USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 21
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Some years later the academy was revived, and March 20, 1871, a charter was secured, among the incorporators being such men as Rev. A. O. Rockwell, Rev. William Meek McElwee, D.D., John J. Carothers, Samuel Bigger, John Stephenson, James Morrison, John McCullough, H. B. McCreary, Thomas Nicholson, J. L. Purdy, Thomas Bigger, Henry J. Lance, and S. H. Leeper, the first seven named being the first board of trustees. A flourishing school is still in existence here.
INCORPORATION
Frankfort Springs was incorporated into a borough by a special Act of Assembly, approved March 19, 1844.1 December
1 Section 1. of the Act reads: "Be it enacted" etc., "That the town of Frankfort Springs, in the county of Beaver, and territory inclu ded within the following boundaries, to wit. Beginning at a stake on the county line near Robert Leeper's barn; thence north one hundred and forty-four perches to a stake on land of William Frazier; thence east one hundred and eighty-two perches to a stake on land of John Carothers; thence south one hundred and forty-four perches to the Washington County line; thence west on the county line to the place of beginning; is hereby erected into a borough, which shall be called and styled the borough of Frankfort Springs." (P. L., 142.)
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5. : 9;5. tims somugh terame miject to the provisions x the Act of Assembly of Apri : sigs. relating to boroughs .:
PUSE-TEZ-POPULATION
Frankior: Spray: poes-mme. discontinued November 21. igoo, was one of the thiess cices of this region, having been established under the name of Frankfort within a few months after the irection if Bearer County. The names of the pos :- masters and faces of theer appointments are as follows:
John Molestan Day : : box: Arthur Sanderson. Jan. 1. 15:1: Thomas Martel Over :. : 203. Samuel Worrell, Oct. 1. 1807: Henry Comby. Jan : : 1:6. james Dungan, Oct. 21. 1828: Andrew Knox. Jan. 25. : 336.
January :: : Les. the name of Frankfort Springs was given to the office, and the pastmasters following have been: William H. Frazer. Dec. 15. : $49 WSlamn. R. Foster, July 15, 1845: James Mccutcheon, Nov. 17. : 856. Hugh P. Miller, Oct. 10, 1857; James Mccutcheon, July 23. 1861. isaac Stephens, Nov. 2, 1885; William M. Frazer, April 2 ;. 1889; Isaac Stephens. Aug. 1. 1893; William C. Morgan, Nov. 17. 1893: William M. Frazer, Sept. 18. 1897.
The population of the borough by the United States Census for 1900 was 128.
GEORGETOWN BOROUGH
This borough lies in the extreme northwestern corner of Greene township, on a beautiful plateau overlooking the Ohio River. Within sight of the village are parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Georgetown is the second oldest town in the county; its citizens sometimes claiming for it the distinction of being the first. But this distinction, we think, rightly belongs to the county-seat itself. Beaver was laid out, under the Act of Sep- tember 28, 1791, by Daniel Leet, his survey being made in November, 1792 (though it was not confirmed by the Legislature until March 6, 1793), while Georgetown was not laid out until January 13, 1793. This was done by Benoni Dawson. The Daw- sons were the most numerous of any family in this settlement, and there are few of those living in the place to-day who are not directly or indirectly connected with them. Benoni Dawson came to Pennsylvania from Montgomery County, Md., about 1780. He died May 16, 1806, aged sixty-four. Rebecca (Mack-
' Quar. Sess. Misc. Docket No. 1, p. 13.
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all) Dawson, his wife, died October 6, 1816, at seventy-five years of age. They are both, with scores of their descendants, buried in the old cemetery on the hill back of the village.1
In July, 1807, a traveler named F. Cuming came down the Ohio River in a boat, and in his journal, from which we have several times made extracts, he writes with such a human in- terest of his experiences and of what he saw along his route that we feel like giving to our readers the opportunity of seeing his account of that part of the trip which touched this region. It reads as follows:
A ferry two miles below Beaver [at what is now Vanport ?] is a handsome situation beyond which the banks are high on both sides, and the river does not exceed one hundred and fifty yards wide.
About half past seven, it began to rain with heavy thunder and sharp lightning. We huddled into the stern under the awning, and I sculled with one oar to keep the boat in the channel, in hopes of getting to Georgetown; but the storm increasing, we judged it more prudent to stop at nine o'clock, where we saw a light on the left bank. We were received very hospitably in their small log house by Mr. and Mrs. Potts.ª Our landlady gave us bread and milk, which, after changing our wet clothes, we supped on sumptuously. We then made some milk punch, which our landlord partook of with us with great goût, entertaining us with some good songs, and long stories about his travels. Time thus passed away, while the storm pelted without, and it was not until eleven o'clock that we stretched ourselves on the floor, with our feet to the fire, and enjoyed a good nap, resisting the kind importunities of the Potts to take their own bed, their other one being filled with their five children. And here I must remark that throughout this whole country, wherever you see a cabin, you see a swarm of children.
At six o'clock on Sunday morning, the 19th July, we left Potts, after having recompensed them for their hospitality. This was ten miles below Beaver, and two and a half above Georgetown. There are three small islands in that distance, called First, Second and Grape island.3
I landed at Georgetown on the left, which contains about thirty houses in a fine situation, on a narrow plain extending from the high river bank, to the hills which surround it like an amphitheater. Though it is a post town, and a considerable thoroughfare of travellers, it is nevertheless on the decline, there being only about twenty-five houses
1 It is probably to Benoni Dawson, the first of that name, that the following in Major Denny's journal refers: "Nov. 16th, 1789. The river continued to rise. With hard work we made Dawson's, opposite the mouth of Little Beaver, about eight o'clock at night." P. 135.
" There are yet people of the name of Potts living in this neighborhood, who are probably descendants of this hospitable family.
" These islands are called to-day, counting from the uppermost to the one lowest down the river, Montgomery, Phillisee, and Georgetown islands, respectively.
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inhabited. & shower coming on I took shelter in the house of a very communicative elderly man, whose wife was young and very handsome, though an half blood Indian.
Little Beaver creek, nearly opposite Georgetown, is a handsome little tiver, about thirty yards wide; half a mile below which, we saw the divi- son line between Pennsylvania and Virginia.1
Eleven years later another traveler down the Ohio refers as follows to Georgetown:
July. 1818 .- On Board the Commodore McDonough, of fifty tons, tosting down the smooth surface of the Ohio, we pass Beaver, and touch at Georgetown, consisting of about a dozen log houses, one-fourth of which are taverns, designated by a creaking sign in front, and probably a bar- rul of whisky, for the entertainment of travellers. The "calculations" of the landlord are entertaining, though sometimes tedious to his guest, who is more desirous of satisfying his own appetite than the other's curiosity, who calculates his guest is travelling,-calculates he is a merchant, or a mechanic, or seeking work,-calculates he is going to the territory, and calculates till all his powers of arithmetic are exhausted.'
In the autumn of 1803 the Moravian missionary. George Henry Loskiel, journeyed from Bethlehem, Pa., to Goshen, Ohio, and he wrote a metrical narrative of his journey, from which we make the following extracts referring to this region 3:
The road to Georgetown from Fort Pitt Is good enough; though we find it No little toil to climb its steeps As up and down its way it keeps.
And oft its hills are very high, And steep enough to make one sigh, For constantly to use the brakes A traveler's time and patience takes.
Eight miles was what we made to-day, Then hoped ourselves to rest to lay; But found a quilting frolic there, Whose racket filled the very air.
At dawn we left the noisy place, Thankful for our meed of grace; And spent from morn to night the day In toiling o'er our hilly way.
1 Sketches of a Tour to the Western Country, Cuming, p. 83.
" Remarks made during a Tour through the United States of America in the Years 1817-19, in a Series of Letters to Friends in England, by William Tell Harris, London, 1821.
" Extempore on a Wagon, by George Henry Loskiel, Episcopus Fratrum, translated with Notes by J. Max Hark, Lancaster, Pa. Samuel H. Zahm & Co., 1887.
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Before a smoke-filled house we sat And thankful our cold dinner ate; Around us stared a wondering crew Of children, who enjoyed it too.
Our quarters for the night we find At miller Donkin's, good and kind.
Our hostess claims acquaintance near With Goshen's pastor, Mortimer.
He writes to her, and she to him, And she professes high esteem For ministers, and tells us what In such is needed, and what not.
Next day we safe to Georgetown came, Where Beaver I is our dear host's name,
Who with his wife treats us so well That I can scarce in words it tell.
But not for our sakes alone, As if to honor us, 't was done; But for dear Heckewelder's sake, As Beaver soon it plain doth make.
Hence we in deep humility Accept the Christian charity,
As though by Heckewelder done, Who heart and soul of us is one.
We feel indeed here quite at home, As in and out we go and come;
We also the occasion take Some needed purchases to make.
I visit the Ohio oft,
Whose name is to the ear as soft
As it is charming to the eye, And beauteous, I can testify.
There with my Saviour oft I spake, Which I a daily practice make; For ah! His love's sweet graciousness No human tongue can e'er express.
CHURCHES
St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church .- As mentioned in our chapter on the religious history of the region, this is the
' This was probably John Beaver (sometimes Bever) of the Ohio Paper Company, who lived in Georgetown; see vol. i., p. 291. For note on Heckewelder, see vol. i., p. 422.
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oldest church of this faith in Beaver County, and one of the first west of the Alleghenies. It was organized about the year 1800, and admitted into union with the Convention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania in 1814. Its first pastor was the Rev. Francis Reno.1 August 11 and 12, 1828, Bishop Onderdonk visited Georgetown and confirmed nine persons; and on April 29th of the following year he confirmed twenty-nine. Among the early members of this congregation were Benoni Dawson, his wife Rebecca and his son Benoni, Michael Chrisler, John Chrisler, Thomas Foster, Adam Hayes, Jane McMillen, David McMillen, James Dawson and wife, Mrs. Jane Dawson, Major Hugh Mccullough and wife, John Hecker and wife, John Beaver (surveyor), and Mrs. Mary Dawson.
The parish has been served by the following clergymen: Revs. Francis Reno, J. P. Taylor, Francis H. Laird, Samuel West Selden, William Adderly, William Harrison, James Good- win, Henry Mckay, William Ballard, William A. Fuller, Samuel H. Hilliard, John London, John A. Farrar, T. Jefferson Danner, J. L. Taylor, and Edwin Weary.
The log building in which the first services of this church were held was replaced in 1833 by the present brick structure, which was erected at a cost of $3000. The present membership of this church is about forty.
1 Rev. Francis Reno's name is in the list of taxables in Sewickley township, Beaver County, for the year 1802, and in that of the borough of Beaver for the same year.
John and Susannah (Thorn) Reno, the parents of Francis Reno, prior to 1765 lived in eastern Virginia. In that year they emigrated from that colony and came to the Chartiers valley in what is now Washington County, Pa. Francis Reno was born in Virginia, February 7, 1758. He passed his boyhood with his parents in their new home, and received his education in Dr. John McMillan's famous "Log-cabin College " at Canonsburg, Pa. Oct. 8, 1792, he was ordained to the ministry in Christ Church, Philadelphia, by Bishop William White, and later was sent out under the care of the "Bishop White Prayer Book Society" to the new settlements in the West.
He was married June 15, 1784, to Lydia Savers. With his wife and six children and all their household goods he left Washington County and, with horse and ox-cart, journeyed through the forest, along the blazed way, till they reached the place at what is now Rochester, Pa., where they were to build their new home. The log house which he there erected stood on a spot near the spring on the hillside below the buildings of the Passa vant Memorial Hospital. He began to preach in the log cabins of the people, in barns and groves, and he served by regular appointment, during his active years, at Sewickley, George- town, Ohioville, and Rochester. Mr. Reno soon became the owner of a large tract of land and passed the greater part of his life in a dwelling-house on the upland on Deer Lane, now known as the "Stile's property." He died on the 12th day of August, 1836, at Rochester, Pa.
He raised a large family, of which John was the eldest. Charles Savers was the next son. He became a merchant in Pittsburg, afterwards lived in Rochester, and was a justice of the peace for many years. He was the father of Socrates A. Reno. Other children were Eliza, Lewis, Nancy, William, Thomas Thorn, Francis, Susannah, and Jesse.
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History of Beaver County
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- No reliable record of the beginnings of Methodism at this place has been preserved. Among the earliest preachers whose names we have are Wesley Smith, Israel Dallas, W. P. Blackburn, and Garrett Jones. To the first named of these is usually ascribed the credit of organiz- ing the church, the date being probably 1830. Preaching ser- vices are said to have been first held in the house of Thomas Poe, on the corner of Front and Market streets. The ministers serving this congregation from 1857 are as follows:
J. C. High, 1857-58; J. L. Stiffey, father of R. D. Stiffey, Esq., of Beaver, 1859-61; M. M. Eaton, 1862; A. E. Ward, 1863-65; M. S. Kendig, 1866-68; A. Huston, 1869-70; Joseph Gledhill, 1871-73; T. F. Pershing, 1874-75; J. N. Pershing, 1876; W. Darby, 1877; J. Dillon, 1878-79; J. E. Wright, 1880-81; J. L. Deems, 1882; A. J. Rich, 1883- 85; A. L. Kendall, 1886; A. S. Hunter, 1887; H. J. Giles, 1888-90; W. H. Kirkland, 1891-93; E. H. Greenlee, 1894-96; A. J. Cook, 1897; J. W. K. Hodge, 1898-99; H. M. Carnahan, 1900-01; H. A. Baum, 1902 -.
This congregation has had three houses of worship, the first being a frame building located on the property of Samuel Smith. The second was also a frame building now used as a dwelling, and the third and present structure, a frame building about 40 x 60 feet, was built in 1877 at a cost of $3000. This building was dedicated November 25, 1877. Among the early members of the congregation were E. Crail, Samuel Todd, John Thompson, Samuel McGrath, and Thomas Poe. The present membership is a little over a hundred.
From the earliest times Georgetown has been the home of steamboat-men, and among its residents still are captains, pilots, mates, clerks, engineers, firemen, and stewards; in fact, a steamer could be completely manned from the citizens of this place.
Harris's Business Directory for 1837 contains the following notice of Georgetown:
GEORGETOWN .- A small village, pleasantly situated on elevated ground, on the south bank of the Ohio river, 40 miles below Pittsburgh. Post Master-Zebulon Kinsey, Esq. Merchants-S. & M. Prudens. Justice of the Peace-Thomas Foster.
INCORPORATION
The village of Georgetown was incorporated into a borough by an Act of Assembly, April 15, 1850.1 November 30, 1855, 1 P. L., 458.
VOL. 11 .- 15.
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History of Beaver County
this borough became subject to the provisions of the Act of April 3, 1851.1
The first commissioners of election were Samuel Smith, James Todd, and Adam Poe.
The famous Indian fighters, Andrew and Adam Poe, were identified with the early history of this region, and have de- scendants yet living in the vicinity of Georgetown. Mrs. Nancy (Poe) Ebert, a direct descendant of Andrew Poe, is the oldest resident of the borough.
POST-OFFICE AND POPULATION
Thomas Foster, named above as acting in 1837 as a justice of the peace, was the first postmaster of Georgetown, his com- mission bearing date, April 1, 1802. His successors in the office have been John Christmas,2 appointed October 1, 1807; Thomas Foster, reappointed September 10, 1821; Zebulon Kinsey, June 2, 1835; Hugh Mccullough, Selah Prudens, Thomas Fry, Charles Calhoon, George W. Calhoon; Samuel C. Trimble, June 3, 1870; Henry J. Kinsey, April 4, 1881; Lydia P. Kinsey, March 5, 1883. November 30, 1900, this office was discontinued, rural free delivery having been extended to this point.
By the United States Census for 1900 the population of Georgetown was shown to be 271.
HOTELS
The first hotel in Georgetown was kept by Thomas Foster in the building now owned and occupied by the Trimble sisters.
1 Road Docket No. 3. No. 6, Sept. Sess., 1855.
" Rev. Joseph S. Christmas was born in Georgetown April 10, 1803. His father, John Christmas, named above, was a justice of the peace and a leading citizen of that place. Joseph was the eighth of thirteen children. From his earliest years he displayed an ex- traordinary versatility and ardor of mind and a restless spirit of inquiry. Before he was eight years of age he had a room to himself, where he practised drawing maps and painting, for which he had both a talent and a passion. In like manner he pursued poetry: he analyzed it, studed its history, principles, and relations and then practised it. His principal poem, The Artist, in two cantos, published when he was at the age of sixteen, is sufficient evidence of his rare powers.
Mr. Christmas was graduated from Washington College, in the class of 1819, with the first honors, and from Princeton Theological Seminary in the class of 1824. He was ordained by the Presbytery of New York and was immediately called to the pastorate of the American Presbyterian Church in Montreal, Canada, where he labored faithfully for four years, when his delicate health giving way under the severity of the climate, he was compelled to resign. He died March 14. 1830, in his 27th year. He was the author of a number of books. A memoir of his life was published by Dr. Lord. See Enc. of Religious Knowledge, etc., Fessenden & Co., Brattleboro, Vt., 1838.
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History of Beaver County
This hostelry is thought to have been in existence as early as 1802. At the May sessions, 1805, of the court of Beaver County, Thomas Foster was one of those commissioned to keep a tavern. William Carnagy was commissioned at the same sessions. Other early inn-keepers here were Nicholas Krehl and Philip Ducomb, commissioned at the August sessions of the court, 1804; James Preston, commissioned March, 1808; and Joseph Smith, August, 1809. At a later period John Cameron kept a hotel in George- town, known as the Red Lion, which was a favorite resort of the rivermen. Another early hotel was kept by David Pinker- ton, an Irishman who was noted for his great physical strength. It is a tradition that he once shouldered a barrel of whisky at the river bank and carried it up the hill to his hotel. He was succeeded in the business by Nath. Potts, an old river pilot. Nothing is left to mark the site of this once famous house, but it is known to have stood on the bluff above the steamboat landing, near where Captain Thomas Calhoon's residence is now. The next hotel in Georgetown of which we find mention was that of D. S. Hamilton. It was located in the lower end of the town, known as California. George D. Laughlin succeeded Hamilton, and maintained the place for a few years; and John D. Mackall held the last license in the borough in 1862-63. In 1866, as previously stated, a special Act of Assembly was passed forever prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors in Greene township.
GLASGOW BOROUGH
This little borough is situated in the extreme southwestern corner of Ohio township, just at the point where the Little Beaver empties into the Ohio River, and close to the Ohio State line. The borough limits to the eastward run up to the village of Smith's Ferry, and Georgetown, on the south side of the river, is diagonally opposite to it.
Glasgow was plotted by the surveyor, Sanford C. Hill, Octo- ber 22, 1836, on land of George Dawson, who owned here about four hundred acres. The lots, except those on the diamond, are 50 by 100 feet, the streets 60 feet, and the alleys 20 feet wide.
The first house erected after the town was laid out was Job Harvey's; then one was built by John Bunton for a store, and the third was that of John McFall.
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History of Beaver County
SCORPORELLES
The village of Glasgow was incorporated into a borough. October 12. 1354. in answer to a petition presented at the March sessions previous. confirmed by the grand jury. whose foreman was David White. The signers of the perfmim were as follows: John Caughey. C. Thompson. Josep& McCain, Sommel X. Steven- son, James Wilson. George Wesce. Jane Normy. John A. Hays, James P. McGrew. Zadok Smith, John F. Mener. J. Toms. Jesse McGrew. John McGrew. George Pucy. Nelson Seaith, John Ewing, Samuel Ewing. Thomas Kirkendall, Alfred McFall. John McFall, Zeddock Donner, W. Smith, John Estep. The decree of the court reads as follows:
The name and style of the said Borough shall be - The Borough of Glasgow" and its boundaries shall be as set forth and contained in the petition and accompanying draft. The annual diection shall be held at the house of Alfred McFall in said borough on the third Saturday of March in each year. commencing in 1855. between the hours of 2 & 6 o'clock P.M. The first election shall be held at the said house of Alfred McFall on the third Saturday of November. 1854. between the same hours, and the court appoint Jesse McGrew. judge. and John A. Hays and Uriah Smith inspectors of said election, and John Caughey. Esq .. to give notice of the same in the manner provided by law for giving notice of constables elections.
The Clerk will enter the foregoing as a further part of the decree and order of the Court. [Signed:] DANIEL AGNEW. P. J."
The laying out of Glasgow was prompted by the hopes of future importance to be given to this section by the construction of the Sandy and Beaver Canal, whose southern terminus was at Glasgow. That canal was built, but was abandoned owing to lack of water at the summit. Good shipping facilities and means of transit are, however, afforded to the town by the river and the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad.
Harris's Pittsburg Business Directory for 1837 mentions George Dawson and John Bunton as merchants at Glasgow in that year.
CHURCHES
There are in Glasgow two churches, the Presbyterian and the Methodist Episcopal.
1 Road Docket No. 2, p. 455.
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History of Beaver County
The Presbyterian Church of Glasgow .- In June, 1849, a petition was presented to the Presbytery of New Lisbon, asking for the organization of a church at this place. It is probable that the organization was effected the same year. Among the early members of this congregation were:
George Dawson and family, James Thompson and wife, Evan Frazier, David Reed, Matilda Reed, James Logan, Massy Logan, Nancy Marquis, Samuel Stevenson, Nancy Ann Stevenson, Maria C. Reed, James H. Reed, Daniel Cloud, Agnes Cloud, Mary Cloud, and Eliza Marquis.
The first elders, elected January 4, 1850, were George Daw- son, James Thompson, Daniel Cloud, and James Logan.
The church has been served by the following ministers: William Reed, 1849; William Gaston, 1861-66; R. T. McMahan; R. S. Morton; James Swan. The Assembly's Minutes shows the condition of the church from 1879 as follows: Pulpit vacant in 1880; stated supplies from 1881 to 1894; vacant, 1895-1902.
In 1849 a house of worship was erected on ground donated by George Dawson, a small and unpretentious building, costing about $800.
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- This church was organized in 1867 by Rev. G. A. Lomand, with twelve members, among whom were Dr. Grafton, Job Harvey, John McFall, and Alfred McFall. The appointment has been mainly connected with Georgetown, and served by the same pastors. As a charge it has been generally known as "Smith's Ferry." The list of pastors has been as follows:
G. A. Lomand, A. J. Reynolds, R. Hopkins, F. D. Fast, G. B. Wallis, D, M. Stafford, J. L. Stiffey, E. M. Wood, L. H. Eaton, G. W. Righter, A. L. Kendall, William Johnson, 1886; J. L. Stiffey, 1887; H. J. Giles, 1888-90; W. H. Kirkland, 1891-93; E. H. Greenlee, 1894-96; A. J. Cook, 1897; J. W. K. Hodge, 1898-99; J. C. Castle, 1900; H. A. Baum, 1901-03; G. E. Brennenan, 1904.
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