USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 33
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Previously within this township, but now just within the borough limits of Freedom, on the bank of the Ohio River, is the old residence of General Abner Lacock, who was so long a leading citizen of the county. In the great flood of 1832 a large part of the valuable library in this house belonging to that gentleman was destroyed, together with many papers of im- portance, including autograph letters from Madison, Monroe, Jackson, John C. Calhoun, and other prominent men of the nation. This house was built about 1812, and was occupied by Abner P. Lacock, the youngest son of General Lacock, all his life. Abner P. Lacock died here, April 20, 1888. This property
1 P. L., 341.
VOL. 11 .- 23.
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History of Beaver County
has been bought by the United States Government from the Lacock heirs, the Ohio River Dam No. 5 being in course of con- struction at this point. The old homestead is now temporarily occupied by engineers for office purposes, and will ultimately be torn down and replaced by fine buildings with electric power plant, etc., for the operation of the dam.
A large part of the great plant of the National Glass Com- pany, described in the chapter on Rochester borough, is within this township. Here, about half-way between Rochester and Freedom, the Rochester Tumbler Company bored for gas some- time before 1878 and got a good well, the gas from which is used for the manufacture of tumblers. The well also produced from seven to eight barrels of a dark green oil per week.
The plant of the H. C. Fry Glass Company at North Roches- ter, also described under Rochester borough, is within the limits of this township.
The Free Methodist Church in Pleasant Valley, now Roches- ter township, was organized January 5, 1890, in Bogg's school- house, New Sewickley township, by Rev. S. Portman, then pastor of the Rochester Free Methodist Church. At the close of a six weeks' revival meeting fifteen persons united with the church, who elected Frederick Brandt as their class leader. At the same meeting it was also decided to build a house of worship, and a committee on location was appointed, consisting of the following persons: Abner Majors, William Grossman, Thomas Nannah, John Nonan, Jackson Boggs, Frederick Brandt. Janu- ary 21, 1890, this committee reported to a meeting of the society held at the home of Frederick Brandt, recommending that the church be built on the ground donated by William Grossman, at the crossing of Rochester, Harmony, and Freedom roads. The report was accepted, and the following persons were at the same meeting elected trustees: Frederick Brandt, John Brandt, Thomas Nannah, James Brewer, John Nonan. The trustees, with other persons, also formed the building committee. The supervision of the work was given to John Musser, carpenter. Among others interested in the work were Camillus Miller, Richard Cable, Mr. McPherson, and Mr. Drushel.
The church was dedicated, June 22, 1890, by Rev. W. B. Umstead, of the Ohio conference. Following is a list of the ministers who have served the church in the pastorate to the
-
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History of Beaver County
present time: S. Portman, S. Sager, S. Wellington, L. P. Lewis, J. P. Broadhead, A. T. Sager, Miss Mary J. Elliott with Lydia Pearce, L. C. Andre, J. W. Howard, and D. G. Shirer.
MARION TOWNSHIP
Marion township is in the northeastern part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Franklin township, with the Conoquenessing separating the two, on the east by Jackson town- ship in Butler County, on the south by New Sewickley, and on the west by North Sewickley in Beaver County. Brush Creek flows through it just within its western boundary. There are no other streams of importance in the township. In soil and geological characteristics it is much like its neighboring townships; good coal is mined in various places, and there are the usual lime- stone, sandstone, and slate formations common to the region round about.
In 1900 Marion township had 131 taxables; 4911 acres of cleared land; 1596 acres of timber land; a total value of real estate amounting to $235,608; real estate exempt from taxa- tion, $1910; real estate taxable, $233,698.
This township was formed, February 6, 1845, out of the territory of North Sewickley township. Its population by the United States Census of 1890 was 413; by that of 1900, 380.
There is no town or village in this small division of the county. Barrisville post-office was established in 1872. The following persons have held it:
Enoch W. Barris, July 3, 1872; Mrs. Anna Phillips, Nov. 3, 1882; it was discontinued Sept. 12, 1883, and re-established March 11, 1884, with John S. Vanarsdale in charge; Eli U. McDanel, March 24, 1885; Mary E. McDanel, June 26, 1889; Jane E. Horner, Feb. 25, 1896; Robert D. Caldwell, July 1, 1897; discontinued March 28, 1901.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
This township is situated in the extreme northeastern corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by Perry township in Lawrence County, on the east by Lancaster and Jackson townships in Butler County, and on the south and west by Marion and North Sewickley townships, Beaver County, respec- tively. This township was formed by an Act of the Legislature, approved February 28, 1850.1
1 P. L., 107.
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History of. Beaver County
The streams in this township are small, those rising within its limits draining into the Conoquenessing, which flows along its southern and western boundaries; and Camp Run cuts through it from Lawrence County. The soil of the township is of aver- age quality, and there is throughout a fair distribution of lime- stone, sandstone, slate, and shale. A fine grade of Darlington coal is found in some sections. The report of the Secretary of Internal Affairs for 1900 shows in the township 310 taxables, 9296 acres of cleared land; 2196 timber land; value of all real estate, $408,473; value of real estate exempt from taxation, $6120; and value of real estate taxable, $402,353.
At Lillyville, in this township, is a congregation of the Church of God. It is known as Conoquenessing Chapel.
St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, also at Lillyville, was organized about the year 1875. Services were held in the neighborhood before the organization was effected, by the Rev. M. L. Kunkleman, there being records of baptisms as early as the beginning of 1873. In 1877 the Rev. P. Riffer was called as pastor. From the first this congregation has been connected with the Pittsburg Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and is united with the Ellwood City parish. There is no record of the incorporation of the church. The following are the names of heads of families belonging to the congregation from the beginning: Andrew Nagle, William Nagle, John E. Nagle, Paul Koch, William Koch, John Doutt, Thomas Doutt, Matthias Strawhecker, Jeremiah Fisher, Joseph Zimmerman, Philip Fox, Samuel Parker, F. P. Houk, Henry Knepp, Jacob Drushel, Frederick Hartzel, Albert Knepp, M. E. Ruby, Frederick Knepp, G. E. Ruby. Names of heads of families who are members at the present time are: Andrew, George, John, and Joseph Nagle, Henry Knepp, Edwin Goehring, Charles Goehring, Matthias Strawhecker, R. H. Koch, and Frank Stamm. There are in all forty members in full communion with the church.
Few dates of pastoral service are recorded. The first pastor, Rev. P. Riffer, remained several years, and was followed by the Revs. G. J. Diener and H. K. Shanor. In 1895 Mr. Riffer again took charge and served until August, 1901. The present pastor, Rev. A. P. Lentz, was called in February, 1902, and began his labors on Easter Sunday, the same year.
In this township, near Fombell station on the Pittsburg &
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History of Beaver County
Western Railroad, is the United Presbyterian congregation of Camp Run. This church was organized September 28, 1872. On June 8, 1880, it was incorporated by J. C. White, Abraham Thomas, Henry Bradford, William J. Wright, and John F. Scott. Rev. J. Patterson served the church as pastor from 1872 until 1879. There was then a vacancy until 1889, when Rev. M. S. Telford assumed the pastoral charge. He remained until October, 1895. The church was again without a regular pastor until June 28, 1898, when Rev. J. J. Sharp was installed. The membership is about 115.
POST-OFFICES AND POPULATION
Lillyville post-office was, until January 20, 1890, called Lillie. It was established in 1883, and the persons serving in it, with the dates of their appointments, are as follows: Henry Steffler, June 27, 1883; Matilda M. Steffler, April 23, 1887; Lizzie Hamilton, April 12, 1889; Lizzie Hamilton, January 20, 1890; Edward W. Liebensdorfer, January 13, 1896; Agnes Nagle December 8, 1896.
Frisco .- This office was established in 1882, through the effort of Simon P. Fisher, its first incumbent, who was appointed, December 20, 1882. He was succeeded by John W. Irwin, October 13, 1894; Benjamin Nye, February 2, 1895; and Samuel M. Humphreys, November 23, 1896. Mr. Fisher was again appointed, January 23, 1901.
Celia .- Established 1892. Postmasters: J. Osgood Hazen, April 25, 1892; Newton S. Leyda, April 10, 1900.
Shiner post-office was discontinued, September 29, 1891. Its incumbents were Joseph G. Marshall, January 14, 1887; and Levi C. Brinton, May 12, 1890.
Fombell .- Joseph Phillips, January 13, 1882: Omar G. Phil- lis, March 23, 1894.
The population of Franklin township was by the United States Census of 1890, 734; by that of 1900, it was 810.
HARMONY TOWNSHIP
This township was formed, April 3, 1851, from Economy township. It lies in the southeastern part of the county, being bounded on the north and east by Economy township, on the south by Allegheny County, and on the west by the Ohio River.
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History of Beaver County
One small stream flows through the northern part of the township and empties into the Ohio River just below Legion- ville. On Daniel Leet's map of surveys in 1785, referred to on page 974, this stream is marked "Logs Town Run." The soil of the township is very good and well cultivated. The population of Harmony township, as shown by the United States Census for 1900, was 650. In the same year it had 187 taxables, 1593 acres of cleared land, and 1196 acres of timber land. Its total value of real estate was $650,301, of which $21,900 was exempt from taxation, and $628,401 was taxable. This township is very small, but is of peculiar interest from its association with the Harmony Society, from which it derived its name. The whole of this township was until recently the property of that Society. Three places within its limits are of great interest historically : Logstown, which was a center of activity in the period when the French and English were contending for supremacy in the Ohio valley; Legionville, which, during the winter of 1792-93, was the camping-ground of the army organized by Major-General Anthony Wayne for the overthrow of the Miami Confederation of Indians; and Economy, since 1825 the home of the noted communistic association called the Harmony Society.
LOGSTOWN
We have briefly referred to this ancient Indian village in previous chapters, but its great importance in the early affairs of this country calls for a more extended notice. Even before the arrival of the French on the Ohio, there was an Indian town here, which was located on the river bottom, on the east bank of that stream near the present Legionville. Above this village, on the second terrace, either where the town of Economy now stands, or, as indicated on General Victor Collot's map of 1796, just below the mouth of Logstown Run on what was afterwards the site of Wayne's encampment, the French sometime before 1753 built for the Indians a new town, consisting of substantial log cabins, with stone chimneys. The Logtown which figures so largely in the early journals and documents' probably included both of these places.
I The French called Logstown Chiningue (Shenango in English). A note by Parkman on Celeron's manuscript says:
"There appear to have been at different times, three distinct villages of Shenango, - one at the junction of the Chautauqua and the Allegheny (Mitchell's map), the one men-
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History of Beaver County
We have already referred to the controversy concerning the question as to which side of the Ohio River the location of Logs- town belongs, whether the north (more exactly east) side or the south side, and we may here more fully discuss it. We think that the case is clear for the former, the north side or the right- hand bank as one goes down the river. The evidence for this view is as follows:
I. The Indian name for the town, "Maugh-wa-wa-me," meaning broad plains or plateaus, corresponds with the position assigned by it.
2. The north side of the river was recognized as the "In- dian side," and respected as such by the military authorities, who, under instructions, forbade any attempt at settlement on it until after Wayne's victory and the treaty of Fort Greenville (see General Irvine's order vol. i., page 168). The Indians only came over to the south side on marauding incursions, having no villages on that side at the time in which Logstown was visited by the first English who have spoken of it in journals, etc.
3. Washington, in a letter to William Fairfax, dated August II, 1754, says: "It is known we must pass the French fort and the Ohio to get to Logstown." By the Ohio is here meant the Allegheny, which at that date was not distinguished from the main stream, but called Ohio. Now, if it was necessary to cross the Allegheny to get to Logstown, that town must have been on the north side.
4. Christian Frederick Post relates in his journal a visit to Logstown, as follows: "The Beaver creek being very high, it was almost two o'clock in the afternoon before we came over the creek; this land seems to be very rich. I, with my companion, Ketiuskund's son, came to Logstown, situated on a hill. On the east end is a great piece of low land, where the old Logstown
tioned above some way below, and the third some way up the Big Beaver, near Kuskuski, the Kaskaske of this journal."
See also The Feswit Relations and Allied Documents, vol. Ixix., p. 298, note:
"The Chiningue of Bonnecamps (Shenango in English accounts) was later known as Logstown. It stood on the north side of the Ohio river immediately below the present town of Economy."
The statement is made in Hildreth's Pioneer History (page 34) and frequently repeated by other writers, that in 1753 the French had destroyed a trading house which the Ohio Company had built at Logstown "seizing their goods and skins to the amount of £20,000 and killing all the traders but two who made their escape." There is no reason to believe that the Ohio Company ever had a trading house at Logstown, and the statement referred to probably confuses the history of Logstown with the destruction of the fort of the Eng- lish traders on the Great Miami by the French and Indians in 1752.
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History of Beaver County
used to stand. In the new Logstown the French have built about thirty houses for the Indians. They have a large corn field on the south side, where the corn stands ungathered.": This in itself should be conclusive; Logstown, he says, was on a hill, therefore the low meadow land of the south side cannot be the site. The belief of our early settlers that this was its loca- tion may be explained by the fact that the corn-field was there, and also some cabins as noted below.
5. The Historical Account of Bouquet's Expedition against the Ohio Indians clearly locates Logstown on the hill on the north bank in the following passage:
Friday, October 5th. In this day's march the army passed through Logstown, situated seventeen miles and a half, fifty-seven perches, by the path, from Fort Pitt. This place was noted before the last war for the great trade carried on there by the English and French; but its inhabitants, the Shawanese and Delawares, abandoned it in the year 1750 [1758]. The lower town extended about sixty perches over a rich bottom to the foot of a low steep ridge, on the summit of which, near the declivity, stood the upper town, commanding a most agreeable prospect over the lower, and quite across the Ohio.
Dr. Celeron's journal would seem to indicate this "upper town," where he speaks of the landing place at Logstown, "being at the base of a cliff more than thirty feet high." (See Fort Pitt, Darlington, p. 29.)
6. With the above agrees what is said by the Rev. Charles Beatty in his journal of a visit to the Ohio Indians in 1766.2 Of his journey from Fort Pitt he says:
We crossed the Allegh-geny river in a canoe, swimming our horses alongside of it. We then proceeded on our journey down the Ohio about five miles, having on our right hand a high hill, and encamped upon the bank of the river about eight or nine o'clock, where we had plenty of herbage for our horses,-the night cloudy and dark.
1 Christian Frederick Post's second journal of 1758, Dec. 2d.
" The Journal of a Two Months' Tour, with a view of Promoting Religion among the Fron- tier Inhabitants of Pennsylvania, etc. By Charles Beatty, A.M. London, 1768. Pages 34-35.
The author of this rare and interesting little book, the Rev. Charles Beatty, was the father of Erkuries Beatty and the grandfather of Rev. C. C. Beatty, D.D., the founder of the Steubenville, Ohio, Female Seminary. He was appointed by the Synod of New York and Pennsylvania to visit the frontier inhabitants as a missionary of the gospel, and if deemed prudent to visit also the Indian tribes to the west of Fort Pitt. He arrived from the east at Fort Pitt September 5. 1766, and after five days' stay there set out down the Ohio as above related. He was accompanied on this mission to Fort Pitt and beyond by the Rev. George Duffield. Mr. Beatty died at Bridgetown, N. J., Aug. 13. 1792.
·
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History of Beaver County
IIth Thursday. Sat out in the morning, the weather dull and gloomy, and after travelling nine or ten miles, most part along the river side, we came to an old Indian town now deserted, called by the traders Log-Town, situated on a fine rich high bank, covered with fine grass, commanding a most beautiful prospect both up and down the river Ohio. We halted about noon to let our horses feed, then proceeded to Great Beaver creek, about ten miles.
46
42
which of
mitions
Welcher
Melcher
Melchor
Melcher
20
19
8
15
₹
on Situation
og Jour
COL.DR.
OHIO
RIVER
The above is an extract from a general draft of 143 lots situated in Depreciation District Nº 2 on the Ohio and Beaver Rivers - showing the location of "Old Logs Town"_ remaining on file in the Depart- ment of Internal Affairs.
Surveyed in the months of April, May. June and July 1785 by Daniel Leet. D.S.
7. In harmony with these arguments is the witness of all the old maps. One of these is a map (not later than 1753), of the British and French Dominions in North America, showing the encroachments of the French upon the British plantations, on which Logstown is marked as being on the north side of the Ohio. A similar map in M. Robert's Atlas Universel (Paris,
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History of Beaver County
1755) puts it there." The same is true of a map made by Lewis Evans in 1755; of the map in a book published in London in 1769 by a Captain Knox, a British officer in command in Amer- ica during the years 1757-60; of Thomas Hutchin's map (1764); of Mitchell's map; of that in De Kalm's travels, and of the gen- eral draft in the Land Office of Pennsylvania of the surveys made by Daniel Leet in 1785 of the Second District of Deprecia- tion lands. This district was on the north side of the Ohio and extended from the Big Beaver to Little Sewickley Creek; and on the map of Leet's surveys of it "Old Logstown" is marked down on the lots numbered 18 and 19, being land now owned by the Harmony Society at Economy.2 Other maps which place Logstown on the right-hand bank are: the map accompanying Washington's Journal of 17543; the Fry and Jef- ferson map.of 1755; one in the British Museum entitled "West Pennsylvania and Virginia, 1753"; the Nuremberg map of 1756;
' This map puts a town mark " opposite on the south side also. This may bear out the idea that there were some cabins on that side and Arthur Lee in his journal of 1784 men- tions Logstown as "formerly a settlement on both sides of the Ohio." (Life of Lee, vol. ii .. p. 384). Even if this be true it does not affect the point in question, which is as to the position of the principal village-the town identified with noted historical incidents.
" In the Magasine of Western History (Cleveland, Ohio) for October, 1886, p. 861, is the following letter referring to the same facts:
" DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, HARRISBURG, April 10, 1879.
"ISAAC CRAIG, Esq.
"Dear Sir :- I am now able to locate Logstown beyond all question. Daniel Leet's map of surveys made from April to July, 1785, embraces all the tracts along the north side of the Ohio from Little Sewickley creek to and below the mouth of Beaver. 'Logs Town Run' is marked as entering the east side of the Ohio about one mile above the upper point of Crow's Island, on tract No. 20. 'Old Logs Town' is marked as covering the ends of tracts No. 19 and 18-above the mouth of the run. The distance from the upper point of Crow's Island to the center of the town is about 430 perches. From the center of the town up the Ohio to the mouth of Big Sewickley, is about 2? miles. The road from Fort McIntosh to Fort Pitt runs near the river in tracts 20, 19, 18 and 17, and is marked as passing through the town. In tract 18, near the town, is marked 'Good Situation.' " I am truly yours,
" J. SIMPSON AFRICA, Dep. Sec'y Internal Affairs."
An extract from this map of Leet's kindly made for us by Mr. J. Sutton Wall, Chief Draftsman at Harrisburg, Pa., is given on page 973. On this extract are shown the following named lots or tracts of land situated in Depreciation District No. 2, on the Ohio River. in the county of Beaver, which were surveyed in the month of May, 1785, on order of the Surveyor-General, dated January 22, 1785, in pursuance of the Act of Assembly of March 12, 1783, by DANIEL LEET, D. S.
No. 13,
14, Joseph Harrison, containing 227 Acres & allowance patented to Joseph Harrison, August 30, 1787.
15, Isaac Melchior, containing 223 As. & All.
213
.. 17,
..
205
.. 18.
:
203
19,
=
206
Patented to Isaac Melchior Jany 2, 1786.
: 21,
16,
.. 20, Matthias Slough, containing 206 As. & all. patented to Matthias Slough, April 10, 1 786.
3 The Journal of Major Washington of 1754. Williamsburg, Printed; London, Re- printed for T. Jeffery's the corner of St. Martin's Lane: MDCCLIV. This map is called "Map of the Western Parts of the Colony of Virginia as far as the Mississippi."
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History of Beaver County
and a "Map of a Voyage on the Beautiful River in New France, MDCCXLIX, by the Rev. Father Bonnecamps, Jesuit Mathema- tician." Bonnecamps was Celeron's chaplain. His account of the voyage is in vol. Ixix of The Jesuit Relations and Allied Docu- ments. Still other maps might be cited in agreement with these, as General Victor Collot's "Map of the Ohio River, 1796"; "A New Map of North America from the Latest Discoveries in 1763," in The London Magazine, vol. xxxii. for 1763; J. Russell's "Map of the Middle States of America"; and one in the Causes of the Alienation of the Delawares and Shawanese from the British Interest, by Charles Thomson, London, 1769.
As against all this combined and concordant testimony, later opinions of old settlers, no matter how respectable and veracious their characters, are of no weight.1 The description of Montmorin, a town which was laid out on the site of Logstown, September 5, 1787, by Isaac Melcher (or Melchior) of Philadel- phia, is in harmony with all the foregoing. The following is
1 Except Lee's journal referred to in a note on page 974, the only early authority for the other view which we have seen is the journal of George Croghan. He says:
"May 15, 1765-I set off from Fort Pitt with two batteaux, and encamped at Chartier's island, in the Ohio, three miles below Fort Pitt. 16th .- Being joined by the deputies of the Senecas, Shawanese and Delawares that were to accompany me, we set off at seven o'clock in the morning, and at ten arrived at Logstown, an old settlement of the Shawanese, about seventeen miles from Fort Pitt, where we put ashore and viewed the remains of that village, which was situated on a high bank on the south side of the Ohio river, a fine fertile country around it."
But it is known that there is here a misprint of "south " for "north"; the manuscript of the journal says north. (See Gist's Journals, Darlington, p. 97.)
We may add that the deposition of Major Edward Ward (Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts, 1652 to 1781, etc., vol. i., 1876) contains a passage that seems to be also an exception, It is as follows:
"This deponent further saith that in the year 1752, and before his surrender to the French, there was a small Village, Inhabited by the Delawares, on the South East side of the Allegheny River, in the neighborhood of that place, and that Old Kittanning, on the same side of the said River, was then Inhabited by the Delawares; that about one-third of the Shawanese Inhabited Loggs Town on the West Side of the Ohio, and tended Corn on the East Side of the River-and the other part of the nation lived on the Scioto River."
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