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 58
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The second teacher was Mr. Hugh W. Parks, who was followed by D. H. Sloan, Rev. Robert McCaslin, J. C. Dinsmore, Rev. John S. Plumer, Calvin Rayburn, Rev. Leslie E. Hawk, Rev. L. McCampbell, Rev. G. E. Carnahan, J. C. Pickens, A. W. McClurkan, J. S. Hill.
The next pastors in chronological order were: Rev. William F. Kean, 1849-64: Rev. This school was at a disadvantage, never Thomas C. Anderson, 1865-68; Rev. John H. having had a permanent home. Exercises Aughey, 1869-72; Rev. William M. Kain, were held in the old Presbyterian church until
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1870, for a time in the unfinished auditorium of the new church, for several years in the house of George B. Sloan, who gave it free of rent, and in the last years in the basement of the Presbyterian church. Notwithstanding these drawbacks the school graduated in its lifetime over one thousand students who have made important places for themselves in the history of Armstrong county.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN
The Slate Lick United Presbyterian Church was organized about the year 1812. The preach- ing on that occasion and for some time after- ward was in a tent where the present church stands, though occasionally the meetings were held in the woods at other points. Rev. Mr. McClintick, of Bear creek, was the first preacher of this denomination who labored here, coming as a supply as early as 1808, and preaching in the log cabins of the settlers. The first church was a log structure, 33 feet square, built by Abram Smith and William Minteer in 1815. The men of the congrega- tion felled the timber for this house, and it is remembered that the wall plate was hauled up the hill by a big yoke of oxen, owned by Joseph Miller. Rev. John Dickey, the first settled pastor, came here about 1812 and remained thirty-five years. He was succeeded by Revs. Galbraith and Robertson, and then came Rev. L. McCampbell. The congregation now has a frame structure about 40 feet square near the settlement of McVill, erected in 1844. This church was incorporated by the proper court Dec. 1, 1862. The trustees named in the char- ter were Robert Galbraith, Robert Huston; David McCune, Robert Ralston and James Rayburn. Its membership is 80; Sabbath school scholars, 70.
OTHER CHURCHES IN SOUTH BUFFALO
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church was organ- ized by members of the old "Blue Slate" church, in 1844. Rev. David Earhart was the first pastor and Rev. L. M. Kuhns the second, in 1852. Since then it has been under the Freeport charge. Their building was erected in 1846 by John Myers and Jacob Hawk. The membership has never been very large. It was incorporated by the proper court June 22, 1848. The trustees named in the charter, to serve until the third Saturday in March, 1849, were Rev. David Earhart, John Myers, George Grinder, George Baker and Jacob Somers.
The church edifice, about 25 by 38 feet, frame with clay filling between studs, and hence called "the mud church," was erected during Rev. Mr. Earhart's pastorate. The ground of the graveyard was cleared by Charles Sipe, Sr., in 1796, and put in corn. It is located al- most in the center of the township.
Prior to 1859 the members of the Method- ist denomination in the middle eastern portion of this township numbered but two individuals, Robert Rodgers and George Venables; but they had been accustomed, for several years, to holding religious services in their houses. At this date, considerable interest being evinced in the religious services of this particular de- nomination, they decided to erect a house of worship. Accordingly a modest, unpretentious church building was erected on the farm of S. A. Forrester, who donated the land for this purpose. The church was completed in 1861, and a church organization effected with the following officers: Robert Rodgers, George Venables and S. A. Forrester. The church, which bears the name of Rodgers Chapel, was dedicated this same year, the dedicatory ser- mon being preached by I. C. Pershing. Rev. D. Rhodes first officiated as pastor, and during the first year the church obtained a member- ship of about 40.
Mr. Rodgers gave liberally to the support of this church, and upon his death left $500 as a permanent fund for the church, the pro- ceeds only to be used. A cemetery, known as the Union cemetery, was also established on the farm of Mr. Forrester.
After its organization the church, although having but few wealthy adherents, enjoyed great prosperity, its membership in 1880 being about 80. In September of 1882 it was de- cided to erect a new building to accommodate the. largely increased congregation, and ac- cordingly an elegant frame church edifice, 32 . by 55 feet, graced with a lofty spire, was erected at an expense of about $2,500 and dedicated to the service of God. Rev. R. Cart- wright was the pastor at that time. The trus- tees were: S. A. Forrester, J. Bush, A. G. Mahaffey and C. Saltmer. S. A. Forrester and C. Saltmer were also stewards.
During the period between 1893 and 1900 the Sunday school became a thriving adjunct of the church, under the superintendency of James M. Hudson. For several years the Methodists, Presbyterians and Lutherans of this community held annual cooperative cele- brations on the Fourth of July, which were attended by the entire population, even draw- ing visitors from Freeport and Kittanning.
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The congregation is under the charge now 275 rods in an airline northeasterly from the of the pastor at Freeport, Rev. S. E. Rodkey.
Through the generosity of Andrew Shrader, Sr., the little congregation of seven families were provided with the lot on which the pres- ent Shrader's Grove Presbyterian church stands. Their organization occurred in 1871, but not till they had demonstrated their strength by erecting a $2,000 edifice. The first members were James Shields, Rebecca Shields, John G. Weaver, Margaret Weaver,
The church has usually been supplied from Slate Lick, the different pastors in early days having been Revs. J. H. Aughey, W. M. Kain, B. F. Boyle and John C. McCracken, from 1869 to 1882. Slate Lick pastors have since given this congregation part of their time. The present pastor is Rev. George Stewart, of Freeport.
The building and burial ground are located almost in the center of the township, north- east of Freeport.
A Cumberland Presbyterian Church was or- ganized in 1843 with Abraham Frantz, John H. Keener and Henry Shoup, trustees. A small frame church was built on the road from Kittanning, about a mile east of Slate Lick. For some years occasional services were held here, but the congregation finally disbanded and the building was sold to J. F. Keener, who now uses it as a bungalow in summer.
MASONIC LODGE
It is interesting to note that the first Masonic lodge instituted in this county met in the up- per room of the log home of John Ralston, in the extreme northwestern part of this town- ship, some time between 1814 and 1820. Who the first members were we have not been able to ascertain.
FIRST SCHOOLHOUSES
The first schoolhouse within the limits of South Buffalo township was built in 1800 on the Weaver-McElwain-Dampman tract, about sixty rods west of Big run. The first teacher was James Clark. The second teacher was Evangelus Jones, one of whose pupils studied the German and another the Latin language.
The second schoolhouse was situated about
first one mentioned; the third one about 250 rods northwesterly from the first; the fourth one in Stony Hollow, about a mile north of Freeport; and the fifth one about 250 rods from the mouth of and a few rods south of Daugherty's run. One of the teachers in the last two was William W. Gibson.
Following are school statistics : 1860- Schools, 10; average number months taught, 4; male teachers, 6; female, 4; average Joseph Weaver, Jacob Weaver, Andrew C. monthly salaries of male teachers, $19.38; Shrader, Eleanor Shrader, Andrew Shrader, average monthly salaries of female teachers, Sr., Elizabeth Shrader, Robert J. Hill, Mary Hill, William Hill, Elizabeth Hill, Rachel B. Hill, Elizabeth Hill, Jr. M. H. Boyd, Elizabeth Boyd, William Sloan, Mary Sloan, John G. Bowser, Elizabeth Bowser.
$16.88; male scholars, 273; female scholars, 263; average number attending school, 293; cost of teaching each scholar per month, 40 cents ; amount levied for school purposes, $871.86; received from State appropriation, $116.82 ; from collectors, $830 ; cost of instruc- tion, $735.20; fuel, etc., $120.81; cost of schoolhouses, repairing, etc., $6.
1876-Schools, II ; average number months taught, 5; male teachers, 8; female teachers, 3 ; average monthly salaries of male and fe- male teachers, $33 ; male scholars, 250; female scholars, 258; average number attending school, 337; cost per month, 78 cents ; tax lev- ied for school and building purposes, $2,- 581.45; received from State appropriation. $343.17 ; from taxes, etc., $2,272.77 ; paid for teachers' wages, $1,815; paid for fuel, etc., $207.80.
The number of schools in 1913 was 10; average months taught, 7; male teacher, I ; female teachers, 9 : average salaries, male, $40, female, $42 ; male scholars, 142; female schol- ars, 145; average attendance, 180; cost per month, $1.83; tax levied, $3,601.80; received from State, $1,774.06; other sources, $4,508 .- 25; value of schoolhouses, $13,500; teachers' wages, $2,940 ; fuel, fees, etc., $2,893.69.
The school directors are: J. A. Spang- ler, president ; M. W. Frantz, secretary ; W. H. Beckett, treasurer; S. H. Keener, L. B. Arp.
POPULATION
The population of South Buffalo in 1850 was 1,266; in 1860, 1,571; in 1870, 1,633; in 1880, 1,715; in 1890, 1,634; in 1900, 1,365; in 1910, 1,398.
The assessment returns for 1913 show : Number of acres, timber, 3,743, clear, 12,287, valued at $322,707 ; houses and lots, 198, value, $65,602, average, $331.32; horses, 299, value, $13,071, average, $43.71; cows, 325, value, $5,227, average, $16.08; taxable occupa- tions, 585; amount, $10,150; total valuation, $492,264. Money at interest, $114,969.10.
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
GEOLOGY
The uplands consist entirely of the lower barrens, the areas of the lower productives being confined to the valleys of the Buffalo creek and Allegheny river. Only a portion of the lower productive group is above water level, the section extending only down to the lower Kittanning coal, the ferriferous lime- stone not being above water level. The lower Kittanning is 3 feet thick, but obtainable above water level only in the region opposite Logans- port. The upper Freeport coal is, however, in a favorable position for mining, 31/2 feet yielding tolerably good coal. This bed sup- plies Freeport with fuel, and in fact the whole township. Its geographical name was derived from Freeport, where it is about 125 feet above the river level. The lower Freeport coal is 35 feet below it, and in the vicinity of Freeport partakes of the cannel nature, and was once mined and distilled for oil. It ranges from a few inches to 7 feet thick, but little depend- ence can be placed on it, the bed thinning out and often disappearing at short intervals.
The Freeport sandstone is massive and makes a line of cliffs above the borough. It shows some sudden and curious changes in shale round about there. The same rock shows similar changes in the long cut near the rolling mill at Kittanning, where the change is beau- tifully displayed. The upper Kittanning coal is present at Freeport, but worthless.
poses. Opposite the borough on the West- moreland side it makes a line of bold cliffs 50 feet high. Above, in South Buffalo town- ship, soft, argillaceous shales come in, making easy slopes along the little valleys by which the township back from the river is diversified. This is the smooth grade land stretching north from Freeport to Slate Lick, famous for good pasture lands and fair yield of crops when properly tilled. Near Slate Lick on this up- land, the green fossiliferous limestone may be seen on the William Rea farm near the hill- top. No coalbeds of remarkable dimensions may be sought for in this vicinity, but along Buffalo creek and Pine run the upper Free- port coal is above water level as already de- scribed.
The McHaddon anticlinal axis which crosses the Allegheny river near the mouth of Mahon- ing, and Limestone run near Adrian, has weakened to such an extent before reaching this township that it exerts but little influence here. It is on this account that the lower bar- ren rocks occupy so much of the surface. Had this axis the same force here as there, we should find the same conditions repeated about Freeport that we find about the mouth of Mahoning, or nearly so. But the axis. though weakened, is yet recognizable in the gentle southeast dips which prevail just west of Freeport. Otherwise the rocks are nearly horizontal.
The Mahoning sandstone in the vicinity of The highest point is located at the center of Freeport is a very compact and massive de- this township, and is 1.443 feet above the sea posit, yielding good stone for building pur- level.
Margaret Copley .
LIG 189
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BIOGRAPHICAL
JOSIAH COPLEY was born Sept. 20, 1803, at Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., Pa., and died March 2, 1885, at Pittsburgh. This distinguished editor and writer came to Kit-
Church, and a man whose advanced ideas brought him into strong sympathy with the Colonies in the Revolutionary struggle. His four sons all came to this country while tanning, Armstrong county, shortly after at- young men, the eldest two, John and Samuel taining his majority, and lived in the county (the latter the father of Josiah Copley), ar- riving in 1792, and the latter was in business in Massachusetts for a time, thence coming to Pittsburgh, Pa. There he purchased some the greater part of the time thereafter until 1860. The first independent venture of his well-rounded career, crowded with service of the highest order to his fellow men, was the property in what is now the heart of the city, founding of the Gasette at Kittanning, and but soon sold it, expecting to return to Eng- land. He changed his plans, however, enter- ing into partnership with his brother John, for the manufacture of textile fabrics at Ship- pensburg, in the Cumberland valley. Shortly after the birth of his son Josiah he moved to Blairsville, Indiana Co., Pa., where he again engaged in woolen manufacturing, but the commercial depression consequent upon the troubles then existing between this country and England proved disastrous to his inter- ests and the venture came to grief. He took his failure so seriously that it really hastened his death, which occurred in 1813. he continued his connection with newspaper work up to within three months of his death. His influence and labors for the elevation of mankind, exercised widely through the me- dium of the press, were the source of broad- ening and advancement along so many lines that they have been recognized as of endur- ing value. The region in which he passed his early manhood and middle age is proud to have the honor of counting him among its initial forces for progress. The Appleby Manor Memorial Presbyterian Church there was erected by his daughter, Mrs. Thaw, as a memorial to her parents.
Of English extraction on the paternal side, and of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock in the maternal line, he came of a race noted for moral strength and mental vigor, as well as the physical hardihood which gave them cour- age to face life in a new country and cope with its trials. Thus he inherited qualities of a high order, which the severe material conditions of his early life served only to strengthen. It is a notable fact that from his tenderest years he seems to have been thor- oughly imbued with the Christian principle that "all things work together for good to them that love God." All his experiences were turned to account in the development of his higher nature, and the superior mental and moral tendencies for which he became noted were characteristic of him from youth.
Jane (Sibbet) Copley was a sister of Sam- uel Sibbet, who was associated with Robert Emmet in the Irish uprising. He was obliged to leave Ireland because of his decided po- litical convictions, his pronounced sentiments causing a price of fifty guineas to be put upon his head. He was connected with the Free- masons, and his friends helping him out of the country on his way to America he ar- rived secretly at Baltimore in the early part of 1800. A few months later his devoted wife, Alice (Lowry), having disposed of their per- sonal effects, crossed the ocean with her fam- ily, then consisting of three children, James, Robert and Thomas, also landing at Baltimore. Having heard of the Scotch-Irish settlement in the Cumberland valley, in Pennsylvania, they proceeded to the head of the Big Spring, where they were welcomed by numerous Pres- byterian friends. In this country four more children were born to them, Samuel, Mar-
William Copley, grandfather of Josiah Cop- ley, was a manufacturer of woolen goods in Leeds, England, a member of the Established garet, Lowry and Hugh Montgomery.
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
John, James and Robert Sibbet, and Mrs. only a weekly mail, which was carried on Gourley, Mrs. McCann and Mrs. Jane Copley, horseback. Even in 1820 people living several brothers and sisters of Samuel Sibbet, the miles above Red Bank received at least part Irish patriot, also came to this country about the close of the century. Mrs. Copley was a typical representative of such stock, noted for independence and ardent patriotism. She was possessed of a strong religious nature, and it is to her teachings and example that much of the pure Christian sentiment of her son Josiah may be traced. Though she died while he was a boy, he wrote of her : "She was a woman of strong and original cast of mind; gentle, but firm; sensitive, yet patient. She was one of the pleasantest and most impressive readers I ever knew ; and much of what may be called the keys of knowledge, the first germs of thought, I gained from hearing her read, es- pecially the Scriptures. She read poetry ad- mirably, and no one I ever knew surpassed her in reading or reciting poetry and ballads, or in singing Scotch ballads, with which her memory was well stored." In the same mem- oir he continues, referring to the period of his father's failure and death: "These were days of trial and sorrow, while we all worked diligently and felt the necessity of doing so. It was a time of stern necessity, yet the memory of it is sweet ; for there was more light than darkness, more joy than sorrow ; and it was during this trying period, more than any other, that my sainted mother was made perfect through suffering."
In the spring of 1818, when in his fifteenth year, he was apprenticed to Mr. James Mc- Cahan, of Indiana, Pa., printer and, publisher of a little weekly sheet called the American, being bound to serve until he reached his majority-a period of six and a half years. Though his actual schooling had been meager and gained under the restriction of local facilities, he had become a good speller and a good reader, and had shown indications of a literary turn of mind. The opportunity was just what he wanted.
The boy lived with the family of his em- ployer, and was evidently well treated, for he pictures Mrs. McCahan as a woman of amiable disposition and kindly qualities, and says ("A Memoir of Early Life") that while he re- mained a member of the family he enjoyed all the domestic and social privileges of a son. But his master was a shrewd business man, and combined his various interests to their mutual advantage. He held the contract for carrying the mails over the several local routes. At that time there was only one post office between Kittanning and Indiana and
of their mail from the Kittanning office. Mr. McCahan's three apprentices were bound to give half their time for three years to the carrying of the mails, thus enabling their mas- ter to fill his contract and also to get most of his papers distributed at the same time. This part of his work was for a time a great trial to Josiah Copley. The first year the boy cov- ered the route from Indiana to Butler, by way of Kittanning, and on the return trip rode from Butler to Freeport (which then consisted of but ten or twelve log houses), thence back to Kittanning, and from there by way of the Peter Thomas mills on Plum creek home-a three days' journey in all. The mail and papers were carried in open saddlebags. It was not his duties but the fact that he had to set out early Sunday morning, and relinquish all the Sabbath observances, that disturbed the boy's sense of right. But he had been trained to keep the Lord's Day, and keep it he did. When he was in school the Bible had been the principal "reader," and the famil- iarity with its passages there acquired, sup- plemented by home teaching, was to the end of his life a cause for gratitude. At the end of the year he changed from a ride of three days every weck to one of six days every other week, from Monday morning until Sat- urday evening, and the privilege of Sabbath worship had never seemed more precious than after a year of enforced absence. His new route took him through Greensburg, Freeport, Kittanning, south of where the town of Clar- ion is now located, Butler county at Law- renceburg (now Parker City), Butler, and thence to Kittanning and home. On these trips he had his regular stopping places, and while he was sometimes thrown into rough and undesirable company he also made many friends among the good people he met, his as- sociation with whom he always looked back to with pleasure. News was not as plentiful then as now, or as easily disseminated, and the ar- rival of the mail and papers was an event which would have made him welcome in any case. But his faithfulness and reliability, manly sincerity and quick intelligence, won him the friendly regard of all he met and their hospitality had a personal element which went far toward mitigating the discomforts and disagreeable experiences. The country was wild at that time, with little advantages for travel in the way of good roads, bridges, etc., . and in the winter and spring especially the
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storms and high water made it positively dan- latter was at Philadelphia for his wedding. gerous. In winter he often traveled through unbroken snow, and no inclemency of weather was ever considered sufficient excuse for not setting out. He had to rise early and often worked late, but he never allowed anything except the most extraordinary obstacles to
interfere with the performance of his task- such was the rigorous idea of duty which had been instilled by his early teaching. The habits of deep thought and close observation which so characterized his after years were no doubt fostered in these long, lonely days spent on horseback through a sparsely settled region. The warmth and friendliness of those with whom he spent his evenings, too, must have been doubly appreciated after a lonesome day in the saddle. There were many blessings, indeed, which he recalled in connection with these youthful experiences.
In 1825, shortly after the completion of his apprenticeship, Mr. Copley went into business in Kittanning in partnership with John Croll, under the firm name of Copley, Croll & Co., founding the Kittanning Gasette, with which Mr. Copley was connected for over eight years in all. The undertaking was suggested by two or three prominent citizens of Kittanning, among them Mr. Philip Mechling and Judge Buffington, and the paper being the second in the town the young editors had the benefit which rivalry brings in such enterprises. The first number was issued Aug. 17, 1825, and on April 12, 1831, it was merged with the Colum- bian and published as the Gazette and Colum- bian, by John Croll & Co., Mr. Croll's part- ner being Simon Torney. Meantime, in 1829, Mr. Copley had withdrawn, and on Nov. 6, 1832, he again became the editor and pub- lisher, for the estate of Simon Torney, con- tinuing thus until 1838. The name Colum- bian was dropped before 1836. The paper became the Democratic Press in 1841, later the Kittanning Free Press and in 1864 the Union Free Press. While known as the Ga- sette and Columbian it was the organ of the Democratic-Republican party in this county and afterward a Whig paper, upon the dis- solution of the Whig party becoming a Re- publican paper. It was never an antimasonic paper, though for a year or two-while known as the Gazette-it acted in harmony with the antimasonic organization.
James Thompson, who became chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, lived in Kittanning for several years prior to 1830. He was a printer, and took Mr. Copley's place in the office of the Gazette while the
He afterward assisted in printing Bennett's Lectures on Theology, and read law in the office of Thomas Blair, working at his trade three hours a day to pay for his board. Dur- ing a part, if not all, the period of his clerk- ship he boarded with Mr. Copley. He was admitted to the bar in this county and began practice here.
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