USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 44
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John Richardson came from Ireland and settled in 1500 on the land which his descendants now or enpy. He was a weaver and worked at his trade after coming here. William. Moses. Polly (Graham, Eleanor. Jane (Cochran), Elizabeth (Frazier) wore the names of his children. Mrs. Graham is the only survivor. Moses was accidentally killed when seven. teen years of age. while at work with his brother fell ing trees. William married Elizabeth MeCleary and lived on the oldl homestead. where his sons John and William now reside. He was the father of Dr. N. M. Richardson, of Prospect. William Richardson died in 1570. aged eighty-nine.
Robert Hays, Esq., came from Eastern Pennsyl vania to Pittsburgh. and while there was offered 200 acres of land where the city of Allegheny now is for a bay horse and $100. He, however, pushed farther on into the wilds. and located on a farm in the west ern part of this township. After a short stay here. the family returned to Pittsburgh as they came on horseback -but subsequently returned to the farm on which Judge Hays now lives. Samuel. son of Rob- ort, had a small store there abont. 1822. which he kept for twelve years. He also went about the country peddling. William, James, Jonathan, Alex- ander, Samuel. Anna. Sarah. Matilda and Ro- becca were Robert Hays' children. Sammel died at the old homestead in 1973. His widow. Harriet (Henderson), died in 1881. Of their children. Robert S. and James S. are living. both in this town ship.
David Shannon. son of Leonard. was seven years of age when his parents settled in this county. Ho died in 1871. aged eighty-three years. He was a man of good sound sense. gifted with a remarkable memory and a talent for interesting conversation. He served as Justice of the Peace some years, and was editor of the Butler Repository. He learned black smithing when young and worked at that trade in Whitestown. He built mills on the Semiconon Crook (a stream named by him: Semi conon, being equivalent to Semi Connoquenessing. Mr. Shannon married Anna White, by whom he had the following children : John L., Matthew W .. David, Sammel (deceased). Fanny (Mccullough), Rachel (Hines), Betsey) de ceased) and Mary ( Lemmon), deceased.
In ISO1. Robert Martin emigrated from treland and settled in Connoquenessing Township. tto first located on Yellow Creek, but afterward moved to this place where his son William ( now resides. Squire Robert Martin. as he was called. was well and favor ably known throughout the county. For about forty years he held the office of Justice of the Peace; he was also County Commissioner. County Auditor, and served in other responsible offices. He served two
*The same statement is mule concerning Moses Richardson whose body was afterward removed to the White Oak Spring Crinstery.
1-5
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
years in the war of 1512, under Maj. Gen. Mead, as Captain of a company of the One Hundred and Thir- ty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment. He died in 1847. at the age of seventy-four. The family which he reared consisted of five sons and two daughters, all of whom are living except two. The youngest is now fifty-five years old. Following are the names and residences of his children: William C., on the old homestead, Connoquenessing Township; Abdiel C., deceased; Robert, deceased; John, Prospect Bor- ongh. Franklin Township; James, Penn Township; Jane ; (Dodds), Iowa; Mary Ann (Anderson), Penn Township.
Robert Martin, Sr., married Keziah MeLure in 1808. She died in 1843. in her sixty-third year. William and Elizabeth Martin, the parents of Robert, came to this county with him and several other chil- dren. Elizabeth Martin died in 1840, at the age of one hundred. William C. Martin, Robert's eldest son, was born in 1809; John, of Prospect, has been County Auditor, Justice of the Peace, etc.
James Stevenson came from Westmoreland Coun- ty to Butler in 1811. About 1812, he married Mar- garet Wright. He served in the war of 1812, and after its close lived several years in Butler, where he worked at coopering. About 1825. he settled and made the first improvement on the farm now occu- pied by his son George. His children were as fol- lows: David, Hugh, George, Samuel, James, Sarah (Dodds) and Margaret (Hays). Three are living- George, Connoquenessing; Samnel, Ohio; James, Ohio.
David Wright, a brother-in-law of James Steven. son, settled on the place where his son Samuel now lives at about the same time, with his father, Samuel Wright.
George Cowan, a native of Ireland, came to But- ler County about 1521. and settled noar Petersville. and there lived and died. His family consisted of five sons and five danghters, viz .. James, Meigs Coun- ty, Ohio; John, Sharp-burg, Allegheny County; Charles, Forward Township: George, Kansas; Hugh, deceased; Eliza Jane (McBride), New Castle; Mar- tha (Graham), Evansburg; Mary (Critchlow) Peters- ville: Sarah, unmarried. Franklin Township; En- phenia (Gipson), Allegheny County.
John Fry, who has resided in this township since 1851, was in the county in 1829, and describes it as being little better than a wilderness, with here and there a small clearing. whenee arose the blue smoke of a settler's cabin.
Matthias Rasely settled in the neighborhood where he now lives in 1847, and began upon a farm which had only six acres cleared at that time, He moved from Luzerne County.
WHITESTOWN.
This is one of the oldest villages in Butler Coun- ty. It was laid out by Edward White shortly after the death of his father, Matthew White, in 1812. Matthew White's log house was a tavern for many years. Being on the Franklin road, then a much frequented route, it was a place of general rendezvous during the war of 1512 and many subsequent years. After Matthew White died. Edward White kept tav- ern, and years later, Matthew, son of Alexander White, kept hotel. Joseph Pyle also kept public house in this place a number of years. Matthew White went out of the business on account of tem- perance agitation, and the village has had no hotel for some twenty years.
The first store at the place was kept by Alfred Pearce, now of Harmony. Joseph Pollock, John W. Brandon, Thomas and Jacob Cratty, Matthew White and many others were among the former merchants. The present merchant is Mr. Joseph Graham, son of Joseph Graham, of Jefferson Township He began business near Glade Mill in 1569, and, in 1871, cam> to Whitestown and established a store. The village has now one physician, one merchant two blacksmiths, two shoemakers and three carpen- ters. These are all the occupations carried on here except farming.
A post office was established here at an early date -probably 1830. Edward White was the first Post- master. John 1. Fletcher was Postmaster forty years, and, in 1879, was succeeded by the present in- cumbent, Joseph Graham.
PETERSVILLE.
This village was named for Peter Mckinney. It was laid out after his death by William S. and C. A. MeKinney, in June, 1849. At the first sale of lots, Thomas Critchlow was a large purchaser; Josse Critch- low, George Brunnamer and James Mckinney also purchased lots. At the second sale, lots were bought by Shelly, Evans Critchlow and Henry Nicklas. Other lots were soon disposed of at private sale. The village is now a very lively place and contains three stores, four black-smith shops, two wagon-makers' shops, one shoe-maker's shop, one machine shop andl a foundry. Two churches and a physician are sup. ported.
The first tavern in the place was started by Peter MeKinney as early as 1839. After the village was laid out. Hugh Stevenson kept a heensed house some years. There is now no regular hotel.
The first store was kept by Alexander Donthett at Peter MeKinney's house. It was a small affair. Donthett came once a week to attend to the business, bringing his store and goods with him. The first
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
store of any importance was kept by William and Henry Purvianee at the south end of the village, long before the town was laid out. David Marshall start- ed a store here in 1838. Thomas Critelilow kept a store two days in each week for some years. He is now in business in Prospeet. Robert Dodds, Camp- bell Purviance, Bryson & Woods, Ferguson & Husel- ton and the MeKinneys were former merchants. Con- rad Nicklas is now the oldest merchant, having been in business here about twelve years.
The business of making and roparing threshing | Lemuel F. Leek, installed in 1845, remained three machines and other kinds of farm machinery was started here in 1880 by P. W. Thomas.
In 1848, a post office was established bearing the name of Petersburg. In 1871. the name was changed to Connoquenessing. The Postmasters have been Thomas Critchlow. Hugh Stevenson, William S. Mc- Kinney and Jacob Fry.
Buttercup Post Office, in the eastern part of the township, was established in 1850, by J. N. Stevenson, Postmaster.
NEBO CHURCH.
No early records of this organization are to be found, According to the best information, now at- tainable, the Mount Nebo Presbyterian Church was organized in 1805. The meetings were first held in the grove near where the old church stood. Next. a tent was erected as a shelter for the worshipers, and a rudely contrived pulpit for the preacher. In 1809 or 1810. a log church, about thirty feet square, was erected. The logs were hewed; the floor and pulpit were made of boards-articles rarely used in the con- struction of houses at that date. Each family fur- nished a bench for a seat. The early meetings were attended by fully a third of all the Presbyterian peo. ple then in Butler County; nearly a seore of churches now stand within the territory from which the wor- shipers came. Not many years after the organiza- tion of the church, a difference of opinion arose he- tween members of this congregation and the pastor as to the adoption of Watt's version of the Psalms in lieu of the old version. The minister and one of his Elders favored the new psalter; it was adopted and a portion of the congregation became estranged. The result was the formation of the White Oak Spring Church. Among the early members of the Mount Nebo Church were the Ekins. Boltons. Doddses. Shannons, Hayses, Grahams. Gibsons, Whites. Mc- Lures, Martins, Spears, Morrisons, Ambersons, Boggses and others. Seven boards of Elders have served in this church since its organization, as follows:
.
1. James Plummer, Joseph MeFerrin.
2. Israel Gibson, Robert Hays, John Dick.
3. James Welsh, Thomas Cratty, John Bran- don, James Seott.
4. T. H. Bracken, John Martin, Robert Hays. 5. James Anderson. James Brandon, Bryson Black.
6. John W. Brandon, A. W. Mccullough.
7. John Cratty, Dr. W. N. Clark, Jolm M. Martin.
The first pastor, Rov. Reed Bracken, was born in 1778; installed as pastor in 1SOS, and died in 1819. He was a man of ability and scholarship, though by no means an eloquent speaker. His earnestness and his faithful work canso his memory to be greatly ro- vered. Ilis pastorate was thirty -seven years. Rev. years; he died in 1866. Rev. Alexander Cunning- ham, installed in 1851. was pastor eight years; he died in 1874. Rev. William Harbison, installed in 1862. served four years; he died in 1870. Rev. Sam- nel L. Johnson, installed in 1570, was the last pastor. He was dismissed and went to Kansas in 1882.
The church now numbers about one hundred mem bers. Mount Nebo Church is the parent of all the Presbyterian Churches in the western part of Butler County.
The present church of brick was ereeted in 1859. The log house, already mentioned, was occupied un- til the stone church, which stood in the old graveyard, was built, in 1834-35. Over eight hundred inter- inents have been made in the old cemetery between 1801 and 1582. There are many nameless graves, many with stones uninscribed. or with inscriptions which time has rendored illegible. Rough stones from creek beds were used as headstones in early times. and now stand side by side with costly marble monu ments-solemn reminders of earthly inntatious. The oldest stone in the yard is inscribed with the date September 2, 1514, but bears no name. It marks a child's grave. The oklest logible inseription is as follows: " Here lies the body of Mary A. Thompson, who doparted this life September 13, 1514, aged thirty five years." Other carly dates are: Thomas Scott. died IS17, aged sixty-two: John Seott. IS19; Clemeney Scott, 1819: William Dodds. 1518.
WHITE OAK SPRING U. P. CHURCH.
The earliest meetings of believers of the doctrine of the Associato Reformed Church in the western part of the county were held in this neighborhood. and the White Oak Spring Church may be classed as the parent of all the U. P. Churches of this part of But- ler County. When or where services wore first held. we have no means of knowing: but we have the testi mony of old members that a baptism was performed in William Ayres' barn. in the eastern part of the township. in ISI5. Meetings were held with more or less regularity. in groves, cabins and barns, until 1815, when Rev. Isaiah Niblock became the preacher and effected the organization of a church. He served
190
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
as pastor nutil 183t and under his ministration the church extended its influence widely and attained great prosperity. Rev. Niblock first preached in the grove near the spring, not far from the spot on which the church now stands. A tent was used as a place for public worship two years, and, in 1820, a brick church was ereeted., which. in 1562, gave way to the present structure. At the first communion held at th. Spring, sixteen persoons partook of communion. The membership was soon greatly enlarged, so that probably fully two hundred families were represented among the communicants. Here could be seen the simple manners, the inexpensive attire, the free and unaffected simplicity of the early settlers. People came to church on horseback and on foot from a re- gion fully twelve miles in its radius. Among the worshipers were families by the names of Ramsey, Martin. Dodds, Ekin, Johnson. McDonald, MeLain, McLeod, Gilliland, Critchlow. Nellis, Maharg. Ful- ton. McKee. Stevenson, Rose. Dunn, Montgomery, Bryson, MeGinnis. King, Richardson. Pillow. McKin- ney. Frazier, MeCleary, Wright. Fleming, Harris, Evans. MeGrew. the pastor's father and mother and others whose names are now forgotten. The pastor divided his time between the White Oak congrega- tion and the Butler congregation. Hugh MeKee. Thos. Dodds and Goo. Matthews were the first Elders.
After Mr. Niblock severed his connection with this congregation. Rov. William Findlay succeeded to the pastorate, in 1836, and continued his labors seventeen years. Rev. Thomas Drennen, the next pastor. died after a short period of labor Rev. W. H. Jamison became pastor in 1858, and continued until 1879. when he was succeeded by Rev. T. W. Young, who is now in charge. The present membership is 130.
ST. PAUL REFORMED LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This is a German congregation which meets at Petersville. It was organized in 1865 by Rev. C. A. Limberg, of Butler, with a membership of about fif- teen families. The first eouneil was composed of the following members: Peter Staaf, Oswall Roder. Pe- ter Reder. Casper Nolshen, Nicholas Frischoru and Jacob Ziegler. Meetings were held in the M. E. Church a short time, but. in 1865. the building now ocenpied was purchased and fitted up as a church. The pastors have been Rovs. Landis, Edmonds and Scheel. The membership is now twenty-six families.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
The earliest school of which we have any account was taught in a part of John Biegle's house, a por- tion of the room being divided off by a curtain that the teacher and scholars might not be disturbed by the other inmates of the house,
Nicholas Muhleisen and a German from the Har mony community were the teachers. For some years schools were sustained by the German families of this neighborhood - at Biegler's. Muhleisen's, and subse- quently in a log building, used both as church and schoolhouse, which stood near the site of the old stone church. in Lancaster Township.
Concerning other early schools in this township, Superintendent Matthews wrote as follows in 1877: "At an early date a schoolhouse was built near the present residence of Sammel Hays. One of the teach ers who tanght hore was named John Sanderson, He was a fine penman, and excelled in higher mathemat ies. The Roy Reid Bracken preached in this house until Mount Nebo Church was built.
"A schoolhouse was erected on the present farm of John Hays, about one mile south of the last mon- tioned. It was considered a good house at the time of its construction, and for many years afterward. The justice of my description of its general arrange- ment will be easily recognizeil by those who have at tended school there with the writer. It was built of hewed logs. The fire-place, in the center of the house, consisted of a hearth about eight feet square. At each corner of the hearth a post stood, which braced the joist, on which a large flue, built of poles about five feet long and clay mortar. was erected. To the posts below the ceiling, boards were nailed on each side, extending downward from the ceiling abont four feet. This was to convey the smoke from the hearth to the flue, if, as was often the case, the smoke would not go up the space to the chimney. It affect- ed the pupils very unpleasantly. The roof was of oak shingles. The gable ends were never weather board- ed. The ceiling, or loft, was laid with slabs; the spaces between the slabs were danbed with mortar. The windows were of glass. The door was about like an ordinary stable door. The floor was laid with loose boards. The desks wore rough boards pinned against the wall. The seats were made of puncheons, from which dangled many an aching limb, hopeless of finding rest or a resting-place. The forms were baekless, on which 'many a weary urchin sat.'
" The branches taught were orthography, reading, arithmetic and writing. The teachers were John Me Kendry. W. W. Brandon, Robert B. Walker. Grif- fith Owen, Robert Stewart, W. G. Bracken, Robert McElvain. Robert Hays and James McCandless. They were all successful teachers. Some of them are still living.
Rev. Reid Bracken was also among the carly teach- PT'S. Master Sanderson was an Irishman, and taught that the " I's" in could, would and should. should be pronounced. Supple, Matthew Spear. Thomas For- rester, Hugh Stevenson, David MeDonakt. Thomas
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Raney and others were early teachers in various neigh- borhoods of this township.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1810. Daniel Grabam: 1840, Henry Umpstead; 1511. Thomas Fletcher, Abram Moyer: (East), 1815, David Shannon; (West) 1845, John M. Graham: (East) 1846, Thomas Cratty; ( West) 1846. James S. Kirker; (East) 1850, David Shannon; (West) 1851, James S. Kirker: (East) 1851, Thomas Cratty; ( West) 1851, Jered F. Philips: 1855, David Shannon; 1856. Thomas Cratty: 1860, William S. MeKinney: 1861. M. F. White; 1865, William S. MeKinney: 1866, Sammel Reed: 1869, Isaiah N. Graham: 1870. Jacob Fry; 1872, James MeKinney: 1875, Isaiah N. Gra- ham; 1876, Alex Stewart; 1877, Jacob Fry; 1851, C. A. MeKinney. Alexander Stewart.
MILLS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES.
The first mill within the present limits of the township was a small log grist-mill erected in IS05 by Alexander Bryson. This ran until 1835, when the work of building the present mill on the same site was begun. The mill was completed in 1837. Al- exander Bryson disposed of the first mill to his son Richard, aud from him Joseph Bryson purchased it in 1828. He built a saw-mill there in 1831. The dam now standing, as well as the mill, was built by him. The first miller was Mark Hammer, who had previously worked at Brinker's Mill. He came in 1831. The Brysons bad run the mill until theu. The Bryson Mill has been owned by George I. Me- Candless since 1878.
Henry Beighle built a grist-mill and a saw-mill on Crab Run in 1811. They were not operated after his death.
David Shannon built a saw-mill. a grist-mill and a carding-mill on the Semieonon previous to 1$20, and later erected a saw-mill farther down the same stream. James Welsh tended the grist mill for Shan. non. This was one of the best of the early mills. Grain had to be carried up two pair of stairs, as there was no elevator or other modern appliances. Robert Martin owned the mill afterward. having pur. chased it from Shannon and William C. Martin tend- ed it. The present milt on the same site was built by William Allen in 1849, and since his death. in 1879. has been owned by his heirs. Its capacity is fifty barrels of flour per day.
Hugh Gibson built a small log mill on the Semi- conon, about fifty five years ago. The Hays Mill, on the same site, was built by James MeKinney, from whom R. S. Hays purchased it.
Thomas MeKinney had a tannery at Petersville in early times, and did a large amount of work. He ground bark by rolling a large stone over it.
The manufacture of powder was carried on quite extensively in the southeastern part of the town ship for many years. The first powder mill on the stream, since known as Powder Mill Run, was started by John and William Parviance as early as 1810. A man named Campbell had lived here pre vionsly, and had erected a small grist mill, which was converted into a powder-mill. The Purviances conducted the business many years, making ritle powder for hunters.
Campbell Purviance built a powder-mill about 18to, and conducted the business fourteen years.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
REV. REID BRACKEN
Rev. Roid Bracken was born in York County, Penn., in 1778; was brought to Washington County when he was six weeks old. He was the first child baptized in Chartiers Church, and the first male child baptized west of the Alleghany Mountains. He graduated at Jefferson College in 1802, and was a member of the first class that graduated after the col- lege was chartered; his name stands at the head of the list. In IS06, he came to Butler County, having been licensed to preach the Gospel in 1805: be re- ceived calls from Mount Nebo, in Comoquenessing Township, and Plain, in Cranberry Township. He was ordained on the 20th day of April. 180S, and preached thirty-eight years at Mount Nebo. twelve years at Plain, twelve at Middlesex, and a number of years at Portersville: one-half of his time at Mount Nebo: the other places successively. He died on the farm on which he settled (now owned by Mrs. Hum- phry). on the 29th day of July. 1849, in the seventy- second year of his age. He was the pioneer minister in this part of Butler County. His wife (Mary Gra- ham Bracken) was the daughter of Rev. William Gra- ham, founder of Washington College. Virginia. They had eight children; seven are yet living. He came to Butler County when it was a new country and the people poor, and, like his people, he com menced in the woods, and by the labor of his own hands eut down the Forest and made for himself a farm which he cultivated to support his family. His influence did much in Forming the character of the community in which he labored, and many churches were built up through his instrumentality. He stood high in the estimation of his brethren and in the Presbytery. He was a man of large stature. over six feet in height and large frame, and could endure more hardships than the ministers of our day.
Contin uedlo T 11 Bracket
192
IHISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
CHAPTER XX.
ADAMS.
D) .seription-Origin of Names-James Glover, James Irvine, Adam Johnston, Robert Mccandless, William Criswell, Timothy Ward. Moses Meeker, Joshua Stooffer, William Roseborough, Judge Mar shall and other Pioneers-Early Schools-Primitive Methods of Instruction-Old-Time Pedagognes-Progress Sketches-Miscel- laneons Items-Prominent Settlers since 1st6.
A DAMS was formed from parts of the original townships of Cranberry and Middlesex in 1954 John Irvine, a brother of $ quire S. P. Irvine, of Bnt- ler Boryigh and De. Irvine, named the township in honor of John Quincy Adams, President of the United Stites To one not familiar with this township. the first natural feature which prosents itself is its extreme elevation in the central part. A gentleman, in 1879, when searching for coal and limestone, found by the use of the gra le and leveler that the highest point in the township is the hill on lan Is of D. P. Nicklas. a short distance east of the center of the township. which is proven by actual investigation to be just 100 feet higher than the center, and by observations and mathematical caleulations it is discovered that the contral part of the township is 300 feet higher than the ground where the court house in the borough of Butler stands. Ados Township is well watered by Breakneck Creek. Little Breakneck and Glade Run. The source of Breakneck proper is found one mile from Bakertown. ant its general direction is north- west, emptying into the Connoquenessing about two miles east of Harmony. This stream derived its na ne from the fact that in the early settlement of the township an unknown person attempted to ford the stream in the extreme northern part of the township with his pack-horse, when by some means the horse stumbled and fell, breaking his neck. Little Break- neek is a tributary of the former stream, its general direction being north, and having its source in Alle. gheny County, and emptying into Breakneck about three miles south of the northern line of the township.
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