USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I > Part 71
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M. R. Allen established the Burgettstown "Call" and the first number was issued Tuesday, August 1, 1881. This was the first paper printed in Burgettstown.
The Burgettstown "Enterprise" was established by C. Kuepper and printed in Mansfield (Carnegie) March 1, 1879, with J. P. Donnan, local editor. On December 29, 1887, the Burgettstown "Call" was consolidated with the Burgettstown "Enterprise" and became the "Enterprise-Call." The printing was done at Burgetts- town by M. Riddile Allen and Sons, and the name "Call" was dropped recently. It is now published by the En- terprise Publishing Company, and is issuing its twenty- second volume.
The Burgettstown "Herald" was organized 1908. It is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday by W. G. Cramer, editor and proprietor, who was until recently the editor of the "Enterprise."
Prior to the year 1872 there was no banking done in Burgettstown except the private banking carried on by James L. Patterson, Esq., and John L. Proudfit. They and other associates organized the Burgettstown Savings Bank on the 2d of March, 1872, associating with them-
selves, A. S. Berryhill, Dr. T. W. Bradley, and Robert K. Scott. On January 23, 1879 they changed and reor- ganized as the Burgettstown National Bank. The first location was on the street fronting on the railroad. In 1874 they built the large brick building at the corner of Main and Washington streets, where they are now located. This bank is the second oldest national bank in the county.
J. L. Patterson, who was connected with this bank from its organization as cashier and later as president, died October 30, 1905. A. R. Keor had succeeded him as cashier, and he and R. C. Cassidy have been many years with this bank. Its capital stock was at first $10,000. This increased from time to time until in 1882 its capital was $50,000, and deposits $100,000. Later the capital was increased to $80,000. The Burgettstown Trust Company was organized in 1903 with a capital of $200,000. In 1906 the Burgettstown Trust Company was absorbed by the National Bank. The Burgettstown National Bank increased its capital from $80,000 to $100,000. It declared 12 per cent dividend for the year 1908.
The Washington National Bank of Burgettstown was organized on November 4, 1903, and built its banking building on Washington Street. At end of the year 1905 its capital stock was $50,000; surplus and profits, $14,009.21; deposits, $241,554.11.
J. A. Ray, of Pittsburg, was the first president, and in the creation of this bank was ably assisted by many of the enterprising citizens of this borough. It claims to be the only bank in Washington County that com- pounds interest every ninety days.
The Richard Vaux Lodge, No. 454, F. and A. M., hav- ing obtained a charter December 1, 1869, has held meet- ings since January 21, 1870; members at present, 115.
The Burgettstown Grange, No. 480, P. of H. was or- ganized in December, 1874, to promote farming interests. It has long since disbanded.
The Cardville Lodge, No. 407, I. O. O. F., once held meetings at Burgettstown. It was transferred to Flor- ence over twenty years ago.
Burgettstown Lodge, No. 1145, I. O. O. F., was in- stituted May 22, 1906. Members at present, 85.
Silver Cliff Lodge, No. 300, K. of P., was instituted August 6, 1904; members at present, 112.
Burgettstown Lodge, No. 400, K. O. T. M. was insti- tuted March 3, 1902; members at present, 23.
William S. Bradley Camp, No. 96, Sons of Veterans, was instituted August 11, 1906; members, 35.
Capt. Samuel Campbell Post, No. 286, G. A. R., was instituted September 26, 1883; members, 15; once, 92.
There have been four separate school buildings in Burgettstown. The first, a small log cabin, was used
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
from 1807 to 1834; the second from 1834 to 1867; the third or Union School from 1868 to 1895. The present briek school building was constructed in 1895.
Burgettstown in 1908 had six schools, teachers, 6 ( males 1, females 5); average number of months tanght, S; average salary paid to teachers per month, males $85.00, females $55.00; eost of each pupil per month, $2.13; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 7; estimated value of school property, $10,000; average attendance, 196.
The following physicians have praetieed at Burgetts- town: Drs. Ebenezer Jennings (the first of whom any- think is known), Thomas Hersey, Stephen Smith, Joseph Campbell, William Donnan, T. W. Bradley (associate judgo of Washington County), L. C. Botkin, George Bell, W. J. Miller (now of MeDonald), and George Miller. The present physicians are Drs. W. V. Riddile, J. C. Nesbit, George MeKee and S. W. Saxton.
Dr. Ebenezer Jennings represented Washington County in the State Legislature in 1906, when it met at Lan- easter, and was re-elected. He desired to be early at the Legislature to have an act passed to have all the poor of the State vaccinated gratuitously. He was sueeessful, but lost his life by exposure while on the way to perform the duties of his second term. He first introduced into this county the vaeeine virus as a preventive of small- pox.
First United Presbyterian Church of Burgettstown was organized in 1802. Rev. Morris Watson has been pastor sinee 1903. Iu 1908 there were 198 communieants.
Sinee 1898 this church has used an organ in its publie worship, but its addition to the musical services was not introduced without ercating some dissatisfaction.
Second United Presbyterian Church of Burgettstown was organized September 7, 1898, by Rev. D. W. Carson, D. D., the first pastor, and several members of the other congregation. He is still serving, a faithful pastor, blessed with a long and useful life. This church has forty-one communieants.
First Presbyterian Church-The first ehureh building, a frame structure, was ereeted on the hill where the cemetery now stands in the year 1845. Afterward, in 1849, the congregation was organized by Rev. Joel Stone- road. In 1860 the building was enlarged and refitted. In 1874 a new and more commodious structure was built of briek at a cost of $20,000 on the present site. The build- ing has recently been remodeled at considerable expense, the pulpit changed to the south eud of the church and a fine pipe organ installed. William M. Hays has been pastor sinee 1904. The membership at present is 540.
Westminister Presbyterian Church was organized June 26, 1893. Rev. E. W. Byers has been pastor sinee 1907. The membership at present is 205.
Baptist (colored) Church-This church was organized in January, 1906. Pastors, Rev. L. B. Coleman, 1906- 1908; Rev. W. H. Smith, 1908, is the present pastor.
The Methodist denomination built a frame ebureb in 1872 near the present Union school building. Several years afterward the organization eeased to hold services.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
History of California, Canonsburg, Centerville, Charleroi, Claysville, Coal Center, Deemston and Donora.
CALIFORNIA.
Nestled in a graceful bend of the Monongahela, 49.9 miles from Pittsburg, a magnificent bluff on the cast, and a geutly rising plateau extending to the western horizon, California possesses an excellent location.
The first white man to claim title to the land upon which the borough now stands was Samuel Young. His title to the land was a grant claimed to have been be- stowed by King James. In the year 1787 Young re- linquished all right and title to the land to Robert Jack- man, who in addition became possesed of several hun- dred acres adjoining the original tract. At Mr. Jack- man's death in 1813, all this land passed to six sons who survived him. The portion of the land now com- prising California Borough was given to James and William, who soon allowed it to be sold at sheriff's sale, to Seth Buffington, who in turn transferred it to a John Ringland.
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In 1849, during the gold excitement in the State of California, a company with William W. Jackman at its head, was organized and purchased of Ringland's heirs 304 acres, upon which they laid out a town site, calling the newly created burg California. Job Johnson, one of the company, surveyed the land, which was divided into about 100 lots, each 50 x 150 feet, on streets of unusual width-sixty-five feet. On account of the bend in the river the streets which parallel it turn to the west at or near the center, but those intersecting are uniform- ly straight from the river practically to the western boundary. Lots in the new town sold at $15, which may be remarked with interest at this date, when prices are running from $600 to $4,000 for a single lot, depend- ing upon the location.
The first house erected was that of Thomas Moore, built by himself. His son, Job Johnson Moore, was the first child born in the new town. He was honored by the donation of a lot.
California was now in an embryonic stage and re- mained so for many years. To Job Johnson is due much of the credit for the early advancement of the town's interests. He built the first hotel, and ran in the same building a general store in 1851, and was instrumental
in securing a postoffice, thus contributing materially to its advantages as a shopping point for farmers. He was of genial and generous disposition, and often helped struggling individuals and enterprises in their battles for existence. The black man knew him as a friend, and California being on the historic "Underground Rail- way," his opportunities in this direction were almost boundless.
L. W. Morgan and Solomon Sibbitt opened the first store in 1850. Mr. Sibbitt was the first burgess of the town, and was always prominent in civic affairs.
On petition of its citizens, California was, in Novem- ber, 1853, declared a borough. The first election was held in 1854. At this election, in addition to Mr. Sib- bitt as burgess, Messrs. Ailes, Chrissinger, Morgan, and Carroll were elected councilmen.
From 1853 to 1860 the growth of the town was slow. At the outbreak of the Civil War the borough promptly furnished its quota of men and contributed in many ways to the Union cause. At the close of the war, new life seemed infused into the old town, and it began a healthy growth, which has continued with slight inter- ruption to the present time. The citizens which have come to us have been of the most desirable sort, her internal policy has been conservative, yet her public spirit never wanting. Within the last few years marked progress has been made in beautifying and improving the town. Although only a few squares have been paved as yet, the preparatory work of placing sewers and laying water mains, gas lines, etc., has been completed.
The following reminiscences of early days are taken from an interesting sketch prepared by Mr. L. W. Mor- gan, the pioncer merchant of California, and read by him in January, 1906, before the Century Club of Cali- fornia. They are here presented with his permission. The few omissions indicated by the asterisks are chiefly of data that is elsewhere given in this article. After a short description of the origin and platting of the town Mr. Morgan proceeds as follows:
"Not a building stood upon the town site when first laid out. Mr. and Mrs. Thos. W. Moore completed and occupied the first dwelling house during the summer and soon after had a son, Job Jolinson Moore, born therein.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
The proprietor donated him a towu lot. Among others who built soon were: Nelsou Crow, the first frame house above the Vesta Tipple; James Hank, the small brick house opposite tho Pittsburg Mercantile Store on Second Ave .; S. S. Rothwell, a large frame house occupied by Mrs. Kate Lilley and family; Jas. Ailes, the large brick dwelling now occupied by M. H. Matthews on 5th St .; Job Johnson, the briek hotel near the station, known as the Johnson House, John Woodfill, the house occupied by C. N. Savage; William Jobes, the frame opposite J. W. Martin's store ou 3rd St .; Aug. Wells, the brick now owned by Jacob Ilornbake on 2nd St .; Adah Wallace, a frame house below the wharf, torn down some years sinee; Josiah Critchfield, the brick owued by the People's Bank.
"Job Johnson was a man of great energy and push and to him should be ascribed the credit of having done more for the material advancement of the town than to any other citizen. Ile was a very valuable member of onr board of trustees at the Normal, but has long siuce gone to rest.
"Solomon Sibbitt and L. W. Morgan, as partners in a small store, claim to have had the first general store in town, opening it May, 1851, in the room now owned by Mrs. Van Dyke. Mr. Sibbitt was the first burgess of the town and was au active and prominent citizen.
"William MeFall, St. Clair Chrissinger and James T. Imlay established the boat yard in 1851, and two or three years later came our post office. It is probable that the entire population did not number more than 300 when the town was incorporated in 1853. On the 26th of Nov., 1853, in accordance with the petition of many citizens, the court issued an order declaring the town of Cali- fornia a borough. Therefore, in the spring of 1854, the inhabitants held a meeting at the schoolhouse, when the following officers were elected for one year : Solomon Sib- bitt, burgess; Jas. P. Ailes, St. Clair Chrissinger, Lewis W. Morgan and William Carroll, councilmuen; S. S. Rotb- well, clerk; Henry Phillips, high constable, and Joshua Norcross, street commissioner. At a special election held July the 28th, 1864, to determine whether a tax be levied to fill the borough's quota in accordance with a eall of the President for 500,000 men, 76 votes were polled, of which 46 were for the tax and 30 against. The borough authorities resolved to issue bonds to the amouut of $2,100 and to pay $300 bounty to each of the seven men required to fill the quota .*
"Soon after the founding of the town, the proprietors placed in operation an extensive saw-mill where the lum- ber yard aud carpenter shop of Jobn R. Powell's Sons now stands. In 1851 this mill was leased by a firm com- posed of William MeFall, St. Clair Chrissinger and Jas. T. Imlay, who during the summer of that year, engaged in boat building. They continued but two or three years, being succeeded by Capt. Stirling and Benj. Coursin. Various changes in the style of the firm and ownership took place till 1879, when the road bed of the P. V. & C. was run through the grounds. As a result, the boat yard at that time, one of the most extensive and convenient on the river, was destroyed. From 1859 to 1879, about 50 men were usually employed in boat building, except dur- ing the years of 1863 and 1864, when about 70 men were employed. During the 20 years above mentioned, G. M. Eberman and Co. and Eberman, MeFall and Co. con- structed 168 steamboats and model barges at a cost of $854,753, besides having sold from the yard timber and lumber to the value of $40,000. In 1878 they built the steamers Montana and Dakota for the Missouri River
trade. The boats were 250 feet long, 48 feet wide and five feet six inches depth of hold. Other industrial enter- prises have had birth here in early days, some successful while others proved failures.
"Early in our history John R. Dunlap came here from Greene County, being a tanner by trade. He succeeded in interesting Sampsou Alter, L. P. Beazell and A. P. Smith in a tanyard, situated between Third and Fourth streets in what was then ealled the 'Valley of Conten- tiou.' It proved a financial failure and the vats have been filled up and abandoned.
"About the year 1853, when the coal business was in its infancy, Solomon Sibbitt had a small boat-load of eoal mined this side of the powder house and left on a platform like the one that stands at the lower end of Third street now. After buying and fitting up a small hull of the steamer Adrianna, which had been used as a packet, he filled it with this eoal and floated it out of the creek to the river and to Cincinnati aud sold it. It contained 4,000 bushels. In arranging to buy a small traet of coal near bere, which was in full running order, the writer pressed the owner to know the capacity of the mine. The answer was, 'One day we did run 1800 bushels.' And 40 years after, the latest developed coal mine is Vesta No. 4, whose output is the largest in the world, being 187,000 bushels in one day, and whose out- put has been 59,000,000 bushels in the past year, and whose payroll is now about $1,000,000 annually. This story will but faintly give you the two extremes of this great industry of the Monongahela Valley.
"Brick making was a great industry that bad a good place iu our early history, William Carroll and his sons making quite a business. In taking out the rear end of the M. E. Church, built in 1859, as was done some years since, one good, old, hard, red brick rolled out with a name on it. On picking it up I found the name of J. O. Carroll on it. E. M. Melchi, another brickmaker, an abolitionist and stauneh temperance man and justice of the peace, worked bard and did much for the betterment of the town. Sucb stalwarts as the above named and many others, made such a strong sentiment in favor of total abstinence that it predominated.
"Brick yards were to be seen on the rear of the Col- lege grounds on Third Street, where the houses of Harry Mills now stand, near the river wharf, below the ceme- tery, and lastly, at the head of the lane owned by F. H. Martin. But like other things of the kind, here comes some larger people, and before we knew much about them, a large kiln was erected and all former records broken by an output of 20,000 daily. The people previous to 1859, who wished to attend church, had to go to Greenfield, but in that year the Methodists put up the building now standing on Third street. It has passed through several severe spells of repair and still holds its own well. * * *
"Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Kiug were married about 35 years ago in West Newton and for abont ten years Mr. King and his father-in-law, Mr. Schoff, were partners in the foundry business. Mr. King concluded to sever his connection with the parent concern and moved to Cali- fornia, buying a lot from Professor G. G. Hertzog, on which he ereeted the foundry which he now operates, and it has proved a profitable investment.
"Two blacksmiths located here abont the same time William Reese and a Mr. Thomas, who had a very awk- ward son. The boys called him 'Traveling Trunks, ' but he turned out pretty well. When the town was first planned or laid ont, large elms occupied the shore from Greenfield to the Normal School grounds, as we call it
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
now, making a very fine shade and a good place to take a walk and improve our acquaintance with the ladies. One large cottonwood broke the monotony of the elms and was said to be the only one between Brownsville and Pittsburg. Much of the shore has been carried into the stream aud these monarchs of the forest have been carried with the flood to the ocean.
"Carry yourself back to the date last mentioned (Jan. 12, 1906) ; a town with 300 inhabitants, no churches, no railroads, no telegraph, no telephone, no Normal School, no newspapers, either daily or weekly, on sale, without a wharf, with big trees to hide the steamers, with locust trees in the streets, and berries growing in the fence corners, and you have a pretty fair picture of our town.
"But there were men and pretty women here and young men and women just as it is uow, only more so; and we had singing schools and parties, where the young folks simpered and acted silly, just as they do now. I could name some of them if I wanted to, but I don't.
"Occasionally a stranger from Brownsville or Cooks- towu would drop in and then there would be a flutter in society. Occasionally these strangers would come in buggies or in carriages and take our girls for an outing and we poor boys would stand back and wait our time, for we had no livery stable and few horses and fewer buggies. * * *
"Some of our citizens had queer notions and did not fear to express them. A few samples may illustrate: Job Johnson, one of the proprietors, was a man of noble qualities, and very pronounced character, a friend of edu- cation and a strong temperance advocate. When the Normal School project was ou foot one faction was opposed to Mr. Johnson and another for him. In order to work both sides for the school, the writer and another friend called upon him to induce him to keep quiet until we could get the other side committed. He was a very large man and used his left hand to emphasize his speak- ing. Suiting the action to his words, he answered, 'I'll not do it. There shall be no good thing go on unless I have a hand in it.' He was a member of the board of trustees, and in discussing the plan of the central bnild- ing, he said that it should have 'no Roman nose.'
"The early inhabitants of our town were, as a rule, pronounced temperance people and some stories can be told which illustrate this matter thoroughly: A well known distiller came from Pike Run to buy brick for his new building. Mr. William Carroll, having all the brick, was called upon. Mr. Carroll said 'No,' and did not sell. His brother, working with him, said he would furnish brick for the gable end of Hades if they would pay him. There were three Mr. Carrolls and three kinds of men, but William was the quickest witted. His brother James was a slow, mild Methodist, and the elder brother, speaking of him, said that Jimmy did not have enough religion to do him a little bit. Another demand for lumber for the distillery was blocked by the refusal of Jonothan Dehaven, a teamster, to haul the lumber out, and a refusal by J. K. Ward to haul lumber and whiskey at the rate of $1 per bbl. Ellis N. Lilley, another staunch temperance man, told a very genteel distiller, who offered him his price for grain, that his father during his life- time had refused to sell grain to the distiller and he would not break the record.
"In 1856, during the Fremont campaign, we had the largest political gathering ever held herc. The committee having in charge the meeting made a general preparation to have a big time, but the crowd surpassed all expec- tations. Delegations in wagons and on horseback crowded
the town, making a cordon coming in at the lower end of Third street, below the cemetery, marching up Third street to Green, down Green to where the station is now, down Water street to near Vesta, and across to the place of beginning, having to wait there till the march ing column would press together so that there was room to pass. * * *
"Early in 1861, we organized a singing class at the M. E. Church and at its close a more permanent organi- zation was effected which was to be a choir. Consider- able opposition developed, so we did not sing at the serv- ices for some time later, but were allowed to sing in the Sunday school. We had no instrument but a small port- able melodeon brought by J. C. Totten, our instructor. Early in that year some of the class volunteered in the army and others took their places in the class. The rumblings of war were heard all about us. We began to sing patriotie songs and hold concerts here and else- where aud somehow got a reputation for good music. At the close of Mr. Totten's term he arranged to have us go to his own city, Monongahela, where we were greeted by a crowded house and many encores. About the middle of our entertainment, it had been arranged to sing an echo song and Miss MeCain, now Mrs. Jas. S. Harris, and her sister, Mrs. Jacob Billingsley, were placed in the stairway to the gallery and their singing * This entertainment, brought down the house. * * as near as I can now remember, was on Christmas night, 1862. Opposition was so great against an organ that we did not use one in the public congregation for sev- eral years. At one time the official board was called together to adjust the trouble, but high words were used and the minister thought to cool us by having prayer. He called on one brother to pray, and he re- plied, 'Let the organ pray.' On one occasion, the C. P. Church was holding their synod here and Dr. Miller, president of the Waynesburg College, held services in our church. After service I was spoken to about the choir and much praise given. 'You struck with the pre- cision of a brass band, ' was his compliment. One by one we have faded from the active participation in musie and have taken our seats quietly among the flintlocks. Others have taken our places with better equipment and better opportunities and are doing fine work, and we listen to them with great pleasure. L. W. MORGAN. "
The population of California in 1860 was 640. By 1890 it had increased to 1,024, in 1900 to 2,009, in 1905 to 2,056, and at the present it is estimated at 2,120.
The number of voters at present is 530, number of taxables, 578; borough tax, 12 mills.
The real estate valuation of the borough is $679,975; personal property value, $60,375; total, $740,350. This is one of the few towns of any size along the Mononga- hela River in Washington County that does not have any license to sell intoxicating liquors and that never has had.
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