USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 49
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" For a description of "snuffing the candle " see The Latimers (McCook), p. 167-B.
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To protect the settlers against these raids by the Indians, and to afford them a rallying place in times of danger, a number of "forts" or "blockhouses" were erected in several neighborhoods on the "South Side" as well as in other parts of the county. Some writers speak of these forts as having been erected outside and near the dwelling. This is a mistake. They were the largest and most substantial dwelling- houses in the neighborhood, and built with the double purpose of a dwell- ing and a fort, or rallying place in case of alarm. There may have been some exceptions. I know of none. Dillow's fort was surrounded by a palisade made by driving poles and split timbers close together in an upright position. Port-holes were made in these as well as in the house or fort proper. Within this palisade the cattle and horses of Dillow, and those repairing there in time of alarm, were placed for safety.
From careful observation recently made upon the ground, and from the most reliable evidence I could procure, this palisade inclosed about one acre of ground, and the spring supplying the water for the family and the besieged in time of need. Dungan's fort was regarded as a desirable retreat, as it was built over a strong flowing spring, where water could be procured without going outside for it.
When we remember what terrible trials and dangers these early pio- neers endured from the Indians, we are not surprised that so many of them fell victims of the redman's hate, but our wonder is why these early settlers were not all exterminated.
These early pioneers were not only men and women of strong re- ligious convictions, but generally possessed of fair education. They commenced, at an early period, to establish schools and churches and occasionally circulating libraries. Such a library was organised at the village of Frankfort soon after the war of 1812. The members held stated meetings for general discussion, especially of subjects treated in the books of the library. This library was kept up for ten or fifteen years, when it was dissolved and the books distributed among its members. Was this the first library of the kind established in the county?
FRANKFORT ACADEMY
The History of Beaver County, by J. Fraise Richard, published in 1888, gives an account of the Frankfort Academy, established in 1871, but wholly omits to mention the old Frankfort Academy, established in 1839, thirty-two years before that. The earlier academy had a remark- ably successful career. It was conducted by the Rev. James Sloan and Mr. Thomas Nicholson, both eminent scholars and educators, as well as possessing superior natural endowments. The students educated there were readily admitted to the junior class in Jefferson College, where most of them went who pursued a collegiate course. Richard P. Roberts, George W. Shaffer, James K. Leeper, Samuel Bigger, John H. Wallace, and many other of its students, afterwards became more or less eminent in business and professional life.
Later several colleges bestowed upon Mr. Sloan the honorary degree of D.D. Thomas Nicholson will receive further notice in my remarks.
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CHURCHES
The first church organized in this county was the Presbyterian Church of Mill Creek in First Moon 1 (now Greene township). The date of its organization was 1784. Its location was about a mile south of Hooks- town, on the Washington and Georgetown Road. The Rev. George M. Scott was its first pastor. Mr. Scott was the grandfather of Mrs. Carrie Scott Harrison, deceased, the former wife of ex-President Benjamin Harrison, and the great-grandfather of the present Mrs. Harrison. He continued to be its pastor for forty-two years. He was not brilliant, but was highly educated, a successful pastor, and universally beloved by all classes of our people.
The next churches organized on the "South Side" were those of King's Creek, in Hanover township and Service in Second Moon (now Raccoon). These churches were organized by the Associate Presbyterian body then called "Seceders," but since merged with the Associate Re- formed churches and at present called the United Presbyterian Church. Both churches were under the pastorate of the Rev. John Anderson, D.D., a learned Scotch divine. The date of the organization of these churches is said to be 1791. King's Creek Church was on the farm of David D. Dungan, afterwards and now at the village of Frankfort Springs.
In connection with these churches, Beaver County, and particularly the "South Side," has an honorable distinction; I refer to the establish- ment near the Service church, at the residence of the pastor, the Rev. John Anderson, of "Eudolpha Hall," a school founded by Mr. Anderson and his associates, and conducted by him for the education of young men for the gospel ministry. The school was very successful. It was "a school of the prophets." Men who afterwards became eminent as divines received their education there. The present Theological Seminary of Xenia, Ohio, is the outgrowth of Eudolpha Hall. This was the first theo- logical school established west of the Allegheny Mountains, if not in the United States. If not the first, it was certainly the second." Other churches were organized as fast as the population was sufficiently strong, affording all who desired an opportunity to attend public worship.
"SOUTH SIDE" CITIZENS
The "South Side" is justly proud of the high character of its citizens. Brief mention of some of these will not detract from the character of its citizens in general for virtue, intelligence, and patriotism, qualities which most adorn and equip for good citizenship in a great Republic.
Thomas Nicholson who. in connection with Dr. Sloan, was teacher in the old Frankfort Academy, was a man of superior mental endowment. He was, in the fullest sense of the term, self-made. The earliest account of him in that vicinity places him, when quite young, as a laborer in a still-house for his support. To his honor be it said that he never in his life tasted a drop of intoxicating liquor as a beverage. We next find him as a most successful teacher of the village school of Frankfort, and then in the academy. He soon became known to the people of the county,
" Second Moon; see pp. 865-66 of this volume. VOL. 11 .- 33-
" See page 018.
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and they honored him and themselves by electing him to the House of Representatives of the State Legislature for the years 1844, 1845, and 1846, and again in 1868 and 1869. We claim for him the honor of being the father of the present common-school system of the State. It is true a school system had been enacted by the Legislature of 1834, but it was not a system common to all alike. Out of a mistaken sympathy for the poor the Constitution of 1790 contained this provision, "The Legislature shall, as soon as conveniently may be, provide, by law, for the establish- ment of schools throughout the State in such manner that the poor may be taught gratis." The act of 1834 incorporated this clause in the stat- utes by providing that the poor should have the benefit of the taxes voted, if their parents should ask for it. In the Legislature of 1844 it was proposed to change this and levy a tax to be for the benefit of all alike, rich and poor, making no distinction. Public opinion seemed to be against the change. The debate and tide of opinion among the members seemed largely in the same direction. The vote was about to be taken. A powerful speech was made against taxing all the people, as it was alleged, for the benefit of the few, and earnestly claiming that such a law would be in direct violation of the State Constitution, the Constitu- tion of 1837, then in force, having the same provision as to schools as that of 1790. In this emergency Nicholson closed the debate. He de- nounced the existing system as vicious class legislation, making one class of children to be pointed at as "paupers" and depriving many of them of the benefit of education, as many parents were too proud to ask for help. Combining impassioned eloquence, sound reasoning, with ridicule and sarcasm, in the use of which latter weapon, no man could surpass bim, his side won the day and the law became common to all the chil- dren of the State. At the close of the session of 1869, the last one in which Mr. Nicholson served, some admiring friends presented him with a large silver pitcher, in token of their esteem. In the remarks made at the presentation, he was called the "Nestor of the House." He was born August 26, 1804, and died January 14, 1872.
Col. Richard P. Roberts, son of John and Ruth Roberts, was born near Frankfort, Hanover township, June 5, 1820. His education was acquired mainly at Frankfort Academy, taught by Messrs. Sloan and Nicholson. He taught school for a few years and then studied law with the Hon. N. P. Fetterman in Beaver, where he was admitted to practise law in the courts of the county, March 15, 1848. He immediately entered upon the practice of law in Beaver, and continued until he entered the service of his country in 1862, being appointed Colonel of the 140th Penn- sylvania Volunteers, gallantly leading which, at Gettysburg, on July 2, 1863, he fell, his heart having been pierced with a bullet in that most gigantic, as well as the turning conflict of the rebellion. He was at home on sick leave when news came that Lee was about to invade Pennsyl- vania. Colonel Roberts, though scarcely able to travel, and being warned by his physicians that he should not attempt to go to the front, hastened away, saying that his native State was being invaded and that his life was nothing in such an emergency; and this notwithstanding he
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had a presentiment that he would fall in the first battle in which he would participate.
Army surgeons at Washington urged him not to go to the front, yet against their advice and in the full conviction of certain death if he pro- ceeded he hastened away to his regiment just in time to lead them into the battle. Roberts was a born orator, a successful lawyer, a model citizen, a loving husband and father, and the soul of honor-one of the heroes of whom the immortal Lincoln, on the ground of that same battle- field, said, "They here gave their lives that the nation might live."
Samuel Bigger, son of James Bigger, was another student at Frankfort Academy. He was brought up on a farm and made farming his life business. At school he was rated as a young man of first class mathe- matical talent and a strong reasoner. I always regarded him as one of the most cherished friends of my youth, whose memory I delight to honor. He was a very prominent citizen of our part of the county, and failed of public recognition mainly because he did not belong to the prevailing party for our county. He died suddenly.
Rev. John Anderson, D.D., pastor of the King's Creek and Service churches, was a man of great learning. He was, in speech, exceedingly slow and deliberate. He usually consumed the whole of the Sabbath from "early morn till dewy eve," in his pulpit labors. The tediousness of the service was relieved, to a large extent, by an hour's recess in the middle of the day, and the partaking of the bountiful repast provided by the good women of the congregation, who are probably not surpassed in the culinary art by their daughters of to-day. His crowning labor, both for the Church and for American civilization as well, was in the founding and conducting Eudolpha Hall.
Dr. William McElwee succeeded Dr. Anderson in the pastorate of the King's Creek Church. He was a native of South Carolina and a graduate of South Carolina College. He inherited slaves to whom he gave freedom. His pastorate lasted for about forty-five years, and until the year 1878. The joint pastorates of Anderson and McElwee covered eighty-seven years. Dr. McElwee married the daughter of the Rev. James Ramsay, D.D., one of the first students at Eudolpha Hall. Dr. McElwee was not only a learned divine, but a man of great influence in his community.
These personal sketches would be incomplete if I did not mention a very peculiar character in the person of Hanover township's earliest school teacher, known as "Master Metcalf." He came to that neighbor- hood no one knows whence. Where born or where educated, or what his past history or family connections were all a mystery. An adept in the study of human nature, learned, polite, eccentric, he combined basket- making with teaching. His shop was in the schoolhouse, or the school- house was in his shop.
I would delight continuing these sketches but time forbids.
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE COUNTY THE REVOLUTION
The military history of Beaver County begins with the War of 1812. The settlers were so few and so far removed from the fields of conflict in
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the Revolutionary War that it probably furnished no soldiers for that war." Besides this they had a constant warfare at home with a most treacherous and alert foe, so that had they been so disposed they could not have left their families to go east. They were in defending against this foe compelled to endure greater hardships than the soldiers who met the British on fields of battle. Indiscriminate slaughter, or, more to be dreaded, capture of women and children as well as men, was the lot of those early pioneers who, in developing a wilderness into a garden, like Nehemiah "wrought with one hand and with the other held a weapon."
While we could not furnish any soldiers for that war we take some pride in the fact that soldiers of that war were among the pioneer settlers of our part of the county, as doubtless other parts also.
I well remember two such soldiers in Hanover township, Richard Roberts, the grandfather of Col. Richard P. Roberts, and Peter Teel. Both lived and died in that community, loved and honored by all who knew them. To be true to history I must add that one "Hessian " sol- dier also lived and died there. A great deal of reproach rests on this class of our foes in that struggle, they being stigmatized as "hireling soldiers." I name this not to cast imputations upon that class who chose to remain and become citizens of the new Republic, and much less upon their descendants. They came of a noble race of people and were not volunteers to fight against our liberties. I speak of this case to show how readily the European races assimilate when planted on American soil. This family became somewhat noted for the physical and mental power of its sons. Breathing the free air of America made them patriots. The grandsons of this Hessian soldier fought bravely in the War of the Rebellion, under the command of the grandson of that Revolutionary patriot (Roberts).
WAR OF 1812
For the War of 1812 Beaver County furnished her full quota of volun- teers. Six companies were recruited in the county for the 138th Penn- sylvania, and two companies for the 26th. Two of the six companies of the 138th came from the "South Side," namely Captain Robert Leeper's and Captain William Calhoun's. These troops were marched to Erie, Pa., in January, 1814, as their first experience. All old soldiers will readily comprehend the extreme hardships of such an introduction to military life. The rosters of these companies, as found in the office of the Adju- tant-General of the State, are very imperfect. They are copied into Richard's history of the county without an intimation that they are not complete in giving all the names of their members. I know that as to Captain Leeper's company, it does not contain the names of all its mem- bers. The same is doubtless true of other companies. The omitted names should be procured before it is too late to be inserted in the annals of the county, to perfect, so far as possible, the military history of the
" Since the delivery of Mr. Dungan's address it has been discovered that his ancestor. Levi Dungan, the first settler of Beaver County, was a Revolutionary soldier. See vol. i., pp. 474-75, note.
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county. To the roster of Captain Leeper's company the following names, and perhaps others, should be added, namely: Levi Dungan, Jr., 2d lieu- tenant; David D. Dungan, sergeant-major; James Langfitt and William Hogue, privates. The records at Washington show that all of these were granted bounty land warrants for their services in Leeper's company. Acting as their agent I procured said warrants for them. My father was afterwards placed upon the pension roll of the government for the same service. John M. Buchanan, Esq., was his attorney in procuring same. You will notice that in the official roster there is no second lieutenant named. I have often heard my father speak of one advantage he had in being sergeant-major. When the regiment was formed into line, while having to stand shivering in the cold winds blowing from Lake Erie, it was a relief to him, in the discharge of his duties as sergeant-major, to pass from one end of the line to the other on the double-quick.
Henry Hays, a member of Capt. Leeper's company, wore a cue. One night on the march to Erie there had been a thaw and pools of water stood on the ground of their encampment. Brush and other materials, which a soldier can find, if anyone can, were placed upon the ground upon which to spread their blankets and keep them above the water. In the morning Hays was unable to rise; his cue had reached into the water, which had frozen solid during the night, and he called for help. The boys gathered round him and it needed but a glance from one to another for all to join in fun at his expense. "Cut off his cue" was called out on all sides. "We can't leave him here and the only way to save him is to cut off his cue, off with it." By this time Hays was furious and threatened to shoot the man who dare do it. After getting all the fun they could out of Hays's plight, the ice was cut and Hays was free. The campaign was short but one of great hardship and suffering. The anticipated invasion by the British into Pennsylvania, by crossing the lake, was abandoned by them and these troops were discharged. Unfortunately no written discharges were given and hence the imperfection of the rosters.
THE WAR WITH MEXICO
We are informed that no organized command from Beaver County went to the Mexican War. It, however, furnished a few recruits for other commands. I remember well, that at the close of a "militia muster" at Millersburg, Hanover township, May 18, 1847, five days after Congress declared that "a state of war exists between Mexico and the United States," a chivalrous lieutenant of one of the companies (pity I have forgotten his name) made a speech to the crowd and announced his purpose of organizing a company for the Mexican War and called for volunteers. Soon some twenty men fell into line, and although hundreds of valiant soldiers were there, not another recruit could be had and those who had stood in line broke ranks saying that it was not possible to raise a company. I do not relate this circumstance, which I witnessed, to have you infer that the "South Side" men were not patriotic. From remarks made in the crowd of bystanders, you would understand that they did [not] consider that their patriotism was involved, while others
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said, "It is useless to volunteer as we would never get to smell powder if we did, Mexico will be whipped before we could get halfway there."
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION
The military record of Beaver County during the Rebellion is too recent to come within the range of to-day's discussion and is so fully preserved in the archives of the country, county, State, and Nation, and thus made imperishable, that it is needless for us to rehearse it on this occasion. I only claim that in this, the greatest conflict of arms of modern times, the "South Side" did her part well and with equal credit with the other parts of the county, and with the other counties of the State. And this is to pass upon it a eulogy which should satisfy the pride of all who cherish her good name and fame.
WAR WITH SPAIN
The same may be said of the recent war with Spain. One circum- stance, however, connected therewith I will relate. The roth Pa. Vols., commanded by the gallant Col. A. L. Hawkins, on its way to the Philip- pines, passed through Chariton, my Iowa home, and there its train was held long enough to afford our people an opportunity to give them a royal welcome. Girls and women passed through the train decorating the boys with flowers and supplying them with choice refreshments. In passing along the line and shaking hands with the boys my own heart was filled with pride to see so fine a body of men from my own State and particularly to find so many of them from my own county. Their gal- lant services in the Philippines justified the high expectations then entertained of them. I was grieved to learn that Colonel Hawkins was not permitted to return alive with his command.
The military history of Beaver County would be very incomplete without due honors being paid the "Militia" of those early days. To obtain any proper conception of that militia you must see it in its full glory-you must see it on "muster day." In fact you would not know a militiaman at any other time or in any other place. Away from the "muster" you would not know him from a Scotch-Irishman or a Dutch- man. Ten feet away you would not take a militiaman for a soldier. I speak of the "rank and file." Occasionally an officer in a blue uniform, covered with brass buttons, bronze epaulets, and black cockade in his hat, on a prancing charger, would gallop into the assembled crowd and would at once become the wonder of all observers. He was a great man. You could see that he was a great soldier when he first came in view. Every- body went to the muster, especially the "boys." To the credit of the women, be it said, very few of them attended. This may be accounted for in part because the only refreshments to be had were cider, ginger- bread, and whisky, and to the credit of the distiller of those days the whisky was of a better quality than the stuff sold under that disguise at the present. The hour for drill having arrived they fell into line by companies and marched to the field of evolution, around which sentinels were posted with orders to kill anyone passing the dead-line without the
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"password." Guns or swords had they none, but cornstalks were a ready substitute. The boys had their share of the sport on these occa- sions. It consisted in efforts-often successful-to pass the sentinels. To get inside the field, a boy would, when the sentinel's back was turned to him, dart as far as he could over the line into the field and as he saw the sentinel about-facing he turned and, apparently, made a desperate effort to get outside, but the sentinel was too quick for him and turned him into the field and the youngster was the victor.
The evolutions of these forces were wonders to behold. The fields were generally enclosed by Virginia worm-fences and the evolutions of the militia, in the lines formed, kept up a close parallel to the lines of these fences. The exercises of the militiamen in the manual of arms would, if seen to-day by a veteran of the Rebellion, cause him to weep with merriment.
Not in any boastful spirit but to be true to history, I claim for the "South Side," that:
It had the first settler in the county-Levi Dungan.
The first church-Mill Creek.
The first theological school, and the only one-Eudolpha Hall.
The first superintendent of common schools-Thomas Nicholson.
The first circulating Library-Frankfort.
The first public highway-the Brodhead Road from Pittsburg to Fort McIntosh.
The first justice of the peace-Wm. Glasgow.
The biggest Indian Fight-Poe and Bigfoot.
But let me say, as I did in my opening remarks, that whatever can be said to the honor of any separate portion of the county redounds to its honor as a whole.
And now, in conclusion: When we review the history of our common country, in its origin, its development, the extent of its territory and the grandeur of its power; the character of its founders, the patriotism, intelligence, and heroism of its builders, from the landing of the Pilgrims in the north and the Cavaliers in the south, down to the present hour, and then know that our own State and our own county and vicinity, each share equal honors with any other State or community as architects of this magnificent structure, it is natural, and we are fully justified in exulting with honest pride because of our identity with all the forces producing the strongest and best government ever wrought out for mankind.
At the conclusion of Governor Dungan's address the Chorus Club sang Auld Lang Syne and One Hundred Years Ago, and adjournment was then taken until one o'clock P.M.
The exercises of the afternoon began at 1.30 o'clock with a selection by Duss's Band. Hon. Warren S. Dungan presided.
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