USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 16
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Forty years later (March 14, 1881) there was incorporated Military Hall, Company E, 15th Regiment, National Guard, with a capital stock of $1000, divided into 1000 shares of $I each. This was to be quarters of the military organization called the
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Quay Guards. In 1887 the company was disbanded and the property sold.
MANUFACTURING
The Darragh foundry was one of the early industries of Sharon, established in 1836 by Mattison Darragh. Two years afterwards his father, Major Robert Darragh, built the foundry which was operated under the name of Robert Darragh & Sons until 1852. At that time the style of the firm name became M. & S. H. Darragh. The plant included two structures in Bridgewater, the foundry 60 by 90 feet, and a warehouse 60 by 80 feet, and a machine shop and office in Fallston, 35 by 70 feet. For half a century this firm ran the business without a shut- down, lockout, or strike, meeting all their obligations promply. July 17, 1902, they sold out to Messrs. Michler & Beck, who now own and operate the plant.
What was probably the second attempt at pottery-making in the Beaver valley was made in Bridgewater, about fifty or sixty years ago, by the Hamilton Brothers, Lute and James. They obtained their clay on the hill near the house of John Dickey, on the west side of Brady's Run, near its confluence with the Big Beaver. They made common stoneware, the chief trade being in crocks and jugs. Their goods were shipped by boat along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. About 1857-8 they ceased operations and removed to Greensboro, Greene County, Pa.
The Keytsone Bakery of Bridgewater was established forty years ago in Beaver by the late Frederick Walters, whose chil- dren have enlarged the plant until it is now the largest bakery in western Pennsylvania outside of Pittsburg and Allegheny. In 1884 the bakery was removed from Beaver to Bridge Street, Bridgewater, and was there conducted by the original proprie- tor, Frederick Walters, until the year 1892, when his eldest son, Charles A. Walters, assumed control. Under his management the business so increased that it was deemed best to secure a charter, which was done in 1901, under the name of F. Walters & Sons, Keystone Bakery.
Owing to the increasing demand for their goods, the plant on Bridge Street was found to be too small, and, in 1902, their present building on Market Street was erected, being
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equipped with all the best-known modern machinery and appli- ances for the making of bread, cakes, doughnuts, and pies. They now run ten wagons in the Beaver valley, one in East Liverpool, and one in Coraopolis, and will soon have one in New Castle and in Ellwood City; and they now have forty-two men and women in their employ.
SCHOOLS
Bridgewater has good common schools, housed in a substan- tial two-story brick building. In addition to the common schools there is an institution which has been largely useful in the town, and which has done much for the youth of the entire county. This is the well-known Peirsol's Academy, which is a private institution, established in 1875 by the late owner and principal, Prof. Scudder H. Peirsol.' Mr. Peirsol was at one time county superintendent of common schools for Beaver County, and a teacher well and favorably known throughout the region. The buildings of the Academy are modest, but are, no doubt, endeared to many who have enjoyed the advantages of instruction which they have received there.
CHURCHES
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- As stated in the chapter on the religious history of the county, the first church of the Methodist Episcopal faith in Beaver County was at Sharon (north Bridgewater), which was probably in existence as early as 1820 Of 1821. The next church of this denomination organ- ized in the county was at Beaver. The third was the one at Bridgewater. Its date is about 1838 or 1839, in which latter year its present house of worship was erected. This house was built by Richmond Hart and Jacob Olmstead, under the direction of a board of trustees consisting of Archi- bald Stewart, Lewis Reno, Joseph Vera, Ephraim Jones, Thomas J. Chandler, C. M. Stewart, Benjamin Adams, and Robert Dar- ragh. It has been twice remodeled, first in 1860, during the pastorate of Rev. W. F. Lauck; and again in 1884, when nearly $2000 were expended in repairing and beautifying it.
In 1845 this church became a regular station, with Rev. ' See sketch of Professor Peirsol in Chapter XI.
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A. M. Brown in charge. August 12, 1845, the first quarterly conference was held in this church. The class leaders at this time were Samuel Beatty Wilson, William Adams (the local preacher), Andrew Stewart, Thomas J. Chandler, Samuel T. Trimble, and John A. Frazier. The stewards were Lewis Reno and John Allison.
Following is the list of pastors serving this church:
A. M. Brown, 1845-'46; Joseph Montgomery, 1847-'48; John Ansley 1848; M. P. Jamison, 1849-'50; J. Murray, 1851-'52; John Grant, 1853- '54; A. J. Rich, 1855-'56; R. Hamilton, 1857; J. D. Cramer, 1858; W. F. Lauck, 1859-'61: J. S. Bracken, 1862-'63; J. D. Knox, 1864; W. K. Brown, 1865; Joseph Horner, 1866; R. Morrow, 1867-'68; Joseph Hollingshead, 1869-'71; D. L. Dempsey, 1872-'74; D. A. McCready, 1875-'76; R. Hamilton, 1877-'78: D. L. Dempsey, 1879-'81; J. H. Henry, 1882-'83; Nathan Brown, 1884; J. W. McIntyre, 1885-'87 ; M. J. Montgomery, 1888; William Cox, 1889-'90; Richard Cartwright, 1891-'93; W. S. Cummings, 1894-'95; G. S. Holmes, 1896; O. A. Emerson, 1897-'98; J. B. Uber, 1899-1900; H. P. Johnson, 1903; J. E. Kidney, 1903 -.
In 1866 the organization of the church in Rochester drew from this congregation about one half of its membership. At present it has on the roll 236 full members and 15 probationers, and maintains a flourishing Sunday-school.
The First Presbyterian Church .- This church was organized as a result of a division in the congregation at Beaver. Rival candidates had been brought before the latter congregation in 1843 and 1844, during a vacancy in the pastoral charge follow- ing the resignation of Rev. A. B. Quay. These were Rev. John M. Lowrie and Rev. Isaac M. Cook. A majority favored the latter and, in June, 1844, a call for his services was presented by commissioners from the Beaver church to the Presbytery of Beaver. Presbytery declined to put the call into his hands, owing to the dissatisfaction of a minority in the church. In January, 1845, a petition was presented to the Presbytery, signed by many members, asking for the organization of a church in Bridgewater. This Presbytery granted, and at a meeting of the session of the church, held January 23, 1845, eighty-one members and four ruling elders were dismissed from the Beaver church to unite with the new organization. The elders were James Jackson, John Carothers, David Eakin, and
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John Alcorn. The church at Bridgewater was organized by a committee of the Presbytery, January 29, 1845.
Rev. Isaac M. Cook served the church as stated supply from February 2, 1845, until the 17th of December of the same year, when he was installed as pastor, and he continued in the charge until his death on the 10th of January, 1854. His pastorate was a very successful one, as during it a total of 391 members. most of them on confession, were added to the roll of the church,
Mr. Cook was followed by the Rev. James Smith, who was called, May 7, 1855. He remained about eighteen months, and Rev. David A. Cunningham assumed the pastoral charge, Octo- ber 9, 1857. This relation continued until January 1, 1864, with an increase in the church membership of 251. March 1, 1864, Rev. James M. Shields was called, and began at once to labor in the field, but was not regularly installed until April 15th following. This pastorate lasted for about ten years, and was one of marked success, 436 additions being made to the church during its continuance. The succeeding pastors and their dates of service are as follows: W. W. Ralston, February, 1876-No- vember, 1882; D. T. Carnahan, April 1883-October, 1886; W. J. McCrory, February, 1888-April, 1892; S. A. Hunter, Septem- ber, 1892-March, 1895; W. F. Gibson, May, 1895-June, 1900; E. L. McCartney, the present pastor, November, 1900-4-
The present membership of this church is 166, and there are enrolled 125 Sunday-school scholars. Its building is a sub- stantial brick, which has been several times remodeled.
A Baptist church was formerly in existence in Bridgewater. Rev. Jacob Morris was the pastor, and a frame building was erected and dedicated, November 17, 1845, by Dr. Estep. The organization was gradually disbanded, its members going to other churches, many of them finding a home in the Baptist Church in Rochester. The building is now the property of the African Methodist Episcopal Church of Bridgewater.
The A. M. E. Church of Bridgewater was organized about 1830 as a part of the Allegheny Mission. It was incorporated, June 14, 1886, by Andrew Tanner, Nelson Scroggins, Lewis Ash, Frank Smith, and Sidney Freeman. This congregation was located at first on the hill on Mulberry Street, but, as stated above, now owns a church building formerly erected by the
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Baptists. The A. M. E. Church is still in a thriving condition, Mr. Andrew Tanner, who is a respected citizen of Rochester, being one of its most earnest and devout members. The board of trustees, in May, 1900, was composed of the following persons: A. W. Tanner, Lewis Ash, George Webster, Charles H. Robin- son, and Charles W. Cole.
The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Conn. At the date of the incorporation of the church it was served by Rev. William H. Brown, the pastor in charge in 1904 being Rev. Richard Brown.
POST-OFFICE
The post-office at this place is called West Bridgewater, in order to distinguish it from another Bridgewater in this State. It was established, April 1, 1879, the people of the town having previously to that time received their mail in Rochester. The order of service of those in charge of this office, with the dates of their appointments, is as follows: Miss Emma Moore, March 5, 1879; William A. Dickey, March 29, 1889; Miss Emma Moore, May 25, 1889; Louis F. Weinman, May 11, 1893; George M. Hemphill, May 17, 1897-93; James McConnel, 1904.
HOTELS
Denny McClure at an early day kept a public house in Sharon; he was succeeded by Robert Darragh, in the old frame building opposite the brick store. James Moore, who was the father-in-law of David Marquis of Beaver, kept a public house for some years near the fording, below the mouth of Brady's Run.
Bridgewater has at present one hotel, the St. Cloud, M. Walsh, proprietor. The Park Hotel, run by John Walsh, a brother of the preceding, has been closed for some years.
POPULATION
The population of Bridgewater in 1880 was 1112; in 1890 it was 1177; and in 1900 it had increased to 1347.
CHAPTER XXII
FREEDOM BOROUGH
Situation-Origin of the Village-Steamboat Building-Boundary Lines -Streets and Alleys-"Shanty Town"-Early Householders- Valuation of Lots-First Child Born in Freedom-Incorporation -Succession of Boat-Building Firms-Various Business Firms- Directory for 1841-Post-office-Churches-Schools-Financial In- stitutions-Manufacturing Concerns of the Present-Cemetery- St. Clair Borough-Incorporation with Freedom-Population.
FREEDOM is one of the thriving little towns of the Beaver Valley, a mile or so up the Ohio, above the mouth of the Big Beaver, and almost adjoining its neighboring borough of Roches- ter. It is built on a narrow flat along the Ohio, and on the hillsides, and, from the peculiarity of its situation, is one of the most picturesque towns on the river. . From its upper levels is afforded an almost unrivaled panoramic view of the Ohio at the majestic bend where its course, after having been north- westward all the way from Pittsburg, suddenly turns to the south- west. And a night view from the hills above Freedom is a thing long to be remembered. Looking up and down the river, from Rochester below to the Conway railway yards above, the spectator beholds a bewildering maze of tracks, with moving trains and an infinity of many-colored lights. It is well worth while to climb the hill for the pleasure of this view, and often while standing there has the writer recalled Mark Twain's phrase, descriptive of a similar scene at Heidelberg, Germany: "A fallen Milky Way, with that glittering railway constellation pinned to the border."
History is a chain of causes and consequences, and events are strangely linked together. Diedrich Knickerbocker begins his
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History of New York with the creation of the world. We need not go so far back in writing the history of Freedom, but we must look back to Germany in the latter part of 1831. In Oc- tober of that year Bernard Müller, having assumed in the Fatherland the style and title of Count Maximilian de Leon, emigrated to America, and with about forty of his followers joined himself to the Harmony Society. Dissension arising between him and the leaders of the society, he, with one third of the members, withdrew, and purchased from the owners of Phillipsburg the lands on which that town stood. This necessi- tated the removal of the large boat-yards there to another loca- tion, and the present site of Freedom was determined on, where, with other advantages, the depth of the water was more favor- able to the launching of the completed craft.
Stephen Phillips and Jonathan Betz, partners at Phillips- burg, immediately purchased from General Abner Lacock 101 acres of land for $2000, for the purpose of building a town and new boat yards. The firm was soon changed to Phillips & Graham, and the new enterprise was pushed to completion; with what despatch may be seen from the following extract, taken from the Beaver Argus, May, 1832:
Rapid Work .- Messrs. Phillips & Graham purchased a tract of land from Gen. Abner Lacock, on the Ohio river, on Monday of last week, laid out a town on Tuesday, and built fourteen houses in four succeeding days. At this place they intend establishing their ship-yard.
The original village of Freedom was surveyed and plotted by Simon Meredith, the streets, alleys, and lots being all located with special reference to the only business of the village, that of steamboat building.1
The boundary lines of the first purchase made by the firm named above began at a post on the bank of the Ohio River, near where the warehouse of the Freedom Oil Refinery now stands. Thence they ran north and east, including the upper tier of lots fronting on High Street; thence east and south along said line of lots to a point back of the stone house, near the present residence of Captain Abram McDonald; thence south
" For part of the data in this chapter we have drawn freely from an historical paper recently read by Rev. N. P. Kerr at "A Reunion of the Boys and Girls of Freedom of Forty Years Ago." Rev. N. P. Kerr was born in Freedom, where, also, his boyhood was spent. He is now pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Derry, Pa.
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and west to the Ohio River, at a point near the steamboat landing; thence west to the place of beginning.
An additional purchase of 39 acres was made, by the same parties from William Vicary for $2500. The lines of this pur- chase were as follows:
Beginning at a post on the bank of the Ohio river, near the steam- boat landing and extending along the line common to the tracts of Lacock and Vicary, to the rear end of lots fronting on High street; thence east to Dutchman's Run; thence by the meanders of said run to the Ohio River; thence west to the place of beginning.
None of the cross streets extended to the river except Betz Street, to the steamboat landing, and Vicary Street. Indepen- dence and Liberty streets terminated at the line of the boat- yard. Wolf Alley skirted the lower end of lots fronting on Main Street, and extended from Liberty to Vicary Street, where the railroad is now located.
In 1832 a number of families came over from Phillipsburg and settled in Freedom. About one hundred and fifty people first located there, and the place grew rapidly. The houses re- ferred to in the extract from the Argus given above, were only rude board shanties. Hence Freedom was at first called "Shanty Town."
Into these one-roomed buildings the first settlers moved. Some doubt exists as to the first frame building erected in the village, but tradition seems to settle on the shoeshop erected by Samuel Furnier, who also erected the first hotel, which was a brick. The lots were sold, as selected by purchasers, except that lots one and two fronting on Main and Independence streets were reserved for the blacksmiths, Samuel S. Coulter and Thomas G. Kerr, and they decided who should have the corner by cast- ing lots, when the corner fell to T. G. Kerr. In selecting loca- tions, Jonathan Betz built on the southwest corner of Main and Betz streets. Stephen Phillips built on the southeast corner; and Daniel S. Skillinger built on the northeast corner. Samuel Furnier purchased and improved the lots on the northeast and southeast corners of Main and Independence streets. John Graham selected and built on the southwest corner of Main and Liberty streets. Philip Bentel purchased and improved the southeast corner. James McConnel located and built on the
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northeast corner, and Wm. P. Phillips built on the northwest corner. John W. Snead erected what is known as "the stone tavern," on Main Street, which still stands much as it was when built. Some idea of the valuation of lots may be had by the fact that in 1841 vacant lots were valued at $75 each for borough taxation. Cows were rated at from $4 to $14 each, and horses from $4 to $35 each.
The steamboat yard, which began at the western end of the town and extended to Betz Street at its eastern extremity, in- cluded all the land from the rear end of lots fronting on Main Street, and from Wolf Alley to the Ohio River, and embraced three acres of ground which, with its buildings-exclusive of the steam saw-mill-was valued at $638 for purposes of taxing. The saw-mill was valued at $960 for taxing. It would seem that but one man in the borough at that time was able or inclined to carry a gold watch, and that was Stephen Phillips, whose gold lever watch was valued at $100. At that date John W. Snead must have been, financially, one of the important per- sonages of the town, as his taxes in 1841 amounted to $11.33; while Robert Lutton, on the other hand, paid but six cents. In that year Phillips and Betz were taxed for fifty-two vacant lots, valued at $1650, or $31.73 each. The descendants of Jacob Kronk, Adam Graham, Samuel Furnier, John A. Brown, John Graham, and Charles Graham continue to occupy the lots originally taken by them. William Hall, eldest son of Joseph and Matilda Hall, was the first child born in Freedom. Large families, as a rule, were reared by these early settlers, many of whom still survive, and are widely scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific and through the South. In 1833 Freedom con- tained forty dwellings, forty-seven families, and about 320 inhabitants. In 1837 there were one hundred houses, and the population had increased to 600.
INCORPORATION
Freedom was incorporated, April 16, 1838.1 At the June session of the court, 1856, Samuel Baker, burgess, and the coun- cil, consisting of D. S. Marquis, M.D., James McKee, James Van Kirk, Christian Holland, and R. H. Hall, presented to the court a petition to have the borough placed under the provisions
1 P. L., 643.
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of the Act of Assembly of April 3. 1851.' and the petition was granted.
In the year 1832 Phillips & Betz must have dissolved their copartnership, as in that year Stephen Phillips and John Graham formed a copartnership in the building of steamboats. This firm was succeeded by Abel Coffin in the same business, and this by "the Freedom Boat Building Society." The firm of Charles Graham & Company, composed of Chas. Graham. Robert Xc- Caskey, and Thomas G. Kerr. next succeeded to the business; and this firm was followed by that of McCaskey & Kerr. This firm was continued for thirty eight years. until the death of Robert McCaskey. when, by agreement, the business was con- tinued under the same firm name, rounding out the full forty years. This firm was succeeded by W. H. Brown's Sons: they by Spear & Company: and the latter by Dunbar & Sons, which ended the business in the original boat-yard. John Graham and George Rogers, under the firm name of Graham & Rogers, con- ducted the business of boat-building for a time above the land- ing. James A. Sholes & Company built and operated a steam saw-mill above the landing, and conducted the business of a plan- ing mill and lumber yard. John Baker & Company had a large shop for the manufacturing of steam-engines on the southeast corner of Vicary Street, facing the river, and had a large foundry on the corner of Wolf Alley and Vicary Street. Andrew Baird & Company succeeded to this business in these buildings, and op- erated quite extensively. employing many workmen; and many steamboats were supplied with engines by this firm. Donovan & Company became the successors, and established an extensive stove foundry for the manufacture of cooking and heating stoves. This firm also did a large business, employing many men.
McKee & Company succeeded, and established a wagon manufactory. They manufactured extensively. and shipped their goods largely to the south and west. This firm gave em- ployment to a large number of men, and contributed much to the business prosperity of the town. Business finally closed there in the abandonment of the site by the present coffin manufactory. (See below, Freedom Casket Company.)
Jacob Stahl operated a distillery and grist mill near Dutch- man's Run, on Main Street.
' No. 7. June Sess., Road Docket No. 3, p. 34.
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Among the early merchants (1837 to 1841) were Phillips & McConnel, Stiles & Fisher, Phillip Bentel, John Denham, John W. Snead, Benjamin Brown, and Benville Brown.
Their stores contained a varied stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware, queensware, boots and shoes, hats and caps, notions, farm products, tobacco and cigars, butter and eggs, nails, glass, putty, white lead and oils-in short, a little of everything needed by their customers. The prices asked for various articles were "a fip, a levy, and three fips, or two bits."
Harris's Directory of Freedom for 1841 shows the following persons holding borough offices at that time, and the business interests of the town.
Burgess-Henry Bryan. Council-William P. Phillips, Robert Mc- Caskey, Joseph Hall, Isaac Ingraham, and Jacob Stahl; with E. G. Dubarry as clerk. Constable-Thomas Sutton. Physicians-Drs. T. F. Robinson, William Smith, and Thomas Dickson. Hotel-keepers-Anthony Windham, S. B. Linn, J. A. Williamson, at Crow's Bottom; J. Young, Swan Inn; John W. Snead, Freedom Hotel; Samuel Turner. Ship Carpenters- William P. Phillips, Robert McCaskey, Joseph Hall, Adam Graham, C. Graham, John Graham, J. Betz, S. Phillips, Sr., W. Merriman, J. Shearer, Phillip Hoover & Sons, Daniel Skillinger & Sons, S. Phillips, Jr., J. A. Brown, Daniel Graham, Simon Gritz, William Woods, Robert French, George Stoops, Joseph Grimes, Andrew Woods, Thomas Crooks, Robert Hall, and Isaac Grimes. Carpenters-John Hamilton, Isaac Ingraham, Phillip Stet- sell. Blacksmiths-Samuel Coulter, H. C. Grant, R. Wagoner, N. P. Kerr. Engine builders-E. G. Dubarry, John D. Eakin, Charles Anderson. Wagon makers-John Andrews, Jacob Schoffleberger, Israel Bentel. Farmers- Philip Vicary, A. Hall, Philip Grimes. Tailors-Richard Hall, F. Shoe- maker. Shoemakers-Christian Holland, Jacob and John Hill. Gun- smiths-Joseph Graham, Andrew Emery & Co. Engineer-Woolman Hunt. Cabinet maker-John C. Shoal. Millwright-C. Myers. Stone- masons-Jacob Krout, David Martin. Sea Captain-William Vicary. Pilot-James A. Sholes.
The first justice of the peace was James McConnel who was succeeded by Martin Fisher, and he by Thomas G. Kerr, whose ten commissions as justice of the peace covered half a century, and he lived to almost complete his last commission, having been the longest in commission, perhaps, of any one in Beaver County. Henry Bryan also served several years in that office.
POST-OFFICE
The post-office, established with the town, has been served as follows, viz:
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1832, Stephen Phillips and James McConnel; 1836, Dr. Wm. Smith; 1840, Dr. T. F. Robinson; 1844. Henry Bryan; 1845, Friederich Schu- macher. Wm. P. Phillips was postmaster in 1850, John Graham in 1854, W. W. Kerr. in 1858. and W. D. Fisher. 1871: Thomas C. Kerr, 1880; Francis M. Grim. 1886; James L. Conner, 1890; William G. Jack, 1894; William D. Hamilton, 1898-1904-
CHURCHES
At the corner of Virtue and Betz streets, where the Evan- gelical Association Church now stands, was a small frame school- house, in which English and German schools were taught, and here also the first Sunday schools of the town were organized. In this building also the first preaching services enjoyed by the people were established, it being occupied alternately by the ministers of the Presbyterian and the Methodist Episcopal churches.
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