USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 1
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B 844,779
ARTES
SCIENTIA
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY
MICHIGAN
SI QUAERIS PENINSULAM AMIDE NAN
1
.-
UOFM
Major-General Anthony Wayne. After the original portrait by Charles Wilson Peale. Through the kindness of Hon. William Wayne.
HISTORY
.
BEAVER COCALA 1
REV. :. ,
!
...
HISTORY
OF BEAVER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA
AND
ITS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
BY
REV. JOSEPH H. BAUSMAN, A.M. Member American Historical Association, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
ILLUSTRATED
IN TWO VOLUMES VOLUME II
The knickerbocker Press NEW YORK 1904
COPYRIGHT, 1904 BY J. H. BAUSMAN
The Knickerbocker Press, new york
VOLUME II BOROUGHS AND TOWNSHIPS; CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION; APPENDIXES, ETC.
HISTORY OF BEAVER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CHAPTER XVI BEAVER BOROUGH
Situation-Relation to other Valley Towns-Beaver Laid Out-Sale of Lots-Judge Addison's Letters Relating Thereto-Designation as County-Seat-Incorporation-Changes of Borough Limits-Water- works-Early Notices of Beaver-Early Borough Officials and Records-Harris's Directory for 1837-Beaver Academy-Female Seminary-Beaver College and Musical Institute-Public Schools- Churches-Banks and Building and Loan Associations-Cemeteries -Secret Societies-Hotels-Post-office-Population-Fort McIntosh -Naming of Public Squares.
Imagine a rolling, wooded English landscape, with the softest of blue skies, dotted at three-mile intervals with fat little, quiet little villages, or aggressive little manufacturing towns .- RUDYARD KIPLING.I
BEAVER, the seat of justice of Beaver County, is one of the quiet little villages referred to in the above quotation from the. correspondence of the famous English writer, Rudyard Kipling. Like Zion of old it is "beautiful for situation," standing as it does on a wide, elevated plateau on the north bank of the Ohio River just below the mouth of the Big Beaver Creek and over- looking the rich and populous valleys of these two streams. Although there is no corporate bond uniting Beaver and the
1 Extract from a letter from Beaver by Kipling in From Sea to Sea, vol. ii., p. 158. YOL. 11 .- 1
613
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History of Beaver County
other towns in these valleys, there is a close social and economic connection between them. It might almost seem that to out- siders the whole group of towns was formerly regarded as Beaver, for in a historical work on Pennsylvania, written some sixty years ago, we find the following reference to it:
Beaver .- The place known by this name to travellers and others at Pittsburgh, whence so many little steamers are seen plying for this desti- nation, is not, properly, one town, but a little cluster of towns-a sort of United States in miniature, situated around the mouth of Beaver river, and four or five miles up that stream. And it is a singular fact, that, to a traveller passing on the Ohio scarcely any village at all can be descried at the place, although there is here a population of some six thousand. I
We may take this as an unconscious prophecy of the recent dis- cussion of the project of uniting the towns of the valleys into one municipality, and of the future scene when there shall be a great city of Beaver here, with not six, but sixty or a hundred thousand population.
BEAVER LAID OUT
What Topsy said of herself, namely, that she "never was born," but just "grow'd and was raised by a speculator," might be said of many towns, but cannot be said of Beaver. Beaver knows her parentage, and is, in a unique way, the child of the State. By the Act of September 28, 1791,2 the Governor of the State was authorized to direct the Surveyor-General to survey two hundred acres of land in town lots, near the mouth of the Beaver Creek, "on or near the ground where the old French town stood," 3 and also one thousand acres adjoining,
1 Historical Collections, Sherman Day, p. 106.
* 3 Smith's I., 56.
" This "old French town " probably stood on the present site of Groveland. In reference to it we have previously quoted the following from Bouquet's Journal:
"About a mile below its [the Big Beaver's] confluence with the Ohio stood formerly a large town, on the steep bank, built by the French, of square logs, with stone chimneys, for some of the Shawanese, Delawares and Mingo tribes, who abandoned it in the year 1758, when the French deserted Fort Du Quesne. Near the fording of Beaver creek also stood about seven houses, which were deserted and destroyed by the Indians, after their defeat on Bushy-run, when they forsook all their remaining settlements in this part of the country." Christopher Post says:
"At Beaver Creek there is thirty-eight houses, all built by the French for the Indians: some with stone chimneys. When all their men are at home they can send out one hun- dred warriors."
In his now very rare The Journal of a Two Months Tour, etc., the Rev. Charles Beatty describes the locality as he saw it in September, 1766, as follows *:
"We proceeded [from Logstown] to Great Beaver creek, about ten miles, which we
* See in our Chapter XXVIII. a note on Rev. Charles Beatty and his journal.
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History of Beaver County
on the upper side thereof, as nearly square as might be, in out- lots, not less than five, nor more than ten, acres each. These twelve hundred acres were a part of the " three thousand acres on the Ohio and on both sides of the mouth of Beaver Creek, including Fort McIntosh" which were reserved to the use of the State by the Act of March 12, 1783.' The survey under the Act of 1791 was made by Daniel Leet, in November, 1792, but the commissioners whose duty it was to direct the survey were not present." Leet's survey was therefore without authority, but it was confirmed by the Act of Assembly, passed March 6, 1793.3
SALE OF LOTS
March 11th, following, the Governor of the State directed the Surveyor-General to mark the reservations required by the Act of 1791, upon the survey of the town plot, which consisted of eight squares, four in the center and one on each corner, and the next day the Governor issued his commission to sell the lots of the town, with instructions to the commissioners appointed for that purpose. These commissioners were David Bradford 4; James Marshall (he spelled his name Marshel) and Andrew Swearingen, all of Washington County The sale began at Washington, Pa., July 2d, and continued until August 12, 1793. The list of purchasers at this time, with those at the later sales, will be of interest and will be found in the very full exhibit of the whole history of the disposition made of the land in the reserve tract drawn from the State records, at Harrisburg, by Mr. J. Sutton Wall, chief draftsman, specially for this work. (See Appendix No. VII.)
crossed and made up our fire on the rich high bank on the west side, which afforded our horses exceeding good pasture, equal to a meadow. In the night there fell a heavy rain which wetted us much notwithstanding all our efforts to screen ourselves. Here the Indians had once a considerable town, but deserted it the last war in order to get at a greater distance from the English.
"The situation is very pleasant, the land being rich and level for a considerable way upon this river, encompassed at a distance by a rising ground, or small hill. A great part of this land that had been cleared, is now grown up again with small brush or underwood. The land we passed yesterday and to-day appears, in general, to be strong and good. The low land on the Ohio, and on the small rivers that empty into it, is very rich and abounds with walnut timber."-Text and note, pp. 34-35.
1 2 Smith's L., 63.
* See reference to this absence of the commissioners in Judge Addison's letter to Secretary Dallas just below.
' 3 Smith's L., 90.
. David Bradford was an attorney of Washington, Pa., who attained a bad eminence in the so-called "Whisky Insurrection." (See The Latimers, by H. C. McCook.) The stone house in which he lived on the west side of Main Street between Wheeling and Maiden is still standing.
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History of Beaver County
It will be seen by those who are familiar with the names of the buyers at the first sale that the majority of them belong to Washington County people. This was perhaps due to the fact that the sale was held in Washington. The unfairness of fixing the place of sale so far from the ground is recognized by Hon. Alexander Addison, at that time president judge of the district in which Washington County and the territory now Beaver County were embraced, in letters written by him a year or two after the sales. These letters are so interesting in themselves and throw so much light upon the history of the formative period of the county that we shall venture to transcribe them here entire. The reader will notice that the sale of the lots, the location of the county-seat, the reservations to be made for water lots, public buildings, cemetery, schools and churches, etc., were not treated in a haphazard way, but enlisted the wisdom and foresight of the ablest men of the time. The first letter we shall give is from Addison to Governor Mifflin. It reads as follows:
WASHINGTON (Pa.), 3d February, 1796.
SIR :-
At the last court in Allegheny County General Wilkins had received no instructions for procuring the attendance of the Indians as witnesses in the case of the attack on the Indians on the Allegheny river.
I think it proper to mention to you, that at least one man has built a house with a view to settle on some of the unsold part of the reserve tract at the mouth of the Beaver creek, and that several others expect to do so next spring. If this measure takes place it will probably occa- sion disturbance and dispute, the settlers without right will claim a preference to those who, respecting the law, stand back till they can have an opportunity of settling lawfully. The sales will be injured, for some will be backward to purchase a disputed possession. I submit to you the consideration of the probable consequences and the remedy, whether it will be best to proceed immediately to a sale of the residue of the lots and tracts, or whether some notification ought to be given against such settlements, and suits instituted against those who will not go off. I would also mention, that I am informed that havoc is making of the timber and trees of the unsold part, and much greater is to be feared. Whether it will be thought proper to advert to this you will also con- sider. If the sale of the residue should be determined on, it ought to be attended to, that a certain spring, at some distance from the town is (excepting the rivers which are an hundred feet below the level of the town, with a very steep bank) the only resource for water-a sufficient quantity of ground ought to be reserved round it and between it and the town, for conducting it into the town. There is also a stone quarry near 300
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History of Beaver County
it, which ought not to be suffered to become private property. Both these ought to be vested in trustees for the use of the town. The most proper trustees would be an incorporation to be made of the town, to take place as soon as a sufficient number of inhabitants should be in it. Many will settle there next summer. Before a sale the future seat of justice ought to be established there-the county to take place as soon as a certain number, say 300 or 500 families live on the N. W. side of the Ohio, within 15 or 20 miles of the town. This being certified to you on certain proof made, the lines of the county on both sides of the Ohio to be ascertained by Commissioners, and declared by proclamation; but no court to be held there until the County Commissioners have built a sufficient Court house and jail, which they should be enabled to do without limitation of price. These sales ought to be on the grounds, I mean at the town itself. And profits ought to be applied to an academy.
Indeed, I should think that in all the unsettled parts boundaries of counties and scites of the county towns ought to be ascertained before- hand and purchases made of 600 or 1000 acres to be laid out in lots and outlots, and the profits to be applied to academies. The county to be declared by proclamation entitled to a separate representation as soon as the ratio of one member shall be complete, and to a separate judicature as soon as a Court house and jail proper for the purpose shall be finished. This plan would prevent much intrigue and partiality, and would throw the profits into a better channel than they are now in. At present county towns are only means of gain without merit to the owners of the land, who may impose what terms they please on the purchasers.
You will forgive me for troubling you with these hasty hints, and deal with them as you please.
I am, with great respect, Sir, Your most obed't serv't,
ALEX. ADDISON.
P. S .- As no lot has been reserved proper for a grave yard, which ought to be back from the town of Beaver-whether to provide for that and for conducting the spring and a proper road from the stone quarry, a sufficient quantity of ground back of the town, ought not to be reserved from the sale?
To THOMAS MIFFLIN,
Governor of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.I
The next letter is from Judge Addison to Secretary Dallas (the italics are ours) :
DEAR SIR :-
WASHINGTON, 2d March, 1796.
I formerly wrote to the Governor respecting the sale of the residue of the lots of the town at the mouth of Beaver and the residue of the reserved tract there. I do think that there is a necessity for the sale as early as possible in the spring, and that as good a price will be given
1 Penna. Arch., ad series, vol. iv., p. 650. M
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History of Beaver County
then as ought to be expected, or will probably be got at any future period within the compass of a proper prosecution of the plan. I think the lots will now sell high. I think the sale ought to be on the ground; those who intend to be settlers will go there; those who intend to speculate may go or send there. I am confident that this also will be found true and proper.
I do not know whether the land be all surveyed, and I believe not; it ought to be laid out in small lots near the town and in larger back from it to the extent of the reservation. If a clause of settlement be annexed there ought to be a special method pointed out to ascertain the forfeiture and conclude the purchaser.
The last sale was in this town, that was not altogether right, as the land is not in this county. Yet reasons, perhaps true, and if true, sufficient, were given for not selling at Pittsburgh. The people of Pittsburgh, it was said disliked the establishment, and would have thwarted the pro- gress of the sale and settlement of the town. They had engrossed almost all the lots in the reserved tract opposite to Pittsburgh and made use of that as an argument to remove the seat of justice from that place into Pittsburgh, and so prevented any town there. They might have been disposed to do the same thing at McIntosh.
The Commissioners for laying out the town and lots, laid out at McIntosh, that is at the mouth of Beaver, were scattered, one in Pitts- burgh, one in Westmoreland, and one in Fayette, and the surveyor was in Washington. The consequence was they never met, and the surveyor after attending on several appointments, was obliged to lay out the lots alone. The blame of this was laid on the Pittsburgh Commissioner. I would recommend Matthew Ritchie, David Redick and Daniel Leet, the two first of this town and the last near it, as Commissioners to lay out and to sell the lots, and if the law for Greene County does not alter the day of next June courts, would suggest the last Monday of May as the time of sale on the reserved tract itself, & to continue from day to day.
You wanted a lot at the last sale. If you should want one now, write to me, point out the lot and the highest price. I wish you would send me a plan of the town and out lots and reserved tract. It would do for the Commissioners. I wish you would accompany it with a list of the purchasers & the numbers purchased & the prices, that will also do for the Commissioners. But send me by post as soon as possible a list of such purchasers as have not taken out patents for their lots (if there be any such) with the numbers & prices. Purchases would be made of them perhaps.
Yours sincerely, ALEX'R ADDISON.I
In another letter to the Governor he refers to this subject of the sale of the lots again and, as we remarked in quoting from the letter in a former part of this work, it gives us in a few
1 Penna. Arch., ad series, vol. iv., p. 648.
MOU
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History of Beaver County
words a vivid picture of the great rush of emigration across the Ohio, following upon the opening up of the western country after Wayne's victory in 1794 and the treaty of Greenville in 1795. The letter reads as follows:
PITTSBURGH, 11th March, 1796.
SIR :- At the court this week an application was again made for the discharge of the person taken for killing the Indian boy, on the Allegheny river. But on a statement of the circumstances rendering it impossible to proceed with the prosecution, it was not pressed. It will be impossible, with any decency, that this motion should be restrained or resisted any longer, and I hope measures will be taken to have the Indians here by the next court to prove the death.
Let me again suggest to you the necessity of as early a sale as possible of the residue of the lots and reserved tract at the mouth of Beaver creek. In my opinion the sale ought to be in the end of May next. If not sold soon the lots and land will be occupied by persons without title. The sale ought to be on the ground itself.
The idea of a new county ought to be fixed and prosecuted as soon as possible. I dread the consequences of the flood of mad people who have gone over the Allegheny and Ohio to make settlements; their num- ber is inconceivable and they will, perhaps, be dangerous, unless law can be brought in among them. The establishment of a new county and seat of justice there, with the additional number of officers that would be occasioned by that, would awaken and keep up a sense of submission, and have a good influence on characters and tempers, which otherwise may give rise to some apprehensions.
I am, Sir, with much respect, your most obed't Serv.
ALEX. ADDISON.
THOMAS MIFFLIN, Governor of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.1
While these letters may, perhaps, indicate that Judge Addi- son was looking out for good things for himself and his friends in the way of land values, they reveal still more, as did every word he ever penned, a spirit of high civic patriotism united to clear-sighted wisdom and knowledge of men and law.
When we consider the conditions existing when this town of Beaver was laid out, we must admire the far-sightedness and sure and steady purpose of the men who were the legislators of that time. The Act which directed the Surveyor-General to cause the survey to be made was passed in the fall of 1791. That was still three years before Wayne had fought his battle
1 Penna. Arch., ad series, vol. iv., pp. 649-50.
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History of Beaver County
at Maumee; and the region hereabout, though purchased from the Indians, was still dangerous ground for the white man to tread upon. The broad plain on which the beautiful town of to-day stands was then in a wilderness,' and there was perhaps no sign of human existence there beyond a hut or two and the dismantled ruins of old Fort McIntosh. When Daniel Leet was laying out the broad streets, and marking the spots for the reserved squares where were to stand the public buildings, there were still eight years to run before there should be erected the county of Beaver.
DESIGNATION AS A COUNTY-SEAT
When the new county was created, it was natural that this town, already laid out by the wisdom of the Legislature, should be designated as the seat of justice, as was done by the Act of March 12, 1800, the law erecting the county .? The reasons for its selection given by Sherman Day in his Historical Collections (1843) may have had some influence. He says 3:
The probable motive at that day for locating the county seat at a distance from the great manufacturing advantages at the Falls, was the existence of the well-known shoal just below the mouth of the Beaver, a difficult and dangerous passage to the keel-boats and other craft in use at that day. By the location here, the town was accessible alike to the lower and upper trade, and the obstructions themselves would probably throw considerable business into the place.
But there were other reasons that were more likely to operate upon the minds of the legislators of that day. Nature and his- torical association had together marked this spot as the fitting one for a county-seat.4 Its situation was elevated, beautiful,
1 See in Chapter III., letter from Fort McIntosh, written by Lieutenant Bryson, in 1782. In it he speaks of the Indians making their ambuscades "under the cover of the large trees bordering the plain."
* 3 Smith's L., 429.
' Page 107.
. While the question of erecting the county of Allegheny was pending in the General Assembly of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, a petition was presented, the substance of which as given in the following extract from the Minutes of the Assembly, will be interest- ing to the reader:
"February 23, 1788. A petition from 90 inhabitants of the county of Washington was read, remonstrating against the petitions presented to this and former Houses of Assembly, for erecting parts of the counties of Westmoreland, Washington and Fayette into a separate county and establishing the seat of justice for the same at the town of Pittsburgh, and suggesting the propriety, in case it should be deemed expedient to erect a new county, that the courts of justice may be established at the mouth of Beaver Creek, or at Old Logstown.
Ordered to lie on the table."
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and healthful, central to the natural divisions of the territory of the county, and easily accessible by all the natural routes of travel along the streams and valleys and ridges. These natural advantages of the site had been thoroughly appreciated by the Indians and by the French, who had long made it a rendezvous and trading center. The erection here of Fort McIntosh had also brought the locality into prominence, and finally the State had already laid out a town here. As the late ex-Chief Justice Daniel Agnew has said: 1
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