USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 32
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Rev. E. F. Winter's pastorate lasted from January, 1836, till January, 1880, when old age compelled him to resign. After him were in office: Rev. F. L. Dietrich, from November, 1880, till December, 1885; Rev. Th. Kurz, from March, 1886, till Sep- tember, 1886; Rev. M. F. Dumstrey, from April, 1887, till October, 1891.
Under Rev. Dumstrey's pastorate the congregation built, in 1887, a convenient parsonage, upon a piece of land bought from Mr. Phil. Steinbach, at a total expense of $2435.89, and valuable improvements were made in the interior of the church. Unfor- tunately this parsonage burned completely down in the fall of 1888, but with the help of $1400 insurance money and the energy of the members, a new parsonage was erected in the spring of 1889. On November 30, 1891, Rev. C. Borchers entered the pastorate, which he is still holding. Since his services the Sunday-school bought a valuable library in 1896, and a large church bell in June, 1900. July 27, 1896, a severe storm blew off a part of the church roof and caused considerable damage to the interior, which necessitated a general renovation at an expense of over $800; and, August 30, 1901, the barn near the parsonage was struck by lightning and burned down; but the energy of the members was not broken, everything was reconstructed in a short time, and the property of the congregation, including a beautiful cemetery, stands now as a memorial of God's blessing and the energy of a German community.
Following the demands of the time the services of the con- gregation and the instructions in the Sunday-school are now conducted in German and English.
The congregation has at present as paying members 158 heads of families and 28 single persons; while the Sunday-school numbers over 200 scholars and 26 officers and teachers.
Knob post-office, in this township, was discontinued, Janu- ary 30, 1872, and re-established, April, 9 1872. Its postmasters have been as follows:
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John McCormack, October 16. 1871; Robert Snead, April 9, 1872; James A. Campbell, April 2, 1873; Andrew Mccullough, September 1, 1879; Mary J. Powell, November 5, 1880; James B. Peirsol, February 12, 1883; Henry G. Altstadt, July 11, 1892.
Lovi post-office was established June 24, 1881. The post- masters, with the dates of their appointment, have been as fol- lows:
John Robinson, June 24, 1881; Maggie Cochran, October 18, 1890; Annie J. Robinson, April 9, 1891; Charles Schweins- berg, April 23, 1892; Lewis J. Freshcorn, May 10, 1894; Justin E. Boggs, May 3, 1895; Simon Otto, February 20, 1896; Daniel St. Clair, February 25, 1899; George H. Kirchner, October 10, 1902.
Park Quarries post-office was established in 1890. Follow- ing are the postmasters: John H. Park, September 24, 1890; Thomas E. McCumpsey, October 31, 1900; William H. Park, May 23, 1902.
Sunflower post-office, established July 28, 1900, has still its first postmaster, Charles A. Schlimmer.
NORTH SEWICKLEY TOWNSHIP
This township lies in the northern part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Lawrence County, on the east by Franklin and Marion townships, on the south by New Sewick- ley and Daugherty, and on the west by the Big Beaver River, with Chippewa and Big Beaver townships opposite. The Cono- quenessing Creek flows along its northeastern border. A small branch of Brush Creek heads in the southeastern corner, and the main stream enters the township from the east near the point at which the Conoquenessing touches its territory and empties into the latter about one mile below. Bennett's Run, a small stream, rises in the southern part of the township and enters the Big Beaver from the east.
While the streams heading within the township are all small, the Beaver and Conoquenessing valleys make a deep drainage all around it, and the surface of the country is very much broken and hilly. The scenery on the streams of this region is very wild and picturesque. A good quality of coal is found in several parts of the township, with excellent limestone and sandstone, and the soil is in many portions very rich.
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This township was formed out of the territory of the original Sewickley township, which covered the greater portion of the county lying east of the Big Beaver Creek.1 In 1801 New Se- wickley township was formed out of Sewickley by the court of Allegheny County, and North Sewickley was probably the part remaining.
In this township is the collection of houses, hardly large or compact enough to be called a village, but known as North Sewickley. The post-office, about a mile and a half to the north, was established in 1837. May 27, 1845, the name of the office was changed to Wurtemberg, but the old name was re- stored in 1849. The list of postmasters from the first and the dates of their appointments, are as follows:
Absalom S. Severns, Sr., Dec. 13, 1837; Absalom Severns, July 19, 1839; Nathaniel Hazen, May 10, 1842; Jonathan L. Leet, Nov. 8, 1849; James W. Taylor, March 19, 1851; Melvin Nye, April 2, 1856; James Patton, Jan. 26, 1860; James M. Runyon, Feb. 1, 1866; Milton A. Clow, March 7, 1867; Archibald M. Mecklem, May 12, 1869; Millard F. Mecklem, April 9, 1874; Robert C. Criswell, Jan. 7, 1875; Nathan Hazen, June 14, 1875; Edward W. Liebendorfer, Dec. 21, 1882; Marcus E. Caven, Jan. 10, 1888; J. Ellis Ewing, July 23, 1897; Moses C. Swick, March 30, 1898.
Providence Baptist Church .- This church is located at North Sewickley, and is the oldest one of this denomination in Beaver County. Previous to 1801, Ezekiel Jones and Hannah, his wife, came from New Jersey to this region and settled on the banks of the Conoquenessing, about four miles above its confluence with the Big Beaver. Their rude log cabin stood, according to tradition, where an old apple tree now stands at the south end of the present covered bridge, a few feet to the right. Here came to them in 1801 Elder Henry Spear, an itinerant Baptist preacher, who delivered in their house the first sermon ever preached in this part of the State by one of his faith, and here, on November 14, 1801, was constituted by him the first Baptist church ever organized in western Pennsylvania. The church had twenty-one members, and from these Ezekiel Jones was chosen deacon or lay elder. In his house the church con- tinued to meet for some time when it was decided to build a
' At the last auction sale of Depreciation lands in 1787, 6238 acres of the good land lying in what became Sewickley township, Beaver County, brought the paltry sum of $829.10 or about 35 cents per acre. Within the limits of the original Sewickley township lay the tract of 8560 acres belonging to Benjamin Chew, of Philadelphia, and generally known as the "Chew Tract."
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History of Beaver County
house of worship, and a log church was erected on a hill about three quarters of a mile farther south. This stood until 1848, when a frame church was built near by, and the old building, by resolution, was torn down and the logs given to the pastor, Jacob Morris, who built out of them a barn, which is still stand- ing on the farm now owned by Godfrey Yahn. The new build- ing stood until 1856, when it was destroyed by a storm. The next year it was replaced by the present frame structure, which was, however, remodeled in 1898.
This church has been served by twenty-four pastors. The first, Henry Spear, remained but one year. Henry Frazure was elected in 1802 and remained until 1812. Then followed Thomas Rigdon, 1813-14; Andrew Clark, 1814-20; Henry Frazure, 1820-24. The records at this point are no longer clear. They show Samuel McMillen's name as of one laboring in the field from 1824 to 1831, and that of John Winter from 1827 to 1828.
This would indicate two pastors, or else a pastor and an assis- tant. Both ministers were delegates from the church to the Association in 1827. In July, 1832, William Stone became pas- tor and remained until 1834. Thomas Daniels served from 1836 to 1844, and was succeeded by Daniel Daniels, 1844-46; Jacob Morris, 1846-55; John Trevitt, supply, six months; John Parker, 1856-59; A. G. Kirk, 1859-62; John Trevitt, 1862-66; D. W. C. Hervey, 1866-72; W. B. Skinner, 1872-75; R. B. Godfrey, April-October, 1875; C. H. Hervey, 1876-79; J. W. Snyder, 1879-82; H. H. Leamy, 1883-86; L. S. Colborn, 1887- 91; H. C. Bond, 1892-95; W. H. Mckinney, 1895-97; W. A. Grover, 1897-99; J. H. Lowe, 1899 -.
The records do not show the amount of salary the early ministers received, but we may be sure that salaries were small and partly paid in farm produce at that.
In 1833 Mr. Dodd presented a petition asking the church to organize a branch on the "big bever." This was granted, and a log structure was begun at Bellton on the Beaver Creek, but it was never finished.
The following were elders in this church in early days: Ezekiel Jones, Henry Kikendall, Oliver Jones, Isaac, Nathaniel, and John Hazen, John Robinson, Nathan Hazen, Benjamin Reno, William Gardner, Matthew Kelley, Daniel Main, Samuel Thomas, James B. Hazen, Joseph Hazen, and John Thomas.
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October 23-24, 1901, the hundredth anniversary of the organiza- tion of this church was appropriately celebrated.1
NORTH SEWICKLEY ACADEMY
The date of the commencement of this academy is uncer- tain, but was probably about 1845 or 1846. Previous to its establishment a select school had been taught in the old Provi- dence Baptist Church by a Mr. Herrington, Joseph S. Smith, Ethan Stewart, Oliver Smith, and others.
The academy was started through the influence of Rev. James S. Henderson, who was ordained and installed pastor of Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church, October 22, 1845, and who was at the same time pastor at North Sewickley. The academy building was erected in 1850, but for several years previous the school had been held in a hewed log cabin. Mr. Henderson in this work was carrying out the suggestion of the General Assem- bly, which about that time was urging upon its ministers the need of founding schools and academies in order to raise up a supply of educated men for the gospel ministry. This academy was established under the control of the trustees of the Presby- terian Church of North Sewickley. It was not intended to be merely a school for teacher training, but to prepare boys and girls for college. The site for the location of church and school
1 The Record Book of this ancient church contains an almost unbroken record of its proceedings from its organization to the present. We give a few extracts in the original form and spelling:
RECORD BOOK OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST CALLED PROVIDENCE ON CANNOQUONISSING BEVER COUNTY PENNSYLVANYA ANO DOMINA 1801.
November ye 14, 1801.
Being collected together at the house of Brother Ezekiel Jones for the same purpose we was regularly constituted into a body by our beloved Brother Elder Spear Twentyone In number.
Aprile ye 24, 1802.
Church met according to appointment and after prayer and singing procede to business. Ist. Chose Bro. Spear moderator.
and. Received Brother George Riddle and his wife by Letter from Union Church, Glade run buffelow township. March ye 27th, 1802. Church met, etc.
Ist. Chose Brother Henry Spear Moderator.
and. A door was opened for hearing Experiences and Receiving Letters. None offer. 4th. Chose Brethern Ezekiel Jones and Henry Kikendall Lay Elders. Here the fourth was set in the place of the third by mistake.
3d. A door was opened for members to sign the Covinent and signed to the amount of fourteen.
March ye 27th, 1802. Church met etc.
Ist. Took into consideration the Second article of the Rules Regulations of the Church, That Every Member's none Complyance Therewith must give satisfactory Reasons.
and. Agreed that The last Sabbath in aprile Shall if God willing be Communication Season with us.
3d. A Collection to purchase the Eliments 5s. 74p.
The Church dismiss by Reading a Portion of god's word, Singing and Prayer.
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History of Beaver County
was donated by S. C. Clow, and is one of rare beauty overlook- ing the Conoquenessing and Brush Creek valleys. The school in its palmiest days was a young ladies' seminary, as well as an academy for boys. Some of the latter were city lads around whom this rural retreat threw a quiet and safe-guarding influ- ence supposed to be eminently conducive to diligent study. The principal's home, erected by Mr. Henderson, afforded accommo- dation for young ladies. Miss Kiddoo was his assistant teacher.
He was succeeded by Rev. Henry Webber, who served as pastor of the church and principal of the school for many years, and whose remains, with those of his wife, rest in the adjoining cemetery. His chief assistant at this time was a Mr. Osgood. Miss Kate McBeth, who afterwards succeeded her sister, Miss Sue McBeth, as instructor of the Nez Perces Indians at Lapwai, Idaho, was later his assistant teacher.
The academy buildings were used for a time as a Soldiers' Orphan School, under the supervision of Mr. Webber, who built an addition of about forty feet to his house for the accommoda- tion of the pupils, who at one time numbered about 300. Many of the children could not be housed with him, and were boarded about in the families of the neighborhood. Later, Mr. James Jackson was in charge of the school, and employed as assistants Mr. Robert Brown and Miss Kate McBeth. Afterwards the school passed under the care of Rev. Elias Alexander, with Rev. James Mann, Miss McBeth, and Miss Smith as his assistants. It was soon disbanded, and the children were transferred to the care of Rev. W. G. Taylor, D.D., of the Soldiers' Orphan School at Phillipsburg, now Monaca, Pa.
It is impossible to give a full account of those who conducted the academy after this period, but the list of principals and teachers would include Rev. Robert C. Criswell, Rev. W. H. Mc- Kinney, Mr. - Cheney, Rev. L. S. Colborn, Rev. R. C. Yates, Mr. - Harrup, Mr. - Houston, and Mr. James Bennett. Rev. George Sherman Rice, pastor at Slippery Rock, was active in sustaining the school. Rev. James E. Hutchinson of Irwin, Pa., and Rev. William McKee of Niles, Ohio, were its latest principals. The building is in good condition, having been re- fitted for use at considerable expense at a comparatively recent date, but of late no school has been conducted in it, the demand being supplied by other schools in the vicinity.
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North Sewickley Presbyterian Church .- Sundry citizens of North Sewickley township having petitioned the Presbytery of Beaver to organize a congregation in their vicinity, the follow- ing committee was appointed by the presbytery. Wells Bush- well and J. S. Henderson, ministers; and William Morton, elder. The organization was effected by the abovenamed committee on the 6th day of August, 1846, when thirty-six persons pre- sented certificates and were received as members of the new organization. Their names follow: James B. Clow, Eliza J. Clow, Samuel C. Clow, Sophia H. Clow, Maria V. Clow, Ann Clark, Mary Clark, Nathan S. Clark, Isabella Clark, Mark Clark, Malvina Clark, Adam Kirk, Sr., Euphene Kirk, Hannah Kirk, Louisa Kirk, Mary McGregor, Donald McGregor, Duncan Mc- Gregor, Wm. McGregor, Robert McGregor, Elizabeth Bennett, Margaret Bennett, Alice Ann Kelly, James Bond, Mary E. Bond, Eliza Bond, Agnes Bond, William Motherall, Mrs. Motherall, Robert Caldwell, Rebecca Caldwell, Hannah Caldwell, James Jackson, Esther Jackson, Robert Jackson, Eliza Jackson.
They then proceeded to elect two elders and two deacons: Robert Jackson and Mark Clark were elected and installed elders; and S. C. Clow, and James Jackson the same as deacons.
Rev. James S. Henderson became the first pastor and served the church until he was released in 1855. Rev. Henry Webber, D.D., was installed pastor, 1856, and released in 1867. Rev. John H. Aughey was installed 1870, and released 1871. The church was without a pastor until 1882, when Rev. R. C. Yates was appointed stated supply. In 1889 Mr. Yates resigned, and Rev. M. A. Parkinson took charge in 1890, and remained with the church about three years. In 1895 Rev. Paul D. Gardner was ordained and installed pastor. After serving the church for about two and a half years he was released.
Rev. D. V. Mays became pastor in 1898 and was released in 1899, since which time the church has been without a settled pastor.
The names of those who have been elected and installed as ruling elders of this church, with the dates of their election, are as follows: Robert Jackson, Mark Clark, 1846; Greer Mc- Williams, 1849; J. H. Cunningham, William Gibson, Robert Marshall, G. W. Taylor, 1853; Thomas J. Irwin, James Marshall, 1857; Adam Rouser, John Baxter, Dr. John Withrow, 1870;
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History of Beaver County
J. Thompson Jackson, William Caldwell, Eli J. Evans, 1882; John H. Lowry, J. A. Jackson, John W. Holland, 1894; R. L. Walker, John Collins, 1899.
The present session is Robert Baird, A. G. Glenn, Robert Walker, and J. Thompson Jackson, and the membership is fifty.
There is no record of the cost of the church-building, nor of the date of its erection. According to the testimony of one of the original members, it was built in 1845.
Concord Methodist Episcopal Church .- This is one of the oldest churches of the Methodist type in the county, having been established about the year 1834. The first services were held in the house of Thomas B. Elliott; and among the early mem- bers of the society were Mr. Elliott, Nancy Elliott, Edmund Boat and wife, and the brothers John and Samuel Boat, with their wives. This church was early connected with the Union- ville circuit, and is so now. The last pastor was the Rev. A. S. Hunter and Rev. Alexander Steele is now (1904) supplying the pulpit. Among the first preachers for the society were Rev. Richard Armstrong and Rev. Joshua Monroe.
The congregation erected a church-building in 1851, under the leadership of a local minister from New Brighton, named Joseph Alexander. This was a frame structure, which ultimately became too small for the needs of the people, and was replaced in 1887 by the present one during the pastorate of Rev. J. L. Stiffey. The building was dedicated, free of debt, October 2, 1887. It is a frame structure, 32 by 44 feet, and cost about $1500. The pastors of this church have been generally the same as those who served in the Unionville society.
Bellton post-office, in this township, was established March 13, 1891, at which date Bidwell Main was appointed postmaster. His successors have been John Mederer, appointed August 30, 1894; and Carrie Nimmo, appointed May 19, 1896. July 30, 1900, the office was discontinued.
Caylor's Ferry was established, January 24, 1891, with Charles A. Weeks as postmaster. He was followed by Martha A. Funkhouser, March 3, 1891; and March 30, 1901, the office was discontinued.
Parkgate post-office was served by Thomas J. Rouser, April 7, 1899, and Robert J. McKim, May 23, 1902; and was discon- tinued, October 1, 1902.
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Kimberly post-office .- Frank H. Douthitt was appointed May 28, 1900.
In 1900 North Sewickley had 431 taxables, 9671 acres of cleared land, and 2740 acres of timber land. The value of all its real estate in that year was $567,220, of its real estate exempt from taxation, $5824; and of its real estate taxable, $561,396. By the United States Census for 1890 its population was 1154; by that of 1900 it was 1660. Daugherty township and East- vale borough were organized from parts of North Sewickley and Pulaski townships since 1890.
ECONOMY TOWNSHIP
This township is situated in the southeast corner of the county, and on the east side of the Ohio River. It is bounded on the north by New Sewickley township, west by the river and Harmony township, east by Butler and Allegheny counties, and south by Allegheny County and Harmony township. The township was formed at the April Sessions of the Court of Beaver County, 1827.
This township is deficient in streams of importance, but has the Ohio on its western side and the Big Sewickley Creek on the south, a branch of the latter heading within the township. Tevebaugh Run flows through it and empties into the Ohio just below Baden station. The soil is good and is underlaid by rich deposits of coal, red clay, and building stone. There are several hamlets in the township, as Wall Rose in the southeastern part, and Remington on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Rail- road. The latter was until within a recent period a station of that road, but is so no longer. Wall Rose has a post-office, which was established in 1863. Following is a list of the post- masters: Jacob Breitenstein, April 27, 1863; Mary Breitenstein, November 2, 1871; J. C. McCormick, April 5, 1872; C. P. Mc- Kee, September 15, 1873; Henry Gross, November 25, 1884; Adam Stroble, May 27, 1898; William A. Stroble, August 26, 1898; Getlie J. Emerick, January 31, 1900.
There is here a German Evangelical church incorporated April 5, 1884, by Henry Gross, A. Haag, John Heil, B. Yeager, Andrew Rosenbaum, and Philip Eisenhuth.
Brown's post-office is in the northern part of this township. It was established in 1878, and the postmasters have been
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as follows: Roger McDonald, June 24, 1878; George Keenan, October 20, 1881; Hugh Reed, May 9, 1883; Ann Jane Reed, October 5, 1888; Anthony Boehm, December 7, 1898; John T. Williams, February 1, 1902.
Concord Presbyterian Church is in this township, a few miles back of Freedom. It was incorporated, November 2, 1885, by James J. McElhaney, William H. Morgan, Henry Snyder, Enos Smith, and Robert Baker. In this year its old house of worship, a frame building which had stood many years, was replaced by a new structure, also frame. The date of the organization of this church is uncertain, but was probably about 1840. We have been unable to learn the names of the ministers who have served this congregation from the first, but one of the longest in the field was the Rev. John Brown, whose name occurs in the minutes of the session as early as 1862, and who was released from the charge in July, 1876. In the same month and year fifty-five members were transferred from Concord to Pleasant Hill Church. Rev. B. O. Junkin became supply in 1876, and in 1889 Rev. Robert Laird Smith was called as pastor. He re- mained until April, 1901; and Rev. Percy H. Gordon assumed charge, September 26th of that year. December 21, 1902, Mr. Gordon was released in order to give full time to the church at Freedom.
Rehoboth Lutheran Church .- This church is in Economy township, about three miles back of Freedom. At the urgent request of Mr. G. Cochran Minis, now deceased, Dr. W. A. Passa- vant was prevailed upon to preach in the Rehoboth Church, which had been abandoned by reason of the division of the United Presbyterian congregation to which the church belonged. Once dedicated to the service of God, the building had fallen into disuse as a shelter for the sheep of the Lord's pasture and had been turned into a shelter for the sheep of man. Kind and willing hands thoroughly cleansed the old structure, and some- time during the year 1875 Dr. Passavant again restored it to its normal uses, and the sound of the gospel was again heard within its walls. In 1876 the church and cemetery were bought from the United Presbyterians for the sum of $200, and a con- gregation organized, the date not having been preserved. Doc- tor Passavant was followed in the charge by his son William, and he by R. Morris Smith, the present pastor.
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St. John the Baptist's Roman Catholic Church .- This little church is in Economy township, about three miles back of Baden. It was built in 1871 by about a dozen farmers, who had formerly heard Mass at Rochester, and is a neat frame ยท structure about 25 x 50 feet. The pastor of the church at Rochester has always had charge of the congregation. The people are all farmers.
Conway, formerly Agnew, post-office is at Conway station. For reference to this office and to the great Conway freight yards, see Conway borough.
In 1900 Economy township, as shown by the United States Census, had a population of 1062. According to the report of the Secretary of Internal Affairs, it had 383 taxables, 8558 acres of cleared land, and 2961 acres of timber land. The total value of its real estate was $542,889. Of this amount $10,700 was real estate exempt from taxation, and $532,189 was real estate taxable.
ROCHESTER TOWNSHIP
This township is of small area, surrounding the borough of Rochester. It was formed from New Sewickley township by an Act of the Legislature, approved April 14, 1840 1 (see page 885). It borders on the Ohio and Big Beaver rivers, and all the streams passing through it are small, rising in the hills, and descending with a rapid fall to the rivers.
In 1900 it had 337 taxables, 2302 acres of cleared land; and the total value of all its real estate was $591,220, of which $32,970 was exempt from taxation, and $558,250 was taxable. Its population by the United States Census of 1900 was 1661.
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