Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 35

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 618

USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 35

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But the decline came at last. Oil, which in 1874 was $4.00 a barrel, dropped at one time to ten cents, and even the tremendous output of the wells could not make the production pay. By 1878 the wells were beginning to be ex- hausted and the price had not increased to a paying level. In 1879 almost the entire river front was fire-swept and the depression was so great that little attempt was made to re- build.

The lowest point of the scale was reached in 1880, when homes that cost thousands were sold for hundreds and the population was less than a thousand souls. So in the brief space of ten years Parker had seen the heights and depths of existence and had grown from a simple landing-place to a city and descended again to a minor village.

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES

Until 1872 there was no means of reaching Parker station on the Allegheny Valley rail- road except by ferry. In that year, owing to the accumulation of business incident to the oil boom, a fine iron bridge was erected across the river at a cost of $80,000 by S. D. Karns, H. R. Fullerton and Fullerton Parker. In 1873 it was used by the Parker & Karns City narrow gauge road to connect with the Al- legheny Valley. Ice in April, 1885, carried away the two western spans, but they were replaced and in 1897 Butler and Armstrong counties jointly purchased it and made the passage free to the public. The price paid to the heirs of James E. Brown, who finally owned it, was $35,000.

Railroad facilities became an important item to the town in the days of its prosperity, and in 1874 the Parker & Karns City road was pushed as far as Karns City, and in 1876 completed to Butler. S. D. Karns, H. R. Ful-

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lerton and Fullerton Parker were the promo- are not worried about lack of shipping facil- ters. In 1881 the road became a part of the ities. Pittsburgh & Western. That road was finan- In the fall of 1869 the first machine shop was opened by Bradley & Duff in Lawrence- burg, and continued in successful operation until 1882. One machine shop is at present located in the first ward. John Sweeney's machine shop and foundry and James Mc- Nutt's foundry were in operation from 1872 to 1882, as was also the Evans & Foster car- riage factory. cially embarrassed in 1879, but was reorgan- ized and the old Karns City line was made standard gauge in 1887. The Baltimore & Ohio leased the road in 1892 and at pres- ent operates it as a through line to the East. The total length of this line through the two townships of Perry and Hovey is but seven miles. For a time the repair shops were main- tained in Parker, but no vestige of them now remains.

INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES

An important industry of the early sev- enties was Wilkins & Fullerton's sawmill and box factory, which did a business at one time of $150,000 per year.

A small factory for the manufacture of oil cups for the oil well pumps, an invention of Elliott Karns, brother of the famous "Dunc" Karns, has been in operation since 1880.

The most important enterprise ever under- taken in Parker was the glass works, which were organized as a stock company in 1879, with John B. Leonard, president; William Morgan, James P. Parker, A. Sheidemantle WATERWORKS AND FIRE PROTECTION and C. P. Hatch, directors. Buildings were erected in 1880 and for a time coal was used The Parker waterworks were set up in 1872 as fuel. Gas becoming plentiful and its value by Miller & Vesey, who later sold out to Coul- recognized, it was substituted within a short ter & Overy. In 1874 H. R. Fullerton pur- chased the works, enlarged their capacity and laid several miles of pipe. In 1882 Tinsman & Russell acquired the works and replaced the old Cameron pumps by a large triple-action Fleming, run by a gas engine. Water is taken from the Allegheny by a pump built from the two old ones, and lifted into a tank, whence it is forced to the top of the bluff into a filter plant before delivery to consumers. The plant requires but one man to run it and has cost but $13 for repairs since 1880. For fire pro- tection hose reels are pulled to the scene by a volunteer force, and the pressure is sufficient to control an ordinary fire. The water is suitable for fire protection, but is far from desirable as a source of drinking water, owing to the fouling of the river and its shallowness the greater part of the year. The plant is now owned by M. T. Pew and T. A. Kerr. period. The product, which has been strictly high-grade bottles and druggists' containers, was valued at $100,000 the first year. Twenty- six blowers, twenty-five laborers and forty boys were employed in that year. In 1882 the Thomas Wightman Glass Company of Pitts- burgh bought the plant, and in a few years the name was changed to its present title, The Wightman Glass Company. At the death in 1910 of J. Smiley Wightman, his sons, W. K., A. R. and J. S., continued the business under the last name. In 1913 a bottle machine for the rapid manufacture of gallon and half-gal- lon containers was installed, but smaller bottles are still blown by human lungs. The works give employment to two hundred workmen and produce an average of nine carloads per month. The company arranged to remove the works to Punxsutawney, where better ship- ping facilities could be had, and have begun the erection of a fine factory building there. LIGHTING The citizens of the town, however, did not rel- ish seeing the removal of their chief industry elsewhere so they organized a company and purchased the principal part of the works for $15,000, the Wightmans retaining the bottle machine and some private molds. It is pro- posed by the townspeople to repair and refit the factory, and run it on a modern system. With the near advent of the extension of the Shawmut road, the branch line of the B. & O. already here and the Pennsylvania just across the river, the projectors of the new company

A stock company, in which W. C. Mobley, William Smith, M. Naylor and J. Dougherty were interested, built the gas works in 1887, and manufactured gas from crude oil under Smith's patent. Later a way was found to utilize the vast stores of natural gas underly- ing the town, the works were closed and the natural flow turned into the pipes. So cheap is the gas that the street lights are allowed to burn all the time and only extinguished when replacing the mantles on burners. Gas is sup-

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plied to private houses at 25 cents a thousand cubic feet.

BANKS

The rapid growth of the town and the in- crease of business soon rendered a bank neces- sary and in 1869 the Parker Savings Bank was opened and did business till 1882, when it failed, causing large losses to its depositors. The old Exchange Bank was established in 1871 and ceased business in 1880. In October, 1882, Parker, Fullerton & Co. revived the Ex- change Bank and remained in business until 1901, when they, too, went under.

The First National Bank of Parker was or- ganized December 11, 1901, with $25,000 capital. It now has a surplus of $25,000 and ample resources. The officers are: Dr. A. M. Hoover, president; G. A. Needle, Sr., vice president ; D. B. Heiner, vice president ; E. C. Griffith, cashier. Directors : Dr. A. M. Hoover, S. J. Ervin, G. A. Needle, Sr., W. G. Heiner, E. C. Griffith, W. P. Parker, D. B. Heiner, Daniel Galey, Alex Affolter, I. G. Smith and M. T. Pew.

The State Bank (Incorporated ) of Parker's Landing was organized December 6, 1911, with a capital of $25,000, and now has a sur- plus of $7,500, which is rapidly increasing. The officers are: A. S. Wightman, president ; T. A. Kerr, vice president ; A. E. Butler, vice president ; C. W. Wick, cashier. Directors: A. S. Wightman, T. A. Kerr, A. E. Butler, S. W. Harrison, Charles E. Say, S. A. Hetrick, G. M. Slaughnhoupt, R. A. Robinson and W. A. Wick.

MERCANTILE

Among the prominent merchants of Parker are William Leslie, T. H. McCamey, William P. Parker, E. F. Dunlap, Thomas A. Kerr, J. T. Overheim, P. M. Ramsey, Charles Feicht and H. C. Elder.

THE PRESS

A number of unsuccessful newspaper enter- prises originated in Parker during the pros- perous period of the city's history. A daily paper was established by Johns & Jackson, and published a short time in 1871-72. Clark Wilson conducted the Oilman's Journal sev- eral years. These papers, and several others which were started, were never financially successful.

September, 1874, by G. A. Needle, it soon be- came recognized as one of the most reliable and influential journals of the oil regions, and its circulation rapidly increased. The Daily was started as a rival of the Oil City Derrick, and was of the same size as the latter journal. It was controlled by able editors, who were assisted by a staff of enterprising reporters and correspondents. The Daily contained the Associated Press dispatches and much general information, in addition to its careful digest of news from every part of the oil region. It was published as a morning paper until 1879. The office was destroyed by fire in that year, and the paper ceased to exist as a daily. Mr. Needle, who had for some years been issuing a weekly edition of his paper, at once pro- cured new quarters and on Christmas Day began the publication of the Phoenix, which like the fabled bird arose from the ashes of the Daily. The Phoenix is still prosperous under the direction of a son of the proprietor, G. Alfred Needle, and occupies the building once occupied by the famous Standard Oil Company when in the first throes of organiza- tion.

PIIYSICIANS

For many years Dr. Simeon Hovey was the only medical adviser for the entire northern region of Butler and Armstrong counties, as well as considerable portions of Venango and Clarion counties. Some account of his serv- ices will be found in the history of Hovey township.

The first physician who settled in Lawrence- burg was Dr. Joseph Beggs, who came from Ireland and located at this place about the year 1824. He was accounted a good and skillful doctor, and won many friends and a most excellent reputation. He practiced in Lawrenceburg several years, and died at Mil- ler's Eddy.

Dr. James Goe, a cousin of Dr. Beggs, came from Ireland a little later, and joined his uncle in the practice of his profession. After the death of Dr. Beggs he moved to Callensburg, Clarion county, and thence moved West and died.

After 1869 physicians became so numerous in Parker that it would be useless to attempt to catalogue their names. Scores took up their abode here, some of whom remained a few days, others a few weeks or months. The principle of "the survival of the fittest," how- ever, appeared to prevail, and the number of

The Parker City Daily, however, had an ex- ceptionally prosperous career. Established in those whose stay lengthened into years was not

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

large. We mention the names of those who practiced longest and most successfully : Dr. A. M. Hoover, who has been a resident phys- ician of Parker longer than any other member of the profession in the city, located at this At one time almost every secret order was place in 1870, coming from Freeport. Dr. represented in this city, but their names are now only recalled with the memories of the

Hoover is a native of Butler county, and a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Phil- city's former greatness. adelphia. He is still practicing in 1913 and conducting a prosperous drug business.

Dr. Joseph Eggert was the second oldest physician in Parker, coming in 1870, after hav- ing practiced for several years in neighboring towns. His son was associated with him after his arrival.

In 1880 the following physicians were lo- cated in Parker: Drs. George L. Eggert, Joseph Eggert, J. R. Murray, J. E. Hall, B. F. Goheen, J. Y. McCulloch, A. M. Hoover and W. B. Wynne.

In 1913 the registered practitioners were: A. M. Hoover, N. S. Reed, B. H. Brewster and J. E. Stute.

ANNUAL FAIRS

In 1881 a fair association with the original title, Parker Petroleum Agricultural Associa- tion, was organized by Elisha Robinson, Sam- uel M. Robinson, G. A. Needle, J. P. Parker, W. J. Parker, Henry Kohlmeyer, Ira D. Mc- Coy, John M. Shira, J. S. Grant, William Crawford, Dr. J. W. Wick and William Dee. They leased thirteen acres of land, erected suitable buildings and held three successful fairs, with creditable exhibits of the products of the surrounding country. However, lack of interest and decreased population finally caused the abandonment in 1889 of the asso- ciation project and the grounds for some years have reverted to their original use for agri- cultural purposes.

SECRET SOCIETIES

Parker Lodge No. 521, F. & A. M., was instituted October 28, 1873, with fourteen members. In 1880 there were seventy-five, and in 1913 over one hundred.

Parker Lodge No. 761, I. O. O. F., was instituted June 30, 1871, with twenty members. In 1880 there were thirty members in good standing and in 1913 the number had increased to one hundred.

Lawrenceburg Lodge No. 782, I. O. O. F., was instituted November 22, 1871, and the membership in 1880, as at the present time, was sixty-four.

Parker Council No. 179, Royal Arcanum, organized October 17, 1878, with thirty-two members. In 1880 there were forty-six mem- bers and in 1913, sixty-eight.

SCHOOLS

The first school building erected within the present limits of Parker was a little log struc- ture which stood in Lawrenceburg. It was supported by subscription and presided over by the itinerant schoolmasters of the pioneer days. Later a union school district was formed and the expenses divided between Armstrong and Butler counties. In 1880 three buildings were used, conducted at a cost of $3,400 annually. The buildings were valued at $5,000 and seven teachers were employed, T. J. Moffitt being principal. In 1882, after much opposition, the school board erected a two- story brick schoolhouse at a cost of $11,000. It contained eight schoolrooms and housed 497 scholars.

In 1913 the number of schools was seven; average months taught, eight and one-fourth ; male teachers, two ; female teachers, five ; aver- age salaries, male, $82.50 ; female, $55.00 ; male scholars, 137; female scholars, II0; average attendance, 247; cost per month, $1.97; tax levied. $3,737.66; received from State, $1,460 .- 50 ; other sources, $3,986.03 ; value of school- houses, $16,000; teachers' wages, $3,915; fuel, fees, etc., $1,553.01.

The school directors are: E. W. Allen, president; J. E. Stute, M. D., secretary ; treasurer, Parker State Bank, depository of funds ; David Burt, S. A. Hetrick.

CHURCHES

THE PRESBYTERIANS

The first church organized in the northern part of Armstrong county was the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceburg in 1819. William Redick and Gideon Gibson were the first ruling elders and the congregation was largely composed of residents of Butler county. A meetinghouse was erected in 1822. It was of brick, with a high peaked roof, and was not plastered until twenty years after its erection. In 1867 it was removed and a frame structure built at a cost of $3,200, which in 1876 was remodeled at a cost of $3,500. For

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several years the church had no resident pas- The dedication services were held by Rev, Dr. tor, but in 1821 Rev. Alexander Cook entered upon a service divided between Ebenezer and Bear Creek churches. He remained until 1827. Rev. John R. Agnew was the next pastor, from 1838 to 1839. For a time the church again was supplied, and in 1845 and 1846 record is made of the pastorates of Revs. Louis L. Con- rad and John K. Cornyn. From 1847 to 1856 Rev. Ebenezer Henry served, and was fol- lowed for one year by Rev. John V. Miller. From 1860 to 1869 Rev. James Coulter was pastor, and from 1870 to 1877 Rev. Samuel A. Hughes. Next in order were: Revs. John M. McGonigle, 1878-80; Houston W. Lowry, 1881-85; Clark B. Gillette, 1885-86. The pas- tors between 1887 and 1913 were Rev. J. W. Miller, Rev. James A. Cunningham and Rev. Paul Slonaker.

The United Presbyterians also were located here for a time, but they never gained much following, and at present there is no congrega- tion in existence in the city.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CIIURCH

At the first session of the Erie Conference in 1836, Lawrenceburg was missionary terri- tory, and Rev. D. Richey was appointed to take charge of it. He was followed by Rev. H. Elliott in 1837, Rev. N. S. Hitchcock in 1838, Rev. Stephen Hurd and Rev. H. S. Winans in 1840. That year, owing to the closing down of the Bear Creek Furnace, upon which most of the congregation depended for a livelihood, the appointment was dropped from the list, and for the eighteen years following no his- tory can be traced.

In the winter of 1858-59 M. S. Adams, a local preacher, held a series of meetings which aroused interest, and, assisted by Rev. John McCombs of the North Washington Circuit. a society was organized and Lawrenceburg re- turned as one of the appointments of that charge. For ten years it continued to be one of the appointments, and was served by the following pastors: S. A. Milray, 1859; Wil- liam R. Johnson, 1860; S. K. Paden and R. B. Boyd, 1861-62; E. Bennett and William A. Clarke, 1863; George Moore and Stephen Hubbard, 1864; A. J. Merchant and A. H. Domer, 1865-66; J. Perry, 1867 ; William Hays and J. P. Hicks, 1868 ; J. K. Mendenhall, 1869.

Pershing. Following came as pastors: R. M. Bair, 1873-74; R. N. Stubbs, 1875-76; J. S. Lytle, 1876-79; E. D. McCreary, 1879-80; J. M. Bray, 1882-83; Dr. John Lusher, 1883-86; Dr. W. W. Wythe, 1886-87; P. J. Slattery, 1887-90; E. K. Creed, 1890-92; J. B. Neff, 1892-93; Manassas Miller, 1893-96; A. J. Merchant, 1896-98; D. C. Planette, 1898-1901 ; T. J. Hamilton, 1901-03; J. C. Gillette, 1903- 05; C. H. Quick, 1905-07 ; J. E. Iams, 1907-08; Dr. John Lusher, 1908-13. The present pas- tor is Rev. A. D. Stevens.

In 1904-05 the first church was replaced by a handsome brick edifice, which on the night of May 13, 1912, was burned. Dr. Lusher at once planned to replace it, and on July 27, 1913, the present magnificent structure was dedicated. It is made of native sandstone, donated by W. H. H. Piper, president of the Bear Creek Oil Company, and taken from their quarry. The memorial windows are of Pittsburgh plate glass and practically all the interior fittings are of home production. The building is a spacious one, and is a monument to the Lord which gives evidence of the energy and perseverance of Dr. Pershing and Dr. Lashier and the loyal congregation, at a time when the city of Parker is at a low ebb in the tide of its progress.

LUTHERANS

Christ's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Parker City was organized in the fall of 1897, just at the time when the town was starting to decline in prosperity. R. M. Zimmerman, a theological student, aroused the people with a series of sermons, and the formation of a congregation of twenty-one members resulted. Rev. W. A. Passavant became the first pastor and a house of worship was erected at a cost of $3,300. In 1880 Rev. J. H. Kline took charge and served one year. The reduction of membership and business depression then caused the congregation to convert the church into a mission and occasional supplies were their only dependence until 1903, when the building was sold and for a time used as a dancing hall. Finally in 1913 the old church was purchased by A. E. and J. O. Conn of Emlenton, who conduct a woolen and knitting mill, employing quite a number of persons. The last pastor of whom any record is made was Rev. George Stitsell.

In the beginning of the oil development the society, which numbered but forty-seven, be- gan to build, and in 1871 completed a neat ROMAN CATHOLICS frame edifice at a cost of $1,400. At this time the charge was made a station, Rev. R. W. The first Catholic services in Lawrenceburg. Crane being the first pastor in the new home. so far as there is any record, took place Sep-

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tember 6, 1831, when Bishop Kenrick visited the place and confirmed eighty-three persons, gathered from a wide extent of surrounding country. Few if any Catholics were residents of the place until the discovery of oil. In 1869 Rev. Joseph Haney, of Murrinsville, visited Lawrenceburg and conducted services. He continued his labors until July of the following year, when lots were purchased and the work of erecting a church was begun. Though the building was not completed until the summer of 1871, it was occupied in October, 1870. It was then a frame building 45 by 30 feet. In March, 1871, Rev. J. Stillerich became pastor. He remained until November of the same year, when he was succeeded by Rev. James P. Tahany. To Father Tahany's labors much of the temporal prosperity of the church was due. He built a neat house to be occupied as a par- sonage; and after the congregation had in- creased, enlarged the church by additions. The belfry was added and the interior of the church finished. The edifice was dedicated by the bishop as the Church of the Immaculate Con- ception, November 24, 1874. Father Tahany also organized a church in Petrolia, and the two formed one pastorate. In December, 1875, Father Tahany was succeeded by Rev. James Donnelly, who acted as pastor until October, 1877. Rev. P. M. Garvey then be- came pastor, and in August, 1879, was suc- ceeded by Rev. F. X. McCarthy. Father Melady was pastor in 1880. The church was then in a prosperous condition, although its membership had been greatly diminished by the decline of the town. At present the church, which bears the name St. Mary's, is served oc- casionally by priests of the Butler diocese.

THE BAPTISTS

While Parker was most flourishing a Bap- tist congregation was organized, which during 1875-76 enjoyed great prosperity. A church was erected and the attendance was large, but the decline of the town affected the church, and it soon ceased to exist.

PARKER IN 1913

After an eventful life, Parker's Landing is now enjoying a quiet old age. From their sun-kissed bluffs the residents can look down upon the peaceful "flat," once the scene of vio- lence and passion, and across the winding Allegheny to the dark hills of the farther shore, secure in the thought that out of waste and dissipation of the past have come some material benefits and many needful warnings against extravagance.

The soil is more fruitful than ever before, the coal and gas underlie every portion of the country, new railroads are being projected toward her borders, and the water power and carrying capacity of the Allegheny have not yet been fully exploited. Compared with less naturally favored locations, Parker has a bright future before her.

Although the smallest city in the State, Parker is so large that she laps over Perry township into Butler county. The population in 1900 was 1,070 and in 1910, 1,244. There are 217 qualified voters in the two wards.

The assessment returns for 1913 show : Number of acres, 229, valued at $17,095; houses and lots, 450, valued at $216,620, av- erage, $485.20; horses, 83, value, $3,860, average, $46.51 ; cows, 30, value, $595, aver- age, $19.86; taxable occupations, 505, amount, $20,720; total valuation, $268,370. Money at interest, $76,733.

At this date there are four hotels, sixteen stores, two livery barns, two butchers, three saloons, two pool rooms, one tailor, one cloth- ier, one stationery store, one furniture store, two jewelers, two drug stores, three mil- linery establishments, two plumbers, three shoe dealers, three barbers, three restaurants, two blacksmiths, one lumber dealer, one ma- chine shop, one photographer and two den- tists.

Borland & Corso conduct the motion pic- ture theatre that is a necessity in every town in this country, and their auditorium has a seating capacity of 135. They manufacture current for the electric lights by means of a dynamo and gas engine, owing to lack of a city lighting plant.

George S. Kelly, Samuel Craig and W. B. Ramsey are the present justices of the peace.

A neat iron bridge connects the two divi- sions of the bluff. It was erected under the supervision of Mayor G. A. Needle in 1906, and J. A. Foster and W. G. McGlaughlin were the commissioners.

OFFICIALS

The mayors of the city have been as follows : J. W. McFarland, 1873-74; George S. Kelly, 1875-76; H. R. Fullerton, 1877-78 ; E. H. Ran- dolph, 1879-80-81-82. E. F. Dunlap, S. J. Ervin, Frank Ottinger, George A. Needle and William Leslie were the successive officials, the latter being the present incumbent. J. H. Borland is treasurer ; C. S. Overheim and W. J. Speer, directors ; the former also street com- missioner.

In the oil boom days a number of peace

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guardians were required to preserve order, looked after the mail for the residents of but at the present time one lone officer is all that the town needs.

Records of the earliest postmasters are not obtainable, but for some years before and during the oil excitement Miss Tillie Olden

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Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 35

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 618

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 618