USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 55
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CHURCH HISTORY.
For a township of small population. Forward is abundantly supplied with churches, there being eight within its limits. The Evansburg churches will be found in the sketch of that village given elsewhere. The other churches of the township are two Method- ist Episcopal organizations, which worship at Peters- ville and Brownsdale, the Covenanter Church and the Catholic Church.
BROWNSDALE M. E. CHURCH.
The Methodists had two classes gnite early, one of which met at the house of Caleb Richmond, and the other for many years at the dwelling of Squire Rob- ert Brown. The Richmond class was the oldest or. ganization, and was formed previous to 1827. Caleb Richmond was its Class-Leader and chief manager. This class was mainly made up of families of the " New York Yankee" settlement. and consisted of Caleb Richmond. Barney, Seth, Elijah and Poreus Snow, Nathan S'ater, Widow Laraber and families. Robert Brown was also a member before the class was formed at his house. Among the early preachers were Revs. Thomas Carr. Dr. Adams (who had formerly practiced medicine) and William C. Henderson. Charles Thorne and Jonathan Holt were circuit preachers who ministered here. The Richmond class met for years at the cabins of its members, and at length erected a small meeting-house. and named it Richmond Chapel. When the church was erected at Brownsdale, this class merged with the newer organi- zation, and sold the chapel building to the Catholics.
Robert Brown, Esq., was for years one of the fore- most of the Methodists of this part of the county. and his house was a frequent preaching-place from 1800 until churches became numerons. Mr. Brown united with the church soon after he came to this county, and, soon after, was appointed Leader of the Wigfield Class, which met about six miles from his home. In this leadership he continued for thirty years. Abont 1839, at this house, was formed the class mentioned in the first paragraph. This class was organized by Rev. John Rathbun, from Ohio, a
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
doctor of medicine and a local preacher. Among the principal members were Joseph Miller and family. Adam and John Brown and families, Robert Brown and family, and others. In 1860, the Brownsdale Methodist Episcopal Church was erected. It was dedicated the same year, the exercises being conduct- ed by Rev. Dr Nesbit, then editor of the Pittsburgh Christian Advocate, and Presiding Elder Rev. D P. Mitchell. During two years subsequent to the dedi- cation of the church, about seventy-five members wore added under the labors of Rev. Dr. Storer. The church has since suffered come from deaths and re- movals, but it continues to have a good membership of faithful workers. This elitch is included in the Brownsdale Circuit, comprising Brownsdale, Thorn Creek and Middlesex.
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PETERSVILLE M. E. CHURCH.
There was preaching in this neighborhood several years before any church building was erected, but we have no means of ascertaining whether there was any regular elass formed or not. A few years previous to the building of the church in ISSS, a class was formed. with Alexander Bryson, Leader. Meetings were held in the schoolhouses and in the hall at Pe- tersville until the house was erected. Rev. John Ainsley was pastor in 1858, and, during the year, a frame building. 36x50 feet, was erected, at a cost of about $1,600. The following Trustees were appoint. ed: Alexander P. Bryson, Henry Ingraham. John Ferguson. Henry V. Winterstein and Robert W. Gra- han. The house was dedicated January 13, 1859. with services conducted by Presiding Elder D. P. Mitchell, of Allegheny Conference, assisted by Rev. Taylor. of the California Conference.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
In the southern part of the township is a small church edifice built by the Methodists, and purchased from them by the Catholies in 1560 or 1861. Serv. iees are held but irregularly. The church belongs to the Butler Diocese. Its main supporters are John MeNeal, Thomas MeCafferty and Ewing MeNally.
THE COVENANTER CHURCH.
North Union Reformed Presbyterian Church was organized by former members of U'nion Congregation, of Adams Township. The house in Forward Township was erected on the corner of David Crow's farm in ISBI. At that time, the Elders were Robert Dodds. John Magee. James Anderson and Robert Purvis. Since 1561, David Crow. William Allen and John A. Forsyth have been elected Ellers. The pastor. Rev. John Galbraith. has been pastor of North Union and of the parent congregation for a continuous period of
about forty years, and is greatly beloved and og. termed.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
IS51. Caleb Richmond; 1855, Daniel Graham; 1858, Malcom Graham: 1859, Aaron Bracken; 1863, John W. Martin; 1864. Robert McNair: 1869, Rich- ard S. Mckinney; 1869. Robert MeNair: 1874, Thom- as Graham: 1874, J. W. Martin; 1875. Randolph Kelker: 1879. Thomas Martin: 1880, D. B. Douth- ett: ISS2. Nicholas Kramer.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,
HENRY BUHL.
Henry Bull, son of Christian and Dorothy (Goehring) Buhl, was born in Zelienople in August, 1813, and has always been a resident of this county. He is of German parentage, his father coming to this country in 1803: purchased a farm in Cranberry Town- ship: also a small farm at Zelienople, where he re- sided at the time of his deeease, in 1863, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-eight years. He was the father of eleven children, eight of whom are now living- six boys and two girls. Mr. Bubl was a hatter by trade; plied his vocation at Zelienople, and was suc- cessful in accumulating a competeney. He was for many years a Justice of the Peace; also held the hon- orable position of Associate Judge. Politically, he was a Jacksonian Democrat , and an ardent supporter of the principles of his party. Mr. and Mrs. Buhl were both members of the German Lutheran Church.
Henry Buhl was married, in 1542. to Christina W. C., a daughter of Frederick C. and Christina (Stazell) Speyer, and they are the parents of four daughters and three sons. His eldest son, Frederick C .. lives in Forward Township. near his father's old homestead In 1550. Henry Buhl purchased what is known as the old Gilliland Mill. and. some three years later, the balance of the Gilliland farm. Politically. he affiliates with the Democratic party.
MRS. JANE BLAKELEY.
The subject of this memoir, a daughter of Arehi- bald and Hannah McAllister, was born at their home on Pigeon Creek, Washington Co., Penn .. March 7. 1797.
In 1801. her family emigrated to and settled on land now owned and occupied by a grandson. Morde- cai Graham, within the limit of Old Cranberry, now Forward Townbip, Buther Co., Penn., where she lived until her eighteenth year, when she was ma .. ried to Lewis Blakeley, whose family had removed
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
from the "Forks of Yough," in Allegheny County, Pom .. and settled in the same township.
Mrs. Blakeley's residence was continuously with- in the limits of the now Forward Township from 1801 until within a few years of her death, when she removed to the residence of her daughter. Mrs. Edl- ward Cookson. in Cranberry Township, where she died June 15. 1882.
The point selected by Archibald MeAllister for his residence in the new settlement was on the " Ohl Indian trail " from Fort Du Quesne. now Pittsburgh, to the forts on the Allegheny River, now Franklin.
This trail afterward became the Pittsburgh & Franklin road.
McAllister's nearest neighbor at the time of his settlement, and for some time thereafter, was Robert Boggs. Esq., one and a half miles southwest, where the trail crossed Breakneck, where Evansburg now stands.
It is needless to say that one thus thrown into a wilderness at the tender age of four years grew up without the education and accomplishments which usually adorn the sex.
Yet their was an education in the wild, wierd scenes through which the childhood and girlhood of Jane McAllister were passed.
The necessities of life enforced industry and econ- ony. both of which she cheerfully accepted, taught and practiced to the day of her death.
The contact with nature, with the Indians on their trail and in the forest, and with the wild beasts of the wood, gave her nerve and courage unknown to most women.
The strict code of honor and fair dealing observed among the sparse neighbors of a new settlement jm- pressed upon her mind the truth of the teachings of Christian parents, and to the end of her life she walked uprightly, and had the honor and respect of all who knew her.
The theater, the cireus, the play-house and the ball-room, being unknown in her wilderness home. the humble house of God built under the forest trees, and the ceremonies therein observed commanded all her time that could be spared from domestic duties. and. being thus " planted in the house of the Lon." in her youth. she took deep root and bore rich fruit in all the exceltences of a pure Christian life.
In the absence of the luxuries which mostly weak en the body, she grew strong and healthful on the plainor diet of the backwoods cottage.
Thus equipped for life, she married as stated. and became the mother of twelve children, nine of whom are yet living; and of the dead. one died from in- juries received in wrestling, one was drowned in an effort to swim the Ohio River, and one was killed in
the army. so that none have died from inherent dis. case or ordinary sickness.
On September 3. 1815. her husband, Lewis Blake- ley. an honest man. a humble Christian, an honored citizen. a most loving father and husband. lay down and died after a sickness of bat six hours, in the prime of life, in the fifty see and year of his age.
His death threw the whole care of this large fam- ily npon their widowed mother, and the nobility with which she assumed the responsibility, and the love, tenderness and discretion with which she expented it, , are known only to her. to them, and to the God who blessed her in this grand work of motherho al.
All that she had learned from necessity, expo- rience or observation. she taught them. while all the facilities for learning which the county afforded. and which she could command. she laid at their feet. and. from the day of the death of their father. she. morning and evening, read to them from the Word of God. and, in prayer aud supplication, knelt with them and called upon them the blessings of the Eter- nal One.
Mrs. Blakeley was a woman of strong convictions, and elung to them with the tonneity of life.
Her father was a well-educated Protestant Scotch - Irishman, who dwelt but little in the ideal. and ex. eplied in the classies and mathematics, which he had snecessfully taught in the colleges of the old country, and the daughter's adherence to the Protestant faith, and her loyalty to the church and hor convictions. may have been inherited: may have been the result, of his teachings; may have been their joint product.
She was baptized in infancy, by the Rev. Dr. Mc- Millan. of the Presbyterian Church of Cannonsburg. Washington Co., Penn., but, after her marriage, the Rev. John Black, D. D., of Pittsburgh, organized a Covenanter Church in her neighborohod, which she, with her linshand, joined, and there she over after- ward worshiped.
For many years in her earlier married life, her Imsband owned and conducted a large distillery for that day, on the larm on which Andrew Blakeley now lives, in Forward Township.
During that time, May. Reese Evans, who lived just across the Glade Ruu Creek, organize I the welt- known military company called the " Connoqueness- ing White -. "
Maj. Evans once said to the writer that the mus- ters of this company were for a long time held at Lowis Blakeley's, for the ostensible reason that his meadow afforded good drill ground, but for the real reason that they preferred being near the " old rye." .
Maj. Evans further said that Jane Blakeley was one of the finest combinations of moral. physical, norve and will power he had ever seen. That when
1
MRS. MARY BROWN.
Mary Brown, wife of Joseph Brown, of Forward | (1882), standing in the shadow of the original log cabin Township, Butler County, was born in the year 1798. in (still preserved) and looking out in all directions upon the picturesque landscape and fair improvements, in the possession of the aged father and pioneer and his children, we are hardly able to realize that so wondrous a change has been wrought within a single lifetime. This homestead is at Brownsdale, about eight miles sonth of Butler, near the Marshall homestead, and in a fertile and beautiful region the county of Derry. Ireland. Her parents. James Marshall and JJane (or Jean) Peebles, came to America in the year 1821 ; and, after a brief residence in Pitts- burgh, removed to Middlesex Township. Butler County. where they purchased a large tract of wild land, which they subsequently, by careful improvement, converted info a homestead of uncommon beauty and excellence. Mrs. Marshall (ner Peebles) was the only eluld of a Joseph and Mary Brown have five living children. namely. Mrs. David Donthett. William M Brown, and Mrs. D B Douthett. of Brownsdale, and Mrs. Gen. Will- iam Blakely and A. M. Brown, of Pittsburgh. Several of their children died in infancy. Joseph Brown, now over eighty two years of age, still survives. Mary Brown died April 1, 1877, at the age of seventy-bine. beloved and honored by all her friends and acquaint- ances Distinguished for her enttured intellectual power. her womanly graces, her conspienons but modest Chris- tian life and character and her self sacrificing devotion to the interests and welfare of those she loved. country gentleman who resided near Londonderry. James and Jane Marshall were both endowed with more than ordinary mental power. Careful training and a liberal education, combined with noble trait's of character, made them deservedly conspicuous in their wilderness home. They both lived more than fourscore Years, respected and honored by all who had been priv- ileged to know them. Of their large family of eight sons and three daughters, one son died in his boy hood ; the others reached maturity, and all of them possessed talents of a high order. Of the sons, Judge Samuel Marshall (of Butler Conuty). James Marshall (merchant, manufacturer and banker). A. M Marshall Ommerchant "None knew her but to love her. Vor name f her hat to praise * and manufacturer). and Hon Thomas M Marshall (lawyer, of Pittsburgh), are well known and distinguished She had been from her youth a consistent member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, but. with the union of kindred churches, became a member of the Enited Presbyterian Church, and her life to its end was a light and landmark of her furth and virtues, Of simple but graceful manners, a lover of the beautiful. the good. and the true, she was an example of all that is Christian in life and hope, in charity and thought, ready for every good work, herself an illustration of all she taught. No words can describe the gloom and sorrow which her death cast over her mourning relatives, friends and neighbors, who in great multitude gathered at her funeral and tenderly laid her beneath the shadow of the trees, in the little cemetery at Brownsdale, beside the church wherein she loved to worship, and near the " old home " in whose treasury of love she had ever been the brightest jewel. Serenoly and trustfully she passed from life, in the firm faith of a blessed immortality be- , yond the grave. names. David Marshall. Esg., one of their sons, re- sides at Prospect. The eldest daughter. Mary, married Joseph Brown. a son of Adam Brown. of Big Springs. wear Newville, Cumberland County. Penn .. who removed to Butler County about the year 1810, and became the owner of large tracts of land, and erected mills near the present village of Brownsdale. The elder Brown died. leaving his widow and minor children in possession of his large estate. Joseph, having arrived at legal age. was allotted a tract of land as his share of his father's property It was, however, an unbroken wilderness He and Mary Marshall were married in 1824, Both were young, strong and hopeful. They erected a com- fortable log house upon their land. and commenced the hard work of making a farm and creating a home. By well-directed energy, industry and skill, the tract of land was improved and converted into a beautiful farm. Other lands were acquired and improved. and now
Mhrs. Jane Blakely
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
she moved around among those men, quarreling. drunkenness, profanity and the rudo jest all seemed to disappear, and hide their heads in shame before her.
During one of the cold winters of that period. a deep snow had fallen, and was covered with a ernst strong enough to carry men. but the sharp hoof of the deer penetrated it. and they could seldom make much headway on it. One day. Mrs Blakeley heard the dogs baying furiously on top of the high hill back of where Andrew Blakeley's house now stands; her husband being absent, she set out to find the cause of
the barking. Reaching the hill-top, she found an immense buck surrounded by the dogs, the buck hav- ing taken refuge by a tree, around whose roots the wind had whirled out the show, leaving a space clear io the ground. Sho immediately returned to the house, got the butcher-knife, and. mounting the hill again, seized the buck by the horns, out his throat and hauled him home on the snow crust. This feat was witnessed by Megj. Evans from his house on the opposite side of the valley.
At another tim ,, when a mad dog made his ap- pearance in the cow-yard one Sunday morning. in the absence of her husband, she got his rifle, and, with cool and deliberate aim, shot the dog while on his rabid run from one animal to another.
When the great civil war came. five of her sons volunteered for the defense of the Union. To all of them she gave words of cheer ant encouragement. never for a moment. by word or look. dissnading from a movement that had her heartiest sympathy.
She was intense in her hatred of slavery. and in her Joyalty to Goverment.
Having done the work assigned her in her day and generation. she was called from health to death in a few days' sickness in her eighty sixth year, at the residesce of her son-in-law. Edward Cookson. Esq .. in Cranberry Township, on the early morning of June 15, 1582. surrounded by many of her children. relatives and friends.
On the evening of the following day, her body was laid to rest beside that of her husband, in the cemetery of the Covenanter Church, where she had worshiped for over half a century.
Her children were John, Andrew, Jesse, Isaac, Jose h. Archibald. Lowis. Harvey. William. Hannah Jane, Thomas Guthrie and Mordecai Graham, all of whom yet live except Jesse. Lewis and Harvey.
CHAPTER XXV.
MIDDLESEX.
Adventiders In the Tawuship in 19 -- They become Settler. Later Jane's Harbison, Matthew Wigfield, George Days and other P'to neeIs The Itinerant Tailor-Flood of Isas-dames Parks, Joseph Firk. James Fulton, Samuel Rippy. Joseph and Thomas Logan First School-Dr. MeBride -Churches-Glade Mills and Cooper
M IDDLESEX TOWNSHIP, in the southern part of the county. contains many handsome farms and beautiful residences. Although the surface is mhoven and diversified by many ol vations, dingles and dolls. the soil is uniformly fertile and in a high state of cultivation. The larg, como lions barns and onthouses, the well-fenced farms and the superb specimens of stock -- horses, cattle, shepp. etc. speak of thrift. intelligence and unflinching industry. The township includes quite a large population, represen- tatives of various nationalities. It contains six schools, each having an average attendance of fifty- five pupils, three churches, Presbyterian. United Presbyterian and Methodist, four stores, one hotel until recently, a large flonring mill and a post office. The inhabitants of this township are, as a whole, in good circumstances financially, and their condition of life at the present tells the story of past thrift and providence.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND SETTLERS.
One is apt to forget the fact that less than a cent- ury ago, this, with other portions of the county, was naught but a wilderness-dense forests of trees and tangled glades covering the surface and infested with wild animals. Let us wander back in imagination through the vista of past years, and learn something of the pioneer life of ancestors of many of the pres- ent inhabitants of this township.
Close research develops the fact that among the first " pale. faces " who came into that portion of But- Jer County now Middlesex Township, were James Harbison. Abram Fryer. James Hall and William Hultz. They were hunters, and came from east of the Alleghanies to view the country and in search of game, in the year of 1798. The simple record is that they crossed the ice below Tarentum. at " Logan's Ferry." They ent their names on several large oaks that they might remember the place when they should return one year later. The evening of their arrival was on the 10th of January, and on the same night they made their beds in the show, which was one foot in depth, and there they rested during the night. It can be easily imagined how their sleep was broken frequently by the barking of wolves near. The Tol lowing day. the JIth. they returned to their former homes. One year later, the whole party came back to
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
the same place and built cabins, that they might hold certain claims of territory, and. in 1795, they settled permanently upon them.
James Harbison was from east of the Alleghany Mountains. When he emigrated to Middlesex Town- ship he was twenty four years oldl. He married Mary Brown, in the year 1797, and had nine children -Mathew. George. James, John. William Robert, Thompson, Mary and Maragret. At the presont time. James, Robert and Thompson are living in the township and have families. James is aged sov- enty eight; Robert. seventy-one: Thompson, sixty. Mary married David Moorhead. and is living in Bnf- falo Township. Margaret married John Cowan, at present residing in Manchester. Allegheny County. John S. Harbison, son of Thompson and grandson of James Harbison. married Clara Nelson, and is follow - ing the ocenpation of farming in this township.
George Hays, according to the positive statements of his descendants, was a settler in this township in 1793. He must have been the first actual resident, The place of his location was the farm now owned by W. ILickey. He was of Welsh extraction. born and reared near Philadelphia. His wife was Sally Me- Cornish, They remained in the township until their deaths. which oreurred, respectively. about the years 1837 and 1840. They had a largo family. The ekl- est was lohn. He became a resident of Butler Vil- lage in 1503. and followed cabinet-making. In 1809. he removed to Pittsburgh, where he remained until 1818. At that time. he returned to Butler County and settled upon the farm in Middlesex, now owned by his son George W. Hays, the County Commission- er, and there lived un'il his death. A brother. Will iam, is still living in the township. All of the others -- David George. James, Nancy. (Deary), Ann (Ful ton), Jane (Fulton) and Sally (Taylor) -- are deceased.
Thomas Martin, a native of Ireland, served in the American army all through the Revolutionary war, and after its close, settle I abont seven miles from Pittsburgh. About the year 1793. Ine came to Middle sex Township with his family, and began to make a home in the then almost unbroken wilds of this part of the State. After a short residence here, the family were driven away by the Indians and took rofnge in a block-house where Allegheny City now is. The troubles being over. the family returned and resided in this township. Mr. Martin died in Jefferson Township. His children were Richard. James, Alex- ander, William, John. Mary and Jane. Richard. James and Alexander settled and roared families in this county. William and John went to Ohio Will. iam lived and died in the vicinity of Cincinnati. John settled in Columbiana County. Ohio, and be- care a Representative and a State Senator. All of
the sous were in the war of 1812. Mary married William Harbison, and lived in Butler County. Jane married Jobn Madden, and died in Ohio.
Silas Miller, a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, or of New Jersey, was born in 1752. In 1787. he ro. moved to Westmoreland County, and was for a time employed along with others in protecting the settle- monis against the Indians. Ho settled in Middlesex Township in 1794, and followed hunting. trapping and farming. In 1831. he Toll from the roof of a burning stable, and died from the injuries then re- ceived. His eight children were Robert, Silas, Jo- seph and James : Margaret. Martha. Jane and Nancy. Joseph Miller passed his days entirely in this State. He came to Butler County when four years of age. In 1513. he volunteered for the defense of Fort Erie. His family of thirteen children are all living, except ing the second and the twelfth. Their names are Jesse E., Jacob R., Mary A., Sarah J .. Nancy, Mar- garet, Silas, Joseph, Eliza. John R., James. Adam and Ezekiel D. Joseph Miller. Sr .. died in 1877, in his rigthy-eighth year; he was a farmer and a carpenter. besides being a skillful hunter. His son, Jesse E., reared a family of fifteen children-eight daughters and seven sons.
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