USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 45
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(Hlade Run passes through the northeast corner of the township. The first settlers within the bound- aries of this township from the years 1794 to 1800 were James Glover .* James Irvine. Adam JJohnston. Robert MeCandless. Timothy Ward. Moses Meeker, Joshua Stoolfier and William Roseborough. All of these stalwart and noble pioneers have long since Disse.1 away. and they have left but few descendants who can relate the story of their early adventures and do justice to their sterling worth.
James Irvine was a native of Ireland. who. on coming to this country about 1770. settled in West- mor land County. Ho came into Adams Township in 1798, and took up 100 acres of land by settler's * Spa Chapter WV of the general history for an ac. mat uf James Gl wer's arrival in the county
right, and was one of its first pioneers, in other senses than the chronological. He was one of the earliest school teachers in the county, and the progenitor of what might be called a family of school teachers. He died about 1830, and his property was divided among his heirs. Hle had nine children, all of whom married except two. His two oldest sons were Matthew and Samuel, both of whom were soldiers iu the war of 1812. The latter named was the father of Squire S. P. Irvine, of Butler Borough. The other sons and daughters of James Irvine were William. James, John, Armstrong. Aiken. Mary and Elizabeth. All are deceased except Armstrong, who is a resident of this township.
Adam Johnson was a man of great physical en- durance, and possessed of many noble traits of char- acter. Amilst the toils an I privations of his fellow- men and their families, his goo lness of heart, sympa- thy and material assistance more than once called upon him the blessing of his associates, then but a little band struggling with him for a home and hap piness. He died in 1$27 at the advanced age of 103 years. Of the early career of Robert MeCandless and Timothy Ward, but few facts remain, and with reference to their families the writer conkl gather nothing. Moses Meeker was a Puritan, a sober, silent man. said to be a good listener, but a man of few words. He was intelligent, however, and could give excellent counsel to the young when sought after.
William Roseborongh came into Adams as early as 1798. He was a native of Ireland. He obtained his wife in this county when twenty-five years old. She was the daughter of Adam Johnston, one of the prominent pioneers of this township. They had eight children born to them-Jane, Adam, John. Sarah. Elsie. William, Mary. Ann and Eliza. Jane, their oldest daughter, married Samuel Park The house in which they lived was erected in 1513, as the date is plainly visible on the chimney to-day. Samuel died in 1849, but Jane is still living. and for a woman of eighty-nine years possesses a bright recollection of early events. Of nine children, three are living-John, Samnel and Levina. Samuel owns and operates the large grist-mill near Over Brook Station. It was built by Matthew Park in 1800.
William Criswell, a native of County Down. Ire- land, after living several years in Philadelphia. lo- cated in Adams Township in 1798. He settled on a tract of 400 acres, and agreeably to the grant, 200 aeres became his, the other 200 falling into the pos- session of Henry Baldwin of Philadelphia, afterward purchased by Judge John Bredin of this county. Mr Criswell kopt bachelor's hall for two years after his arri- val in the wilderness. Tradition says he became sin-
SAMUEL MARSHALL.
MARY MARSHALL.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
cerely disgusted with this mode of life, and his attempts at making " slap-jacks " and " johnny-cake." the chief dishes of the early settlers' table, and, in 1800, be- coming enamored of one Margaret Criswell, he was fortunate enough to win her for his wife. He took her to his small cabin, furnished in the most primi- tive modern style, and from that moment Mr. Cris- well's perplexities in house keeping vanished. Their offspring were numerous, having born to thein eleven children, as follows: Mary, who married William Hutchman; Martha, who married James Kidd: Rob- ert, who died in 1856 unmarrie 1; Nancy, who died in 1868: Margaret, who married Robert Mckinney; Elizabeth, who married James Plummer in 1833; Jane, who married Samuel Purvis, of Beaver; Susan- nah, who married Samuel Kidd; and James, who married Elizabeth Spear. Two died in infancy. Rev. Robert Spear, who graduated from Wilmington Col- lege in 1573, and is now preaching in Ohio: John Mitchell, Professor of Greek and Latin at Wilming- ton College, are the grandchildren of William and Margaret Criswell. It is related further of William Criswell that he walked across the Alleghany Mount- ains, not having any other means of travel. and when he built his rude cabin he slept the first night in it with his gun in his hands, frequently rising to dis- charge it at a pack of ravenons wolves which were prowling about the house endeavoring to effect an en- trance. For some time after his settlement, he fol- lowed the business of "packing" salt, ammunition, etc., from Carlisle, and frequently from Philadelphia to this settlement for himself and neighbors.
David Spear was another very prominent arrival. Although he emigrated from . Emerald Isle" as early as 1792 to this country, it was not until about 1796 that he located in the western part of this township. He paid $100 for 500 acres of land to a land agent, and purchased 500 more from Samuel Boyd and Judge Bredin for a nominal sum. He met Mary Piper, now his wife, when on his way to this " land of the free." They had nine children, who all grew to maturity and married, with two or three ex- ceptions. Their eldest son formed an alliance with Bell Kennedy. Jane marriel Alexander Boyles. Mary became the wife of William Wright. Margaret married Hugh Kidd. William married Mary Davis. A fatal accident befell David while assisting at a barn-raising at James Allisou's, in Allegheny County, and he died unmarried. Annie also died unmarried. Sarah wedded John Wright. Martha became Mrs. Alexander Purvis. Hannah died unmarried. Rob- ert's wife was Elizabeth Wright.
The Barrs, consisting of Andrew, his wife and three children -John. James and Jane -- were quite early settlers. They came from County Derry, Ire-
land. where their children were born, and were not long in selecting a place of location after their arri- val, which was on a beautiful traet of land called Edenderry, purchased from William Roseborough. who received the patent from Gov. Kean, having made settlement which entitled him to the land in accordance with the ninth section of an act of the General Assem- bly, passed the 3d day of April, 1792, entitled an act for the sale of vacant lands within the Commonwealth. They were subjected to great anxiety of mind while crossing the ocean. Their vessel, besides bearing hu man freight. was supposed to contain valuable merchan dise, and was, consequently, pursued by pirate ships. who fired upon her several times. John Barr, who was fifteen years of age when he landed in America. afterward married Jane Dickey, who was reared in Allegheny County, James, one year younger, entered into marriage relation with Jane Spear, living very prosperously and happy until a sad event terminated his life. Mr. Barr, with many of his neighbors, was rearing a barn on Mr. Ross' farm, and while he was standing on a cross beam on the second story, an ascending stick of timber struck him on the head. knocking him off the building and killing him almost instantly. Jane remained unmarried and died in 1878. aged seventy-eight years.
James Plummer was rearol in Westmoreland County, aud cam > here in 1815. Long before coming into Adams Township, he had a strong desire to make for himself a permanent home in this county. He purchased his lan l from Alex inder Hives, from near Whitestown. paying him $6 per aere for it. He at once set to work with a hearty good will to diminish the forests and to break up the fallow -ground. Dur. ing the first few years, he was not at all successful in obtaining large erops. suffering the same inconven- ience experienced by many others of that day-that of not having the necessary implements with which to cultivate the stubborn soil. However, he did not fold his arms in sullen disappointment. Ho toiled on as many others of the pioneers did in the hope and ex- pectation of better success in the future.
His wife was Naney Steel, of Fayette County, who bore him eight children-Jonathan, Mary, Elizabeth. William. James, Ann, Thomas and Jane. James Plummer died in 1828. January 12, in the sixty-sve- ond year of his age. His son. James. now in bis seventy fifth year, is spending his last days on part of the same farm owned by his father, and which he owned up to 1551. when hesold it to Esquire HIntch- man, and removed to Bakerstown. After remaining there twelve years, he went to Beaver County. but tiring of that county he finally came back to Adams Township, and purchased from Mr. Hutchman five acres of the old farm. His great grandfather was
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IHISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
among the noble band of 101 who fled from England to this country on account of religions persecution. sailing in the " Mayflower." Several times he had his property burned by the Indians, near where Pitts- burgh now is. He is said to have tanned the first leather and distilled the first liquor west of the Alle- ghany Mountains, using a copper kettle for the still and the barrel of a shot-gun for the worm.
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Simultaneous with Mr. Phunmer's settlement, Job Staples came in and located first in what was Cran- berry, and remained there several years teaching school. Later. he removed one mile west, to what is now Adams Township, on a farm of 200 acres, which he bought from an eecentrie character. "Tom Means," by name, giving him as part payment a shot-gun and a yoke of oxen. Means owned a great deal of land during these times, and it is said that when he he- came comfortably filled with whisky. a fit of generos- ity would seize him, and he would offer his neighbors somue extraordinary bargains. Susan Hayes became the wife of Mr. Staples, and had a family of sixteen children, two of whom died in early life and five in later years. John. next to the youngest child, is liv- ing on his father's farm, and is a man honored and respected by all his acquaintances.
Robert MeKinney emigrated from County Down, Ireland. to American soil. landing in New York city, where he remained one winter. and eom- ing to this locality in the spring of ISIS. He settled in the eastern part of the township, and carried for- ward the business of distilling liquor for many years, on what is now known as the Humes farm, His wife. whose maiden name was Margaret Peebles, was born in Ireland. Their family of four children are all dead. Their names were Elizabeth. flobert, Mary and James. Samuel Mckinney. the son of Robert MeKinney, and grandson of Robert. resides with his mother, an estimable lady. on the farm known as the Mount Evert tract, so ealled, because patented by Philip Evert in 1809, and conveyed by him to Adam McGregor by deed dated May S, and conveyed by sun- dry deeds from time to time, down to Robert McKin- ney.
About the year 1826, Samuel Marshall, then a Young man, settled in what is now Adams Township, where he resided until his decease, which occurred November 1. ISSO, in his eighty-second year. Per- haps no citizen of Adams Township wielded a more extended influence than he, or did more in the build- ing up of the best interests of the township. His wife was a noble woman, his counterpart in all that pertains to true nobility of character. Their home was an asylum for the needy and oppressed. and a prominent station on the " Underground Railroad." and many stirring scenes were there enacted during
the slavery days. The following sketch of the Marshall family will be read with interest:
.. Some of the members of the Marshall family ocenpied conspienons places in the history of Butler County: others have become widely known through- out Pennsylvania and the neighboring States. We therefore give a more extended notice of the family than might otherwise be deemed necessary in a work specially historical of Butler County. James Mar- shall and Jean Peebles, the heads of the Marshall family, were both born in Ireland. They were mar- ried, in November, 1797, and had a family of eleven children, all born in Ireland. In 1822, the family emigrated to the United States, and after a year of stay in Pittsburgh, settled in Middlesex Township, Butler County, in that part of Middlesex now known as Penn Township. Mary Marshall. the first born of their children. married Joseph Brown. Mrs. Brown died in 1877. Mrs. Brown left a large family of children, among whom may be mentioned her eldest son. Maj. A. M. Brown, who occupies a high and well-deserved eminence as a lawyer and citizen of Pittsburgh, in Allegheny County.
Sammel Marshall, the eldest of the Marshall fam- ily. married Mary Gilliland. the daughter of Burnet Gilliland. an old and honored eitizen of Butler Coun- ty. A biography of Judge Marshall appears in this ehapter.
James Marshall, the second son. left home in 1825, and sought bis fortune in Pittsburgh, where he pursued mercantile and manufacturing pursuits until he amassed a comfortable fortune. He founded the " Farmers' Deposit Bank." and remained its Presi- dent until his death, which occurred in September, 1569.
Elizabeth Marshall. the second daughter. married Mr. John Dean, a sneeessful merchant of Allegheny City. Mrs. Dean and her husband still reside in Allegheny City, in the enjoyment of an ample fortune.
William Marshall, the fourth son. learned the trade of hatter, and for years was engaged in that business in Pittsburgh. but afterward returned to Butler County, where he died in 1876.
Esther Marshall, the third daughter, married Mr. John C. Rainbow. She died in New Brighton, Beaver County. many years since. John C. Marshall, the third son. established a tannery on the homestead farm in Butler County. He married Nancy Lyon. a daughter of Thomas Lyon, an old resident of Butler County. He died in -, leaving a large family of children, who have all removed to Allegheny County.
David Marshall. the fifth sou. married Euphemia, the youngest daughter of Barnet Gilliland. He re- sides in Prospect. in this county, and is a solid and responsible member of society.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
Archibald M. Marshall, the fifth son. early re- moved to Pittsburgh, where he has been successful in business as a merchant, and is now largely engaged in the flouring business in the firm of Marshall, Kon- nedy & Co., Penn Mills, Pittsburgh.
Kennedy Marshall. the seventh son, died in 1826. before arriving at maturity. Thomas M. Marshall. the eighth son, and younge t of the Marshall family. in his seventh year, was taken to Pittsburgh. We elsewhere give a more extended notice of his public life.
James Marshall, the father of this family. was a man of strong, imperious will and firm of convic- tions. When he arrived in Butler County in 1524. lie purchased a considerable body of land, and do- voted himself to farming. He died on his farm in 1854. Although a man of large and powerful intel- lectual power, he never actually interfered in polit- ical affairs. He was a " Scotch Covenanter." His religious convictions prevented him from accepting the oath of naturalization to support the Constitution of the United States; in his judgment that instru- ment sanctioned and protected human slavery, recog- nized the right of property in man. Hence ho ro. mained an alien and was provented from the exercise of that civil influence which would otherwise have been freely accredited him.
In 1854, when thisstanch, honest, manly man laid down the burden of life, his sons carried his dust to the family lot in the Allegheny Cemetery. where he sleeps beside the wife of his youth, Jean Peebles. who survived until July, 1863. when her childien conveyed her body to sleep in the silent city of the dead, near the precious objects of her watchful prayers during a long and lonely life. This old conple sleep side by side. The husband died when he had attained fourscore years and six ; the wife four- score and five.
Their family is now scattered far and wide, from the Keystone State to the Pacific coast. Some of the members of the family have attained great distinc- tion and largely assisted a giving direction and form to public sentiment and national action.
William Cashdollar purchased a farm of 200 acres at Commissioner's sale, and located on it in 1832. His first wife was Fannie Fowler, who he married in 1529. She died in September of the same year. By his second wife he reared eleven children, who are all living - Catherine, John F .. William S., Joseph. James, Margaret, Samuel B., Mary. Rosanna, Thomas, Dronen and Tillie. William S. is living within a few hundred feet of the homestead. His partner in life was Susie Hamilton.
In the year IS10, John S. Douthett was born in Middlesex Township, but after the subdivision of the
township. his home became Forward. He moved on a farm. bought of Judge John Bredin in the present township of Middlesex in 1839. Mr. Donthitt tilled the office of Justice of the Peace for three torins in succes sion, and was always interested in the welfare of the schools, several times being elected to the office of Director, Miss Ellen Richardson, who was roared in this township. became his wife. They have four children living. Joseph, their only son, is cultivat ing his father's farm, and is rearing a family of his own, having been married to Esther List. of Middle- sex.
The lives and history of the generality of the carly pioneers of this township would indeed furnish good material for those who seek examples to illustrate the cardinal truth to the rising generation, that " it is the hand of the diligent that maketh rich " in character and knowledge as well as in that which more com. monly, though with less truth, hears the name of riches.
SCHOOLS.
The pioneers directed their attention as soon as possible to the beneficent object of furnishing for their offspring the means of obtaining an rilimentary education.
In 1800, when the settlement was yet sparse. the best informed among the young men were selected to teach the youthful portion of the community the or- dinary branches of reading, writing and spelling, and received for their services of two or three months home products of the farm. To give some idea of children's trials in those days in learning to write. we may state that they were summoned up one by one to a large box of sand. which was dampened every morning, and required to follow the copy written in it with a sharp stick. There was no such thing at that early period as chalk or slates and pen cils in the community. For reading books, some of the pupils would have the Bible. others a spelling book, and still others leaves of some ancient history or geography, taken out indiscriminately. These first schools were tanght in the summer, and it was a very common occurrence to see children come to school with feet lacerated and bleeding from tram- pling upon thorns. Arnde log structure was built in 1S05, as the settlement had received new additions, and school was continued here for several years. dur ing certain periods with good success. The various teachers were Matthew Wright. Timothy Ward and Joseph Kirk. A public school was organized in this township in the year 1536, and the first schoolhouse was erected on the Davis farm. now known as the Thomas Anderson farm. Pupils came to this school from a great distance, and. it is said. very regularly. too. although during the rigorous winter they were
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
frequently compelled to wade through very deep snows. Robert Hill was the first teacher, and the patrons of the school were the MeMarlins, Kennedys, Marshalls, Gillilands, Forsythes, Criswells, Barrs, Parkses, Irvins and Cooks. The second schoolhouse was erected in 1837 on the Johnston farm, near what is now Templeton Station. and as the population in- creased other honses were built to meet the growing demands of progress and improvement. These build- ings were all constructed of unhewn logs, and the long, rude and unfinished desks were fastened to the wall by means of wooden pins, and a large open fire- place occupied well-nigh ons-fourth of one of the sides of the room, in which lay burning huge logs.
Samuel Hood, John Irvine, Joseph Cowan and Robert Cowan were among the earliest public school teachers in Adams For a few years previous to the subdivision of the townships, which occurred in 1854, the old log buildings were gradnally giving way to convenient and more substantial ones, and since that time very marked improvements have been made in that direction. In the year last mentioned." Silas Miller taught school in No. 3. He had been engaged in the business of teaching since 1839, up to that date, in various parts of the county. He was regarded as a good teacher, and was skilled not only in the common branches, but was thoroughly conver. sant with the dead languages, history and music. His wife is a sister of Elias W. Kirk, of Butler Borough. Mr. Miller is now sixty three years old, and though his physical strength is meager, yet his mental abilities are still good.
After the organization of the township, which oc- curred in 1854, the first election was held at the house of John W. Donthett, where the right of suffrage was exercised for many years. Mr. Douthett was elected Justice of the Peace, and William Spears Constable. The first general store was started by William Cash dollar, in a house contiguons to the one he lived in for more than a score of years. He remained in the business for four or five years, keeping on hand all those articles of merchandise which are classed un- der the head of absolute necessities. But tiring of the life of a merchant, he was succeeded by William Stoop, who supplied the wants of the community for a number of years.
William H. Gilliland, reared in this county, settled within the bounds of this township in 1836. on a large and productive farm willed to him by his father, and which was previously owned by his great- grandfather, James Glover, who was one of the first settlers. In the same year of his settlement npou the farm mentioned, he married Miss Rachael Craw- ford, of Allegheny County, who became the maternal ancestor of eloven children. nine of whom are now
living, viz., Nancy, John, James, Mary, Margaret Eliza J., Rachael, Lonis and Amelia.
Nancy, John, Mary, Margaret and Eliza are all married; but James, Louis and Amelia are unmar- ried and residing with their mother on the old place. William Gilliland during his lifetime was always looked upon as a man who possessed many good qualities, both of mind and heart. He early identi- fied himself with the cause of education, and did all he could for its onward march.
Messrs. Samuel Belfour, William Thielman and George Marborough are among the later settlers. Mr. Belfour came from Scotland. and located on a farm in the southwestern part of the township, purchased from Hon. John Bredin, then President Judge of the courts of this county. The farm consisted of 185 acres, but only sixty acres were cleared and fit for cultivation. Here was a wide field of labor, and Mr. Belfour relates that, during the first few years, he and his father labored under very great trials and difficul- ties. Sickness overtook them, preventing those who were capable of working from earning a livelihood and acquiring means to pay for the farm. In the midst of these distressing circumstances and anguish of mind his father died, leaving affairs in a worse financial condition than they were before. Almost appalled at the thought of the great responsibility resting upon him. Samuel Belfour toiled and strug- gled night and day to maintain the family and liqui- date the tremendous debt against the place, and he was successful. A few years of hardship endured, and through the leniency of the present Judge Brodin, who was the agent for the farm, he managed to bring order out of chaos, and to finally see things prosper around him. None deserve greater credit for industry, indefatigable labor and energy under try- ing circumstances than he. His wife was Miss Leti- tia Craney, from Scotland.
William Thielman located in this township in 1858. He is the possessor of a beautiful farm, well cultivated and well managed. Not only is Mr. Thiel man an excellent farmer, but he has been prominent- ly identifie l with public affairs for many years. The cause of education was not neglected by him, and on account of the genuine interest he manifested in schools, he was several times elected to the office of Director, which office he filled with credit to himself and usefulness to others. He has also been Super- visor of Roads for ten years, which fact certainly argues his skill in this direction.
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