USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 1
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HISTORY
OF
WASHINGTON COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA,
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF MANY OF ITS
PIONEERS AND PROMINENT MEN.
EDITED BY
BOYD CRUMRINE. 1832 1976
ILLUSTRATED.
PHILADELPHIA : L. H. EVERTS & CO. 1882.
CH LIBRARY
PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA.
Iar 9F157 462EM Q 1592
Copyright, 1882, by BOYD CRUMRINE.
PREFACE.
AN apologetic preface is not intended by what is here written, for it is believed that in this History of Washington County there are perhaps as few errors and imperfections as any reason- able critic ought to expect in so comprehensive a work. Whatever defects may appear (and what work of man is free from defects ?), they are certainly not chargeable to a want of effort and care to avoid them ; and those who have been engaged in the preparation of this work only ask the favor that before it be subjected to unfavorable comment it be carefully examined, not in isolated portions, but in its whole scope and character. Far from being unwilling to submit to honest and intelligent criticism, they will be glad to have any substantial inaccuracies pointed out. By such criticism alone can this work be affected ; captious fault-finding, often arising out of unworthy jealousies, cannot prevail with intelligent men.
But it is rather desired here to make a remark or two as to the history of the book now de- livered to those for whom it was written. And in this connection it may be premised that if any one individual, on his own account, could have devoted the necessary time and industry to the preparation of a full and accurate history of the county, covering the ground the writers of this history have endeavored to cover, it is confidently believed that, there being but a local demand for such a work, it would have been vain to hope that it could have been pub- lished and sold so as to repay the author for the time, labor, and expenditure involved. To those who wished to see something like an approach to a complete history of Washington County, the proposals of the enterprising publishers to publish the work after a plan and method of their own seemed to offer the only opportunity within reach, and hence it was that the writer of these lines, after the approval of good friends, on whose judgment he could rely, was led to aid the enterprise, not only by a contribution to its pages, but, by way of general oversight and direction of the whole. It was soon found, however, that, beyond the chapters contributed, there was but little need of his assistance, for Major Franklin Ellis, of New York City, the gentleman by whom much the larger part of the work was prepared, brought with him long experience and great skill in historical investigation, an enviable facility of composition, together with laborious industry and carefulness. And he was aided by gentlemen-one of whom, Austin N. Hunger- ford, Esq., of Ithaca, N. Y., deserves special mention-who also were possessed of special fitness for the gathering from all sorts of sources of the innumerable and disjointed details which have gone to make up the history of localities ; and, not only that, they have all along received con- stant encouragement and valuable suggestions from leading men in the county, too many in number to acknowledge by name here. It may be unusual, but, as his associates came here as strangers, the writer desires in this place to bear witness to all who may be interested in this
3
55226
4
PREFACE.
work that in the labor performed by the gentlemen named they have evinced at all times while it progressed the most absolute good faith and painstaking desire for accuracy and completeness.
In explanation of the method adopted, more especially in the preparation of the chapters upon the civil and legal history, the writer would state that the idea of presenting original docu- ments, in full or by quotation, as they lay before him, rather than to paraphrase their contents in his own language, was followed from deliberate choice as the best method of presenting local history. Thus the actors speak for themselves, and the reader is not asked to take upon faith the statements of another as to what is really contained in their communications. True, a sen- tence often might have represented the substantial contents of a letter or paper of some length, but the reader is supposed to desire rather to see and read the letter or paper for himself. This will, no doubt, be appreciated by the thoughtful.
One word as to the matter of the portraits, other illustrations, and biographical sketches not immediately connected with the historical character of the work, a feature, however, with which those engaged as investigators and writers have had nothing whatever to do, as being outside of their employment. This feature sometimes is made the subject of thoughtless criticism. Let it here be said the work is intended, to some extent, to indicate the present development of the county, side by side with the history of its past. For obvious reasons, then, wait for twenty, thirty, forty years of our future to elapse, when the present and its people shall have become more in- teresting. Then, it is submitted, this very feature of the work in which there are presented the portraits and biographical sketches of a few of the representative men of each condition of life, as well as, illustrations of their homes and their surroundings, showing the county of to-day, will of itself have become of very great interest and importance. Time, indeed, will place this feature of the work in its proper light.
This history, thus the work of many hands, is now with the reader, a record of our past, for present and future instruction and entertainment. The longer it is possessed perhaps the more it may be prized. Not a page has been stereotyped, and only copies enough have been printed to supply the subscribers and those who labored upon it; hence it cannot hereafter be found in the market, and year by year it will become a possession more and more valuable to the owner.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 1882.
B. C.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I .- WASHINGTON COUNTY IN HISTORY-LOCATION, BOUNDARIES, AND TOPOGRAPHY-THE IN- DIAN OCCUPATION . II .- THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH CLAIMS TO THE TRANS - ALLEGHENY REGION - GEORGE WASHINGTON'S VISIT TO THE FRENCH FORTS IN 1753 21 III .- FRENCH OCCUPATION AT THE HEAD OF THE OHIO-WASHINGTON'S CAMPAIGN OF 1754 34
V .- INCURSIONS AND RAVAGES DURING THE FRENCH OCCUPATION-CAPTURE OF FORT DU QUESNE AND EXPULSION OF THE FRENCH -EXPEDITIONS UNDER BOUQUET 53
VI .- DUNMORE'S WAR 64
VII .- THE REVOLUTION . 74
VIII .- THE REVOLUTION-( Continued) 110
IX .- THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY . 138
X. THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY -- ( Con- tinued) 148
XI .- THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY - ( Con- tinued) . 158
XII .- THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY - ( Con-
tinued) 169
XIII .- THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY - ( Con-
tinued) 182
XIV .- THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY - ( Con-
tinued) . 196
XV .- THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY - ( Con- tinued) 204
XVI .- THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY - (Con-
tinued) 212
XVII .- THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY - ( Con-
tinued) 222
XVIII .- THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY - ( Con-
tinued) 235
XIX .- THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY - ( Con-
tinued) . 249
XX .- THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION 262
XXI .- WAR OF 1812-15-TEXAN AND MEXICAN WARS XXII .- WAR OF THE REBELLION 310
XXIII .- WAR OF THE REBELLION-( Continued) . .
XXIV .- WAR OF THE REBELLION-( Continued) . . 322
XXV .- WAR OF THE REBELLION-( Continued) . . 329
XXVI .- WAR OF THE REBELLION-( Continued) . . 334
XXVII .- WAR OF THE REBELLION-( Continued) . .
XXVIII .- WAR OF THE REBELLION-( Continued). . 346
XXIX .- WAR OF THE REBELLION-( Continued) . .
CHAPTER PAGE
XXX .- WAR OF THE REBELLION-(Continued) . 353
XXXI .- WAR OF THE REBELLION-( Continued) . 362
XXXII .- GEOLOGY-MINING 365
XXXIII .- INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS 370
XXXIV .- RELIGIOUS HISTORY 398
XXXV .- RELIGIOUS HISTORY-(Continued) . 425
XXXVI .- EDUCATIONAL HISTORY . 438
XXXVII .- COUNTY BUILDINGS - CIVIL - LIST - COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES-POPULATION 463
BOROUGHS AND TOWNSHIPS.
WASHINGTON BOROUGH 476
MONONGAHELA CITY . 565
CANONSBURG BOROUGH 601
CALIFORNIA BOROUGH
628
WEST BROWNSVILLE BOROUGH . 635
ALLEN TOWNSHIP 643
AMWELL TOWNSHIP :
652
BUFFALO TOWNSHIP -.
673
CANTON TOWNSHIP
686
CARROLL TOWNSHIP .
691
CECIL TOWNSHIP
698
CHARTIERS TOWNSHIP
707
CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP
721
DONEGAL TOWNSHIP . 742
764
EAST FINLEY TOWNSHIP . EAST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP
782
FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP : FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
796 802
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP
811
INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP .
824
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP
836
MORRIS TOWNSHIP
842
MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP
850
NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP
866
NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP
882
PETERS TOWNSHIP
887
ROBINSON TOWNSHIP .
900 910
SMITH TOWNSHIP
SOMERSET TOWNSHIP
931
SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP UNION TOWNSHIP 960
952
342 WEST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP
969
WEST FINLEY TOWNSHIP . 979
349 WEST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP 986
5
13
IV .- BRADDOCK'S EXPEDITION IN 1755 . .
44
EAST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP
774
789
HANOVER TOWNSHIP .
306
319
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
Alexander, J. W.
facing 627
McKennan, W.
facing
249
Alexander, William J.
" 578
McLain, William
762
Allison, John .
720
McMillan's Log Cabin Academy
440
Autographs of Justices of Old Virginia Courts,
facing 204
McNary, James S. .
between 714, 715
Baker, Enoch .
66
671
McNary, William H.
714, 715 . 752
Barnard, Samuel
978
Murray's Block, West Alexander Noble, T. C.
facing 758
Bentley, George
968
Blachly, S. L. .
66
848
Patterson, James
727
Caldwell, A. B., Residence of .
504
Paul, Huston .
954
Court-House, Sheriff's Residence, and Jail
467
Paxton, John G., Residence of .
708
Craig, Walker .
724
Plan of the town of Washington
between 476, 477
Craighead, James
Pees, Zachariah
facing 880
Crumrine, George
=
976
Perrine, David
840
Davis, William
957
Prehistoric Pipe
Denniston, Samuel
964
Presbyterian Church, West Alexander
facing
642
Ducking-Stool .
206
Proudfit, J. L. .
Ewing, John H.
facing
556
Public School, Monongahela City
=
959
Frazier, Thomas
760
Reed, Parker
822
Hall, John, Stock-Farm of
688
Richard Yates' Survey
.
193
Hanna, Mrs. S. R.
"
558
Ritchie's Block
facing «
623 624
Hawkins, S. R.
948
Ritchie, W. H. S.
Hazlett's Bank .
528
Shirls, Harry, Residence of
between 542, 543
Hazzard, T. R. .
598
Sloan, Rev. James
facing
940
Hopkins, James H.
facing 562
Hopkins, William
560
Howe, S. B.
635
Jefferson College at Canonsburg in 1842 445
Lawrence, G. V.
facing 574
Lee, William
732 Stewart, Robert
Stocks and Pillory
. 222
Map, Draft of Surveys Virginia Settlement, between 192, 193
Swagler, Jacob
facing 950
Swart, Andrew J.
.
.
672 899
Map showing District of West Augusta and Counties of Ohio .
between 182, 183
Trinity Hall Boarding-School .
66
459
Map of Washington County from 1781 to 1788 Map, Outline, of Washington County
. between 12, 13
Maxwell, George C., Residence of
facing 646
Walker, D. S. .
facing 740
Maxwell, John .
820
Walker, John N.
736
McConnell, Alexander, Jr. between 718, 719
Washington College in 1842
.
446
McConnell, Alexander, Sr. 718, 719
Wasson, L. J. .
facing 886
McFarland, Samuel . 6
facing 564 Work, George T.
816
.
563
Smith, William
Soldiers' Monument .
Southwestern State Normal School . Speers, S. C.
facing
649
Sphar, Henry .
651
Stephens, J. W.
936
Little, James D., Residence of .
712
Map, Outline, Illustrating the Boundary Controversy be- tween Pennsylvania and Virginia
facing 191
Townsend, Elijah
facing 66
459
Map showing French Occupation of the Ohio Valley, facing 138
Trinity Hall, east view
222
Vance, Samuel .
6€ 952
Warne, James .
600
Trinity Hall, from Playground.
458
Farrar, John
929
Ramsey, George
. 956 749
Dickson, James G.
614
Pringle, J. S. .
930
Barr, John S. .
944
Part of Washington in 1842
496
706
595
Henderson, Joseph
. 552 462
838
PAGE
١
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OUTLINE MAP OF ASHINGTON CO. PENNA
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SOUTHERN
HISTORY
OF
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER I.
WASHINGTON COUNTY IN HISTORY - LOCATION, BOUNDARIES, AND TOPOGRAPHY-THE INDIAN OCCUPATION.
WASHINGTON COUNTY embraces in its annals much that is of great historic interest, and in this respect it is surpassed by but few counties in Pennsylvania, though no great national events have ever occurred within its boundaries, and it contains no spot of world-wide fame like Valley Forge, Wyoming, or Gettysburg. In the fierce conflict waged a century and a quarter ago by the two great European rivals, England and France, for dominion over the vast region watered by the head-streams of the Ohio, the contending armies never fought or marched within the present limits of this county, but the routes and the battle-grounds of Washington and Braddock were so near these borders that the crunch and rumble of their artillery-wheels among the crags of the Laurel Hill and the rattle of the fusilades at Fort Necessity and on the storied field of the Monongahela might almost have been heard from the valleys and hills that are now whitened and dotted by the harvests and herds of Washington County farmers. Twenty years afterwards, when a controversy scarcely less fierce sprang up between the States of Pennsylvania and Virginia, in which the Old Dominion insisted on ex- tending her limits eastward to the mountains, while Pennsylvania peremptorily refused to yield to the claim, and demanded the boundaries granted to Penn by the royal charter, the country west of the Monon- gahela, that was soon after embraced in the county of Washington, became the principal arena of a conflict of jurisdiction that almost reached the extremity of open war.
-
-
In the Revolutionary struggle this region saw noth- armies ; but when the news of actual hostilities flew south and west from Lexington Common, kindling in all the colonies the flame of patriotism, it blazed forth as promptly and burned as brightly on these highlands and along these streams as it did on the
And while the smoke of battle still enveloped the steep sides of Bunker Hill, armed men from the valley of the Monongahela were already on their way across the mountains to join the provincial forces encircling Boston. Later in the struggle, when Brit- ain had secured the alliance of the Indian tribes of 'the Northwest, and incited them to frequent and bloody incursions into the settlements along the Ohio border, the brave frontiersmen of this region were mustered in arms again and again to repel invasion and to march against the savages in the wilderness, as a means of protection to their own families and homes. And through all the years of the great struggle, devout ministers of the gospel in Washing- ton County, some of them as eminent in their calling as any in the land, prayed for the success of the pa- triot cause ; and when the fighting men went forth, exhorted them to take as much care to fear and serve God, as to pick their flints and keep their powder dry.
The border hostilities, the Revolution, and the later wars in which the people of Washington County took prominent part will be mentioned in detail in suc- ceeding pages, with accounts of the boundary con- troversy, the Whiskey Insurrection, internal im- provements, including the construction of the old National road, the railroads, the navigation of the Monongahela River, and numberless other historical matters relating to this county, among which none are of greater interest than those pertaining to that religious and educational development and progress which has placed Washington among the very fore- most of the counties of Pennsylvania.
Location, Boundaries, and Topography .- With regard to its location and boundaries, Washington may properly be described as one of the western- most range of counties of Pennsylvania, and the second one, reckoning northward, from the south-
ing of the movements of the Continental and royal | west corner of the State. It is joined on the north by Beaver County; on the northeast by Allegheny County ; on the east by Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Fayette; on the south by Greene County, and on the west by the State of West Virginia.
The principal stream of the county is the Monon- plain of Bennington or the banks of the Brandywine. | gahela River, which takes its rise in West Virginia,
2
13
14
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
crosses the State line into Pennsylvania at the ex- treme southeast corner of Greene County, and flow- ing thence in a meandering but generally northward course, marks the entire eastern boundary of Greene and Washington Counties against the counties of Fay- ette, Westmoreland, and Allegheny. From the north- eastern limit of Washington County the river flows first in a northeasterly, and afterwards in a north- westerly course through Allegheny County to its confluence with the Allegheny River at Pittsburgh.
Besides the Monongahela, Washington County has a great number of smaller streams, but among these there are few that are of sufficient size and importance to de- serve special mention. The North Fork of Ten-Mile Creek takes its rise in the southern part of this county, and flows in a general course a little south of east to its junction with the South Fork, which rises in Greene County. The North Fork marks the boundary line between Washington and Greene for a short distance above the confluence; and the main stream of Ten- Mile also marks the line between the two counties from the confluence to its mouth, where its waters join those of the Monongahela. North of Ten-Mile Creek, Pike Run, Pigeon Creek, Mingo Creek, and Peters Creek flow into the Monongahela from the eastern part of the county.
The head-streams or forks of Chartiers Creek take their rise in the central and southern parts of the county, and joining their waters form the main stream, which flows in a northeasterly course through the north part of Washington into and through Allegheny County to its junction with the Ohio a short distance below Pittsburgh. Raccoon Creek, King's Creek, and Harmon's Creek rise in the northwest part of the county and flow into the Ohio, the first named in a northerly, and the others in a general westerly course. Several forks of Wheeling Creek (which flows into the Ohio) rise in the southwest corner of Washington County, Hunter's Fork (of Wheeling) marking the boundary for several miles between Washington and Greene. Buffalo Creek and Cross Creek, which have their sources in the western part of Washington County, flow westward across the State line into West Virginia, and through the "Pan Handle" of that State into the Ohio River.
rolling uplands or hills. In the southwest part of the county there is very little bottom land along the creeks; the hills rise more abruptly, and the high lands are much more steep and rugged than elsewhere. In general through the county the hills are tillable to their tops. On them, as in the valleys, and river and creek bottoms, the soil is excellent for the pro- duction of grain and fruits. The county in general is excellent for grazing, and well adapted for all the requirements of agriculture.
A fine description of the natural features of Wash- ington County is given below, being quoted from the " Memoirs of Alexander Campbell," by Robert Rich- ardson. His observations commence at the county- seat, the site of which he describes as "near the sources of several streams, which run in different di- rections, as the Chartiers Creek, which flows towards the north; Ten-Mile Creek, which pursues an east- ward course and falls into the Monongahela ten miles above Brownsville, whence its name; Buffalo, which directs a swift and clear current to the west-northwest and empties into the Ohio at Wellsburg, about twenty- eight miles distant. The town being thus near the summit-level of the streams, the hills around it are comparatively low, and the country gently undulat- ing. As we follow the descending waters the hills and upland region, which in reality preserve pretty much the same level, seem gradually to become higher, so that by the time we approach the Ohio and Monon- gahela Rivers their sides, growing more and more precipitous, rise to a height of four or five hundred feet. These steep declivities inclose the fertile val- leys, through which the larger streams wind in grace- ful curves. Into these wide valleys small rivulets pour their limpid waters, issuing at short intervals upon each side from deep ravines formed by steep hill- sides, which closely approach each other, and down which the waters of the springs, with which the up- land is abundantly supplied, fall from rock to rock in miniature cascades. Upon the upland not immedi- ately bordering upon the streams, the country is rolling, having the same general elevation, above which, however, the summit of a hill occasionally lifts itself, as though to afford to lovers of beautiful landscapes most delightful views of a country covered Bordering the Monongahela River are narrow bot- tom lands, seldom, if ever, over one-fourth of a mile in width, and generally much less, through this county. From these bottoms the "river hills" rise abruptly to a height of from two hundred to three hundred feet, and from their summits the country stretches away westward in fine rolling uplands, ' for many miles with rich pasturages, with grazing herds or flocks, fruitful grain-fields or orchards, gar- dens, and farm-houses, while upon the steeper sides of the valleys still remain some of the ancient forest growths of oak and ash, walnut, hickory, and maple. Frequently as the traveler passes along the roads upon the upland he sees suddenly from some divid- which in many parts may be called a succession of ing ridge charming valleys stretching away for miles hills. The creeks-Chartiers, Ten-Mile, Pike, Pigeon, [ with their green meadows, rich fields of corn, and sparkling streamlets. At other times, as he advances, he admires with delight in the distance the ever- varying line of the horizon, which on all sides is formed by the summits of remote ridges and eleva-
Mingo, Peters, Raccoon, King's, Harmon's, Cross, and Buffalo-all have nearly the same kind of country bordering their margins, viz., bottom lands (gener- ally very narrow, those of Chartiers' being wider than any other), from which the country rises to the | tions, sometimes conical in form, but mostly defined
15
THE INDIAN OCCUPATION.
by various arcs of circles, as regularly drawn as if a pair of compasses had traced the lines upon the sky. Everywhere around him he sees lands abounding in limestone and all the necessary elements of fertility, and producing upon even the highest summits abund- ant crops of all the cereal grains. To enhance the natural resources of this picturesque country its hills conceal immense deposits of bituminous coal, which the descending streams here and there expose, and which, along the sides of the valleys within five miles of Washington and thence to the Ohio River, are conveniently reached by level adits. Such, for nearly two hundred miles west of the Alleghenies, is the general character of this region, especially of that portion of it lying along the Monongahela and Ohio, a region whose healthfulness is not surpassed by that of any country in the world."
The Indian Occupation .- When the wilderness region west of the Alleghenies in Pennsylvania was first penetrated by English-speaking white men, they found it partially occupied by roving bands of In- dians, whose principal permanent settlements were in the vicinity of the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, and above and below that point on the latter stream and the Ohio, but who had, besides these, a few transient villages, or more properly camps, located at different points in the in- terior of the great hunting-ground. These Indian occupants were principally of the Delaware and Shawanese tribes or nations, but there were among them several colonized bands of Iroquois, or "Min- goes," as they were called. These represented the powerful Six Nations of New York, who were the de facto owners of this trans-Allegheny country, and who sent these bands with their chiefs to live among their vassals, the Delawares, in the same manner and for the same reason that the Romans of old planted colonies and posts at remote points in their tributary provinces.
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