History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 89

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

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Samuel B. Porter leased the "southwestern part or termination" of this island, including lot No. 1, to Robert Cooper, Jr., and Matthew Henderson for six years from April 1, 1849, at an annual ground rent of $10, the lessor to have the privi- lege of taking, at the end of the term, the sawmill thereon erected at a fair valuation, or sell it at a fair price. The lessees transferred one-third of the lease and buildings to Robert M. Porter, Feb- ruary 2, 1850, to whom Cooper transferred all his remaining interest, June 5, and Porter conveyed all his interest to Henderson, February 8, who, having acquired the entire interest, conveyed it to James Milligan, June 4, for $3,250, which included the steam sawmill, erected by Cooper and Hender- son in 1849, with which Milligan continued to be assessed and which he operated until 1854, when it was purchased by Colwell and Templeton at sheriff's sales.

Alexander Anderson and Edward S. Golden, having acquired an interest in a portion of No. 1,

conveyed a part of it, 100 feet on Main street and extending back to the eddy, to John J. Long, March 30, 1866, for $200, and 1064 perches, previously, to A. V. McKim, on which a distillery had been erected by John Moyer in 1858, and with which Rhey & Bell were assessed in 1859, and McKim in 1862-3. For the purpose of removing all conflict of title, John S. Bole and Thomas Magill purchased McKim's interest, January 23, 1866, for $250, and Long's October 24, 1868, for $256. Magill, March 18, 1870, subdivided Nos. 4 and 5 of O'Neil's plot into twenty lots, each thirty- three feet wide, ten of which are 110, six are 100, and the rest vary from less than 100 to 75 feet in length, and are traversed by Short street, thirty feet wide from north to south, and by an alley, fifteen feet wide from east to west.

CORPORATE 111STORY.

The town of Freeport was incorporated into a borough by the act of April 8, 1833, which pre- scribed its boundaries thus : Beginning at a chest- nut on the bank of the Allegheny river at the mouth of Buffalo creek ; thence up the river north 14 degrees east 120 perches to the mouth of the eddy opposite the town ; thence up the river north 53 degrees east 67 perches to the corner of Thomas Robinson's survey ; thence north 19 degrees west 6616 perches to a white oak on Robinson's land ; thence south 723 degrees west 7416 perches to a black oak on the bank of Buffalo creek; thence down the creek south 28 degrees west 441% perches to a chestnut; thence down the same south 20 degrees west 18r'o perches ; thence south 12 degrees west 47 perches to a maple; thence 21 degrees east 2416 perches to the eastern abutment of the aqueduct over the creek; and thence south 49 de- grees east 22 perches to the beginning. It was provided by the same act that all voters of what is now South Buffalo township residing below a line beginning at Walker's ferry on the Allegheny river and extending thence to the Armstrong and Butler county line should vote at general elections at Freeport, which was made a separate election district, the elections to be held in the school- house. The first election was directed to be held on the first Friday of May, 1833, and Benjamin King and Dr. J. B. Williamson, or either of them, were to publish and superintend it, and the annual borough elections were to be held on the first Monday of May thereafter, until, by act of March 7, 1840, it was changed to the second Friday of March, and is now, under the new constitution, on the second Friday of February.

At the first borough election, May 3, 1833, Jacob

$ Until 1877, and J. R. Magill and others thereafter.

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FREEPORT TOWNSHIP.

Weaver was elected burgess ; James McCall, assist- ant burgess ; Andrew Earley, James Milligan, William Moorehead, William Painter, David Put- ney and Henry Weaver, town councilmen ; David McCall, high constable ; John Drum, street com- missioner; James Ralston and Joseph Shoop, over- seers of the poor ; Jacob Alter, assessor; William Painter and James Ralston, assistant assessors.

The first meeting of the burgess and town coun- cil was held May 10, when William W. Gibson was appointed clerk.

At the meeting, May 31, the council determined the dimensions of each square to be 333 feet and 3 inches, including the alleys, the width of the sidewalks 8 feet, increased to 10 feet by ordinance of May 29, 1868, but directed at a meeting held on the 1st to remain at the old width until repairs should be made.

The valuation of property in the borough in 1833 was $48,078, and the rate per cent of tax thereon was six mills. According to the charter it could not exceed one and a half per cent in any one year. The amount of tax collected, that year, was $192.31.

At a meeting of council, held June 7, ordinances were passed prohibiting public bathing, swimming, or washing by nude persons in the river and canal between sunrise and 8} o'clock P. M., which made the penalty for each offense $1 ; running or driving horses and carriages and other vehicles at a faster gait than a slow trot, penalty $5 ; and firing guns within the borough limits, penalty $2 ; the obstruc- tion of any of the lanes, streets or alleys, penalty $10; swine running at large, penalty 25 cents ; riding or driving horses on pavements, penalty $1 ; and providing for grading streets and sidewalks by an assessment of one-half a cent on the dollar of the valuation of the property in the borough. These ordinances, although passed then, were not recorded, were recognized by the burgess and were subsequently repassed.

The council adopted a resolution May 12, 1824, requiring the pond on the low ground in the bor- ough to be drained along the old ronte of the drain into Buffalo creek; and December 22, levicd a tax of six mills in addition to the $44.38 assessed by the delegate meeting of school directors, held at Kittanning, November 4, and adopted by a meet- ing of the citizens of Freeport school district, according to the act of assembly then in force pro- viding for a general system of education within this Commonwealth.

At a meeting of council, held June 19, 1835, assent on part of the borough was given to the compromise of the suit brought by Kirkland and

Patterson against Martin, Shoop and others, to test the title of the strip of free land between Water street and the river. A resolution was adopted, June 20, imposing a fine of 25 cents for each absence of a member of council or other bor- ough officer for absence from a meeting of council, which became obsolete and was rescinded, June 23, 1838.

The privilege was granted to the Weigh Scale Company, April 7, 1836, to use that part of Market street then opposite Robert Lowther's, now John WV. Redpath's store, nearly half-way between Fourth and Fifth streets. Those scales were afterward removed to that part of Market between Fifth and Sixth streets, and they are now on Fourth between High and Market streets, opposite John R. Shir- . ley's lot. The council resolved, July 23, to ap- point two fence-viewers, whose duty was to view . all fences when called on in cases of damages and report the same to any of the justices of the peace of the borough. A contract was made, August 12, to purchase a fire-engine, which was then here, for $250; the council, August 30, directed an engine- house to be erected on the south side of Market, at the intersection of Fourth street, and that not less than twenty yards of rope or cable, with requisite cross-bars, be attached to the engine. It was de- termined, September 10, that the engine-house should be frame, twelve feet square and twelve feet high.

It was ordained, July 10, 1837, to impose a tax on all dogs within the borough.

A resolution was adopted, May 26, 1838, to level Fifth street from the canal bridge to the foot of the hill ; and, June 23, that a bridge should be built over the ravine at the north end of Second street.

A resolution was adopted by the council, March 3, 1843, turning over the fire-engine, engine-house, ladders, fire-hooks and other equipments to the Allegheny Fire Company in consideration of their organization and the services rendered and to be rendered, which in the course of time vanished, so that now there is no fire company, no engine, no means of extinguishing fires, except water buckets, and what may be called a water brigade, impro- vised as fires occur.

The council resolved, September 3, 1846, that Fourth street should be located and opened from its then termination to the public road from Free- port to Butler, as provided by the Act of April 17, 1841.

The proposal of Peter Ford to build the eddy bridge for $4,500 was accepted October 2, 1849. It was swept away by a high flood, and two or three

418

HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

others were afterward erected on its site, where there is now a foot bridge from the mainland to the island.

An agreement was made, May 4, 1868, between the burgess and town council and John McCue and James McGonigle to furnish the stone for rip- rapping Water street, the quantity amounting to $744.10.

The assessment list for 1833 shows that the borough contained the year its charter was granted 107 taxables. The only occupations given in that list were: Merchants, 4; carpenters, 3; blacksmiths, 2; tailor, 1; laborers, 2; hatters, 2; shoemakers, +; innkeepers, 3; tanner, 1; mason, I; limner, 1; teacher, 1; joiner, 1; wagonmaker, 1.

ADDITIONS TO THE TOWN PLOT.

Additions to the town or town plots were laid out by several of the purchasers of ont-lots from Armstrong. Rev. Hugh Kirkland subdivided out- lots Nos. 11 and 13 into smaller parcels, some of his eonveyances of which were: To the Presby- terian Association of Freeport, April 4, 1832, 70 feet square, part of out-lot No. 11, " on the emi- nence on the west end of said lot," for $50; to Da- vid M. Alter, October 29, 1836, lot No. 1, being a part of out-lot No. 13, for $150, which Alter con- veyed to the "Reg. Baptist Church of Freeport," November 6, 1847, for $175; to William H. Queere, 33 feet along the Kittanning road by 99 feet along an alley, part of out-lot No. 13, February 7, 1839, for $75; to Alexander Anderson, No. 6, part of out- lot No. 13, January 12, 1840, for $80; his assignees to John Keener, No. 21, part of out-lot No. 11, March 29, 1836, for $210; to Peter Ford, No. 13, part of out-lot No. 13, December 16, 1837, for $49.

In the latter part of 1831 or early part of 1832, David Putney laid out a plot of twelve lots on that part of the three acres which he purchased from Armstrong, adjoining Putney's lane, afterward Franklin street, on the north, an alley on the east, an alley on the south and Fifth street on the west. The western ends of the first three front on Fifth street, No. 1 being 44×152 feet, Nos. 2 and 3 each 40×152 feet. The northern ends of all the others front on Putney's lane, and their southern ends on the alley, Nos. 4 to 11 inclusive being 33×124 feet, and No. 12, 38×124 feet. The lane and alley are respectively 12 feet wide, and the bearing of each north 72} degrees east, and the bearing of Fifth street north 17§ degrees west. Putney lived in a small house on the west side of the lane, opposite No. 3, until he built his brick house. He sold his lots, March 26, 1832: To Robert Haughton, No. 1, for $300; to David Robeson, No. 2, for $103; to

John Keever, No. 4, for $50; to Peter Weaver, No. 5, for $40; to William Miller, No. 6, for $40 ; to Joseph Shoop, No. 7, for $40; to same, No. 8, for $40 ; to John Johnston, No. 9, for $50 ; to John Robeson, No. 10, for $53; to George Syphax, No. 11, for $60; to James Milligan, No. 12, for $60.

Pneuman's row consists of eight lots, each 35X 160 feet, adjoining Second street, being out-lot No. 3, which Armstrong conveyed to Benjamin King, January 4, 1829; King to Samuel De Graff, March 10, 1832; De Graff to James Pneuman, November 15, 1833. Pneuman, who was assessed as a teacher that year, sold some, perhaps most, of those lots at public sale, November 1. He conveyed No. 4 to James Milligan, September 14, 1835, for $75; Nos. 2 and 5 to John Thompson, November 3, for $81.

Rowley's addition consisted of subdivision of out-lot No. 10 into nine lots, surveyed July 26, 1833, for Robert Lowrey, agent for Asa Rowley.

The Anderson plot was also an extensive addi- tion.

Those additions, when made, were without the borough limits, but were included within them by the annexation thereto by act of March 24, 1851, of the territory included within the following boun- daries: From the extreme point of the then borough line at the head of Todd's island, thence by a di- rect line running in a northwestern direction to the eastern end of what was then Abner W. Lane's milldam on Buffalo creek; thence down the east- ern margin of the creek to the then borough line. By the same act the burgess and town council were authorized to widen Putney's lane and con- vert it into a street 40 feet wide, to be opened from Fifth street to the line separating the out- lots in Armstrong's plot from Henry S. Weaver's heirs' land. It was then named Franklin street, but it is still known by its original name.

NEW COUNTY PROJECT WITH FREEPORT AS THE SEAT OF JUSTICE.

In the early part of 1842 the people of Freeport and vicinity were very active in attempting to form a new county out of the circumjacent por- tions of Armstrong, Allegheny, Butler and West- moreland counties. A bill for the erection of Madison county was reported to the house of rep- resentatives February 27, 1842, but was lost by a vote of 58 to 15. If that bill had passed, the hope of the founders of Freeport that it would be a county town might have been realized, unless Tarentum had grasped the prize. Whether that bill ought to have passed or not, Freeport has at times enjoyed the unenviable notoriety of furnish- ing so many cases for the court of quarter sessions

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FREEPORT TOWNSHIP.

as to provoke the remark that she ought to be a county by herself. Such a state of affairs has not been attributable, it should in justice be said, to the mass of the people so much as to a few liti- gious spirits among them.

PROFESSIONS.

The first resident clergyman appears to have been Rev. Hugh Kirkland, who, as is elsewhere noticed, engaged extensively in buying and selling town lots, and who was first assessed here in 1830, and was the first pastor of the Associate church. Rev. William Galbreath was first assessed here in 1843 for the next year, though not as a clergyman until a year or two later. He was pastor of what is now the First United Presbyterian church from then until -. Following on the assessment list of 1846 was Rev. McKee, who occupied lot No. 2, Rev. Hawkins in 1849, and others at subsequent times, as mentioned in connection with their re- spective churches.

Dr. Charles G. Snowden was the earliest resi- dent physician, who was first assessed as such for 1832. Dr. J. B. Williamson was first assessed here the next year ; Dr. D. M. Borland 1841; Dr. David Alter in 1843; Dr. Henry Weeks in 1844; Drs. Thomas Galbreath and Samuel T. Redick in 1849 ; Dr. James A. Donaldson in 1850; Dr. N. E. McDonnell in 1851; Dr. Wm. P. McCulloch in 1859 ; Drs. Charles B. Gillespie and Thomas Ma- gill in. 1860; Dr. Robert L. McCurdy in 1862 ; Dr. Christopher Krunpe, in 1867; Dr. A. G. Thomas in 1868 ; Dr. William Plank in 1871 : Dr. W. L. Morrow in 1872 ; Dr. A. M. Hoover in 1876.

Dr. Alter's scientific discoveries deserve in this connection a special notice, for it was here in Freeport that they were made. In the latter part of the summer or in the early part of the autumn of 1847 he invented the method of manufacturing bromine in large quantities. He obtained a patent for his apparatus used in making it July 5, 1848, and soon afterward commenced its manufacture in company with Edward and James Gillespie, whose works were situated on the right bank of Buffalo creek opposite the upper part of the island, or about 120 rods above the mouth of the creek.

In the latter part of 1853 and fore part of 1854, he discovered the bands in the spectrum of the elementary bodies, which was the foundation of spectrum analysis, and published some of his observations in the numbers for July, 1854 and 1855, of Silliman's American Journal of Science. Within a year after their publication he met in Pittsburgh a graduate of the university of Munich, who showed him a number of a journal published

in Europe containing the first of his articles that had been published in Silliman's Journal. Pro- fessor G. Kirchoff's researches on the solar spec- trum were not published until 1862, in Cambridge and London.

Dr. Alter has an excellent spectroscope, which was presented to him by Hageman, of Sweden.

A signal service station was established here April 16, 1873, under the charge of Dr. Alter, which has for awhile been in charge of his son, Dr. Myron H. Alter. The present mode of making monthly reports, showing the relation between the quantity of rain and the rise in the river, is the work of the latter. High water here, March 17, 1865, reads 31.42 feet. Ice, February 20, 1875, was 173 inches thick in the river.

The earliest resident lawyer assessed here was James Stewart, United States commissioner in bank- ruptcy, in 1843. The next were James Donnelly and J. Noble Nesbitt, in 1846 ; Lawrence S. Cant- well, in 1848 ; James B. Fullerton, in 1849 ; James A. McCulloch, in 1850; J. G. D. Findley, in 1869 ; Thomas N. Hathaway and George G. Ingersoll, in 1871.

INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.

The number of tradesmen, mechanics and inn- keepers increased adequately with the increase of the population. Several other industrial interests, not incident to all towns, sprang up here thus : In 1835, J. N. Nesbitt was assessed with a fulling- mill and carding-machine ; Joseph Clark and Will- iam Laugher, as turners ; William Todd, chair- maker; F. M. Thompson, with a sawmill, in-lot No. 123 ; David O. Walker, a sawmill, in-lot No. 60. With salt wells : Peter Weaver, in-lot No. 97 ; Jacob Weaver, in-lots Nos. 24 and 54; H. S. Wea- ver's estate, in-lot No. 30; Benjamin F. Weaver, in- lot No. 128; J. B. Williamson, in-lot No. 129; Andrew Wilson, in-lot No. 143; Samuel Walker, in-lot No. 60, also with sawmill, assessed to Benja- min King, in 1843.

In 1836, Lowery & McCain, sawmill ; Robert Morris, joiner ; Jamison Hendricks, lumber mer- chant ; David Scott, tanyard.

In 1837, John Fritzman, sawmill, in-lot No. 1; Alexander Anderson, with " occupation," whatever it was.

In 1838, Henry IIellerick, potter; William Mc- Kee, factory ; Robert Martin, weaver ; John Row- an, plowmaker.

In 1839, George McCain, gristmill, in-lot No. 123, to Robert Lowery's estate in 1843, to Lowther, Beele & Bole in 1849, and now to Iseman & Patterson.

In 1840, T. P. & S. C. Williamson, foundry, in-

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

lot No. 122 ; John R. Magill, foundry, in-lot No. 122, in 1867, now J. & J. R. Magill.

In 1841, Samuel and William P. Fullerton, Hope Woolen Mills, in-lots Nos. 25 and 91, which are still in operation ; Jacob K. Rupp, windmill maker.

In 1842, Charles Bills, barber ; John W. McKee, and William Lowery's estate, and Patrick Sheny, cord winders ; Robert Porter, brickmaker, No. 11 Robinson's Row, the next year, in-lot No. 136; David Putney had a brickyard elsewhere in Free- port ten or eleven years previous.

In 1846, S. A. Marshall, dentist ; Charles Tow. ser, coachmaker, succeeded by G. Shamburg in 1857, and James H. Douglass in 1872.

In 1848, John King, oysterman ; William Gib- son, oyster merchant ; Morrison & McIlwain, boat and stage men ; afterward McIlwain & White, whose partnership business was ultimately closed hy a protracted suit at law, an action of account render. Their stage routes extended from Frec- port via Kittanning to Brookville, and via Worth- ington and Brady's Bend to Clarion. Their suc- cessors were Lightcap & Piper until travel was diverted from these routes by the Allegheny Val- ley railroad.

In 1849, Thomas J. Clawson, foundryman.

In 1850, J. B. Atkinson, tanyard, in-lot No. 187. In 1851, William Bates, foundryman.

In 1852, Johnf Morgan and John Wallace, gun- smiths ; Henry Veishaupt, tobacconist.

In 1853, Hugh Reed, druggist. The first route of the Northwestern Railroad was laid out on the eastern part of High street to Sixth, thence north- westerly across the northern parts of Fifth, Fourth and Buffalo streets, and thence northerly along Buffalo creek.

In 1854, John Woods, bakery.

In 1857, A. S. Barnett, messenger (telegraph, probably).

In 1859, John Ralston, merchant tailor ; C. H. Smyth, bookseller ; Ventrel Cantine, restaurant.

In 1861, Kreitz, brewery, and distillery in 1862. In 1863, Leonard Billkeffer, basket-maker.

In 1866, J. P. Stubengen, brewery, still operated. In 1867, Lewis Rosenthall, grain merchant.

Gluckenheimer Bros' distillery, which was start- ed in 1855, by Williamson & Rhey, was begun to be operated by the present owners in August, 1866. The buildings are : the distillery, brick, three sto- ries ; grain-house, frame, one story, and holds 30,000 bushels ; ice-house, one story, above ground, holds 150 tons ; malt-house, three stories, brick, 100 bushels malted per day ; cooper-shop, frame, two stories, daily production 50 barrels ; bonded warchouse, brick, three stories, capable of storing

8,000 barrels ; employés, in all the departments, 25. The average daily consumption of grain is 250 bushels, the capacity of the distillery being equal to the consumption of 500 bushels. The daily product of whisky is 22 barrels, 42 gallons each. The number of cattle fattened annually is 100, and of hogs, 500. Under the present national revenue law the services of a United States storekeeper and gauger are here required.

In 1868, J. D. Stewart, photographer ; Albert Hawk, livery stable.

In 1869, Thomas H. Maher, banker ; John R. Magill, cashier of Freeport Savings Bank, now the First National Bank. The latter was first assessed with part of in-lot No. 95, in 1876.

In 1871, William Rowen, manufacturer, proba- bly planing-mill, on Buffalo street, near the creek, built by him and Bole, which was burned ; Patrick Cosgrove, planing-mill on Second street, near the creek. In this or the next year a portion of the Heagy land was laid off into lots which are known as the Heagy Extension.

In 1874, the gas well on the property of the Freeport Planing-Mill Company, corner of Buf- falo and Mill streets, was drilled to the depth of 1,904 feet - the drilling having ceased at 12 M. October 16 ; the present vein of gas was struck at the depth of 1,075 feet.

The Freeport Planing-Mill Company was incor- porated in 1875 with a capital of $20,000, divided into shares of $100 each. The incorporators were J. W. Ralston, R. F. Turner, W. H. Hyde, M. E. Miller, James P. Murphy, Samuel Turner, J. S. Morrison, R. S. Sproul, John Hilt, John Shoop, J. E. Hoak, J. R. McGill, A. M. Shoup, E. G. Lighthold, E. A. Helmbold, E. F. Muder, H. G. Muder, Addison King, W. J. Sproul, W. J. Vann, John Ralston, A. D. Weir, R. L. McCurdy, D. E. Jackson, O. J. Sarver, David McCormack, John L. Bricker, W. P. Murphy, J. G. D. Findley, Annie Lawall, M. Coward, J. M. Norris, Mary Boyd and Annie Boyd. This company erected the building now occupied-a substantial brick structure, 50X 100 feet, with engine-house attached-upon the site of one owned by W. P. Murphy & Co., but burned down in 1875. The establishment was leased in 1879 by Murphy, McCain & Co., and is now carried on by them. They run, in con- nection with their planing-mill, and sash and door factory, a sawmill, and in the two are handled annually between five and seven million feet of lumber. They have also a warehouse two stories in hight and 30×60 feet in dimensions. The fuel under the boilers in the planing-mill is natural gas from a well near at hand.

BUFFALO MILLING CO., AND FREEPORT PLANING MILL CO., FREEPORT, PA.

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FREEPORT TOWNSHIP.

The Buffalo Milling Company, composed of a majority of the original stockholders of the Free- port Planing-Mill Company, and some others, was incorporated in 1881, and commenced business in September, 1882, in a building erected for the purpose, which is 40×65 feet, and three stories and basement high. There is an engine-house attached, of which the dimensions are 25×40 feet. The manufacture of flour is by the Hunga- rian roller process, and the mill has an exclusively merchant patronage. Its capacity is about 125 barrels of flour per day. The incorporators were Samuel Turner, W. M. Lowther, William Nolf, James Spargo, O. J. Sarver, J. W. Craig, M. Cow- ard, W. G. McCain, T. J. Douglass, W. P. Murphy, W. H. Hyde, D. S. Wallace, James Jones, F. P. Brown, J. N. Patterson, Myers & Yenney, William Jones, Isaac Jones, J. N. Chamberlain, Thomas Patterson, G. W. Iserman, Robert Morris, J. G. D. Findley, John Walters, Mary E. Patterson, S. E. Patterson, Miss Celia J. Thomas, Mrs. Elizabeth Hill, C. G. L. Peffer, J. H. McCain, James P. Murphy, H. S. Syphax, John Maxler, John IIeil- man. The present officers of the company are : president, W. G. McCain; treasurer, T. J. Doug- lass; secretary, J. G. D. Findley; manager, John Turner; directors, W. G. McCain, T. Patterson, W. P. Murphy, M. Coward, D. S. Wallace.

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History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 89

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