History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 49

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

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230

HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

1867 thirty-five acres of land, on which have been erected three substantial two-story frame buildings, one of which, 72×24 feet, was occupied in the early part of the next spring; another, 72.X36 feet, was erected during the following summer, and the third one, 86×40 feet, was ready to be occupied by the 1st of September then next ensuing. The ones first and last erected were burned in Decem- ber, 1873, and within six months thereafter new ones were erected on their sites. The three build- ings have a capacity for the accommodation of 225 pupils.

Rev. T. M. Elder, Rev. J. E. Dodds and ex- County Superintendent Hugh MeCandless, the present one, have successively been the principals of this school; the principal assistants, J. P. Bar- ber, G. W. Innes, W. McKiershan, Alex. T. Or- mond and M. L. Thounhurst; the aggregate of different assistant teachers of all grades, 27; super- intendents of boys, 8 ; employés, 29.

The average number of pupils, girls and boys, during the first five years, was about 150, and from 1872 until 1876, 206. Only three deaths of pupils have occurred in nearly ten years, and there has been, since the opening of the school, but very little sickness among them. Twenty-four have been transferred to other schools, 220 have been discharged by reason of their having attained the age of sixteen years, and 38 by order of the super- intendent.

The moral, intellectual and physical culture in this school is such as is well calculated to make its pupils good, useful and healthful men and women, and to properly prepare them for their various vocations in after life. It is gratifying to know that so many of them, as do, find eligible situa- tions after they pass out from the portals of this temple of knowledge to participate in the earnest, continuous struggle on the world's broad battle- field.

The common schoolhouse, frame, two stories, is situated on the southeast corner of South and School streets. The school is a graded one of two departments.

The school statistics for 1876 are as follows: schools, 2; average number months taught, 5; male teacher, 1; female teacher, 1; salary of male per month, $33; salary of female per month, 33; male scholars, 50; female scholars, 49; average number attending school, 74; received from state appro- priation, $91.14; from taxes, etc., $626,22; paid for schoolhouse, $244; for teachers' wages, $297; for fuel, $108.12.

The petition of divers citizens of the town of Dayton for its incorporation into a borough, under

the general borough acts, was filed in the proper court on the 3d, approved by the grand jury on the 5th of March, and finally approved by the court on June 5, 1873, when the usual decree was made, and the town duly declared to be incorpo- rated into the borough of Dayton, with these boun- daries:

"Beginning at a post at the line of lands of Ezra Pontius, thence passing the lands of Thomas and William Marshall south 34 degrees east 141 perches to a post, thence passing through in part the same land and land of said Thomas H. Mar- shall, with other lands of widow Knox south 86} degrees west 280 perches to a stump, thence pass- ing through lands of said Knox in part and in part through lands of Sloan Cochran north 6 de- grees east 1741% perches to a post, thence passing through lands of George Kline and others south 863 degrees east 25316 perches to the post and place of beginning."

It was declared to be a separate election and school district. The first election was directed to be held at the schoolhouse, July 1, 1873. Wesley Pontius was appointed judge, and Ralph Kells and Theodore Wilson inspectors, and Abraham Good was directed to give notice of that election. The highest number of votes cast for any of the candi- dates was thirty-three, and the lowest fifteen. All the officers were unanimously elected: Justice of the peace, John Campbell; burgess, G. W. Lias; town council, H. L. Spencer, George Kline; school directors, W. W. Caldwell, Wesley Pontius; over- seers of the poor, Thomas P. Ormond, J. R. Cor- nick; assessor, J. T. Smith; judge of election, R. L. Marshall; inspectors of election, John Beck, S. W. Marshall; auditor, A. J. Thompson; constable, G. B. Roof.

The assessment list for 1876: Ministers, 4; teach- ers, 5; principal orphan school, 1; physicians, 2; students, 4; postmaster, 1; law student, 1; agents, 2; clerks, 2; farmers, 17; press farmer, 1; laborers, 10; merchants, 4; hotelkeepers, 2; blacksmiths, 2; carpenters, 9; harnessmakers, 2; furniture dealer, 1; plasterer, 1; painters, 2; tailors, 2; tinner, 1; teamster, 1; shoemakers, 2; wagonmakers, 2; wheel- wright, 1.

The number of taxables the same year, 122, from which the population is estimated to be 561. The vote of the inhabitants of this place is included in that of Wayne township.

POSTAL.

The postoffice was established here July 13, 1855. James McQuown was its first postmaster.

WESLEY PONTIUS.

MRS. WESLEY PONTIUS.

WESLEY PONTIOUS.

The grandparents of Wesley Pontious, on both sides, were from Germany. His father and mother, Jacob and Elizabeth Pontious, who were born respectively Novem- ber 3, 1783, and September 15, 1789, came from east of the mountains to Wayne Township, Armstrong county, in 1816, Mr. Pontious having been out the year previous and purchased 400 acres of land, over a portion of which Dayton borough has since extended. Mr. and Mrs. Pontious were the parents of nine children, whom they lived to see raised to industrious and moral habits, and respectably settled in life. Their names, with dates of birth, were as follows: Elias, born December 25, 1811; Wesley, July 31, 1813; Ezra, December 15, 1814; Mary Ann, April 20, 1817 ; Eliza Jane, July 12, 1819; Catha- rine, July 16, 1821; Maria, March 20, 1823; Margaret, November 15, 1826; and John, January 30, 1828. Of these Mary Ann, Eliza Jane, Maria and John are now deceased. Jacob Pontious, the father, died in 1845, and Elizabeth, his wife, in 1842.

At the time when the elder Pontions made his settle- ment in Armstrong county the region around his loca- tion was very sparsely peopled, and but little improve- ment had been made. Many of the settlers gave more attention to hunting than to clearing their lands. Jacob Pontious did not, however, belong to that class-he was an industrious and enterprising man, and his children inherited those characteristics. He started a tanyard upon his farm, taking into partnership a yonng man who knew the trade. When Wesley Pontious was abont sixteen years of age he went to work nnder this man, and worked with him for five years ; he then carried on the business for five years more for his father. Then, at his father's request, he went on the farm, which he

managed to his father's satisfaction. When his father died in 1845 he left no will, but his son Wesley admin- istered on the estate, and settled it np satisfactorily. He bought the old homestead, and hy diligent labor paid for it and laid the foundation for his present independ- ent condition in life. He was judicious in his farming, as he has been in the conduct of his other business, and slowly but surely (though he met with some losses, chiefly through the fault of others) accumulated con- siderable property. He still retains about fifty acres of his original farm, and lives in comparative retirement in Dayton, adjoining which village his land lies. He was one of the original stockholders of the Dayton Soldiers' Orphans' school, and is one of the board of managers of that institution. During the war of the rebellion he took the enrollment in Wayne township, on which the draft was based, and he has before and since held vari- ous offices in the gift of his townspeople. He is held in high esteem by all who have been associated with him as a conservative citizen and conscientious man in all the relations of life. At present, and since 1880, he has had, besides other investments, an interest in the general store conducted by the firm of C. S. Marshall & Co. Mr. Pontious is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church.

Upon the 26th of May, 1846, Wesley Pontious was united in marriage with Hannah Jane, second daughter of Thomas Travis, an old citizen of this county, in the neighborhood of Dayton. There were three children by this marriage, of whom two are living, as follows: Mary Ann (wife of Rev. James B. Gray) and Rebecca C. (wife of Charles H. Gray).

His first wife dying March 18, 1870, Mr. Pontious married, October 24, 1872, Miss Louisa A. Funk.

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WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

ORIGIN OF NAME.

The origin of the name of this municipality is this: On a certain evening, probably in 1849, when there were only about three buildings on the terri- tory which it now covers, there was a small assem- blage of persons then residing here and in this vicinity, at the store of Guyer & Laughlin. One topic of conversation on that occasion was the name which should be given to this point, then a mere hamlet, which, it was expected, would in time become a town. The main object was to select a name which had not been given to any other place, or at least to any postoffice, in this state. Some one present, it is not remembered who, suggested Dayton, which name, it is thought by the writer's informant, occurred to the suggestor by reason of some mental association of his with Dayton, Ohio.

If such is its derivation, it is, like the name of the township from which it was organ- ized, mediately connected with the achievements of Gen. Wayne, for his victories over, and his treaty with, the Indians immediately led to the foundation of Dayton in Ohio, which was named after Jonathan Dayton, who was one of the agents who effected a purchase for John Cleve Symmes of 248,000 acres from the United States, on a part of which is the site of that place, which is a part of the land for the purchase of which Dayton, St. Clair, Wilkinson and Ludlow contracted with Symmes in seventeen days after Wayne's treaty with the Indians was made. Jonathan Dayton was a citizen of New Jersey, and was speaker of the house of representatives in the Congress of the United States from December 7, 1795, until March 3, 1799.

CHAPTER X.

KISKIMINETAS.

Indian Origin of the Name - Organization - Early Visits of the Whites-Christopher Gist -Persons to Whom the Lands were Originally Surveyed - Old Time Attempts to Divide the Township -Churches-Schools - Temperance Element - Improving Navigation in the Kiskiminetas - Mechanical Industries - Statistics of Employments and Population - Postoffices - An Ancient Landmark - Geological Description -" Dunmire's Rock " - Borough of Apollo, Formerly Warren - Assessments at Various Dates- Ferries and Bridges - Religious Matters - Military- Soldiers' Aid Society - Lodges - Trades and Occupations - Manufacturing and Mercantile History - Statistics - Fires.

KISKIMINETAS TOWNSHIP.

THIS township was named from the river which skirts its southern border. Kiskimin- etas, says Heckeweldu, is corrupted from Giesch- gumanito, signifying, make daylight. Its etymol- ogyi. : Gisch-gu-day; gisch-gue-today; giescha- pen-it is daybreak; manitoon-to make. It was probably the word of command, given by a war- rior to his comrades, at night, to break up camp and resume the journey, or war-path. It is said in Mccullough's Narrative, that the Indians called this river Kee-ak-ksheman-nit-toos, signifying cut spirit. Heckewelder's etymology and definition are more satisfactory to the writer.

ORGANIZATION.

The petition of sundry inhabitants of Allegheny township was presented December 22, 1831, to the court of quarter sessions of this county, asking that a new township be formed out of the upper end of Allegheny township, to be called Kiski- minetas. Philip Klingensmith, John Lafferty and John McKissen were appointed viewers, who, after one continuance of their order, presented their report recommending the organization of the new township, which was approved by the court June 19, 1832. The boundaries were : " By a line com- mencing at a great bend of the Kiskiminetas river, at the mouth of a small run ; thence by a direct line 6 miles and 200 perches to the mouth of Cherry run, where it empties into Crooked creek ; thence up Crooked creek to the line of Indiana county ; thence along said line to the Kiskiminetas river ; thence down said river to the place of beginning."

Some parts of the territory of this township were formerly inhabited by Indians. One of their towns, " Toquhesp, I. T.," is indicated, in the his- torical map of Pennsylvania, as having been sit- nated about half-way between the present site

and the Indiana county line-probably at or near the Northwest Coal Company's works. The writer has not been able to ascertain the etymology and meaning of the name, unless it is derived from Tach-quock -meaning land turtle.

Some young Indians, probably Senecas, informed Gen. Thomas L. Kane, while hunting on his broad domain, in Mckean county, that Toquhesp "must be a word of another language. A place near there is, in one language, Da-gaisse-gehney, which means, 'carry me across (the water) on your back.'"

About a mile below Apollo, near the outlet locks, an Indian chief, bearing the name of Warren, was buried, and the tract containing his grave is des- ignated on the ancient county map, or map of original tracts of land, as " Warren's Sleeping- place."

About a mile and a quarter, in an air line, north- east from "Toquhesp," is an "Indian spring," near which is a rock, on the eastern face of which, front- ing the run, is a rudely engraved figure, probably intended to represent an Indian medicine man. The parts representing the head and upper portion of the body are cut about an inch deep. The cut- ting of the other portions is more shallow. The arms appear to be extended in curved lines from the body, at the extremity of each of which is what is intended to represent a hand with three fingers extended, the legs bent or curved, each foot having two toes extended. Below the right hand is the representation of an arrow-head, while above the right arm, diagonally from the elbow, four characters are engraved somewhat like these, IOOR.

The visits of whites to the territory included in this township, prior to 1748, were probably about the same as those mentioned in the sketch of the present township of Allegheny.

The Ohio Company, consisting of Lawrence and Augustine Washington and others, an association

233

KISKIMINETAS TOWNSHIP.

organized for the purpose of affecting settlements on the wild lands west of the Allegheny moun- tains, sent out Christopher Gist, in 1750, to explore the country. In the course of that tour of explora- tion he passed from the south branch of the Poto- mac to the head of the Juniata, crossed the Alle- gheny mountains "and reached the Allegheny river by the valley of the Kiskiminetas." * That tour began October 31, 1750, from Col. Cresap's, at the old town on the Potomac river in Maryland, and continued thence, as above indicated, to the Allegheny and down the Ohio river to the falls, and thence to Roanoke river in North Carolina, where he arrived May 19, 1751. His journal of that tour, found in the appendix of Pownall's "Topographical Description of North America," published in London in 1776, shows that on Mon- day, November 17, 1750, he “ crossed a great laurel mountain," i.e. Laurel Hill. The next day he en- countered rain and snow. His journal continues: " Wednesday, 14, set out north 45° west 6' to Loyal Hannon, an old Indian town on a creek of the Ohio, called Kiskeminetas, then north l' northwest l' to an Indian camp on said creek.

" Thursday, 15. The weather being bad, and I unwell, stayed here all day. The Indian to whom this camp belonged spoke good English and directed me the way to his town, which he called Shanoppin; he said it was about sixty miles and a pretty good way.

"Friday, 16. Set out south 70° west 10'.

"Saturday, 17. The same course (south 70° west) fifteen miles to an old Indian camp.

"Sunday, 18. I was very sick and sweated my- self, according to the Indian custom, in a sweat- house, which gave me ease and my fever abated.

" Monday, 19. Set out early in the morning, the same course (south 70° west); traveled very hard about twenty miles to a small Indian town of the Delawares, called Shanoppin, on the southeast side" of the river Ohio, where we rested and got corn for our horses." Shanoppin was a short distance below the present site of Sharpsburgh, the river then being called both Ohio and Allegheny.

The ancient map of this county indicates that seventy-five tracts of land were originally surveyed to various persons as follows: John Montgomery, 5004 acres, including " Warren's Sleeping-place," and the site of Apollo; John Montgomery, 704 acres; James Watson, 160 acres, 148 perches; Joseph Campbell, 437 acres, seated by Watsons and John Criswell; John Clark, 52} acres, seated by Peter Yarnall and Hugh Bigham; Chistopher Hays and John Henderson, 4023 acres, seated by James Bid-

dle; William Jackson, 111.7 acres, seated by Jacob McCartney; John Jackson, 367.8 acres, seated by John Miller, Sr., 50 acres, John Miller, Jr., 100 acres, and Jacob Miller, 100 acres; Robert Clark, 248 acres, seated by James Jackson; Robert Watson, 47 acres, 110 perches; Robert Ralston, 436 acres, seated by William Kerr; James Armstrong, 318} acres, seated by Joseph Irwin; J. Jackson, 46 acres; Samuel Hucheson, 280 acres, seated by John and William Watson and John Martin; John Huche- son, 297.7 acres, seated by Robert Watson; John Wells and John Reighley, 4084 acres, seated by Isaac Warner and Alexander Black; Jolin Pirn, 335 acres, seated by T. Shoemaker; James Alexan- der, 342 acres, seated by John Larner; Michael Campbell, 148 acres, seated by Joseph Eakman ; John Burghy, 315 acres, seated by Robert Kilgore; Jonathan Nesbitt, 346 acres, seated by John Wil- son; Reese Meredith, 299 acres, partly in Alle- gheny township; John Ewing (pedlar), 335.8 acres, seated by Daniel O'Brian, partly in Allegheny township; Jacob Burghy, 391 acres, seated by Philip Schellhamer; Mary Paine, 3112 acres, partly in Burrell township; Peter Van Gelder, 395.8 acres, seated by William Eakman; Michael Camp- bell, 153} acres, seated by Andrew McKee; Evan Evans, 393 acres, seated by John Kerr; Andrew Boner, 310 acres, seated by Henry Walker; John Steele, 310.8 acres; John Swift, 323.6 acres; Joseph Swift, Jr., 324 acres, seated by John Shoemaker, Jr .; Rachel Smith, 400} acres, seated by John Kline; Robert Smith, Jr., 3654 acres, seated by Andrew Scott; Thomas Duncan, 4103 acres, seated by George Learner, 80, Barnabas Bloss, 130, and James Biddle, 200 acres; Eve Hays, 475§ acres, seated by John Fuller; Jacob Mechlin, 327.39 acres; Chr. Hays, member of assembly in 1778, 349 acres, seated by John Fuller; Thos. Allibone, 1014 acres, seated by Peter Yarnell; Isaac Townsend, 133 acres, seated by himself; James Wallace, 166.9 acres, seated by Isaac Townsend; Agnes Simpson, 2773 acres, seated by John Johnston, Jr., and Adam Johnston; Jacob Stilley, 252.4 acres, seated by James Guthrie; Jacob Wolf, 248} acres, seated by Michael Anderson; D. Hall, 118.62 acres, seated by Samuel Guthrie; Joseph Shoemaker, 194.1 acres, seated by himself; William Todd, 1254 acres, seated by Samuel Coulter; Joseph Shields, 100 acres; James Wilson, 136 acres; Ilenry Horn, 363 acres, seated by Michael Anderson (river); Michael Sowerwalt, 372.3 acres, seated by John Dornmoyer; Elizabeth Henderson, 359.9 acres, seated by John Fuller; George Clymer, member of assembly in 1778, 335.3 acres; George Reading, 324.6 acres; Jonathan D. Sergeant, 291 acres, seated by Mat-

* Rupp.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

thew Lampton; James Clark, 3893 acres; John Scotton, 3193 acres, seated by William Sansom; Moore Furman, 316 acres, seated by Joseph Shir- ley; John Musser, 317.8 acres, seated by Samuel Gray; William Todd, 323 acres; John Swift, 323.6 acres; Frederick Foulk, 313 acres; Mary Swift, 328.5 acres, partly in Burrell township; Isaac Mor- ton, 301 acres, seated by John Barr; Henry Lisle, 301.8 acres, seated by James Kerns; Benjamin Shermer, 301 acres, seated by Nicholas Weitzell; Mellicent Wade, 301 acres; Alexander Todd, 319.8 acres, partly in South Bend township, seated by Andrew Cunningham; Henry Beck, -; Geo. Morgan, 326 acres, seated by Robert Shirley; Abra- ham Shoemaker, 301.9 acres, seated by Christopher Eiman; Abraham Hunt, 301.9 acres, partly in South Bend township, seated by Samnel Hancock; Isaac Allen, 346.3 acres, partly in Indiana county; John Leasure, 3142 acres, seated by Barnabas Steer and Solomon Dornmoyer; Joseph Shoemaker, 251.8 acres, seated by Benjamin Couch; William Ball, 297 acres, partly in Indiana county, seated by Samuel McClelland; John Laughlin, 355 acres, partly in Indiana county, seated by himself.

Vacant tracts are indicated on that map as fol- lows : Northwest of the James Armstrong and W. Jackson, and west of the Jno. Burghy, Jonathan Nesbitt, James Alexander and Evan Evans tracts, in the western part of the township, on a part of which James Neely, from Londonderry, Ireland, settled in or about 1787; west of the Isaac Allen and Ab'm Shoemaker tracts ; and another one east of the Henry Horn and north and west of the John Laughlin tract, also in the southeastern part of the township.

Names were given to some, if not all, of those tracts. For instance : the Samuel Hucheson tract was called "Denmark ;" the Jacob Wolf tract, " Okefield ; " the David Hall tract, "Mount Hall ;" one of the Joseph Shoemaker tracts, " Mill- brook ; " the Thomas Duncan tract, "Oakland ; " the Henry Horn tract, " Deedenheim ; " the George Reading tract, "Hesse Cassel ;" the Benjamin Shirmer tract, "Scara ; " the Mellicent Wade tract, "Sciro ; " the Isaac Morton tract, "Fuligno ; " the tract adjoining the Michael Campbell tract, war- rant dated July 1, 1784, and patent March 9, 1796, to Isaac Anderson, "White Oak Bottom ; " the Reese Meredith tract, "Harcourt ; " the Joseph Swift, John Scatton and John Swift tracts, re- spectively, "Digby Nos. 1, 2, 3;" the Wm. Todd tract, "Newark ; " the John Leasure tract, " White Oak Flat ;" the Jacob Burgy (or Berger) tract, "Burgomaster ; " the John Steel tract, "Ronnd- Hole " or " Boiling Spring," which became vested

in the heirs of Robert Elder, of which John Beemer purchased six-thirteenths, and released the same to John Miller April 8, 1833, who conveyed seventy-two acres to Adam Miller for $150 April 10, 1840. From the boiling spring on this tract the names of Spring postoffice and Spring church have been derived.

In 1805 the various tracts in what is now Kiski- minetas township were rated or assessed at from twenty-five cents to $1 per acre. For instance : the Agnes Simpson tract was then rated at fifty cents per acre, now at $28; the James Wallace and Isaac Townsend tracts, then at seventy-five cents, now at from $25 to $28; the Benjamin Shermer tract, then at seventy-five cents, now at $25.

Several petitions of inhabitants of Kiskiminetas township were filed in the court of quarter sessions of this county December 23, 1840, asking for a division of the township, and the organization of a new one to be called Washington, by a line to commence at James Kiers', on the Indiana county line, and thence by Solomon Shoemaker's to the Allegheny township line, because, as set forth in the petitions, the area of the township was sixteen by ten miles, the inhabitants were very numerous and the country rough, which rendered it exceed- ingly burdensome upon the people in transacting their township business. Several remonstrances were filed at the same time. The remonstrants alleged that they had understood that a few de- signing individuals contemplated applying to the court for a division of the township; that, if granted, it would derange the school system and canse the inhabitants to build new schoolhouses ; that the average number of voters then in the township did not exceed 380 ; that the area of the township exceeded eight square miles, and, if divided, it would be eight by four miles ; and that a petition was then before the house of representa- tives for the incorporation of the village of War- ren into a borough, which would, if done, “ consid- erably lessen the township." The remonstrants prevailed : the prayer of the petitioners was not granted.

In 1850 an attempt was made to organize a new township ont of parts of Allegheny, Kiskiminetas, Kittanning and Plum Creek townships, to be called Knox. Jonathan E. Meredith, William McIntosh and James Stewart were appointed viewers, who, at December sessions of that year, reported that it was inexpedient to erect a township with the boundaries specified in the petition and order, but suggested that. it would be proper to erect a new township with somewhat different boundaries.

235

KISKIMINETAS TOWNSHIP.

That attempt failed for awhile, but it was after- ward consummated by the organization of Burrell township.

The people of Kiskiminetas (at least a majority of them) contended vigorously, and for awhile suc- cessfully, against the further dismemberment of their township in the erection of South Bend township ; they defeated that project once or twice by their ballots, but were finally overcome, perhaps by their own supineness.

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History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 49

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