USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 19
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
The first President was the Rev. H. W. Roth, D.D., called from the pastorate of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Birmingham, Pa., assisted by the Rev. W. F. Ulery and the Rev. David Mckee. The
809
History of Beaver County
first matriculated student in the newly erected college was the writer of this sketch, the Rev. D. Luther Roth, now pastor of the congregation from which his elder brother, the Rev. H. W. Roth, D.D., was called as first President of the College.
Concerning the moving of the institution to Greenville, Pa., nothing need be said in the present outline. On the Ist of September, 1871, the formal opening of the College was held in the Academy building in Greenville and henceforth the existence of Thiel College in Phillipsburg became a memory, a thing of the past.
Monaca's City Hall, finished in 1896, is located on Pennsyl- vania Avenue. It is built of brick and stone, and cost about $4000. On the first floor is a lockup, polling place, and hose and cart room. On the second floor is a council chamber.
POST-OFFICE-POPULATION
The post-office of this place was est .. blished in 1856, and was called Water Cure, after the Sanatorium located here, the name of Phillipsburg not being used, in order, as we have said, to avoid confusion with another town of that name in the State. Follow- ing is a list of the postmasters, with the dates of their appoint- ments: Clement Baeltz, December 6, 1856; Anthony Knapper, February 16, 1858; George Bechtel, May 16, 1877; Michael J. Bucheit, January 3, 1881; George Bechtel, May 26, 1888; Michael J. Bucheit, June 20, 1889.
July 20, 1892, the name of this post-office was changed to that of the borough, Monaca. Michael J. Bucheit's appointment was renewed, July 20, 1892. The succeeding postmasters have been John M. Kirk, appointed February 14, 1893; Agnes B. Mullen, February 16, 1897; and John H. Glasser, the present incumbent of the office, who received his first appointment De- cember 20, 1897.
The population of the town was shown by the United States Census of 1890 to be 1494, and by that of 1900 it was 2008, the rapid growth of the place being indicated by the increase of 514 in a single decade.
CHAPTER XXIT
HISTORY OF THE SMALLER BORODGE UT TSE COUNTY
Deringan Bragt Horkalow Borough Frankie: Scmp Barnet -Bergama Burengt-Olangow Borough New Golier Brus- Backs Barvach College Hill Borough Eurivale Graph-15 suppe Brough-Patterson Heights Borough Carwas Bringt
DARLINGTON BOROUGH
DARLINGTON is located in Darlington township . In the ex- treme northwestern corner of the county. It is situated on the Little Beaver Creek and on the Pittsburg. Marion & Chicago Railroad, and lies in a beautiful and fertile valley, whose soil is tilled by as sturdy a yeomanry as any in the county or the State.
These intelligent and thrifty farmer folk, as well as many of the inhabitants of the village, are the descendants of the men who pressed onward to the then wilds of the frontier as soon as settle- ment was possible. A few families, three or four perhaps. came shortly after Wayne's treaty of peace with the Indians was signed, or soon after August, 1795. In the autumn of 1795 a number of pioneers from Westmoreland County came out and located farms, and the following spring brought their families and settled on them. Among the earliest settlers here were the Dilworths, the MeMinns, the Martins, Sprotts, Boyds, Imbries, and the McClymonds, Hughes, Scroggs, Semple, Reed, Gilliland, Newell, Plumer, and Powers families. There were doubtless others whose names we have not heard.
The town of Darlington was laid out, May 13, 1804, by Abner Lacock, on land owned by Thomas Sprott, William Mar- tin, and George Greer. The plan embraced four blocks square,
810
811
History of Beaver County
sixteen blocks in all with eight lots to the block. The streets from west to east were numbered from First to Fifth. From north to south were Morris, Market, and Plumb streets. Market and Third streets are each 55 feet wide, the others 50 feet.1
Darlington was originally called Greersburg, after George Greer, who, as said before, owned part of the land upon which the town was laid out. It was incorporated under the latter name, March 28, 1820.' The change of name from Greersburg to Darlington was made on account of the confusion that was occasioned by the resemblance of the name Greersburg to Greensburg when written in the address of letters, mail matter being frequently missent. The change of name to Darlington was made by Act of Assembly, April 6, 1830.3 By a decree of the Court of Quarter Sessions, issued September 5, 1893, the borough of Darlington was made subject to the provisions of the Act of Assembly of April 3, 1851, relating to boroughs.4
Like many another village, Darlington has been left behind in the march of progress. The advent of the railway robbed it of the importance which it once had as a relay station for the stages that ran through it on the route between Pittsburg and the northwestern section of the State and on to Cleveland. It was then a depot of supply, and had a number of large general stores. Among its early business men were David Gilliland, Stewart Boyd, and Joseph Quidley, general store-keepers; David Prow, miller; Jacob Strieby, clock-maker; John McClymonds, tailor; and Stephen Todd, shoemaker, and the postmaster of the
' In Warner's History of Beaver County, it is stated that no plot of the original plot of the town of Greersburg is in existence.
Since this history was published, the original copy has been discovered and is now (1904) in the possession of George Greer, of Darlington township, a grandson of George Greer for whom Greersburg was named.
The plot was recently discovered by Mrs. Greer, among a number of old papers once the property of Mr. Greer's grandfather. It is in a good state of preservation, the writing being legible, and is signed by Gen. Abner Lacock, who laid out the town. The following is Gen. Lacock's description of the plot, written on the margin thereof:
"Market and Third streets are 55 feet wide. Other streets are 50 feet wide. The alleys are 12 feet wide. The lots are 66 feet front and 140 back. The lots in the above that are designated by the letter M, belong to William Martin. Those marked "S" to Thomas Sprott and those marked "G" to George Greer and those marked "G & S" belong to Greer & Sprott in partnership. The above is a draft or plan of the town of Greersburg, as laid out by me, agreeably to the directions of the proprietor s. Thos. Sprott, Wm. Martin and George Greer.
" May 13, 1804. . A. LACOCK."
" Recorded Dec. 20, 1804.
' P. L .. 185.
ยท P. L., 308, 316.
* Quarter Sessions Misc. Docket, No. 2, p. 128, No. 14. June Sessions.
812
History of Beaver County
village. There were several taverns. One was kept by George Greer, for whom the town was named, and one by Mattison Hart. In the following advertisement of one of these, we see how close to the frontier the village lay at the opening of the last century, when daily the emigrants to the Ohio settlements were to be seen passing through it:
The subscriber respectfully informs the public that he has commenced tavern keeping in Greersburg, opposite to the academy. at the "Sign of the Bear," where he hopes, by keeping good entertainment for man and beast, to merit and receive a share of the public patronage.
Families emigrating to the new settlements thro' this place may rely on good accommodations for themselves and horses. Hay by the hundred or quarter. Oats by the bushel. at a low rate. RICHARD M. HETE.
Greersburg. Beaver County, Pa .. May 22. 1806.1
In 1820 a militia company was organized in Greersburg. Reference to the extracts from Dr. Dilworth's Journal (Appen- dix No. X) will show some amusing accounts of the drilling of this company in the streets of the village. On receiving their arms and white leather accoutrements they found that no swords had been sent for the captain and the lieutenants. The village blacksmith, Philip Crowl, Sr., father of the genial gentleman of the same name formerly clerk of the Orphans' Court of the county, was applied to. and by the first muster he had ready three fine swords, forged out of English blister steel.
One of the most noteworthy of the old citizens of Greersburg was Dr. Bernard Dustin, of whom some particulars are given in the chapter on the medical history of the county.
The Dustin mansion, of which a view is given on the opposite page, was built by him. It is certainly quaint and unconven- tional enough, and on account of its extreme height for a dwell- ing-house, was dubbed by the people as the old "shot-tower." It was also sometimes called the old "silk-mill," as tradition makes the old physician to have been influenced by the craze for the cultivation of the morus multicaulis, or Chinese mulberry, and the production of silkworms and silk. which aroused so much interest in Beaver County in 1836. The old structure was
' Inquiry at the office of the Recorder of Deeds at Beaver discloses the fact that Richard M. Heth owned the northern parts of lots, 41 and 42 in Greersburg. They are not exactly "opposite the academy," but they are on the opposite side of the street about 105 feet south of the academy lots and are now (1904) owned and occupied by W. E. Bebout. No other memory of Heth survives.
.
.
...
Residence of Bernard Dustan, M. D. Erected about 1820. Popularly known as " The Shot Tower," Darlington.
MOU . .. . ....
813
History of Beaver County
last used by Mr. George Youtes as a wagon factory, and on April 28, 1898, it suddenly collapsed. Mr. Youtes narrowly escaped death by the fall of the building, as he had been sitting on the front door-step and had only arisen and walked away a moment before the collapse occurred.
GREERSBURG ACADEMY
One of the solid reasons for honoring the early Presbyterian ministers of western Pennsylvania, is that they so generally perceived the importance of education, and so often sought to give the youth in their parishes the advantage of it. In this they had in view the general elevation of society, but a second and compelling motive was the desire to raise up a class of edu- cated men to meet the demand for a competent supply of minis- ters of the gospel. Says Doddridge in his Notes: "From the outset they prudently resolved to create a ministry in the country, and accordingly established little grammar schools at their own houses, or in their immediate neighborhoods." Three years after his settlement as pastor of Ten-Mile (Washington County), the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd erected a building on his own farm, and opened in it a classical and mathematical school in 1782, and this was just three years before his congregation erected a house of worship. In 1785 the Rev. Joseph Smith opened in his "study" at Buffalo (Washington County), a similar school, and Dr. McMillan's famous "Log Cabin College" at Chartiers was perhaps established at a date earlier than either of these.
A man like-minded with these, taught and profoundly in- fluenced indeed by the one last named, Dr. John McMillan, was the Rev. Thomas E. Hughes. No sooner had he been settled in his charge at Greersburg than he began to plan for establishing a school similar to those in Washington County. He built a log cabin on his own lot, and began in it the work that lay near his heart; and at a meeting of the Presbytery of Erie, held at Mt. Pleasant Church, April 13, 1802, he brought up the project of establishing an academy and laid his plans before it. Through his influence the following minute was adopted:
Presbytery proceeded to take into consideration the necessity of a seminary of learning being instituted within their bounds, for the educa- tion of youth.
Resolved, To give their aid to erect an academy at Greersburg, and to solicit the aid of their respective charges.
-1
-
there received icc
ke. John Brown of Ossanatomie
'I be like tradition concerning C. L.
the need lawyer and politician of Ohio, is dis- Laether, the Boy J I. Vallandingham. to Walter Forward, the de tinguished Pittsburg at-
1. . Hunted States. Treasury, is also said Ihrer burg, but one who is an old re iden reful ive tigator, assures us that it
" lidl !. a . ho .osad to the anth at: a wcad, That the sum of six hundred dollars la, and the same a lasele granted for the tra fees alone and, for the use of the said institu- tion to be good out of the wood and me from the tale of the in.lots of and reserved
Greersburg Academy, Darlington.
MROU
815
History of Beaver County
was Chauncey Forward and a brother, not Walter, who attended the academy there. The same gentleman casts doubt on a still more cherished tradition of this school. It has always been believed that the well-known educator and maker of school readers, Rev. William H. McGuffey, D.D., LL.D., got his aca- demical training at Greersburg. The story of his entrance to the academy is so interesting that it ought to be true if it is not. It is said that one evening, as Rev. Mr. Hughes was riding through the country, he heard, while passing a cottage, the voice of a woman in prayer, pleading that God would open up some way for the training of her little boys for His service. Learn- ing from the family with whom he spent the night, the circum- stances and worthiness of the mother referred to, Mr. Hughes, it is said, made arrangements for one of them to enter the academy, and this boy became the writer, Dr. McGuffey, who has since blessed two generations of school boys with his series of School Readers, those "wells of English undefiled." 1
The gentleman referred to above believes that the name of a minister who early labored in the neighborhood of Greers- burg, a Mr. McGuffey, has been WILLIAM H. MCGUFFEY, D.D., LL.D. confused in the popular recol- lection with that of the more eminent man. Concerning the story just related, he points out the fact that William Holmes McGuffey, the educator, was born in Washington County and
1, William Holmes McGuffey was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 24, 1800. He was graduated from Washington College, Pennsylvania, in 1826. Re- moving to Ohio, he was appointed Professor of Ancient Languages in Miami University, at Oxford, near Cincinnati, in 1829. It was while at Miami University that he prepared the series of school reading-books, known as McGuffey's Eclectic Readers. In this work he was assisted by a younger brother, Hon. A. H. McGuffey, who prepared the Spelling-Book and the Fifth Reader.
Dr. McGuffey resigned his professorship in Miami University in 1836, and removing to Cincinnati, assumed the presidency of the Cincinnati College. In 1839 he was elected President of Ohio University, and in 1845 was chosen to the Chair of Moral Philosophy in the University of Virginia. This position he occupied until his death, May 4, 1873.
816
History of Beaver County
graduated from Washington College, and the improbability that Mr. Hughes should have been brought into contact with the family of the boy McGuffey so far away from Greersburg, or. having been, should have taken him such a distance from home to educate him when there were schools nearer at hand. This is, however, only negative evidence, and we have respected the tradition enough to have sought diligently for a portrait of Dr. McGuffey, and having obtained it through the courtesy of the American Book Company, publish it herewith.'
It is undisputed, we believe, that John W. Geary, who be- came Governor of Pennsylvania and a distinguished officer in the Mexican and Civil wars, was a student in this academy. and there is a long roll of ministerial worthies who received their academical education there, either in whole or in part. The names of some of the latter have been preserved in the records or in the memories of the people, and are as follows:
Joshua Beer, Robert Semple, John Munson. John Core, Wil- liam Reed, Joseph Harper, Robert Dilworth, John H. Cunning- ham, Albert Dilworth, and four sons of Rev. Thomas E. Hughes. In addition to these are named John Bruce, Jonathan Plumer. Thomas Barr, Edward Johnston, William Matthews, Thomas Clark, Joseph Stevenson, and Theodore Crowl. Of those who have been students in the new academy, at least three are preaching, viz., Joseph Marlatt, Leroy Humes, and Mitchell Chatley.
An old register of the years 1816, 1817, and 1818 gives the following names of students in attendance:
Robert Dilworth, John Hughes. Watson Hughes. John Sterrel. Joseph Harper. Abram Bryson, Joseph Reed, Daniel McClain, E. Bleachley, James Floy. John Hunter, Thomas Anderson, Hugh Martin, Robert
1 We have submitted the views quoted above to the Rev. Henry N. Potter, pastor of Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, Darlington, and give the following extract from: bis reply:
"In regard to old Greensburg Academy-I have been one of the trustees for about thirty years and have the minutes of the board. I have also spent much time looking up its history. I would say in respect to Dr. McGuffey, that I do not think there is any doubt concerning the truth of the matter. I think I got it from Dr. S. J. Eaton's History ci Erie Presbytery. I feel positive I received it from a reliable source, and have never heard it disputed before. In regard to John Brown having attended Greersburg Academy. I heard of it shortly after coming here. Rev. Thomas E. Hughes's two sons afirm that he boarded in their father's family while he attended the Academy. The youngest son. Rev. James R. Hughes, told me about it when he was here in 1897 assisting me at a communion season. An older brother. Joseph, told my oldest brother the same thing some years ago. So I think it is based upon good solid foundation. I cannot see how it can be doubted with such statements as the Hughes men make.
In regard to Walter Forward all I know is that it is a matter of tradition-I don't think there is any documentary evidence on the subject. I am sure, however, that Clement L. Vallandingham did not attend here.
Rev. Thomas E. Hughes.
817
History of Beaver County
McKaig, George Calhoon, James Campbell, James Clark, John Cunning- ham, Thomas Espy, Morgan Fulks, William Harra, Isaac Peppard, Samuel Reed, Samuel Sprott, Robert Felson, Enoch Heaton, James Hay, and Charles Murry.
TEACHERS IN GREERSBURG ACADEMY
Rev. Thomas E. Hughes or some one appointed under him from 1799 to 1806, the year in which the academy was chartered.
Daniel Hayden, first under charter, 1806; James Rowland, 1812; William Reed, 1816; Robert Dilworth, 1819 ; Samuel Sprott, 1829; Rev. George Scott, D.D., 1837; Mr. Hutchman, 1841; Rev. Mr. Riddle, 1843; James S. Scott, 1847; James H. Stewart, William Silliman, 1848; Samuel B. Wilson, 1849; Rev. Samuel Patterson, 1854; Mr. Sellers, 1855; Joseph B. Kiddoo, 1856; Anderson and Reed, 1865; J. S. Dice, 1871; Mr. Smith, 1872; Rev. Samuel Alexander, 1873; Mr. Wolfe, 1876; Rufus Darr, 1877.
In new brick academy .- F. N. Notestein, 1883; W. L. Breckenridge, 1884, spring; Mr. Atkinson, 1884, autumn; J. A. Coolidge, 1885; F. A. Judd, 1886; R. B. A. McBride, 1890; D. A. Greene, 1891; C. B. McCarter, 1893; C. A. Simonton, 1894; Mr. Wallace, 1899; J. S. Best, 1900; W. E. Cozens, 1901.1
MOUNT PLEASANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The exact date of the organization of this church, as in the case of several of the very oldest churches in the county, cannot be determined. The Presbytery at that early period either did not make the organization of churches a matter of record, or else, which is probably the more likely supposition, there was no formal Presbyterial action in the matter at all, the churches coming into existence by a sort of natural selection, the people of like faith and form of worship associating themselves for worship, and finally electing officers and asking Presbytery for supplies. In the early minutes of Redstone frequent mention
" This list was furnished by the kindness of Rev. Henry N. Potter, of Darlington. For the first fifty years it is taken from the minutes of the trustees of the academy, but for the rest is drawn from memory, and some names may be omitted. It is very nearly accurate, however. Of those therein named we give what biographical data have come to us as follows:
James Rowland became a minister in the Presbyterian Church. William Reed was Pastor of the New Salem Presbyterian Church for forty years. Robert Dilworth entered the Presbyterian ministry. and was for thirty years pastor of Little Beaver Church: see extracts from his journal, Appendix No. X. Joseph B. Kiddoo went to the Civil War and was promoted for merit to the rank of Major-General of Volunteers. At the close of the war he was made Lieutenant-Colonel in the Regular Army. He died in New York City of his wounds. Samuel B. Wilson became one of the most eminent attorneys at the Beaver bar. W. L. Breckenridge and R. B. A. McBride are ministers, the former in the Presby- terian and the latter in the United Presbyterian Church. F. A. Judd was clerk of the commissioners for six years, and prothonotary of Beaver County from 1807 to 1003.
818
History of Beaver County
is made of "supplications for supplies" as coming from the remoter parts, and King's Creek (afterwards Cross Roads) and Mill Creek in the present limits of Beaver County are named thus. This was from 1781 to 1793, and after the erection of the Presbytery of Ohio (in 1793) the like mention is made of McIntosh (now Beaver), Forks of Beaver, Mt. Pleasant, New Salem, etc., on the north side of the Ohio.' In 1796 Revs. John McMillan and Thomas Marquis were appointed to visit the region on this side, and the possibility of their having organized these Christian people into churches is to be considered.
The first mention of Mount Pleasant in the records of the Presbytery of Ohio, in whose bounds it was at that time, is October 24, 1797. This is in connection with a request for supplies. We may date the history of the church, as its mem- bers do, from about that time. Its name was taken from Mount Pleasant Church in Westmoreland County, whence some of its members had come to this county.
Two supplies were given this church by Presbytery at its meeting, October 24, 1797, Rev. Mr. McDonald on the first Sabbath of November, 1797, and Rev. Mr. Patterson one Sab- bath at his discretion. At the spring meeting of Presbytery Rev. Samuel Ralston was appointed to preach at Mount Pleasant Church on the second Sabbath of August, 1798. In March, 1799, the church of Mount Pleasant was supplied by Rev. Smiley Hughes. April 18, 1799, Mr. Thomas E. Hughes, a licentiate, accepted calls from the united congregations of Mount Pleasant and New Salem, and supplied the pulpit from the spring meet- ing of Presbytery. August 27, 1799, the Presbytery of Ohio met at Mount Pleasant Church.
Present: Revs. John McMillan, Joseph Patterson, John Brice, Thomas Marquis, Boyd Mercer, Samuel Ralston, and Wil- liam Woods; elders-Henry Graham, John Vance, and Thomas Pryor. Mr. Hughes preached his ordination sermon from 2 Cor. viii. 9. The next day, Wednesday, August 28th, he was ordained and installed over the two churches. Rev. Samuel Ralston preached the sermon on 2 Cor. iv. 2, and Rev. Joseph Patterson gave the charge. On the following Sabbath the sacrament was
1 Minutes of Presbytery of Redstone, Cincinnati, Elm Street Printing Co., 1878, pp. 150- 52; Hist. of the Pres. of Washington, Philadelphia, 1889, p. 11. It is always to be remem- bered that, as we have frequently mentioned, there were few inhabitants north of the Ohio until after Wayne's treaty in 1795.
Rev. Arthur B. Bradford.
819
History of Beaver County
administered in this church, the first time it had ever been done in this region. The ministry of Mr. Hughes continued prosper- ously, and in January, 1808, he gave up New Salem in order to devote his whole time to the work at Mount Pleasant.
The first statistical report made to the Presbytery was in 1804, and shows a communicant membership of 68. In 1824 there were 328 members; in 1847, just before the division men- tioned below, 209; in 1870, when Mr. Potter became pastor, 106; and in 1903, 225. This church has been noted in every period of its history for great revival ingatherings.
Rev. Thomas E. Hughes served the church of Mount Pleasant for over thirty-one years, his relation with it being dissolved, January 10, 1831. After leaving this church he preached a few years in Wellsville, Ohio, but for two years before his death was laid aside from the ministry by sickness. He died there, May 2, 1838, in his seventieth year. Mr. Hughes was a man of fine character, and did an abiding work for good in the community where he labored so long. His connection with the educational interests of the county are noted in the accompanying sketch of Greersburg Academy, which he was mainly instrumental in founding.
After the resignation of Mr. Hughes there was a vacancy for several years, and then came the following pastorates: William D. Smith, 1835-36; William J. Gibson, supply from June to December, 1838; Arthur B. Bradford, stated supply, January 9, 1839, to October 2d of that year, then pastor until June 23, 1847. At that time Mr. Bradford withdrew from the Presby- terian body, together with a large number of his people, they considering the attitude of the General Assembly toward Amer- ican slavery as sinful. He became a minister in the Free Pres- byterian Church, but later demitted the ministry, and under the administration of Mr. Lincoln was sent to Amoy as United States Consul, where he served for one year. He was a man of large views and great abilities and full of "the enthusiasm of humanity." His last years were spent at his beautiful country home near Darlington, called "Buttonwood," where he died, January 18, 1899. Notice of his work in the anti-slavery move- ment will be found in Rev. Paul Weyand's paper, in the Centen- nial section of this volume. Rev. Robert Slemmons Morton followed Mr. Bradford, 1848-51; Rev. J. W. Johnston came
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.