USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > New Castle > Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th > Part 8
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Mr. Falls carried on the tanning business until 1851, when he resigned it to his son, Wilson. In 1831 he built the third brick dwelling in New Castle. Thomas Falls died October 8, 1865, aged nearly seventy- five years.
In 1831 there were three churches in New Castle-the Presbyterian, the Seceder and the Methodist. The first was what is now known as the "old brewery." It stood out of town, surrounded by forest trees. The Old Stone Church, on Pittsburg Street, was built by the Seceders in 1831. It was then quite a long distance from the town and stood in the woods. The Methodist Church was on the ground now occupied by St. Joseph's German Catholic Church, and was built about 1816.
In 1832 New Castle was visited by the cholera, but there were only two deaths.
James D. White laid out a small addition to the town in November, of this year.
SOME NOTABLE IMPROVEMENTS.
The year 1833 was a memorable one in the history of New Castle, several impor- tant improvements being then inaugurated. Among them was a new bridge over the Shenango River on Washington Street. The river at this point was originally much narrower than at present, and the bridge was only about one-half the length of the present beautiful and substantial iron structure. The widening of the river was occasioned by the great flood in November, 1835, when in order to save the town from impending destruction, the embankment was cut on the right bank above the state dam, and the accumulated waters were sent out with terrific force, tearing away a great quantity of land and changing the whole appearance of the river at this point.
The Erie Extension Canal was com- pleted from Beaver to New Castle Novem- ber, 1833.
In the same month was launched the "Rob Roy," built by Dr. William Shaw- a sort of flat boat, decked over, which was the first boat launched in New Castle. A few hours after the "Rob Roy" was in the canal, a second boat, called the "Alpha," was launched by James D. White. The boats were similar in con- struction, being each about forty feet long and eight feet wide. There was quite a strife as to who should get his boat first into the water, but the Doctor won by a few hours. It was late in the season when these boats were put into the canal, and nothing was done until the spring of 1834, when the canal business may be said to have fairly started. Major E. Sankey pur- chased the "Alpha," and ran it regularly between Beaver and New Castle for about one year. The round trip was frequently accomplished "between sun and sun."
The main business was transporting
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY
produce down the canal to Beaver and bringing back merchandise. There were some five or six dams built on the Beaver River, making slack-water navigation, and the channel of the river was largely used in this way instead of a separate canal. There was one dam on the Neshannock, and one on the Shenango, within the bor- ough limits of New Castle, and the canal passed through the southern part of the original town plot, along what is now South Street, from one river to the other, a dis- tance of something over one-fourth of a mile.
PROSPEROUS ERA BEGINS.
The real prosperity of New Castle dates from the year 1834. There was at this date only a weekly mail between New Castle and Beaver. The route extended from Beaver to the old town of Mercer. Major E. Sankey was the contractor and during the four years succeeding the mails became semi-weekly, then tri-weekly, and, finally, daily, so that, since 1838, New Castle has always had at least one daily mail.
There appear to have been two hotels in the town in 1834. These were the Man- sion House, kept by John Shearer, and the old log "tavern," belonging to Robert Wal- lace, and kept by Andrew Lewis. In 1834 the old log Methodist Church was replaced by a brick one, but the new church, even as late as 1836, was furnished with slab seats.
The physicians were Dr. William Shaw and Dr. Andrews, the latter a native of Massachusetts. Soon after, Dr. G. Bar- low came to New Castle, purchased Dr. Andrew's property, married his sister, and opened a drug store on the north side of the "Diamond," near Jefferson Street. Dr. Andrews returned with his family to Mas- sachusetts. The "Diamond," in those days, was rough and uneven, and overgrown with hazel bushes, intersected with paths and roadways. On the south side of Wash- ington Street, between Mercer Street and
the Neshannock, there were then only two buildings, one a frame, the other of logs. The same year Robert Reynolds purchased some property on the north side of Pitts- burg Street (as it is now called), above where Pearson Street intersects it, and es- tablished a tannery, which he operated from about 1836 to 1871.
In 1834 James D. White rebuilt his father's grist mill and also erected a saw- mill. These stood where Raney & Gor- don's mill now stands, or very near it.
On the 19th of May, 1835, there was a grand military parade and field drill, Ma- jor Joseph Emery being commander-in- chief of all the forces. The New Castle Guards, commanded by Captain William Cox, took a prominent. part.
On the 10th day of August, 1835, the contracts for the construction of the "Cross-cut Canal," from Mahoningtown to Youngstown, Ohio, were let in New Castle, and the town was full of contractors and speculators. Major E. Sankey then kept the Mansion House, and Anthony Squiers was proprietor of what is now the St. Cloud Hotel. There were no meat mar- kets then in the place, and it was almost impossible to get fresh beef, for nobody dreamed of killing in the warm weather. In order to supply his guests with some- thing of a rarity, Major Sankey killed a beef the evening before, John C. Tidball assisting him. After setting aside suffi- cient for his own use, the major endeav- ored to sell the remainder, and, failing in this, he found it next to impossible to even give it away.
In November, of this year, there occurred the great flood, as it is generally called. The west end of the canal dam was swept away, and the land below, owned and oc- cupied at one time by Cornelius and Dan- iel Hendrickson, was also carried away to a great extent, including the site of D. Hendrickson's dwelling. An island was formed where the west end of the old bridge stood, necessitating the erection of an additional bridge over the enlarged
COURT HOUSE, NEW CASTLE.
COUNTY JAIL, NEW CASTLE.
1
SHENANGO VALLEY HOSPITAL, NEW CASTLE.
E
POST OFFICE, NEW CASTLE.
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channel, which was built in the year 1837. The dam was rebuilt in 1836. In this lat- ter year, also, the Erie Extension Canal was located and put under contract, from New Castle to Erie.
West New Castle, sometimes called by the euphonious name of "Mulleintown," was laid out in May, 1836, by Ezekiel San- key, who had settled in New Castle in 1832, when sixteen years of age. It was situated on the tract of land known as the "va- cancy," lying between the first and sec- ond districts of "Donation Lands." Mr. Sankey bought the land upon which he laid out the town (some fifty acres or more) of Ebenezer Byers. The bargain was made for it in 1836, but the deed was not executed until January 13, 1837. It was a portion of the old Cornelius Hen- drickson claim of 117 acres.
The New Castle Intelligencer, the second newspaper published in New Castle, was issued August 18, 1836.
In 1836 Captain D. S. Stone had a ware- house on the canal. Dr. G. Barlow had a drug store on the north side of the "Dia- mond," west of Jefferson Street. S. W. Mitchell was running a cabinet shop, as were also J. Emery and J. Mitchell, who had a shop on the north side of the "Dia- mond," east of the "old stone corner." William Dickson had a saddlery and har- ness shop on the southeast corner of Wash- ington Street and the "Diamond." R. W. Cunningham & Co. kept a store on the northeast corner of the "Diamond," and paid cash for wheat. Peter Duff had a general store on the south side of the "Dia- mond," and Robert Cochran also had a store on the south side, near the present site of the Fountain Inn. John B. Pear- son was trading at the "Old Stone Corner." Jacob Quest served as a clerk in this store from 1833 to 1840. Mr. Pear- son, besides doing a mercantile business, also dealt in horses, cattle and hogs. Joshua Logan, who was then president of the Borough Council, had a shop on the northwest corner of Jefferson Street and
the "Diamond." J. N. Euwer was then clerk of the Borough Council. W. B. Os- mon, who had been a sea captain, was keep- ing a store near the present site of the Leslie House. T. R. George had a store near the east end of Washington Street. William B. Miller had a shoe store on the northeast corner of Washington Street and Apple Alley, near Anthony Squiers' hotel. White McMillen was in the hatting busi- ness on Jefferson Street, south of the "Diamond." George King had a wagon shop on Jefferson Street, south of the canal. Dr. W. D. Grier, a new name among the physicians, had an office one door east of the "stone corner." He also kept a drug store, or apothecary's shop. In 1836 there were no buildings of any consequence in what is now called West New Castle, and none south of the Presbyterian Church in the town proper. Joseph T. Boyd was postmaster this year.
FIRST FIRE COMPANY.
On the 29th of September, this year, at a meeting held at the tavern of Andrew Lewis, the first fire company was organ- ized in New Castle. Joseph T. Boyd was elected president, William Dickson, cap- tain, and R. W. Cunningham, first lieu- tenant.
In August, 1837, another newspaper made its appearance-the Western Sen- tinel, a Whig paper. It was a small folio with six columns to the page, professed Whig principles, and was edited by O. C. Lockhart. It suspended publication in De- cember of the following year. During this year James D. White laid out an addition to New Castle, lying between the two rivers, and south of the old county line.
BEGINNING OF IRON INDUSTRY.
The history of the iron manufactures of New Castle commences in 1838, the original of the Aetna Iron Works being erected in that year, by James D. White. Shubael Wilder superintended the con- struction of the nail factory, and James H.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY
Brown, late of Youngstown, Ohio, that of the rolling-mill. Mr. Wilder was a native of Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He had emigrated from his native state to Har- risburg, Pa., in 1836, where he was en- gaged in the erection, or contemplated erection, of iron works. At Harrisburg, he met James D. White, who induced him to accompany him to New Castle, where he took charge of the erection of the nail factory above mentioned. The iron works went into operation in April, 1839. Mr. White, owing to ill health, went to the West Indies, thinking the climate would benefit him. He died, however, at St. Croix, in February, 1840.
From December, 1838, to August, 1839, there was no paper published in New Castle, but since the 14th of August, 1839, the place has never been without a news- paper. At the date last mentioned, the Mercer and Beaver Democrat was first issued. It was a four-page five-column sheet, and supported the principles of the Whig party. It was at first owned by John Speer, and afterwards by John B. Early. In 1839, Major E. Sankey commenced the erection of the first building of any importance in West New Castle. It was a large one-story frame building, with wooden pillars in front, and is still stand- ing on the west side of Front Street. On the occasion of the great Whig mass meet- ing. held in New Castle during the presi- dential campaign of 1840. the speakers ad- dressed the people from the portico of this building, which was then not quite com- pleted. When it was finished, Mr. Sankey occupied it as a family dwelling for eight- een years.
NEW CASTLE IN 1840.
In 1840 New Castle contained, accord- ing to the United States census of that year. 611 inhabitants. During this year the Erie Extension Canal was completed as far north as Greenville, in Mercer County. Among the merchants in New Castle in 1840 were William Watson, Thos.
MeCleary, William Moore, Joseph T. Boyd and Joseph Kissick.
The Mercer and Beaver Democrat was suspended soon after the presidential elec- tion. The first number of the New Castle Gazette, a Whig paper, was issued on Fri- day, October 8, 1841, by Colonel William H. Shaw, who continued its publication until 1864, a period of twenty-three years.
The amount of surplus produce shipped from New Castle. Pa., from September, 1840, up to the 15th of June, 1841, as fol- lows: Wheat, 71,900 bushels; flour, 9,231 barrels; bacon, 143,000 pounds; wool, 23,- 600 pounds; whiskey, 360 barrels. There was also shipped, in small quantities by the farmers, about 2,000 barrels of flour.
A directory of New Castle, published in 1841, shows the following names :
Alexander, Samuel, carpenter.
Baker, J., cooper.
Bell, E., cooper.
Barlow, G., physician and druggist.
Barber, W. L., baker.
Bennett, S., copper, tin and sheet-iron worker.
Bushnell, Rev. W., Presbyterian clergyman.
Boyd, J. T., merchant.
Brown, Joseph, iron roller.
Bottle, W. H., nail cutter.
Carpenter, William, justice of the peace.
Carpenter, Mrs. R. J., milliner.
Christy, S., Indian King Hotel.
Clark, William, tanner.
Clancy, Lewis, blacksmith.
Crawford & Ritter, saw and flouring mill and woolen factory.
Crawford, J. M. & Co., manufacturers of iron and nails.
Cunningham, R. W., merchant and foundry owner.
Craven, R., bricklayer.
Crips, L. V., boot and shoe maker.
Cochran, R., merchant.
Cowden, A. M., physician.
Cypher, Phillip, stone mason.
Cost, John, wagoner.
Dinsmore, J., wagon maker.
Dinsmore, William, carpenter.
Diekson, William, saddler.
Dickson, J., tanner.
Dickson, Samuel, fireman.
Edwards, John, refiner.
Emery, John B., smith.
Emery, J., canal contractor.
Emery, E., canal contractor.
Evans, William, boot and shoe maker.
Euwer, S. C. & Co., merchants.
Farley & White, steam foundry.
Falls, Thomas, tanner and farmer.
Fulkerson, J. C., cabinet maker. Flinn, Walter, machine smith.
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Falls, Henry, constable.
Frazier, John, carpenter. Gibson, Joseph, stone cutter. Graham, John, nail cutter. Galbreth, E., gentleman. Hadson, G. E., tailor. Higgs, Joseph R., puddler. Heffner, S., clerk. Hadson, W. G., tailor.
Hewitt, Rev. J. J., Episcopal clergyman.
Higgs, Joseph, bloom heater. Hogg, William, puddler. Higgs, Thomas, puddler. Justice, Joseph, hatter.
Keck, A., clerk.
Keefer, John, painter. Kelly, Silas, blacksmith.
Kissick, J., merchant. Kerr, Samuel, canal supervisor.
Latimer, James, miller. Lewis, A., gentleman.
Lint, J., carpenter. Love, J. B., hatter. McConnell, J. E., blacksmith.
McCleary, Thomas, cooper. MeCleary, S., painter.
McGuffin, R., cabinet maker.
McMillan, William, canalboat captain.
Miller, William B., boot and shoe maker.
McMillen, White, merchant and hatter.
McConnell, D., blacksmith.
McGuffin, L. L., attorney-at-law.
McConahy, J., blacksmith.
Morehead, John, hatter. Mitchell, S. W., cabinet maker.
Morgan, G. C., tailor.
Moore, William, merchant.
Moore, H. S., carpenter.
Morehead, H. H., plasterer. Mitchell, James, chair maker. Maxim, Marcus, nail cutter.
MeLaughlin, J., carpenter. McMillen, James, hatter. McKee, James, carpenter. Newton, Chester, sawyer. O'Brien, Edward, molder. Pearson, J. B., merchant. Perry, Elias, drum maker. Pollock, J., physician. Pollock, S., gunsmith. Pearson, Samuel, cooper. Poak, Samuel, wagoner. Painter, Thomas, cabinet maker.
Pollock, John, Captain of the canalboat "Citizen." Quest, J. S., clerk. Reynolds, J., justice of the peace. Read, J., blacksmith. Rhodes, J. H., carpenter. Rigby, E., wagon maker. Robison, A., Union Hotel. Rubicon, J., cooper. Rigby, Thomas, silversmith. Reynolds, William, clerk. Ridel, S., canal contractor. Riter, George R., smith. Reynolds, Robert, tanner. Reynolds, W. H., tinner. Sankey, E., gentleman.
Seck, R. A., saddler.
Shaw, W. H., clerk.
Swift, Hiram, clerk.
Steen, John, brick molder.
Swift, Samuel, chair maker.
Shaw, W., physician.
Shoaff, J., carpenter. Shaffer, D., butcher.
Semple, A. C., carpenter.
Speise, Messimer & Co., merchants.
Speise, S., carpenter.
Stewart, R. W., farmer.
Stone, D. S., Eagle House.
Swift, S. W., grocer and confectioner.
Swift, N. P., carpenter.
Stambaugh, J., cabinet maker.
Scroggs, cabinet maker. Sempel, John, carpenter.
Tidball, D., Jr., postmaster and tailor.
Tidball, J., Sr., street commissioner.
Tidball, J., Jr., carpenter.
Vogan, John, blacksmith.
Varce, Rev. D. W., Methodist Episcopal clergyman.
Wallace, Robert, Red Lion Hotel.
Watson, William, grocer and druggist.
Whippo, C. T., physician.
Wilson, J., merchant.
Wilson, John, gentleman.
Williams, Henry, shovel maker.
Wilder, Shubael, master nailer. Watson, James, mason and bricklayer.
White, Crawford, farmer.
Wilson, J., chair maker.
White, Josiah C., merchant.
Wallace, James, carpenter. Young, O., school teacher.
Young, Robert, saddler.
There were in New Castle three meet- ing-houses-one Seceder, one Episcopal Methodist, one Presbyterian; also an or- ganized Protestant Methodist Church and three Sabbath-schools.
There were in New Castle one rolling- mill; one nail factory, capable of turning out ten tons of iron and three tons of nails per day; one flour mill, with four pairs of burrs; one lumber mill, with two saws; also one steam lumber mill in process of construction ; one woolen manufactory ; one air foundry; one cupola foundry, driven by steam power; eight dry goods stores; two groceries; one hardware store; two drug shops ; four taverns ; three tanneries ; five cooper shops; five cabinet shops; six smith shops; one gun shop; one tin and copper shop ; two wagon shops ; four tailor shops ; four forwarding warehouses; three hatter shops; four shoemaker shops; two saddler shops; one female seminary ; three
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY
day schools; one writing school; one shovel factory; one refinery; six coal banks; an abundance of iron ore; one water-power, on Neshannock, in New Castle, with twen- ty-four feet head and fall.
There were also four hotels. The "Globe Hotel" was kept by Daniel S. Stone, and at a later date was called the "Eagle Hotel." Still later it was occuped by a Mrs. Shan- non, who came from Mercer, and who changed its name to the "Washington House." The "Red Lion Hotel" occupied 'the site of the "Central Hotel," of later days, and was substantially the same building. The "Union Hotel," kept by Andrew Robinson, is still standing on the east side north of Mercer Street, the first frame building north from Washington Street. In 1843 Robinson was succeeded by Samuel Christy, who put up in front of the house the sign of the "Indian Chief," and called the house the "Indian Chief Hotel." For some time prior to 1843 the hotel which stood on the site of the later "Leslie House" was kept by Samuel Christy, and was also called the "Indian Chief Hotel." When Mr. Christy moved into the "Union Hotel" he took his Indian sign and the name of his hotel with him. In the spring of 1843 Mr. Leslie took charge of the original "Indian Chief Ho- tel" and changed its name to the "Man- sion House."
In 1843 Wilson Mitchell was burgess, and Thomas Falls president of the Town Council. The attorneys in New Castle, at that date, appear to have been L. L. Mc- Guffin, J. K. Boyd and A. M. Burns.
The New Castle Democrat, the first Dem- ocratic newspaper published here, was is- sued by George F. Humes and J. N. Hal- lowell, July 13, 1844. It was a four-page paper, with five wide columns to the page. It was published for about one year. On July 4, 1844, there was a grand temperance convention and soldiers' parade, which was largely attended by people from all parts of the surrounding country.
The Erie Extension Canal was com-
pleted from New Castle to Erie, in Feb- ruary, 1845, and boats commenced running through its entire length the following spring.
The first account of a musical organiza- tion in New Castle appeared in March, 1845. On the 20th of that month a concert was given at the M. E. Church by the Amateur Musical Society.
About this date the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company were endeavoring to get the right of way for their road through Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, as a matter of course, opposed it, and the people of the southern and western portions of the State were more or less interested for or against it. A great mass meeting was held in New Castle on the 28th of March, 1846, attended by people from Mercer and Beaver Coun- ties, and the feeling was very strongly in favor of giving the company the right of way.
The attorneys in New Castle, in 1846, were L. L. McGuffin, J. K. Boyd, A. M. Burns, G. A. Scroggs and David C. Cossitt. James Dickson was justice of the peace and had his office in the southeast corner of the "Diamond," in William Dickson's saddle shop.
John and Joseph Douthett, brothers, were teaching a select school in the "new brick school-house." They called it the "New Castle Institute." The New Castle Seminary was taught by Mr. and Mrs. Ma- son Bartlett.
The first market in New Castle was held in May, 1846. The first market-house was built in the summer of 1846. It was of brick, 70x30 feet in dimensions, and stood near the center of the "Diamond," with its west end on a line with the east side of Jefferson Street. The market days were Wednesdays and Saturdays.
On the 25th of July, 1846, a public meet- ing was held to consider the subject of building a new bridge over the Neshan- nock, at the east end of Washington Street. The first bridge was erected at that point in 1814, but whether the struc-
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
ture was standing in 1846 we have not learned. A new bridge was finally built and completed in August, 1847. The arch- itect was Joseph Emery.
During the season of 1846, R. W. Cun- ningham erected a large cupola foundry, with steam engine attached, which was put in operation about the 20th of July. Craw- ford & Co. built a new nail factory, which also went into operation in July. Brown & Higgs erected a rolling-mill, which went into operation about the same date, and the Orizaba Iron Works were erected by Joseph H. Brown, Joseph Higgs and Ed- ward Thomas.
Early in September, of this year, the annual encampment of the Mercer County soldiers was held in New Castle. Among the organizations present were the New Castle Battalion, the Mt. Jackson and Ma- rion Blues, both of Mt. Jackson, the Ma- honing Rangers, and the Tamarack Invin- cibles, or Donation Guards, commanded by Captain James Leslie, formerly by Captain Henry Hazen. Music was, in part, fur- nished by the New Castle Brass Band.
During the boating season of 1846 the New Castle and Beaver packet, "General Mercer," McMillen, master, ran regularly between the points named, arriving at New Castle every Wednesday, Friday and Sun- day morning, at six o'clock, and departing at 8 P. M. on the same days. R. W. Cun- ningham was the agent at New Castle.
In 1847 the linseed oil business was very promising and Grisnold's mill was so suc- cessful that others entered into the busi- ness.
During the year 1847 there was a famine in Ireland, and in April the ladies of New Castle assembled at the M. E. Church and manufactured between 700 and 800 two- bushel sacks. These were filled with corn by the people of New Castle and vicinity, and, altogether, about 1,500 sacks, contain- ing 3,000 bushels of corn, were forwarded to the starving people of Ireland.
FIRST STEPS TOWARD BANKING.
The first notice of an application for a charter for a bank in New Castle was pub- lished in the Democrat, in September, 1839, but nothing further was done about the matter until July, 1847, when a similar no- tice was published. The proposed bank was to have a capital of $200,000, but the first actual banking business was tran- sacted about 1855.
In August, 1847, the firm of Richmond & Pomeroy were taking daguerreotype pic- tures, having probably started a gallery about this time.
The New Castle Light Artillery made its first appearance on Saturday, August 21st, Captain G. A. Seroggs, commander.
On December 6, 1847, Captain Jonathan Smith, a native of Virginia and a Revolu- tionary soldier, who had served in the bat- tles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Yorktown, died at the residence of his son-in-law, Jo- seph T. DuShane. He was ninety-two years old and was buried with military honors by the New Castle Light Artillery.
The movement for the organization of a new county began to assume something like tangible shape at this time, and a meeting was held on the 5th of February for the purpose of discussing the question and taking the necessary steps to accom- plish the desired object. The project had been advocated for some thirty years and never abandoned.
During the winter of 1847-8 there was a society called the "New Castle Liberty Association," of which A. M. Burns, Esq., and John McConahy were active members.
About the 1st of May, 1848, the New Castle Light Artillery paraded the streets, headed by a martial band composed of "fourteen boys richly dressed." The boys had been thoroughly drilled by Major Wil- liam W. Taylor and made a fine appear- ance. The company was commanded by Captain W. C. Richards.
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