USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
HARRIS'S DIRECTORY
What Harris's Pittsburgh Business Directory for the year 1837 has to say about Fallston is so interesting that we copy the notice entire, retaining the original spelling, which the reader can correct by the foregoing :
FALLSTON
This Borough is situated immediately on the Beaver river, on the Falls, about two miles from its mouth. It was incorporated by the Legislature in 1829, and contains upwards of 1,000 inhabitants; who are principally engaged in the various manufacturing operations, carried on by means of the immensely important water power here possessed. The construction of the race, by an incorporated water company, enabling them to avail themselves of the water of the Beaver to its full extent. By this water power, the following manufacturing, and other establishments, are now in operation:
Two Saw-mills, one owned by Thomas Johnston, who can cut from 700,000 to 1,000,000 feet of boards annually. The other, by Charles Lukins & Co., who can cut upwards of 3,000,000 feet per annum.
John Pugh & Co.'s Oil Mill-with an Hydraulic press, where is manu- factured between 6,000 and 8,000 gallons of oil, per annum.
Pugh & Bacum's Sash Factory-where Sash of all sizes and descrip- tions is manufactured, for the eastern and western markets.
Townsend, Beard & Co.'s Wire Manufactory-Here Wire of all sizes to the amount of sixty tons, per annum, is manufactured. This is one of the most complete and operative establishments of the kind in the Union, from whence the great valley of the Mississippi is supplied in this article.
730
History of Beaver County
North, Brown & Co.'s Woolen Establishment-where are made jeans, sattinets and flannels.
Miner & Champlin's Bucket Factory, is a curious, interesting and extensive concern, where are manufactured about 30,000 of those neat and necessary domestic articles, so well known to every housewife.
C. C. Wolcott has a large factory for the manufacturing of jeans upon a very extensive scale, with splendid machinery unsurpassed for excel- lence and beauty, by any in any part of the country.
.E. & J. Pugh's Flour Mill, with four run of stones, is capable of manu- facturing 12,000 barrels of flour per annum.
Johnston & Stockton's Paper Mill, is in full operation, and manu- factures paper to the amount of $25,000 yearly. There is also a large store attached to the mill.
R. & W. Wilson, carry on a Woolen Factory of jeans, sattinets and plain cloths.
Samuel Kennedy has an extensive Chair and Wheelwright Factory carried on by water power.
Richard M'Farland's Flour and Oil Mill, in full operation, two pair of stones running, principally employed in the country trade.
Thornby & Townsend, extensive machinists, cabinet makers and manufacturers, with six pair of carding machines.
In this place is one brick academy, which serves as a place of public worship, for various denominations, in which are kept two day and one Sabbath school.
In New Brighton, with which we are about being connected by a beautiful bridge over the Beaver, Mr. and Mrs. Leech's female academy is established, in a most charming situation, surrounded with romantic and picturesque scenery. This institution is in its infancy, but the reputation of its principals has been long established, and it bids fair to be extensively useful. Here is also published the Fallston and Brighton Gazette, edited and published by John Winter, every Saturday.
This place and the surrounding neighborhood, bids fair to be exten- sively increased, in consequence of the immense mineral and water ad- vantages which it possesses.
DIRECTORY OF FALLSTON
Postmaster-E. K. Chamberlin.
Merchants-Lukens & Bons, Mendenhall & Millhouse, M. Gilliland, Julius D. Dorris, R. Warnick.
Druggist-John Winter-keeps also an extensive store of general mer- chandise.
Physician-E. K. Chamberlin.
Boot and Shoemakers-G. Barnes & Co., Watson & Brown, Nicholas Millar.
Saddler-Jackson.
Merchant-In the village of Sharon, within the borough of Fallston, John Dickey.
Townsend's Wire Mills, Fallston.
1
731
History of Beaver County
During the period to which the above notice belongs, and even as early as 1830, Fallston was famous for the extent and variety of its manufactures, being the chief and almost only point of mechanical and manufacturing industry in the county, except Economy. James Patterson, in his short sketch of Beaver County history, says:
The history of manufactures in this place is very suggestive, particu- larly in an economical view. In 1830, and for a short time before and after that date, wool carding for the farmers was a large business of the place. The farmers would bring their wool here to be carded, and when done would take it home and spin it into yarn, and either weave it at home or bring it, which was most commonly the case, to the woolen mills to be made into goods for male and female wear. In a short time, however, they came to believe it best to sell their wool for cash, or trade in the stores for wearing apparel. This ruined the business of wool carding, and in a great degree of the woolen factories.
Nearly all the minor industries of the early period referred to by Harris have disappeared, giving place to the large and important works of the Townsends and Kennedys, in the borough, and the other plants back of the borough which have been already mentioned. There is here also the power-house of the Valley Electric Company. In the period of which we have been speaking Fallston and New Brighton were closely allied in business and other relations. Nearly all the manufacturing was done on the Fallston side, but most of the owners of the concerns lived on the opposite side of the Beaver. The two places were formerly connected by a good covered wooden bridge, built in 1837 by Lathrop & LeBarron, which was swept away by the flood of 1884, and has since been replaced by a fine iron structure.
RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL
As previously stated, various denominations used the hall of the Fallston Academy for church purposes, and the religious life of the place was largely identified with that of New Brighton across the Beaver.
The fourth Episcopal church established in Beaver County was incorporated in Fallston, under the name of "St. Peter's Church, Beaver Falls," on March 2, 1843; the incorporators named being Thomas Williams, Thomas T. Reno, John Reno, George Garner. James H. Blinn, Benjamin Stevens, William
732
History of Beaver County
Richardson, S. R. Adams, and William Hurst. A large church edifice was erected, but never finally completed, and the dis- persing of the congregation by removals made the parish sink under its heavy debts until its property was sold by the sheriff. and the corporation became defunct on November 27, 1848.
This little borough has a school building which would do credit to a much larger town, and the work of the teachers is equally creditable.
Fallston has had in the past several newspapers, the history of which may be read in the chapter of this work devoted to the press.
POST-OFFICE
The post-office at Fallston was established June 25, 1829, when Hall Wilson was appointed postmaster. His successors have been as follows:
E. K. Chamberlin, M.D .. June 3. 1833; Elihu T. Pugh, May 8, 1840; Alfred G. McCreary, Jan. 29, 1842: James Carothers, Nov. 19, 1845; Joseph McCreary, May 15, 1849; Andrew Jackson, Feb. 28, 1854; E. B. Thompson, June 10, 1854; Samuel Edgar, March 29, 1855; Robert D. Cooper, June 15, 1857; Alexander G. Devenny, Aug. 7, 1879; William V. Taylor, June 14, 1880; Benjamin Franklin, Nov. 9, 1882; Mrs. S. J. Katara, April 15, 1886; Mrs. Katara having failed to qualify, Frederick Katara was appointed April 21, 1886; Benjamin Franklin, Nov. 20, 1889; Thomas J. Johnson, Sept. 25. 1890; James P. Mowry, April 12, 1899.
This office was discontinued, June 1, 1857, but was re-estab- lished on the 15th of the same month. It was discontinued again, November 6, 1860, but soon after re-established.
POPULATION
The population of Fallston in 1843 is given in Day's His- torical Collections, published in that year, at 865. In 1870 it was 629, and by the United States Census of 1900 it was 549.
INCORPORATION
By an Act of Assembly, approved March 19, 1829, the vil- lage of Fallston was incorporated into a borough.1 At the 1 P. L., 67. A supplement to this Act approved Jan. 19, 1831, separated the borough of Fallston from the township of Brighton. (P. L. 24.)
The boundaries of the borough were extended by a further supplement to the original Act, approved April o. 1860. (P. L., 770.)
733
History of Beaver County
November term of the Beaver County Court, 1854, a petition signed by Joseph Thompson, burgess, John Jackson, G. N. Tay- lor, James Duncan, James Beacom, Samuel Kennedy, Albin Coats, and Andrew Jackson, was presented, asking that Fallston borough should be made subject to the provisions of the Act of April 3, 1851, relating to boroughs. The decree, granting the prayer of the petition, was made November 30, 1854.1
" No. 4. Nov. Sess., 1854. Road Docket No. 2, p. 476.
CHAPTER XX
ROCHESTER BOROUGH
Location-The Canal-Railways-Incorporation-The Indian Village- Pioneer Settlements-Relation to Beaver Borough-Ancient Lanes -Influence of Canal-Rochester's Names-Harris's Directory- Marcus T. C. Gould-Manufacturing Interests-Financial Institu- tions-Churches-Schools-Passavant Memorial Home-Secret So- cieties-Hotels-Cemeteries-Post-office-Semi-Centennial Celebra- tion-Growth and Population-East Rochester-North Rochester.
As elsewhere remarked, the Ohio River, after flowing almost due northwest from Pittsburg for twenty-six miles, makes a majestic sweep around to the southwest. In this great bend of the river, at the mouth of the Big Beaver Creek, lies the borough of Rochester. A glance at the map will show that this town holds the key-position in the Beaver valley.
THE CANAL
When the Pittsburg and Erie Division of the Pennsylvania Canal was built, Rochester was naturally its southern terminus, and here the traffic of the Great Lakes on the north, and that of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers on the south, found their point of contact. The shipping trade by canal and river thus gave an impetus to the growth of the town.
RAILWAYS
The passing of the canal and the advent of the railway still left Rochester its advantage of position. From Pittsburg to this point three lines of the Pennsylvania Company run on a magnificent four-track system. These lines are the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago, the Erie & Pittsburg, and the Cleveland
734
735
History of Beaver County
& Pittsburg. At Rochester these lines separate, the Cleveland & Pittsburg continuing down the Ohio River valley, and the other two following the valley of the Big Beaver Creek, until they again diverge at Kenwood station. Between Pittsburg and Rochester there run, on this division of the Pennsylvania Com- pany's lines, in each direction six days in the week, twenty-five passenger trains, most of which stop here; and the service of the trains on the Pittsburg & Lake Erie Railway is available at Monaca and Beaver by trolley cars running across the bridges.
INCORPORATION
Rochester was incorporated as a borough by an Act of Assem- bly, approved March 20, 1849 1; and in 1871 the town council adopted a resolution that the borough should take advantage of the Act of Assembly, passed April 3, 1851. This action was confirmed by the court on September 7, 1871.2 From that time the borough has been under the general borough law of the State.
THE INDIAN VILLAGE
There was a village of Mingo Indians on the present site of Rochester, probably near the point where the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad bridge crosses Beaver Creek.3 This was known in the latter part of the eighteenth century as "Logan's Town," because the famous chief, Logan, had his lodge here at that time. The mouth of the Big Beaver was an important rendezvous of the various Indian tribes, both in peace and war. Many Indian relics have been found there, and bones have been dug from what were doubtless graves of the vanished red men.
PIONEER SETTLEMENTS
Early after the opening of the northern side of the Ohio to settlement of the whites the natural advantages of the spot began to attract attention; but for some years the principal part of the immigration went farther up the stream to the Falls of the Beaver or to the opposite side, where the village of Sharon grew into being. Here and there, however, an occasional settler
' P. L., 283.
" No. 7, Sept. Sess., 1871, Road Docket No. 4.
' See map in Christopher Gist's Journals, Darlington, pp. 80-81: also Vol. I. of our work PP. 24, 26-27.
736
History of Beaver County
located his cabin and clearing in the immediate vicinity of, or on, what is now a part of Rochester borough. The earliest of these settlers is not now known, but in 1799 the Rev. Francis Reno, who is mentioned in our chapter on the religious history of the county, an Episcopal clergyman from Washington County, Pa., and earlier from Virginia, built a log cabin just below the spot on which the Passavant Memorial Hospital buildings now stand. An early date is assigned, though no year can be fixed, for a log cabin which was built on the site of the present resi- dence of the heirs of Atlas L. Lacock; and for one at the mouth of Lacock's Run, which was occupied by a woman named Atkin- son. Near the river bank, immediately below where the Na- tional Glass Works now stand, was the log house owned by Reese Nannah, father of Jesse Nannah, and in which Jesse was born. In the same neighborhood stood the cabin of Jonathan Leet, son of William Leet, whose wife was Susannah Lacock. Another cabin stood at what is now the corner of New York Street and Rochester Avenue, the home of a man named Earl Merriman, who sold his land in 1817 to Lewis Reno. Samuel Bell, a very early settler, built a stone house on the site of the Ovid Pinney residence, now the property of John J. Hoffman. Two other log cabins are known to have been built at a very early period, one near the mouth of the Beaver, in which lived a ferryman named Benjamin Pounds, and one farther up, be- yond Mckinley's Run, the home of a man named Wehr.'
RELATION TO BOROUGH OF BEAVER
The land now embraced within the limits of the borough of Rochester was, one hundred years ago, a part of the borough of Beaver. The Act of the Legislature erecting the borough of Beaver (March 29, 1802) 2 gave as part of the bounds thereof, "the line of the out-lots of the reserve tract of land at the mouth of Big Beaver creek which have already been sold." These out- lots, seventy-nine in number, lay on the east side of the Big Beaver. By legislative enactment, approved January 14, 1804,3 all lands on the easterly side of the Big Beaver were cut off from the borough of Beaver.
: See Rochester Semi-Centennial Sowornir, page 9. In the preparation of this chapter we have drawn freely upon the data furnished by this Souvenir.
3 P. L., 22. "P. L. 495.
737
History of Beaver County
ANCIENT LANES
The plan of the out lots referred to shows the following lanes, some of which are now Rochester's principal streets. East Bank Lane ran from the Big Beaver along the river bank to the eastern line of the borough of Rochester; Island Lane, from the mouth of the creek northward along its bank; and Deer Lane, starting from the latter a little below Mckinley's Run, extended eastward to Fox Lane, now called Virginia Street. Panther Lane ran from Deer Lane down Connecticut Street, and along Pinney Street to the eastern borough line. Tiger Lane was what is now called Adams Street.
INFLUENCE OF THE CANAL
Previous to the construction of the canal between New Castle and the mouth of the Big Beaver, there was little growth of population at this place. Travel on the river passed it by, the steamboats making Stone's Point and Bridgewater their stopping-places. The growth of the village of Rochester began with the building of the canal. Freight from the canal boats was unloaded at a landing near where Jacob Stahl's house now stands, and transferred to the steamboats on the Ohio at a landing on Water Street. This portage was sometimes un- necessary, for with a good stage of water in the river, the canal boats could be taken through the locks into the river direct and towed by the steamboats to their destination. Several ware- houses were built on Water Street: one near the present Shu- gert property by Hamilton Clark, and one by John Dickey, both of which were removed here from Bridgewater; and one by J. A. Sholes. Clark and Dickey also built wharf boats for receiving freight. Similar boats were built here by C. Bid- well, John M. Lukens, and a man named Collins. A very large freight business was done here, and a regular line of passenger packets ran to and from New Castle and points beyond. The latter ceased soon after the railroad was built, but freight ship- ments continued to be made by the canal until it was sold.
PREVIOUS NAMES OF ROCHESTER
What is now Rochester has had several different names. In the deeds of Hemphill and Hinds, and in their plans of lots
738
History of Beaver County
made about 1834, the name "East Bridgewater" occurs. This seems to have been applied to that part of the place immediately opposite Bridgewater. In a deed from James A. Sholes to Titus W. Power, dated 1836, the name "Fairport" is used. Both names were used by M. T. C. Gould in an article published in Hazzard's Register of Pennsylvania for 1835, and seem to desig- nate two separate parts of the collection of houses in what became the village of Rochester. He says: "East Bridgewater and Fairport, quite in their incipient stage, promise soon to attain a respectable rank among their neighbors. Mr. Ovid Pinney has invested some thirty thousand dollars in lands at the above places, and is preparing to build up a large town." Two years later the name "Fairport" would appear to have gained acceptance for the place as a whole. The Pittsburgh Business Directory, published by Isaac Harris in 1837, so refers to it. Another name for this place in early days was "Beaver Point." This was frequently employed in addressing letters and other mail matter.
Rochester, the present name of the town, was probably given to it sometime between 1837 and 1840. The honor of first giving this name to the town is assigned by Richard's His- tory of Beaver County (page 477) to Ovid Pinney, but belongs of right to Mitchell Hammond, who kept a grocery store on Water Street, and had this name of his own selection put upon some goods which he had bought in Pittsburg and shipped by boat to his home.I
HARRIS'S "DIRECTORY"
Harris's Pittsburgh Business Directory for 1841 gives the fol- lowing list of names of Rochester's business men for that year:
Merchants-Clarke & Co., William D. Johnson, William Alexander, James Fulton and William Waring. Farmers-S. S. Reno, John Reno, Joseph Irvin, John Davidson, Hugh McClain, James Black, William Moore, Lydia Reno, John Fink, Thomas McNamara, David Trinels, Robert French, J. Kelley, W. Lagona, Mrs. J. Moore, George Hinds and Lewis Reno. Physicians-F. R. Moore, A. F. Snider. Justices of the peace-Samuel Moore, Joseph Irvin. Hotel Keepers-Jacob Jones, "U. S. Hotel," John Boles, "Canal Hotel," H. Bausman, "Fairport Hotel." School-teachers-William McGowan and John Marshall. Boat Builders-James Porter, Robert French and John H. Whisler. Canal Boat Captains-Capt. Woods, Thomas Campbell and John Stiles. Steam-
1 Rochester Semi-Centennial Souvenir, page 104.
Marcus T. C. Gould.
Heretofore unpublished portrait. From original painting by Bowman in possession of Mrs. Harrison Mendenhall, New Brighton, Pa., a daughter of Mr. Gould.
739
History of Beaver County
boat Pilots-William Hamilton, Francis Reno, William Reno, Crate Reno, A. Fisher and Jesse Nannah. Boatmen-John Javens, William Powers, James Murray and J. Crane. Engineers and Surveyors-Abner P. Lacock and Atlas E. Lacock. Blacksmiths-J. Jackson, R. Jackson, J. Cooster. Shoemakers-A. Fowler, Mr. Smith. Carpenters-H. Jackson, S. Powell, S. Keys, J. Hart, J. Umstead and Milo Moore. Chair Makers- Jemuel Woodruff, J. Thompson, J. McCrum and J. B. Hill. Gardeners- W. McIntire and Abraham Hall. Boarding House-John O'Connor. Teamsters-John Wasson, John Inglis, Lawrence Marquis. Laborers- D. Cable, R. Jackson, J. Mckeever and J. Parrish. Miscellaneous-A. Smith, tailor; John M. Lukens, clerk; John Webster, lock-keeper canal; Mr. Bailey, miller; C. Geer, lumberman; Ed. Gillespie, cooper; W. Leaf, stone mason; Horatio N. Frazier, gentleman; J. B. Shurtleff, editor Beaver Patriot; Samuel Barnes, firebrick maker.
MARCUS T. C. GOULD
Among the early citizens of Rochester none was more promi- nent, or did more to advance the business interests of the place than Marcus T. C. Gould. His name and influence were con- nected with the most important enterprises in the county, and especially in this immediate vicinity. Some of these enterprises are mentioned later in this chapter. He was a man of large ideas and of boundless enthusiasm. Believing confidently in the future greatness of this region he conceived the plan of a city which should extend from the mouth of the Beaver to the Falls of that stream, and labored untiringly to interest capitalists in the towns throughout the valley. For Rochester especially Mr. Gould sought to devise liberal things. He came here shortly after the town was incorporated, to look after the sale of the large land holdings acquired in this place by Ovid Pinney. A map was made, called "A Map of the Borough of Rochester," which was a copy of several maps belonging to individuals who had plotted small parcels of land. This map was made, Decem- ber 31, 1851, and has since been known as "Pinney's Plan of Lots in the Borough of Rochester." Two years later Mr. Gould induced Hiram Walbridge of Philadelphia, and John Thompson of Rhode Island, to invest a large sum of money in these lands. The deed by which the purchase was conveyed is dated October 10, 1853. Four hundred and six town lots, as laid out on the "Pinney Map," together with certain other pieces of land in the borough and vicinity, were conveyed in consideration of $43,706.
Mr. Gould's large conception of the future Rochester or
740
History of Beaver County
"Beaver City" was expressed in a map which he constructed, showing the town of Rochester and a hundred miles around it, with "commentaries" thereon addressed to the Pittsburg Board of Trade, calling attention to the advantages of the site and its surroundings. The present prosperity of the Beaver valley, and its hopeful industrial and commercial outlook, prove the farsightedness of this active mind. Mr. Gould was the origina- tor of a system of stenography which was long in use, and also the inventor of the first fountain pen. He died November 19, 1860.
MANUFACTURING, ETC.
One of the early enterprises in which, as we have said, Mr. Gould was a leading spirit was the Rochester Manufacturing Company, which was organized, August 27, 1854, for the manu- facture of iron from ore, the casting of car wheels, and the making of various other kinds of machinery, even to locomo- tives. A large stone building was erected where the Speyerer Hotel now stands, but it seems that this company never actu- ally engaged in the business of manufacturing. The structure was, however, later used for the manufacture of barrels by Rhodes, Kennedy & Company, and afterwards by Rhodes & Kirk in making cars for the railroad. The Rochester Manu- facturing Company passed out of existence in 1865, when its property was sold to James I. Bennett for the sum of $16,500.
The Pendleton Brothers, a firm composed of Captain Gilbert and Joseph Pendleton, established one of the earliest industries of Rochester, an important firebrick works, started in 1856. Captain Daniel Fitch and Mr. John Stahl later became con- nected with the firm.
Anderson's Foundry was established in 1861 by Jacob Jones Anderson in the old octagonal-shaped building, which stood until a few years ago at the foot of New York Street. This plant was operated successfully for several years.
The Rochester Tumbler Company, which for twenty-seven years owned and operated the principal industry of Rochester, and one of the most important tumbler works in the world, was
741
History of Beaver County
organized in the spring of 1872. Five acres of the Lacock prop- erty, in Rochester township, just outside of the borough limits, were purchased. The stockholders were Jesse H. Lippincott, Henry C. Fry, Samuel Moulds, William Moulds, Samuel M. Kane, Richard Welsh, Thomas Carr, William Carr, Robert Carr, and John Carr. The first officers elected were as follows: Henry C. Fry, president; Jesse H. Lippincott, secretary and treasurer; and Samuel M. Kane, manager.
The shares of stock were originally five hundred dollars, but they ultimately appreciated greatly. The company com- menced the manufacture of glass with one ten-pot furnace and with ninety employees, making tumblers a specialty.
The capacity was then 1200 dozen per week. During the final year of its existence it operated seven furnaces with ninety pots, gave employment to 1100 people, and had a capacity of 75,000 dozen per week, or 150,000 tumblers per day. These seven large furnaces were kept in operation constantly, and some idea of their capacity may be had from the fact that each week they con- sumed about one hundred tons of white sand alone, not to men- tion the several other ingredients, of which large quantities were used in the manufacture of pressed and blown tumblers and goblets, both of crystal and finest lead glass. The build- ings of the Rochester Tumbler Company covered seven of the ten acres of ground belonging to the company, lying between the P., Ft. W. & C. RR. tracks and the Ohio River. The plant was operated night and day, was lighted throughout with elec- tricity furnished by the company's own motors, and consumed daily 2,000,000 cubic feet of natural gas, which was brought from the concern's own wells through fifty miles of natural-gas mains. The products of this concern were sold throughout the civilized world, and compared favorably with the finest wares of France and Belgium.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.