USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 64
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PIONEER REMINISCENCES.
The early settlers had some unpleasant neighbors in panthers, which haunted the Little Buffalo and the runs entering it. One day Hugh Smith and several other boys who had been to a raising in the southern part of the county, were returning home, when they discovered a half-grown panther, but did not know what it was. They set their dogs upon it and the panther climbed a tree. One of the boys ventured to climb the tree and essayed to seize the animal's tail and throw him down. The panther, however, jumped to the earth and was killed by the boys and the dogs. The old one was heard howling near by, but did not appear, Inekily for the boys.
A large wolf, said to have made tracks larger than a man's hand, frequented the Little Buffalo and Cornplanter Run. He was known as the " brindled wolf," and seemed capable of a great deal of mis- chief. In 1829. he killed five sheep belonging to Thomas Bickett and committed numerous other dep- redations. A reward of $50 was at length offered for his scalp, and Eckis, the hunter, succeeded in obtain- ing it.
A den of panthers was discovered by some one in the Smith neighborhood, near the Little Buffalo. The entire community of men and boys, with Billy Hazlett at the head, determined upon their destruction. First, they tried smoking them; then, procuring poles, they prodded in the den, but for a long time no pan- ther would issne forth. At last. they succeeded in getting one of the young ones out; but the oldl pan- ther was too wary for them, and was not secured.
Huge yellow rattlesnakes are frequently seen, and sometimes even found their way into houses, but now, like the wolves, bears aud panthers, their day is past.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
The settlers of this township being few and far apart, there were no schoolhouses built for some years. About 1815, a small log schoolhouse was built on the Robert Smith farm, and a school attended by pupils who came a distance of three and four miles, was taught by Isaac Lefevre. This schoolhouse had a clay ceiling. The chimney, extending only from the loft upward, was in the center of it. The fire-
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
place wal- square and fom logs were laid around it. The -cholars sat on benches of puncheons. After a few years, there were not enough scholars in this neigh borhood for a school, and the location was changed to the Hetsilgeser farm. where a school was kept in an old log house. Later. a log schoolhouse was built on the Fruhling farm.
The first school in the northern part of the town- ship was tanght by JJohn Kennedy in a schoolhouse on the Cypher farm.
EARLY MILLS, STORES, ETC.
Thomas Horton had a saw mill on Little Buffalo. near where Saxonburg Station now is, as early as 1506. It seemed a strange place for a mill. for only glades were near it. It was run soveral years, and. though a small affair, its services were very useful to the early settlers.
The first grist-mill in this part of the county was erected previous to 1812. by Jeremiah Smith and Ca- leb Jones. Its site was that of the present mill of the Denny Bros. The old mill received enstom from a wide extent of country. In 1817. it was bought by Peter MeLanghlin, who ran it until his death, in 1828. For the mill-site and 500 acres of land he was to pay 1.000 pounds of powder at $1 per pound. The old mill. with changes and improvements, continued in operation until 1853, when it was torn down and the large mill now on its site was created by the Dennys. The Dennys built a saw-mill in this part of the township in 1838, which was the second saw mill on Rough Run, in the northern part of Winfield.
Robert MeLanghlin started a powder mill about ISIS, which was in operation many years. Jola MeMaekin was in partnership with him and superin- tended the manufacture of powder. The establish- ment was afterward run by MeMackin and James Denny.
William Hazlett. an early settler on Rongh Run. built a grist mill below the Denny mill previous to 1820, and later, a saw-mill.
A furnace, long known as Winfield Furnace, for the manufacture of iron from native ore, was estab. lished in 1547 by William Spear. The ruins of it are still standing on Rough Run, near the eastern line of the township. It was a charcoal furnace, and consisted of a stone stack thirty three feet high and about twenty feet square at the base. Abundance of ore and limestone are found in the immediate vicini- ty. Spear carried on the business eight or ten years. Then it was conducted by the Winfield Coal & Iron Company, and later, by William Stewart. The fur. nace went out of blast about 1864. When doing its best. it produced twenty-five to forty tons of iron per week. The work was first started with a blast gene
rated by water power, but this not being a success. steam was introdneed and used.
A store was started at Winfield Furnace in 1817 by William Spear. Michael Wittenboff had a small store in the northern part of the township about the same time.
A post office, bearing the poctical name of Melissa- dale. was established at Deny's Mill in 1862, Will- iam Stewart, Postmaster. He was succeeded by Daniel Denny. The office was discontinued about three years ago.
In 1879. a building was erected by S. D. Hazlett. near Denny's Mill. in which it was proposed to util ize the natural gas which is here so abundant. and in the manufacture of carbon black. It was never completed.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1854. Benjamin Douthett: 1858. James B. Ken - nedy: 1561. John L. Hazlette: 1861. John P. Brick- er; 1865, Jonathan Hazlette; 1867. Philip Cypher: 1869, John P. Bricker: 1872. Philip Cypher; 1874. John P. Bricker. N. M Kirkland; 1880. Jomm P. Bricker: 1882, N. M. Kirkland.
KNOX CHAPEL M. E. CHURCH.
The Methodists in the eastern part of Jefferson and in the western part of Winfieldl -at an early day (probably 1823). but as there are no members of it now remaining and no records, we can give little of its history. Among its members were Samuel Coo- per. Henry Karshner and their families and a few others. Meetings were frequently hell at the honse of Sammel Cooper. Eiders Knapp and Burroughs and Job Wilson were some of the early preachers.
An ontgrowth of this early organization is the Knox Chapel M E Church, in the western part of Winfield. This church is a small but tasteful and convenient brick house, created in 1954, at a cost of about $1,200. It was built mainly through the in- theonce of the Roy. John Know and named after him. I started with abont forty members, among whom were John Knox, Jacob Sarver and Robert Cooper. Heury Karshner was Class Leader. This church has continued to thrive and prosper and now has a fair unmber of earnest supporter -.
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1848, with a small membership, by Rev. Heury Issense, who continued as its pastor about five years Previous to 1848, he had held meetings regularly at private houses in the neighborhood. A small wooden church was erected in 1848. in the southern part of the township. The first Trustees were Simon Schrump and Heury Mint
279
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
zel; the first Elders. Adam Schrump and Henry Blu- roch.
The church has a small number of supporters and maintains regular preaching.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1852 by Revs. Zirkel and Long, and a small wooden house was erected in the southern part of the township the same year. Among the first church officers were John Hirst and Joseph Westermann. The present church editice. a substantial briek structure, was erected in 1872, at a cost of $3,400. including furnishing. The congrega tion obtained a charter about the same time. The church officers were Casper Fruhling. President; James Ehrmann, Treasurer, and Frederick Shultz. Secretary: Elders. Casper Fruhling and Angust Fruhling.
Rev. Jacob Honeker was pastor at the time the church was built. Presiding Elder S. Kring was present at the dedication.
There are at present about forty active supporters of the church. This organization and one at Taren- tum together form an appointment.
FISK'S CHAPEL M. E. CHURCH
This society was formed about 1860 by Rev. Will- iam Cooper, with thirty or forty members. An old church belonging to a Cumberland Presbyterian or- ganization stood on the grounds near the present site of the chapel. In this the first meetings were held. Later, the property was purchased by the Methodists. The present house, a small brick structure, was ereet- ed in 1860 at a cost of >550. Samnel Weaver had the contract for building it. The first Class- Leader was George Todd. The first Trustees were George Todd. Robert Lardin, William Barker and Pierce. The church has at present a membership of about thirty.
PROTESTANT METHODIST CHURCH.
This organization owns a tasteful and convenient little church edifice at Saxonburg Station. The house was erected in IS79. at a cost of $750. It was dedicated on the 6th of July the same year. The church was formed by Rev. James I. Robinson, of the Pittsburgh conference, and consisted of four mem bers. The first church officers were Joseph C. Max- well and Daniel S. Spires. The present membership is seventeen. The pastors have been Revs. James I. Robinson. J. Wagner and James A. Garrett. A large and prosperous Sabbath school is connected with the church.
VILLAGES.
Leasuresville, in the southeastern part of this town- ship, was laid out about 1832 by Abraham Leasure.
Its growth has not been remarkable. At prosent the place consists of about six houses, a wagon-maker's and blacksmith shop and a store and post office. The first store was started about 1840 by Hugh Kirkland and managed by his employe. John Hemminger. There has been a store here most of the time since. John Hetsilgeser kept the first hotel. Leasuresville Post Office was established in 1860. Robert Stewart, Postmaster. His successors have been John Hetsil- goser and David Kirkland. Two mails are received daily from Sarver's Station.
Saxon City, or Saxonburg Station, is a small vil lage on the West Penn Railroad, containing one elmirch. two stores, one hotel, one shoemaker's shop. one wagon and blacksmith shop, one wagon shop and an extensive establishment for the manufacture of varbon black from natural gas. The gas well. 1,500 feet drop. was discovered in 1872. The latter indus try occupies a large brick factory preeted some three years ago on the site of buildings which were erect x1 for the same purpose and destroyed by fire. The first merchant in this place was E. A. Helmbold. who started a store in 1872. In 1878. be was succeeded by George H. Love, who is now doing business here. Mr. Love is also Postmaster. The post office (Carbon Black) was established in 1875, with Thelo Krause. Postmaster.
L. H. Falkner, blacksmith and wagon-maker, be- gan business in 1879 in the shop built by Joseph Me- Caskey.
The Saxon City Hotel was built in 1571 by Will- iam S. Boyd and kept by George E. Miller till ISS1. when Charles Pfabe. the present landlord. took charge.
Delano is another railroad station. a short distance north of Saxonburg Station. The first store Was started in 1870 by E. G. Leitholl, who afterward built the hotel and later engaged in the sale of fur niture. agricultural business and hardware. Mr. Leithold is an old resident, having come to Butler County in 1836. Daniel Denny had the second store in Delano. R. & A. Krause, the present merchants. bought out his business and moved here from Han- nahstown in 1571. The post office called Denny was established in IS71. L. Heidrick was the first Postmaster. and was succeeded by Robert Krause. the present incumbent.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
THOMAS WATSON
Thomas Watson. a soldier of the Revolution un der Washington. was born in County Down, Ireland.
280
IHISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
At the battle of Brandywine, he was taken prisoner by the enemy, but at length made his escape and found his way to Conococheague, where he settled, learned the cooper's trade and married. In 1797, he came to the woods of Western Pennsylvania and set- tled within the present territory of Chnton Township, Butler County, with Indians, bears, panthers and wolves and a very few white people for his neigh- bors. He lived to be eighty-seven, and reared two children, James and Rebecca. Rebecca married Jo- seph Moore and lived in Allegheny County. James was a volunteer soldier in the war of 1812. He mar- ried Mary Davis, who was born in Virginia; and lived upon the old homestead. He was the father of thir- teen children, right of whom lived to mature years. Three are still living-Mary Ann (Smith), Clinton Township; Maria (Anderson), Allegheny County, and Thomas, Winfield Township. The following narra- tive of the early life of Mr. Watson is replete with in- terest and is a fine portrayal of life in Butler County at that time, and of the difficulties and hardships that visit the path of the young men of those days.
He remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, sharing the privations of a pioneer family. He recollected going to Pittsburgh when a boy, with his father, riding on a pack-saddle with three bushels of potatoes, and his father walking and driving the other horse with a rope. The potatoes were sold and, after dedneting expenses, there was a balance of 90 cents, which they paid to Mr. Lowrie, from whom his father had purchased his farm. At the age of eighteen, he went to Pittsburgh, and for six years at blacksmithing; at the expiration of that time, he and his brother John bought a cargo of flour, whisky and cheese and started down the river. At Natehez, they sold to a Mr. Stockman on thirty days' time; he was burned out, and they lost the entire proceeds of their trip. Being a long distance from home and out of money, they went to work repairing plows for cot ton planters. After his return from the South, he worked in Pittsburgh for two years, and with his sav. ings purchased the farm on which he now residos. For two years, he lived entirely alone, which he says were the loneliest days he ever passed, but at William Galbreath's he met the lady who became his wife and the mother of his nino children, seven of whom are ivin g.
CHAPTER XXX.
JEFFERSON
Patrick Graham makes the First Permanent Settlement in 1796-An- drew Strawig, Benjamin Thomas and William Wright Early Settlers -Industries-Saxonburg-Settled in 1532 by a Germany Colony- Life of John A. Roebling, its Founder-First Events in Saxonburg -Advancement of the Town in Wealth and Property.
THE first settlers of this township found but little
heavy timber standing except along the streams. All of the level ground and nearly all of the hilltops were covered with a slight growth of saplings of oak and chestnut. The general appearance of the whole is aptly descided by the term " glades." These glades were caused by the burning off of the timbor. It is supposed that, when the Indians held possession of these lands, they allowed the fire to run through the woods frequently, that the ground might become more suitable for hunting purposes. Then. after the white settlers came, they, in turn, set fires and burned, so that the glades covered nearly all of the township. Some beautiful groves now standing have sprung from those glades since the practice of burn- ing was discontinued.
Jefferson Township is well improved, populous and prosperous. Its soil is good, and its surface just variable enough to render it excellent farming land. Thorn Creek is the principal water-course of the township. This stream flows from the north nearly to the southern line of the township, then. bending west and northwest, enters Penn Township, there to join the Connoquenessing. On its way it is joined by a few small and unimportant streams or runs. Along the right bank of Thorn Creek was formerly a bridle-path, much used by the carly settlers, extend- ing northward to Neyman's Mill. and having Logan's Ferry as its other terminus. This was known as Neyman's Path, and was so frequently traveled by men and horses that in some places it was worn down into the earth to a depth of two feet or more. Bo- low Jefferson Center there is a run which the path crossed, covered with large, flat stones. Here the horsemen were wont to halt for dinner, and feed their horses grain upon the rocks. The spot is still known as Feeding Stone Run -- a name which doubtless sug- gests to the few living ones who traveled the old path the great contrast between the methods of that day and those of the prosent.
Jefferson Township is thus situated: On the north is Summit; cast, Winfield; south, Clinton; and west, Penn. The Butler Branch Railroad crosses the northeastern corner of Jefferson, and has a sta- tion at the village of Great Belt. Jefferson Town- ship also includes the borough of Saxonburg. a full history of which follows.
GEORGE WELSH.
MRS. GEORGE WELSH.
GEORGE WELSHI
About the year 1798 there landed in Philadelphia a poor Irish lad without money and without friends. He had left his home in Londonderry, and came to the new world to make for himself a name and perhaps a fortune. His father had been a man of wealth and prominence in the old country, but in order to aid some of his friends had become seriously in- volved and, owing to the depressed financial condition of the country consequent upon what is now known as the Irish rebell ion, had lost his property. The loss of his estate and perhaps the perfidy of his friends so worked upon his mind that he died from grief. IIis name was William Welsh, and his son Thomas, to whom allusion has been made, was the father of the gen- tleman whose name is at the head of this biography. Thomas had acquired in the old country the trade of a baker, and soon after his arrival in Philadelphia he sought and obtained em- ployment at this vocation. He was a young man of indns- trious habits, prudent and thrifty, and soon laid by a sum suf- ficient to enable him to go into business for himself. It was but a short time before he had attracted to himself a large circle of friends and enstomers, and in a few years he was at the head of a prosperous and lucrative business.
Among his intimate acquaintances was a winsome Irish lass by the name of Elizabeth Welsh. from County Derry. who became his wife and the mother of twelve children. After having been in business for about twenty years, he found himself to be not only a man of property, but the head of a large family of children, and in order to give them the advantages to be derived from settlement in a new country, he purchased 4,500 acres of land in Jefferson Township, But- ler County, to which he removed with his family in 1819.
Here he resided until his decease, which occurred in 1853, in his eighty-fourth year. He was a man of powerful phys- ique, and universally esteemed for his kindness of heart and his genial and pleasant manner. He was an exemplary man in every respect, and a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was an Elder. George was born in Phila- delphia May 5 1812, and at the time of the family's emigra- tion to Butler was a lad of eight years. He lived under the parental roof until he was twenty-three years of age, at which time he commeneed business for himself. He first engaged
in milling. He built what is known as the Frazier Mill, and followed the business for seven years, when he went to farm. ing, which vocation he has followed to the present. In 1862. when Gov. Curtin issued a call for troops to resist the inva- sion of the State by the rebel army, Mr. Welsh, although ex empt by age from military duty, was among the first to re- spond to the call. He joined the Eighteenth Regiment of In- fantry, and went with the command to the field. As illus. trative of the character of Mr. Welsh, and showing the pluck and determination of the man, we relate the following, which occurred during the war: His son Joseph was in the battle of Fredericksburg, and Mr. Welsh had reason to believe that he was either killed or seriously wounded, and he decided to go to the front and ascertain the facts. He went to Washington, thinking to obtain from the Secretary of War (Stanton), whom he had known intimately, a pass through the lines. Mr. Stan- ton, on hearing his request, informed him that Gen. Burnside had requested him to issue no more passes, and he could do nothing for him; but Mr. Welsh was not to be balked in his effort to see his son, and purchasing some articles that he thought his son might need, he started on foot a distance of sixty-five miles. He took the Maryland side, Liverpool Point being the objective point. On his arrival, he found that it was almost impossible to get across the river, the army being on the opposite side. One day he came across a fisherman who bargained to take him across, but before the time came a wagon train arrived. and by a neat little ruse, in which he passed himself as a wagonmaster, he passed through the lines. and was rewarded by finding his son alive and well. In 1835. Mr. Welsh was married to Miss Jane, daughter of John Davis, a native of Ireland, and a resident of Jefferson, where he died in 1853. She was born in Lancaster City, Lancaster County, in 1810. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Welsh -Matilda, Thomas, John, Joseph, Eliza, Emma, Elvira, Re- becca and Sarah J Joseph was a member of Company G, One Hundred and Twenty third Pennsylvania Volunteers. He died at home in 1872. Matilda, the eldest, married Mr. Arthur Turner; Thomas married Miss Aziah Wareham; John married Miss Sarah A. Welsh; Sara1. married Mr. John Walker, and Eliza, Mr. Thomas Fra
Mr. Welsh has attained threese - years and ten, but is still hale, hearty and actively engaged in business. He is one of the largest and most prosperous farmers in the township: a kind, courteous gentleman, generous and public spirited. and in every way worthy of the hig.i position he holds among the representative men of Butler County.
RESIDENCE
GEORGE WELSH.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
The number of churches and schoolhouses in the township sufficiently attests the character of the peo. ple: while the numerous well-tilled farms, with all their surroundings and accompaniments, speak more eloquently than words can speak of the industry and thrift of their owners.
SETTLEMENT.
Like many of the townships of this county, the settlement within the present territory of Jefferson Township was begun at a very early date, but the march of improvement was a slow one, owing to the poverty of the pioneers and the fewness of their num- ber.
The hardy, frugal, industrious Scotch Irish who first penetrated this wilderness had almost countless disadvantages against them. Not to speak of the an- noyance of wolves and bears, which rendered the raising of sheep and cattle extremely uncertain busi- ness, the distance from civilization ent them off from any market for the sale of their produce, and left them solely dependent upon what they could raise for their food and clothing. There were no roads, no stores, no mills-none of what we justly consider indispen- sable requisites of civilization were within their reach. Even if they had money to buy groceries and salt which was rarely the case-these articles could only be obtained after a long journey through a path- less wild, and conveyed home upon pack-saddles. " It was work or starve with us." writes one of the old residents. " There were frosts that frequrently did great damage to our crops, but we usually plant- ed enough so that want would not come upon us un- expectedly. We struggled ahead cheerfully, making the best of our lot. and usually managed to have enough food to eat and clothes to wear-not of the best, but still good enough. But we had to depend upon ourselves for these things. There could be no drones in our hives. Men, women and chillren all worked, and always could see plenty of unfinished or - new jobs awaiting their hands. "
Settlers were few until about 1831. when Germans began settling in this township. That they came at a better time than the first pioneers is a fact which is too palpable to need demonstration. Still. the country was then very wild and new, and many of the disadvantages which beset all pioneers had to be met and fought. To the German settlers this entire county owes a large share of its advancement and prosperity, and especially is this true of Jefferson Township.
Probably the first white man who made his home in Jefferson Township was Patrick Graham. With. ont any doubt he was the first permanent settler. He was born in Ireland. emigrated to America, married
in Westmoreland County, and in 1796 settled on the farm where his son Patrick (born in 1798, and conse quently one of the oldest residentsof the county ) still resides. His wife was Elizabeth MeKee. At the time the family moved here, there were three chil dren. Mr. Graham had been here before and erect- od a little cabin, and. with saddles and paek-horses, he moved bis household goods and his family. An aged citizen informs the writer that he has often heard that Mr. Graham's two youngest children were tied up with some of the goods in a bundle, which was slung across the horse's back, and as they moved along a little hoad could be seen sticking out of the bundh. on either side of- the horse. Patrick Graham was a man of great vigor and physical endurance. Though not a large man, few were capable of performing more hard work than he. He died in 1941, aged a little over ninety seven years. Two of his sons sur- vive. We mention below each of his children in the order of their ages.
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