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 38
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of lead being distributed the Saturday pre- vious and taken up on the Sabbath by the elders at the communion table. Rev. Cyrus B. Bristol in 1846 became the second pastor, continuing until 1856. Next came Rev. James E. Caruthers in 1859, and then for eight years the pulpit was filled only occasionally. Dur- ing this time another and larger church was built. Rev. Perrin Baker then in 1875 began a two years' service, followed by Rev.
SHADY PLAIN
This settlement has a schoolhouse, a store and the Zion's Valley Reformed Church, where occasional services are held. The first has retired, and the pulpit is supplied by Revs. postmaster here in 1868 was David P. Alex-
ander. The people are now supplied from Apollo by the rural routes.
HICKSVILLE
This village is across the river Kiskiminetas from the borough of Avonmore, a thriving town of Westmoreland county. Just west of Hicksville the Pennsylvania road crosses to the north side of the river, from this point using the old bed of the Pennsylvania canal, which has been abandoned by them from Leechburg to this point. This gives Hicksville more direct railroad connection than Apollo, but the place has not benefited by it, having become overshadowed by its neighbor, Avon- more. The only distinction claimed for Hicks- ville is that of being the most southern vil- lage in Armstrong county, the boundaries com- ing almost to a point here.
The first schoolhouse, built about 1810, was
.
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
situated at or near the present site of Mays- ville, and soon after another one was built near Flat run. Another and later one was in the Watson settlement. Most of these were served by William Watson, James Jackson and Jacob Miller. Before 1822 a log school stood on the Benjamin Schirmer tract, called "Scara," owned by Robert Wray and after- ward by his son, the late David Wray. Among its earliest teachers were James Craig and Samuel Scott. The number of scholars ranged from fifteen to twenty. The building stood about twenty rods from the present Shady Plain school. Craig also taught at times in a dwelling house on the same tract, near which in 1820 stood an old hunting lodge.
The free school system was readily adopted. Among its most devoted and persistent sup- porters was the late Joseph Shoemaker, who was for many years a school director, and a model one, so far as a prompt, cheerful and conscientious discharge of official duties was concerned. The old log schoolhouses, even of the second series and better class, have given place to comfortable frame ones, distributed at convenient distances over the township, and they are supplied with the most thoroughly competent teachers it is possible to obtain.
In 1876 the number of schools (exclusive of those now in South Bend township) was 13; average number months taught, 5; male teach- ers, 9; female teachers, 4; average salaries, males per month, $34.55; average salaries fe- males, per month, $32.50; male scholars, 253; female scholars, 223; average number attend- ing school, 372; cost per month, $1; total amount of tax levied for school and building purposes, $2,587.15; received from State ap- propriation, $400.83; from taxes and other sources, $2,474.34; total receipts, $2,875.17 ; cost of school houses, purchasing, renting, re- pairing, etc., $62.71 ; paid for teachers' wages, $2,309; paid for fuel, fees of collectors, etc., $486.66 ; total expenditures, $2,858.37.
In 1913 the number of schools is 18; av- erage months taught, 7; male teacher, 1; fe- male teachers, 17; average salaries, miale, $40, female, $46.94; male scholars, 337; female scholars, 336; average attendance, 524; cost per month, $1.76; tax levied, $5,293.74; re- ceived from State, $3,281.70; other sources, $6, 110.87 ; value of schoolhouses, $30,800; teachers' wages, $5,870; fuel, fees, etc .. $1,328.27.
The school directors were: John H. Wilson, president ; G. E. Van Tine, secretary ; C. P. Fiske, treasurer; J. R. Lambing, J. W. Mc- Awley.
POPULATION AND VALUATION
The general, the almost universal, occupa- tion of the people of this township, has, from its earliest settlement, been agricultural. As - to those engaged in other occupations the assessment list of 1876 shows, exclusive of Maysville: Laborers, 68; carpenters, 9; min- ers, 15; teachers, 6; blacksmiths, 4; shoemak- ers, 2; saltboiler, I; miller, 1; cigar manufacturer, I ; professor, I.
After its erection several attempts were made to divide the township, those creating Burrell and South Bend being the only suc- cessful ones. In 1840, before its dismember- ment, Kiskiminetas township had a population of 2,287. In 1850 it was 2,230; in 1860, after a part of Burrell township had been taken from it, 2,080; in 1870, after South Bend township was formed. 1,728; in 1880, 2,005 ; in 1890, 2,452; in 1900, 2,620; in 1910, 2,845.
The assessment returns for 1913 show : Number of acres, timber, 4,274 ; cleared land, 22,468; value of land, $415,246; houses and . lots in the township, 444, valued at $93,647 ; average value, $210.91 ; number of cows, 442, valued at $6,645, average value, $15.03; num- ber of horses, 478, valued at $17,710, aver- age value, $37.05; taxable occupations, 996; amount, $22,580 ; total valuation, $646,41I. Money at interest, $62,547.92.
GEOLOGICAL
Reference is made to the sketches of Gil- pin township for the southern portion of this township, and South Bend and Burrell town- ships for the northern portion, in regard to the geological formation of the region in which Kiskiminetas is included. The Roaring run anticlinal, named from this stream in the southern part, runs from northeast to south- west through the center of the township.
The highest point in the township is located in the northern portion, between Spring Church and Shady Plain, and is 1,543 feet above the level of the sea.
CHAPTER XXI
BURRELL TOWNSHIP
FORMATION-LANDOWNERS-ASSESSMENT LIST OF 1805-06-INDUSTRIES-GUNPOWDER FACTORIES -A "PAPER" TOWN-SALT WORKS-SCHOOLS-BRICK CIIURCH-GEOLOGICAL
Burrell township, which was formed in 1855
served land of the tract opposite Pittsburgh. out of parts of Kittanning, Kiskiminetas and He was later prothonotary of Westmoreland. Plum Creek townships, was named after the Michael Hillegas was for several years be- fore the Revolutionary war United States treasurer. late Judge Burrell, who was president judge of the Tenth Judicial district, composed of Armstrong, Indiana and Westmoreland coun- Warrants for several of the tracts of the settlers mentioned above were dated as early as 1776. ties. Its boundaries are Plum Creek and South Bend townships on the east, Kiski- minetas, Parks and Bethel on the south and west, and Kittanning township on the north. OLD ASSESSMENT LIST The principal stream running through the township is the Crooked creek, which amply justifies its name. The Indians called it Woak-hanne, the stream with large bends.
There were thirty-six tracts in the present limits of this township in the period of set- tlement, and the landowners and settlers were: Reading Beatty, Jacob Hart, James Shields, Robert Finney, William Palmer, Robert Carnahan, John Wagle, James Vanhorn, Adam Fiscus, Jacob Beer, William Kerr, Thomas York, George Elliott, John Brown, John Beck, James Renwick, John Pitts, James Clark, John Schall, William Sykes, Michael Schall, William Eckhart, John Salter, Chris- topher Hoover, Agnes Kyle, Robert Adams, Isaac Wagle, David Sloan, Joseph Shoemak- er, Henry Davis, Malcolm Campbell, George Shoemaker. William Clark, Robert Cogley, Adam Wilhelm, John Craig, George Helf- freich, Michael Schall, George P. Scheffer, Francis Cooper, John Davison, George Risler, Andrew Beck, Isaac Mechlin, John Robb, George A. King, Michael Huffnagle, James Arnold, Valentine Shallus, Thomas Milliken, Joseph Sansom, Isaac Mather, Peter Rupert, been a population of about sixty. The valua- John Vanderen, Michael Hillegas, James Hamilton, Thomas Hamilton, James Hall.
Michael Huffnagle was one of the captains of volunteers raised in Westmoreland county for the defense of the frontiers in 1779, and was afterward commissioned lieutenant. In 1783 he had charged of the timber and re- valued at fifty cents an acre.
The following were the assessments made in this township in 1805-06, when it was a part of Allegheny: George Beck, 160 acres, three horses and four cattle, appraised at $210 in 1805, and $205 in 1806; John Henry, 63 acres and three cattle, $33.90 in 1805, and $18 in 1806; James Hall, 250 acres, one distillery,
two horses and two cattle, $242.50 both years ; Christopher Hoover, 200 acres, one horse, two cattle, $120 both years; George Helffreid (Helffreich), one horse, one head of cattle, $15 in 1806; George Painter, 98 acres, one gristmill, one sawmill, one head of cattle, $119 in 1805, and $10 in 1806; George Peter Shaef- fer, 400 acres, one horse, one head of cattle, $315 in 1806; Michael Schall, Sr., 400 acres, one head of cattle, $305 in 1805, and $233 in 1806; Michael Schall, Jr., 275 acres, two horses, two cattle, $167.50 each year; John Schall, blacksmith, $10 in 1805; Jacob Schall, schoolmaster, single man; George Shoemaker, 225 acres, two cattle, $178.75 in 1805, $183 in 1806; Adam Wilhelm, 160 acres, one horse, two cattle, $100 each year; Isaac Wagle, 50 acres, $75 in 1806. There must then have tion of these tracts of land then varied from twenty-five to fifty, sixty-nine and seventy- nine cents an acre. The portion of that list showing the returns of unseated land for those vears is not accessible-it is probably lost. Such land, a few years later, was generally
187
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
COCHRAN'S MILLS
The only settlement of importance in this township is Cochran's Mills, which is the old- est mill-site in the township, having been lo- cated in 1800 by George Painter. He was assessed with a gristmill and sawmill in 1804. These mills through various periods have been known as Wagle's, Richards', Craig's, Davis', and Wright & Thompson's mills. Michael Cochran became possessed of them in 1858 and his name has stuck to this locality ever since. John Schwalm and W. H. Carnahan bought the land and mills from the executors of Cochran in 1871 for $17,000. The present proprietor is H. A. King.
In 1822 Irwin & McClelland were assessed with fulling mills at this point. In 1826 Anthony Helffreich announced that he had everything necessary to full, dye and dress cloth in the best manner. Isaac Kinnard started a fulling mill here in 1834, subse- quently converting it into a woolen factory, which was operated by him and his son until 1880.
The first store was opened here by Michael Cochran in 1849. A Grange store was also operated there for a number of years by Schwalm & Carnahan.
The first bridge at this point was a wooden one with stone piers, built in 1865. The pres- ent one is of steel.
Pitts' Mill post office was established in 1843, with Joseph Miller as postmaster. It was changed to Cochran's Mills in 1855, with Robert A. Paul as the official in charge. Fran- cis T. McKee is the present postmaster.
O. J. King and F. T. McKee are the store- keepers at Cochran's Mills in 1913, and J. W. Riffer is the village blacksmith. The resi- dent dentist is Dr. A. J. Elliott.
Mateer is a small settlement in the southern part of the township named from the original owner of the tract, and has a few houses and a store kept by J. A. Klingensmith, who is also the postmaster.
ANCIENT POWDER MILLS
About 1811 George Beck, Sr., commenced to manufacture gunpowder on Pine run, near its mouth, and continued to carry on the busi- ness in partnership with his sons until 1826, when an explosion which killed one man, and partially destroyed the buildings, caused a ces- sation of the work. His powder was made with willow charcoal and enjoyed a high repu- tation in Pittsburgh and Kittanning, as well as further east.
Another powder-mill was operated in 1817 on Crooked creek just above Cochran's Mills by George Beck.
John R. Schaeffer erected the third powder- mill on Pine run, near the extreme northern line of the township, in 1822. An explosion occurred there in 1824, just after all the em- ployees had left, which badly damaged the works. It was soon afterward converted into a linseed oil mill, and later into a distillery, which has long since been closed.
A "PAPER" TOWN
"Williamsburg" was laid out in 1818 by Wil- liam Fiscus, Sr., on the Hoover tract in the southern part of the township, and the streets given various names. This was as far as the town ever went, for in 1823 the assessor stated that there were no residents and the lots were so low in value that "the tax could not be got off them." He therefore assessed the plot as six acres at the valuation of $6.
SALT WORKS
Some time prior to 1820 a salt well was bored on the banks of Crooked creek in the southern part of the township by James Rich- ards. Another well was bored on the creek below Cochran's Mills by Michael Townsend in 1824. Later on this works was operated by John Parks. None of these wells was very profitable and they were afterward abandoned.
In 1876 there were in this township 127 farmers, 62 laborers, 4 blacksmiths. 3 car- penters, 3 teachers, 2 preachers, 2 physicians, 2 wagonmakers, I civil engineer, 4 merchants, I miller and I shoemaker.
The census of 1860 gives the population of Burrell township as 833. In 1870 it was 964; in ISSO, 1,047; in 1890, 922; in 1900, 893; in 1910. 833.
The 1913 assessment returns of Burrell township show: Number of acres of timber land, 3.334, cleared land, 10,209, valued at $212,900 ; houses and lots, 23. value $6,489, average, $282.13; 263 cows, valued at $3.809, average value. $14.48: 245 horses, valued at $7.303, average value $29.80; total valuation, $237.000. Taxables, 282. Money at interest, $77,146.
SCHOOLS
One. of the old log schools of the early days of settlement in this county was built several miles up Crooked creek, thus placing it about
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
in the territory of Burrell. It is not known helm, Philip Hartman, George A. King and who was the first teacher. There were three their wives. The number increased rapidly. assessed in Allegheny township at that time- At least two other Lutheran churches have James Shall, William Smith and James Moore. sprung from this one.
Isaac Kinnard and Samuel Murphy were later teachers in this township.
In 1860 the number of schools was 8; aver- and German Reformed, itinerated and held
age number months taught, 4; male teachers, 8; average salaries per month, $16.88; male scholars, 172; female scholars, 114; average number attending school, 177 ; cost of instruct- ing each scholar per month, 49 cents ; amount levied for school purposes, $664.87; received from State appropriation, $60.62 ; from collec- tor, $500; cost of instruction, $540; fuel and. contingencies, $24. religious services at private houses, one of which, in what is now Burrell township, was George Peter Shaeffer's, frequently mentioned in Rev. Gabriel A. Reichert's diary, which was in the vicinity of the mouth of Cherry run, near which Mr. Reichert resided several years before he was called, in 1837, to the pastorate of Christ's and Immanuel Churches in Phil- adelphia. Previous to his removal thither, his In 1870 the number of schools was 8; aver- age number months taught, 5; male teachers, 7 : female teachers, 2; average salaries of males per month, $31.55; average salaries females per month, $30.69; male scholars, 185; female scholars, 131; average attendance, 224; cost per month, 83 cents ; amount of tax, $1, 164.60; State appropriation, $209.25 ; taxes, $1,283.74 ; cost of schoolhouses, $64.75; teachers' wages, gust 3d, when St. Michael's Church was reor- $1,254.72 ; paid for fuel, fees, etc., $135.45. itinerations had extended east to the Allegheny furnace, then in Huntingdon, now in Blair county, north to Venango and Crawford coun- ties, and through the western and southern parts of this county, so that his ministrations occurred at Shaeffers' but once in four weeks. He preached a trial sermon there, July 6, 1823. A congregational meeting was held there Au- ganized, and it was determined that his sal- In 1913 the number of schools was 8; aver- age months taught, 7 ; male teachers, 3 : female teachers, 5; average salaries, male, $40; fe- male, $42 ; male scholars, III ; female scholars, $2 ; tax levied. $1,726.65 ; received from State, $1,462.66; other sources, $1,784.34; value of schoolhouses, $5,200; teachers' wages, $2,310; fuel, fees, etc., $842.91. ary should be paid from the Ist day of July. The officers were installed August 31st. His diary shows that on April 11, 1824, he bap- tized four children, two of whom were John 113 ; average attendance, 148; cost per month, Householder's, and then or about that time confirmed twenty-five persons, the youngest of whom was fourteen years of age, and the oldest fifty-five. Of that number Peter George was known to be still living in 1876. There were then sixty-four church members.
The school directors were: T. J. Lemmon, president ; E. E. Shaffer, secretary ; J. A. My- ers, treasurer; J. F. Riggle, W. M. Knep- shield.
BRICK CHURCH
The name of this little settlement arose from the fact that at this point was built one of the first brick churches in the county. Most of the early edifices were of plain frame con- struction and a brick building was a luxury in those days.
The first Evangelical Lutheran Church within the present limits of this county was St. Michael's, which was organized in 1806, by Rev. Michael Steck, Sr., of Greensburg. The original members of the church were twenty- four, namely: John George Helfferich and George Peter Shaeffer, elders; John Philip Shaeffer, Michael Schall, Sr., Isaac Wagley. Sr., Jacob Waltenbaugh, Henry Davis, Jacob George, Sr., William Heffelfinger, Adam Wil-
Before the regular organization of churches in this region, clergymen, chiefly Lutheran
The first church edifice, 30 by 40 feet, was constructed of square hewed logs, about 1820. Its site was about a mile and a half northeast of the mouth of Cherry run.
It was announced in the Kittanning Gasette that the Evangelical Lutheran church, near George P. Shaeffer's, was consecrated on Sun- day, Sept. 16, 1832, when Revs. Steck and Hacke, of Greensburg, Pa., officiated-the former a Lutheran, and the latter a German Reformed clergyman. The Lutheran church was then under the charge of Rev. G. A. Reichert.
St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church was incorporated in 1850. The charter offi- cers were: Rev. George F. Ehrenfeldt, pas- tor; Isaac Kinnard and George King, elders : Peter Hileman, Samuel Woodward and George Riggle, deacons. The second church edifice, brick, 44 by 60 feet, height of ceiling 14 feet, was erected in 1852, at the crossroads on Anthony Helfferich's land about a mile
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
north of the old site, and was dedicated soon after its completion, by Rev. Daniel Earhart and others. It was razed to the ground by one of the violent storms in the summer of 1860. The present brick edifice was soon after erected, through the exertions, in part at least, of Rev. Michael Swigert, on the same site. Members in 1876, 225; Sabbath school scholars, one hundred.
Rev. J. N. Wetzler was pastor in 1913. The officers are: Fred Held and E. E. Schaeffer, elders ; J. E. Kinnard and J. E. Yount, deacons. The little settlement which surrounds the brick church possesses one store, kept by H. A. King, who is postmaster, and a blacksmith shop, operated by F. J. Works.
The Church of Christian Brethren was or- ganized about 1852. The edifice was a one-story frame. It was incorporated by the proper court June 7, 1853. The charter officers were : Joseph Shoemaker, elder; Joseph B. McKee,
Thomas A. McKee, deacons; Samuel Wilcox, Jr., John Carnahan, Daniel Shoemaker, Daniel Keefer, David Rarich, trustees. The church is now abandoned.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was also organized about the same time as the last-men- tioned one. Its edifice is one-story frame.
GEOLOGICAL
The Apollo synclinal runs directly through the center of this township, from northeast to southwest. The general structure of the strata is similar to that of Plum Creek. Crooked creek winds its tortuous way through the mid- dle of the township and forms a maze of short and steep valleys, diverting the roads into many twists and turns.
The highest point in the township is almost on the border of Parks township, in the south- western portion, and is 1,561 feet above the sea.
CHAPTER XXII SOUTH BEND TOWNSHIP
ORIGIN OF NAME-SETTLERS AND LANDOWNERS-FIRST INDUSTRIES- CHURCHES - SCHOOLS - POPULATION-GEOLOGY AND ALTITUDE
The name of this township naturally occurred to the original signers of the peti- tion for its formation in 1867, because of the sharp southward bend of the creek which is rightfully named "Crooked." The separation of the township was made from those of Kiski- minetas and Plum Creek, the boundaries be- ing stated as : "Beginning at a corner of Burrell township, on land of Jacob Hart ; thence south 29 degrees east I mile and 120 perches to A. Walker's; thence south 2 miles to the top of a hill on I. Horn's land; thence south 34 degrees east I mile and 108 perches to the Indiana county line, on or near to land of Robert Elder; thence by Indiana county line north 371/2 degrees east 6 miles and 172 perches to a point on land of John Ramsey ; thence north 40 degrees west 220 perches on the banks of Crooked creek, near Reuben Alls- house's (Idaho) mill; thence down said creek north 80 degrees west 150 perches; thence across said creek north 50 degrees west 3 miles on land of Isaac Rowley, deceased ; thence south 87 degrees west I mile and 97
thence down said run south 70 degrees west IIO perches ; thence south 56 degrees west 64 perches to Crooked creek; thence 31 degrees west I mile and 308 perches to the place of beginning, containing about 23 square miles."
Along that portion of Crooked creek in the southwestern part of this township, near the Indiana county line, some of the earliest set- tlements made by whites in this county were made. There were thirty-five original tracts in this township, the warrants for them being dated as early as 1773.
The early landowners and settlers were: James Gray, Abraham Hunt, Samuel Hancock, James Elder, James Smith, Robert L. Hooper, William Forbes, Stephen Duncan, Joseph Speer, Ann Kirk, Samuel Fleming, Daniel Drinker, Charles Hancock, Alexander Todd, Andrew Cunningham, John Bringhurst. Jacob Snow, Walter Finney, Peter Henry, Samuel Sloan, Samuel Massey, William Heffelfinger, Christopher Miller, Joseph Saunders, John Finney, Henry Allshouse, Matthew Irwin, Jacob George, John Wherry, John Walker, perches, on land of M. Davis; thence by the John Household, James Davis, Erasmus line of Burrell township south 15 degrees east Beatty, Nicholas Fulmer, John Rightor, Wil- I mile and 258 perches to Linsbigler's run; liam Eakman, George Woods. George Rupert,
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
John Levering, Christopher Rupert, Samuel Dixon, James Skullknot, George Smith, Robert Dick, Elizabeth Pile, Hannah Gregory, John Sloan, David Todd, William Wasson, Philip Rearigh, Joseph Lowrey, Alexander George, Rowland Chambers, Hugh Neeley, Anthony Montgomery, John L. Howell.
FIRST INDUSTRIES
On the tract originally owned by Howell in 1776, on Crooked creek, near the present town of South Bend, Charles Campbell, in 1805, erected a grist and saw mill, it being for many years thereafter the only mill for settlers from miles around in this and Indiana counties. It was called Frantz' mill, from Jacob Frantz, who owned it in 1813. It is now operated by W. E. Fryor.
Absalom Woodward was assessed with a grist and saw mill in 1811, which he had built on the south side of Plum creek, near its junction with Crooked creek. Reuben Alls- house, who owned these mills in 1876, called the settlement around them "Idaho," from the fact of his having made a fortune in that western State. This settlement is still called by the same title. Two miles below here was the store of Hugh Brown in 1805.
Besides the saw mills at Idaho and South Bend there were in pioneer days four others. One was a short distance west of Olivet, an- other on Craig's run, about fifty rods from its mouth, one on a run emptying into Crooked creek above its mouth, and another on the same run, higher up.
In 1874 James McNees started a pottery on Crooked creek near Girty. For a time he made crocks, but in 1876 he formed the firm of McNees & Co., and began the manufacture of stone pumps and pipes for wells and cist- erns. This finally was abandoned and the works closed. George W. NcNees, his son, is now manager of the Kittanning Clay Prod- ucts Company.
The Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of South Bend township, was incorporated in 1875. They have been in business ever since, doing a good business among the farmers.
The assessment list of the year 1805 showed one weaver, Peter Rupert; one blacksmith, Joseph Thorn; and one stonemason, Barnard Davers.
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