History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 121

Author: Smith, Robert Walter
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins
Number of Pages: 790

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Robert Mena and Hamilton Redick were the first settlers upon the land which subsequently became the Graham farm. Gen. Thomas Graham, a land surveyor, came from the eastern part of the state and settled upon this farm soon after Robin- son settled in the township. Graham had been a militia general in former years. He devoted him- self to farming and surveying. He was a man of contentious disposition and did not get along well with his neighbors. He once sued Dr. Hovey, charg- ing him with slander. The case attracted much at- tention. Distinguished counsel were employed on both sides. The jury brought in a verdict for the plaintiff, placing the damage at six cents. Gen. Graham's death resulted from a horse kicking him upon the head. After this sad event, his family scattered. The farm is now owned by the Fox heirs and others, and bas proved valuable oil territory.

James Fowler, a prominent and respected citizen of this township, purchased that part of the Gra- ham tract which is his present home in 1850, Mr.

Fowler is a native of Parker township, Butler county, where his father, John Fowler, was one of the pioneer settlers. A small oil town was built upon his farm, opposite Foxburg. The first dis- covery of oil on this farm was made in 1869 by the Ridgeway Oil Company.

John Lowrie, a Scotchman, settled in Butler county, near Emlenton, in 1796. His land extend- ed to the river and included the most northern por- tion of Armstrong county. He was the father of Hon. Walter Lowrie, afterward United States sena- tor, secretary of the senate, and secretary of the American Board of Foreign Missions of the Pres- byterian church. Another of his sons, Hon. Mat- thew B. Lowrie, became a prominent citizen of Pittsburgh, and was the father of the late Judge Lowrie, of the supreme court of this state.

A revolutionary soldier named Joseph Thom was a pioneer settler on the stream which is still known as Thom's run. He built the first sawmill in this part of the county and operated it for several years. He sold his tract to Elisha Robinson and moved away.

Hovey is a small township both in territory and in population. In 1880 the inhabitants numbered 560. There are two schools in the township but no churches.

In 1873 a strong iron bridge was built over the Allegheny river between Foxburg and Hovey township. Its cost was $64,000. James Fowler and the Fox estate were the largest stockholders in the enterprise, each having invested $20,000. The bridge has recently been sold for $50,000 to the Pittsburgh & Western and the Pittsburgh, Bradford & Buffalo Railroad Companies. These owners have removed the iron bridge and are now replacing it by a wooden structure which is to have a railroad, carriage-road and foot-walk across it. The railroad from Foxburg to Parker was built in 1881-2.

JAMES FOWLER.

Jolın Fowler, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1776. He lived for several years in Westmoreland county, and married there, in 1802, Miss Margaret Carson. His wife died the following year, leaving one child, and Mr. Fowler soon afterward removed to Butler county, where he followed, as he had in Westmoreland, the occupations of millwright and carpenter, In 1807 he married as his second wife, Frances Turner. The fruits of this union were six children, of whom three are living: James, Sarah and Margaret C.

James Fowler was born in 1817, and reared upon a farm in Parker township, Butler county. His chief employ- ment was that incidental to farm life, but he was engaged for several years in cabinetmaking and carpentry, in both of which trades he attained considerable skill. His advantages for obtaining an education were quite limited, as he could only attend the common country schools of the neighborhood, which were far inferior to those of the present day. Nevertheless, he obtained through other channels a fair fund of information while he was still a young man. On February 22, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Ann L. Leonard, and in 1851 he came to Armstrong county, purchasing and settling upon 29 acres of rough, unimproved land, in what is now Hovey township. This he cleared and brought into good condition, handling some of the tim- ber upon it, and much more besides, in a sawmill which he put up in 1852, and which he operated for six years. In 1859 he went across the Allegheny and leased a hotel in Foxhurg, which he carried on for seven years. In the

MRS . JAMES FOWLER.

meantime it had been found that the lands in the northwestern part of Armstrong county were valuable oil territory, and he sold his hotel lease and began leas- ing his land in small parcels to the operators who thronged into the country. Soon some test wells were put down and petroleum found in abundance. He received from one-sixth to one-fourth of the oil produced upon his land as royalty, and it was only a comparatively short time before he had $40,000 in the bank as a result. Not long afterward he and the Messrs. Fox, of Foxburg, established the ferry at that place, which proved a profit- able investment. The amount of travel, however, be- came so great that an iron bridge was thrown across the river to accommodate it, and in this he invested about. $20,000. He retained his interest in this until quite recently, when it was sold to the railroad company. Mr. Fowler has at this time, in addition to the place where he resides, a good farm of about 128 acres in Kit- tanning township, a farm in Plum Creek township, and a valuable property in Manorville. He ranks among the most enterprising citizens of the county, is a man of large usefulness to the people among whom he lives, and his friendly and kindly disposition have made him generally esteemed. Both Mr. Fowler and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

They have been the parents of six children, four of whom are living: Marion L., Charlotte A., James T. and Nelson M. Charlotte A. married Philip Foust, and resides at St. Petersburg, Clarion county. James T. married Hannah E. Roof, and resides with his parents. Nelson M. married Jennie R. Reed, and lives near Manorville, in which village he carries on a drug store.

CHAPTER XXIX.

PARKER CITY.

An Oil Town of Phenomenal Growth - Settlement of the Parker Family - An Indian Village on the River Bot- tom -Bear Creek Furnace - Lawrenceburg - Its Origin and Decline -Parker's Landing -The Discovery of Oil and the Rapid Upbuilding of a City -Important Events-Leading Industries - The Past and the Present Contrasted - Educational and Religious Institutions.

THE discovery of oil was one of the most im- portant events in the history of Armstrong county. As a result of that discovery, land that was worthless, or nearly so, for agricultural pur- poses, appreciated in value a thousand fold; a new industry of manifold branches sprang into being, and great social and commercial changes followed. The northern portion of the country was most affected by the oil excitement. Here in a region, hitherto thinly peopled, there suddenly sprang up a thriving and populous town, which soon became the chief emporium of the lower oil region.

Parker City is situated on the western bank of the Allegheny river, eighty-two miles above Pitts- burgh, and about three miles from the most north- ern limit of Armstrong county. It takes its name from Hon. John Parker, who originally owned nearly all the land now included within its limits and was the first settler of the neighborhood. About the year 1786, acting as a deputy under Moore, John Parker left his home in Washington county and came into the wilds of Western Pennsylvania in the capacity of a surveyor. He surveyed much of the land west of the river now included in the northern portions of Armstrong and Butler coun- ties. At the same time his brother William was engaged in the same work east of the river. There were Indians in the country, and on one occasion a man named Elliot, one of the surveying party, getting into a difficulty with them, shot an Indian at the mouth of Bear creek. The surveyors were greatly alarmed and fled. The Indians followed them for a considerable distance, but at length abandoned the pursuit and gave the whites no further trouble.

At the time of the survey, the "flat " on which now stands the main portion of the first ward of Parker was occupied by an Indian village. No account of this bottom-land was taken by the sur- veyors, they considering it worthless, and extend- ing their surveys only to the top of the bluff. Afterward, a man named Baird purchased the flat

from the Indians, and then sold it to Parker after the latter had settled here.

About the year 1797, Mr. Parker, who had been granted several hundred acres for his services in surveying, removed to his land and thenceforth re- sided here. His house stood on the hill in the edge of Butler county. The old homestead is now the property of his son George. The elder Parker was appointed one of the first associate judges of But- ler county, and held the office thirty-five years. He was a man of prudence and sagacity in business affairs, and one of the most prominent and re- spected citizens of his day. He devoted himself to farming and stock-raising principally, and was very successful in business. He greatly encouraged and promoted the settlement of the surrounding terri- tory by his advice and example, and many of the early pioneers found in him a irne and trustworthy friend. He reared a large family, but two members of which are now living-Fullerton, of Parker City, and George, of Parker township, Butler county. All of the sons were intimately identified with the business interests of this section, and Fullerton Parker,* though he has long since passed the age when most men retire from active partici- pation in business affairs, is still interested in many public enterprises of the city, which is mainly built upon his land.

William Parker, the father of Judge Parker, moved from Washington county with his family about the year 1798, and settled upon Bear creek. Several families came in company with him, mak- ing their way up the river from Pittsburgh on keel- boats, which also carried their goods. When oppo- site the garrison at Pittsburgh one of the boats upset and several persons were drowned, among them a son of William Parker. Several children of the party saved their lives by getting upon feather-beds which kept afloat until they were res- cned. Mr. Parker erected a mill soon after his arrival on Bear creek, not far from the spot where

* Born in 1806.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

the furnace was afterward built. It was built of logs and contained only the rudest machinery; nevertheless it proved very valuable to the scat- tered settlers who came many miles to avail them- selves of its privileges. It was the first mill erected in the northern part of the county.

THE BEAR CREEK FURNACE,

One of the pioneer industries of Armstrong county was a charcoal blast-furnace for the reduc- tion of iron ore, erected at a date probably not later than 1820. The old stack was torn down years ago, and now nothing remains of the once important industry save the memory existing in the minds of old residents. The furnace stood on the north side of Bear creek, about three-fourths of a mile from the mouth of the stream. It was built by Whiting & Stackpole, who failed after conducting the business for a time. Col. Robin- son, Ilenry Baldwin (afterward Judge Baldwin), and a Mr. Beltzhoover were the next managers. They also failed, and were succeeded by John and Alexander McNicoll. A Mr. Davis, of Pittsburgh, next tried the business, and failed. Samuel and Reuben Leonard became the owners of the fur- nace, and carried on a successful business until about the year 1840, when they ceased operations on account of the scarcity of timber and the in- creased cost of conducting the business. The fur- nace was run by steam, and had a large capacity for those days. The product was frequently sev- enty-five tons of pig iron per week.

LAWRENCEBURG.

This village was brought into existence by the Bear Creek furnace, and consisted mainly of rude dwellings occupied by employés of the company operating the furnace. The closing up of business by the Leonards was the death-blow of the place, which steadily declined until, at the commence- ment of the oil excitement, only three or four houses and two churches remained.

Lawrenceburg was laid out by Judge Parker about the year 1819. John Conway, a wheelwright, built the first house, and was the first settler. He was soon followed by William Cartwright. The old stone house erected by him was used while he owned it as a blacksmith shop, and also contained a carding machine. It is now the oldest building in Parker, and is owned by Elisha H. Bailey.

The first store in Lawrenceburg was established about 1820, and was conducted by Judges Parker and Bovard, of Butler county. It was run on the cooperative plan, and many settlers of the neigh- borhood were interested. It flourished a number of years. James Reed opened the first tavern.

The number of stores and taverns increased as the village grew, and it was not long until there were three stores and three taverns, each doing a thriv- ing business for those days, and attracting cus- tomers from points many miles distant. There was a large amount of traffic and travel upon the river, by means of canoes and keel-boats, and all who had business to transact at Parker's landing naturally came to Lawrenceburg to do their tra- ding, as there was no village at the former place.

Besides those already mentioned, Michael Mc- Cullough, John Andrews, Edward Carleton, Dr. Beggs and John McCaslin were among the first residents of the place. Mccullough kept store and built the first brick house. John Marshall, now the oldest living resident of Lawrenceburg, came to the place in 1825, and bought 20 acres of land at $1 per acre, of which he is still the possessor. His land was not included in the original plot of the village, but was adjacent to the northern line of the town. When his land was found to be val- uable oil territory, $45,000 was offered for it, but Mr. Marshall concluded not to sell. Mr. Marshall is a native of Greensburg, and was born in 1802. His sister, Mrs. Bailey, is also one of the old resi- dents, having resided here forty-six years.

From the closing up of the furnace business in 1840 until the discovery of oil in 1865, Lawrence- burg continued to exist in name, but was a place of no importance. At the latter date there were, at a liberal estimate, less than fifty inhabitants. By 1870 thousands of people had located here either as permanent or transient residents, while all the sur- rounding oil fields were thickly populated. No one who has not witnessed the rapid up-building of towns in the oil region can form an adequate idea of the growth of the place. The importance of the oil discoveries was not fully realized until midsummer of 1869, and that date really marks the beginning of Parker City. Lawrenceburg be- came a part of the second ward of Parker City in 1873.

PARKER'S LANDING.

In the early years of the settlement of this part of the country, Parker's landing was an unimport- ant station, occasionally visited by the canoes and keel-boats flying upon the river. Subsequently it became a steamboat landing and a lumber station. A store was kept at the landing many years, but no village ever sprang up around it. In 1824, Judge Parker erected a large building which was used as a warehouse. It is still standing and is the oldest house in this part of the city. It has been con- verted into a hotel, and is now known as the Parker IIonse.

579

PARKER CITY.

Samuel Craig, who opened a blacksmith's shop at the landing in 1851, thus summarizes the indus- tries and the inhabitants at that date: Fullerton Parker was the proprietor of the warehouse and ran a tannery; Peter McGuff and William Rogers acted as storekeepers; Thomas M. Parker kept hotel, and James P. Parker ran a ferry. The con- dition of the place at the beginning of 1869 was substantially unchanged.

WV. D. Robinson, now of Kittanning, ran a store at Parker's.landing from 1843 until 1869, not con- ducting the business personally all the time, however.

The few industries just enumerated and two or three dwelling-houses -these were all that the "flat " comprised in 1869. A few years later the same spot becomes the heart of a busy mart. Here is a railroad, a city, daily newspapers, banks, hotels, hundreds of flourishing industries ! All this grand transformation has been wrought by one potent factor-petroleum.

DISCOVERY OF OIL AND THE RESULTS.

The first oil discovered in Armstrong county was struck at the Clarion well, No. 1, on the Robinson farm one mile north of Parker City, on October 10, 1865. From that discovery no important results immediately followed. It was not until the latter half of the year 1869 that a genuine oil excitement revealed the importance of the oil fields surround- ing Parker. About a dozen wells had been put down on the hill near Parker prior to the time mentioned. But these test wells had proclaimed the value of the Butler county oil territory in ad- dition to that of Armstrong, and such an impetus was given to the business that it speedily became evident that Parker was to become an important point as a base of operations for producers and operators. Lawrenceburg had already become a thrifty village, and in 1869 and 1870 the landing rapidly became the scene of the busiest activity. Rude shanties were constructed in which business was commenced before the echoes from the car- penter's hammer had died away. Saloons, stores, hotels, machine-shops and shops of every kind soon crowded every available space between the bluff and the river. Fires raged and destroyed whole blocks of these box-like structures, but others were built in their places and business was resumed al- most before the ashes were cold. November 4, 1870, there was a fire which destroyed the greater part of the buildings at the landing, and on the 4th of December following the central part of Lawrence- burg was burned. Jannary 19, 1873, and again on the 4th of April of the same year, the business

portion of the first ward was almost entirely de- stroyed. But fires counted for little in those days; the buildings were replaced in a few days and everything went on as usual. After the last fire of 1873, the streets of the flat were laid out on a new plan, and gradually substantial and more costly buildings were erected. River avenue was built up on both sides, and consisted of business houses for almost its entire length. The effects of the great fire of 1879 will be noticed further on.

TIIE CITY.

The lawlessness and loose movals characteristic of the followers of the oil excitement did not fail to pervade the new town with a contaminating influence. Good citizens soon saw that there was every necessity for strict and vigilant government. The rapid influx of population naturally led to the belief that Parker was destined to become a large and important place. Accordingly a petition for a city charter was presented to the legislature ; it was favorably received, and by an act approved March 1, 1873, all that portion of Armstrong county, from the Butler county line to the river, situated between Bear creek on the south and " Thom's Run " on the north, became incorporated into the city of Parker. By a supplementary act, approved March 23, 1873, it was ordered that the first municipal election of the city be held Friday, March 28, 1873.

The mayors of the city have been as follows :

J. W. McFarland, 1873-4; George S. Kelly, 1875-6; H. R. Fullerton, 1877-8 ; E. H. Ran- dolph, 1879-80-1-2.

Until 1872 there was no means of reaching Parker station on the Allegheny Valley Railroad, except by the ferry plying between that station and Parker City. But in the year mentioned, three of the most enterprising business men of Parker, S. D. Karns, H. R. Fullerton and Fuller- ton Parker, caused a superb iron bridge to be con- structed. The structure cost $80,000. It is a toll- bridge, and serves also as a means for the Pitts- burgh & Western trains to cross to the junction. Mr. Karns, who was the leading spirit in this as well as many other important public enterprises, disposed of his interest in the bridge (one-half ) to James E. Brown, whose heirs now own it other owners still retain their shares.

The importance of having further

ities became apparant to the after the town had attai- degree of prosperitv ing the Parker road was "

580

HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

as far as Petrolia early in 1874, and in April of the same year trains began running to Karns City. The Butler and Karns City extension was built in 1876, largely increasing the business of the road. This railroad was the result of an enterprise of which S. D. Karns, H. R. Fullerton and Fullerton Parker were the chief projectors and supporters. In 1881 the road became a part of the Pittsburgh & Western company's lines, and during 1881-2 it was extended up the river to Foxburg, there to be connected with the Pittsburgh, Bradford & Buf- falo road. From Butler another extension was built during the summer of 1882, joining with the main line at Collery junction. On the 1st of January , 1883, through trains began running from Parker City to Allegheny. Parker is thus placed on the direct through line of the Pittsburgh & Western. The repair shops and carworks of the railroad have been located at Parker from the commencement of the Parker & Karns City road and have formed one of the most important industries of the city.

The Parker City waterworks were built in 1872 by Miller & Vesey, who sold out to Coulter & Overy. In 1874 H. R. Fullerton purchased the works, greatly enlarged their capacity and laid several miles of new pipe. In 1882 the present owners, Tinsman & Russell, purchased the property of Mr. Fullerton. The works consist of two large Cameron pumps, with a capacity for raising the water 280 feet and amply supply all parts of the city. A. Randolph and John Walker have had the management of the works for the last six years.

The rapid growth of the town and the conse- quent increase of business soon rendered the estab- lishment of a bank a necessity. The Parker Savings Bank was opened in 1869, and continued to do business until July, 1882, when it failed, involving large losses to its depositors. The Exchange Bank was established in 1871, and quit business in 1880. In October, 1882, Parker, Ful- lerton & Co. began the banking business, and their bank is now the only one in the city.

Parker City gasworks were built in 1877 by a stock company, in which W. C. Mobley, William Smith, M. Naylor and J. Dougherty were most largely interested. Gas is manufactured from under the process known as Smith's pipes extend to the principal part of and to the residences on the bluff. artment of the city consists of two npanies, one in each ward. First vine and Hose Company, John nd ward, „Citizens' Hook,

Ladder and Hose Company, S. M. Brewer, fore- man.

In the fall of 1869 the first machine-shop was opened by Bradley & Duff, in Lawrenceburg. A large business was carried on, affording employ- ment to many hands. The firm continued to do a successful business until 1882, when the shop was closed. Two machine-shops in the first ward are still in operation, those of John Sweeny and Tinsman & Russell. Sweeny's machine-shop, a three-story building, was erected in 1872. Mr. Sweeny started a foundry in 1875, which is still running, giving employment to seven men. J. MeNutt also has a foundry. Evans & Foster are the proprietors of a carriage factory.

Another business interest is the establishment of Wilkins & Fullerton, manufacturers and dealers in lumber. The business began in 1875 with the starting of a sawmill. In 1880 the proprietors added a planing-mill and box factory. They are now doing a business of $12,000 to $15,000 per year.

One of the most important industrial enterprises ever undertaken in Parker is the Parker City glassworks. The company, as at first formed, consisted of over 100 members, of whom the fol- lowing gentlemen were the most largely interested: John Duff, John Leonard, Fullerton Parker, W. C. Mobley, C. P. Hatch, William Morgan, James P. Parker, Wilson & Manifold, and others.

The works were built in 1880 and set in operation in September of that year. The first board of managers of the company was as follows: John B. Leonard, president; William Morgan, J. P. Parker, A. Sheidemantle and C. P. Hatch. The present managers are John Duff, president; J. J. Campbell, secretary; S. H. Manifold, treasurer; Fullerton Parker and W. C. Mobley. The product of the works for the past year is estimated at $100,000. Twenty-six blowers are employed; 20 to 25 laborers about the works and 40 men and boys in other departments.

Diffenbacher's directory of the oil region for the years 1875-6 places the population of Parker City at over 4,000. At the same time an equally large number of people were residing in the immediate vicinity and dependent upon the city for supplies and commercial facilities. The years 1878-9 wit- nessed a decline in the oil business, resulting from the partial exhaustion of the wells and the low price of oil. It does not require a long time for an oil town to fall from the hight of prosperity to a position of comparative unimportance. The popu- lation of Parker today is probably little more than 1,500. Property has depreciated in value to an

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History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 121

Author: Smith, Robert Walter Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins Number of Pages: 790

Author: Smith, Robert Walter
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins
Number of Pages: 790