USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 59
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The Butler Branch Railroad passes through this township, following the winding course of the Little Buffalo through a most picturesque region.
There have been nooil developments in this town- ship. Coal has been mined on a small scale for some years.
SETTLEMENT.
Buffalo Township is among the oklest settlements in the county. When emigration from the eastern part of the State to the land northwest of the Alle-
RESIDENCE OF HON. A. D. WEIR.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
gheny River began. very naturally the settlers fixed upon locations near the river, and, by degrees. worked further inland. Of course there were some exceptions to this rule, but not many. Buffalo Town- ship. being near the river, and also adjacent to the early settlement at Freeport, therefore came to be populated some years before the wilds of other parts of the county had been penetrated by the adventurous pioneer. Here, as elsewhere in this part of the coun- ty. the first settlers were Scotch Trish, many of whom had resided in Westmoreland County before coming hither. The southern part of the township, being heavily timbered, was considered the most desirable land for settlement, and was therefore the first takeu up and improved. We note one exception the Bell settlement, in the northern part of the township, near the Winfield line. But as nearly all of the high land in the northern half of the township was covered with glades, and on that account deemed almost worthless, few early comers sought to make their homes upon it. Although there were several families in the township before the beginning of the present century. the march of improvement was very slow, as the condition of their surroundings was not such as to stimulate the pioneers to perform more labor than was essential for procuring the bare necessities of life. The growth of population, too. was exceedingly slow. But gradually the primitive methods of living, satisfied with little. gave place to a more ambitious and enterprising spirit. and. during the last forty years. the growth and development of this township has been rapid. compared with the preceding period Buffalo is wide-awake and progressive to-day, and its people are not slow to avail themselves of opportunities for in- creasing the value of their property and constantly carrying forward, the work of improvement.
This part of the county must have been a favorite resort for the Indians. Its numerous streams. its nearness to the river, and its glades, combined to make it so.
But, after the whites became permanently estab- lished here, the savages made their visits less and less frequent, and, in a few years, discontinued them altogether.
Permanent settlers who came within the present limits of this township previous to IS00 were the Bells. Elliotts. Sarvers. Harbisons, Flemings and others. There were several "squatters " whose stays . were more or less transitory, some of whom will be mentioned in the sketch that follows.
At this late date, it is almost impossible to state absolutely who should receive the credit of making the first clearing and building the first cabin in the township. However, there is evidence that points pretty clearly. to George Bell as the first actual set
tler. His farm was east of the Little Buffalo, in the extreme northern part of the township. A beautiful round-topped elevation, among the highest land in the township, known as " Bell's Knob." and a stream known as Boll's Run, serve to perpetuate his name. though the man himself is now remembered by but few. After some years' residence in this township. Bell removed to Allegheny County, and. later, to Armstrong County, where he died. He had no sons so far as we can learn. and only two daughters-Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. Smith, His farm eventually came into the hands of Dr. Joseph Caldwell, who lived npon it and practiced medieine here several years. Bell settled in this township as early as 1795, and he may have been here earlier.
Robert Elliott was a native of County Antrim. Ireland. When eight years of age, he came to this country, and lived for some years before coming to this county in Westmoreland. In 1795, he came to the western part of Buffalo Township as it now is, and selected a spot for a farm, built a cabin and re- moved his family to it in the spring of 1796. He was'fortunate in his selection of land, as the beauti- ful farms in the Elliott neighborhood now attest. The Indians had not yet entirely left the country, but they gave this family no trouble. Robert Elliott lived to the age of eighty-four. Of his children. but one survives James, the youngest. He was born in 1506, and is now the oldest resident of the township. His nephew. John M .. born in 1511, is the next old ost resident. The sons of Robert Elliott were John. William R., Samuel and James; his daughters were Mary, Rebecca, Martha, Jane and Elizabeth. John was accidentally killed when a boy. at school, by a limb torn off a tree during a gale. Samuel died in 1827. William R. was six months in the war of 1812. He died in 1869, at the age of eighty-two. He was an early Justice of the Peace in this town- ship. His wife was Sarah Montgomery. who bore nine children, eight of whom are living, five being residents of this township.
Probably the first orchard in the township was planted by Robert Elliott, who brought his trees from Westmoreland County. Samnel Elliott built the first brick house in the township-that in which Adam Byerly now lives -in 1826. The first frame barn in the township was erected by William R. Elliott in the summer of 1530. It is BDASI feet, and is still standing.
Benjamin Sarver came into this township from Allegheny County about the year 1795 or 1796: en gaged immediately in the crection of a grist-mill, suffering many hardship -. During the time he was builling the mill. he walked from Tarentum to Sar. versville every week tabont nine miles), carrying with
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
him the provisions necessary to support him during the week. On one occasion, when he was returning to his home, he was so much exhausted with hanger (his provisions having run short), that he satisfied his hunger by eating raw pumpkins, obtained from a pio- neer's patch along the path he was traveling.
A man named Brooks, on the Houry Baker farm, was an early pioneer, and died in this township. William Colmar lived on the farm afterward.
About the same time-1795 or 1796-a Sinith family lived on the Grant farm, afterward occupied by John Gibson, a son of St. Clair Gibson, an early settler in Allegheny County,
from distances of five and six miles to cut and haul a winter's supply of wood, or perform some other act to relieve the family from coll and want.
The children of Joseph and Jane Simmers wore six in number-James, Winfield Township; George. Buffalo: Martha (Shannon), died in Buffalo: Jacob, on the old homestead; Mary ( Ross) and Catherine (Hunneb), Buffalo.
Mr. Sarver lived to an oll ago: raised a large fam- ily. all of whom are now deceased, whose descendants are now numerous, and aro sproad wide over the Probably there had been an Indian encampment on the Simmers farm before the white settlers came, or perhaps hostile tribes may have there encountered each other and fought. Hundreds of flint arrow. heads have been found near a spring a short distance from Jacob Simmers' house. After the family settled here, wolves and bears used to prowl around the house, and frequently at evening the smell of meat cooking attracted them very near. county. His son John settled a farm on the south- ern boundary of this township, pursued very success- fully the business of farming; married Miss Sarah Burtner, daughter of John Burtner, of Allegheny County, raised a family of nine children-four sons and five daughters, By industry and economy, Mr. Sarver was enabled to settle his sons around him on good farms. all of whom are living in comfort, except Daniel. who died several years ago. Henry Sarver There was far more sociability in early days than at present. Neighbors five miles apart frequently exchanged visits. Everybody was acquainted with all the residents of his neighborhood, and usually on inti- lives on the old homestead on which he was born in the year 1822. He has lived here peacefully, and, although not blessed with a wife, he is blessed with a spirit of improvement and a desire to further every . mate terms with them. "Neighborhood " then meant good cause.
anywhere within a radins of from six to ten miles.
John and Massy Harbison were among the first I settlers. Their location was on the Weaver farm. near the county line. The narrative of Massy Harbi- son's sufferings from Indian barbarities will be found in the general history. She was born in Somerset County, N. J., in 1770, and was the daughter of Ed- ward White, a Revolutionary soldier, who settled near Brownsville, on the Monongahela River, in 1753.
The farm now owned by Jacob Simmers was set- tled in 1796, by Mrs. Mary Steele and her son John | In 1757, she was married to John Harbison. He and daughter Mary, who came from Westmoreland participated in the Indian expedition of Gen. St. Clair under Capt. Guthrie, and was wounded on the 4th of November, 1791. when St. Clair was defeated. Harbison built a mill on Buffalo Creek in 1807. and remained upon the farm he had taken up until his death, in IS22. The children of John and Massy Harbison were JJohn. James, Betsey, Peggy, William, Mattie, Thomas, Nelly Jane, Benjamin and Sina. Two were killed by the Indians. John was the child she carried in her arms at the time of her escape from the captivity of the savages. He went West when old. and died at the age of eighty-eight. James was born a few months after the adventure with the In- dians. He settled, in 1332. upon the farm where his son, R. M. Harbison, now lives. William settled in Lawrence County. Thomas lived in Buffalo Town- ship, on the farm now owned by his son James. Bet sey became Mr -. Simmons, and Peggy Mrs. Taylor. County. After residing here for a time, John Steele returned to Westmoreland County. Jane became the wife of Joseph Simmers, whose father. George, a (ferman, was an early settler in Allegheny County. Joseph Simmers was killed by being thrown from a horse about the year 1820. In those days, the near- est salt works were at Conemaugh, and it was custom- ary for the settlers to go there and exchange their produce for salt and other supplies, carrying their loads by means of horses and pack-saddles. Mr. Sim- mers and one of his neighbors, Mr. Elliott, were about setting out on one of these expeditions, Sim- mers carrying a dressed hog on one horse and leading another horse behind. The horse which he rode took fright at sight of the carcass of the hog and became unmanageable. Though an expert horseman. he was thrown to the earth and trampled upon, receiving such injuries that he died before he could be carried . Sina married a Mr. Sharp. Nelly Jane (Murphy) home. This calamity occurred in sight of the house. The widow and her young children were thus left with no one to provide for them; but their kind heart- el neighbors freely lent their assistance, gathering died in Pittsburgh in 1882. Mrs. Mattie Wiley and Benjamin are the only survivors of the family. The former lives in Little Washington, and the latter in Allegheny County.
JOSIAH WATT.
JOSEPH LOGAN.
JOSEPH PORTER.
JOS, GRAHAM.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
William Kiskadden, another of the earliest pio- neers, was an Irishman, and had served seven years and six months in the Revolutionary war. He first. settled near where Monroeville now is; moved several times, but died in this township. His only son, William, died of small-pox when young. His daugh- ters were Nancy (Helms), Margaret (MeKee). Jane (Anthony), Betsey (Anthony), Sarah (Schwartz), Mary (Leitel) and Rebecea (Sarver). All lived to have families. Only Mary and Rebecca lived in this county.
After Kiskadden's settlement, the family were fre. (mnently visited by Indians, who came to beg. One old savage took a fancy to one of the daughters, and said he would give half a bushel of gold if she would become his squaw. As in the case of the tempter in the Bible, it is doubtful if he owned what he offered to give away.
Of the Harbisous who settled in the township, James married Jane Waddle. Their children num- bered three, and are located as follows: Barbara (Harshberger). Clinton: Catharine (Elliott) and Rob- ert M .. Buffalo Township. Thomas Harbison settled in Buffalo in 1522. His wife was Jane MeCurdy. They had five children, who reached years of matur- ity-John, Mary. James, David and Elizabeth. John died in this township. Mary (Hilliard) and the two surviving sons live in this county. Elizabeth ( Mitch- ell) resides in Freeport.
About 1797, Robert Carson settled in the western part of this township. Afterward, he exchanged his farm for land on Bull Creek. in the southeastern part · of Clinton. He died in St. Louis at an advanced age. He had reached the age of ninety-two before he left this county. His sons were Hugh, John, George, Thomas, Rowan and Samuel. He had also two daughters- - Margaret and Jane. Of the sons, only Rowan died in this county. Thomas lived most of his life here, and died in the State of Indiana.
Thomas Fleming came from one of the Eastern States, and, about 1797, settled in this township. He was the progenitor of the Fleming family in this county, and his descendants are very numerous. Like many of the early settlers, Fleming ran a distil- lery. He kept a number of hogs, which he fed on the waste prodnets of the still. He was on a trip to the eastern part of the State with a drove of hogs when he was taken sick, and died on the Alleghany Mountains, His sons were Allen. Robert, John, Thomas, Samnel, Alexander and James. His daugh- ters were Rebecca and Elizabeth. The former died young. Elizabeth, the oldest daughter, married Dan- iel Cavett for her first husband, and John Anderson for her second.
The Ekas family is now very numerous in Buffalo
and Clinton. John Ekas, its progenitor, was a native of Pennsylvania, who settled in this township in ISIS. Hugh McKee had been on the farm before him. The Ekas family came to this county with a wagon and four horses. The wagon was the first ' that appeared in the neighborhood, and was brought here with mueh difficulty. The turnpike over the mountains was then just building, and the route was in a very bad condition. They were eight or nine days coming 100 miles. John Ekas was the father of nine children. three of whom were born here. Ja- cob. the oldest, still resides in this township, and is as lively and cheerful as in his youthful days. The other children are John (deceased), Joseph, Adam (docense.1). Thomas, Heury. Elizabeth (Fleming, de- ceased). Sarah (Barker, deceased), Polly (Lafevre), Barbara (Cooper), Susannah (Harbison) and Catharine (Strawig. )
The Ekases were famous for their hunting ex- ploits, and many wolves yielded their scalps. At one time they killed a she wolf and nine young ones in a den on Smith's Creek. First, a number of shots were fired into the den, but of course it was impossi- ble to know what they had effected. Finally, Jacob volunteered to go in and investigate. He crawled juto the narrow opening between two rocks, felt his way along, and, putting his hand on the old wolf. found that she moved not. Supposing she had moved, where might he be to-day ? The place was so con- fined that he could not turn around, but was obliged to erawl out backward, until those outside could get hold of his heels and pull him out. Another time. they received $57 bonnty at one time, the scalp of an old wolf bringing $S, and that of a young one, half as much. Their hunting experiences would fill many pages, but we must pass over them thus briotly.
James Roney was born in Ireland, and came to Philadelphia a young man, and there married. In 1819, he moved from Chester County and settled in Buffalo Township, on land which is now the Doyle farm. He afterward moved to the Elliott neighbor- hood. and there died. Of his children, Thomas J. lived in Armstrong County: James M. now resides in Pittsburgh; Jane (Weir) and Mary ( Weaver) are dead. " James M .. the only survivor of the family, is now seventy-three years old. He has a son, D. MI. Ro- ney, now living in Summit Township, and another. James M .. in Chio. One daughter. Naney A. ( Wat son), resides in Buffalo Township. Two of his chil- dron. Eliza JJane and William M. B., are dead.
One of the pioneers of this township, as well as one of its most worthy and respected citizens, was John Weir. He was born in County Donegal. Ire- land. in 1775, passed through the revolution of 1795. and, in the year 1800, emigrated to the United States
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
settling at Wilmington. Del. There he engaged as an employe in the powder mannfactory of E. I. Du Pont, and remained steadily fourtoon years, except- ing the time he was in the army. In 1812, he was married to Miss Jane Roney, and, the same year, eu- listed in his country's service in which he remained nutil the elose of the war. Iu 1518 he made a trip to this county, coming and returning on horseback, to select a spot for a farm. On returning to Wilming- ton, he purchased of E. I. Du Pont, a large land hold er, a piece of land in Buffalo Township.
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In 1819, Mr. Weir moved to this county with wag. ons, bringing his family, which then consisted of his wife and five children. He settled upon the present Weir farm, which then had a few acres cleared and a small log cabin upon it. His neighbors were few. and his surroundings were all of the wildest descrip- tion. At the time of his settlement, there were only four farms upon the old road between Freeport and Butler. But, entering upon the work before him with bravery, his diligent industry soon bore fruit, and his toil was rewarded abundantly. Mr. Weir was widely known and everywhere esteemed for his integrity and uprightness. H. was also prominent both in civil and military affairs, and active in pro- moting every public interest. Until he was sixty years old, he served as Captain of militia. He was an earnest supporter of schools and churches. and was largely influential in advancing the prosperity of both. Being electel one of the first School Direct. ors in this township, he labored assiduously to get schools established upon a permanent basis, and to increase their utility. Capt. Weir was a useful citi. zen. He died in 1870, at the advanced age of ninety- five. Mrs. Weir lied in 1564, aged seventy-tive. We mention each of their children in the order of age. John now resides in Pittsburgh: William died in Freeport: Elizabeth ( Murray). lives in Minne- sota: Mary (Callan) in Freeport; Margaret ( Martin). died at Oil City: Sophia (Morris) resides in Free port: Alfred D., in Buffalo Township; and Jane ( Baird), in Freeport.
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Jesse Glenn and his son James settled about 1820 near the county line. James moved to Butler and died thore. Afterward, Isaac Hawes lived there for many years. William Painter bought the Farm from him. Hawes ran a distillery several years.
One of the most peculiar characters was oldl John Black, who settled in the Harbison neighborhood about 1830. He had either lived among the Indians or had been among them enough so that he was fa- miliar with many of their customs. When well warmed by copious drams of whisky, Black was arenstomed to imitate the Indian war whoop, and the neighbors always knew when he was on a spree from the wild,
strange sounds that issued from his throat. He had no palate, and. in the absence of that useful append- age to one's vocal apparatus, talked through his nose. He could imitate any sound he had ever heard. and frequently gave vent to owl hoots which could scarce- ly be distinguished from the genuine. His son Jack was equally well skilled in the art of mimiery.
Black was a great hunter, and, as is not unusual with those who are fond of the chase, had no great respect for the Sabbath. Every winter, at the first fall of snow, he wonkl be found in the wood- hunt. ing deer. Once, when there were several light falls of snow in early winter, nearly every one chanced to fall on Saturday, and of course John did not allow the coming of Sunday to interfere with him in his pursuit of his favorite pastime. One Sunday. Thomas Harbison, who happened to be Constable at that time, found Black returning home from a deer hunt in which he had been successful. The old man tied to hide his gun in a hay stack as Harbison drew near. The latter began to rail at him as he saw this movement, and shouted. "Ah! Five dollars from you, oll fellow! Five for me!" " Well." returned Black. " if I pay, I might as well get the deer home, I suppose. Help me!" " Oh, yes," assented the Constable. and the two moved toward Black's house, carrying the deer. Presently they came upon a flock of wild turkeys. Black did not appear to notice them, and, when his attention was called to them. said he had hunting enough for one lay. " Well," said Harbison, " if you won't shoot, lend me your gun:" and. taking the weapon. he soon brought down a tine large turkey. Old Black was now jubilant. The Constable had exposed himself to the penalty of the law. " By thunder! " shouted the old man, with his peculiar intonation, " I guess the five dollars is for me this time! " And, indeed, had the penalty been imposed, it would have been much more than that s11.
In 1822. Jacob Byerly moved from Westmoreland County and settled on a farm in the western part of the township, where Robert Carson had previously made a small improvement. He paid about $3 per aere for his land. He worked at farming and under. taking. Mr. Byerly died in 1854. His widow, Mrs. Susannah (Hepler) Byerly, is still living, at the age of seventy-eight. Of their nine children, eight are still living Martha (Burtnor), Allegheny County: Mary ( Ekas), Clinton Township: John, Buffalo; Mi- chael. Jefferson: Jacob. Buffalo; Phoebe, died in West- moreland County; Benjamin, Adam and Elizabeth Jane. Buffalo.
Peter Doyle, a native of Ireland, emigrated to America and spent a year in Vermont: then came to Butler County in 1830. In 1532 he settled on the
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
farm where his son Nicholas now lives. The place had been somewhat improved previously. Of his children. three are living, viz. : Stephen, Kansas City, Mo .; Nicholas, Buffalo Township; and Mary, Rochester, N. Y.
William Barker came to this county in 1825. at the age of fifteen. He is a son of John Barker, who set- tled on the Potts farm about 1797. in Middlesex Township, and afterward removed to Allegheny County. William Barker settled. in 1832, on the present Thomas Ekas farm, on which he made the first improvement, and on his present farm in 1851. His first wife. Sarah Ekas, died in 1551. Four chil- dren of this marriage are still living, viz. : Saralı (McGinnis). Buffalo Township; Margaret (Clow). Me. Kean County; John, Natrona: and Isabel ( Martin), Missouri. For his second wife he married Mrs. Catharine Emrick. Mr. Barker has served in various local o'tiees, and has been Justice of the Peace.
1835, and settled near Hannahstown. In 1850. he . acceptably to his constituents.
Matthew Greer came from Washington County in settled upon the farm on which he now resides. Jo. seph Painter made the first improvement on this place, and Robert Hetsilgeser lived upon it previous to Mr. Greer. Mr. Greer is the father of two sons and six daughters, who are living. His son, Matthew M., is the present Prothonotary of Butler County. Mr. Greer was County Commissioner, elected in 1861.
M. N. Greer, Esq., was born in Washington County. Penn .. but at a very early age he came to this county with his father's family. He was educat. ed mainly in the public schools, but also attended Meadville College for some time.
Mr. Greer became a very successful teacher, which business he followed in connection with agriculture till the outbreak of the rebellion, when he entered the service of the country in Company D. One Hun- dred and Thirty seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Vol- unteers; after serving his term of enlistment. for nine months, again enlisted, in Company L. -
Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was taken prisoner at Martinsburg, Va., and lodged in prison at Andersonville; suffered everything but death ; was finally exchanged. discharged from the service, returned home, and, with very careful nursing, his life was spared. Mr. Greer has filled many local offi- ces. He was also elected Register and Reeorder of the county in 1872, and Prothonotary in 1852, which office he is now filling very acceptably to the people of the county.
G. C. Sedwiek, Esq .. was born in what is now Parker Township. this county. in the year 1501: came to this township in the year 1530; was married to Mrs. Naney Elliott. of whom were born soyen chil- dren. only two of whom survive, namely,' Mrs. Bar-
bara llaslett, now of Kansas, and Eliza F., wife of G. W. Cramer. Esq .. of this township. Esquire Sod. wick was one of the first puplic school teachers in this township, having been elected a teacher in 1536. the first year the public school went into operation here. H. W. Grant, Esq., once a member of the Leg. islature of Pennsylvania, and Hon. A. W. Weir, now one of the Associate Judges of this county. were among his pupils. Esquire Sedwick was serving his fourth term of Justice of the Peace at the time of his death. He. with a few others, organized Emery Chapel M. E. Church, of which he was a consistent member and active worker till the day of his death. G. W. Cramer. Esq .. was born in Monmouth County. Va .: entered the service of his country in his six- teenth year: served twenty seven months. when he was discharged by reason of wounds received in serv- ice. He was married in 1870. Elected Justice of the Peace to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Esquire Sedwick. He is now serving his third term
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