History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 99

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

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Adjoining "Copenhagen " on the north, on the map of the Gapen surveys, is a quinquangular tract, "David Todd," "406.80," but on the other, " A. McCall and Jonathan Moore, 406ª.80." The patent for that quantity, called " Moorefields," was granted to McCall and Moore, February 1, 1809. George and Jacob Cornman appear to have been its first settlers, the former having been assessed with one horse at $10, and the latter with 50 acres of it at $25, first in 1811. They both continned to be afterward assessed with portions of it. David Leonard was first assessed with 60 acres of it and one horse in 1830 at $113. “ Moore- fields " was included in McCall's assignment to Du Pont, but was subsequently reconveyed. McCall conveyed 406 acres of it, "except the settler's share as derived from and under Jonathan Moore," to George and Jacob Cornman and David Leonard, July 9, 1835, for $300. It does not appear from the records that Moore ever returned to look after his "settler's share." The Cornmans and Leonard conveyed 60 acres to Peter Shearer, October 8, 1841, for $300. Jacob Cornman ceased to be assessed with any part of "Moorefields " after 1842. His interest in 120 acres passed by sheriff's sale to J. M. Torney, who conveyed it to Alexander

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NORTH BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.

Colwell, March 29, 1842, for $265.53; Colwell to John Summerville, November 14, 1844, for $680, and Summerville to David Claypoole, the present owner, 125 acres and 57 perches, November 5, 1855, for $1,800. George Cornman and David Leonard conveyed 126 acres to Samuel Cornman, November 5, 1854, for $1763. Jacob appears to have con- veyed his interest in it to Samuel, December 7, for the latter conveyed 11 acres and 48 perches, which Jacob had before then conveyed to him, to James Claypoole, July 4, 1855, for $43.83, and which, with other 62 acres and 30 perches, Clay- poole conveyed to Henry D. Weaver, August 1, 1863, for $1,080. Samuel conveyed to Lewis Cornman 62 acres and 30 perches, April 25, 1857, for $1, which the latter, two days afterward, con- veyed to Frederick Bowser for $615.

A small parcel of land; containing about 85 acres, contiguous to or a part of "Moorefields," was granted to David Griffin by patent dated Decem- ber 17, 1836, who devised it to his eldest son, John, by his will, dated January 20 and registered March 5, 1859, who still retains it, except the + acres and 80 perches which he conveyed to Chambers Clay- poole, March 3, 1863, for $100.

To the west of "Moorefields," on the map of Gapen's surveys, is a considerable area vacant, ex- cept in the eastern part, north of the before-men- tioned depreciation lot No. 221, is the name of " David Hall," so that David Hall, Sr., of "Mount Hall," in what is now Kiskiminetas township, must have been here and acquired an inchoate in- terest in the 399 acres and 12 perches extending westward into the loop of Buffalo creek, before these surveys were made, and on which he soon after set- tled and built a gristmill, on the right bank of that stream, with which and the land and two cows he was assessed at $192 in 1805, and $214 in 1806. A small portion of his original tract is north of the present line between this and Franklin townships. The patent for this tract was granted to him July 7, 1815. He conveyed 100 acres and 29 perches to David Hall, Jr., January 12, 1817; 100 acres and 29 perches to Hugh Harkins, November 22, 1822, for $500; 56 acres to William Beatty, January 11, 1823, for $600; 88 acres and 7 perches to Samuel Porterfield, July 9, 1825; and the residue, 154 acres and 136 perches, to David Hall, Jr., November 15, 1828, for $1,000. The latter conveyed 113 acres and 83 perches of his parcel to James Hall, April 17, 1857, for $750, and 120 acres to John A. Hall, Jan- uary 23, 1858, for $200 and one-third of the annual crops of hay and grain raised thereon, and the use of the front room in the mansion house. It was here that Rev. David Hall, D. D., Indiana, Penn-

sylvania, was born and reared, and caught magnifi- cent ideas from the grand, picturesque scenery which abounds in this region.

The David Hall tract is traversed in a southwest course by Marrow Bone run, which is so named from a lick which is probably on Depreciation-Kenedy lot No. 227, which derived its name from this event that happened in the olden time : Two cat- tle strayed from a drove, perhaps of government cattle en route to Venango or Fort Franklin, which were afterward found at this lick, where they were killed and all the meat stripped from their bones, their bare bones being left at the lick. Hence it was called Marrow Bone lick.

Those familiar with this part of this township are aware that portions of the various parcels pur- chased from David Hall, Sr., are still owned by the descendants of his vendees. The last above-men- tioned gristmill was on the parcel purchased by William Beatty, who was a miller. He devised by his will, dated March 14 and registered March 23, 1827, that parcel and other land to his son David, who purchased 150 acres of the tract, September 29, 1836, for $500, for which a warrant was granted to Catherine Kier, née Miller, June 7, 1824. Seventy-three acres passed by sheriff's sale to Jackson Boggs, for $1,000, on which there was then "a sawmill in full operation, an old fulling- mill now used as a dwelling-house, and a good seat for a mill," which he transferred to his brother, David C. Boggs, June 17, 1865, for $500. That parcel and the rest of David Beatty's land have been known for many years as the "Beatty mill and farm property."*

In the vacant area on the map of the Gapen surveys John Smith, one of the earliest justices of the peace in this county, made an improvement, February 23, 1793, and a settlement, March 3, 1796, and the tract on the other map, west of the Depre- ciation-Kenedy lots Nos. 221 and 222 and south of the Hall tract, 390 acres and 69 perches, was surveyed to him by George Ross, May 2, 1802. From 1800 until 1803 his house was the place des- ignated by law for holding elections in Buffalo township, which then consisted of all that part of this county north and west of the Allegheny river.

John Smith's will, not dated, not signed, not witnessed, but proven by James Hill, Jr., and Abraham Smith, Jr., to have been in his hand-

The Batavia postoffice, Charles McClatchey, postmaster, was established here June 26, 1877. David Beatty, by his will, dated August 9, 1878, and registered September 8, 1879, devised his land, in three separate parcels, to his three sons : that on which the gristmill is to R. M. Beatty. His devisees conveyed 160 acres, partly of the Hall and partly of the Kier tracts, to Henry Exall, Jr., of Dallas, Texas, November 7, 1879, for $12,000, the price of a patent-right for a smoothing-iron which they purchased from him, or traded for their several parcels of land.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

writing, was registered December 27, 1830, by which he devised to his wife the mansion house and all improvements during her life, and, should she " think proper, to let Johnny work the farm and give her one-third part of the grain and hay or what she may stand in need of," besides the house- hold furniture ; to his son Abraham " 100 acres of the land next to James Hill and Patrick Callen's, in the forks of the run between me and David Hall;" 90 acres to Polly McElhaney, " or what- ever she and her brothers may agree upon ; " the place that was formerly Abraham Smith's to Bet- sey Bole ; and the mansion house and 200 acres to "Johnny after his mother's death." Letters of administration with the will annexed were issued the same day it was registered, to John B. Smith, i. e., "Johnny." He and George H. Smith entered into an agreement, November 26, 1866, for the sale and purchase of the 100 acres on which the latter then lived, for $1,600.

Abraham Smith, Sr., the above-mentioned de- visee, died intestate, and letters of administration on his estate were granted to his son, Abraham Smith, Jr., August 7, 1840. About nine years afterward proceedings in partition were had of this intes- tate's real estate, consisting in part of the 100 acres devised to him by his father, which was divided into two purparts, the one containing 46 acres and 71 perches, valued at $396.37, and the other 56 acres and 71 perches, $396.37, and taken by George H. Smith, the allienee of the intestate's daughter Nancy, intermarried with Bennett Dobbs.

About 75 rods below the southern line of the John Smith tract in the vacant space on the map of the Gapen surveys, is the name of " James Hill," but on the other map, a tract in shape an octagon, all of whose angles are right, but whose sides are of different lengths, about one-third of whose area is in what is now South Buffalo, on which are "James Rayburn," " 429.80" acres, on which Ray- mond made an improvement in August or Septem- ber, 1794, a settlement in March, 1796, and which was surveyed to him by George Ross, May 20, 1802. Alexander McKinney had acquired an interest in this tract, which passed by sheriff's sale to George Armstrong, June 22, 1816, for $500, " held," as re- cited in the sheriff's deed, "in right of settlement made by James Rayburn, who is thereby entitled to 150 acres." In the eastern part of this tract, about 25 rods west of the line between it and " Last Night," was an Indian camp, the vestiges of which some of the old residents remember to have seen. The entire tract ultimately became vested in Ray- mond, to whom the patent for it was issued February 23, 1826. He conveyed 211 acres of it

to James Ralston, December 15, 1832, for $1,* and by his will, dated June 1, 1837, and registered February 20, 1838, devised 118 acres to his eldest son, the present James Rayburn, agreeably to a division line which had been previously run, with which quantity he is still assessed, and 97 acres on the south side of that division line to his younger son, Matthew, with which quantity, less 5 acres, he is still assessed.

Adjoining the Rayburn tract on the west, in the vacant space on the Gapen map, is a tract on the other map, 317 acres and 130 perches, on which John Sipe settled in the spring of 1795, about half of the area of which is in this township. The patent for this tract, called "Honstorn," was assessed to Sipe, January 16, 1809. The western portion of it is traversed in a southwesterly course by Sipe's run. As heretofore stated,t he conveyed 209 acres thereof to Thomas Kiskadden, 11 acres and 130 perches of which the latter conveyed to James Hill, April 28, 1812, and November 20, 1826, for $32. Sipe conveyed 10 acres and 98 perches to William Hill, November 5, 1836, for $30, and 1986 acres to Charles Sipe, --- , 1838, for $1 and the comfortable support of himself and his wife dur- ing their lives, and respectable burials after their death, with which quantity Charles is still assessed.

Adjoining "Honstown " on the north, on the Gapen map, is the name of "James Hill," and on the other map his name and " 364ª.25"," and the boundary lines, the eastern, southern and western ones being straight and of considera- ble length, but the northern ones shorter, mak- ing eight right or nearly right angles. James Hill settled on this tract in the spring of 1796. It was sur- veyed to him, by virtue of his improvement and set- tlement, by George Ross, May 18, 1802, and the patent for it was granted to him March 23, 1807. He conveyed 91 acres and 41 perches to Joseph Shields, October 16, 1830, for $1.50 ; 231 acres and 92 perches to Edward Wilson, April 11, 1836, for $3,062.46, on which is the public schoolhouse No. 1 ; 94 acres and 80 perches to Reuben Stonecipher, March 16, 1839, for $940.60, with which his heirs are still assessed, and 79 acres and 80 perches to Henry Fullerton, March 21, for $1,272, with 50 acres of which Jane Fullerton is still assessed.

A warrant was granted to James Hill, June 29, 1814, and the patent July 6, 1815, for 97 acres and 41 perches contiguous to the northwestern part of his other tract, which he conveyed to David Linton, October 9, 1840, for $1,000.

Adjoining those two Hill tracts on the north, in

* See sketch of South Buffalo

t See sketch of south Buffalo

€

GEORGE B. SLOAN,

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NORTH BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.

the vacant space below "Improved Land" on the Gapen map, is a very irregularly-shaped tract, having twelve sides, on the other map 383 acres and 95 perches, fully one-third of which is in the loop of Buffalo creek, or on the right bank of that stream, on which Patrick Callen was an early settler. He made his improvement in November, 1793, and settlement in April, 1801; surveyed to him April 27, 1802. He was assessed with 360 acres, 1 horse and 1 cow, in 1805, at $110, the patent to him for which, called " Downpatrick," is dated June 30, 1804. He conveyed 97 acres to Robert Morrison, January 8, 1811, for $321; 100 acres to John Callen, September 13, for £100; 91 acres and 51 perches to James and John Hill, May 8, 1819, for $274, "in good current bank notes." Callen's executors, Hugh Callen and James Rayburn, by the authority given them in his will, dated April 19, 1823, and registered March 23, 1825, conveyed 180 acres of "Downpatrick " to Robert Hough- ton, July 9, 1827, for $500. The parcel which Robert Morrison purchased was conveyed by him and John Morrison to George Hill, who conveyed the same to Joseph Shields, August 10, 1829, for $500 "in Pennsylvania currency," and which the latter conveyed to James Blain, April 18, 1839, for $500. Houghton conveyed the parcel which he had purchased from Callen's executors to William Smith, February 12, 1830, for $800, which the lat- ter reconveyed to him, October 8, 1831, for $58 "and other good and valuable considerations," which Houghton conveyed to Charles Gense and Edward Manso, both of -, Germany, October 10, 1831, for $800, Gense having transferred his interest therein to Manso, who was a well-educated homeopathic physician, the first one of that kind in this region. The latter conveyed 195 acres, strict measure, to David Shields, March 29, 1856, for $3,300. Shields conveyed 101 acres and 145 perches to James Blain, June 22, 1863, for $1,852; and 96 acres and 11 perches to Charles McClatchey, April 9, 1864, for $1,900.

Adjoining the James Hill tracts and "Hons- town" on the west and "La Maria Rosallie" on the north, on the Gapen map, is a tract, in shape a rectangular parallelogram, 306×193 rods, bearing on its face " Mordica McDonald," and its western part traversed by Buffalo creek, but on the other map " A. McCall & James Barr, " 342ª.129P." James Barr, farmer, as he is distinguished from Judge Barr on the early assessment list, was among the earliest settlers in this region. This tract was surveyed to him by George Ross, "by virtue of his improvement and settlement," May 7, 1805, in which year he was assessed with 250 acres, 2 horses

and 2 cows, at $99.50. He conveyed his interest in this tract and his "household property, goods and chattels" to James Steel, November 30, 1815, in consideration of keeping him and Martha his wife during their natural lives in a decent and Christian-like manner, and to be decently interred when they should depart this life. Steel did not comply with the conditions of that sale; for Barr conveyed his interest in this tract to David Ralston for the same consideration, reciting in his conveyance that Steel did "in no manner comply with his agreement, but shortly after moved his family down the river Ohio." Ralston must have performed his part of that agreement, for the patent for this tract having been granted to McCall, November 30, 1835, he and Ralston made parti- tion, and McCall conveyed to Ralston 185 acres and 67 perches of the eastern part, June 22, 1836, for $1, which must have been considered the share to which Barr had become entitled by virtue of his improvement and settlement. The purpart, 180 acres and 150 perches, retained by McCall passed by the sale of his heirs to William L. Johnston for himself and his co-purchasers, Brown and Gilpin.

Robert Richards, deputy surveyor, surveyed 315 acres and 132 perches, July 3, 1829, to David Ralston on warrant dated April 8.

Adjoining that McCall-Barr tract on the north, on the Gapen map, is a larger one, in shape nearly a rectangular parallelogram, which bears the name of "James Perry," after whom Perry's Point on Buffalo creek was possibly named. The original warrant for this tract was issued to William Elder. On this tract on the other map are the names of " John McKean and James Barr," and "402ª.74P." Mckean made an improvement and settlement on it, June 4, 1801, by virtue of which it was surveyed to him by George Ross, September 19. Mckean was assessed with 300 acres of it, 1 horse and 1 cow, in 1805, at $96, and afterward until 1814 with 400 acres at $202. That year the assessor noted on his list opposite Mckean's name, "Left the part," meaning, probably, that he had left these parts. He was again assessed with the same quan- tity as " unseated," at $300, in 1819, and at the same rate the next year, though it was not then noted as unseated. It is not probable that he re- sumed possession after leaving it in 1814. Eben Smith Kelly purchased the interest of McKean in 200 acres and 10 perches of the southern part, one-half of which he conveyed to Philip Mechling.

The patent for the entire tract was granted to Archibald McCall, August 15, 1838, who recog- nized the validity of the Kelly-Mechling title, for he purchased Mechling's interest before he obtained

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY.

his patent, namely, October 31, 1836, for $100, and he conveyed 100 acres and 5 perches to Samuel S. Harrison, guardian of Kelly's minor children, Oc- tober 15, 1842, for $1, which the latter transferred to his wards, June 17, 1850, after they had attained their majority, the whole of which ultimately became vested in one of them, who, with her hus- band, William D. Robinson, conveyed the entire parcel to Isaac L. and John Steel, May 10, 1854, for $1,050, which Isaac conveyed to John W. and Robert A. Kiskadden, the present owners, April 1, 1859, for $1,700.

Adjoining the last-mentioned tract on the north on the Gapen map is one 313×220 rods, on whose face are "John Caffey, 406;" its southeastern and some of its southern parts being traversed in a westerly and southwesterly course by the Buffalo creek, and a strip of its northern part being in what is now West Franklin township. It was set- tled, probably before 1800, by John Duffy, who was assessed in 1805 with 400 acres and 2 cows, at $92. "John Duffy's heirs " were first assessed with 400 acres, in 1816. By his will, not registered in this county, but mentioned in the conveyance of one of his heirs, he devised his interest in this tract to his son James and his daughter Catherine, after- ward the wife of Henry Seymour. The patent for this tract to A. McCall is dated October 2, 1828. She and her husband conveyed her interest "in a piece of land on the waters of Buffalo creek, on which John Duffy, Sr., made a settlement, and on which he resided at the time of his death," to her brother James, November 20, 1837, for $50, and to whom McCall conveyed 150 acres, September 17, 1838, for $1. James Duffy, Sr., by his will, dated February 20, and registered March 29, 1856, de- vised his real estate to his three sons, James, John and Lawrence, at the valuation to be put upon it by three men, the cleared and woodland portions to be respectively divided into three equal parts, which are now occupied by those three devisees. James Duffy was first assessed with a distillery in 1832.

McCall's purparts of this and the other last- mentioned tract were included in the conveyance from his heirs to William F. Johnston for himself, Brown and Gilpin, about 586 acres of which, in North Buffalo township, they agreed to sell to William L. Speer, proprietor of the Winfield Fur- nace, and for which he agreed to pay $3,326.74, and went into possession. John McDevitt kept a hotel on this land in the northwest corner of the township in 1859-60. The purchase-money not having been paid, an action of ejectment for its recovery was brought in the common pleas of this

county. The case was arbitrated, December 18, 1858, and an award given to plaintiff for the above-mentioned quantity of land to be released on payment of the above-stated amount with interest, on December 18, 1859, and costs. No appeal hav- ing been taken, a writ of habere facias was in due time issued and possession of the land delivered by Sheriff Sloan to the writer as plaintiff's attorney, May 1, 1860, a rather rough day for that season of the year, but not rougher than the land of which the plaintiff thus became repossessed. Three hun- dred and six acres thereof were conveyed by Will- iam Brown, county treasurer-a tax sale-to J. K. Finley and W. H. Jack, June 16, 1862, for $4.40, which they conveyed to J. E. Brown, in 1875, for $10.64, which had become vested in him after the partition between him, Gilpin and Johnston, Feb- ruary 1, 1866, and with which, as unseated, he is still assessed. Gilpin and Johnston conveyed 274 acres in the northeastern part of the tract, partly in West Franklin township, to John Lundy, of Pittsburgh, May 16, 1866, for $3,295.35.

The first piece of calico for wear was introduced into what is now North Buffalo by William Parke, who packed goods from east of the mountains, in. 1805, for dresses for his wife and Mrs. James Green.

The vote of this township, February 28, 1873, was 94 against and 16 for granting license to sell intoxicating beverages.

The population of this township in 1850 was : White, 916. In 1860, white, 1,175. In 1870, native, 1,024; foreign, 33. The number of tax- ables in 1876, 291.

In 1860, number schools, 6; average number months taught, 4; male teachers, 3; female teach- ers, 3; average salaries of both male and female teachers, $18.33; male scholars, 180; female scholars, 166; average number attending school, 220; cost monthly for each scholar, 35 cents; levied for school purposes, $513.95; levied for building pur- poses, $308.37; received from state appropriation, $77.22; from collectors, $468.25; cost of instruc- tion, $440 ; fuel, etc., $38.23.

In 1876, number of schools, 6; average number of months taught, 5 ; male teachers, 6; average monthly salaries, $33 ; male scholars, 250 ; female scholars, 258 ; average number attending school, 337 ; cost per month, 78 cents ; levied for school and building purposes, $2,581.45 ; received from state appropriation, $343.17 ; from taxes, etc., $2,272.77 ; teachers' wages, $1,815; fuel, etc., $207.80.

According to the mercantile appraisers' list there are 3 merchants of the fourteenth class in this

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NORTH BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.

township in 1876. According to assessment list ' for the same year, those of other occupations, ex- cept agricultural, are : Laborers, 32 ; blacksmiths, 2 ; carpenters, 4 ; schoolteachers, 3 ; wagonmaker, 1 ; miners, 2 ; plasterers, 2 ; stonecutter, 1.

Geological .- The surface rocks here consist of lower barrens and lower productives, nearly 300 feet of the barrens being here represented, and cov- ering the highlands about Slate Lick with smooth argillaceous shales. The hills along the river front are more forbidding in consequence of the massive condition of the Freeport sandstone which overlies the lower Kittanning coal. The ferrifer- ous limestone is above water-level in this township only along Rough run and Buffalo creek, where it rises above the level of the stream-beds in obedi- ence to the Craigsville anticlinal extending here

across the Butler county line. The limestone is from 15 to 18 feet thick, with the buhr-stone ore in place. It was once operated here for Winfield Furnace. The Clarion coal is also here above water-level, 3 feet thick, which yields indifferent coal. The upper Freeport coal is nearly obscure throughout almost the entire township. The lower Kittanning coal is above the water-level for a brief interval along Buffalo creek in the region of Win- field Furnace and elsewhere along the river, below the mouth of Glade run, and under the stream-beds elsewhere in the township.

Structure .- An anticlinal axis runs lengthwise through the township from northeast to southwest. It passes close to Center Hill ; thence southward into Sonth Buffalo township. The dips are gentle. -Platt.

CHAPTER XXII.

WEST FRANKLIN.

Organization of the Old Township of Franklin from Territory in Buffalo and Sugar Creek - Limestone Town- ship - First Election in West Franklin - First Owners of Land Tracts-Transfers of Property in Early and Late Years-John Shields' Bequest to the Free Presbyterian Church of Worthington -His Wife's Gift-The Craig Woolenmill - Flouringmill -Craigsville - Buffalo Furnace - Buffalo Woolenmill - Regu- lar Baptist Church - James Barr and the Town of Worthington - Early Assessment of the Village - In- corporation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - U. P. Church -M. E. Church - Free Presbyterian Church - Academy -Schools- Statistics - Sketch of James Barr - Local Geology.

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History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 99

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