USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 92
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Maria (deceased). Hutchison (deceased) and Will- iam A. Hutchison Wilson and Robert S. Campbell were accidentally killed in 1850. They had taken shelter under a tree during a violent storm: the trop was blown down and they were crushed to death by it.
Robert H. Campbell, a native of Ireland, came to this county in 1834. He married Lavina, daughter of Sammel Campbell, and settled upon the farm on which he now lives.
Michael Shakeley was an early settler of the sonth eastern part of the township. His youngest son, John, killed himself by hanging, leaving a wife and a large family.
James Simpson, an eccentric character, lived north- west of Martinsburg, where he settled early. He was quite courageous, and very severe on the boys when he canght them trying to play tricks on him. It is re- lated that Simpson was sitting at his door. one Sunday morning, when a panther came and caught one of his pigs. He drove the beast away. and swore he would kill him if he came back. The panther returned, and Simpson wont at him with no weapon but a fail, and after a desperate fight killed him, though Simpson himself enme near being killed during the struggle. Another version of this story is that Simpson's neigh- bor. Jacob Kistner, shot the panther, which fell from a tree to the ground, and that Simpson finished the killing with an ax. Okl Simpson had a sou, Tom. who was notoriously lazy. Tom got married. and soon after h's father noticed that meat and other articles of food which were placed in the spring-house. often disappeared The old man had well-founded suspic- ions, and accordingly had Tom arrested. The latter did not deny his thefts; but to the old man's remon- strances he retorted : " Father, who taught me?" And the old gentleman was silenced completely.
Near the beginning of this century. William Tur- ner. of Irish birth. came from Westmoreland County and settled upon the farm where his grandson, John M., now lives. He came by land with his stock. and sent his wife and children with part of the household goods up the river in a keel-boat. The boat upset. and his wife and two children were drowned. One child was saved by getting ou a feather-bed, which floated. Mr. Turner afterward married again. His children were Samuel, James, John, Robert and Will iam-all born in Ireland except William; and Sarah (Kincaid), Margaret (Scott), Fanny (Fowler), Martha (Rodgers), Nancy (MeJunkin) and Jane (Allen). James and John were in the war of 1512. Sarah remained single until seventy-five years of age; then married a widower aged seventy eight. Sam- uel and his second wife were poisoned by eating wild parsnips which they mistook for sweet myrrh. He lived eighteen months, but his wife died soon af- ter eating. William lived on the old homestead and died in 1533, aged forty two. He married Mary Mc- Candless. daughter of the first Sheriff of Butler Conn- ty. She was born in Westmoreland County in 1795, and is still living. Her children are Mary Ann (Black). John M .. Martha (Porter), William D., Sarah J. (Emery), Nancy and James-all living but William D. and Nancy.
In early days, a very helpful disposition charac-
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
terized the inhabitants. Every species of work was performed by " frolies," at which the strong limbed men and boys toiled from sunrise till dark. No young man could expect to receive the smiles and favors of the young ladies if he was lazy. The girls were as industrious as any. and the zeal with which they en tered into the work of a quilting or a " sentching " Trolie would astonish the people of the present day.
Owen Thomas, a native of Virginia. moved from Ohio to Phipps' furnace, and thence to the property on which his sons now live at least fifty years ago. He followed the trade of a collier and molder. but farmed during the latter part of his life. The children of Owen and Martha (Johnson) Thomas were William F., Natban J. (deceased), Ann E. (Craw- ford), John, George, Martha (Cooper) deceased, Owen J., Adam D. (deceased), Mary J. (Jamison), Maggie (Blair), and Lucinda.
David Fletcher had the first store in the township. He started the business about 1834. Murphy and Craig were his clerks The store stood on his farm. Afterward, Josiah Fletcher had a store on the Fletcher farm.
El Dorado ((lenora Post Office) is a small oil vil- lage in the northern part of the township. and has grown up since 1572. It contains two stores, a black- sinith shop and a few houses.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
On the farm where Daniel Walker now lives. there formerly stood an old log schoolhouse, with puncheon floor, window-lights of greased paper. a huge chim- ney of sticks and mud and a large fire place. Jacob Sype, a young man, Edward Jennings and Samuel Moore taught in this house. Sype was irritable, and did not take kindly to the barring ont process, then a universal custom. When the schoolhouse had been barricaded he tried to enter by descending into the tire-place by the chimney. The boys threw fire-brands and kept him out. He next tried to break a hole through the roof and enter, but unsuccessfully. He also tried the windows, but was prevented from on- tering. He was very angry, and a fight seemed im- minent. The difficulty was settled, as usual, by the teacher agreeing to " treat " the school.
Josiah Fletcher taught school near Martinsburg. about 1816, in a cabin which had formerly been Ben- jamin Fletcher's dwelling. His brother, Asa, also taught a year in the same place.
About 1827, a log schoolhouse that stood on the hill where the old Methodist Church stood afterward. was provided with a stove, which was then an article so rare as to be almost a curiosity in this part of the country. Among the teachers of those days were
Josiah Fletcher. Samnel Gibson. Joseph Campbell, Hugh Wilson and William Fowler.
An early schoolhouse, known as the Shryock Schoolhouse, stood near Shryock's Mill. John Gib- son a competent teacher. was the first who taught there, and after him came Robert Lawrence. Later, another schoolhouse was built on the farm now owned by John Danbenspeck. John Kelly and John Bartley wore other carly teachers.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1840. Andrew Donaldsou: 1840. David Kelly; 1815. Jacob Daubenspeck: 1845. James Campbell: 1816. David Kelly: 1850, James Campbell: 1851. Archibald Kelly: 1855. John Shryock; 1856. Archibald Kelly: 1860. Robert Storey: 1861, Archibald Kelly, 1865, Robert Storey: 1866. John Shryock; 1870, Robert Storey: 1872. Amos Young: 1875. Robert Storey: 1875, Thomas B Smith: 1877. A. P. Stew- art: 1877, John Kelly: 1882. A. P. Stewart: 1882, John Kelly.
MARTINSBURG.
This village was laid out by William Martin, in 1837, on land purchased by John Martin after his settlement. from a man named Conolly. The only buildings in the place previous to the above date were a few around Fletcher's mill. Of late years, the vil- lage has extended to the Fletcher farm, upon which a large mumber of houses have been erected. Mar- tinsburg contains three general stores, one grocery. one drug store, one hotel, two shoe-maker shops, one wagon shop, one blacksmith shop, one grist-mill, etc.
Zeri B. Shepard built the first house after the vil- lage was laid out. He was a shoe maker, and occupied the house as a dwelling and shop. The building is now John Kelly's stable. Robert Campbell, who combined the trades of plasterer and school teacher, built the second house.
Robert Black came from Pittsburgh to Martins- burg in 1841, and opened the first store. The build- ing was afterward occupied by Penn Redick, who kept a house of entertainment. It stood on the east side of Main street, but was burned years ago. Black moved his goods to a house built by him, which is now Mr. MeNees' dwelling, and continued the mercantile business a number of years.
Archibald Martin kept the first licensed house in the place, commencing in IS51. John Martin, in IS42. built a part of the house now occupied by Squire Kelly. The latter kept a licensed hotel from 1854 to IS65, and a temperance house until 1878. He remodeled and enlarged building erected by Mar- tin. As an illustration of the values of property in oil times, it may be well to state that Mr. Kelly was
JOHN DAUBENSPECK.
MRS. JOHN DAUBENSPECK.
JACOB DAUBENSPECK.
D. L. Meals
409
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
offered $16,000 for his hotel property, which would scarcely bring as many hundred dollars now.
William Sedwick, one of the early settlers of the village, built a mill on the creek. and afterward a foundry. Nothing now remains of either.
In 1857. Harry Arnold and R. P. Crawford built a charcoal furnace for the manufacture of iron, near Martinsburg. It was fired on Christmas Day. The furnace ran from that time until 1862, when the firm having become involved. the property was sold out by the Sheriff. This was known as the Dudley furnace. though it was nicknamed " Pegging Awl." The stack was of stone. and the works were run by a large steam engine. The product was taken to the mouth of Bear Creek, and thence by boat to Pittsburgh. From thirty-five to forty tons of iron per week were manu. factured, and for a time the owners did a brisk and prosperous business, giving employment to about 100 men in all departments of their work. They had a store, and as they furnished supplies to their work- men, the customers of the two or three stores in Mar- tinsburg became so few that their proprietors were obliged to give up their business, thus leaving an open field to the furnace managers. The latter rented much of the village property. The business failed because of poor management.
The village grew but slowly, until the oil devel- opments began to create excitement, and then Mar- tinsburg enjoyed a period of five or six years of pros- perity. during which many improvements were made.
T. W. MeNees settled at Martinsburg in 1872. and has followed hotel keeping and the livery busi. ness. Jerry Sutton now keeps the only hotel in the village. He has been engaged in the business since 1870. always keeping a temperance house. J. W. Orr began the mercantile business in 1877. He had pre- viously kept a store in Foxburg, Clarion County. Mr. Orr has been Chairman of the Prohibition County Committee three years, and a member of the State Executive Committee.
J. A. MeKallip & Co .. general merchants, opened their store in 1877.
Bruin Post Office, at Martinsburg, was established in 1851. Perry Week, Postmaster. The Postmasters since have been J. C. Halstead, Isaiah Gibson. W. G. Harshaw and E. H. Adams, present incumbent.
In October. 1877, the small-pos almost caused a panic in Martinsburg. Many people moved away, and business was injured in consequence. There were a large number of cases, but not many proved fatal.
MARTINSBURG LODGES.
Workmen .- Clipper Lodge, No. 59, A. O. U. W., was instituted September 3, 1873, and afterward moved to Petrolia. United Lodge, No. 127. 1 O. C.
W .. was instituted on the 25th of January, 1878, with the following first officers: R. P. Rupert, P. M. G .; J. W. Watters. M. W .: T. G. Crocker. G. F .: L. C. Gifford. O .: J. W. Orr, Recorder: W. C. Beek, Financier: F. M. Kinter, Receiver; W. JJ. Kelly. G .: W. W. Baird. I. W .: W. Martin, O. W. The lodge organized with thirty members. Abont eighty have been admitted. The number of members in good standing October 1. 1880, was thirty seven. This lodge owns the building and the hall in which mert all the lodges except the K. of H .. who own a small hall.
Knighis of Honor. -- Bruin Lodge, No. 970. K. of H., was formed March 22. 1878, with seventeen char- ter members. There are thirty one members in good standing at present.
Royal Templars of Temperance. - Campbell Conn cil. No. 52. R. T. of T., was chartered September S. 1SSO, with thirteen charter members. Present mem- bership, eighteen. This is a temperance organiza- tion, with insurance benefits among its features.
The following lodges are now extinct: Martins- burg Lodge, No. 817, I. O. O. F .. instituted January S. 1873; and Thanksgiving Lodge, No. 1193, I. O. of G. T .. instituted March 15, 1878.
MARTINSBURG M. E. CHURCH.
Benjamin Fletcher was the leader among the early Methodists. In 1534, a Methodist class was formed. and the following year Mr. Fletcher gave a lot upon which a church was erected. The first preachers were Revs. Gilmer. John Somerville and John Carl. The latter organized the class. The present Method- ist Church in Martinsburg was erected in 1874, at a cost of nearly $4.000. A society of Wesleyan Meth- odists built the first church in Martinsburg in 1853. The building has since been converted into a school. honse. The society became so sinall as to be unable to support a minister and the most of its members joined the M. E. Church.
MARTINSBURG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI.
For many years the Presbyterians of this vicinity worshiped at the old Bear Creek Church. In 1522. a Presbyterian Church was organized at Parker City. The Martinsburg Church was organized in the Wes- leyan Methodist Church. November 21. 1870, with a membership of thirty two. Rev. James Coulter pre- siding. and Rev. J. H. Marshall preaching the sermon.
The first Elders Amos Young. H. H. Say and John C. Martin-were installed December 11, 1870. The church edifico was completed in December. 1578. at a cost of about $4,500. Rev. E I. Brugh preached the first sermon in it. The house was dedicated
2
410
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
September 6. 1874, with a sermon by Rov. R. B. Walker. D. D. Rev. B. C. Montgomery, the first regular pastor, was installed October 22, 1873: resigned April 17, 1876. On the 15th of May. 1877. Rev. T. M. Thompson was installed pastor: he re- signed in October, 1852. The present membership is ninety-five.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN PAUBENSPECK
John Daubenspeck was born on the old Dauben. speck homestead. February 16, 1811. He was the son of those worthy pioneers, George and Ann Mar- garet Danbenspeck, who came to the wilds of Butler County in 1796; they were probably natives of Luzerne: they were undoubtedly schooled in early life to the hardships and privations of a new country : and that they were as brave and resolute as they were hardy, is attested by the life they led in what was then a wilderness (for a further history of these worthy people, the reader is referred to the township history ). John lived under the parental roof. sharing the privations and hardships of the family until he was twenty-six years of age. At the foot of his father's farm stood, in early days, a primitive log schoolhouse; the benches were of slabs and the light was admitted through greased paper. window glass being an article far out of the reach of the people of those days. The structure was warmed by a huge fire. place, which occupied one entire side of the building. Here the boy John was instructed in reading, writing and arithmetic. These three branches comprised the entire course. While his early life was replete with toil and privation, it developed many strong points of character that otherwise might have remained latent; it fitted him for the task before him. that of improving a traet of 200 acres of rough land which his father had given him before leaving home. In 1842, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Shakely: her" family were among the first settlers in Armstrong County, where she was born July 5. 1820, her mater nal grandparents were among the pioneers of Greens- burg, Penn., who suffered severely from Indian depre dations. On one of their incursions, several of the settlers were killed and her grandmother was scalped and left for dead, but eventually recovered and lived to a good old age. Mr. Daubenspeck, like his father. has given his attention to agriculture, and despite the unfavorable circumstances under which he started out he has been highly successful. and, to the tract given him by his father, added 350 acres. Nine children huve been born to Mr. and Mrs. Danbenspeck, three of whom are living Houry, Margaret and Elizabeth.
Henry married Maria Meals, Margaret is the wife of Richard Turner, and Elizabeth married E. H. Adams. Both Mr. and Mrs. Danbenspeck are consist- ont members of the Reformed Church, and exem- plify in their daily life the teachings of their faith.
CHAPTER XLVI.
CLAY TOWNSHIP.
Its Location Natural Features-Coal Mines -- Early Residents, ete - Resident Taxpayers in 1854-Borongh of West Sunbury Its Early History and Progress-The Thompson Family-Borough Officers- Religious History-Presbyterian Church of Muddy Creek-Luther- an Church- United Presbyterian Church - Methodist Episcopal ('Imreh-Presbyterian Church of West Sunbury West Sunbury Academy.
T THIS township, one of the many interior divisions of Butler, lies directly north of the center of the county. Formed in 1854 (see general chapters), it derived its name from the distinguished Kentucky statesman of the past - Henry Clay -and as now con- stituted, has Cherry on the north, Coneord on the east, C'entre on the south, and Brady on the west.
Its streams are unimportant, and the general sur- face similar in many respects to other portions of the county, being broken by ranges of hills, very irregu- lar in their direction and height, yet nearly every acre arable. Originally this region was heavily tim- bered with oak. hickory. cherry, maple, chestnut, and many other varieties of deciduous forest trees indig- enons to this latitude, but the woodman's ax has been at work here for a period of more than eighty years, and now the greater portion of the township's area is devoted to pasture and meadow lands, and the culture of corn. potatoes, wheat and other productions. The soil is generally fertile, and during favorable seasons abundant crops are harvested. The township is well provided with good wagon roads. schoolhouses. churches, etc., and a new railroad, known as the West Pennsylvania & Shenango Connecting Link. is now being constructed. This line enters the township by crossing the southern border near the center, and thence extends in a general northwest course to the northwest corner. An excellent quality of bitumi- nous coal* is also found in various portions of Clay Township, the strata varying in thickness from three feet to four feet fonr inches.
EARLY RESIDENTS.
During the decade beginning with the year 1796, people began to settle in that portion of Allegheny County known as Butler. Before 1800, the territory now termed Clay Township, received its
The roal banky or mines of Joseph MeMichael and S. P' Painter, lying on udjuiving tracts, are situated but little more than one mite southwest from the village of West Sunbury. They have been operated for about twenty-five years. The demand, a local one, is constantly increasing, however, and the yearly product of each of these mines will approximate twenty thousand Inshels.
WILLIAM BLACK.
HON. HIRAM C. MS COY.
HENRY BUHL .
411
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
first settlers. Since that time. many changes have taken place, here. as elsewhere. None of the earliest inbabitants now survive, and they have left but few meager record- behind them.
However, by dint of much research and inquiry we learn, that among those who settled within the present limits of the township prior to the year 1800. were the brothers, Hugh and William Wasson, who owned abont 500 acres. John Adams, the maternal grandFather of R. H. Young, who owned 500 acres. adjoining the Wasson tract. He came from West- moreland County. He was married twice and was the father of twenty children, of whom Elizabeth be- came the wife of John. and the mother of the present R. I. Young.
Peter Young was a native of Ireland, but became a resident of Pittsburgh, Penn., before the year 1500. After a few years' residence there, however, he settled near Darlington. Beaver County. Penn ... where the remainder of his days were passed. Of his family of eight or ten children. John was the oldest. The lat- ter, also, was born in Ireland, and after his marriage to Elizabeth Adams, or about the year 1530, he moved from Crawford County. Penn. (where he had resided for a few years), to Butler County, and located on a portion of the Adams traet, which he had purchased from his father-in-law. John Adams. About 1845, he moved to Cherry Township, where he died in IS66. His wife died in 1536. Of the eight children of John and Elizabeth Young. Peter. Elizabeth. Nancy and R. H. Young alone survive. The MeIlvains and a veteran of the Revolutionary war. Christopher Me- Michael. and family settled early. The people already mentioned. all lived in the same neighborhood. and east of the present borough of West Sunbury. David Patterson settled in the central part of the township; Joseph Timblin in the southwest quarter near Muddy Creek : Martin Thompson, on the premises now oeenpied by John Sutton: James and William MeJunkin (brothers). near the locality now known as the Mnddy Creek Church, and Samuel Findley and his sons, Robert, David and Samuel, Jr., who ocen- pied a central position in the northern half of the present township. Christopher McMichael was one of many Scoten-Irishmen who emigrated from the north of Ireland to America prior to the beginning of the struggle for American independenee He joined the Continental army. After experiencing varions vieis- situdes, was taken prisoner at the battle of Brandy wine, and held as such until peace was declared. Afterward, having become an experienced and most sneeessful seout. he performed good service on the frontier, while the Indians were yet war-like and troublesome in the wild regions west of the Allo- ghanies.
He finally settled ou lands near the line at present dividing the counties of Armstrong and Indiana, and remained there until some time be- tween the years 1796 and 1500, when with his wife. four sons, and two daughters, he moved to a tract (within the present township of Clay) lying just east of the village of West Sunbury. Here he re- mained until his death.
William MeMichael, the oldest child of the soldier and pioncer, became an carly resident of the territory now known as Cherry Township. His children, all born in that locality, were Jane. Christopher, Martha, William. David, Taylor, John. Sammel F. and Mar- garet. Christopher. the oldest son of William, was born November 22. 1808, and became a resident of the township in which he now resides (Clay) in 1548. He had nine children, of whom Joseph. Jane. Josiah. Ethan S., Zenas and Robert J. are living.
While speaking of the Findley family. we are ro minded of quite a prominent character in the history of Clay Township, Mrs. Margaret Sanderson, whose first husband was Robert, son of Samnel Findley Before the beginning of the Revolutionary war, her grandfather. Robert Ekin, removed from York Conn- ty. Penn . and settled near the site of Mckeesport There in the year 1791, she was born, being the sec- ond in a family of fourteen children. In 1797, her parents sought a new home in the northern wilds of Allegheny County, where, on what was afterward known as the Butler & Youngstown road, distant one mile and a half east from Whitestown, her father. John Ekin, became the owner of four hundred acres of land Mrs. Sanderson relates many interesting incidents regarding the customs of the people, the condition of the roads, the habitations. their furnish- ings, etc., in vogne nearly ninety years ago. And also well remembers that when the removal was made from the junction of the Monongahela and Youghio- gheny Rivers to the Connoquenessing settlement, one horse earried herself, her mother and an infant. The mother, besides guiding the animal. held the baby in her arms, while Margaret. then but six years of age, sat behind. and by clinging to her mother's skirts, kept her seat as best she could. The roads on the route to Fort Pitt were about as bad as they could be, but from the latter place to their ob- jective point. Indian trails ouly were found and fol- lowed, and quite frequently the horses had to swim with their burdens at the crossing of streams.
Mrs. Sanderson also remembers that Dr. Irvin, a gentleman of education, as well as skilled in his pro- fession, tanght the first school in the Connoquenes sing settlement near Whitestown. in 1799. The pio neer Presbyterian preacher, Rov. John McPherrin, was likewise well known to her. On the 9th day of
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
March. IS19. she was married to Robert Findley, and the same year they began housekeeping on the prem ises where she now resides. near the village of West Sunbury. Their nearest neighbor then was David Patterson, who livel to the southward, and nearly two miles away. Besides the Finleys and Pattersons. the MeMichaels, MeElvains. Glenns. Christys. Gra hams, Timblins. Allens, and a few others were also located within the limits of the present township. but probably there were not to exceed twenty five fami lies in all in 1819. Stephen Allon was an early school teacher, and taught at various points. Mrs. Sanderson has had four husbands. She was married to Robert Findley in 1519, to George Loudon in 1945. to George Emerick in 1559, and to Henry Sanderson in 1870. By her first marriage she became the mother of her only child, a daughter, who died when five years of age. Yet. at various times she has assumed the care of and reared eleven orphan children. besides keep ing others for months at a time,
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