History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 89

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Number of Pages: 638

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 89

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Cooper was the pioneer settler. His house stood in the southern part of the borough on the hill near the spring. The location was known as Ginger Hill, from the fact that Cooper kept tavern and gave plenty of ginger with the whisky that he sold. (Others have it that he sold ginger and gave away the whisky. ) Stephen Cooper died here and his family removed. William Hill was the first settler except ing Cooper. He sold ont, went away and embarked in mercantile and other pursuits, and died at Lees burg.

In 1523, Centerville contained four houses, alt log buildings and all uncompleted. They were occupied by William Hill, John Reynolds, tavern keeper, Will- iam Cross, who afterward kept tavern, and Isaac S. Pearson. merchant. This is the statement of William B. Bard; the oldest resident of the town, who came here in the year mentioned.

Isaac S. Pearson, the first merehant, was started in business by his uncle. John B. Pearson, of New Castle. He began in a very modest way, and his trade, like that of other early merchants, was mainly by barter. Customers seldom paid money for any

Simeon and Jesse Baker came soon after the town was started, and purchased several lots. They moved away after a few years. There was consider- able controversy as to what the new town should be called. the Bakers and others taking a prominent part in the discussion. Finally a committee was chosen to select a name. One suggested " Mutton- town," basing his preference for the name on the ground that he had just partaken of a dinner of very fine mutton, raised in the place. Another suggested Middletown, as the new village would be about half way between Butler and Mercer. The third ex pressed his preference for the name Centreville; and the question being voted upon, " Centreville " was unanimously adopted.

William Cross was one of the most active and en- orgetie of the early settlers. He worked at teaming. coal mining. carried on tavern-keeping, etc. He built several houses in the town.

Samnel Bard, a tailor by trade, settled here prior to IS23. He worked at his trade several years, and afterward made chairs and windmills and had an in- dren --- Mary {Bingham). John T .. William B., Dr. Benjamin F., Jackson and Robert M .-- were all brought up in this town. John T. Bard carried on the mer- Stephen . cantile business in this place nearly all the time, from 1850, until his death in 1879. In 1860, he estab- lished the store which is now conducted by his sons. In 1873. he established the Centreville Savings Bank, of which he was President until his death. when his son. J. E .. succeeded him in the office. He held lo- cal offices, was Justice of the Peace. and served one term as Prothonotary of the county. Dr. B. F. Bard went to Iowa, enlisted in the army and died in the service. Mrs. Bingham, William B., Jackson and R. M. Bard. still continue residents of Centreville.

In the early days of stages. C'entreville was very lively place, and business, especially with the tavern keepers, was flourishing. William Cross kept tavern some years on the corner where Wilson's dry goods store now is, then sohl to Andy Lewis. John Seth af- terward was landlord on this corner many years. James Bell kept tavern where the Christley House now is; and many others sold whisky at different times. Now. for several years, there has been no li- eensed house or saloon in Centreville.

Samnel Caldwell, blacksmith. Amos Fleming and John MeNulty were among the settlers who came about 1525. Amos Fleming and his brother William

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY,

afterward kept store where the post office now stands. William Hill kept store where Miss Kelley's millinery shop now is, for a few years. ocenpying a small log building.

Thomas Floyd was the second merchant in the place. He kept store many years in the building erected by him - now the residence of Ezekiel Wilson, one of the old residents of the borough.

Peter Sowash. blacksmith. settled at Centreville in 1$26. coming from Westmoreland County. He worked at his trade until his death, and his sons. Henry and Fleming, continue the business.

Peter Uber. now one of the oldest residents of the town, located here in 1832, and has since worked at his trade of cabinet-making. He was engaged in keep ing hotel for a time.

One of the first industries established in the town was the tannery of Scott Stephenson. It was after- ward owned and operated by John Hodge, and in 1839. purchased by John Covert. Sammuel Taggart next con- dneted the business and was succeeded by Perry Cov- ert. the present owner. Another tannery was soon started after Stephenson's by William Fleming. and afterward operated many years by George Christley.

The hotel, now known as the Eyth House. was built by John Cross. The hotel was run by Cross. G. W. Coulter. - Humphrey, George Potts, Thomas Stephenson, Samnel Sowash. successively, until 1850. Roman Eyth kept it from 1850 to 1856. and Martin Eyth until 1861, when he sold the property to Will. iam S. Boyd & Bro., from whom it was purchased in 1862 by Francis Eyth. present owner.

Samnel Bard and William S. Bingham estab- lished a foundry in 1835. on the east side of Main street. After Mr. Bard's death. in 1544. the business was conducted by Mr. Bingham and R. M. Bard. until IS59, when Mr. Bingham bought Mr. Bard's interest. The foundry now operated by Bingham & Son, was started by Isaac S. Pearson, and purchased in IS4S by Bingham & Co. Messrs. Bingham & Son have done a large business, both here and at Harrisville, for many years, having a foundry in each place. They manufacture plows and deal in agricultural im plements of all kinds.

Mr. William S. Bingham, who came to this place from Ohio in 1535, gives the following list of inhabit- ants of Centreville at that date, as he remembers them:

Commencing at the south end of Main street. on the west side and going northward: John Eagle, chair maker; Isaac S. Pearson, merchant in the brick store: Samuel Bard. tailor: John Taggart, laborer: Moor- head & Wallace. merchants; G. W. Coulter, hotel keeper: Peter Sowash, blacksmith: Peter Uber, cabi net-maker still residing here: E. G. De Wolf. A.

D .: James Fulton, wagon-maker; Thomas Floyd. merchant. On the street running west lived John Cross, brick-maker.

Commencing at the north end of Main street and going south. on the east side. the inhabitants were Scott Stephenson. tanner; William Parshall, formerly a tavern kopper: John and Robert McCoy. carpen- ters: Thomas Stephenson, hatter: George Christley and William Fleming, tanners; William Ramsey. blacksmith: Joseph Justice, hatter; William Gibson, tinsmith: John Seth. tavern-keeper; John Reynolds, J. P .: Samuel Kerr. then a Representative to the Legislature: Robert Young, wheelwright: Alexander Buchanan, cabinet maker: Stephen Cooper, farmer, and G W. Bratton. laborer. These were all of the residents of the town, probably with the exception of tonr or five families whose names are not recollected. The list should also include the names of James Bell. and Jobn MeClintock. shoemaker: Samuel Curran, wagon maker. settled here in 1835 and stillremains

There were four brick houses in the town in 1835. viz .: Peter Sowash's. MeCoy's. the building now Eyth's. and Pearson's. Among the frame buildings were Dr. De Wolf's residence and Seth's tavern.

Daniel K. Hill, whose widow still resides in Cen- treville, settled here in 1843. and followed shoe-mak. ing.

John C. Ramsey, afterward a Justice of the Peace and for several years a Methodist local preacher, came from Mercer County and settled here in 1514. He worked at shoe-making. Four of his sons -- W. T .. D. S., J. P. and J. W. - are residents of ('entre- ville. Three sons. George W .. Robert S. and John are dead. His daughters are Elizabeth E. (Still . wagon. dead), and Mary J. (Schuler). W. T. Ram- sey followed show making a few years, but has been engaged in mercantile pursuits since 1556.

Charles Prosser. Esq .. Postmaster. came to Butler from Huntingdon County. in 1531: worked at his trade of tailoring in Butler until IS40, then removed to Centerville, and in IS17 to Bonnybrook, and thence to Butler. where he remained until 1566, when ho again came to Contreville.

Elisha Kingsbury, from New Hampshire, Mercer County, and in 1546 to Centreville, where be eu- gaged in the mercantile business. He died in 1875. His son. (. O. Kingsbury. Esq .. continues the same business on the same spot. his store being now the longest established of any in the town.

T. S Contter. manufacturer and dealer in tin- ware, ote .. has been engaged in business in this borough since 1865.

William Il. Sturdevant, proprietor of carriage shop and blacksmith shop. came to this place in 1866 and engaged in his present business

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

William Kanfman, blacksmith, began business, in Centreville in 1872.

J. M. Muntz came from Lawrence County in 1874. He manufactures saddles and harness, and deals in goods of Eastern manufacture. Ho also deals in furs and hides and has a livery stable.

C. W. Bard. dentist, is a native of Centreville, and began business in 1874

Robert Kissick, shoe maker, has resided in Slip- pery Rock Township and Centreville borough twenty seven years.

J. S. Wilson, dealer in hardware and farm ma- chinery, settled in Centreville in 1859. He was ganger and inspector of Crude petroleum in Oil City several years. In 1879, he began his present business.

C. W. Coulter, druggist, began business in 1879. succeeding J. S. French. Mr. Coulter had pre- vionsly followed the same business in Butler seven years. He is a son of Dr. G. W Coulter, whose his- tory is elsewhere given.

Centreville Savings Bank was established in 1873 with the following directors: John T. Bard, W. (). Brackenridge, Milton Henry andl Norman Patterson.

J. H. Patterson was elected President and Austin T. Bard, Cashier. The present officers are. J. E. Bard, President: Directors -T. Chandler, T. W. George. Lr. Benjamin Pearson and Rev. Sanmel Williams. This bank is now about closing its busi- ness.

The citizens of Centerville show commendable enterprise in the matter of schools. Private schools have been sustainel at regular intervals for several years. Some twenty-five years ago. the borough school was divided into two departments, and this arrange- ment continued until 1SS1, when a fine school build- ing was erected at a cost of $4,000, and the schools divided into three grades. The schools are well managed and prosperous. John Morrow has been in charge of the higher department the last three years.

Centreville was incorporated as a borough in 1541. It now has about five hundred inhabitants, and the following business interests: One bank, two hotels, three liveries, three general stores, two groceries. two hardware stores, two drug stores, one foundry, one tannery. three blacksmith shops, two tailor shops. two carriage shops, one furniture store, one marble shop, two shoe-maker shops, two millinery shops, three harness shops, one tin shop, two physician- and one dentist. Five churches and the best school building in the county, outside of Butler, indicato the people's interest in religious and educational matters.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

1841. Charles Prosser: 1841, Alexander Buchanan ; 1846, Daniel K. Hill: 1816. George W. Bratton:

1848, John C. Ramsey: 1850, James D. Riddell; 1853, Alexander Buchanan: 1954. John J. Kelly; 1555, Alexander Bnehanan; 1859, James P. Christy; 1861, A. J. Bard: 1863, Alexander Buchanan; 1866. W. J. MeCarne: 1866, A. J. Bard; 1869, William Crill: 1871. A. J. Bard: 1873. David McDonald: 1875, 1. J. Bard: 1876, A. J. Band: 1878. T. S. Coulter; 1881. A. Prosser; 1881, C. O. Kingsbury: 1852. C. O. Kingsbury.

LODGES.

Odd Fellowes,-Mylort Lodge. No 1335, I. O. O. F., Centreville, was institute.l on the 10th of June, 1551. with a membership of some twenty five or thirty. The lodge continned in a Hourishing condition for about five years, when many of the leading members removed from the place: the remainder becoming dissatisfied. the charter was surrendered in November. 1\56. On the 14th of April, 1575. the lodge was ro- organized with seventeen charter members. since which time eighty- four have been admitted to member- ship by initiation and by card. The present mom- bership is eighty. Since the re-organization, the sum of $545 has been paid for the relief of members and their families.

Workmen. - Slippery Rock Lodge, No. 108: A. O. U. W., was organized May 25. 1877. with twenty charter members. Ten members have since been ad- mitted. The present membership is twenty-one, Orto- ber 1. 1SS2.

Knights of Honor. Friendship Lodge, No. 11SS, K. of H., was instituted in August. ISTS, with.twenty charter members. Memorship in October, 1852. abont twenty-five.

CENTREVILLE CHURCHES.

Methodist Episcopal. The Methodist Episcopal Church of this place was raised in 1831. Among the early members of the small class composing it were, Scott Stephenson and John Reynolds and their wives; Mrs. Hilger, Mrs. John Christley, Daniel K. Hill. class leader. Michael Christley. George Christley. Daniel Neyman. John C. Ramsey and Campbell Robb. Meetings were held for some years in an old school- house at Centreville, and at the houses of Mr. Stephenson and offer members. One of the first members was Rev. John Somerville. A small frame church was erected about 1837. In 1559, it was re- placed by the present house of worship, which cost about $3.000.

The church has a membership of eighty one. It belongs to the Centreville firenit, which includes West Liberty and St. John.

United Presbyterian. - The United Presbyterian Church of Centreville was organized in September. 1848. as an Associate Reformed Church. by Rov. William

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

Findley, D. D., with fifteen members, The first Eldl ers were John Hays-still a member of the church John Balph and James Bovard. The pastors have boon Rey. W. T. MeAdam, 1959 51: Rev. Robert Me Watty. 1855 -59; Rev. 1 R Rankin. two years: Rev. S. C. Reed, two years: Rov. W. D. Ewing. the pres ent pastor, was installed in 1570. The membership. October, 1582, was about one hundred and thirty five. A house of worship erected in 1552, was used until ISS2, when a large and costly editice was erected at a cost of about $1.000.

Presbyterian. The Centerville Presbyterian Church was organized April 24. 1854, by a committee appointed by the Presbytery. and consisting of Revs. John Munson, Mead Satterfield and R. B. Walker. Twenty-nine names appear on the first roll of mem- bers. William B. Cooper, Nathaniel Cooper and Thomas Mifflin were the first Elders. This church was served by supplies until the 1 4th of April. 1557. when Rev. S. Williams was installed pastor. He preached here regularly one-half his time. until 1869. During that period, 209 members were added to the church. The remaining pastors who have served here are as follows: Rey D. C. Cooper, 1870-75; Rev. James A. Menard. 1575 SI: Rey. James A. Wright, 1582, now in charge. The congregation at present numbers about two hundred. 1 large and flourishing Sabbath school is maintained.

Associate Church. - A congregation of the Asso- ciate Church, better known as Seceders, was organized at West Liberty in 1559, and continued to worship there until 1875. when the place of meeting was changed to Centreville, and a house of worship erected at a cost of $1,600. No church was erected at West Liberty. The pastors were all supplied until Rev. S. Ramsey, the present pastor, was installed, about ten years ago. There are now about thirty members belonging to this congregation.

Reformed Presbyterian .- The Covenanters, or Re- formed Presbyterians, had an organization in the Southern part of the township, and erected a church about twenty-five years ago. It was known as the Ryefield Church. In 1874. a house of worship was erected at Centreville. The congregation was then a branch of the New Castle Church. The present or- ganization was formed by Rev. S. J. Crow. in 1579. Rev. J. R. Wiley is now pastor. The church mm- bers about forty.

CHAPTER XLIII.

MERCER.

The Pitmers - Robert Reed Some of his Experiences- Indian Rivm- musconces- The Beatty, Brown and Other Famdies-Harrisville -The Protip -Sketch of the Harris Family-Events and Inci- dents The Coal Industry -Ently Schools and Churches

- ERCER is now the smallest township in Butler County. A large part of its former territory was taken to form Marion Township in 1554.

The township is rich in agricultural resources, and its coal interests are important. Great improve- ments in the general appearance of farms and farm buildings have been made during the last decade, and the work is still being carried forward in a manner which rofleets creditably upon the industry, thrift and good taste of the citizens. Could one of the pioneers of 1796 or 1797 now revisit the scenes of his former hardships, he would find it difficult to re- alize that such a wondrous transformation could be wrought in a period of less than ninety years.

Who first made a settlement in this township it is impossible to say. The sketches that follow give ac- count of a number of the settlers of 1797, and others of later date, who bore the burden and heat of the day in order to secure for themselves and their pos- tority the blessings of home and property. Detailed accounts of their difficult experiences are unnecessary. Suffice it to say that all bore their parts manfully. and deserve the grateful remembrance of posterity. Nearly all of the pioneers were poor. and the obsta- cles which they were obliged to overcome were such as were well calculated to call forth every generous impulse. encourage industrious labor, and promote neighborty kintness Doubtless the old settlers re sembled much more than we of to day a community of " brethren dwelling together in nity."

Robert Reed. afterward known as Col. Reed. came from Cumberland County in 1797. and settled on the first farm south of Harrisville: he moved his family, consisting of his wife and three children, in a two wheeled cart drawn by one horse. Two men came with him, driving seven head of cattle. On their way. the family stopped at Pittsburgh, where a son was born. On their arrival here. they had no house to shelter them, and there was snow upon the ground. A shanty of poles and bark was put up hastily. which served as a dwelling until a cabin could be built. Mr. Reed had but 25 cents in money left. There was then but one settler between Reed's farm and Franklin, and he lived seven miles north on what is now the Franklin road. Col. Reed opened a tavern in 1797, which was probably the first in But- ler Conuty, and the first on the Franklin road north of Pittsburgh; he continued the business successfully many years. At first be obtained all of his supplies

Mrs.W. D. Praham.

RESIDENCE OF HON. W. P. BRAHAM.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

from Pittsburgh, bringing flour on horseback: he also brought whisky in ten gallon kegs in the same way. One spring he took three horses to Pittsburgh to bring back a supply of oats for sowing; he obtained twenty- one bushels, loaded them on the backs of his horses and came back as far as the Connoquenessing, when he found the creek so high that it was impossible to ford it. Here he was delayed several days. Mean time other travelers had arrived at the creek, and Reed's supply of oats was nearly used up in feeding their horses. When he arrived at his home. he had only a sutticient quantity to give his hoises one feed. But during his absence his wife had taken in onongh money from guests at the tavern, so that he was able to start back to Pittsburgh the following day and pur- chase another load.

Col. Reed kept dogs and hunted deer, bear and turkeys. For some time after his arrival. he sup- plied his house with meat solely from the results of the chase: he was once ont without his gun and found a deer asleep in the grass: ho erept up to the animal silently. and caught it by the hind legs. 11 instant later he found himself stretched at full length upon the ground, the skin torn from his hands. while the deer was bounding away into the woods. Mr. Reed served several years as a Colonel of militia. During the last thirty years of his life, he gave up tav- ern keeping: he died in 1849, aged seventy-eight years. The children of Robert and Rachael (Mc- Clintock) Reed were Anna Bell), Sarah (Walker). now Mrs. Waddle, John. Robert. Rachael ( Hosack). Jane (Morrison), David. Hugh. Nancy (Osborn), Wil son. Elliott and Samuel. Sarah. Rachael, Hane. Nancy. Hugh and Elliott are still living. the oldest. being now eighty.seven, and the youngest sixty nine.

The Franklin trail was the earliest traveled route from Pittsburgh to the lakes. It had been an Indian trail long before the whites came to this part of the country, and Indians continued to traverse it after the country became settled. They frequently pucamped along the path, having their squaws along, and on- gaged in hunting. Indians often stopped at Reed's tavern while he was absent packing goods from Pitt -- burgh. A year or two before this part of Butler County was settled, a white man named Powers was shot by an Indian at White Oak Spring, a shor' dis tance north of Harrisville. in the edge of Verango County. The settlers, however, were never disturb al by them. and after the Mohawk murder, in ISE. the Indians ceased to travel the Franklin road. Mrs. Waddle, of Harrisville, is one of the few persons how living who remembers having seen old Cornplanter and his son Silver Heels. The latter was dwarfed and deformed.

Maj. John Welsh. an trishman and a land job.

ber. lived about half a mile east of Harrisville. He settled about 1797. He kept a tavern for years, and was one of the pioneer schoolmasters. Though one of the wealthiest of the early settlers. he was reduced to poverty, and died a beggar.

Thomas Dean settled on a tract adjoining Welsh's farm, abont 1797. He sold to James Read, an Irish- man, who lived and died on the place.

James Hartley lived on the Harris farm, and made the first improvement there in 1795. He died in 1802, and was buried in the old graveyard east of the borough. The first person buried in that spot was the mother of William Buchanan, who lived in Mercer County. The second was Fanny White, and the third Jane MeDonald.

Ebenezer Beatty settled southwest of Harrisville, in 1797. His sons, David. Henry, John and Thomas, died in this county. Two other sons went West.

Jacob Smith, about 1500, settled on the farm south of Colonel Reeds. His wife died here. He after ward married again. then left here and went to New Orleans. Nothing further was ever heard of him.

Francis Wilson was an early settler in the western part of the township. William Barnes, an Irishman who moved here from Conococheague, was an early settler a mile and a half southwest of Harrisville. He reared a large family, all of whom attained a ripe old age, and one of them, Samnel. died when upward of ninety. His children were Samuel, John. William. James, Alexander, Thomas, Robert and Jane.

Adam Funk was an early settler on the Porter farm. where he kept tavern several years. He moved to Butler. James Shields came from Cumberland County in 1798. and located where the Blocks are LOW. He died on the place an aged man.

Ebenezer Brown came from Huntingdon County in 1797, and settled upon a 100-acre tract. He also bonght 240 acres, on which his brother James settled several years later. Ebenezer married here Alice Porter, daughter of Samuel Porter, one of the early. settlers. James married a sister, Jane Porter. Eben ezer died in 1931. His children -Jane. Alexander. William P .. Samuel. James, John, Alice, Ebenezer and Joseph are now living, with the exception of Jane, John. Alice and Ebenezer. James Brown was the father of seventeen children. His sons, Ebenezer and Alexander, inherited the old homestead, upon which Alexander's and Ebenezer's widows are still living. The Porter family, consisting of the father and his sous Samuel, James and Andrew, and several daughters, were early settlers in the southeastern part of the township. Andrew and Samuel moved to Ohio. James died on the place where his father settled.

James Shields was one of the first settlers, and lived on the farm afterward owned by William White.

HISTORY OF BETLER COUNTY

Zelotus Jewell. whose farm was at the corner of Ven- tion. Will game abonded, and he once killed a wild ango and Butler Counties, was also an early settler. After he died. his widow married Stephen Rowland. James Dunlap. Thomas Dunlap. John and Henry Evans, were early settlers in the same neighborhood.

William Gill. a native of County Down, Ireland. came to this county in 1775, and served in the army during the Revolutionary war. He was under Gon. Wayne at the battle of Paoli, where Wayne's army was surprised and defeated. Gill was wounded in this battle. crawled into a hollow log, and lay until the British left the field. He got well, and served till the end of the war. He married Elizabeth Leaper in Alleghany County, and resided in that county until IS02, when he settled on Wolf Creek in Mercer County, where he encountered the usual experiences of pioneers. He was one of the founders of Har- mony Chareh, and is buried in its cemetery. He reared seven sons and six daughters. After the fami- ly settled on Wolf Creek, one of the sons, Hugh Gill. purchased a tract of 200 acres, which is now in Mercer Township. Butler County. He married Anne Anderson in Mercer County, and was the father of six children. of whom five are still living. He died in 1566. His son Hugh lives npon the old homestead in this township.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 89

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, Waterman, Watkins & Co. Number of Pages: 638

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Number of Pages: 638