USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Apollo > History of Apollo, Pennsylvania. The year of a hundred years 1816-1916 > Part 6
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Dr. Talmage, during the salt era in this valley, did considerable practice around this neighborhood. He was interested in the salt works south of town on the Westmoreland side and also at Old Town, near Leechburg. He was the first doctor in Indiana Co.
DENTISTS.
William Brown, T. A. Cochran, D. P. Trout, W. M. Cochran, Mel- ancthon Fetzer, F. E. Smallwood, A. T. Ambrose, Dr. Drew, Dr. Black, C. E. Orndorf, J. K. Eyler, Danial Giles, Warren Curry, Colin Cameron, S. E. Calhoun, Arthur L. Willard.
LAWYERS.
Jacob Freetly was the first lawyer in Apollo, 1855, John B. Guthrie, H. N. McIntire, W. J. Guthrie, John Q. Cochrane, Earle Cochrane, Alex Cochrane, S. G. McNees.
IRON INDUSTRIES.
The first iron industry in this neighborhood was the old "Rock Furnace." It was the first blast furnace west of the Allegheny Mountains and was built by James Biddle in 1825. It was 30 feet across the bosh. It was a cold blast and charcoal was used for fuel. It employed from fifty to seventy-five men and there was quite a little village there. The ore was taken from the hill above the furnace. It takes its name from the large rock overhanging the road by the cupola. It was not a financial success. It was last owned by Sharp, Woodard & Co.
THE NAIL MILL.
The Kiskiminetas Iron Company was organized in 1855 with five hundred shares capital stock. Its object was the manufacture of nails. It was erected in 1856. The company conveyed its interest in the works to George W. Cass and Washington Mcclintock, in 1859, for $40,000. The mill was operated by this company for eighteen months when it was shut down.
THE ROLLING MILL.
In 1863, Washington McClintock, Wm. Rogers and W. E. Foale leased the nail mill and began the manufacture of sheet iron. Until the destruction of Dam No. 2, in February 1866, the mill was run by water power derived from a large basin fed by the canal. Mc- Clintock and Foale retired from the firm in August 1864 and Thos.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
Burchfield became an active partner and Thos. J. Hoskinson a silent partner. Rogers and Burchfield procured a large engine and an additional train of rolls. It soon became noted for its cold rolled iron. Mr. Rogers traveled in Russia and in his efforts to acquire a knowledge of a special Russian iron he was thought a suspicious char- acter and was arrested. It required diplomatic correspondence to have him released . After he came home he introduced a special Russian finish iron.
Besides his works here he built the Siberian Iron Works at Leech- burg. At this place the works gave employment to 140 men. The works were run by coal. Part of the time this was taken out from the Truby mines under Luxemburg Heights. The coal was hauled in cars on a wooden railroad from the mines to the mill. Horses were used for this. At the time of the great epidemic of Epizootic among horses, the mill company was compelled to haul their coal with teams of oxen. Rogers and Burchfield went into bankruptcy in 1875. At that time the assets were listed at 2 sheet mills, 2 sheet furnaces, 2 annealing furnaces, 7 puddling furnaces, 1 heating furnace, steam hammer, 2 gas wells, 3 engines, 21 houses, one store, one bakery, one suspension bridge and land and mill structures.
This plant was purchased by P. H. Lauffman & Co. in 1876. It was run by Lauffman and McElroy until 1893 when it became the property of The Apollo Iron and Steel Co., George G. McMurtry, President and Manager. This company enlarged and improved the works rapidly. Desiring yet more room for works in 1898 they pur- chased several hundred acres of land and began the building of Van- dergrift. Notwithstanding Mr. McMurtry said: "We are bound by an unwritten law not to remove these mills after the workmen have built up their homes at this place" the work of removal went on until in 1902 the last iron made by the company at this place was passed through the rolls June 28th by A. L. Zimmerman.
NAMES OF ROLLING MILL AT DIFFERENT PERIODS.
Kuntz & McClintock, March 6th, 1855 to 1859; Rogers & Burch- field, 1859 to 1875; Laufman & McElroy, 1875 to 1884; Volta Iron Company, 1884 to 1886; Apollo Iron and Steel Company, 1886 to 1900; American Sheet Steel Co., 1900 to 1903; American Sheet and Tin Plate Co., 1903.
THE LAUFMAN MILL.
In 1886 P. H. Laufman & Co. built a four mill plant on the site of the old brickyard in West Apollo. Andrew Gourley was manager until 1896 when A. C. Hammitt succeeded him and acted in that ca- pacity until 1900. At that time this mill became a part of the U. S. Steel Corporation and the plant was dismantled.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO. ELECTRO-PLATING WORKS.
This was established by P. H. Laufman in 1890. It was built at ' the western terminus of North Fourth Street and operated for two years.
APOLLO STEEL COMPANY
At the time that the Apollo Iron and Steel Co. sold their partial- ly dismantled plant at this place, the American Sheet Steel purchased only the mill and the site of eight and one-third acres. The rest of the holdings yet remained as the property of the former company. At the time the Cooperage Company was seeking a site, the Board of Trade tried to purchase a part of the ground at the foot of Fourth Street. The committee was unsuccessful in making a deal. Later when this land had been taken over by the Vandergrift Land Com- pany, that body offered it to the Apollo Board of Trade for $6,000 cash. The Board not having sufficient funds, a syndicate was formed to hold the land as a site or sites for future industries. Through the influence of Col. Jackson, the lots belonging to P. H. Laufman were purchased at the same time for $600. These lots were on the same plot next the river. The Syndicate procured the money from the Apollo Trust Co. and guaranteed the interest. The syndicate consist- ed of twelve members: E. A. Townsend, W. L. George, C. P. Wolfe, S. M. Jackson, W. F. Pauly, H. F. Jack, W. J. Guthrie, E. L. Bartley, J. C. Hunter, C. H. Truby, G. W. Steele and T. J. Henry. The holding of this site made it possible to locate the new mill promoted by Rob- ert Lock. Mr. Lock's large experience in Leechburg, Vandergrift and Brackenridge made him an acceptable man to establish a mill. A citizen's meeting was held Feb. 16, 1912. An estimated cost of the proposed mill was stated and stock was subscribed in sufficient amount to permit ground to be broken June 3rd. The first iron was rolled June 16, 1913.
Power was turned on by Robert Lock. The first piece of iron was put through the soft rolls by W. E. Jones. John M. Fiscus, a sheet steel worker of many years of experience acted as catcher. The first pair was broken down by Ira Dodson and the first pack finished by W. F. Jones. The plant consists of six sheet mills, two cold mills and galvanizing department. The mill is run by electricity furnished by the West Penn Electric Co. of Connellsville, Pa. The drive for the mill is a double helical-cut tooth gear, the largest in the world. It was built by the United Engineering and Foundry Co. and the cutting done by the Wm. Todd Co. of Youngstown, Ohio. The motor is 1400 horse-power. The incoming electric current is 25,000 volts. This is reduced to 2300. The equipment excels any other now in use.
The Directors of The Apollo Steel Company are Robert Lock, President; Oscar Oppenheimer, Vice President; A. M. Oppenheimer, Secretary and Treasurer; J. E. Gallagher; C. P. Wolfe; W. J. Guthrie; John H. Jackson.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO. APOLLO ELECTRIC STEEL COMPANY.
This company was organized February 7, 1916, to manufacture open hearth steel by electricity. On account of the inability of the West Penn Power Company, of Connellsville, Pa. to supply the proper current at present, it was decided to construct an open hearth furnace at once to be operated by gas. The site secured comprises eight and one-half acres previously occupied by the Apollo Iron and Steel Co. The construction was begun on the first furnace, Mar. 29, 1916. It is the intention of adding additional furnaces and a bar mill.
The officers and directors are F. W. Jackson, President; J. E. Gallagher, Secretary; Robert Lock, Treasurer; W. J. Guthrie, Solicit- or; W. E. Troutman; John H. Jackson.
TANNERIES.
There was a tannery in nearly every village in early days. Then almost every person wore made to order boots and shoes and it was a case of from cattle to foot in most communities. John Wort estab- lished the first tannery here in 1823. James Guthrie built one on the rear of the lot now owned by D. H. Williams on Warren Ave. in 1839. Simon Whitlinger built a large tannery on the S. E. corner of Penn- sylvania Ave. and N. Second St. in 1850. It was acquired by J. F. Whitlinger and removed to North Tenth Street where it was still in operation until a few years ago.
GRIST MILLS.
John H. and Eden Townsend built a grist mill in 1849 on the corner of Mill and Water Streets. The building is yet standing. It became the property of George Brenner who carried on the business successfully for many years. It later was run by J. S. Young. This mill was finally purchased by W. H. Carnahan who had come from Cochran's Mills and had built the Superior Rolling Mills on Eleventh Street. This latter has been dismantled and the building is now owned by the Wallace Planing Mill Co. The other mill is not running at present writing.
COOPERAGE AND PLANING MILLS.
There were many small cooperage plants in and around the town. In 1854, Samuel Jack built a large barrel factory by the canal near the foot of South Third St. Its annual output was 10,000 barrels. From eight to twelve hands were employed. It was run until 1865 when Mr. Jack built a planing mill on the other side of the river. This was in use for many years furnishing most of the lumber for building until recently. It was managed for some time by his sons. It was finally acquired by Harry F. Jack and later he became interested in the Apollo Cooperage Plant and appropriate machinery was installed for
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BEGINNING THE NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1906. (Picture by T. J. Henry.)
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
that work. This plant was burned, 1907. Other planing mills were the McMullen and The Cochran & McMullen. The latter is now con- trolled by George Wallace. The Alcorn Brothers have a lumber yard on N. Seventh Street.
FERRIES AND BRIDGES.
The first ferry was kept by Owen Jones just above the county bridge. Mr. Jones was a Welshman and occupied the house yet standing at the edge of the bridge for many years. The Apollo approach to the bridge was his garden. The house is still in the possession of his descendants. The last deer killed here was chased down through town by a hunter. It leaped into the river at the foot of S. Fourth Street at the old elm trees and attempted to escape by swimming the stream. Mr. Jones gave pursuit and killed it with an oar. The antlers are in the possession of Casper Kettering.
The Warren Bridge Co. took out a charter in 1844, later supple- mented in April 1846. At this time the bridge was built as a toll bridge at a cost of $10,000. It consisted of two abutments, three stone piers and a superstructure of wood supported by arches and roofed and weatherboarded. It was not a good financial investment. On May 1, 1852, Trustees were authorized to sell it unless all indebt- edness was paid before the end of the year. It was not sold at that time as further legislation was made prolonging the adjustment. It was carried away by an ice gorge in January 1881. Among the toll keepers of this bridge were James Barr, Mrs. Andrew and daughters, James Guthrie, R. S. Cochran, Smith Jack, George Jackson and Thom- as Jackson. Several attempts to make this a free bridge failed. It had even been made an issue in town politics.
After its destruction immediate steps were taken to secure a free bridge to replace it. These efforts were successful and the present structure was erected jointly by 'Armstrong and Westmoreland Count- ies at a cost of $24,150 for the superstructure alone. The Morse Bridge Company, of Youngstown, Ohio, had the contract and James Hamilton & Co. did the stone work. During its building a ferry was run by Thomas Jackson.
The new bridge was commenced Aug. 19, 1881 and the stone work completed Nov. 25. The complete structure was finished March 17th, 1882. After Rogers & Burchfield had attempted to carry coal across the river from Owens bank to the mill on gravity cars suspended on wire cables and found it impractical, they built in 1873, a wire sus- pension bridge of two sections each swung from shore to a pier in the middle of the river. Mules were used to haul the coal and it was found that much toll could be saved by making this a shipping point for mill products. The cables supporting this bridge parted in the middle and the whole mass of twisted wire fell into the river carrying with it a team of mules and Joseph Henderson and Samuel Younkins. This occurred February 19th, 1884. Mr. Younkins escaped but Mir.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
Henderson and the team were drowned.
After the Apollo Iron and Steel Company came under the man- agement of Geo. G. McMurtry, the P. R. R. Co. built a bridge below the mill to accommodate the increased traffic. The road was extended to First Street and a freight and passenger depot built on this side. The R. R. bridge was a wooden structure and did service until after the removal of the mills. As the bridge got out of repair owing to lack of freight it was decided to abandon it. On June 10th, 1904 a Board of Trade meeting was held to protest against the abandonment of train service on the Apollo side. A committee was appointed to confer with the R. R. officials. Meeting with no encouragement in Pittsburgh the committee went to Philadelphia and secured an aud- ience with Mr. Atterbury, July 7th, 1904. After hearing the commit- tee, Mr. Atterbury assured them that the order would be rescinded. Later as the bridge became really unsafe, train service was abandon- ed for a short time. As the station across the river was now called Paulton, Apollo was practically off the R. R. map. Again the citi- zens appealed to the R. R. Co. and Paulton was changed to West Apollo. Construction of a new R. R. bridge was begun south of town and on December 31, 1906 this was opened to traffic and train service on this side resumed. The workmen who resided at Apollo and worked in Vandergrift used the old railroad bridge as a means of short route to and from labor. When this was condemned the Apollo Ferry Company was organized, March 14, 1905, and went into service north of Apollo. The sole object was to accommodate Apollo work- men. It was a stock company. E. A. Townsend, W. F. Pauly, W. B. Willard, Geo. B. Wallace and Ira Wray were elected to serve as directors. The capital stock was $500. At the end of a year counting the capital stock and receipts from the investment there was a bal- ance of $185.99 on the right side. The ferry was sold to W. W. Wal- lace and Son and is yet run by the latter member of the firm.
POTTERIES.
John Mclaughlin had a pottery in Apollo early in its history. After - Thos. Johnston sold his interest in the firebrick works in 1867, he engaged in the making of crocks, canning jars, etc. on Maple Street. Foot power was used for turning the clay while moulding. At first the clay used was obtained on the Allison farm. The vein became exhausted and it was then brought from Roaring Run on the West- moreland side. There was a good supply of this clay but it was of inferior quality. A fine grade of clay was found on Crooked Creek and Mr. Johnston attempted to run his pottery by hauling that dist- ance. After running for seven years, he found that at the prices cur- rent he was losing money and abandoned the business. James Mc Nees then leased the plant but ran it for only one year. George An- derson, present janitor of the Public School building, was the moulder for Mr .McNees and made the last crocks produced in Apollo.
(Picture by T. J. Henry.)
FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO. BRICK WORKS.
The making of red brick was begun early in Apollo. Most of the brickyards were temporary for some special contract. Firebrick was made in 1864 by Thomas Johnston. His works were on the same site as the brickyard in West Apollo . His associates were James M. Taylor and Thomas and Andrew Carnegie. The plant was a success from the start. Firebrick commanded $50 a thousand. The clay was hauled from Mclaughlin's Hill south of Apollo. The Carnegies had invested $2600 and withdrew at the end of a year with $6500. Isaac Reese being a practical brick man was taken in to look after the busi- ness. He entered without any capital. Mr. Johnston withdrew after three years. McMath and Reese became the owners and at the ex- piration of six years, Mr. Reese was sole proprietor. The firm then became Reese, Maxwell & Crosby and for a short time R. S. Cochran had an interest. Experimenting on silica brick caused them to lose so much that they failed and the Apollo Bank took over the business. The bank officials got Thomas Johnston to return from Canton where he was engaged in the furniture business. He took charge of the works and ran them for some time. It is interesting to know that Isaac Reese finally succeeded in making silica brick at the Phoenix Brick Works at Manorville and became wealthy. The Apollo Firebrick Works were dismantled and P. H. Laufman & Co. built a rolling mill on the site. When the Steel Corporation was formed this mill was removed. In 1903, Mr. Johnston repurchased the site and built the present silica brickworks. He sold to the National Refractories Co. in 1910 and it was run for some time under the management of W. H. Hill. The plant has been closed down for several months. While Mr. Johnston ran the old firebrick works he employed 30 men and had a pay roll of $2,000 a month which meant much to the town at that time. With natural gas as a fuel, Mr. Johnston says that if he were ten years younger he would be in the business yet, but 86 is too old to rejuvenate and run a business.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first paper published in the town, as well as the first in the Kiskiminetas Valley was the Warren Lacon. The first issue was Nov. 6, 1835. It was discontinued in 1840. Dr. Robert McKissen was editor and proprietor and Jerry Murphy was compositor. The Apollo Lacon and Kiskiminetas Review was established Sept 1875 by Miss Jennie Stentz. This was purchased by W. E. Melhorn but he soon ceased to struggle against adverse circumstances. In 1878, C. W. Bollinger who was engaged in job printing, published the Apollo Review, a small four page sheet for a few months. On April 1, 1883, the first issue of the Apollo Herald was brought out by Wm. Davis, Principal of the Apollo Public Schools. He and Beacom Brothers of Blairsville, who did the printing, issued it for one year when it was
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
sold to J. C. Rairigh. Mr. Rairigh published from April 10, 1884 until Oct. 3, 1884, when it was again sold; this time to Walter J. and Laur- etta A. Guthrie. In their hands the circulation and advertisements increased encouragingly. They issued it regularly until Sept. 3, 1886, when having other interests they sold to R. S. Cochran who made his son, M. H. Cochran, editor. The latter gave his whole time to it and soon purchased it from his father and made it boom so that on May 7, 1888 it was made a semi-weekly. Mr. Cochran succeeded in build- ing up quite an extensive plant, but his untimely death, Jan. 26, 1893, ended the hope for a daily for Apollo. Mrs. Cochran continued the publication as a weekly until 1898 when she moved to Vandergrift, following the shift of industries to that place and established the Vandergrift Citizen. She continued its publication until her second marriage when she sold to E. H. Welsh. In 1894, C. W. Bollinger started the Advertiser in connection with job printing. He and his brothers continued it until 1897. In 1895, A. Lincoln Cochran pro- moted the News-Record and interested W. J. Guthrie, W. C. Guthrie, Col. S. M. Jackson, F. W. Jackson and W. W. Leech. At first it was all home print and was quite a factor in home politics. Mr. Cochran having decided to go to Atlanta, Ga., his interest became vested in Dr. T. J. Henry. The company continued the paper until June 16, 1906 when Mr. Guthrie acquired the whole stock and, with E. C. Bell as editor regularly issued it until Jan. 29, 1907, when it was again placed in control of a company. Rev. M. E. McLinn, Rev. D. W. Kerr and T. J. Baldrige placed it on a temperance basis. In 1908, T. J. Baldrige purchased the whole stock and under his management it has become one of the best equipped plants in the valley.
In April, 1916 a Model B Intertype was installed which greatly facilitated the work of the office. This was the latest production of typesetting machine and the only one of its kind in the valley. With its aid the News-Record was enabled to publish a 28 page Pictorial and Historical edition in the interest of the Centennial celebration, which was favorably commented upon by many papers throughout the state. The News-Record published a daily paper during Centennial week, which was the first daily published in the town or valley.
The Apollo Sentinel was established in 1907 by R. V. Bentzel and brother. It was purchased by E. W. and C. C. Hildebrand in 1913 and is an attractive, progressive and paying sheet.
FOUNDRIES.
The first foundry was built by Allen & Shankle on th lot now owned by Mrs. Louis Whitlinger on South Second Street. This was about 1866. It was purchased by John and Smith Jack and moved to a site now on Kiskiminetas Avenue north of Geo. Steele's residence. John Jack was in the business from 1867 to 1873. The old building is yet used as a stable. Smith Jack retired and Casper Kettering
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
became a partner of John Jack. Mr. Kettering acquired the whole interest of the plant in a short time but took in R. C. Smith in 1876. This partnership lasted but a few months and Mr. Kettering again became sole owner. He continued to operate the foundry until the organization of the Apollo Foundry Co. in 1898. Prior to this the output of the plant was small and chiefly plowpoints, stove castings, etc. The new plant was equipped for mill supplies. James Kirkwood had an active part in the promotion and completion of this plant. The majority of stock in this being identical with the interests of the Apollo Iron & Steel Co., it was removed to Vandergrift shortly after the removal of the mills. It has become the United Engineering and Foundry Company.
CEMETERIES.
When Isaac McKisseck owned the Allison farm he had negroes working for him. Four of these, two men and two women were burried in a little grave yard just above Marcellus Shupe's residence in Allison Lane. About eighteen or twenty whites were buried there also. Among them was a child of Alex Kerr. A Mrs. Daugherty who lived in a log house on that farm was buried there after she strange- ly foretold her death. A rooster came in one morning when she was spinning. The fowl flew up on her wheel and crew thrice. Mrs. Daugherty immediately made arrangements for her death in three days. Her death actually occurred at that time.
APOLLO CEMETERY.
The Apollo Cemetery was laid out in 1868, by T. A. Cochran, S. M. Jackson and John B. Chambers. It is situated south of Apollo. Hugh Owens and sons laid out a cemetery on the north and immediately joining the Apollo cemetery in 1908. It is called River View Cemetery.
Prospect Cemetery was laid out in 1906 by W. F. Whitlinger on his farm on the State Road.
SOLDIERS BURIED IN APOLLO CEMETERIES.
A J. H. Anderson, F. M. Anderson.
B Isaac Barber, Dr. O. P. Bollinger, S. T. Bovard, George Bellas, John Burkett, John Bash, Michael Bash, Johnson Brown.
C Lewis Cupps, K. D. Cochran, J. H. Chambers, Samuel Carpenter.
D S. D. Devilen.
F Robert Fitzsimmons, J. J. Ford, Hugh Forbes.
G John B. Guthrie, Robert Graham, Samuel George.
H John Humphreys, Henry Hageman, Wm. H. Henry, Aaron Hill, Josiah Hilty, John Huffman.
J W. T. Jackson, Thomas Jackson, J. T. Jackson, John Jones, Smith
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
Jack, J. Y. Jackson, Samuel Jack, Robert Jones, Samuel M. Jack- son, S. S. Jack, J. W. Jellison.
K Wm. Kirkwood, Daniel Keiflin, M. P. Kirkland, J. L. Kerr, Henry L. Kinter, S. H. Kerr, L. L. Kunkle.
L Alex Long, C. W. E. Lytle.
M D. C. Martin, Isaac Mason.
Mc John McIlwain, Jas. Mclaughlin, Jas. X. McIlwain, Joseph H. McKee, Daniel McLain.
P Albert Painter, William V. Poole.
R R. W. Rowland, J. B. Ryan.
S J. A. Sell, G. W. Stivenson, E. C. Smith, Jas. Salsgiver, John W. Scott, A. H. Sheasley, Benj. F. Shearer.
T Henry Turney, Adam Tomer, Patrick Turney.
U Daniel Uptegraft.
W A. W. Withington, Paul Wilmot, Murray Watson, George Wilson, SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-Dr. W. L. McBryar, A. Frank Mc Cormick, Charles Fishel.
WAR OF 1812-Kennedy Hunter, James M. Spahr.
(Old Graveyard)-General Robert E. Stuart, Jack Brown, - Kerr, G. W. Hildebrand, Samuel Henry, Jacob Ford. INDIAN WAR-James Jackson.
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