USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I > Part 59
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COAL.
Below Alleuport the coal is well exposed on the South Brauch of Maple Creck to within a mile of the village of Lover. . Many of the river miues extend through to this ereek. On the main fork of the ereck the coal is also well exposed for two and oue-half miles from its mouth. Numerous openings have been made on the coal in this vieinity and from one near Charleroi the roof coal is found to have a thickness of one foot two inches, the main elay six inches, and the lower division eight feet nine inches. The coal of this regiou is good for coking and many coke ovens are being built at the present time by the Pittsburg aud Westmorelaud Coal Co. near Weaver Statiou.
The Wayuesburg eoal has been mined to some extent in the vicinity of Bentleyville. The Pittshurg eoal is uot available at the surface in this locality, and the Waynesburg coal vein has been used to supply local needs. The Wayuesburg coal at this place is five feet eleven inches thick. The uppermost bench of coal is reported to be worthless aud is not mined; the lowest beueh is also poor, being pyritous and slaty; but the middle bench is good, elean coal. In a country bank three miles east of Bentleyville the Waynesburg Coal is five feet and eleven inches in thickness, which shows that the coal in this region is remarkably regular in the num- ber and thickness of its benches. In the western part of Fallowfield Township, west of Pigeon Creek it shows the coal to be six feet in thickness.
A slope mine is being opened up by the Pittshurg aud Westmoreland Coal Co. near Weaver Station. Ground has been broken for the ereetion of thirty houses on the Crouch farm and it is said 250 coke ovens are to he built. A large force of Pennsylvania Railroad men are engaged on the Bahanua farm, grading for the new rail- road tracks, which will follow the line of the coke ovens.
The newest development is two large reservoirs, one heiug located on the high bluff just northeast of the Aeme mine, and which will he used as a water supply to all the company houses. The lines are now being laid
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and the reservoirs being dug. The other large reservoir is to be located on the Duvall hill, almost opposite the new houses erected by Allen Hopkins. The ditches are beiug dug leading to and from this reservoir, which will supply water for the great washer, to be built near the coke ovens and slope.
The Hazel Kirk No. 2 Mine is one-fourth of a mile below Van Voorhis Station on Pigeon Creek, and the Ellsworth Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Dir- ing 1908 this miue shipped 248,180 tons of coal and em- ployed 298 men. There are thirty-one miuers' houses,
Miners' Supply Company, MeCracken Supply Company and a postoffice. This property is valued at $193,440. [See Carroll Township for Hazel Kirk Mine No. 1.]
The Ellsworth Colleries Company own 1,366 acres of coal land in Fallowfield Township, valued at $309,850. The Monongahela River Consolidated Coal and Coke Co. own 4,368 acres valued at $1,201,200. Walker and Tay- lor own 595 acres valued at $158,175. The Mingo Coal Co. own 1,930 acres valued at $482,500. The Fallow- field Coal Co. own 1,066 acres valued at $321,200.
CHAPTER XXIX.
History of Hanover, Hopewell. Independence, Jefer son. Morris, Mt. Pleasant Townships.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
Hanover Township is situated in the extreme north- west corner of Washington County. Its present boun- daries are Beaver County on the north, West Virginia on the west, Harman's Creek (or Jefferson township) and Smith Township on the south and Smith Township and Raccoon Creek (or Robinson Township) on the east. King's Creek and Brush Run rise in the center of Han- over Township and flow west and east respectively into West Virginia and Raccoon Creek.
On March 11. 1786, Hanover Township was formed from a part of Smith Township. After its formation into a township its boundaries were the Ohio River and Robinson Township on the north and east. Smith Town- ship on the south, and Virginia on the west. When Allegheny County was erected, September 24, 1788, Han- over lost a large portion of its territory. The northern part of Hanover Township was cut off from Washington County, March 24, 1800, to form a part of Beaver County, yet each connty retained the name of Hanover for one of its townships. On March 30, 1830, by order of the court. the land included between Brush Run and the present northern boundary of Smith Township was added to Hanover Township.
About eight or nine miles of the old Pittsburg and Steubenville Turnpike, now only a publie road, passes through the middle of the township from east to west.
The villages of Florence and Paris are situated on this road. The P. C. C. & St. L. Railroad, formerly the Pittsburg and Steubenville Railroad passes along the southern boundary of this township, but in Jefferson Township mainly. The towns of Hanover Township are Paris, Florence, Murdockville and Five Points.
PARIS.
Paris is located at the West Virginia line on the old Pittsburg and Steubenville Pike. It is twenty-six miles from Pittsburg, twenty-four from Washington and twelve from Steubenville. In the lively days of the old turn- pike there were an extensive threshing machine factory and cabinet maker and wagon maker shops in the vil- lage, but these long since disappeared, and the manu-
facture of threshing machines and furniture has long since ceased in Washington County. There was once a large wagon making shop on the pike at McConnell's farm, a mile east of Paris, but when the Pittsburg and Steubenville (P. C. C. & St. L.) Railroad was built along the southern boundary of the township in IS65, heavy travel ceased on the pike and the wagon shop went out of operation. There are two churches in the village of Paris, a United Presbyterian and a Presbyterian; also a blacksmith's shop and store.
Alvin MeCabe conduets the general merchandise store here. a business long followed by his father, William Mcl'abe, who during the Civil War period purchased a large part of the township's annual wood erop.
Paris had its Academy during that period when many of the ambitious villages encouraged the yonth in their immediate neighborhoods by bringing instruction near their hearthstones. The academy building, four square and of brick, stands on a knoll in a pleasant location, but the students stepped forth for the last time abont thirty years ago. Interest in education has not ceased. but the increased studies in the common schools and the desire to attend larger colleges has worked a change. Paris has at present over a dozen dwellings.
FLORENCE.
Florence is located at the crossing of the old Pitts burg and Stenbenville Pike and the Washington and Georgetown Road. It is four miles east of Paris and four miles north of Burgettstown Station. At the time the stage coaches ran over the pike, James Briceland kept a hotel at the crossroads. This hotel has for years ceased to be used for entertainment. The village was laid ont and named Florence in 1814 by James Brice- land and Moses Proudfit. Prior to that date it was called Briceland's Crossroads. The town plot was also known as "Mount Bethel. " Soon after this James AI- lison started a tannery. A postoffice was established in 1818 and the first postmaster was Moses Bradford. About the year 1858 and ending in 1863 or 1864, the Florence Agricultural Association held annnal fairs on the Liv- ingston farm at the southeastern edge of the village.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
The Florenee Academy was established iu 1833. The first principal was Robert Fulton, a former student of Washington College. The average attendance during Mr. Fulton's principalship was seventy. Academies were condueted here by different principals as late as 1865, Miss Susan Duncan being principal iu that year.
MURDOCKSVILLE.
Murdocksville is situated on Cross Creek in the ex- treme uortheast corner of Hanover Township at the in- tersection of the lines of Washington, Beaver and Alle- gheny Counties. John White ran a mill at this village as early as 1780. A petition to eourt was presented in 1786 for "a road, from Devores Ferry (now Mononga- hela City) to Thomas White's mill on Raccoon"; and one "from Mintows bottom on the Ohio to Whites." James Murdock, an early settler at this place, gave the village its name. He is said to have been the first post- master. The old mill is still running and it is under- stood that this is the only one of the old mills in the county where the water power still turns the old burrs.
Near the close of the Civil War Hood's Mill, about two miles further up Raccoon Creek, ceased to grind. Besides these mills the inhabitants were served by a mill at Bairngton at the edge of Hanover aud Smith Town- ships, onee a water power, one at Florence always a steam mill, and Hunter's Mill and Hanliu's Mill on Harmon's Creek, between the present stations of Dins- more and Hanlin. Hunter's Mill near Dinsmore was the location of a horse-mill for many years prior to 1820. It would seem that flour from Washington County was shipped down the Ohio and Mississippi and sold in Havana, Cuba, prior to 1800 and sold profitably at $25 per barrel.
Flour, pork, wool and farm products were gathered iu great quantities in Florence in later years by the Liv- ingston brothers-James, Daniel, William and Peter- sons of Thomas Livingston. They did an extraordinary business for a country village. From 1840 forward the business was done for the father by all the sons under the name of S. & P. Livingston. Their large farms pro- dueed bountifully, their four and six-horse teams were almost constantly on the go, but no balancing or ae- counting was made. Thomas died in 1849, aged 94 years. Objections were made and his will was not probated until 1858 and a final aeeonnt was uot made until 1875. Peter died in 1854, James in 1857, and William in 1869. No other firm in the northern part of the county did such an extensive business and no other estate became so utterly unsolvable.
FIVE POINTS.
Five Points is located toward the uortheasteru part of the township. Five roads interseet here. It was the
center of considerable teaming during the rapid develop- ment of oil along the northeastern line of the towuship. bordering on Beaver County. A great many wells are yet pumping nearby.
Iu 1888 the oil distriet of Murdocksville was opened up along the line of Beaver County and this Township and it is still considered a good field. This field was among the earliest to use gas engines for pumping wells. Coinsiderable oil is produced southeast of Florence ex- tending into what is locally known as the Dorman Field in Smith Township, but the Florence pool has not yet beeu suecessfully connected up to the Murdocksville field. The Turkeyfoot oil field lies at the northwest corner of this township, but has not been sueeessfully traced into Hanover Township. Gas is found near this corner and at several points in the western and southern parts.
In the extreme northern part of the township in the neighborhood of Paris and also near Florence, several oil wells were drilled in 1908. A few small produeers have been the result of the operations there. Several dry holes were also found. In the northern part of this township there are several old wells which have been produeers for a number of years.
The most important industry of Hanover Township is farming. Dairying is carried on extensively. Most of the milk is shipped to Pittsburg from Hanlin Station in Jefferson Township. Coal crops out in many places in the township, and the farmers get coal for fuel from private eoal banks or openings made horizontally in the hillsides.
This township produces good erops of wool and be- sides general farming and dairying is well adapted to fruit raising, especially along the high lands between Florence and Paris. Between these two villages are some of the finest drives and views of the county. The hill at Florenee is one of the highest points in Washington County.
Two cemeteries have been laid out within the last six years. They have fine grounds for burial purposes and are kept in excellent condition. One is situated on a beautiful tract of land about one-half mile north of the village of Florence on the farm of J. D. Pollock and the other is across the old turnpike road from the his- torie Tueker-Stone Chureh.
Iu 1906 Hanover Township adopted the cash road tax in place of the work road tax. The millage of road tax for Hanover Township for 1908 is three mills and total road tax collected, $3,747.54.
The township is intersected by the Pittsburg and Steubenville Road and the old Washington and George- town Road, but has no improved state highway or county roads. The registration of voters in Hanover Town- ship for the year 1908 is 450.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
A street ear line is projected to start from MeDonald Borough and pass through Midway to Burgettstown, Florence, and thence along the old Pittsburg and Steu- beuville Pike to Steubenville.
From the year 1805 schools in different places in the township were in operation, but with little regularity until the school law was passed in 1834. The next year public schoolhouses were ereeted in the township, and in 1863 there were fourteen teachers, 602 pupils and $2,- 218,07 raised for school purposes. In two decades the attendance bad dropped about one-fifth.
This township in 1908 had schools, 12; teachers, 12 (males 6, females 6) ; average number of months taught, 7; average salary of teachers per month, males $44.00, females $44.50; cost of each pupil per month, $1.85; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes. 3: estimated value of school property, $24,000.
Michael Dillow settled on a tract of land situated on Dillow's Creek before the year 1780 and built a fort. A road ran from Fort Dillow southeast to Fort Becker in Robinson Township. Dillow was killed by Indians a few years later.
The following are some of the early settlers in Han- over Township, and the approximate dates of their set- tling: Samuel Johnson, 1780; Humphrey Montgomery, 1785; Alexander Duneau, James Proudfoot, 1782; Na- than Dungan, 1785; James MeNary, 1783; Thomas Armor, 1776; Johu Travis, 1798; Robert Wallace, 1782; Adam and Andrew Poe, 1786; Augustine Moore, 1790; William MeConnell, 1784; Jouas Potts, 1787; John Tueker, 1786; Philip and Benjamin Jackson, 1786; Sam- nel Merchant, 1778; James Simpson, 1785; Hugh Miller, 1786; John Kirby, 1785. The MeConnells, Donaldsons and Saxtons were also early settlers. .
Samuel Johnson and James Edgar were the first jus. tiees of the peace when this was a part of Smith Town- ship.
From 1845 until his death June 11, 1875, John Me- Collough was a large part of his time justice of the peace, located at Florence. Robert Cleland and Francis Finnegan have ocenpied this official position for con- sidetable periods in recent years.
United Presbyterian Church of Paris-In 1785 a Se- ceders' Church was organized and a log meeting house built where is now the village of Paris. In 1805, about twenty years later, the congregation having deelined the house of worship was given up to the congregation formed by the union of the two parties of the denom- ination. A new meeting house was built at Hanlin Station and the church called Hermon's Creek U. P. Church. In 1849 a brick church building, the present
house of worship, was erected. Rev. II. D. Gordon. the present pastor, has served since 1900.
Presbyterian Church of Paris The congregation of Three Springs Presbyterian Church separated in 1554. one part worshipping at Holliday's Cove and the other at Paris, They erected a brick church in which they still hold their services.
Cross-Roads ( Florence) Presbyterian Church-The Cross Roads Presbyterian Church was organized in 17-5 at a place known as King's Crock. The location was changed to Florence in 1798. The present pastor, Rev. Alexander, has served sture 1883.
The first church building was a log structure, built in 1786, on King's Creek. The second, or the first build- ing on the new location, was also of hewn logs, and was built in 1798. A new house, of briek, was finished in 1831. It having been burnt to the ground in 1845 the present building, also of brick, was created in 1847. Four and a half acres of ground were purchased in 1964 on which now stands a two-story frame parsonage.
Methodist Episcopal (Tucker) Church-This church was organized in 1824 by Rev. Thomas Jamison. The congregation purchased a lot of land from John Tucker and some time afterward built a stone church in which services have continued to be held to the present day. Tucker's Stone Church is situated on the Pittsburg and Steubenville Pike midway between the villages of Paris and Florence.
The value of personal property in Hanover Township amounts to $95,810; real estate, $1,113,065; number of taxables, 397. The population of this township in 1950 was 1,803; in 1860 it was 2,090, in 1890, 1,757, aud in 1900, 1,753.
The number of voters iu Hanover Township iu 1850 was 426, in 1904 was 463, and in 1908, 450.
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP.
One of the original thirteen townships, was organized by the trustees of Washington County, July 15, 1781. At its organization it was bounded on the north by Smith Township; on the east by Robinson and Cecil ; on the south by Donegal; on the west by Virginia (now West Virginia).
On September 1, 1789 an application was made to the conrt for a division and confirmed by the Supreme Exeeu- tive Council, on December 10, 1789. This division was formed by running a line commencing at a certain spring on the head waters of Cross Creek, which rises about teu perehes from the Township of Strabane; thence down the south branch thereof to Wells' Mill; thence dowu the Creek to the state line. This division formed Cross Creek Township. The preseut boundaries of the Town- ship are Cross Creek and Mt. Pleasant on the north; Mt.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Pleasant and Cauton on the east; Buffalo and Blaine on the south, and Independence on the west. It is cen- trally distant twelve miles from Washington; its great- est length, six miles; breadth, three and a half miles. It originally embraced Independence, Cross Creek, Jeffer- son and a part of Mt. Pleasant Townships.
This township is drained by the waters of Buffalo and Cross Creeks. The towns are West Middletown aud Buf- falo. West Middletown had a population in 1900 of 241. Buffalo village is on a fork of Buffalo Creek eight miles northwest of Washington and in 1900 had a population of 77. Buffalo has two general stores, W. E. Leech, gen- eral merchant and postmaster, and W. T. Magill, Esq., general store. Manley Mills is the blacksmith. The present population of the village is 85. Dr. H. L. Snod- grass, M. D., cujoys a large practice, being the only physician in the place. The Buffalo Mutual Telephone Co., connecting with the Bell telephone, assures good service. The Wheeling Gas Company, now a part of the Manufacturers' Light and Heat Company, has a pumping and distributing station uear Buffalo in Hope- well Township. There is one hotel in Buffalo.
Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church was organized June 21, 1779, eight miles northwest of the Borough of Wash- iugton. It was incorporated March 29, 1804. Rev. Joseph Smith, first pastor, was called to Upper Buffalo and Cross Creek Churches June 21, 1779. He accepted the call October 27, 1779, and in December of the next year took charge of the congregations; he continued as pastor until his death in 1792. He was followed suc- cessively by a number of able pastors, the last of whom, Rev. John C. Strubel, was installed May 5, 1905, and dismissed Feb. 14, 1909, since which time the pulpit has been vacant.
After the death of the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, in 1793, who established the first classical school west of the Allegheny Mountains in 1782 for the purpose of prepar- ing young men for the ministry, the students were trans- ferred to a school of the same kind at Buffalo which had been established by the Rev. Smith in 1785.
The first house of worship was built in 1779, and was situated on the northwest corner of what is now the graveyard. This building was used as a place of wor- ship until 1798.
The second house was built in 1797-'98, on the site of the present church-a bewed log house, 70x40 feet. It was furnished with a gallery on the ends and on one side, with the pulpit on the other side. The entire work was performed by the voluntary labor of the men of the church. This building was gradually furnished and im- proved and was used for forty-seven years, or until 1845.
The third house, of brick, was erected iu 1845 on the same ground as the second and dedicated October 26th. It was 65x53 feet, one story high. It cost about $3,300.
During 1845-'46 a lecture room was built. This church was occupied twenty-seven years.
The present and fonrth house of worship was com- menced in 1872. It is a brick structure two stories high, 80 x 54 feet. The basement story is 12 feet high, and contains a Sabbath School room, an infant class room, and a session room. The audience room is 22 feet at the eaves and 27 feet at the center; it has stained glass win- dows. The total cost was $20,597. The church was dedicated May 22, 1874. The parsonage, erected in 1875, cost $2,530, and was paid for by voluntary sub- seriptions.
There have been several remarkable revivals in this church-1781 special revivals were held, and in 1783 there were added to the church about 100 members as a result. The year 1802 witnessed another remarkable revival. There were estimated to he 10,000 people pres- ent for the fall communion. Fifteen ministers, all mem- bers of the Synod of Pittsburg, were present. The serv- ices began on Saturady, November 13th, 2 o'clock and continued with short intermissions until Tuesday even- ing. There were hundreds of conversions. The years 1835, 1853, 1857, 1858, 1859 were also periods of great religious activity and growth.
It is said that from 1841 up to the time of Dr. Eagle- son's death in 1873 the church enjoyed an almost unin- terrupted revival. The Sabbath School has existed since 1815. The present superintendent is Albert Caldwell. It has an enrollment of 105 members. There are also the Ladies' Home and Foreign Missionary Society and the Christian Endeavor Society. The present session is com- posed of Dr. H. L. Snodgrass, J. L. Davis, Ira W. Ross (at present located in Fayette County), James M. Dins- more, James S. Sloan, Joseph C. Blaney, James B. Wil- son, and John Reed. The present church was remodeled in 1907.
The following are township officials: Justice of the peace, W. T. Magill; assessor, James Sloan; collector, Robert Cox; supervisors, Benjamin Hamilton, John Hunter, James MeCleary.
Hopewell Township is well suited to farming and stock raising and has many well improved farns. Oil and gas are found in this township, but there have not been auy operations in oil. The eutire township is underlaid with a rich vein of coal, but has never been developed to any commercial extent, for the want of shipping facilities. The township has several miles of turnpike roads with the promise of further improvements in the near future.
Pleasant Hill Seminary was founded by Mrs. Jaue MeKeever, wife of Matthew MeKeever, and sister of Alexander Campbell. She became the principal and had for her associate teachers, among others, her son,
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Thomas C. MeKeever, and son in law, James Campbell. The first graduating class, 1847, consisted of four members. The building was increased by additions until it accommodated 100 boarders. The institution passed into the hands of Prof. T. C. MeKcover, the principal resigning owing to advancing age and Prof. Campbell having removed to the Pacific coast. Under the manage ment of Prof. Mckeever the seminary was highly pros- perous. Several additions were made to the original buildings. Prof. MeKeever died in 1867, after which the institution rapidly declined. The buildings wore at last destroyed by fire, and the ruins of the old iusti- tution are still to be seen near West Middletown.
Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat, owned a farm in this township, on which his father and mother resided until their death. It was purchased by Fulton in 1786 and was willed to Mrs. Elizabeth Scott, a sister. Fulton had several sisters residing in Washington County.
There were in 1900 in Hopewell Township six schools and six teachers. (males 2, females 4) ; average number of months taught, 7; average salary of teachers per month, males $50.00, females $51.25; cost of each pupil per month, $2.65; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 2; estimated value of school prop- erty, $5,000.
School directors for Hopewell Township-E. M. Jolly. president ; J. L. Patterson, secretary; R. D. Sloan, treasurer; John Farrar, John Reed, John S. Craig.
In the year 1904 Hopewell had 60 miles of public roads within its borders.
The cash road tax was accepted by this township in the year 1907. In 1908 the road tax was 216 mills and $3,200.75 was collected.
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