USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 65
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101
Rosana Graham became the wife of Alexander Martin, and resided in this county. Joseph died in ISSO at the age of eighty-six. He was in the war of 1812, and was one of the early County Commission. ers. He lived on the farm adjoining the old home- stead. Hewas the father of thirteen children, elever " of whom survive. - Robert T., Etna, Allegheny County: James, Butler; William B., Jefferson Town- ship; Joseph. Whitestown: George K., Penn Town ship: Eli. Jefferson Township; Elizabeth (Fitzsim- ons). Jefferson Township; Esther (Shulmire). Mid- dlesex Township; Rebecca J. (McConnell), Iowa: Su- san (Stark), Kansas; and Nancy E. (Bartley), Butler Township. Daniel. the third of Patrick Graham's children, lived and died in Brady Township. Pat- rick lives upon the farm on which he was born. He was the first white child born in what is now Jeffer- sou Township. He is married. but has no children. Elizabeth married James Prior, and resided in this county. James settled and died in Hickory Town- ship, Mercer County. John died at Whitestown. this county. He followed farming and the mercan- lite business. Harrison, the youngest of the family and, excepting Patrick. the only survivor, resides at New Brighton. Beaver County.
For a year or more. Mr. Graham was the only set- tler in Jefferson Township, and had no neighbors nearer than Butler and Middlesex Townships. In- dians were sometimes heard shooting deer in the for- est, but they never disturbed the family. For several years, all milling had to be done in Westmoreland County, and the grain carried on pack horses by way of Logan's Ferry. Salt and other supplies were ob- tained in the same way. In 1797 and 1799. MIr. Graham began to have a few neighbors.
282
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
A man named Stanley squatted on land now owned by W. t. Welsh, and built a cabin near the present cross-roads. He remained but a few years, and made but little improvement. William Guthrie located near the western line of the township, built a cabin and remained a few years. Arun near by was known to the old settlers as (inthrie's Run
A squatter named Phipps came and took up land which Mr. Graham had selected as a part of his farm. but was driven off by the latter. Mr. Graham ov- pected to obtain land for settling, but. failing in this, he continued in peaceful possession, and. after many years, ascertained who owned the land. and paid for it long after it was much improved.
Thomas Burbage, abont 1795, settled on land now owned by the heirs of George Meehling. He re. mained a few years, and then went West with his whole family. Burbage was quite a hunter, and picked up his living with as little labor as possible. He was fond of narrating his hunting exploits, and pretended to entertain the highest opinion of his own valor. Mrs. Patrick Graham, while looking up the cows one night, saw a bear. which reared and ap. peared ready for an encounter. She put the dog after him. and he disappeared. Soon after Burbage came to her home. and she told him she had seen a bear. He fervently wished he contd encounter one in the woods. There was no bear he feared. he said. and continued his boasting for some time. In a day or two. be happened to be hunting. and shot a deer. Scarcely had ho fired, when a bear. aroused by the report, rushed out and advanced toward him rapidly. Burbage, thoroughly frightened, had no time to reload his gun. and sought safety in flight. The bear gained on him rapidly, but, coming up with the hunt- er's dog. stopped to fight with it, thus giving Burbage an opportunity to eseape, which he improved with all possible celerity.
A Bracey family were among the first settlers of this township, and lived on the farm now owned by Samuel Caldwell. All moved away early, and scarce- ly any are left to remember them.
Wolves were very numerous everywhere, and es- pecially abundant along Thorn Creek. In the spring, their howling was regularly heard every night and morning. often without exciting more comment than the noise of frogs gives rise to in the present day. As there was a bounty for wolf scalps, many of the settlers made special efforts to find wolf dens among the rocks along the creek, and frequently de- stroyed large numbers of the young. Occasionally they obtained an old wolf, and sometimes an old bear and cubs.
Andrew Strawig was one of the earliest pioneers of Jefferson Township. He settled in 1795, on land
about a mile northeast of Jefferson Center. A part. of the farm is now owned by Michael Emriel. His sons. David and Isaiab. lived here after him. and ran the mill built by Martin below the Center. An- drew Strawig was a quiet, civil old man. and is spok- en of as being a gool neighbor. It is said that he was a Hessian, and served under the British in the Revolution. He worked at blacksmithing as well as farming.
Philip Snyder, an carly settler near Jefferson Center, made a few improvements and then moved away.
The western and eastern portions of tefferson wore first settled and improved. Very few farms were taken up in the central and southern parts of the township nutil after 1830.
James Maxwell was a Revolutionary soldier, who located within Jefferson Township about 1500.
Daniel Melaskey lived and died near Saxonburg, He was also among the earliest pioneers.
An old Presbyterian preacher named Boyd, who lived on Bull Creek, used to hold meetings at the house of James Maxwell as early as 1805. Two Methodist preachers, Shinn and Erskin. conducted services at the houses of various settlers about the same time.
Benjamin Thomas was among the first who located on the Collins tract and lived near where Isaac Le. ferro now residos. He planted a peach orchard. which was probably the first in this township. Ho had the reputation of being very stingy -would give away none of his peaches, and kopt a cross dog to keep intruders from his orchard. Some boys, who had determined to have some of the peaches at any risk, went one night to the orchard, having first bribed the dog to koop siloue. by giving him a powder- horn. filled with lard. and secured several bags of the fruit. The dog mado no noise, but licked away at the lard in quiet enjoyment until the boys secured their booty and departed.
In 1799 or 1500. William Wright. a native of Ire- land, settled within the present limits of Jefferson Township. lle lived to be ninety two years of age. and died about the year 1539. Ho reared a family of nine children. all of whom lived to marry, and most of them reached a good old age. Two are still living-William and Daniel -- the former in this township, and the latter in the northern part of the county. The names of these children were as follows: Alexander, James, John, William, Daniel, Elizabeth, Mary. Nancy and Jane. Alexander and James were in the war of IS12. James lived and died in this township, on the land where his son James now re sides. John died in Butler. William Wright, born in ISO1. is one of the oldest residents in this town-
283
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
ship, and has a vivid recollection of the events of pioneer days. In his boyhood. he saw many bears and wolves, and countless deer. He reviews the past with pleasure, and says that people were fully as hap- py then as now.
When Mr. Wright moved upon his farm and be- gan operations, he took from his former home in Al- legheny County as much flour and horse- feed as he thought would suffice for the use of his family until he had harvested a crop of grain. But, one after an other, his neighbors learned that he had flour, and came to borrow. He began to lend, aud presently his flour was all gone. Then the horse-feed, coarse rye flour, was sifted and used as an article of food by himself and neighbors till the entire supply was ex- hausted.
James Wright, son of William, Sr., reared seven children. He was twice married. His children are Jane, Summit Township: Macy (Stevenson), Califor- nia; William and Margaret, deceased: Naney (Mar- tin), Summit Township: Priscilla, deceased; and James, Jefferson Township.
Robert Johnson was an early settler on land adja- cent to Saxonburg. He was here as early as 1810, and died upon the place He had two sons -- John and Robert. John lived on the farm after his father died. Robert went to Ohio. It is said that the Johnson family came to this county carrying all their possessions on horseback and on their own backs, though they afterward became quite well off.
The land on which the place known as Hannahs- town is situated was originally owned by Thomas Collins, then by Stephen Lowry. Nathan Skeer set tled on the present site of Hannahstown, and, in com- pany with Abraham Maxwell, laid off the land into village lots in 1829. The " town," never any larger than at present, was killed and buried by the railroad. It was named after Hannahstown, Westmoreland County, a place which was burned by the Indians.
About the year 1814, Jesse Lefevre, of French descent. settled on the farm now occupied by his son Isaac, and began the work of a pioneer. He bought 300 acres of land, for which he paid about 50 conts per acre. He was the father of four children -- John, Levi and Isaac, living, and Elizabeth, deceased. Isaac lives upon the old homestead, where he was born. He is a blacksmith by trade, but follows farming.
Michael and Elizabeth Emrick, elsewhere men- tioned, settled near Saxonburg in 1813.
William and Samuel Cooper were among the early settlers of this neighborhood. William settled in Jefferson Township, and Samuel in Wigfield. De. scendants of William still live upon the farm which he first occupied.
Capt. William Staley was a pioneer in the south-
eastern corner of this township, on the Freeport & Butler road. His son William lived for some time on the old homestead, and still resides in the town- ship.
John Welsh. a native of Ireland, settled near JJoffer- son Center in 1821. He had a family of seven chil- dren. of whom three daughters are living. His son Thomas sneceede I him in the possession of the farm, and died in 1858. The place is still in the possos- sion of his family, the farm now being managed by his sons, Loyal Y. and William J. Welsh. At the time the Welsh farm was settled. there was no farm south of it on the Bull Creek road for about five miles.
Alexander Martin, son of Thomas Martin, one of the pioneers of Middlesex Township. moved from Butler Towoship to Jefferson about 1826. Ho built the first grist- mill on Thorn Creek. He died in 1850, at the age of fifty-nine. His children who arrived at maturity were Alexander, Daniel and John (do- ceased). Thomas, the oldest son, is a well known citizen of this township, and is now a Justice of the Peace. He took the census of a part of Butler Conn- ty in 1850 and in 1870. His sister Elizabeth resides with him. The remaining members of the family are Mary (MeClellan), Allegheny City; William, Alle- gheny City; Rebecca (Graham), West Virginia; and Graham, Allegheny City.
Bernard Dougherty, a native of Ireland. emigrated from County Donegal to this country, and in 1505 set- tled in Middlesex. now Jefferson Township. He was born in 1777, and died in 1856 In 1501, he came from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh in a four-horse way- on. crossing the Alleghany Mountains on a " bee line." The names of his children were Nancy, Ellep John, Patrick, Bernard. James, Mary and William.
David Logan moved from Lancaster County when young, with his father, Joseph Logan, who settled on the Erastus Logan farm in Penn Township. David was an early settler in Jefferson, and made the first improvement on the farm where his descendants now live. He at first bought 225 acres, and afterward add- ed 125 acres. He died in IS75, aged seventy-tive. By his first wife he had six sons and three daughters, viz .: Nancy J., deceased; John, Allegheny County ; Joseph. Jefferson Township; Levi, Jefferson Town- ship; Baxter, Poun Township: Samuel, died in the army: Matilda, Calvin and Eliza B. (Bnrtner). Jeffer son Township. By his second wife, two children - David H. and Edward P., Jefferson Township.
John Wafter and his family, from Westmoreland County, were early settlers in the northern part of this township. Jacob settled and died in this town ship. David lived in Clinton. The children of Ja cob and Sarah Walter were John. Jacob. Benjamin. Daniel Philip, Simon, Elizabeth. Sarah. Mary Ann
28.1
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
and Sophia. Of the sons, only Philip survives. He resides in Buffalo Township. Three of the daugh . ters are still living. viz. : Elizabeth (Schwietring), Freeport: Sarah and Mary Ann (nmarried), on a part of the oldl homestead.
William Harbison, a native of Ireland, was an early settler of Middlesex Township, and later of Jefferson, where he improved the farm on which his grandson. W. W. Harbison. now lives. His sons, William, Robert and Mathew, all settled in this coun- ty. William, the oldest, lived and died on the old homestead in Jefferson Township. Robert settled on the adjoining farm which is now occupied by his son. William R. Matthew settled in Oakland Town- ship. William Harbison, Sr., was in the war of 1812. William, his son served as County Commis- sioner three years, commencing in IS58.
Jacob Mechling came from Westmoreland County to Butler County in 1796, and located in Parker Township, and. in 150S, in Butler. He raised eleven children, of whom two are living -Christian and Thomas, in Jefferson Township. Christian Mech- ling has resided in this township about fifty years. He is the father of thirteen children, of whom nine are living. Mr. Mechling says he distinctly re- members when there were but three Farms along the road from Butler to Freeport.
John Montag, a native of Germany. settled near Jefferson Center in 1832, and at first worked for Thomas Welsh. His sons are now in business at the Center.
Gottfried Renick, one of the early German sot- tlers, emigrated from Prussia and settled near Saxon burg in 1833. He died in 1862. His family con- sisted of ten children, eight of whom are living Louisa (Beam), Sophia (King), Frederick (dead), William, Hannah (Myers, dead), Caroline (Kock), Angust, Elizabeth (Lousner). Lena (Syphert) and Margaret (Michel).
Henry Grimm. a German settler of 1831, lived ou a farm one mile north of Sasonburg. Four of his children reside in this county, viz .: Catharine ( bens- ner), Jefferson; Henry, farmer and blacksmith, Wiu. field; George, Jefferson; Sophia (Halstead), North Washington. Two danghters are m Allegheny County.
John A. Knoch, a native of Saxony, settled in Butler County in 1837, and purchased his present farm in 1838. It was then an unimproved place, and there were no roads near it. Mr. Knoch helped John 1. Roebling make his first wire ropes. He followed blacksmithing in connection with farming until five or six years ago.
John G. Lensner, a native of Germany, came to this township in 1837, with his father, who bore the
same name, and has since resided here. He settled upon his present farm in 1561.
In 1539, John Shrader came from Ariostrong County and settled upon the farm where his widow and his son, W. B Shrader, now reside The place was entirely unimproved. He at first bought 125 aeres at $6 per acre. By diligent labor and wise economy, he made an excellent farm and gained a good property. He erected a brick residence, which is one of the tinest farmhouses in this county. Two of his sons. A. I. and W. B., resides in the township, and another son, Rev. John .. Shrador, is a United Pres- byterian minister in Pittsburgh. His daughters are Mrs Clara J. Graham, Penn Township, and Martha E. Shrader. Jefferson Township. Mr. Shrader diod in 1875.
Thomas Greer, who died in 1880. moved from Washington County about 1840, and settled on the farm where his son. M. S. Greer, now lives. There were scarcely any improvements then upon the place. Thomas Greer was the father of Hon. John M. Greer, of Butler.
Samnel M. Patterson came from Armstrong Conn- ty to Butler County in 1840, and in 1549 settled on his present farm. The place was then entirely unim- proved. Five dollars per acre was the price paid for 200 acres. Mr. Patterson's son, J. L., occupies the adjoining farm. S. M. Patterson has a steam saw- mill, which has been in operation several years.
In ISIS, Henry Wachsmith emigrated from Sax ony and settled north of Saxonburg. on the farm now occupied by his son William. He died in Washing ton, D. C., in ISSI aged seventy-eight years.
Henry Pfabe, one of the German settlers of this township. has resided here over forty years. His son Charles keeps the hotel at Saxonburg Station.
Thomas Frazier settled near Butler in 1842. In 1857. be moved to Jefferson Township, where he was engaged in milling till his death, in 1876.
Henry H. Barr (deceased), a native of Mifilm County, moved From Mt. Chestnut and settled on the farm where his family now live. in 1862. His son. G. L. Barr. is at present teaching in Mil- lerstown.
One of the most snecessful of Jefferson Township farmers is Samuel W. Crawford. In IS65, he moved from Washington County and bought his present property here. He is a blacksmith by trade, but de- votes his attention to farming on a large scale.
M. H. Byerly, a native of Buffalo Township, this county, has resided in Jefferson Township since 1877. and is extensively engaged in farming, and buying and selling horses and cattle. He is also a breeder of fine stock. Mr. Byerly was elected Justice of the Peace in ISSO.
E . A . HELM BOLD.
RESIDENCE OF E. A. HELMBOLD.
255
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1855, David Logan ; 1859. Simon P. Walter; 1860, David Logan : 1863, Charles A. Stammel 1865, Joseph Graham; 1867. Daniel MeFadden: 1870, Joseph Graham: 1874. James Gribben: 1875, Thom- as MeGueken: 1879, Thomas Martin: ISSO. M. H. Byerly.
EVENTS AND INDUSTRIES.
The first farmhouse in this township was ereeted by Nathan Skeer, the founder of Hannahstown, prob ably abont 1828. This was also the first tavern in the township. Soon after. Thomas Bartley built a frame house on the farm now owned by A. M. Hays. and Patrick Graham put up a frame building. The next frame houses were ereeted in Saxonburg.
Thomas Bartley kept the first store in the town- ship. in the house above mentioned. His stock in trade consisted of groceries, liquors, etc., on a small seale.
The first store at Jefferson Center was opened in 1862, by Thomas Martin.
About 1825, a saw-mill was erected at Jeffer-on Center by Thomas Welsh. It stood many years, and at length was torn down by the Montags to make room for their present establishment.
The first grist-mill on Thorn Creek, a little below Jefferson Center. by Alexander Martin. After it had been in operation several years, it was swept away by a food. A portion of the old dam can yet be seen.
In 1527. a saw-mill was built by Robert MeNair. for the Widow MeCurdy. on Thorn Creek, in the northern part of the township.
In 1$34. George Welsh. still a resident of this township, built a saw-mill on Thorn Creek where Frazier's Mill now stands. Ten years later, he erect- ed a frame grist-mill. 30x40 feet, which was provided with two run of buln's, two bolts, elevators. etc. The mill was run by Mr. Welsh and his sons until it was sold to Frazier, who made additions and tore down the saw mill.
Frazier's Mill is in a favorable location. and does a large amount of custom work. It was rebuilt in IS57 from the old mill. by Thomas Frazier, and is now operated by his son. Thomas W. Frazier. Its full capacity is about two hundred bushels of grain per day. The mill is supplied with apparatus for running both by steam-power and water-power.
Francis Alwine purchased his grist-mill in the sontbeastern part of Jefferson Township. in 1876. The mill was built by Andrew Pilgrim in 1862. and at the time of Mr. Alwine's purchase was owned by Charles Lederer. This mill is supplied with both steam and water power, and does considerable bnsi- ness.
The first store in Hannahstown was started by F. D. Schwietring abont 1535. Nathan Skeer kept the first tavern in the place, and John Dougherty the sec. ond. Dougherty also had a store. Now Hannahs town has neither store nor hotel.
John N. Pugh, a native of Buffalo Township. this county, came to Hannahstown in 1560. and has since been engaged in the manufacture of agricultural im- plements, doing a good business. He is also an nn- dertaker. Mr. Pugh is the owner of quite an exten- sive apiary.
Quite an important manufacturing establishment. located at Jefferson Center. is the mannfactory of W. & J. E. Montag. For several years, this firm has been doing a large business in making and selling threshing machines and agricultural implements. The industry was begun in 1565 by W. & J. E. Mon- tag and J. C. Welsh. In 1978. Mr. Welsh withdrew from the firm. The Messrs. Montag, besides the maunfacture of implements. deal quite extensively in Inmber, and have a large mill for sawing it.
William Montag is the proprietor of the store at Jefferson Center.
Frank Fruth, blacksmith and wagon-maker. Jef. ferson Center. bogan business here in 1871.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
Not a few of the prominent and respected citizens of this township obtained all of their school education in the log schoolhouses of pioneer days. under the watehful eare of a well-meaning " master " of some- what limited acquirements and austere demeanor.
The first school in the township was probably tanght near Hannahstown. about sixty rods east of the corners. A school was opened there as early as ES06. in a log building, with no floor save that formed by nature, no ceiling overhead. and two big fire- places in two yawning chimneys, oue at each end of the room. John Kennedy was the teacher. He was tall-six feet or more -and one of his pupils recalls with a langh the Indierons appearance of the master as he moved about the room, now stooping to avoid hitting with his head the logs stretched across the room for the support of a loft which was never laid. and now rising to his full height and overlooking his little Hock with his head among the beams. Kennedy was a very mikl maunered teacher for those days. and was very popular. His scholarship was far above the attainments of most of the early teachers. He was a fine penman. besides having a wonderful " knack at figures."
In 1812. a log schoolhouse was created where 'Hannahstown now is. This was something of an im provement upon the first. as it was provided with desks of boards instead of puncheons. The door and
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
roof were of clapboards, and the chimney, situated in the middle of the room, was of wood and mortar. Not a nail was used in the construction of any part of the building. Glass had not yet been introduced into schoolhouses, and greased paper admitted all the light which the interior of the house received. Isaac Lofevre was the teacher in this school. An old resident says he was a good master. but "very handy with the rod."
Still later, a log schoolhouse was built near Han- nahstown. where the graveyard now is. The fire. place took up the whole of one end of the house. The other features of the building differed but little from the buildings already described. On a cold morning. big logs would be rolled into the fire-place and a fire started midway. Frequently the school children would sit on the ends of the log. that they might receive as much as possible of the little heat which did not escape up the chimney. John Sweeney, generally known as " Blind Sweeney. " from being blind of one eye, was the teacher here about 1826. Isaac Lefevre and Benjamin Douthett also taught the school.
The first schoolhouse in the western part of the township was a small log structure, which stood on the present Matthew Cunningham farm. not far from the site of the Shiloh Church. A man named Ross (ettley taught there one or two terms, without much success in the direction of imparting knowledge to ! his pupils. A good. substantial log schoolhouse was next erected on the southeast corner of the farm above mentioned. which was used several years. Isaac Snt ton taught in this house soon after it was erected. two or three terms. An old man named Miller, and several other teachers, also labored here, 1- settlers continued to arrive, log schoolhouses were erected in other parts of the township, and schools on the tui- tion plan were supported with more or less regularity until the free school system was established, when educational matters began to receive the attention they deserve. In pioneer days, many a boy thought nothing of doing a great many chores night and! morning, and attending a school three miles from his home, following a path through the woods.
ST. LUKE'S GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This church. situated near Hannahstown. is an old organization. Complete records are not attaina- ble. The first record of baptism bears the date of 1SB8.7 In 1817. a constitution was drawn up and a congregation organized by Rev. Schweitzerbarth. lu 1854. a charter was granted to the following church officers: John G. Grunert, President; Bernhard Kornrumpf. George Doerr. Elders: Frederick Sei bert. Jacob Beek. Deacons: and Charles A Grunert and Jacob Ader, Trustees.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.