USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Apollo > History of Apollo, Pennsylvania. The year of a hundred years 1816-1916 > Part 2
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Leaving Philadelphia he later met the provincials under Col. . Washington at Bedford. Acting under the advice of Col. Bouquet and the Pennsylvania officers, he cut a new road a distance of 45 miles from Raystown to Loyalhanna. A fort was erected here and Maj. Grant was sent with 800 men to ascertain the condition of affairs at the Forks. This party was defeated by the French and Indians and but a handful escaped to return to Col. Bouquet's com- mand. Genl. Forbes, coming up with the command at Loyalhanna, soon pushed forward toward Ft. DuQuesne. On reaching this place he found it had been destroyed by the French and over its ruins Fort Pitt was erected.
In 1759 Quebec was captured from the French and in 1760, Genl. Amherst, commander-in-chief of all the British forces in America, dealt the French such a blow that every fort capitulated and France's
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
power in America was lost forever. Although the French retired the · Indians continued a menace for many years. In 1763, Mason and Dixon's Line was run by two English surveyors and astronomers to settle the dispute between the Penns and Lord Baltimore, over the boundaries of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Later this line became more famous as a division between free and slave states, Pennsyl- vania having abolished slavery in 1780.
In this connection it is very interesting to record that the aboli- tion of slavery was gradual in Pennsylvania. All slaves were re- quired to be registered at a certain date. If not so registered they became free. All slaves registered remained slaves until death or voluntary freeing by their owners. All children born after this act became free at the age of twenty-one. The result of this was that up to the year 1840 there were yet 64 slaves in the state. The Revolution came and Pennsylvania sent her sons in the cause of the colonists. The latter having won their freedom, the Proprietary Rule of Pennsylvania came to a close with this state's union with the other colonies. The three lower counties as surveyed along with the state north of Mason and Dixon's Line withdrew at this time and became the State of Delaware. During the Revolutionary War the Indians were active all over Western Pennsylvania and especially in the County of Westmoreland, which had been erected by Pro- vincial Assembly, February 26, 1773. This was the eleventh county and the last under Proprietary Government. It was a part of the tract ceded to the Penns by the Iroquois in 1768. In 1771 it was yet a part of Bedford County and the southern part was claimed by Virginia. Armstrong County was formed of parts of Lycoming, Al- legheny and Westmoreland Counties by Act of March 12, 1800. In this year the site of the County Seat was established at a point within five miles of the old Indian Town of Kittanning. The county was named after Col. Armstrong, whose victory over the Indians led to the destruction of that Delaware stronghold. Col. Armstrong had taken up over five hundred acres of this tract and the Armstrongs donated land for public buildings. The county was ju- dicially organized in 1805. A question frequently asked is "What became of the Indians who were displaced by the whites?" After the revolution the Mohawks under Joseph Brant crossed over into Canada where they have two reservations north of Lakes Erie and Ontario. The Cayugas are scattered and with but a few hundred Tuscarawas have found homes with the Mohawks. The Oneidas are mostly at Green Bay, Wisconsin. Nearly all the Senecas are in Western N. Y. The Onondagas are near Syracuse. The Iroquois probably never numbered more than 25,000 and are equal to almost half that number yet. Probably the greater number of the Five Nations live in the United States. They have schools, missions and churches. Many of them have been successful as soldiers, engineers and farmers. The
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
Shawnees, who had been driven by the Iroquois into the South to lands now the state of Tennessee, had returned and took part in the Indian and Revolutionary wars. These are nearly all in Indian Ter- ritory, with no tribal relations.
The Delawares, whose history is well worth searching, were a proud and haughty race until overcome by the superior forces of that remarkable alliance, the Five Nations. After their defeat they were humiliated, defrauded and driven west of the Alleghenies. In 1789 they were given a reservation in Ohio. In 1818 they were transferred to Missouri. In 1866 they accepted land in severalty in Indian Territory and relinquished all tribal relations.
Thus mercilessly has civilization dealt disaster to the people who once lived on these hills and in these valleys, then covered by virgin forests, but now stripped and bare, torn and disfigured, occupied by mills and railroads, cities and towns, where the main object in life is the making of the "Almighty Dollar."
HISTORY OF APOLLO.
The New Purchase was opened for settlement after the Treaty of 1768. John Montgomery and Alexander Stuart had applied for a tract of land in the Kiskiminetas Valley, as will be seen by the fol- lowing :
Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Vol. II, Page 459. Land Office, May 21st, 1769.
Benjamin Austin in behalf of himself, Thomas Austin and Joseph Ellicott prays that a caveat be entered that no Return of Survey be accepted for John Montgomery, Esq'r of a Tract of Land called Warren's Sleeping place on the Keskemenetes River as he appre- hends Mr. Montgomery Survey was made without proper authority and that they applied for the same on the 7th of April at which time Mr. Montgomery had made no application to the Office for that spot. The last Monday in July is appointed for hearing.
David Kennedy for James Tighman, Sec'ry.
To John Lukens, Esq'r, S. G.
Vol. 3, P. 287.
At a Meeting of the Governors on Wednesday, the 7th day of February, Anno Domini, 1770.
Present.
The Governor.
The Sec'ry, Mr. Tighman.
The Receiver Gen'l, Mr. Physick.
The Auditor General, Mr. Hockley.
Benjamin Austin, Thomas Austin and
Joseph Ellicott
Agent
John Montgomery & Alex'r Stuart.
on Caveat.
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MRS. DRAKE'S LOG CABIN. (Picture by Leland T. Henry.)
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
On hearing it appears that John Montgomery & Alexander Stuart obtained applications on the 9th of February, 1769, for two thousand acres of land. One thousand on the North Side of the Keskamenitas Creek, including the mouth of Black Leggs Creek and Black Leggs Town and one thousand on the South Side of Kiskamenitas Creek be- low the mouth of Black Leggs Creek. That upon inspecting the place afterward in order to survey said location it was found that there was not a sufficiency of land to fill them. That the Deputy survey- or at the instance of the said John Montgomery made four separate surveys at or near the places afterward the land not allowing the Quantities to be surveyed in two surveys only. That the Surveyor also at the instance of the said John Montgomery (it being too re- mote from Philadelphia to send for relocations) made four other surveys a considerable distance lower down the Kiskamenitas, all subject to the Approbation of the Governor. And the Application was made to the Governor for approbation and the same was ob- tained before the opening of the office for the new purchase. That the whole of the surveys does not exceed the quantity allowed on the applications to be surveyed. That on the seventh day of April, next after the opening the office the said Benjamin and Thomas Austin entered an application on one of the places where one of the said John Montgomery & Stuart's last mentioned four surveys were made and upon considering the whole matter the Governor orders that all the said surveys be received into the Surveyor General's Office in order for confirmation upon warrants of acceptance to be issued for that purpose.
(Judgment in favor of Montgomery dated 7th of February, 1770.)
Montgomery's claim having been sustained, Thomas Penn, son of Wm. Penn, and John Penn, grandson of Wm. Penn, being the proprietaries at this time, accordingly conveyed the titles to two plots to John Montgomery on two separate dates, March 5, 1773, and Dec. 27, 1774. Wm. Smith purchased both these plots at sheriff's sale in 1805. Nine years later he sold them to Wm. Johnston and Thomas Hoge for $3,708. Thos. Hoge sold his undivided half to Rev. Wm. Speer, who with Wm. Johnston sold 20614 acres of the lower end to Isaac McKisseck. This is now the Allison farm. A num- ber of other sales not historically interesting are omitted.
In the Greensburg Register, of Nov. 9, 1816, appeared the follow- ing notice:
From the Greensburg Register, Nov. 9, 1816.
Warren, a new town on the Kiskiminetas. The subscriber has laid out a town on the north bank of the Kiskiminetas river, in Arm- strong county, immediately opposite the mouth of the Beaver Dam Creek, on the farm known by the name of "Warren's sleeping ground."
This town is supposed to be eligibly situated for business, and to offer many advantages to settlers. It is below the falls of the
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
Kiskiminetas, and the navigation thence to Pittsburg is uninterrupt- ed. The great state road from Bellefonte via Indiana to Pittsburg, passes and is now open through it. There is also a road laid out and opened from Greensburg to the mouth of the creek, opposite the town. The surrounding country is well populated. It is distant
From Pittsburg by water 37 miles
From Pittsburg by land 25 miles
From Greensburg 21 miles From Kittanning 16 miles
From Indiana 25 miles
The lots will be offered at public sale on the premises, on Wed- nesday, the 4th of December next, on a credit of six, twelve and eighteen months, the purchasers giving notes with approved security. WILLIAM JOHNSTON.
Point Johnston, Nov. 6, 1816.
The editor of the Mercury, Pittsburg, and the American, Indiana, are requested to insert the above advertisement three times in their respective papers, previous to the day of sale, for which they will charge. W. J.
Another advertisement appropriate at this time was published in the Greensburg Gazette, February 1st, 1817.
For Sale, a Valvable Tract of Patented Land, advantageously situated in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, adjoining the navigable stream, the river Kiskiminetas and on the state road now in part opened, and to be completed as soon as the spring season will admit; which road has its commencement near the navigation of the river Susquehanna, in Centre county and passed from Bellefonte through the town of Indiana to the city of Pittsburg-passing directly through the upper end of this tract, where there is an excellent situa- tion for a ferry. On this tract the town lots of the town of Warren have lately been sold and are now rapidly improving. This track adjoins the river immediately below its falls and extends along it about two miles, being twelve miles from its mouth and twenty miles from the city of Pittsburg. It contains six hundred acres or there- abouts; 200 acres are dry bottom of the first quality and 200 acres natural meadow ground; the remainder is upland of an excellent quality and well coated with white oak, hickory, locust and walnut timber; the bottom land is well timbered with walnut, cherry, locust and elm, &c .; about 70 acres are cleared. A number of never failing springs of water, with other natural conveniences, render this tract suitable to bear diversions. The soil of the whole tract is of a super- ior quality and the situation pleasant. It was surveyed on an early choice, being among the first returned surveys on said river. It may be purchased together or in two or more divisions as may best suit the purchasers. An indisputable title will be given. Terms may be given by applying to the Rev. William Speer, near Greensburg, to the subscriber, at Port Johnston, or to John Speer, near the premises.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
Upon this tract of land, 810 feet above sea level, the town of Warren was surveyed and laid out in lots by Wm. Watson, who was also a Justice of the Peace and wrote a number of the deeds for the properties. The lots were fifty in number and were 66x165 feet. The limits of the town were enclosed within the boundaries as now represented by First Street to South Fifth and from Pennsylvania Ave. to the river. The streets running parallel with the river were two, Back (later Church and now Pennsylvania Ave.) and Water (Kiskiminetas Ave.) while an alley served the purpose of Warren Ave. The names of the streets from North to South were Main (South Second), Thirty Foot (S. Third), Indiana (S. Fourth) and Coalbank (S. Fifth) Streets. Main street was the chief thorough- fare and business street. On it were the stores, taverns, printing office and blacksmith shops. The lots were numbered from the river up. Lot No. 1 was the McMullen . lot, but it extended clear back to what is First Street. Lot No. 10 was what is now occupied by Frank Clowes and Ban Owens. The stables of these lots were on First Street. Coalbank Street took its name from a coalbank on the Robert Jones lot. Several additions to the town have been made. The first, called the New Addition, was eleven acres, owned by John Andree and John McIlwain. At this time North Street (now First) came into use as a street. After the canal bridge was built at the foot of this street, gradually the line of traffic shifted until finally it was the principal street. According to the terms of the sale of lots the owners had promised to donate two acres adjoining Back Street for meeting house, school and cemetery purposes. Accordingly this was laid out. The plot is known as the old graveyard. The First Presbyterian Church was built on this plot in 1826. A schoolhouse was built at the southern end of this ground and that part of the lot was never fenced in with the graveyard. After the schoolhouse was torn down the lot was a public village green for many years. It was purchased by the Owens brothers from the Presbyterian Church. How that Church came to own the ground is given in the history of this congregation.
An offer was made by the promoters of Warren which reads as follows: "The first four men who will erect a house upon their lots can go into our forest and take sufficient timber for the entire build- ing free of charge." There was a squatter's cabin upon this tract. It appears that Anthony O'Brien, accompanied by another Irishman, both stonemasons, came along about the time work was begun on the State Road. About 1810 this then great undertaking was be- gun. Heretofore travelers followed a trail or bridle path four or five feet wide. On this they carried all the commodities necessary to wilderness life, grain, iron, furniture, salt and all things not ob- tainable on a farm. The State Road as projected was to be sixty feet wide. It was partially opened in 1812. This road at this point coming from Indiana passed down what is now known as South
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
Second Street and entered the river at a point just above the present county bridge. On crossing the fording it led up the bank slightly higher up the stream, and continued on to Pittsburg. The town of Warren was laid out so that Main Street (South Second) was a part of this highway. Anthony O'Brien and James Haley had squatted on Warren's Sleeping Ground at the foot of this street. John Black, who purchased Lot No. 1, paid the squatters a small sum to get them to move on without legal proceedings. Mr. Black was from Westmoreland County and built the first house in the village. This stood at the corner of Main and Water Streets, now South Second and Kiskiminetas Ave. It was the first public house also. It was known in later years as the McMullen house. About twenty-one years ago it was damaged by fire and the original log structure was removed. The other men who took advantage of the free timber offer were Conrad Ludwig, of Westmoreland, who built where the lockup stands. Henry Ford built about where the Reformed Par- sonage is and Robert Hanna, great grandfather of the late John R. Hanna, built on the south side of Main Street. The building is yet standing, is owned by the J. F. Whitlinger heirs and is occupied by Aunt Nan Jack. It is now the oldest structure in Apollo. These houses were all constructed of hewn logs and were finished in 1817. In 1819 the first frame building was erected. The carpenter work was done by John Cochran, father of Maj. T. A. Cochran. Isaac McLaughlin, uncle of Robert Mclaughlin, built on Main Street in 1820. John Wort built a frame house in 1825. The first brick house was built by Dr. Wm. Mccullough on the southeast corner of North and Church Streets and is yet standing, owned and occupied by Labanah Owens.
The first stone building was the Presbyterian Church, in 1826. It stood for forty years. The first concrete block building was erected by Harry Wood in 1905. It stands at the rear of his nickel- odeon.
The first settlers of the town prior to the building of the Penn- sylvania canal were, besides the first four builders, Joseph Alford, Isaac Mclaughlin, Michael Risher, Robert Stewart, John Wort and Catherine Cochran. The latter, a widow, came from Crawford's Mill after her husband had died at that place. Her oldest son, John, then a boy of 12 years, helped Abraham Ludwick to clear the greater portion of the land within the limits at that time. Michael Cochran, another son, became a blacksmith and cutler on Main Street. He was proud of the quality of his cutlery and always stamped his name thereon. His great grandson, Dr. E. B. Henry, of Ingomar, Pa., has a drawing knife made and stamped by him. He later be- came a Justice of the Peace in the township and subsequently became Associate Judge of Armstrong County.
W. J. Guthrie, of Pittsburgh, has two deeds executed by him conveying an acre of land from John Andree and Elizabeth Andree
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
for a consideration of $20 to Robert McKissen, March 30, 1843, and later, June 17, 1843, the same was conveyed by Robert McKissen and Ellen McKissen to George A. Withington for $27.50. This lot was re- purchased by Andree as the same is yet a part of the Owens farm. Polly Wilson, a daughter of Catherine Cochran, became owner of the Cochran log cabin on Indiana Street. Her son, Greenberry, while yet a mere boy helped haul logs from Hickory Bottom to build some of the later log houses. Valentine Ford lived on the property now owned by D. H. Williams. He was a cooper and had a small shop at the foot of S. Fourth Street. John Ford owned where Cas- par Kettering lives. The house just above the J. W. Cowan property on S. Fourth Street is one of the oldest houses of Warren. Andrew Cunningham, grandfather of Miss Millie Turney, occupied one of the twelve original log cabins in Warren. He was a cabinet maker and, as in those days there was not sufficient business in his trade to fur- nish a livelihood, he worked at carpenter work and repair of boats. The boat yard for the repair of canal boats was at the present site of John Green's ice pond.
Andrew Cunningham was the first constable in the borough. The only log cabin now standing without any weather boarding, but in its pristine beauty of hewn logs, chunked and daubed, is standing on the rear of Mrs. Sarah Drake's lot, Kiskiminetas Avenue, and was built by George Hunter seventy-five years ago.
The first house in town was the first public house, also, and was kept by James Horrel. Samuel Gordon was a prominent tavern keeper as well as a prominent citizen. John McIlwain had a tavern where Steele's Garage stands. After the death of John McIlwain, John T. Smith married his widow and they kept tavern for many years on the corner of Warren Avenue and First Street. Mr. Smith was a tailor and his shop is yet standing, occupied by R. M. Mc- Laughlin and Son, Real Estate and Insurance. George A. Withington was a tavern keeper. After his death, Mrs. Withington kept hotel on Main and North Streets, and for a time in the old Riverside Hotel. John Vorhaur was another tavern keeper. He kept in the McMullen house and later in the Riverside. Mrs. Withington was keeping hotel at the corner of First Street and Kiski Avenue during the civil war. When the news of Lee's surrender reached Apollo, one of her daugh- ters seized the dinner bell, rushed out on the upper porch and rang the bell until the good tidings were known by nearly all the town. Among the other business men in times when Main was the chief business street,were Hugh Skiles, Smith Whitworth, James Heron, John Alexander and Robert McKissen. David Watt and John Bair were blacksmiths. John Elwood was a cabinet maker and car- penter.
The first separate assessment of the town of Warren, then in Allegheny township, was made in 1830, as follows: John Alford, lot No. 22, 1 horse, 1 head of cattle, total valuation $58. James H.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
Bell, lot No. 16, 1 house, 1 other lot, $156. Catherine Cochran, lot No. 34, 1 house, 1 head cattle, $31. Robert Cochran, single man, lot No. 9, $25. Andrew Cunningham, lot No. 48, 1 head cattle, $31. Wm. Davis, lot No. 17, 1 house, blacksmith, $91. Philip Dally, No. lot not known, one house, $225. Samuel Gardner, lot, $255. Wm. Graham, lot No. 48, 1 house, 1 head cattle, $31. John Llewellyn, lot No. 4, 1 house, 1 horse, $255. Robert McKissen, lot No. 15, 1 house, 1 head cattle, $106. Alex. Mckinstry, lot No. 1, 1 house, $252. Wm. Mckinstry, 1 lot and house, $225.50. John McIlwain, lot No. 2, 1 house, 2 horses, 1 head cattle, $601. Isaac Mclaughlin, lot No. 38, 1 house, transferred to John McIlwain Wm. Mehaffey, half lot No. 25. Peter Risher, lot No. 18, 1 house, 1 horse, $225. John Wort, lots Nos. 5 and 6, 1 house, 1 tanyard, 1 horse, 2 cattle, lot No. 2, unseated, $247. Value of unseated lots from $5 to $40 each. Eight years before the County Treasurer had advertised 25 inlots for sale for taxes, county and road, varying from 5c to 30c a lot. The population in 1850 was 329 whites and 2 colored.
Apollo was divided into wards December 13, 1899. Assessed value in 1915, $660,746. Money at interest, $119,- 677.89.
Houses, First Ward, 348. Second Ward, 404.
Mills, First Ward 1, Second Ward, 2. .
Horses, First Ward 88, Second Ward, 41.
Cows, First Ward, 4, Second Ward, 9.
Dogs, First Ward, 51, Second Ward, 45.
Taxables, First Ward, 558, Second Ward, 528.
Occupations, both wards: Laborers, 186; contractors, 7; carpen- ters, 27; steelworkers, 192; molders, 11; constable, 1; teachers, 2; engineers, 5; conductors, 2; watchman, 5; publisher, 2; reporter, 1; music teacher, 4; druggist, 4; merchant, 35; clerk, 57; teamster, 16; mail carrier, 4; agent, 6; liveryman, 5; milkman, 2; ragdealer, 1; restauranteur, 4; photographer, 2; undertaker, 4; proprietor pool- room, 2; butcher 5; printer, 4; retired, 51; woolen man, 2; tinner, 2; machinist, 5; dentist, 3; minister, 9; shoemaker, 3; electrician, 9; real estate, 6; jeweler, 2; newsdealer, 1; miner, 12; telegrapher, 3; attorney, 2; stone mason, 2; manufacturer, 1; janitor, 2; bricklayer, 6; millwright, 5; brakeman, 3; manager, 5; painter, 5; barber, 6; farmer, 4; blacksmith, 12; plumber, 5; architect, 1; physician, 6; student, 2; tailor, 4; salesman, 6; messenger, 1; garageman, 3; post master, 1; justice, 2; cashier, 1; superintendent, 1; roll turner, 5; foreman, 6; bank examiner, 1; bank treasurer, 1; paper hanger, 3; baker, 1; bank president, 2; fireman, 1; assessor, 2.
TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH.
A petition from a number of residents of Allegheny Township was presented to the Court Dec. 22, 1831, asking that a new township be formed out of the upper end of the township, to be called Kiski-
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
minetas Township. Philip Klingensmith, John Lafferty and John McKissen were appointed viewers.
The Court approved their recommendation June 19, 1832. War- ren was now in Kiskiminetas Township.
By act of assembly March 15, 1848, Warren was incorporated into the borough of Apollo.
"Be it enacted, &c., that the town of Warren, in the County of Armstrong, shall be and the same is hereby erected into a borough which shall be called Apollo."
The voters were commanded to meet in the house of John Smith and elect a burgess and five councilmen. Robert McKissen and Wm. Mccullough were appointed to publish and superintend the election, to be held May 3, 1848. At this election Robert McKissen was elected burgess and Wm. Nichols, Wm. Miller, George C. Bovard, John T. Smith, John Elwood and David Risher, town councilmen.
For many years the election was regularly held at the home of J. T. Smith and Mrs. Smith always served a turkey dinner to the board.
The first board of school directors was elected in the spring of 1850. It consisted of Wm. C. Bovard, John B. Chambers, John T. Smith, Thomas Cochran, Samuel Owens and Hugh M. G. Skiles.
ADDITIONS TO BOROUGH.
Besides the "New Addition to Warren," previously mentioned, in 1859 the borough lines were extended taking in a lot of land, a part of which later became vested in John B. Chambers, who laid out 45 lots in this portion in 1865. In 1869 the limits were extended to take in the lands of Michael Cochran. James Guthrie laid out a smaller plot at this time and a short period after this, Simon Truby plotted a few lots.
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