Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 68

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526

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CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP.

Cranberry is situated in the southwest- ern corner of the county, and is one of the thirteen townships into which the county was divided in 1804. The township is said to have derived its name from the fact that in the early days a cranberry swamp existed near its southern limits. Its sur- face is watered by the tributaries of Break- neck on the east, and Brush Creek on the west. The township is rich in coal and oil, but the principal business of the inhabi- tants for the first century of its existence was agriculture. The Freeport coal is found in the bed of Brush Creek near the northwestern corner of the township, and the vein at this point reaches the abnormal thickness of five feet. The Brush Creek coal and Bakerstown coal have been mined for many years for domestic use in the neighborhood. The Brush Creek oil field obtained prominence in 1896-7, and the principal fields in the limits of Cranberry Township are the Henderson, Garvin and Duncan. Drilling operations are still car- ried on in these districts, and some pay- ing wells have been obtained in 1908.

The township was without railroad fa-

cilities of any kind until 1908, when the Pittsburg, Harmony & Butler Electric Railway was completed, and opened for traffic. This line enters the southern quar- ter of the township east of Brush Creek. and extends nearly the entire length of the township, leaving it at the northeast corner.

The first settlements of the township were made in the Brush Creek neighbor- hood as early as 1796. The pioneers that came that year were Benjamin Johnson and his family, Matthew Graham, William Graham, John Henry, Alexander Ramsey, Paul Vandivort and Samuel Duncan. The mother of the Graham brothers, then Mrs. Long, came in 1797, and Benjamin Davis and George Stoolfire arrived the same year.

David Garvin and family, and his son, Alexander and his family, arrived in the township in 1800, William Henry Goehring in 1801, James Cooper in 1807, and Jacob Stout and his father of Northumberland County in 1811.

Matthew Graham established the Black Bear Tavern on the Pittsburg and Mercer road in 1813. Previous to that time he carried on a house of entertainment, and was well known to the teamsters over the old trail that was used prior to the con- struction of the public road.

Samuel Duncan's saw-mill was probably the earliest industry of the township, and it was erected prior to 1803 on Brush Creek. He also ran a little distillery, which obtained a wide reputation for the quality of whiskey turned out.

The Brush Creek saw-mill was erected by Matthew Graham in 1831. In 1833 he built the first grist-mill on the creek, which was also the first in the township.

Plains Presbyterian Church dates back to 1805 or'6, the first minister of the de- nomination to visit the settlement being Rev. Reed Bracken, who was installed pas- tor in 1808. The first services were held in groves and in a tent, but some time be-

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tween 1820 and 1824 a log building was erected on a lot donated by Benjamin Davis, on the site of the present church. After Rev. Bracken left in 1819 the church was for some time without a regular pas- tor, and after 1831 the visits of ministers became so rare that the old church may be said to have passed out of existence. In 1838 a union was effected with the Cross Roads Church in Allegheny County, the Rev. L. R. McAboy becoming pastor. At the same time a reorganization of the church took place. In 1839 a brick house was erected close beside the old log house. The society was incorporated November 16, 1849, the trustees being David Garvin, James W. Garvin and Jas. Sample. In 1866 the Plains Church was transferred from the Allegheny Presbytery, now But- ler, to Allegheny City Presbytery. In January, 1878, services were authorized to be held in the Baptist Church at Evans City, and in February, 1883, thirty-nine members were dismissed from the old church to form the new one. The old church was torn down in May, 1878, and a new one dedicated November 3, 1879, by Rev. W. H. Jeffers. March 31, 1878, the statistical report of the congregation showed a membership of 231 communi- cants and 160 attendants at Sunday school. Since that time the membership has de- clined to about 150, on account of the heavy draft made on the old society by the organization of new societies at Evans City, Crest View and Mars. In 1908 the session was composed of O. P. Graham, Christian Hoehn and J. M. Covert, and the pastor was Rev. P. R. Harvey.

St. John's German United Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Church, formerly known as St. Daniel's Church, was for- mally organized June 7, 1869, at a meet- ing of members which was presided over by Christopher Kirschler. John G. Hoff- man acted as secretary and Andrew Kirschler treasurer. The three parties named were also the trustees of the so-

ciety. Rev. C. A. D. Freseman of Mars is the present pastor.

Dutillh Church. There was no Metho- dist Society in Cranberry Township until 1879. Previous to that time the adherents of this faith residing in the township be- longed to a class of Plains Church in Alle- gheny County. In 1879 the trustees of Plains Church, living principally in this township, concluded to build an edifice here. The church was built near what is now known as Crider's Corners on farm No. 91, belonging to Charles Dutillh, of Philadelphia, but who donated one and one-fourth acres of ground for church pur- poses. The building was completed and dedicated November 30, 1879. The church is attached to Salem in Allegheny County, and Mars in Adams Township, in a pas- toral charge.

The Mount Pleasant United Presby- terian Society was originally a part of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and was organized under the ministry of Rev. T. C. Guthrie about 1847. From 1847 to 1850 services were held in the Fowler schoolhouse on Brush Creek, and in 1850 the first church edifice was erected on an acre lot donated for that purpose by Joshua Stoolfire. The location of the church is just outside the limits of the township, in Allegheny County, but a large proportion of the membership are resi- dents of Cranberry Township. This con- gregation was originally connected with Union Church in the northern part of Adams Township, and in 1850 presented the united call to Rev. Andrew Walker, the first pastor. He resigned this charge in 1853, and in 1854 the union between Mt. Pleasant and Union congregations was dis- solved. When the United Presbyterian Church was organized in 1858, Mt. Pleas- ant came into the new society, and since that time has been known as Mt. Pleasant United Presbyterian Church. Rev. J. M. Dight, the present pastor, was called in 1880. The present house of worship was

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

built in 1860 on the site of the former one. The membership of the congregation in 1908 was eighty-five.

The early schools of the township were conducted on the subscription plan, and among the first teachers were Job Staples, Andrew Dodds and Rev. Reed Bracken. One of the first conventions or teachers' institutes was held at Plains Church on the 25th of February, 1852, and on the follow- ing day a similar convention was held at Union Church, Evans City. In 1908 the number of children of school age in the township was 197, and the number of schools six, with six teachers.

The population of the township at the first census, taken in 1810, was 543. This had increased to 2,236 in 1850, but redi- vision of the county into the present town- ships reduced the population of Cranberry to 931 in 1860. In 1900 the population was 981, and in 1908 the estimated population was 1,065.

The township officers in 1908 were : Constable, Nicoll Allen; auditors, W. W. Vandivort, Samuel Leonburg, Henry Reef- er; road supervisor, A. J. West; township clerk, Jacob Dumbach ; assessor, J. M. Co- vert; tax collector, A. Kirschler.

There are no towns or villages of im- portance in the township. For many years Ogle was the local postoffice, situated on the old Mercer and Pittsburg road, but after the establishing of the rural free de- livery in 1903 the office was discontinued. For some years after this office was es- . tablished Thomas Robinson was the post- master, and had the office at his home. A store at this point has been conducted by William Garvin, J. A. Boggs, John Frantz, H. M. Johnson, and at the present time William Garvin is conducting the business.

Hendersonville was a thriving hamlet as early as 1830, when Robert McKee kept a tavern at that point, and also manufac- tured wagons and farm implements. The first postoffice of the township was estab- lished at Hendersonville, but was super-

seded by Mars after the construction of the railroad to that point in 1880. The Hendersonville oil field brought in a num- ber of new residents in the latter part of the nineties, but these have moved away, and in 1908 there was nothing left but the residence and office formerly occupied by Dr. Elder Crawford.

Crider's Corners is one of the old set- tlements of the township and has come into prominence within the past two years. The location is now a station on the Pittsburg, Harmony & Butler Electric Railway, and besides several dwelling houses there is a general store, conducted by Henry Needer.

A. G. Hendrickson's store on the Evans City road is a new business enterprise that has been in existence but a short time.

Rowan Station was established in 1908 on the line of the new electric railway, and gives promise of being a lively hamlet in the near future.

SOCIETIES.

The Brush Creek Protective Association was organized in 1878 with fifty-eight members. The total risks of the company in 1908 were about $100,000, distributed in Butler, Allegheny and Beaver Counties.

Cranberry Grange Number 908, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized in January, 1890, with eight members. The Grange Hall is located on the Leise farm near Plains Church.

The Farmers' Alliance had a member- ship in this township in 1895, but the or- ganization has since disbanded.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

Washington Township, with its valuable coal veins, its undiminished oil reservoirs and its fertile agricultural valleys, has of- fered many inducements to home seekers and the investment of capital, from the date of its creation in 1846, when it was given its name in honor of President Washington, Father of his Country. It is

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situated west of Parker and south of Venango, and assumed its present area in 1854. The coal veins, practically under- lying the whole township, and including the finest cannel, Clarion and Kittanning, through their development have made this one of the richest sections of the county. There is some oil in the southern part of the township, and enough gas for local consumption. There are also limestone de- posits in the northwestern part of the township, which have not yet been opened up. The Bessemer Branch Railway commu- nicates with the northern part of the town- ship, with forks to Hilliards and Argen- tine.

As early as 1796 one George Meals set- tled and cleared a tract of land lying on the north line of what is now Concord Township, and he is recognized as the pioneer settler, but in the same year came also John and Jacob Mechling, Samuel Campbell and William Bell. In 1797 the parents and other members of the family joined George Meals, journeying from York County, where their German ances- tors had settled. In 1897-8 came John Christy, from Westmoreland County, who later was one of the first justices of the peace in the settlement; James Gibson with wife and nine children; John Shira and Robert and John Hindman. A number of these early settlers later served in the War of 1812 and very many of them have descendants in Washington Township who still own portions of the original farms. Another early settler was James Mahood, from Ireland, and his descendants own a portion of his early purchase of 500 acres, southwest of North Washington. In 1802 came Jacob Hilliard and sons and in the same year came many of the pioneer families that had settled still earlier in adjacent townships.

The first general election held in Wash- ington Township was in March, 1846. Sub- scription schools were the first efforts in the direction of general education and to

John Christy belongs the credit of being the first teacher in the township. Wash- ington Township now supports as good schools as can be found in any part of the county, there being nine schools, with 358 scholars.

The North Washingtoni Institute, situ- ated at North Washington, is an educa- tional institution of a superior class. This school was organized in 1879 and R. B. Gilfillan was the first principal. Its aim is to give sound and thorough instruction in the liberal arts. . The first school build- ing was erected in 1878, thoroughly re- modeled in 1893 and still further enlarged and better equipped in later years. A col- legiate course is offered students, and a faculty of trained educators maintain a very high standard.

The leading points of population in Washington Township are North Wash- ington, Hilliards, Annisville, or Shira, and other villages, some of the latter having had rapid growth around mines and in the oil fields.

North Washington, North Hope Post- office (present population 200), was plat- ted in 1834, the first house, a tavern, hav- ing been built here prior to 1830, by Sam- uel Bell, which was known as Summit Tavern. In 1830 John Jack put up a brick house and the town grew around it. Among early business men were Thomas Parker, Christopher L. Henlen, H. P. Mc- Clymonds, Dr. David C. Fowler, Thomas Russell, Samuel Jack, W. Parks, John Di- mond and Shyrock Harper.

At the present time Mifflin & Mifflin con- duct a general store here, I. N. Thompson deals in drugs and groceries, and H. Stew- art in hardware. McGarvey's livery and the Hayes Hotel are the other leading business concerns. There is a township high school here with an enrollment of forty-nine pupils. Mrs. E. Campbell is postmistress. The churches are the Meth- odist Episcopal, Rev. Walker, with a mem- bership of seventy-five, and the United

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

Presbyterian, Rev. MeNiece, with a mem- bership of sixty-five.

Hilliards, formerly Hilliard Station or Hilliard's Mills, can lay claim to being one of the first settlements in Washington Township. Jacob Hilliard settled on a stream known as Hilliard's Run in 1802, and his son, John Hilliard, built there a grist-mill, which was conducted for many years, and until within a short period re- mains of the old dam remained. The grad- ing of a railroad line to this point gave an impetus to what had been even less than a hamlet up to 1874, and two years later a passenger train brought investors into the valley, and in a remarkably short time a hotel and railroad depot were built. In 1879 the Cleveland Pipe Line Company established a pumping station at this point, and in 1883 the Allegheny Coal Company began to develop the rich coal deposits here. These enterprises brought others, a planing and saw-mill were soon built, and the sand mills of the Standard Plate Glass Company of Butler here found loca- tion. The population is now about 250 peo- ple. The leading business concerns are the Central and Galloway Hotels, Jones Bros.' livery, Miller & Racusen, William Boyle, Mrs. T. Altmyre, and R. B. Weakley & Co., general stores, and McKee & Co., hard- ware. Miss W. E. Turk is postmistress. The Speechley telephone is installed and there are express and telegraph offices. The Methodist Episcopal Church, pastor, Rev. William Walker, has a membership of fifty. The Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows are represented by lodges.

Annisville was surveyed for Charles Hil- liard in 1838, and among the old families who owned property and carried on busi- ness here may be named the Coverts, and Mahoods, and Samuel Hilliard, with the Millers, the Millisons, "the Henrys, the Mayes, the Scotts, the Shannons and the Marshalls. The population is now about forty-five. There are two stores, kept by P. E. Cook and M. Lewis.

Argentine is a mining settlement of about 200 people, mostly foreigners, em- ployed in the coal mines. There are sev- eral stores here.

Higgins Corners perpetuates the name of James Higgins, who was the pioneer of Three Points. Other small settlements are Parsonsville and Whiskersville, the latter consisting of about 100 people, with two stores, kept by E. C. Thompson and Harry Hoves, and a United Brethren Church with seventy members.

In naming the religious bodies that have been organized in Washington Township during its existence of more than sixty years mention must be made of the follow- ing: First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Varnum United Presbyterian Church with a present membership of forty, North Washington Presbyterian Church, the New Salem Presbyterian Church, the North Hope Methodist Episcopal Church, the North Washington Lutheran Church and the Church of God, indicating a strong re- ligious sentiment in the township.

The First Presbyterian Church, organ- ized in 1817, was more or less absorbed by the Mt. Varnum United Presbyterian Church in 1835, when Rev. Joseph John- ston was instrumental in forming the As- sociate Reformed Society, having pre- viously presided over the Bear Creek and Washington and West Unity Presbyterian Churches. The membership is large and the church edifice adequate to the needs of the body.

The North Washington Presbyterian Church was organized in May, 1880, and in the following year a fine church building was completed, Andrew Jack having do- nated two lots to the organization. It rep- resents a large body of Presbyterians in this section.

The New Salem Presbyterian Church of Annisville was another of the early churches of this faith which came about as the result of Christian zeal, holding its first services in a barn in 1847. It still

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ministers to the religious life in that sec- tion, and has a membership of about fifty- five. Rev. M. Niece is pastor.

The North Hope Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1842 by Rev. I. Mershon. In 1842 a substantial building was put up, which, through the generosity of the large church membership, was later remodeled and modernized and today the society has a fine structure.

The North Washington Lutheran Church was organized in 1845, under Rev. Elihu Rathburn, who served as pastor until 1847. The society was orginally a German Re- formed congregation and at first had no building of its own, but in 1847 built a church, and in 1891 erected the present imposing structure.

The people of Washington Township have been identified with a number of the leading fraternal and secret organizations and have been active in promoting the ob- jects for which each body stands. Among these may be mentioned North Hope Grange, probably the oldest, which was or- ganized in 1872; and different lodges of the Odd Fellows, the I. O. G. T., the K. O. T. M., and the O. U. A. M.

Among the prominent business enter- prises of the township are the Nellie Coal Company; the Lochrie Bros. Coal Com- pany (T. Lochrie, superintendent), which is closed at the present time (February 1, 1909) ; the Standard Coal Company; the Mutual Coal Company, and the Ferris Coal Company, J. Deal, manager, located in Ferris, which employs about seventy-five men. This last mentioned plant is closed at present. The Excelsior Mutual Fire In- surance Company, chartered in 1878, in 1908 carried about $1,000,000 in policies.

Township Officials .- Justices of the peace, P. Groom and P. Hilliard; tax col- lector and assessor, B. Arner; constable, T. Bell; road commissioners, L. B. McFar- land, N. Glenn, I. N. Thompson; auditors, R. O. Lewis, J. H. Glenn and William Witherup; clerk, H. Stewart.

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP.

Oakland Township was established un- der its present name and within its pres- ent boundaries in 1854. It was probably settled about the same time as was Butler and Donegal Townships, it forming a part of these until the year above mentioned. The O'Donnells, of Donegal, Ireland, and the Whitmires, of Berks County, Penna., both came to this section in 1798, and other pioneers of near the same period were Thomas Dugan and wife and John Green and John Lowe.

Before the county was organized land was owned here by Samuel Hamilton and John Robb, and in 1810 Robert Riddle sold 260 acres with a cabin to William Robb, indicating that he had located here very early. Others were John Moser, who, after his service in the Revolutionary War, came here with his son to found a home, and others who had been connected with mili- tary life were William, George and Alex- ander Hutchison. During the War of 1812 John Neyman brought his family from Westmoreland County, and he and his brother William became active and useful- men in the settlement, erecting mills and engaging in manufacturing. In 1814 James Douglas built his cabin, Robert Hamilton in 1818, Henry Hoon about the same time, Daniel McElwee in 1822, the Pattons in 1829 and 1839, the Stroups in 1834, the Eyths in 1839, and many others whose names are closely connected with all that has gone to the improving and develop- ing of this part of Butler County.

The occupations of the people of Oak- land Township have been largely of an ag- ricultural nature. Not being so rich in either oil or coal as many of its sister town- ships, it has experienced less of the excite- ments and advantages and disadvantages of sudden wealth and as sudden poverty which marked many sections from 1870 for a decade later. Perhaps this fact has had an influence in making the people of this district notably industrious, home-loving

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

and church supporting-the very best class of citizens.

There are a number of coal banks being operated for local consumption-all small -operated respectively by S. W. Whit- mire, F. E. Thornbury, C. E. Conway, and one owned by the Wilson heirs and oper- ated by E. Friend. There is some oil produced, the Whitmire wells probably be- ing the largest. Drilling is still carried on and oil is found in both the 100-foot and fourth sand. Pumping has been carried on at some of the wells for twenty years. There is also a gas well that has been pro- ducing for twenty years.

The Baltimore and Ohio, running through the southeastern part of the town- ship, is the only railway, and St. Joe the only station.

The people of the township have liberally supported their schools, the first of which there is any record having been established as early as 1817. It was taught by John Thompson in what had been the log cabin home of James Douglas. As there were many Catholics in the settlements, a Cath- olic teacher conducted a school for some time in their interest, but later, as the pub- lic schools were entirely unsectarian, gen- eral attendance was given them all over the township. At the present there are six schools in the township, with an en- rollment of 295 scholars. The directors are W. B. Davis, C. W. Hoon, S. W. Whit- mire, Joseph Lane, M. J. McGinley and Frank Smith.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church (German) probably dates farther back than any other religious organization in the township; surely as far as 1847, when its first build- ing was erected, and almost certainly thirty years before that as a mission. Prior to 1877 the same priests officiated for what is now called St. Joseph's English Catholic Church, its history up to that time being identical with the German church. Both bodies have a large membership and sub- stantial church structures. St. Wendelin

Catholic Church, which stands on the line of Summit Township, was founded also in 1847, and has a large congregation.

North Butler Presbyterian Church was organized in January, 1848, and before a proper place of public worship was pro- vided the little body met in the Hutchison home. In 1849 the first church building was completed, and the one at present oc- cupied is the third one erected. The Ben- lah Baptist Church was organized in March, 1861. The congregation is now small.

There are two dams located in the town- ship-the Boydstown dam and Thorn Run dam-both owned by the Butler Water Company, and from them Butler receives its water supply. The water runs by grav- ity to the pumping station, located just out of Butler, and from there is pumped to a reservoir above the station. The Boyds- town dam covers about forty-five acres and holds about 90,000,000 gallons. It is located on the Connoquenessing Creek. The Thorn Run dam is located on a trib- utary of the Connoquenessing and covers about 100 acres and holds over 200,000,000 gallons of water.

The villages of Oakland Township have borne respectively the following names: Springfield, North Oakland, Woodbine, Boydstown, St. Joe Station (on the B. & O. R. R.), and Oneida. Inducements were offered settlers in 1830 to locate near the Donegal Township line, at Springfield, it being represented that stone, coal, lime- stone and fire-clay there abounded in suffi- cient quantities to make it an active busi- ness center. The locality never developed, however, to any great extent. North Oak- land, after 1847, became a great Catholic center, St. Joseph's Church being built there, and the new church of that body, a fine structure costing a very large amount, was completed in 1873. The place now has one general store, kept by George Ball. For a short time in 1873 a well on the Mar- tin farm, south of Boydstown, produced

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 68

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1526

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526