USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 71
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568
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Troutman never had the pretensions of Greece City, yet it was a busy village and a great oil producer. Little of it now remains. During the electric storm of April 19, 1877, the fluid struck a 23,000-barrel tank belonging to Vandergrift & Foreman, on the Troutman farm. The burning oil flowed toward the two 21,000-barrel tanks of Gailey & Hasson, and soon the creek was a blazing river. The buildings burned included McGarvey's, the Troutman Hotel, White's hard- ware store, Robert's grocery, Cummings' livery stable and dwelling, Christy's barn and dwelling, the United office, the Union pump-house and pumps, Union station. Number 34, and Fitch's hardware store and house. In addition to these. the derricks and machinery at the two wells of the Hope Oil Company, at the Avery well (where three tanks were also destroyed), at the Modoc well, the Osceola, the Frank and Aggie, the Fairmount, Lynch, Dougherty, and at the two wells known as Down East, were destroyed. That fire wiped out Troutman.
Magic is the new postal name of an old settlement. Balziger & Badger's store and a few houses make up the little hamlet.
CHAPTER L.
CLAY TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION-ORIGIN OF NAME-PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS-STREAMS-COAL DE- POSITS AND COAL BANKS-BUILDING STONE -- POPULATION AND STATISTICS-PIO- NEERS-MILLS -- SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-CHURCHES-VILLAGES.
T THIS township, which was organized in 1554, was named in honor of Henry Clay, Kentucky's distinguished orator and statesman. It lies directly north of the center of the county, and is marked by high summits, such as that immediately south of West Sunbury, the peak about 7,000 feet to the northwest of the borough. and that just south of the Sunbury and West Liberty road. Each is at least 1, 400 feet above ocean level, and from 250 to 300 feet above the bottom of Muddy creek, which rises near West Sunbury, and flowing westward through the south half of the township, crosses the township line at a point west of the Butler and Erie road. North, northeast and west of West Sunbury, many of the feeders of the Slippery Rock creek rise ; while, in the southeast corner, two feeders of the Connoquenessing flow southward.
The Freeport and Kittanning coals are found in abundance. One of the pioneer coal banks was that on lands owned in later years by Samuel McElvaine, near West Sunbury. The Thompson, McMichael, Painter, Patterson, Glenn, Mock and Hall coal banks were all abundant producers of a good coal. They are the successors of the old banks near West Sunbury, and on the MeAnallen,
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CLAY TOWNSHIP.
the Young and the Robert Patterson farms, which were abandoned prior to 1861. The banks opened by the Crawfords, at a place they named Caledonia. and the Steele and Blair mines at Standard, have only recently been abandoned. In 1894 the George S. Stage mines were opened in the vicinity, and the new coal town named Claytonia. Building stone is abundant. Much of that used in the construction of the present court house at Butler was quarried on Jospeh Kelly's farm, near the west line of the township.
The population of the township in 1860, was 1,039; in 1870, 1,062; in 1880, 1,279, including West Sunbury, and in 1890, 1,076, and West Sunbury 238, or a total of 1,314. The assessed value January 1, 1894, was $313.337, on which a connty tax of $1,253.35, and a State tax of $64.19 were levied.
PIONEERS.
The pioneers of Clay township were not. as a rule, strangers in Penn- sylvania when they entered the forests of this section to establish homes. From the townships now known as Parker, Fairview. Centre, Brady, Butler and Penn came many of the families who made the first improvements in this part of the county. Hailing from northern Ireland, they brought into the wilderness strong hands and hearts, and converted it into a rich agricul- tural district.
Christopher McMichael, a soldier of the Revolution, is credited with build- ing a cabin, just east of West Sunbury, as early as 1797, but in the records of 1803 there is no mention made of him, though his son, William, is named as a taxpayer in what is now Cherry township.
John Thorn, father of George Thorn, who was born near West Sunbury, Butler county, in 1797, was one of the pioneers. James Russell settled north of West Sunbury in 1797, but moved a few years later into Concord or Wash- ington. Samuel Findley, a soldier of the Revolution and an early settler of the county, with Robert, David and Samuel Findley, Jr., may be named as pioneers of 1798. James Mc Junkin came from Ireland in 1798 and bought 100 acres of land. He died in 1833. William Barron, said to be one of the Bar- rons who settled on the north line of Marion or Venango township, was here in 1798. Jacob Beighley, who joined his brothers in Connoquenessing in 1797 or 1798, settled in Clay township about 1798 or 1799. Robert Graham, who made the first improvement on the site of West Sunbury, must have settled here early in the first decade of the century. Joseph Thorn appears to have come in about 1800, and died a few years later. The body was placed in a hollow log, to which oxen were hitched, and thus the rude coffin was hauled to the grave.
John Pryor located here in 1803. Joseph, John, James, William and Samuel Glenn, Mrs. Jenet ( Sterling) Glenn, Margaret, Mary, and one who married A. M. Porter, came in 1808. The father, James, selected the lands, but died in Westmoreland county. John Glenn, known as Captain Glenn, commanded a company of Pennsylvania volunteers during the War of 1812. He also served several years as a justice of the peace.
Stephen Allen was one of the pioneers of Clay township. Robert Allen, who died in 1888, was born here in 1809. John Adams, a settler of 1>20. was
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
the father of twenty children. Robert McCandless moved in from Centre in 1820. Asaph Cranmer came to this county in 1818 and to Clay township in 1828. William Gibson, who was brought to Butler in 1797, when six weeks old, located here in 1827. Jeremiah Wick, who settled in Armstrong county in 1796, moved to Clay township in 1828. John and Jesse Sutton moved up from the southwestern townships in 1829. The Bartleys, pioneers of Penn township, are well represented in Clay, as are the Thompsons, who were pioneers of Brady. Rudolph Bortmass settled in Clay township early. The MeElvaines, Timblins and Pattersons may be classed among the pioneers, although they selected other townships for their first homes in this county.
John McDevitt came from Tyrone county, Ireland, in 1825, and in 1830 purchased a farm in Clay township. John Young, son of John, who came to Allegheny county, in 1790, from Ireland, settled in Clay township in 1830, though a resident of the county for some seventeen years before. Jacob Brown, one of the pioneers, died July 3, 1837. His wife Catherine died February 28, 1819. Patrick MeAnallen, who came from Ireland in 1788 and to Butler county some years after, is represented in Clay township by William A. McAnallen. Fergus Hutchison, who died in 1866, was one of the old settlers. The list of old settlers might be extended, but as biographical sketches of a majority of the pioneer families are given in other chapters, further mention of them is unnec- essary.
MILLS.
The grist mill built by William Carruthers over sixty years ago on the head of Findley Glade run, about two miles northwest of West Sunbury, was con- structed of round logs and was a rude affair, with a large water wheel. Car- ruthers operated it until it was burned, about 1851. A dam was built about forty rods above the mill, whence the water was brought in a flume or series of hollow logs to an upright box over the wheels.
The old Shroyer grist mill on the Sunbury and West Liberty road, two and one-half miles west of West Sunbury, was one of the oldest industries in the township. Henry Black operated it fifty or sixty years ago. Dr. Josiah McCand- less built a new mill on the site of the old one about 1870, but in 1892 or 1893 it was removed, the material being used in other buildings. The old Painter plan- ing mill at Euclid was converted into a chopping mill by Joseph Mechling, and used as such until it was burned in February, 1894.
The flouring mill erected in 1871 at West Sunbury, after plans by Architect Reed Bryson, was opened August 25, 1871. Allen Wilson, Charles McClung and J. W. Christy were the owner -. J. C. Breaden, George Wolford and Will- iam Wick are the present proprietors.
SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES.
The first school house in the Me Junkin district of Clay township was erected in 1824, the logs of the abandoned Muddy Creek Presbyterian church being used in its construction. Thomas Allen, Joseph Sterrett, Stephen Allen and one of the MeElvaines taught in this building. In 1835 it was turned over to the school
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CLAY TOWNSHIP.
district and Daniel Carter employed to teach therein. John R. McJunkin came after Carter.
In the second decade of the century Robert McElvaine taught in a log house which stood north of the site of West Sunbury, but early in the third decade moved his headquarters to a log house adjacent to the old church near Middle- town, in Concord township.
To-day there are six school buildings, in which six teachers are employed for eight months every year, the children of school age being 161 male and 166 female. The total revenue for school purposes in 1892-93 was $2,692.50, includ- ing $1,200.50 appropriated by the State, the respective school figures for West Sunbury being $681.42 and $315.50.
The justices of the peace for Clay township from 1857 to 1894 are named as follows, the old district justices holding over until 1857 : Thomas C. Thompson, 1857 and 1862; John R. Me Junkin, 1855, 1868, 1868 and 1881; James Pryor, 1866 and 1872; C. McMichael, 1878; John P. Christley, 1877; James W. Kel- ly, 1882; T. R. MeCall, 1883; Simon P. Painter, 1886 and 1891; R. R. McCandless, 1887 and 1892; Zenos McMichael was elected vice Painter, deceased, in 1892.
CHURCHES.
Muddy Creek Presbyterian Church was organized in 1803, re-organized in 1823, and incorporated in 1864. Rev. John McPherrin preached in the neigh- borhood as early as 1799, and was stated supply for two years after organization, and pastor from 1805 to 1813. For ten years the society was without a pastor, but in 1823, Rev. John Coulter, a licentiate of the Ohio Presbytery, was installed as pastor. He resigned in 1850, and was succeeded in 1852 by Rev. Alexander Cunningham, who severed his connection with this church in 1556. Rev. Samuel Williams, who succeeded him the same year, was installed May 23, 1857. He is still the pastor and bids fair to round out a half-century of ser- vice in this congregation. The original members of the society were Robert Wallace, Robert Thorn, William and John Neyman, David Findley and William McCandless, all ruling elders ; George, James and John McCandless, Anthony and John Thompson, John McJunkin, James McJunkin, David McJunkin, Nathaniel Allison, John Turk, Conrad Snyder, John Wick, John Wigton, John Covert, Andrew Allsworth, Stephen Allen, James Campbell and Samuel McCall. In 1803 a log-house, twenty by twenty-four feet in size, was erected, which was used for meetings until 1824, when a hewn log house, thirty by sixty feet in size. was built, oak shingles being used for roofing. The interior was plastered and a plaster ceiling was introduced, so that it was then considered one of the finest Presbyterian churches within the limits of the Presbytery. The present brick building, fifty by sixty feet in size, was begun in 1845, and completed in 1852. It has been repeatedly repaired and appears substantial enough to endure for a century. The church was incorporated March 29, 1864, with the follow- ing trustees: Josiah Mc Junkin, John R. Mc Junkin, and James Findley. The constitution as adopted December 7, 1863, was signed by Nathan F. McCandless, secretary. The membership at the close of 1894, was 125, a small number com-
572
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
pared with former years, as the Unionville church, and other societies, organized in recent years, embrace many of its original members. Mr. Williams is one of the best known Presbyterian ministers in Butler county, where he has labored faithfully for nearly forty years.
VILLAGES.
Claytonia is the new name of Caledonia. Two brothers named Crawford, opened a coal bank near the railroad some years ago, and the station was named Caledonia. The Steele and Blair mines, once operated by the Standard Mining Company, have been abandoned, like the Crawford banks. In 1894 George S. Stage, of Greenville, opened mines in the vicinity and named the place Claytonia. Famisonville comprises a railroad depot and a farm house, but it is the ship- ping point for an extensive farming region.
Euclid is a new railroad town on the divide, between Slippery Rock and Muddy creeks. The place was known for years as " Centre School House." When the railroad was completed to the summit it was called " Sunbury Sta- tion." and shortly afterward named Euclid. The hamlet stands upon the Miller and Painter farms, adjoining the George H. Graham farm. The railroad depot, store and creamery are the business buildings of the place now, the saw and planing mill and the old creamery having been destroyed by fire. The fire of February 9, 1894, originated in the old planing mill at Euclid, owned by Joseph Mechling, who occupied a part of the building with his chopping mill ; the other part contained a portable saw mill owned by B. B. McCandles>, Warren Thomp- son, Jasper Kiester and Joseph Mechling.
CHAPTER LI.
WEST SUNBURY BOROUGH.
LAYING OFT OF THE VILLAGE-PIONEERS- INCORPORATION AS A BOROUGH-EARLY BUSINESS MEN-POPULATION AND STATISTICS-SCHOOLS-WEST SUNBURY ACADEMY -CHURCHES-BOROUGH OFFICIALS-JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-SECRET SOCIETIES.
W EST SUNBURY and neighborhood may be justly considered the site of the parent settlements of Clay township. It was in this vicinity that the pioneer settlers built their cabins, made their first improvements, and began the work of transforming the forest wilderness into well-tilled and productive farms. Robert Graham, a nephew of Samuel Findley, was the first settler on the site of the town, his log cabin having been erected prior to 1808. He afterward, about 1818, sold his settler's right to John and James Gilchrist, who also acquired pos- session of a considerable tract of adjoining land. In 1828 James Gilchrist em-
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WEST SUNBURY BOROUGH.
ployed Campbell E. Purviance to survey a portion of his tract into town lots, a large number of which he sold within the next year or two, realizing five to ten dollars for each lot.
The town is now almost seventy years okl, and is in many respects a model rural borough. In the earlier days of its history it was ambitious of winning the county seat from Butler. In time, however, it gave this up. At the breaking out of the Civil war it was a pleasant wayside village, the home of an intelli- gent, prosperous and progressive people. After the war there was a re-awaken- ing, and a demand made for local government, resulting in the village being incorporated as a borough in 1866.
It was the first rural town in Butler county to realize the value of stone sidewalks, and, it is said, the only one in Pennsylvania where all the sidewalks are constructed of stone, and where every street has a walk and a park way on each side. The church and school appear to be held in high estimation here, there being several religious organizations, a common school and an academy. The location, though two and a half miles from Euclid, the railroad station, is a desirable one for many reasons, there being plenty of good water and an abund- ance of coal and natural gas.
Among those who located soon after the laying out of the town was Thomas Dunlap, the blacksmith, who bought four lots opposite the present site ot fhe steam mill and erected a log dwelling house and shop in 1829. Andrew and John Wick came in shortly afterward. They opened the first store here in 1835. John Smith located here about the same time. Then followed H. A. Thomas, who became a merchant and gunpowder manufacturer : Dr. H. C. Linn, who moved from Butler ; George Boyd, who opened a large store in 1837 or 1838, and was the first postmaster and also the first tavern keeper : Thomas C. Thompson, a native of Brady township, who came in 1837, and Joseph Wasson, a carpenter and tavern keeper. These comprised the pioneer business circle.
Peter Rhodes located and began business here in 1549. David Vance kept a hotel where is now the Corbett dwelling. The building was torn down and McClung erected on its site a new house. James Timblin kept the next hotel where the Widow Conway now resides, a part of her house being the original Timblin Hotel. Isaac Donaldson carried on a hotel next to Samuel Hunt's pres- ent dwelling. Fifteen years ago the old house was torn down. David Patterson built the upper story of the Wick House; Ebenezer Adams succeeded him as landlord and, in 1875, C. F. Wick, the present proprietor, purchased the property.
The manufacturing industries of the borough are limited, being confined to the large grist mill of J. C. Breaden & Company, erected in 1871. The mercantile interests are represented by Breaden & Conway and S. L. Rhodes, general stores ; H. C. Hindman & Company, drugs; Mechling & Hunt, furniture, and James Pryor, hardware.
The population in 1870 was 216; in 1880, 213, and in 1890, 238, increased in 1894 to about 360. The assessed value of property, in January. 1894. was $42,245 ; the county tax levied, $168.98: the State tax, $67.83, and the school revenue, $681.42, including $345.50, State appropriation.
574
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
SCHOOLS.
As stated in the history of Cherry township, one of the first school houses was erected north of the Graham settlement, and when the common school law was enacted, the people of this neighborhood were among its warmest supporters and first patrons. To-day there is one school building in the borongh, and the total revenue of the district for common school purposes is $681.42. The num- ber of children of school age reported in June. 1893. was forty-five, made up of twenty-three males and twenty-two female -.
The West Sunbury Academy was established in 1851 by Adolphus Reb- stock. whose purpose was to afford parents an opportunity to have their children instructed in the higher classic and English branches. In 1853 Rev. Mr. Will- iams succeeded Mr. Rebstock, remaining until 1856, when William Thomas, whose real name was Rev. William Thomas Hamilton, became the teacher. Mr. Hamilton, who came from the south, was a scholarly gentleman, who seems to have taken up teaching as a means of giving employment to his mind rather than filling his purse. He succeeded, however, in arousing such interest in the school that when he left it in 1858 it was a financial as well as an educational success.
After Mr. Hamilton's departure the people of the village, who had come to look upon the school as of great importance, began to cast about for his suc- cessor. It chanced that Rev. William T. Dickson, a Presbyterian minister, an educator and a native of Butler county, who with his wife, was on a visit to friends in the village, was induced to remain and take charge of the school. It was accordingly re-opened by himself and his wife as an academic school, and was a success from the start.
Until the fall of 1861 the school was conducted in the building subsequently occupied by John Dunlap. In that year, however, as the result of a movement set on foot by Mr. Dickson and his supporters, the second academy building was com- pleted. The breaking out of the Civil war and the President's call for volunteers aroused the patriotic sentiment of the people of West Sunbury and of the students of the academy, and they responded by organizing the " Dickson Guards," named in honor of Rev. Mr. Dickson. The " Guards," under command of Captain Loudon, embracing in their membership many of the academy students, reported at the front and were assigned to duty as Company C, of the Eleventh Pennsyl- vania Reserve. Mr. Dickson shortly afterward joined the regiment as chaplain, remaining in the service about a year.
Owing to this interruption, the new building was practically untenanted for a year, although Thomas Milford was in charge as principal. In 1862, after his return from the army, Mr. Dickson resumed teaching, but only for a brief period, after which he removed with his family to Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1875. In 1865 Thomas C. Van Tries took charge of the academy. Hle was followed in 1866 by A. M. Cross, who was succeeded in 1867 by George H. Graham. In 1869 Rev. Thorn assumed control, but seems not to have made a success, and the result was that the school was closed until the autumn of 1875, when Mr. and Mrs. Dickson returned and resumed control of it. Mr. Dickson died in February, 1877, and Mrs. Dickson succeeded him as principal. In 1879
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WEST SUNBURY BOROUGH.
Rev. G. W. Bean was appointed ; in 1881 J. B. Gilfillan took charge, and was succeeded in 1883 by W. W. Logan. During Professor Logan's principalship the erection of a more commodious building was agitated. Accordingly, June 26, 1886, a subscription was started, and so earnestly was the project carried out that the present edifice was completed before the end of the year, at a cost of about $6,000. The building previously used was sold to the common school board, and is now used as the public school and society hall. In 1886 R. W. McGranahan became principal, and in 1889 T. E. Moffit succeeded him. Rev. J. II. Wright's valuable academy work was in association with Professors McGranahan and Moffit. In 1891 S. J. Christley succeeded to the principalship, in 1892 F. E. Knoch, and in 1894 A. B. Robertson. The following ladies and gentlemen comprised the faculty in September, 1894: A. B. Robertson, A. B., principal and professor of sciences, mathematics and German ; Rev. I. D. Decker, A. M., professor of classics and history ; Maude M. McNall, director of music ; A. F. Anderson, conductor of business department ; H. D. Hockenberry, M. D., lecturer on physiology and hygiene.
Since 1884, when the first student (T. M. Baker) was publicly graduated, ninety literary and eighteen music students have received the academy diplomas. The total enrollment of students for the year ending June, 1894, was 149. The academy was chartered September 28, 1874. The signers of the articles of asso- ciation presented to the court were : H. C. Linn, W. P. Breaden, Charles McClung, J. W. Christy, L. G. Linn, Allen Wilson, John Mechling, W. C. Glenn, A. B. Rhodes, Peter Rhodes and Thomas C. Thompson. The capital of $2,000 was divided into eighty shares of twenty-five dollars each. The present officers are Dr. H. D. Hockenberry, president ; Rev. J. H. Breaden, secretary ; W. J. Breaden, treasurer ; Carlisle Wick, Samuel Glenn, Hon. Josiah M. Thomp- son, Sylvanus Aggas, Rev. Samuel Williams, J. S. Campbell, J. R. Mc- Junkin and Thomas Christley complete the board of trustees.
CHURCHES.
The United Presbyterian Church of West Sunbury may be said to date back to May 2, 1840, when a meeting was held at Samuel Ekin's house and John Smith, Samuel Loudon and Joseph W. Christy were appointed a building com- mittee. They received a donation of four acres from Samuel Ekin and Mrs Rob- ert Findley and, on November 7, 1840, awarded the contract for a house, forty feet square, to Joseph Wasson, for $700. Ile framed the church building and the people of the congregation and neighborhood were invited to assist in raising it. When the walls were raised and the roof timbers taken up, and the men ready to put them in position, a long beam on which the weight rested suddenly broke, precipitating men and timbers to the ground. Many were severely injured, but none killed. Mr. Wasson gave up the contract, receiving $200 for what he had done, and John Brewster and John Brackney took the contract to finish it for $570. A new building, fifty-five by sixty-five feet, was erected in 1858-59 by Hugh Sproul, for $2,100 and the old building. In 1883 E. C. Adams repaired and remodeled the building for $1,500. and finally W. J. Mckinney re-
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
moved the building from its old site into the village, where it now stands, pay- ing for it $2,100.
A list of communicants, given in March. 1812, shows forty-eight members, among whom were Joseph W. Christy and Edward Webb, who were ordained elders by the pastor, Rev. William Findley, March 21, 1812. On July 8, 1844, Rev. William Findley moderated a call for Rev. William P. Breaden for one third of his time, West Sunbury. Bear Creek and West Unity being united in one charge under his pastorate. Mr. Breaden remained pastor of West Sunbury congregation until his death on May 18, 1880. In 1846 William Gilchrist. W. W. Thompson and Thomas B. Dodds were elected elders, and in 1852, Christy Me Michael was ordained.
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