USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 26
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A. Robertson, J. K. Dean, Wm. Harrison, Hugh Woods, Charles H. Gould, Andrew Nelson, Robert Saddler, Sr., Horatio M. Large, John Gibbons, Jacob Bauer, Robert Moffatt, John Robertson, Wm. Conklin, William Platt, Sam. Kennedy, James C. Sims, John Baker, Ralph Delenz, Keron Mollay, James Patterson, Joseph Ross, Nathan Hillis, John K. Hoops, Thos. B. Wells, H. J. King, James M. Grier. Clark Hooker, Thos. Anderson, Daniel Loomis, Joseph Small, Wm. Clayton, Ira Ransom, Charles Alexander, Peter W. Mantle, Joseph Reeves, W. Alexander, John Montgomery, Elijah Moulton, Adam Keller, John Dilworth, Henry Sims, Jr., Robert Calhoon, John Boyles, Robert Partington.
April 13, 1841, the court appointed Francis Hoops, Elihu T. Pugh, and Charles Lukens, commissioners to inquire into the propriety of granting the prayer of the petitioners. On "the 27th day of May (5th Mo.)" the commissioners made a favor- able report, with a draft of a township annexed to be called
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Patterson township. The 15th of October, 1841, the court erected the township as described in the return of the commis- sioners by the name and style of Patterson township.1
At June Sessions, 1844, a petition was presented from sundry inhabitants of North Sewickley township asking for the division of that township into four new ones, corresponding to the four election districts into which the township had been divided by an Act of the Assembly .? At the same Sessions the court ap- pointed as viewers, Dr. Joseph Pollock, Joseph Irvin, and David Marquis, who, at the September Sessions following, reported favorably to the prayer of the petitioners being granted, and recommended the division of the said township into four town- ships in accordance with a draft which they annexed to their report. February 6, 1845, the court confirmed the "division and erection of Four Townships out of North Sewickley Town- ship, To wit:
"No. 1-Wayne Township. The Township Election to be held at Bird's in said Township.
"No. 2-Perry Township. The Township Election to be held at M. R. Clarke's in said Township.
"No. 3-Marion Township. The Township Election to be held at G. Hartzell's in said Township.
"No. 4-North Sewickley Township. The Township Election to be held at the house where the annual election is held in Miller's District." 3
At November Sessions, 1846, a petition was presented from certain inhabitants of Little Beaver township asking for the division of said township, "commencing at the line of Big Beaver township at or near the Rev'd George Scott's Church; thence to the house of Archibald Cunningham; thence to the house of Daniel McCarter; thence to the Ohio State line at or near the house of John Smart, having reference to the present arrangement of School Districts throughout the course," and praying the court to appoint suitable persons to run said line, dividing the township and "making the south end of the Town- ship a new Township by the name of Darlington Township."
The viewers appointed by the court at the same Sessions
1 Road Docket No. 1, No. 0, March Sess., 1841.
" See P. L., 1840, p. 342; 1846, p. 90. ' Road Docket No. 1, No. 8, June Sess., 1844.
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reported favorably, January 12, 1847, annexing a diagram of the division recommended. They were James Davidson, John Imbrie, Esq., and Wm. Harrison Power. October 15, 1847, a decree of the court was made confirming the division.'
March Sessions, 1848, a petition came from sundry inhabi- tants of Hanover township, asking for the division of that town- ship; and at September Sessions following a remonstrance was presented against said division. The case was continued, and at October Sessions, the same year, the court refused to grant the petition .?
At November Sessions, 1847, a petition from sundry in- habitants of Hopewell township was presented, asking for the division of said township. November, 1847, the court granted viewers, viz., Azariah Wynn, Robert Nevin, and Philip Cooper. March 21, 1848, the viewers reported, recommending the divi- sion as prayed for, and a remonstrance being presented against it, the court held it under advisement. October 19, 1848, the court approved and confirmed the division of Hopewell town- ship into two townships, according to the draft of the division made by the viewers. By the court the southwestern division was erected into a new township by the name of "Indepen- dence," and the other part of the township was erected into a township by the name of Hopewell.3
Franklin township was formed by an Act of the Legislature approved February 28, 1850. By Section I of that Act it was enacted:
That all that part of Marion Township, Beaver County, lying north of Conoquenessing creek, and that part of Perry township in said county, lying south of the Beaver and Lawrence County line, be, and the same are hereby, erected into an independent township, to be called Franklin; and the qualified voters of said township shall hereafter hold their gen- eral and township elections at the house of Mark R. Clark, in said town- ship, and that Thomas Wilson, Esq., shall act as judge, and Abner Morton and J. Grier shall act as inspectors at the next succeeding election after the passage of this Act.4
Harmony township was erected by an Act of the Legislature, approved April 3, 1851. Section 14 of that Act reads as follows:
' Road Docket No. 2, No. 11, Nov. Sess., 1846. ' Id., No. 14, Nov. Sess., 1847.
" Id., No. 28, March Sess., 1848. . P. L., 106.
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That all that part of Economy township, in the county of Beaver, lying within the following boundaries, viz .: Beginning at the mouth of Sewickley creek on the Ohio river, where the line crosses dividing the counties of Beaver and Allegheny; thence up said creek along with the line of Allegheny County, to the north-east corner of Depreciation tract, number eleven; thence northwardly along the range line of Depreciation tracts to the south-eastern corner of tract number twenty-two; thence westwardly by the line dividing tracts number twenty-one and twenty- two, to the Ohio river; thence up the said river to the place of beginning, including the village of Economy, be, and the same is hereby, erected into a separate township, to be called Harmony township, and shall con- stitute a separate election and school district, etc.I
At the March Sessions, 1853, a petition was presented from divers inhabitants of the townships of Brighton and Ohio, set- ting forth their situation and needs as residents of Industry Dis- trict, as follows:
That the inhabitants of Industry District, laboring under great inconvenience for want of a township-they therefore pray your Honors to grant them a township to include the same bounds that is in the Dis- trict, and also to include in said Industry township those who live on the line that divides Industry from Brighton townships.
March 18, 1853, the court appointed viewers, viz., Azariah Wynne, David Minis, and Richard Porter. September 17, 1853 the viewers made an adverse report, adding "that had they not been confined to said election district bounds, but had had liberty to make their own bounds, they should have reported favorably to the erection of a township out of parts of the above named townships." December 28, 1853, their report was con- firmed by the court, and the matter was dropped for a consider- able time .?
But at the June Sessions, 1855, another petition was pre- sented from citizens of the same townships as those named above, asking for a "township to include nearly the same bound- aries that is in the District of Industry, to commence at the southeast line of Industry District, including lands of Thomas and James Russell; thence by Henry Noss, Sarah Daniels, Daniel Knight, Joseph Ewing, Alexander Ewing, widow Reed, James Duncan, John Mason, James Potter, Jr., thence along the east line of land of Jesse Smith to the Ohio River, thence up said river to the place of beginning." The court appointed as 1 P. L., 311. Road Docket No. 2, No. 5, March Sess., 1853.
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viewers James Davis, John Scott, Esq., and William Porter, Esq., who at September Sessions following reported recom- mending the laying out of the township asked for. And, Febru- ary 7, 1856, the court issued a decree confirming the erection of Industry township.1
At November Sessions, 1853, a petition of sundry inhabitants of New Sewickley township was presented, asking for the erec- tion of a new township out of said township, and the court at the same term appointed Francis Hoops, Solomon Bennett, and David Warnock to view the premises and report. March 18, 1854, the viewers reported, recommending the laying out of the new township under the name of Pulaski. This report was con- firmed by the court, September 14, 1854; and the court ap- pointed "the officers already elected in the said township of Pulaski to hold the next general spring elections." 2
At the November Sessions, 1856, a petition from sundry inhabitants of Economy and New Sewickley townships was pre- sented asking for the erection of a new township from the ter- ritory of the said townships, to be known by the name of Baden. Francis Reno, John H. Whisler, and Hugh Jackson were ap- pointed viewers. They reported recommending the granting of the petition, but at a special election held in the townships affected, October 13, 1857, the division was defeated by a major- ity of 133 votes.3
White township was erected in response to a petition from ninety-one inhabitants of Chippewa township, presented at the June term, 1887. The court granted viewers, Harry T. Barker, David E. Lowry, and John H. Wilson, but the latter being unable to serve, Levi Fish was appointed August 17th, to take his place. September 5th the viewers reported favorably, and by order of the court the question was submitted to the electors of Chippewa township at the general election held November 8, 1887, when 134 votes were cast "for," and 9 votes "against," the division. On the 8th of December, 1887, the election re- turns being laid before the court, it was "ordered and decreed that the said township be erected agreeably to the lines marked
1 Road Docket No. 2, No. 5, June Sess., 1855.
' Id., No. 3, No. 2, Nov. Sess., 1856. " Id., No. 8, Nov. Sess., 1853.
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out and returned by the commissioners," and it was "further ordered and decreed that the name of the new township erected from that portion of the old township east of the division line returned by said commissioners shall be called White." : This name was suggested to the court at the time the decree was drawn by John M. Buchanan, Esq., and Edward B. Daugherty, Esq., and was given in honor of Robert White who long lived near Morado Park.
March Sessions, 1890, a petition, signed by 118 inhabitants of Hopewell township, asked for the division of said township, creating a new township consisting of a narrow strip along the Ohio River, to be called "Logstown." Viewers appointed by the court, viz., Joseph C. Wilson, Andrew Carothers, and James Harper, recommended the granting of the prayer. November 5, 1890, a return of an election, held November 4, 1890, in Hope- well township, in the matter of the division of the township, was filed, showing the following result: For Division, 110 votes; Against Division, 145.ยช
September Sessions, 1890, a petition was presented, praying for a division of New Sewickley township by a line running east and west through the southern extremity of "Big Knob," the northern part to retain the name of New Sewickley. The usual proceedings were had, and at an election, held May 21, 1891, by an order of the court, the following result appeared: Feazel District (New Sewickley township), For Division, 65 votes; Against Division, 67 votes. Freedom District (New Sewickley township), For Division, no votes; Against Division, 105 votes.3
An effort to secure the division of Pulaski township was made in 1890, but it failed of success.4 At December Sessions, 1892, another petition for the same object was presented, and the question of division being submitted to the people at an election held June 27, 1893, a majority of four votes was given in favor of the division as desired. Thereupon, by a decree of the court, made January 27, 1894, the division of Pulaski town- ship was confirmed, and it was ordered and decreed "that the name of the township thereby formed lying west of the line as
1 Road Docket No. 5. No. r. June Sess., 1887.
" Id., No. 1. Sept. Sess., 18go.
. Id., No. 6, March Sess. 1800.
Id., No. 2, Dec. Sem., 18gr.
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described by the viewers, retain the name of Pulaski, and the larger part of said original township lying east and north of said line be called Daugherty." This name was given to the new township in honor of Edward Black Daugherty, Esq., of the Beaver County bar, who was born and reared within its boundaries.1
In 1849, when Lawrence County was erected, a strip ten miles in width was stricken off from Beaver County, which, with the territory contributed by Mercer County, formed the new county. In this ten mile strip were Little Beaver, Big Beaver, North Beaver, Wayne, Perry, North Sewickley, Shenango, and Slippery Rock townships, several of which were divided, leaving a township of the same name in each county. The original corner-stone between Beaver and Mercer counties, on the Ohio State line, is still standing.
The history of the townships in the several divisions of the county follows in the succeeding chapters.
1 Road Docket No. 5, No. 4, Dec. Sess., 1892.
CHAPTER XXVI
TOWNSHIPS SOUTH OF THE OHIO RIVER
Hanover Township: Frankfort Springs Borough-Harshaville-Han- over United Presbyterian Church-King's Creek United Presbyterian Church-Mt. Olivet Presbyterian Church-Greene Township: Georgetown and Hookstown Boroughs-Shippingport-Mill Creek Presbyterian Church-Tomlinson's Run United Presbyterian Church -Moon Township: Monaca Borough-Colonia-North Branch Presbyterian Church-Hopewell Township: Mt. Carmel Presby- terian Church-Raccoon United Presbyterian Church-Aliquippa Borough-Shannopin-New Scottsville-New Sheffield-Woodlawn -Raccoon Township: Service United Presbyterian Church-Eu- dolpha Hall-Bethlehem Presbyterian Church-Mt. Pleasant United Presbyterian Church-Independence Township: Independence-New Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church.
THE townships on the southern side of the Ohio River in Beaver County are: Hanover, Independence, and Hopewell, adjoining the Washington and Allegheny county lines; and Greene, Raccoon, and Moon, along the river.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP
This township, which is one of the original townships of Beaver County, occupies the southwest corner of the county. Its boundaries are Greene and Raccoon townships on the north, Washington County on the south, West Virginia on the west, and Independence township on the east. Big and Little Travis creeks are mostly within its limits, and King's Creek heads in it; Raccoon Creek cuts across its southeastern corner, and Tomlin- son's Run across its northwestern corner, and a branch of the latter rises in the township.
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The report of the Secretary of Internal Affairs of the State for 1900 shows in this township 446 taxables; 21,284 acres of cleared land; 5330 acres of timber land; value of all real estate, $718,096; value of real estate exempt from taxation, $16,900; value of real estate taxable, $701,196. The population of Han- over township, as shown by the United States Census of 1880, was 1351; by that of 1890, 1213; and by that of 1900, 1031. A considerable loss of population is here observable. Other south-side townships show a like falling off. Since the decline of the sheep-raising industry in that section of the county the character of the farming has been altered, and removals on this account have been frequent. There is also to be considered the increasing attractiveness and drawing power of the great com- mercial and manufacturing centers. These influences have for several decades past made themselves felt not only on the south side, but in other parts of the county, and, indeed, throughout the country, leading to a gravitation of population to towns and cities.
No township in Beaver County is richer in historical incident than Hanover. In Appendix V., this volume, will be found a list of its taxables for 1802, and we give in Chapter IV. some interesting details concerning its pioneer inhabitants. We have stated the history of the formation of the township and the changes which have been made in its limits in Chapter XXV.
Frankfort Springs borough was formed from the territory of this township. Its history will be found in the chapter on the smaller boroughs of the county (see Chapter XXIV.).
HARSHAVILLE
This place, a small hamlet, is situated toward the north- eastern corner of Hanover township. It was named Harshaville in honor of Robert Harsha, who, in 1859, secured the estab- lishment of its post-office. Previous to that date it was called Hanover, after the United Presbyterian Church of that name, whose modest house of worship was the first building erected on the site of the village. It is thought that the first dwelling- house in the place was one built about 1836 by Robert Bell. Some of the most substantial and well-known families of the county trace their origin to the early settlers of this place and
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its vicinity, among whom were the Robert Bell, just mentioned, Robert Johnston, Isaac Parkinson, William Peters, and John Harsha. The latter has already been spoken of in connection with the political and educational history of the county, having been one of its worthiest early teachers, a justice of the peace, and a representative in the Assembly of the State for the years 1836-38. He was also one of the school inspectors for Beaver County from Hanover township, appointed by the court in 1834, when the new free common-school system was being organized. Other early settlers in this vicinity were James Harper, father of James Harper of Beaver, ex-county surveyor; John Smith; John Leeper; James Bigger, grandfather of Ellis N. Bigger, Esq., lately deceased; James Neilson (Nelson as now spelled), father of David A. Nelson, Esq., of Beaver; Adam, John, and Alexan- der Gibb; John, James, and David Little (Littell); Thomas, James, and Charles Anderson; Thomas and Alexander Adams, and James Miller, father of the distinguished Presbyterian min- ister, writer and Sabbath-school editor, Rev. James Russell Miller, D.D., of Philadelphia and of Rev. R. J. Miller, D.D., editor of The United Presbyterian of Pittsburg, Pa.
The post-office at this place has been served by the follow- ing persons:
Robert Harsha, Jan. 19, 1859; David Short, May 16, 1864; John G. Adams, Aug. 15, 1865; Benjamin F. Reed, April 24, 1867; James R. Wilson, July 6, 1869; Martin L. Armstrong, Aug. 28, 1872; John P. Robertson, April 13, 1892.
This office was discontinued, April 4, 1901, on account of the establishment of rural free delivery.
Hanover United Presbyterian Church .- The date of the or- ganization of this church is uncertain, but it was probably some time before 1825. It is supposed that Rev. John Graham, D.D., was instrumental in securing its organization. He was pastor of Cross Roads Church in Washington County from 1820 to 1829, and visited the field here, giving encouragement to the people to proceed with their enterprise. The first elders of the congregation were John Smith, William Sterling, John McCor- mick, and Thomas McGuire. In later years the eldership of this church has included such men as John Harsha, Thomas Harsha, William Harsha, William Ralston, Samuel Plunket, Robert
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Gorsuch, Alexander McCoy, James Torrance, William Swearin- gen, John A. Gibb, Robert Harsha, John Purvis, William Miller, and Joseph Mahaffey. Two church-buildings have been erected ; the frame, spoken of above, built in 1827; and the present one, built in 1844.
No record of pastors is obtainable until 1837, from which time to date the following ministers have served the church:
James Prestly, D.D., May, 1837-Sept. 8, 1840; John Junkin Bu- chanan, Nov., 1842-March 26, 1844; Thomas Calahan, June 20, 1849- April 11, 1854; William L. McConnell, 1857-1858; William M. Richie, Sept. 1862-June 20, 1865; James L. Purdy, 1867-April, 1881; M. S. Telford, 1882-1888; F. B. Stewart, 1889-1892.
Since 1892 the church has had stated supplies. The present membership is seventy-four.
Kendall post-office, named after Amos Kendall, Postmaster- General under Andrew Jackson, is located in the northwestern section of this township, on the Georgetown and Washington State Road. Its postmasters have been the following: Robert Patton, 1837; Martha Patton, May 5, 1851; Robert M. Patton, January 22, 1886; John A. Swearingen, May 13, 1893; James W. Schooler, February 2, 1895; Mary M. McCoy, December 7, 1898; discontinued November 21, 1900.
Cometsburg post-office, in the southwestern corner of the township, with Mrs. Eleanor Ramsey as postmistress from Janu- ary 21, 1869, was also discontinued, November 21, 1900.
Poe post-office, named after Andrew Poe, the Indian-fighter, was discontinued, August 27, 1892. It had been in charge of the following persons: Henry Moore, 1855; William Z. Davis, April 9, 1880; Thomas W. Swearingen, April 4, 1881; Henry Moore, March 6, 1882; David Reed, April 3, 1882; Henry Moore, April 18, 1883; Hettie E. Reed, May 19, 1892.
The rapid development of rural free delivery accounts for the discontinuance of so many of these small offices.
King's Creek United Presbyterian Church is in Hanover township, a few miles north of Cometsburg post-office. This church was organized, May 27, 1854, by a commission appointed by the Associate Reformed Presbytery of Steubenville, in answer to a request of the people uniting in its formation. The com- mission consisted of Rev. William Lorimore of Richmond, Ohio,
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moderator; and elders David Anderson of the same place, David White of Knoxville, Ohio; and John Crawford of Paris, Pa
The following persons were admitted to the new organiza- tion on confession of their faith:
William M. Breaden, John Breaden, Robert Breaden, Agnes Arnold, William Andrews, Mary Jane Andrews, Rebecca Cameron, and Robert Ralston. On certificate the following: Peggy Anne Moore, Adam Reed, Susan Reed, Jane Reed, John McCauly, Walter Breaden, Jane Breaden, Mitchel Ramsey, Anna Ramsey, John Tenan, Anna Tenan, Robert Ramsey, Margaret Ramsey, David Ramsey, Jane Ramsey, Eleanor Ramsey, Robert Ramsey, David Carson, Elizabeth Carson, Alexander Morehead, Agnes Morehead, Eleanor Jane Tenan, Samuel Martin, Jane Martin, Robert Martin, Maria Martin, Samuel Martin, Eleanor Jane Martin, John Arnold, Mary Arnold, William Ralston, Martha Ralston, Milton Ralston, Mary Jane Ralston-in all 42 members.
It is thought that there are to-day only two of these original members living within the bounds of the congregation.
Six ruling elders were elected, viz .: Samuel Martin, William Ralston, John Arnold, Mitchel Ramsey, Walter Breaden, and Robert Ramsey. These are now all dead. In February, 1864, three elders were elected: William Gilliland (now deceased), Thomas Ramsey, and W. M. Ramsey; in 1879, C. G. Arnold (deceased January 13, 1898); August 11, 1900, John F. Deemer.
The pastors of this church have been as follows: J. L. Purdy, 1860-80; Joseph McKelvey, 1884-89; W. J. Mcclintock, June, 1891-November, 1891; S. M. Krohn, 1892-died July 18, 1898; W. J. Hawk, July 12, 1900-November 23, 1902.
The congregation has had two church-buildings: the first, built in 1853, and costing about $2000, was burned in 1866; and the present building was erected in 1867 at a cost of about $2500. The church was organized in the former building.
Mount Olivet Presbyterian Church is in the extreme north- eastern corner of this township, close to the line of Independence township. This church was organized, January 1, 1876, at Gorsuch's schoolhouse, by a committee of the Presbytery of Washington, consisting of the Revs. J. T. Fredericks, Samuel Forbes, and Stephen A. Hunter. The church started with a membership of fifty-three. In the same year a substantial frame church-building was erected at a cost of $2500. December 13, 1876, a charter was obtained, the names of the incorporators
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being T. A. Torrance, William McCally, Cyrus McConnell, James Russell, Thomas Butler, James H. McCoy, William Figley, James McCoy, and James Miller. The Minutes of the Gen- eral Assembly give the following report of ministers serving this congregation: Stated supplies, 1876-77; 1878-84, W. H. Hunter; 1885-87, vacant; 1888-90, James B. Lyle; 1891, vacant; 1892-93, Albert M. West; 1894, vacant; 1895-96, Charles P. May; 1897-01, Wilson Asdale.
GREENE TOWNSHIP
This township is situated on the south side of the county, being bounded on the north by the Ohio River, on the south by Hanover township, on the east by Raccoon township, and on the west by the "Panhandle" of West Virginia. Previous to 1812 its territory was part of that of Hanover and Second Moon townships, from which it was formed in that year as one of the four new townships of the south side then erected.
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