USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I > Part 56
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The Manufacturers' Light and Heat Company have six wells in this district, three of which are located on the Deeds farm, two ou the land of Harry Miller and one on the Burg farm. The gas from these wells is turned into a ten inch line laid by the company to con- meet with the large 20-inch line which runs west of ( 'laysville. This large line was laid several years ago and extends from Coraopolis to the West Virginia gas fields. The gas in one of the wells of this company was struck in the Big Injun sand. The development of this territory has opened up a new field with the result that Claysville gets the benefit of all the business pro- dueed by the operations. The supply of gas in this territory seems to be unfailing, and it has been jestingly stated that to dig a post hole in this field is to strike gas.
The timber of Donegal Township is rapidly being eut and a large amount of money is expended in preparing it for market, a large force of men and teams being steadily engaged in the work throughout the year. A great amount of this lumber had been purchased in 1906.
A conservative estimate of the amount of timber ent and manufactured into lumber for shipment in a year is 2,500,000 feet, which is said to have been purchased
from the farmers and others who owned the timber at an average price of $6.00 per thousand feet on the stump, or $14,000. Then the cost of taking it from the stumps to the shipping point cost several more thousand dollars, as there were employed in this work abont teu saw mills, with an average of ten men at- tached to each mill, operating the mill and cutting and hauling the logs to the mill. Then there were 25 or more men and teams engaged in hauling the lumber to the railroad for shipment, all of which necessitated a large outlay. With 125 meu actively engaged in the Immber business a person can readily see how many people were dependent on the business for a living.
The product of these mills loaded on cars for ship- ment is estimated at a low average price per thousand fed at $75,000.
The principal firms engaged in this business are D. (. Abercrombie & Co., D. W. Duncan, Hiram Wolfe & Son and The Buckeye Linuber Company. A number of others did not handle a large amount of lumber, and no figures could be obtained.
The Baltimore and Ohio, formerly the Hempfield Railroad, was completed in 1857 and crosses Donegal Township with one station, Vienna, in the township, out- side the Boroughs Claysville and West Alexander. A survey has been made for a railroad between Wells- burg. W. Va, and Washington. The survey follows Buffalo Creek between Donegal and Independence Town- ships. The Wheeling and Elm Grove trolley line is expected to be extended to Washington. Its present terminus is West Alexander.
The National Pike crosses Donegal Township from east to west and is kept in excellent condition. In 1904 the township had 51 miles of publie highway. In 1906 the cash road tax was accepted by this township in place of the work road tax. The road tax for the year 1908 was 316 mills. The Claysville-Brownsville Flinn road is three miles long. One mile is in East Finley and two in Donegal Township. It was constructed in 1904-5. (See East Finley Township.)
The Claysville-Prosperity Flinn road has been ap- proved by the grand jury. It is to be two miles and 1,499 feet in length and the eost is estimated at $21. 949.04.
VILLAGES.
The only postoffee in Donegal Township is Coon Island postoffice at Vienna Station. The postoffices of Dunsport. Bndaville and Donley have been removed and those places are now served by rural delivery.
VIENNA.
Vienna is a small village situated on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and National Pike between Clays-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
ville aud West Alexander. The place is familiarly known as Coon Island. The postoffice was established at this point about 1856 with George Chaney post- master. The village at present contains a store, slaugh- ter house and butcher shop and half a dozen dwellings.
Three miles west of Claysville on the old National Pike at Coon Island John Canode kept a tavern pre- vious to 1840. It was a wagon stand on the north side of the road. After Canode's time the tavern was kept by John Brotherton and sons. As late as 1833 a Mr. Reed kept the old tavern.
Dunsfort is on the northern edge of Donegal Town- ship on Buffalo Creek. A grist-mill was run here for some time by D. Wilson Vanetta and at later times by Charley Cracraft. At this place at present there is a store only.
Donley is in the eastern part of the township, four miles southeast of Dunsfort, and also has a store.
Budaville is on Dutch Fork almost midway between Dunsfort and Donley and is about four miles from its confluence with Buffalo Creek.
Tho following pioneers were among those holding land in the years given: Thomas Clark 1773, Jacob Lefler 1774, Thomas Waller 1775, Barnet Boner 1787, Thomas Chapman 1775, James McMillan 1785, James Glover 1787, Jacob Rice 1780, William Hawkins 1780, Capt. Jacob Miller 1785, John Hupp 1780, Isaac Cox 1786, William Humphreys 1786, James Stephenson 1786, John and William Brysou 1792, William Bonar 1786, Robert Gourley 1798, James Campsey 1801, Jacob Rizor 1787.
Mauy blockhouses were built in this township to pro- tect the settlers from the ravages of the Indians. On Buffalo Creek, north of Claysville, stood formerly Rice's Block House, which was built by Daniel Rice. North- east of Claysville was another fort, and west was that built by Thomas Wallower. Miller's block-house stood on Dutch Fork. On the waters of Buffalo Creek in the northern part of the township stood Dunn's Fort.
The old log building known as Duun's Fort remained until 1866. The farm on which this fort stood is at the present time the property of Mrs. J. O. Scott. Squire J. D. Scott remembers when plowing over the ground on which Dunn's Fort was located, exhuming human skeletons or bones, teeth, ete., from which he coneluded that the place at one time was used for burying ground. The spot was indieated by a cirele embracing about three acres-the soil of which was mueh darker than the surrounding soil, although it had been turned up with the plow. The bodies appeared to be buried in a sitting position as the cranium and upper part of the
body was first uncovered. Mr. J. D. Seott, in plowing, dis- covered that while the lower bones from feet to hips would appear solid, the ribs and bones of the body ap- peared to erumble to ashes when exposed to the air.
Two miles west from Coon Island on the National Pike an old tavern was kept in early times by one Rogers, and subsequently by Jacob and Michael Dough- erty. It was a frame house, on the north side of the road. In 1830 this old tavern was kept by Jacob Jones, the father of the distinguished iron manufacturer and politician, B. F. Jones, of Pittsburg. A few hundred north side of the road, large and commodious, and was yards further west the old and popular tavern of John Valentine was reached. It was a frame house, on the a favorite resort of wagoners:
One of the old schools of East Finley Township is the White School. It has been in existence continuously since the school law was adopted in 1834, but a school had been conducted at that place before that time. The first school building, a log structure, was erected in 1834. The school has always been a prosperous institution and a large number have gone forth from its door to take up the duties of life in widely separated fields. In 1850 Donegal had 11 schools and 433 scholars. Ten years later it had nine schools and 376 scholars. In 1908 there were 10 schools, 257 scholars, 10 teachers (four males and six females). The average salary of females per month was more than that of males ac- cording to the State report. The females received $48.33 and the males $47.50. The cost of tuition for each pupil per month was $2.27; school tax, 21% mills; estimated value of school property, $18,000. School was in session seven months.
Dutch Fork Christian Church-About the year 1828 Alexander Campbell began to hold meetings occasionally in the house of Absalom Titus, on the waters of Dutch Fork. Meetings were also held in houses of other mem- bers and in a schoolhouse. The congregation was or- ganized about 1833 by Walter Scott and James McVey with 40 charter members. It was joined by some of the members of the old Brush Run Christian Congregation. The first church was built in 1834 on ground conveyed to the congregation by Jacob Deeds and George Morrow, both among the original members. The church is sit- uated on Dutch Fork near Budaville. This ehiureh was superseded by the present house of worship in 1863.
Much of the time the congregation has been tended by young ministers or students from Bethany College. The present pastor is Rev. Hutsler and the membership is near 200.
Zion Chapel of the United Brethren Church is about a mile southeast of Budaville. The congregation was
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
organized in 1800 with ten charter members. A two- story log church was built on the farm of Christopher Winter at some time subsequent to the organization. This church was replaced by another in 1$39 and it in turn by the third in 1859. The present pastor is Miss Whitehead and membership about 75.
EAST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.
East Bethlehem was one of the 13 original townships of Washington County, organized in 1781. It contained within its limits the present townships of East and West Bethlehem, part of East Pike Run and the bor. oughs of Centerville and Deemston. Its original boun- daries were Strabane and Fallowfield Townships on the north, the Monongahela River on the east, Morgan Township on the south and Amwell Township on the west. Application was made to the Court of Quarter Sessions in 1788 to divide the township into East and West Bethlehem Townships, and Jannary 8, 1790, the court directed the division to be made by a straight line running from Peter Drake's to Wise's Mill. In 1×43 East Pike Run Township was given a small part of the territory of East Bethlehem Township. In 1848 the court attached to East Pike Run Township all that part of East Bethlehem which was uorth of the National Pike, except West Browusville.
The boundary line between East and West Bethlehem was modified slightly. The bonudaries of East Bethle. hem Township were further reduced by the incorpora- tiou of Deemston Borough November 12, 1894, and Centerville Borough February 16, 1895. The present boundaries of East Bethlehem Township are Deemston and Centerville Boroughs on the north, the Mononga. hela River on the east, and Greene County on the south and west.
In 1850 the poulation of East Bethlehem Townships was 2,266; in 1860, 1,862; in 1890, 1,757, and in 1900, 790. The decrease is cansed by the organization from parts of East Bethlehem Township since 1890 of the boronghs of Deemston and Centerville.
The number of voters in 1850 was 345. In 1904 the registration of voters was 229 and in 1908, 303.
The number of taxables of the township is 448; value of real estate, $1,587,318; valne of personal property, $58,272, and total borough value, $1,645,590.
The township has within its bounds three distilleries and one saloon, all being on the Monongahela River.
East Bethlehem Township is underlaid richly with coal. In the great bend of the river by Fredricktown. the Pittsburg coal bed appears above water under the influence of the Bellevernon antieline, coming to view first about three miles below Riverville and disappear- ing below water level near the mouth of Ten-Mile Creek,
beyond the limits of this township. Throughout this long outerop the character and thickness of that part of the coal bed which is mined is remarkably regular. but slight variations appear which have considerable effect upon the practical value of the coal, as will be seen from the following descriptions at various points along the river. In the southwest corner of the quad- rangle, or in the Fifth Pool, as it is more generally called, the coal is now extensively mined. On the Wash- ington County side of the river there are two mines working on a commercial scale. In the vicinity of Riverville the coal is 7 feet and } inches in thickness. The only extraordinary feature about the coal in this locality is a rock fault in the Riverville mine, which completely euts out the coal across the mines in a direc- tion about N. 20 E., rudely parallel with the axis of the Bellevernon anticline. From reports and mine maps it has the appearance of being produced by a regular fanlt or break of the strata. About two and a quarter milos below Riverville the Fox mine is located on the Washington County side of the river. At this point the section of the eoal has a roof division of three feet and a lower division of 7 feet 215 inches.
Near Fredericktown the Redstone coal bed is said to be 55 feet above the base of the Pittsburg coal. It is reported to show only six inches of coal in a bed of bituminous shale five feet thick.
The Waynesburg coal on Fishpot Run is 7 feet 7 inches in thickness. It is almost invariably broken up by many and thick shale partings, which render the coal practically worthless, according to the present opinion of eoal dealers.
It is possible that when the time arrives when it is needed methods will be used to consume it successfully.
East Bethlehem Township accepted the cash road tax instead of the work road tax in 1906. The road tax for 1908 was 116 mills and $2,064.67 was collected.
This township probably has the fewest number of miles of road in any township in the county and accord- ing to the statement made by the taxpayers the roads will not compare with other townships and boroughs ad- joining that township. Iu East Bethlehem Township there are 14 miles of road and none of it is improved.
In 1906 the Pennsylvania, Monongahela and Southern, now operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. extended its lines up the west bank of the Monongahela River from Brownsville through Riverville, Frederick- town and Millsboro to Rice's Landing in Greene County. A branch has been run up Ten-Mile Creek to Besco. where the Bessemer mines are located. It is eertain that a further extension must be made inland as far as Zollarsville, in order that service may be given to the new mines at that place. and this means an immediate
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
increase iu laud values in the newly opened territory. The Wheeling, Waynesburg and Counellsville Railroad Company has made a survey up Wheeling Creek aud down Ten-Mile to Millsborougli.
Among the earliest roads petitioned for in East Bethlehem Towuship were the road from Crawford's Ferry to Jacksou's Fort in 1784, the road from Enoch Run on the Monougahela River to Reed and Ford's Mill in 1790, and the road from the month of Teu-Mile Creek to Lindley's Mill in 1794.
Krepp's Ferry was established just above West Brownsville in opposition to Gillespie's, which was op- posite Brownsville. Gillespie' was charging a fip* in 1806 for ferrying a man and horse, and within a year afterward under a new law, allowing the rate be raised to 1214 cents. Krepps' competition soon brought the charge back to a fip.
East Bethlehem Towuship has the distinetion of hav- ing among the very first three white settlers of Wash- ington County. Everhart Hupp, who eame in 1766 and took np two tracts of land, later surveyed as "Hupp's Regard" and Hupp's Bottom, " situated on the north side or Ten-Mile Creek two miles from its mouth. Abraham Tea- garden and George Bumgarner also settled in this county in 1776 on land near Hupp's. The following early settlers held land at the dates given: James Crawford 1770, Chris- tian Hames 1774, John Welch 1785, John and Jaeob Hor- mel 1786, Benjamin Kenney 1800, Solomon Smith 1786, Joshua Linton 1800, John Bower 1796, George Crumrine 1801, and David Enochs 1787. Joseph Dorsey, James Regester, Thomas Bishop, Thomas Farquhar, Thomas Hughes and the Bane and Morgan families were also early settlers of this region.
In 1770 James Crawford started the operation of a ferry across the Monongahela River at the month of Fish Pot Run. Mr. Crawford also had a salt works at this place. William Montgomery first operated a mill on Ten-Mile Creek about 21% miles from its mouth. Evan McCullough purchased the mill in 1833 and oper- ated it. In 1843 he sold it to James Hawkins, who added to it three carding-machines, a picker and a full- ing-mill. These mills did a large business in the sur; ronuding country until the carding and fulling-mills were dismantled and removed to Waynesburg in 1870. A saw-mill was built on the site at a later date.
George Crumrine built a mill in the early part of the nineteenth century on Plum Run. The mill was owned at later times by Jacob and George Crumrine. The mill has been torn down for many years. The towns and villages of East Bethlehem Township are Millsborough, Fredericktown, Besco, Riverville and Racine.
* A Spanish or Mexican silver piece worth 614 cents, current in Pennsylvania and some other states up to the time of the Civil War.
MILLSBOROUGH.
Millsborough is ou the north bank of Ten-Mile Creek at its confluence with the Monongahela River. It is situated in the extreme southeast corner of Washington County on the Pennsylvania, Monongahela and Sonth- ern Railroad, nine miles southeast of West Brownsville. The village was started about 1817, when Robert White and Henry Wise built taverns at this place. Iu 1840 Millsborough was organized as a borough and in I847 more land was added to the borough by Jesse Bum- garuer and Moses Phillips. The borough existed until 1878 when the Legislature by special aet repealed the act by which the borough was ineorporated and the inhabitants became again eitizens of East Bethlehem Township. Jesse Bumgarner built a water-power mill on the river during the early history of Millsborongh. Other early industries were the Millsboroughi Foundry, established by Baen, Eaton & Co., and the distillery of James Emery. The first salt works in this region was started in 1822 by Henry Wise, who drilled a well about 520 feet deep on the river bluff and evaporated the salt water in kettles. The salt works was conducted last by Robison Bair and discontinued about 12 years ago.
George Dobbs in the year 1816 started a school in a log house at Millsborough.
In 1850 the population of Millsboroughi was 333. In 1860 the population was 292. In 1870 there were 60 dwellings, three churches, a school, two cabinet maker's shops, five stores, two cooper shops, a blacksmith shop, two foundries, a hotel, a wagon factory, a steam grist- mill, a saw-mill and a rectifying distillery in the borough. Ten years later two gunshops, a tannery and a milliuery store with other new stores had been added. The population in 1900 was 318.
The distillery at Millsborough is owned by E. F. Emery. The distillery was owned for many years by James Emery, his father. The hotel is conducted by J. N. Moore. A bar is conducted in connection with the hotel. S. R. Wilson and T. B. Evans own eigar factories. Millsborough has six stores. The town is composed of about 80 dwellings and the population is about 350. Telephone service is given by both the Tri- State and Bell Companies.
The postoffice receipts at Millsborough for 1908 were $931.63. Haddie Waddell is post mistress.
The First National Bank of Millsboronghi is located in a section which is perhaps showing as active devel- opment as any part of Washington County. The indica- tions are that this town will be among the important ones in the coal operations of the near future. It was organized at Millsborough Juue 24, 1904, with a eapital of $25,000. Its first officers were J. A. Ray, president ; O. McCarty, vice-president, and E. M. Emery, eashier.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
At the end of 1908 its surplus and profits were $7,258.42 and deposits $51,869.27.
The following is a comparative statement for the first three years:
Surplus and Profits. Deposits.
December 31, 1904.
$ 826.52
$12,051.54
December 31, 1905.
1,400,00
28,867.65
December 31, 1906.
3,215.21
38,799.66
Methodist Episcopal Church of Millsborough About the year 1830 there were two Methodist societies in existence at Millsborough, the Methodist Episcopal and the Methodist Protestant. These two societies built a log meeting-house on land donated by Jesse Bumgarner and used it jointly. The Methodist Protestant Congre- gation afterwards disbanded on account of the emi- gration to the west by its members. The Methodist Episcopal Congregation built a brick church to replace the old meeting-house in 1855. The pastor at present is Rev. H. L. Humbert and membership abont 75.
Presbyterian Church of Millsborongh-The Cumber- land Presbyterian Congregation of Millsborough was organized in 1838, a brick church was erected in 1845 on the road from Millsborongh to Fredericktown. The church has had no settled pastor for a long time and the membership is abont 30. The church became Presby. terian when the great Cumberland body united with its mother church and dropped the prefix-Cumberland.
Millsborough Fair-The Sandy Plains Fair, as it is often called, is held midway between Millsborough and Clarksville. The first fair was held in 1874. The grounds were formerly owned by James Emery & Son, but now by the officers of the fair: Andrew Allen, president ; William Allen, vice president, and B. F. Emery, secre- tary. About 4,000 people attend the fair annnally.
Invincible Lodge No. 741, I. O. O. F., was organized at Millsboro in 1870. The present membership is 50. Since that time the Star of Bethel Lodge No. 217, Sr. O. A. M., and Division No. 331, S. O. T., have been instituted.
FREDERICKTOWN.
Fredericktown is the oldest village in the southeast part of Washington County. It is situated on the Monongahela River below the great bend two miles north of Ten-Mile Creek, eight miles above West Brownsville, and twenty miles from Washington. It is also located on the Pennsylvania, Monongahela and Sonthern Railroad operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The town was named after Frederick Wise, who had the town plotted March S, 1790. The tract of land on which the town stands was patented March 22, 1788, under the name of "Sugar Tree Bottom."
Fredericktown contains about 60 dwellings and six stores. The sinno telephones are used as at Mills- borough, the Bell and Tri State. The postoffice receipts at Fredericktown for 1908, were $892.13. The post- master is George L. Hill, who is also president of the only bank in town.
In 1795 David Townsend commenced the operation of an establishment for the manufacture of serews. fuller's shears, oil-mill rollers, millers' brands and other mill work.
At an early date David Blair had a gunsmith shop near the mill. As early as 1795 Isaac Jenkinson kept a general store in the village. In the next year Archibald llood opened a tannery. A public library was started in 1793 and discontinued in 1825.
John Bower and afterward Jacob Wise, John Row and Eli Gapen manufactured red pottery at Frederick- town. Polk Donahoo manufactured stoneware. Leonard Leitz manufactured handles. A distillery was operated here at an early date. Joseph Avescat kept a public house. Jonathan Knight, the famous surveyor, tanght a school at Fredericktown in a log house built about 1810. Isaac Thompson built a steam-power mill in 1826.
In 1870 the town contained 320 inhabitants, five dwell- ings, a stoneware pottery manufacturing 30,000 gallons annually, a grist and saw mill, two hotels and a rectify. ing distillery.
The population of Fredericktown in 1900 was 172. It has almost doubled since 1900 on account of the influx of miners.
The First National Bank of Fredericktown .- Among the smaller banks of the county which have shown a rapid increase in their business during the past year is the First National Bank of Fredericktown, which was organized on August 5, 1901. Its condition reflects the activity which has marked this end of the county. It has steadily increased each year in its resources and surplus and nndivided profit account. The following statement for comparison, showing the condition of the bank at the close of the first six years, is an interesting study of its growth:
Year.
Surplus and Profits.
Deposits.
1901
366.00
$ 21,377.00
1902
2,677.00
61,173.00
1903
6,067.00
70,220.56
1904
7,831.91
51,876.11
1905
8,467.20 59,165.49
1906
10,740.76
102.533.31
At the end of 1908 the surplus and profits are $17,- 190.94, and deposits $130,000.
The Burson and Boyd Distillery is located at Fred- ericktown. A flour-mill is operated by the Hornbake Milling Company. The town has two hotels. Bowers Hotel and Dailes Hotel.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Methodist Episcopal Church of Fredericktown-Dur- ing the year 1904 a newly organized M. E. congregation built a frame church at Fredericktown. The first pastor was Rev. J. C. White. His successor was the present pastor, Rev. H. C. Humbert. The congregation has en- rolled almost 100 members.
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