History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 50

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 50

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).

The Connoquenessing Valley Agricultural Society was incorporated March 20. 1875, with HB members. It has passed out of existence.

Eureka Grange. Number 244, P. of H., has an active membership in the township. It- purpose is to promote the interests of agriculture and foster a fraternal spirit among the farmers.

CHAPTER XXVI

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS-PIONEERS-POPULATION AND ASSESSMENT -HARVEST HOME-THE HARMONISTS' ESTATE-EARLY INDUSTRIES -SCHOOLS AND JISTICES-VILLAGES.

ACKSON township was organized in ES54, and is situated in the south- J western part of the county, north of Cranberry and south of Lancaster townships, its western boundary being the Beaver county line. The. Pittsburg and Western railway runs through the northern part of the township, from south- east to northwest. Connoquenessing creek flows west wardly through the town- ship, about a mile south of the northern boundary line. Besides being a good

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agricultural township. it contains the old town of Harmony, where the Harmony Society made their first settlement in America ; the boroughs of Zelienople and Evans City, and the villages of Eidenau and Ramsdale. The township abounds in coal, which has been mined from the pioneer days to the present, and in exten- sive deposits of iron ore and limestone. The people of the township are thrifty. industrious and prosperous.

PIONEERS

The pioneer history of Jackson township is particularly interesting, on account of the men and events connected with its settlement, and because, within its boundaries, there have been made extended ventures in agriculture, stock- growing, milling, distilling and merchandising. Though the vangurd of the pioneers were from the North of Ireland, the main body was made up of Germans, to whom credit must be given for the development of the township and the found - ing and building up of Zelienople and Harmony.

James Magee, a native of Down county, Ireland, located here in 1797, served in the War of 1812, and died in 1846. William Martin, also a native of Ireland, came about the same time. cleared some land, one mile west of the present bor- ough of Evans City, and died there in 1850. They were among the pioneers who opened the way to the fertile fields of the lower Connoquenessing valley.

In 1800 came Thoma- Wilson, who settled near Evans City : Thomas Scott. who located on the site of Zelienople and resided there until evicted by Dr. Müller : Michael Martin, a brother of the pioneer. William Martin ; John Dunn, an old soldier, who located in the Martin settlement, and who was killed while returning to his former home at the forks of the Youghiogheny ; David Young, James Donaldson and Joseph Morris, Christian Buhl. a German shoemaker. came in 1802, located at Zelienople, and worked for Dr. Müller. Morris Covert had 200 acres of land here in 1803. having made a location that year or in 1802. Philip Covert had 100 acres, but neither of them had personal property then. Morris served in the War of 1812, and died in 1839. His widow died in 1841. Daniel Fiedler located on the site of Zelienople in 1803. John Nixon, founder of the family in Pennsylvania, came from New Jersey to what is now Jackson township in 1812. then moved to Penn township. John Fleming, the teacher. came in 1815, also Jacob Kelker and Samuel Beam. Abraham Ziegler set- tled here in 1815, having purchased part of the Harmonists' property the year before. Jacob Swain came from Westmoreland county in 1816, and died here in 1837.

Thomas H. Harper settled here in 1820, but moved to Cranberry township in 1843, where he died in 1876. Jonas llartzell started a wagon shop at llar- mony in 1820, but turned his attention toward agriculture in 1832. Lewis Gansz and Jacob Dambach and wife came in about 1832; George Marburger, with his father and brother, llenry, came from Prussia in 1839. settling near Zelienople : Henry Stokey came in IS46, and Dr. Adam Weiser in 1856. Det- mar Basse Miller, the Passavants, Buhls, Muntzs, Zieglers, Fiedlers, Wises, Allens, and many other pioneers of Zelienople and Harmony are noticed in the chapters devoted to the history of the two boroughs.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

The population in 1860, was 1,117 ; in 1870-1.187; in 18-0, excluding bor- oughs. 1.264, and in 1890-1.151. The assessed value of real and personal prop- erty in 1993, was $323.050: the county tax, $1,292.20. and the State tax. $$1.80.

HARVEST HOME.

The Harvest Home, one of the three annual feasts of the Harmony Society. was inaugurated here in 1805. A large barn was thrown open to the people and the feast spread. This consisted of the products of the farm, with native wine, whisky, beer, sanrkraut, rice and ginger cakes. They interpreted Chapter XXIII. of Exodus, as a warranty for the three feasts-the " Love Feast " in early spring, the " Harvest Home " when the small grains were in, and the " Feast of the Ingathering," when harvest was over. On February 15. each year. from 1806 to 1815, the Economites held their feasts, and the English speaking pioneers were always welcome guests. After the departure of the Rapp colonists, the feasts were observed. at intervals, by the successors in occupation : but after the removal of the Nixons to Penn township, the Harvest Home was held there.

THE HARMONISTS' ESTATE.

Detmar Basse Müller was the first true developer of this section. He came here with wealth and ideas, and with the object of reigning like a feudal baron over a large extent of country. He sold his property, as related in the history of Zelienople, to the Rapps, and they continued its development until 1811, when George Rapp described it as follows :

SALE OF THE ECONOMITES' FIRST LAND.

With all its improvements, and about 9,000 acres of land adjoining, on which are three villages, in the tenure of GEORGE RAPP and Associates, is offered for sale.

HARMONY.

Is situated on either banks of the Connoquenessing, Butler county, twenty- five miles west of north from Pittsburg, and eleven miles from the Ohio river, and contains about 130 buildings and lots of ground, a number of which are brick. some frame and the rest log. The principal buildings are the tavern house of stone and brick, 54 by 32 feet, con- taining 12 convenient apartments, with kitchen, cellar, garden, and good stabting-a storehouse of brick, 42 by 32 feet, with an arched cellar-a brick house for spinning and weaving, 56 by 40 feet, with a cellar under the whole a brick house opposite the tavern, 44 by 33 feet, with an arched cellar-a brick house on the adjoining lot, 45 by 30 feet, with a cellar - a brick house opposite the store, 44 by 30 feet, a cellar under the whote-a brick house for carding and spinning, 50 by 40 feet, with a cellar-a large commodious brick house for shearing and finishing cloth-a brick house calculated in best manner for dye- ing-two brick houses, 40 by 30 feet each-a dwelling house, brick and frame, 50 by 30 feet-a brick church, 75 by 45 feet. Besides several other brick and frame dwelling houses, there are a number of buildings for different uses.

A frame granary, 80 by 40 feet, with four floors and machinery, well adapted to the design of the building.

Two distilleries, one brick, the other stone. each calculated to distill, by steam, 18 bushels of grain per day.

Two grist mills, one first rate. on Big Connoquenessing, with one set of burrs. the other a pair of common stones-a fulling mill, and convenient rooms for two sets of wool-carding machines attached to it. The other grist mill is situated on a run, with two pairs of common stones-an oil milf on Little Connoquenessing, together with a full-

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ing and hemp mill, and one set of cotton carding machines-two saw-mills -- a large con- venient tan yard with suitable improvements -- a brick yard- potash factory -- rope walk -brewery-a smith with four hearths-a nail factory -- buildings suited to almost every branch of mechanisin-and the town well supplied with water, having 10 wells with pumps, besides three springs.

There are in the town of Harmony 4 large barns with stables underneath, and on the premises 7 large sheep stables, that will hold 5,000 sheep.

Adjacent to Harmony and on the premises are three villages -- the first is Ramsdale, half a mile north, containing about twenty log buildings, with convenient barns and stables-the second is Eidenau. one and a half miles east, containing about the same number of houses, barns and stables-the third is Oilbronn, two miles north, eight or ten houses with barns and stables; besides several other single farms with necessary buildings and handsome improvements. There are of the whole quantity of land about 3,000 acres remarkably well improved, and durably fenced; at least 500 acres of which are meadow and of the first quality.

There are two principal orchards, containing about 2,000 bearing apple trees, besides smaller ones in different parts of the farms. Two vineyards, one of 10 and the other of 5 acres, have given sufficient proof of the success of the cultivation of vines; they are made after the European manner, at a vast expense of labour, with parapet walls and stone steps conducting to an eminence overlooking the town of Harmony, and its surrounding improvements.

There have been supported from the improvements and produce of Harmony, annu- ally 3,000 sheep, 600 horned cattle and a number of horses, besides the grain to feed the distilleries. and still affording large supplies to the country. There are quarries of good limestone, building stone and stone coal, and good timber for building and other uses abounding throughout the improved land.

The soil-the most extensive part of it, is of the first quality, on which are a num- ber of good sugar camps, the situation level and rounding so as to form an agreeable variety of surface. The man of capital who may wish to purchase will, upon viewing Harmony and its improvements, at once discover that he can not be better suited, for the purpose of farming, manufacturing and every branch of mechanism.

Should no person or persons be inclined to purchase the whole property on or before the first day of October next, it will then be divided and sold in such lots and parcels as may suit purchasers.

The titles to all the above-described property are indisputable. Possession will be delivered on the first of April next, and the terms made known by application to the subscriber residing at Harmony, Butler county. GEORGE RAPP. June 15, 1814.

EARLY INDUSTRIES.

The Müller saw mill near Zelienople was, undoubtedly, the first manufac- turing industry in Jackson township. Established in 1804, it was a signal of advancement which gave the pioneers courage and led them to hope for greater things. In 1806 Müller had a grist-mill erected, where the Seidel brothers have their modern mill. The old mill was at one time left on an island owing to the dam being swept away in a freshet. The Herr mill, erected by John Herr, became the property of Albert Seidel and Joseph Schwartz in 1857. Just before the war, Schwartz sold his interest to Seidel, who operated the concern until his death in 1880, when his sons became owners, Harper & Keefer became owners in 1889, and in 1892 MIr. Harper became sole proprietor.

The Economy grist-mill was erected on Scholar's run in 1806 or 1807 under the direction of George Rapp, The big mill at Eidenau, the oil mill, the full-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

ing and carding mill and the distillery on the Little Connoquenessing, above Eidenau, were early and important industries. In 1837 David Ziegler and Arron Schontz converted the great barn of the Economites, northwest of the Diamond. into a steam flouring mill, while later, Jacob Ziegler erected a distill- ery near the big mill, above Harmony.

The Bassenheim furnace was carried on by Ditmar Basse Miiller from its opening, in 1814, to his return to Germany, in 1818, with the exception of the last two years, when P. L. Passavant was really director of the work. From 1818 to 1524, Daniel Beltzhoover & Company were the owners, but in the latter year they closed it down, and, by 1826, Beltzhoover was the proprietor of the farm on which the ruins of the old furnace stood. Native ore was used and the bellows worked by water power until the dam gave way, after which a steam engine was introduced. John H. Hopkins, who later became a prominent bishop in the Protestant Episcopal church, was a clerk in the old furnace prior to 1818, and, it is said, served also in P. L. Passavant's store as salesman.

The Wilson salt works, established at Harmony in 1816, were carried on in conjunction with the salt well on Yellow creek.

There were several tanneries in the Harmony neighborhood, as well as dis- tilleries, so that the early settlers of a wide section in Butler. Beaver and even Armstrong counties, made this a point for exchanging the products of the farm for flour, groceries, whisky and leather.

SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES.

The first schools were introduced by the Economites. Subsequent to 1815, John Fleming and the teachers named in the chapters on Zelienople, Harmony and Evans City established subscription schools, which were carried on until the common school law was adopted here in 1835. In June. 1893, there were 119 male and 169 female children of school age in this township. The total revenue, for school purposes, was $2,953.66, of which the State appropriation was $1,119.17.

The justices of the peace for Jackson township, from 1855 to 1894 are named as follows : Thomas Wilson, 1855; Frederick Zehner, 1855, 1860, 1865 and 1875; Lewis Gansz, 1860 and 1865; Henry Cooper, 1870, 1875 and 1876; Thomas I. Wilson, 1879; Andrew Harper, 1880, 1885 and 1890; J. B. Knox, 1882; S. Ramsey, 1857; Jacob Enslen, 1891; G. W. Wilson, 1890; Charles Zehner, 1892; W. G. Swain, 1893 ; J. H. Eichert, 1893, and Phil Snitzel, 1891. Prior to 1854 the township formed a part of Connoquenessing and Cranberry townships, and prior to 1804 was a part of original Connoquenessing township.

VILLAGES.

Harmony, Zelienople, a part of Evans City, Eidenau and Ramsdale belong, physically, to Jackson township. The first three are boroughs, and dis- tinet municipal governments ; while Eidenau is still within the jurisdiction of the township officers. Ramsdale, like Oilbronn, in Lancaster township, long since disappeared, and few, if any, of the present inhabitants have the slightest notion that old Ramsdale, a half mile north of Harmony, was at first an Indian town and,

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ZELIENOPLE BOROUGH.

in the first decade of this century, a Caucasian village of twenty log houses, with as many log barns and stables.

Eidenau, in 1808-1814, was a town as large as Ramsdale, and there also was the big mill, erected by the Economites, which afterward became the property of Abraham Ziegler. On the flats north of the river was an old Indian town, which was practically abandoned in 1792, but tenanted by the women and children of the Red Hunters until the pioneers came into this section.

CHAPTER XXVII.

ZELIENOPLE BOROUGH.

ORIGIN OF NAME-DR. DETMAR BASSE-" THE BASSENHEIM "-A BEAUTIFUL SITE- GEORGE RAPP, THE BAVARIAN-PUBLIC SQUARE CONTROVERSY-PIONEERS-EARLY TAVERNS-LATER GROWTH-JOSEPH SMITH, THE MORMON -- NEWSPAPERS -- INSUR- ANCE COMPANY -- BANK -- LEADING MERCHANTS-POPULATION AND STATISTICS- POSTMASTERS AND JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-SCHOOLS-MANUAL LABOR SCHOOL -- ZELIENOPLE SELECT SCHOOL-CONNOQUENESSING ACADEMY -- ORPHANS' HOME- BURGESSES AND COUNCILMEN -- CHURCHES-SOCIETIES.

T HIS beautifully and picturesquely located little borough derives its name from Zelie, the daughter of its cultured, scholarly and romantic-minded founder, Dr. Detmar Basse, whose ample means, when he came here, in 1802, from the City of Frankfort, Germany, enabled him to purchase a tract of 10,000 acres of land, lying in Butler and Beaver counties, lay out a village, and erect as his own private residence, a three-story wooden castle, with towers, turrets and battlements, to which he gave the name of "The Bassenheim." His idea appears to have been to establish here in the wilderness of western Pennsylvania, amid romantic and picturesque surroundings, a baronial estate, and thus become a man of power and influence in this part of what was then the growing West.

The village which he thus founded, on the left bank of the Connoquenessing, is in the midst of an area abounding in mineral wealth, as well as beautiful scenery. Coal and iron ore are found here, while the petroleum and gas fields of later days have been profitably developed. The elevation of the village is 935 feet above the level of the sea, or 145 feet lower than that of Butler borough.

In 1804 Dr. Detmar Basse sold 5,000 acres of his tract to George Rapp, a Bavarian, on which the purchaser founded the village of Harmony. In 1806 the builder of " The Bassenheim " went back to Germany. but returned in 1807, accom- panied by his daughter Zelie and her husband, P. L. Passavant. From that time until 1818, when he returned to Germany, leaving his business affairs in the hands of his son-in-law, the founder of Zelienople devoted himself to its upbuilding and 26

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

made the little town a seat and center of activity, enterprise and progressive life. Although his real name was as given above, he came to be known as Dr. Müller. He built and operated a grist mill, and either as an eccentricity or to designate his calling, he used to sign his name " Detmar Basse Miller," or " the miller ; " hence, doubtless, the appellation that displaced his real name. Whether his title of " Doctor " was given him because he had some knowledge of drugs, or was conferred upon him as a college degree by one of the educational institutions of his country, cannot be stated with certainty. He was known as an educated and polished gentleman, and a man of considerable intellectual ability. Before com- ing to America he had been prominent in public life, having. during the Napo- leonic cia, represented the free City of Frankfort as an ambassador to Paris. His American castle. " The Bassenheim," was destroyed by fire in 1842, having been purchased in IS36, with a tract of 400 acres of the Miller lands, by Joseph Allen, who replaced it with a dwelling which he occupied until his death. in 1865.

When D. B. Müller disposed of the unsold lots in the original town of Zelien- ople to P. L. Passavant for $1,400, and ceased to have an interest therein, the public square, streets and alleys were public property : but the new owner, believing the public square or Diamond to be his property, sold the school-house, an octagonal building. to three trustees, in 1816, and for almost seventy years this sale was unquestioned. until the subject of building the school-house of 1883 was discussed. S. F. Bowser, who was chosen counsel for the school board, in April 1883. pointed out, not only the illegality of building on the Diamond in 1816, but also cautioned his clients against repeating the error. The location of the school created a good deal of ill feeling.

PIONEERS.

Philip L. Passavant opened the first store on the town site in ISO7. and car- ried it on for about forty-one years, when he disposed of his mercantile interests to his son,-C. S. Passavant. Prior to the coming of P. L. Passavant, or in 1804, Christian Buhl, the hatter, and Daniel Fiedler, the distiller and ferryman, had their log cabins erected-the first on the town site-while Jonathan Maybury worked at the furnace. Then came Andrew Diemer and his son, masons by trade, and then John George Muntz, who moved to Harmony late in 1804 or early in 1805. as a member of the colony there. Andrew MeClure, who had 180 acres of land and a cow in 1803, sold them and moved into this new town, to become a tavern-keeper. where the Grand Central Hotel stands ; while Mcintyre, the spinning-wheel manufacturer : Jacob Heberling, the third stone mason in the vil- lage, and John Locke, the miller, had already made their humble homes here.

In 1814 Charles Cist opened a small stock of goods: Jacob Hoffa, whose wife was the school teacher in 1817, and David Arneal, men of all work, were here as early as Cist, as well as Hungelmeyer, a carpenter. Robert Bolton and Fred. Bentle, blacksmiths; John Boyer, a preacher ; V'ance Randolph, a mill- wright, who came in 1816; John A. Beyer. a shoemaker, and Adam Goehring. Il. W. Goehring. John Lambert, Jacob Gross. Francis Pfeffer and George Hartzell were residents prior to the close of this century's second decade.

The McClure tavern, established shortly after the first log cabins were erected

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ZELIENOPLE BOROUGH.

on the town site, stood on the present site of the Central Hotel. The house built by John Randolph in the " Twenties," took in the old MeClure House, and both buildings united to form the Bastian House of later days. In 1888 H. W. Stokey purchased the old hotel, rebuilt it and named it, " The Grand Central."

The Eagle Hotel was built in the " Twenties " by Rudolph Kelker. For fifty years it was an old-time caravansary, carried on by various landlords in the quaint manner of the Mercer road tavern-keepers. In 1878 Henry Stokey moved here from Evans City, in advance of the railroad, purchased the old building and intro- duced modern hotel-keeping. Charles Stokey, his son, is now landlord. The Eagle and the Central are to-day creditable houses of entertainment.

LATER GROWTH.

In 1826 there were fifty houses in Zelienople, including three churches. Of the churches, a brick structure, also used for a school house, was erected by the town. The others were the Baptist house of worship. a frame building, and the new Lutheran church, a Gothic structure of rock-faced stone. Two tanyards, one saw mill, two grist mills, two stores, one large distillery, and one hotel or inn, with a number of blacksmith and carpenter shops, were in existence. Within sight of the village, westward, was the Bassenheim farm, then owned by Daniel Beltzhoover, and the Benvenne farm of George Henry Muller. The mineral spring, a half mile from the village, was the resort of invalids, and Zelienople and vicinity was the most prosperous and happy community within the limits of Butler county.

About this time Joseph Smith, the apostle of Mormonism, came here to search for the plates of Mormon. Beyond winning the love of a Harmony girl and marrying her, against the will of her parents, he created little stir in the village ; but in later years, when his new religion was promulgated, he looked to Harmony and Zelienople for converts, and, it is said, found a number who became his adherents.

The Zelienople Recorder was published in 1847, being the pioneer journal of the borough. The Connoquenessing Valley News, mention of which is given in the chapter on The Press, was established by Samnel Young, and carried on, since his death, by his son, J. R. Young. In 1890 Mr. Young published an autobiography, which portrayed names and scenes connected with the Butler oil field.

The progress of the town since January 1, 1879, when the first passenger train rolled in, has been substantial and steady from every point of view. In February, 1880. the American Union Telegraph Company established an office here.

The German Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Zelienople was presided over in 1879 by F. Summer, with F. Zehner, secretary. The directors elected in Jannary, 1880, were John Sieg, Philip Snitzell, Joseph Ziegler, Jr., P. Herr- man, Henry Mickley. Conrad Nicklas, Henry Miller, Jacob Pflug, Jr., and Jacob Burkhardt.

Nicholas Dambach established a bank here in March, 1882, which was pur- chased the following year by Dr. Amos Lusk & Son. After Dr. Lusk's death.

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in 1891. the bank was carried on by his son, Amos M. Lusk, and John A. Gel- bach, until March, 1893, when the former retired from the firm, and was suc- ceeded by Jacob Gelbach. The bank has since been conducted successfully by the Gelbach Brother-, and is recognized as a convenient and safe institution.

The leading merchants of the borough in 1894. were Allen & Dambach, John Dindinger, W. Il. Ifft, C. S. Passavant, Wright Brothers, A. Winter and 11. Wild, general traders ; D. G. Bastian, Eichholtz & Uber, Fred Frishkorn. F. S. Goehring and C. J. D. Strohecker, hardware merchants: John Bloom and H. Kauffman, boot and shoe dealers : H. Householder, baker ; Householder Brothers, dealers in machinery : A. Harper, coal merchant ; J. Ifft, lumber merchant ; E. Zehner, furniture dealer, and F. Zehner, dealer in agricultural implements.

The population in 1870, was 387: in 1880, 497, and in 1890, 639. The assessed value of property on January 1. 1894, was $130.116; the county tax. $520.46. and the State tax. $395.51.

POSTMASTERS AND JUSTICES.

The first postmaster was Andrew McClure, who was also a tavern-keeper. In the first decade of the century he was appointed postmaster by the Federalists. a position he held until 1813, when his pro-British oratory brought him into trouble with the volunteers, who were en route to Lake Erie They tarred and feathered him and, in revenge. he resigned the office to a citizen of Harmony and left Zelienople minu- postal privileges from 1818 to 1835, when John Fleming, the poet and postmaster of Harmony, resigned, and turned the office over to John Gottlieb Muntz at Zelienople. His successors have been as follows: Henry Muntz. Philip L. Passavant. Francis Wallace. Rudolph Kelker, Francis Wallace, John Levis, Robert Hay, Lewi- Reed, George B. Bastian. John Dindinger, Charles E. Reed, John W. Phillip -. John Weigle, and Frederick Zehner. the present incumbent.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 50

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1658

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658