USA > Pennsylvania > A pioneer outline history of northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 52
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Twenty Canoes and Sassy John were back once to see " Joe Blannett"- they could not pronounce the name of Barnett. The last visit of Caturah was in 1833, he being then over ninety years of age.
The following is from Hazzard's Register, 1830:
" Brookville, the spot selected by the commissioners as the seat of justice for Jefferson County, and confirmed by act of Assembly, etc., has lately been laid out in town lots and out lots bearing this name. At the sale, which took place last week, town lots were sold from thirty dollars to three hundred dollars each; the last day's sale averaged above fifty dollars, without in- cluding a mill-seat (Barr's) sold for one thousand dollars. Proceeds of sale will no doubt be sufficient to build a court-house. This may be considered high rate for lots, most of which still remain in a state of nature-but the advantages and prospects of this new county town attract a crowd of
545
35
HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
strangers. Persons were known to be present from twelve neighboring counties. The location of Brookville is a good one, and it has been judi- ciously laid out by Mr. Sloan, the artist."
These purchasers stopped with James Parks, near what is now Christ's brewery, and with David Butler, on the east side of the North Fork, at the head of what is now Wayne Cook's dam. A number also stopped with John Eason in his shanty on Main Street. The first sale of produce in what is now Brookville was in June, 1830. Samuel Sloan, of Armstrong County, was then teaming to and from Bellefonte. John Eason had erected a shanty in the woods to board the surveyors of the town plot. He observed, one day, Samuel Sloan on the pike, and Eason bought from his wagon butter, hams, and flour.
The pioneer physician in the county was John Jenks, M.D. In 1818 Dr. John W. Jenks came from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and settled in
Robert Hamilton, of Perry Township, pioneer, farmer, and financier ; born 1813; died 1902
what is now Punxsutawney, where he built a cabin, made improvements, and reared a family. He was quite a prominent man, and filled positions of profit and trust. He was one of the first associate judges, and father of Judge W. P. Jenks, Hon. G. A. Jenks, and Mrs. Judge Gordon.
PIONEER MAJOR SURGICAL OPERATION
Moses Knapp moved to what is now called Baxter in the spring of 1821, and while cutting timber he got a foot and leg crushed so that his limb had
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
to be amputated above the knee. Dr. Stewart, of Indiana, and Dr. William Rankin, of Licking, now Clarion County, performed the amputation in the summer of 1821. Knapp that year was constable, having been elected in the spring election.
PIONEER MILITIA LEGISLATION-AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE FORMATION OF THE MILITIA OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
"A FURTHER SUPPLEMENT TO THE ACT ENTITLED 'AN ACT FOR THE REG- ULATION OF THE MILITIA OF THIS COMMONWEALTH'
" SECTION I. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the part of the ninety-ninth regiment of the fifteenth division of Pennsyl- vania militia, lying within the county of Jefferson, shall form a separate battalion, and shall be entitled to elect one lieutenant-colonel and one major, and the election of the officers thereof shall be held as soon as convenient, agreeably to the act to which this is a supplement; the field officers of this battalion shall, as soon as practicable, proceed to organize said battalion into companies, so that the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates in the several companies thereof may, if they think it expedient, be reduced to fifty.
" Approved April 10, 1826."
The election under this act was held at Port Barnett, November 6, 1826, when the following officers were elected for the pioneer battalion of Jefferson County :
Lieutenant-colonel, Hance Robinson; major, Andrew Barnett.
There appears to have been no company numbered 1, but the officers elected for company No. 2 were as follows: Captain, Obed Morris; first lieutenant, John Hess; second lieutenant, Benoni Williams. This was a company from and around Punxsutawney.
Of the third company, Samuel Jones was captain ; Thomas Robinson, first lieutenant ; John Walters, second lieutenant.
Fourth company, Frederick Hetrick, captain ; Caleb Howard, first lieu- tenant ; James Crow, second lieutenant.
About 1828 the second election was held for this battalion, when Andrew Barnett was elected lieutenant-colonel, and James Corbet was elected major.
Late in the twenties, or early in the thirties, a volunteer militia company was organized in Punxsutawney, known as the Indiana and Jefferson Greens. I am unable to give precise dates, as these cannot be found on the records at Harrisburg. The pioneer officers were, Samuel Kerr, captain: David McPherson, first lieutenant ; Abraham Brewer, second lieutenant. This com- pany had numerous other officers, and had an existence for seven years.
The second volunteer company organized in Punxsutawney, and dis- tinctly belonging to Jefferson County, was the Jefferson Rangers. It was
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
in the third battalion, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, fifteenth division, and must have been organized in 1839. The pioneer officers were : James H. Bell, captain ; William Long, first lieutenant; John Weaver, second lieutenant. In 1842 William Long was captain; James L. Perry, first lieutenant; John Simpson, second lieutenant. About 1846 or 1847 Phineas W. Jenks was captain; Charles B. Hutchinson, first lieutenant ; James B. Miller, second lieutenant. This company, under Long, offered its services during the Mexican War, but was not accepted. Long was in office for seven years. It disbanded about 1848.
All marching in the militia was done to the tune of " Yankee Doodle" or the " Girl I left behind me." Marching was in single file. In drill it was " by sections of two, march." Instead of " file right" or " file left," it was "right" or "left wheel." Instead of " front" it was " left face."
The militia of Pennsylvania ceased to muster in 1849, under the pro- visions of the act of April 17 of that year, entitled "An act to revise the mili- tary system and provide for the arming of such only as shall be uniformed."
The pioneer county bridge was petitioned for January 19, 1836; ap- proved by the court, September, 1836. The bridge was let by the commis- sioners December 15, 1836, to Messrs. Thomas Hall and Richard Arthurs, con- tractors. The contract called for the completion of the bridge by September, 1837. The accepted contract bid was seven hundred and ninety-five dollars. When finished the bridge was a good solid structure, but was a curious pile of wood and stones.
This pioneer, county, covered bridge was a wooden one, made of pine timber. It was erected across Red Bank Creek in the borough of Brookville, a few feet west of where the present iron structure on Pickering Street now stands. There were no iron nails used in its construction, and only a few hand-made iron spikes. The timbers were mortised and tenoned, and put together with wooden pins. This was a single-span bridge of one hundred and twenty feet in length, with no centre pier, and of the burr-truss plan. It had two strings of circle arches, resting on the stone abutments.
Many memories to the old citizen clustered around this bridge, but time has effaced the bridge and will efface the memories. On its planks genera- tions have met, passed, and repassed, and from its stringers fishers dropped many a hook and line. Up to and later than 1843, Brookville had three natatoriums, or swimming-pools,-viz., one at the head of what is now Wayne Cook's dam on the North Fork, one at the "Deep Hole" near the Sand Spring, on the Sandy Lick, and one at or underneath the covered Bridge on Red Bank. In those days, from the time we had May flowers until the chilling blasts of November arrived, one of the principal sports of the men and boys was swimming in these " pools." We boys, in summer months, all day long played on the bosom of these waters or on the border-land. The busy men, the doctor, the statesman, the lawyer, the parson, the merchant, the
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
farmer, the mechanic, and the day laborer, all met here in the summer eve with boisterous shouts of joy and mirth to welcome up the moon. Of course, we had some skilful plungers and swimmers, who were as much at home in these waters as the wild ducks and geese of that day. An artist could swim on his back, on either side, under the water, float on his back, tread or walk in the water, and plunge or dive from almost any height. The beginner or boy. though, always commenced his apprenticeship in this graceful profession by swimming with his breast on a piece of plank, board, or old slab. But alas to the pioneer,-
" Swimming sports, once deemed attractive, Haunts amidst the bloom of laurel flowers, Radiant charms that pleased my senses In my boyhood's sunny hours, Have departed like illusions, And will never more be ours."
Alexander McKnight located in Brookville in 1832. He taught the first term of school in the first school building, was the first school director elected for the new borough, held the office of justice of the peace, lieutenant- colonel in the militia, had served a year as private in the regular army of the United States, and was county treasurer when he died, in 1837, aged twenty- seven years.
Samuel Craig located in Brookville in 1832, Hugh Brady, Esq., in 1832, and John Ramsey, the pioneer wagon-maker, in 1834. Hugh Brady and family came from Indiana, Pennsylvania, in a Conestoga wagon drawn by four horses,-the lead horses having bells on. That was the wagon of that period. There was a bridge across the North Fork. They came via Port Barnett. John Showalter located here in 1843. He lived in Snyder's Row, was a gunsmith, and had a confectionery. James R. Fullerton located in Brookville in 1833. The pioneer gunsmith was Isaac Mills. He located where Thomas L. Templeton now resides. The pioneer doctor was Alvah Evans; he came in September, 1831. He was a young, handsome, portly man. He remained four or five months and left. Where he came from or where he went to nobody knows. The second doctor was C. G. M. Prime. He came in the spring of 1832. Dr. Prime amputated the arm of Henry (Hance) Vastbinder. During his residence here he married a Miss Wagley. He was a hard drinker. He left here April 3, 1835, for Mississippi, where he was shot and killed at a card-table. He became a lawyer while here, and delivered political speeches and Fourth of July orations.
The pioneer merchant to sell drugs and medicines in Brookville was Major William Rogers, in 1831. He sold Dover's powder, Hooper's pills, mercurial ointment, wine, brandy, whiskey, quinine, etc.
The pioneer fire-engine was bought June 29. 1839. Cost, two hundred
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
and fifty dollars. It was a hand-engine. This same year it was resolved by the council that " the timber standing or lying on the streets and alleys be sold for the use of said borough." The first volunteer fire company in the United States was at Philadelphia, 1736.
The pioneer saddle and harness manufactory in Brookville was opened by John Brownlee, on May 8, 1834, in the rear of his lot facing Mill Street, and opposite D. E. Breneman's residence.
E
Pioneer academy
McDonald started the pioneer cabinet and furniture factory in 1831-32.
The pioneer foundry was started by a man named Coleman, in 184I. It was located where the Fetzer building now is.
The pioneer grist-mill and saw-mill were both built by Moses Knapp. The pioneer borough election was in 1835.
The pioneer silversmith and watch- and clock-maker was Andrew Straub, in 1833-34. Watches were then assessed as property.
The pioneer graveyard was on lands now owned by W. C. Evans, on Litch's Hill. The second one is now called the " old graveyard."
The pioneer dentists were Dr. A. M. Hills and T. M. Van Valzah.
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
These were travelling dentists, and came here periodically. The first dentist to locate was William J. Chandler.
In 1832 Peter Sutton built and kept a tavern on the corner of Taylor Street, across the North Fork, now Litchtown. In 1832 or 1833 there was a frame tavern adjoining the Franklin Tavern. It was kept for a number of years by a man named Craig, Mrs. Wagley, and others.
The pioneer tannery was built in 1831 by David Henry, on the lot now occupied by the United Presbyterian church. As late as 1843 a great gully crossed Main Street, carrying the water from this institution over and through the lot now occupied by that model institution of the town, the National Bank of Brookville.
Miss Julia Clark opened the pioneer millinery and mantua-making busi- ness in Brookville. Prices: bonnets, leghorn, $5; silk, $2.50; gimp, $1.50; straw, $I. In her advertisement she says, " She can be seen at her residence, four doors east of E. Heath's store, on Main Street. Persons, so wishing. can be supplied by her with ladies' leghorn hats, flats and crown, from No. 32 to 42; ladies' Tuscan and French gimp; Italian braid hats; Leghorn braid, Tuscan and Italian edge, Misses' gimp hats, Tuscan; French gimp by the piece. She hopes, by giving her undivided attention to the above business, to merit a share of public patronage. Brookville, July 13, 1834."
The pioneer tinner was Samuel Truby. He came from Indiana, Penn- sylvania, arriving here on January 1, 1834. The last thirteen miles of the journey was through a dense forest, without house or clearing. They stopped at John Eason's tavern, and as soon as possible he commenced to cut down the trees on and clear his lot, corner of Jefferson and Pickering Streets, preparatory to building a house, a contract for the building of which was taken by the late R. Arthurs, he agreeing to furnish all the material and finish it as specified by April I for the sum of forty dollars, which was paid in silver quarters. The house was sixteen feet square and one and a half stories high.
Hon. Thomas Hastings came in May, 1831. "Nearly all of what is now the principal part of the town-Main Street and Jefferson Street-was then a forest. Only three houses had yet been built,-the Red Lion Hotel, where Dr. Gregg's barber-shop now is, the hotel now occupied by P. J. Allgeier."
The pioneer settler to locate where Brookville is was Moses Knapp. The pioneer to locate in the county seat was John Eason, father of Rev. David Eason. He bought the lot on the corner of Main Street and Spring Alley, and erected the pioneer house in the county seat .- viz., in August, 1830. and opened it for a tavern. Mr. Eason died in 1835. In 1831 William Robinson lived in a little log house on the corner of Mill and Water Streets. This log house and log stable had been built by Moses Knapp in 1806. The next per- son to locate was perhaps Thomas Hall. Benjamin McCreight was an early settler. Mr. McCreight was a tailor and carried on the business. He was
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
an honorable and useful man, and held many responsible positions during his life here. Thomas M. Barr came here in 1830. He was a stone-mason and bricklayer, and assisted to build up the town by taking contracts. The pioneer blacksmith was Jacob Riddleberger, in 1832-33. William Clark, Sr., came to Brookville in 1830, and erected a tavern on the northwest corner of Pickering and Jefferson Streets. In the fall of 1830 Jared B. Evans moved his store from Port Barnett to Brookville, and was appointed the pioneer postmaster for Brookville. Brookville, by post-road, was one hundred and sixty-five miles northwest of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and two hundred and thirty-eight miles northwest of Washington, D. C. Mr. Evans's was the pioneer store. The second store was opened three days later by Major William Rodgers. Thomas Hastings located in 1831, and built the Jefferson Tavern. Robert P. Barr came in 1830. He was a useful and public-spirited man. He built the saw-mill and flouring-mill on the North Fork. Joseph Sharpe was the first shoemaker and the first constable. He lived on the lot now occupied by the National Bank of Brookville.
The first assessment for the county was made for the year 1807, and was as follows :
Joseph Barnett, one hundred acres of land, distillery, one horse, and five cows; total valuation, $329.
John Dixon, weaver, one horse and one cow ; total valuation, $66.
E. M. Graham (no property assessed).
Joseph Hutchison, one horse, but no valuation.
Peter Jones, blacksmith, one hundred acres of land, one horse and two cows; total valuation, $195.
John Jones, one horse and one cow; total valuation, $61.
Moses Knapp, two horses and one cow; total valuation, $108.
Thomas Lucas, grist- and saw-mill, two horses and two cows; total valuation, $499.
William Lucas, tailor, one cow; total valuation, $19.
Samuel Lucas, three cows; total valuation, $59.
Ludwick Long, distillery, two horses and one cow; total valuation, $185.
Jacob Mason, one cow ; valuation, $14.
Alexander McCoy, three cows; total valuation, $54.
John Roll, carpenter, two horses and two cows; total valuation, $132.
Samuel Scott, miller, one hundred acres of land, saw- and grist-mill, four horses and five cows; total valuation, $600.
John Scott, one hundred acres of land, two horses and two cows; total valuation, $222.
Jacob Vastbinder (single man), one hundred acres of land, one horse ; total valuation, $247.
William Vastbinder, one hundred acres of land, one horse and three cows ; total valuation, $201.
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Adam Vastbinder, one hundred acres of land, two horses and two cows ; total valuation, $222.
John Vastbinder (single man) ; total valuation, $100.
Taxables, twenty; land taxed, seven hundred acres; grist- and saw- mills, two; horses, twenty-three; cows, thirty-five; aggregate . valuation. $3313. Samuel Scott seemed to be the richest man in the county, with a total valuation of $600.
The pioneer settlers in what is now Punxsutawney were Dr. John W. Jenks and Elijah Heath, in the spring of 1818. The pioneer log cabin was erected for and by Dr. John W. Jenks, who was the pioneer physician. He was a graduate of Pennsylvania University in 1816. He kept open house and free entertainment for years. The pioneer minister was the Rev. David Barclay, in 1818 (Presbyterian).
The town was laid out as a white man's town by Rev. Barclay, in 1821. and the plot recorded in Indiana County. The present public square was a gift by him to the people. The Rev. Barclay and Mr. Jenks built a saw-mill on Elk Run, in 1824. The pioneer white male child born in what is now Punxsutawney was Phineas W. Jenks. The pioneer white female child was Cornelia Gaskill. The pioneer cemetery was what is known as the old grave- yard, the land for which was donated by Messrs. Jenks and Barclay. Pioneer interment, Hugh McKee, in 1821.
Other early settlers were Charles C. Gaskill, James E. Cooper, Isaac P. Carmalt, J. B. Henderson, John Hess, William Campbell, Thomas Mc- Kee, John R. Reece, Ephraim Bear, William Davis, George R. Slaysman, John Drum, and James St. Clair.
The pioneer store was opened by Charles R. Barclay, in 1820. The sec- ond by Dr. Jenks, in 1830.
Punxsutawney was made a borough February 25, 1850.
The pioneer hotel was opened in a log house by Adam Weaver, in 18 -. This tavern stood a little east of where Joseph Shields's drug-store now (1902) stands. Weaver had no license until in the thirties.
The pioneer hotel that was licensed was the Eagle, now known as the City Hotel, kept by Elijah Heath, in 1822, and Elizabeth Winslow and Joseph Long, in 1829. Other early tavern-keepers were James St. Clair, Isaac Keck, William and James Campbell, and John McCoy.
Pioneer lawyer, David Barclay, December, 1849. Pioneer law student, Phineas W. Jenks, in 1852-54.
The pioneer church was built of hewed logs in 1826. It was Presby- terian. The pioneer school-house for that locality was built about 1823.
In 1832 Punxsutawney contained fifteen dwellings, two taverns, one church, one school-house, Barclay & Jenks's store, and one doctor.
The pioneer lodge of Odd Fellows in Punxsutawney was Mahoning Lodge, No. 250, I. O. O. F., and was organized May 31, 1847.
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
OLD FOLKS' PICNIC
David B. McConnell, one of the very oldest residents of the Beechwoods settlement now living, was eighty-three years of age September 24, 1904. His parents moved into the Beechwoods in 1832, when he was a boy of eleven years. They came from Centre County, over the Waterford and Susque- hanna turnpike, when there was an almost continuous wilderness from Cur- wensville to Brookville. Only two or three houses occupied the present site of Reynoldsville, and there were only four or five small clearings on the turnpike between Reynoldsville and Brookville.
The picnic in honor of his eighty-third birthday anniversary, Thursday, September 29, 1904, was held in the fine grove on the farm of his son, Ray McConnell, on the Ridgway road, nearly three miles from Brookville. Ray had prepared the grove for the occasion, by erecting a platform, placing seats, putting up nice tables, and providing chairs for the old people to sit on. We have seldom seen such comfortable arrangements.
Had rain not threatened, a big crowd would have been present. As it was, about a hundred and fifty people, a large number of them elderly per- sons, but still a good many young folks, were in attendance.
A splendid dinner was furnished, nearly all those who came bringing well-filled baskets with them, and everything was enjoyed in common. There was enough and to spare. After dinner a meeting was organized by electing J. G. Allen president, and all the men who were over eighty vice-presidents. Rev. A. E. Bartlett acted as secretary. Short addresses were made by Archie Mccullough, of the Beechwoods; Dr. W. J. McKnight, of Brookville; W. A. Andrews, of Pine Creek, and others. Photographer Knapp was present, and took two or three pictures of the company. W. L. McCracken made the following list of persons in attendance who are sixty years old and upward. The list is not complete, as some who were there did not report to him :
NAME
AGE
Mrs. Frank Kelty
61
Mrs. C. H. Shobert
62
Ninian Cooper 79
James McFadden 81
Jerry Oiler
80
James Butler
76
Samuel Butler
72
A. J. Bartlett 73
Jacob Moore 70
Jesse Thompson
85
Dr. W. J. McKnight
69
Archie Mccullough
76
Mrs. Archie Mccullough
70
Andrew Moore 72
George Cook 87
John Ostrander
83
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Old folks' picnic
HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
NAME
AGE
Robert Richards
89
David Chitister 71
Mrs. David Chitister 67
David McConnell
83
Ed. Snyder
78
J. P. Lucas
68
E. Perrin
68
Mrs. W. Butler
72 67
Mrs. J. M. Pierce
67
James Harris
72
Perry Butler
66
Joseph Thomas
78
E. Weiser
71
Mrs. J. T. Carroll
68 66
Nelson O'Connor
71
Wm. Kirkman
63
Robert Matson
85
C. H. Shobert
62
W. A. Andrews
72
Joe Ishman
75
John Clark
80
J. B. Jones
74
Dr. John Thompson
70
Dr. T. C. Lawson
61
John Shick
66
S. R. Milliron
60
James L. Moore
69
J. G. Allen
64
Daniel Burns
63
J. B. Henderson
62
Mrs. Rachel Barber
73
Mrs. W. J. McKnight
68
Mrs. S. Butler
65
C. B. McGiffin
69
T. T. Montgomery
65
R. F. Milliron
62
Mrs. M. L. Hinderliter 60
M. L. Hinderliter
60
D. S. Orr
82
Frank Walters (x)
Wm. E. McGarey 63
Mrs. E. Perrin
62
Geo. McClellan
63
Mrs. John McMurray ÓI
Mr. McConnell was present, in excellent health, and enjoyed the occasion greatly. He was warmly greeted by all in attendance, and every one heartily wished him many more years of pleasant life.
557
John McMurray
E. McGarey
W. H. Arthurs 61
CHAPTER XXXII
LAWRENCE COUNTY-WHEN ERECTED-COUNTY SEAT LOCATED-PIONEER COURT, SETTLERS, OFFICERS, MAILS, ROADS, SCHOOLS, BOROUGHS, CHURCHES, AND PREACHER-REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER-SETTLERS
LAWRENCE COUNTY was erected out of portions of Beaver and Mercer Counties, by an act of Assembly, approved March 20, 1849, the organiza- tion to take place September 1, 1849. William Evans, of Indiana County, William F. Packer, of Lycoming, and William Potter, of Mifflin, were ap- pointed commissioners to run and mark the boundary lines. Mr. Packer did not attend, and his place was supplied by James Potter, of Centre County. Henry Pearson, Esq., of New Castle, was the surveyor who performed the work of running the boundaries. The county is bounded north and south by the counties from which it is taken ( Mercer and Beaver), east by Butler, and west by the Ohio line. New Castle was selected as the county seat.
The county was named after Perry's flagship in the battle of Lake Erie, which was named in honor of Captain James Lawrence, U.S.N., whose brilliant naval career was terminated by his obstinate defence of the frigate " Chesapeake" against the British ship " Shannon," in which conflict Law- rence was mortally wounded, and heroically uttered, as they carried him below, the memorable words, "DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP!"
Like most of the counties west of the Allegheny River and north of the Ohio, it was settled chiefly by the Scotch-Irish, or the descendants of that race, who migrated from the older counties of Western Pennsylvania, the eastern counties, and some directly from Ireland itself. Cumberland, Franklin, Westmoreland, Fayette, and Washington furnished the greater number; but some came from other counties, and a few from the States of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. A considerable German element also was early introduced, and constituted a valuable portion of the population, whilst a few of English and Dutch ancestry came from New Jersey.
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