Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 74

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > Butler > Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th > Part 74

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Harrisville Station at the intersection of the Bessemer Railroad and the old Frank- lin and Mercer Pike, is the successor of the old station that existed for twenty-five years at Harrisville mines. J. C. Bovard & Son's lumber yards are located at the station, and a number of dwelling houses have been erected, indicating that an im- portant village will spring up here within the next few years.

Carter Station, two miles north of Har- risville Station, gave promise of being a village at one time, but since the Harris- ville mines were abandoned the only build- ings in Carter are the office of the station

agent. This locality was once known as Brownville.

Township officials: The township offi- cials in 1908 were as follows: Auditors- Charles Fuhrer, William McLafferty, and Harry Green; road supervisors-Joseph Brown, Abram Snyder, Morris Dunlap, John McCoy ; township clerk-Lewis Ham- ilton ; constable-C. C. Kerr; judge of elec- tions-Earl Snyder; inspectors of elections -William McTaggert, M. G. Kane; tax collector-W. H. Williamson; assessor- H. J. Dunwoody.

CHERRY TOWNSHIP.

Cherry Township, partaking in some de- gree of the characteristics of. adjacent townships, was organized in 1854, one of the thirty-three divisions then made of Butler County. Its water courses are Slip- pery Rock Creek, and Murrin's and Find- ley's Runs. There is considerable coal in the township, but the only important oper- ations in this line now are those of the W. L. Scott Coal Company, which employs about thirty-five men and loads sixty tons daily. Its property is known as the Windy Mine and is located about two and a half miles northwest of Moniteau. There are also some small banks operated respect- ively by W. W. Daugherty, W. W. Mc- Gregor, E. J. Sproul, L. Walford and T. Simpson, for local consumption only. There is but little oil in the township and none has been found in paying quantities. There is, however, one gas well. Cherry Township is well supplied with limestone, though as yet it has not been much devel- oped as an industry. There is one quarry on the Chas. Bovard farm west of Brauch- ton on the border of the township. Farm- ing is the principal occupation of the in- habitants.

The territory embraced by Cherry Township was opened up about the same time as the sections adjoining it, and it claims Benedict Grossman as its first set- tler. He came to Cherry Township in 1797,

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accompanied by his family, which included his son-in-law, Robert Black, and brought with him a small stock of goods for sale. His wife was Betsy Stivert, around whom might have been woven an interesting ro- mance, for it was her fate to have been taken captive by Indians, in York County, by whom she was kept from 1756 until 1863, when she was permitted to return to her own people. The Grossmans were joined in 1798, by Michael and Sarah Stevenson and their sons, John, James and William, all three of them serving in the War of 1812, and all three dying, of the dreaded Black Rock fever, within ten days of their return home. In 1798 the little settlement was augmented by Andrew Stewart, who served at Black Rock in the War of 1812 and later was a pioneer teacher. John Christy came in 1799, taking up 400 acres of land, a part of which is owned by his descendants, and in the same year came Robert McCallen, who married a daughter of Benjamin Grossman. Other pioneers, who either came directly to Cherry Town- ship from distant sections, or, as in many cases, from adjacent townships, were Alex- ander Hutchison and family, the five Rus- sells, Joseph Porter, John Hockenberry, John Smith, Sr. and James Bovard-a somewhat incomplete list, but one bearing representative names.

Coaltown. Coal mining being formerly the important industry of this locality, the villages of the township mainly grew in the vicinity of the mines. The most important of these was Coaltown, or Coalville. It is situated on the line between Slippery Rock and Cherry Townships and its building fol- lowed the beginning of operations by the Union Coal and Coke Company, in 1879. A branch of the Shenango Railroad con- nected with Butler, and in the year follow- ing the founding of the place, the company had thirty coke ovens completed and twenty-two two-story dwelling. The mines were worked out years ago, however, and operations here were abandoned. The

postoffice was established in 1882. There is now one store, conducted by H. Elliott.

Gomersal. The village of Gomersal, so named by the Gomersal Coal Company, was another thriving coal center, having many company houses beside outside build- ings, and railroad connection with other points. It has since been entirely aban- doned.

Anandale was organized about 1840, when John Hanna built a tavern and opened the first store. He was the first postmaster and a leading man in the affairs of the place. The post-office was discon- tinued when free rural mail routes were established. The village now has one gen- eral store conducted by W. S. Graham. There is also a German Lutheran church here. The village contains about thirty- five people.

Moniteau is a village with a population of about thirty peop ... There is now no post-office. E. S. Sankey conducts a store here.

New Hope Post-office or Bovard Station, is located in the western part of the town- ship on the Bessemer Railway and has about fifty people. The postmistress is C. Duffy, who also conducts the only store. There is also a mill owned by E. Riddle. The New Hope Presbyterian Church, hav- ing ninety members, is located here with Rev. Taylor, pastor.

A destructive cyclone, in which an im- mense amount of property was destroyed and Mrs. William Barron and Henry Hendley lost their lives, while many others were seriously injured, swept through this township on June 30, 1882, and is yet viv- idly recalled, but has fortunately never been repeated. The cyclonic cloud is de- scribed to have been from forty to fifty rods wide, with a rapidity of motion not to be measured.

Cherry Township's early schools were of a primitive type, and none appear to have been considered prior to 1815. An- drew Stewart and Joseph Porter were the

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

earliest teachers. In 1908 there were seven public schools, 187 scholars enrolled, and seven teachers.

As in other sections of Butler County, the Presbyterian faith is strong in Cherry Township and among the earliest religious organized bodies was the Pleasant Valley Presbyterian Church. This was organized in 1845, by Revs. Young and Munson. The society built a proper house of worship in 1846, and in 1847, Rev. John Moore was installed as first pastor. The society was incorporated in 1888. Rev. Bradshaw is the present pastor.

The New Hope Presbyterian Church was organized November 17, 1879, by Rev. J. H. Marshall, with a membership of forty-two individuals, and the first pastor was Rev. A. W. Lawrence.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of An- andale was organized in 1858 and belongs to the Centerville circuit. The log struc- ture erected in 1859 was destroyed by fire a few years later. In 1873 a church build- ing was completed at Anandale village at a cost of about $2000. This church is in the same pastoral charge with North Hope and West Sunbury.

Township Officials: Justices of the peace -U. Book and J. S. Campbell; tax col- lector-J. Critchlow; constable-S. E. Christy ; tax-assessor-U. Book ; road com- missioners-E. S. Sankey, B. L. Kocken- berry, and J. T. Black ; auditors-M. Hock- enberry, R. Black and J. Wolford; clerk- D. Christy.

CONNOQUENESSING TOWNSHIP.

This was one of the four original town- ships which embraced that territory now included in Butler County before its segre- gation from Allegheny County. Within its limits lay all of what now constitutes Cran- berry, Jackson, Lancaster and Muddy Creek Townships, and parts of Worth, Brady, Franklin, Connoquenessing, For- ward and Adams townships. It was one of the thirteen townships as erected in

1804, with an area nine miles square, and in 1842 was divided into East and West Connoquenessing townships. Its present boundary was fixed in 1854, and has since remained unchanged. Although exceed- ingly hilly and precipitous in sections, it was distinctly an agricultural township un- til the development of the oil industry. Farming and oil production are now the principal industries. Coal mining was car- ried on in a small way at an early day and there is still some slight production. Grist, saw and powder-mills were in operation on the various streams, which furnished ex- cellent water power, but the chief occupa- tion of the thrifty class who settled the country was farming, for which the land is well adapted. All parts of the township are well drained by small streams, which are mainly tributary to Crab Run, the Lit- tle Connoquenessing, and the Semiconan. The name, Connoquenessing, was derived from the creek bearing that name, and is an Indian word, meaning, "for a long way straight."

Connoquenessing Township is peopled with a sturdy and intelligent class, many of whose ancestors came from Scotland. Ireland, England and Germany and cast their fortunes with this new country in its creative period. Some there were who had rendered valiant service to the country in its fight for independence, among whom may be mentioned Peter Kinney or McKin- ney, who was the first settler here, John Welsh, Daniel Graham, Angus Graham and Abdiel MeClure. Captain Robert Mar- tin was in command of a company in the War of 1812, and among others who went to the front during that struggle with Eng- land were sons of John Welsh, Angus Gra- ham and Abdiel McClure, above named. Peter Mckinney, the first settler, located first in what is now Forward Township in 1792, and shortly after became established at what is now Petersville, the name of which was derived from his Christian name. He built and conducted a tavern at

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this point, where he continued to reside until his death in 1849. Among the arrivals in 1795 was an unscrupulous land specu- lator, Dunning McNair by name. He laid claim to a part of the Morris lands, which he sold to some five or six Scotch families of Westmoreland County, who located thereon; these families later made pur- chase from the rightful owner. John Ekin arrived and erected a cabin in 1795, and the following year brought his wife into the country. Leonard Shannon also came and built a cabin in 1795, but did not bring his family until 1799. Daniel Graham arrived in 1796, and with various other members of the Graham family accumulated several thousand acres of land. Mordecai McLeod, John and Henry Beighley, Francis Stan- ford, Nicholas Muhleisen, William Camp- bell, James Plummer, Abdiel and Andrew McClure, and Stephen and Joseph Craw- ford made settlement in 1796, and became large land-owners. A year or two later witnessed the arrival of Peter, George and Jacob Beighley, and they were soon fol- lowed by Charles McGinnis Sr. and his son Charles, Israel Gibson, Thomas Gray, John Girty, Thomas Girty, Ann Girty, Alexan- der Bryson, John Welsh, Matthew White, John Richardson, Col. Henry Pillow and Moses Richardson. Nicholas Muhleisen was a weaver, cooper, carpenter, tinner and all-around mechanic who was a valuable addition to the community. The Girtys, above mentioned, were related to the noto- rious Simon Girty, known to history as a traitor to the American cause during the Revolution. Thomas Dodds, who settled south of Mt. Chestnut in 1800, was one of the early commissioners of Butler County. Robert Martin, whose father, William Mar- tin, came from Ireland and located in Con- noquenessing in 1801, was captain of a company during the War of 1812, and aft- erward served with ability in various pub- lic offices in the county. Robert Hays operated a distillery in this township early in the nineteenth century ; his son, Samuel,

established a store near the west line of the township, later, and also traveled about, selling goods. William Purviance, a man of prominence in the community, at an early period, was a surveyor by profession and was also owner of the old William Campbell farm and mill, which he pur- chased in 1810; he served two terms in the State Legislature and was county surveyor three terms. Thomas Alexander came from Ireland prior to 1820, and James Steven- son, George Cowan and Harrison Dyke ar- rived between 1820 and 1830. Many other substantial citizens became established in the township shortly after 1830.

Numerous mills of various kinds and dis- tilleries have been operated in Connoque- nessing Township at different times. The first was the grist-mill of Alexander Bry- son, which he erected in 1805 on the Little Connoquenessing south of Mt. Chest- nut. Upon his removal from the township he was succeeded as proprietor of the mill by his son, Richard Bryson, who carried on the business until 1828. The latter then sold out to his brother, Joseph, who in 1831 erected a saw-mill near by and operated the grist mill in connection. In 1835 a new mill was begun and was completed in 1837; through numerous changes in ownership, remodeling and repairing, this mill has con- tinued in almost constant operation to re- cent times. It finally passed into the hands of O. W. Eagle, who built up a flourishing business. Powder Mill run, near Peters- ville, afforded good water-power which was availed of as early as 1807 by William Campbell, who in that year erected a small grist-mill. He sold out to William Purvi- ance about the year 1810, and the latter converted it into a powder mill. Campbell E. Purviance also built a powder-mill on this stream, which continued in operation until 1854, some years after the other had been abandoned. Numerous mills have been on Crab Run, the first being that con- structed by Henry Beighly in 1811, which was conducted by him until his death in

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

1836. In 1818, David Shannon built the grist, carding and saw-mills on the Semi- conan, which bore his name for many years; these gave way in 1849 to a new grist mill erected by William Allen. In 1827, or the year following, Hugh Gibson built a grist mill along the Semiconan, which was later replaced by a new and more modern mill. The latter was con- ducted successfully by James McKinney until 1865, when he sold out to R. S. Hays.

The pioneers of Connoquenessing early showed an appreciation of the necessity for schools as a foundation for the devel- opment and upbuilding of their community. Nicholas Muhleisen was the pioneer teacher and taught in the German language for many years, in the schoolhouse erected on the farm of John Beighley, one and a half miles west of Whitestown. The first Eng- lish school was conducted at the Ekin home, east of Whitestown, in 1799, by a man named Irvine. The second school building erected was on the trail from Fort Pitt to Venango, between the Connoquenessing and the Little Connoquenessing, about three miles from Evans City. A Mr. Evans was the first teacher, and another of the early teachers was George Lee, who later met his death by drowning below Amber- son's bridge. The township now has seven schools with an attendance of 194 pupils. Daniel Brinamer, Finley Cable, Samuel Steen, Henry Louten, George Eyman, and Alexander Walker comprise the present school board.

The Petersville Methodist Episcopal Church, now known as the Connoquenes- sing M. E. Church, was organized in the year 1857. This organization was the out- growth of a campmeeting held in the vil- lage of Petersville under the care of Rev. D. P. Mitchell, presiding elder of the Alle- gheny District. Early in the spring of 1858 an acre of ground was purchased for a church site, and John Ansley, preacher in charge, appointed a building committee. The building was commenced early in the

summer and dedicated the following win- ter. Rev. S. Crouse was the pastor at the time. The sermon was preached by Rev. Wm. Taylor, "Missionary Bishop of Af- rica." Early in its history the Petersville Church was a part of the Butler Circuit, later it became a part of the Brownsdale and Harmony Circuit, about twenty years ago it was placed with Prospect and Ren- frew and the Circuit has since been known as the Prospect Circuit.

The original building is still in use, it is in excellent condition, having been repaired at different times. During the pastorate of Rev. F. B. Cutler a very comfortable parsonage was erected close to the church. Rev. A. B. Leonard, Missionary Secretary of the Methodist church, was pastor in 1863, he was drafted for service in the army but the circuit raised $300 and se- cured a substitute. In its history this church has held some wonderful revival seasons, times of spiritual refreshing in which hundreds were brought into the Kingdom of God. Rev. F. J. Sparling is the present pastor. The Sunday School super- intendent is W. C. Fowler.

Mt. Nebo Presbyterian Church, of Whitestown, during its existence of more than a century, has been no mean factor in the development of Connoquenessing Township. In 1805, under the leadership of Rev. Reid Bracken, a church organiza- tion was effected. Rev. Bracken was made pastor by the Erie Presbytery, April 20, 1808, and soon after a log church was erected on the site of the present structure. This imposing structure served as the church edifice until late in the twenties, when a stone church was built. Services were held in the latter for more than thirty years, when the present substantial brick building was erected to replace it, in 1859. A charter was granted the church by the Common Pleas Court, on January 6, 1847, and William C. Martin, Abdiel Mc- Clure and Thomas J. Gibson were made trustees. Rev. Bracken served the charge

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with zeal and devotion for a period of thirty-six years, leaving it in 1844. He has had a number of worthy and faithful successors. There are now 112 members. The last regular pastor was the Rev. George Stewart, whose pastorate closed in September, 1907. In 1905 the church cele- brated the centennial of its organization. The Sabbath school has an enrollment of sixty. The cemetery belonging to this church had its inception in 1801, when in August a child of Matthew and Frances White, was laid to rest there.

White Oak Springs United Presbyterian Church was organized in 1818 by seceders from the Mt. Nebo Presbyterian Church, under the guidance of the Rev. Isaiah Nib- lock. Others from that district joined with them, making sixteen members in all. The congregation worshipped in a tent until the completion of their edifice in 1820; the building was of brick and was occupied by them until 1862, when it was replaced by the present frame structure, which was erected at a cost of $3,500. The church was incorporated November 21, 1883, Henry Brunermer, William Shorts, John M. Rose, I. N. Duncan and Dr. J. L. Christie sign- ing the constitution. At the present time there are about 176 members in the congre- gation, with a Sabbath school enrollment of 128. The Rev. J. M. McCalmont has been the pastor in charge since 1905. Dr. J. L. Christie is clerk of sessions, and J. C. Bran- don, superintendent of the Sabbath school.

St. Paul's Reformed Lutheran Church was organized in 1865. The present edi- fice, which is the second, was erected in 1887. There are now eighty communicants, with a Sunday school enrollment of 104. The Rev. Charles Faust is pastor.

The Church of God, though without a church building, has here a membership of twenty, with Henry Nolshime as overseer.

St. Paul's German Evangelical Protest- ant United Church of Petersville (Conno- quenessing), was organized September 28, 1885. In 1887, a substantial house of wor-

ship was erected at a cost of $1,000, and on March 16, 1887, the church organization was incorporated. Rev. E. H. Otting, of Grace Reformed Church, Harmony, ac- cepted this as a charge in 1887 and con- tinued as pastor until March 18, 1894, when he resigned from this and his other charges in the district.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Petersville was organized by Rev. E. Cronenwett of Butler. A formal organiza- tion was effected on September 25, 1886, . and on November 3, of the same year or- ganization was completed at the home of Conrad Nicklass. A house of worship was erected and was dedicated on April 22. 1888. Articles of incorporation were taken out on December 14, 1887. The first pastor, Rev. E. Cronenwett, served until Septem- ber 14, 1889, and on September 29. 1889, Rev. Louis Wagner was named as his suc- cessor. There is now a membership of sixty-five with a good Sunday school at- tendance.

Whitestown is the oldest village of Con- noquenessing Township, dating back to 1799, when Matthew White established a tannery and tavern at this point. It was after the death of this pioneer, that his son, Edward White, had the town laid out in lots, in 1813. The latter succeeded his father as tavern-keeper, and was in turn succeeded by a relative named Matthew White, who conducted the tavern until 1831, when a wave of temperance struck the village and resulted in the tavern being closed. In 1859, a brick building was erected to take the place of the old log structure and frame house which had stood for so many years, and there Joseph Pyle conducted a tavern for a time. In later years S. O. and J. C. Wright and W. H. Alexander leased the building and carried on a general merchandising business; W. H. Alexander and J. H. Doutt became own- ers of the property and also engaged in the mercantile business and conducted the post office. The first merchant in the vil-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

lage was Alfred Pearce, and he was fol- lowed by Joseph W. Pollock and John W. Brandon. Samuel Reed also kept store in the brick building which replaced the old tavern, and among other business men who were located here at one time were: An- drew Spear, Jacob Cratty, Thomas Cratty and Andrew W. McCollough. Mr. Neese now keeps a store here. Edward White was the first postmaster, serving from 1831 until 1839.

Connoquenessing Borough, formerly known by the name of Petersville, and at a still earlier date by that of Petersburg, was first named in 1848 in honor of Peter McKinney, the pioneer, who came to Butler County in 1792 and soon after settled at this location. In the early days the place went by the name of Mckinney's Tavern. In 1812 John Crowe settled on the site but after a time moved away. The first mer- chant was Alexander Douthett, who before becoming permanently established here, came to the tavern one day each week and disposed of wares. He finally settled here and opened a store. His example was fol- lowed by Thomas Critchlow. The Douthett store was sold in 1837 to William and Henry Purviance, and afterwards passed through a number of hands. David Marshall opened a store in 1848, and Hugh Stevenson a tavern in 1849. A survey was made of the place in June, 1849, and town lots laid out, many sales being recorded during that year. The village has always been a good trading point, and the general stores of W. C. Nicklass, J. T. and W. A. Purviance, and R. Barnhart & Son, and the drug store of Dr. J. L. Christie, who is also the resident physician, have thrived under a liberal patronage of the people in recent times. In 1880 began the manufacture of agricultural implements which developed into a good business. Thomas Critchlow was made the first postmaster in 1848, and he was succeeded by George Brunermer, Hugh Stevenson, and others. The name of the office was changed to Connoquenessing

in 1871. The present postmaster is Miss Laura Heckert. The nearest railway sta- tion is Reibold, two miles distant on the B. & O. Railroad. The P. H. B. and N. C. Electric line passes through the borough. The People's and the Bell Telephone sis- tems are installed here. There are seventy- six producing oil wells within the limits of the borough. The present burgess is W. A. Purviance; council-William Burr, J. H. Varner, John Black, Chas. Lobaugh, Dan- iel McNaughton and F. E. Barnhart; as- sessor-J. E. Brandon; collector-J. L. Van Dyke; justice of the peace-J. C. Brandon; high constable-John Nolsheim; constable-Geo. Gerwig; auditors-Ira Henshaw, Carl Bish, and Conrad Nickolas.

There is one public school building, with two rooms and two teachers and an enroll- ment of over one hundred pupils. It was erected as a single-room building, but aft- erwards remodeled and arranged as at present. It is an excellent school The population of the borough is 450.

Buttercup is the name of a small settle -. ment, the history of which dates back to the fifties when a store was established there by George Ansley and P. W. Thomas. They continued the business for sixteen years, after which it passed through hands. In 1892, R. S. Henry erected a new store building and embarked in business. But- tercup Post Office was established in the seventies, J. N. Stephenson being the first postmaster.

C. E. Shannon and J. B. Martin are the present justices of the peace in the town- ship. William Cooper is constable; Calvin Stevenson, tax collector; Joseph Shakely, assessor.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 74

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