USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > New Castle > Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th > Part 38
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Matthew Stewart built a grist mill on the "run" which flowed through his farm, very early, and a road was laid south and southwest from it, probably intended to go through to Beaver town. Part of the road is still in the "Eight Tract settlement." The old mill contained one run of stone, and succumbed to the ravages of time years ago.
MILITARY RECORD.
The early comers to the township had among their number several veterans of the Revolution-those who fought to keep alive the spark of that liberty which had been so boldly asserted as the rightful possession of the colonists-and their chil- dren roused themselves to action, and pre- served the honor of their country and the fame of their sires when the English ag- gressions brought on the struggle of 1812- 15.
After that war was over and peace once more "spread her wings 'neath the banner
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of stars," militia organizations and volun- teer rifle companies were kept up for sev- eral years.
About 1820 a rifle company called the "Rifle Hornets," or "Hornet Rifles," was organized under the law which exempted the members from further military duty after a continuous service of seven years. The company had a membership of from forty to fifty men, armed with common rifles, each furnishing his own uniform and arms. The uniform was a blue capote, or frock, with red facings and white fringe, red sash, citizen's hat with white plume, and white pants. Alexander Morrison and J. H. Van Gorder were at one time officers of this company, the former ranking as captain and the latter as second-lieuten- ant. The company was made up of men from the immediate vicinity.
During the War of the Rebellion, the township was largely represented. In this war of a nation's children-a war between brothers-many who entered the service from Perry were maimed for life, and others await today the final trump from the grassy graves on Southern fields, when they shall gather once more with the dear ones who mourn them.
SCHOOLS.
In the fall of 1805 a schoolhouse was built of round logs just across the line in Beaver County, on land owned by Will- iam Thompson. This was the first school- house in the neighborhood, but, owing to some dispute, it was burned down before it was ever occupied.
Another one was built immediately on the same site, also of round logs, and stood for a number of years. The first teacher was John Ker (or Kerr), who was living on the Sturgeon place with his mother, and owned no land. He was of Irish descent, and was not very popular, though a good-hearted man. Owing to the scarcity of teachers he was welcomed, however. His greatest fault was gross mispronunciation.
A schoolhouse was built, about 1812, on land then owned by Andrew Elliott, who was the first teacher in the building. The settlers in the neighborhood had two sites picked out for the location of the schoolhouse, and it was agreed among them that the one that had the most pupils sub- scribed should be the place to build it. Robert Aiken settled the matter when it came his turn to subscribe, by putting down five pupils for the Elliott location, and there the schoolhouse was built. The children who attended this school were dressed in blue linsey, and were familiarly called the "Eight-tracts Blues." Mr. Aiken was as good as his word, and sent five children.
Some time previous to the year 1808 a house was built on land owned by Samuel McElwain. It was built for a dwelling, and used for school purposes, about 1809-10. The first teacher was an Irish- man named Samuel Sterrett. School was only kept in this building two or three terms.
At an early date a schoolhouse was built on the west side of Camp Run, in the south- ern part of the township. A man named John Hines was probably the first teacher.
Another one was built of logs on the old Robert White farm. This was later, about 1825-26. James H. Van Gorder taught in it six months. and others taught both be- fore and after him. It was used until 1834, when the law establishing free schools was passed, and it was abandoned.
After the school law came in force, schoolhouses were built twenty feet square, the first one being north of the old James Morton farm. Teachers at that time were scarce, and but few of them were com- petent, and people hired what they could get, from sheer necessity.
The second schoolhouse, under the school law, was built about 1836-37, on the State road leading from Wurtemburg to Por- tersville, about two and one-half miles from Wurtemburg. It was built "on the
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bounds of the road," and no land was leased or bought upon which to erect it.
The next one was built on the Armstrong farm, but was moved to a more central location, on the Andrew Elliott land, where the present schoolhouse stands. The house is now known as the "Elliott schoolhouse."
Another was built on the southeast side of the creek, at Wurtemburg, one on Camp Run, and another in the northeastern part of the township.
In 1908 there are five schools in the township, with the same number of teach- ers, and an enrollment of 128 pupils. Total expenditures, $2,139.28; estimated value of school property, $3,750.
CHURCHES.
Mountville United Presbyterian Church was organized as an Associate or Seceder Church, in 1808 or 1810, probably by Rev. McClintock, who had preached in the neigh- borhood as early as 1798. After this, As- sociate Reformed preachers occasionally held forth in the neighborhood also, and the early meetings were held at private houses-at Mr. Young's, Mr. Scott's and other places, and, during warm weather, in barns. Among the founders of the As- sociate congregation were Robert Young, William Scott, Thomas Christy, Robert Aiken, John Frew, Job Randolph, James Stewart and James Vance, who were all pioneers in the settlement of the neighbor- hood.
About 1810 a small church was built of round logs, on land subsequently owned by Daniel Thomas, which was the farm next adjoining the John Fulton place.
The log church was used until 1822, when a frame church was erected. A more com- modious edifice was erected in 1840, on the hill west of the residence of James Aiken. The ground was donated by Rob- ert Aiken, and included four acres. Addi- tional ground for burial purposes was sub- sequently purchased by the society.
The first settled pastor was Rev. Alex- ander Murray, who preached as early as
1809, but was probably not settled until a later date. Rev. Mr. McClintock pos- sibly preached a few times in the old log church, as an assistant to Mr. Murray. The latter preached to the congregation until 1845, when he died, in the thirty-sev- enth year of his ministry. He was buried in the present graveyard.
After Mr. Murray died, the church was supplied by different ministers, until Rev. Joseph Mcclintock was settled, which was in 1847-48. He stayed nine years, and after him came Rev. Andrew Irons, who became unable to preach soon after he was settled, through failing health. Mr. Irons came in the spring or summer of 1857, and after his health failed had the church sup- plied for a while out of his own wages. He died near the close of December, 1863.
Rev. John Donaldson was the next pas- tor; he came in June, 1865, and ceased his labors with the congregation in 1869. After this the church was supplied until the summer of 1874, when Rev. John Pat- terson was called, under whose charge the church flourished. Rev. J. J. Ralston be- came pastor in 1889, and served with great devotion for seventeen years, when he re- signed, June 26, 1906. This congregation has now been without a regular pastor for more than a year. The church has sixty- five members and the Sabbath-school an enrollment of sixty-eight. The church was named "Mountville," by Rev. Alexander Murray, soon after it was built. It had previously been known as the "Eight Tracts Church."
About 1840 a Covenanter, or Reformed Presbyterian Church was built, the first pastor of which was probably Rev. Thomas Guthrie. In 1859 this congregation re- moved to Wurtemburg, in Wayne Town- ship, and organized as a United Presby- terian Society, which is still continued.
Part of the village of Wurtemburg lies in Perry Township, and the postoffice has, at different times, been kept on this side also, but is now in that portion of the vil- lage which lies in Wayne Township. Some
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fine residences and one store are located in "South Wurtemburg."
The bluff on the south side of Slippery Rock Creek, at the bend opposite Wurtem- burg, is 390 feet high, and very steep.
PLAINGROVE TOWNSHIP.
There was in each of the original coun- ties of Beaver and Mercer, a township called Slippery Rock. These two town- ships adjoined each other, and as long as they were in separate counties they were known by the county in which each was located. On the division of Mercer and Beaver counties, and the creation there- from of Lawrence County, these two town- ships were brought together in the same county. To distinguish them apart one was called Slippery Rock and the other North Slippery Rock. But, finally, North Slippery Rock was divided east and west through the center, on the 13th day of April, 1854, and two new townships formed from it, North Slippery Rock no longer being retained as the name of the town- ship or any part of it. The new organiza- tions were called Washington and Scott, the former being the northern half of the old township and the latter the southern. This order was maintained until Febru- ary 14, 1855, when the eastern portions of Washington and Scott were erected into a new township called Plain Grove, or, as it is now generally written, Plaingrove. On the 15th of February, 1859, Washington Township was enlarged by the addition of a strip three-fourths of a mile in width taken from Scott, leaving the three town- ships in the shape they now are. This was from territory originally in the county of Mercer. Old Slippery Rock (or North Slippery Rock) township was erected some time between the third Monday of Novem- ber, 1805, and the third Monday of Feb- ruary, 1806.
The surface of Plaingrove is less broken than most of those in Lawrence County. The soil is generally fertile and produc- tive. The area of the township is about
11,800 acres. The improvements in many parts are excellent, and as an agricultural township Plaingrove is not behind any in the county in most respects. It is well watered and possesses a considerable amount of timber.
Two streams of some size head near the northern boundary of the township and flow in a southerly course, discharging their waters into Slippery Rock Creek. These streams are Taylor's and Jamison's runs. The power on each has been utilized, and since a very early date mills have been operated on their banks. Each has a num- ber of small tributaries.
Originally there extended through near- ly the center of the township, east and west, a strip of pine timber, reaching across into both Mercer and Butler Coun- ties. This strip was about a quarter of a mile wide, and at one time contained some valuable timber, but it has been largely culled out. The strip is not con- tinuous, as in places narrow belts of land, covered with other varieties of timber, cross it. There were in Plaingrove Town- ship several hundred acres of this timber originally.
The coal resources of Plaingrove are ex- tensive, and in numerous places mines are, or have been, worked. The first banks in the township were opened in the neighbor- hood of the year 1840. The oldest banks were those opened by John and Isaac Low- ry and Joseph Totten. The thickness of the veins in the township will average about three feet, the coal being of a good quality.
In 1860 a number of test-wells were bored for oil in the township, owing to the strong excitement raised by the dis- covery of oil in great quantities in the newly opened oil regions of Butler and Venango Counties. On the farm of W. H. H. Miles a well was put down about 125 feet, passing through fine beds of coal at the depths of thirty, sixty and ninety feet. The excitement in the main oil regions tended largely toward stopping the work
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in this part of Lawrence County, and it was finally abandoned altogether. An- other well was bored on the farm of Jo- seph Moore, just in the edge of Butler County. Mr. Moore's residence was in Lawrence County. This was also aban- doned. In both the Miles and Moore wells a fine stream of water was tapped.
Iron ore is also found in the township, and generally of a fair quality. Along Slippery Rock Creek the "blue ore" abounds, but it is much harder to work than the "red ore," and does not pay as well; consequently, it is not much used.
About 1853-55 the "Myra Furnace" was built by Emery & Culbertson, and operated by those parties until 1870. Mr. Culbert- son died just before the institution broke up. Of itself it was a paying establish- ment, but the proprietors became interest- ed in numerous other furnaces, and, owing to the heavy strain, were obliged to close up their business. The ore they used was taken out in the immediate vicinity, to- gether with the other necessary articles for their use, limestone and coal. The ore was of the red quality, generally easily worked. Most of it could be shoveled up readily, while with some of it the use of the pick and blast became necessary.
Of the land in Plaingrove, as well as in other parts of the county, much was not patented for several years after it was set- tled, and other tracts were never patented, and were finally sold for taxes. In many cases the original surveys were produc- tive of considerable litigation on account of inaccuracies in description.
Among the early patents are the fol- lowing :
The farm now, or formerly, owned by J. M. Lawrence, Esq., was patented by Benjamin Pearson, January 31, 1806, in pursuance of a warrant issued in 1805. The original tract was called "Hope," and consisted of 400 acres. It was probably settled by Mr. Pearson.
On the 18th of December, 1818, a patent was issued to William George for 258
acres, including the place more recently occupied by David George.
John Gealey's patent was granted Oc- tober 6, 1810; warrant issued May 31, 1806. The amount of land was 394 acres and sixty-four perches, and was patented as "Gay Lodge," and described as lying in "Slippery Rock Township, Mercer County," which it then was, the township having been erected about the beginning of that year.
Michael Brown's patent was dated March 23, 1807. The land described is lo- cated partly in Plaingrove Township and partly in Washington.
A patent for 392 acres was granted to Joshua Miles, April 29, 1812.
James, Thomas, John and Robert Mc- Common were granted a patent April 18, 1815, to 407 acres and 131 perches. The survey was made November 15, 1815.
A patent was issued to Marmaduke Jamison on the 13th of April, 1814. The land has since passed through various hands.
Samuel Allen and James Blair received a patent dated October 2, 1818.
James George and Martha Newell-pat- ent dated July 16, 1807; warrant issued April 8, 1805.
John Offutt bought 165 acres of Ben- jamin Pearson, the deed being dated May 31, 1806.
Hugh McKee received a patent for 397 acres on the 21st of March, 1809.
These are but a portion of earlier is- sues of patents, as far as we have been able to obtain them, and in almost every case the settlement was made a number of years before the patent was given.
SETTLEMENT.
Some time in the summer of 1798 Adam MeCracken, who was originally from Ire- land, settled on the farm more recently owned by Alexander McCracken. He set- tled 400 acres, getting half for settling.
Henry Hagan came the same fall, and made a small clearing, and built a cabin
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on the adjoining 400-acre tract. The fol- lowing year (1799) he brought his family, having gone back after them when he had completed his improvements. Mr. Hagan had seven children. His son, John, was the oldest; of his daughters, Rachel was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in April, 1787, and Margaret in Allegheny, in June, 1799. Her father had moved from Chester County, and lived a year there before coming to Lawrence. He was originally from Ireland. In 1818 Rachel Hagan was married to James MeCracken, and lived to be over ninety years of age. A son of Mr. Hagan died in 1805 or 1806. His name was Henry. Mr. Hagen himself died in 1840, and his wife in 1843. For a year or two after these families came, they had all their provisions to "pack" from Pittsburg. A mill was not long after put up by Jonathan Harlan, where the village of Harlansburg now stands, and after this the settlers were not obliged to go as far. A few other families were living in the neighborhood, who had come out in 1798, the year previous to the Hagan settlement, consequently, neighbors were compara- tively plenty.
Among those who settled in the immedi- ate neighborhood was James McCommon (sometimes spelled McCalmot). He was born in Scotland, and when young went to Ireland. From Ireland he emigrated to Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsyl- vania, thence to Westmoreland County, and finally, in 1798, came to what is now Plaingrove Township, Lawrence County, and settled on a 400-acre tract. The fam- ily, when he settled, consisted of himself, wife and seven children. Mr. MeCommon died about 1804-6. He planted an orchard about 1800, and the orchards of the Hagan, MeCracken, Wallace and other farms in the neighborhood were planted about the same time.
Another neighbor was George Rogers, who came from County Armagh, Ireland, about 1790, and settled first in Washing- ton County, Pennsylvania. About 1798 he
came to Plaingrove Township, and located on a farm now owned by David Blair and others, Mr. Blair occupying the old home- stead. Mr. Rogers' son, William, married a girl named Hathaway (?), living near Harlansburg, and in 1800 George W. Rog- ers was born on the old place. Betsey Rogers, a sister to William, was married to Alexander MeCracken, and her husband afterwards-about 1800 or 1801-went to Alabama, and died on his way back. His wife died soon after she learned of his death, and hers was one of the first deaths in the neighborhood, the first being that of a child of James Denniston, and the second that of Henry Hagan, Jr., before men- tioned. At that time there was no grave- yard, and the bodies were interred in a field belonging to Mr. Denniston, now in the limits of Mercer County. This land has ever since been used for burial pur- poses. It is but a short distance across in Mercer County, near the property owned by John Stephenson.
Andrew Denniston located in the north- west part of what is now Plaingrove Town- ship, about the time the other families came to the neighborhood, in 1798-9. Some of the same name were among the first set- tlers in what is now Springfield Township, Mercer County.
After the Rogers family came, they "packed" flour from Westmoreland Coun- ty for some time, probably ceasing to do so after Harlan's mill was built. When this family settled, the children were gen- erally grown, and some of them were mar- ried.
Charles Blair and Samuel Allen settled in the same neighborhood with those al- ready mentioned, the two coming together in 1799.
Michael Brown, William and Andrew Wallace and John Green also came early. None of them are now in the township.
The Wallaces settled a tract adjoining the Hagan farm, and Brown and Green were a mile to the south of them, adjoining each other.
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Andrew Wallace died and left his prop- erty to his brother, William, who sold the whole tract in 1811 to James Burns.
James Burns was born near Florence Court, County Fermanagh, Ireland, June 5, 1778, and about June, 1794-95, he emi- grated to America, and settled in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He stayed there a few years, and in 1803 came to Brownsville, Fayette County, where he lived three years and a half, and after- wards removed to a farm on "Ginger Hill," near Bentleysville, Washington County. In 1810 he was married to Mary Morrow, of Washington County, and in April, 1812, he came with his wife and one child, Thomas H. Burns, to the Wallace farm, which he had purchased the year previous. He brought his family and goods on the backs of three horses. Mrs. Burns rode one horse, carrying her child on her knee. Eight children were born in the family, four boys and four girls, seven of whom lived to a ripe old age. Mr. Burns lived on the old place until 1864, when he died, in his eighty-seventh year.
The orchard on the hill east of Alexan- der MeCracken's house was planted in the neighborhood of 1800, and bears evidence of having withstood the blasts of more than a century.
The farm of 100 acres, now or lately owned by Alexander McCracken, was owned by his father, Thomas McCracken, a son of Adam McCracken, and a soldier of the War of 1812. Its location is in a fine portion of the township, as are indeed all that were settled in the neighborhood, the settlers evincing good judgment in se- lecting this locality wherein to build their homes.
Jonathan Williams came about 1798. He was from Chester County, Penn- sylvania, and came about the same time with the Glenns and Cunninghams, who settled in the same neighborhood, partially in the present county of Mercer. The Cun- ninghams located where the present town of Grove City, Mercer County, stands, and
built a grist and sawmill on Wolf Creek, at that place, some of the family after- wards laying out the town of Grove City. The farm Mr. Williams settled consisted of 200 acres.
William Elliott, a surveyor and civil en- gineer, came from the neighborhood of East Liberty, of the "Bullock Pens," near Pittsburg, about 1793-94, and surveyed land which he was interested in as a "land jobber." He had control of several thou- sand acres in different localities, lying largely in what are now Lawrence and Butler Counties. In 1799, soon after he was married, he made a settlement on land lying partly in each of these counties. In this immediate vicinity he had eight or nine hundred acres. He kept "bachelor's hall" for a while, and finally went back after his wife. About 1803-4 he built a log grist mill on the site of the frame mill later owned by his son, the late J. P. El- liott. In the old mill Mr. Elliott had a bolting chest, and did considerable work for that time. The present mill was built by J. P. Elliott in 1844, and stands on the site of the old one on Jamison's Run, very near its junction with Slippery Rock Creek.
Jamison's Run was so named from a man who settled early on its banks. James P. Elliott was born February 4, 1800, and his was the first birth in the southern part of the township, and possibly throughout its entire extent. William Elliott died in 1813, aged thirty-eight years.
Robert Jamison came originally from Ireland, and on his arrival in Pennsyl- vania located on Kiskeminetas Creek, where he stayed for some time, and finally came on and procured land of William El- liott, settling on a 400-acre tract, of which he received half for so doing. Jamison sold the property to Archibald Armstrong, who came in 1825, but did not locate on the place before 1831.
About the year 1800, William George came to the township. He was originally from Ireland, and, when he first arrived,
STIEFEL BLOCK, ELLWOOD CITY.
HOTEL LAWRENCE, ELLWOOD CITY.
lista
CIRCLE SCHOOL, ELLWOOD CITY.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ELLWOOD CITY.
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lived with his brother, James George, near North Liberty, Mercer County. Soon afterwards he went to work on the farm now or lately owned by J. P. Elliott, and also stayed part of the time about Harris- ville, Butler County. About 1805 or 1806 he was married to Phoebe Sawyer, who ar- rived before him, and was living at Will- iam Elliott's. Soon after his marriage he settled the farm now owned by his chil- dren, David, Mary and Eleanor, the place being called Georgetown. In 1833-34 he built a log house on that place, and in 1835 erected a log grist mill, containing a pair of burrs and a pair of "country stone" (two run of stone). The wheel, gearing, and nearly everything about the mill were made of wood.
About the year 1798, James Ramsey. came from the Chartier's Valley, in Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania, and settled on the farm now owned by John Lowry. The tract originally contained something over 300 acres. He built a log cabin on the place and made other improvements. The cabin was burned soon after his mar- riage, which occurred in 1801, to Sarah Taylor. Mr. Ramsey's father settled in Beaver County, and never located in Law- rence. He may possibly have been a soldier during the Revolution, but the fact it not known positively. James Ramsey's first child, a daughter named Ayls, was born in 1802.
About 1795-96, Thomas Taylor came from the Ligonier Valley, in Westmore- land County, Pennsylvania, and settled on the farm now owned by Joseph Totten, his cabin standing on the hill just across from the present location of Mr. Totten's resi- dence. Mr. Taylor's daughter, Sarah, who came with him, is said to have been the first white woman who ever crossed Slippery Rock Creek.
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