USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 54
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Below the old Renfrew mill, sandstone is seen capping the hills at elevations above the creek bottom of from 150 to 200 feet. The Upper and Lower Free- port and the Butler coals were all found in the vicinity of the mill by Weaver, while on the Critchlow farm and below it the Upper Freeport has been mined. The Slater and Heid banks, and the opening above the old Evans oil well, are all in the Upper Freeport, while the Marshall drift in the Upper Kit- tanning coal below Buhl's bridge, presented thirty-six inches of excellent coal. Some distance below that bridge, on the Knauff and Anderson farms, the Upper Kittanning showed a vein of forty-eight inches, and farther down, the Wahl bank proved profitable. On Breakneck creek a good cannel coal was mined some years ago. The Mahoning sandstone on the Ifft farm has been quarried, and the Butler limestone on the Wahl lands has been burned. The oil produc- tion of this township is noticed in the chapter on petroleum.
PIONEERS.
The first settlers of Forward township were Peter Mckinney and his wife, whose history is given in the chapter on The Pioneers, and to whom references are made in the sketch of Connoquenessing township. William and James Critchlow, natives of Westmoreland county, and soldiers of the Revolution, came here to select homes in 1795, and to locate in 1796. William settled where the late William Douthett lived, while James made his home in the same neighborhood, James Amberson located here in 1796 to hold his claim, rather than to improve it. He died there and was buried in the old cemetery. In 1803 he paid taxes on 1,400 acres, four cows and two horses. Enos McLeod, one of the Scotch colony of Connoquenessing, entered four hundred acres here in 1796, part of the tract being now the property of Mrs. Jane Marshall. Joseph Blakeley, a native of Ireland, removed to this township from Allegheny county in 1796, bringing his family with him. ITis wife died here about 1838, and himself twenty years
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
later. Robert Boggs, who located on the site of Evans City in 1796, is referred to in the history of that borough, and also in the biographical department. David Gilliland and his bachelor brother, Adam, were among the first settlers, and also were the first in enterprise. Their saw and grist mills were boons to the pioneers.
Joseph Douthett came from Armagh county, Ireland, to Pennsylvania, with his family, and about 1799 located west of the present village of Brownsdale. William and Samuel Schillings came the same year, made substantial improve- ments, but abandoned the place, so that John Crowe took possession of it in 1813. Archibald McAllister, a native of Ireland and the first school teacher of this township, came from Washington county in 1801. He paid nine cents tax in 1803 for the luxury of keeping a horse. Later, he settled on what is now the Berringer farm, where he died before the common school system was introduced. Ilis daughter Jane married Lewis Blakeley. Samuel, John. James aud William Minnis came about 1803, when Samuel established a carding and fulling mill on the Connoquenessing. Daniel Martin, a Scotchman, came from Scotch bottoms, near Pittsburg, in 1802 and located where the Stamms now reside. William Martin, a native of Ireland, cleared the farm now owned by J. N. Miller and worked at the carpenter's trade. Henry and Isaac Evans and, perhaps Joseph, were here about 1802. Jesse Evans located south of Campbell's powder mill.
John Brandon and Thomas Brandon settled south of the present south line of Connoquenessing. The former taught school in 1806, or thereabouts, and the latter had 100 acres of land, two cows and one horse in 1803. They were leaders in the temperance movement of 1830. John Brandon served as county commissioner. Adam Brown, who came from Germany with his father prior to the Revolution, settled in Middlesex township toward the close of the Eighteenth century, later moved to a farm near the site of Brownsdale, where he bought a settler's right. He served on Lake Erie with Perry in 1813, and one of his sons was also in the army. Joseph Ash, who died in 1813, located in this township in 1804. He was one of the first mail carriers between Pittsburg and Erie. In his youth he was made captive by the Indians, with two brothers, after killing the mother and sister. The savages split his ears and held him for two years, when he was ransomed. Matthew Williams, a native of Antrim county, Ireland, came here in 1804, as a Covenanter preacher, but moved to Pine Creek in 1815, where he died in 1828. His cabin stood on the farm where William Goehring now resides. John McCollum built his cabin in the wilderness in 1804 or 1805, and raised a family here, not one of whom is in Pennsylvania to-day.
The pioneers of the second decade of the century were John Crowe, a native of Ireland, who in 1812 located at Petersville ; but soon after moved to a farm in Forward. Heaided in the establishment of the old Covenanter church. Archibald Irwin, a blacksmith, settled in Forward township in 1810, and taught subscription schools in that and other townships for years. He removed to Pittsburg in 1845, and died in that city. John Hamel located south of the present village of Peters- ville in 1814, and John Waldron, son of Samuel V. Waldron, who settled in Wolf Creek township, Mercer county, in 1791, located in Forward township in 1816. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving in Perry's victorious squadron. Ile was one of the pioneer school teachers of the township.
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FORWARD TOWNSHIP.
In later years, came Henry Gelbach, a Bavarian, who settled in Beaver county in 1830, and removed to Forward township some years later. Ilis son, Philip. located near him soon afterward. Nicholas Behin and family, natives of Ger- many, located here in 1830, where the father died in 1871. O. A. Rader came from Germany in 1834, and four years later purchased the old Brinton farm in this township. William Hunter and family came to this township from Tyrone county, Ireland, in 1835. John Hazlett located on what is now known as the James Sutton farm in 1836. Jacob Stamm, son of a pioneer of Beaver county, located in this township in 1837. William M. Marshall, a native of Derry county, Ireland, established a store on the site of Evans City in 1841. In 1844 he was a merchant at Whitestown, and in 1848-49, settled on a farm in Forward town- ship, where he also operated a coal bank.
The population in 1860 was 1,020; in 1870, 1025; in 1880, 1,133, and in 1890, 1.724. The extension of the oil field has necessarily increased the figures of four years ago.
The assessed value of real and personal property in 1894, was $361,483; the county tax levied was $145.93; the state tax, $855.61, and the total school reve- nue, $2,905 56, including a State appropriation of $1,254.16.
MILLS AND DISTILLERIES.
The early milling interests of Forward included the Gilliland grist and saw mills ; the Robbins brothers' grist and saw mills ; the Adam Brown horse-power mill ; the Reese Evans gristmill, and the old Minnis fulling mill. David Gilliland built a grist and saw mill in 1802. In 1801-02 he purchased the old farm of Peter McKinney and erected a log mill. Barnet Gilliland built a larger mill on the site in 1827, which became the property of Adam Gilliland in the thirties, and which he operated until the year 1850, when he moved to Michigan. In 1850 Ilenry Buhl purchased the old Gilliland mill, since known as " Buhl's Mill." Peter and James Ray and A. J. Evans have operated the mill in later days.
Brown's mill originated in the horse mill started by Adam Brown on his farm early in the century. Later he became the owner of the mill on Glade run erected by Maj. Reese Evans, which has since been known as Brown's mill. After his death his son, Adam, in 1833, purchased the mill from the estate. Ile tore down the old building and on its site erected a new saw and grist mill. Sometime in the fifties this gave place to a better one, which was destroyed by fire in November, 1859. It was rebuilt and conducted by Mr. Brown until 1861. Afterwards came R. Il. Brown who continued as miller until 1880, when Philip Gelbach became owner. In 1891 R. H. Brown resumed the ownership.
Moses and Brinton Robbins established a grist and saw mill on Glade run subsequent to 1804. Lewis Blakeley established and operated a distillery on the farm which Andrew Blakeley owned in later days.
SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES.
The first schools were taught by John Waldron and Archibald Irwin, the pioneer teachers. Dr. Irvine, Archibald McAllister and Capt. Archibald Gray,
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
a mariner, who kept his pupils in deep water, and John Supple, taught in a log house which stood north of the present borough of Evans City. Two other schools were carried on here in which some of the teachers named presided at in- tervals, but of which Adam Bailes, Isaac Sutton, Samuel Kirk, William Mckinney and Zach. Sibbles were the accredited teachers, Near the Connoquenessing line, William Thomas, James Mckinney, Daniel Graham, Alexander Purviance and David McDonald taught at various times, and thus the educational mill was kept in operation until the common schools were introduced in 1835. In 1894 there were 203 male and 276 female pupils of school age reported in the eight school districts.
The justices of the peace for Forward township, from 1854 to 1894, are named as follows: Caleb Richmond, 1854; Daniel Graham, 1855; Malcom Graham, 1858; Aaron Bracken, 1859; John W. Martin, 1863-74; Robert McNair, 1864-69; Richard S. Mckinney, 1869; Thomas Graham, 1874: Rudolph Kelker, 1875; Thomas Martin, 1879; D. B. Douthett, 1872, 1888 and 1893; Nicholas Kramer, 1882 ; Levi Slater, 1883 ; Henry Buhl, 1884 ; Leslie P. Hazlett, 1885; D. D. Dunbar, 1891, and F. Dambach, 1894.
CHURCHES.
The churches of the township are the Methodist church of Brownsdale and that of Petersville, with the Covenanter church on the Crowe farm. At Browns- dale, just across the line, in Penn township, the Presbyterian denominations have buildings ; while at Evans City, partly within the township, Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians and United Presbyterians own buildings.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of the Brown-Douthett neighborhood, was organized near the present village of Brownsdale, on Straight run, in 1806. In 1807 Rev. Matthew Williams was pastor of this church, as well as of Pine Creek, the elders at that time being Benjamin and Joseph Douthett and James Anderson. For fourteen years meetings were held in the groves near Browns- dale or, in case of severe weather, within a tent. In 1820 the tent was moved south to the site of the Union church, and meetings were henceforth held there by Rev. Mr. Williams until his death in 1828.
North Union Reformed Presbyterian Church may be said to date back to 1833, when the " New School" and " Old School " parties of the Union church in Adams township separated. In 1835 the "old school" called Rev. Hugh Walkinshaw as pastor. In April, 1843, he was succeeded by Rev. John Gal- braith, who remained pastor until 1889. In 1861 a house of worship was erected on David Crowe's farm, the elders then being Robert Dodds, John Magee, James Anderson and Robert Purvis, and the trustees, William Douthett and James Forsythe. The present frame building is the successor of the old brick church taken down before the war. Since Mr. Galbraith's retirement, in 1889, the pul- pit has been variously supplied. David Crowe, John Forsythe, John Magee and William Allen have been officially connected with this society for many years.
The Richmond Methodist Episcopal Church, west of Evans City, dates back to 1827, when Caleb Richmond formed a class at his home, the members being the class leader, his wife and family, the Widow Larrabee, Nathan Slater
George Its Irwin
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FORWARD TOWNSHIP.
and Pereus, Seth, Barnet and Elijah Snow. Rev. Mr. Carr urged the organiza- tion of the class during a preaching tour in the Brown settlement, but in Caleb Richmond's house the western class adopted a constitution. Revs. Dr. Adams, who ceased practicing medicine to preach the gospel, W. C. Henderson, Charles Thorn and Jonathan Holt traveled this circuit for some years, and at long inter- vals preached here. In 1854-55 a meeting house was erected, which was the house of worship for a decade, when it was sold to three Catholic families of the district, and the Richmond class was consolidated with that at Brownsdale.
The Brownsdale Methodist Episcopal Church was originally a part of the Wigfield class, which in early days assembled in the Wigfield settlement, six miles distant from the present church, and of which Robert Brown was leader for fully thirty years. It appears that a traveling physician, named Rev. Dr. John Rathbun, organized the class at Robert Brown's house in 1839, the three families of Adam, John and Robert Brown, and the family of Joseph Miller, contributing the principal membership. Robert Brown may be called the father of Methodism in the Brownsdale neighborhood, for in his house meetings were generally held until the church building was dedicated, July 7, 1860, D. P. Mitchell being then presiding elder. Rev. Mr. Stover, who was pastor in charge at the beginning of the war, won many converts from the other local churches.
The records of the Brownsdale circuit, in possession of the secretary, M. R. Brown, date back to May, 1869, when D. L. Dempsey was presiding elder; J. A. Danks, pastor ; Samuel Riley, R. H. Brown, A. J. Evans, H. P. Wilson, John Gamble, James Dixon, Robert Gibson, L. L. Lefever and Thomas Stewart, stew- ards. Thorn Creek, Petersburgh, Middlesex and Brownsdale, then formed the circuit. The names of Wendle Ifickey, Daniel Walters, Robert Harbison, Nathan Brown, class leaders, and B. S. Winner, superintendent of Sabbath schools, appear in the record of 1869. In 1870, Washington Darby was presiding elder, and the names of E. W. Kirk and William Kennedy appear as stewards. Rev. Henry Long was pastor in 1872, followed in 1873 by Rev. T. B. Thomas; in 1874, by Rev. E. M. Eaton ; 1875, Rev. Nelson Davis ; 1877, Rev. F. W. Verdican ; 1878, Rev. S. Lane ; and 1880, Rev. T. N. Boyle. At this time, Thorn Creek, Knox Chapel, Brownsdale and Middlesex formed the circuit. Rev. T. W. Robbins was pastor in 1881, Louis Croft and A. Gold being then stewards of the class of the Middlesex church ; Louis Young and Mr. Wike, at Brownsdale and Knox, and Robert Gibson, James Welsh and Joseph Criswell of the Thorn Creek church. Rev. H. J. Altman was pastor in 1882; Rev. M. M. Hildebrand in 1883-86: Rev. J. B. Caldwell, 1886; Rev. D. L. Johnson, 1887, and Rev. James L. Stiffy, 1888-90. In November, 1891, Rev. C. F. Bollinger was appointed pastor and re-appointed in 1893.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Petersville was incorporated March 15, 1858, with Alexander Bryson, who was class leader for a few years before, Henry Ingraham, John Ferguson, Henry V. Winterstein and Robert W. Graham trustees. Rev. John Ainsley was then pastor in charge, and was the first minister stationed there. The church, erected in 1858, and dedicated January 13, 1859, by Rev. 28
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Mitchell, is a plain frame structure, thirty-six by fifty feet, completed at a cost of $1,250. The membership in 1894 was placed at seventy-five.
The Catholic Mission of Forward township owes its existence to a desire on the part of the few Catholic families resident therein, in 1865, to possess a house of worship in which religions services could be held at stated periods. On May 10 of the year named, as the result of previous negotiations, the building and lot formerly the property of the Richmond Methodist Episcopal church, south of the Richmond estate, was conveyed by John McNeal and wife, and Francis, Thomas and Eliza McCafferty, by whom it had been purchased in 1864 from Nathan Brown and Daniel Richard, trustees for the Methodist society. The deed was made to Right Rev. Michael Domenec, bishop of Pittsburg, the property to be held by him for the use of the Catholic congregation of Forward township.
POSTOFFICES.
The postoffices of the township are Carr, Zeno, or Duffield's store : Callery, near the southwestern corner, in Adams township; Connoquenessing, near the north line, in Connoquenessing township; Evans City, on the western line ; Reibold, and Renfrew and Brownsdale just east of the eastern township line. Zeno postoffice was established in July, 1888, with Mrs. Best in charge ; and Reibold came with the opening or extension of the oil field. At Zeno is M. F. Duffield's store, and at Reibold A. Schilling's store.
CHAPTER XXXI.
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION-REDUCTION OF AREA-PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS-COAL DEPOSITS- OIL PRODUCTION-THE PIONEERS -- EARLY INDUSTRIES-POPULATION AND STATIS- TICS -- SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES -- INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION-CHURCHES- VILLAGES -- ASSOCIATIONS.
C RANBERRY township was organized in 1804, and was one of the thir- teen townships into which the county was divided in that year. Its area, approximating eighty-one square miles, was retained until 1854, when, in the general sub-divison of the county, it was reduced to its present limits. This town- ship is situated in the southwestern corner of the county. Its surface is well watered by Brush creek and its branches, and by the principal feeders of Break- neck creek. It is one of the best agricultural townships of the county, and abounds in well tilled and productive farms and in thrify and prosperous farmers. The township also appears to be rich in coal and oil. Freeport coal, in a seam
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CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP.
five feet thick, is found in the bed of Brush creek, near the northwestern corner of the township, not far from Graham's mill, where it has been mined for many years. Three miles farther up the stream a smaller coal has been worked, such as that found in the Hlaine and the Emerick banks. It is slatey at the top and bottom, but in the center contains a seam of very good coal, about fifteen or six - teen inches thick. Across the creek the old Vandivort and the Krebs banks were operated, while on Coal run, one mile away, the Hartzell bank, and. farther up, the Rowan bank were opened years ago. The Henderson, Garvin and Duncan oil fields, as well as the Brush creek oil fields, have returned liberal profits to those who have put their labor and money in them.
THE PIONEERS.
The pioneers appeared in the Brush creek neighborhood as early as 1796, when Benjamin Johnson and family, Matthew and William Graham, John Henry, Alexander Ramsey, Paul Vandivort and Samuel Duncan arrived. The mother of the Graham brothers, then Mrs. Long, came in 1797. Benjamin Davis, a single man, and George Stoolfire came about the same year. In 1800 came David Garvin and family, including his eldest son, Alexander and family, who estab- lished a tavern,-the only one between Pittsburg and Franklin-which in 1811 passed into the possession of his grandson, David Garvin, by whom it was after- wards conducted. The Indian raftsmen used to make it their stopping place on their way to Erie after their season's work on the river. In 1801 also, William Ilenry Goehring arrived in the township, bringing with him his wife and family. He died here in 1831. James Cooper, a native of Ireland, came in 1807. Jacob Stout and his father arrived from Northumberland county in 1811.
In 1813 Matthew Graham established the Black Bear tavern on the Pitts- burg and Mercer road. Prior to that year, however, he carried on the business in a desultory way, and was well known to teamsters over the old trail, for the road was then little more than the old Indian trail from Pittsburg to Erie. James Rowan came from Delaware county, Pennsylvania, in 1825. John Hall settled here soon after Mr. Rowan. Isaac Cookson located here in 1831; John L. Roll, N. Allen and William Croft, in 1832; Jacob Dambach in 1835, and Hartman Knauff in 1836.
Among the early industries of the township may be mentioned Samuel Dun- can's saw mill, which was erected prior to 1803. He also ran a little distillery in the early days, which obtained a wide reputation for the fine quality of the whisky turned out. The Brush creek saw mill was erected by Matthew Graham in 1831. Two years later he built the first grist mill on the creek, it being also the first in the township.
The population of the township in 1810 was 5443; in 1820, 765; in 1830, 1,046; in 1840, 1,822; in 1850, 2,236; in 1860, 931; in 1870, 945; in 1880, 983, and in 1890, 909. The assessed value of real and personal property in 1894, was $338,493 ; the county tax levy being $1,353.97, and the State tax $107.24.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES.
The early schools in the township were conducted on the subscription plan, the pioneer teachers being Job Staples, Andrew Dodds, of Connoquenessing township, and Rev. Reid Bracken. The common school system was introduced in 1835, the early teachers under it being Matthew Wright, Silas Miller and John and Robert Cowan, all of whom were teachers under the old system. A convention, or rather a combined exhibit of the Cranberry township schools, was held in the Plains church on the 25th and in the Union Church, Evans City, on the 26th of February, 1852. It was the first exhibit of the kind made by the common schools of Butler county. The number of children of school age in the township in 1894 was 124 males and 106 females. The revenue for school pur- poses included a county tax of $1, 119.30 and a State appropriation of $953.58.
The justices of the peace elected by the people of this township, since 1840, are as follows : Joshua Stoolfire, 1840; John Henry, 1840; Samuel Marshall, 1845; Thomas Wilson, 1845-50; Thomas W. Boggs, 1850; David Garvin, 1854; Thomas Stewart, 1854; Joseph C. Douthett, 1855; Ross Boyle, 1859; James Semple 1859; Thomas Robinson, 1864; Alex. Gillespie, 1867 ; John Rowan, 1869; John Rohner, 1872-79; N. Allen, 1874; D. B. Wilson, 1877; Fleming West, 1882; Cyrus Harper, 1884; Isaac. M. Wright, 1887; Fleming West, 1889; Cyrus Harper, 1890; Isaac N. Wright, 1892.
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION.
The July celebration of 1825 in Cranberry township was carried out by the "Connoquenessing Republicans," commanded by Capt. Reese Evans, at the house of Alexander Martin. Joseph Alward was elected president of the day, P. E. Purviance, vice-president, and John Gillespie, secretary. The military com- pany had a drill after the fashion of " Scott's Infantry Tactics," and then like all good militiamen joined the crowd in the race for the banquet tables in Martin's house. This material part of the celebration was succeeded by oratory, music and drinking. The Declaration of Independence was read by Joseph Alward, and the " Connoquenessing Republicans" fired several rounds in its honor. There were thirteen regular toasts offered, followed by twenty-one volunteer toasts. To the regular toasts, however, special attention was given. The program called for a certain number of cheers, according to the importance which the master of cere- monies attached to each toast. Thus " The Day We Celebrate," was given three cheers : " The Constitution of the United States," four cheers ; " The Governor of Pennsylvania," six cheers; " Andrew Jackson-our next President," ten cheers : " Our Representatives in Congress," received six cheers, while " The Memory of the Revolutionary Heroes," and " General Lafayette, the early and distinguished champion of freedom." received three cheers each.
CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian Church of Cranberry township dates back to the settlement of the Coverts and Garvins in this corner of the county. The late James Garvin is given by John Rowan as authority for the statement that the first minister of this
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denomination to visit the settlement was Rev. Reid Bracken, who came in 1806, and in ISOS organized the church now known as the "Old Plains." The late Josiah Covert, son of Morris Covert, a pioneer of Jackson township, was equally positive that the organization was effected in 1806. The exact date is therefore in doubt. Among the original members are Benjamin Covert and Morris Covert, who were elders about 1812; Matthew and William Graham, and Robert Boggs, and the elders, James McClelland, John Crawford, William Critchlow and John Emmett, and, in still later years, Mary Rowan, who settled near what is known as Ogle.
Mention is made in a " supplication " to the Presbytery at Erie, at its first meeting April 13, 1802, for preaching at Breakneck, which is thought to be the settlement around the present Plains church. It is mentioned and referred to under its present name in the minutes of the Erie Presbytery of 1807, in con- junction with Mt. Nebo, as vacant. On April 20, 1808, Rev. Reid Bracken was installed first pastor, and served until November 7, 1819. For a number of years the congregation appears to have worshipped in a tent. Between 1820 and 1824, however, a log building was erected on a lot donated by Benjamin Davis. It occupied the site of the present church. After Mr. Bracken left, the church appears to have been without a regular pastor for some years. It was visited, however, from time to time by Rev. John Andrews, who organized the Fair- mount church, in 1822, and other ministers, and services held with some regu- ularity. From 1828 to 1831, Rev. John Moore was supply and pastor. As time passed, the visits of ministers became less frequent, the pulpit being so seldom filled that the old church may be said to have passed out of existence, although Dr. Aaron Williams, who was a teacher at Zelienople, preached in and around that village, and also in the vicinity of the Plains church. The members were New Light Covenanters, Associate Reformed Presbyterians, and of other beliefs, until the union on January 1, 1838, with the Cross Roads church in Alle- gheny county, and the calling of Rev. L. R. McAboy as pastor, who took charge in September, following.
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