin McIntosh. It is not known that any Washington County men
 were with Clark, but a number served in McIntosh's army.
    The achievements of that devoted little army of Virginians under
 George Rogers Clark, have never been equaled in all history. The ob-
 stacles which they overcame are almost unbelievable. For a week the
 men marched through ice cold water almost up to their arm pits; and at
 the end of this trail of the greatest suffering and hardships they captured
 the British posts at Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and Wabash, adding Indiana
 and Illinois to the territory of the original thirteen colonies.
    That Clark's little army started on their history making expedition
from a point in Washington County, is a fact not generally known today.
Under authority of the Virginia assembly, General Clark, early in Janu-
ary, 1778, raised one hundred fifty men for the conquest of the Northwest.
The majority of these were from the upper Monongahela Valley. He
immediately marched to Redstone Old Fort, and camped with his little
army on the opposite side of the river, where West Brownsville now
stands; and there he built the keel boats that carried his men down the
Monongahela to Fort Henry and the lower Ohio.
   Although there are no records to substantiate the belief, we may feel
safe in assuming that someone from Washington County joined the force
while camped opposite Redstone Old Fort. But the fact that this historic
expedition built its boats in this county and started from our shores, gives
us a special interest in it. Clark probably selected this point because of
the fact that he had traveled across Washington County to Redstone Old
Fort with Michael Cresap, as we have seen, in 1774. The expedition left
its camp in this county and started down the Monongahela on May 17th,
1778.
   One David Rogers was commissioned by the Virginia assembly in 1778
to go to New Orleans and purchase supplies for the defense of the
frontier; and he also selected the site of West Brownsville as his starting
point. Building his keel boats there, he started with thirty men on his
perilous journey in June,-a journey attended with dangers and hard-
ships that we of today cannot comprehend. He finally reached New




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


annually more than 500,000 pounds of fine merino wool, worth heretofore
50 cents per pound, at an average valuation.
   "There are many, say 15 to 20 steam mills in the county, for the
manufacture of flour and for carding wool, etc., and several woolen manu-
factories, among which one located in Washington, owned and conducted
by Mr. Samuel Hazlett, in all, manufacturing about 30,000 pounds of
wool annually. The borough of Washington is handsomely located nearly
in the center of the county, and has a population of about 2,200 souls.
The public buildings are courthouse and public offices, market house,
college buildings and eight churches, viz: One Presbyterian, one Method-
ist Episcopal, Methodist, Protestant, Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian,
German Lutheran, and African Methodist.
   "A new college edifice, in addition to the old buildings, has lately
been erected. The style is handsome, and the cost upwards of $10,000.
The female seminary, now in building, is well located, and in comfort
and convenience, will, when finished, be unsurpassed in this part of the
country. The establishment is at present under the superintendence and
instruction of Mrs. Biddle, controlled by the president and trustees. Pu-
pils number about 50.
   "Our list of merchants comprises: James Orr, Wylie & Clark, Tener
& Bush, Robinson & Justus, Winm. Smith, Samuel Hazlett, Alexander
Reed, S. Mount & Co., E. Peale, Robert Tener, Wilson & Shields, J. & H.
Langley, Coges & Marsh, R. McIlhenny, Geo. K. Scott.
   "The number of retailers of foreign merchandise in the county is
160. The number of taverns licensed is 88.
   "The hotels of Washington are Mansion House, John Irons; Ameri-
can Hotel, S. B. Hayes; National Road Stage Office, J. Searight; Wash-
ington Inn, D. Valentine; Golden Lamb, Mrs. Hartzell; Farmers Hotel,
J. Hallam; State Office at the Mansion House, Searight and Hayes.
   "There are 11 daily arrivals and departures of stages, and on three
days of the week 12, viz:
   "National Road company-4 arrivals and 4 departures.
   "Good Intent Line, Baltimore to Wheeling-2 arrivals and 2 depart-
ures.
   "Pilot-2 arrivals and 2 departures.
   "Pittsburgh-2 arrivals and 2 departures.
   "Wheeling to Philadelphia-arrivals 1 and departures, and from Cadiz
to Washington, a semi-weekly line.
   "The post office is one of the most extensive distributing offices in the
west. Thomas Morgan is the postmaster."

                     CHURCHES OF WASHINGTON.
   The First Presbyterian congregation of Washington is the oldest
church in the town, having been organized in 1793. Prior to that time
the members of this denomination in Washington worshipped at the
Hill Church, near Canonsburg. Services were held in the old courthouse,
and the pulpit filled by supplies until the Rev. Matthew Brown was in-
stalled as the first pastor on October 16, 1805, and remained until Sep-
tember 25, 1822, when he resigned to become president of Jefferson Col-
lege, Canonsburg. The next was Rev. Obediah Jennings, who came in


842


































    The original Methodist Episcopal church of Washington, built about 1805,
and still standing.


    Old Methodist Episcopal parsonage, West Beau street, Washington.
Built before 1800 and still standing.






HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


1823, and served until 1828; and he was succeeded in turn by Rev. David
Elliott, 1829-36; Rev. Daniel Derulle, 1837-40; Rev. James Smith, 1840-
44; Rev. William C. Anderson, 1844-46; Rev. John B. Pinney, 1847-48,
and Rev. James I. Brownson, D. D., beloved by the people of Washington
for more than half a century. Dr. Brownson served the congregation
from 1849 until 1899, when the church held the fiftieth anniversary of
his ministry. From 1892 until 1901, Dr. Thomas R. Alexander acted as
co-pastor with Dr. Brownson. In 1901, Rev. William E. Slemmons, the
present pastor, took charge and has rounded out a quarter of a century.
    The first church building of this congregation, a brick structure
erected in 1805, is still standing in South Franklin Street, opposite the
First Ward School. It is without doubt the second oldest building for
religious worship in the county, the first being the old building at Upper
Buffalo, already mentioned. This building was famous in later years as
the carriage manufacturing shop of S. B. & C. Hayes, and in more re-
cent years it became the Novelty Glass House. It was used by the con-
gregation until 1851, when another edifice was completed on the site of
the present church. In 1868 it was torn down and rebuilt as seen today.
   The Second Presbyterian congregation was organized in the First
Church on March 12, 1861. Services were held in Smith's Hall until 1874,
when the present building occupied by the Methodist Protestant congre-
gation was leased. In 1884 it decided to erect a new building, and the
present structure was dedicated March 6, 1887, at a cost of $25,000, the
same day that Rev. James H. Snowden, D. D., pastor for nearly a quarter
of a century, was installed and remained until 1911. The present pastor
is Rev. G. P. Atwell.
   The Third Presbyterian Church in Jefferson Street, was organized
March 24, 1891, in the old court house, and the same year the present
building was erected. Rev. J. D. Moffatt, president of the college, served
the congregation during the first year. He was succeeded by Rev. W.
T. L. Kieffer in 1892, and in 1895 Rev. Matthew Rutherford, D. D., began
his long career at this congregation. Dr. Rutherford, beloved by every
member of his congregation, has served continuously for the past thirty-
one years.
   The Fourth Presbyterian congregation was organized in Washington
in 1903 by the people of the Tylerdale section, and that same year the
other three Presbyterian churches united and purchased a lot. Services
were held in the McGugin Block until the present building was erected
at a cast of 815,000. The first pastor was Rev. J. H. Harvey, who
served until 1907. Rev. W. F. Plummer is the present pastor.
   The Central Presbyterian Church was organized September 29, 1831,
as a Cumberland Presbyterian congregation, at a meeting held in the
courthouse. In 1832 Samuel McFarland erected a church building in
West Wheeling Street from Voluntary contributions and from his own
private funds. The organization did not prosper, and it died out during
the Civil War, at which time it still owed Mr. McFarland 8970. The build-
ing was leased to the Christian Church in 1867 and purchased by it in
1873. This building is still standing, and is part of a garage. The con-
gregation was reorganized on April 26, 1896. Preaching was held in the
Iron Front, and then for two years in the college chapel. The present


844






























    North Main street, Washington, about 1889, before the
street was paved; looking north from Beau street.


    The original Citizens National Bank Building, Washington, and the old buldings
that occupied the site of the present Citizens National Bank Building. The buildings
were about 100 years old when razed in 1910.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


building at the corner of Franklin and Beau streets was erected in 1900
at a cost of $16,000. The first pastor, Rev. J. W. McKay, served from
April 26, 1896, to October 31, 1898. He was succeeded by Rev. J. G.
Patton on January 1, 1899, and served until February 25, 1921. The
present pastor, W. P. McConkey, was installed June 27, 1912. The
twenty-fifth anniversary of the church was celebrated May 3, 1921. In
1907 this became a Presbyterian congregation, and the name changed to
Central.
   The First United Presbyterian Church dates from about 1813 when
the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church began holding meetings in
Washington. The Associate Church began holding meetings in 1815,
which resulted in what is now the First Presbyterian congregation. The
congregation did not have a regular pastor until 1834, when Rev. David
Carson came. The union of the two branches in 1858 resulted in the
First United Presbyterian congregation that year. The first building
stood in West Wheeling Street, near Franklin, but in 1865 it was aban-
doned and the present building erected. The present pastor is Rev.
Huber Ferguson.
   The Second United Presbyterian congregation was organized Febru-
ary 22, 1893, the first services being held in the college chapel. Supplies
filled the pulpit until June 24, 1894, when Rev. J. A. Alexander was in-
stalled. The present edifice at the corner of College and Chestnut streets,
was dedicated June 12, 1896, at a cost of $40,000. The present pastor is
Rev. W. L. Wishart.
   The Third United Presbyterian Church was organized October 6,
1894, through the efforts of E. C. Little, then a theological student doing
missionary work in Washington, and on October 29, 1894, he was called
as the first pastor. The present pastor is Rev. R. A. Jamison.
   The Methodist Protestant congregation dates back to 1830, when a
missionary of that then new denomination came to Washington. As a
result of this a society was organized and meetings held in the courthouse
until 1836, when a lot was donated in West Beau Street by William
Hunter, and Charles Avery, of Pittsburgh, gave a sum towards the erec-
tion of a church. This was built, but it was burned on November 8, 1851,
when the Hayes' carriage factory was destroyed. Mr. Avery came to the
aid of the society with $5,000, and a lot was purchased opposite the
former building. In October, 1852, the present building was completed
and named Avery Chapel. The society declined after 1869, and was with-
out a pastor until 1882. In the meantime the building was leased to the
Second Presbyterian congregation. A reorganization took place March
12, 1882. The present pastor is Rev. F. W. Perkins. The old building
has been enlarged and remodeled in later years.
   The First Methodist Episcopal congregation was organized some time
before 1801 for in that year John Hoge conveyed to the society a lot at
the corner of West Chestnut and North Franklin streets. A log build-
ing was erected on the corner and used until 1836, when the two story brick
building on Franklin Street, long occupied by the Hayes carriage factory,
was erected. The old log building stood for many years, but it has been so
changed and remodeled that little if any of the original building remains.
The brick church erected on Franklin Street was occupied until 1848,


846





































  The first mail carriers in Washington county. In 1890
the delivery of mail by carriers was established in Wash-
ington, for the first time in the county, and these men
served from 1890 to 1893. They are, left to right, William
McCausland, Thomas Blair, Mr. McLaughlin and Mack
Anderson. Thomas Blair is still in the postoffice service
at Washington.


    First regular police force of Washington in the late eighties; rear row from
left to right, Alexander Rankin, George Thompson, James S. Hammond; sittting
from left to right, Charles GrePr. John (Toddy) Orr. chief, and James Barbour.
All are now deceased.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


when another brick edifice was erected in West Wheeling Street and oc-
cupied until 1875. The building in Franklin Street was sold to the school
district and became Education Hall, where the high school was first
started. In 1876, the Wheeling Street building was sold to the African
Methodist Episcopal (colored) congregation, the present occupants. In
1875. the present church was erected at the corner of Beau and College
Streets. The present pastor is Rev. John F. Jose.
    The Jefferson Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in
 1890, largely through the efforts of Samuel Hazlett, a prominent citizen
 of Washington; and the following year the present building at the cor-
 ner of Jefferson and Hall avenues, was dedicated. The present pastor is
 Rev. Nicholas F. Richards.
    The West Washington Methodist Episcopal congregation was organ-
ized in 1894 as a result of the "Orchard Meeting" revival held in West
Washington, then a new section of the town. In 1895, the present build-
ing on Fayette Street was erected. The present pastor is Rev. J. H.
Debolt.
    The St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal congregation dates back
to 1818 when a society was organized by the members of that race living
in Washington, many of whom were slaves or had been in slavery. A
church was erected in North Lincoln Street, near the present Nazareth
Baptist Church, and there the congregation worshipped until 1875, when
the property was sold and the present edifice purchased from the First
Methodist Episcopals for $5,500. This building was remodeled as seen
today about twenty years ago at a cost of $16,000. The present pastor
is Rev. T. F. Farley.
   Wright's Chapel, of the Methodist Episcopal (colored) denomination,
was organized in 1843 after a colored preacher named Wright erected
the building by his own labor, the organization being effected by Rt. Rev.
Bishop J. J. Clinton and Rev. Abram Cole. In its early years this con-
gregation had a precarious existence, and was kept together mainly
through the efforts of "Uncle" Jesse Grayson.
   John Wesley Methodist Episcopal (colored) congregation was or-
ganized April 11, 1906, in a hall in East Wheeling Street. A few years
later a lot was purchased in Central Avenue, and the present frame
church was erected. The present pastor is Rev. C. E. Queen.
   The First Baptist congregation was instituted on October 14, 1814,
with eleven members. The first pastor of this church, Rev. Charles
Wheeler, who taught school in Washington for many years, served for
twenty-four years, or until 1838. A church was erected on the site of
the house now known as 77 West Wheeling Street. On the rear of this
lot was the old brick school house where Rev. Mr. Wheeler taught for
many years. This building was completed in 1819, and the first meeting
held July 14. This served the congregation until 1892, when the pres-
ent house of worship was dedicated on April 23, 1893. During the past
33 years this building has become too small for the growing congregation,
and the property at the corner of East Wheeling and College Streets has
been purchased, and plans made for the erection of a new church to cost
$150,000. Work will be started this year.
   It is interesting to note in connection with this congregation that the


848


































    Old Rankin building, Washington, erected in the early '70s by J. Rankin.
This is now the Globe Theatre building, but it has been greatly changed by
additions by the present owners, Forrest Brothers and Roberts.


    Oldest Masonic lodge building west of the Allegheny mountains. Erected by
Washington Lodge No. 164, F. & A. M. in 1826. It was afterwards used as a school
by the Washington school district. It is now the residence of Dr. W. D. Teagarden.


54--V1




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Hull family have been members continuously ever since its organization.
David Hull was one of the charter members, and his son, the late Henry
Hull, for many years a prominent merchant of the town, was a lifelong
member. He died in Washington, November 17, 1918, aged 90 years.
Mr. Hull lived to see the town grow from a small country village to the
present city, and he had much to do with its development. For almost
half a century he was a prominent merchant here. Five times during his
life he saw Washington soldiers march away in answer to the call of their
country. The first was the Mexican war of 1846; the second, the Civil
war; the third in 1898, when the Spanish-American war broke out; the
fourth in 1916, when the Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry went to the Mexi-
can border, and the fifth time when our soldiers went to France to fight
in the World war. At the centennial of the congregation in 1914, Mr.
Hull was the second oldest member, having joined in 1849. The oldest
was Mrs. John D. Brane, who joined in 1846. Mr. Hull served as a clerk,
trustee and deacon for many years. His son, Harry H. Hull, and daugh-
ter, Miss Alice Hull, both of Washington, have been lifelong members. A
great-great-grandniece, Margaret I. Forrest, is a member. The pastors
who have served this congregation are Rev. Charles Wheeler, 1814-38;
Rev. Mr. Davis, 1839; Rev. Mr. Billings, 1841-42; Rev. Charles T. John-
son, 1842-43; Rev. J. B. W. Tinsdale, 1843-46; Rev. Thomas Swaim, Jr.,
1846-50; Rev. George W. Young, 1850-54; Rev. Malachi Taylor, 1855-
58; Rev. John Boyd, 1858-60; Rev. Wm. Woods, supplied from 1860-66;
Rev. Robert Telford, 1866-68; no pastor from 1868-71; Rev. J. A. Snod-
grass, 1871-74; Rev. Mainor C. Blaine, 1875-78; Rev. I. C. Tuttle, 1879-
82; Rev. John Brooks, 1884; Rev. Stephen A. Drummond, 1884-88; Rev.
Alexander McArthur, 1888-1890; Rev. W. S. Wedemeyer, 1890-91; Rev.
Stephen Drummond, 1892-1902; Rev. Charles W. Fletcher, 1902-1912;
Rev. M. A. Graybiel, 1912-16; Rev. B. Frank Taber, March 11, 1917, to
the present time.
   The Allison Avenue Baptist congregation was organized in 1901 by
members of the First Baptist, who resided in the Tylerdale section. M. C.
Treat, a member of the First Baptist congregation, purchased two lots
for the new congregation upon which the present church was erected and
dedicated January 2, 1902. The present pastor is Rev. J. E. Arblester.
   The Broad Street Baptist Church was also organized by members of
the First Baptist who resided in the western section of the town. This
was 1899, and in 1900 the present church was erected at a cost of S2,030.
The first pastor was Rev. C. A. McFall, who resigned November 13, 1901,
and was succeeded by Rev. S. L. Parcell, who served the congregation
until 1924, when he retired, and was succeeded by the present pastor,
Rev. A. M. Gibson.
   The Nazareth Baptist (colored) congregation was organized in 1884,
and a property purchased in North Lincoln Street in 1884. The church
building was erected a short time later. This has been remodeled and
enlarged in later years. The present pastor is Rev. R. H. Rucker.
   The First English Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized
in Washington as the German Lutheran, at an early date. The first
definite record we have of it is May 5, 1812, purchased two lots in the
block between West Walnut and North Franklin streets and West Spruce


850


































   Original   German    Lutheran
church   in   Washington;   com-
pleted in 1816, and still standing,
in West Spruce avenue.


    The old Lutheran graveyard, Washington, upon which the new church of that
denomination was erected in 1895 and completed in 1826.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Orleans, but was sent back to St. Louis for the supplies. He secured the
supplies and started back, but never reached the American settlements.
In October, 1778, he was attacked by Indians on the Ohio, and nearly all
of his men, including Rogers himself, were killed. The others were carried
into captivity, and the entire cargo fell into the hands of the enemy.
    Early in 1778 the assemblies of Pennsylvania and Virginia took steps
to protect the frontier. Congress aided, and plans were made to send an
expedition against Fort Detroit as the most certain means of overawing
the Indians; for it was known that the British commander at that post
was the instigator of the hostility of the Ohio tribes against the Americans.
    The capture of Detroit was the dream of George Rogers Clark, and he
had that in view when he marched into Indiana and Illinois. He attempted
to raise an expedition in Washington County in 1781 for this purpose, but
failed, mainly through the opposition of the settlers; but that will be
related in its proper place.
    Congress voted to send three thousand men and to give nearly a mil-
lion dollars for the proposed expedition in 1778. Besides Fort Pitt, the
old records state that there were only two posts west of the mountains
garrisoned by Continental troops-Fort Hand, in Westmoreland County,
fourteen miles north of Hannastown, and Fort Randolph. There is some
confusion as to which post was meant by the latter. The post at Point
Pleasant was known as Fort Randolph, and in 1778 Fort Henry was some-
times referred to as Fort Randolph.
   It was planned to assemble fifteen hundred men at Fort Randolph and
the same number at Fort Pitt. The combined force was then to penetrate
the Indian country and march to Detroit. It was a brilliant scheme and
might have been successful, if the necessary supplies could have been
secured.
   Brigadier General Lachlin McIntosh was chosen as leader, and in May,
1778, he was given command of the Western department, over General
Hand, but it was August 6th before he arrived at Fort Pitt to take com-
mand, bringing a small force from the Continental Line. On account of
his late arrival much of the provisions that had been gathered for the
Detroit expedition had spoiled; but the general proceeded to raise his army
at once. The three thousand troops planned originally dwindled down to
thirteen hundred when the army was ready to march. These came from
the settlements of western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
   Just how many men Washington County furnished is not known at
this time; but it undoubtedly supplied its share. Old newspaper accounts
of the death of Captain Andrew Swearingen state that he was present
with his company of Washington County scouts at the erection of both
Forts McIntosh and Laurens. From the same source we know that Daniel
Leet, Indian fighter of Catfish Camp, was also present.
   Hugh Workman, who settled at Catfish Camp in 1777, and died in
Washington November 20th, 1843, was also present. This fact is learned
from the account of his death in The Examiner for November 25th, 1843.
Whether his brother, James, was with McIntosh is not known definitely;
but both were with Crawford.
   In order that the frontier would not be exposed to attack during the
expedition, the county lieutenants of Monongahela and Ohio counties, West




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Alley. However, as early as 1798, these people had met at the house of
Jacob Weuler, and in 1801 Rev. Demas Hurtzeler made regular visits to
the town. It is also known that Rev. Monesmith began work here in 1811
and remained until 1812. The first church was started in 1812 and com-
pleted in 1816, at a cost of 8170. This building was of logs covered with
weatherboarding, and quite large for a church in those days. It is still
standing, but has been used for a dwelling for the past forty years. A
small log house was built in 1818 on the site of the present Jewish syna-
gogue, and this was used as a school for many years. The congregation
was incorporated in 1842 as the German Evangelical Lutheran and Re-
formed church. For many years sermons were preached in both Ger-
man and English, but this was discontinued in 1882, and from that time
services were held in English only. The pulpit in this church was ele-
vated, with circular stairs leading up to it. For seventy years this was
the home of this congregation, but in 1885 a new brick building was
dedicated at the corner of West Beau and Franklin streets. This was
occupied until August 12, 1919, when it was sold to the Christian Science
Society, and the last service was held by the Lutherans on October 26,
by Rev. Frank E. Jensen. Since then the congregation has been holding
services in the public meeting room of the courthouse. In 1925 its new
church building was started on the site of the old graveyard. It is now
practically completed, and by the time this history is published will be
occupied by the congregation. The present pastor is Rev. Harry B.
Ernest.
   The Trinity Episcopal congregation was organized in Washington on
April 22, 1844, but services had been held here by ministers of this de-
nomination as early as 1810, and in 1812 services were held occasionally
in a school house by Rev. William David. In 1843 Rev. Enos Woodward,
of Brownsville, began holding regular services, and the congregation was
organized in 1844, and the Rev. Enos Reynolds was elected as the first
rector of the Parish of Trinity Church. In 1850 the present church was
erected in East Beau Street, and in 1862 the present gothic church was
erected at a cost of $3,697.20; and it stands today just as it was almost
three-quarters of a century ago, the most picturesque church in this vicin-
ity. The present rector is Rev. R. H. F. Gairdner.
   The First Christian Church was organized May 12, 1831. Meetings
were first held in the homes of members and in a log school on the Henry
Vankirk farm, four miles east of Washington. The first church was
built in 1836, at Pancake, a history of which has been given in the ac-
count of the founding of the Christian Church in a previous chapter.
Some of the first members of the congregation were R. B. Chaplin, Henry
Langly, Frederick Huffman, Franklin Dunham, Samuel Marshall, Jane
McDermot, Hannah Acheson, Hannah Marshall, and Franklin Nichol.
In 1867 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Washington was leased
and purchased in 1875 for $4,600, in addition to which $5,000 was spent
in improvements. The present house of worship in West Wheeling Street
was dedicated February 11, 1894, at a cost of 825,000. Since then this
has been enlarged to accommodate the growing congregation. The first
pastor in Washington was Rev. J. B. Crane from 1867 to 1869. The pres-
ent pastor is Rev. John W. Love, who has been in charge since 1921.


852






















































    Main street, Washington, opposite the court house. This shows some of Wash-
ington's most modern buildings-the Washington Trust building, the Brown building,
the Caldwell building, the Berthel building, the Citizens National Bank, and the
George Washington hotel.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The Second Christian Church was organized in 1902 and the present
church completed and dedicated in March, 1903. The first pastor was
Rev. W. B. Reed. The present pastor is Rev. E. A. Cole.
   The Salvation Army of Washington was first started with meetings
held on December 16, 1897, by the young women, Captain Swan, Lieu-
tenant Hamilton, and Ensign Terril, in Smith's Hall. The first hall se-
cured after this was on the third floor of Phoenix Row. During the next
quarter of a century this organization drifted around over town to many
halls and locations, and many officers were in charge, but it never ceased
holding meetings, and is now an active organization in the town, doing
much good among the poor. The present Citadel, the first permanent
home of the Army in Washington, was secured about 1921, through the
efforts of a campaign. Captain Hand is the present officer in charge.
   The Christian Science Society was organized in 1897, at the home of
Mrs. Rachel A. Guinn, in Jefferson Avenue. The growth of the society
was slow at first, but it finally leased rooms in the Burchinal Building,
and then in the Montgomery Building, North Main Street. In 1919, the
Lutheran Church was purchased, where meetings are held.
   St. Hilary Polish Roman Catholic congregation was incorporated in
July, 1919, in a building at the corner of Allison and McAdam avenues, by
the Polish residents of the Seventh ward. The present church at 146 Hen-
derson Avenue, was dedicated October 4, 1920. The first priest in charge
was Rev. V. Majka, who was succeeded on October 18, 1919, by Rev. A.
Spiewak, the present rector.
   The Beth Israel Jewish Synagogue really may be said to date back to
1866 and 1870, when Henry Schoenthal, Joseph Katzenshein, Harris
Samuels, Nathan Samuels, and one or two other Jewish families came to
Washington. The number has gradually increased until at the present
time there are more than 200. A congregation was organized in 1891,
with the Rev. Jacob Goldfarb as the minister in charge. The present
Beth Israel Synagogue was erected at a cost of $10,000 and dedicated
September 28, 1902. Rev. Goldfarb is still in charge of the congregation.
   The Seventh Day Adventist Church in Brookside Avenue, was organ-
ized about thirty-five years ago, and for a number of years services were
held in this building, but the congregation has become scattered, and in
more recent years it has almost ceased to exist, although the church still
stands.
   The Christian and Missionary Alliance, now located in East Walnut
Street, was started by the late John A. Best about 1897, in a room on
the second floor of this building, now over what is the Regent Theatre.
It was located there for a number of years, but about 1910 moved to the
Stocking Building in the room now occupied by the North Main Street
Pharmacy, where it remained for several years. The present church
was completed about seven years ago. This congregation has grown,
and it was necessary to build an addition to the church two years ago. It
is interesting to note that the first donation towards the church fund was
by an intoxicated man, who gave 1 cent while the mission was located in
the Stocking Building. Rev. Harry B. Lucas, who was pastor for several
years, resigned in December, 1925.


854




























    The old "Daddy" Koechline corner, South Main and East Maiden
streets, Washington, as the building appeared after the gas explosion,
December 21, 1884. In the corner room of this old building Jacob
Koechline, known to the children of Washington 75 years ago as
"Daddy," sold gingerbread for a penny a cake.


  John Margerum's old shoe shop,
erected in West Wheeling Street,
Washington, about 1825, and still
standing. For many years John
Margerum    was  a shoe maker,
and  this shop   was the    loaf-
ing place for the boys of the town
50 and 75 years ago. Many were
the jokes played by the boys on
the old shoemaker, who is well re-
membered by the old men of Wash-
ington today. His son, John Mar-
gerum, Jr., is standing in the door-
way and he succeeded his father as
shoemaker. Photo taken about 25
years ago.


  The old log pump
John McConoughy and
the well of his home at
ton about 75 years ago.


made by
placed in
Washing-




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


                             GRAVEYARDS
   When Washington was laid out by the Hoges in 1781, certain lots were
evidently set aside as burial grounds, but no record is to be found of any
deeds from the Hoges to the community, the borough or to any individ-
uals for this ground. Nothing on the original plan of Washington shows
that these lots were reserved as a burial ground, and all we know is that
the old Washington graveyard is located there to this day.
   Title to the property is evidently still vested in the Hoges but would
probably be lost in a court contest from the fact that the city or borough
has occupied it as a burial ground for so many years. Many of the oldest
citizens of Washington are still buried there; but it has not been kept in
any kind of condition for many years and today it is a disgrace to the
community. The head-stones are down, many of them having been.carried
off and used in walks, and the location of graves of many of these' early
settlers have long since been lost.
   During the past few years it has been used as a children's playground
by the local playground association, and the children in that section of
Washington were taught to play hide-and-seek behind the tombstones, and
romp and run over the graves.
   In 1915, David C. Morrow, the city engineer, made a survey of the
ground, located all the graves by measurements and copied down the
inscriptions, a record of which is still kept in the city building. The rela-
tives of many persons buried there have since had the bodies removed to
other cemeteries. When Mr. Morrow made his survey there were still 313
persons buried there. The oldest grave which was marked was that of
William Sherrard, who died December 2, 1805. There were few burials
after the Civil war but interments were made here in the '70s, and the
last of which we have a record was in 1887.
   Surrounding the old Lutheran church, which was completed in 1816,
on the property at the corner of West Walnut, Franklin, and West Spruce,
was the old Lutheran graveyard which was in existence until 1924, when
the bodies were all raised by the congregation and those not taken by rela-
tives are now in a vault in the cellar of the new Lutheran church, which has
just been completed. No record was ever kept of the burials in the grave-
yard, where many of the early German settlers of the vicinity and their
families have slept these many years. Just how many graves there were
will never be known, but it is estimated at about 125.
   "Daddy" Koethline, who dug the graves for many long years, and later
his son Jacob, who succeeded him, kept a record, but this was either lost
or destroyed. A search made for it years ago failed to reveal any trace
of it. Just when "Daddy" RKochline began to dig graves is not known,
but Henry Brown has informed the author that he was engaged in this
occupation when he was a littl6 boy.
   "Daddy" Koethline is well remembered by the children of Washington
seventy years and more ago, for his gingerbread, which he made and sold
at the corner of South Main and East Maiden streets. One of those big
round copper pennies, almost as big as a dollar, would buy a cake. Good
things for children to eat in those days were few and far between, and
the fame of this gingerbread spread far and wide. It was a fame that


856




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


has survived the passing of almost three-quarters of a century, and the
very few of the old men and women living today, who were the children
of Washington so long ago, hold "Daddy" Koethline's gingerbread as
one of the loving memories of their childhood.
   Strange to say, of all those who knew "Daddy" Koechline, the author
has found no one who remembers his surname. He was just "Daddy" to
the children of Washington and as "Daddy" they still remember him. A
search of the courthouse records show that it was Jacob. He died Sep-
tember 12, 1864.
   According to tradition, the first burial in this old graveyard took place
in 1781, but the location of the grave is lost. The oldest grave that is
marked was that of Henrietta Koch, who died September 29, 1817, age
11 months and 24 days. The last burial which took place was that of
Mallsena Alrutz, who died October 3, 1892, but no others had been made
in the graveyard for about fifteen years before that time.
   Another old-time burial ground located in Washington was that of
the First Methodist Episcopal congregation which surrounded the old
church at the corner of West Chestnut and Franklin streets. Very little
is known today of this ancient burial ground, for it was done away with
about three-quarters of a century ago. Although it is known that a num-
ber of bodies were removed to the Washington cemetery, tradition tells us
that bodies were occasionally discovered in later years during excavations
in that vicinity; while it is a known fact that some of the headstones
were used in the foundations of houses near by.
   The Washington Cemetery Company was chartered March 3, 1853, by
a number of business men of Washington who wished to secure a better
and more prominent burial ground than the old graveyard afforded. A
site for the cemetery was purchased on the high hill southwest of the
town, and is now one of the finest burial grounds in this section of the
state. This cemetery was in charge of the late William Crosby for almost
a half century, and since his death several years ago, his son, John Crosby,
has ably carried on the work of his father.






                        CHAPTER LXXXIX.

            TAVERNS AND HOTELS OF WASHINGTON.

   Many people in Washington will undoubtedly be surprised to learn
that the present George Washington is not the first hotel in this city to
be named in honor of "The Father of His Country." Strange to say, the
name was never adopted by a hotel of the town that survived the passing
years, and other proprietors changed the name from time to time, until
today the fact that there ever was a George Washington Hotel here has
been forgotten, and it was while searching through the files of The


857




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Western Telegraphe and Washington Advertiser, and The Reporter that
the writer discovered that such hotels ever existed.
    There were two hotels in Washington and one at Pancake, named
"George Washington" during the early years of the past century. The
tavern under this name at Pancake stood on the Mount Vernon farm, and
the name of the hostelry was later changed to Mount Vernon Hotel, and
as such it was known for many years afterwards, although today no per-
son in that village remembers the Mount Vernon Tavern, or ever heard of
it. But the writer finally traced it back until it was discovered that it
was on the farm now owned by Fred Baumberger, just east of the village,
where the last Mount Vernon hotel building still stands.
   The first George Washington Hotel in Washington was conducted by
James Dunlap, who later was owner of the George Washington and Mount
Vernon Hotel in Pancake. No mention is made of this fact in any of the
county histories, but an advertisement in The Western Telegraphe of
March 19, 1804, discloses this fact. This advertisement follows:

                          "JAMES DUNLAP
   "Begs leave to inform his friends and the public in general, that he will
open a Tavern on the first day of April next, at the sign Of The George
Washington (lately that well known stand Black Horse, occupied by Capt.
Charles Fox), in the Town of Washington, where he intends to lay in a
choice assortment of wine and spiritous liquors. The premises are well
fitted up with good stabling and other accommodations for the reception of
travellers and others.
   "Every attention will be paid to those who please to favor him with
their custom.
   "February 3, 1804."
   This, the first George Washington Hotel, stood on the east side of
South Main Street, just north of Maiden, where the Morgan Building, now
owned by E. H. Sackville, is located.
   James Dunlap was a prominent man of that day in this section of the
county, where he kept a hotel for many years. However, he did not remain
long in any one location. He was brigade inspector of the Washington
County militia, an office of considerable importance in those days, and he
was known as Major Dunlap.
   Dunlap owned the farm now owned by Fred Baumberger, of Wash-
ington, which is located on the National Pike, a short distance east of
Pancake. This he called the Mount Vernon Farm, and in September,
1815, three years before the National Pike was completed through Wash-
ington he opened a road house there at "The Sign of General George
Washington." This is another interesting item of local history which
has been long forgotten, and was only discovered by the writer through
the following advertisement which appeared in The Reporter on October
23, 1815 :
                      "GENERAL WASHINGTON
                      "Mount Vernon Hotel.
   "James Dunlap, begs leave to inform the public and his friends, that
he has just opened a Public House at the sign of General George Wash-


858





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ington, two and a half miles from the borough of Washington, on the
Brownsville road, where he will endeavor to accommodate those who may
please to call with him.
   "Mount Vernon Farm, September, 1815."
   The General George Washington Hotel at Mount Vernon farm was
evidently not a paying venture as Dunlap advertised it for sale in the
Reporter on February 3, 1817. He evidently did not succeed in dispos-
ing of it for on April 28, 1817, he advertised that he had laid out the new
town of Williamsburg. He advertised a lot sale on May 3, but evidently
it was not a success, as no deeds are on record, showing that he disposed
of any on that date. In fact, he sold very few lots in Williamsburg and
on April 9, 1825, he came to Washington and took charge of what is now
the Auld Hotel, and ran it for a short time. On December 1, 1824, while
James Briceland was proprietor, General Andrew Jackson stopped there,
and the name was immediately changed to the "Jackson Hotel." The
following advertisement taken from The Examiner of April 15, 1825,
is of interest in this connection:

                          "JAMES DUNLAP
   "Informs the public that he-has removed from his former stand to the
borough of Washington, Pa., into the large house next door to the Stage
Office kept by Mr. James Briceland, where he has opened a house of
Public Entertainment at the sign of the Jackson Hotel, where he will be
happy to receive his former friends and all who may give him a call. No
pains will be wanting to make his guests comfortable, and his price will
be the same as he had at his old stand. He tenders his sincere thanks to a
generous public for the liberal support he has received. He has a large
yard and lot that will accommodate the country people at all times, more
particularly on public days."
   On September 12, 1825, Major Dunlap sold his farm near Pancake to
William Hunter for $3,000 and from that time Dunlap drops out of sight.
   The next George Washington Hotel was located on the site of the
Washington Trust Building, where the Hotel Main stood for so many
years. William McCammant, an early hotel keeper in Washington,
opened a tavern in February, 1801, at "The Sign of the Cross Keys" in
an old building that stood on the southeast corner of South Main and East
Wheeling streets, where the Montgomery Building is now located. He
remained there until his death in 1813, when his widow, Mrs. Mary Mc-
Cammant continued the business at the same stand until April, 1815,
when she removed to the hotel that stood at the southeast corner of Main
and East Beau streets.
   She immediately changed the name to "The Sign of General Wash-
ington," as will be seen by the following advertisement that appeared in
The Reporter for May 15, 1815:

                            "REMOVAL.
   "The subscriber respectfully informs her friends and the public in
general, that she has removed from her former place of residence, to that
well known stand at the east corner of Market and Beau streets, nearly
opposite the Court house, lately kept by Mr. R. Donaldson, where she has


859




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


opened a Public House for the entertainment of travelers and others at
the
                    "Sign of General Washington.
    "Having laid in a large assortment of Foreign and Domestic Liquors,
and taken great care in her selection of good and careful hostlers and
other domestics, she hopes by unremitting attention to business, to merit
a share of public patronage.
    "Washington, Pa., April 17, 1815.          Mary M'Cammant."
    Just how long she remained at "The Sign of General Washington" is
not known, but in January, 1831, she was back at "The Sign of the Cross
Keys", where she advertised that she would furnish dinner and horse
feed for 25 cents, and boarding and lodging for jurors and others attend-
ing court at S2 per week.
    When the county courts were first organized and for many years aft-
erwards, it was necessary to secure a license to conduct a hotel. The
prices that a hotel keeper could charge were fixed by the court. Before
the boundary dispute was settled between Pennsylvania and Virginia,
this section was claimed by both states, and before 1781, it was a part
of Youghiogheny County, Virginia.
   In 1778, taverns were licensed by the courts of that county, and the
following bill of prices that landlords might charge was fixed: Whisky
by the half pint, two shillings; whisky toddy, two shillings, six pence;
beer per quart, two shillings, six pence; hot breakfast, three shillings;
cold breakfast, two shillings, six pence; dinner, four shillings; supper,
three shillings; lodging with clean sheets, one shilling, six pence; stabling
with hay and fodder, five shillings; corn per quart, nine pence; oats per
quart, six pence. There are no records that any taverns were licensed in
this section at that time.
   When Washington County was incorporated and its courts organized
in 1781, the scale of prices was changed to suit the depreciated Contin-
ental money. The following scale was fixed as the legal prices that hotel
keepers could charge in Washington County: Whisky by the half pint,
$4; breakfast or supper, $15; dinner, $20; lodging with clean sheets, $3;
one horse over night, 83; one gallon of corn, $5; one gallon of oats, 84;
strong beer per quart, 86. The rates were published by the court crier
and set up in public places. Continental money at that time was worth
a little more than German money today.
   The Glove Inn, the Mansion house, the Fulton house, the Railroad
house are names still well remembered, but few of the people of today
ever heard of the sign of "General Wayne," the "Rising Sun," the "Cross
Keys," the "Buck," the "Commodore O. H. Perry," the "Fountain Inn," the
"Travellers' Inn," the "Philadelphia & Kentucky Inn," the "Indian Queen,"
the "Green House," "Schmidt's Hotel," the "White Goose," the "Swan,"
the "Spread Eagle," the "Gen. Andrew Jackson," the "Mermaid," the
"General Brown," the "Farmers' Inn," the "Black Bear," the "Franklin,"
the "National Hotel," and "John Wilson's Tavern." These were all well
known public houses in Washington during the early years of the last
century and up to the Civil war.
   In early times, it was always customary for a hotel keeper to place
"At the Sir- of the Indian Queen," "At the Sign of the White Goose,"


860

































  Hotel Main, Washington, formerly the Fulton House.
This was a hotel site continuously from a very early date
until the Hotel Main was destroyed by fire in January,
1899. The Washington Trust Building now occupies the
site.


    The old building that was formerly "The Sign of the Swan
Hotel" in the early days of Washington; razed in 1891. The Mont-
gomery Building, corner of South Main and East Wheeling streets
now occupies the site. This building was built about 1791.






HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Virginia, authorized a company of rangers to scout continuously along
the Ohio and Beaver rivers.
   Congress had appointed three commissioners to arrange a treaty with
the western Indians, and every tribe west of the Ohio was invited to the
council held at Fort Pitt September 17th. The Shawnese were openly
hostile to the Americans, and refused to join, but the Delawares were
represented by White Eyes, Captain Pipe and Killbuck, who agreed to
join the Colonies. A requisition was made on them for two captains and
sixty warriors for the Continental Line.
   In the meantime General McIntosh raised his army, and marched from
Fort Pitt into the Indian country. Instead of the three thousand Conti-
nentals promised by Congress, he had only a small force of regulars, a
battalion of Virginians and several companies of Pennsylvanians, thirteen
hundred in all.
   Marching to the mouth of the Beaver River, he erected Fort McIntosh,
the first fortification ever built by the United States on the Indian side
of the Ohio. This, one of the most famous forts on the old frontier, stood
on the wide plateau now occupied by the town of Beaver, one-half mile
below the junction of the Ohio and Beaver rivers. There was a log stock-
ade in the form of an irregular square, at each corner of which was a
bastion, containing a six-pound gun. Within the enclosure were log houses
for the officers and men. The logs in the stockade were laid in courses
like masonry, and a covered passage or tunnel led from the fort to the
river to be used to carry water during a siege. It was capable of resisting
any attack the Indians could make, but it is doubtful if it would have
withstood artillery; but Indians never used cannon and no extensive
British expedition was expected. The fort was laid out and built under
the supervision of Le Chevalier De Cambray, chief military engineer of
the expedition, on the site of an Indian village and French trading post.
It was the starting point for many expeditions against the hostiles during
the Indian wars following the Revolution. It was demolished in 1789 or
early in 1790, after its usefulness had passed. The southwest bastion
stood about twenty-five feet from the end of the present Market Street,
Beaver. A marker placed by the Fort McIntosh Chapter, Daughters of
the American Revolution, marks the site of the fort.
   On October 8th General McIntosh moved the headquarters of the
Western Department from Fort Pitt to Fort McIntosh. By this time it
was found that the expedition against Detroit would be too expensive for
the slender resources of Congress, on account of the high advance of pro-
visions, and it was given up. This army was the largest body of troops
assembled west of the mountains during the Revolution. Had the pro-
visions gathered before McIntosh's arrival not spoiled, the expedition
would have been a success.
   McIntosh was ordered, however, to proceed against the Indian towns
of Ohio, and he decided to march against the Wyandot villages on the
headwaters of the Sandusky. Leaving three hundred men at Fort Mc-
Intosh, he left that post on November 5th with one thousand troops. This
was the first United States army that ever penetrated the Indian country
west of the Ohio.
   Marching rapidly through the western wilderness, the army arrived




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


"At the Sign of the Black Bear," "At the Sign of the General Washington,"
etc. Some appropriate picture was always painted on the sign, which
was usually very large. The picture usually suggested the name of the
inn; for example, "The Sign of the White Goose" had a large white goose
painted on the sign.
   One of the most conspicuous in the early days of Washington showed
a colored boy standing in a tub of water with a white boy at his side
trying to scrub him white with a brush. The motto above the picture
was "Labor in Vain". Another early tavern in Washington was "The
Harp and the Crown".
   The first tavern kept in Washington, was opened in 1774 by William
Huston, who then lived in what is now East Maiden Street. His cabin
stood on the lot now occupied by the Fifth ward school.
   In 1781, James Wilson hung out a sign and formally opened a tavern
in Washington; and in October, 1871, he was licensed by the first court
ever held in this county to keep a public house of entertainment at Cat-
fish Camp. This was in the log building that stood on the site of Smith's
Iron Hall, at the northwest corner of North Main and West Beau streets.
   Hon. William A. Atlee and Hon. George Bryan, judges of the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania, always stopped here when in Washington holding
the courts of Oyer and Terminer.
   Wilson kept this tavern until his death in 1792. The building was
afterwards enlarged and improved; the logs were covered with weather-
boarding, and in February, 1807, Michael Ocheltree was licensed to keep
a tavern there. In 1812, Ocheltree was succeeded by a man named Rotroff
and in 1815, John Kline came from the cross roads nine miles west of
Brownsville, and purchased the place, giving it the name of "The Sign of
General Wayne." According to the old advertisement in The Reporter
Kline took charge of this hotel on April 12, 1815, and remained until
April 7, 1817, when he was succeeded by Capt. John McCluney.
   Just how long McCluney kept this tavern is not known; but the next
proprietor was Joseph Teeters. He was followed by Joseph Hallam, who
ran the place until about 1840, when he removed to "The Washington
Hall," where the Valentine House afterwards stood. After 1840, Wilson's
old tavern stand ceased to be used as an inn.
   John Dodd, who owned land adjoining Washington, was the next man
to open a tavern here. In 1782, he hung out his sign at a log house on
the east side of Main Street, opposite the courthouse, where he remained
until his death in 1795. This old tavern stood on the site of A. B. Cald-
well's dry goods store and a part of the present Citizens National Bank
Building. After Dodd's death, John Wilson took charge and conducted a
tavern there for many years; just how long is not known, but it was some
time in the early thirties.
   In the log building that stood on the site of the Strean Building at the
northwest corner of South Main Street and West Strawberry Alley, where
the first courts of Washington County were held, Charles Dodd, brother
of John Dodd, opened a tavern in 1782. He continued in the business
until August 13, 1792, when he sold out to Daniel Kehr. He ran a hotel
for a year or two, but was not very successful, and so he took down his


862




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


sign and returned to his trade as shoemaker. He remained there in that
business for many years.
   Some of the other tavern keepers of old Washington town were John
Adams, licensed at the September, 1783 term of court to keep a tavern,
and continued until 1789; John Colwell, licensed in 1784; Hugh Means,
Samuel Acklin and William Fulconer, licensed in September, 1785; and
William Mestkirke. Acklin kept a tavern from June, 1786, until 1793.
It is to be regretted that nothing more is known of these men, or where
their hotels were located; all we know is that they once kept taverns in
Washington.
   Major George McCormick was licensed in 1788 to keep a tavern here
but the exact location of it or how long he continued in business is not
known. It must have been a good place as the following entry in the
journal of Col. John May testifies: "Thursday, August 7, 1788, set out
from the hotel at 4 o'clock, and at half-past 8 arrived at Maj. George
McCormick's in Washington, where we breakfasted. This is an excellent
house, where New England men put up."
   Two other early tavern keepers were Hugh Wilson, son of James
Wilson, already mentioned, who was licensed in September, 1789, and
John McMichael, in 1790. The locations of their houses are not known
today.
   The oldest hotel site in Washington is where the William Henry now
stands at the northeast corner of South Main and East Wheeling streets.
A house of public entertainment has been kept continuously on this lot
for the past 132 years. This lot was purchased originally by Charles
Valentine, who erected a log house, and in September, 1791, was licensed
to keep a tavern at "The Sign of the White Goose," which he conducted
until 1805. Valentine sold out in that year and engaged in other business
until his death in 1809.
   John Rettig was the next proprietor. He changed the name to "The
Sign of the Swan."
   In 1810, Julian Valentine succeeded Rettig, and remained until some
time in 1819. It is interesting to note in this connection that probably
the first elephant ever seen in Washington, was on exhibition at The Swan
tavern in June, 1819. This is shown by an advertisement that appeared
in The Examiner, for June 28, 1819:
   "Columbus" a male Elephant, the first and only male ever in this
country, to be seen at Mr. Valentine's Tavern in Washington, on Tuesday,
June 29th, Wednesday, June 30th, and Thursday, July 1st.
   James Sargent next kept "The Swan" for a short time, and then John
Valentine took charge, beginning in June, 1819. The next proprietor,
was Lewis Valentine, who remained until March 1825, when John Hays
became the proprietor. In March, 1827, Isaac Sumny became the pro-
prietor, and changed the name to "The Sign of Washington Hall." After
that, Samuel Donley and other persons ran the place down to about 1840,
when Joseph Hallam took charge.
   Of all the proprietors of this old-time hotel, Joseph Hallam was the
most popular. This was at the time when travel and freighting business
on the National Pike was at its height. Hallam was a wagoner and had
conducted a wagon stand at Pancake. He was well known among all the


863




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


old pike boys, and when in Washington, they made his place their head-
quarters, and it soon became the most popular wagon stand in this section.
He had a good wagon yard in the rear of the hotel, on Wheeling Street,
and he catered to the tastes of the drivers; and having been one of them,
he understood better than most landlords what they liked best. He ran
a barroom in connection with the hotel and many were the good times the
old pike boys had there while Hallam was "mine host."
   About 1848, the old tavern was razed and a two-story brick hotel
known to later generations as the Valentine House, after the first pro-
prietor, was erected. It was called the Valentine House until about 1880,
when a third story was added and the name was changed to Allison House;
but it was always the Valentine House among the older residents until
it was burned twenty years later.
   Beginning with 1848, and for a number of years afterwards, Major
George T. Hammond was proprietor, and under his management it be-
came one of the best known of Washington's hotels. Other proprietors
of later years were Hugh Keys and Andrew Bruce, both ex-sheriffs, and
in still more recent years, William F. Dickey; but that was after travel
had closed on the pike.
   The old brick stage coach stables which stood in the rear of this prop-
erty until 1925, were erected at the time the Valentine House was built
in 1848.
   The Allison House was partly destroyed by fire in February, 1899.
For several years after that, it was conducted as a rooming house. Then
the property was purchased by Siegel Brothers and the present building
was erected. This was first called Hotel Siegel, but the name was changed
to William Henry by the late William Henry Lippincott, who came from
Waynesburg several years ago and opened the place.
   In September, 1791, Michael Kuntz opened a tavern in the old building
that first stood on the lots last occupied by Vowell's drug store and now
part of the site of the George Washington hotel. How long he remained
is not known.
   The old court records show that in December, 1793, J. Neilson, John
Fisher, Samuel McMillan and John Ferguson were each licensed to keep
taverns, and Daniel Kehr was licensed in 1795, but the locations of their
hotels are not known today.
   "The Sign of the Buck," known afterwards as "Huston's Home Inn,"
was another of the famous taverns of the early days in Washington. This
was opened by Joseph Huston, a cousin of William Huston, the first hotel
keeper and settler at Washington. "The Sign of the Buck" was the old
stone house that formerly stood on the east side of South Main Street, just
below the corner of East Maiden, on the lots now occupied by the Morgan
apartments. Huston was licensed to keep this tavern in January, 1796.
It is certain from this that the building was erected at least in 1795, and
possibly before that. Huston ran this tavern until his death in 1812. His
widow, Elizabeth, succeeded him, yet after a short time sold out to James
Sargent, who conducted it until April, 1815, when Mrs. Huston again took
charge and ran it until 1820. James Fleming succeeded her, and was pro-
prietor in October, 1821. She afterwards married and after her second
husband's death, she went back to this building, where she was keeping


864

































    The old Valentine House, Washington, one
of Washington's famous hotels of other days.
Destroyed by fire in    February, 1899. The
William Henry Hotel now     occupies the site.
This is the oldest hotel site, in continuous use,
in Washington.


    The old stage coach stables in the rear of the famous Valentine House, a noted
hotel in Washington in the pike days. These stables were built in 1848 and stood in
East Wheeling Street until September, 1924, when they were completely razed to make
room for the widening of Shaffer avenue and the new Siegel building.


-i




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


a tavern in 1838 as Elizabeth Fleming. Her son, William B. Huston, con-
ducted it for some years after that date. This old building stood until
about 1903, and was one of the landmarks of the town.
   James Workman was another of the first hotel keepers in Washington.
He began here in 1797, but unfortunately the site of his house is not
known today. He remained in business until 1813, when he went to farm-
ing. However, after three years he returned and in April, 1816, he was
at "The Sign of General Andrew Jackson," on the west side of Main
Street just below "The Sign of the Globe." This was the hotel that stood
on the site of the present Auld House, which was erected in 1821. After
the present building was completed it was once called the "Jackson Hotel,"
but that was after Workman's time.
   Dr. John J. LeMoyne, a native of France, father of the late Dr. Francis
J. LeMoyne, settled in Washington in 1797, and in August, 1798, he was
licensed to keep a tavern. He was living at that time in a log house that
stood in South Main Street, on the slope of Gallows Hill. He afterwards
moved up Main nearer town and kept a tavern and drug store. His house
was the headquarters for French people passing through Washington on
their way west, over the old trail that is now the National Pike. He
ceased keeping a tavern in 1806, because his drug store demanded all his
attention. Tradition says that Jacob Good afterwards kept the LeMoyne
tavern, and that he was succeeded by his widow.
   Of all the taverns of old Washington town, from the first down to the
present day, none ever gained greater fame that the Globe Inn enjoyed
for a numbers of years. No less than five Presidents-Monroe, Jackson,
Harrison, Taylor, and Polk, were entertained there, while Henry Clay
always stopped at the Globe when passing through Washington on his
way to and from the national capital. Daniel Webster and General La-
fayette were also entertained there when in Washington, and it was there
that Chief Black Hawk remained while in Washington in 1833.
   This building stood on Lot No. 18, at the southwest corner of South
Main Street and West Strawberry Alley, where the DeNormandie Building
is now located. Alexander Cunningham bought this lot from David Hoge
in May, 1784, and on August 30, 1784, he sold it to Samuel Shannon.
The lot was sixty feet on Main Street and extended back 240 feet. Shan-
non erected the tavern building, which was opened at "The Sign of The
Globe" in 1798 by David Morris who remained the popular host of this
tavern for thirty-six years. His wife was a sister of Robert Fulton of
steamboat fame, and to her energy was due much of the success of this
hotel. It was a home-like place, where the weary traveler always received
a warm welcome, and better still, good meals. In fact, Mrs. Morris was
noted from end to end of the National Pike for her excellent cooking.
   Whenever distinguished persons passed through Washington, and there
were many in the old pike days, it was the custom of the townsmen to
invite them to dinner at The Globe Inn, where the leading men and
women of the town would assemble. Henry Clay was frequently enter-
tained at these dinners at The Globe.
   David Morris, the proprietor, was opposed to the construction of the
National Pike. He believed that travelers would be able to make so much
better time on an improved road that they would not stop at half as many


866




























































    Huston's Old Home Inn,
Joseph Huston opened a tavern
It was a tavern for many years.
apartments were erected on the


Washington. In January, 1796,
here ta "The Sign of the Buck."
Razed in 1902 when the Morgan
lot.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


hotels; but he lived to see the time when he could not accomodate the
guests the National Pike brought to his doors.
   The greatest event in all the years of Washington's history was the
visit of General Lafayette on May 25, 1825, when fully 20,000 gathered
here to welcome him. He stopped at The Globe Inn. A full account of
this visit will be found in another chapter. Another noted incident in
the old hotel history, was when Black Hawk, war chief of the Sac and Fox
Indians together with five warriors stopped on April 16, 1833. This in-
cident has already been described.
   David Morris died at The Globe Inn on January 1, 1834, aged 68 years,
of a stroke of paralysis. He was married twice, his first wife Mary Fulton
Morris, having died about twenty years before. His widow continued
the tavern until April 27, 1835, when the property was sold at sheriff's
sale, as Morris' affairs were somewhat involved when he died. Thomas
Morgan, postmaster at that time, purchased it and removed the post-
office to the building. During the half century that followed the building
was used for many purposes, but it was never a hotel again. It was
finally razed in 1889 by T. and S. DeNormandie, the present owners of
the property.
   Another popular tavern of old Washington town was "The Sign of the
Cross Keys," where the Montgomery Building now stands. This was
opened in 1801 by William McCammant, whose widow afterwards kept
"The Sign of General Washington" hotel which has been described.
McCammant was proprietor of "The Sign of the Cross Keys" until his
death in 1813, which according to tradition, was caused by the bite of a
mad wolf. Many of these animals infested Washington County at that
time, and a large number were afflicted with rabies.
   Mrs. McCammant ran this hotel for two years after the death of her
husband; and on April 3, 1815, she removed to "The Sign of General
Washington," and James Sargent, who had been proprietor of "The Sign
of the Swan" (already described), moved from that tavern to "The Sign
of the Cross Keys." How long he remained or who succeeded him is not
known.
   The old newspaper advertisements show that in January, 1831, Mrs.
McCammant was again proprietor, but when she returned or how long
she remained is not known. At that time, she advertised that for that
term of court the following prices would be charged: Dinner and horse
feed, 25 cents; jurors and other attending court, $2 per week. Other
proprietors of "The Sign of the Cross Keys" were Charles Rettig, John
Bradfield, William Blakely and Otho Hartzell, but unfortunately the dates
are not known. This tavern closed its doors in 1844, and was never
reopened.
   "The Sign of Washington" was the name of a tavern known to have
been kept in 1805 by Christian Keiffer, but very little is known of it today.
Even its location has been lost.
   The original trail and afterwards the stage road to Wheeling left
Main Street at what is now West Wheeling Street, and extended out past
the old Zelt mill, and across to West Chestnut Street about half way up
the hill. This was shorter than the present route which was afterwards
the National Pike, and it was used by all the stage drivers and wagoners


868





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


in the first years of the last century. This is the reason that Wheeling
Street is called by that name. It was originally Belle Street.
    About 1800 or shortly afterwards, one John Kirk opened a tavern in
West Wheeling Street. This house was painted red and penciled in imi-
tation of brick. How long Kirk remained is not known. William Wilson
known to the old pike boys as "Center Billy" succeeded him. He did
not find tavern keeping very profitable and so he quit. He went to black-
smithing and wagon making. The location of this tavern is not known
today.
    "The Sign of the Indian Queen" was another well known tavern shortly
after the beginning of the last century. It was in The Reporter for
November 14, 1808, John McCluney advertised that he had opened a tavern
at "The Sign of the Indian Queen" opposite the courthouse. This was
a well known and popular tavern of that time. Mr. McCluney remained
in that location until 1815, when he removed to the old house that for-
merly stood on the lot now occupied by the brick residence of the late D.
M. Donehoo, above Chestnut on the east side of North Main Street. "The
Sign of the Indian Queen" in its new location, became the headquarters
of the Jackson Democracy. It was conducted there by McCluney for
several years. He was succeeded by John Johnson, who kept it for a
number of years, and then went out of business.
   "The Sign of the Green Tree" tavern was opened in July, 1809, by
Thomas Officer in the building just mentioned. Officer remained as pro-
prietor until McCluney moved in and changed the name to "The Sign of
the Indian Queen." This old building stood until the present brick house
was erected about a third of a century ago.
   Another of the old time hotels which has been all but forgotten was
"The Sign of the Rising Sun." Started over a century ago, it was popular
for a time and did a thriving business, but a decline soon set in and it
ceased to exist long years ago. It was first opened in September, 1816,
by James Garrett, who was proprietor until 1822. In October of that
year, James Briceland, who had just removed to Washington from Brice-
land's Cross Roads, (now Florence), on the Steubenville Pike, took charge
of "The Rising Sun". Briceland was a well known and popular hotel
proprietor in Washington during the early days of the National Pike.
He had kept a tavern at Briceland's Cross Roads which was named for
him, for several years. "The Rising Sun" was his first hotel in Wash-
ington. He remained there until January 13, 1823, when he became
proprietor of "The Traveler's Inn and Stage Office" now the Auld House.
   The greatest event in the history of this hotel occurred on December
1, 1824, when Gen. Andrew Jackson, accompanied by his family and
suite, stopped at "The Rising Sun." He was entertained at breakfast
by several local men, who accompanied him as far as Scenery Hill. Gen-
eral Jackson was a frequent visitor in Washington and stopped at several
of the leading hotels of that time.
   John N. Dagg become proprietor of "The Rising Sun" on January 13,
1823, and for the next thirty-seven years, was one of the well known hotel
proprietors in western Pennsylvania. His hotel became very popular,
and it is related that over a hundred teams have been counted standing
in the street around "The Rising Sun" in a single night.


869




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   His bar room was a favorite gathering place for wagoners on the
National Pike. A very unfortunate affair occurred there which resulted
in the death of a wagoner and Dagg being prosecuted for murder; but he
was in no way to blame. During the evening of April 23, 1823, James
Guy, a journeymen carpenter working in Washington, and Patrick Gal-
lagher of Wheeling W. Va., a wagoner on the National Pike got into a
drunken argument. They were ordered out several times by Mr. Dagg,
but they quieted down and he allowed them to stay. As the barkeeper
started to take Gallagher to bed, he made a leap at Guy. The latter shoved
him back and his head struck the door latch with considerable force.
Mr. Dagg seized Guy, putting him out first, and as he put Gallagher out,
the latter fell to the pavement striking his head. He died the next morn-
ing. Dagg was tried but the jury acquitted him on the grounds that
Gallagher's death was the result of an accident.
   How long "The Rising Sun" was a tavern is not known today, but it
was probably until after John N. Dagg became "mine host" of "The Man-
sion House" about 1838. "The Rising Sun" tavern was located on the
northeast corner of North Main and East Chestnut streets, where the
building now owned by Robert H. Hallam is located.
   Of all the hotels conducted in Washington during the days when travel
and freighting on the National Pike were at their height, "The Mansion
House" was probably the most noted. Among the few old-timers still
living who recall those days, this tavern hold a place all its own. It stood
on the southeast corner of North Main and East Chestnut streets, where
Baker and Samson's store is now located in the building owned by M. T.
Conners.
   Before the Mansion House, a tavern was kept in an old red frame
building that stood on this site by a man named Scott, but very little is
known of either him or his hotel. It was called "The Eagle Inn" and in
1827, the property was purchased by John N. Dagg, who took possession
on April 7. This was known as the Spread Eagle tavern in 1797. He re-
mained there a short time when he leased "The Sign of Washington Hall"
where the "William Henry" now stands, and was proprietor of it for
several years.
   In the early thirties, probably about 1831, John N. Dagg erected a
large brick hotel building on this site, which he named "The Mansion
House" and for over a third of a century following it was the leading
hostelry of Washington. There were large stables and wagon sheds in
the rear on Chestnut Street. It was headquarters for many years for
the Pilot and later the Good Intent stage lines on both the National and
the Pittsburgh pikes.
   Dagg conducted the Mansion House until April 1, 1836, when he leased
it to John Irons, another old-time hotel proprietor of Washington, who
had been proprietor of the Washington. House, now the Auld House, for
several years, before that time, and he was sole owner of the Washing-
ton and Cadiz stage line which he had purchased from L. W. Stockton,
a famous stage line proprietor on the National Pike.
   About 1838, Dagg returned as landlord and remained until 1844, when
he leased the hotel to S. B. & C. Hayes, afterwards owners of the well
known carriage and wagon works in Franklin Street. They were suc-


870




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ceeded by Harrison Shirls and James W. Kuntz, Sr., but two months later
Hugh Bryson bought Kuntz's interest. After Shirls and Bryson, came
William Nichols and James B. Ruple, Thornton F. Miller, Harvey and
Daniel Day, John H. Little, and Samuel Melvin, and last of all, George
R. Kirk, who was proprietor at the time of the big fire.
    John N. Dagg was one of the most popular hotel proprietors of the
early days in Washington. The barroom in the Mansion House is de-
scribed as being very large and a favorite loafing place. In those days,
everybody went to the barroom of a hotel whether they drank or not.
It was a common meeting place. Cowhide boots were worn by most men,
especially those on the pike, whether traveling or working. A bootjack
was necessary to pull footwear off the feet and Dagg provided a special
one for the accommodation of his guests. This was a large, upright
affair with side bars which acted as levers to steady the toe in drawing
the boot off.
   The boots were all left in the barroom and during the evening the guests
wore half-cut leather slippers provided by Mr. Kirk; and every night
the big barroom was filled with travelers, sitting around the big stove or
gathered in little groups at tables in the room talking over the events
of the period, all wearing the slippers provided by "mine host". And in
one corner of the room was a big pile of cowhide boots. The next morn-
ing these boots were all nicely polished and awaiting their owners.
   The most notable event in the history of the Mansion House occurred
on Feburary 10, 1845, when James K. Polk and his wife stopped there,
while on the way to Washington, D. C. for his inauguration as President
of the United States. Besides Mr. and Mrs. Polk there were Marshall
Polk, their young son, J. Knox Walker, Mr. Polk's private secretary;
Colonel Butler, of Kentucky; Judge Hubbard, of Alabama, and T. K.
Stevenson, J. G. Harris and J. N. Esselman.
   The fact that the party would stop in Washington was not known until
the day before, and there was little time to prepare a reception. How-
ever, a committee was hastily formed, and when the distinguished guests
arrived, a large number of persons were gathered at the Mansion House
to welcome them. Dr. John Wishart, chairman of the committee, and a
prominent citizen of Washington gave the address of welcome. President-
elect Polk responded with much feeling. He then shook hands with hun-
dreds of people who formed a long line on Main Street.
   The party remained at the Mansion House that night and during the
evening a large number of citizens paid their respects to Mr. Polk and
a large number of women, headed by the principal and teachers of the
Washington Seminary called upon Mrs. Polk. The Polk party left at
9 'clock the next morning for Uniontown.
   John N. Dagg, the man who erected the Mansion House and first started
the hotel, died in Washington in 1860. At the time of his death, he was
a very rich man for those times, and owned a large amount of real estate.
The old brick house at the northeast corner of East Chestnut and North
College streets, was erected by him as a residence in the '30s and he lived
there many years.
   The famous Mansion House was completely destroyed by fire on April
16, 1866 and was never rebuilt. The last proprietor was George R. Kirk,


871





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


in fourteen days on the Tuscarawas River, near the present town of
Boliver, Tuscarawas County, seventy miles west of Fort McIntosh. Be-
fore leaving Fort McIntosh the supplies for the expedition had not arrived,
and the general left orders to forward them with all speed. After he
reached the Tuscarawas a messenger arrived with the news that supplies
had not arrived, and the expedition was postponed until the following
spring.
    McIntosh decided to hold the ground already gained by erecting a fort
 on the west bank of the Tuscarawas as a starting point in the spring.
 This was named Fort Laurens in honor of the president of the Continental
 Congress. It was a weak stockade, but suflicient for the purposes for
 which it was built. McIntosh had worked so swiftly that the Indians were
 not aware of his presence in their country until Fort Laurens was com-
 pleted. The erection of both Forts McIntosh and Laurens was approved
 by General Washington.
    As soon as the fort was completed, McIntosh left Colonel John Gibson,
 who has been mentioned in the account of Dunmore's war, in command
 of the garrison of one hundred fifty men from the Thirteenth Virginians.
 Whether or not any men from Washington County were among those left
 behind is not known.
    During that winter Fort Laurens was almost continually besieged by
Indians. On January 21, 1779, Captain John Clark arrived with supplies,
and started back with fourteen men, but three miles from the fort he was
attacked by a war party of Mingoes led by Simon Girty. Two Americans
were killed, four wounded, and one captured. Girty then hastened to
Detroit with dispatches he had captured, and the British sent ammuni-
tion and several British soldiers to aid the Indians.
   The siege started in February, and provisions became very low in the
fort, the men being soon reduced to the verge of starvation. On the 23rd
a wagoner and eighteen men sent out for wood were attacked within sight
of the garrison, and seventeen were killed and two captured. A runner
sent out by Gibson reached Fort McIntosh on March 3rd, and seven hun-
dred men went to the relief of the beleagued garrison, raising the siege
just in time to prevent starvation. Major Vernon was left in command
with a new garrison, but the fort was finally evacuated in August, 1779,
after the men had been almost reduced to starvation.
   Captain Benjamin Biggs, afterwards general, was one of the officers
in Fort Laurens during the siege. This gallant soldier fought in Dun-
more's war, and during the Revolution rose to the rank of brigadier gen-
eral. He resided at West Liberty, West Virginia, until his death on
January 2nd, 1824, and was buried in the cemetery at that place, where
his grave may be seen today. His funeral services were conducted by the
Rev. Joseph Doddridge, author of Doddridge's Notes, who related the inci-
dents of his adventurous life.
   Fort Laurens stood one-half mile below the present town of Boliver.
The stockade was built of split logs, and for many years the earthen
parapet walls were visible, and the Ohio Canal was dug through the site.
In 1846 the walls were several feet high, and could be traced as late as
1889. The grave in which the seventeen men killed on February 23rd,
1779, were buried can still be traced. About thirty acres surrounding the




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


but how long before the fire he was the landlord is not known exactly
at the present time.
   Another of the old-time tavern sites in Washington, which was oc-
cupied continuously for 110 years, is the southeast corner of Main and
East Beau streets, where the Washington Trust Building now stands.
John Purviance purchased this lot from John and William Hoge on
September 3, 1787, but according to other records did not start a hotel
until 1790. He kept it until 1805, when he was succeeded by Richard
Donaldson who remained until 1815, going from there to the old Work-
man stand on the site of the residence of the late James Kuntz, Jr.
   The name of this, hotel when Purviance and Donaldson were the land-
lords is not known, but when Mrs. Mary McCammant succeeded Don-
aldson in April, 1815, she changed the name to "The Sign of Gen-
eral Washington" a description of which has already been given. Mrs.
McCammant remained until 1818 or 1819, when James Sargent, landlord
of "The Sign of the Cross Keys," became proprietor.
   Sargent remained until April, 1820, when John Fleming took charge
and changed the name to "The Philadelphia and Kentucky Inn," and
from that day until it was burned seventy-nine years later, this was one
of Washington's leading hotels.
   On January 26, 1821, a serious fire, in which a daughter of Mr. Fleming
was burned to death occurred at this hotel. It is related that an older
daughter of the proprietor was married the evening before although
there is no authentic account of this.
   The fire broke out at 1 o'clock in the morning, in the room in which
the Fleming children were sleeping, and Mary Fleming, the seven-year-
old daughter of the proprietor was burned to death. The fire was started
by a candle which the children had taken to bed with them, and left burn-
ing after they went to sleep. The account in The Reporter states that
the tavern building, which was owned by Alexander Murdoch was burned
to the ground but the rear building, which was of brick was saved with
slight damage to the roof, through the heroic efforts of the people. The
greater part of the furniture in the front building was also saved.
   Mr. Fleming continued in the hotel business at "The Philadelphia and
Kentucky Inn" until April 1, 1826. It is interesting to note in this con-
nection that Mr. Fleming had conducted hotels in both Bedford and Som-
erset counties before locating in Washington.
   Through an advertisement in The Examiner for July 29, 1826, we
learn that Joseph Teeters succeeded John Fleming as proprietor of "That
large and commodious tavern house, lately occupied by John Fleming, at
the corner of Market and Beau streets, opposite the market house, in the
borough of Washington, at "The Sign of the Cross Keys."
   Just how long Joseph Teeters was landlord of "The Sign of the Cross
Keys," or who succeeded him, the old records fail to show. The property
finally passed into the hands of Dr. Samuel I. Murdoch, who erected the
building known in later years as Hotel Main. That was in 1838. The
original building fronted forty feet on Main Street and extended back
along Beau about 100 feet. Doctor Templeton who owned the property
in the forties built an addition of twenty feet on Main Street. After-
wards another addition of twenty feet on Main Street and a two-story


872




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


addition on Beau Street were erected. The last change took place about
ten years before the fire of 1899, when Charles Bailey erected the fourth
story, and remodeled the building as last seen.
    The new hotel erected in 1838 was named "The American House,"
and was first kept by S. B. & C. Hayes, who have already been mentioned
in connection with the Mansion House.
    The next proprietor was John Huey, who succeeded Messrs. Hayes,
in 1840. During his time, it was known as "Huey's House," but whether
the name was changed by him or whether it was so called by the patrons
because he was landlord, is not definitely known. He is still remembered
by some of the old-time residents. He remained in charge until about
the close of 1846.
  In 1847, Henry Fulton, who came to Washintgon from Westmoreland
County, became proprietor. He changed the name to the "Fulton House"
by which it was known for nearly half a century, although Fulton only
remained as landlord until 1857. Under his management this house
became one of the leading hotels in the town.
   While Messrs. Hayes were proprietors of the American Hotel, it
was the headquarters in Washington for the Good Intent stage line on
the National Pike. The old stage stables were in the rear on Beau Street,
in a brick building that stood until the fire of 1899. In 1840, the Good
Intent line moved its headquarters to the Greene House kept by Daniel
Brown, and there seems to have been no stage line making its head-
quarters at the Fulton House until shortly before the Civil war when the
Good Intent again moved back. The most of its stages then ran between
Washington and Pittsburgh, the decline having set in on the National
Pike.
   John Hall became proprietor of the Fulton House in 1857, and re-
mained until 1859, when he was succeeded by Thomas M. Hall. Mr. Hall
was landlord during the stormy period of the Civil war, and he prob-
ably is one of the best remembered of the old-time proprietors. He re-
mained until the close of 1865, when he was succeeded by David Bell, one
of the early tavern keepers at Claysville. He remained until 1868 when
he was succeeded by John H. Little, Moses Little and Samuel Melvin
who ran the house until 1878. The Littles were closely identified with
the history of the National Pike as wagoners and stage coach drivers.
   Messrs. Gibson and Blayney took charge in 1879, and ran the Fulton
House for a short time when Thomas M. Hall again became proprietor.
He remained until 1887, when he was succeeded by Guy W. Reed. The
latter was landlord for two years.
   About 1889, Charles Bailey, who with Samuel McKennan, had con-
ducted the old Valentine House during the early days of the oil excitement
under the name of Oil Exchange, rented the Fulton House. Bailey added
a fourth story, and remodeled the hotel as it was at the time of the fire,
changing the name to Hotel Main, by which it was known to the last.
Bailey remained until about the close of 1895.
   For a short time, it was run by McDivitt and Davis, probably about
two years, and on April 1, 1897, D. H. Goodwin, who is still in Wash-
ington, leased it. Mr. Goodwin was the proprietor when the building
was totally destroyed by fire on the night of January 6, 1899.


873




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Hotel Main and the old Boyle Building, which adjoined it on the south,
were totally destroyed early on the morning of January 6, 1899, by one of
the largest fires in the history of the town.
   Of all the hotels ever conducted in Washington during its long history,
the only one of the old times left is the Auld House. This is now the oldest
and most historic hostelry in the town. Just how long this lot has been
a tavern site is unknown; but the records show that for the past 106 years,
hotels have been kept in the building that stood on this corner. The pre-
sent building was erected about 1818 by Daniel Moore, and for over a cen-
tury this has been one of the leading hotels of Washington.
   It is known that James Workman kept a tavern in Washington from
1797 to 1813, but the exact location is not known. He may have been,
for a time at least, at this site, for when he returned to Washington in
1816, and again embarked in the hotel business, at "The Sign of the Gen-
eral Andrew Jackson," it was in the building that stood on this lot then
owned by Daniel Moore.
   Daniel Moore, well-known hotel and stage line proprietor on the
National Pike a century ago, was an early merchant in Washington. He
erected the present building about 1818 and was the first proprietor
of the new hotel.
   Moore named his hotel "The Travellers' Inn and Stage Office" and it
was while stopping in Washington that Lucius W. Stockton first met his
future wife, Rebecca Moore, a daughter of Daniel Moore.
   Daniel Moore was succeeded as landlord at the Travellers' Inn and
Stage Office by Samuel Denniston in May, 1821, the latter coming here
from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Denniston remained until Janu-
ary, 1823, when he was succeeded by James Briceland, who had con-
ducted a tavern at Briceland's Cross Roads, now Florence, on the Pitts-
burgh-Steubenville Pike, for several years. Mr. Briceland enlarged the
place and changed the name to the "National House" by which it was
known for many years, with the exception of a few months.
   This change of name came about from the fact that on November 29,
1824, Gen. Andrew Jackson stopped at this tavern, and Mr. Briceland
immediately changed the name to the "Jackson Hotel," When General
Jackson stopped there in 1824, he arrived in the evening and remained all
night. He was on his way to Washington, D. C., and was accompanied
by his family and suite. It seems to have been the custom in those days
to leave your stopping place for the night before breakfast. Travelers
who spent the night in Washington left here early the next morning and
took breakfast at the tavern at Scenery Hill. On this occasion General
Jackson was accompanied the next morning as far as this place by a num-
ber of citizens, who took breakfast with him in the stone tavern which
is still standing there.
    On April 9, 1825, James Dunlap, succeeded Mr. Briceland as pro-
prietor of the Sign of the Jackson Hotel and remained as proprietor until
September 12, 1825, when he was succeeded by John Sample.
    John Irons, who was afterwards proprietor of the Mansion House,
succeeded Sample, but just when is not certain. From the best informa-
tion it was probably about April 1, 1826. Irons remained at this hotel
for ten years. Whether he still continued to call it the Jackson Hotel,


874






































    Auld Hotel, Washington, erected in 1818, when the National Pike reached Wash-
ington; it has been a hotel ever since. In its day it was the finest and largest hotel
between Cumberland and Wheeling.


    The old stage coach stable and office of the Auld House, built at a very
early date probably shortly after the Auld House was erected shortly after
1820. This was the headquarters of Lucius W. Stockton's National Road
Stage Company in the days when the travel of the nation passed over the
National pike; still standing.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


or changed it back to the National is not known, but at the time he left
on April 1, 1836, and assumed charge of the Mansion House, he called this
hotel the Washington House.
    James Searight succeeded John Irons as proprietor of the Washing-
 ton House, and he evidently changed the name back to the National House.
 Just how long Searight remained is not known, but when he left the
 National House, he went to Zanesville, Ohio, where he ran a hotel for a
 short time. He soon returned to Washington, however, and leased the
 Greene House, which was managed by his son, William.
    Daniel Valentine succeeded James Searight as proprietor of the Na-
 tional House. The old advertisements in The Reporter for 1843 show
 that in that year Valentine was at the National House, and that John
 Irons was proprietor of the Greene House, which Searight had managed
 after his return from Zanesville, Ohio. As Major A. L. Williams was the
 proprietor of the Greene House before Irons took charge in 1843, it was
 evidently several years before that year that Valentine became landlord
 at the National House.
    George T. Hammond, another of the well remembered old-time hotel
proprietors of Washington, succeeded Daniel Valentine at the National
House. Hammond was always noted for the excellence of his table, and
his hotels were always popular. Just how long he remained at the Na-
tional House is not known, but it was evidently for several years.
    Edward Lane was the next proprietor, and he changed the name to
the Railroad House, by which it was known for many years. Just how
long Lane remained is not known, but he was succeeded by Adam C.
Morrow and then Elliott Seaburn became the proprietor. This was all
before the Civil war.
   The large register of the old Railroad House beginning September 15,
1862, and closing in April, 1867, was found in 1906 by H. K. Hambly,
formerly of the Observer editorial force, in a vacant house on the Swart
farm near Hockney Station. Travel on the National Pike had practically
ceased and the majority of the guests registered were farmers of Wash-
ington County. In fact the entire book does not contain the names of
more than fifty strangers in the county.
   While Edward Lane was proprietor of the Railroad House, which
was in the fifties, William Newman was the local agent of the National
Road Stage Company, with office at this hotel. Newman was a part owner
at least of this line. This was along about 1852 to 1854.
   Mike Dugan was another of the old-time proprietors of the Railroad
House, but this was in the sixties, after travel on the National Pike had
ceased to be a factor of any importance. At that time, the patronage of
this hotel was very limited.
   It is impossible at this time to name all of the landlords of this old
hotel, especially some of those in the seventies. Its reputation as a good
stopping place was very low at that time. The Railroad House was too
far down, and the Mansion House, the Fulton House, and the Valentine
House secured practically all of the transients.
   The property was owned by D. Moore Stockton and Lucius W. Stock-
ton, two sons of L. W. Stockton, at one time; and on March 29, 1853, they
sold it to William Workman and James W. Kuntz. Workman sold his


876




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


interest to Joseph Henderson on February 24, 1860, and on December 20,
1862, Henderson sold out to Kuntz.
    Adam C. Morrow purchased the property from James W. Kuntz in
 March, 1870. Mr. Morrow was proprietor of the Railroad House for sev-
 eral years, and on January 23, 1880, he sold the property to James Auld.
 From that time it has been known as the Auld House.
    Just who all of the proprietors were in the '80s cannot be stated
 definitely. A. Sargent was proprietor in 1881, and James Auld the owner
 of the building ran the hotel for a period. James Wright was also pro-
 prietor for a time, and prior to April 1, 1892, it was conducted by Henry
 Borschart.
    I. H. Taylor is one of the best remembered landlords of later years.
 He took charge on April 1, 1892, and conducted it until April 1, 1899.
 Under his management, this hotel regained much of its former prestige,
 and it became one of the leading hostelries in Washington. And now,
 after twenty-five years, Mr. Taylor is back again at the old stand as day
 clerk.
   Al Stockton succeeded Mr. Taylor on April 1, 1899, and remained for
several years, when George Quinn took charge. He was succeeded by
the late Eugene A. Kelly, about ten or twelve years ago, who purchased
the property and built the business up until it became known as one of
the best hotels in this section of the state. Since Mr. Kelly's death, it
has been conducted for his widow, who resides at Chagrin Falls, Ohio,
by George Johnson, who was also manager for Mr. Kelly for many years.
   The Franklin Hotel, in Main Street, opposite the courthouse and just
south of the Fulton House, was another popular hotel in Washington
long years ago. It was started by James Brown, better known as "Jimmy"
Brown, an Irishman who is described as a man who knew how to make
and keep money. The Franklin Hotel was conducted by "Jimmy" Brown
for many years in a white frame house opposite the courthouse, and near
the Fulton House. This was in the section between Caldwell's store and
East Cherry Avenue. In a few years, "Jimmy" Brown had made enough
out of his hotel to erect a new brick building on the same spot after which
he decided that he needed a wife, and he soon found one. He remained
at the Franklin until his death.
   The next proprietor of this hotel is not known. In fact, very little
can be told of its later history, but an advertisement in The Reporter on
May 3, 1860, states that Charles Schmidt had taken charge of the Frank-
lin House and had changed the name to Schmidt's Hotel.
   Another popular tavern in Washington three-quarters of a century
ago was the "Greene House," located on the east side of Main Street,
south of the Mansion House, probably where the Leonard Building now
stands at the corner of Pine Alley. The original proprietor is not known,
but in 1842 it was kept by William Searight, son of James Searight, who
had been proprietor of the National House in 1836. James Searight re-
turned from Zanesville, Ohio, where he had conducted the National House
for a short time, and leased the Greene House which was managed by his
son William.
   Searight did not remain long, for an old advertisement in The Re-
porter shows that on May 20, 1843, John Irons was proprietor. He had


877




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


succeeded Maj. A. L. Williams, probably on April 1, 1843. Irons did not
change the name, but he also dubbed it the "Temperance Headquarters."
S. B. and C. Hayes were apparently the next landlords, but they re-
mained only a short time, and in 1846, Daniel Brown was the proprietor.
Brown is described as being one of the most competent landlords of his
day. While Brown was there, the Greene House was the headquarters
for the Good Intent Stage Company.
   It also ceased to be "Temperance Headquarters" under Brown's man-
agement, for he ran a bar. Old-timers still remember his bar-tender,
Benjamin White, whose hair was long and white. He was a noted char-
acter in Washington and all along the National Pike in the days of its
greatest glory. When the decline set in, he drifted away, and was lost
sight of.
   The Farmers' Inn, afterwards called the Black Bear, was opened in
September, 1832, by William J. Brown, in a building that stood where
the new Reporter Building is now located. The proprietor was a quaint
character, known as "Old Billy," and his tavern was a favorite loafing
place for the boys of ninety years ago.
   He afterwards changed the name of his tavern to "The Black Bear."
An amusing story was told for many years of the painting of the sign.
It was customary in those days to hang out a large sign at a tavern with
a picture representing the name. "Old Billy" hired a painter to paint
him a picture of a black bear, but he beat him down considerably in the
price. The first rainstorm washed the picture entirely away, and Mr.
Brown angrily sent for the artist. The latter agreed to paint him another
bear that would stay and chain him to a post to make doubly sure, if Mr.
Brown would pay his price. "Old Billy" agreed; and for many years
thereafter this black bear chained to a post was a familiar sign on South
Main Street. Just how long he continued in business here cannot be
said now.
   The General Brown Tavern stood in West Chestnut Street, opposite
the old Methodist Church on the corner of Chestnut and Franklin streets.
It was opened in 1821 by Enoch Miller. Just how long Miller remained
is not known but he was succeeded by Richard Donaldson, a well-known
hotel keeper in Washington a century and more ago. The General Brown
was a large brick house.
   Miller had a large wagon yard in connection with the General Brown,
and he catered to the wagoners on the National Pike. When he opened
his hotel in April, 1821, he advertised the following rates: Oats at 18"V1,
cents per bushel, hay at 121/.2 cents per quarter and "vituals and drink
in proportion." Oats were sold at 61 cents to horsemen, and "horse to
hay and oats at 25 cents per night."
   "The Sign of the Fountain Inn" was a brick tavern in West Chestnut
Street, opened by Enoch Miller after he left the General Brown. He
evidently did not remain long; for an old advertisement in The Reporter
shows that on March 17, 1823, George Ringland was the proprietor. The
latter was succeeded by John Gray, who was in possession in December,
1823. In The Reporter for December 22, 1823, Alexander Reed adver-
tised that this tavern stand was for rent. It is described as being "one
mile west of Washington." This would place it somewhere on West


878




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Chestnut Street hill. It does not appear to have been rented and all trace
of it as a tavern is lost with this advertisement.
   The section known locally in the old pike days as "Rankintown" was
located at the top of the West Chestnut Street hill. It was called by this
name from the fact that John Rankin conducted a tavern and wagon
stand there for many years, in a house on the south side of the road, just
over the hill. The first tavern keeper at this place was a man named
Spaulding, but little is known of him.
   The old brick house which stood for many years on the site of the
James Kuntz residence, opposite the Washington Seminary, in East
Maiden Street, was a noted wagon stand in the early days. This house
was built by Silas Pruden, who had a brickyard where the seminary now
stands. Pruden bought this lot, together with several others adjoining
from William Hoge on October 9, 1810, for $40. It is probable that he
erected this house either that year or shortly afterwards.
   This tavern was first kept by one of the Workmans, probably James,
who ran hotels in Washington from 1797 until 1813. In 1815, Richard
Donaldson took charge. This stand is described as being surrounded by
large grounds, with a ball alley in the rear, which was used by the boys
of the town.
   Just how long Donaldson remained is not known, but it must have
been until 1823 at least; for he was succeeded by James Workman, and
in April, 1823, the latter was still proprietor of the Commodore O. H.
Perry. Workman remained proprietor until 1830, when Samuel Surratt,
father of James F. Surratt, afterwards postmaster of Steubenville, Ohio,
who is still remembered by some of the old-timers, took charge. Maj.
William Paull was the next and last proprietor, for in 1836, the Wash-
ington Seminary was started in this building, and its career as a hotel
came to an end.
   Silas Pruden sold the property to John Scott on May 17, 1815, and
Scott conveyed it to Thomas Brice on December 12, 1817. Mrs. Sarah
R. Hanna, for many years principal of the seminary, afterwards owned
the property and made her home there after she retired in 1874, and she
lived in it until her death on September 15, 1886. The old building was
razed about twenty years ago by the late James Kuntz, Jr., when he
erected the present Kuntz residence.
   Very little is known of the Commodore O. H. Perry, which was kept
at one time by James Workman, and its exact location is unknown today
unless possibly it was the same as the hotel just described as the Work-
man stand, opposite the seminary. This is very probable from the infor-
mation at hand.
   Of interest in this connection is the old Workman homestead, still
standing in East Maiden Street. This was for many years a wagon-
stand on the National Pike and was kept by John Sample, the grand-
father of David Sample. The former married Elizabeth Workman, a
daughter of Hugh Workman, who lived in early times in the old frame
house that stood on South Main Street just in front of where the present
Baltimore & Ohio freight depot is located. This house was erected in
1785, and Hugh Workman lived there for many years. It afterwards
passed into the possession of the Hempfield railroad and its successor,


879




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the Baltimore & Ohio, and was used as a passenger station until the
present depot was erected. The old house was razed in 1900.
   In 1824, Hugh Workman, who owned several hundred acres of land
adjoining Washington, erected the present Workman home in      East
Maiden Street, for his daughter, Elizabeth Sample, and for many years,
John Sample conducted a road house there. The old signboard on which
was "Sample's Hotel" was stored in the cellar until recent years.
   Another hotel in Washington a century ago, concerning which very
little is known today, was the James M. Beath tavern. It seems to have
been overlooked by historians of the county and town, but from its loca-
tion it must have been of some importance. All we know of this hotel
is from an advertisement which appeared in the Reporter on February 2,
1824, which states that James M. Beath "will sell or rent his tavern stand
at the head of Main Street, where the great road leading to Burgetts-
town and the Pittsburgh turnpike leaves the street." The house was
brick with a good kitchen, cellar, and large stable. This was evidently
an original part of the present Stocking Building at the corner of North
Main and East Walnut streets.
   The Vowell Building, which was razed to make room for the George
Washington, was the site of another of the first taverns in Washington.
In 1791, Michael Kuntz kept a tavern in the building that stood on this
lot. Just who succeeded him is not known, but it was probably one John
Fisher, in October, 1797. John Scott took charge of this tavern under
the name of "The Sign of the Spread Eagle." Who succeeded him is not
known.
   In April, 1815, John Kline advertised that he had moved from the
Cross Roads nine miles west of Brownsville, and had opened a tavern in
Washington at "The Sign of the General Wayne." This tavern was kept
before Kline's time by Michael Ocheltree.
   John Wilson, another early hotel proprietor, opened his tavern on
September 1, 1806, and continued in business until 1812. On May 7,
1831, John Wilson (it is not known whether this was the same man or
not) opened a tavern opposite the courthouse, on the site of the old
Hastings hardware store, where the Citizens National Bank now stands.
This was the site of the tavern opened by John Dodd in 1782, and kept
by him until 1795. The last named John Wilson kept this hotel for many
years.
   In early times, before the days of the National Pike, when the old
trail through Washington to the Ohio country and the west followed what
is now West Wheeling Street, and afterwards when the National Pike
went along this same route, one Jacob Moler kept "The Sign of the Mer-
maid," on the south side of West Wheeling Street. It was located on
the lot owned in later years by Charles Driehorst. It appears to have
been the headquarters for the Hibernians, and enjoyed a good patron-
age. Its career as a tavern ceased with the passing of Jacob Moler.
   A tavern was also kept about 1820 by one John Manuel in a white
frame building on the west side of South Main Street, just below the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad. Its career as a tavern also seems to have
ended with its proprietor.
   David H. Blaine, who died in Washington about 1820, kept a tavern


880



























                    i;








     91-I


*  4>i


GEORGE WASHINGTON HOTEL, WASHINGTON, PA.


56-V1





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


site were purchased several years ago by the State of Ohio for $4,500, and
made into a park. It is planned to rebuild the fort as a monument to the
brave men who fought and died there for civilization and liberty in the
days of the old frontier.





                          CHAPTER XIV.

                               1779.
                          INDIAN RAIDS.
WILLIAM REYNOLDS OF CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP-RAID ON HIS BLOCK-
    HOUSE-MRS. REYNOLDS CAPTURED-THE PURSUIT--HER DEATH--
    CAPTURE OF THE ANDERSON BOYS-RETURN OF LOGAN ANDERSON-
    AFTER LIFE OF THE YOUNGEST BOY.

              "Where late the war whoop's hideous sound
              Alone disturbed the silence round;
              Where late the godless wigwam stood,
              Deep in the unbounded range of wood;
              Where lately, armed for deadly strife.
              With tomahawk and scalping knife,
              The natives strove;
              Now dove-eyed peace triumphant reigns."
   William Reynolds settled in Cross Creek Township in 1775 on three
hundred ninety-nine acres granted under a Virginia certificate, under the
name of Reynoldsville. The land was entered June 26th, 1780, and sur-
veyed December 4th, 1785. He built a blockhouse immediately, which was
used as a place of refuge by Reynolds, the families of James Colwell,
Ephraim Hart, James Jackson, and the widow Mary Jackson. This block-
house was located on the William M. Dunbar farm a mile and a half
southwest of Cross Creek village, the present barn occupying the site.
   No trouble was experienced with Indians until the summer of 1779,
when a small war party appeared at the Reynolds home during his absence.
Capturing Mrs. Reynolds and her baby, the hostiles started for the Ohio;
but Reynolds returned home shortly after the raid, and when he discovered
what had taken place, he enlisted the services of Robert McCready, the
Rev. Thomas Marquis, and his brother, John Marquis.
   This small party of daring white men were soon on the trail of the
raiders, with Reynolds in the lead. They traveled rapidly, and soon over-
took the Indians, who, as soon as they discovered they were being pur-
sued, killed Mrs. Reynolds and her baby, and escaped through the dense
forest. Sadly the white men carried the remains of the mother and child
back to the settlement, where they were buried, probably in the historic
cemetery at Cross Creek.
   Stricken with grief over the death of his wife and child, Reynolds


(6)V1




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


on Main Street near the courthouse. Many of the older residents of
Washington today recall the time that Michael Waldron purchased a
large shipment of whisky at Cincinnati, and piled the barrels in West
Cherry Alley, in front of where the Court Square Arcade is now located.
Old-timers state that the whisky remained stored there for many months,
the barrels being piled one on top of the other, and not a drop of it was
disturbed. Waldron was for many years proprietor of the Washington
House, at the corner of Main Street and West Cherry Avenue, on the
present site of the Real Estate Trust Building. The old buildings razed
in 1921 to make room for the Court Square Arcade belonged to Waldron
and were part of this tavern. The main building was destroyed in the
big fire of February 2, 1866.
   At the time of the fire Michael Waldron was still proprietor of the
Washington Hotel, which was entirely destroyed and never rebuilt as a
hotel. This was a two-story brick building.
   Other hotels in Washington during recent years were the Nease
Hotel, conducted for many years by the late Jacob Nease in the building
still standing on the east side of South Main Street, just north of the
Baltimore & Ohio depot, and the Hotel Cunningham, now owned and
conducted by John Brookman. The last named was started about twenty-
five years ago by George Swingle, and conducted by him for a number of
years under the name of the Hotel Swingle. Later it was changed to the
Hotel Main and finally to the Hotel Cunningham.
   This now brings us down to Washington's latest and greatest hotel,
the George Washington, erected in 1922 and formally opened February
22, 1923. This hotel is one of the finest furnished in the county. The
buildings alone cost more than $1,000,000 and the furnishings over
$250,000.
   It was brought about by the great number of tourists who came
through Washington during the years following the war. Hotel room was
at a premium. Every night the tourists were taken into private houses
in all sections of the town. After an editorial appeared in The Reporter
on January 11, 1920, several men conceived the idea of a community
hotel.
   The first promoter of this scheme was Robert L. McCarrell, who
finally succeeded in interesting a number of others and on November 26,
1920, the first meeting was held to discuss plans for a new hotel. There
were present at that meeting John H. Donnon, John W. Leonard, R. M.
Paxton, W. R. McIlvaine, J. L. Lockhard, John B. Allison, A. C. Warne,
M. W. McClane, J. D. Bigger, Charles S. Caldwell and Robert L.
McCarrell.
   Matters were pushed rapidly and on the night of January 18, 1921,
the first public announcement was made in a meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce held in the Globe Theatre. The sale of stock was started on
January 21 following and when the drive closed on February 22, $607,000
worth had been subscribed at 850 a share.
   The present site was secured and W. L. Stoddard, of New York, was
selected as architect. A contract was awarded August 19, 1921, to the
John W. Cowper Company, of Buffalo, New York. The work of clearing
away the old site was started at once and by September 31, the last of


882




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the buildings had disappeared, with the exception of the McCartney
Building on the corner.
   A total of 25,000 cubic yards of earth were excavated; 600 tons of
steel erected, and 2,100 cubic yards of concrete poured. It required
420,000 feet of lumber to erect the forms for the concrete.
   The opening of the George Washington Hotel was the greatest event
of the kind in the history of Washington and the dining-room was not
only crowded, but it was necessary to set tables in the lobby.
   The hotel was leased by William Foor from the George Washington
Hotel Company and the first manager was Wade H. Lowry. During the
past three years, it has had a number of different managers. The most
successful of whom has been H. R. Campbell, of Washington, secretary of
the Chamber of Commerce.





                         CHAPTER XC.

                            1790-1924.

                   THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES-HOPE FIRE        COMPANY-WASHINGTON
   FIRE COMPANY-GOOD INTENT FIRE COMPANY-EAGLE FIRE COM-
   PANY-GOOD WILL FIRE COMPANY-LITTLE GIANT FIRE AND HOSE
   COMPANY-PATRICK CURRAN'S CAREER-MECHANICS' HOOK AND
   LADDER COMPANY-CENTRAL FIRE DEPARTMENT-GREAT CON-
   FLAGRATIONS.
   Few firemen living in the country today can recall the time when
they worked one of the old-time hand engines with water supplied by a
bucket brigade; yet when Patrick Curran, the late chief of the Wash-
ington Fire Department, joined the old Good Will Fire Company, in 1866,
the only protection the town had from fire was by this means. From the
time Mr. Curran began his career as a fire fighter until the day of his
death in the fall of 1925 he was connected with the fire companies and
departments in Washington. Fifty-nine years of continuous service was
his record-a record which it is doubtful if any fire fighter in the county
can exceed.
   The work that could be done by those old-time engines, run by a
bucket brigade, would startle the people today. An excellent word pic-
ture of this is given by Stewart Edward White in his story of early San
Francisco entitled "The Gray Dawn." It was an engine of Exactly the
type described by Mr. White that Mr. Curran first remembered in Wash-
ington. Mr. Curran had spent many hours working on it, both at fires
and at practice.
   There were no fire plugs on the streets then and water had to be
secured from some nearby well or cistern. A bucket brigade had to be


883




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


formed of firemen and citizens, and the water was passed along a long
line in large leather buckets to the engine, where it was handed to the
captain, who poured it into a box and passed the empty bucket back along
another line to the source of supply.
   It required a total of twenty-four men besides the captain to work
this engine. Four stood on each side of the galley and worked the handles
there, while eight stood on the ground on each side of the engine and
worked the handles there. In order for the engine to do proper work it
required a continuous stream of buckets filled with water, and the
twenty-four men working constantly at the pumps. Needless to say it
was hard work and fast work. There were two force pumps that forced
the water through the nozzle, which worked on a swivel. This would
throw a stream of water about thirty feet high.
   Mr. Curran remembers that there was another of these engines in
Washington at that time. It had been purchased a number of years
before for the Good Intent Fire Company, which seems to have gone out
of existence before the sixties. This engine had only one handle and was
much harder to work; consequently it was never used after the "Good
Will" engine was purchased.
   The first captain of the Good Will Fire Company was William Hayes.
Some idea of the size of this company may be gained from the fact that
there were sixty-four members who marched to the cemetery at Cap-
tain Hayes' funeral.
   During Captain Hayes' last illness, Mr. Curran acted as captain, and
one night during a big fire in the winter he stood on the engine pouring
water into the box until his feet were frozen to the platform by the
splashing water and he had to be chopped loose. This fire was at an old
frame house that stood on North Main Street, just north of the old Mar-
gerum Building. Joseph Ruple had a whisky house there at the time.
After the death of Captain Hayes, Mr. Curran was elected to fill the
vacancy, and he remained captain of the company until he joined the
Little Giant Company in 1873.
   At that time the fire engines were kept in a building back of the old
jail, for that was before the town hall was erected. In that building were
also the borough scales and the council chamber. Mr. Curran remem-
bered that there were three of these old engines kept in this building.
The old "Eagle" engine, the "Good Will" and the "Good Intent." All had
been purchased by the council years before.
   The "Eagle" engine was the largest of all, though it was of the same
type as the other two. In fact, it was too large to be worked with much
success, as it required too many men. It was purchased in Pittsburgh in
1847 for $800. Just what company had charge of this engine is not
known, until January, 1857, when the Eagle Fire Company was organ-
ized and the following officers elected: 0. R. McNary, president; Mar-
shall Griffith, secretary; John McKay, treasurer; John S. Clohey, cap-
tain; H. W. Wiley, lieutenant; Robert H. Elliott, first engineer; John
McFarland, second engineer; 0. R. McNary, captain of hose. Just how
long the company was in existence is not known today. After it dis-
banded the engine remained in the old engine house just described for
several years and was finally sold.


884





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The "Good Intent" engine, which was smaller than either the "Good
 Will" or the "Eagle," was purchased by the council about 1844. In
 December of that year, the council granted the company's petition for
 an engine house, which was erected in Pine Alley. The next year a hose
 cart was purchased. Just how long this company lasted is not known,
 but its engine remained in the old engine house until after 1870.
    From The Reporter of February 14, 1866, it is learned that the organ-
 ization of the Good Will Fire Company took place in the council room
 February 10, 1866, and the following officers were elected for the ensu-
 ing six months: Robert R. Forrest, president; William A. Hayes, vice-
 president; John H. Kennedy, secretary; Henry Herrick, treasurer; Scott
 Baggs, captain of engine; Joseph Gent, first lieutenant; Thomas Greer,
 second lieutenant; Robert L. Thompson, first engineer of engine; James
 Thompson, second engineer; Samuel Decker, Jr., first engineer of hose;
 Charles Greer, Jr., second engineer of hose.
    It appears that the Good Intent Fire Company had passed out of
 existence for at that time the following officers were elected for the "Good
 Intent" engine: George Lennox, first lieutenant; Charles W. Scott, sec-
 ond lieutenant; James Kuntz, Jr., first engineer; Andrew Lennox, second
 engineer. As already stated, the Good Will Fire Company was in exist-
 ence for several years, or until about the time of the organization of the
 Little Giant Company.
    The only survivor of those first officers mentioned above is Robert
R. Forrest, of Locust Avenue.
   The original Hope Fire Company dates back over a century. Just
when it was organized is not known today, but the first mention of it
is found in The Reporter for 1822. Practically nothing is known of it
until May 29, 1824, when the following officers were elected for the com-
ing year: Hugh Wilson, chief director; William Hunter and John Wilson,
engineers; James Ruple and James Kerr, directors of the ladder com-
pany; Samuel Murdoch, director of the property guard; Thomas M. T.
McKennan, George Baird, William Robinson and George Kuntz, directors
of the water company; Jacob Slagle, treasurer, and John R. Murdoch,
secretary.
   The following notice, which appeared in The Reporter for July 25,
1825, is of interest:

                       "HOPE FIRE COMPANY
   The members of the 'Hope Fire Company' are notified to meet at the
Engine house, on Saturday next, the 30th inst., at 4 o'clock P. M., for
training.                                   C. M. REED, Sec'ry."

   There was no engine in Washington at that time. The only means of
fighting a fire was with bucket brigades, and the training of the fire com-
pany consisted of practice with these buckets. Various notices like the
above appeared from time to time in The Reporter. The next officers,
elected January 9, 1829, were: George Baird, chief director; Dr. Francis
J. LeMoyne, engineer; Colin M. Reed, assistant engineer; John Wilson
and Henry Chess, captains of the ladder company, Thomas M. T. McKen-


885




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


nan and Alexander Reed, captains of the water company; Rev. John
Graham and Dr. Samuel Murdoch, captains of the property guard; Alex-
ander Wilson, secretary.
   There seems to have been a period in the '30s when this company
ceased its activities. For many years prior to that time there had been
another company called the Washington Fire Company, and it appears
that it also went out of existence for the time being. A public meeting
was held in the courthouse February 11, 1837, for the purpose of reor-
ganizing these companies. Gen. Andrew Shearer was appointed chair-
man of the meeting and Henry Langly, secretary, and the following com-
mittee was appointed to secure the names of persons willing to join the
companies: Jacob Slagle, John Harter, James Brice, Peter Wolf, Wil-
liam M. J. Wilson, William Smith, Samuel Hazlett and Peter Kennedy.
   At a meeting held in the courthouse on Saturday, February 18, 1837,
both the Hope and the Washington fire companies were reorganized and
the following officers elected:

                       HOPE FIRE COMPANY.
   John Marshall, director; Oliver Withrow and Jacob Keisler, engin-
eers, Jacob Slagle, captain of the water company; Peter Wolf and John
Wilson (sheriff), captains of the axe and ladder company; William J.
Wilson, captain of the hose company; Alexander Sweeney, Alexander Reed
and Daniel Moore, property guard; Henry Langly, secretary.

                   WASHINGTON FIRE COMPANY.
   Dr. John Wishart and William Smith, directors; Henry Shearer and
Oliver Lindsey, engineers; John Dagg and David White, captains of the
water company; Andrew Shearer and Freemen Brady, captains of the
axe and ladder company; Abijah Johnson, Samuel Mount and John Shaf-
fer, property guard; John K. Wilson, secretary.
   The Hope Fire Company remained in existence for about fifteen or
twenty years afterwards, but nothing more is known of the Washington
Fire Company from the date of this meeting. It is probable that it was
in existence for several years after that time.
   The Hope Fire Company was reorganized for the second time in 1858.
It remained in existence for several years, but just how long is not
known.
   In February, 1866, the council purchased the new "Hope" engine,
which was used at many fires in Washington, together with the Little
Giant, during the next twenty-five years. This was a suction engine, but
it was worked by hand. Chief Patrick Curran remembered it well, and,
although he was never a member of the Hope Fire Company, he worked
on the engine at many fires. There were twenty feet of suction hose,
which could be dropped into a cistern or well. Two long handles extended
on each side, out from the deck and were worked by fifteen men on each,
from the ground. Whenever necessary the top was torn off the cistern
nearest to a fire, and the engine was run into the yard. If necessary,
fences were torn down in order to reach the cistern.
   When the men on the handles worked hard, a stream of water could
be thrown over the statue of George Washington on the old courthouse,


886





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


but this was only a spurt and could not be kept up. A steady stream
could be thrown from fifty to sixty feet, high enough to reach the top of
any building then in Washington.
    The New Hope Fire Company was organized February 6, 1866. The
following list of officers elected at that time for the ensuing six months,
is taken from The Reporter: Martin Luther, president; J. Marshall
Griffith, vice-president; Alex. M. Cotton, secretary; S. M. Decker, cap-
tain of engine; Hamilton Stewart, first lieutenant; Casper Wyland, sec-
ond lieutenant; George Thompson, first engineer; S. T. Decker, second
engineer; S. 0. Williams, captain of hose; J. Add. Hall, first lieutenant;
George Wolf, second lieutenant; Samuel Brady, first engineer; James
McFarland, second engineer; Benjamin Brackney, Martin Luther, Wil-
liam Greer, Simon Wolf and James Harter, assistants.
   The following list of members of this company is also taken from The
Reporter: William Anderson, Samuel Brady, David Brady, Freeman
Brady, Benjamin Brackney, William Burke, John G. Brice, George
Coogle, John Coogle, Alex. M. Cotton, John Charlton, S. M. Decker, S. T.
Decker, T. J. Decker, Thomas Dagg, John N. Dagg, Enoch Dye, William
Dye, John Fulton, J. M. Griffith, Samuel Griffith, David Gilmore, William
Greer, Samuel Greer, John Glenn, Samuel Hazlett, James Harter, Wil-
liam Hartzell, J. Add. Hall, A. B. Huston, William Huston, James Hus-
ton, Dallas Jackson, Thomas Kisler, John Kendall, Gust Lonkert, James
Lindsey, Martin Luther, James McFarland, Benjamin Miner, James
McCreary, John McKay, T. McFarland, Robert McMillan, James Martin,
William Radcliffe, S. S. Seaman, Alex. Sweeny, William N. Steep, Ham.
Stewart, J. Soughnessey, Joseph Templeton, George Thompson, Robert
Thompson, William Underwood, Dan Valentine, J. B. Vowell, William
Wolf, Casper Wyland, Charles C. White, George Wolf, Alex. Waltz,
Sansom Waltz, Frank Wheatley, Jacob Wolf, John Waldron, Pat Waldron,
Asberry Webb, Add. Wolf, John White, Charles White, John H. Wolf,
Simon Wolf, S. O. Williams and Jacob Zelt.
   Further records in The Reporter show that on August 6, 1866, the fol-
lowing officers were elected for the ensuing six months: J. Add. Hall,
president; James Harter, vice president; John P. Charlton, secretary;
Hamilton Stewart, captain of engine; John Fulton, first lieutenant; James
McFarland, second lieutenant; George W. Thompson, first engineer;
Simon Wolf, Jr., second engineer; Martin Luther, captain of hose;
Charles C. White, first lieutenant; Samuel Brady, first engineer; Ben-
jamin Brackney, first engineer.
   John P. Charlton was subsequently elected captain, just when is not
known, but it must have been about 1868, according to Mr. Curran's
recollections. He evidently served in this position for many years, for he
still held it in 1882, at which time the company had sixty-five members.
James Matthews was first lieutenant and A. B. Means was second lieu-
tenant.
   Mr. Curran remembered when this company practiced every Sat-
urday. There was great rivalry between it and the Little Giant Com-
pany. Each would practice on Saturday afternoon, and each would try
to throw a stream of water higher than the other. They always prac-
tised on the old courthouse, the object being to throw water over Wash-


887




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ington's statue. Mr. Curran stated that the Hope Company could beat
the Little Giant by sending one spurt of water higher, but this could not
be kept up on account of the terrible physical exertion required on the
part of the thirty men at the pumps.
   John P. Charlton, the captain, always stood on the deck of the Hope
engine and kept time with his hands. The men at the pumps watched
him, and as he increased the speed of his hands they worked faster and
harder until the water went over the statue at one spurt. But the pump-
ers were then ready to drop. Needless to say great interest was always
taken in these contests, and a large crowd of people gathered in the
public square to watch them.
   The Hope Fire Company always responded to the alarm together with
the Little Giant Company, and the two worked together although there
was great rivalry between them, even at a fire. This is shown by the
following entry in the Little Giant minute book for September 10, 1888:
"Fire at D. N. McCracken house on East Chestnut Street; second story
burned off. Steamer [meaning the 'Little Giant'] would not make
steam, eight members being absent, and the noble Hope Fire Company
could not get citizens to man her and had to throw up the sponge."
   The "Hope" engine was used even after the present system of fire
hydrants was installed by the Citizens Water Company. The suction hose
was connected to the fire plug and the engine was used to increase the
pressure, which was low at that time. This was also done for a number
of years by the "Little Giant" engine.
   It is interesting to note at this point that the first attachment to a
fire plug in Washington for a fire was on January 21, 1889, by the Little
Giant Company, when the roof was burned off of the Hotel Main stable
on East Beau Street.
   The "Little Giant" engine was purchased by the council early in 1873.
This came about through a petition presented to the council November 8,
1872, by a number of citizens. At the meeting of December 2, 1872,
agents for several engine companies were in Washington and presented
bids, and on January 20, 1873, the council closed the contract with the
Silsby Manufacturing Co., of Seneca Falls, New York, for this engine,
at a cost of $6,000. The engine is No. 361, and the plates still on it show
that it was made by H. C. Silsby, Horace Silsby and F. J. Silsby, at the
Island Works, Seneca Falls, N. Y., B. Holly's patent of February 5, 1855,
and February 6, 1860. It was an "R. Clapp improved boiler, patented
June 12, 1860."
   The first name of the steam fire company when it was organized fifty
years ago was the Little Giant Steam Fire Engine and Hose Company,
but this later was changed to the Little Giant Fire and Hose Company.
Its motto was "Always Ready."
   There is nothing in any of the records to state definitely just when
the "Hope" engine was used the last time. The only item is the record
of the fire at the McCracken house on East Chestnut Street, on Septem-
ber 10, 1888, when the members of the company could not get enough
volunteers to man the engine. It is known that this engine was kept in
the engine house until the town hall was moved in 1898-99, when it was
stored, together with the "Little Giant," in the old Floral hall in the fair


888




































    Little Giant Fire and Hose Company, of Washington; organized in 1873;
from photo taken about 1882. For thirty years it protected Washington from
fire.


    Old steam engine of the Little Giant Fire and Hose Company, of Washington; pur-
chased in 1873, it was the first and only steam engine the town ever owned. The
three men shown here are the only survivors of the original Little Giant Company of
1873. They are Patrick Curran, chief of the present fire department, who has been a
fireman in Washington for the past sixty years, on the left with the trumpet; James
Harter and Cornelius Curran, a brother of Patrick. Since this photo was taken, July
20, 1922, Cornelius Curran was accidentally killed.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


grounds in Tylerdale. While there it was sold by a councilman to a local
junk dealer for a small sum.
   The fire cisterns in the streets of Washington, which were used by
the people in many sections of Washington during the recent water
shortage, were built by the borough to provide water for the "Little
Giant" and "Hope" engines. These hold 500 barrels each and are sup-
plied with water from some adjoining building. As near as can be ascer-
tained at present, there were ten of them, but most of them have long
since been filled up.
   The first was in Main Street, at the corner of Beau, and was supplied
with water from the sheriff's residence that formerly stood on that cor-
ner. This cannot now be located. The second, which has been used
recently, is in West Wheeling Street, just around the corner of Main, and
is filled by water from the Reed Building. Another is located in West
Wheeling Street in front of the Driehorst property and is filled by water
from the adjoining buildings. It also was used during the water short-
age. At the Round corner, in West Maiden Street, is another which was
used recently; but the one in front of the seminary, in East Maiden
Street, could not be located.
   In West Chestnut Street, just west of the corner of Franklin, was
another, but it has been lost. No traces of one located in East Chestnut
Street, just off the corner of Main Street, and another in North Main
Street, near the corner of Walnut, can be found; but that in Highland
Avenue, at the junction of College Street, was found and used. The last
was in East Beau Street, in front of the old Union School but all trace
of it has been lost.
   The "Little Giant" engine had eighteen feet of suction hose which
could be dropped into a well or cistern. A small gas jet was always kept
burning under the boiler so that it would not take long to get up steam,
and the firebox was filled with shavings that would light easily. It
started to pump water at about 20 pounds steam pressure, but in five to
ten minutes it would have from 60 to 70 pounds pressure, when it would
throw a continuous stream of water to the roof of any building then in
Washington. However, it could throw water 110 feet high at a spurt
but could not keep this up. The average height for a steady stream was
about eighty feet. Coal was used for fuel.
   About 1894 the boiler began to leak and it was impossible to repair it.
It could not be replaced, as the firm that had manufactured the original
had gone out of business, so a contract was made with Michael Ryan,
who conducted a local boiler factory, to make an exact duplicate of the
old one. This was done, but it never worked as well as the first.
    The last time that the "Little Giant" was used at a fire in Washington
borough was on the night the Hotel Main was destroyed, January 6, 1899.
Water was scarce, and the engine was used to pump water from the cis-
tern at the Reed Building, at the corner of Main and West Wheeling
streets, to the fire.
    The last time that the old engine was ever used was during the fire
at the Beaver refinery at Oak Grove in 1906. There was not enough hose
to reach from the nearest fire plug, and the "Little Giant" was taken


890





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


down. One end of the suction hose was dropped into Chartiers Creek,
and for about five hours it kept a steady stream on the fire.
   Patrick Curran, chief of the local fire department at one time, was
second engineer of the Little Giant Company from 1884 to 1889, when he
was made captain, which position he held until 1903, when the paid fire
department was organized.
   The following were presidents of the Little Giant Company from the
date of organization until the last in 1903: Samuel Hazlett, in 1873;
Enoch Dye, 1874; John G. Ruple, 1875-76; James B. Kennedy, 1877-81;
Charles Scott, 1882; George Thompson, 1883; Dr. T. D. M. Wilson, 1884;
John McGuffie, 1885-89; A. B. Means, 1889-90; Charles Caldwell, 1895-
98; T. C. Redman, 1899-1902; David M. Curran, 1903. There is a break
from 1890 to 1895, and the names are not known.
   Just when the first fire company was organized in Washington is not
known today. The first of which we have any record is the Washington
Fire Company, already mentioned, which was organized May 18, 1801,
with eighty-two members.
   It is known that Washington had a fire engine of some kind in 1791,
for the accounts of the commissioners of that year contain the following:
"To pay James Marshel for use of his engine, 825." This was in connec-
tion with the fire that burned the old log courthouse in the winter of
1790-91. We do not know what kind of an engine this was. The follow-
ing letter which appeared in The Western Telegraphe, Washington's
first newspaper, February 2, 1796. is of interest in this connection:
   "We must have a law of incorporation. Besides regulating the streets,
a corporation could do many other useful and necessary things. It could
regulate the market house, adjust weights and measures, keep the market
house clean, prevent (which will soon destroy our market) people from
buying up provisions before they reach the market house, and take care
that the provisions be wholesome and good. It could make provision
against a calamity which every reflecting man must dread-fire. In vain
is our fire engine if we want water, and it is well known that in a dry
season there is not a tenth part of the water necessary in case of a fire
breaking out, yet there is no authority to dig wells in the street. I pro-
pose that the people of this town meet at the Market House on Saturday
next, at three o'clock in the afternoon, to consult on a petition to the
Assembly for Incorporating This Town.
                              "AN INHABITANT OF WASHINGTON."
   This shows that the town owned a fire engine in 1796, and the engine
house is mentioned in a bill presented to the commissioners in 1797. It
is more than probable that a fire company was in existence in 1797.
   When the Washington Fire Company was organized May 18, 1801,
the engine was placed in charge of two directors and sixteen men.
   The next reference to a fire engine appeared January 15, 1816, when
Henry Yanaway, high constable of the borough, gave notice to the citi-
zens that a meeting would be held in the courthouse on January 16th, "for
the purpose of determining whether the taxes of the borough shall be so
far increased as may be necessary for the purchase of a fire engine."


891







       HIST(RY OF


WASHINGTON

     COUNTY


PENSYLVANIA


       By
    EATLE R. FORREST


    rOLUME I


    ILLUSTRATED




      Chicago
The ;. J. Clarke Publishing Company
       1926


i


" ' '~i"" " """"'"~ """"' """"""' " """""""""""" '""""""" """""":""".""""""'!""" """';""""' " "" """"' """' "":"""'."" """";~





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


never lived on his farm again, but sold it to Joseph Patterson, and in 1801
moved to Ohio, where he died.
    Robert McCready, one of Reynolds' pursuing party, died on September
 23rd, 1794, and was buried in the cemetery at Cross Creek village. John
 Marquis, another member of the party, died on February 25th, 1822, aged
 seventy-two years. He is also buried in this graveyard, where the graves
 of both men may still be seen.
    The story of the raid on the cabin of William Anderson, on Raccoon
 Creek, is another of those tales which testify to the old saying that "truth
 is stranger than fiction"; for no fiction was ever as interesting or strange
 as the events that occurred in this section when Washington County was
 part of the old frontier.
    While at work in a field near his home in July, 1779, William Anderson
was shot from ambush, and wounded in the breast, but he was able to
escape to the cabin of Thomas Armor. The latter was a man of great
physical strength, and, taking his neighbor on his back, he carried him to
Fort Dillow, the nearest place of safety. The old records do not show
whether or not Anderson recovered, but General Brodhead's report states
that he was slightly wounded.
   When Mrs. Anderson heard the shot that wounded her husband she
seized her baby in her arms and fled to the forest, where she concealed
herself in the bushy top of a felled tree. The Indians went to the house,
capturing the two Anderson boys, step-brothers, aged four and seven
years, sacked the cabin, and then set it on fire. In leaving they passed
within a few feet of the spot where Mrs. Anderson lay with her baby,
scarcely daring to breathe.
   This was one of the tragedies of life on the frontier. Mrs. Anderson
never saw her little son again. Both boys were carried to the Indian
towns in Ohio, and several years later Logan Anderson, the oldest, re-
turned to Fort McIntosh, probably among the prisoners delivered by the
Indians under the terms of the treaty of 1785. The younger boy was
never seen again by his parents, for he became a white Indian, spending
the remainder of his life among his adopted people. It was reported at
his home years later that he married a half-breed French and Indian
woman at Detroit, where he lived and died among the Indians. Later
reports stated that two sons of this white boy and the half-breed Indian
woman became famous chiefs of Western tribes.
   Under date of August 1st, 1779, General Brodhead reported the attack
on William Anderson to Ensign John Beck as follows:
   "I have just received information that one Anderson, who lives about
two miles from Dillar's (Dillow's) Fort, was slightly wounded, and two
of his little boys carried off by the savages on the same day the mischief
was done on Wheeling."




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


What was done at this meeting is not known, as no further reference to
it appears.
    It is known that in 1816 the Franklin Fire Company was in existence
 in Washington for in The Reporter of May 27, 1816, the following notice
 appears:
                   "THE FRANKLIN FIRE COMPANY
 Will meet at the Engine house on Monday next June 3rd precisely at 5
 o'clock.
    Those members who are attached to the Engine department will be
 particular hereafter to prevent all persons who are not members of the
 company from interfering with the Engine and will take the Engine from
 the house to whatever place may be directed by the proper officers.
                                     JOHN CUNNINGHAM, Sec'y."
    What became of this company is not known today, as no further
notice of it appears.
    The Reporter for February 18, 1822, contains an account of a meet-
ing held in the courthouse February 13, 1822, on the subject of fire pro-
tection. It was "Resolved that the burgess and council be directed to
buy a new Water Engine out of the corporation funds."
   At the same meeting, John Johnson, John Wilson, Alexander Reed,
Daniel Moore and William Sample (the founder of The Reporter) were
appointed as a committee to meet the commissioners and find out how
much they would give towards the purchase of a new engine and fire
apparatus.
   The burgess and council were requested to ascertain just how much
could be raised by public subscription for the purpose of making reser-
voirs, the subscribers to receive credit on their taxes. The burgess and
council were also requested to pass an ordinance requiring that each
house valued at 8400 or more be required to keep two leather fire buckets.
   Nothing much was accomplished. These committees reported at a
meeting held on March 14; but just what was accomplished in the way of
the fire buckets is not known. The report of the committee was received.
The committee appointed to find out how much could be raised for a
reservoir was continued, and it was resolved "That the burgess and
council of the borough of Washington be directed to build, as soon as
convenient, a suitable cistern in some part of the public ground in front
of the public buildings." The meeting was adjourned.
   In this connection it is interesting to note that two old leather fire
buckets may be seen in the rooms of the Washington County Historical
Society. Painted on each is the name "J. Wilson, W. F. C.," the initials
probably being for Washington Fire Company. They were presented to
the historical society by Miss Jennie Baird.
   The Good Intent Fire Company was organized in February, 1843, and
an application made to the local court for a charter, which was subse-
quently granted.
   The Mechanics' Hook and Ladder Company was organized in Wash-
ington on September 20, 1880, with seventeen members. The following
were the officers: Charles V. Harding, captain; James Curran, first
lieutenant; William Blackhurst, second lieutenant. The borough pur-
chased a hook and ladder truck, which arrivod a few days later and was


892




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


placed in the charge of this company. This truck, which cost $800, was
equipped with a 60-foot extension ladder, a 40-foot ladder, and one
twenty-four feet long. Along the sides were iron rods upon which hung
twenty-four buckets. There were also grab-hooks and chains to be used
in pulling down walls.
    This truck was stored in the old engine house back of the town hall,
 and the company met in one of the rooms. They wore white shirts and
 black leather hats with a white shield in front. The company practiced
 on the rear of the town hall. It was an easy matter to raise the 40-foot
 and 24-foot ladders, but the 60-foot ladder was hard to manage. The
 truck was taken out several times to fires, but the ladders were never
 used, and the company finally quit.
    The Little Fire and Hose Company was organized at a meeting held
 on the night of January 24, 1873. During the period of its existence it
 was considered a great honor to be a member, and admission to its ranks
 was gained only by vote of' the members. The names of many of the
 town's most prominent men appear on its rolls, and although twenty
 years have passed since it went out of existence the people of Washing-
 ton still remember with pride the services rendered unstintingly to the
 town by this organization.
    The "Little Giant," the old-time suction steam fire engine which pro-
tected the town for so many years before the present water system was
installed, is still preserved in the engine house. Although it has not been
used for many long years, it is in just as good condition today as when
it was taken out for practice every Saturday afternoon half a century ago.
   The following is the full membership roll of the first Little Giant Fire
Company: Samuel Hazlett, Dr. Thomas McKennan, George B. Koontz,
John H. Little, Samuel Brady, Andrew Brady, Peter Cunningham, Enoch
J. Dye, Patrick Curran, George W. Thompson, Seldon L. Wilson, William
F. Rentz, J. S. Wolf, James B. Kennedy, Jacob W. Beck, Julius Clark,
Charles H. Ross, Simon Curran, J. A. McKean, John Brady, J. N. Hainer,
Thomas Morgan, Cornelius Curran, F. J. Wiley, Thomas McGlaughlin,
James A. Best, J. H. Rodgers, A. W. Heargraves, John White, Edd Ross,
James Agnew, John Hoon, Martin Luther, W. P. Hastings, R. M. Brady
and James Harter.
   Of these thirty-six firemen of half a century ago, only James S. Har-
ter is still living; and by a strange coincidence he is the only survivor of
the original Company H, Tenth Pennsylvania National Guard, that was
sworn in on the first organization night in the fall of 1873, with Alex-
ander L. Hawkins as captain.
   The old minute book contains many interesting items. At the meeting
of July 13, 1897, Jacob O. Cline, better known as Ollie, was elected to
membership. Mr. Cline was a son of Jacob Cline, who had been a mem-
ber of the fire company years before. When President McKinley issued
his call for volunteers for the war with Spain in 1898, Ollie Cline went
out with Company H, Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served
through the war in the faraway Philippines until he was killed in action
near Polo, March 26, 1899, during the Philippine insurrection.
   The present paid fire department was organized July 1, 1903, with
Patrick Curran as the chief, which position he held until his death. There


893




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was no longer need for the old volunteer company and on October 20,
1903, the Little Giant Fire and Hose Company held its last meeting, after
being in existence for thirty years. The old minutes of that meeting
show that it was called to order by Harry Cundavy, the president. George
C. Barr was secretary at that time.
    The first paid fire company was composed of Patrick Curran, chief;
Thomas Coyne, electrician; Nelson Vankirk and William Scott.
    The first fire in Washington of which there is any record was the
burning of the old log courthouse during the winter of 1790-91. This
building stood on the northwest corner of South Main Street and West
Strawberry Alley.
   On Friday, January 26, 1821, the front section of the Philadelphia and
Kentucky Inn, which stood where the Washington Trust Building is
located, was burned, and the seven-year-old daughter of the proprietor,
John Fleming, was burned to death. The fire started from a candle which
the Fleming children had burning in their bedroom. Through the great
exertions of the citizens, the fire was confined to the front part of the
building, which was of frame. The property was owned by Alexander
Murdoch.
   The most terrible calamity that visited Washington during the first
forty years of its history occurred on Saturday night, February 23, 1822,
when the law office of Thomas M. T. McKennan, on East Maiden Street,
was destroyed and four people were instantly killed and seven injured
by a falling chimney. The fire broke out at 11:45 o'clock at night in
Mr. McKennan's law office, which was in a frame building just east of the
present McKennan homestead. The office and a tenement house owned
by James Chambers and occupied by William G. Stone and Amos DeNor-
mandie were burned to the ground. After the fire had been extinguished
a number of people volunteered to remain until morning to guard against
sparks setting fire to adjoining buildings. Several of these people were
standing together near the ruins of the law office, when a chimney sud-
denly collapsed without the least warning, burying ten.
   An alarm was given and many persons went to their rescue, but when
the victims had been taken from the ruins, it was found that four had
been instantly killed and six injured, one fatally, making five deaths.
The dead were James Wilson, Henry Taylor, Jeremiah Decker, Joseph
Decker, Jr., and Alexander Allison. The injured were Thomas M. T.
McKennan, Thomas Morgan, James Wilson, John Rettig, Mr. Linville and
David Lingenfelter.
   An epidemic of fires swept Washington during the fall of 1851, the
most disastrous of which was the destruction of the carriage factory of
S. B. Hayes & Company, a large frame building that stood on West
Cherry Alley, in the rear of the old courthouse. This fire was on Novem-
ber 8, 1851, and was the most destructive since the burning of the Mc-
Kennan law office nearly thirty years before. This was one of the town's
greatest industries at that time. The origin of the fire is unknown to
this day, but it is believed to have been the work of an incendiary; for
no less than six mysterious fires were started in Washington within two
months. The loss to the Hayes factory was $6,000. 'The old Methodist
Protestant Church and a small house erected over the borough scales


894




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


were destroyed, while the fire engine house and the county jail were saved
only by the hardest kind of work. The jail was on fire several times.
   The flames burst from the roof of the Hayes factory at 6 o'clock in
the morning and, fanned by a high southwest wind, spread rapidly. In
fact, it looked at one time as if the county buildings and many other
houses in that block would be burned. A newspaper account in describ-
ing this fire says: "The whole atmosphere appeared to be lighted with a
lurid glare, and the sparks descended in copious showers. Had it not
been that the roofs of the houses were damp with frost, it could not have
been otherwise than that one-half of our town would have been laid in
ashes. As it was, the greatest possible industry was required to avert
so direful a result. Our firemen performed their entire duty. And the
women of our town, too, were upon this occasion even more than them-
selves, which implies a degree of credit far above what language is cap-
able of expressing.
   "Immediately after the fire, subscription papers were started in be-
half of Messrs. Hayes, and a liberal amount was subscribed in a few
hours. The loss was a public calamity, and it is but right that the public
should lend a helping hand in the work of restoration. These enterpris-
ing gentlemen have purchased the old Presbyterian Church (now occu-
pied by G. A. Manrow & Co.), and expect to have that fitted up imme-
diately, and in the course of a few weeks be again in active operation."
   The next big fire of which we have any record occurred March 28,
1860, when all of the buildings from the present Driver building to the
Reckers' property were wiped out. The attic and second story were
burned off the John L. Gow house across the street, which stood on the
site of the present Leonard Building. This was the largest fire that Wash-
ington ever had up to that time. The loss was estimated at 827,150, with
insurance at $10,250.
   The fire was discovered at 2 o'clock in the morning in the rear of the
Boon grocery. It spread rapidly and was checked with great difficulty.
The owners of all of these properties made plans to rebuild immediately,
and the work was started "before the bricks were cold." The building
on the Davis and Spriggs lots were rebuilt from the ashes so rapidly
that the new structure was called "Phoenix Row," a name which it bears
to this day.
   The next big fire occurred February 2, 1866, when the buildings from
West Cherry Avenue to the First National Bank, on the west side of
South Main Street, and those on the east side from Cherry to the old
Hazlett homestead, were destroyed. The fire was discovered about 3
o'clock in the morning in the rear of the Lonkert residence, two doors
north of the bank. The building was an old frame structure, and in a
few minutes the fire was beyond control. A high wind carried the flames
across Main Street to the buildings already mentioned. The loss to the
real estate was about $18,200, and $6,000 in stock, fixtures, furniture,
etc., with a total of $8,600 in insurance on stock and buildings.
   The famous old Mansion House, one of Washington's most noted
hotels of years ago, was totally destroyed by fire April 16, 1868. This
was one of the most disastrous fires that had visited the town and was
only exceeded by one other, that of March 28, 1860. The fire started in


895




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the law office of I. Y. Hamilton, located in an old frame building that
stood on the lot now occupied by the Globe Theatre Building. Fanned
by a high wind, the flames spread rapidly, and soon the entire block to
Chestnut Street was doomed. The fire was stopped on the south by the
brick wall of the present Howe Building. The total loss was $25,650,
with insurance for $9,900. The buildings destroyed all belonged to the
estate of John N. Dagg.
    On December 21, 1884, the old Boechline corner, at South Main and
East Maiden streets, was practically blown up by natural gas. The
building was occupied by Jacob Beck and his sister, Mrs. Eliza Rabe, and
their families. Mrs. Rabe was awakened about 2 o'clock in the morning
by the smell of burning varnish. She and her husband started out to in-
vestigate, carrying a lighted lamp. There was a leak in the gas main
which evidently followed the line into the building and was ignited by
the lamp. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rabe were badly burned, Mrs. Rabe dying
a few hours later. The building was totally wrecked. The present Beck
Building was erected on this corner.
    Long years passed before there was another fire or any magnitude.
There were many small fires during the years that followed the destruc-
tion of the Mansion House, but the records at hand do not show that
there were any of great importance. No separate record was kept by the
Little Giant Company until 1885.
    The record of fires in the old minute book contains the following:
"February 17, 1885, 1 o'clock A. M., Presbyterian Church fire; no water
thrown; very cold, 10 degrees below zero."
    "July 14, 1888. Gas explosion at Main and Prospect avenue; eight
men badly burned; no damage by fire." Workmen were engaged in lay-
ing a new eight-inch main for the Peoples Light and Heat Gas Company.
Superintendent J. B. R. Streator wished to test that already laid and
turned on the pressure. In order to bend a section of pipe the workmen
had kindled a large fire, and when the pressure was turned on the main
burst sixty feet from this fire. The escaping gas was ignited and a sheet
of flame shot up 50 feet high. Eight workmen twenty-five feet away
were painfully burned, and for a time property in the vicinity was threat-
ened. The men burned were Oliver Wolf, James Marshall, James Greer,
Isaac Lindley, Ernest Boyd, M. K. Potter, William Neff and Robert
Doyle. The fire did not last more than two minutes, until the gas was
turned off, but it was so hot that grass, vines and trees 100 feet away
were killed.
   The largest fire in the history of Washington occurred on the night of
January 6, 1899, when the Hotel Main and the Boyle Building were
totally destroyed, with a loss in real estate and merchandise of about
$150,000.
   The fire was discovered at 4:30 o'clock in the morning in the laundry
room by a maid, and in three hours only the blackened walls of the hotel
and of the old Boyle Building adjoining remained. The Caldwell Build-
ing was saved by hard work by the firemen. D. H. Goodwin, the pro-
prietor of the hotel, his wife and his daughter, Goldie, had narrow
escapes, and it was necessary to throw a rope to them in order that they
might escape from the burning building. The "Little Giant" engine was


896




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


used to pump water from the big cistern in front of the Reed Building
on West Wheeling Street, and for three hours it kept a steady stream on
the fire.
   The next big fire occurred January 21, 1899, when the old Valentine
House, known at the time of the fire as the Allison House, was completely
gutted by fire. It was started from a kettle of grease in the kitchen of the
hotel, which caught fire about 7 o'clock in the morning. This spread to
the woodwork, and caused a slow fire that was hard to fight and which
was not extinguished for several hours. Simon Siegel, who still owns
this property, was the owner of the building. His loss was not estimated,
but he carried insurance to the amount of $14,000. J. C. Morrow, pro-
prietor of the hotel, lost about $4,000, with $3,000 insurance. The loss to
the other occupants of the building was small.
   The old Union School, which stood at the corner of East Beau and
North College streets and which was the center of Washington's public
schools forty-four years, was destroyed by fire February 12, 1899. The
fire was discovered in the basement at 5:45 o'clock, and in a few hours
only the walls of the historic building erected in 1855 remained. The
cold was intense, the thermometer being 10' below zero. The cost of this
building in 1855 was $16,000, and the furnishings were valued at $2,500.
The walls of the old building were unsafe and were torn down on Febru-
ary 24.
   On the same night as that of the Union School fire, the old Children's
Home at Arden was totally destroyed with a loss of $7,500 to the county.
There were sixty-seven children in the home, but not one was injured.
The store of H. N. Thomas & Brother, at Thomas Station, was supposed
to have been robbed and then set on fire. It was destroyed with its
contents. The loss was $3,000 to the building and $700 to the stock.
   The following are the larger fires since the paid fire department was
established on July 1, 1903:
   January 10, 1904, A. M. Brown Building, opposite courthouse; loss
$35,000.
   December 4, 1904, William Forgie lumberyard and planing mill, Hall
Avenue, loss $55,000.
   June 9, 1905, Atlas Glass Factory, South College Street; large ware-
house destroyed; loss $50,000.
   September 30, 1905, Bret Hart Elevator, East Maiden Street; loss
$15,000.
   January 11, 1908, car barns of Pittsburgh Railways Company in Ty-
lerdale, with loss of $3,500.
   July 3, 1910, Duncan-Miller Glass Factory, Jefferson Avenue, dam-
aged to the amount of $10,000.
   January 8, 1911, buildings owned by G. G. Hallam and estate of John
F. Berthel, Jacob Samolsky and John B. Murphy, destroyed; total loss,
$60,000. Fire broke out at 1 o'clock in the morning. The losses were as
follows: Austin Lang, dry goods, $10,000; L. H. Ullom, general store,
$6,000; Mrs. J. P. Hayden, hairdresser, $500; Carmon Cover, total loss,
dry goods; Jacob Samolsky, loss to building $6,000, loss of furniture,
$2,000, and loss of merchandise, $14,000; Edward Sonda, $700 in house-
       57-V1


897




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


hold goods. The building on the west owned by John B. Murphy was
slightly damaged. The other buildings were practically destroyed.
   February 26, 1911, Wylie Avenue schoolhouse, on the top of Goat
Hill in Canton Township, totally destroyed; loss 815,000.
   November 25, 1911, Lyric Theatre, North Main Street, practically de-
stroyed, except walls, with loss of 830,000; owned by J. R. Forrest, Rob-
ert R. Forrest and W. D. Roberts. Fire broke out at 11:45 o'clock at
night, under gallery stairs, from steam pipe. William Young, one of the
firemen, had a narrow escape when roof fell in, and an hour later he was
caught and pinned under a timber from the balcony. Lawrence Loar,
electrician of fire department, was overcome by smoke in going to his
rescue. Both men were removed, and recovered.
   June 18, 1914, Highland Glass Factory in Tylerdale, damaged to the
amount of $3,500.
   October 11, 1914, W. & J. grandstand at college field burned with loss
of 83,000.
   January 3, 1915, Casino Theatre damaged by fire to amount of about
81,500.
   November 28, 1918, fire damaged plant of Topliff-Ely Company, in
Eighth Ward, to amount of $1,800; one girl burned to death and four
others injured in explosion.
   August 16, 1920, another fire at plant of Topliff-Ely Company, with
loss of 813,786.
   December 6, 1920, fire at the Findlay Clay Pot Company's plant in
Canton Township, beyond Eighth Ward, with loss of 812,500.
   February 28, 1922, building on Hall Avenue, on site of old Forgie
planing mill, occupied by Alexander-Marshall Electric Company, de-
stroyed; loss to building about $2,000; loss to electric company about
$8,000.
   The following shows the total number of fires each year since the
paid department was organized on July 1, 1903:
   1903, 26 fires; 1904, 55 fires; 1905, 64 fires; 1906, 67 fires; 1907, 47
fires; 1908, 55 fires; 1909, 53 fires; 1910, 63 fires; 1911, 100 fires; 1912,
92 fires; 1913, 88 fires; 1914, 108 fires; 1915, 121 fires; 1916, 107 fires;
1917, 123 fires; 1918, 125 fires; 1919, 137 fires; 1920, 173 fires; 1921,
158 fires; 1922, 186 fires.
   The following persons have been burned to death in Washington or
killed at burning buildings since the town was founded:
   February 23, 1822, five persons killed by falling chimney, fire of law
office of Thomas M. T. McKennan, East Maiden Street: James Wilson,
aged 15; Henry Taylor, aged 19; Jeremiah Decker, aged 24; Joseph
Decker, aged 13; and Alexander Addison, aged 22; six other persons were
injured.
   December 22, 1824, Francis Henry, a Revolutionary soldier, and his
wife were burned to death while asleep in their home on the east side of
town. The origin of the fire, which occurred at 1 o'clock in the morning,
was never known. The house was owned by Robert McClure. The house
was entirely burned, and only the charred bodies of the aged couple
were found.


898




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   December 21, 1884, Mrs. Eliza Rabe fatally burned in gas explosion
at old Boechline corner, South Main and East Maiden streets.
   December 2, 1905, Miss Elizabeth Patterson, aged 25, of Carnegie,
fatally burned in gasoline explosion at home of her cousin, i\Mrs. K. M.
Kernott, No. 422 East Maiden Street, where she was visiting.
   May 23, 1907. Mrs. Lizzie Jordon, aged 40, burned to death when
her home, near the tube mill, and just off Jefferson Avenue, was destroyed
at 2 o'clock in the morning; origin of fire a mystery.
   December 27, 1907, Miss Bessie Hatfield, aged 17, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Samuel Hatfield, fatally burned when her night clothes caught
before an open fire; resided on West Beau Street, opposite the jail en-
trance.
   March 29, 1910, Catherine Rowe, aged 9, and Samuel Rowe, aged 2,
children of Mr. and Mrs. George Rowe, of No. 371 Addison Street, burned
to death when the Rowe home caught fire at 7 o'clock in the morning.
The mother and three other children were rescued by a ladder.
   February 10, 1911, William Greed and his daughter, Katherine, aged
2 years, fatally burned in gas explosion at Greed home No. 261 Locust
Avenue.
   February 1, 1913, Mrs. Bridget Curran, aged 84, mother of Fire Chief
Patrick Curran, and her daughter, Miss Mary F. Curran, fatally burned
at Curran home on West Maiden Street; fire occurred about 11 o'clock
in the night; practically no damage to house.
   November 28, 1919, Miss Blanche Jennings, aged 19, of No. 188 Ewing
Street, fatally burned in explosion at the Topliff-Ely Company's factory
in the Eighth Ward; and James Chambers, Edna West, John Lang and
Elias Lewis, severely burned; origin of explosion unknown.
   March 19, 1920, Mrs. Hattie Lonkert, aged 72, at No. 218 West Cherry
Avenue, fatally burned.
   December 20, 1922, Mrs. Elizabeth Brooks, aged 50, fatally burned
before an open grate at home of her mother, Mrs. Mary Jacobs, No. 424
Jefferson Avenue; clothing caught while she was dressing.
   December 29, 1922, Wm. N. Hawkins, aged 67, of No. 543 East
Chestnut Street, died from burns received December 18, 1922, before an
open grate while dressing.
   The first and only horses of the fire department were "Frank" and
"Harry." The first fire which the paid department was called to ex-
tinguish was on July 6, 1903, at 4:20 o'clock in the afternoon, from Box
34. It was a log and frame house on East Walnut Street, just above the
corner of College Street, and the house is still standing. The horses took
the truck to this fire.
   The last fire in which the horses were used to haul the truck was on
April 17, 1912, at 3:05 o'clock in the morning, from Box 84. It was the
house of Samuel Elliott on Grove Avenue. There was no damage.
   The horses and the truck were kept in the department for emergen-
cies after the first truck was received until January 16, 1915, when the
second truck was received. The horses, however, were never used after
the date given above in 1912.
   The horse truck was sold shortly after the second truck was received,
and "Frank" and "Harry" hauled it to the station, where it was loaded


899





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


for shipment. The old fire horses were sold in 1915 to a farmer, who
afterwards removed to West Virginia, and when last heard of they were
still living and in good hands.
   Fire Truck No. 1 was received April 22, 1912, and was used for the
first time on April 24, at 8:40 o'clock in the morning, to answer an alarm
from the house of Patsy Sailor. It made this first run to Hayes Avenue
in just four minutes. This was a Knox truck and cost $5,000.
   Truck No. 2 was supplied by East Washington Borough at a cost of
$5,500. It was received January 16, 1915.
   Truck No. 3, "Pat," was received October 12, 1921. It cost $8,000.
   The last two trucks are the American La France; and all three are
the best of their kind to be found.
   The local fire department was the forty-fourth in the United States
to adopt the two platoon system, which gives the town four firemen on
duty at all times instead of three as formerly. The two platoon system
has been the subject of many bitter fights in other cities, and in Boston
it was even the cause of a special election, and was defeated; yet it was
adopted by the Washington Borough Council in 1919 without a dissenting
vote. This action was taken upon a petition presented to Chief Curran,
setting forth the plan; and it went into effect on September 1, 1919. Ex-
perience in Washington has proven its success.





                         CHAPTER XCI.

               WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT.

EARLY SUBSCRIPTION SCHOOLS-OLD-TIME TEACHERS-BEGINNING OF
   THE PRESENT SCHOOL DISTRICT-OLD SCHOOL BUILDINGS-THE
   HIGH SCHOOL-THE UNION SCHOOL-MODERN SCHOOL BUILDINGS-
   TEACHERS-WASHINGTON BUSINESS COLLEGE.
   Some mention of the schools of Washington, prior to the establish-
ment of the present school law, in 1834, will be of interest. Before the
present school system, all schools were what is known as subscription
schools. Among those old-time teachers who we know taught subscrip-
tion schools in Washington, a century and more ago, were Dr. Thaddeus
Dodd, David Johnson, Nicholas Charles Visinier, William Porter, M. C.
Staes, Miss Good, Michael Law, William O'Hara, Rev. Charles Wheeler,
Miss G. Cairns, Mrs. Baker, Robert Fee, Rev. Matthew Brown, James
Williamson, William Lytle, Mrs. Whitehouse, Samuel Marshall, Andrew
Gwinn, John Kerr, Obadiah Jennings, William Aull, George K. Scott,
Mrs. Harriet Lafoucherie, Philip Potter, Stephen Woods, Mrs. Spencer,
James Ruggles, John Irwin, Charles De Hass, Warner Long, Alexander
G. Marshman, Miss Jane Potter, William Orr, Samuel Withrow, Henry
Williams, Daniel Baldwin, Jr.
   The first information we have of any school in Washington, was the


900





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Washington Academy, founded in 1787. A description of this old school
was given many years ago by Mordecai Hoge, who was born in Washing-
ton, January 22, 1784. When he was about six years of age, he at-
tended this school. The building was of logs. The courthouse and jail
were located on the first floor and the school on the second. The benches
and writing desks were made of slabs, hewn out of logs with the broad
ax. Mr. Hoge died in Washington in 1870. This was really the begin-
ning of Washington College.
   In The Western Telegraphe for November 29, 1796, the following ad-
vertisement, of interest in connection with the local schools of that time,
appears:
                             "TUITION.
   "William Porter proposes opening an Evening School, at the School-
house on Wheeling street, where attendance will be given from six to
nine-to commence this evening.
   "Washington, November 19, 1796."
   The schoolhouse mentioned was the old Red School, which at that time
stood on the ground now occupied by the south wing of the old college
building. Later it was removed to the lot now occupied by the First
Presbyterian Church, and was used as a public school by the local dis-
trict for many years, or until the Union School was completed in 1855.
   William Porter was the only school teacher whose name appears on
the assessment rolls for 1798, and it is probable that he taught the day
school in this building at that time.
   The following advertisement shows that William Lytle was also a
school teacher in Washington at that time. This advertisement was
printed in the Western Telegraphe for May 2, 1797:
   "The Subscriber begs leave to inform the inhabitants of Washington
and its vicinity, that he has opened an English School at the Academy
where he will receive and teach Scholars at the rate of $6 per annum;
and any person wishing to send Scholars, may come forward and enter
them.
                                                "WILLIAM LYTLE.
   "Washington Academy, April 17, 1797."
   M. C. Staes advertised in the Herald of Liberty, a local paper, on De-
cember 28, 1799, that he would open a subscription for a French school,
each subscriber to pay 86 per quarter, the school to begin as soon as
twelve pupils had enrolled. He stated that he was teaching in Williams-
port, now Monongahela, at that time.
   Miss Good taught school here in November, 1800. She advertised
that she intended to leave Washington the following spring. She re-
turned later, and advertised on February 9, 1809, for teaching young
ladies in tambouring, and embroidery, open work, painting, and drawing,
plain sewing and reading.
   Michael Law and William O'Hara were assessed as teachers in Wash-
ington in 1807, and probably taught in the Red School.
   Alexander Little, James Gilmore, and Robert Anderson, on June 20,
1805, purchased a lot from John Hoge, in Belle Street, now West Wheel-
ing Street, to be "made use of for a schoolhouse and for no other pur-


901












CHAPTER XV.


                           1775-1795.

                  CAPTAIN SAMUEL BRADY.

THE GREATEST INDIAN KILLER OF TIlE OLD FRONTIER-THE BRADY
   FAMILY-REVOLUTIONARY RECORI)--CAPTAIN OF THE FORT PITT
   RANGERS-BRADY'S MANY THRILLING ADVENTURES-BRODHEAD'S
   EXPEDITION-BRADY'S BEND--JENNY STOOP RESCUED-RAID ON
   ALBERT GRAY'S CABIN-BRADY RESCUES MRS. GRAY AND HER CHIL-
   DREN-BLOODY SPRING-FIGHT AT YELLOW CREEK-BRADY'S HILL-
   TRAILED BY A DOG-RAID AT SEWICKLEY BOTTOM-BRADY ATTACKS
   THE CAMP-BRADY TWICE CONDI)EMNED TO BE BURNED-CAPTURED
   AND TIED TO THE STAKE-ESCAPE-RAIl) IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
   IN 1780-BRADY FOLLOWS THE TRAIL--BATTLE OF BRADY'S LAKE-
   BRADY CAPTURED AND CONDEMNED TO DEATH-TIED TO THE STAKE
   -HIS ESCAPE-BRADY'S LEAP--IDES UNDER WATERS OF BRADY'S
   LAKE-DRAPER'S VERSION-"TURKEY FOOT ROCK"-THE LEAP DE-
   STROYED IN 1840-LAKE BRADY NOW A FAMOUS RESORT--BRADY MAR-
   RIED DRUSELLA SWEARINGEN OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-SETTLES AT
   WEST LIBERTY-HIS LAST INDIAN FIGHT-DEATH OF THE FAMOUS IN-
   DIAN FIGHTER--HIS DESCENDANTS-MONUMENT AT HIS GRAVE MADE
   IN WASHINGTON, PA.-A VISIT TO BRADY'S OLD HOME AND GRAVE AT
   WEST LIBERTY.

                  "The stealthy Wyandots tremble,
                    And speak his name with fear;
                  For his aim is sharp and deadly,
                    And his rifle's ring is clear."
                            -Florus B. Plympton.

   No history of any section of Western Pennsylvania would be complete
without some mention of the deeds of Captain Sam Brady, the most noted
Indian fighter of any age. Few men in the short span of thirty-seven
years of life passed through as many thrilling adventures or had as many
narrow escapes from death as he. Hundreds, yes thousands, of Indians
longed for his scalp, yet he seemed to bear a charmed life, and no warrior
ever lived to claim that glory. And after a short life of the most thrilling
adventures that ever befell any man, he died a peaceful death in bed.
   As a hunter and killer of Indians, Captain Sam Brady was without
a peer and had few equals, not even excepting the famous Daniel Boone
and Lewis Wetzel. The Indians held him in greater fear than any other
white man on the frontier, and many a raid was abandoned when the
hostiles learned that Brady was on their trail.
   Captain Sam Brady came from a family of fighters. In fact, few
families ever produced as many men of one generation who fought so
gallantly for their country. He was the oldest son of Captain John Brady,
a hero of the Revolution, and he was one of a family of thirteen. There
were eight boys in the Brady family, two of whom died in infancy, and
one just before the War of 1812; but the other five fought for their





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


pose unless it be for building a house or place of public worship." A
brick schoolhouse was erected on the rear of this lot on West Cherry
Alley. The schoolhouse and lot were later sold to the First Baptist
Church, and the Rev. Charles Wheeler, the first Baptist minister here.
taught school there. After 1834, it was used by the local district for
many years. Mention has already been made of it. This places the date
of the erection of this school at about 1805 or 1806.
   After the church purchased this lot, the Rev. Charles Wheeler con-
ducted the Washington Classical Academy for a number of years, with
Miss G. Cairns as his assistant. He was later teacher of the female school
of the public schools of Washington.
   In 1812, David Johnson, who had taught as an assistant under Rev.
Thaddeus Dodd in the old log courthouse in 1790-91, returned to Wash-
ington from Canonsburg, and opened a school. The tuition was three
pounds, 12 shillings and 5 pence per scholar. An old list of the subscrib-
ers from January 1, to April 1, 1813, contains the following names:
Parker Campbell, Alexander Murdoch, Hugh Workman, Matthew Ochel-
tree, Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Huston, Gen. Thomas Acheson, Joseph Hus-
ton, John Hughes, John Hoge, Mrs. Mary Waugh, Thomas H. Baird, Dr.
David Mitchell, David Morris, James Workman, Samuel Hughes, Captain
King, J. Neal, D. Cook, Alexander Reed, J. Shaffer, John Wilson, Obadiah
Jennings, D. White, Mrs. Dunlap, A. Kerr, William McCammant, and
Mrs. Price.
   Alexander Reed and Obadiah Jennings were named as trustees who
received a total of $453.10.
   First mention of the old schoolhouse in West Pine Alley, where the
colored school was taught from 1835 for a number of years, is found
in 1822, when Samuel Marshall conducted a school there.
   In 1822, Andrew Gwinn opened a school, in July, in a room of the
market house.
   On May 5, 1823, John Kerr started an "English School" in a house
nearly opposite the Reporter office, at the south end of Main Street. Oba-
diah Jennings opened a school for young ladies in a room in the market
house on May 1, 1824, and the next year he engaged Samuel Marshall as
his assistant. The term that year began on October 3, 1825.
   In April, 1826, Marshall again opened his school in West Pine Alley.
   Mrs. Harriet Lafoucherie opened a school here in July, 1824, at $1.50
per quarter.
   First mention of Philip Potter, who taught the colored school in West
Pine Alley for many years after it was opened in 1835, is found in 1824,
when he taught a school in a room in the market house. He taught there
until he was employed by the directors in 1835.
   George K. Scott began teaching here in 1824. In the Examiner for
April 16, 1825, he advertised that he had removed his school on April 1,
to the small house on the back of the lot now occupied by the Rev. John
Graham, where he would continue to teach reading, writing, arithmetic,
English grammar, and geography, "at the rate of 82 per quarter when
no fuel is needed; but when fuel must be used 121/. cents for each scholar
per quarter will be added." He also taught surveying and stenography
for $2 per quarter, stenography being taught two days each week from


902





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


12 until 2 o'clock. He made no charge for children taken on trial, if the
parents were not satisfied with his mode of teaching at the end of three
months. In November, 1826, he was teaching in the old Red Schoolhouse.
   The following advertisement appeared in The Examiner and Reporter
in April, 1825.
                      "SCHOOLMASTER WANTED.
   "A man of moral and industrious habits qualified to teach the English
language, grammatically, Writing, Arithmetic, Book-keeping, Geography,
Euclid's Elements, with Surveying, and Mensuration, will hear of a good
situation in the borough of Washington.
   "A committee will be appointed to examine applicants on the above
branches. Apply immediately to James Orr Esq., James Garrett, John
Koontz, or Dr. Wishart.
   "Washington, March 19, 1825."
   On November 5, 1825, Mrs. Spencer opened a school for young ladies
over Judge Baird's office in the market house; and on January 1, 1826,
G. R. Lilliebridge opened a reading school in twenty-four lectures.
Stephen Wood also taught a school in the market house in 1827.
   James Ruggles opened a school on January 22, 1827; also conducting
a night school. His wife taught a female school.
   It is also known that William O'Hara taught a school in the old stone
building known as the Masonic Lodge room, which stood for many years
in the rear of the John Grayson home, in South Main Street, just north
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This was erected by the first Ma-
sonic Lodge in Washington and it stood until as late as 1882.
   Samuel Withrow, afterwards a teacher in the public schools and who
died in Washington in 1904, attended a school taught there by William
O'Hara in 1814. He next went to a school taught by John Irwin in the
old log schoolhouse that stood beside the Lutheran Church in West Spruce
Alley, at the corner of North Franklin. This building was erected by
the Lutheran congregation about 1814 or 15 for a school and it was used
as such until about 1830. It stood until the Beth Israel Synagogue was
erected in 1901. In 1823, Mr. Withrow attended school in the brick
schoolhouse that stood in the rear of the Baptist Church in West Cherry
Alley, taught by Stephen Wood, and in 1828 he went to the school of
Charles DeHass in the old Red School in Washington. Mr. Withrow
was the last of the old-time school teachers in Washington, and he formed
an interesting link between the present and the days long past.
   Mr. Withrow died January 6, 1904, in the old house in North Main
Street, just above the corner of West Chestnut Street, which is now oc-
cupied by a fruit stand. He spent the last years of his life there; and he
was a familiar figure, sitting in his old armchair at the curb, from early
morning until late at night every day that the weather would permit.
   On April 24, 1832, George K. Scott, Philip Potter, Warner Long, and
Alexander G. Marshman, teachers of local subscription schools, published
a letter in both the Reporter and Examiner, endeavoring to regulate the
system under which they would teach. After April 1, no pupil was to be
received for a less period than a quarter. This letter awakened the citi-


903




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


zens, and was one link in the bringing about the passage by the Legisla-
ture of the present school law in 1834.
    The original minute book and records kept by the first school board
 of Washington has been discovered by James L. Lockhart and Miss Mary
 Lockhart among the old books of James Langley, taken from the build-
 ing that stood just north of the William Henry Hotel, just before it was
 razed. This is the first that it has been known that such a book was ever
 in existence. The first records known to have been kept prior to the find-
 ing of this book, began May 2, 1843; but the old book just found begins
 with the meeting of September 25, 1834, and ends with April 25, 1843.
 However, on a separate sheet of paper are the records of the meetings of
 May 2, and October 2, 1843. This now completes the records of the local
 district.
    According to this old minute book, Henry Langley, a son of the James
Langley who erected the old brick building just mentioned, was a mem-
ber of the school board from May, 1837, until October 2, 1843, and pos-
sibly longer, but the records close with that meeting. During much of
that period, Mr. Langley was secretary of the board, and the meetings
were held in his house. This explains why the book remained buried, its
very existence forgotten, in the attic of his house for over three-quarters
of a century.
    This book is one of the most valuable finds from a historical stand-
point, for many years, for it establishes the very beginning of the local
school district, about which very little or nothing is known at the present
time.
    The present public school law of Pennsylvania dates back to the act
of 1834, which was the origin of our common school system. Prior to
that time the children were taught in the old-time subscription schools.
   Washington can really claim the honor of having started the move-
ment which brought about this law of 1834. The old records show that
a public meeting was held by the citizens of Washington in the court-
house on December 3, 1830. In view of the recent finding of the old
minute book, the records of that meeting are especially interesting.
   In the issue of The Examiner for November 27, 1830, the following
notice appears:
                          "TOWN MEETING.
   "The citizens of this place are requested to attend a meeting which
will be held in the Courthouse on Friday the 3d day of December, at 6
o'clock in the evening. The object of which is to call the attention of
the inhabitants to the present system of instruction in the common
schools; and for the purpose of producing inquiry in order to ascertain
wherein it is defective, and if possible to devise a system less objection-
able. It is hoped the citizens will manifest that interest which the subject
demands, by a general and punctual attendance."
   The report of that meeting appears in the Examiner for December
11, 1830, and follows:
                          "TOWN MEETING.
   "At a meeting of the citizens of the borough of Washington held at the
courthouse on Friday, the 3d day of December, 1830, James Ruple, Esq.
was called to the chair, and Joseph H. Henderson was appointed secre-
tary.


904





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   "The object of the meeting having been stated by Mr. McKennan, the
following resolutions were adopted.
   "Resolved, That the present system   of education in our common
schools is defective, and that the united exertions of the citizens ought
to be directed to the improvement of the subject.
   "Resolved, That a committee of eleven persons, six of whom shall
constitute a quorum, be appointed to ascertain the defects which exist
in the present system of education, and to point out a method of remov-
ing these defects, and to report their views at a subsequent period.
   "The following gentlemen were appointed a committee: Thomas M.
T. M'Kennan, John L. Gow, Samuel Marshall, George K. Scott, Philip
Potter, Rev. Mr. Elliott, Rev. Mr. Waterman, Dr. John Wishart, Thomas
Morgan, William Baird, and James Reed.
   "Resolved, That the said committee have power to call another meet-
ing at any time when they consider it expedient.
   "Resolved, That these proceedings be signed by the Chairman and
Secretary, and published.
                                        "JAMES RUPLE, Chairman.
   "Jos. HENDERSON, Secretary."
   This committee was largely instrumental in having the public school
law of 1834 passed, which was the beginning of the present public school
system.
   The first school board of Washington was composed of James Ruple,
John Wishart, James Shannon, John L. Gow, Jacob Slagle, and James
Reed, all prominent men in the town's affairs eighty-five years ago.
Messrs. Wishart, Gow and Reed had been members of the school com-
mittee appointed in 1830. The names of the members of this first school
board have not been known prior to this time, but this is only one of the
many valuable historical facts given to the town in this old book.
   The first meeting was held in the office of Col. James Ruple on Sep-
tember 25, 1834. The minutes of that meeting so long ago, which are
taken from this old book, are interesting:
                                             "September 25, 1834.
   "The Board of School Directors elected at the time prescribed by the
Education law for such election and consisting of Messrs. James Ruple,
John Wishart, James Shannon, John L. Gow, Jacob Slagle, and James
Reed, met at the Office of Col. Ruple and proceeded to organize by elect-
ing Drs. John Wishart, president and John L. Gow, secretary, and also
Col. James Ruple, Delegate to the joint County Delegate meeting agree-
able to the third section of the law aforesaid, entitled an Act to establish
a general system of education by Common Schools; Agreeable to the
same section, they proceeded to divide themselves into classes and on
casting lots for the same, Messrs. Ruple & Wishart were alloted to serve
one year; Reed & Slagle for two years, and Shannon & Gow for three
years.
   "Resolved that Colonel Ruple be authorized to purchase a Book for
the Records of the Board.
   "Adjourned.
                                         JNO. L. Gow, Secretary."


905





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The book which Colonel Ruple was authorized to purchase for the
records was evidently that which has just been discovered.
   The next meeting, which was on November 29, 1834, was a joint meet-
ing of the school board and the citizens of Washington, held for the pur-
pose of voting on an additional tax for the support of the borough
schools. Dr. David McConnaughey was made chairman of the meeting
and John L. Gow secretary. The school board presented a statement of
the facts in regard to the schools and recommended an additional tax of
8600 for the support of the same. Upon motion of Col. James Ruple this
proposition was carried by a vote of 47 in favor and 31 against. The
meeting was then adjourned on motion of Mr. McGiffin until Saturday,
December 6, for the purpose of reconsidering this vote.
   However, at the adjourned meeting held on that date, the citizens
voted down a motion to reconsider the first vote by 59 in favor and 86
against. By this vote, the appropriation of 8600 to be raised by taxes
stood.
   At this same meeting, Dr. McConnaughey, Thos. McGiffin, Alex Reed,
John K. Wilson, John L. Gow and G. W. Acheson were appointed as a
committee to draft a memorial and obtain signatures for the purpose of
amending the school law of the last legislature as much as possible so as
to equalize the taxation.
   The next meeting was held April 24, 1835. Dr. Wishart and Colonel
Ruple had been re-elected to the board, and Dr. Wishart was made presi-
dent. The question of providing a separate school for female pupils was
brought up and it was decided to do so as soon as a room large enough
could be obtained. Dr. Wishart and Mr. Reed were appointed as a com-
mittee to confer with the town council in an effort to obtain the three
rooms in the old market house, which at that time, stood at the corner of
Main, or Market Street, as it was then known, and West Beau Street.
The rooms in question fronted on Beau Street.
   This committee reported on May 12, 1835, that the town council would
rent these rooms in the market house for $25 a year; and this offer was
accepted. At the meeting on June 20, the secretary was directed to ad-
vertise for a principal and assistant for the male school and for the col-
ored school.
   At the board meeting of July 6, 1835, applications for positions as
teachers were received from George K. Scott, George Freeby, Thomas
Good and Philip Potter. Two of these teachers are still remembered by
the oldest residents. They were George Freeby and Philip Potter. George
Freeby was the father of the late Misses Isabella and Sarah Freeby, who
lived so many years in a small brick house still standing on the east side
of South Franklin Street, the second house south of Cherry Avenue. Miss
Sarah Freeby, who died several years ago, was a music teacher in Wash-
ington for many years. Her sister, Miss Isabella followed in the foot-
steps of her father, and spent over sixty years of her life as a school
teacher, over half a century of which was spent in teaching the schools of
Washington, and she was still teaching in the local schools when she
died on November 17, 1918.
   It is doubtful if another teacher in the state ever had such a record.
She graduated from the Washington Female Seminary in 1857, and im-


906





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


mediately went to teaching, first in the country schools and later in the
south. She was the oldest teacher in point of service who ever taught in
the local schools; that is, she taught here for a longer period than any other
teacher. She had taught down to the third generation and it is believed
even to the fourth, for it is very probable that some of her pupils during
the last years of her life were the great-grandchildren of some of those
she taught when she first started in the local schools half a century ago.
   When she started teaching so many years ago, her pupils were the
children of those whom her father had taught in the local schools; and,
no doubt, there were those among her scholars, in recent years, who were
the great-great-grandchildren of those pupils taught by her father when
he was first engaged to teach in the public schools of Washington nearly
87 years ago. Miss Freeby died in the harness, at the age of more than
eighty years, after having spent her entire life in the service of the pub-
lic. She was the last of her family.
   At the meeting of July 9, 1835, the school board engaged its teachers
for the coming year. Rev. Charles Wheeler, who was the first pastor of
the First Baptist Church of Washington, offered to teach the female
school of the borough and pay his own assistant, at the rate of 8450 per
year for both, provided the school did not exceed 120 pupils. The board
accepted this offer. Rev. Mr. Wheeler was pastor of the local Baptist
Church from the time it was founded on October 14, 1814, until 1839.
During this period, he was also a teacher in Washington Academy. The
offer was accepted.
   At the same meeting, Mr. Freeby was engaged as principal of the
male school at a salary of $300 a year. Joseph Ruple was employed the
next day as Mr. Freeby's assistant at a salary of $10 a month until No-
vember 1.
   That Washington has had a separate school for colored children
almost as long as for white pupils is shown by the fact that at this meet-
ing of July 9, 1835, Philip Potter, another of the old-time school teachers
of Washington, was employed as teacher of the "African school" at 8240
a year until November 1, 1835.
   The matter of erecting a schoolhouse for the use of the district was
brought up at the meeting of the board held on May 30, 1836, when it
was resolved that the directors should erect a schoolhouse. Wishart and
Harter were appointed as a committee to purchase from Thomas Hoge,
one of the original proprietors of Washington, his lot near the college,
for S150, for the purpose of erecting a schoolhouse.
   The work of erecting the new schoolhouse was evidently started at
once, for at the meeting held November 24, 1836, orders were drawn in
favor of Joseph Martin, the contractor, for $100, $200, and $100; Jacob
Ely, from whom the lot was purchased, for 8100; David Hull, another
contractor of that day, for $6.75; Moses Little, for 857.25, and David
Moon, for S32, for rent. At this same meeting, George Kuntz was ap-
pointed district treasurer.
   David Hull mentioned above was the father of the late Henry Hull,
who was long a merchant in Washington, and who died November 17,
1918, at the age of nearly ninety-one years.
   This old school building, the first ever erected by the Washington


907




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


School District, is still standing in South Franklin Street; and there are
some of the older residents still living who went to school there. Orig-
inally, it was a long, one story, brick building, containing two rooms.
   At the meeting of May 26, 1837, the board elected the teachers for the
ensuing years as follows:
   "School No. 1, was assigned to Henry Williams at 833.33 per month.
   "School No. 2 (the new school in Franklin Street), was assigned to
Rev. Charles Wheeler at $33.33 per month.
   "School No. 3, was assigned to Catherine Ashbrook at $14 per month.
   "School No. 4 was assigned to Rebecca Wheeler at $12.50 per month.
   "The Colored School No. 5, was assigned to Philip Potter at $20.00
per month."
   The matter of purchasing the old Masonic Lodge property in West
Maiden Street by the district was brought before the meeting of October
19, 1837, and C. W. Eckert was authorized to make the deal, provided it
could be bought for not more than 8800. In case it could not be secured for
that amount, Mr. Eckert was given authority to buy the Red School in
East Wheeling, but he was limited to $175.
   This was used as a school until the Union School was completed in
1855. There are still living some of the older residents of Washington,
who attended school there. Masonic characters were still to be seen
painted on the walls, and these filled the children with awe and sometimes
considerable fear. Just before it had been purchased by the district, it
was used by the "Female Seminary". At the meeting of October 30, 1837,
Messrs. Eckhart and Langley were appointed a committee to confer with
the trustees of the seminary to make arrangements to secure possession
of the building.
   During the other months of the year, the teachers were allowed to con-
duct private schools in the school buildings by paying 81 per month rental.
   On November 14, 1837, the board granted the privilege of the fol-
lowing teachers using the schools for this purpose from December 16,
1837, to April 1, 1838; Catherine Ashbrook, No. 4, on the rear of the
Baptist Church lot; Henry Williams, No. 1, in the basement of the
Methodist Protestant Church; Charles Wheeler, No. 2, the school at the
corner of South Franklin Street and West Cherry Alley.
   At the meeting of October 2, 1841, George Freeby was elected as prin-
cipal of School No. 1 for the balance of the term, in place of Joseph
Deighan, who had to leave home.
   The report of George W. Brice, tax collector, which was submitted at
the meeting of November 12, 1841, follows: Amount of duplicates,
$697.72; tax exonerations, $13.25; bill for collecting $38.88; total re-
ceived, $645.59.
   The various buildings were rented, at this meeting, for private schools
as follows: To George Freeby, Daniel Baldwin, and Edward L. Morgan,
Schools Nos. 1, 2 and 3, at $2 per month; Mr. Withrow, School No. 5, at
81 per month, and Philip Potter, School No. 6, at 75 cents per month.
   The above is the first reference to be found of Mr. Withrow in any
of the school records. This was Samuel R. Withrow, who died in Wash-
ington in 1904 at the age of ninety-six years. He was the last of that
coterie of old-time school teachers in Washington; for it is known that he


908





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


taught school here at a very early date. This note in the minutes for
November 12, 1841, definitely fixes the date. Mr. Withrow spent the
last years of his life in the old frame house, in North Main Street, just
above the corner of West Chestnut, on the west side of the street. It is
now occupied by a fruit stand. Every day that the weather would per-
mit he could be seen sitting in a chair on the pavement, from early morn-
ing until late at night. The old school teacher was well known to every
one in that section of town, for he always had a pleasant word for all
who passed. For a number of years prior to his death, he lived in this
house.
    On April 23, 1842, Miss Hull was assigned to School No. 5. This is
 Miss Sarah Hull, a daughter of David Hull, a well known local contractor
 in Washington three-quarters of a century and more ago. She was an-
 other of the old-time school teachers of Washington who lived until 1903,
 when she died at the age of eighty-three years. She is still remembered
 by many of the old residents who went to her school, and more will be
 said of her later.
    In 1837, the basement of the old Methodist Protestant Church, in
 West Beau Street was rented, and this was known as School No. 1, for
 many years following. Just how long it was used is not known definitely,
 but it was probably until 1850, when the old Methodist Episcopal Church
 at the corner of West Chestnut and North Franklin streets, which is still
 standing, was purchased by the district.
    School No. 2, known in later years as the Freeby house at the corner
of South Franklin Street and Cherry Alley, which is still standing and
has been described, was used from 1837 until the Union School was oc-
cupied in 1855. This was the female school.
    School No. 3, was the old Red Schoolhouse, which was first located on
the college campus and later removed to the lot now occupied by the
First Presbyterian Church at the corner of South College and East Wheel-
ing streets. When this school was erected is not known, but it was at a
very early date, for it was used as a school long before the public schools
were established in 1835. Before that time a subscription school was
taught there. It was first used by the local district in 1837, and was used
continuously until the Union School was occupied.
   School No. 4, was the old brick school in West Cherry Alley, in the
rear of the original Baptist Church. This was another of the original
schools of Washington, where a subscription school was taught before
1834. It was erected at a very early date.
   The colored or "African" School was located from the beginning in
1835, in the old school building in West Pine Alley. It was first known
as No. 5; then No. 6, and No. 7. The date of its erection is not known,
nor is it known how long it was used.
   On June 26, 1850, the local district purchased the Methodist Epis-
copal Church in North Franklin Street. This is a three-story building,
and it was used as a school until 1855. There are still living today some
of the older residents of the town who attended school there, but as far
as can be learned Mrs. Elizabeth Warrick Long, widow of William K.
Long, of 220 West Beau Street, is the only teacher now living who taught
there. She is now eighty-six years of age. This building was used next


909




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


by S. B. & C. Hayes as a carriage factory. In fact, it was used as a
carriage factory until recent years, when it was turned into a garage.
Several years ago, when it was being remodeled, workmen discovered un-
der the floor, some old spelling papers and rolls upon which were the
names of a number of well known residents of Washington of later years.
   The price paid by the district in 1850 was 81,600. The lot at that time
was 60 feet front on Franklin Street and it extended back on Pine Alley
240 feet. It was known as "Education Hall" during the years it was used
as a school.
   On September 13, 1858, the district purchased from the African Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, a lot 60 by 40 feet at the corner of College Street
and Spruce Alley. This is now the location of the colored school in North
Lincoln Street. At that time this thoroughfare was called College Street.
The consideration was $25. This was the beginning of the present colored
school, the first section known as the old building being erected shortly
after the lot was purchased.
   No school building in the history of Washington ever had the place in
the hearts of the residents that the old Union School which stood at the
corner of East Beau and North Lincoln streets, enjoyed. For a period of
forty-four years this was the center of common school education in Wash-
ington. Before it was erected, the schools of Washington were scattered
in a number of different locations as already noted. When Alexander M.
Gow was made the principal of the local schools, he started a movement to
centralize all of the schools in one building. This was the beginning of
the Union school, and the reason it was so called.
   The first action was taken by the school board at the meeting of May
2, 1853, when it was unanimously decided to erect a new building. John
Chislett, of Pittsburgh, was employed as architect. It had been expected
that a suitable school building could be erected for $9,000 or 810,000, but
as is usual in cases of public buildings, the ideas of the board increased
as the plans progressed. Four lots were purchased at the corner of East
Beau and North Lincoln streets, from Rebecca and Hanna Shields at a
cost of $2,500, but for some unknown reason the deed was not delivered
until March 28, 1860. The final cost of the building was 816,000 and the
furnishings $2,500. The first and second floors each had four rooms and
a central hall, and the third floor had a hall 40 by 70 feet, and two rooms.
The high school was located there for a number of years prior to the big
fire of 1899. The entire building was 74 by 84 feet. A house for the
janitor was erected on Lincoln Street. This is still standing.
   Work was started on the Union school in 1853, and it was completed
in 1855, the year the first school term was held there. It was formally
dedicated on July 3, 1855, Prof. E. C. Wines, D. D., delivering the address.
The occasion was one of great public interest, and the assembly hall in the
third floor was crowded. The seating capacity of this hall was 600.
   When the old Union school was dedicated, Alexander M. Gow was the
principal. The teachers in the local schools at that time, were William
Blair, teacher of music; Miss Rebecca Turner, Miss Mary Lindsey, Miss
Sarah Hull, and Miss Elizabeth Warrick, now Mrs. Long. Other teachers
in the local schools at that time were Mrs. Catherine Sisson, Miss Martha
Smith and Miss Mary Kaine. They have all been dead these many years,


910




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


with the exception of Mrs. Long, who died recently at the advanced age
of eighty-six years.
   For a period of forty-four years following its erection, the Union
school was the center of public school education in Washington. Prac-
tically all of the residents of the town who were the school children prior
to 1899 went to school there. It was totally destroyed by fire on the night
of February 12, 1899, but it will live in memory as long as any of the
present generation survive.
   This was the only school until the growing needs demanded additional
room, and about 1885, another building, containing eight rooms was erected
on the same lot. This is still standing, and is known as the Science Hall
of Washington and Jefferson College.
   The increased population brought about by the oil development made
another school building necessary, and in 1895, the present high school
building was erected in West Beau Street, on the site of the old home of
Dr. Alfred Creigh, one of Washington's most prominent citizens half a
century and more ago. His home was known as Ellendale Villa. When
completed this building was called the West Side School. Later it was the
Second Ward building, but at present the high school is located there.
   Capt. Alexander Wishart was elected to succeed Mr. Lowry on August
19, 1859, at a salary of $600 per year. He served until May 1, 1861, when
he resigned to become captain of a military company he had raised, and
entered the Union army.
   Rev. L. P. Streator was elected on July 15, 1861, to succeed Captain
Wishart. On June 27, 1862, Captain Wishart was seriously wounded at
the battle of Gaines Mills, and was permanently disabled. He returned
to Washington, and on August 9, 1862, he succeeded the Rev. Mr. Streator
as principal. He served until the fall of 1866, when he resigned to return
to the United States army, having received a captain's commission in the
regular army. He was assigned to Texas, where he remained in frontier
army posts until 1881. After leaving the army, he remained in Texas,
as a newspaper editor, until 1886, where he died on August 2, 1906.
   David F. Patterson, of Washington, succeeded Captain Wishart in
the fall of 1866. He served until the end of the term in 1868. Mr. Pat-
terson was later a prominent attorney at the local bar, and was a candi-
date for judge on the democratic ticket against J. A. McIlvaine in 1886.
He afterwards located in Pittsburgh, where he died several years ago.
   W. J. Wilson was the next principal of the Union school, and he served
from the fall of 1868 until 1872. Practically nothing is now known of him.
   W. C. Lyne succeeded Mr. Wilson, in the fall of 1872, and he served
until the spring of 1877. He came here from Virginia, and then went to
Pittsburgh, where he engaged very successfully in the life insurance busi-
ness. He is still living in that city.
   J. W. Gibbons took charge of the local schools in the fall of 1877 and
remained until the close of the term in 1878. He came here from Fayette
County. Nothing now is known of him.
   W. L. Welsh came here in 1878 and took charge of the schools in the
fall. He remained until the close of the term in 1882. Nothing now is
known of him.


911





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


country in every war that took place during their lives-and all gained
fame.
    Hugh, the youngest, was too young to fight in the Revolution, but he
led the Twenty-second Infantry in the first charge at Lundy's Lane, and
fell from his horse, shot through the body. He was lifted to another, and
continued in command until he fainted from loss of blood near the end
of the battle. He rose to the rank of major general.
   James, the second son, commanded a company of militia at Fort Brady.
named in his honor, near the present Muncy, Pennsylvania, at the out-
break of the Revolution. He was fatally wounded by Indians at Loyal
Sock in the fall of 1778 and died in the arms of his mother at Fort Brady
five days later, at the age of only twenty years.
    Captain John Brady, the father of this famous family, was a noted
frontiersman before the Revolution. He saw service with Bouquet in
1764 as captain of the Second Pennsylvania Battalion, and when the
Revolution broke he was commissioned a captain in the Twelfth Pennsyl-
vania Regiment of the Continental Line. He was badly wounded in the
desperate fighting at Birmingham Meeting House during the battle of
Brandywine. His son, John, just fifteen, was also wounded in this en-
gagement.
   Captain John Brady was killed on April 11th, 1779, by Indians on
Wolf Run, above Muncy, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, at the age of
forty-six years. He is buried in the graveyard at Hall's Station, three
miles from Muncy. In 1879, one hundred years after his death, the people
of Muncy erected a large shaft of granite over his grave in memory of
this heroic family.
   Captain Sam Brady, the most famous of Captain John's sons, was
born at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1759. On August 3rd, 1775, when
only sixteen years of age, he enlisted as a private in a company of volun-
teer rifles; and from that day until his death twenty years later he led a
life of wild adventures.
   He so distinguished himself in the fighting around Boston and on
Long Island that he was promoted to lieutenant. He fought at White
Plains, Trenton and Princeton. For bravery at Brandywine and German-
town he was brevetted a captain. He barely escaped capture at Paoli, and
almost lost his life. A British soldier pinned his coat to the top rail of a
fence with a bayonet as Brady leaped over; but he tore himself loose, killed
a cavalryman who ordered him to surrender, and escaped into a swamp,
where he found fifty-five other Americans, whom he led safely to the army
the next day.
   Brady's greatest exploits were on the Western border. In 1778 Colonel
Brodhead was ordered to the Western Department, then commanded by
General McIntosh, and one of the men sent west with him was Sam Brady,
who was placed in command of the spies or rangers at Fort Pitt. During
the years that followed Captain Brady was a frequent visitor in Wash-
ington County, where he courted Miss Drusella Swearingen, daughter of
"Indian" Vann Swearingen, and married her. Men from Washington
County also served in his rangers from time to time. After his father
and brother had been killed by savages, Sam Brady became an Indian
hunter and killer, and he never changed his occupation until his death.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Frank E. Sanford was the next principal. He came to Washington
in the fall of 1882, and remained until the fall of 1884. From here he
went to New York State.
    A. G. Braden, who held the position of principal of the Washington
schools longer than any other man either before or since his time, took
charge in the fall of 1884, and remained until the close of the term in
1897. Mr. Braden is a native of Washington, where he was born October
16, 1858, a son of the late John D. Braden, a prominent citizen of Wash-
ington years ago. He received his early education in the local schools,
graduating from the Washington High school in 1876. He attended
Washington and Jefferson College for four years in the class of 1881.
While principal of the local schools he studied law and was admitted to
the local bar in 1895. When he resigned as principal, he began the prac-
tice of law, in which he has been engaged ever since. The men and wom-
en of the present generation were the children who attended the Wash-
ington schools during the thirteen years that Mr. Braden was the prin-
cipal, and no other man who ever held that position is remembered with
greater love by his former pupils than he.
   H. H. Elliott succeeded Mr. Braden, coming to Washington in the fall
of 1897. He remained until the close of the term in 1898.
   Arthur A. Hays was the next principal. He took charge of the schools
in the fall of 1898, and remained until the close of the term in 1900. Mr.
Hays was another native of Washington, where he was born June 23,
1875. He was a son of the late Dr. George P. Hays, president of Wash-
ington and Jefferson College from 1869 to 1870. He graduated from
Washington and Jefferson with the class of 1895, and immediately be-
came a teacher in the local high school, which position he held until he
was elected principal. After leaving the local schools in 1900, he entered
the McCormick Theological Seminary, at Chicago, Illinois, graduating in
1903. From 1905 to 1909, he was professor of Greek at Washington and
Jefferson College. Since 1910, he has been a member of the faculty of
the McCormick Theological Seminary.
   W. D. Brightwell succeeded Mr. Hays, coming to Washington from
Duquesne, Pennsylvania. He remained here from the fall of 1900 until
the close of the spring term in 1904. He still resides in Washington, and
is now principal of the schools of Houston.
   William Kirchbaum came to Washington from Eastern Pennsylvania
and took charge of the schools in the fall of 1904, and remained until the
close of the term in June, 1911. He is now practicing law in Detroit,
Michigan.
   Thomas G. McCleery, his successor, came to Washington from Kane,
Pennsylvania, and took charge of the local schools in the fall of 1911,
remaining until June, 1918. After leaving the local schools, he was
assistant county superintendent for a short time, and then went to North
Braddock as principal of schools, where he is at present located.
   John C. Stiers, the present incumbent, came to Washington in the fall
of 1918, from Dover, Ohio.
   Just when the first business college was started in Washington is not
known, but from The Reporter of September 16, 1885, we find that the
Washington Commerce College was in existence. It had evidently been


912





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


started a year or two prior to that time for it states that on that day,
it had opened in its new location over Schoenthal's store, corner of Main
and Beau streets. Its life was evidently short for we find nothing more
of it.
   The Washington Business College was founded in 1889, on East
Maiden Street. Later it removed to the second floor of the DeNormandie
Building at the corner of South Main Street and West Cherry Alley,
where it remained until 1896, when Professor Louis Van Orden, the
present proprietor, took charge. He has been proprietor thirty years.
Four years later, Professor Van Orden moved the location to the third
floor of the Smith Building at the corner of Main and East Beau streets,
where it has since remained.
   This is the largest business college in Washington County and one of
the best in Western Pennsylvania. During the thirty years that Professor
Van Orden has had charge, it has grown from an enrollment of less than
a hundred pupils to more than two hundred.
   Several years ago Professor Van Orden had a normal school added to
the regular business course.
   In addition to himself, Professor Van Orden has two assistants, Miss
Lois White and Miss Mary Rice.
   After Professor Van Orden removed the business college from the
DeNormandie Building, another was started by Miss S. J. Carroll, but
it was not a success and was discontinued in 1904.





                         CHAPTER XCII.

                   FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

                 BANKS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
   The first bank in Washington County was the old "Bank of Washing-
ton," which dates back to a meeting held at the house of Richard Don-
aldson, in December, 1813. A company was formed at that time under
the name of the Bank of Washington with a capital stock of $500,000,
divided into 10,000 shares at $50 each. Thomas Baird was the first
president and the first meeting of the board of directors was held at the
house of David Morris, February 25, 1814, and on March 21st, books
were opened for subscriptions for stock.
   This bank continued until November, 1818, when it failed to comply
with a section of its charter, requiring that 8 per cent of the whole
amount of dividends should be forwarded to the state treasurer. This
neglect was by reason of an accident and the charter was restored on
February 2, 1819, and business was resumed, but the bank met further
difficulties. An attempt was made to complete some financial arrange-
ments with the Philadelphia bank but this failed, and an attempt was
       58-V1


913





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


made at that time to wind up the affairs of the Bank of Washington, but
the stockholders protested and the bank was carried on until the spring
of 1834, when it finally closed up its affairs. J. Barrington is supposed
to have been the first cashier and the bank was erected where the Hazlett
bank stood in more recent years.
    The First National Bank of Washington is the oldest in the county.
 On October 14, 1836, that institution opened its doors as the old Franklin
 Bank of Washington and as such it was known until October 27, 1864,
 when it reorganized under the National Banking law and became "The
 First National Bank of Washington."
    At the meeting of the commissioners of the bank held September 15,
 1836, the following were elected as the first board of directors: Alex-
 ander Reed, president; Daniel Moore, Daniel Huston, David Eckert, Wil-
 liam Hunter, Samuel Murdoch, Nathan Pussey, William       Brownlee,
 Thomas McCall, Robert Wylie, George Wilson, John S. Brady and Aaron
 Fenton.
    The stock was sold to many of the prominent citizens of the county
at that time; and after the passing of eighty-eight years, much of it is
still held by the descendants of those first stockholders. The first dividend
was declared on May 2, 1837, and the first dividend paid was to Nancy
G. Allison, on May 20, 1837, the amount being $5. The receipt for this
dividend is still preserved among the old bank records.
   The bank opened its doors for business on October 14, 1836, in a
room located at the corner of South Main Street and West Cherry Avenue.
This is the same place where the Real Estate Trust Company is now
located, but the original building was burned in the big fire of 1866. A
lease for three years on this room was closed by the bank on October
7, 1836.
   On that date, October 7, 1836, $30,000 of the notes of the Franklin
Bank of Washington were filled up and signed and registered; 820,000
was in five-dollar notes and $10,000 in ten-dollar notes.
   Although the bank was opened for business on October 14, there were
apparently no depositors until eight days later. All of the original books
are still preserved in the vaults, and it appears from them that the first
depositor was Samuel F. Clark, who made a deposit of $1,000 on October
22, 1836. The next was Samuel Moore, who deposited $500 on October
24, 1836. Both were very large deposits for that day.
   During the eighty-eight years that have passed since then, this has
grown to 15,741 depositors who have $3,409,294.41 on deposit at the
present writing.
   The growth of business was rapid from the start. The statement of
November 3, 1836, twenty-one days after the bank opened its doors,
shows the following condition: Capital stock paid in, $39,095; deposits,
$8,412; notes in circulation, $1,535. The statement for one year later
shows the following increase: Capital stock paid in, $100,000; deposits,
$53,000; notes in circulation, $27,000; due from other banks, $7,462.
   Before the expiration of the three-year lease on the first banking room
had expired, the bank had outgrown those quarters, and preparations
were made to secure larger quarters. On January 3, 1839, the lot where


914





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the present building stands was purchased for $3,000 from J. and H.
Langley, two well-known merchants of Washington at that time.
    A brick house stood on this lot at that time, and after making a few
necessary changes, the bank occupied the room.
    The bank remained in these quarters for the next thirty-six years,
when it was found necessary to make another change, as it was grow-
ing too large for the limited space. The present Hazlett building, now
owned by the First National Bank, had just been completed, and Samuel
Hazlett occupied it. The First National Bank on May 10, 1882, moved
from the old building to the old Hazlett banking room in the Community
Building across the street, which was razed in September, 1821. It
remained there until the present building was completed on November
15, 1882.
   The present building was erected at a cost of $15,000 without the iron
work and the vault, which cost $2,500 additional. The late Nelson Van-
kirk was the contractor. This room was occupied with some alterations
and changes from time to time until 1921, when a large addition was
erected in the rear and the present room greatly enlarged. New vaults
were installed and the old ones moved to new locations. The cost of this
improvement was $70,000, the work being done by the Fred T. Ley Com-
pany, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and was completed early in 1922.
   The old Franklin Bank was one of the few state institutions that sur-
vived those trying years prior to the Civil war, when so many state banks
failed. The Franklin Bank gained great prestige among the people of
western Pennsylvania, when it did not suspend specie payment during the
panic of 1857. A statement issued on September 20, 1857, shows the follow-
ing conditions: Capital stock, $150,000; circulation, $184,695; deposits,
$57,049; due other banks, dividends, etc., $32,525; amount of funds avail-
able, $68,896. This reached its lowest mark in January, 1858, when it
went down to $45,000.
   This record was kept up and during the Civil war, this was one of
three banks west of the Alleghany Mountains which did not suspend
specie payment.
   It was the only state bank left in the county in 1864, and on Septem-
ber 24, 1864, the stockholders voted to reorganize under the national
banking law. The First National Bank was organized on October 27,
with a capital stock of $150,000 divided into 4,000 shares at $37.50 par.
The directors were increased to thirteen.
   The Franklin Bank paid out dividends to its stockholders from 1836
to 1864, $252,000, and from 1864 to 1908, the First National paid
$826,000.
   The first officers of the First National were: Colin M. Reed, presi-
dent; James McIlvaine, cashier, and Samuel Cunningham, teller. The
latter resigned in the spring of 1865 because of advancing years and was
succeeded by A. S. Ritchie.
   It is a notable fact that during the eighty-eight years of the bank's
existence, it has had but five cashiers. John Marshel, the first, held the
office from 1836 until March 5, 1857, when he resigned because of
advancing age.
   Samuel Cunningham, who had been clerk since April 20, 1837, was


915





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


elected to succeed Mr. Marshel, but he declined on account of age, con-
tinuing as teller until 1865.
   James McIlvaine, well remembered by the older residents of Washing-
ton, succeeded Mr. Marshel. He served for 37 years, or from March 5,
1857, until January 30, 1894, when he, too, resigned on account of old
age. Thus the first two cashiers spent practically a lifetime in the service
of this institution.
   Charles S. Ritchie, the third cashier, was elected February 6, 1894.
He resigned in April, 1908, and was succeeded by Joseph Baird. The
latter resigned in October, 1916.
   The bank was without a cashier until January, 1917, when Harry B.
Hart, who had been in the service of the institution for thirty years, was
elected. Mr. Hart served until his sudden death in the summer of 1925.
During his administration, the bank became very prosperous and its de-
posits were increased to a greater amount than in any time of its history.
   In January, 1926, Robert R. Hays, of Hickory, was elected to fill the
vacancy.
   The present officers are: James P. Braden, president; Albert Zelt,
vice president; Guy F. Custer, assistant cashier; Horace G. Scheu, trust
officer. The directors are C. L. V. Acheson, James P. Braden, J. V. Clark,
F. M. Courson, George F. Drury, Henry Martin, Frank L. Ross, A. B. C.
Patton, I. E. Paul, John W. Warrick, and Albert Zelt.
    Samuel Hazlett Bank was established April 1, 1837, by Samuel Haz-
lett, Sr., and continued until his death in November, 1863, when his son
Samuel Hazlett, Jr., took charge and on January 1, 1866, reopened the
institution. He continued in the old room known as the Hazlett Bank in
the old brick building which stood on the site of the George Washington
Hotel. This was the Hazlett homestead and was known in more recent
years as the Community Building. In 1852, Mr. Hazlett erected the bank
building just across the street, which is still standing and is now owned
by the First National. He continued in business there until 1898, when
the bank failed.
    The Washington Savings Bank, organized in 1873, with a capital
stock of $100,000, was another financial institution which failed after a
few years, and finally closed its doors on May 4, 1882.
    The present Citizens National Bank opened its doors on September
15, 1885, in the building that had been occupied by the Washington Sav-
ings Bank. The entire banking force on the day the Citizens National
Bank was opened, was composed of N. R. Baker, cashier, and Thomas
G. Allison, clerk, who conducted all of the business such as waiting on
customers and keeping books for over a year, before any addition was
made to the force.
    Mr. Baker has been cashier of the bank ever since and has seen it
grow beyond the wildest dreams of its promoters, for from its two em-
ployees thirty years ago, the force has grown to thirty-one.
    The first deposit was received by Mr. Baker on September 15, 1885,
from Dr. G. W. Roberts, a well known local druggist, years ago, and the
first president of the bank. The deposit was $1,650. A total of $5,026.80
was deposited that first day by seven persons and in forty years, this has
grown to $8,700,000 and there are now about 6,000 open accounts. Of


916





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


those seven depositors, two are still living, T. Jeff Duncan, of Washing-
ton, and D. M. Pry, in the northern section of the county.
   The first loan made by the bank was by Mr. Baker on September 15,
1885, to W. M. Lutes, for $250. The note was endorsed by E. T. Town-
send, of Peters Township.
   For over a year all business was conducted by Mr. Baker and Mr.
Allison; but the bank grew rapidly from the start, and it was necessary
to secure an assistant clerk, and Walter L. Whiting was elected to this
position.
   This bank has had only two presidents in all its forty years, and
strange to say, the first resigned six months after his election, and John
W. Donnan, the present incumbent, was elected.
   George W. Roberts, one of the promoters of the bank, was elected as
the first president. Dr. Thomas McKennan was first vice president and
N. R. Baker, cashier. The first board of directors was composed of the
following: George W. Roberts, Thomas McKennan, John W. Donnan,
Jonathan Allison, F. M. Curry, W. S. Dodd, M. C. Acheson, James M.
Miller, R. V. Johnson, J. F. Taylor, and L. M. Crothers.
   Of these eleven directors, John W. Donnan is the only one living.
   In February, 1886, Dr. Roberts resigned as president, and John W.
Donnan was elected. He has served continuously as president during the
forty years that have passed since then; and it is largely due to his man-
agement that the bank has grown to such proportions until it is one of
the financial powers in Western Pennsylvania.
   The old building in which the bank began forty years ago was pur-
chased by it from the late James W. Kuntz, Sr., for $11,500. After six
years it outgrew those small quarters, and the directors decided to erect a
new building. The bank was moved to a room in the Fulton House build-
ing, later the Hotel Main, which stood on the corner of Main and East
Beau streets, where it remained for about a year while the new building
was being erected.
   The old building was razed, and work was started on the new in the,
summer of 1891 by Walker and Slater, local contractors here for many
years. It was completed the following year at a cost of $42,000 and the
bank was moved back. The complete force at that time numbered three,
N. R. Baker, cashier; Thomas Allison and Walter Whiting, clerks.
   This building, which was later the Berthel shoe store and is now the
men's department of the Caldwell store, was occupied until 1912, when
the present banking home was completed. Work was started on the
present building in 1911, and when completed the cost was $325,000.
   At that time there were just eleven employes of the bank, including
two janitors; now there are thirty-one. With the exception of N. R.
Baker, who has been the only cashier the bank ever had, Robert B. Leslie,
first assistant cashier, is the oldest employe of this institution in point
of service, he having been connected with it since 1896. Next comes
George L. Hayes, head teller, who has been with it since 1901; then Carrie
Lewis, in charge of the collection department, who has been with it since
1907. Other employes who have been with it a number of years are:
Thomas L. Nichol, head of the savings department, since 1909; John F.


917





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


McClay, second assistant cashier, since 1911; Harry P. McConnell, trust
officer, since 1912, and Charles H. Johnson, teller, since 1913.
    The present officers are: John W. Donnan, president; John H. Don-
 nan, vice president; Walter H. Baker, vice president; Alvan E. Donnan,
 active vice president; N. R. Baker, cashier; R. B. Leslie, first assistant
 cashier; John F. McClay, second assistant cashier; H. P. McConnell,
 trust officer.
    The directors are: John W. Donnan, who has been a member of the
 board for the past forty years; John Slater, John H. Donnan, Albert J.
 Allison, C. N. Brady, M. F. Whitehill, J. W. Paxton, James E. Duncan,
 Jr., Jess P. Miller, W. H. Davis, Richard M. Paxton, John W. Leonard,
 Walter H. Baker, N. R. Baker, Alvan E. Donnan, Robert G. Lutton,
 Edward C. Stewart, George N. Wolfe, Wray G. Zelt, W. Lee Johnson,
 and Edward Martin.
    The Farmers and Mechanics National Bank was organized at Wash-
ington, November 26, 1889, with a capital of $100,000, divided into 1,000
shares at $100 each. The stock was immediately subscribed for by fifty-
two of Washington's prominent business men. The bank was organized
at a meeting held November 26, 1889, and is now the Washington Trust
Company. The following officers were elected: George W. Roberts,
president; T. Jeff Duncan, vice president; James I. Brownson, secretary,
and W. L. Whiting, cashier.
   The other members of that first board of directors were: George M.
Cameron, W. D. Ramsey, A. W. Acheson, and M. W. McClane.
   The first banking room was located in the old Lockhart property
which stood on a part of the site of the George Washington Hotel, and
there, the institution was opened on January 1, 1890, where it remained
until September 16, 1899, and then removed to the corner room of the
Swan Building. The affairs of this institution came to an end July 1,
1901, at the meeting of the stockholders, held May 15, 1901; 725 shares
voted in favor of a resolution that the bank be placed in voluntary
liquidation.
   The Washington Trust Company purchased all of the assets and the
two banks were merged in one. The Washington Trust Company oc-
cupied the old room in the Swan Building until it was consolidated with
the Guarantee Title and Trust Company, in June, 1902, when it moved
across the street to the room now occupied by the Real Estate Trust
Company, in what was then known as the Watson Building. It remained
there until it removed to its present location at the completion of its
beautiful new building in July, 1903.
   A. Clark Warne, treasurer of the Washington Trust Company, was
elected cashier of the old Farmers and Mechanics National Bank on
September 1, 1898, and he was elected to that position with the Washing-
ton Trust Company, serving until his sudden death two years ago.
   The Washington Trust Company during the past quarter of a century
has grown until it is one of the largest financial institutions in Western
Pennsylvania. In 1902 it purchased the site of Hotel Main which had
been destroyed by fire and erected the present trust building, the banking
room of which has been remodeled several times to accommodate the
growth of the institution. In the fall of 1925 it was found necessary not


918





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


only to provide more space for the bank but additional office room as
well and to erect a ten-story addition fronting on Beau Street, and work
has been started.
    This bank now heads the list of institutions reporting trust funds,
 with a total of $4,728,011.29, which was about 60%7 of the entire trust
 funds in the entire county.
    For several years past Robert L. McCarrell has served as president
of this institution with W. R. McIlvaine and C. H. Lambie as vice presi-
dents; W. A. Baird, secretary and acting treasurer, and Samuel R. Fen-
ner, assistant secretary, and assistant treasurer. Under Mr. McCarrell
the bank has developed rapidly, and its total resources increased to
88,334,777.04.
    The present board of directors is composed of W. R. McIlvaine, R. L.
McCarrell, A. M. Templeton, C. H. Lambie, G. M. Cameron, R. W. Knox,
F. B. McKinley, E. J. Markey, M. W. McClane, W. A. H. McIlvaine, J. W.
Wallace, Boyd D. Warren, H. D. Hamilton, W. S. Vance, E. Tyler Davis,
C. E. Frazier, R. B. Braden, and S. A. Grayson.
   The Union Trust Company was organized in 1902 and the Howarth
property in North Main Street was purchased and remodeled into the
present banking building.
   James Boyle, who was connected with the institution from its or-
ganization, serving as secretary and treasurer, died during the past year.
Ed L. Foster, who also served the bank for many years, died suddenly
while in its employ.
   The bank has now total resources of $1,148,338.13, and its capital
stock is $250,000. Its present officers are T. B. H. Brownlee, president;
T. C. Bebout, vice president; J. W. Grimes, secretary and treasurer; H.
R. Milliken, assistant treasurer; E. E. Crumrine, solicitor.
   The directors are T. B. H. Brownlee, Louis M. Paul, E. E. Crumrine,
Thomas H. McNary, W. J. Smith, T. D. Vera, Robert F. Little, T. C.
Bebout, Charles E. Wrenshall, John M. Spriggs, Henry W. Temple, J.
Louis Siegel, A. A. Lacock, Dr. C. T. Dodd and George T. Walker.
   The Real Estate Trust Company was organized in Washington and
opened its doors for business June 16, 1902, in the room which it now
occupies at the corner of South Main Street and West Cherry Avenue.
Its strides have been rapid and from the very first it forged forward and
soon became one of the best financial institutions in the county.
   Robert S. Winters, the secretary and treasurer, has served in that
capacity since its organization. Mr. Winters for many years was em-
ployed in the Hazlett Bank of Washington before it closed its doors in
1898. During the past fifteen years its dividends have been increased
from 8 to 12 per cent. It has a capital of $200,000, deposits of $2,570,406
and resources of $3,360,489.87. It is a member of the Federal Reserve
system.
   Its present officers are T. Jeff Duncan, president; Charles A. Bumpus,
vice president; Robert S. Winters, secretary and treasurer; Walter I.
Scheu, assistant secretary and treasurer; Smith N. Whitworth, trust offi-
cer; B. G. Hughes, solicitor.
   The directors are J. D. Bigger, C. A. Bumpus, T. A. DeNormandie, T.
Jeff Duncan, Grant E. Hess, John R. Kuntz, James L. Lockhart, R. H.


919




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Meloy, George Montgomery, T. E. Munce, J. R. McCreight, Thomas.F.
Pickett, L. Samuel Siegel, R. S. Winters, L. S. Vowell, William G. Wylie,
William McK. Smith.
   The Peoples National Bank of Washington was organized December
17, 1910, with a capital of $100,000. It is located in the Union block in
Jefferson Avenue.
   Its present resources amount to 8640,348.82 and it has deposits of
8446,316.69. The officers are James P. Eagleson, president; R. C. Bu-
chanan, vice president; J. W. McNulty, cashier. Directors are James P.
Eagleson, R. C. Buchanan, Charles E. Hackney, J. E. Hootman, J. B.
Wylie, J. B. Murphy, Charles Kochendarfer, J. E. Lowry, A. L. Farrar.
   The Community Savings and Loan Company, Washington's youngest
financial institution, was organized in 1919, and began business in the
old Hazlett Bank room in the former Community Building. Since then it
has gained steadily and now has $190,648.08 in assets. This is a loan
corporation, making loans not to exceed $300. The officers are J. D.
Bigger, president; D. E. Vester, vice president; I. E. Paul, secretary and
treasurer; B. D. Hughes, solicitor; Creel M. Hornbake, manager.
   The directors are J. D. Bigger, D. C. Vester, Boyd E. Warne, C. E.
Penn, I. E. Paul, Theo. D. Vera, W. A. Proudfit, J. L. Lockhart, Charles
E. Clutter, H. R. Milliken, T. F. Pickett, R. B. Braden, Harry McNelly,
A. B. C. Patton, and Louis Ochs.
   There are still two private banks in Washington County, Alexander
& Company of Monongahela, and Jess P. Miller, of Brownsville. Alex-
ander & Company was founded in 1828 as a mercantile business by Joseph
Alexander and his son William J. Alexander, who operated as Alexander
& Son until 1850, when the present name was adopted and a banking
business established. In 1860, James S. Alexander, a younger son, was
admitted to the bank and in 1871 Joseph A. Herron, a grandson of Joseph
Alexander, became a member of the organization. When William J.
Alexander died in 1894, William H. Alexander and Frederick K. Alex-
ander were taken into partnership.
   The bank business was opened in the rear room of the building which
stood on the site of the present McGregor Block. In 1870, a bank build-
ing was erected at a cost of $20,000. This was replaced in 1906 by a
modern bank building costing $52,000.
   In addition to the banks already listed, Washington County has
twenty-three national banks, four state banks, and five trust companies.
The total amount of capital stock of the banks of Washington County
is $4,400,000.00; surplus and profits, $10,830,815.32; resources, $81,675,-
772.16; deposits, $64,371,842.92; loans and investments, $67,362,602.39;
with dividends paid in 1925, 8578,500.00.
   The following is the list of banks in other towns in the county:
   National-First National, Charleroi; First National, Canonsburg;
First National, Monangahela; First National, Donora; First National,
McDonald; First National, California; Washington, Burgettstown; The
National, Claysville; Lincoln National, Avella; Farmers & Miners, Bent-
leyville; First National, Fredericktown; First National, Roscoe; National
Bank, Ellsworth; Farmers National, Hickory; First National, Finleyville;
Farmers National, Claysville; Midway National Bank, Midway; Citizens,


920





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


West Alexander; Peoples, West Alexander; First National, Houston; First
National, Cecil; First National, Scenery Hill; First National, Millsboro.
   State Banks-Bank of Charleroi & Trust Co.; Bank of Donora;
Peoples, California; Peoples, Marianna.
   Trust Companies-Citizens, Canonsburg; Monongahela City Trust
Co.; Charleroi Savings & Trust Co.; McDonald Savings & Trust; Union,
Donora.




                        CHAPTER XCIII.

               THEATRICAL AND AMUSEMENTS.
EARLY THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES IN WASHINGTON-TRAVELING AT-
   TRACTIONS-OLD-TIME CIRCUSES-DAN RICE-OAK HALL-SMITH'S
   IRON HALL-THE TOWN HALL-THE LYRIC, NOW THE GLOBE THEA-
   TRE-MOVING PICTURE HOUSES-THE CASINO, NOW THE PALACE-
   THE CAPITAL, NOW     THE STATE-THE FIRST ROLLER       SKATING
   RINKS-THE NATATORIUM-WASHINGTON AMUSEMENT RINK- ROL-
   LER SKATING RINK IN WEST CHESTNUT STREET-THE GARDENS.
   In these days of moving pictures, when lovers of the screen can see
their favorites every night for 15 and 20 cents, it is hard to realize that
there was ever a time in Washington when there was only one playhouse
in the town, and it was open from one night a week to a solid week occa-
sionally, when a repertoire company held the boards. But such was the
case and only about twenty years ago, when the Globe Theatre was first
built. However, the old-time theater-goers of Washington love to recall
the bonanza days of the old Town Hall. This was during the oil excite-
ment from 1885 until the building was moved to its present location in
1898.
   The boys of today who beg a dime from father to go to the movies
need feel no shame about it when he lectures them for staying out so
late or for not getting their lessons, for he did the same thing a quarter
of a century and more ago, when the old Town Hall was running in all
its glory. But "Dad" had an advantage in those days which his son will
never get, in spite of the fact that the price of admission was never less
than a quarter for a one-night stand. If his father refused to "come
across" with the price of admission, which frequently happened, "little
boy Daddy" played "hooky" and passed hand-bills from house to house
under the watchful eye of the town billposter, who was always on the
job to see that none of them were thrown away. "Daddy" would work
all the long afternoon, when he should have been in school, in order to
get a ticket for standing room in the gallery. If he was too late to get a
job passing bills announcing the most wonderful attraction of the season,
he often managed to get on as a "supe" on the "stage," or if he was big
enough to shift scenery, he worked his way in at that job. However,
there were generally more boys than jobs, and those who came late often


921











































































    The home of Capt. Samuel Brady, the most noted Indian fighter of the western
border and leader of rangers from Washington County. IHe married Drusella Swearin-
gen, daughter of Capt. Andrew Swearingen, of this county, and died January 1, 1796, in
this house, which is still standing at West Liberty, W. Va.


~: :
-.:'
        ~
 $68i:_





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


had to loaf around the entrance and beg a nickle and dime from the men
who attended.
   The oil men of those days were a generous crowd and they seldom
left a boy on the outside who stood looking with longing eyes at the more
fortunate ones who had the price of a ticket. Their money was made
by hard work but they had not forgotten their own boyhood days when
they did the same thing in some other town far away, and they were
generous to the "dads" of those later years. In these days "Dad" always
had a final trick to fall back on, which often proved successful,-more
successful than the old-time ticket-takers on the gallery doors ever
dreamed of. He would get in a crowd and slip past when the ticket-taker
was busy with the men, and the men were always willing to help with
the trick. But this was not always successful, and some kind-hearted man
in the crowd would generally come to the rescue with the much-coveted
quarter.
   Whenever "Dad" refuses you that dime today, just remind him of
those old times at the Town Hall, and he will surely "come across" for
"Dad" enjoyed those shows far better than the boys of today do the
movies. There was a glamour in the old gas footlights in the Town Hall
which the movies of today can never have. The old plays, which were so
popular in other days have "laid on the shelf" these many years, and most
of the actors and actresses who once held "Dad" and "Mother" too, en-
tranced in those bygone nights of long ago, have long since passed into
the great beyond, but they still live in the memories of the mothers and
fathers of today.
   Before the days of the old Town Hall there were few traveling theatri-
cal troupes, but there were a few, generally black-faced minstrels, and
grandfather can tell you of them, for they were a treat to him in Wash-
ington over a half century and longer ago. The first theatrical per-
formance held in Washington were given by local talent, generally for
some benefit, and the people will probably be greatly surprised to learn
that the first were given over a century and a quarter ago. In copies of
the old Western Telegraphe and Western Advertiser, the first news-
papers published in Washington, appear occasional notices of some per-
formances to be given by home talent in the log courthouse. These were
few and far between but they must have been a great treat to the pioneer
settlers of Washington.
   The following advertisement appears in The Western Telegraphe for
Tuesday, January 10, 1797:

                                "For
                     The Benefit of the Academy

on Tuesday, January 10, will be performed at the Academy in the Town
Hall of Washington, a Comedy called 'Trick Upon Trick' or 'The Vintner
In the Suds.' To begin at 6 o'clock. Admittance one quarter of a dollar."
   This was probably one of the first theatrical performances that ever
took place in Washington. It was also the beginning of theatricals at
Washington and Jefferson College, which, it can be seen from this, are
almost as old as the college itself.


922





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Another old advertisement of interest in connection with early theatri-
cals in Washington appears in The Examiner of Wednesday, July 30,
1817, an old-time newspaper published here over a century ago:

                          "ADVERTISEMENT.
   "In Rehearsal and will be Performed next week, at the Office of the
'Western Register,' 'Impudence & Verbosity,' or, 'Jack Pudding in a
Rage.' A new fantastic, comic, ludicro-bombastic farce. The part of
'Harlequin' to be performed by Thomas Morgan, Wm. Duane's son-in-
law, who invented & first published the lie about the '810,000 exchange.'
   "He will also play 'Sylvester Daggerwood,' with all his 'ludicrous con-
tortions' in character.
   "'Yahoo' with songs-Robert Fee."
   This advertisement shows that the people of Washington a century
ago secured their theatrical entertainment by local talent. That they
longed for something of the kind is shown by the advertisement. Thomas
Morgan was a well-known resident of Washington at that time, and his
descendants still live here.
   Another interesting advertisement that appears in The Examiner
for Monday, October 5, 1818, shows that traveling shows occasionally
came to Washington at that early date, and this one may have been the
very first:
                             "MUSEUM.

   "The proprietors of the Museum respectfully inform the ladies and
gentlemen of Washington and its vicinity that they will exhibit Mrs.
M. M'Cammant, a Panorama View of the 'City of Rome,' as it now stands,
with environs, and the Ruins of Ancient Rome.
   "Likewise, an elegant Museum of Wax Work, consisting of the figures,
as large as life, of Major General Jackson; Commodore Decatur and
Perry; Captain Lawrence and his Physicians; with a barbarous looking
Indian represented in the act of taking a Scalp, at the time a Soldier
arrives, and thrusts the savage through with his bayonet.
   "Every Day (Sundays excepted) for a short time, at the house of
Captain Wilcox.
                  "Cincinnati & Kentucky Beauties
                     A Lady With Her Family
               Capt. Montraville and Charlotte Temple
                      The Goddess of Liberty
                 Supporting the American Standard
                    Music on an Elegant Organ.

   "Hours of exhibition from 9 o'clock in the morning till 9 in the eve-
ning. Each admittance 25 cents-children half price.
                  "Profiles Taken During The Day."
   This advertisement tells of a common form of early amusement, and
it was probably the first of its kind that ever appeared in Washington.
   In later years there was an occasional sleight-of-hand performer or
traveling actor who recited Shakespeare. These were followed in a few
years by the black-faced minstrels, which are still so popular with grand-


923





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


father; but those old-time performances were little like the minstrels of
today. In those days, the only place in Washington for such perform-
ances was the dining room of the Valentine House.
   It was the custom to clear the tables from the dining room, arrange
chairs and benches around the room, with a space at one end for the
performers. Those minstrel troupes never contained more than a dozen
people and the performance was made up of singing, jokes and music.
It would be considered rather a tame affair today, but it was to grand-
father what the plays in the old Town Hall were to "Dad" years later,
and both have their own special places in the hearts of the boys of by-
gone years.
   The first elephant which ever appeared in Washington according to
the only information at hand was here June 29, 30, and July 1, 1819. Ac-
cording to The Examiner of June 28, "Columbus, a male elephant, the
first and only male in this country, will be seen at Mr. Valentine's Tavern
in Washington, June 29, 30, and July 1. He is 8 feet tall and will weigh
between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds. Admittance 25 cents; children under
twelve years at half price."
   We find from The Examiner of April 19, 1823, that a full grown
African lion which had been intended as a present to the prince regent
from Africa, but was captured in a British vessel during the late war and
sold for $7,000, was on exhibition at Bricelands Tavern April 21, 22, and
23. In addition to this, the exhibitor had a leopard, tiger and several
other animals advertised.
   On August 28, 29, and 30, 1823, "a learned elephant" was on exhibi-
tion in Washington at J. Briceland's Tavern. This animal was adver-
tised to "lie down and get up at command, draw the cork from a bottle
and manage it in such a manner as to drink the contents." An admis-
sion of 121/2 cents was charged.
   Circuses were a very common and about the only form of amusement
in Washington for many years. The first that we find advertised in the
town was J. B. Greene and Company's Menagerie and Circus. It ap-
peared in Washington September 13 and 14. Among the animals adver-
tised were an elephant, an Ethiopian zebra, a gnu, two kangaroos, a
Peruvian camel, two African lions, a Brazilian tiger, a hunting leopard
from Bengal, two North American panthers and an European badger.
Feats of horsemanship, juggling and "carpet leaps" were among the
stunts advertised.,
   Prior to the Civil war, the best known of all circus men who visited
Washington County was the immortal Dan Rice, probably the most
famous clown who ever lived. Dan came to Washington with the circus
as early as 1842 and the last time of which we have a record was in 1867.
In those days railroad shows had not been dreamed of and the circus
loaded up on its wagons and traveled from one town to another.
   We find announced, the "Dan Rice Great Show and School of Educated
Animals, Colonel Dan Rice, Director," appeared in Brownsville, May 9,
1867; Carmichael's, Green County, May 10; Waynesburg, May 11, and
Washington on May 13.
   Col. Dan Rice had raised and equipped a regiment for the Union army
during the Civil war, and from this was known as "Colonel." He had


924





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


evidently been off the road, as will be seen from the following quotation
of the advertisement which appeared in The Reporter at that time; it
stands, "The great event of amusement for the fall of 1867, is the intrep-
idity of Dan Rice and his popular lot of animals, horses and clowns of
the arena. This will probaly be Mr. Rice's final tour."
   Another of the old-time circuses which came to Washington was "Van
Amburg and Company, Mammoth Menagerie, combined with Thayer and
Noyes, Great United States Circus," which appeared in Washington on
May 10, 1865. One of its main attractions of that time was "Hannibal,"
the big elephant, and it advertised "The Bengal tiger and polar bear, and
ring-tail monkey, will be there."
   "Robinson's Great Northwestern Circus" appeared in Washington on
July 9, 1866, coming here from Canonsburg. This show is still in exist-
ence at the present time, and is the oldest in America today, having been
on the road continuously for nearly one hundred years. Among the at-
tractions featured here were, "The two clowns, Lee Powell and Charles
Covelli, Madame Marie Robinson, the Sunbeam of the circus and the
prima-donna of equestriennes; Little Annie, the Juno-like Queen of the
Arena; Josh Hart, the Dutch clown, and last but not least, the famous
trick mules, Sancho and Paul Pry."
   "Whiby & Co. Consolidated popular Circus and Menagerie" advertised
the largest in the world, appeared in Washington on June 21, 1867, with
"a long line of wagons, cars, etc., the whole forming, a parade worth a
day's journey to witness."
   After Smith's Iron Hall was built, about 1860, Washington had its
first real "Theatre." There was a rude stage at one end, and the audi-
torium was filled with chairs. One of the most popular organizations that
played there at that time was the "Corncross and Dixie Minstrels" from
Philadelphia, a famous black-faced troupe of Civil war days. One of the
end men who appeared there with that minstrel afterwards played in the
Lyric Theater, now the Globe, nearly half a century later.
   In 1869 the cornerstone of the Town Hall was laid but during the
first year or two this place was not a success as a theater. The stage was
small and only slightly above the floor of the auditorium. The auditorium
was filled with chairs, fastened together six in a row. The place would
have answered the purpose ten years before but traveling theatrical com-
panies had advanced during that time to the beginning of what we now
know. The old-time raised platform would no longer answer the purpose
and scenery was required in every house.
   A man named Porter came to Washington from Cumberland, Mary-
land, and. opened a skating rink in the Town Hall, which ran for several
years. However, it was not a success financially and was abandoned.
The interior of the building was then remodeled. The present stage was
installed, dressing rooms were built, a rear entrance was made, seats
were placed in the auditorium and scenery was purchased from the firm
of Sosman & Landis of Chicago, one of the old-time scenic firms that in-
stalled the scenery in the Lyric Theater a quarter of a century later.
Some of that first scenery is still in the old Town Hall, while one or two
of the drops in the Lyric survived the fire of 1911 and are still in the
equipment of the Globe.


925





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Charles Gardner was the first manager of the Town Hall and the
first play there under his management was produced in the early '70s
and from that night, until the building was moved to its present location,
years later, the Town Hall was Washington's only playhouse. Its popu-
larity reached its height during the days of the oil excitement, when to
quote the words of one of the old managers, "anything went."
   The hall was always leased by the night or week, and as a result
there were a score or more of managers. The rental was twenty-five
dollars a night in advance or ninety dollars for a week and the borough
clerk was the booking agent. There was always a rush and fight for
dates, and many were the tricks they played on each other to secure
"good time."
   Among those old-time managers were A. B. Means, Charles C. White,
George Martin, W. H. "Judd" Stewart, W. S., better known as Steve,
White, William Post, court crier for many years; W. S. White, known as
"Bunk"; F. R. Hallam, afterwards the first manager of the Lyric The-
ater; Frank Judson, George B. White, I. L. Jones, George Thompson and
David Conn.
   Many partnerships existed among these men at different times. A
B. Means was associated with George Martin; W. S. White was with
William Post, and afteiwards with W. H. Stewart; George Thompson
and David Conn were members of the firm of George B. White & Com-
pany, the two former being the "company," and an oil man named Comp-
ton was associated many years ago with W. H. Stewart.
   Many good attractions were brought here by these managers, and some
of the actors and actresses who appeared in the Town Hall in those days
afterwards gained nation-wide fame. In fact, when they used to play in
the Town Hall, some of them had gained reputations in many of the big
cities, and today a few of them are still before the footlights. Among the
best known of these are A. G. Fields, America's most popular minstrel;
Hi Henry, a famous minstrel of years ago; Robert B. Mantell, who is
known to every theater-goer in the country; Maude Granger, famous
years ago; Bella Moore, and Robert Downing, who always packed the
house when he appeared in the "Gladiator."
   It is interesting to note that when Hi Henry, minstrel, appeared in
the Town Hall, February 7, 1896, one of his men was Arthur Dening
who in later years came to Washington many times with other minstrels
and even down to the days of vaudeville.
   Mr. Robert Downing afterwards left the stage and became an evan-
gelist, but the call of the footlights was too much for him and only a
short time ago, he appeared in the Globe Theater in "Ten Nights in a
Bar-room."
   Then, there was Duprez and Benedict's Minstrels of fifty people, one
of the largest on the road years ago, and Guy Brothers' Minstrels, which
appeared in Washington almost every season for nearly a quarter of a
century, playing first in the Town Hall and later in the Lyric.
   Rose Melville, of the famous Melville Sisters, one of the best and
most popular repertoire companies of the old Town Hall days, afterwards
won fame as "Sis Hopkins" and played in this character in the Lyric
years later.


926





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   One of the most popular companies that came to the old Town Hall
in the '80s was W. R. Ward's Comedy Company, featuring Miss Kitty
Rhoades. Such attractions as "A Great Mexican Border Drama" or "Don
Criesto's Life Among the Rockies" were common at the old Town Hall
in the late '80s and were always sure of drawing a big house.
   On December 18, 1885, a stage and scenery were installed in the old
Palace Rink, which stood on the site of the Duane Hotel, and it was opened
for the first time as an opera house on December 31, 1885, by Miss Kitty
Rhoades and the popular Ward Comedy Company in "Pygmalion and
Galatea." The Palace Rink at that time was managed by the Phail Har-
monic Society. It was not only used as an opera house but on nights
when no attraction was booked, the seats were removed and it was used
as a skating rink.
   The Ward Comedy Company came to Washington annually for a
period of almost ten years.
   Another popular company of those days was Madge Tucker's Stock
Company, which appeared at the Town Hall annually for a number of
years playing a week's stand. On July 31, 1805, the building now known
as the Pocahontas Gardens, the skating rink in East Beau street, was
started by the Washington Amusement Company of which Archie P. Mor-
gan was president and general superintendent; James D. Doyle, vice
president; Ray Winnett, secretary; H. A. Kelly, treasurer, and W. G.
Russell of Wellsburg, West Virginia, manager. The building went up
rapidly and it was first opened as a skating rink late in the fall of 1905.
Its popularity continued for five or six years. Afterwards it was sold
by the sheriff and passed into other hands.
   Washington's largest theater, now known as the State, was built by
a company headed by Spero Cosmas in 1921 and completed in 1922, and it
was opened for the first time on February 22, of that year, with a motion
picture, entitled "The Sheik." This building is now one of the finest in
Western Pennsylvania, and cost approximately $315,000. The original
company failed and the building was sold by the sheriff in the fall of
1924 when Sam Blyer became manager.
   The old Lyric theater, now known as the Globe, has been closed for
some time but it was recently leased by the owners to Rowland and Clark
of Pittsburgh, who are making extensive alterations and repairs and ex-
pect to open it within a short time, and no doubt under this new man-
agement, the popularity of the old house will return, as Rowland and
Clark promise to make this one of the finest theaters in Western Pennsyl-
vania.




                        CHAPTER XCIV.

                  THE LEMOYNE CREMATORY.
  After laying in a cellar for forty years, this original iron crib, or bier,
upon which was cremated the body of Baron de Palm, the first person


927





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


whose remains were disposed of in this manner in the LeMoyne Crema-
tory at Washington, Pennsylvania, the first erected in the United States,
was brought to light four years ago, and added to the collection of the
Washington County Historical Society. This cremation attracted atten-
tion all over the United States and Europe forty-six years ago, and it
was attended by a large number of persons, including reporters, from
New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, and other large cities. The crematory
where it took place still stands on the high hill just south of the town,
and it is one of the points of historic interest sought by all tourists who
visit there.
   The existence of the first bier used at the LeMoyne Crematory had
been long forgotten; but recently it was brought to light by John S. Jack-
son, the son of the late J. Dallas Jackson, the man who made it so long ago.
Mr. Jackson states that after the second cremation, which was Mrs. Jame
Pitman, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne, who built the cre-
matory, brought it to his father to be repaired.
   It had been badly burned in the two cremations, and Doctor LeMoyne
remarked, "I want it fixed good and strong. I am a big man and I expect
to use it myself some day." He was the next; for he died on October 14,
1879, and on the 16th his body was cremated on this same bier.
   The intense heat of these three cremations had melted some of the
iron rods, and it was again given to Mr. Jackson, with the instructions
to make a new one. This was of a different type, much stronger, and it
lasted for many years. The original bier remained in Mr. Jackson's
possession, stored away in his cellar. A number of years ago, the Smith-
sonian Institution tried to secure it, but Mr. Jackson refused to allow it
to be taken from Washington and it is now given to the historical society
for safe keeping.
   The LeMoyne Crematory, built in 1876 by Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne,
was the first erected in the United States, and, although it has not been
used for over a quarter of a century, it is still an object of much interest.
It is a one-story brick building, thirty feet long by twenty feet wide,
divided into a reception room, twenty feet square and a furnace room,
thirty feet by ten feet. The original cost was $1,500. Today it stands
just as it was when the first cremation took place fifty years ago.
   This old bier recalls the cremation of Joseph Henry Louis, Baron de
Palm, a German nobleman, on December 6, 1876, which was described
in the newspapers throughout the United States and Europe at the time.
Although there were many visitors in the town that day, the people of
Washington did not look upon cremation with much favor, and they paid
little attention to the event. But today, they proudly show the old building
to visitors and relate its history.
   Baron de Palm was born in Augsberg, Bavaria, in 1806. He was edu-
cated in the University of Heidelberg, after which he entered the dip-
lomatic service of his country. He first served at the German legation
at Carlsrhue, and finally reached the rank of ambassador. At one time
he was sent as a special envoy to Ferdinand II, King of Naples, to nego-
tiate a settlement of family difficulties, including, among other things,
the legitimacy of the prince's son.
   He traveled extensively and about 1861 came to the United States.


928

















































































          BARON DE PA
First          4-tA ;d 4-1


  The LeMoyne Crematory, the first cre-
matory in the United States; erected by
Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne in 1876, the first
cremation taking place December 6, 1876,
and the forty-first, which was the last, on
November 28, 1900.    The monument in
front covers the ashes of Dr. LeMoyne, who
was cremated October 16, 1879.









                  Co C




















                    0 =1
          --m
                   C+'
                       ---- :



















LM,
T -'N/


     "I cttoiye U     Lie   V oyn   re l-
matory, Washington.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


In New York, he met Col. H. S. Olcott and became interested in cremation,
afterwards joining the Theosophical Society of that city. Just before
his death he was elected as a member of the council of the society. He
died suddenly in New York on May 20, 1876. In his will, he requested
that his body be cremated before the end of the year.
    The day finally set for the cremation was December 6, and the body
was taken to Washington, Pennsylvania, where the LeMoyne crematory
had just been completed. The body arrived on the 5th, and before 7
o'clock the next morning, Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne, accompanied by Col.
H. S. Olcott and Henry J. Newman, the executors of the Baron's estate,
left the LeMoyne home and went direct to the crematory.
    On the way, they met Doctor Ottarson, of the Brooklyn Board of
Health; Doctor Asdale of Pittsburgh; Doctor Hupp, of Wheeling, W. Va;
Doctor Folson, of Boston; Doctor Cleammer, of Brownsville, and about
thirty reporters. The party proceeded immediately to the crematory.
    The remains of the Baron were resting in the iron crib, which has
just been unearthed. The face was exposed, but the body was wrapped
in linen. The features are described as natural by those who were pres-
ent, but the face was nearly black, and the eyes were sunken and wasted.
   At 8:15 o'clock, Colonel Olcott had completed the preparation of the
body by sprinkling it with frankincense, myrrh, and aromatic spices
and then wrapping it in a linen cloth saturated with alum. Even when
burned, the alum saturated sheet retains its form, and prevents any part
of the corpse from being seen until the bony skeleton begins to crumble.
A few primroses, some immortelles and a bunch of evergreens were laid
on his breast.
   As soon as the preparations had been completed, the pallbearers lifted
the body and slowly marched to the furnace, but just before it was con-
signed to the flames, the members of the Theosophical Society who were
present, broke off sprigs of evergreen as mementoes of the occasion. When
the furnace door was opened a blast of heat came forth. The body was
quickly shoved in and the door closed again.
   The cremation furnace is a fire-clay retort, such as was used half
a century ago in the manufacture of illuminating gas. It was heated red
hot before the body was placed in; and on this occasion it required thirty-
six hours to bring the furnace to the necessary temperature.
   The iron crib which held the body and which has just been presented
to the Historical Society, is made of round iron rods and is the shape of
a coffin.
   The cremation of Baron de Palm was closely watched by Colonel Olcott
who made notes, and afterwards wrote the following interesting report
of this historic event.
   "The body was inserted at 8:27 o'clock A. M. and at 8:45 the vapor
had cleared away and the body could be plainly seen against the brilliant
red background of the retort. The flue mouth was white hot, and seemed
like a radiant crown floating over the old man's head. The form of every
sprig of evergreen was plainly seen, the pointed branches being arched
and turned towards the center. The experiment of soaking the linen
covering in alum was a perfect success in preserving the elements of
decency in covering the body.


930





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    "At 9:15 the sheet was charred at the head and stood up, black and
ragged. The left hand was raised and pointing upward, seeming to indi-
cate that the soul of the dead man had ascended from the remains. At
9:25 o'clock Doctor Ottarson tested the draft through the eyehole with a
piece of paper, and it was found that there was plenty of draft left. The
left hand was seen to fall at this point, and a glorious rose-colored light
was visible all about the remains, while a sort of faint mist and aromatic
odor was stealing through the vent hole. At 10:25 o'clock the crib was red
hot and the body was surrounded by a glorious tinged mist, and at 10:50,
Doctor LeMoyne and the three health officers agreed that cremation was
complete. The twigs of evergreen still retained their form and the sheet
was still covering the body, and both feet were down. The whole was
surrounded by a great white light, and the heat was intense. The time re-
quired for the cremation was two hours and twenty-three minutes; and
it was pronounced by Doctor Folsom a great success, and at 12 o'clock the
fire was drawn.
    "The whole cremation consumed 50 bushels of coke and the entire
time was thirty-eight hours and twenty-seven minutes. It took thirty.
six hours to bring the furnace to the necessary heat."
   At 2 o'clock, that afternoon, a big meeting was held in the Town Hall
at Washington, which was attended by a number of visitors and citizens
of the town. Cremation was the principal topic of discussion. The Rev-
erend Mr. Bradford, of Lawrence County, presided and introduced the
speakers. Addresses were made by Dr. George P. Hays, president of
Washington and Jefferson College; Col. H. S. Olcott, president of the
Theosophical Society of New York; Dr. James King, of Pittsburgh, and
Boyd Crumrine and Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne, of Washington.
   By noon of the next day, the retort had cooled sufficiently to allow the
removal of the ashes of the Baron. These were carefully collected by
Colonel Olcott and placed in an antique vase of red clay, with brass handles
on the sides and a brass plate with the following inscription: "Joseph
Henry Louis Charles, Baron de Palm, Grand Commander of the Sover-
eign Order of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, Prince of the Roman
Empire and Knight of St. John of Malta."
   All of the Baron's ashes except a few were placed in this urn and
taken to New York. They were afterwards taken out to sea and scattered
on the waters of the ocean. Those kept in Washington are now in pos-
session of the Washington County Historical Society, and George Hayes
of Washington.
   Contrary to the general belief, Baron de Palm was not the first per-
son cremated in the United States, but was the third. Col. Henry Laurens,
a personal friend of George Washington, who was cremated in South Caro-
lina in 1796, was the first and the second was Henry Barry, at Marion,
South Carolina.
   Before erecting this crematory Doctor LeMoyne made a thorough
study of the subject, and it was constructed after plans and specifications
made by him. The furnace and retort were made after his own designs,
and when completed, it was pronounced by experts to be superior to those
in Berlin and other large European cities at that time. His plans were
sent across the ocean to be copied, and one exactly similar was erected
in Los Angeles a short time later.


931





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    One of his first exploits in the West was with the Brodhead expedition
up the Allegheny River. The Indians were encountered in force near
Redbank Creek, Armstrong County. Brady and his rangers took position
in a narrow pass among the rocks, where they almost wiped out a large
Iroquois war party. Bald Eagle, a celebrated Seneca war chief, was killed,
and Cornplanter, another noted chief of that tribe, escaped by swimming
the river. It is said that Brady killed his father's slayer in this battle.
The spot is known to this day as Brady's Bend.
   In June, 1780, he took a few rangers and went on a scouting expedi-
tion to Upper Sandusky. His Chickasaw Indian guides deserted near the
village, but Brady and his men went on, watching the village all one day
and gaining much valuable information. On these trips he always dressed
like an Indian. On the return he suddenly encountered a band of Indians
on horseback. The leader had a white woman and her baby with him.
Brady shot the savage with his last load, leaped forward, seized the child,
and told the terrified woman to follow him, calling on his men to attack
the other Indians. The woman went with her rescuer, and Brady took
her to Fort McIntosh the next day. This woman was Jenny Stoop, or
Stupes, who had been captured at her home near Crafton. The rock where
her husband hid during the raid is still pointed out on Chartiers Creek.
   A short time later, while scouting on the Beaver with Thomas Beving-
ton and Benjamin Biggs, they discovered the smoking ruins of Albert
Grey's cabin. While they were examining the place, Grey returned and
informed them that his wife, her sister and five children had been cap-
tured. They started on the trail, and that night came up to the hostile
camp, in which were thirteen Indians. After the enemy had gone to sleep,
Brady and his men secured their weapons and quietly killed ten Indians
with their knives and tomahawks. The other three escaped, but the
women and children were rescued. This spot is known to this day as
Bloody Spring.
   At another time, with sixteen men, he attacked a large Indian camp
in Beaver County, and after killing a number, he and his men retreated to
Fort McIntosh. A short time later he and his men were attacked by a
large force of Indians near the mouth of Yellow Creek. The whites were
greatly outnumbered, and were forced to the top of a hill, from which
they escaped, with the loss of one killed and two wounded.
   In a battle in Ohio Brady's entire force was killed by Indians in
ambush, the gallant captain alone escaping. He was hotly pursued by
three warriors, but he concealed himself at the end of a log, and when
the Indians approached killed the leader and wounded the other two with
the same shot. Before they recovered from the surprise he finished them
with his tomahawk.
   After a raid on the settlers at Sewickley Bottom, Brady, with five
scouts, took the trail, surrounded the camp during the night, and killed
five at the first fire. The others escaped.
   Brady was twice captured and condemned to be burned at the stake.
The first capture occurred while he was alone on a hunting trip near Fort
McIntosh. He was surprised and captured by a large war party. The
leaders decided that such an important captive should be burned with a
slow fire, and he was taken to their camp on the west bank of the Beaver




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The LeMoyne Crematory was erected by the late John L. Dye, who
was also selected to superintend the crematory built in Los Angeles.
   Doctor LeMoyne was the third person cremated, and his ashes were
buried under the front of the building, where a monument marks the
spot.
   Strange to say, Doctor LeMoyne was the only resident of Washington
ever cremated here. For a number of years, this was the only crematory
in the east, and during the eight years following its erection forty-one
persons were cremated there.
   Mr. Dye during his life kept a complete list of all persons cremated
in the LeMoyne crematory, beginning with Baron de Palm. This list
is found in a note book kept by Mr. Dye, which was placed in the care of
the Washington County Historical Society by his daughter, Mrs. Pauline
Dye McGill.
   Heretofore, only thirty-eight persons have been listed as having been
cremated in Washington but Mr. Dye's list contains the names of forty-
one together with the age and in many cases, the weight of the body before
cremation and the weight of the ashes. This list is the only known record
of this kind in existence and it is presented here for the first time in print.
   1. Joseph Henry Louis Charles, Baron de Palm, died in New York;
cremated December 6, 1876. Weight of body, 160 pounds; weight of ashes,
six pounds.
   2. Mrs. Jame Pitman, wife of Benjamin Pitman, of Cincinnati, Ohio,
cremated February 6, 1877.
   3. Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne, of Washington, Pa., cremated October
16, 1879; age 82 years. Weight of body, 225 pounds, and ashes 7 pounds.
   4. Charles E. McCreery, of New York, cremated December 6, 1879.
Age twenty-two years. Weight of body, eighty pounds; weight of ashes,
five pounds.
   5. Miss Dolly Hartman, of Pittsburgh, Pa. Cremated February 7,
1880. Age, 19 years. Weight of body, eighty pounds; weight of ashes,
four pounds.
   6. Dr. Samuel Hahn, of New York, cremated March 9, 1880. Age
forty-five years. Weight of body, 170 pounds and weight of ashes, six
pounds.
   7. Charles G. Poetz, of New York, cremated March 12, 1880. Weight
of body, 180 pounds and weight of ashes, five pounds.
   8. Mrs. Lucia Moore Noyes, of Warren, Pa., cremated November
25, 1880. Age twenty-eight years. Weight of body, 130 pounds and
weight of ashes, five pounds.
   9. James Hamilton, of Greensboro, Pa., cremated January 13, 1881.
Age, fifty years. Weight of body, 225 pounds and weight of ashes, seven
pounds.
   10. Dr. C. Homburg, of Indianapolis, Ind., cremated February 19,
1881. Weight of body, 180 pounds and weight of ashes six and one half
pounds.
   11. Augustus Strabo, of Pittsburgh, cremated March 9, 1881. Age
thirty-nine years. Weight of body 180 pounds and weight of ashes, six
pounds.
   12. Col. Q. N. Ross, of Holden, Mass., cremated March 31, 1881.


932





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Age, forty-nine years. Weight of body, 250 pounds and weight of ashes,
six pounds.
   13. Mary F. Kendall, of Madison, Indiana, cremated May 23, 1881.
Age, forty-three years. Weight of body, 130 pounds and weight of ashes,
four and three-fourths pounds.
   14. Mrs. Henry Halterman, of New York, cremated June 24, 1881.
Age forty-three years. Weight of body, 130 pounds and weight of ashes,
four and one-quarter pounds.
   15. Dr. L. Ehrhart, of Allegheny, Pa., cremated November 27, 1882.
Age 75 years. Weight of body, 240 pounds and weight of ashes, five
pounds.
   16. Robert Hahn, of New York, cremated January 26, 1883. Age,
three years. Weight of ashes, twenty ounces.
   17. Henry Seybert, of Philadelphia, Pa., cremated March 7, 1883.
Age, eighty-two years.
   18. Charles Solhner, of Indianapolis, Ind., cremated March 23, 1883.
Weight of ashes, seven pounds.
   19. Mrs. Bertha Blechem, of New York, cremated June, 15, 1883.
   20. Mrs. Cornelia Wollberg, of New York, cremated June 16, 1883.
   21. Charles Meininger, of Cincinnati, Ohio, cremated July 27, 1883.
   22. Charles Altman, of Washington, D. C., cremated August 18, 1883.
Weight of body, 300 pounds and weight of ashes, seven pounds.
   23. Mrs. Evalina French, of New York, cremated October 11, 1883.
   24. Dr. C. Blumenthal, of New York, cremated, October 16, 1883.
   25. Marcus Kronberg, of Chicago, Ill., cremated October 20, 1883.
   26. Albert C. Rupe, of New York, cremated, January 27, 1883. Age,
forty-five years.
   27. Mrs. Judson Applegate, of Delphi, Ind., cremated February 8,
1884. Age thirty-eight years.
   28. Cora Blanche Tilton, of Philadelphia, Pa., cremated March 17,
1884. Age, twenty-three years. Weight of body, eighty pounds and
weight of ashes five pounds.
   29. Paul V. C. Philly, of Cincinnati, cremated April 12, 1884. Age,
forty-six years. Weight of body, 150 pounds. Weight of ashes, five and
three-quarter pounds.
   30. Dr. S. D. Gross, of Philadelphia, cremated, May 8, 1884. Age,
seventy-eight years. Weight of body, 175 pounds.
   31. Rev. J. D. Leeman, of McKeesport, cremated May 13, 1884.
Age, forty-three years. Weight of body, 160 pounds.
   32. Gen. Audley Gazzam, of Philadelphia, cremated May, 14, 1884.
Age, fory-three years. Weight of body, 165 pounds. Weight of ashes,
six pounds.
   33. Dr. F. C. Melville, of Philadelphia, cremated May 20, 1884. Age,
sixty-five years, weight of body, 165 pounds. Weight of ashes, six pounds.
   34. Herman Kopp, of Pittsburgh, cremated, May 30, 1884. Age,
twenty-four years. Weight of body, 140 pounds. Weight of ashes, five
pounds.
   35. Solomon Kaufman, of New York, cremated June 11, 1884.
Weight of body, 160 pounds. Weight of ashes, six pounds.


933





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   36. John M. Rows, of New York, cremated June 30, 1884. Weight
of body, 130 pounds. Weight of ashes, five pounds.
   37. Samuel L. Wheeler, of New York, cremated July 22, 1884. Weight
of body, 160 pounds. Weight of ashes, six pounds.
   38. Dr. G. Bell, of Burgettstown, Pa., cremated September 8, 1884.
Weight of body, 225 pounds. Weight of ashes, seven pounds.
   39. Robert Emery, cremated April 25, 1894. Age seventy-eight years.
   40. George B. Little, cremated November 18, 1894. Age 31 years.
   41. Mrs. Mary S. Booth, of Booth's Landing, Marshall County, West
Virginia. Cremated, November 28, 1900. Age, seventy-four years.
   During the twenty-five years that have passed since the last cremation,
the old crematory has fallen into disuse and it is very doubtful now if a
body could be cremated there without considerable expense in the way
of repairs, to the furnace.
   After Doctor LeMoyne was cremated, his ashes were placed in a burial
urn and interred in front of the building and a plain granite monument
which still stands, marks the spot where the ashes of one of Washington's
greatest men are buried.
   Several years ago the LeMoyne heirs, Mrs. Mary Reed, a daughter,
and other members of the family, placed the historic old building in the
care of the Washington County Historical Society.






                        CHAPTER XCV
                 NOTED MEN AND EVENTS.
LOUIS PHILIPPE, AFTERWARDS KING OF FRANCE, AND HIS TWO BROTHERS
   -LAFAYETTE'S VISIT-JAMES MONROE-ANDREW JACKSON-WILLIAM
   HENRY HARRISON-ZACHARY TAYLOR-HENRY CLAY-DANIEL WEB-
   STER-JAMES K. POLK-SANTA ANNA, EMPEROR OF MEXICO-GENERAL
   GRANT - WILLIAM McKINLEY-BENJAMIN HARRISON - WILLIAM H.
   TAFT-WARREN G. HARDING-JAMES G. BLAINE-WILLIAM JENNINGS
   BRYAN-GENERAL NELSON A. MILES-"UNCLE" JOSEPH CANNON-GIF-
   FORD PINCHOT-THOMAS R. MARSHALL-GENERAL DAWES- HENRY C.
   WALLACE-WILLIAM N. JARDINE-ADMIRAL SIMMS-MAYPOLE OF 1798
   -SMALLPOX VACCINATIONS IN 1798-BATH HOUSE-58 FREE NEGROES
   PASS THROUGH WASHINGTON-MALCOLM       AND EVANS PAROLE-
   "DADDY" KEOCHLINE-GAS EXPLOSION OF 1884-JOHN McCONOUGHY
   LOG PUMPS-"UNCLE" BILLY BURTON-OTHER CHARACTERS-FIRST
   BASEBALL CLUB-B. & O. WRECK OF 1885-B. & O. WRECK AT THE "Y"
   IN 1888-NITROGLYCERINE EXPLOSION IN 1891-CUNDALL AND KING
   SHOOTING MATCH-THE FIRST TELEPHONE-THE FIRST TELEGRAPH
   -PATRICK GASS, LOUIS AND CLARK LAST MEN-FIRST STREET RAIL-
   WAY-OTHER ELECTRIC LINES-BOLSHEVIKI IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
   -OLDEST INMATES IN COUNTY HOME-THE CURRY FEUD IN AMWELL
   TOWNSHIP.
   Washington has had more than its share of famous men visit it during
the one hundred and forty-five years of its existence. The first incident
of this kind of which we have any record occurred on June 20, 1797, when
the Bourbon prince, Louis Philippe, afterwards King of France, and his


934






























   House of Dr. Absalom
Street, Washington, where
wards King of France, and
entertained on June 20, 1797.
office now stands on the site.


Baird, West Maiden
Louis Phillipe, after-
his two brothers were
The Washington post


    The Old Globe Inn, South Main Street, Washington, one of the most noted of
the hotels in Washington during the early years of the National Pike. The greatest
event in its history was when General Lafayette was entertained there in May, 1825.
Five Presidents and many other famous men stopped there.


?

f





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


suite visited the town. He was entertained by Dr. Absalom Baird, who
had served as surgeon in the Revolutionary war and at that time resided
in the old frame house that stood on the site of the present postoffice.
According to tradition none of the guests could speak English and Doctor
Baird could not speak French. This was a little embarrassing until it
was discovered that some of the visitors could speak Latin, with which
Doctor Baird was familiar.
    Louis Philippe was accompanied by his two brothers. They had been
in the west and were returning to Philadelphia.
    The visit to Washington of General Lafayette on May 25, 1825, was
the greatest event in the history of the town for many long years. In fact,
never has a visit of any noted person attracted as much attention as did
that of the famous Frenchman, who was making a tour of the United
States at that time, as the guest of the nation. Fully twenty thousand
people lined the streets of the town that day to greet the great Lafayette
and the welcome extended to him was the most enthusiastic ever accorded
any visitor to the county. For many years afterwards, those who re-
membered the event loved to tell of it and even in our own time, there
have been living some of our oldest residents who remembered the event
as a child and were proud to say that they had seen Lafayette. However,
none of them are now living.
    The distinguished visitor stopped at the old Globe Inn, which formerly
stood at the southwest corner of South Main Street and Strawberry Alley
on the lot now occupied by the DeNormandie Building. It was conducted
at that time by David Morris. The china with which Lafayette was ser-
ved is now in the collection of the Washington County Historical Society.
   A platform was erected in front of the Globe Inn from which Judge
Thomas H. Baird delivered the address of welcome. Lafayette responded
feelingly, grasping Judge Baird's hand as he did so. After this reception
the General retired to the inn, where he was addressed by William Duane
Morgan, then a little boy, on behalf of the "Future Defenders of American
Liberty."
   Fortunately the events of that great day have been preserved in detail
in the newspaper accounts of the visit, published at that time. The fol-
lowing is taken from The Examiner of Saturday, May 28, 1825, a weekly
newspaper published in Washington at that time, and for many years
afterwards:
   "At three o'clock in the afternoon of Tuesday, an express arrived at
this place from Wheeling announcing that at 11 in the forenoon of that
day General Lafayette had landed at that place. Our committee of recep-
tion and arrangements, consisting of the Hon. Thomas H. Baird, Thomas
McGiffin, T. M. T. McKennan and Thomas Morgan, Esq., and Mr. Daniel
Moore, had previously gone to Wheeling for the purpose of ascertaining
the general's route and probable time of his arrival at Washington. At
12 o'clock of that night, an express arrived from our committee with the
pleasing intelligence that the "Nation's Guest" would pass along the
national road, and might be expected to arrive at Washington by five
o'clock in the evening of the next day (Wednesday). Accordingly, the
General, escorted by a cavalcade from Wheeling, was received by the
above committee at the state line. He was received in a very handsome


936





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


and becoming manner by the citizens of West Alexander, with whom he
partook of refreshments. After which he took his seat with Mr. Moore
in an elegant Barouche which had been furnished for the General's use
by the committee; after him followed George Washington Lafayette (the
general's son) with Judge Baird, Mr. Vasseur, (his secretary) the other
members of the committee, with Governor Morris of Ohio and his aide,
in several carriages. On arriving at Claysville, the General again partook
of refreshments; he was there met by an escort of cavalry which had been
detached from the military assembled at this place for his reception, and
then continued his progress thither. A signal gun was fired from Capt.
Squire's artillery, and the troops, citizens etc., proceeded to the place
designated on the road about a mile west of town, where a procession
was formed in the following order:
   "The military under the command of Major-General Finley, was posted
in open column of platoons next to and facing the town; west of them the
revolutionary officers and soldiers; the Masonic fraternity; the clergy;
physicians; officers of the court, members of the bar, magistrates, officers
of the corporation, members of Congress, and members of the state legis-
lature, and other citizens, in two lines facing inwards on each side of the
road.
   "Two trumpeters with their war-cheering and thrilling instruments
announced the general's approach, and as he passed through the lines of
the civic part of the procession, he appeared to receive their salutations
with great and touching expressions of the warmest feeling. When he
reached the rear of the military, the line of march was taken up, and the
military in front, entered the borough about 6 o'oclock P. M. When the
general had arrived at the public square, in front of the courthouse, he
halted and was received by the young ladies who had formed at that place,
in two lines, headed by three married ladies, forming on each side of the
street. Thirty young ladies, bearing handsomely ornamented standards,
represented the states, territories and District of Columbia, with suitable
emblems. These ladies wore white dresses fancifully ornamented, white
silk scarfs, and wreaths of artificial flowers on their heads. Next followed
other young ladies dressed in a similar manner, with the exception of the
scarfs which were blue; next came the little misses, also in white, dec-
orated with wreaths and pink scarfs; and one married lady followed,
having on her right hand one of "The Lafayette Pinks," on her left the
youngest boy of "The Association of the Future Defenders of American
Liberty"; these youths wore blue nankeen round-abouts and pantaloons
with white belts, and on their breasts the white cockade; their hats were
ornamented with white cords and tassels and the Pennsylvania cockade-
their flag displayed the Stripes and the name of the association; the staff
was surmounted by an elegant Eagle surrounded by the Stars. As the
general approached the spot where the ladies were stationed, they sweetly
sang the following soul-breathing song written for the occasion by a
gentleman of this place:
                             LAFAYETTE.
                   Tune-"Meeting of the Waters."
   We crouch to no tyrant; nor flatter the pride
   That to title and birth is too often allied;


937





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    But the homage the brave may receive from the free,
    That homage, Lafayette, we tender to thee.

    Yet it is not thy valor alone, we admire,
    Tho' no bosom e'er glow'd with more chivalrous fire;
    'Tis thy noble devotion to Liberty's cause,
    To the true "rights of man," and the empire of laws.

    For this you preferred, in thy youth, to forego
    All the pursuits that fortune and rank could bestow;
    Opposition, privations and dangers you brav'd,
    And you came-fought-and bled-and you Conquered and Sav'd.

    Now millions of freemen, with grateful acclaim,
    In a thunder of praise, give thy virtue to fame;
    And the pray'rs of a people, like incense, ascend
    For the Hero, the Patriot, The Father, the Friend.

    "The states waving their flags, whilst the other young ladies 'strewed
his way with flowers' from neat and tasteful baskets, many ladies of the
place and even at the distance of ten miles having kindly sent large sup-
plies of them. As the general passed through the lines formed by 'The
Future Defenders of American Liberty' they gracefully bowed, and their
ensign, Andrew Jackson Dunlap, waved their flag. After the committee
of arrangements, the general and his son passed; the revolutionary sol-
diers followed; the ladies succeeded them; then followed the little boys,
succeeded by the remainder of the procession in the same order it had
entered the town, except the column of military, who had been previously
formed in two lines, leaving the middle of the street an open avenue,
through which the general passed, receiving the salute of the troops,
until he reached Mr. Morris' Globe Inn, where a large platform, sur-
mounted on the three outer sides with civic arches tastefully decorated
with green boughs and appropriate mottoes, was raised several feet above
the pavement in front of the inn. General Lafayette was then conducted
onto the platform; his son and the committee of arrangements also
ascended it with him; when the young ladies again sang their song with
an enchanting sweetness, resembling more the music of the spheres than
human voices. At the conclusion of the song, two young ladies ascended
the platform and presented the general a copy of it.
   "From the moment the barouche in which the general rode, appeared
on the top of Wheeling Hill, approaching the town, until he ascended the
platform at Mr. Morris' (which was about an hour), minute guns were
fired from Captain Squire's corps of artillery who were posted on a dis-
tant eminence in full view of the moving procession.
   "The Hon. Thomas H. Baird, in behalf of the citizens, then delivered
the following address:
   "'General Lafayette: In the name of the people whom you see as-
sembled, permit me to bid you welcome to our homes and our hearts, and
to express the happiness we feel, in having among us, a man who has


938





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


been so distinguished for every public and private virtue. We do not
receive you as a stranger; for your name is associated with the darkest
and brightest recollections of our national existence. At the gloomiest
moment of our eventful struggle for independence you first appeared in
our country, and with disinterested, chivalrous gallantry and noble en-
thusiasm, staked your "life, your fortune and your honor" in our appar-
ently hopeless cause. The personal sacrifices you made can only be ap-
preciated by those who know the dear delights of a home, whose beauty,
affection and affluence all combine to perfect happiness and bless the
domestic circle. All these you gave up to encounter privation, difficulty
and danger in the cause of liberty. In your brilliant career you exhibited
the daring courage of the knights of romance, tempered with all the
prudence, caution and skill of the most consummate general, or as your
illustrious commander and friend expressed in his letter to Congress, you
united "to all the military fire of youth an uncommon maturity of judg-
ment." At the memorable battle of Brandywine your personal bravery
was conspicuously displayed; and in your southern campaign which ended
in the capitulation at Yorktown, the tactics you disclosed were of the
highest order. They were successful; and the result has identified you
with the proudest event of our history. Your generous zeal and gallant
achievements in the service of the suffering, struggling people have not,
cannot be forgotten. Most of those who shared with you in the conflict
have passed to the tomb; some, however, yet remain to "shoulder the
crutch and show how fields were won." The veterans, who now stand
before you, were once your fellow soldiers. They feel their military
ardor revive and their best sensibilities awakened at the sight of the chief-
tain who led them to danger and to glory, and whose presence now recalls
the tenderest remembrances of former scenes. Those who have gone
were not unmindful of their noble companion in arms; in life you were
the theme of their highest eulogy, and at their death they have left to
us of a younger generation a debt to discharge to you of gratitude and
praise. You have not only a monument of love and friendship in the
heart of every American, but in our political institutions and arrange-
ments there are also permanent memorials of the esteem in which you
are held by a generous people. Even here, far distant from the immedi-
ate scene of your exploits, "Washington and Lafayette," who were united
in friendship and glory, have their names perpetuated in our familiar
recollections, as designating two adjacent territorial divisions. But your
claim upon our admiration and esteem does not rest entirely upon your
disinterested aid in our revolutionary contest. We love you as the friend
of America; but we venerate and respect you as the uniform consistent
advocate of the rights of man and of rational regulated liberty, where-
ever you have been called to act in the great theatre of life. In your own
country you are among the first to assert the immutable principles of
justice and law. But whilst you boldly dared to limit monarchical pre-
rogative you were equally firm in curbing popular licentiousness. Your
attempt to shield an unhappy, misguided beginning from indignity and
outrage; your manly efforts to protect the miserable Feullon from the
tumultuous frenzy of an outraged populace; the elevated sentiments and
enlightened view of human rights and social policy contained in your


939





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


letter to the national assembly, all have manifested that your public con-
duct has been influenced by just principles and benevolent feelings. In
your private life, it may be sufficient to say, that not a single act has
ever stained the bright escutcheon of your fame. Like your gallant
countryman, Chevalier Bayard, you have lived "sans peur et sans
reproche."
   " 'In every light then in which your character has been presented to
us, it claims our admiration and applause. We consider you as one whom
we may delight to honor without incurring the imputation of sycophancy.
We are too proud to flatter, and too courtly to please by anything we
can do or say; but such a heart as yours cannot be indifferent to the emo-
tions which are indicated by the glistening eyes and glad faces around
you. It is mingled love, gratitude, veneration and respect which beams
from every countenance. These are all we can offer, "we would give
more, but that our hands lack means." We would rejoice to make our
reception of you correspond with the exalted opinion we have of your
merit. We have no splendid palace in which to ask you to repose; but
there is not a humble dwelling that would not be gladly opened to give you a
home. We cannot boast much of "the pomp and circumstance of war;"
but there is not a man before you in military garb, who would not readily
become a soldier and shed his blood in your defense. We have nothing
here to recall the recollections of the proud events of our history in which
you participated. Our western soil is not consecrated by the blood of
revolutionary patriots. It was at that period a wilderness and the scene
of Indian barbarity. We can, however, point to your view the happy
consequences of your efforts. Where the roving son of the forest pur-
sued the chase, towns and villages have arisen, agriculture and arts are
cultivated, instead of the calumet and wampum, the symbols of savage
humanity, we are this day enabled to offer you the sincere greetings of
a social and civilized people, enjoying in peace the blessings of a free
government and just laws. It is the reflection that we are greatly in-
debted for these inestimable advantages to your generous exertions, that
fills our hearts with gratitude and prompts us to manifest our affectionate
acknowledgments. There is not a man in your presence who does not
love and venerate your person; and, as we are sure you have yet so much
chivalry as to esteem the smiles and approbation of the fair, behold a
band whose pure hearts and innocent hands are raised to heaven for
blessings upon the friend of their country. It is a moral homage which
we yield; the voluntary tribute of a generous people to the man who
fought that they might be free. The same feeling pervades the nation.
Your progress has not been the proud pageantry of a Caesar reckless
from the slaughter of millions; it has been rather the more glorious tri-
umph of a Timoleon receiving the grateful plaudits of the people whom
he saved. Again I bid you welcome.'
   "During the delivery of this address, the general seemed to be greatly
and feelingly excited, which was evident to all who had the opportunity
of a near view of the interesting scene; and when it was concluded,
grasping the judge's hand with the eagerness and affection of the most
sincere friendship, he said in reply:
   " 'After having had the pleasure to revisit the eastern and some of


940





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


the interior parts of Pennsylvania, with which my old connections are
full of important and endearing remembrances, I am now happy to wit-
ness in this western section the creations and improvements, which are
the result of independence, self-government, republican institutions and
a republican spirit. I have also in this newly settled country the happi-
ness to meet old companions in arms; and what place could be better
appropriated to this meeting than the one which bears the name of our
beloved commander-in-chief. You have been pleased, sir, with that sacred
name, to associate the name of a neighboring county; permit me to add
another denomination, that of Greene County, which also recalls to the
mind a bosom friend of Washington. I am highly flattered, dear sir,
by your so very kind references to past times; I am delighted with the
welcome I meet from the people of this town and county; from your
fine corps of volunteers, and from these young beauties who have deigned
to adorn so honorable and gratifying a reception. I beg you all to accept
my most affectionate and respectful acknowledgements.'
   "The general then retired within the house, where he was addressed
by William Duane Morgan (a little boy chosen for that purpose by 'The
Future Defenders of American Liberty') in form of an Acrostic, as
follows:
         Long, long with grateful hearts we've wish'd to view
         And welcome make the chief to freedom true;
         Friend of the world, generous, brave, benign,
         All witching pomp of courts thou did'st resign,
         Yielding the dearest, tend'rest ties of life,
         Eager to quell the tyrant's bloody strife,
         To raise, support and cheer a struggling band,
         Thou cam'st, and peace and victory bless'd our land,
         Epoch of glory, sent by Hea'ns command.
   "All the young ladies who formed a part of the procession were intro-
duced to General Lafayette, who feelingly and kindly expressed his sense
of their delicate and grateful attention. The fatherly benedictions ut-
tered by him to these young innocents as they passed will be treasured
by them with feelings of ecstasy and gratitude 'as long as memory holds
her sacred sway.'
   "Then the general left his apartments and again ascended the plat-
form, where the troops saluted him as they marched in review before him
up the street. The general we understand was pleased to express his
approbation in very flattering terms of their martial appearance and
good discipline.
   "General Lafayette was then re-conducted to his apartments in Mr.
Morris' Inn, where such persons as wished to pay their personal respects
were introduced. The ceremony of introduction, etc., occupied the eve-
ning until supper was announced, when the general and a large party of
gentlemen sat down to a most splendid and plentiful entertainment pre-
pared by Mr. Morris, in his long room. After supper, many toasts were
given, of which we have not been furnished a copy except the follow-
ing. After the general's health had been drunk, he made some remarks,
and gave, 'The County and Town of Washington. May their prosperity
forever go hand in hand with the glory of the name.'


941





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


River, above its mouth, where he was compelled to run the gauntlet. He
was then stripped, painted black, and taken to the stake where a fire had
been kindled. Surrounded by a crowd of jeering, taunting Indians, he
watched his chance, and when a squaw with a papoose on her back came
within his reach, he suddenly seized the baby, tossed it into the flames,
knocked over several Indians who stood in his way, and bounded into the
forest, followed by a rain of bullets and arrows. He escaped uninjured
and reached Fort McIntosh.
    Brady's most sensational feat occurred in Portage County, Ohio, where
 he was condemned to be burned a second time. Several different versions
 of this adventure have been related; but the account given here was told
 in 1802 by John Summerall, of Pittsburgh. The story was corroborated
 by John Haymaker, Henry Stough, and John Jacobs, all of whom knew
 Brady, and claimed that he had related it to them.
    During the summer of 1780 a large war party made a raid in Wash-
 ington County, and, after murdering several families, started back to
 Ohio, loaded down with plunder and scalps. At the time Brady was visit-
 ing at the home of Vann Swearingen in this county. As soon as he heard
 the news of the raid he started in pursuit, with a company of rangers,
 among whom were John Dillow and a man named Stoup, or Sprott, both
 of Washington County. There were probably others from this county in
 the company, but history does not record their names.
    The trail was several days old before Brady and his men reached the
scene of the murders, but they followed it to a point near the present town
of Ravenna, Portage County, Ohio, where the trail divided. Brady divided
his men, he following the west branch towards the falls of the Cuyahoga.
Brady and his men overtook the Indians on the shore of a small lake in
Portage County, now known as Brady's Lake from the incidents that
occurred there at that time. The whites surrounded the camp and killed
most of the Indians at the first fire, but unfortunately the shots were heard
by a larger war party nearby, who hastened to the scene. The whites
were greatly outnumbered and most of them were killed, and Brady
himself was captured in the battle that followed.
   The Indians were jubilant when they learned their prisoner was the
terrible Captain Brady, the one man they feared more than any other
on the entire frontier, and they unanimously voted that he should be
burned at the stake. They decided to make this burning a noted event,
and word was sent to the surrounding tribes so that all might enjoy the
tortures of their most hated enemy.
   On the day set for the burning hundreds of Indians from the tribes of
Northern Ohio gathered at the village. Brady was stripped and bound to
the stake, which was a high post. His captors decided to prolong his
tortures, and the fires were kept low. Brady's great physical strength
stood him in good stead. Cautiously he strained at his bonds until he suc-
ceeded in working them loose. Then he waited for a favorable oppor-
tunity. Suddenly, when the attention of the spectators was attracted by
some new arrivals, Brady leaped through the flames, seized a squaw, threw
her into the fire, and bounded away, knocking over every Indian who
stood in his way.
   In the excitement which followed this bold deed he succeeded in dash-




942            HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

    "Before he retired he gave the following volunteer toast: 'The ancient
representative from Greene and Washington counties, Who has proved
himself equally eminent in the National Congress, in the cabinet, and in
the American transatlantic diplomacy.'
    "General Lafayette and his suite left this place next morning at 6
o'clock for Brownsville, escorted by our committee of arrangement, mili-
tary officers and a large party of gentlemen on horseback. He stopped
at Hillsborough to breakfast, and arrived on the western bank of the
Monongahela about noon, where he was introduced and delivered over
to the Brownsville committee. In the evening he arrived at Uniontown,
in Fayette County, where he lodged all night; and yesterday intended to
visit Mr. Gallatin at New Geneva. From thence he proceeds by Brad-
dock's Field to Pittsburgh, which place he will reach on Monday next,
and after tarrying a day or two, contemplates going by way of Erie,
Pa., and the New York canal to Albany and thence to Boston."
   The following is from the issue of The Examiner for Saturday, June
4, 1825:
   "General Lafayette, after having been received and entertained in
a very handsome manner by the people assembled at Brownsville and
Uniontown, and visiting Mr. Gallatin at New Geneva, arrived at the house
of Colonel Wallace, at Braddock's Field, on Sunday evening, where he
lodged over night. Early next morning he resumed his journey, escorted
by Captain Murry's troops of horse and the committee of arrangements
of Pittsburgh and arrived at the United States garrison near the city,
where he breakfasted. After reviewing the troops at the garrison, he
entered the city amidst immense crowds of joyous people, who had as-
sembled to pay their respects to the 'Nation's Guest' and witness the im-
posing spectacle of his reception. He was conducted to Mr. Darlington's
Inn, where apartments had been fitted up for his accommodation, Soon
after his arrival, Judge Shaler delivered the address on behalf of the
citizens. In the evening a splendid ball was given at Colonel Ramsey's
hotel, at which the general attended. On this occasion it is said several
hundred ladies of the first fashion and elegance were present. On Tues-
day a public dinner was given at the same hotel; and the next morning
the general departed for Erie,"
   In this connection it is interesting to note that when General Lafay-
ette reached West Alexander the first person to greet him was Robert
Humphrey, founder of the town and a soldier of the revolution who had
saved the life of the noted Frenchman at the battle of Brandywine.
Lafayette had fallen badly wounded in this battle and was discovered
by Private Humphrey, who carried him from the battlefield and cared
for his wounds until the arrival of a physician.
   Tradition tells us that as soon as General Lafayette saw Mr. Hum-
phrey at West Alexander he rushed up and embraced him and while there
spent most of his time in Mr. Humphrey's company; kissing him on both
cheeks and embracing him just before he started on his journey to
Washington.
   On May 23, 1925, the people of West Alexander staged a historical
pageant reproducing the scenes of the arrival at that place of Lafayette
on May 25, 1825.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   On May 4, 1817, James Monroe, president of the United States, ar-
rived in Washington accompanied by his aide, Major Worth, General
McComb and his aide; Captain Root, and Governor Louis Cass of Michi-
gan. They were met by a committee of arrangements and escorted by
Captain McCluney's company of infantry to David Morris' famous Globe
Inn. The next day President Monroe left, accompanied by General Sut-
ton, Colonel Hill and Major Dunlap, on his way to Canonsburg and
Pittsburgh.
   On December 1, 1824, Gen. Andrew Jackson arrived in Washington
and stopped at what is now the Auld House, then conducted by James
Briceland. The name was immediately changed to "The Jackson Hotel."
During the years that followed, Andrew Jackson stopped in Washington
several times while going to and from the National Capital, one of which
was on September 14, 1836.
   Among other noted men who stopped in Washington in the early
times were Gen. William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor. The exact
date on which they arrived in the town is not definitely known at the
present time, but tradition tells us that they stopped at the old Globe Inn.
   Among other famous men who stopped in Washington in the days of
the National Pike were Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. Henry Clay
was a frequent visitor in the town, always stopping at the Globe Inn.
He was also entertained by Hon. T. M. T. McKennan, in the old house
still standing in East Maiden Street.
   On February 10, 1845, James K. Polk and his wife stopped at the old
Mansion House. Mr. Polk was on his way to Washington, D. C., for
his inauguration as president of the United States. Besides Mr. and
Mrs. Polk, there were Marshall Polk, their young son; J. Knox Walker,
Mr. Polk's secretary; Colonel Butler, of Kentucky; Judge Hubbard, of
Alabama, and T. H. Stevenson, J. N. Esselman and J. H. Harris.
   Another interesting event in the early history of the town is found
in The Examiner of January 21, 1837, which states, "General Santa Anna
passed eastward on Saturday last incognito." This would place the time
of his visit as January 15, 1849. Tradition tells us that a man living
in Washington whose brother had been killed by Santa Anna's orders
during the Texas rebellion, lay along the National Pike with a rifle,
waiting for the stage coach in which the Mexican general was riding.
This was called to the attention of the sheriff, who placed the man under
arrest and held him until after Santa Anna had passed safely through
the town.
   On several occasions Gen. U. S. Grant visited Washington and was
entertained by the late William W. Smith at Trinity Hall, for whom a
warm personal friendship existed dating back to days before the Civil war
when General Grant was only a lieutenant in Jefferson Barracks, Mis-
souri, and Mr. Smith was a visitor at his uncle's plantation near that
place. General Dent, who resided near Jefferson Barracks, was Mr.
Smith's uncle and his plantation was a gathering place for many of the
young officers from Jefferson Barracks. It was at this time that the
friendship began. General Grant afterwards married a daughter of
General Dent and thus his wife and Mr. Smith were cousins.


943





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   W. McK. Smith, son of the late W. W. Smith, recalls having heard
his father speak many times of Grant and the confidence placed in the
elder Smith by the general. The reason of this was that Mr. Smith was
very "close mouthed." Before the war Mr. Smith spent a year and a
half in Kansas Territory, where he became acquainted with an Indian
named Parker. This Indian was afterwards Grant's private secretary
during the war. The general said that the reason he was selected was
because he never talked or told anything he had heard or learned. The
friendship between Parker and the elder Smith was renewed at Grant's
headquarters in 1864-65.
   In speaking of the visits of Grant to Washington, W. McK. Smith
stated that he does not now remember just how many times he was here,
but it was at least five or six. While talking over these visits Mr. Smith
found an old bamboo cane in his office, upon which was a silver plate
which states that the cane was left in the office of William W. Smith in
September, 1869, by General Grant. Prior to that time Mr. Smith had
no knowledge of this cane. For over half a century it had been in the
Smith offices, which had been moved several times during that period.
   General Grant's first visit to Washington was on Wednesday, June
12, 1867. He was accompanied by Mrs. Grant, his brother-in-law, General
Dent, and several other members of his staff. He arrived in Washing-
ton at noon, on a special train over the Hampfield Railroad (now the
B. & 0.) from Wheeling. There was no demonstration or reception at
the station, as Grant was opposed to such things. However, there was a
large crowd waiting. The party was taken in carriages to the home of
William Smith, in the building located at the northeast corner of Main
and Beau streets, where the street railway office is now located.
   The party remained there that night, General Grant occupying the
corner room. That evening the local band serenaded the general, who
was sitting at the window, smoking the inevitable "black cigar." He
was asked to make a speech, but, following his usual custom, postponed
it until the next visit. Grant never made speeches.
   During the serenade a dog fight occurred right under his window. Grant
was a lover of dogs (and probably of a good dog fight), and he leaned
half way out of the window and was an interested spectator of the battle,
which waged fiercely for several minutes before one canine turned tail
and fled.
   On that occasion General Grant came to Washington to attend the
wedding of his friend, W. W. Smith, to Miss Emma Willard McKennan,
which occurred on June 13, 1867. That same day the Grant party left
Washington, returning to Wheeling on a special train.
   Grant's next visit to Washington was in September, 1869, when he
and his wife again were the guests of the late W. W. Smith. The Grants
arrived here on September 15 and remained until the 28th. General
Grant disliked any public attention or ceremony of any kind and at first
it was decided that he should be permitted to arrive quietly. However,
at the last moment it was decided that some sort of reception should be
given him, and accordingly a meeting was held in the courthouse to make
arrangements.


944





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Burgess John D. Boyle occupied the chair and Major Ewing and
Colonel Hopkins explained the object of the gathering. It was finally de-
cided that the town council, with a committee of citizens, meet outside
the borough and escort him to Trinity Hall. That was before the days
of the Chartiers Railroad between here and Pittsburgh, and the Grants
arrived on one of the old stage coaches that connected this place with the
Smoky City.
   The committee was composed of Messrs. Hopkins, Ewing, Swan,
Moore, Alex Wilson, Miller, McElroy, Patterson and Henderson. All
the clergymen and as many of the residents as could procure vehicles
were invited to join the procession.
   This escort met the Grant party at 3 o'clock in the afternoon just a
short distance outside the town. Burgess Boyle delivered a short address
of welcome, and tendered General Grant the hospitality of the town.
General Grant then took a seat in the carriage with Burgess Boyle and
the procession moved down Main Street, coming in at the corner of
Walnut Street, which was the road from Pittsburgh.
   All buildings were decorated with flags and a great crowd of people
were on the streets. The schools had been dismissed and the children
assembled in front of the courthouse. Grant's aversion to noisy dem-
onstrations was respected and there was no cheering. From there the
party moved to Trinity Hall.
   General and Mrs. Grant held a reception at the residence of Mr.
Smith on Friday evening, September 17, which was attended by a great
number of residents of Washington. An amusing incident which occurred
at the reception is given in The Reporter for September 22, 1869:
   "Mrs. Grant chatted pleasantly with everybody but the General main-
tained his usual reticence. Among the many persons presented was a tall
countryman, burning with a desire to shake hands with the president.
He expressed loudly his great delight at the honor but was very much
taken back by finding the hero so small in stature. 'General,' he said,
'I am delighted to see you, but I'm really amazed to find you such a
small man,' and he put his hand upon the president's head. 'I thought
you must be a great big fellow.' Then putting his hand in his capacious
pocket he pulled out a peach and presented it to the general and another
for Mrs. Grant. The latter sent a servant up to the general's room for a
bunch of cigars, which she presented to him in return. The agriculturist
went away greatly rejoiced."
   It is to be regretted that history does not record the name of this man.
   The cornerstone of the Town Hall was laid by General Grant on Sep-
tember 18, 1869, and it was the greatest day Washington had known
since the close of the Civil war. On the day before, the following letter
was sent to General Grant by the committee requesting him to partici-
pate in the ceremony:
                             "Washington, Pa., September 17, 1869.
"General U. S. Grant, President of the United States.
   "Honored Sir:-The undersigned, Burgess and Council of the borough
of Washington, representing its citizens, most respectfully solicit you
to deposit within the cornerstone of the Town Hall, now in process of
       60-V1


945




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


erection, on Saturday next (September 18) a box containing the memo-
rials of the present and past, so that future generations may learn our
history to the present time when these memorials shall come to light.
    "The occasion is one worthy of your consideration, because this was
 the first county and town named after the revolutionary struggle, in
 honor of the illustrious Washington, who was first in peace, first in war,
 and first in the affections of his countrymen; and you, honored sir, as his
 successor, both as President and Commander-in-Chief, will add additional
 interest to the many interesting reminiscences which cluster around our
 ancient borough by complying with our request.
    "With sentiments of high esteem, we remain, truly yours.
    "John D. Boyle, chief burgess; I. Y. Hamilton, assistant burgess; Al-
 fred Creigh, A. B. Caldwell, James Huston, J. L. Judson, A. C. Morrow,
 councilmen."
    General Grant's reply, which should be preserved as a matter of the
 town's history, follows:
                              "Washington, Pa., September 17, 1869.
 "John D. Boyle, chief burgess; I. Y. Hamilton, assistant burgess; Alfred
    Creigh, A. B. Caldwell, J. Huston, J. L. Judson and A. C. Morrow,
    councilmen.
    "Gentlemen :-Your letter of this date requesting me, in behalf of
 the citizens, to deposit within the cornerstone of the Town Hall, now in
 process of erection, on Saturday, September 18, 1869, a box containing
 memorials of the present, is received. It will afford me pleasure to
 comply with this request; enhanced pleasure because your county and
 town were named in express honor of the Father of Our Country, whose
 name is revered by every American citizen who loves his country. With
 great pleasure, your obedient servant,              U. S. Grant."
    The ceremony took place at the foundation of the Town Hall, at 2:30
 o'clock in the afternoon, when an immense crowd had gathered. General
 Grant arrived in a carriage, accompanied by Burgess Boyle and several
 citizens.
    Rev. Dr. Davidson opened the ceremony with prayer, after which D.
 F. Patterson, then an attorney at the local bar, delivered the address,
 after which the box containing the memorials was placed in the hands
 of General Grant, who deposited it in the receptacle prepared for it in
 the cornerstone. A large photograph of this scene was taken by a local
 photographer, and a copy is still preserved in the collection of the Wash-
 ington County Historical Society, on the third floor of the courthouse.
    After this ceremony General Grant went into the courthouse, where
for more than an hour a continuous stream of people surged past, shak-
ing the president's hand. Major Ewing and Colonel Hopkins stood at
General Grant's side and introduced each person.
   John Kane, a crippled soldier who had been selling pencils and sta-
tionery in Washington that day, was unable to reach Grant in the crowd.
After the ceremony he secured the loan of a horse and buggy and drove
to Trinity Hall. He was told that the president was just going to dinner,
and he handed his discharge papers to a servant with the request that
they be taken to Grant with the message that he was a crippled soldier,
and unable to get out of the buggy. The servant returned in a few min-


946




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


utes, saying that the president was at dinner but that he had sent him a
message. When Kane opened the discharge papers he found a ten dollar
bill enclosed. Kane was shot in both legs at Petersburg and was com-
pelled to go about on crutches.
   General Grant had intended remaining in Washington until after the
fair, which was held in those days at what is now College Field, but on
Monday, September 20, he received a message which called him to the
capital, and he left on Tuesday, the 28th.
   This is supposed to have been the famous message, sent by Corbin,
Grant's brother-in-law, and carried personally by Jim Fiske's messenger.
Both Fiske and Corbin were powers in Wall Street in those days. The
contents of that message have never been made public, but it is said that
it was an appeal from Corbin to the president to forbid the secretary of
the treasury to sell gold. Whether Corbin was successful or not will
never be known; but at any rate gold shot up to sixty-five and the result
was the memorable Black Friday smash up in gold on Wall Street on
Friday, September 24, 1869.
   This messenger traveled by express train from New York to Pitts-
burgh and, early in the morning of September 20, was driven by vehicle
from Pittsburgh to Washington, not waiting on the regular stage which
was too slow for him. He went immediately to Smith's residence and
personally placed the letter in Grant's hands. It is stated that after
reading the letter, Grant simply said that it was "all right" and those
words the messenger telegraphed back to New York. Just what the
president meant or what was really in the message will never be known.
The letter has remained a mystery to this day. Fiske afterward suspected
that Corbin sold himself (Fiske) and Gould out by writing something
that had nothing to do with the main question.
   When in Washington General Grant always preferred to drive about
with either Mr. Smith or by himself in an old buckboard, with one horse.
He attracted very little attention and he was frequently seen about the
streets and in the vicinity of town in this rig.
   The Black Friday smash in gold was the subject of a congressional
inquiry and President Grant testified to having sent the telegram from
Washington but he stated that it had nothing to do with the crash.
After events proved that Corbin, Fiske and Gould tried to secure Grant's
influence in this matter, through his relationship with Corbin, but were
unsuccessful.
   W. McK. Smith remembers hearing his father say in connection with
Black Friday that a number of men visited Grant at Trinity Hall during
that week and tried to persuade him to do something but that he positively
refused.
   U. S. Grant Smith told the story as it had been told to him by his
father, the late W. W. Smith, who was General Grant's host at that time.
According to the old tradition, Fiske sent a messenger to Washington,
bearing a message for General Grant. He arrived here in the morn-
ing and went to Trinity Hall grounds, where he found the General, Mr.
Smith and several others playing croquet. Mr. Smith told that the mes-
senger handed an envelope to General Grant, which the President opened,
read, and then placed it in his pocket and went on playing. The messen-


947




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ger stood and waited for some time, and as the General paid no further
attention to him, he spoke to an aide who was standing nearby and told
him he would like an answer. The aide then went to the General and
informed him that the messenger was waiting for an answer, and Gen-
eral Grant replied, in these words, rather impatiently: "Oh, tell him
all right, all right." This is all that was said but when the aide de-
livered this message, Fiske's messenger turned around and left the
grounds and according to the history of those times, he delivered the
message to Fiske that General Grant said "all right."  What Grant
actually meant, no doubt, was that he would attend to it probably when
he got good and ready; and he evidently did not intend the meaning
which Fiske took. But that brought on the worst panic this country
has ever known.
    Another story has been told that General Grant personally took a mes-
sage to the Western Union telegraph office that morning, which was sent
to Fiske and which brought on the crisis. This, however, is not true.
The late John H. Murdoch, Sr., long a member of the Washington bar,
was the telegraph operator in charge of the Western Union telegraph
office in 1873, which was then located in the old Boyle Building on the
site of the present Brown Building. In an effort to find out the truth
of this, the author through Mr. Murdoch's son, John H. Murdoch, Jr.,
secured the story of this from Mr. Murdoch a short time before he died
last year. It seems that the message was taken to the telegraph office,
not by General Grant, but by one of his aides and the message was not
to Jim Fiske but was to one of the departments in Washington and was
a matter of business which had nothing whatever to do with the panic.
   Mr. Smith states that General Grant visited Washington again in
1873, during the panic. Of the other visits there is no record until that
of April, 1877. That was just a few weeks after Grant had completed
his second term as president and he was on his way East, after having
made a tour of several western cities, including Cincinnati and Chicago.
   General Grant and his wife arrived in Washington April 14, 1877,
and were the guests of Mr. Smith at Trinity Hall until April 18, when
they left for Harrisburg. This was probably General Grant's last visit
to Washington.
   Since General Grant was last here, three other men who during their
life held the executive chair, William McKinley, Benjamin Harrison and
William H. Taft have visited Washington. However, neither of them
was president at the time. William McKinley made a speech at the old
fairgrounds in Tylerdaie during a political campaign, and William H.
Taft delivered an address in the Washington and Jefferson College gym-
nasium after his term as president had expired. Harrison came here to
bury a relative in Washington cemetery.
   Some twenty years passed before another president of the United
States visited Washington. On July 3, 1922, President Warren G. Hard-
ing, accompanied by his wife, General Pershing and staff, passed through
Washington by automobile over the old National Pike, enroute from
Washington, D. C., to President Harding's old home at Marion, Ohio.
This was the first president who had passed over the National Pike since
President Polk went through Washington three quarters of a century


948






































    Gen.
18, 1869.
the court
  a 7.


U. S. Grant laying the cornerstone of the Town Hall, Washington, September
This building was moved from this location in 1898 to make room for
house. It now stands on the corner of West Cherry Avenue and Brownson


    President William McKinley (with bared head) in the welcome home parade that
escorted the Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers through Pittsburgh to Schenley Park,
August 28, 1899. Two companies of the Tenth-A from Monongahela and H from
Washington-were from Washington County. Col. A. L. Hawkins, the commander who
died at sea on the return, was a Washintton man, as was also Lieut-Col. James E.
Barnett, who brought the regiment back home from the Philippine Islands.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


before. President Harding was met by a delegation of Washington
people, about two miles east of town and escorted through. On July 7,
1922, President Harding again passed through Washington on his way
from Marion to the National Capital.
    On October 26, 1886, James G. Blaine, former secretary of state and
candidate for president in 1884, visited Washington and made a speech
to the students in the college. This was Mr. Blaine's first visit to Wash-
ington since he had attended college here in the '40s, at which time he
resided in the old brick house now used by the Hazel-Atlas Glass Com-
pany for its general office.
   William Jennings Bryan has visited Washington on several different
occasions, delivering lectures in the W. & J. gymnasium about 1915.
   Gen. Nelson A. Miles passed through Washington while on his way
to Waynesburg to attend the reunion of a regiment which was under
his command during the Civil war.
   On October 4, 1922, after his last term in Congress had expired,
"Uncle" Joseph Cannon, for fifty years a congressman from the Illinois
district, passed through Washington on his way home. Mr. Cannon ar-
rived in Washington in the afternoon and took lunch at the grill, where
he was visited by a number of well known local persons, who had learned
that he was in town.
   When Gifford Pinchot was candidate for United States senator in
1914 he made a tour of Washington County, passing through Washing-
ton. He was here again during his gubernatorial campaign in 1922, at
which time he made an extended tour of the county.
   In June, 1919, Hon. Thomas R. Marshall, vice-president of the United
States, visited Washington and was entertained in the home of Miss
Elizabeth Stockdale, in East Wheeling Street.
   On October 22, 1924, Gen. Charles G. Dawes, at that time republican
candidate for vice-president of the United States, passed through Wash-
ington on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The train stopped at the
local station for ten minutes and General Dawes delivered a speech to a
crowd of several hundred people.
   On February 22, 1924, Hon. Henry C. Wallace, secretary of agricul-
ture, visited Washington and delivered the John M. Stockdale lecture on
political science to the students of Washington and Jefferson College.
This lectureship was founded by Miss Elizabeth Stockdale, late of
Washington.
   November 30, 1925, Hon. William N. Jardine, secretary of agriculture,
visited Washington and delivered the William and Mary Davis memorial
lecture on natural science to the students of Washington and Jefferson
College.
   On February 22, 1926, Admiral William S. Simms, retired commander
of the American naval force in European waters during the war, visited
Washington and delivered the John M. Stockdale lecture on political
science to the students of Washington and Jefferson College.
   In 1798, a Maypole, upon which a French flag was placed, was erected
in Washington. It is said that it excited in the minds of some of the
people fears that it might be turned into a liberty tree and the authorities
ordered it cut down.


950




































House in which James G. Blaine was born in
West Brownsville. This shows the rear view.


    House in which James G. Blaine lived while attending Washington
College as a student.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ing out of the village and into the shelter of the surrounding forest before
the savages could recover from their astonishment. Then every warrior
in the camp started in pursuit and the woods was combed for the daring
white man.
    Brady was perfectly naked, and he had no weapons of any description;
 yet this did not daunt him in the least. He was in perfect p)hysical condi-
 tion, although he had been scorched a little by the fire. and he managed
 to keep ahead of his pursuers. Just where this village was located is not
 known definitely. but it is said that he traveled for nearly a hundred miles
 through the wilderness with this horde of blood-thirsty savages at his
 heels. In reality the distance was probably much less. The Indians held
 tenaciously to his trail, and many times he was near death, but his wood-
 craft saved him.
    He knew the country, and as he neared the Cuyahoga River he made
for a ford known as "Standing Stone," from a very peculiar column of
rock, or standing stone, that stood in the midst of the rushing waters in
the gorge of the Cuyahoga at the present town of Kent. This ford was
well known to the Indians; for it was on an old trail from the Salt Springs
to Sandusky-on-the-Lake. It was the only point at which the gorge could
be crossed for some distance, for the perpendicular walls of rock were
twenty-five feet high.
    When Brady neared the ford he found that his pursuers had inter-
cepted him. He must go forward; for it meant capture and death to turn
back; but the stream blocked his escape. With exultant yells the savages
closed in, believing he was in their grasp at last; but without a moment's
hesitation he decided upon his course. Death in the raging waters of the
gorge had less terror than the stake.
   Summoning all his strength, the scout ran back for a short distance to
get a start, and then ran directly to the brink of the gorge. Believing
that he intended to plunge into the gorge, the Indians stopped and watched
him. Without pausing an instant when he reached the brink, the daring
man, with a mighty effort, leaped clear across the chasm that blocked his
way to life and liberty, and landed safely on the opposite side. He barely
made it; for he slipped as he landed and would have slid into the river,
but he grasped a bush. Quickly drawing himself up, he bounded away
into the woods, followed by a rain of bullets and arrows. A bullet wounded
him in the leg.
   Crossing at the ford, the Indians were soon pressing him hard; for he
was retarded by the wound. When capture seemed certain, he plunged
into the waters of the lake and concealed himself among the rushes. The
old accounts state that he completely submerged himself under the water,
breathing through a reed. He remained under the water for several hours
until night fell, when he crawled out and made his way, naked and without
arms, back to Fort McIntosh. It was from this incident that this lake
takes its name of Lake Brady.
   Another version of this exploit states that the battle in which Brady
was captured took place on the shore of Lake Brady. In 1812 General
Samuel C. D. Harris found many bones scattered about this place, and in
1820 Jonathan Stewart picked up the brass hilt of a sword.
   The Indians were unwilling to admit that a white man could excel




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    It is interesting to note at this point that in 1798 the physicians in
 Washington advertised that they were prepared to vaccinate for small-
 pox. On July 2, 1817, The Examiner states that a case of smallpox had
 been found in Wheeling Street. The physicians of Washington at that
 time advertised that they had secured a quantity of genuine vaccine and
 the attention of the public was called to this fact. January 9, 1818,
 Martin Deburg, age thirty-four, died of smallpox in Washington. Feb-
 ruary 3, 1818, John Morrow, age twenty, died of the same disease, fol-
 lowed on February 23, 1818, by Miss Rebecca Scott, age thirteen, daugh-
 ter of John Scott. On March 2, 1818, it is noted that one of the phy-
 sicians announced that the smallpox was on the decline, no new cases
 having occurred within ten days.
    Another item of interest appears in The Examiner for July 5, 1819,
when the Washington Steam Mill advertised that having undergone
considerable improvements "it is now ready for visitors, who may be
accommodated with warm or cold baths at the shortest notice."
    On at least one occasion, the cholera made its appearance in Washing-
ton. This is shown by an item taken from The Examiner for July 26,
1834, which states that Robert McGee was exposed to the disease in
Wheeling and brought it to Washington and on July 22, his seven-year-
old child died, followed by his nephew, Henry Black, age fourteen, on the
same day, and his wife on July 24. Mr. McGee and one child recovered.
It is also noted that John R. Griffith recovered.
    The following item of interest is taken from The Examiner of June
18, 1821, "On Thursday last, fifty-eight free negroes passed through this
place from Virginia, under the care of a Mr. Crew, on their way to join
a settlement of the same race of persons, formed some time since in Brown
County, Ohio. They formerly belonged to the estate of Mr. Samuel Gist,
who at his decease several years ago, manumitted his slaves, leaving them
his property to an immense amount. They had with them three wagons
to carry their baggage, etc. While here, their behavior was quite orderly
and they seemed to appreciate the philanthropic views of their late master
in setting them free."
   No history of Washington County would be complete without mention
of the famous artists, Malcolm and Evans Parcell, sons of Rev. S. L.
Parcell, of Washington, pastor of the Broad Street Baptist Church, for
nearly a quarter of a century. The fame of the Parcell Brothers whose
studios are located in their home town of Washington, has spread through-
out the nation.
   The famous painting of the picturesque old gateway of Trinity Hall,
reproduced in this history, was made by Malcolm Parcell in 1920. Prior
to that he had made several others, all of which have attracted the most
flattering attention. Through these paintings this gateway was brought
to the attention of the late Bertram Goodhue, of New York, probably the
most noted rural artist in the United States, in his day, and he pronounced
it the finest example of a rural gateway in the United States. Five dif-
ferent views of this gateway have been painted by Mr. Parcell, and are
now owned by the following: Judge Alexander Simpson, of Philadelphia;
Joseph Burdick, of Pittsburgh; Patrick Brice, of New York; and the
Gage Gallery of Cleveland. Ohio.


952




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Mr. Parcell's paintings which have brought him the greatest fame
are: "My Mother," "Jim McKee," and "Louine," all portraits. These
have attracted international attention and have won first prizes in all
exhibitions in which they have appeared in this country
   "Old Women of the Hills" is one of his best rural scenes, and one of
his favorites. While Mr. Parcell has become famous as a portrait artist,
he personally likes rural scenes the best. The quaint old settings of
rural villages and the countrysides appeal to his artistic taste, and the
world in the future will hear more from this artist when he has completed
some of the paintings which he has planned for the future.
   In addition to this work, Mr. Parcell illustrates for such magazines
as "Vanity Fair," "International Studio," "Town and Country," "Har-
per's," "Revue Moderns," a French magazine, and "Les Artistes D'Au-
jourd'hui," another French publication.
   Evans Parcell, brother of Malcolm, makes a specialty of magazine
work, and he illustrates for "The Saturday Evening Post," "Pictorial Re-
view," "McCalls," "Red Book," "Woman's Home Companion," and "Ladies
Home Journal."
   Three quarters of a century ago and later, there lived at the corner
of South Main and East Maiden streets, a man named Jacob Koechline,
whose fame for gingerbread has survived the passing years, and today
he is still well remembered by the old residents of the town, who were
the boys and girls three quarters of a century ago. They well remember
the time when for one of those big old copper pennies, they could buy as
much gingerbread from "Daddy" Koechline as they could eat. Yet of
all the people who remember "Daddy" Koechline, not one can recall his
first name. To the children of those days he was just "Daddy" and as
Daddy, he has come down across the span of years in the memories of the
boys and girls of long ago. His store was located at the corner of South
Main and East Maiden streets on the lot now occupied by the Beck Build-
ing. For many years, it was known as the old Koechline corner. On
December 21, 1884, this old building was completely wrecked by an ex-
plosion of natural gas, the entire north side of the house being completely
blown out. This was caused by a leak in the pipe, and an attempt was
made by some inmate to find it with a lighted lamp.
   In early times, it was the custom to have wells on the street, scattered
throughout different sections of the town. The locations of most of these
old wells have long since been forgotten but a few of them are still known
and were in use until recently. One was on West Beau Street, just below
the jail, another on South Franklin Street, between Beau and Pine Alley.
There were several on Main Street but they have long since been filled up
and the only one that is known is at the northeast corner of Main and
Beau streets. This old well is still in existence, although it is covered
over by the sidewalk. Several years ago, when a new concrete walk
was laid, the well was found underneath a huge flagstone. Half a cen-
tury and more ago, John McConoughy made log pumps. These pumps
once common throughout all Washington, were made from a log, cut
octagon shape, and with a long log pipe which extended to the bottom of
the well. Only two of these are now left in Washington of the many
dozen that were located here at one time. One of them is in the well


953




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


in the rear of Mr. McConoughy's old home in East Walnut Street, where
his son and daughter still live. It has not been used for many years, but
on account of the memories that cling around it, the children, both at
home and now well up in years, still preserve it. Another is located in
a well on the property owned by Robert Forrest on Forrest Avenue. These
in their day were good pumps but after Mr. McConoughy died many
years ago, no one was found who was willing to undertake the job of
keeping them in repair, so this became a lost art.
    "Uncle" Billy Burton, was a well known citizen of Washington be-
fore and during the Civil war. Uncle Billy conducted a notion store in
one room over the house which is still standing on Highland Avenue,
but at that time it was almost out of town. In its day, this was about
the only store in Washington that handled children's toys. Such things
as toys were few and far between but what there was, Uncle Billy always
had a supply of at a reasonable price. During a period of many years,
he conducted this little store and by catering to the wants of children,
he soon became one of Washington's richest men of his time. He was
patriotic too and although he was an old man during the Civil war, he
gave liberally to every cause that helped the Union.
   Washington had a number of persons well remembered by the older
generation; and while they do not come under the classification of noted
persons, they were connected with the history of the county seat of other
days, and in their days were known throughout the county for some
specialty or peculiarity. Among them was Dungee, who conducted a con-
fectionery under the sign, "All Trades Must Live, and So Must Dungee."
This man was famous for his home-made taffy. Then there was Frank
Lowe, the fortune teller; old Jimmy Dancer, who would drop his hoe and
come to town when he heard the band playing; Jesse Grayson, who located
many of the wells in old Washington town with a twig of a peach tree;
Sam Riles, who conducted a confectionery, and Dan Closser and Sam
Garber, who always wore the old Style red blouse or wamus. The world
famous Lilliputians, Tom Thumb and Commodore Nutt, once visited
Washington and played billiards in Alex Rankin's pool room.
   Just when baseball was first started in Washington is not known today
but we find from The Reporter that on August 1, 1866, the Union Club of
Washington, played the Hunkidory Club of Wheeling, in Wheeling Island.
The game was stopped by rain at the end of five innings, when the score
stood Union forty-five, Hunkidory twelve.
   During the first week of August, 1866, a baseball club was organized
in Washington with David Aiken, president; Boyd Crumrine, vice-pres-
ident; J. Good Ruple, secretary; D. F. Patterson, treasurer. At that
time forty members had enrolled.
   December 2, 1885, two freight trains on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad came together in a head on collison in the Workman cut, one-
half mile east of town. One was a through train and the other a local.
John C. Reiter, aged thirty-five, of Washington, conductor of the local.
was standing in the engine of his train at the time, and was instantly
killed. Frank Snyder, of Piedmont, West Virginia, brakeman of the
through train, who was also in the engine, was instantly killed. I. O.
Reynolds, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, fireman of the through train,


954





















































     Wreck of the "Cannonball" on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad "Y" in Wash-
ington, October 19, 1888, in which the engineer and fireman were killed and more than
a score of passengers were injured.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


was critically injured. James Morris, of Washington, engineer of the
local, was thrown from his engine but not seriously injured. Frank
Dean, engineer of the through train, jumped from his cab, just as the
trains struck and was hit by some flying missile, sustaining injuries to his
spine.
   At the coroner's inquest, the jury returned a verdict that the wreck
"was principally the result of neglect on the part of J. W. Elsworth.
train runner at Glenwood, to inform Conductor Reiter that he had added
a delayed train to No. 86, at Washington, making it section 1, of No. 86,
and then permitting the said Reiter to leave Washington with orders
to meet 2d and 3d 86 at Zedikers before the first section of 86 from
Glenwood had arrived at Washington; and that J. H. Bealls, day operator,
at Washington, Pennsylvania, knew when he gave the white block to
Conductor Reiter, permitting him to leave, that the 1st No. 86 from Glen-
wood had left Wyland's and was then coming to Washington; and the
jury believe that it was his duty to so inform Conductor Reiter and that
then the accident might have been averted."
   October 19, 1888, another terrible wreck occurred on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad when the crack passenger train known as the "Canonball"
ran into an open switch at the "Y" in the local yards, crashing into a train
consisting of a engine and tender, express, baggage car, a sleeper and
two passenger cars, which were completely demolished, when they fell
under the trestle. The engineer and fireman were killed and more than
a score of persons were injured.
   On Friday morning, July 17, 1891, every resident of Washington was
startled by a terrible explosion, as were people for many miles around.
It soon became known that Samuel Bigler of Mount Morris, Greene County,
a nitro-glycerine shooter, had been blown up with his entire load of
glycerine, and his two horses were killed. This occurred in East Maiden
Street, directly in front of the brick house owned by Work Hughes. This
house and every other nearby house were completely wrecked, but for-
tunately no one except Bigler, was seriously injured.
   The story is told that a boy was standing in the front door of the
Hughes house and was carried by the concussion clear through the hall
into the back yard and not injured.
   A large hole was blown in the National Pike at that point. Telegraph
poles were blown over and the windows broken in houses for some distance.
Even to this day a memento of this disaster of thirty-five years ago may
be seen-a horseshoe sticking to the side of a frame house, within about
one hundred feet of where the explosion occurred. On the day of the ex-
plosion the shoe was blown from the foot of one of the horses with such
terrific force that it was imbedded in the weather-boarding of this house
and was an object of great curiosity. However, this is not the original
shoe. It is known that several shoes had been carried away from there
during the years that followed the explosion, but each time another shoe
was nailed back in its place, so to this day, a horseshoe marks the place.
The original shoe was removed on the night following the explosion by
a resident of East Maiden Street, who had it in his possession for many
years and recently, it was given to the Washington County Historical
Society hv a member of his family.


956











  An oil well shooter with his
wagon loaded with sixty-four quarts
of nitroglycerine and torpedoes,
goin(g to shoot an oil well in the
'Taylorst;wn field in 1899. This
mnode of conveyance, once common
in the Washington County       oil
fie!ds, has now passed out of ex-
i,t nce.


    l1(,uses in East Maiden Street wrecked by the nitroglycerine explosion which killed
Samuel Bigler, July 17, 1891, in East Maiden Street, Washington. The explosion oc-
curr(ed in front of' the brick house on the left.


    Hole blown in the road by nitroglycerine explosion which killed Samuel Bigler,
July 17, 1891.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The Live Bird Shoot between Dr. E. M. Cundall of Washington and
 Alexander H. King of Pittsburgh, for the championship of Western Penn-
 sylvania, West Virginia and Ohio in 1896, was an event which attracted
 almost national attention. Doctor Cundall was an expert shot and during
 the years preceeding, he had defeated everyone against whom he shot,
 one of these men being Mr. King in 1894.
    In January, 1896, three matches of one hundred birds each, were ar-
 ranged between the two men, the winner to receive one hundred dollars
 at each event and the loser to take the gate receipts and pay all expenses.
 In the first match, Febuary 6, 1896, held at the fairgrounds in Washing-
 ton, Doctor Cundall killed eighty-nine birds. and King eighty-seven. The
 second match was at Exposition park, Pittsburgh, Febuary 13, and was
 won by Mr. King, who killed ninety-four birds to eighty-five for Cundall.
 This was the first live bird shoot which Doctor Cundall had lost out of
 eight in which he had taken part. Two years before he had defeated
 Mr. King eighty-eight to eighty-seven. At the third match, held Feb-
 ruary 21 at Braddock, Doctor Cundall defeated Mr. King eighty-five to
 eighty-four.
    The first telephone service in Washington, Pennsylvania, was estab-
lished in October, 1884. Individual lines were the only class of service
available. The Central Office was opened on October 20, 1884, in the W.
C. Briceland building, at 66 West Wheeling Street, The first telephone
operator was Miss Jennie Rodgers. The office hours for this exchange
were from 7:30 A. M. to 12:00 M., 1:00 P. M. to 5:00 P. M. and from
6:00 P. M. to 8:00 P. M. The early promoters of the exchange were H.
U. Seaman and Robert Wolfe.
    The following are the names of the most prominent among the early
subscribers and their telephone numbers: Trinity Hall, 17; Seminary,
5; W. F. Wright, 28; George Davis, 29; John A. Best, 6; John Slater,
22; D. Kelly, Rogers & Jones, 12; H. U. Seaman, 45; Gant's Mill, 38;
Observer Officer, 31; Julius LeMoyne, 10; Auld House, 30; J. A. Howden,
46; Reporter Office, 16; A. J. Happer, 26; A. J. Montgomery, 1; A. B.
Caldwell, 3.
   In the early part of 1880, a phonograph salesman called at the Auld
House with one of the old time phonographs. The business men called
on this salesman and were startled when they saw demonstrated that a
voice could be heard through small tubes attached to the ears. Many
law suits were also taking place in the East over the invention of the tele-
phone and these news articles, together with the foregoing demonstration,
began to arouse the curiosity of the local business men. We must not
forget to mention "Beckie." the colored maid of Mr. Seaman, that also
played an important part in arousing the curiosity of the wonderful ac-
complishments over the telephone. Mr. Seaman had a telephone line from
his jewelry store, to his residence. He attracted the attention of his
residence by rapping on the transmitter with a small wooden mallet, for
in those days they did not have the bells. "Beckie" was an unusually good
singer, and she would frequently entertain the guests at the jewelry
store by singing over the telephone. These incidents played an important
part in the early development of the telephone industry at Washington.


958




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    It was at this point of enthusiasm that H. U. Seaman, a local jewelry
 dealer, induced his friend Robert Wolfe of the Wheeling Telephone Com-
 pany to come to Washington and start a telephone company. Mr. Wolfe
 agreed to this, providing the local business men would secure fifty sub-
 scribers at sixty dollars per year. This proved difficult at first but the
 fifty subscribers were secured. The first newspaper article relative to a
 local telephone company appears in an editorial of the Washington Daily
 Reporter, dated October 1, 1884. This article reads as follows: "A netting
 of wire is now spread over our town and in a few days, we shall be using
 the telephone. This is an evidence that Washington is keeping up with
 her neighbors. Recent inquiries have satisfied us that the Bell Telephone,
 the one to be used here, is superior to all others and renders the greatest
 satisfaction to customers. We may congratulate ourselves on having the
 best. Mr. Wolfe has ordered the 'phones' and they are expected here in a
 very short time."
    The following telephone conversations are recorded as they actually
occurred October 20, 1884, and will do to illustrate the use made of the
early telephones in Washington.
    "Homer Seaman," "Hello! What do you want?."' "I want you to
save me that silver dish I was looking at this morning." "I'll do it. Want
any engraving on it?" "Not to-day." "Some other day." "Good (lay."
"Good day."
    "Hello; LeMoyne"   "Hello! is that you Howden?"    "Yes."  "A lot
of your sheep have escaped from the pasture field and are now in danger."
"Much obliged, I'll come down and take care of them."
   Another use of the telephone was recorded in an issue of the Wash-
ington Daily Reporter reading: "Everybody likes the telephone. Yes-
terday we lost an umbrella. This morning its whereabouts was made
known by the telephone. It has fallen into safe hands at Hazlett's Bank."
   The first telephone connection between Washington, Pittsburgh, and
Wheeling was made on Saturday, October 25, 1884. The distance to
Wheeling by this route is one hundred and twenty-eight miles. It is
interesting to note that it is recorded that the voices are readily recog-
nized at both Pittsburgh and Wheeling. The first case of toll trouble re-
corded was due to a tree falling across the telephone wire near Caldwell
town on the national highway, west of Washington. The first subscriber
t,, have a telephone number changed was Rogers & Jones, they having their
number changed from 12 to 21, November 4, 1884. The first telephone
connection between Washington and Pittsburgh was made October 3, 1884,
this line following the old pike to Pittsburgh. A branch from this line at
the Hill Church extended to Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
   The first telephone service established at Canonsburg, was on October
16, 1884. This telephone was located in W. M. Russell's drug store. The
rates for using this telephone were twenty-five cents for the first five
minutes. An attempt was made to establish an exchange at Canonsburg
previous to the above date but it did not prove successful. It is interesting
to note that it is recorded that this exchange will be established in the
near future.
   The first central office was opened on October 21, 1885, in a small room


959





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


in the livery barn of W. P. Fulton, Pike Street, Canonsburg, Pennsyl-
vania. The exchange at Canonsburg at the present time is in the same
location as the first exchange, however, the frame building has been
replaced with a modern brick structure. The names of the early pro-
moters are not known but it is believed to have been actually developed
at Canonsburg, instead of being promoted by individuals.
    The names of the most prominent of the early subscribers are as fol-
lows:   Canonsburg Steel and Iron Company, Pennsylvania Training
School, J. D. Little, Canonsburg Milling Company, J. A. Hoxworth. Miss
Jennie Patterson of the Notes Office was the first telephone operator at
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
    On February 18, 1896, there were one hundred and thirty-one tele-
phones in Washington and on that date it was announced that the office
was kept open night and day. Miss Catharine R. Gilmore was the chief
operator and Mrs. Alice Proudfit and Hetty Carter were assistants.
Chester Wise was the night operator.
    The first telegraph line in Washington County was built between Wash-
ington and Wheeling in 1849. It was a private enterprise and the local
office was in charge of Alexander Wilson and Freeman Brady, who were
the first telegraph operators in Washington County. The Reporter of
June 10, 1848, in describing this line says, "Mr. Smith, agent for the orig-
inal patentees of the telegraph, Messrs. Morse, F. A. J. Smith & Co.,
was in our town on last Thursday, obtaining subscriptions and making
arrangements for the extension of the telegraph from Baltimore to Wheel-
ing. It appears that there are two companies, one chartered in Maryland,
to extend from' Baltimore to Wheeling, and the other in Tennessee, to
extend from New Orleans to Pittsburgh. These two are to be united,
thus making one continuous line from Baltimore to New Orleans, which
will connect with other lines extending throughout all the eastern cities
and at some point west with a line extending to the Lakes. They propose
having a station in Washington and line from this to Pittsburgh. Should
these arrangements be completed, they will give Washington all the con-
nections and advantages we could desire. We earnestly hope our business
men will take hold of this matter in the right spirit. It requires a sub-
scription of thirty shares only to secure a station here. Certainly this
amount can be obtained. More on this subject again."
   This line was built and the office at Washington established in 1849,
with Messrs. Wilson and Brady as the operators. The line was built
from Washington to Pittsburgh. Many of the old-time residents recall
the poles standing for several years before the Civil war. This venture
was not a success. The company failed in the early '50s and from that
time until 1865, there were no telegraph connections through the county.
   On December 27, 1865, the United States Telegraph Company estab-
lished an office in the Mansion House at Washington and were prepared
to send messages to all parts of the country. What this company was
or how long it lasted, we do not know.
   The next was in February, 1867, when the Pacific & Atlantic Tele-
graph Company built a line through Washington County along the line
of the National Pike, from Brownsville to Wheeling. It was announced
at that time, that the objective point was Louisville, Kentucky, but it was


960




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


expected to build the line to San Francisco. An office was opened at Wash-
ington about the middle of February but who the operators were, we do
not know. On August 14, 1867, the same company established an office
in the store of Ewart and Snyder at Beallsville, with C. Hosteter as oper-
ator. This company afterwards became the Western Union Telegraph
Company.
    The late John H. Murdoch, as already noted, was the telegraph oper-
 ator here in the early '70s and on August 13, 1885, Miss Lou Brown took
 charge of the local office, remaining for almost twenty years.
    An interesting event was noted in the October election of 1869, when
 the following men cast their ballot for the fiftieth consecutive time in
 Washington: Samuel Cunningham, John H. Ewing, John Grayson, John
 R. Griffith, John Harter, Joseph Henderson, Samuel Hornish, George
 Kuntz, Dr. F. J. LeMoyne, Jacob Slagle and Simon Wolf.
    On March 30, 1925, the automobile of ex-Kaiser Wilhelm, former em-
 peror and war-lord of Germany, passed through Washington, being taken
 to Ashland, Kentucky. It had been purchased in New York by J. Sanford,
 of Ashland.
    On September 12, 1923, there was living in Marianna, Miss Mary
 McLee, at the age of one hundred and eight years. She came to this
 country from Ireland, landing in America the day President Lincoln was
 shot. She settled in Clearfield County and then came to Washington
 County. Miss Sarah Thompson, believed to be the oldest person who ever
 lived in Washington County, died at the County Home May 26, 1924, at
 the age of one hundred and fourteen years. Miss Thompson was admitted
 to the home as a feeble-minded person from East Bethlehem Township
 in 1872, and at the time of her admission, her age was given as 62. For
 the past fifty-two years, she had been there and for many years had been
 a helpless paralytic, being confined to her bed all the time. The records
 also show that she was the second person admitted to the present home.
 There is no record of any surviving relatives and funeral services were
 held at the county home May, 26, 1924, with interment in the burial plot
 there.
   It is a long journey back across one hundred and eighteen years to the
days of Lewis and Clarke, yet one daughter of Patrick Gass, the last
survivor of that history making expedition, still lives to link the present
with the long ago. This is Mrs. Rachel Brierley, aged seventy-eight years,
of Independence, Washington County, the last of the family. Her
sister, Mrs. Annie J. Smith, aged eighty-two years, of Alhambra, Cali-
fornia, died in February, 1926, and so far as known, they were the last
children of the thirty-one men and the one Indian woman who were first
to cross the continent south of Canada. The lives of these two women
and their father cover a period of one hundred and fifty-three years,
longer than the age of the United States. Never was there an exploring
expedition with as much romantic interest attached to it. After an ab-
sence of more than two years, in a country unknown to white men, the
explorers returned to civilization with the loss of only one man, some-
thing unheard of either before or since. There were many remarkable
events connected with the adventurous life of Sergeant Patrick Gass,
the last survivor. Before he died, April 2, 1870, great cities had been
       61-V1


961





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


them in such a feat, and they said that Brady was a turkey and "flew"
across, which was true, figuratively speaking. They carved a rude imita-
tion of a turkey's foot on the rock, which definitely marked the spot. In
1812 General Samuel C. D. Harris measured the distance across the gorge
at this point and found it to be twenty-two feet. Other accounts place the
distance at twenty-seven feet six inches from rim to rim.
   The point where Brady leaped the gor'ge of the Cuyahoga River is
known to this day as Brady's Leaip. The spot is about two hundred yards
above the bridge across the river at Kent; but the appearance of the
stream has changed greatly since the noted Indian fighter leaped across
into everlasting fame nearly a century and a half ago. In 1800 the gorge
was spanned at the very point of the leap by a bridge built by Ralph
Buckland. This stood for many years.
   The rocks at the gorge of the Cuyahoga were blasted away and Brady's
Leap utterly d(lstroyed in the construction of the Ohio Canal in 1840.
McKnight says that the late Judge Moses Hampton, of Pittsburgh, went
to Kent and secured the section of rock u)on which the turkey foot was
carved. What finally became of it I have been unable to learn. The gorge
has entirely disappeared before the advance of civilization, and the banks
of the stream are only a few feet high at present and about twice as wide
as Iormerly.
   Brady's Lake is now a famous inland water resort. A monument
erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution on August 18th,
1909, stands near the spot where the Indian fighter is supposed to have
lain under the water to escape the savages so long ago.
   Because of his many visits here while courting the fair Drusella Swear-
ingen, Captain Sam Brady was well known by the settlers of Washington
County. Joseph Quigley, the son of an early settler on Chartiers Creek,
stated in later years that he remembered Brady well; for the scout had
been a frequent visitor at his father's house. He tells us that the wound
received by the Indian fighter when he leaped across the gorge of the
Cuyahoga slightly crippled one leg and he walked with a decided limp.
He was also deaf after this adventure, which was attributed to the long
period he was under the water.
   Because of Brady's hazardous occupation as an Indian fighter, Vann
Swearingen opposed his marriage to his daughter; but the Captain was
as determined and persistent in his courting as in fighting. When Swear-
ingen was sheriff from 1781 to 1784 he lived in Washington, where Brady
visited, attracted by the daughter, whenever he could find the time.
   There is an old story that David Bradford, of Whisky Insurrection
notoriety, a rising young attorney in the early days of Washington, was a
suitor for the hand of Drusella Swearingen; but the dashing young scout
leader won the heart of the frontier belle.
   In 1785 Vann Swearingen purchased a large tract of land from Colonel
Isaac Cox, on the Ohio River, in what is now Brooke County, West Vir-
ginia, and just above Wellsburg. This included Cox's Fort, famous in
frontier times, which was kept up by Swearingen until the danger of
Indian raids had passed.
   Captain Brady followed Swearingen to Virginia, where his persistence
was at last rewarded. "Indian" Vann, seeing that th s-out was deter-




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


built and untold wealth found in the land he had helped to discover.
During the War of 1812 he fought in some of the bloodiest battles on the
Canadian frontier; and at the age of sixty-three after a lifetime spent in
the service of his country, he married a girl of twenty whom he survived
many years. He was the father of six children. He lived to see this
country grow from the original thirteen colonies to thirty-eight states
and he voted at the election of each of the eighteen presidents from
Washington to Grant, who served during his long life. Four great wars,
The Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican and Civil, were fought,
in addition to numerous Indian battles during the life of this man who
sleeps in an unmarked grave in the Brooke County cemetery at Wellsburg,
West Virginia. It is little wonder that Patrick Gass led such an adven-
turous life. He was born June 12, 1771, at Falling Springs, not far from
the present town of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, then on the western
frontier of civilization. Like all pioneers, his father wandered from
place to place, seeking a home in the ever-moving far West. Patrick's
early childhood was spent within the sound of the guns of the Revolution,
and he was reared beyond the border of civilization, among Indian fighters
and adventurers of the old frontier at a time when the wild war cry of the
red warrior still rang through the forests of the Ohio Valley. In 1775,
the elder Gass left Pennsylvania and sought a new home in Maryland,
near old Fort Frederick, the ruins of which still stands three miles south
of Indian Spring, on the National Highway. There young Gass spent his
early boyhood, while the Revolution was being fought within sound of
his home.
   In 1780, when the American cause seemed hopeless, his father set out
for the country beyond the Alleghanies, the promised land of people from
the East anxious to escape British domination. The Gass family crossed
the mountains over that historic road which General Braddock had cut
through the wilderness a quarter of a century before on his ill-fated
march against the French, and which afterwards became that greatest
of all empire-building highways-the National Pike. All of the hardships
of the western trail of those days were encountered, and they were glad
to stop at Neasontown, now Uniontown, Pennsylvania, just at the foot
of the western slope of the Alleghanies. It was a beautiful country and
there was plenty of land, but the elder Gass had "western fever," and
the next year found him again on the trail. This time he stopped at
Catfish Camp, now Washington, Pennsylvania, then on the far western
frontier of civilization. He leased a tract of land nearby and spent the
next eight years as a farmer.
   The love for adventure which afterwards carried young Patrick across
the continent was developed during those years that he grew to early
manhood in the wilderness. Practically everything the settlers used had
to be carried across the mountains on pack horses or hauled in the heavy
Conestoga wagons. The journey which is now a matter of hours in an
automobile over the National Pike, required many weeks and was accom-
panied by hardships, which we today cannot comprehend. A journey
around the world at the present time can be made with far more comfort
and safety and in a shorter period. Yet those pioneers of old went across
the mountains for supplies at least once a year and thought nothing of it.


962




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


The boys of the old frontier had to learn early in life to take care of
themselves. Before 1790 young Patrick Gass had made several journeys
to Hagerstown and Mercersburg, then the nearest points of civilization,
and he had traveled the wilderness trails of what is now Western Penn-
sylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
   In 1792 he joined Captain Eaton's company of Rangers of the Fron-
tier, an organization of bold woodsmen who guarded the settlers from
Indian raids, and while stationed at Yellow Creek fort, West Virginia,
and at Bennett's fort, three miles above Wheeling, he met such frontiers-
men as Lewis Wetzel, the lone scout of Fort Henry, and Capt. Sam
Brady, leader of the Fort Pitt rangers,-two of the most noted Indian
fighters the western border ever produced. When seeking recruits for
the expedition to the Pacific in 1803, Captain Lewis secured Wetzel's
promise to accompany him but for some unknown reason he failed to
report.
   In those days New Orleans was the only market for the produce raised
west of the Alleghany Mountains, and each summer the more venture-
some traders took large keel boats loaded with wheat, flour, corn, and salt
pork down the Ohio and Mississippi to that city. Only the most daring
attempted the journey, for the dangers and hardships were great and
many were never heard of again. In March, 1793, young Gass went to
New Orleans on a keel boat, returning home on a sailing vessel to Phila-
delphia and across the mountains on horseback. While at Carlisle he
saw George Washington, who was there with troops, preparing to march
into Western Pennsylvania to quell the Whisky Insurrection.
   Gass learned the carpenter's trade at Mercersburg, where he worked
as an apprentice for two years and three months. During this period he
became acquainted with James Buchanan, afterwards president, while
working on a house for the elder Buchanan. The future president was
then a mere lad, and the young carpenter who had seen so much of the,
world appealed to his boyish imagination. The prospects for some fight-
ing seemed very good when war was threatened between the United
States and France in 1799 and Gass enlisted in the Tenth United States
Infantry, in a division commanded by Gen. Alexander Hamilton but the
war clouds passed and he was mustered out in June, 1800. The ink on
his discharge was hardly dry before he had enlisted under Major Cass
for five years with the rank of sergeant. His regiment was assigned
to General Wilkinson's command and during the next two years he saw
service in the Illinois country and on the Tennessee River.
   In the fall of 1803 Captain Meriwether Lewis went to the fort at
Kaskaskia in search of men for the expedition across the Rocky Moun-
tains to Oregon. Such a journey through a country where no white man
had ever been before, appealed to young Gass' adventurous spirit and
he was one of the first to volunteer. Gass was the carpenter of the
expedition and a hatchet carried by him during the entire journey is
still in the possession of his daughter, Mrs. Rachel Brierley, of Inde-
pendence, Pennsylvania. During the winter at Fort Mandan, North
Dakota, Gass became intimately acquainted with Sacajawea, the "Bird
Woman" guide of Lewis and Clarke. She carved out of wood a case for
his razor, which is also in the possession of Mrs. Brierley. After Pat-


963




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


rick Gass was mustered out of the Lewis and Clarke expedition, at St.
Louis, in September, 1806, he returned to Wellsburg and during the next
few years he wandered about the western frontier. When the war of
1812 broke out he immediately enlisted, serving on the Niagara frontier
and taking part in the bloody battles of Fort Erie and Lundy's Lane. In
the latter he was one of the gallant three hundred who, led by Colonel
James Miller, charged and captured the British battery after a desperate
hand-to-hand conflict on the night of February 14.
    In 1889 the Washington Street Railway Company was organized with
James B. Wilson as president. This was the first electric line in Wash-
ington County. It originally ran from the Main Street depot, up Main
Street to Walnut, thence on Highland and Locust avenues and up Wilson
Avenue to the end of that street. A branch line went down West Chest-
nut Street, branching off and crossing the Baltimore & Ohio railroad
just east of the West Washington cut. The line was in operation for a
few years, and then was taken over by the contractor for its erection.
For some time it was closed down but later it was started up again by a
new company. During the period when Mr. Wilson was president of the
line, he had a pleasure park in his grove just north of the present site
of the new hospital, where a dancing pavilion was erected and many enter-
tainments and picnics were held. This was Washington's first park, and
it proved very popular during the short time that it was in existence.
   In 1895 the line was built out Maiden Street and Jefferson Avenue.
In June, 1902, the Washington Electric Street Railway Company changed
its name to the Washington and Canonsburg Railway Company. Grad-
ing for the road between here and Canonsburg was started in 1902, with
William C. Wylie, of Washington, as chief engineer, and early in Sep-
tember, 1903, the first electric car entered Canonsburg.
   On January 1, 1906, the Pittsburgh Railway Company purchased the
Washington & Canonsburg Railway Company for $1,125,000, paying
$475,000 cash and assuming bonds for $650,000. At that time, the com-
pany had twelve miles of track. The construction of a line through to
Castle Shannon was started in 1907 and on February 15, 1909, the first
car ran over the line from Pittsburgh to Washington.
   The Pittsburgh & Charleroi Street Railway Company was organized
April 14, 1901, but the line was not completed until 1903. It originally
extended from North Charleroi to Monongahela City to Finleyville, and
then to Pittsburgh.
   The Allenport-Roscoe Street Railway Company was chartered Decem-
ber 8, 1903, but it was not built until the summer of 1906, which together
with the Charleroi and Allenport line, built in 1899, and the Pittsburgh
and Charleroi line, are now owned by the Pittsburgh Railway Company.
   The fact that Bolsheviki "Sunday Schools" taught the principles of
Lenine and Trotsky in Washington County was shown in the county
courts here in May, 1924. At that time, it was found that the Russian
Soviets had been holding meetings at Midland and teaching the "Red"
doctrines. A magazine called "The Young Comrade," published in Chi-
cago as the official organ of the junior section of the Young Workers'
League of America, was exhibited in court, showing articles written by
school children who were active members of the Midland Soviet.


964





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   In the introduction of these articles, it is stated: "These stories show
these young comrades are carrying on the fight in the public schools they
attend. In spite of the hard time they have had doing communistic work
in the schools, they are going ahead. They don't care about the beatings
they get. They are real little Communists. They are a bunch of Johnny
Reds." One of the articles referred to was written by "Comrade" Sam
Rotella, who is described as "one who fights with the junior group com-
rades even if he is beaten by the teachers." Sam's article, as printed in
"The Young Comrade," follows in full:
   "I am in the Sixth Grade of the Midland, Pennsylvania, No. 1 school.
One day while eating my dinner in the class room, my teacher, Mrs.
Mary Mitchell, was reading a geography book to herself. Later, she said
to me: 'Sam, do you know anything about Russia?' I answered, 'Yes.'
My teacher then asked me, 'What do you know about Russia?' I
answered: 'There was a revolution in Russia, where the workers are
fighting for their rights and run the government for themselves. In
Russia it is not like it is in this country, where Rockefeller and the other
rich people have all the money and do not work for it. In Russia, every-
body must work. Every time Rockefeller snaps his fingers he makes a
dime. It is us working people who give him his money.'
   "My teacher then stopped me in the middle of the story and told
another boy to call the principal, Mr. Lloyd S. Sprowls. He came into
the room and told me to stand on the platform. The principal then asked
me what I was talking about. I told him what I had told Mrs. Mitchell.
He then grabbed me by the shoulders and beat me with a gum hose over
my legs and told me to go to my seat. The principal then went back to
the back of the room and talked with my teacher."
   Another pupil from the same school writes: "The government would
first be good if not only the miners, but all the workers, had what they
wanted, not as it is now, where only the bosses have what they want."
   In the May issue, Sam Rotella appears as the organizer of a junior
group at Meadowlands. Of this meeting the paper says: "Sam Rotella,
of the Midland Juniors, helped organize the group. He delivered an
excellent speech for about six or seven minutes on the difference between
Boy Scouts and the Juniors. Tony Note and Jimmy Glass were also
present and spoke to the new Juniors. This was very effective and made
the children very eager."
   The Young Comrade, the official organ of the Junior groups of the
Young Workers' League, which is distributed monthly among the mem-
bers of the groups, is in makeup similar to the familiar Sunday School
paper distributed to the children of the churches on Sunday. It is well
illustrated, contains many letters and articles written by the Juniors
themselves. Some idea of the dangerous propaganda circulated by this
medium is seen from the following extracts taken from the April and
May issues. The pledge of the Red Flag as given in the May issue, reads
as follows:
               "I pledge allegiance to the Red Flag,
               And to the cause for which it stands,
               One aim throughout our life,
               Freedom to the working class."


965





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   It is suggested that meetings be opened by singing "The Interna-
tionale" or "The Young Guards." The words of the latter song follow:

        "We're marching toward the morning,
        We're struggling comrades all;
        Our aims are set on victory,
        Our enemies must fall.
        With ordered step, red flag unfurled,
        We'll build a new and better world:
        We are the youthful guardsmen of the proletariat,
        We are the youthful guardsmen of the proletariat."

   "The young 'Johnny Reds' are urged to sing the song and make so
much noise about it that the capitalists will tremble as they think of the
day when we shall kill capitalism and build a new and better world."
   In the annual report of County Controller T. J. Underwood, for 1914,
there is an incident in regard to the County Home, which is known to
very few people in this county and which is very interesting. Under
the heading of Appropriation No. 20, County Home, is a list of the
names of the inmates of the institution, together with the date upon
which they were admitted. The person who has been in the home the
longest is James McClease, who was born in the County Home fifty-eight
years ago, on December 25, 1867, and has spent his entire life there.
The next oldest is Henry Pearl, who was born in the home, August
25, 1867, and has lived there during the forty-seven years of his life.
The third oldest man on the list is George D. Sample, of California, who
has been in the home for thirty-six years. He was committed on March
31, 1879.
   The famous Curry brothers' feud of Amwell Township in the early
'90s is the only incident of this kind on record in Washington County.
Hugh Curry and his brother Francis M. Curry, were born on the road
leading from Hart's Mills to Lone Pine, just about one mile from Hart's
Mills. They were prosperous farmers and lived together as old bach-
elors for a number of years, on adjoining farms. Just what started the
feud between the brothers will never be known definitely, as both are
now dead, but it is said to have started over some family affair. At any
rate, it resulted in a lifelong feud.
   In 1892, straw, hay stacks, and several barns and sheds of Francis
Curry's farm were mysteriously burned and it is said that shots were
fired. Finally the case was brought to court and Francis Curry charged
his brother with arson, and records for that term of criminal court for
1892 show nine charges of arson against Hugh W. Curry. True bills
were found and a verdict was brought in by the jury on May 30, 1892.
A motion to have a new trial was filed June 7, 1892, Stet was entered upon
payment of the costs. Hugh Curry was never sentenced, although he
could have been sent to the penitentiary for upwards of a century.
   Francis Curry left his farm and it is stated that he swore that he
would never live in Washington County again, and he kept his oath, for
from that day until his death, twenty-eight years later, he did not set
foot in the county as far as any one knows. For years his farm was not
used. The buildings and fences rotted down and the once well-kept


966





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


fields grew up in briars and weeds. It was a famous resort for berry
pickers and hunters, for both game and berries abdunded in great
quantities.
   Francis Curry spent the remainder of his life in Waynesburg. Sev-
eral times during those years, his farm was advertised for sale for taxes,
but before the date of the sale the tax claims were always paid. In
August, 1914, this farm contained 323 acres and was purchased from
Francis Curry by M. F. Whitehill for $9,532.75, which included both
surface and coal.
   Hugh Curry spent the remainder of his life on the adjoining farm
and with the passing years he seems to have forgiven his brother, what-
ever he may have held against him, and when the latter died in 1918,
he was brought to Washington by Hugh Curry and buried. The latter
died a few years later.





                          CHAPTER XCVI.

                            LIBRARIES.

BAIRD'S LIBRARY - WASHINGTON LIBRARY COMPANY - ARCHIBALD
    KERR'S LIBRARY-MECHANICS LIBRARY-WASHINGTON             LIBRARY
    ASSOCIATION-CITIZENS FREE LIBRARY-CANONSBURG LIBRARY.
    One hundred years ago, books were few and far between. They were
expensive and only the wealthy could afford them; and even they could
not get all they wanted, for they were not published on the great number
of subjects that we have them on today. The idea of libraries for the
benefit of people who could not afford to buy books dates back so far
that it is hard to say exactly when it originated; and in Washington it is
almost as old as the town itself.
    It is interesting, after more than a century has passed, to travel back
over the lapse of years to the first public library of which we have any
record in Washington County. It was established in 1811 by Thomas
H. Baird, a prominent attorney of that day, and afterwards a judge of
the county courts. He offered books from his private library, a valuable
one for that time, for the use of the public.
    It is of added interest to note that the first mention of Washington's
first public library is found in The Reporter. In the issue for Monday,
July 15, 1811, the first notice of this library appears as follows:

                          "PUBLIC LIBRARY.
    In order to afford literary advantages to those who have not the
opportunity or means of procuring books, the subscriber has been induced
to establish a Circulating Library, comprising a choice selection of the
most approved authors in different departments of literature. He will
lend his books to subscribers, at the rate of five dollars per annum, or


967





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


three dollars for six months, or at a rate proportionate to their size, per
volume-subject to the customary rules and regulations of such adver-
tisements. Every attention will be given to render the institution con-
venient and agreeable to persons in the country, who may favor the sub-
scriber with their calls. The library will be open, at the house of the
subscriber, in the borough of Washington, every day in the week except
Sunday.
   July 15, 1811.                                THOMAS BAIRD."
   This shows the first attempt of one of Washington's most prominent
citizens of more than a century ago to establish a public library for the
benefit of the people. The fact that "every attention will be given to
render the institution convenient and agreeable to persons in the coun-
try," shows that Mr. Baird had hopes that his library might be of benefit
to the residents of the rural districts; and in this is found the first idea
of a county library in Washington County. The idea was not for the
personal profit of Mr. Baird. It was prompted by the desire of the public-
spirited man to be of benefit to his fellow men.
   Just how long this library continued in existence is not known, nor is
there any record to show how much or how little it was used. In The
Reporter for December 20, 1813, the following advertisement appears:

                          "BOOKS FOR SALE.
   During the court week, there will be sold a valuable collection of
Books. Persons of literary taste, from the country, will have an oppor-
tunity of furnishing themselves at a very low rate. The sale will com-
mence on Monday, the 27th inst., and continue from day to day until all
are disposed of."
   The Washington Library Company, the next attempt to establish a
public library in Washington, was organized February 20, 1816, in the
old Globe Inn, which stood on the lot now occupied by the DeNormandie
Building, at the corner of Main Street and Strawberry Avenue, at a meet-
ing called there for that purpose. This meeting was called by a notice
which appeared in The Reporter on Monday, February 19, 1816, as
follows:
                  "WASHINGTON LIBRARY COMPANY
   The subscribers to the Washington Library Company are requested
to attend a general meeting, at the house of David Morris, tomorrow
evening, at 3 o'clock P. M., for the purpose of adopting a constitution,
and for the choice of officers, etc."
   The house of David Morris referred to was the Globe Inn, of which
he was the proprietor for many years.
   At the meeting, John Barrington was chosen treasurer and Matthew
Semple, librarian. This library was ready to deliver books by the fol-
lowing May, as is shown by the following notice which appears in The
Reporter for Monday, May 13, 1816:

                       "WNIASHINGTON LIBRARY.
   The stockholders of the Washington Library Company are respect-
fully informed that books will be ready for delivery on Wednesday and


968




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


Saturday, of every week from half past 3 o'clock till half past 5. The
library room is in the house of Mr. Matthew Semple (Librarian) on
Main Street, east side, between Beau and Chestnut streets.
   Persons wishing to become stockholders may know the terms by ap-
plying to the treasurer, John Barrington."
   How long this library continued in existence is not known, but it evi-
dently was not for many years, for during 1832 and 1833, Archibald
Kerr, who resided next to Freeman Brady's law offices on Main Street,
kept a circulating library; but it also evidently was not a success.
   The Mechanics' Library was organized in Washington in 1846. It
was kept for some time in a building on North Main Street. Later it was
moved to the Methodist Church parsonage, which is still standing on
West Beau Street, just above the rink. After a varied career of a few
years, it met the same fate as the others, and ceased to exist.
   The Washington Library Association was organized in November,
1867, in the house of D. T. Morgan, with the following officers elected:
A. Wilson, president; W. T. Watkins, secretary; Mrs. V. Harding, treas-
urer; Miss Martha Grayson, librarian.
   Memberships were placed at $3.00 each and a committee which can-
vassed the town secured fifty members and several donations. A room
for the library was secured in the Grayson house, which stood on the site
of the George Washington Hotel, and on December 7, 1867, a musical
was given by the association from which $109.00 was received. Books
were purchased on January 20, 1868, and the library opened the 22nd
with 150 volumes.
   The second musical on February 18, brought in $69.92 and by June
6, 1868, there were 316 volumes.
   During the entire year of 1868, J. T. Edgar donated over 350 volumes
and on July 6, 1869, 101 volumes. On September 11, John Gregg gave
a donation of books which had formed part of the old Mechanics' Library
of 1849. By 1871, there were 1,600 volumes but soon after the Citizens'
Library formed, this institution became inactive.
   A movement was put on foot to organize township libraries in 1868.
Just how far this progressed is not known but we find the following men-
tion made in The Reporter for January 1, 1868:
   "Township Libraries.-A most commendable enterprise is being set
on foot towards the formation of township libraries in various parts of
the county. The plan is not only feasible but will succeed, and a want,
heretofore neglected, will be supplied.
   The Massachusetts and other New England legislatures have made
appropriations for this purpose, and in the former state, every town or
district has its public library of standard books from which the people
can, on certain terms and easy requirements, procure them. We will
return to this subject later."
   From this it would appear that the idea probably originated in the
east, but whether it was ever taken up again in Washington cannot now
be learned, as no further reference has been found in The Reporter files
regarding it. It is probable that the Citizens' Library, which was estab-
lished three years later, took the place of the township library.


969





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    The first move for a permanent public library for the benefit of the
people of Washington was started as long ago as 1869 by the late Dr.
F. J. LeMoyne and it was finally through his generous gift of $10,000
that the present Citizens Library was made possible; and today, after
the passing of half a century, this institution is probably one of the most
popular, the best patronized and reaches more hearts and homes and
probably does more actual good than any other one thing in the town-
and it is probably the poorest paid of them all. The people interested in
its welfare feel that its activities should be extended throughout the
entire county, not onl y as a lasting monument to our soldiers but to the
memory of that generous, public-spirited man, who really did more than
any other one person either before or since his time-the founder of the
library.
    Dr. LeMoyne was really in a way responsible for the erection of what
we now know as the old town hall, but which for many years was the
pride of the people of Washington, just as they regard the courthouse
today. As far back as 1843, a movement was started for the erection
of a town hall in Washington, but at a meeting of council held March
23, of that year, the borough fathers could not come to an agreement as
to the manner in which the money should be raised. The matter was
then dropped and almost forgotten for a quarter of a century, but the
old brick market house and council chamber, which occupied the public
square, finally became such an "eyesore" that on May 4, 1868, the county
commissioners requested council to remove the building, as it was a
blemish on the appearance of the "new" courthouse, which had been
erected in 1842, and which we remember as the "old" courthouse.
   On May 19, 1868, the council appointed a committee to meet with
the county commissioners and discuss the matter of razing the old build-
ing and for the erection of a new town hall, council chamber and engine
house. The matter seems to have rested until November 16, 1868, when
council decided to call a public meeting to discuss the matter. Nothing'
was done, however, until December 22, when Dr. LeMoyne offered to
give from $5,000 to $10,000 for a public library on condition that the
town erect suitable buildings, and the matter of the town hall was again
brought before council. The discussion this time was on the subject of
providing suitable rooms for the proposed library.
   On January 15, 1869, a public meeting was held in the courthouse and
the matter received such favorable attention from the people present that
the council voted to hold a special election to give the voters of the town
a chance to act on the matter. This election was held on February 2, and
the project was carried by a majority of eighty-nine votes. The matter
went forward rapidly and on September 18, 1869, the cornerstone was
laid by President Grant, with imposing Masonic ceremonies. It is of
interest to note in this connection that a large photograph of this import-
ant event is on exhibition in the rooms of the Washington County His-
torical Society on the third floor of the courthouse. The new town hall
was completed and occupied early in 1870. If it had not been erected at
that time, it would undoubtedly have been within a few years; but the
fact remains that Dr. LeMoyne's generous offer brought matters to a
head.


970




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The library was considered by council at the meeting of April 21,
1869. This action was brought up by a letter from Dr. LeMoyne to the
town hall committee, composed of Dr. Alfred Creigh, I. Y. Hamilton,
and A. C. Morrow. Dr. LeMoyne was present at the meeting and after
explaining the proposition of the gift of $10,000, withdrew. Action was
postponed until April 23, when the matter was fully discussed and a reso-
lution passed accepting the offer. However, when the matter was pre-
sented to Dr. LeMoyne he refused to make the gift on the conditions of
acceptance of the council, and then outlined his own ideas of how the bor-
ough should conduct the library. At the meeting of May 4, 1869, council
refused his offer because it was "so trammeled with restrictions and con-
ditions as to render it impracticable and useless to the people."
   The matter was not abandoned, however, for Dr. LeMoyne was de-
termined to establish a library, and he made a new proposition which was
accepted by council at the meeting of January 17, 1870, when the follow-
ing resolutions were adopted:
   "Whereas, Dr. F. J. LeMoyne tendered to the borough of Washington,
$10,000 (ten thousand dollars) for the purpose of founding a public
library for the benefit of the people, which proposition was rejected by
the town council on account of the expenses which would be necessarily
involved in the reception of said library, and an extra building of fire-
proof vault, and whereas Dr. LeMoyne now wishes to establish said
library by expending the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and in-
curring the necessary expenses; therefore,
   "Resolved, That the town council, appreciating the generous dona-
tion and intention of said Dr. LeMoyne hereby agree to proffer to Dr.
LeMoyne the two rooms in the rear of the postoffice and also twenty-five
feet of the rear of the engine house, for the purpose contemplated, and a
committee to be appointed to correspond with Dr. LeMoyne and finally
settle and adjust the matter to the satisfaction of both parties."
   The committee appointed to confer with Dr. LeMoyne, reported to
council on February 21, 1870, that all arrangements had been completed
with the doctor and that the agreement had been signed by both parties
and on the same day, the courts of Washington County granted a charter
to the Citizens Library Association.
   When the town hall was completed the library rooms were fitted up
with fire-proof vaults, at a cost of $2,100, which was paid out of the
$10,000. Of this gift, the curators were directed to invest $2,000 to con-
stitute a fund for the gradual increase of the library. The remaining
$5,900 was to be expended for books. The reading room was to be free to
the public and the books available to the citizens, to be taken to their
homes, except books of reference. Everything connected with the insti-
tution was to be essentially free to all.
   The books were selected by Dr. LeMoyne and the curators, and when
the library was opened there were 1,837 volumes on the shelves. In ad-
dition to this, the curators purchased two stereoscopes, with fifty views;
three checker boards, one set of chess men, one terrestrial globe, one celes-
tial globe, one barometer and one thermometer.
   The library was formally opened to the public with appropriate cere-
monies on Thursday evening, March 7, 1872. Dr. Alfred Creigh read a


971





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


mined to have his daughter, and knowing the character of his old comrade
in arms, finally gave his consent; and they were married in 1786. Brady
settled with his bride at West Liberty, Ohio County, West Virginia, where
he spent the remainder of his life, only engaging in Indian fighting when
his services were necessary to the protection of the frontier.
    One of Brady's last, and probably his last campaign against the Indians
 occurred in the spring of 1791. After a raid by Delawares in Ohio County,
 in which Paul Riley, Mrs. Vanbuskirke, and several of the Boggses were
 killed, Brady led twenty men in pursuit of the hostiles. The trail led into
 Pennsylvania. When the whites reached the present town of Fallston,
 opposite Big Beaver Blockhouse, in what is now New Brighton, they saw
 nine Indians with horses trading with an Indian trader named William
 Wilson. Brady's men attacked the party, killing several Indians, two of
 whom were women, while the survivors fled, leaving their plunder behind.
 In the abandoned property of the savages, the pursuers found some stuff
 that was identified as belonging to the murdered settlers of Ohio County.
    The peace element of that time made charges against Brady, and he
 was indicted by a grand jury at Pittsburgh on a charge of killing Indians
 in time of peace. He was tried in Pittsburgh before Judge Yeates on May
 20th, 1793, but was acquitted after a long trial, the jury not even going
 through the formality of leaving the box. Captain Brady was defended
 by James Ross, a noted attorney in early Western Pennsylvania and a
 member of the Washington County bar.
    There is some dispute in history over the date of the death of Captain
Brady. Cyrus Townsend Brady, the historian and novelist, claims that he
was born in 1756 and died on Christmas day, 1795, at the age of thirty-
nine years. He is buried in the cemetery at West Liberty, where his grave
may be seen to this day. In order to determine the date of his death
definitely, the author visited the grave of the famous Indian fighter in
1917, and from the inscription on his tombstone learned that he died on
January 1st, 1796, at the age of thirty-seven years. This places the date
of his birth at 1759 instead of 1756. The cause of his death is not known.
   Besides his widow he was survived by two sons, Vann and John. Mrs.
Brady married again and moved to Tyler County, West Virginia, where
she died at an advanced age.
   While in West Liberty the author was informed that the Brady home-
stead, which is still standing, is the original house where Captain Brady
died. It is a substantial building, such as was often erected by settlers on
the frontier, and in 1917 it was in an excellent state of preservation, but
it was vacant.
   John Brady, the second son of Captain Brady, was born in this house
in 1790, and spent his long, uneventful life of eighty-two years there. He
died on January 12th, 1872.
   The monument which now stands over the grave of Captain Brady was
made at the old Howarth Marble Works, which for many years occupied
the building in which the Union Trust Company is now located, in North
Main Street, Washington. It was hauled to West Liberty by the late
Frederick Naser, who helped erect it over the grave. This was after the
death of John Brady, the latter being buried at the side of his noted father,





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


report of the origin and final organization of the association, after which
addresses were made by Attorney Boyd Crumrine, Rev. James I. Brown-
son, D. D., Rev. J. R. Johnston, Dr. George P. Hays, Hon. John H. Ewing,
and Dr. F. J. LeMoyne. All of these men are now dead.
   The report read at the dedication showed that the 1,837 books had cost
$3,100 leaving a balance of $2,800, which was afterwards used to increase
the number of volumes. There has been a total of 21,302 books in the
library to date, but of this number 3,207 have been withdrawn as lost
and worn out. This leaves a total of 18,095 books available for the citi-
zens of Washington at the present time.
   Everyone who has lived in Washington during the last fifty years,
especially those whose childhood days were spent here, remembers the
Citizens Library, and many fond recollections cling around the two rear
rooms which the institution now occupies, where the librarians of former
years ruled the coming men and women of Washington with a kindly
hand. For a third of a century, the library was confined to those two
rooms and the fire-proof vault, and when the town hall stood on its original
site at the corner of Main Street and Cherry Avenue, the entrance to
the library was from Cherry Avenue.
   Old and young, rich and poor, beggar or prince, it made no differ-
ence, all were welcome there in those days, just the same as they are now;
but it is doubtful if the children of the present generation will, at some
future day, be able to look back on the Citizens Library with the same
memories that cluster around those two rooms for the children of bygone
years.
   Miss Mary Gregg, the first librarian, was elected by the board of
curators on November 16, 1871, and she served from the opening date,
March 7, 1872, until April 16, 1888. Miss Mary Murphy was elected to
the position, but she resigned on April 28, 1888. Miss Willa M. Kirk
was elected immediately to the place, but she served only until April 24,
1890. Miss Annie Charlton followed, but she resigned on February 9,
1891, when Miss Antoinette Cracraft, a former school teacher, was
elected.
   From the latter '80s and during the first few years of the present
century, the library suffered a decline. Most of the older people of the
town lost interest in it, as it was practically impossible to add any new
books with the money at hand; but the men and women of today, who
were the children of those years, will recall those days, or rather even-
ings, spent in the library with many a sigh, for it was almost given over
to the children, and many were the happy hours they spent there.
   This was especially true during the regime of Miss Cracraft, who
tried to rule with a stern hand, but it was tempered with too much kind-
ness. In the second room was a large Burnside stove, which burned coal
at first and then gas. It took as much gas to run it as a modern furnace;
but that was before the days of meters. During the warm summer
months, not many boys went to the library, but when the long winter
nights came, it was the rendezvous for many a "gang" of former days,
and they were glad to hunt the cheerful warmth of the old stove-many
of them because it was the warmest place they could find. And Miss
Cracraft made them all welcome, irrespective of color, race, or creed;


972




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


she loved them all. She tried to rule with a stern hand, but her heart
was too kind, and the boys took advantage of her, as boys will if given
half a chance. Many a lad was banished for some mischievous prank,
and ordered not to return for two weeks; but the next night he appeared
again the same as usual and was just as welcome as ever.
    In order to take books home, it was necessary to place a deposit of
$5. Of course, not many children had that amount, and so Miss Cracraft
would confide to each one that books could be taken out on her personal
deposit; but the fortunate child was cautioned not to tell anyone else.
Children will compare notes, however, and I think that more than half
of those who went there were taking books out on Miss Cracraft's "de-
posit."
   The library has seen many changes since those days. Modern books
have been added, and now, instead of the fire-proof vault holding prac-
tically all, they are closely packed on shelves through the three large
rooms and today it probably surpasses the fondest dreams of the founder.
   One of the three rooms now occupied by the library is devoted almost
exclusively to the children, and around all four walls are book cases, filled
with just the kind of books that delight their young minds. In the old
days, there were not enough books to hold the interest of the boys, and as
a result they had a "good time." Today they have just as good a time but
in a different way. No matter how often they go or how many books they
may read, they will always find something so interesting that they do not
have time to get into mischief. Miss Clark, the librarian, and her assist-
ants, always make them just as welcome as they were in the old days.
   Miss Janet M. Clark, the present librarian under whose administra-
tion it has been so successful, was elected January 30, 1903. The Cur-
rent Events Club took an interest in the institution, and the civics de-
partment of that organization raised $1,400 in the spring of 1904. This
action on the part of the club, which Miss Clark, the librarian, is partly
responsible for starting, created new interest in the library, and the peo-
ple of Washington began to "sit up and take notice," and for the first
time they appeared to realize the fact that they had a town library.
   When the postoffice removed from the large front room of the town
hall in April, 1904, this space was turned over to the library by the coun-
cil, and the capacity was thus doubled. One of the old rooms was fitted up
for the children. The borough council agreed to furnish heat, light, jani-
tor service, and to give $600 in cash a year, and the Washington school
board voted one-fifth of a mill of the school tax. In return the library
agreed to give books out free to both teachers and pupils. The parochial
school was included in this. At that time a fee of five cents a week was
charged for all books taken out. Since then, this charge has been re-
moved, except from the few books of the circulating library, which is the
only manner in which the latest book can be obtained, and today any
resident, man, woman, or child, can take books out free for two weeks.
A fine of two cents a day is charged after that. In the reading room all
the latest magazines, newspapers and other periodicals are kept, to-
gether with one of the best reference libraries in this section of the state.
It is a modern library in every sense of the word, and is conducted in an
up-to-date manner.


973




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   Since the books have been given out without charge, the school board
and the borough have increased their donations, and East Washington
has also come in. Last year the borough council gave $1,000 cash in ad-
dition to the heat, light and janitor service; the Washington school dis-
trict contributed $1,500 and East Washington $300. The $2,000 left from
the original gift of $10,000 by Dr. LeMoyne is still on interest, and from
this source about $120 is realized. This, of course, will be kept as a
permanent fund, and for many years, it was about all that the library had
for expenses. In addition, to the above items, an average of about $40
a month is received in fines and from rent collections from the circulating
library. It now requires all of this for the running expenses.
   Up to the time Miss Clark took charge the library was open only dur-
ing the evenings; but shortly afterwards, this was increased and now it
is open every day, except Sunday and holidays, from 10 o'clock in the
morning until 9 at night.
   From a large oil painting on the wall beside the vault, Dr. LeMoyne,
the founder, has gazed down these many years upon the work he started
so long ago and watched its progress; its first success and decline, then its
rejuvenation and rise to its present standard; and his heart must surely
be proud. He was one of the most progressive men of his day and favored
every public movement; and it is certain that he would endorse the idea
of a county library and a book for every man, woman and child in Wash-
ington County, giving it all the support in his power. Such an institution
would certainly be a fitting memorial to Washington's great citizen of
half a century ago, who had the interests of the people so much at heart.
   The history of the Canonsburg Library dates back to 1848 when two
literary societies were formed between students of Olome Institute who
organized the Philalethian Society and the Philadelphian Society, both on
June 22. Subscriptions were secured and both organizations conducted
libraries until the institute was closed in 1864. The libraries removed to
the old Seminary Building until November 1866, when the resident mem-
bers of the two societies presented the books to the Students' Christian
Association of Washington-Jefferson College of Canonsburg. When the
college was moved to Washington, the members of the Students' Chris-
tian Association in May, 1869, returned these books to the donors, and
they were removed from the college building to the residence of Mr.
James Martin on Pike Street, where they remained until 1869.
   The College Library Association was organized on February 7, 1879,
at a meeting of citizens held in the public schoolhouse. At a later meet-
ing held February 21, a constitution was adopted and the following
officers named: Rev. John Speer, president; Miss Mary Martin, vice
president; Ed W. Mouk, secretary; William H. Heagare, treasurer;
Samuel Munnel, Miss Mary Watson, and Miss Alice Y. McGinnis,
auditor.
   A room on the second floor of W. H. S. Ritchie's business block was
donated as a room for the library. The members of the two societies,
Philalethian and Philadelphian, were loaned to the association and these
formed the nucleus of the present library. The first funds were raised
by voluntary subscriptions and books were purchased at various times by
means of public entertainments.


974






























                       PART IV.

     THE MILITARY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

THIS INCLUDES ALL OF THE MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN WHICH MEN
   FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY HAVE TAKEN PART-THE WHISKY IN-
   SURRECTION IN 1794-THE WAR OF 1812-THE TEXAS REVOLUTION
   -THE MEXICAN WAR-THE CIVIL WAR-THE SPANISH-AMERICAN
   WAR-THE WORLD WAR.












CHAPTER XCVII.


                               1794.
                  THE WHISKY INSURRECTION.

 CAUSES OF THE INSURRECTION-WRIT SERVED ON PETER MILLER-RISE
    OF THE "WHISKY BOYS"-ATTACK ON NEVILLE'S HOUSE AT BOWER
    HILL-THE FIRST BLOOD-DEATH OF CAPTAIN JAMES McFARLANE-
    NEVILLE'S HOUSE BURNED-THE McFARLANE BROTHERS-FUNERAL
    OF CAPTAIN McFARLANE-GRAVES IN MINGO CEMETERY-McFARLANE
    HOUSE-JOHN HOLLCROFT, "TOM, THE TINKER"-MEETING AT MINGO
    CHURCH-DAVID BRADFORD AND OTHER LEADERS-BLACK HORSE
    TAVERN AT CANONSBURG-ROBBING THE MAIL-MEETING AT BRAD-
    DOCK'S FIELD-MARCH     ON PITTSBURGH-MEETING AT "WHISKY
    POINT," PARKINSON'S FERRY-ARRIVAL OF TROOPS UNDER GENERAL
    LEE-"THE DREADFUL NIGHT"-MINGO FALLS-ESCAPE OF BRADFORD
    -BRADFORD'S HOUSE, WASHINGTON-DAVID HART WITH       WASHING-
    TON-END OF THE INSURRECTION.
    The history of the Whisky Insurrection really dates from the passage
of the excise tax on whisky during the Revolutionary war. Practically
no attempt was made to collect the tax until 1786. In that year a Phila-
delphia tavern keeper named Graham was appointed excise man for the
western counties of Pennsylvania. After numerous attempts and fail-
ures in Fayette and Westmoreland counties, he came to Washington
County. He is described as wearing a wig and a cocked hat and carrying
pistols, riding through the woods in grand style, claiming to be an officer
of the new republic, which did not mean a whole lot to the pioneers of
that day.
   He was captured about two miles from Cross Creek village by a party
of backwoodsmen, disarmed, his hair cut, and finally was dressed in a
grotesque manner and sent out of the county. Later he returned and
brought suit against twelve of the offenders. They were convicted but
the old records show that the court remitted the fines on March 12, 1789,
against William Stewart, Aaron Lyle, James Ross, Samuel Agnew, James
McClelland, John Donat, Josiah Gamble, Robert Ralston, William Camp-
bell, Joseph Wells, Samuel Hanna and John Rankin.
   Graham resigned three months after this incident, and John Craig,
Esq., of Washington, was appointed in his place but was removed from
office six months later for not collecting the revenues. John Dodd of
Washington, was then appointed for Washington County and Joseph
Douglass for Fayette County, but the records do not show that any of
these men made any collections. A collector named Hunter did bring
suit against seventy persons in 1790 in the courts of Pittsburgh, but
lost all.
   The Federal Government passed an excise law March 3, 1791, under
pressure of Alexander Hamilton, secretary of the treasury, fixing the tax
at from 10 to 25 cents per gallon. The argument offered in opposition to
                               977
      62-V1




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


this was that whisky was made from rye, "and why should we be made
subject to duty for drinking our grain more than eating it?"
    The question involved was one of taxation. The farmers in the west-
ern section of Pennsylvania had no market for their grain and were com-
pelled to reduce its bulk by distilling it into whisky. A pack horse could
carry two kegs of eight gallons each, worth $1 each, up the mountains.
A little iron worth from 15 to 20 cents per pound and salt worth from
$5 to $10 per bushel in Pittsburgh were brought back on the return trip.
Nearly every farm had a still and the poorer settlers who did not were
compelled to take their grain to their more fortunate neighbors.
   Immediately after the passage of the act, collectors were appointed
but few collections were made for several years. The collectors attempted
to perform their duties but they were driven from the community. In
some cases violence was resorted to, and to cut hair, strip, tar and
feather the despised collectors became a favorite pastime among the
pioneers. In some sections the homes of the collectors and those who did
pay their tax were burned, but this did not occur in this county.
   In May, 1792, the law was amended and it served to annoy the farm-
ers that much more. It practically compelled the small farmer to stop
distilling grain, for it placed a penalty of from $100 to $250 for failure
to enter a still for taxation by June of 1793. The old records show that
in 1791 there were 272 stills in Washington County alone.
   The people of Mingo Creek met in the Mingo Creek meeting house in
1794 and formed what was called the Mingo Club, with Benjamin Park-
inson as president and John McDonald as secretary. The object of this
society was the discussion of politics, but instead it almost immediately
developed into an organization in opposition to the excise law. There was
talk at once of capturing General Neville and burning Pittsburgh.
   The Washington Democratic Club was organized in Washington, three
months later, and like the Mingo Club, it developed into a party of insur-
rectionists.
   Affairs were finally brought to a head when Major David Lennox, a
United States marshal, arrived in Pittsburgh and served thirty-nine writs
in this section of the state. He missed William Miller, and the next day
Gen. John Neville, revenue inspector at Fort Pitt, returned with him
and showed him the house. Miller afterwards stated that he was so
furious when he reflected that he would be obliged to pay $250 besides
the expense of going to Philadelphia that his blood boiled, for it would
ruin him.
   It was at this time that David Bradford came forward as the leader
of the rebellion, and "Tom, The Tinker" sprang into notoriety. Bradford
pictured a new republic to the farmers, in which they would be relieved
of the obnoxious tax and all become officers in the commonwealth.
   On the night of July 15, 1794, a party assembled and the next day
marched to the home of General Neville at Bower Hill, near where the
Washington & Pittsburgh Electric Railway now runs, and demanded the
commission of the general as revenue inspector and all official documents.
They were answered with shots from a small force of soldiers in the
house and several of the farmers were wounded, one mortally. The news
that blood had been spilled spread like wildfire. Already there was a


978

































    Home of Andrew McFarlane, near Elrama; erected about 1783 and now the oldest
building in the Monongahela Valley. Captain James McFarlane, killed during the
Whisky Insurrection attack on Bower Hill, July, 1794, was buried from this house.


    Historic old Mingo church and graveyard. The large flat slab in the foreground
covers the grave of Major James McFarlane, killed in the Whisky Insurrection of 1794.
Old Mingo Church was a noted meeting place of the Whisky Insurrectionists. The
original church of logs was razed early in the last century. The present church was
erected in 1831.




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


meeting at the Mingo Creek meeting house in Union Township, and a
force of nearly 500 men was quickly raised. Capt. James McFarlane was
placed in tommand and they immediately marched to Bower Hill.
   On the 17th this force arrived within a mile of Bower Hill and were
informed by Major Abraham Kirkpatrick that General Neville had left
the house and had left a detachment of United States soldiers to defend
it. The general's commission and official papers were again demanded
and again refused. This was the signal for battle. The pioneers noti-
fied the women and children to leave the house under a flag of truce.
   They went under escort to the house of General Presley Neville, which
is still standing near Woodville. This picturesque old house is one of the
few colonial buildings left in western Pennsylvania.
   The night before, Major Kirkpatrick had arrived at Bower Hill with
eleven soldiers from Fort Fayette and when McFarlane's army attacked
the house they were met with a steady fire which was kept up for fifteen
minutes, when a flag of truce was displayed. Captain McFarlane or-
dered the firing to cease and stepped from behind a tree. He was struck
by a bullet in the groin and died almost instantly.
   The insurrectionists immediately replied with a hot fire and the bat-
tle was on again. Several of the attacking party were wounded. The
barn was fired and the flames quickly spread to other buildings. Several
of the defenders of the house had been wounded and finally Major Kirk-
patrick, after about one hour, realized their great peril and surrendered.
The soldiers were allowed to depart immediately but the major was held.
Later the guard, David Hamilton, allowed him to eccape. There is a
general tradition that General Neville was in the house just before the
attack and escaped with the women by being disguised in a woman's
dress. After the battle ended, the flames from the barn spread to the
mansiofn and in a short time it was completely destroyed. Its value was
estimated at $10,000.
   The Bower Hill farm where the battle with the Whisky Insurrection-
ists took place, is now owned by Allegheny County and is located on the
summit of the high hill on the east of the Woodville Station. None of
the original-iiHidings is left, as all, with the exception of the smoke
house, were destroyed during the battle. On the exact spot occupied by
General Neville's colonial mansion is a farm house built many years ago.
The house of Presley Neville at Woodville is now owned and occupied
by John Wrenshall, a direct descendant.
   Sadly the insurrectionists carried the body of Captain McFarlane.
their beloved leader, back to the Mingo settlement. Everyone was crushed
over the news of his death, for he was one of the most popular men in the
community. During the Revolutionary war he had served in Washin-
ton's army and prior to that time he and his brother Andrew had been
among the first settlers in Western Pennsylvania.
   Andrew McFarlane was one of the justices of Westmoreland County.
He was arrested in Hannastown by Dr. Connolly in 1774 and sent under
guard to Staunton, Virginia. There he met Margaret Linn Lewis, a
daughter of William Lewis, one of the five brothers famous in the colonial
and Revolutionary history of Virginia, and while waiting for trial he won
her love. He was pardoned by Lord Dunmore of Virginia and returned to


980





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


western Pennsylvania with his bride and erected a trading post where
Kittanning now stands. On February 14, 1777, he was captured by In-
dian scouts in the pay of the British and taken to Quebec, where he was
held until the fall of 1780, and was then exchanged through .the efforts of
his brother James, a lieutenant in Washington's army. He immediately
joined his wife and child, who had returned to Staunton, and all three
came back to western Pennsylvania. A year or two later he purchased a
farm on the Monongahela River, where Elrama now stands, seven miles
below Monongahela City. There he erected a log and stone house, which
is one of the very few pioneer buildings standing in the Monongahela
Valley.
    After the close of the Revolutionary war, Andrew was joined by his
brother James and in 1794 they both espoused the cause of the Whisky
Insurrectionists.
    After the death of James McFarlane, at Bower Hill, the body was
taken to his brother's house and the next day, July 18, a large concourse
of grief-stricken relatives and friends bore the remains through five miles
of wilderness to the Mingo church. In the old log meeting house which
stood beside the church the funeral services were conducted by Rev. Mr.
Clark. After the ceremony, all that was mortal of this man, the first to
die in the long war between the revenue agents and those opposed to tax
on whisky, was buried in the churchyard near by, where his grave may
be seen to this day, covered by a large sandstone slab on which is the
following inscription, now almost effaced by the storms of many years:
"Here lies the body of Capt. James McFarlane of Washington, Pennsyl-
vania. He departed this life July 17, 1791, aged 43. He served through
the war with undaunted courage in defense of American independence,
against the lawless and despotic encroachments of Great Britian. He
fell at last by the hands of an unprincipled villain, in support of what he
supposed to be the rights of his country, much lamented by a numerous
and respectable circle of acquaintances."
   Andrew McFarlane spent the remainder of his life in his home on the
Monongahela River. On January 22, 1811, his wife died, aged fifty-
eight years, and he followed on November 7, 1829, at the age of eighty-
nine. Both are buried in a little private graveyard on the summit of an
Indian mound, within a few feet of their cabin, where the graves may
still be seen, marked by two sandstone tablets, almost lost amid a tangle
of weeds and briars. Few people, even in that locality, know of the spot
and it can be found only after patient search.
   The old McFarlane homestead is still standing on the banks of the
Monongahela River, but it has not been occupied by a family for many
years. For a long period it was used as a clubhouse by a number of
Monongahela men, who desired a quiet spot where they could dispense
liquor among themselves in the days before Federal prohibition.
   Mad for revenge, the people of Mingo Creek gathered in the Mingo
Creek meeting house on July 23, 1794, to the number of several hundred
from the four western counties engaged in the rebellion. Among these
were Col. James Marshel and David Bradford, deputy attorney general
of Washington County; Col. Edward Cook, a judge of Fayette County;
Craig Ritchie, of Canonsburg; George Robison, chief burgess of Pitts-


981





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


with the one monument to mark both graves. The interesting inscription
follows:
                       "Capt. Samuel Brady
                              Died
                           Jan. 1, 1796,
                         Aged 37 years.
                   He enlisted in the war in 1775,
                   when 16 years of age. In 1776
                   was commissioned 1st Lieut.
                   In 1783 was commissioned by
                   Congress a Captain to take
                   rank as such from 1781. He
                   remaining in the service in
                     the Revolution and Indian
                     wars until one year before
                            his death.
                      A soldier in war and a
                         citizen in peace.
                              Our
                          Grandfather."
   The grave is marked by one of the little metal markers placed by the
Daughters of the Revolution of West Virginia over the graves of Revolu-
tionary soldiers.
   And so ended the short but adventurous life of one of the greatest
Indian fighters of all time. He was a product of times and conditions that
can never come again. The type of men he represented have vanished
completely from the face of the earth, and their like will never be known
again; but his fame will endure as long as the nation he helped establish
survives, and Washington County can well be proud of the part he took in
its pioneer history.





                        CHAPTER XVI.

                              1780.
           THE INDIAN REIGN OF TERROR BEGINS.
ACTIVITIES OF BRITISH AGENTS-PIONEER MOTHERS--SETTLERS OF
   WASHINGTON COUNTY APPEAL TO FORT PITT FOR PROTECTION-
   SUGAR CAMP ON RACCOON CREEK RAIDED-CAPTIVITY OF THE
   FOULKES CHILDREN AND SAMUEL WHITAKER-BRODHEAD'S PROPOSED
   EXPEDITION-RAIDS ON CHARTIERS CREEK, ROBINSON'S RUN AND TEN
   MILE CREEK-SHEARER AND McCANDLESS BROTHERS KILLED-CAP-
   TIVITY OF ROBERT SHEARER, SR.-CAPTURE OF ALEXANDER BURNS
   AND THE BEHAM BOYS-FLIGHT OF BENNETT FAMILY-ALEXANDER
   BURNS-END OF A DISASTROUS YEAR.

   "I loathe you with my bosom; I scorn you with mine eyes;
   And I'll taunt you with my last breath, and fight you till I die;





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


burgh; Attorney Hugh H. Brackenridge, afterwards a judge of the State
Supreme Court; Josiah Tannehill, and William H. Beaumont.
    Col. Cook was made chairman and Craig Ritchie, secretary. The pur-
pose of the leaders was to commit the whole western country to the cause
of the insurrection. The people had cooled down somewhat after the at-
tack on Neville's house, for they had a vague idea of the treason they had
committed; but the fire of revenge for their dead leader still burned
fiercely and there were many there that day because they were afraid to
stay away. No man knew how far to trust his neighbor and life seemed
uncertain.
   Inflammatory speeches were made by David Bradford, and because of
his fiery tongue he was elected leader of the rebellion, for none doubted
but that war would follow.
    The feeling against the people of Pittsburgh, who had opposed the
insurrection, was intense, and the committee from that town felt their
lives were in danger; but they were finally allowed to depart unmolested.
Before the meeting was over, the mobilization of the insurgent army at
Braddock's Field on August 1, and the demonstration against Pittsburgh,
were planned and ordered. Then this treasonable assembly adjourned to
convene again at Parkinson's Ferry, now Monongahela City, three weeks
later.
    The old log church where the Whisky Insurrectionists gathered a cen-
tury and a quarter ago, has long since disappeared, but the spot where it
stood beside the present edifice is still marked by a deep depression which
was once the cellar. This log church stood until 1831, when it was re-
placed by the present brick building.
    It is of interest to note at this point, that many of the leaders of the
Whisky Insurrection are buried in the old cemetery adjoining this church,
where the curious may find the graves of Capt. James McFarlane, John
Hollcroft, Benjamin Parkinson, David Hamilton and many others who
took part in the stirring events of 1794 on Mingo Creek, less than one-
half mile below the church.
   Mingo Falls may be seen from the Pittsburgh-Charleroi electric line.
Local tradition says that several insurgents hid in a cave behind these
falls on the night of November 13, 1794, known as the "dreadful night,"
when the government troops scoured the surrounding country for insur-
rectionists and dragged them from the arms of their loved ones to be car-
ried to prison and tried for treason. The legend says that those in the
cave escaped.
   The passing years have completely changed this spot. The cave has
long since disappeared, the overhanging rocks which formed it having
been gradually undermined by the rushing waters until they fell away;
but the falls are still there to tell the story of long ago.
   The famous order for mobilization of the Whisky Insurrectionists at
Braddock's Field, where Braddock now stands, issued at a secret meeting
of seven men in Black Horse Tavern, Canonsburg, on the night of July
26, 1794, was the first definite action for raising a formidable army that
might have been successful in establishing a new republic, with David
Bradford at its head, but for the prompt action of President Washington.
Alarmed at the tone of the letters taken from the Philadelphia mail car-


982


























































The old Bradford House, Washington; built in
1788 by David Bradford, leader of the Whisky In-
surrection of 1794. It is the oldest house of which
there is a record in Washington. Bradford made his
escape from federal cavalry that had been sent from
Brownsville to capture him by leaping from a rear
window and riding away on a horse tied on the rear
of the lot.


  The famous mahogany stairway in the Bradford
House; said to have been imported from England at
a cost of a guinea a step.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


ried near Greensburg, the leaders, acting on the advice of Bradford, de-
cided to involve the whole western country in open revolt, if possible.
    By inflammatory speeches against the government and robbing the
mails, these men had committed treason, and in order to save themselves
they ordered the militia of Allegheny, Washington, Fayette and West-
moreland counties to meet at Braddock's Field on August 1, as if for a
tour of military service. With this formidable force they intended to
capture Pittsburgh, seize the military store and equipment at Fort Fay-
ette and then burn the town.
   The order to the commanders of the militia in the four counties, writ-
ten that night in Black Horse Tavern, was dispatched two days later
to the various colonels of militia. It is one of the most interesting docu-
ments in connection with the Whisky Insurrection, and is as follows:
                                                    "July 28, 1794.
   "Sir-Having had suspicion that the Pittsburgh post would carry with
him the sentiments of some of the people in the country, representing our
present situation; and the letters by the post now being in our possession,
by which certain secrets were discovered, hostile to our interests, it is
therefore, now come to that crisis that every citizen must express his sen-
timents, not by his words, but by his actions. You are then called upon as
a citizen of the Western country to render your personal service, with as
many volunteers as you can raise, to rendezvous at your usual place of
meeting, on Wednesday next, and thence you will march to the usual place
of rendezvous at Braddock's Field, on the Monongahela, on Friday, the
first day of August next, to be there at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, with
arms and accoutrements in good order. If any volunteers shall want
arms and ammunition, bring them forward and they shall be supplied as
well as possible. Here, sir, is an expedition proposed, in which you will
have an opportunity of displaying your military talents, and of rendering
service to your country. Four days' provisions will be wanted; let the
men be thus supplied.
   "We are J. Canon, B. Parkinson, B. Bradford, A. Fulton, T. Spears,
L. Lockny, J. Marshel.
   "To Colonel
   Braddock's Field was selected as the rendezvous for the march against
Pittsburgh, as it was the meeting place for the annual review of the mili-
tia of Western Pennsylvania and was, therefore, known to all.
   The strangest part of this whole affair is that this order, issued by
men who held no public office, either civil or military, which gave them
such authority, was obeyed to the letter, and on the day set, the largest
army ever mobilized up to that time on the western frontier gathered at
the meeting place, with the avowed purpose of destroying Pittsburgh.
Its strength has been variously estimated at from 5,000 to 8,000 well
armed fighting men, many of them veterans of the Revolutionary and the
Indian wars.
   The militia of Pittsburgh, led by General Wilkins, answered the call,
thus hoping to show that the people of that place were in sympathy with
the insurrectionists.
   Andrew McFarlane, brother of James McFarlane who was killed at
Bower Hill, was also there, seeking revenge for the blood of his kinsman.


984





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    Hugh H. Brackenridge of Pittsburgh, who was present, has graphic-
ally described the events of that day. David Bradford of Washington
was the hero of the hour. His speeches had so inflamed the insurgents
that they were ready to follow him on any enterprise. Garbed in all the
military finery of the day, he assumed the office of major general. All
manner of flattery was bestowed upon him, and if he had possessed any
ability as a military leader there might have been a far different ending
to the whole affair.
    Col. Edward Cook, a judge of Fayette County, well known for his op-
position to the excise law, was chosen president of the Braddock meeting.
Albert Gallatin was secretary and Col. Gabriel Blackeney of Washington
was officer-of-the-day.
   The army camped that night at Braddock's Field; but by morning
many of the men had become so disgusted with the whole affair that a
number returned to their homes. The others, numbering between 5,000
and 6,000, marched to Pittsburgh; but their anger cooled when assured
that the writers of the obnoxious letters had fled, and they simply par-
aded through the town. The inhabitants met them with all the hospi-
tality at their command, and many barrels of whisky were brought out
of private stocks to quench the thirst of the invaders. As Hugh H. Brack-
enridge remarked, whisky was cheaper than a new house; and whisky
certainly saved Pittsburgh that day.
   All of the insurgents except 200 or 300 crossed to the southside that
night, where a company under Captain Riddle set fire to the barn and ten-
ant house of Major Kirkpatrick, who had command of the soldiers at
Bower Hill when Capt. James McFarlane was killed. The dwelling was
saved but the barn was burned to the ground. The mob had intended
burning Neville's and Gibson's houses in the town but were prevented by
Colonels Marshel and Cook and Andrew McFarlane.
   The destruction of this property was deplored by the leaders, who
had done their best to preserve order. They raised a fund to reimburse
the tenant for his loss, and published the following notice in a Pitts-
burgh newspaper:
   "We the undersigned, on behalf of ourselves and the great body of the
column that marched from Braddock's Field on the 3d of August, 1794,
think it necessary to express our disapprobation of the disorderly pro-
ceeding of those of the troops who were concerned in setting fire to the
house of Abraham Kirkpatrick, on the hill opposite the town of Pitts-
burgh, also of the attempt made by others of burning his house in the
town, as these acts were not within the sentence of the committee of vol-
unteers in Braddock's Field, and therefore there could be no authority
for carrying them into effect.
   "We consider it as a blemish on the good order of the march of the
column through the town of Pittsburgh, and their cantonment in the
neighborhood of it. It has been endeavored to be removed as much as
possible by repaying the tenant of Kirkpatrick his damages. Signed:
Edward Cook, Dixon Huston, Hamilton Huston, Wm. Meetkirke, James
Marshel, Francis McFarland, James Terry, Wm. McClure, Wm. Nailor,
John Hughes, Thomas Stokeley, Thomas Sedgwick, David Hamilton, John
Hamilton, and Absalom Baird."


985





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


   The next day the whole army disbanded; and thus ended the last
armed demonstration of the Whisky Insurrection.
   Just in the rear of the Bentley Theater, on Main Street, Monongahela
City, is a high bluff known locally as "Whisky Point." This is one of the
most historic spots left in connection with the Whisky Insurrection of
1794, for it was there that the famous insurgent meeting of August 14,
1794, was held at Parkinson's Ferry. Men prominent in the pioneer his-
tory of Western Pennsylvania, who were leaders in the insurrection, took
part in that treasonable gathering so long ago in behalf of the late "John
Barleycorn." This bluff, now within a square of the business section of
Monongahela, was an ideal place for a public gathering. The steep sides
run to a sharp point toward the Monongahela River, but the top is per-
fectly level and large enough to accommodate several hundred people.
   When the "Whisky Boys" met there so long ago to plot against the
new Republic of the United States, the scene was very different from
that of today. A few scattered log cabins between the point and the
river formed the little frontier village known as Parkinson's Ferry,
named after its founder, Benjamin Parkinson, one of the leaders of the
insurrection. But the cabin settlement of a century and a quarter ago
has long since disappeared, and in its place is the thriving town of Monon-
gahela, the center of the coal industry of the upper Monongahela Valley.
   The "Point" was used as a commons in the early days and was sur-
rounded on three sides by a dense forest. In the center of the clearing
on the summit was a tall "Liberty pole," from which floated a flag bear-
ing the symbol, "Equal Taxation and No Excise, No Asylum for Traitors
and Cowards!"-a strange motto for the land of the free.
   Two hundred and twenty-six delegates from the counties engaged in
the rebellion were present. Of this number 45 were from Washington
County, 49 from Westmoreland, 43 from Allegheny, 33 from Fayette,
2 from Bedford and 6 from Ohio County, Virginia, while a large number
of spectators, heavily armed, had gathered to witness the proceedings in
which all were so vitally interested. Among those from Pittsburgh were
Hugh H. Brackenridge, Thomas Moreton and John B. C. Lucas.
   Advocating the most extreme measures against those who had taken
no active part in the rebellion, David Bradford, of Washington, Pennsyl-
vania, opened the meeting with one of his inflammatory speeches, which
had so incensed the people against the government. Col. James Marshel,
another prominent insurgent leader from the same town, followed with
a speech less radical, but firm in support of the insurrection.
   While the meeting was in progress, news came that the government
had ordered out troops to suppress the uprising. This created some
alarm, for it brought home to the people for the first time the seriousness
of their treasonable acts. However, the report of an armed force march-
ing against them inflamed many who had previously been conservative.
   Resolutions in support of the insurrection were then presented by
Colonel Marshel and the meeting adjourned until the next day, when they
were adopted in a redrafted form, which provided for a peaceful settle-
ment of the question. A committee of sixty delegates, with power to act
for the people, was appointed to meet the United States commissioners
sent by the President to deal with the insurgents. Some of the members


986
























































  Grave of John Holcroft, the "Tom the Tinker,"
of Whisky Insurrection fame, located in the Mingo
Church graveyard.





HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


were David Bradford, James Marshel and James Edgar of Washington
County; Hugh H. Brackenridge, Thomas Moreton and John B. C. Lucas,
of Pittsburgh; Albert Gallatin, Edward Cook and James Lang, of Fay-
ette County; John Kirkpatrick, George Smith and John Powers, of West-
moreland; Herman Husbands, of Bedford, and William Sutherland, of
Ohio County, Virginia.
    The meeting at Parkinson's Ferry, which was the last held by the in-
surrectionists in Washington County, adjourned on August 15, after this
committee had been instructed to meet the commissioners at Redstone
Old Fort, now Brownsville, Pa., on September 2.
    Mysterious characters who sought by threats and deeds of violence
to promote the cause they espoused have been produced by every frontier
and new country, and every war and revolt in history. Even in the World
war, after centuries of civilization, the Huns tried to strike terror to the
hearts of all mankind with the most frightful deeds the world has ever
known. Even the cruel Apache of the Southwest, in all his ferociousness,
never equaled them; and today, in our very midst, there are those who
by secret acts of violence are trying to create a red reign of terror. But
never in all history have such methods succeeded for long. All mankind
rises against them.
    The Whisky Insurrection of 1794 produced just such a character in
"Tom, the Tinker," whose identity remained a mystery until after the
close of the rebellion, when he was identified as John Hollcroft, a resident
of Washington County. It was he who led the insurgents in their first
attack on Neville's house at Bower Hill. He was also present the next
day when the mansion was burned, and it is said that his son, Richard,
applied the torch.
   During the turbulent days of July and August, 1794, this man gath-
ered a chosen band around him, and they created a reign of terror among
the inhabitants of all Western Pennsylvania, that was equalled only by
the days of Indian warfare. None knew when or where he would strike
next, or who his victim would be.
   Some distillers were inclined to obey the excise tax law by registering
their stills for taxation, and they were the objects of special hatred by
Hollcroft and his followers. The law-abiding would receive notices from
"Tom, the Tinker," warning them that if they did not immediately de-
clare themselves against the excise they would receive a visit, which meant
a raid by night, leaving burned stills and even the houses and barns of
the offenders in its wake.
   Pittsburgh newspapers sometimes received these notices, with orders
to the editor to print them or be prepared for a "visit" from "Tom, The
Tinker". One such notice which appeared in an early Pittsburgh paper
follows:
   "In taking a survey of the troops under my command, in the late ex-
pedition against that insolent exciseman, John Neville, I find that there
are a great many delinquents now amongst those who carry on distilling.
It will therefore be observed that "Tom, the Tinker" will not suffer any
certain class, or set of men, to be excluded the service of this, my district,
when notified to attend on any expedition in order to obstruct the execu-
tion of the law, and obtain a repeal thereof.


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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


    "And I do declare upon my solemn word, that if such delinquents do
not come forth on the next alarm, in equipments, and give their assist-
ance as in them lies, in opposing the execution, and obtaining a repeal of
the excise laws, he, or they, will be deemed as enemies, and standing op-
posed to the virtuous principles of republican liberty, and shall receive
punishment according to the nature of the offense, and at least consump-
tion of his distillery.
    "July 19, 1794, TOM, THE TINKER."
    During the march from Braddock's Field to Pittsburgh, the insur-
gents shouted, "Hurrah for 'Tom the Tinker!' " Brackenridge briefly but
clearly describes the situation: "It was not now, are you Whig or Tory,
but are you a 'Tom, the Tinker's' man?" It seems that every man was
willing that his neighbor should believe him a member of this mysterious
band; and many of them afterwards had trouble to wipe out the stigma.
    During the night, the "Tinker's" men often erected liberty poles in
towns, from which floated a banner with the motto, "Liberty, No Excise;
Death to Traitors."
   When the army commanded by General Lee ("Light Horse Harry")
of Revolutionary fame, and the father of General Robert E. Lee, entered
Western Pennsylvania to quell the insurrection, John Hollcroft disap-
peared. During the following winter he surrendered to General Daniel
Morgan, who was left in command of the troops, stationed two miles
from Elizabeth, Allegheny County. He was afterwards pardoned with
others who had taken part in the rebellion.
   John Hollcroft was born at Lancashire, England, in 1741, and came
to America at an early age. When the Whisky Insurrection broke out,
he owned a farm of 400 acres, where he resided, a short distance east of
the present village of Gastonville, Washington County. He was a farmer
and distiller and a prominent citizen in that locality. After his pardon
he returned to this farm, where he died October 16, 1816. He was buried
in the historic graveyard at Mingo Church, where his grave may be seen
to this day, among those of many others who took prominent parts in the
Whisky Insurrection.
   Hollcroft was twice married and had ten children by each wife. The
old log house in which he lived and died stood until a few years ago, on
the farm of Jerry Stilley. His second wife, who is buried beside him,
did not die until 1853.
   The account of David Bradford's part in the Whisky Insurrection is
one of the most interesting of the stormy days of 1794; but it is not
unusual. It is simply the story of an ambitious man's failure in an
unscrupulous attempt to attain fame and glory in a night; but had he
possessed more military ability and less bombastic bravado, the end
might have been very different.
   David Bradford was a native of Maryland, who settled in Western
Pennsylvania at an early date. The old court records at Washington,
Pennsylvania, show that he was admitted to the practice of law in the
courts of Washington County in April, 1782, being the sixth lawyer
granted that privilege. It is interesting to note in this connection that
the first attorney admitted to practice, at the first session of the court on


989




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


October 2, 1781, was Hugh H. Brackenridge, afterwards a noted Pitts-
burgh jurist.
   David Bradford was an able lawyer for his day and in 1783 was
appointed deputy attorney general for Washington County, which office
he held for a number of years. He soon became a prominent citizen of
the county, and was well liked by all who knew him.
   In 1788 he purchased several lots in Washington, Pennsylvania, and
erected the fifest residence in the western country. This was the first
stone house in the town, and it still stands on South Main Street, where
it is pointed out to the visitor as the most historic building in that sec-
tion. It was a wonder of extravagance and splendor in its day. The
stairway is of solid mahogany, imported from England, the steps cost-
ing a guinea each. Some historians of later times have claimed that the
wood is native mahogany from Washington County, but this is a mistake
arising from the fact that the Kentucky coffee tree, sometimes called
mahogany because of its dark wood, grows in Pennsylvania, but it is
easily distinguished from the real mahogany.
   The mantels, the most magnificent specimens of colonial architecture
of that time, were made in the East, packed across the mountains on
horseback and assembled in Washington, Pennsylvania. An owner of
the house in later years tore them out and sold them in Philadelphia for
almost enough to pay the purchase price of the property.
   The historic building is also noted as the birthplace of Rebecca Hard-
ing Davis, the mother of Richard Harding Davis, who married L. Clark
Davis, a well-known editor of the Philadelphia Public Ledger many years
ago. She was born in this house June 24, 1831.
   Bradford's fiery speeches against the excise law gained him a strong
following among the "Whisky Boys," but he reached the height of his
fame at the meeting at Braddock's Field, where he assumed the leader-
ship of the insurgent army. On that day, when his power among them
was almost unlimited, he rode through their ranks, mounted on a mag-
nificent gray horse and dressed in the gorgeous uniform of a major-
general. If he had possessed the qualifications of leadership the occa-
sion demanded, those frontiersmen would have followed him to the death;
but when put to the test he was found wanting.
   The amnesty proclamation, issued by President Washington, finally
included all who had taken part in the Whisky Insurrection except Brad-
ford, but the government was determined to make an example of him.
   When the advance of General Lee's army reached Western Pennsyl-
vania in October, 1794, to quell the rebellion, special orders were issued
for Bradford's capture. He was expecting something of this kind, and
his friends kept him posted on the movements of the soldiers. On Octo-
ber 25 he was warned of the approach of some cavalry scouts from Red-
stone Old Fort (now Brownsville) and local tradition says that he made
such haste to escape that he climbed from a rear window in the second
story of his residence, slid down a porch roof and leaped to the ground,
making his escape on the same gray horse he had ridden at Braddock's
Field, just as the soldiers dismounted in front of the house.
   That was the last Western Pennsylvania ever saw of David Brad-
ford. The diligent efforts of the troops to capture him was stimulated by


990




HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


a reward of $500 for his capture dead or alive; but he managed to elude
them and that night reached McKee's Rocks. The next day he traded the
horse to Charles Yodel for a skiff, and set out down the Ohio. During the
day he was fired upon by soldiers from the shore, but he managed to
escape by keeping close to the opposite side, although his boat was struck
twice.
    That night he sought shelter on a keel boat tied to the bank, and was
warmly welcomed by the captain, a young man from Washington County
who was also fleeing from arrest for his part in the insurrection. He
promised Bradford passage to New Orleans.
    The next morning the boat was boarded by the soldiers and one of
them discovered Bradford in hiding in the cabin; but just as he seized
the fugitive, one of the crew knocked him into the river. The rivermen
immediately attacked the soldiers, disarmed them and threw them over-
board, pelting them with lumps of coal with which the boat was loaded.
They were glad to flee to the shore, while the keel boat floated down the
stream.
    Bradford succeeded in reaching Louisiana, then a Spanish possession,
at Bayou Sara, Province of New Feliciania, where he spent the remainder
of his life. His wife, Elizabeth, remained in Washington, Pennsylvania,
for several years, but about 1800 she joined her husband in the South.
   It is interesting to note in this connection, that a son of David Brad-
ford married a sister of Jefferson Davis; and thus the name of Bradford
was again closely associated with rebellion against the Government of
the United States. Mary Bradford, their daughter, became the wife of
Richard Broadhead, United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1851
to 1857; and their son, Jefferson Davis Broadhead, a great-grandson of
David Bradford, represented the Twenty-sixth District of Pennsylvania
in Congress.
   A committee of twelve insurgents met three United States commis-
sioners and two sent by the State of Pennsylvania at Pittsburgh on
August 20. The commissioners made a proposition of unconditional sur-
render to the laws of the United States and no further opposition to the
excise tax. In return the government was to grant unconditional pardon
to all who had been engaged. With the exception of David Bradford, the
committee was in favor of accepting the proposition. On August 28, a
standing committee of sixty of the rebels met at Old Fort Redstone, now
Brownsville, to discuss the proposition. When the vote was taken it
stood thirty-four in favor of accepting and twenty-three against it. It
is said that Bradford retired in disgust.
   It was finally decided to' put the question up to a direct vote of the
people of the four counties engaged and September 11 was the day set.
There were at that time 13,800 inhabitants in the four counties engaged
in the rebellion, and of this number only 3,280 attended the election and
voted for submission. This convinced the federal and state commis-
sioners that there was no general submission and they so reported to
President Washington at Philadelphia.
   Washington now resolved to crush the rebellion and ordered out
troops. Washington County seemed to be the hotbed of the insurgents.
An army of 15,000 men, under command of Gen. Daniel Morgan, the hero


991