USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I > Part 55
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Cross Creek Township was settled by people from the north of Ireland, York County, Pa., Winehester, Va., and some from Mechlinburg, N. C. A more stable, quiet, conservative people cannot be found.
In this township resided strong-minded men, such as James Marshel, first county lieutenant, or chief offi- cer of county militia, which was the most influential and important office of the county at its origin in 1781. Also sheriff in 1784, 1787; the Vances and Stevensons and Thomas Patterson, who held many offices, ineluding Congress and Legislature. This township has eontri- buted its full share of members of Congress and of the State Legislature, as well as minor office holders.
The township historian, James Simpson, furnished the following item of history to the "Burgettstown Enter- prise" of June 13, 1888:
"I noticed in- the 'Observer' of March 22 extracts from Rev. Manasseh Cutler, D. D., in which he had recorded an account of his journey from Essex County, Mass., to Muskingum in 1788. On the 12th of August, 1788, he stopped over night with Alex. Wells, on Cross Creek, sixteen miles from Catfish, and the next day he went to Charles Wells', four miles further on the Vir- ginia side of the line, where he left his horse, and pro- ceeded on foot to the mouth of Buffalo. He speaks of Alex. Wells, of his 'mill and tannery.' He had also a distillery and carried on quite a large business, for that day, for this region. Alex. Wells settled on Cross Creek in the spring of 1773. He came from Maryland 'with the Dodridges, John Tennel and a number of others by the name of Wells, and commenced to make im- provements in the wilderness. Alex. Wells then lived where Oliver Clemens now resides. It is one of the most noted places in Cross Creek Township, and per- haps in Washington County. It was here that Mr. Wells erected a stockade fort, not only for his own protection, but for the people that surrounded him.
"It was here that he started the first grist-mill iu this part of Washington County, which was always counted the best mill seat in the county or western Pennsylvania."
Tradition says they boated flour down this creek to the Ohio, thenee to New Orleans.
The old log house he erected about 1781 stood 100 years. It was torn down in 1881, and there was not a piece of sawed timber in it.
At one time the people sent to Red Stone Old Fort for assistance against the Indians and the commander sent them twelve men to help gnard the station. These our people got rid of soon as they could, as the women were more afraid of them than of the Indians. An old settler used to say he never saw twelve rougher men in his life than those were.
Alex. Wells died December 9, 1813, aged 86 years; his wife, Leah Wells, died January 20, 1815, aged 86 years. They are buried in the old Wells graveyard, above the old residence. Among the graves in that ancient graveyard is that of a daughter-in-law of Alex. Wells. The inscription on the tombstone reads thus: In mem- ory of Rebecca Wells, wife of Bazel Wells, who died July 9, 1795, aged 25 years. In 1795 this Bazel Wells crossed the Ohio River, and with James Ross founded the City of Steubenville in 1799. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of Ohio in 1802, and for many years was a member of the State Senate.
Alex. Wells owned large tracts of land. One Virginia patent which he held ealled for 2,500 acres. One re- markable trait about him was that, while he could neither read nor write, he could survey land and run the lines with the compass, and make marks and hiero- glyphics and then his wife, who understood his alphabet, would make the calculations and plats.
James Simpson, who was the local historian of Cross Creek Township, and one of the best posted men in Washington County on historical matters, died Deeem- ber 18, 1902, in the 79th year of his age. He had re- sided on the farm on which he died since 1828. He was a successful farmer, but spent his leisure moments in writing local and county history. He possessed one of the best libraries on history of any man in the State. Kept a record of all visitors to his house and all inter- ments in Cross Creek cemetery, and was a frequent con- tributor to the newspapers.
In the spring of 1890 five aeres of land were pur- chased for a new cemetery, as it was almost impossible to make interments in the old without unlawfully dis- turbing the remains of some person. Ample provision has been made to eare for both the old and new ceme- teries. Much of the credit for this laudable work is due to James Simpson and James M. K. Reed, both of whom are buried there, but whose names are not in their
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Ilistory of Cross Creek Graveyard, published iu 1894.
Thomas and Oliver Crawford, sons of Mrs. Shearer, spent nine years in captivity among the Indians on the Scioto, in what is now the State of Ohio. Their mother paid $100 to an Indiau trader for their ransom.
In the spring of 1782, Samuel Robinson and William Parks were buried on the same day. They were both killed and scalped by the Indians. A Mr. Parker was tomahawked and sealped by Indians near Cross Creek Village, but his name does not appear on list of graves identified. Thomas Crawford died June, 1783, and was buried by the side of his mother, Mrs. Margaret Shearer. Judge James Edgar made his coffin.
Hon. James Edgar, who was one of the first judges of the court in Washington County, made the first cof- fius, and was the first undertaker in this neighborhood.
William Wallace, who resided on what afterwards became the James Manson farm, near Mt. Prospect Church, began making coffins abont 1791, and was suc- ceeded by his son Oliver about the year 1820.
William Donehoo carried on the business iu Cross Creek from 1836 until his death in 1864, after which it was continued about five years by his son, D. M. Done- hoo, now of Washington, and since then by his other sou, Henry W. Donehoo. Prior to 1860 undertakers generally made coffins as ordered, a hurry-up job made from measurement of tho deceased. Frequently the work was finished late in the night by light of a tallow dip.
A few items are here copied from memoranda made by James Simpson, of burials in Cross Creek graveyard. They exhibit the varied experiences of these early peo- ple :
Jeanette Reed, died January 27, 1838, in her 93rd year. Widow of Col. Joseph Reed, of York Conuty, Pa., soldier of Revolution, member of convention, June 18, 1776, which hastened Congress in passing the Declara- tion of Independence July 4. He served in many com- panies. He was president of the chief executive council of Pennsylavia during the Revolutionary War.
Margaret Anderson, died April 7, 1849, aged 106 years and 4 days. She was a nurse in the Army of the Revolution.
Walter Craig, died February 10, 1875, in the 89th year of his age. He was for many years an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and a representative from Washington County, Pa., in the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the constitutional convention of 1838. He was also a soldier iu the War of 1812.
Teressa Close, born in Germany; had seen the great Napoleon and the Empress Josephine when they scat- tered money to the crowds as they passed along the highway, and had seen the victorious French Army as it marched on the City of Berlin, after the battle of
Jena, in 1806. She died July 23, 1890, aged 99 years.
Robert Curry, died June 25, 1838, aged 84 years. lle was a native of Scotland and came to this country when a young man. He and two of his brothers wore pressed aboard a British man of war. In Angust, 1782, he saw the great naval engagement between the French and English fleets off the coast of Dominica, when Ad- miral DeGrasse was taken and carried to London by Admiral Roduey, who commanded the British Fleet.
Christopher Bable, died July 27, 1853, about 84 years old. Ile was in the bloody defeat of Gen. St. Clair by the Indians in 1791.
Benj. Bebout, died Nov. 8, 1855, aged 99 years 11 months and 4 days. He was a soldier in the Revolu- tion and belonged to the Minute Men against the Indians on the frontier of Washington County, l'a., at the close of the Revolution.
Jacob Buxton, who died May 25, 1836, aged 86, was an early settler of Washington County, Pa.
Hannah, wife of Jacob Buxton, died July 20, 1842, aged 89 years. Mrs. Buxton was famous as a doctress, aud had a wide knowledge of the medical use of roots.
James Donehoo, died June 16, 1873, in the 74th year of his age. He was justice of the peace 38 years in Cross Creek Township, and was a member of the Legis- lature in 1858; was for many years a ruling elder of Cross Creek, and was known as a peacemaker in the community in which he resided.
William Edgar, who died October 6, 1803, aged 90 years, was father of the celebrated Judge Edgar.
Judge James Edgar, Esq., who died Juue Sth, 1814, in the 71st year of his age, figured conspicnonsly in the early history of Washington County. lle was born in York County, Pa., in 1744. Married to Martha Smiley, sister of William Smiley (of note as the person sent to New Orleans abont 1787 by the churches of Upper Buf- falo and Cross Creek, with a flatboat load of flour, to pay the salary of Rev. Joseph Smith). In 1776 he was a member of the convention which mnet at Carpeuter's Hall, Philadelphia, that hastened the Declaration of Iu- dependence; aud in the same year served in the State Constitutional Convention. In 1777 he was a member of the Board of Council from York County. Iu 1778 he moved to what is now called Washington County, settling in Smith Township on a farm abont four miles northeast of Cross Creek Village. In 1779 he was elected as ono of the first board of elders of Cross Creek Presbyterian Church; he was nine times Modera- tor of the Presbytery. In 1779 was recommended by the Judges of Yohogania Conuty for appointment to justice on the bench, this county of Virginia, having court jurisdiction here. In 1781 he and Col. John Canon wero elected to and served as the first members from Washington County in the State Supreme Exeeu-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
tive Council; about the same time he was elected and commissioned Justice of the Peace, which office he held for a long time; elected County Treasurer of Washing- ton County in 1783; in 1787 he, with Col. James Mar- shall, Gen. John Neville aud Thomas Scott, were elected members from Washington County to the Special State Convention to consider the Federal Constitution, which was ratified by the couvention December 13, 1787., Penn- sylvania being the second State to ratify it. Iu 1791 he was made one of the Associate Judges for Washing- ton County. During the Whisky Rebellion he took strong grounds against the rebellion, and at Brownsville addressed a large meeting of over 2,000 people in a very strong speech in favor of upholding the law. Few of his neighbors took part in the rebellion.
Smith Township was the residence of Judge Edgar, but Cross Creek holds his remains. He has been called the Rabbi of the Presbyterians in this region.
James Edgar, died February 8, 1875, in his 88th year. He was a nephew of Judge Edgar, aud a soldier in the War of 1812.
Many other interesting facts are revealed by the in- scriptions in this graveyard, which is probably the best kept of any of the ancient burial places in this county. Some families have seven generations buried here.
CROSS CREEK VILLAGE OIL AND GAS.
Cross Creek Village has a population of about 200, and since 1906 has been the scene of active oil opera- tions. Oil wells have been drilled on the lots of Cum- mius Bros., W. C. Lee, J. M. Sharp, G. M. Campbell heirs, H. W. Donehoo, and others, in the village. One well, located, in the Cemetery lot in 1907, has yielded a royalty of $1,500 in two years to the Cemetery Com- pany, and $500 bonus.
Two oil wells drilled ou the parsonage lot, from which the church has a royalty of one-eighth, has yield- ed the church as high as $45 in a single month. The church has received as a bonus about $750, though there has been no drilling on the church lot.
The first oil well of commercial importance was drilled in on the farm of R. C. Vance in 1906, and the largest well on that farm came in with a production of 100 bar- rels a day. This well is one mile northeast of Cross Creek Village.
Oil has been found on the farms of Abram Pry, W. T. Porter and the Johnson heirs.
Several gas wells have been drilled in during the past three years, or since 1906.
Cross Creek Village has four stores, one blacksmith shop, two wagon-maker shops-that of Powelson's hav- ing been conducted over thirty years-one hotel and a boarding house.
The Bell Telephone Company reaclies here.
Cross Creek Village is about equal distance from ship- piug points on the Pan Handle Railroad and the Wabash and Pittsburg Terminal Railroad. Burgettstown, on the Pan Handle, is the shipping point.
Dr. A. O. Hindman is the only physician in the vil- lage. S. C. Cmmmins is postmaster. I. N. Reed has kept store here since 1870.
In March, 1904, Cross Creek was visited by a severe fire, which destroyed much property.
June 23, 1906, many of the citizens of Cross Creek were frightened from their homes by a series of fires following a terrific electrical storm. Many buildings and trees were struck by lighting, and the people, in their excitement, fled to the fields for safety. The loss was $15,000.
WOODROW.
Woodrow, in this township, has been for a number of years a point of business. There is one general store, conducted for the past two years by R. S. Flanegin. Mr. Flanegin managed the store from 1904 to 1907 for the Woodrow Supply Co .; the last named company succeeded C. M. Marquis. The first store iu the place was established by I. M. Reed, of Cross Creek Village, and managed by A. R. White.
There has been a postoffice at Woodrow for many years, but it was discontinued for a time after the estab- lishing of a R. F. D. service. It was re-established in 1905, since which date Mr. Flanegin has beeu post- master. The store is located in a good farming com- munity, and in recent years there have been half a dozen or more saw-mills in operation here, operated respectively by R. B. Davis, H. C. Fenton, D. M. Jones & Co. (the latter operated two mills), J. R. Duer, and the firm of Crane & Crane. The timber was purchased by P. O. Elder, and was cut by contract. It was largely used or shipped on the Wabash railroad or for mines. The only saw mill now operating is located near Beech Kuob schoolhouse.
The land is underlaid with the Pittsburg vein of coal, some of which has been sold; a part is still held by the owners of the surface. The Wabash and Pittsburg Ter- minal Railroad has a freight and passenger statiou at Woodrow. The coustruction of the Wabash and Pitts- burg Terminal Railroad began in 1901. The first pas- senger train passed over the line on July 2 or 3, 1904. The coal vein runs from five feet to five feet ten inches in thickness. Woodrow has the use of the Bell tele- phone.
A butter factory was established here but failed in days before the railroad was projected.
Patterson's Mill is a small village having a mill and one general store. The place gets its name from a mill erected by Gen. Thomas Patterson in 1793-a log struc-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
ture-which was rebuilt in 1843. The mill was remod- eled in 1893, and was purchased and operated by J. C. Leech in 1896. In 1905 Mr. Leech, sold it to D. H. Bean, who sold it to a Mr. Wohl, the last owner. It has a capacity of thirty-five barrels a day. For many years it was operated by water power, but at the pres- ent time steam is used. This is the only mill running in Cross Creek Township at this time.
Patterson's Mill church was organized during the Civil War by members of surrounding churches as a protest against the active part taken by some churches during the War of the Rebellion. Revs. MeEle and Myers were brought from the South to preach to this congregation, and were pastors for some years of this associate reform organization.
The church, on May 12, 1883, became a U. P. Church, and had the services of Rev. Joseph Petigrew as pastor from 1884 to 1886, and later a number of supplies. It was disorganized in 1898. During the past three and a half years it has been a Methodist Protestant Church. The present building, or house of worship, was erected during the Civil War.
Washington County Coal Company, Cedar Grove Mine, organized in 1905, with a capital stock of $250,000, owns SOS acres of coal and 80 acres of surface land. The eoal is what is known as the Pittsburg vein, running five feet of elean coal. Analysis shows 95 per cent of com- bustible matter, about 2 per cent sulphur, which is the only impurity in the coal, which has neither clay veins nor spahrs. The plant is equipped for a capacity of 2,000 tons a day; when running full it employs 200 men and has a tonnage of 800 to 900 tons a day. The mine and tipple is located three miles north of Avella, on the North Branch of Cross Creek, and the company con- structed a railroad to Avella in order to get the coal to the Wabash & Pittsburg Terminal Railroad. The railroad has since been purehased by the Wabash & Pittsburg Terminal Railroad. The company has recently been embarrassed through the failure of the New Castle Savings & Trust Company. The tipple and plant is in Cross Creek Township, bnt most of the coal is located in Jefferson Township. This is a drift mine, entering where the coal erops out.
This township is underlaid with the Pittsburg vein of coal five to five and one-half feet in thiekness, a fine quality eoal so far as developed. Many of the farm- ers sold their coal at $100 an aere.
This is a splendid farming section, and dairying is an important industry in the southern part of the town- ship. Considerable attention is paid also to the raising of cattle and sheep. Up to forty five years ago there was no section in this country where the sheep industry was more prosperons than Cross Creek. Many of the sheep from here have headed flocks in the Western States and in Texas. Robert Perrine, Van Ostrand. the Vances, Maj. William Lee, Hon. John S. Duncan and others were familiar names to breeders of fancy fine wool sheep throughont the United States.
While much of the coal has been sold, there is still a considerable acreage in the hands of the land own- ers and citizens of the township.
H. IL. Reed conduets a general mercantilo business at Rea, a station on the Wabash. Prior to 1908 1. N. Reed & Son, of Cross Creek, owned this store.
The people of this township have always taken great interest in education. The early academies have all ceased to exist.
There were in 1908 two schools, with two male and ten female teachers; average number of months taught 7; average salary of male teacher, $57.50; average salary of female teachers, $46.25; cost of each pupil per month, $3.14; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 21%; total estimated value of school property, $7,500; total scholars enrolled, 200.
This township has voted in 1906 and decided against paying all road taxes in cash.
The road levy for 1908 was 3% mills and $5,606.59 collected.
The township has no turnpike roads, no "State High- way" Roads nor "County Roads." The ancient Wash- ington and Willsburg road runs through the township from east to west.
The population in 1900 was 856. In 1860 it was 1.110, and in 1890 it was 966, showing a gradual de- crease; 240 voters were registered in this township in 1903 and 335 in 1908. The population has very mneh increased since the beginning of this eentury, but is not so large as it was two years ago, owing to the financial depression affecting the coal output.
The value of real estate in Cross Creek amounts to $2,030,338 ; personal property, $68,155. Number of tax- ables is 313.
The number of voters in Cross Creek in 1850 was 180; in 1904, 240, and in 1908. 335.
W. E. Marquis and J. S. Cummins are the present jus- tiees of the peaee.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
History of Donegal, East Bethlehem, East Finley, East Pike Run and Fallowfield Townships.
DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.
Donegal is one of the original thirteen townships erect- ed by the trustees of the county in 1781. It was bounded on the north by Hopewell Township, on the east by Morris Township, on the south by the Mason and Dixon Line, and on the west by the State line. The township included the present townships of Donegal, Buffalo, East and West Finley and a part of Greene County.
On account of the inconvenience to the inhabitants in performing their public duties, the township of Fin- ley was formed from a part of Donegal Township in May, 1788. The territory of Donegal was decreased to near its present limits in March, 1799, when Buffalo Township was erected Claysville was incorporated a borough April 2, 1832, and West Alexander, August 18, 1873, from parts of Donegal Township.
The present boundaries of Donegal Township are Independence Township on the north, Blaine and Buf- falo Townships on the east, East and West Finley Town- ships on the south and West Virginia on the west. Its greatest length is eight miles, breadth 61% miles.
The northern boundary line of the township is marked by Buffalo Creek. Its tributaries Dutch Fork and Buck Run rise in the central and eastern parts of the town- ship respectively. Mayes Run, a tributary of Wheeling Creek, drains the southern portion. The township is well adapted to agriculture, stock raising and wool growing.
The valuation of real estate of Donegal Township is $1,980,122, and the valuation of personal property is $93,665; number of taxables is 486.
The population of Donegal Township in 1850 was 1,679 and in 1860, 1,690. In 1890 the number of in- habitants was 1,568 and in 1900, 1,424, showing a gradual decrease. The registration of voters in 1850 was 478; in 1904, 411, and in 1908, 480.
The farmers of Donegal Township take much pride iu their stock and it is doubtful if there is any see- tion where they have better stock than in this com- munity. The majority breed the Shorthorn cattle, while occasionally you will see Holstein, Devons, Jerseys and
Red Polled. But the Shorthorn cattle have the lead in point of numbers, as they have been found to be a very satisfactory breed of cattle for this country. A few years ago there were a great many coarse wooled sheep raised for mutton, but now the farmers are grad- ually drifting back to fine wooled sheep, as they are considered by some more profitable than the mutton breeds.
It is estimated that there were about 500,000 pounds of wool marketed in the townships in the western parts of the county and adjacent to Claysville last year. This wool was sold at from 23c to 33e per pound, which, taken as a whole, would bring about $150,000 into the county. With protection against foreign wools, there is no reason why the production of wool cannot be in- creased.
The township also produces large crops of wheat, oats, corn and other food products.
COAL.
The outerop line of the Washington coal exteuds on the hillsides well up toward the heads of the small tributaries of Buck Run, Buffalo Creek and Dutch Fork. In Dog Run, southeast of Dunsfort, the coal goes under cover at a small waterfall made by projecting ledges of the Lower Washington limestone. At this outerop the Washington coal, which is about five feet thick, is broken only by relatively thin partings of shale and appears to be of a better quality than usual. This is the general condition of the bed at all points at which it was examined on Buffalo Creek and Buck Run. South of Budaville, on Dutch Fork, the coal occurs in two benches, divided by three to five feet of yellowish shale. About one mile north of Coon Island the coal has been opened in a number of places aud its condition is about the same as on Dog Run. The Waynesburg coal is prominent and has been opened in several places. for mining, though most of the mines have since been abandoned owing to the poor quality of the coal. On Dutch Fork the anticlinal nose crossing south of Buda- ville brings the Waynesburg coal to the surface for a mile or more, but the dip of the rocks in both directions from the axis soon carries the coal under cover. The
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PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, WASHINGTON
OLD BOAT YARD, WEST SIDE. BROWNSVILLE
EIGHTH WARD SCHOOL, WASHINGTON
SEVENTH WARD SCHOOL, WASHINGTON
RK
IDIARY
-STOR, LEM. X AND TIL- ! FOUNDATIONS.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Waynesburg "A" and "B" coals have the same gen- «ral distribution in the township as the Waynesburg, though, being above this coal, they are exposed over a larger area. The Uniontown coal also appears in out cropings. The Upper Washington, Claysville, Donley and Lower Washington limestones are found.
The coal in the territory surrounding Claysville in Donegal, East Finley and West Finley has practically all been optioned and much of it sold by the farmers.
In Donegal Township north of (laysville two com. panies are operating for oil and gas, the Philadelphia Gas Company and the Manufacturers Light and Heat Company. The two companies have leased nearly all the land lying north of Claysville extending back al- most to Independence. Of all this territory leasel. the Philadelphia Gas Company has the majority. The terri- tory operated by these companies is known as the Me- haffey field, and there are 15 wells located on the varions farms in this section. The wells are all gas, and of the nine owned by the Philadelphia Company, six are lo rated on the Mehaffey farm. One is on the John Holmes farm and two on the M. B. Miller land. All these wells are good, strong wells and give promise of a continuous flow for some time to come. The gas was struek in the Gordon sand at a depth of between 2,600 and 2,700 feet. Pittsburg and vicinity receive the gas from this field through a 12-inch line laid from the Mehaffey territory to the old 12 inch line of the eom- pany at the Ardeu pump station.
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