Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 78

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 78

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Township officials : Justices of the peace, J. Haslett and J. T. Black; tax col- lector, J. A. Gillghrist; constable, J. Duj- jey; tax assessor ; J. E. Atwell; road com- missioners, L. E. Rumbaugh, J. McFadden and J. A. Murrin ; auditors, G. Gormley, J. J. Gilmore and L. Murrin ; clerk, J. Kerr.

PENN TOWNSHIP.

Penn Township is one of the agricultural townships of Butler County, its residents being mainly those who have come here to found homes, rather than to temporarily engage in industries of no permanent char- acter. Hence, here, perhaps more than in any other township, may be found the larg- er number of thoroughly tilled farms and comfortable farm surroundings. Penn Township was one of the thirteen re-sub- divisions of Butler County made in 1854, its territory forming a part of the orig- inal Middlesex and Connoquenessing Townships. It is well watered by Con- noquenessing and Thorn Creeks and Glade Run and in some portions the landscape presents fine scenery for the artist. In

RESIDENCE OF W. H. H. RIDDLE, BUTLER

W.H.GOEHRING. WHOLESALE

GOEHRING & RICHARDS BUILDING, BUTLER

EYE ZAR HOSPITAL

DR. BOYLE'S EYE AND EAR HOSPTAL, BUTLER

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the northwest corner, particularly, the hugh "Town Rocks" resemble in general character some of the formations that have made sections of Colorado famous. It is not entirely lacking in coal or oil, but the development of these natural products has never assumed large proportions, with the exception of that in the Bald Ridge District.

There is no difficulty in fixing the name and date of the first settler of Penn Town- ship. He was Robert Brown, who was the founder of the Methodist faith in Butler County, and for a quarter of a century served in the new settlement as a justice of the peace. He came from New Jersey and lived in the cabin he built as early as 1797, the builder of another cabin in the previous year, not occupying the same un- til a later date. This was Clark Rathbun, whose daughter later married Robert Brown. James and George Boyd came shortly afterward, George purchasing the Rathbun tract of land, with an additional 400 acres, and in 1803, James Boyd is cred- ited with 250 acres. Adam and Joseph Brown were here in the same year, while Thomas and William Dixon came in 1800. The latter was one of the pioneer teach- ers and a justice of the peace. The vet- erans of the Revolutionary War were also represented among the early settlers, one of these, John Rankin, a native of Ireland, being the head of a numerous family. He came here from Maryland about 1805. Other prominent settlers who founded fam- ilies, acquired land and became of impor- tance to this section until the close of what is generally termed the pioneer period were: Matthew Cunningham, prior to 1805; John Maharg, about the same date; Joseph Logan, in 1807; John Dodds, in 1808, later serving in the War of 1812; John Reese, Daniel Harper and David Sut- ton about 1807-8; Thomas Bartley, in 1808; Robert Bartley, in 1810; Moses Cris- pin, prior to 1820, Jesse Sutton coming in the latter year. James Marshall with wife

and eleven children, in 1824; Adam Weber, one of the founders of the Lutheran faith, in 1831; Edward Hays, in 1831; Israel Seaman, in 1833; William Fisher, in 1834; Thomas Robinson, in 1835; William C. Wallace, in 1837; David A. Renfrew, in 1840.

In 1820, Moses Crispin had built prob- ably the first saw-mill in the township, and in 1844, David A. Renfrew built a second one and added a grist-mill in 1868. Very early, Robert Bartley and Robert Eady conducted distilleries. In 1860 the whole population of the township was 914 indi- viduals. The largest developments of coal in the township have been carried on on the Andrew Welsh farm, the Lavery farm, the Fisher and Kennedy farms and the Renfrew lands, three coal beds having been worked by Mr. Renfrew. The history of the Bald Ridge oil developing is given elsewhere.

Brownsdale, Maharg, Renfrew, Phillips City, McBride City and Critchlow City, may be named as the leading villages in the history of the township. These ac- quired their names from important fami- lies in their vicinity, and their population and business enterprises, in some cases, were determined by the fluctuations in the oil industry. In 1844 A. M. Brown estab- lished a store on his land and in the fol- lowing year the post-office of Brownsdale was established, with Adam Brown as post- master. The little hamlet slowly grew to the proportions of a village as various trades and industries gained a foothold here.

Maharg is mainly distinguished as being the second post-office village established in the township, E. Maharg being the first postmaster.

Renfrew, once one of the famous oil cen- ters of the country, was located in April, 1882, on part of the Renfrew land, on which David A. Renfrew had settled and built a saw-mill in 1840. A prior owner to a large portion of this district was William Pur-

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viance, who had acquired his right in 1838. The long litigation which subsequently en- sued after the discovery of oil in this dis- trict, was carried into the Butler County courts, and later to the Board of Property ; still later other court proceedings took place, the history of this case making an interesting chapter in Butler County rec- ords and involving a number of the town- ship's most prominent families. The cred- ited business pioneer of Renfrew was Simeon Nixon, who established his res- taurant in January, 1882. In the follow- ing April drilling for oil was commenced and as this and the surrounding district proved of unusual oil wealth, the usual crowd of speculators and workmen were attracted to the place and by the close of August a town had sprung up. W. W. Patton erected the first building for ho- tel and boarding house purposes, and other lines of trade soon followed as the in- flowing population demanded necessities and also luxuries. The first postmaster was H. W. Koonce.

The leading merchants and industries at the present time are the following: Kirk- patrick Brothers and L. D. Van Rensse- laer, general stores; R. M. Bowser & Son, lumber and hardware; Webbers Phar- macy; Price Brothers (A. C. and E. E. Price), machine and boiler shop. The shop of the last mentioned concern, which em- ploys seven men, was erected in 1886. Here gas engines are built and all kinds of re- pair work done. The concern also deals in second-hand oil well supplies. Another machine and repair shop in Renfrew is that of John Fagan. Doctors D. H. Keeler and J. L. Campbell are the local physicians and surgeons.

The township high school is located in Renfrew with twenty-seven pupils. There are two other school rooms, with a total (in the two) of 115 pupils. Mrs. E. J. Campbell keeps the only hotel in the bor- ough, while J. C. McClelland has a livery stable. The present population of

Renfrew is about 500, most of which has accrued since the time of the first oil de- velopments. The place has connection with outlying points by three railroads- the Bessemer & Lake Erie, the Baltimore & Ohio, and B. R. & P. The People's and Bell telephones are installed here and there is an office of the United States Ex- press Company. Renfrew also has elec- tric communication by means of the Pitts- burg & Butler Electric Line, which has a power-plant here.

Utopia Tent No. 96, K. O. T. M., is lo- cated in Renfrew and has a membership of about seventy-three. It has been or- ganized twenty-one years. There is also a ladies branch of the Maccabees here. The order owns a fine hall erected in 1899. Ren- frew Camp No 8608, Modern Woodmen, has a membership of forty-four and has a hall of their own.

The present postmaster of Renfrew is L. D. Van Rensselaer. J. W. Kaftenbaugh and W. J. Burton are justices of the peace ; G. W. Nixon, constable; W. S. Dixon, as- sessor; T. J. Graham, collector; auditors, Mark Starr, Chas. Phillips and J. C. Dodds. School board, W. W. Phillip, S. J. Patterson, J. M. Douthett, Harvey Wise, C. H. Wible, and E. E. Price.

The unexpected richness of the site of Phillips City, on Thorn Creek, brought that village into existence in August, 1884, as also McBride City, in February, 1885, and Critchlow City, in 1886. These villages have been the oil centers, their prosperity depending on the production and market manipulation of this great commodity.

Brownsdale is a small settlment where L. D. Van Rensselaer operates a branch store. There is also a Methodist Church at this point, elsewhere mentioned in this article.

When schools and churches are men- tioned in connection with the settlement and present status of Penn Township, the prevailing intelligence and sterling char- acter of its people are manifest. The early

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settlers in the southern part of the town- ship had as their first teachers members of their own families, natural intelligence often taking the place of pedagogic train- ing. More than in any other township have literary societies and educational or- ganizations been favored here and on nu- merous occasions debating contests have been held that attracted considerable out- side interest. For some years the Ren- frew Academy gave students fine academic opportunities. There are now nine public schools in the township including the high school, with a total enrollment of 481 pu- pils.

The United Presbyterian Church of Brownsdale, a branch of the old Union, Clinton and Butler Churches, is the oldest church society in the township. It was or- ganized about or previous to 1860, in which year the first church edifice was put up. The first pastor was Rev. R. M. Patterson. Its membership of one hundred includes many of the oldest and most prominent and worthy families of the township, the Douthetts, the Dodds, the Browns, the Martins, and the Mahargs being greatly in the majority.

The Thorn Creek Methodist Episcopal Church existed as Kennedy's Class as early as 1837 but it was not until 1865 that it was placed under its present organiza- tion and it then erected a suitable house of worship. To this church and among the earnest workers in the faith from its earli- est records belonged the Kennedys, the Robinsons, the Cunninghams, and the Burkharts.

The Zion Baptist Church was organized in 1840 and services were held in the house of Isaac Sutton until 1850, when a build- ing was erected and an interesting fact in this connection is that its early pastors not only ministered to the flock but also were the practical builders of the structure. The Suttons, the Phillips, the Nixons, the Luces, the Snows, the Boyds and the Will-

iam McCandless families have always been identified with this body.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Ren- frew, was organized in 1888, and by March, 1890, the congregation had devel- oped enough interest and strength to com- plete a church building costing $1,500. The church now has a membership of sixty, with a Sunday-school enrollment of eighty. Rev. Spaulding is pastor.

Brownsdale M. E. Church was organized in 1860. The congregation is now small.

CLAY TOWNSHIP.

Clay Township was organized in 1854, and was named in honor of Henry Clay, the distinguished orator and stateman of Kentucky. It lies directly north of the center of the county, and is marked by sev- eral high summits which are approximate- ly 1,400 feet above ocean level and from 250 to 300 feet above the bottom of Muddy Creek. The township is drained by Muddy Creek, which arises near West Sunbury and flows westward through the southern half, and by the tributaries of the Slippery Rock, which arise north of West Sunbury and flow north. A small area in the south- eastern corner of the township is drained by the tributaries of the Connoquenessing.

The Freeport and Kittanning coals are found in abundance in this township, and at an early date coal banks were operated on the Samuel McElvain farm near West Sunbury, the Thompson, McMichael, Paint- er, Patterson, Glen, Mock, and Hall farms. Banks were operated on the McAnallen, the Young and the Robert Patterson farms prior to 1861, and after the construction of the Shenango and Allegheny Railroad in 1882, extensive operations were car- ried on at Claytonia by the Crawfords, and the Steel and Blair mines at Standard were opened about the same time and abandoned about 1895. The George S. Stage mines were opened at Claytonia in 1894, and are still in operation, while the Mesner

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

mine is located on the Carothers farm, each employing about sixty men. The Sher- win mine on the Sherwin farm employs about twenty-five men. There are also several small banks operated for local con- sumption. Building stone is abundant in this township, and much of the stone used in the construction of the court house at Butler was quarried on the farm of Jo- seph Kelly near the west line of the town- ship. The construction of the Allegheny and Western Railroad from Queen's Junction east to Brady's Bend, and the western division of the road along Muddy Creek to the Armstrong County line, will be the means of developing the mineral resources of the southern part of the town- ship. There is practically no oil or gas in the township, except two wells that furnish gas for the borough of West Sunbury, and the inhabitants are engaged chiefly in farming.

The pioneers of the township are found among the early settlers named in the townships now known as Parker, Fairview, Center, Brady, Butler, and Penn. Chris- topher McMichael, a soldier of the Revolu- tion, is credited with building a cabin just east of West Sunbury borough, as early as 1797. There is no mention made of him in the records of 1803, but his son William is named as a tax payer in what is now Cherry Township, but at that time was Slippery Rock Township.

John Thorn was one of the pioneers who came in 1797 or previous to that time. The same year James Russell settled north of West Sunbury, but a few years later moved into Concord or Washington township. The settlers of 1798 were Samuel Findley, a soldier of the Revolution, Robert Findley, David Findley, and Samuel Findley, Jr. James McJunkin came from the north of Ireland the same year, and William Bar- ron came from Marion or Venango Town- ship in 1798. Jacob Beighley, who joined his brothers in Connoquenessing township in 1797, came to Clay Township in 1798 or

1799. Robert Graham, who made the first improvement on the site of West Sunbury, came into the township in 1803. Joseph Thorn arrived about 1800 and died a few years later. The body was placed in a hol- low log, to which oxen were hitched, and thus the rude coffin was hauled to the grave.

The settlers of 1803 were Joseph, John, James, William, and Samuel Glenn, Mrs. Jenet (Sterling) Glenn, Margaret Glenn, Mary Glenn and Mrs. A. M. Porter came in 1808. The father of this family was James Glenn, who selected the land set- tled, but died in Westmoreland County. John Glenn, known as Captain Glenn, com- manded a company of Pennsylvania volun- teers in the War of 1812. Among the later settlers were Stephen Allen, John Adams, who came in 1820 and reared a family of twenty children, Robert McCandless from Center Township in 1820, Asaph Cranmer from Clay Township in 1823, William Gib- son from Butler in 1827, Jeremiah Wick from Armstrong County in 1796, John and Jesse Sutton from the southern townships in 1829, and the Bartley family of Penn Township, the. Thompson family of Brady Township, the Rudolph Bortmas family, the McElvains, Timblins, and Pattersons, may be classed among the pioneers, al- though they selected other townships for their first homes in the county.

John McDevitt came from Tyrone Coun- ty, Ireland, in 1825, and to Clay Township in 1830. John Young, a son of John Young who settled in Allegheny County in 1790, came to the township in 1830. William A. McAnallen, one of the early settlers, was a son of Patrick McAnallen, who came from Ireland in 1788, and to the territory of Butler County some time previous to 1803.

The first grist mill in the township was erected by William Carruthers about 1835 on the head of Findley Glade Run, about two miles northwest of West Sunbury. It was a rude affair constructed of round

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logs and operated by water power. A dam was built about forty rods above the mill whence the water was brought in a flume constructed of hollow logs to an upright box over the water wheels at the mill. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1851.

What is known as the old Shroyer mill near the west line of the township was built about 1835 and was first operated by Henry Black. Dr. Josiah McCandless built a new mill on the site of the old one about 1870, but in 1892-3 it was removed, the material being used in other buildings.

The old Painter saw-mill and planing- mill at Euclid Station on the Bessemer Railroad, was converted into a chopping mill by Joseph Mechling and used as such until 1894, when it was destroyed by fire.

The flouring-mill at West Sunbury was erected in 1871 by Reed Bryson, who was a prominent millwright and builder of his day. The first owners were Allen Wilson, Charles McClung and J. W. Christie. In 1895 the owners were J. C. Bredin, George Wolford and William Wick. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1902, and was subse- quently rebuilt.

Muddy Creek Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest religious societies in the county. As early as 1799 Rev. John Mc- Pherrin, who was the pioneer Presbyte- rian preacher in the county, held services in the neighborhood, and the first organi- zation was effected in 1803. Rev. McPher- rin continued as stated supply for two years after the organization, and in 1805 he was installed pastor, and remained un- til 1813. For the next ten years the con- gregation was without a regular pastor, and in 1823 Rev. John Coulter, a licentiate of the Ohio Presbytery, was installed pas- tor. The congregation was reorganized at this time, and Rev. Coulter continued as pastor until 1850, when he resigned.

The first house of worship was erected in 1803, and was constructed of round logs. This was used until 1824, when a new meet- ing-house, 30x60 feet in size, was built of

hewn logs, and oak shingles were used for roofing, the interior being plastered. The present brick building was completed in 1852 and is still in good condition. The church was incorporated March 29, 1864, with Josiah McJunkin, John R. McJunkin, and James Findley as trustees. A consti- tution was adopted December 7, 1863.

West Sunbury. This borough, which now has a population of about 350, had its origin before the Civil War and has seen some prosperous days, though at present its growth is not rapid owing to the com- petition of other villages and boroughs possessing academies and other similar at- tractions. The Royal Arcanum and the Woodmen of the World have lodges here, and there are three churches-the Pres- byterian, Rev. Bradshaw, pastor, with a membership of about 190; the United Pres- byterian, Rev. Breaden, with 140 members ; and the Methodist Episcopal, Rev. Walker, with seventy members.

The leading business men are the Rus- sell Livery stables; Campbell & Smith, hardware; Breaden, Conway & Co. and J. B. Arthurs, general stores; H. C. Hind- man, drugs, and the Phoenix Milling Com- pany. Euclid Station on the Bessemer Railroad is the nearest shipping point. The borough is lighted with gas furnished by W. W. Russell, who owns the two gas wells in the township, he suceeding the Green- ville Gas Company in the proprietorship. The Peoples' Telephone is installed here and there is also a Bell 'phone connection. The present postmaster is O. P. Campbell. The borough officials are: Burgess, W. J. Breaden; justices of the peace, A. Thomp- son and P. P. Brown; assessor and col- lector, G. C. Gibson; constable, J. McCly- monds; road commissioner, H. C. Pryor; auditors, C. Campbell, J. B. Arthurs and A. Mechling.

Queen Junction is the junction of the Bessemer and W. Allegheny Railroads. C. W. Buckham is postmaster here.

Claytonia, with a population of about

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

fifty, is a station on the Bessemer Railroad which was originally known as Caledonia. It derived its name from the coal mines which were opened at that place by the Crawford brothers, and called the Cale- donia mines. The Standard Mining Com- pany also opened a mine in the same local- ity, which was afterwards operated by Steele and Blair, but both mines were abandoned previous to 1895. In 1894 George S. Stage of Greenville opened mines in the vicinity, and named the place Claytonia. There is one store, kept by James Welsh. Miss C. Welsh is postmiss- tress.

Sherwin is a mining village of forty peo- ple on the Bessemer Railroad, and was founded by P. D. Sherwin, who opened the Sherwin mines at that place. A post-of- fice, general store, and about twenty min- ers' houses compose the village. The post- master is J. D. Sherwin, who also conducts the store.

Euclid Station is located on the divide between Slippery Rock and Muddy Creeks on the Bessemer Railroad, and the place was known for many years as the Center schoolhouse. When the railroad was com- pleted to the summit, it was called Sun- bury Station, and shortly after the comple- tion of the road the name was changed to Euclid. The Painter saw-mill and planing- mill and a creamery were among the first industries of the place, but they were de- stroyed by fire February 9th, 1894. At the time of the fire, the planing, mill was owned by Joseph Mechling, who occupied a part of the building with a chopping mill. The other part of the mill contained a sin- gle saw-mill owned by D. B. McCandless, Warren Thompson, Jasper Keister and Joseph Mechling. The place now has about fifty people. McKissack & Lutz conduct a general store; W. Christley is postmaster, and there are express and telegraph of- fices.

The early schools of the township were kept up by subscriptions, as were the cus-

toms of that day. The first building erect- ed for school purposes was in the Mc- Junkin district, and was constructed in 1824 from the logs of the abandoned Mud- dycreek Presbyterian Church. This build- ing was turned over to the school district in 1835, when Daniel Carter became the teach- er, and after him, John R. McJunkin. About 1820, Robert McElvain taught in a log school house which stood north of the site of West Sunbury, but early in the thir- ties he moved his headquarters to a log house near the old church at Middletown in Concord Township. In 1908 there were seven schools in the township, 253 scholars, and the total receipts of the school district were $2,672.00.

The population of the township in 1860 at the first census after its organization was 1,039, and in 1900 it was 1,388, includ- ing West Sunbury borough. The estimat- ed population in 1908 was 1,620. J. H. Timblin was justice of the peace from 1898 to 1908.

Township officials: Tax assessor and collector, H. C. McClung; constable, A. McKinney; road commissioners, J. Hind- man, J. J. Brown and C. S. McCandless; auditors, A. C. Wick, J. M. Mckinney and E. White; clerk, M. Mahood.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

Franklin Township, abounding in well improved and highly productive farms, has, from its organization, attracted agri- cultural settlers. Its name comes from the Franklin Road, a public highway that passes entirely through it from north to south. It originally comprised the eastern half of Muddy Creek Township, but when the boundaries were changed, in the town- ship division of 1854, a part of Centre Township was taken in, and later, when further changes in boundaries were made, that part of Brady Township south of Muddy Creek was added to it. While its main importance is agricultural, the oil industry has been somewhat developed,

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and there is some oil now produced in the township to a fairly profitable extent. There is also a vein of coal from three and a half to five feet thick underlying the township, but it has been mined chiefly for local consumption.

Probably the very first pioneers in what is now Franklin Township were John Mc- Candless and Aaron Moore. In 1796 a colony of sixty persons settled in the ad- jacent township of Centre, but in the year before this, McCandless and Moore had selected homes in the wilderness of Frank- lin Township, to the east. Other pioneers soon joined them, some coming from the Centre Township settlement, and among the early names which appear in connec- tion with civilizing enterprises may be noted those of James, George, William and Garrett Moore, Lewis Wilson, William McCandless (1st and 2d), Robert McCand- less, Henry Montooth, Eliakim Anderson, Charles Sullivan, Stephen and Joseph Crawford, George Bowers, John and Peter Saltzman, Thomas and William Dodds, Jesse and James Nash, Abner Coates, John Thompson, James McGrew, Edward White, Nathaniel Stevenson and others of his name, together with many more. A number of these early settlers were na- tives of Ireland, although other countries were well represented. While the majority. came hither attracted by the fertility of the soil and with the intention of engag- ing in farming, others were already equipped with excellent trades, which they followed to their own profit and the con- venience of the settlement. Stephen Craw- ford started his blacksmith business in 1803; one William McCandless was a tailor and followed his trade in connection with farming, as did the other William Mc- Candless engage in distilling, the latter business also being engaged in by Robert Hays. Many industries were carried on in the homes of the settlers, thrift and in- dustry sufficing to supply all their impera- tive needs. Later, as towns and villages

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 78

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