USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 57
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COOPERTOWN.
Coopertown is the name of a small hamlet in this township. and is about one mile south of Glade Mill. It contains about one dozen families, two or three of whom are well versed in the history of this township, having been among the early settlers. The place derives its name from one of its citizens. Mr. George Cooper, who kept the first hotel in it. He is quite
an aged man now. but sull wade at his trade of blacksmithing. Coopertown contains a store, a wagon and smith shop and a shoe shop.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1540, James Fulton, Robert Brown: IS15. Will- iam Cunningham, James Fulton: 1550, Johnston White. William Cunningham; 1856, William Cun- ninglumin. Samuel MeNeal: 1860, George Hays, Will- iam Cunningham: 1865, Andrew Barclay. George W. Hays: 1569. Robert Trimble: 1870. Johnston White. 1571. Robert Trimble: 1877. T. H. Lyon: 1579. Robert Trimble: 1SS1. J. H. Starr.
CHAPTER XXVI.
CLINTON.
The Powers and their Experiences-Patrick Harvey, Stiuchromh Pants and others-The Watson, Sefton and Anderson Families- Primitive Methods of Marketing-The Agriculture of Early Pays- Patrick Harvey and the Rear Early Schools -- Initial Events and Industries.
BOTH the surface and the soil of this township are somewhat variable. The northern half of the township is comparatively level, and in the north- eastern corner there is quite an extensive tract which is like a plain in its evenness. Some portions of this land are low and moist: generally. however. the drainage is good and the soil susceptible of casy cul- tivation. The southern part of Clinton is ent by the valleys of several small streams, tributarios or head waters of Bull Crook: consequently. the surface presents either a broken or rolling appearance. There is nothing wild or remarkably picturesque. but with a quiet. pleasing beauty, one green, grassy slope succeeds another: a forest adorns one ravine, while another has become a fertile field, cultivated oven to the water's edge: and far away to the southward stretch the hills of Allegheny County. In the soil clay. sand and gravel are found in varying propor tions, according to locality.
Coal abounds, to all appearances, in valuable quan- tities. As yet the coal resources are comparatively undeveloped, though coal has long boen mined here for home consumption. Oil has not yet been foundt in paying quantities, though the supply of natural gas seems almost limitless. There are five gas wells now in operation in this township. Three others were sunk, but are now exhausted. The first of these wells was put down on the Harvey farm in ISTA. The others were sunk in 1575 76. The depth of these wells is quite variable. The first well on the Harvey farm is 1, 15 foet. and the second on the same farm 1,772 foet. Those wells are owned by the Natural Gas Company, and their product is car-
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
ried in pipes to the Etna Iron Works of Spang & Challant.
The chief resources of the township. however, are agrienltural. Farming is the principal ocenpation of the citizens, and in skillful hands it is easily made a good and profitable business. Clinton contains no villages. but is a quiet, orderly, rural community, peopled by men of thrift and intelligence. No public house or licensed drinking saloon has ever been main- tained within the bounds of the township: all the temptations and allurements to vice and crime are at a distance from this prosperous locality, and safe in Christian homes, with examples of pure and useful lives constantly before them the youth of to-day are growing to the estate of manhood and womanhood, odneated and fitted to till the places of those who soon nist pass away to sleep where rest their forefathers whose life work of gonerons toil long since was ended.
Clinton is on the southern line of Butler County, adjoining Buffalo on the east, Middlesex on the west and Jefferson on the north. It was formed in 1854 from portions of Buffalo and Middlesex.
SETTLEMENT.
One noticeable feature in the history of this town- ship is the permanoney of its population. Most of those who came here to settle came to stay. and did stay until death removed them. The prosent popula- tion of the township largely consists of the descend- ants of the original settlers, representing far more early families than are generally to be found in one township.
The history of Patrick Harvey, the first settler, is given in full elsewhere.
George Plants came to the township about 1796. He moved away after a few years, when John Buri. ner settled upon the place. It is now known as the ; Grumpy farm.
About the same time, George Stincheomb made the first improvement on the Philip Snyder farm. Barnett Stopp ocenpied the farm afterward. and died there. Thomas Stewart also settled on the farm ad joining the Cunningham place. His son William lived here after him. All of the family are now gone from the township.
Samuel A. Rippy, Isaac Vorse and Robert MeCtin- nis wore in the township in 1799, and perhaps earlier. The stay of the two former was brief.
Thomas Watson, a Revolutionary soldier under Washington, was born in County Down. Treland. At the battle of Brandywine, he was taken prisoner by the enemy, but at length made his escape and found his way to a settlement known as Conococheagne. where he settled. learned the cooper's trade and mar- ried. In 1797. he came to the woods of Western
Pennsylvania, and settle I wituin the present territory of Clinton Township, with ludians, bears, panthers and wolves and a very few white people for his neigh- bors. He lived to be eighty soven and reared two children James and Reboren. The latter married Joseph Moore and lived in Allegheny County. James was a volunteer sollier in the war of 1812. He died upon the old homestead. He was the father of thir- teen children, of whom eight attained to mature years. Three are still living, viz . Mary Ann (Smith), Clin- ton Township: Maria (Andor-on), Alloghony County, and Thomas, Winfield Township.
Robert and Hugh Rillle, brothers, can . Irom Westmoreland County and settled in this township about the year 1798 Their descendants still remain here. Robert, who was about a year and a half ofter than Hugh, died in 1858. He was the father of six children, all of whom are dead. His son William lived upon the homestead farm. Hugh and Mary (Gordon) Rid dle had eleven children, of whom three are still living-Betsey (Elliott ), Buffalo Township: Robert and Polly, on the old farm. Hugh Riddie died in IS51. in his eighty-first year.
James Byrne, a Revolutionary soldier and a na- tive of Ireland, came to this county in 1800 and lo- cated where Edward Byrne now lives. His brother Edward came to the farm later. Both died here. Their nephew. James, came here from Ireland about USES, and afterward married Isabella Mediee. They reared seven children Mary Ann and Rosanna, dead: James ME and Catherine (Chant ort. Clinton Town- ship: Edward. Cliaton: Eliza MeGonigle), dead and Alice (MeNeab, Allegheny County.
Daniel Pugh was 'm early softler in the neighbor- hood now known as Paghtown. in the southwestern part of this township. He owned quite a large tract of land. on which his sons John, Michael and Peter live l. A coil bank has been operated by the Pughs for some years.
Henry Sefton came from Ireland, settled in Butler County. and married Jonnie Quinn, all in the same year- 1801. He was ont in the Ile war a short time. He died in 1840. aged sixty-one. His sons John and Henry are among the oldest residents of the township. The former was born in ISOB. The children of Hon- ry and Jounie Sefton numbered five sous and two danghters. The two sons above mentioned and one of the daughters -Mrs. Bieket-are the only surviv- ors. The youngest girl and the youngest son diod unmarried. The others all settled in this county and reared familios. Following are the names of all: Edward. James. John, Henry and William; Jane (Bieket), Mary Ann. Catharine and Ellen.
Mr. Sefton was offered the farm adjoining his for his rifle, but he rofrsed the offer, considering the
CAPT. WILLIAM WALKER.
JONATHAN WALKER.
THE WALKER FAMILY
This family, which has played a conspicuous part in the affairs of the State and Nation, originated in Cumberland County. John Walker. the progenitor of the Butler County Walkers, was born in Cumberland County and was largely identified with its business interests. having owned. at one time, nearly all of the iron works there. Through his nat- ural benevolent impulses, he gave bail to irresponsible parties, and lost his entire property. While residing in Cumberland County, he was commissioned a Major of militia, and his commission, dated May 1, 1787, is still in possession of his descendants. Ile married Isabella McCormick. The family moved to Washington County, where he died.
John Walker was a man of remarkable physical stature, standing six feet and seven inches in his stockings. His sons were all over six feet, one of them (Jonathan) standing six fort five inches, and his brother, William, six feet and one and one-half inches.
John Walker had six sons-William, who was a lawyer and naval officer; Thomas and Jonathan, who were farmers; James, John 11. and David O. James died young. John HI. was a lawyer in Erie, Penn., and President of the Constitu- tional Convention which framed the Constitution of the State. David O. practiced law in Erie and afterward in Butler. IIe died in Missouri. These brothers were full cousins to lon. Robert J. Walker, the National Secretary of State under Pierce and afterward Governor of Kansas. At- torney General Brewster is married to a daughter of Hon. R. J. Walker. Capt. William Walker was a representative of this family well known to Butler County people. He was a man of a refined and vigorous intelleet, and his many excel- lent traits of character won him hosts of friends. He served as Justice of the Peace in this county for many successive years, and the name "Squire Walker " was a synonym for honesty, fairness and integrity of principle. Ile was born in Cumberland County and educated at Carlisle College. He studied law; then entered the United States Navy, in which he served five years with Decatur, in the fleet with Bainbridge and others. During the war with Tropoli and Algiers, the fleet was stationed in the Mediterranean for a considerable time. Capt. Walker was a Past Midshipman when the noted authors, J. Fenimore Cooper and J. K. Paulding. were in the service. In an article written long ago by Paulding for "Godley's Ladies' Book," the author speaks of his old ship- mates, and wonders what has become of William Walker. C'apt. Walker had command of one of Jefferson's gunboats, and was so exact in all his methods that his fellow-officers called him "Commodore." It has been stated by those who knew him well that his exemplary conduct would have won
for him the position of Commodore had he remained in the service. But he and several of his fellow-seamen- Cooper and Paulding among the rest-became dissatisfied with the management of the gunboats and left. He was in the war of 1812. and at Lake Erie. After the war, Capt. Walker acted as a Captain of steamboats on the river for a number of years. His father's brother, Jonathan Il. Walker, who had been a lawyer in Bedford. removed to Pittsburgh, where he was made Judge. Ile appointed William Clerk of Courts of Allegheny County, a position which the latter held several years, but finally resigned, from natural magnanimity, to give place to one whom he considered a needy and deserving applicant. He then retired to Butler County, where he had invested in a large tract of land, in partnership with two of his brothers, and spent the remaining years of his life in quiet and sech sion. He died, greatly beloved and respected. in 1855, at the age of seventy-two. Capt. Walker married Isabella Blaine. daughter of Alexander Blaine. of Cumberland County. James Blaine, a brother of Alexander, married first Jane Hoge and second Margaret Lyon. Their -on, Ephraim, married Maria Gillespie, whose son is Hon. James G. Blaine. Capt. Walker was the father of two children-Mrs. Mary Isabella Kay. now aresident of Clinton Township, and Grizella, who died young.
Jonathan Walker, as has already been stated, was a farmer. He came to this county in 1823. having purchased, with his brothers, William and Thomas, a traet of over one thousand acres of land near the village of Saxonburg. The brothers, Jonathan and Thomas, settled upon this tract, and made sheep-raising their business. William, on account of an accident in which he had his breast bone broken, was in capacitated for physical labor, and turned his attention to other duties. Thomas died in 1839. Jonathan carried on farming most successfully, and was a prominent and inth- ential citizen. lle was honest and honorable in all his inter course with the world, and looked with disdain upon every- thing which showed the least resemblance to hypocrisy or dishonesty. He lived a pure and upright life, and died. hon ored and respected, in 1879. in the righty-third year of his age. Ile married Rebecca Mecks, of Allegheny County, and was the father of twelve chilldren-JJohn Il .. now residing in Iowa; Grizella McCormick. now the wife of M. N. Greer. the present Prothonotary of Butler County: Thomas McCormick, formerly a resident of lowa, now deceased: Rebecca, de- ceased: Oliver J .. Tarentum, Allegheny County: William II .. Butler: Isabella McCormick Ist, deceased: Isabella MeCor- mick (90), the wife of J. B. Miller. Kansas; Jane, now Mrs. R. D. Mahan, Kansas, Jonathan, a farmer on the old home- stead: Henrietta Rebecca, the wife of Augustus Walters, ro. siding on part of the old farm: Margaret Elizabeth, the wife of R. D. Wiley. Washington County.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
weapon of the most valne. The family had their full share of pioneer hardships. Wolves, especially, gave them great annoyance. One night they killed twenty- tour sheep. Only one of the flock escaped. That one crept into a log-heap, out of the way of the savage brutes. John Sefton, son of Henry Sefton, Sr., mar- ried Isabel Bryson. His children are John B., Will- iam H. and Robert. Henry Sefton married Isabel Purvis, daughter of William Purvis, of Middlesex Towi.ship. Their children are as follows: Emily : Henry P., deceased; William O., deceased: Obed. de- ceased: Tirzah Ann, Nathaniel, Isabella, Lavina .... deceased. William and Obed died from the effects of disease contracted while in the army.
Francis Anderson was one of the first Justices of the Peace in Butler County. He was born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, came to the western part of this State. married Jane MeGary, in West- moreland County, and. in 1802, settled upon the place now occupied by his son Samuel. This farm had been taken up by Robert MeGinnis in 1799, and he continued to reside here some years after Anderson came. The property was transferred to Anderson by McGinnis in 1809. Squire Anderson was in the war of 1812 as a member of the militia. He was a great hunter, fond of the sport and usually very successful in his expeditions. If he did not kill from three to five deer in a day. he thought his " luck " had been very poor. The children of Francis and Jane Ander- son were as follows: Mary, died when about nineteen years of age: John. lived in this township, and died at the age of seventy-eight; Jane (Murray). died in Westmoreland County; William, died near New Or- leans: Francis, settled and died in Clinton; Robert, was a physician, and died at Prospect, Washington County; Elizabeth (Cochran), is living in Westmore- land County: Shopley H., died near Natchez. Miss. ; James, died in the army, at Louisville, Ky., in 1863; Samnel, resides upon the old homestead. Francis Anderson was elected County Commissioner in 1807. He died in 1839, aged sixty-five. Mrs. Anderson died in 1850, aged seventy-three.
Very primitive methods of marketing necessarily prevailed in early times. Hogs were frequently car- ried to market on horseback-there was no other way. The legs of two hogs were tied together by a hickory withe and the load balanced thuis upon the pack-sad- dle, a hog on each side of the horse. Plows were made after the most ancient pattern, mostly of wood. Jolın Burtner. after his settlement, used to make them for the whole neighborhood. They were very rude affairs and so light as to require the greatest patience and dexterity from the operator. Thomas Lardin had one of the first metal plows. It was called the " patent plow," and when it had been tested and found
to work well, other settlers soon purchased plows like it. Harrows were made entirely of wood, including the teeth Horse collars were made of husks or ont- straw, and sewed together with a tow-string. Traces Were made of hickory withes.
The sickle was long used in harvesting. The first scythes that were introduced were short and broad, of untempered steel. They were known as " Dutch scythes." Instead of grinding. they were sharpened by pounding them upon an anvil. Mush, rye bread, johnny-cake and flour-bread formed the principal ar- ticles of food. It was wholesome food, and people enjoyed good health For many years, a man's daily wages in the harvest field were 50 cents, and he worked from sunrise until sunset.
About 1503, Thomas Lardin, a native of Ireland. came to this township, bringing his wife and three children. He settled near where his son William now lives. Ho died in 1833. aged eighty-six. His wife Christiana died about two years before. Their ehil- dren were as follows: Catharine, deceased; Mary (Montgomery). died in Clinton Township: Thomas died in Ohio: Jane, died in Allegheny County: John, went to Maryland, and is supposed to be dead; Dan- iel, lived in Allegheny County; James, died in Free. port: William, resides in Clinton; Robert, in Arm. strong County: Joseph and Margaret (twins): Joseph lives in Cambria County, and Margaret (Fulton) in Richland County, Ohio.
Lardintown. or Lardinville. is a small hamlet containing six houses, a grist mill. a blacksmith shop. a wagon shop and a small store. It was named for the Lardins, who owned the land. The first grist- mill here was erected by Daniel Lardin, in 1819 50. It was run by steam. William Lardin owned it later. It burned down, and the present mill was erected by Kier & Ekas. The Lardin Mill was the first over built in the to ynship, and the mill now standing is the only one' n the township.
Robert uff emigrated from freland and settled early within the present limits of Clinton Township. He reared several sons, most of whom went West. One of the sons. Thomas, spent most of his life in Butler County. and died in Winfield Township. where he settled in 1851. His only surviving son. Samuel. now lives in Winfield.
William Love, a native of Ireland, emigrated from the State of Delaware in 1806, with his family, and settled on the Harvey farm. After remaining there about twelve years he took up a farm among the glades in the northern part of the township, and built his house near the spot on which the residence of his son William now stands. The glulos were all covered with small sprouting saplings, while the ground was thiekly strewn with fallen logs. Mr. Love paid $2.50
P
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IHISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
per acre for his land. He died. in 1847. aged eighty- three. The children of William and Martha Love were seven in number. Rachel married George Kor- nahan, and lived in Allegheny County. Samuel mar- ried Elizabeth Halstead, and lived in Indiana County. James died when about twenty-one. Robert married Sarah Halstead, and resided in this township. Will- iam married Mary Thompson Both he and wife are still living on the old homestead. Elizabeth married Samnel Trimbell, and lived in Middlesex Township. Martha married James Korr: she is still living, and her home is in Jasper County, lowa.
Robert Love settled, in 1829, on the place where he died in 1882, in the eighty second year of his age. His widow still resides there. They had eight chil- dren, six of whom are living - Martha, Jane, James H. (deceased), Elizabeth, Sarah Ann. John, Rebecca, Rachel and Thomas L. (deceased).
John Davis was one of the earliest settlers in the northern part of Clinton Township. He came here from Lawrence County. His son Joseph lived upon the farm, and died there in ISSO.
A paper. now in the possession of J. B. Cunning- ham, states that a survey of the Cunningham farm was made for "James MeKor, by virtue of an im- provement," in March, 1791. The improvement must have been so slight that it was not noticed by subse quent arrivals, for later, James Copeland settled the farm and an affidavit made by him September 22, 1804, before Henry Evans, Justice of the Peace of Middlesex Township, declares that he " raised a cabin on said tract in March. 1797. and in May following moved his family " hither. Then he goes on to state somewhat obsenrely "that it was not improved before by himself or any other person under whom he claims that he hath now cleared at least fifteen acres of land. fenced and cultivated the same, and that he hath raised several crops of wheat. rye. corn, oats. buck wheat, potatoes, turnips and flax on the same. and that he. the said Samnel Copeland, is now actually settled and resides on the aforesaid tract."
About the year 1805, John Cunningham, a native of Ireland, came from near Greencastle. Fr nklin County, and settled on the farm above mentioned. The children of John Cunningham and Margaret. his wife, were Robert, Joseph B., Margaret, Mary and John. Robert and Jolm never married. Robert was among the earliest school teachers in the county. Margaret became Mrs. Glasgow, and resided in Alle gheny County. Mary was Mrs. Aiken. All the chil dren, except. Margaret, lived and died in Butler Con- ty. Joseph B., the second son, married Margaret Black, and lived on the home farm: he died in 1847: his widow still survives; four of their six children are living --- Margaret A. (May), lowa: Martha J.
( Miller). Allegheny County: John B. and Elizabeth, Clinton Township.
Stephen Brewer, who had served in the Indian war under Wayne, was an early settler near the center of the township. His sons John and Stephen live on the farm. William. Samnel and Joseph died in the township.
Absalom Monks, an early settler in the western part of Clinton, was a soldier of [8]2. His sons Ab- salom and John Wesley still reside upon the farm.
Garrett Moore served in the war of 1812. and sub- segment to its closs moved from Deer Creek to the Moore farm. in the southern part of this township, His step-father, Thomas Davis, had previously bought the place, and it was a little improved before Moore settled. John R . the only son of Garrett Moore, died on the farm in 1866. There were five daughters in the family. three of whom survive -Sarah (Smith) and Rhoda (Huddle). deceased; Mary ( Anderson). Jane (Brown) and Rachel (Jones) reside in Allegheny Citv.
John Burtner came from Burks County, and was an early settler on the Crumpy farm. His sons were Jacob, Philip. William, Daniel and Andrew. Of these, one survives-Andrew, in Missouri. His daughters were Barbara, Betsey, Catharine, Polly and Christiana. The latter died young. Barbara (Hawes) died in Ohio in 1882. Betsey (Ryan) 'died in Free- port. Catharine ( Emrick) lives in Peun Township. Polly (Ekas) resides in Clinton. Philip Burtner was in the war of 1812. He died in 1528. His wife was Ellen Gallaher. They raised four children to mature years, all of whom are now living -Peter, Cincinnati; Philip, Saxonburg: William. Clinton, and Fannie ( Hazlett), Butler.
James Love emigrated from Ireland in 1816 or 1817. and settled in this county. He was married before coming to this country, but his wife and his father. Samuel Love, came some two years later. James first located on the farm now owned by George Maizland. where he made considerable improvements; planted an orchard. etc. He afterward bought the farm which John Snyder and John Hockart had some- what improved James Love was a genial. social man, and contributed much to the pleasure and on joyment of the carly settlers. He had a fiddle which he played. but indifferently; but it was a rare thing in those days. and its music delighted both old and young. He died in 1857, aged sixty-seven years. The children of James and Naney ( Hutchinson) Love were James. Samnel, John. George, William. Oba- diab. Mary Aun (llackart), Robert and Sarah Jane (Armstrong). The survivors are James, Obadiah, John and George, Clinton; Robert, Westmoreland Connty, and Mrs. Armstrong, Allegheny City.
WILLIAM HARVEY .
THE HARVEY FAMILY.
To Patrick Harvey belongs the eredit of having made the first permanent settlement within the present township of Clinton, as well as the first in old Buffalo Township. Ile was born in County Down. Treland, in 1766. In 1787, he emigrated to Ameriea. After remaining one winter in the eastern part of the State, he came to Westmoreland County, where he remained until he began pioneer life in Butler County. In Westmoreland, he married Jane Burns, a native of this county, of Scottish descent. In 1792, Patriek Harvey crossed the Alegheny River, and under the guidance of John Harbison, who was then doing duty as an Indian scout or spy about the block-house at Freeport, with several others seeking lands, came within the present territory of Butter County, selected a farm, marked its boundaries hy blazing trees around it, then returnel to Westmoreland. The next year he again crossed the river into the wilds, and in what is now Sugar Creek Township, Armstrong County, selected a farm on which his cousin, John Patton, afterward settled, lived and died.
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