History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 78

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

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In the eastern part of this township, including the heretofore-mentioned subterranean burnt dis- triet, is the continuation of the stratum of block coal described in the sketch of Red Bank township, where it is from 10 to 12 feet thick, which con-

$ J. A. Colwell & Co. conveyed 118 aeres and 153 perches of this parcel to Hiram Beham, November 11, 1878, for $2,900.

363

MAHONING TOWNSHIP.

tains, according to Dr. F. A. Genth's analysis of a specimen of it, moisture, 1.06; volatile matter, 34.00 ; fixed carbon, 56.78 ; ash, 8.16=100.00 ; sul- phur, .21. This stratum extends northwesterly, and as it approaches Bostonia, is what is commonly called cannel coal, though in reality a cannel slate, containing, according to A. S. McCreath's analysis of a specimen of it, 25 per cent of ash. This deposit, says Platt, is irregular, existing only in "pots " or concave areas, disconnected, and often widely separated, so that the occurrence of cannel is confined to certain localities. The thick- ness or thinness of the mass may be judged by the depth or shallowness of the "pots." A mistaken idea prevails in the Red Bank region that the out- spread of the " cannel" is as regular as that of one of the coalbeds of the productive series. The origin of these "pots" is not exactly clear. They may represent depressions which existed originally in the surface when the coalbed was formed ; or

they may be due to floating sheets of vegetation, similar to those which now exist in the Dismal Swamp, North Carolina. Underlying the "can- nel" at all points is a thin layer of bituminous coal, with a regular and continuous ontspread, being the equivalent of the Kittanning upper eoal, by which the geological horizon of the cannel de- posit is defined.

An anti-clinal axis crops the western part of this township, passing over the Mahoning valley, near the Mahoning furnace, thence between Oakland and the Narrows, and across Red Bank creek in the neck of the Great Bend. The eastern part of this township is a synclinal, perfectly regular and without any disturbances.

The elevation above ocean level at New Bethle- hem is 1,079.8 feet; at Bostonia junction, 1,073.8 feet ; at the west end of the railroad tunnel, Anthony's Neck, 1,050.8 feet ; at Leatherwood, 1,026.8 feet.

CHAPTER XVI.

BURRELL.

Named after Judge Burrell-Organization -Indian Names of Crooked Creek - Original Owners of the Soil - Warrants Dated in 1776-Names of the Citizens of the Township in 1805-Strange Conjugal Arrange- ments-Powder-Mills-Captain Sam Brady's Autograph - An Eccentric Manufacturer of Plows -" Will- iamsburg " -- Salt Works - Religious History - Primitive Schools - Recent Educational Statistics - Mercantile and Other Occupations - Population.

B URRELL TOWNSHIP was named after the late Judge Burrell, who was at the time of its organization president judge of the tenth judi- cial district, which was then composed of Arm- strong, Indiana and Westmoreland counties. An unsuccessful attempt, as elsewhere mentioned,* was made to organize a new township to embrace most of the territory of which Burrell now con- sists. In 1853-4 another attempt was made, which, the objectionable feature in some of the boundaries, which were first prayed for, having been removed, succeeded against a somewhat formidable opposi- tion. The remonstrance of citizens of Allegheny township set forth that they were not unwilling to part with a portion of their territory, but ob- jected to the cutting up of their school districts, which they feared would result. The remonstrance of the citizens of Kittanning township set forth that the formation of the new township would de- range the school districts, and since Manor township had been, a few years before, formed out of Kit- tanning, the taking of another part of it off would leave it too small for township purposes. The court, however, appointed James Stewart, Archi- bald Glenn and William Melntosh viewers or . commissioners, whose report in favor of the forma- tion of the new township was filed March 22, 1854, which was subsequently, in 1855, approved, and the organization of Burrell township consummated. Its boundaries are: Beginning at Crooked creek, at the end of Walker's tunnel; thence through the territory of Kittanning township sonth eighty de- grees, east four miles and one hundred and sixty- six perches, to a maple on Cherry run, near the house of Samuel George; thence south fifteen de- grees west three hundred and thirty-nine perches, to a buttonwood at the forks of Cherry run; thence through the territory of Plum creek township south fifteen degrees east two miles and eighty-four perches, to Lindsey Argler's run; thence down said run south seventy degrees west one hundred

and ten perches, and south fifty-six degrees west sixty-four perches, to Crooked creek; thence through territory of Kiskiminetas township south thirty degrees, west one mile and three hundred and eight perches, to a white-oak on land of Jacob Hart; thence north eighty-six degrees west one mile and a half; thence north forty-seven and a half degrees west one mile and two hundred and forty-five perches, to a post on the line between the town- ships of Allegheny and Kiskiminetas; thence through the territory of Allegheny township north twenty-five degrees west two hundred and twenty perches to a post; thence north forty-five degrees west one hundred and seventy-six perches, to M. Lane's, taking him into the new township; thence due north three miles and seventy-six perches, to a black-oak on the bank of Crooked creek; thence down said creek north forty-seven degrees west fourteen perches, south eighty-four degrees west ninety-two perches, north eighty-four degrees west thirty perches, north forty-one de- grees west ninety-six perches, north fourteen de- grees east fifty-four perches, north sixty-two degrees west twenty-six perches, north sixty-seven degrees east ninety-three perches, north forty-fonr degrees east sixteen perches, north twenty-one degrees east thirty-six perches, and north forty degrees east fifteen perches, to the place of beginning.

The chief stream in this township is Crooked creek, whose ten large bends, between the points at which the eastern and western boundary lines cross it, make its conrse very crooked. These and numerous other great bends in other parts of the territory through which it flows make it a very crooked stream. Hence the Indians called it Woak-hunne, Crooked Stream, the Stream with Large Bends; Woak-tschin, to bend; Woak-tsche-n, crooked.

The ancient county map shows that the thirty- six original tracts, exclusive of the Clemons tract, within the present limits of this township, were :

* In sketch of Kiskiminetas township.

365

BURRELL TOWNSHIP.

Reading Beatty, 436.7 acres, seated by Jacob Hart ; James Shields, 261 acres 62 perches, partly in South Bend ; Robert Finney, Jr., 385.9 acres ; William Palmer, 437} acres, a small portion in Kiskiminetas ; Robert Carnahan, 3962 acres, seated by John Wagle ;* James Vanhorn, 450 acres, partly in Allegheny, seated by Adam Fiscus ; Jacob Beer, 313 acres 109 perches, seated by Will- iam Kerr; Thomas York, 346 acres, partly in Allegheny, seated by George Elliott; John Brown, 357.8 acres, partly in Allegheny, seated by John Beck ; James Renwick, 305 acres, seated by John Pitts ; James Clark, 418 acres, seated by John Schall; William Sykes, 3293 acres, seated by Michael Schall, Sr .; William Eckart, 361 acres. The foregoing tracts are on the lower, or southerly and southwesterly, side of Crooked creek. The following are on the opposite side of that creek : John Salter, 327 acres ; Christopher Hoover, 192 acres, seated by himself ; Agnes Kyle, 221.5 acres ; Robert Adams, 321.65 acres, partly in South Bend, seated by Isaac Wagle and Wilson ; Sam- uel Kyle, 215.6 acres, partly in Sonth Bend, seated by David Sloan ; Joseph Shoemaker, 382 acres ; Henry Davis, 200 acres, seated by himself ; R. Cogley, in right of Malcom Campbell, 257 acres, seated by George Shoemaker, heirs of William Clark; R. Cogley, 91} acres ; Adam Wilhelm, 140 acres, seated by - -; John Craig, 2053 acres, seated by George Helffreich, patent to Craig, dated September 21, 1789, deed from Craig to R. Cogley, May 1, 1790, consideration £50, Cogley to Michael Schall, December 31, 1805, consideration £200, Schall to George Peter Sheffer, January 27, 1806, for 1853 acres, consideration £150; Francis Cooper, 308} acres, afterward John Davison's ; George Risler, 345.8 acres, seated by Andrew Beck; Isaac Mechlin, 325 acres, seated by John Robb and George A. King; Mary Field, 318 acres, 109 perches ; Michael Huffnagle, 382.9 acres, seated by Robert Walker. Huffnagle was captain of one of the volunteer companies raised in West- moreland county for the defense of the frontiers, served as major of two companies under appoint- ment of the lieutenant of that county, from Feb- ruary 11 until July 1, 1779, was favorably men- tioned by Col. Daniel Brodhead in his letter to President Reed of April 27, 1780. In 1783 he had charge of the timber and the land of the reserved tract opposite Pittsburgh. In the course of his

varied correspondence with Major, afterward Gen- cral, John Armstrong, Jr., who was then Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsyl- vania, is a letter from the Secretary to Huffnagle, then prothonotary of Westmoreland county, dated at Philadelphia, November 15, 1783, in which he said : "The licentious disposition discovered in Manellan township is not a little alarming, and in the opinion of council requiries an early and rigorous correction. Upon receipt of this you will there- fore assemble the magistracy of that part of the county and with them adopt the most efficient measures to investigate the business and enforce the laws."

Returning to the original tracts : James Arnold, 49 acres ; Valentine Shallus, 445 acres, called "Mount Joy," seated by Michael Schall ; Thomas Milliken, 228 acres, seated by George P. Sheffer, warrant dated October 3, 1778, deed to R. Cogley, January 17, 1789, consideration ten shillings ; Cog- ley to Michael Schall, May 8, 1806, for 225 acres, consideration £200; Schall to George P. Sheffer, July 9, for 228 acres, consideration £350; Joseph Sansom, 401} acres ; Jacob Shallus, 327.4 acres, seated by Isaac Wagle ; John and Samuel Hall, 314.14 acres, seated by James Hall ; Isaac Mather, 325 acres, seated by Peter Rupert, warrant dated August 20, 1776 ; Mather to John Paul, Novem- ber 10; Paul to John Vanderen, Jr., June 3, 1779 ; Vanderen to Michael Hillegas, who was for several years treasurer of this state, and of the United States, before the close of the revolutionary war ; Hillegas to Lazarus de Francy, then late of Auteen, France, May 1, 1780 ; Madam Philebert Guichet de Francy, by her attorney-in-fact, Will- iam Reynolds, of Bedford, Pennsylvania, to the heirs and devisees of James Hamilton, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and Thomas Hamilton, Greensburgh, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1830, from whom the present owners have more immediately derived their titles. This tract was for many years ad- versely claimed by different parties, and there was much litigation respecting it, before two verdicts and judgments in favor of the validity of the title by which the present owners hold it. From the ancient county map and descriptions in some old deeds there appears to have been a vacant tract of considerable extent skirting Crooked creek from its first large bend above the mouth of Cherry run and the Malcolm Campbell tract, and that runs up to the southern boundary of the Joseph and William Sansom tracts, and adjoins the northern, northeastern and castern boundaries of the Joseph Shoemaker tract.

The John Wilson tract, called "Wilsonburgh,"

* This tract was sold by the sheriff of Westmoreland county for taxes to Jacob Beck, the deed for which is dated October 20, 1807, who, by deed dated January 15, 1844, conveyed it in trust for the heirs of John Wagle to Catherine Wagle, an equal share to herself, for $7. The bulk of this tract is southwesterly from the mouth of Pine run, in the southwestern part of what is now Burrell town- ship.

366

HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

mostly in Allegheny and Kiskiminetas townships, appears to have been looked after quite early. The order or application for a warrant is dated April 13, 1769. The warrant is dated July 26 and the patent July 31, 1781. Joseph Landis and wife conveyed 60 acres of "Wilsonburg" to Joseph Beck October 31, 1856, for $475.

The warrant for the Michacl Huffnagle tract, called "Isaac's lot," is dated September 5, 1776. Inffnagle conveyed his interest in it to John Vanderen July 10, 1778, who conveyed it to Isaac Vanhorn, January 24, 1782, whose executors, by James Brady, of Greensburgh, Pennsylvania, their attorney-in-fact, conveyed it to John Shotz, the consideration expressed in the deed being $1, August 7, 1810, and he conveyed 280 acres of it to Alexander Walker, January 22, 1814, for $1,250.

The warrants for several of those tracts are dated in 1776, one of them as early as the 4th of February ; those for other tracts are dated one, two, eight and twelve years later. The surveys of some are dated a few days, and others a fow months, after those of the warrants.

The John Brown tract, called "Engina," or " Algenal," has remained in the ownership of the Clemens family during the last century. The patent for it to Paul Engle, or Angle, is dated September 7, 1781, which subsequently became vested in Jacob Clemens, who devised it to Charles W. Clemens.

So far as the writer can determine from the assessment list of Allegheny township for 1805-6, the following are the assessments then made in that part thereof now included in Burrell : George Beck, 160 acres, three horses and four cattle, ap- praised at $210 in 1805, and $205 in 1806; John Henry, 63 acres and three cattle, $33.90 in 1805, and $18 in 1806; James Hall, 250 acres, one dis- tillery, two horses and two cattle, $242.50 both years ; Christopher Hoover, 200 acres, one horse, two cattle, $120 both years; George Helffreid (Helffreich), one horse, one head of cattle, $15 in 1806 ; George Painter, 98 acres, one gristmill, one sawmill, one head of cattle, $119 in 1805, and $10 in 1806; George Peter Sheffer, 400 acres, one horse, one head of cattle, $315 in 1806; Michael Schall, Sr., 400 acres, one head of cattle, $305 in 1805, and $233 in 1806; Michael Schall, Jr., 275 acres, two horses, two cattle, $167.50 each year; John Schall, blacksmith, $10 in 1805; Jacob Schall, schoolmaster, single man; George Shoe- maker, 225 acres, two cattle, $178.75 in 1805, $183 in 1806; Adam Wilhelm, 160 acres, one horse, two cattle, $100 each year; Isaac Wagle, 50 acres,

$75 in 1806. There must then have been a popu- lation of about sixty. The valuation of these tracts of land then varied from twenty-five to fifty, sixty-nine and seventy-nine cents an acre. The portion of that list showing the returns of un- seated land for those years is not accessible-it is probably lost. Such land, a few years later, was generally valued at fifty cents an acre.

More or less of the tracts, like those in the ad- joining townships, probably had particular names. "Rotterdam," for instance, is the one given to the R. Cogley (91} acres) tract lying partly on Cherry run and partly on Crooked creek, above the mouth of that run. There must have been a mill of some kind, probably a gristmill, on this tract, at or near the mouth of Cherry run, as early as, or before, 1802,* for in the act of assembly of that year fix- ing the place for holding the elections in Alle- gheny township at the house of George Painter, at the mouth of that run, he is described as " miller." He was assessed with a gristmill and a sawmill in 1804. Indeed, " Rotterdam " has been a prominent point in this region ever since. The warrant for it to R. Cogley is dated April 3, 1789, the patent to Michael Schall June 14, 1806 ; the deed from Schall to George Painter, July 29 of that year; deed from Painter to Isaac Wagle, June 9, 1809, two tracts, one for 11 acres and the other for 42 acres and 53 perches, for £600; deed from Wagle to Robert Richards, February 13, 1816, for $1,650 ; Richards to Andrew Craig, Jan- uary 18, 1820, for $2,000, the above-mentioned 53 acres and 53 perches ; release from the heirs of Andrew Craig to William Craig; William Craig to Adam Thompson and John Wright, August 27, 1825 ; Wright agreed, March 18, 1829, to convey his interest therein to John and Samuel Pitts; that contract having been proven in proceedings in the Orphans' Court, Wright was directed to de- liver one moiety to John Pitts for himself, and the other moiety to him in trust for Salona, the sole heir of Samuel Pitts, deceased, which was done, the deed having been executed in 1839; the in- terest of Salona Pitts was conveyed by herself and her husband, David Speer, to John Jack for $500; a contract was entered into between John Pitts in his lifetime to convey his interest to John Jack, which, after his death, having been duly proven in proceedings in the Orphans' Court of this county, Robert Walker (of A.), administrator of the estate of John Pitts, was directed by the court to make to Jack a deed therefor (except 25 acres) of the mill tract and parcel of land, which deed is dated

* Painter built a mill some distance up Cherry run, it is said, in 1800, and at the mouth in 1802.

367

BURRELL TOWNSHIP.

March 29, 1840; Jack to Michael Cochran, April 19, 1845 (except 1 acre, sold by John Pitts in his lifetime to Daniel Ruffner), one undivided half- part for $1,000. The transfers of the other moiety are : Adam Thompson, February 26, 1830, an un- divided half to Daniel Shoemaker and Peter Hine ; transfer by Hine of his interest to Shoemaker ; Shoemaker to Jacob Hart, April 15, 1837 ; Hart to Joseph Miller, April 29, 1843, for $1,000; Miller to Michael Cochran, June 2, 1849, for $1,200 ; Michael Davis to Michael Cochran, March 21, 1858, for 112 perches of the Henry Davis tract, for eighty cents ; Cochran's executors-his heirs having refused to take the property at its appraise- ment in proceedings in partition-to John Schwalm and W. H. Carnahan, June 30, 1871, for $17,000, who are the present owners. The present site of their mills is the most ancient mill-seat in what is now Burrell township. These mills, prior to 1830, were, perhaps, known as Painter's, Wagle's, Richards', Craig's, Davis', and Wright & Thompson's mills. They have since been called Pitts' and Cochran's mills, which last-men- tioned name they and their locality still bear,* though recently changed to that of Carnahan's. The first store at this point was opened by Michael Cochran in 1849-50, which he continued while he owned the property. A grange store is now kept here by Schwalm & Carnahan.

On December 21, 1822, Irwin & McClelland advertised - Robert Irwin having been first as- sessed as a carder in 1821-that they "continned as usual, fulling and dressing cloth at the mouth of Cherry run." Anthony Helffreich was first assessed with that fulling-mill ( and with a sawmill) in 1824-5, and for several years after- ward. He announced in his advertisement in Oc- tober, 1826, that he intended to have everything necessary to full, dye and dress cloth in the best manner. Isaac Kinnard was first assessed there as a carder in 1834. He subsequently became the proprietor of the fulling-mill that he ultimately

converted into a woolen-factory, which is now op- erated by him and his son.

This point has ever since its settlement, been supplied with an adequate number of such me- chanics as are usual in such a place.

A substantial county bridge, with stone pier and ahutments and wooden superstructure, has for many years spanned Crooked creek between the mouth of Cherry run and Cochran's mills.

Thus it is, that "Rotterdam " has been, from the beginning of this century, an important point for business for the surrounding country.

During the late rebellion, flagrante bello, when the success of the Union forces was essential to the preservation and perpetnity of our national in- tegrity, this was, as it were, a focus of the peace element of the adjacent region, which was an ob- struction, to say the least-an irrational, illogical obstruction-to the successful prosecution of the war, to obviate which in a portion of this region required, at a certain stage of the war, the pres- ence of a detachment of United States troops to prevent the partial nullification of the equable and necessary demand of the government for additional forces. Yet even this point was not then barren of that other element, which regarded the vigor- ous prosecution of that war as indispensable to securing, conquering a permanent pence by the ef- fective triumph of the national arms.

Among the early settlers on the territory in- cluded in this township, George Shoemaker was noted as a thrifty and successful farmer. He seated the tract called "Monmouth," designated on the ancient county map as the one warranted to "R. Cogley in right of Malcolm Campbell," which contained 257 acres, the patent to him bear- ing date March 20, 1801 .* Its territory as origin- ally surveyed, lay about a mile south of " Rotter- dam," in a large western bend of Crooked creek. His wife must have been an efficient helpmeet, as many another wife is. He must not only have cherished a strong affection for her, but have had a high appreciation of and great confidence in her as a woman of sound judgment and excellent busi- ness capacity, for by his last will and testament, registered October 1, 1821, he gave to her all his personal and real property, provided his eldest sons and one of his daughters should have what had already been advanced them. He further di- rected that the rest of his children should have

* To show the mutations hoth in the ownership and the valne of this property for a series of years, or the variations of value in the estimates of the assessors, the following faets are collected from assessment lists of Plum Creek township, in which this portion of Burrell formerly was: In 1832, Pitts & Shoemaker were assessed with 101 aeres and one gristmill, valued at $501 ; in 1833, Latimer & Shoe- maker 101 aeres and one gristmill, transferred to Wm. Calhoun, to whom they were assessed, together with one fourth-rate horse and one head of second-rate cattle, at a total valuation of $544 ; in 1834, Pitts & Calhoun, 101 acres and one second-rate gristmill, $501 ; in 1835, John Pitts, 100 aeres, fourteenth-rate, and one fourth-rate gristmill, $225 ; in 1836, Pitts & Shoemaker, 100 acres, ete., same as in preceding year ; in 1837, Pitts, J. Hart & Abraham Liningbigler, 100 acres, etc., $325; in 1838, Hart & Pitts, 103 acres, seventeenth-rate, and one gristmill, third- rate, $803 ; in 1839, Hart & Pitts, same as in preceding year ; in 1840, Miller & Pitts, 103 aeres, seventeenth-rate, and one gristmill, third-rate, $803 ; in 1841, Miller & Pitts, 103 acres, seventeenth-rate, and one grist- mill, third-rate, $500 ; in 1842, Miller & Jack, 24 aeres at $2 per acre, and one gristmill, $450, total, $198 ; in 1843, Jaek & Miller, 50 acres at $2 per aere, and one gristmill $400, total, 8500 ; in 1844, Jaek & Miller, 50 acres and one gristmill, $670; in 1845, 50 aeres at ${ per acre, and one gristmill at $300, total, $500; in 1846, Michael Cochran, 50 acres and one gristmill, $650.

* As showing the valne of land in this section in the early part of this century, the passing remark is made that George Shoemaker sold thirty-three aeres of that tract, May 29, 1805, to Henry Davis, for $99.

That traet "Monmouth " was surveyed April 26, 1790, by warrant dated March 7, 17SS, " situated on the north side of Crooked creek, and near the mouth of Cherry run, in Armstrong township, West- moreland eounty."

368

HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

" schooling equal to that of their eldest brothers and sister-then as each of them come of age, with good behavior and due respect to their moth- er's advice, shall have to the amount of what the estate will possibly admit of." The writer has not learned that any of them has ever forfeited his or her right to a share of that patrimony. Mrs. George-or rather 'Margaret, for ladies in their widowhood resume their maiden Christian names -Shoemaker, a comely lady, was, in due time after her husband's death, wooed by Barnard Davers, who lived near the South Bend. She, however, would not be won, unless he would enter into an antenuptial agreement respecting the separate use, occupation and management of their respective lands and other property, to which the wooing widower assented. An "indenture" was accord- ingly prepared, dated December 14, 1824, and ex- ecuted by them and Eben Smith Kelly, the pre- amble of which set forth that, whereas, a marriage was intended, by permission of God, to be shortly had and solemnized between the said Barnard Davers and the said Margaret Shoemaker, where- fore, in consideration of that intended marriage Barnard Davers covenanted, promised and agreed to and with the said Eben Smith Kelly, that in case that marriage should take place, it should be law- ful for the said Margaret Shoemaker, from time to time, and at all times during their joint lives, to have the possession and enjoyment of all and singular the goods and chattels, moneys and per- sonal property of whatever description, also of all the rents, issues and profits of her lands and tene- ments, or. those of her late husband, then in her possession, and to sell and dispose of the same or any part thereof to such person or persons and in such manner as she should think proper, notwith- standing the said intended marriage, and as if she were sole and unmarried, and without being subject to the debts, contracts, disposal or engagement of the said Davers, or of any person or persons claim- ing under him ; that after her death the same should go to her children or such other persons as she might by her last will and testament appoint ; and in case she should survive him, then his heirs, executors or administrators should not claim, chal- lenge or demand any right of, in, to or out of those goods, chattels, rents, issues and profits ; that she should be at liberty to carry into execution the last will and testament of her deceased husband in all respects, and be free to act therein just as if she were sole and unmarried. It was also declared and agreed by and between all these three parties, and she thereby agreed and consented, to accept and take the provision thus made for her in lieu of her

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History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 78

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