USA > Pennsylvania > A pioneer outline history of northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 53
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New Castle is the county seat, and is one of the most flourishing towns west of Pittsburg in the State. It was laid out in 1802, by a Mr. J. C. Stewart, who came to this locality, April, 1798, from the neighborhood of New Castle, in Delaware, and the name was probably given in honor of that old Swedish town.
The population of Lawrence County when organized was 21,079 people, including one hundred and thirty-two colored people. The population of
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
New Castle at that time was 1614, including fifty-one colored people. The pioneer election was held in the fall of 1849. The pioneer court was held in Lawrence County in the First Methodist Episcopal Church, in New Castle, on Monday, January 7, 1850. It was presided over by Hon. John Bredin, assisted by Hon. Jacob Bear.
The attorneys admitted at that term, belonging to Lawrence County, were Jonathan Ayres, L. L. McGuffin, J. K. Boyd, David Craig, Lewis Taylor, W. P. Buchanan, D. B. Kurtz, J. Hoffman, D. C. Cossitt, John M. Crawford, Geo. W. Watson, John N. McGuffin, and James Pollock. Attor- neys were also present and admitted to practice from Beaver, Butler, Mercer, and Indiana Counties.
The court-house was not completed ready for occupancy until 1852, the contract for which had been let August, 1850, to Messrs. James M. Craig and William Hamilton for the sum of twelve thousand dollars.
The county at its organization was divided into thirteen townships.
The first white settlers after the Moravians came to Mahoning Town- ship in 1793. When this region was first settled the roads were Indian trails.
The State of Pennsylvania, as early as 1805, appointed viewers to lay out and establish roads, then and now known as State roads. One of the earliest through this section ran from Scrubgrass, in Venango County, by the way of New Castle, to Youngstown, Ohio.
So far as this history will relate, New Castle comprises most of its history.
John Elliott erected the pioneer grist-mill in New Castle, in 1800.
Deer, wolves, bears, panthers, and rattle-snakes existed innumerable in and around New Castle.
The pioneer store was opened by Joseph Townsend, Jr., in a log cabin. in 1800.
The first death in New Castle was in 1802,-a daughter of William McComb.
The pioneer post-office was established in 1812. The pioneer postmaster was Joseph T. Boyd. Before 1812 the mail was obtained at Beaver.
The pioneer fire company was organized on the 29th day of September. 1836.
In 1840 New Castle contained 611 inhabitants. In 1850, the census gave New Castle Borough 1563, fifty-one of whom were colored.
The pioneer telegraph office was opened in the summer of 1849.
In 1806 New Castle contained but twenty houses.
New Castle was made a borough on the 25th day of March, 1825.
In 1813 New Castle had about thirty log buildings, and one hundred and fifty population.
Joseph Thompson started the first tannery in 1805.
Isaac Jones opened a shop for the manufacture of hats in 1805.
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The pioneer linseed oil-mill was opened in 1841-42 by the Griswolds. James D. White completed the Ætna Iron-Works in the fall of 1838. Joseph S. White started the planing-mill about 1840.
In 1801, in Sandy Lake Township, Joseph Alexander had one mulatto slave man.
In 1810 Arthur Chenowith, of Virginia, came to New Castle, then Mercer, now Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, bringing with him one negro man, a slave,-to wit, " Black Jack."
In 1840 Day says,-
"New Castle is located at the junction of Shenango and Neshannock Creeks, sixteen miles southwest from Mercer, and twenty-four miles from the confluence of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers. It was laid out about the year 1800; in 1806 it contained about twenty houses. Its population in 1840 was 611. The surrounding country is well adapted for the growth of wheat and wool. Its healthy and picturesque situation has been much admired by visitors.
" The Pennsylvania Canal, which is to connect Lake Erie with the Ohio River, passes through the town, and when completed will open another chan- nel for the rich productions of the neighborhood. Iron ore is found in abun- dance for fifteen miles around; on the run near the town a furnace is being built, and a rolling-mill and nail factory in town. Bituminous coal, fire-clay, and quartz suitable for making glass exist in abundance in the neighboring hills. The water-power of the Neshannock and Shenango is immense; and, if all brought into use, must create a large manufacturing town. At three different points, powers may be created with a sufficiency of water, and from sixteen to twenty-eight feet fall. The town is passing the second stage in improvement, from frame buildings to brick. There are here Presbyterian, Seceder, and Methodist Churches, and a 'Protestant Methodist' Church is organized."
The Erie Canal was completed from New Castle to Erie in February, 1845.
The court-house was commenced in 1850 and completed in 1852.
The village of Croton was settled by William Crow, from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, about 1846. It now forms a part of the city.
The first regular preacher in charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Croton was the Rev. John Graham, the boy preacher.
Wampum Borough was first settled by Robert and John Davidson in March, 1796. Wampum was made a borough February 19, 1876.
Clinton was laid out by James Davidson in 1830.
Newburg was settled about 1798 by Bryce McGeehan.
Ennon Valley (old town) was laid out and lots sold in 1838 by Enoch Marvin.
The use of tokens was discontinued at communion seasons in 1867.
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Lawrence County Court-House, 1852
HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
The first settler in what is now the village of Pulaski was Daniel Ault, in 1800.
The village of Princeton was laid out by John Randolph in March, 1841.
The village of Rose Point was settled about 1803 by Mr. Stickle.
Parkstown was settled in the fall of 1800, by a colony from Virginia, consisting of William Park and others.
Fayetteville was laid out into thirty lots, and sold at auction February 8, 1828. William Mays was the first settler.
The oldest church organizations were the Old School Presbyterian and the United Presbyterian, both of which were introduced into the county about 1800.
The pioneer Baptist Church was organized in 1842, and the one in New Castle in 1843. The Catholics held services in what is now Lawrence County in 1831. The first organization in New Castle was about 1850. The Lu- therans organized in New Castle in 1848.
The first discovery of coal was made by John Stockman, in Big Beaver Township, in 1810.
The agitation for the creation of Lawrence County began as early as 1820, and was persistently agitated until the spring of 1849, when it was made a success.
The Beaver division of the Pennsylvania Canal was completed to five miles above New Castle in November, 1833, and was open for business. The pioneer boat was the "General Mercer." This was exclusively a passenger boat.
MAIL FACILITIES
In the autumn of 1836 the mail arrangements were as follows :
ARRIVALS
From Beaver-Mondays and Thursdays, at eleven .A. M.
From Mercer-Tuesdays and Fridays, at eleven A. M.
From Zelienople-Thursdays at noon.
From Poland, Ohio-Fridays, at ten AA. M.
From New Bedford-Fridays, at eleven A. M.
DEPARTURES
For Beaver-Tuesdays and Fridays, at noon.
For Mercer-Mondays and Thursdays, at noon.
For Zelienople-Thursdays, at one P.M.
For Poland-Thursdays, at one P. M.
For New Bedford-Fridays, at one P.M.
JOSEPH T. BOYD, P. M.
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In 1841 there were in New Castle one Seceder, one Methodist Episcopal, one Presbyterian, and one Protestant Methodist Church, and three Sabbath- schools.
August 22, 1849, President Zachary Taylor and Governor Johnston, of Pennsylvania, visited the town on their way to Beaver; this incident was the cause of great merry-making.
The pioneer barber was Thomas D. Berry, a colored man.
The pioneer market in New Castle was held in 1846.
The pioneer daguerrean gallery was established in 1847 by Richmond & Pomeroy.
" The first schools of which we have any knowledge were taught in private houses. These will date as early as the year 1800. A school-house was built near Harlansburg, and another in Little Beaver Township, in 1800. These were the first houses built for school purposes. James Boyles was, perhaps, the first teacher in the latter place, and Cornelius Stafford in the former. Stafford is mentioned as an Englishman, who made teaching a busi- ness. He taught in different parts of the county. Houses were built and schools taught, in 1802-03, in New Bedford, in Pulaski Township; in North Beaver, near the present location of Westfield Church; also in the north- eastern part of the county, Washington and Plain Grove Townships. James Walker was among the first teachers in the vicinity of New Bedford. He taught in a log building erected by the Presbyterian Church, and afterwards in his own house. He is spoken of as a good teacher in the early schools, and continued in the work a number of years. George Monteith was one of the first teachers in the neighborhood of Pulaski, in 1804-05. About this time, houses were built and schools in operation in Perry Township, south- eastern part of the county. Some of the early teachers were Samuel Sterritt, John Hines, and, later, Andrew Elliott. Schools were opened in Quaker- town, in the western part of the county, in 1806-07; also, in Shenango Town- ship, near Moravia, now Taylor Township; John Gallagher was one of the first teachers. Near the same date, 1806-07, James Leslie taught in North Beaver. Sampson Dilworth and Joshua Hartshorn, in what is now Little Beaver Township. John Byers, near Pulaski. John Gibson taught in She- nango Township, in one of the first school-houses, and was considered a successful teacher. A house was built as early as 1806-07, on the Lindall farm, and William Arnold was the first teacher. The first school-house in the present limits of Washington Township was built in the fall of 1803, on the Jordan farm, west of the present residence of Henry Jordan. Joseph Campbell was the first teacher. There were about twenty-five pupils, many of whom came a distance of several miles to attend school. Another house was built in 1807, and John Mitchell was the first teacher. The first school in Union Township was in 1806, in what is called Parkstown. A man by the name of Shearer was the first teacher. A school-house, southwest of
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Princeton, in Slippery Rock Township, was built about 1808; and another on the Young farm, in 1810-II. A man by the name of Lewis was one of the early teachers. In the northern part of the county, the earliest schools were in private dwellings, about 1812-13. In what is now Neshannock Town- ship, Miss Sarah De Wolf was the first teacher, and she appears to- have been successful. A school was afterwards opened on the King farm, and James Galbreath taught several years. A house was erected a short distance east of King's Chapel, and Samuel Richards taught in 1823, and for some time after this. Houses were built and schools opened in different parts about this time. In Wilmington, school-houses were built in 1810, or near that time. Some of the early teachers were Master McCready and Hugh Watson. " Hon. Thomas Pomeroy taught several terms; Dr. Popino also was a teacher for several years.
" Hon. William M. Francis, who was a member of the State Senate, was a member of the school board for over fifteen years, and also examined the teachers of the township during the same length of time. Most of the early teachers were males, and the schools were open for about three months in the winter.
" The schools were supported by subscription, each scholar paid so much per month or quarter. Often pupils had to travel along paths two and three miles to reach the nearest school.
" All the houses were built of logs, and most of them had a large fire- place, in which wood was burned, and this fuel was prepared by the patrons and older pupils. A part or whole log was cut out of the building, and over this opening greased paper was pasted to give light. Houses were floored with puncheons, and seats were made of slabs. These kind of houses were generally in use until the adoption of the present school law. when more and better houses were built. The branches taught in these schools were spelling. reading, writing, and arithmetic. The books used were few, the Bible as a text-book in reading; for advanced classes the spelling-book and arithmetic.
" The authentic history of the early schools of New Castle is very meagre, and can only be learned from the old residents, whose memory of many of the events, so far in the past, must necessarily, in many instances. be very indistinct.
" The earliest schools were supported by subscription, and were taught in private houses. According to the most reliable information, the first school was taught by one Robert Dickey, and was opened about the year 1804. The next teacher was John Dickey, a younger brother of Robert.
" The name of Richard Shearer is mentioned as the third teacher. About the year 1806 the fourth teacher, Joseph Thornton, came here from Cham- bersburg, Franklin County; his abiding faith in the use of the birch is the principal characteristic remembered by his historian. Next on the roll of early teachers appears the name of Alexander Duncan. After him we find
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the name of Miss Sarah De Wolf, said to have been the first regular female teacher of a New Castle school.
" Matthew Calvin is enrolled as the next teacher. He appeared upon the scene about 1814, and taught in a house on Beaver Street, nearly oppo- site the residence of Joseph Justice, Esq.
" The borough of New Castle was incorporated March 25, 1825, and originally embraced all the territory now constituting the first and second wards of the present city, except that portion lying south of County Line Street, in the point between the Neshannock and Shenango Creeks, which was taken into the borough at some subsequent period.
" About this time a frame house, the first building erected exclusively for school purposes, was built upon the lot belonging to the First Presbyterian Church, now the " Old Brewery." Our history informs us, however, that the first house used for school purposes was a log cabin, about eighteen feet square, situated near the spring, at the base of 'Shaw's Hill.'"-School Re- port, 1877.
The first regular doctor who settled in New Castle and in Lawrence County was Dr. John Dickey.
George P. Shaw was the first lawyer in New Castle.
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS
North Beaver Township .- William McCord, James Alsworth, Francis Nesbit, William Carson, John Coleman, Jacob Justice, and Jeremiah Bannon were all out for some length of time during the Revolution, some of them for several years.
Perry Township .- Matthew Murray, Matthew Stewart, John Stewart.
Plain Grove Township .- John Gealey, James Ramsey.
Pulaski Township .- James Stevenson.
Scott Township .- Colonel Bernard Hubley, William Locke.
Shenango Township .- William Tindall.
Washington Township .- Henry Gordon, Ist.
Taylor Township .- John Butcher, Joseph McMurray, "Scotch John Moore," a deserter from the British army.
Neshannock Township .- John Moore, William Richards.
Mahoning Township .- - Ashton.
New Castle .- Captain Jonathan Smith.
CHAPTER XXXIII
M'KEAN COUNTY-FORMATION OF COUNTY-LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT- OFFICERS-ROADS-PIONEER SETTLERS-INDIAN NAMES OF STREAMS- HUNTERS-SLAVES-HARDSHIPS-LANDS, ETC.
MCKEAN COUNTY was separated from Lycoming County by the act of March 26, 1804. It was named in honor of Governor Thomas Mckean. Pre- vious to 1814 the county was for a time attached to Centre County, and the records were kept at Bellefonte. In 1814 Mckean was attached to Lycoming for judicial and elective purposes. The counties of Mckean and Potter were then as formerly united, having one treasurer, one board of commissioners, and one board of auditors. The commissioners held their meetings at the house of Benjamin Bents, on the Allegheny River, and a little east of the county line.
Hon. W. O. Smith says,-
" The Allegheny is a beautiful river, with a volume of water sufficient to carry the commerce of an empire, well confined within its banks and lined on either side with vast stores of mineral wealth, consisting of coal, iron, lime- stone, fire-clay, glass-sand rock, and building stone. This magnificent stream. three hundred miles in length, with a watershed of nearly twelve thousand square miles, an average width of about twelve hundred feet, and discharging at low stage seventy-five thousand cubic feet of water per minute, courses through a country rich in mineral resources, where the business energies of man have reached their highest development."
Mckean County is situated on the northern border of the State, being the third county seat from the west line thereof. It has a lengthi on the State line of nearly forty miles, and a depth of about twenty-five miles, containing about one thousand square miles.
The population of the county in 1810 was 142: in 1820, 728; in 1830. 1439; in 1840, 2975.
CERES ROAD
In 1825 the Ceres road, a State road, afterwards incorrectly called the Serious road, was laid out from Ceres, Mckean County, near the New York State line, through Smethport and what is now Reynoldsville, to the town of Indiana, in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. It was completed in 1828.
I now quote from Day's " Historical Collections:"
" The great east and west State road, opened in 1816-18. runs from
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Kenjua, on the Allegheny, through the centre of the county to Coudersport and Wellsborough. Another road, opened in 1827-29, runs from Smethport, through Caledonia and Karthauss, to Milesburg, near Bellefonte; another, by way of Coudersport, to Jersey Shore, in Lycoming County.
" The greater part of this county is, and has been for many years, owned in immense tracts by gentlemen residing in the lower part of the State, and by the Holland Land Company. The principal individual owners are Messrs. John Keating & Co., Richards and Jones, and the heirs of William Bingham and Jacob Ridgway, of Philadelphia, James Trimble, Esq., of Harrisburg, and B. B. Cooper, Esq., of New Jersey. These gentlemen have done much by their enterprise and capital toward opening roads and establishing schools in the county. Most of them have agents in the county, from whom their lands may be purchased at from one dollar to three dollars per acre, with a credit of from five to ten years, payable by instalments.
" Smethport, the county seat, a pleasant town, is situated on the left bank of Potato Creek, where the great east and west road crosses, and at the confluence of Marvin Creek. It contains the court-house, substantially built of brick, an academy, a Methodist church, and two Congregational societies who attend service in the public buildings; two printing-offices, seven stores, three taverns, grist-mill, saw-mill, and clothing-mill. The following facts relating to the early settlement of this place, and of others in the county, are derived from a communication in Hazard's Register for 1832, by O. J. Hamlin, Esq.
". Smethport was laid out under the superintendence of John Bell, Thomas Smith, and John C. Brevost, in 1807. The first house was erected by Captain Arnold Hunter, in 1811; another was built in 1812; but both abandoned in 1814. No permanent settlement was commenced until 1822. About this time the first county commissioners were elected, and held their office in a small building erected by Dr. Eastman, at the lower part of the town plot. The first commissioners were Rensselaer Wright and Jonathan Colegrove, for McKean, and John Taggart, for Potter County; Joseph Otto, treasurer. This county was organized for judicial purposes in 1826; and the first county court was held in September of that year. The court-house, a respectable brick building, was erected this year. At this time there were but about half a dozen dwelling-houses. A weekly mail arrives here from the north, the east, the southeast, the south, and west; and a stage commenced running to Coudersport, thence to Jersey Shore, or to Wellsborough. By the Legislature an appropriation of two thousand dollars was made for an academy at Smethport. Several years ago John Keating, Esq., gave five hundred dollars and one hundred and fifty acres of land adjoining the village, as a donation toward such an institution, and individuals of Mckean County have subscribed rising of five hundred dollars for that purpose. These amounts have been vested in productive funds.
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
"'Several years previous to 1810 the first settlement commenced in the county began. A Mr. King, an enterprising English gentleman, with several friends of his from England, settled on the Oswaya Creek, in Ceres Town- ship, twenty-five miles from Smethport. There is now a flourishing settle- ment here, and some of the oldest orchards are in that neighborhood. This neighborhood is usually called King's settlement.
"'The first settlers of this county suffered great inconveniences; so much greater than those of the present day that there is scarce a comparison. They found here a dense wilderness, without a road, or an inhabitant, save the beasts of the forest, some of which were of a very ferocious character, while others served as a slender support to those who practised hunting. The first settlement of which I have a correct account was made by six families from the State of New York, who came on about the same time, and located on Potato Creek, from three to seven miles north of Smethport, in 1810. They had great difficulty in getting to their new homes, having to bring their families and goods up the stream in canoes. There was no settlement within many miles of them; and they were even obliged for a time to bring their provisions in by canoes or on pack-horses. All kinds of eatables were very dear, even at the nearest settlements. This settlement suffered many priva- tions ; but those settlers are now well compensated, for they are the owners of flourishing farms, and are themselves in a prosperous condition. It is usually known by the name of the lower settlement.
"' Norwich settlement, lying along the Potato Creek, commencing about four miles southeast from Smethport, and extending up that stream, was com- menced in 1815, when fourteen families came on, having exchanged their property in Norwich, Chenango County, New York, with Messrs. Cooper. McIlvain & Co., for those lands where they now reside, being then an entire wilderness. Having no roads, they were obliged to ascend the Potato Creek. with much labor and expense, in canoes, with their families and movables. 'They were under much embarrassment for the first year or two, for want of roads and provisions ; and were often obliged to get their provisions, grain. etc., in Jersey Shore, a distance of more than one hundred miles, on pack- horses. Corn was worth, when got here, two dollars per bushel, and salt was sold for fourteen dollars per barrel. This settlement went on vigorously. and in two or three years raised more than sufficient for their own consump- tion. It is now in a flourishing situation.
"' A settlement had been commenced at Instanter, four miles west of the Norwich settlement, a short time previous to the latter; and in 1821 or 1822 four hundred acres of land were cleared on one farm, belonging to Jacob Ridgway, Esq., under the superintendence of P. E. Scull, who has always been an active man in furthering the improvement of this county. Judge Bishop, now one of our associate judges, was the first settler at that place. Since those settlements were formed, others have been commenced
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and carried on in different parts of the county. The townships of Bradford and Corydon have within the last three years been rapidly increasing.
"' In 1831 the manufacture of salt was commenced by Messrs. Allen Rice & Co., at a salt spring in the southeastern part of Sergeant Township. The operations were found quite favorable, and large boiling works erected. Salt was made of an excellent quality, and the water found to bear a good per cent.'
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