History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 90

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

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FREEPORT JOURNAL.

About the first of May, 1876, Messrs. Rev. J. J. Francis, W. J. Murphy and Thomas C. Nicholson formed a copartnership under the name of the Journal Printing Company, for the purpose of pub- lishing a weekly paper in Freeport, to be called the Freeport Journal. W. J. Murphy, the only one of the three who had any knowledge of the business, was to have charge of the mechanical department, and T. C. Nicholson was to do the writing, keep the books, solicit, collect and have the general management of the paper, while Rev. J. J. Francis was to render assistance in case of emergency. The first number was issued on May 19, and was a neat seven-column folio, independent in politics and purely local in character.

The paper was measurably successful during the summer, but in the fall it began to show evidences of going the way of all its predecessors. The rea- sons for this it is not necessary to state, but on the 4th day of November, 1876, Rev. J. J. Francis bought out the interest of T. C. Nicholson and assumed the duties of editor-in-chief, while W. J. Murphy cared for the local department.

From this time on the Journal prospered, adding daily to its circulation, and having its columns full

of good paying advertisements. In the issue of December 8, same year, it announced that Frank Shoop had become a partner, and we find his name associated with Murphy's as local editor. On February 16, 1877, F. K. Patterson became identi- fied with the Journal as business agent, in which position he continued for several years. Toward the close of the first year Rev. J. J. Francis deter- mined to retire from the active management of the paper and suggested that a stock company be formed for the purpose of running it. R. B. Mc- Kee, at that time in the grocery business, took hold of the matter, and in a few days raised the amount of stock, which was $1,200, in $25 shares. The new company organized by electing J. R. McGill president and George M. Hill manager and local editor. Messrs. Shoop, Francis and Patter- son still remained members of the company, Mur- phy retiring. About the Ist of July George Hill resigned, and W. J. Murphy was elected manager, and in the following October, 1878, Murphy again retired and R. B. McKee was elected to succeed him, and still remains in charge as editor and busi- ness manager. Of the twelve who were original stockholders at the organization of the company, but four are now connected with it. J. R. Magill is still president, and George M. Hill secretary. The paper has doubled in circulation under its present management, having now near a thousand. Its prospects for the future are good and it bids fair for a long lease of life and continued pros- perity.

CHURCHES.

The Presbyterian is said to have been the first religious organization in Freeport. The congre- gation appears to have existed prior to 1825, for in that year they, the Associate and Episcopal congregations jointly erected a church edifice on the parcel of ground adjoining the old cemetery on the southwest appropriated for that purpose. The most active and prominent member of the Presby- terian congregation in that work was James Bole. His, Isaac Bole's, Andrew Arnold's, John Drum's, Washington Beale's, - Elliott's, Mrs. Girt's, Al- exander Given's, William Hill's, Michael Moore- head's, Andrew and James Ralston's and John Weir's families were the first members of this congregation. The first sacrament was adminis- tered by Rev. John Redick on the second Sabbath of May, 1828. On the morning of that day there was snow here six inches deep. The peach-trees blossomed in March. The fruit was blasted. The church was organized July 3, 1833 .* Mrs. Arn-

* Historical sketch of churches in Kittanning Presbytery, by Rev. A. Donaldson, D. D., p. 22.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

strong, formerly Mrs. Given, and James Ralston, both over eighty years of age, are the only two sur- viving heads of those families. William Hill and Michael Moorehead were elected and ordained its first elders. Its pastors have been Rev. Samuel Caldwell, who resigned in 1847; Rev. W. F. Kean, from 1850 until 1867; Rev. John J. Francis, from October 22, 1869 .*

The Presbyterian church edifice, brick, was erected in 1828, and is situated on lot No. 149, on the north side of High street, between Fourth and Fifth. The church was incorporated by decree of the proper court June 26, 1847. The trustees named in the charter were Isaac Bole, James Hill, William Hughes, W. M. Lowther and John Wood- burn, who were to serve till the second Tuesday of May, 1848. The corporate name of this body politic is the Presbyterian church of Freeport. Nearly a quarter of a century after the granting of the charter certain amendments were proposed, namely, changing the number of trustees from five to six, and making the quorum four instead of three, and adding section 9, which provides that the con- gregation should elect six trustees and two suitable persons as choristers on June 29, 1871, and annu- ally thereafter. The latter, with two members of the session, are authorized to select a sufficient number of competent singers. The decree making these amendments is dated March 16, 1871. The number of church members in 1876 is 228, and of Sabbath-school scholars, 200.

The Associate Presbyterian-commonly called Seceder-church was organized about 1826. The original families of the congregation were the Brewers, Colmers, W. W. Gibsons, Millers, Patter- sons and Painters. Rev. - Dickey, pastor of the Rich Hill and Slate Lick churches, preached here occasionally, before the labors of the first pastor, Rev. Hugh Kirkland, began. His suc- cessors have been Revs. William Galbraith, R. B. Robertson. Its church edifice is situated on out- lot No. 11, on the south side of Fourth street, about fifteen rods below the public schoolhouse. It was incorporated by the proper court April 15, 1866. The trustees named in the charter were John S. Dimmitt, Robert A. Hill, Thomas Magill, Joseph B. Miller, William Moorehead and James Ralston, who were to. serve until the first annual election on the first Monday of January, 1867.

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian -com- monly called Union-church was organized about 1850. The first pastor was Rev. John Jamison. His successor was Rev. E. N. McElree.t

The first place of worship of this congregation was the hall above Peter S. Weaver's store, on the southeast corner of Market and Fifthi streets, and their present one is in the second story of the large brick edifice on the southeast corner of Mar- ket and Fourth streets. The membership of these two churches is 154, and of the Sabbath-school scholars, 100.

The St. Mary's Catholic church was organized about 1826. The original families of this congre- gation were Philip Bohlen's, Patrick Blacke's, Donnelly's, Andrew Earley's, Neil Gillespie's, Magrand's, McKenna's, O'Reiley's, Patrick Shara's, and others. The first pastor was Rev. Patrick O'Neil, who was educated in France and came to this country as a missionary. He was fond of athletic sports, an expert hunter and horseman, and self-pos- sessed. One evening, as he was passing down the lane on what is now known as C. Duffy's grade oil, reading his prayers, a large buck chased by several dogs leaped the fence just before him, and fell. O'Neil caught him by the hind legs and held him firmly until assistance came from the honse and the buck was dispatched. The succession of priests after Father O'Neil included Revs. Patrick Rafferty, Joseph Cody (neither of whom were resident pastors), M. J. Mitchell, R. Phelan, J. Hackett, James Holland, A. A. Lambing, W. A. Nolan, G. S. Grace, Frederick Eberth, C. McDer- mott, James Canivan, P. M. Garvey and James McTighe. The church edifice or chapel is situated on in-lots Nos. 132-3, southwestern corner of High and Sixth streets, was among the first brick struc- tures built by David Putney, after his removal to Freeport in 1832. A portion of the ground on which this chapel stood was devoted to burial purposes until a new cemetery was elsewhere laid out.

The Baptist church was organized December 11, 1830, by the Revs. William Shadrack and George I. Miles, with the following members : Samuel Logan, Robert Lowry, Rhoda Lowry, William Critchlow, David Robinson, George Montgomery, John Robinson, Silas Ramsey, Ben- jamin Harbison, Daniel Howe, James Harbison, James Mc Williams, Jacob Robinson, Elizabeth Bowser, Hannah Longwell, Margaret Given, Sarah Evans, Harriet Critchlow, Julian Hickenlooper, Rachel Myler, Martha J. Leonard, C. G. Snow- den, Sarah C. Snowden, John Congliton, Samuel Foreman, John Haney, Andrew Wilson, Elizabeth Ulam, Abigail Howe, Adaline Rowley. The house of worship of this congregation was built in 1849. The succession of pastors has been as fol- lows : Revs. William Shadrach, George I. Miles,

$ He resigned in 1879.

+ Until 1878, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. E. Linn.

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FREEPORT TOWNSHIP.

William Penny, John Thomas, W. Rockafellow, Benoni Allen, J. A. Davis, Edward M. Miles, William A. Barnes, Peter M. Weddell, Thomas J. Penny, L. L. Still, D. W. C. Hervey, J. G. Penny, David Williams, J. E. Dean, J. P. Jones, F. 1I. Jones, J. W. Ewing and S. Drummond.

Rev. Moses P. Bennett, a missionary of the Protestant Episcopal church, resided at Greens- burgh in the early part of the second decade of this century. In 1823 he reported the church con- vention at Philadelphia, having made one visit to Freeport. In 1833 Rev. William Hilton reported having held three services, one in every six weeks, and in 1834 regular services every six weeks, and a parish organization here, the date of which is November 1, 1833, but gave no particulars. He was succeeded by Rev. B. B. Killikelly as mission- ary, whose first report was made in May, 1835, in which he stated that he had been able to devote only one-fifth of his time to this congregation, which then consisted of 18 families, 81 persons ; there were 4 adult and 6 infant baptisms, 2 mar- riages, I burial, and a Sunday school just organized. In 1836, 19 families, 82 persons ; baptized 6 adults and 19 children ; 14 persons confirmed, 15 added to the communion list, which then numbered 27; 2 marriages, 2 burials, 8 Sunday-school teachers and 40 pupils ; cash collections, $52.45; and that the congregation had secured a lot on which to build a church edifice for $225, and had collected a few hundred dollars for that object. Lay read- ing and the Sunday-school had been zealously sus- tained, and a sewing-circle organized. In 1837, 24 families, 95 persons, 11 communicants added, the whole number then being 38; 5 adult and 7 infant baptisms, 13 Sunday-school teachers and 55 pupils, and missionary contributions $20. Im- mediately after the convention of that year the missionary .went on a collecting tour to New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and collected in money and material $1,141.04, of which $897 .- 91* was paid over to T. B. Williamson and W. P. Rupp, wardens, to be used in the erection of a church edifice, and obtained from Mrs. E. Stott, of Grace church, Philadelphia, a heavily plated chalice and patten, a handsome desk bible, prayer-book, and a copy of D'Oyley and Mants' commentary, three volumes in leather, worth $20. The report to the convention in 1838 shows that he resigned Trinity parish, Freeport, and St. Peter's, Butler, because they and the other two east of the Allegheny, St. Paul's, Kittanning, and St. Michael's, Wayne township, being so far apart

the four charges were too laborious for each to have as frequent services as were desirable for their spiritual improvement. During that part of 1837 prior to his resignation, there were fourteen public services, four communicants added, and one infant baptized in Trinity parish. The church edifice, brick, on in-lot No. 31, was covered, floored, and otherwise advanced toward completion. He was succeeded by Rev. William White, under whose charge and that of Rev. William Hilton it has since chiefly been.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Freeport was organized abont the year 1833. Services were at first conducted in a schoolhouse on what is now High street, between Second and Third streets ; afterward in a currier's shop which stood somewhere near the present intersection of Market street and the old Pennsylvania canal ; and still later near the place where the West Pennsylvania Railroad station now stands, the Baptist congre- gation kindly granting the use of their church at communion seasons and on other special occasions. A church edifice was erected in 1840 on in-lot No. 101, on the southeast corner of Fourth street and Mulberry alley. Especial honor is due to Peter Ford and Wesley Bowman for the energy and self-sacrifice with which they pushed the under- taking to success. This church was incorporated by the proper court December 26, 1846, the trustees provided for and named in the charter being Jacob Altor, John Atkinson, Wesley Bowman, Peter Ford, Leonard Leidy, Daniel Richards, John A. Stearns and Robert C. Williamson. In 1877 the old building gave place to the present elegant and commodious structure, of which a view appears in this work. This enterprise was undertaken and carried almost to completion during the pastorate of the Rev. M. McK. Garrett, the lecture-room being used for services during part of his pastoral term. The architects were Bailey & Anglin, of Allegheny City, and the building committee ap- pointed by the quarterly conference consisted of the Rev. M. McK. Garrett and Messrs. John Ral- ston, John Turner, J. H. Donglass and D. E. Jack- son. The plan of the first floor embraces the lecture-room, capable of seating abont 250, with four class-rooms adjoining. The main audience- room is seated with carved pews of ash trimmed with walnut, and will accommodate about 500 people. The building was formally dedicated to the worship of God, July 27, 1879, by the Rev. Bishop Matthew Simpson, D. D., LL. D. Among the earliest pastors of this church were the Revs. Bradshaw, P. M. McGowan, Joseph Ray, C. C. Best, J. Murray, B. F. Sawhill, J. Phillips,

* The residue was appropriated to St. Michael's church, Wayne township.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

M. L. Weekly and D. Iless, but it is to be regretted that a complete list, in the order of their service, cannot be given with the data now at hand.

The following pastors served in the order named : Wm. Cooper, A. G. Williams, A. H. Thomas, J. W. Shiver, R. Morrow, E. M. Wood, E. B. Griffin, J. B. Uber, N. P. Kerr, M. McK. Garrett, S. T. Mitchell, M. M. Sweeny and C. W. Miller. The membership of the church as re- ported at the conference of 1882 is 190 ; Sabbath- school scholars, 172.

The first Lutheran church here was organized about 1835. Its edifice is situated on in-lot No. 150, on the northwest corner of High street and an alley. It was incorporated as the Evangelical Lutheran church by the proper court, June 19, 1851. The number of trustees prescribed by, but not named in, the charter is five, to be elected annually on the first Monday of April. Members, 48 ; Sabbath-school scholars, 50.

There are two other Lutheran churches, one English and the other German, both of which be- long to the General Council.

St. John's English Lutheran church of Freeport was organized prior to 1840, but just when it is impossible to state, as there are no records in existence bearing date anterior to 1841. Follow- ing is a list of the pastors : 1839-43, John H. Benheim ; 1845-48, G. B. Holmes ; 1848-51, G. F. Ehrenfeld ; 1852-56, S. M. Kuhns ; 1856-60, Jacob Wright ; 1861-64, J. H. Brown; 1865-71, J. K. Melhorn ; 1871-81, J. H. A. Kitzmiller ; 1882, the present pastor, Rev. H. K. Shanor. The church was incorporated in 1851, the charter bearing date of September 17. The present officers are : Elders, J. R. Garver, Henry Petzinger and William Wolf ; deacons, J. H. Long, M. L. Vandyke and Conrad Wolf, Jr. About sixty persons are com- municants of the church.

The German Lutheran church was incorporated by the proper court April 23, 1862, as the German Evangelical Lutheran Zion's church of the borough of Freeport. Its charter officers were Rev. Ga- briel A. Reichert, pastor; George Epiler and David Kraft, elders ; John Mangold and George Pfaff, deacons. The charter requires " the German language to be used forever in preaching the doc- trines of the church among this association."

There has been for many years past a strong temperance element in this community. Here, as in other places, temperance organizations have risen, flourished, done much good and drooped. On the petition of many inhabitants of Freeport and its vicinity the act of April 11, 1866, was passed, which prohibits the granting of any !

license " to sell spirituous, vinous, malt or brewed liquors for drinking purposes," within the limits of this borough, or within two miles of it in this and Allegheny county, and within three miles in Butler county, but not to apply to Westmoreland county, not to affect those having licenses until after their expiration, and does not prohibit the manufacturers of domestic wine from selling their own product in quantities not exceeding one pint. The penalty for violating this act is a fine not less than $50 and not exceeding $200, and for a second offense the additional penalty of imprisonment not over three months. This act is still in force, and appears to be sustained by a majority of the people in the sections of the three counties affected by it. The vote of this borough, February 28, 1873, was 72 for and 144 against granting license to sell in- toxicating liquors as beverages in this county.

SCHOOLS.

There was no school within the limits of Free- port for nearly a quarter of a century after it was laid out. The most accessible educational facili- ties to its inhabitants were then afforded at the Hall school, about half a mile distant. P. R. Bohlen is said to have taught the first school here, in a log dwelling-house on Water street. Accord- ing to Peter E. Weaver's recollection the first one was taught by a man of the name of Woodford in a house on Market street, above Fifth. The next teacher was of the name of Lee, who taught but one quarter. Those were what used to be termed "pay schools," in which some of the common English branches were taught-arithmetic, read- ing in the Testament, spelling and writing.

In 1832-3, James Pneuman, reputed to be a good mathematician, taught a pay-school on High street, between Fourth and Fifth. Such schools were more or less liberally patronized until the adoption of the common or free school system a few years later. Dr. Thomas Galbraith was the first teacher here under this system. A frame schoolhouse was erected soon after its adoption on in-lot No. 101, the southwest corner of Fourth and High streets, fronting on the former, which was of adequate di- mensions, while the school consisted of only one department. The writer distinctly remembers his first official visit to this school in the winter of 1857-8, when there were two departments and two teachers in one room, and the great confusion that resulted from the two teachers' different classes reciting at the same time and the immoderate loquacity and playfulness of the pupils. It seemed to him impossible that any degree of desirable progress in study could be made. After quietly

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FREEPORT TOWNSHIP.

observing matters for awhile, he called to him a few of the ringleaders in that vice of schoolrooms, whispering, loud talking and other mischief, and made this agreement with them: That, if their teachers would give them and all the other pupils a few minutes between the opening of school and recess, and between recess and the closing of the school, forenoon and afternoon, for talking, they would agree to refrain from whispering and talking at all other times during schoolhours. They promised to do so. The writer was afterward gratified to notice considerable improvement in the order of that school, his next visit to it being after it was transferred to the new brick, two-story schoolhouse, which was erected the next season on the south side of Fourth street, adjoining the old cemetery on the south, which, with the lot, cost more than $3,000. It was at first adapted to a school of four grades, but it has since been enlarged sufficiently for eight grades, that is, the number of rooms is increased to eight, which are each about 333×23} feet, with ceilings about 16 feet, well ventilated and supplied partly with patent cherry and partly with pine furniture. The halls are 10 feet wide, in the shape of the letter T, like that of a house. This is at present a school of six grades, with a principal and five assistants. The belfry is in the center of the building, in which a new bell has been recently suspended.

1860-Schools, 4; average number of months taught, 4; male teacher, 1; female teachers, 3; monthly salary of male, $30; monthly salary of fe- male, $18 ; male scholars, 170; female scholars, 168; average number attending school, 267; cost of teaching each scholar per month, 28 cents; levied for school purposes, $674; levied for building purposes, $674.60; received from state appropria- tion, $108.10; received from collectors, $1,136; cost of instruction, $336 ; fuel, etc., $40; cost of schoolhouse, etc., $1,100.

1876-Schools, 6 ; average number of months taught, 7; male teacher, 1; female teachers, 5; av- erage salaries per month-male, $80; female, $40 ; male scholars, 201 ; female scholars, 173 ; average number attending school, 322 ; cost per month, 85 cents ; levied for school and building purposes, $2,318.28 ; received from state appropriation, $418.50 ; received from taxes, etc., $1,900.25 ; cost of schoolhouse, etc., $35.52 ; paid for teachers' wages, $1,680; . paid for fuel, etc., $691.48.

Rev. Hugh Kirkland, soon after his advent here in 1830, erected an academy at the corner of High and Fourth streets, in which the classics and the common and higher English branches were taught by him and Samuel Wallace, where William S.

Ralston and other Freeport youth of that period acquired their education, imbibed from the Pierian spring, and slaked their thirst at the Mahantango. Though the latter is a Delaware word meaning devil, it ought not to be inferred that those youth became devilish by their copious drafts from a fountain bearing so devilish a name.

Rev. William Galbraith's academy was opened in 1843.

SOCIETIES.

The Armstrong Lodge of Ancient York Masons, No. 239, was constituted here in 1852, when its charter officers were William F. Logan, W. M .; Alexander Anderson, S. W .; Charles G. Snowden, J. W .; George W. Syphax, treasurer; Reuben Mickel, secretary. This lodge meets in Anderson's hall on the fourth Monday of each month, and numbers about seventy-five members.

Freeport Lodge, I.O.O.F., No. 379, was organ- ized October 1, 1849, at Freeport. The charter members were the following, who were also officers: Samuel Shafer, N. G .; J. D. Torbett, V. G .; J. W. Redpath, secretary; J. Welshaus, assistant secre- tary; Henry White, treasurer. Number of mem- bers at present time, 34.

MILITARY.

The Freeport Blues was the first military com- pany raised here. It was organized in 1818, and its officers: John Drum, captain; James Patterson, first, and Benjamin F. King, second lieutenant. The uniform consisted of wool hats, trimmed with white cord, white plumes tipped with red, blue jackets trimmed with red tape and bullseye buttons, white pants, and red sash; and the arms of the rank and file were rifles and shotguns. That company was reorganized about 1831. William W. Gibson was then major of the battalion to which it be- longed. The company officers then were: Benja- min F. King, captain; William Rupp, first, and Henry Weaver, second lieutenant. Its uniform : Leather hats trimmed with buttons, cord and tas- sels, white plumes tipped with red, blue coats trimmed with light-blue braid, white pants, white gloves, and ruffled shirt-bosoms. Arms: State mus- kets and accouterments.

The Freeport and Leechburgh Dragoons were organized about 1832-James T. McKaig, captain; Alexander Scott, first, and Alexander Sharp, second lieutenant; Bruce Sutherland, first sergeant. Uni- form : Leather caps tipped with bear skin, blue coats faced with yellow, blue pants with yellow · stripes, and saddle-cloth bordered with yellow tape. Arms: Swords and horse-pistols.

The Freeport Artillery Company was organized

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

about 1850-William F. Logan, captain ; Samuel Lane, first, and J. D. Torbett, second lieutenant. Its uniform was in accordance with the United States army regulations. Arms : Cannon, swords and mnskets.

Washington Guards, 1849. Alexander Ander- son, captain ; John J. Long, first, and William S. Ralston, second lieutenant ; James White, first, Joseph Johnston, third sergeant. Its uniform was that of the regular army. It was reorganized in 1854, Lient. Ralston acting as captain. Anderson was promoted to brigadier-general. The members of his staff were : James A. McCulloch, colonel ; A. D. Ambrose, major ; Addison Leech, adjutant, and Thos. C. McCulloch, surgeon. William Sirwell was then brigade inspector ; Addison Leech, major, and John M. Orr, adjutant of bat- talion.

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History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 90

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