USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I > Part 84
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The church roll now shows 69 full members and three probationers. The present pastor is Rev. A. G. Emery.
The old Seceder Church in Houston was erected about 1874, a lot on the creek bank having been deeded the society. The small brick building was used as a place of worship by the small congregation for 10 or 12 years. The congregation then disbanded.
LONG BRANCH.
Long Branch Borough was erected out of Allen Town- ship August 21, 1893, and is bounded by Twilight and Speers on the north, Allen Township on the east, Allen Township, Elco Borough and the Monongahela River on the south, and East Pike Run Township on the west. The borough is underlaid with a thick bed of Pittsburg coal and the principal occupation of the inhabitants is the mining of coal. The borough has no river front and the inhabitants have not gathered together in any community. .
There were in 1908, 73 taxables in Long Branch Borough. It had a real estate value of $124,000; per- sonal property value of $10,340. The borough tax was 8 mills.
The population of the borough in 1900 was 273. In 1905 the estimated population was 315. The population at present is about the same as in 1905. The uumber of voters in 1904 was 67 and in 1908, 58.
Long Branch has one school and one teacher (male) ; enrollment, 46; average number of months taught, 7; ·salary of (male) teacher per month, $60.00; cost of each pupil per month, $1.45; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 3; estimated value of school property, $2,500.
Fallowfield Quaker Church-The first religious socie- ties to be formed in this locality were those of the
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Quakers or Friends. This congregation was called Quakers of Westland Monthly Meeting. In 1799 land was purchased from Joseph AAllen, on which the Quakers soon creeted the Fallowfield Meeting house. Subse- quently a division occurred all over the country, one party being known as the Orthodox and the other as the llieksite Church. This latter branch left the F'allow. field congregation. Soon after this the Fallowfield con- gregation disbanded and sold part of the property to the Methodists in 1849, and on it the Mount Tabor Church was built.
Mount Tabor Methodist Episcopal Church-At some time prior to 1800 a Methodist congregation was organ. ized and held meetings in the llowe Church. This build- ing has long ago gone to ruins, but the Howe Cemetery has been kept up. This Methodist congregation after removing from the Ilowe Church purchased the Fallow- field Quaker Church property in 1849 and built a new church in 1850. The Mount Tabor Cemetery was the same one used by the Quakers. The graves of the Quakers are nnmarked by tombstones and the mound only marks the grave. This congregation belongs to the Lueyville or Roscoe charge. The present pastor is Rev. JJames Fornear. The membership is about 40. The church is now in Long Branch Borough.
McDONALD.
McDonald is located IS miles west of Pittsburg, on the P. C., C. & St. E. R. R., in corner of Washington County, adjoining Allegheny County, and about 18 miles northwest of Washington. Although only recently incorporated as a borongh, (November 11. 1889), Me- Donald has had a place on the map of Washington County for more than 100 years. In the year 1775. one John MeDonald came to this part of the country and took possession of a large tract of land, for which he had taken out a warrant which afterwards in the due course of time were patented. On a part of this land is now located the town of MeDonald. Soon after com- ing here an Indian trading post was established on this land and John McDonald was appointed Indian agent. He was one of the judges of Youghiogheny County Court, Virginia, which held court in Washington County while Virginia claimed to own this region. He soon added to his original grant and finally owned 5,000 or 6,000 acres of land in this immediate vicinity. Ephram John- ston secured a government grant of land adjoining the McDonald patent on the east. On a portion of this land the first real town site of MeDonald was laid ont. In the fall of 1865, when the first train passed over the newly built Panhandle Railroad. a station was estab- lished here and was called MeDonakl. William Johnston was appointed first agent. The postoffice was at first
ealled Havelock and so remained until about 1569 or 1870 when it was changed to MeDonald. Henry MeCune was first postmaster. Mr. Thomas Johnston, father of Mrs. W. B. Morehead, platted a portion of his farm into town lots before the first attempt to build the railroad. Michael O'llara had the first official plan of the town made and recorded in 1871. Among the first buildings erected was the MeDonald Hotel, the first hotel in the town. It was built and conducted by Mr. William Johnston. Before the railroad came there were no signs of a town, no buildings except MeEwon's grist-mill. a blacksmith shop and a dwelling house, all three of which stood back of the present railway station.
Mr. S. S. Johns, the long-time railroad station agent. was elected first burgess. In 1890 the first town build- ing, which contained the locknp and council chamber. was built on Washington Street.
In 1889-90 McDonald experienced its greatest im- petus by the discovery of oil in this neighborhood. In the summer of 1890 the Royal Gas Company drilled two wells on the MeDonald estate, two miles west of Me- Donald Station, finding a show of oil in the so-called Gordon sand. On the farm of Edward McDonald, west side of the borough, the same company struck oil and gas, the latter part of September, 1900. The well stood two months, was drilled through the fifth sand in No- vember, torpedoed on December 20, and filled three tanks of oil in ten days. The tools were run down to elear it out, stuck fast and the pioneer venture of the MeDonald region was ended, simultaneously with the ending of 1890. In May, 1891, the Royal Gas Company finished two wells on the Robb and Santers tracts north of town, across the railroad track. The Robb proved a 20-barreler and the Sauters flowed 160 barrels a day from the fifth sand. Three miles northeast, the Mathews well produced 30 barrels a day from the Gordon sand. On July 1 it was drilled to the fifth sand, increasing the output 800 barrels a day for two months. Further probing the first week in September increased it to 11,000 barrels. Scouts gauged it at 700 barrels an honr for three hours after the agitation ceased. It yielded 400,000 barrels in four months, and was properly styled "Mathews the Great. " The owners were James M. Guffey, John Galey, Edward Jennings and Michael Murphy. They built acres of tanks and kept ten or a dozen sets of tools constantly at work.
C. D. Greenlee and Barney Forst leased James Mevey's 250 acres a short distance northeast of MeDonald just across in Allegheny County. A well was put down on the Mevey farm and on September 26, the fifth sand was cracked and oil gushed at the rate of 140 barrels an hour. The well was stirred a trifle on September 25 with startling effect. It put 15,600 barrels of oil into the tanks in 24 hours. This was without doubt the
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
largest oil well ever struck on this continent and said to be the greatest white-rock-sand well in the world. On October 4, after a slight agitation hy the tools, this mammoth well poured 750 harrels an hour for four hours, the hest record of any production known up to that time. Scurrying for territory in the Jumbo field set in with a vigor unparalled. Rigs were reared in town lots, in gardens and yards.
By November 1 200 wells were drilling and 60 rigs building. Fifty-four October strikes swelled the daily production at the close of the month to 80,000 harrels. Greenlee and Forst had 30 wells drilling and 300,000 harrels of iron tankage. Guffey, Galey & Jennings had 15 or 20 wells. The Fisher Oil Company, who owned one-fourth of the Oakdale tract and the MeMichael farm, had 16 wellls, reaching for the jugular from which the Sturgeon and Baldwin spouters were drawing 10,000 barrels a day. William Tucker and John A. Steele had two producing largely and eight going down in the Mevey farm. J. G. Haymaker and Thomas Legget owned one gusher, nine drilling wells and 500 acres of leases. The Mevey farm and several of the wells just mentioned were over the line in Allegheny County, hut were known as in the "McDonald Field."
The oil fields in this district in 1908 give employment to upwards of 500 men and average production per day is 8,000 harrels.
With the advent of oil McDonald experienced a boom. Town lots were sold like hot cakes. McDonald is now one of the best towns in Washington County. There are paved streets, substantial business blocks, handsome resi- dences, two electric light plants and a water works and the inhabitants enjoy all the conveniences of modern life. The horough owns about $40,000 worth of prop- erty, represented by the new schoolhouse, the Ferguson Hose House and the lockup properties. There is also a well organized fire company and police department, which give ample fire and police protection.
Some of the early settlers and men who were active in building up the town are as follows: John N. Mc- Donald, Edward McDonald, his son; D. L. Williams, Samuel Moorhead, W. B. Moorhead, S. S. Johns, J. D. Sauters, Cyrus Ferguson and W. S. Lockhart.
The credit of the fire department to a great extent belong to Cyrus Ferguson, who was the original pro- moter of the Ferguson Hose Company No. 2. In 1894 it was decided to organize a new hose company. Pre- vious to this there had been several hose companies, but they had dwindled and faded away, although in their time they answered a good purpose. The new company was first named the Independent Hose Company. Mr. Ferguson donated a free lease for five years of a lot of ground. The citizens supported the institution hy
liberal contributions of money. A substantial building was erected on the original site. Upon the complete or- ganization of the company the name was changed to Ferguson Hose Company No. 2. May 7, 1900, the borough purchased the lot from Mr. Ferguson, the hose company deeded over the building apparatus, and the fire department is now maintained by the town. The apparatus consists of two hose carts and 1,000 feet of hose. The department is volunteer and has 50 members.
The Oakdale and McDonald Street Car Line was put into operation in September, 1907. The construction of the road was hegun in 1906. This line connects Me- Donald with Oakland and traverse the principal streets of the two towns. It is understood that it will he event- nally extended to Pittsburg eastward and to Steubenville westward.
Survey for a trolley line has been made to Canons- burg and its operation is expected soon.
The horough tax for 1908 is 12 mills and the total amount collected $7,075.00.
McDonald is one of the 13 presidential offices in the county. Its total receipts for 1908 amounted to $7,- 479.15.
Gas was introduced hy the Oakdale Gas Company in the winter of 1889-90. The Tri-State Gas Company now supplies the town. The Chartiers Telephone Com- pany operates in McDonald. The president is Richard Gladden.
McDonald has had several disastrous fires, but soon outgrew them. One of the greatest fires to light up the whole country was in 1891, the burning flowing oil well on small lot of Samuel H. Cook, a few hundred feet west of the railroad station. The intense heat prevented some of the trains from passing hy on the railroad, and blistered the paint on the coaches. After several days' hurning and amid prophesies that it could not he stopped, the blaze was smothered by the expert work and general- ship of Charles A. Braden, now of Oklahoma, well known to operators and many farmers in this county.
The present burgess of McDonald is John Wiles. The registration of voters for 1908 is 641. The population is estimated at 3,500 for the horough proper and 6,000 for the town.
McDonald has the honor of raising one of the na- tionally prominent men of today, Robert Watchorn, Com- missioner of Immigration of the Post of New York. Commissioner Watchorn was an immigrant himself, com- ing, as a youth, from the coal pits of Derbyshire to seek his fortune in the mines at McDonald. From the ranks of the lahoring men he rose to a position of leadership in the trades union movement, and, by way of certain executive positions in the State of Pennsylvania, he went in 1896 into the immigrant service and held the position of Commissioner of Immigration of the Post
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
of New York from 1905 until very recently. Many re- forms were instituted for the benefit of the immigrant during his service.
McDonald has a large modern briek public school build- ing which was erected iu 1894 at a cost of $25,000. It is heated with hot air and fitted up with electric light.
The average number of scholars enrolled is 646. There are in MeDonald in 1908: Schools, 14; teachers, 17 (males 3, females 14) ; average number of months taught, 9; average salary of teachers per mouth, males $72.66, females $58.14; cost of each pupil per month, $1.87; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 10; estimated value of school property, $32,000.
Engleside Academy-Edward Haws began to conduct a school in the basement of the old First U. P. Church building, now occupied by the Baptists (colored) in 1877. Afterwards it was conducted in turn by G. R. Anderson, George W. Slater and Rev. W. D. Irons. It ceased operatiou about 20 years ago.
The Citizens Water Company of MeDouald is a private corporation. The water works was constructed in 1894. The gravity system is used. The pumping statiou is located on Raccoon Creek adjoining the William Kor- deck farm, six miles from MeDonald. The creek is dammed at this point. The capacity is 90,000,000 gal- lons. In addition three artesian wells give a duplicate supply. The quality of the water is very good. Two compound duplex pumps are installed, each of which has a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons in 24 hours. There is also a duplex pump with capacity of 500,000 gallons in 24 hours; gravity pressure from a steel tank of 600,- 000 gallons capacity. The tauk is located a quarter of a mile northwest of McDonald. The elevation of the tank from the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Station Street is 240 feet. The line from the pump to tank 12 inches. Average pressure 100 pounds. There are seven and one-half miles of mains 4x10 inches and 42 double hydrants. The water works' existence is largely due to the president, C. R. Buchheit.
The First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1885. The first building, a frame, was burut down. The pres- ent structure is of brick and cost $18,000. Its capacity is 500 in audience room. It was erected in 1896. The church owns a $4,000 frame parsonage. Rev. J. P. Jordan has been pastor since 1893. The membership at present is 651.
First United Presbyterian Church-This church was organized February 26, 1876. A frame church building was erected at the cost of $4,150. It is at present occu- pied by the Baptists (colored). About 1896 a handsome brick church was erected at the corner of Lincoln and
Station Streets at a cost of $23,000. It is heated by hot air and lighted with electricity. The scating ca- pacity is 500. Rev. W. D. Irons has been pastor since 1880. The membership for 1908 is 500.
The Robinson Run U. P. Church was organized at Sturgeon, Allegheny County, in 1790 and removed to MeDouald when its church burnt in 1902. In 1904 a $21,000 brick church building and a $4,000 frame par- souage were erected. Rev. J. W. English has served since its removal to MeDouald. Membership, 130.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is a frame building erected in 1897. The present pastor is Rev. Ernest Fryeklund and membership is 131.
The French Mission of the United Presbyterian de- nomination was organized in 1901. The pastors have been Rev. E. Lhenreux, 1901 to 1903; Rev. H. Garron, from 1903 to the present time. The membership is at present 130. After worshipping for four years in the First U. P. Church building the French congregation built their own tabernacle in 1905.
The German Lutheran Congregation of McDonald- The history of the congregation dates back to 1871, when the Rev. Schweiger, of Kittanning, held the first service in MeCarrell's schoolhouse. Afterward services were held once a mouth in the Bulger schoolhouse. The Rev. S. Munsch, of Pittsburg ( deceased) sneceeded the Rev. Schweiger, and during his pastorate the present church building was erected and dedicated in July of 1884. The membership numbered 45. The Rev. Munsch was fol- lowed by the Rev. R. Boethelt. In 1889 the congregation called the Rev. Carl Mildner, of Brushton, Pa., who served seven years. His succesor was the Rev. George Dietz, of Jeannette, Pa., now of Connellsville, Pa., who resigned in April, 1901, after serving faithfully for five years.
Rev. J. H. Tarnedde, of MeKees Rocks, has for the past eight years been pastor of the church, which now numbers 142 members.
St. Alphonsus' Catholic Church was organized in 1888. The first church building was erected soon after. It was located on Station street and was burnt down. The present building, a handsome yellow brick structure, was erected in 1900 at the cost of $30,000. At present the church embraces 125 families. The present pastor is Rev. Joseph Burgoon.
Christian Missionary Alliance-The Christian Mission- ary Alliance has been holding meetings in MeDonald about teu years. The present pastor is Rev. H. N. Harvey.
Baptist Church-The colored Baptists organized about fifteen years ago. The present pastor is Rev. G. E. Sallie. They moved into the old First U. P. Church building after the new U. P. church building was erected in 1896.
Societies and Lodges:
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Solidarite Association, Frank Bayens, president.
L'Alliance Lodge, No. 683, I. O. O. F., Alexander Poskin, N. G.
Lieut. S. M. Adams Post, No. 330, G. A. R., Com. Charles Briceland.
Order of Independent Americans, Counselor W. S. Campbell.
MeDonald Lodge, No. 30, Loyal Order Moose, P. D., E. L. Chambon.
MeDonald Local Option Club, president, Prof. N. G. Parke.
C. M. B. A. of MeDonald, president, William Camp- bell.
Ancient Order of Hibernians, No. 1, of McDonald, president, M. McGrady.
McDonald Lodge, No. 605, I. O. O. F., N. G., W. A. E. Oakes.
Eureka Encampment, No. 95, of MeDonald.
Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 185, W. M., James Galway.
McDonald Hive, No. 67, Ladies of the Maccabecs, Past Commander, Mrs. B. Kelly.
Waverly Lodge, No. 145, K. of P., C. C., E. J. Madg- wick.
Independent Order Heptasophs, E. L. Dillon, archon.
McDonald Tent, No. 89, K. O. T. M., P. C., F. O. Densmore, Comd.
Council, No. 1652, Royal Arcannm of Peunsylvania.
About 1885 a Carnegie office printed a sheet occa- sionally and called it the McDonald Budget. In reality, however, the credit of the first newspaper enterprise in MeDonald belongs to J. S. Johnston, who brought the first printing material to McDonald about the year 1886 or 'S7, and printed a newspaper called the "Argus." In 'SS Fulton Phillips bought Johnston out and changed the name to the "Outlook."' In 1889 Mrs. S. S. Johns, acting as banker for the Outlook, built a home for it next door south of the present Outlook office. In 1892 the present Outlook office was erected. The present own- ers are D. L. and W. D. Williams, W. S. Lockhart. W. H. Young and Bert H. McCartney. The paper is pub- lished every Saturday by Edward L. Means. Those who have continuously read the Outlook were highly enter- tained and influenced for good by the interesting articles from the ready writer, the aged Fulton Phillips.
The McDonald "Record"' was established by the Record Publishing Company about sixteen years ago. It is published every Thursday by G. C. Kuehnert, editor and proprietor.
These two papers have done as much or more to ad- vance McDonald than any other influence, and they have always been conducted as clean family weekly periodicals.
The MeDonald Savings & Trust Co .- The People's National Bank of MeDonald was established in 1897
with $50,000 capitalization, and first opened business in the Cook Building, where they remained until completion of their own building in the fall of that year. The McDonald Savings & Trust Company was organized in 1904. These banks have consolidated and are now known as the MeDonald Savings & Trust Company. At the end of 1908 the capital is $125,000, and the president is A. C. LeComte. It paid dividends in 1908 of $2,500, and has paid a total of $25,000 in dividends. It has in loans and investments, $330,790.00.
The First National Bank of McDonald was established - in 1892 with a capital stock of $50,000. It paid $4,000 dividends in 1903, and had up to that date paid a total of $24,000 in dividends.
At the close of the year 1908 its capital was $50,000 and total resources, $1,178,933.40. It ranks third among the Washington County National Banks in regard to its total resources and secoud in the relation of its capital to surplus. Its total dividends paid is $45,000, of which the one-ninth was paid in 190S, leaving surplus and profits, $192,921.71, and deposits over $920,000. Its president is Edward MeDonald.
William Johnson, the man who built the first house in the village about 1865, started there a hotel. The original farm house of this family can be discovered yet hidden back of the East End Hotel.
This borough has the only saloon licensed hotels in the county outside the eastern or river section. The saloons came with the excitement over oil and they are there considered a necessary part of a hotel equipment.
A wholesale liquor licensed establishment was con- ducted here for several years, but the annual application was refused in the year 1906 and again in 1908. At pres- ent there are three licensed hotels in McDonald Borough.
Mrs. Daniel Conners is erecting a $20,000 brick build- ing to be used as a theater and storerooms.
Briar Hill Coal Company-The operation of these mines was begun by Dougherty and Richardson in 1869. Afterwards the works were leased and operated by J. D. Sauters and Alexander Patterson, and employed about 120 men. This mine was bought out by the Pittsburg Coal Company and running operation ceased.
The Nickel Plate Coal Mine was operated formerly by J. D. Sauters. The mine was purchased by the Pitts- burg Coal Company about the year 1904, aud has not been worked since. The mine lies in Allegheny County but a part of the tipple ran through the borough over Lincoln avenue and connected with the P. C. C. & St. L. Railroad.
The Forging and Machine Works of H. W. Rank man- ufacture drilling and fishing tools. The works are sit- uated one-half mile east of the depot in Allegheny County. In 1908 H. W. Rank erected a new power plant together with a machine and blacksmith shop. This
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
plant gave employment to fifteen men the year round. The street ear company receives its power from this plant.
B. D. Tillinghast Machine Shop-This machine shop located here in 1892. It handles new and secondhand machinery and engine fittings of all kinds. It makes a specialty of repairing mine, mill and oil well machinery. Mr. Tillinghast is sole manufacturer of several oil well tools. Hle is the principal partner of the D. C. & U. Gas Engine Co. The Tillinghast machine shop has given employment to fourteen men the year round during the year 1908.
Waruer Glass Company (formerly Saltsburg Bottle Works Company, Limited)-The Warner Glass Company built about 1903 one-half mile southwest of the depot. The company was brought from Saltsburg and located at McDonald. It has sinec been bonght out entirely by MeDonald people. During 1908 some improvements were made at the Warner glass factory. New tank shops were constructed. The plant has had a steady rnu making double turn all the year. Over 125 men receive employment at this factory. The monthly pay-roll is near $10,000.
The Collins Boiler Works has been running for abort sixteen years. During 1908 the concern increased its plant and has given steady employment to twenty-one men the entire year. The shops are now being moved and when this is done more men will be employed.
Bert M. Mccartney's Tobacco and Cigar Store em- ploys about fifteen people.
The MeC'arty & Robb, Iumber dealers, purchased the lumber yards of William George and Company in 1895. Since that time they have also bought out the business of M. O'Donnell. The company is now J. S. MeCarty & Sons. They have started the erection of a large planing mill which will give employment to a number of men.
Other plants are the MeDonald Steam Laundry and the MeDonald Light, Heat and Power Company (built in 1893).
McDonald Fairs-McDonald has for almost a decade held a fall fair or home coming. The beautiful little race track gronnd near the railroad accomodates the large crowds of people on these occasions, and they are entertained with horse races, bicycle races, balloon as- eensions, baseball games, side shows, red lemonade and other innocent sports and beverages. The most interest- ing performances at some of these anniversaries have been the contests in speed and rapid work between the McDonald Hose Co. No. 2 and other visiting fire eom- panies. In these eontests the McDonald Company usnally wins for speed. The townspeople keep open honse on these oceasions, everybody is welcome and the town takes on the air of great excitement.
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