Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 75

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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BRADY TOWNSHIP.

Brady Township was organized in 1854 and was named in honor of Captain Brady, the famous scout. Through the northeast- ern part, along the north boundary line, flows the picturesque Slippery Rock Creek, and the south boundary line is formed by

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the Muddy Creek, these, with their small tributaries affording the township excel- lent drainage. The surface is in places rugged and excels in scenic beauty, the summits of the divide between the two streams sometimes reaching a hight of 350 to 400 feet above the bed of the streams. Coal underlies much of the land, and of the industries mining has always taken the lead in this community. Potter's clay and iron ore have been found in certain sec- tions, and great boulders lying about has made quarrying easy. There are many ex- cellent farms throughout the townships, whose improvements are in keeping with the high type of citizenship here to be found.

The pioneer of the country now em- braced within Brady Township was Luke Covert, a native of Holland, who settled in 1796, and he was followed in the same year by James Campbell, Alexander Irvine and Bartol Laffer. Daniel and Elizabeth Mc- Deavitts, with three children came in April, 1797, and the following year witnessed the arrival of Edward, James and Andrew Douglass and John McClymonds. The Douglass family located on and cleared the land on which the historic old Stone House was built in 1822. John Thompson, a na- tive of Ireland, located about a mile south of the Douglass cabin in the spring of 1899, and was followed in the same year by James, William and John McJunkin, John Wigton and Daniel Carter. In 1800, Con- rad Snyder, Sr., a native of Switzerland, together with his son, Conrad, and Andrew Ellsworth, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, settled northeast of the Douglass cabin. Other pioneers and the time of ar- rival were John Morrow in 1801, John Hockenberry in 1803, John Ralston in 1803, and Robert Hockenberry in 1810. Soon after his coming, John Ralston built a log mill near the site of the present village of West Liberty. The Snow Flake Mill, oper- ated for years by the Crolls, was built on the same site. The Iddings grist mill was

built in 1808, or the year following, and among its various owners were Henry Evans, John Wick, Caleb Jone, Jonathan Clutton and Samuel Turk. This mill stood until destroyed by the ravages of Time, and was located south of the Douglass cabin. On McDeavitt's Run was built about the year 1810. what was known as the Smith Neil mill, afterward owned by Nich- olas Klingensmith and the Hoge Brothers. This mill did not survive the early period.

The census reports of Brady Township shows the following population at the periods mentioned: 701 in 1860; 600 in 1870; 772 in 1880; 729 in 1890. Its present population is about 935, including West Liberty borough. In 1906 J. W. McNeese was elected justice of the peace.

It was some years after the arrival of the pioneer settlers that a schoolhouse was built, but as in other communities classes were organized and taught, either by some of the settlers or wandering teachers. A school was taught about the year 1808 by Henry Evans, and later another was taught where the Franklin road crosses Muddy Creek, by a man named Fletcher. John Wigton, who was not an educated man but gifted as a scribe, conducted writ- ing classes at his home, and also at West Liberty and other places. Thomas Gorley taught in an old log schoolhouse at West Liberty. In 1908 there were five schools in the township, as many teachers, and 111 scholars.

Forest Grange No. 370, was organized in 1874 and for many years was one of the strongest organizations of farmers in the county. In 1904 a new hall was built. T. J. Thompson was master in 1908 and R. C. Thompson secretary.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church of West Liberty had its inception in meetings which were held by John and Jacob Covert, Jesse Cornelius and John Wick, and their wives, in the barn of John Wick, where they gathered to hear Rev. A. M. Bryan or Mr. Gallagher preach. Some years after

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organization, they, in common with the people of various other Protestant denom- inations, erected what became known as Union Church, but as the church thrived and their congregation grew they became sole owners. Prior to the erection of this edifice they held meetings in a log-house, which on week days was devoted to school purposes.

St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church, in the Centreville charge, was organized about the time the Civil War closed, to suc- ceed the disbanded society at Hickory Mills. It became familiarly known as Hall's Church, through the activity of Jesse Hall in its organization and main- tenance and his instrumentality in securing the erection of a house of worship in 1868.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of West Liberty was organized in 1873, and in 1875 erected a church edifice in conjunc- tion with the United Presbyterians, the building being completed in 1876.

The United Presbyterian Church of West Liberty was organized June 15, 1875, and the following year Rev. W. P. Shaw was installed as pastor. Under his guid- ance, the congregation had a good healthy growth and he continued with the charge until 1889, when he was succeeded by Rev. James A. Clark. A church building was erected in 1875-1876 by this congregation and that of the Methodist church at West Liberty.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brady Township, began erecting a house of worship before its organization was per- fected on May 14, 1878. Rev. H. W. Roth was the first pastor, and was succeeded by Rev. George W. Critchlow, Rev. R. R. Durst and others. There are now about sixty members in the society.

WEST LIBERTY.

West Liberty, located at the intersection of the Butler-Mercer and Mt. Etna-Bas- singheim roads, in Brady Township, was laid out as a town February 13, 1829, by

James J. Hoge, a surveyor. It did not make any headway as a settlement until resurrected by John and Jacob Covert in 1845, and two years later a plat of the vil- lage was recorded. The first store here was established by John J. Croll, although that of Hoevler about a mile away, ante- dated it. Henry E. Wick established a store in 1854, and was succeeded in its own- ership by Jonathan Clutton, John Allen, John Kocker and Miss Clutton. W. W. Robinson and G. W. Eicholtz started stores here at a more recent date, the latter erect- ing a store building on the northwest cor- ner, at the intersection of roads. A post- office was established here under the name of Bulger, by which the place was known a time. The town was incorporated as a borough Sept. 5, 1903, and its area-1400 acres-is the largest of any borough in the state having the same population. In 1908 the officers were: I. S. Badger, justice of the peace; D. E. McDeavitt, auditor; I. W. McDeavitt, constable ; J. P. Castor and Dr. E. C. Thompson, school directors; R. N. Dickey, A. J. Sager, and T. B. Clymonds, members of council; and J. W. Boyd, treasurer.

Stone House is a historic old point in Brady Township, a tavern having been es- tablished there in the early days and con- tinued for many years. The old log house built by the Douglass family was used for that purpose by John Elliott, and after- ward by John Brown, who in 1822 erected the Stone House. The latter got into finan- cial straits and the house subsequently fell into many hands, its most prominent land- lord being Richard Doncaster. In 1833 another hotel was built here by Robert Thompson and conducted by him for more than a score of years. Some time in the forties, a man named Julius C. Holliday came in from Ohio and occupied a resi- dence here with his family. With his ad- vent began the coming of mysterious stran- gers, the names of none of whom were known, who boarded at the Stone House.

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As many as twenty of them would come at a time and spend their time in revelry, ap- parently having no need to work. Holli- day, the leader, died of diphtheria, as did six of his children, and some of his com- panions finally landed in the penitentiary. It is said they were engaged in the manu- facture of spurious coins here. William Turk, an old stage driver, suddenly disap- peared on July 4, 1853, and the belief was that he had been killed by the mysterious strangers. Time proved this belief wrong, however, as he returned after a lapse of thirty-two years, to find his wife had re- married and moved West, and his children had scattered.

Forest House, at one time a post-office, was the house above mentioned, estab- lished in 1833 by Robert Thompson. A store, known as the Eyth store, was started here in 1857 or 1858. Mr. Thompson re- tired from business here in 1854, owing to the disrepute into which the neighborhood. had been brought by the counterfeiters.

Browning post-office, which was aban- doned in 1870, was established about the same time as the one at Stone House, and was abandoned in the forties. It was re- established in May, 1858, but in 1870 was finally discontinued. The locality is known as the Stone House.

Elora, a former post-office, was estab- lished to succeed Memphis post-office, which was established in 1873 as a suc- cessor to the Forest post-office. Josiah M. Thompson, postmaster and general store- keeper, met with a serious loss on January 9, 1894, when his store and its entire con- tents, including undelivered mail, was de- stroyed by fire, entailing a loss of $3,000. Elora postoffice was discontinued when the rural free mail routes were established.

Hallston is a station on the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad, located in the north- east corner of Brady Township. The Mc- Nees pottery was established here in the eighties and in the early days Constantine Weidel operated a rude pottery here, mak-

ing earthen crocks and jars. The name of the post-office at this place is Pump.

MIDDLESEX TOWNSHIP.

The territory now included in Butler County originally consisted of four town- ships, of which Middlesex was one. Its area was reduced at various times until 1854, since which time it has remained as at present. The land is well watered, Glade Run being the principal stream, and is rich and productive; coal mining has been engaged in since the early days, and oil production has added materially to the. prosperity of the people.

The first actual settlements in this town- ship were probably made in 1795, although for some two or three years before various pioneers had come in, selected farms and started improvements. James Harbison, James Hall, Abraham Fryer and William Hultz camped here on the night of January 10, 1793, and, it is said, engraved their names on some forest trees prior to their return home. Early in 1794 they returned to the location, chose their farms and erected cabins, but did not take up their residence here until 1795. In the mean- time, Thomas Martin, a veteran of the Revolutionary War and a native of Ire- land, came in in 1793 and made various im- provements, which entitled him to the honor of being the pioneer settler. He in that year fled to the block-house at the mouth of the Allegheny, but in 1795 he re- turned to his claim and resumed the im- provement of the place, prior to the return of those above mentioned. James Fulton, who established a reputation as a hunter here in 1793, also returned to make settle- ment, as did George Hays and Silas Miller. Mr. Miller was one of the scouts of 1792, and was well known as a hunter here from 1794 until his death. He also was a pioneer school teacher, teaching for a time in Cran- berry Township. William Thompson was one of the first to arrive, and had a son, John, who was born in the new settlement

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

in 1795; another son, William Thompson, Jr., was born here in 1797. William Mar- tin, who failed in his attempt to gather about him a colony of rent payers in cabins which he erected, but nevertheless did much to advertise the new country; Mat- thew Wigfield, and John Brown, who set- tled in 1796. Others of the early period prior to the birth of the new century were : Thomas Park and family in 1798; Thomas Denny, who built a log house for school purposes in 1796; James McCallum, who came in 1798 and the following year opened up the first store in the township; Samuel Rippey, the first justice of the peace in the new community; Thomas Baker, in 1798; John David and family in 1798; James McBride, the apothecary, in 1800; and the Linns, Lists, Lyons and Boyds. Jospeh Flick arrived in 1801; Absalom Monks in 1801; John and James Bartley, who came from Ireland, in 1800; Thomas Trimble in 1807; John Davis in 1812; and John Criner, Philip Snyder, and Samuel Crooks about the year 1815. Oliver David, a son of John David, above men- tioned, operated a tannery and distillery here at an early date. The Glade Mills which has been in operation down to mod- ern times, was established early in the nineteenth century by John Woodcock as a grist-mill. In connection he subsequently operated a saw-mill and carried on both enterprises with great success for many years. Many changes took place in the buildings and ownership, but Glade Mills has been a name known to every genera- tion. In 1877 William Starr and Julius Baker became owners and the following year changed from water to steam power. In 1879 Mr. Starr became sole owner and operated the plant until he was succeeded by his sons, J. H. and J. W. Starr. An- other of the early industries was the card- ing-mill built by James Fulton in 1822; he invented a special machine to be run by water power, and had a very successful business career. He also was the manu-

facturer of coffins for this vicinity. The old Hays Mill and the Park grist- and saw- mills, southwest of Cooperstown, were also flourishing plants in the early days. On the plank road, above Glade Mills, a tavern was successively conducted by Oliver David and William Crooks, being known in its later years as Crooks' Tavern. It was in existence from 1830 until Civil War times. George Cooper also conducted an early day tavern at what is now Coopers- town.

William . Powell was the first school teacher in the township, and taught in the log structure erected by Thomas Denny. Many other followed in various parts of the township with the succeeding years, various select and subscription schools be- ing maintained until the public school sys- tem came into being in 1835. There are now seven schools in the township, with an enrollment of 280 pupils. The present members of the school board are: Hal Parker, president; Charles Frisbee, sec- retary ; A. Wilson, treasurer; James Ma- han, William Monks, and Dr. C. S. Mc- Clelland.

The Middlesex Presbyterian Church had its beginning when, in the fall of 1800, Rev. Abraham Boyd came into the township. For two years he preached in the open air, and a few months after his coming the church was organized, with Robert Mc- Candless, Hugh Gilliland and William Johnson as elders. A log cabin church was erected north of Glade Run in 1803, and was replaced by a hewn-log building in 1817. In 1842 a brick edifice was erected on the site of the pioneer cabin. The pres- ent church edifice and parsonage-fine brick structures-were completed in 1907. The church was incorporated October 3, 1855, with William Thompson, Alexander Hunter, James Welsh, Dr. Jacob Stewart and William Marshall as trustees. The congregation now consists of about 400 members, with a Sunday school enrollment of 200. Rev. W. L. McMillan has been pas-

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tor since 1904. A. L. Wilson is superin- tendent of the Sunday school.

The Middlesex Methodist Episcopal Church had its origin also about the be- ginning of the nineteenth century, although formal organization was not perfected un- til 1870. In the early days the Wesley fol- lowers held meetings in Matthew Wig- field's cabin, which meetings ultimately were resolved into an unorganized Union church. This continued until the congre- gation was organized in 1870. Rev. C. Danks was the actual prompter and leader in the movement. A frame edifice was erected in 1872 at a cost of $1,200. The church membership is now something less than a hundred; Sabbath school about forty. The pastor is Rev. E. L. Pierce.

Glade Run United Presbyterian Church was organized in 1812 and a lob cabin was erected as a house of worship. Before it could be dedicated it was reduced to ruins by fire, but was soon replaced, the new building being completed in 1815. Revs. Bruce, Ramsey and Dunn were early pas- tors of the church, and in 1820 Rev. John France was installed. While the last named was in charge a new log house of worship was built, its dimensions being twenty by twenty-four feet, and this in turn was re- placed in 1854 by a more imposing edi- fice. The congregation was incorporated September 25, 1860, with Edward Sefton, George Wallace, George Greer, John Park and S. B. McNeil as trustees. The present membership is 200, with 150 names on the Sunday school roll. Rev. M. B. Maxwell is pastor. The present church edifice, of pressed buff brick, was erected in 1901, at a cost of $15,000.

The Church of God was established in the township in comparatively recent times.

Cemeteries were established by the Mid- dlesex Presbyterian and United Presby- terian churches, that of the former hav- ing been established many years before the other. The United Presbyterian Ceme- tery had its beginning in 1821, and both

contain the graves of many who are en- rolled among the pioneers of this part of the county.

Glade Mills, as a settlement, dates back to the days when John Woodcock operated his grist and saw mills at this point. The extensive business conducted by him made it quite a busy place and a desirable loca- tion for a store. William Starr, the mil- ler, at one time conducted a store here, and W. J. Marks & Brother became mer- chants here in 1883. During the oil days it became quite a prosperous little place, and in 1900 had a population of 205. C. E. Aiken conducts a large general store here in a fine building recently erected.

Cooperstown, about one-half mile south of Glade Mills, on the old plank road, was named in honor of George Cooper, the pioneer tavern keeper at that point. In the boom days of the oil development it made its greatest strides as a village, and in 1900 had a population of 243, which has since materially decreased. Cooper & Croft are now the general merchants here, and there is also a blacksmith shop and livery stable.

McFann's general store is one of the successful business enterprises of the town- ship, and oil production is carried on to some extent. Burton's telephone in con- nection with the Peoples, are the systems installed here, with a central office at Ren- frew. Doctors C. S. McClelland and L. H. Stepp look after the health of the com- munity. The Modern Woodmen are rep- resented by Lodge No. 9075.

Officials: Justices of the peace, Willard Starr and Samuel Leslie; constable, Martin Bowers; assessor, Willard Starr; collector, William Denny; auditors, Wilson Cooper, John Fulton and William Trumble.

FORWARD TOWNSHIP.

Forward township was organized in 1854 from the original territories of Con- noquenessing and Middlesex townships. It is exceedingly rich in oil, gas and mineral

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deposits; lime kilns have been operated, and there has been especial activity in coal mining and oil production. The soil is rich and productive and the township abounds in well improved farms and good homes. Connoquenessing Creek, into which enters Glade Run at about the cen- ter of the township, and Breakneck Creek, affords exceptional drainage to the land.

The first settlers of the township were Peter McKinney and his wife, of whom much has been written. They were fol- lowed in 1795 by William and James Critchlow, veterans of the Revolution, who in that year came from Westmoreland County, to select homes, and the following year settled here. James Amberson, an extensive land owner, came in 1796, as did Enos McLeod, a Scotchman; Joseph Blake- ley, a native of Ireland, and Robert Briggs, who located on the site of Evans City. David and Adam Gilliland were of about the same period, or a little later, and Joseph Douthett arrived with his family in 1799, locating west of Brownsdale. Archi- bald McAllister, the school teacher, came in 1801, and Daniel Martin, who was of Scotch birth; Henry Isaac, Joseph and Jesse Evans were here about 1802. Will- iam Martin, a native of Ireland and a con- temporary of those named, was a carpen- ter by trade. Prominent among the resi- dents of that time were John Brandon, aft- erward county commissioner, and Thomas Brandon, who were leaders in the temper- ance movement of 1830. Adam Brown came in from Middlesex Township early in the century, and during the War of 1812 served with Perry on Lake Erie. Joseph Ash, one of the first mail carriers between Pittsburg and Erie, came to the township in 1803 and lived here until his death in 1813. He was a man with a most interest- ing career, having been captured by the Indians when a boy. His mother and sis- ter were killed and a brother was also captured. He was ransomed after two years, but always bore marks of his cap-

tivity, the savages having slit his ears. Matthew Williams, a Covenanter preacher, settled here in 1804, and was soon followed by John McCollum. Between 1810 and 1820 the following became residents of the township: John Crowe; Archibald Irwin, a blacksmith and an early school teacher; John Hamel; John Waldron, and Samuel V. Waldron, who was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving on Lake Erie with Perry. Other well known families who came at a later period were the Gelbachs, Behms, Hunters, Raders, Hazletts and Stamms.

The first of the industries established in Forward Township were the grist-and saw- mills of Adam and David Gilliland. Then came the Robbins Brothers' grist- and saw-mills; the Adam Brown mill, run by horse-power; the Reese Evans grist-mill; and the Minnis fulling-mill. David Gilli- land built a log mill on the old Mckinney farm in 1802, and Barney Gilliland re- placed it with a larger mill in 1827, which passed into the hands of Adam Gilliland and was by him operated until 1850. He was in that year succeeded by Henry Buhl, and the mill was in later years successively operated by Peter and James Ray and A. J. Evans. Adam Brown's mill, built early in the nineteenth century, was located on his farm. He later became owner of the Reese Evans mill on Glade Run, and Browns mill has since been a familiar name in this region. Adam Brown, Jr., in 1833, bought the mill from his father's estate, and replaced it with a new saw- and grist- mill. In the fifties he tore the buildings down and erected new ones more suitable to the times. Unfortunately his plant was destroyed by fire in 1859, but was imme- diately rebuilt and operated by him until 1861. R. H. Brown was then the miller here until 1880, when Philip Gelbach be- came proprietor, but in 1891 R. H. Brown resumed its operation. Lewis Blakeley at one time owned and operated a distillery on the old Blakeley farm.

The first schools of Forward Township

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were taught by John Waldron and Archi- bald Irwin, before any school buildings had been built. A log house was built north of the present borough of Evans City, and Dr. Irvine, Archibald McAllister, Capt. Gray and John Supple were among the early teachers in it. Three other build- ings were erected and school conducted prior to the establishment of the public school system in 1835. The township now has nine schools-one a double school- with an enrollment (1908) of 288 pupils. The school board is composed of the fol- lowing: R. S. Irwin, president; James Robertson, secretary; Samuel Cooper, treasurer; Edwin Gifford, B. J. Rader and Alex. Schilling.

The population of the township at va- rious periods, as shown by the census, fol- lows: 1,020 in 1860; 1,025 in 1870; 1,133 in 1880; 1,724 in 1890, and --- in 1900.

The Reformed Presbyterian Church was organized near the village of Brownsdale, on Straight Run, in 1806, and in 1807 Rev. Matthew Williams was installed as pastor. For fourteen years services were held in groves in the neighborhood or in tents. In 1820 the tent was moved south to the site of the Union Church, where meetings were held until the pastor's death in 1828.

North Union Reformed Presbyterian Church was organized following the split in 1833 in the Union Church congregation of Adams Township, into what was desig- nated the "New School" and the "Old School." The "Old School" called Rev. Hugh Walkinshaw, who remained until he was succeeded by Rev. John Galbraith in April, 1843. The latter served with great zeal and faithfulness for a period of forty- six years, leaving the charge in 1889. A house of worship was erected on the David Crowe farm in 1861.

The Richmond Methodist Episcopal Church had its origin in the class estab- lished in 1827 by Caleb Richmond. A con- stitution was adopted and at long inter- vals there was preaching by various min-

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 75

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