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 8
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The National Grange, or Patrons of Hus- bandry, was organized in 1867, and the first lodge was located in this county in Cowan- shannock township, in 1875, the first president being John Steele. The next was that of Bethel, in 1876. The present county organiza- tion is Pomona Grange, the officers of which are, S. S. Blyholder, J. P. Ramalee and G. A. Marvin.
Although the cultivation of the lands of this county is now often neglected, owing to the tremendous development of the mineral re- sources, there are some fine farms in cultiva- tion by enterprising and intelligent argicultur- The officers of Madison Grange are: F. Furlong. J. J. Pence and Miss Zella Pence. Burrell-J. P. Ramalee, Mrs. J. P. Ramalee, Norman Rupert. Kiskiminetas-J. I. Kier, Mabel Couch, Paul Martin. Mt. Joy-Z. T. Lessig, A. J. Allshouse, G. A. Marvin. Marshall-A. H. King, S. E. Smeltzer, H. F. Waltenbough. Pleasant Union-Carl Miller, Lola M. Wolf, Mary F. Blyholder. Washing- ists. Their farms are generally well kept and their homes neat and in many cases luxurious. The live stock on these farms is noticeable for its high average, there having been a number of men who had sufficient foresight some twenty-five years ago to import valuable strains of standard bred animals into the dis- trict, which were crossed with what was al- ready fairly good Pennsylvania stock, and in ton-C. Y. Bowser, Watson Bowser, R. R. many cases they have been bred up to stand- Stoops.
Tidal-C. R. Hornberger, T. C.
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Heath, W. E. Paine. Laurel Point-J. T. Bowman, Mrs. D. D. Riggle, W. F. Hill. Armstrong-S. L. Hiles, Edward Shakeley. Kaylor-W. K. White, Grant Bair, Archie Stewart. West Franklin-R. L. McKee, M. C. Templeton, J. B. Hindman.
VINES AND FRUITS
Some of the farmers of this county were at one time engaged in the culture of the vine, but the San Jose scale gradually destroyed the in- dustry. We are glad to state that in this year of 1913 the pest has at last been conquered.
For a review of the fruit culture of the county reference is made to the article on that subject by Rev. T. J. Frederick of Spring Church.
FAIRS AND INSTITUTES
The Armstrong County Agricultural Society was organized in 1855. Its object was to give fairs and hold exhibitions of the products of the county. A space of ground was laid out for its purposes and a series of successful exhibitions held in 1856 and 1857, after which interest lapsed and the society passed out of existence.
Each year the Armstrong County Fair As- sociation has an exhibition of the products of the county and promotes a series of trotting and pacing races on its grounds below Apple- cents; wool, 18 cents a pound ; hay, $13 a ton ; wold, across the river from Kittanning. The officers of the association are: E. F. McGiv- ern, president ; W. E. Noble, secretary ; M. J. Linnon, treasurer.
The Kiski Valley Agricultural and Driving Association was chartered in 1910, and has held annual meetings on the grounds near Apollo since that date, at which exhibits of farm products are made and daily races held on the track adjoining. The officers are: L. Todd Owens, president ; Dan Clark, secretary. The directors are: Frank Newinghaus, David Elwood, Charles P. Culp, W. A. McGeary, W. E. Shutt, John H. Bair, Jr., Dr. John F. Boal, Dr. S. J. McIlwain, C. F. Armstrong, S. J. McDowell, W. B. Swank, J. C. George, Bert Orr, Frank J. Isency.
Since 1895 the State agricultural depart- ment has held annual farmers' institutes at the lows : Real estate, $11,488,318 ; personal estate,
principal points in the county, at which ad- dresses are made by competent lecturers on varied subjects. The attendance has increased from year to year and much interest is mani- fested in these farmers' schools. During the thirds is under cultivation. year 1914 meetings will be held in Dayton, Elderton and Spring Church.
STATISTICS
An interesting item in the report of the United States department of agriculture is the statement that the potatoes of Armstrong county contain but 70% of water, in com- parison with those of other States, which have a percentage of 90.
There were raised and made in this county in 1870, according to the census, 298,194 bushels of wheat, 135,257 bushels of rye, 680,3144 bushels of corn, 883,846 bushels of oats, 33,192 tons of hay, 126,068 pounds of wool, and 964,020 pounds of butter, besides large quantities of other agricultural products.
In 1830 the cost of a barrel of flour was $3, beef was 3 cents a pound, venison hams were 11/2 cents, fowls were 6 cents each, butter 6 to 8 cents a pound, and eggs 6 cents a dozen. The value of common labor was correspondingly low, only 50 cents being paid for a day's work of twelve hours, and this seldom in cash.
In 1878 flour was $8 a barrel, butter 14 to 35 cents a pound and eggs were 10 to 20 cents a dozen. Day labor could be had for ȘI and the hours were ten.
In 1913 the price of flour is $6 to $7 ; beef, II to 25 cents a pound ; poultry, 14 to 25 cents ; eggs, 20 to 40 cents a dozen ; butter, 30 to 45 cents a pound ; venison not to be bought any- where ; while the prices paid for farm products are : wheat, 95 cents a bushel ; buckwheat, 70 and even turnips are worth 40 cents a bushel. The prices paid for common labor vary from $1.50 to $3 per day of ten hours.
In 1825 Charles C. Gaskill, agent of the Hol- land Land Company, offered for sale 150,000 acres of land at from $1.50 to $2 per acre, on the easy terms of 5% cash and the balance in eight equal annual payments. In 1830 the best improved farming land was worth from $12 to $20 per acre. In 1880 it was valued at from $60 to $100 per acre. Such land is seldom for sale at present, the prices ruling from $40 to $125 per acre, according to mineral deposits and market locations.
The report of the commissioner of statistics of Pennsylvania for 1873 shows the assessed valuation of real and personal property in Armstrong county to have then been as fol- $2,259,795. Total, $13.748,113.
The report of the secretary of the interior shows this county to have an area of 612 square miles, or 391,680 acres, of which over two-
There are 100 species of mammals and 130 species of birds in Armstrong county, of which
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
115 are native. The bear, panther and deer cabin door, and birds were so numerous that have long ago become extinct. An occasional shooting them was hardly sport. In fact, the eagle, however, has been seen. Bounties on colonist, especially in Pennsylvania, had little various obnoxious animals are still offered and of the sporting instinct. What he shot was dis- sometimes collected.
tinctly for the pot and ammunition was so From the report of the director of the cen- costly and so likely to be needed against the sus for 1900 we glean the following figures for Armstrong county :
The number of farms in the county was 4,112 ; the area of land in the county was 417,- 920 ; the amount under cultivation was 367,867 acres; there were 4 farms of 3 acres, 312 of less than 10 acres, 295 of less than 20 acres, 641 of less than 50 acres, 1,265 of less than 100 acres, 1,251 of less than 200 acres, 266 of less than 500 acres, 63 of less than 1,000 acres, and one of over 1,000 acres.
The value of the land in the county was $11,487,568; buildings, $6,222,346 ; implements and machinery, $967,175; domestic animals, poultry and bees, $2,103,694.
The domestic animals on the farms and ranges were: Cattle, 21,976, value, $557,607 ; horses, 9,566, value, $1,219,400; mules, 196, value, $24,925 ; swine, 20,154, value, $130,076; sheep, 13,009, value, $51,013 ; goats, 70, value, $292 ; poultry, 189,823, value, $110,038; col- onies of bees, 2,485, value, $10,293.
Farms operated by owners, 3,211 ; operated by tenants, 860 ; by managers, 4I.
Classes of crops and amounts : Corn, 694, 873 bushels ; oats, 493,430 bushels; wheat, 206,372 bushels; barley, 543 bushels; buck- wheat, 148,466 bushels; rye, 36,310 bushels ; beans, 130 bushels; hay and forage, 41,619 tons; Irish potatoes, 288,709 bushels; sweet potatoes, 466 bushels ; maple sugar, 35 pounds ; maple syrup, 273 gallons ; apples, 217,773 bushels ; peaches, 58,917 bushels ; pears, 5,907 bushels ; plums, 15,901 bushels ; cherries, 18,478 bushels ; quinces, 565 bushels ; grapes, 441,638 pounds ; strawberries, 86,444 quarts ; raspber- ries, 28,238 quarts ; blackberries, 15,519 quarts ; nuts, 26,495 pounds.
Value of crops : Cereals, $2,225,711 ; grains and seeds, $3,089; hay and forage, $545,722; vegetables, $326,529 ; fruits and nuts, $235,999 ; all other crops, $120,890.
GAME PRESERVATION
The early settlers on the American continent found here probably the greatest supply of wild game that the world has ever seen. The for-
ever-threatening red men that its waste was a thing unthinkable.
This condition continued way down to within almost a generation of our own time. Near the large cities the demands of the market were beginning to make inroads before the Civil war, but these depredations were little felt, so great and apparently inexhaustible was the supply. Then with shocking suddenness came the drop. First went the heath hen, a variety of grouse the early settlers found in abundance throughout Pennsylvania and the Middle States along the seaboard. The pas- senger pigeon was the next to disappear. The years immediately following the close of the Civil war saw this bird dwindle from uncount- able millions to complete extinction. In 1908 the last wild specimen known was captured near Detroit and one lone survivor mourns his departed fellows in a cage in the Cincinnati Zoological Park. A price of $3,000 for two mates for this bird was offered with no takers.
The tragedy of the buffalo is known perhaps better than all. The great herds that covered the Western prairies were bound to dwindle and disappear before the advance of the cattle- men and the settlers, but today thousands of square miles of waste land lie empty that could have supported large herds of American bison without loss or damage to anyone. Today there are in the neighborhood of 1,600 head, wild and in parks, in all North America. The prong-horned antelope has practically ceased to exist as a wild animal, and a similar fate threatens the big-horn sheep, the mountain goat, and the grizzly bear.
In the case of the big game little more can be done at the present time other than to give ample legal protection to the specimens that are still at large and to increase the number of the parks and preserves in which they are safe from hunter and settler alike. Buffalo and elk respond readily to such treatment and some- thing can be done for the sheep and goats. The fate of the antelope is probably sealed and the doom of the grizzly is not far distant.
Bird refuges are increasing in number and size yearly, along with greater stringency in ests teemed with bird and animal life and the enforcement and character of protective laws. streams and lakes abounded in edible fish. New York has led the way with the Bayne bill Contemporary accounts agree on this point. prohibiting the sale of wild game or its ship- The settler killed his deer almost from his
ment out of the State for purpose of sale else-
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
where. But these measures are at best only palliative. Illegal shooting continues in many places where enforcement of the law is lax, the district too large for proper patrol. Like it or not, we must admit that we are confronted with the same situation as that which English sports- men faced many generations ago. Genuine wild game is losing its place-has already lost it in many cases-and we cannot legislate it back into existence. It remains for man to step in and do what Nature can no longer do unaided. In other words, the salvation of the future lies in the artificial propagation. Birds and fish lend themselves peculiarly well to this sort of treatment.
FISH PROPAGATION
As in many other similar cases, when we found ourselves confronted with the problem of saving our fish, the solution was ready to hand. It was in 1725 that Stephen Ludwig Jacobi, a German youth of seventeen, con- ceived the idea of artificially fertilizing the spawn of fish. Sixteen years later he hit upon the right method, but with characteristic Ger- man carefulness it was not until 1761 that he announced his discovery and his method. America, of course, had no need of Jacobi at that time and for many years after ; and it was the French government that established the first extensive hatcheries nearly a century after the German experimenter had made his dis- covery known.
The State of Ohio led the way on this side of the Atlantic in 1853, but little was done until within the last two decades. To-day the Federal government and most of the States conduct extensive hatcheries and distribute hundreds of millions of eggs, fry and finger- lings annually.
POLLUTION OF STREAMS
assured of a proper habitat. To this end it is necessary that eternal watchfulness be employed to prevent the pollution of streams and lakes. Factories, mills, mines are a con- stant menace in this respect, and the fate of the salmon in the Connecticut river is a case in point. In Colonial times this stream teemed with them during the spawning season, but with the appearance of the first dams and mills just after the Revolution they began to dis- appear, and within a decade the river was com- pletely abandoned by this beautiful fish. This has been repeated in varying degrees in count- less instances. The question of the pollution of streams is one of the most difficult problems that the Pennsylvania Department of Fisheries has to solve says Commissioner of Fisheries N. R. Buller :
"Public sentiment is rapidly growing in favor of having all the streams cleared up and this is shown every day by the number of com- plaints that reach the department. Recently the Susquehanna river at Williamsport was reported badly polluted. All the manufactur- ers in this territory were notified that they must stop the pollution of the streams. Examina- tion showed that with hardly an exception not one had done anything in the matter, so the department has directed prosecutions against every manufacturer along the streams, with possibly one or two exceptions. One thing the department has to combat is the fact that when the prosecutions are brought in a particular place, the citizens of that place object because the industry is an important one to the town and say that the manufactory at some other place ought to be the victim.'
A few weeks previous to this examination the Susquehanna river was reported polluted between Lock Haven and Williamsport, many fish being killed. The result of the depart- ment's investigation was the prosecution of the Lock Haven Paper Company. The superin-
This insures the solution of the fish prob- tendent was found guilty and sentenced to pay lem-if the young fish when distributed can be a fine of $100.
CHAPTER IV
THE FRUIT INDUSTRY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY
(By Rev. T. J. Frederick, of Spring Church, Kiskiminetas Township.)
EARLY GRAFTERS-VARIETIES OF APPLES-PEARS, PLUMS AND SMALL FRUITS-PIONEER ORCHARDS -STRANGE CUSTOMS-MODERN METHODS-STATE AID-DEMONSTRATIONS-COLLEGES-ASSO- CIATIONS-SOIL SURVEYS-DYNAMITING-MARKETING
Our forefathers who settled what is now called Armstrong county, and who hewed out of the primeval forest homes for them- selves, had plenty of hard work and few ad- vantages. With meagre means of transporta- tion it was impossible in most cases to secure young fruit trees, except such as could be picked up here and there by propagating from seeds and then grafting from trees of known good varieties, which the more fortunate pio- neers had originally brought with them. In this way a start was made. The art of the tree grafter was much in demand in those days. His work made it possible to introduce everywhere new and better varieties and im- prove old ones at a trifling expense. There are old apple orchards remaining which in their time bore abundant crops of very good fruit, and some of them are known to be more than seventy-five years old. The apple seems to be the king of fruits here, as it is in other parts of our vast domain. In point of utility, productiveness and profit it out- ranks any other fruit grown in Pennsylvania. According to the 1910 census there were 151,- 322,840 apple trees of bearing age in the State, and 148,614,948 trees of all other kinds of fruit of a similar age. The American Agri- culturalist estimated the apple crop of this State for 1910 at 1,600,000 barrels, for 1906 at 1 3,750,000 barrels. Pennsylvania stands second on the list, New York State being slightly ahead.
VARIETIES OF APPLES
Apples as well as other fruits known to the early settlers of Armstrong county were mostly of the seedling varieties. Some of
remain say that in their boyhood days they had such varieties of apples as Winter Ram- bo, Tulpehocken, Pennock, Russet, etc. To these were soon added the Baldwin, Grimes' Golden, Fall Pippin, Maiden Blush, Jersey Sweet, Paradise Sweet, Sweet Bough, Early Harvest, Seek-no-farther or Westfield, King of Tompkins County, Northern Spy and other varieties. Lately there were introduced such superior varieties as the Rome Beauty, Winter Banana, Stayman Winesap, Stark De- licious, American Blush, Fameuse or Snow, Fanny, Mackintosh Red, Wealthy, Dutchess, Yellow Transparent and others. These new varieties have been sufficiently tested to prove that they are more or less at home in our soil and climate.
In the days of our ancestors there were few, if any, tree agents. There were not as many tree nurseries as we have at the present time. Means of transportation were slow and costly. To partly offset this difficulty, there was de- veloped the art of tree grafting. By this method, and by budding, many new and im- proved kinds of fruit were introduced. Some improved nursery stock was early brought from the eastern part of the State over the old Cumberland road, which was the first to be built, running from Cumberland, in Maryland, to Wheeling, in West Virginia, and passing through Westmoreland county. With the ad- vent of the Pennsylvania canal, and then the railroads, the tree nursery industry developed and fruit growing received increased atten- tion.
PEARS, PLUMS AND SMALL FRUITS
Of pears the Calabash and the famous these were good, but they were gradually re- Seckel are familiar examples. The Damson placed by better kinds. The old people who and Green Gage are common varieties of
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
plums, whose origin dates back to European ancestors. The peach of old times was the seedling variety, of all kinds and sizes and usually planted in rows along the fences. The cherry at first was mostly a small variety of black or red, sweet sorts, or the sour kind. which is still so common and often grows wild. Still another fruit of some importance and of early introduction is the quince. The small fruits, as the mulberry and the grape, together with the raspberry, blackberry, huck- leberry, gooseberry and strawberry abounded in the wild state and formed an important part of pioneer food supply. These are now super- seded by many greatly improved varieties, finding a place in nearly every home collec- tion.
PIONEER ORCHARDS
Undoubtedly one of the first concerns of the early settler was to secure a shelter for himself and family. A second likely was to clear sufficient ground as a source of bread supply. Wild game was then the chief source of meat. The planting of fruit trees necessar- ily became an after consideration. Who was first to do this in Armstrong county perhaps no one knows. The Indians, it seems, knew nothing of the rearing and planting of fruit trees. Their limited use of the earth as a means of food supply did not amount to more at best than a scant crop of corn, potatoes, beans and peas. When the time came for our forefathers to select a site for an apple or- chard the principal consideration usually was proximity to the farm buildings. The orchard was supposed to do the double duty of fur- nishing fruit for the household and growing a crop of wheat, oats, hay or corn. Bevond an occasional attempt at pruning, little effort was made to give it any special attention. The wonder is that it thrived as well as it ofttimes did.
STRANGE CUSTOMS
In some sections strange ideas and prac- tices existed. Under the spell of these notions old horseshoes were hung on fruit trees. or their trunks were driven full of nails to induce the trees to bear. Some bored holes in the trees and placed therein flowers of sulphur to drive away diseases. Apples were picked when the moon was right, to secure better keeping qualities. When the writer first be- gan to thin his fruit trees and often picked off more of the green fruit than he left on the
trees, some of the neighbors began to think he had lost a little of his balance of mind and was flying into the face of Providence. Others there were who expressed a positive opposi- tion to "book farmin'."
MODERN METHODS
However, it must be said that under the revolutionary influences of modern scientific methods these strange ideas are fast dying out and will soon perhaps remain as only a memory of oldtime conditions. New and greatly improved kinds of fruit are fast dis- placing the least worthy of the old ones, and modern cultural methods are rapidly finding their proper place. This, together with better transportation facilities and an almost unlim- ited market for first-class fruit, has called for an aggressive movement in the fruit industry. Hence the modern fruit grower, to meet this call, must be more than an average farmer. He must make a specialty of his calling.
To grow and market such fruit as we now find on exhibition at horticultural meetings and world's fair exhibits, there is required an intelligent application of more scientific principles than most farmers possess. There are those among our farmers who are awaken- ing to this fact. New factors constantly en- tering into the problem of successful fruit- growing call for the application of new methods of solving them. Among these new factors are new fruit pests. new diseases, new discoveries. the growing necessity for coop- eration and new views of an industry which is fast rising to the plane of a fine art. It is not too much to say that the production of the kind of fruit which the people of our day de- mand and for which they are willing to pay is the job of a specialist.
STATE AID
The spirit of modern progress seems to have stimulated the fruit industry as if it had been touched by some magician's wand. Peri- odicals, bulletins and other literature on the subject abound. Some of the best of them can be had almost for the asking. Horticulture has come to occupy a dignified position in the curriculum of our agricultural colleges. The practical cooperation of the State with the progressive fruit grower has become a note- worthy feature in modern advanced horticul- ture. The department of agriculture at Harrisburg has established what are called respectively model and supervision orchards
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
throughout the State, in which expert orchard- ists give practical demonstration work, invit- ing the public to be present and make obser- vations, ask questions and listen to lectures on such topics as concern the progressive fruit grower. There are now, 1913, sixteen such orchards established in Armstrong county.
The following letter from Prof. H. A. Sur- face, Department of Agriculture, Division of Zoology, Harrisburg, Pa., to the writer ex- plains itself :
Rev. T. J. Frederick,
Springchurch, Pa.
My Dear Sir: I congratulate you upon putting into permanent form some notes on the history of the fruit industry of Armstrong county. Your county is destined to be known in this regard better in the future than it has been in the past, and it is a good plan to have such facts recorded as can be obtained with certainty at the present time. Therefore, I take pleasure in giving you such information as is possible from this office.
During the year 1911 we had four demonstra- tion and twelve supervision orchards in your county. This work by my office was undertaken in 1910 at Freeport, in the orchard of J. S. Hill.
The progress of the work in the county has been very remarkable. Unusually intelligent citizenship has been quick to perceive that this movement, given the official stamp of approval, was worthy of their attention. Their response has been more than cordial. It really was for the benefit of the agricultural people and they were quick to see this and make use of it. As the result of a few years of such demonstration work, and especially work in that county, there has been a considerable interest in the planting of new orchards and the reviving and restoring of old orchards to make them profitable. Even should the work stop now, there is no possibility that it will lapse and return to the neglected orchards of previous years. Many of your best citizens see the great possibility of horticulture, and understand the elements of this kind of art and science, and will continue to apply the prin- ciples which they have been taught, and will bring forth constantly better returns.
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