USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > History of Clarion County, Pennsylvania > Part 58
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Another mill on the Clarion, just above the Gardner mill, was erected in 1872 by William Thomas. This establishment was not very well equipped, and it soon went into disuse.
On the smaller streams, out from the river, we find that one saw-mill was erected on Beaver, not far up the stream from the Gardner mill. One was erected on Stoneham Run by Henry and Isaac Shorman. One was built on Alum Rock Run by Samuel Sharrar, a short distance above the rock, and the last one by William McFarland, on Cherry Run, near the Prospect furnace site. This mill is still standing.
In Prospect's time a mill was in operation here near the furnace. Besides these, before the war, John P. Stover built a fully equipped miniature saw-mill on Lewis's Run.
Woolen Mills .- Alexander Craig built a carding-machine on the Clarion, below Wilson's Bend, in 1827. It was afterward owned and run by Hugh Kilgore. It was taken away by the high water of 1847, which tradition says was the highest water ever seen in the Clarion River by white men.
William Elliott, sr., had a carding-machine, or fulling-mill, on Licking, near the W. D. Elliott farm.
Furnaces .- Buchanan Furnace was built in 1842 by Fred Crary and Sam- uel Plummer. As it is intended to write up furnaces in a separate chapter, we shall only observe here that the stack of the furnace is still standing.
Prospect Furnace, on Cherry Run, was built by Henry Alexander and James McElroy, in 1845. Its site is marked by an immense pile of ore dust.
The Buchanan wharf, where the pig iron was loaded in the boats for trans- portation, was located below the furnace. The Prospect wharf was on the east side of the mouth of Licking. Above Crary's Dam, on the south side of the river, was located the Sligo metal wharf, many of the timbers of which are still to be seen.
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LICKING TOWNSHIP.
Distilleries .- Within the limits of the township there have been four dis- tilleries. Wooders's, on Thomas H. Elliott's farm ; Louis Wilson's, on Cherry Run; Mr. Fenton's near the lot of W. C. Dunkle; and Gould's, in Easton. The township has but one hotel, that of P. D. Painter, at Easton. There has been no licensed hotel in the township for almost twenty years.
Other Industries .- The first well for oil drilled in the township was drilled to a depth of six hundred and fifty feet in 1861. It was located below the Cal- lensburg bridge, on the north side of the Clarion. J. B. Reynolds owned the well. It was drilled by C. G. W. Stover, and P. M. Dunkle, who both enlisted in August, 1861, and left the well with plenty of salt water and gas, but no oil. Since then, at various times, wells have been drilled at different places through- out the township. One was drilled at the mouth of Licking, one below that on the Point, one on C. Lobaugh's farm west of Callensburg, one on Harry Gar- mer's farm northeast of the town, one on John W. Black's farm, one on John Best's farm, and quite a number in the western part of the township. Two or three wells in the extreme western part of the township, on Mr. Neely's farm, once produced some oil, but now there is not a producing well in the township. In April, 1887, a well was drilled near the new mill of Stover & Neely.
Considerable attention is given to stock-raising, principally for the market. Several farmers, however, are introducing blooded stock.
The smaller timber and the saplings have of late been worked into pit- posts, brace poles or hoops, affording quite an income to the people.
John Elliott had the first store in the township. He opened it in 1824, where W. D. Elliott now lives. Abraham Allebach kept the first store in what is now the Anderson school district. H. E. Best & Company kept a store at Best's Corners, where R. P. Hughes has his store. Solomon Shirey kept for many years at Easton. The furnace companies at Prospect and Buchanan each had stores. Samuel Rhea kept once near the present homes of James M. Dunkle and R. M. Kilgore. He did business for a while at Easton, and later at the bridge. He sold out to J. G. Wyon, who did business till the winter of 1886, when his building and goods were destroyed by fire. Thomas Purvi- ance kept the first store in the western part of the township. Various kinds of shops are scattered over the township now, and have been since its early settlement. Among these workmen were Wilson Colwell, blacksmith; Sidle Lobaugh, D. R. Lobaugh, and James H. Lobaugh, tanners; William Williams, Henry Smith, Daniel Low, a Mr. Russell, and S. S. Whitmer, blacksmiths ; and many others too numerous to mention. W. Craig & Son now have a store at Easton.
Churches and Schools .- There are three church buildings in the township : The Mount Zion Lutheran, built in 1847; the Mount Zion German Reformed, built in 1883 and '84, and the St. John's, built at a date not known to the writer.
The township has eight school districts with as many houses, viz., the Rock,
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
the Anderson, Union Hall, Prospect, Easton, Fairview, Oak Grove, and Pat- terson. The buildings are all considered fair houses.
The first school in the township was held in the Range cabin, in 1818, by a man named John Wright (or Rite). Later Charles Haas, Hugh Kilgore C. G. W. Stover, and William Cupples did pioneer work in education. It is noticeable that many of the teachers of the township became men of affairs. Hugh Kilgore was prominent in early military operations in the county. C. W. Elliott is now a Methodist Episcopal minister ; S. W. Kuhns is a Lutheran minister ;. H. P. Elliott has been elected county auditor ; A. M. Neely twice elected to the Legislature, and W. A. Beer once.
Public Officers .- The township has produced the following county officers: J. M. Best, treasurer ; J. C. Galbreath, sheriff; John Elliott, auditor ; B. B. Dunkle, sheriff; C. Reichart, prothonotary (two terms); H. E. Best, auditor ; Emanuel Over, commissioner ; H. P. Elliott, auditor, and R. Laughlin mem- ber of Legislature in 1851 and '52. Besides these S. A. Bell, commissioner, was born in the township, as was also W. A. Beer, member of the Legislature in 1883.
Sidle Lobaugh was a colonel in the State Guards in 1829 and '30. Alex- ander Colwell was aid-de-camp to the major-general of the Twelfth Division from April 28, 1855, to the first Monday of July, 1859, with the rank of major. Mr. Colwell has been a justice of the peace since 1864, holding five commis- sions.
Under " Company B, One Hundred and Sixth- ninth Regiment," beginning on page 329, the reader will notice the name " Andrew Sippey, corporal." This name should be " Andrew Tippery," who is a respected and influential citizen of this township.
Crimes and Casualties .- The town of Easton was laid out in -, and dur- ing the more stirring times of the iron and lumber industries, it became quite a village, and its reputation for good conduct was not the best. For many years this village was the home of a man called Jesse Major. His name was said to be Jerry Johnson. Major's house was the rendezvous and refuge of a bad set of characters, thieves, counterfeiters, robbers, and lewd women. Two of the gang were Charley Logue and Ira Shotwell or Ira Davis, an account of whose crimes, capture and trial is given in the chapter on "Bench and Bar."
Various other lesser crimes from time to time serve to cloud the fair mem- ories of this people, but to the great credit of the township be it said, the resident population is almost unrepresented on the criminal annals of the township.
John Elliott, sr., in a fit of melancholy drowned himself in Crary's dam, and Miss Mary Henry, an ancient maiden lady, drowned herself at the foot of Delo's Eddy. Miss Clara Cupples a few years ago took her own life by shoot- ing herself. So far as known, this completes the list of suicides.
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There have been a number of accidental deaths. Many years ago John Gardner accidentally shot two of his sisters, killing both at one shot. The tragedy had such an effect upon his mind that he laid the gun up in the barn, where it lay untouched for thirty-five years. A son of James Carroll was drowned in the Clarion, below the dam. A child of Mr. William Prosser was drowned in the Turn Hole. A Miss Wilson was drowned below the mouth of Licking, as was also a Mr. Elgin. A man whose name is unknown to the writer, was thrown from a raft and drowned near the mouth of Licking. A son of John Murray was drowned at the mouth of Cherry Run. A child of Mr. Clugh was drowned in a well in Callensburg. A Mrs. Hoveler was burned to death at Buchanan furnace. A Mr. Stroup was killed by a part of Callens- burg bridge falling on him in 1865. The ice had torn the bridge away, but a part hung to the pier. The raft on which Stroup was, struck the pier and jarred the pendant structure, causing it to fall and strike him just as he passed under it. A Mr. Graham was killed by his horse at Easton. A son of John P. Stover was killed by a log rolling on him, a few years ago, and James Cun- ningham was killed in an ore bank. This is the list of casualties of the town- ship since its settlement, so far as can be ascertained.
The dam across the Clarion at Callensburg bridge, is said to have caused the greatest loss of lumber that was ever caused by any dam on the Clarion, but this obstruction to navigation was removed by the ice gorge in March, 1865, at the time the bridge was taken away.
CHAPTER LVII.
HISTORY OF LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP.1
T HIS township is located in the eastern part of Clarion county, and is, in shape, almost a rhomboid. It is bounded on the north by Clarion town- ship, on the east by Jefferson county, on the south by Porter and Redbank townships, and on the west by Monroe township. This portion of the county was organized into a township in 1842. Its greatest length is about eight miles, and its width about six miles; its area is about forty-five square miles. The surface is nowhere level, but may be described as being in some parts very hilly, in others undulating. The township is well watered by natural streams, the chief of which are Big Piney and Little Piney. Both these streams flow in a westerly direction, and traverse the township from its eastern to its western boundary. They are fed by numerous smaller streams running north and south.
1 By S. C. Hepler.
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
Prior to the year 1800, Limestone township was one vast forest, along the streams and over the hills of which roamed the deer, the bear, and other wild animals. Since that time a steady transformation has been going on. The vast forests have given away before the woodman's ax, and settlements, well improved, have been established. In the year above mentioned, the first white man that set foot upon the soil of this precinct, together with his family, made a settlement on the premises now owned and occupied by J. W. Speer, in the extreme southwestern part of the township. These people came from Chester county, Pa., bringing with them all they could of their household effects and farming implements, on horseback. This energetic pioneer's name was Thomas Meredith. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and fought bravely for national independence. Soon after the old man established his new home, he mounted a horse and rode back to his native county-Chester-procured some young apple trees, returned and planted them near his cabin home, and afterwards had the satisfaction of seeing them nearly all grow. This was among the first orchards established in Clarion county. The second settlement made within the present limits of the township was by Christian Rhodes, in the year 1801, at a place now known as the Stahlman settlement. A year later -1802-John Brown, an eccentric old bachelor, and a soldier of the Revolu- tion, came into the precinct, and built a cabin, making other improvements also, near the Rhodes settlement. During the same year, Colonel John Swan-the noted Indian fighter-and Samuel C. Orr, came from the more eastern part of Pennsylvania, settled and made improvements in the western part of the town- ship. Colonel Sloan settled what are now known as the farms of Samuel Con- ner, George Smith, and the heirs of John Smith, deceased, while Orr settled what is now known as the Orr homestead, at present owned and occupied by Culbertson Orr. The farm now owned and occupied by Rev. Jacob Booth, was also settled in 1802 by Tate Allison. Thus homes in the wilderness were established, and the country grew. It is not necessary to describe the hard- ships and privations of these early settlers; suffice it to say they were severe enough ; but pluck and energy prevailed, and ere long the wildernss blossomed as the rose. Thus settlements grew, and nothing occurred to mar the happi- ness of the settlers till 1812, when the second war for independence broke out. Among those from Limestone who went forth to battle for their country's rights were Thomas Meredith, jr., and his brother, Owen, both sons of the ear- liest settler of the township. Robert Allison, son of Tate Allison, above named, was in the list also. None were killed, all returning home in due time.
As the settlements grew and the population increased, the people began to see the necessity of schools for the education of their children ; accordingly a house was constructed, and a school established. This first school-house was a mere log cabin with a chimney outside, and was built about 1818, on the farm now owned by N. H. Sloan. Since then education has kept pace with
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the improvements and increase of population. The inhabitants look upon the public schools with favor. At present there are ten public school structures in the township, in which are held as many schools, presided over by as many teachers, and attended by about three hundred pupils. The houses are neat, frame structures, the majority of which are furnished with the latest improved furniture. Besides the above, there is one Catholic school, situated in the east- ern part of the township, and well sustained by the Catholic citizens.
Churches were also early established, the first house being erected where the present Salem Church now stands. As the number of inhabitants increased, so increased the number of churches, till at present there are within the town- ship one Presbyterian, one Baptist, two Methodist Episcopal, one Reformed, one Lutheran, and one Catholic Church, each society having its own church edifice in which to worship. Most of these churches have burial-grounds at- tached to them, all of which are pleasently located and well kept.
At first the settlers had much difficulty in getting their grain converted into meal. This lasted nearly a quarter of a century, when Colonel John Sloan erected on Big Piney a small mill built of hewed logs. This mill was erected on the site of what is now known as Smith's saw-mill. The second-oldest flouring-mill-a frame structure-was erected on Little Piney in 1833, by Samuel C. Orr. This mill still does good work, and is at present owned by Henry Edder. At a little village known as Greenville, which will be noticed hereafter, Messrs. John Sloan and his brother Samuel erected a flouring-mill, which was perhaps the third one erected within the township. Henry Smith, deceased, razed the old log-mill erected by Colonel Sloan, and built a new one -a large frame structure-a short distance below the site of the old one; and the one built at Greenville was afterward torn down and a new one erected by Washington Craig, now deceased. This is a large frame structure also, and is in every respect a first-class mill. Thus there have been built on the waters of Big Piney four flouring-mills, and upon the waters of Little Piney one, making five in all.
The settlers were not long in discovering the mineral wealth of the town- ship, the result of which was the erection of iron furnaces, foundries, etc. The first iron foundry was built about 1836, by Thomas Hurst, and was located at Orr's Mill. Mr. Hurst also made fanning-mills, the first manufactured in the township. In 1837 Wan brothers erected an iron furnace and foundry on ,Little Piney, near the site of William McKinley's residence. Eight years after the erection of the above-mentioned furnace and foundry-1845-another furnace was built on Little Piney and denominated Limestone furnace. There was more iron cast at this furnace than at any of the others. At present noth- ing remains to mark the sites of these furnaces but a few cinders and portions of the stone stacks, and silence now reigns where once industry prevailed. The hills of this precinct are also underlaid with a bountiful supply of bitumin-
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
ous coal, but so far few mines have been opened up and worked. An almost inexhaustible supply of limestone-rock and flag -underlies the greater por- tion of the township, and is extensively used by the farmers as a fertilizer, the good effects of which may be seen by the heavy crops of grains and grasses raised and harvested annually.
As has already been noticed, the precinct was at an early day a vast forest, the trees indigenous being pine, hemlock, and oak in the valleys of Big and Little Piney, and in the lowlands, while on the highlands and ridges chestnut, hickory, etc., prevailed. Lumbering was at one time, and is yet, extensively carried on. There have been erected within the present limits of the township twenty-one saw-mills-eleven on Big Piney, of which nine were water-power mills and two were steam-power; on Little Piney there have been erected ten, six water-power mills and four of steam-power. There was also an ax fac- tory built on Big Piney. Limestone township has furnished the major portion of sawed lumber used for building and other purposes in Clarion county.
Years, at least a score, elapsed from the time the first settlement was made till the first post-office was established for the accommodation of the settlers. This first office was denominated Limestone, and was located at a place known as " Sloan's Gap." Captain James Sloan was the first postmaster. The office was supplied with mail once every two weeks, the mail route extending from Kittanning, Pa., to Olean, N. Y. At present there are four offices, viz., Crates, Kingsville, Frogtown, and Limestone. This last-named office is located at a village known as Greenville, which is situated in the western part of the township on Big Piney. It is the largest village in the township, having a population of about one hundred and twenty. One dry-goods store, one flour- ing-mill-already mentioned- one harness shop, one tannery, and one black- smith shop mark the business portion of the village. It also has two resident physicians-S. C. Johnson, a graduate of Washington and Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and A. K. Carmichael, a graduate of the Baltimore Med- ical College. Two of the above-named churches-Baptist and Presbyterian -are also located at this place. The next village of any importance is located about one mile southeast of Greenville, and is known as Frogtown. This little village is situated in the midst of a delightful agricultural community and has a population of forty. It contains one store of general merchandise, owned by J. D. Laughlin and brother, the Frogtown post-office, and a blacksmith shop.
About the time the first post-office was established-1820-William Guthrie erected a small log building on Little Piney, a short distance below Limestone furnace, designed as a carding-machine and fulling mill. The property passed into the hands of John Thom, Esq., and afterwards Joseph A. Ogden became sole owner of the mill. Mr. Ogden erected a new mill-a large frame building -which at the decease of the owner became the property of his son, J. C. Ogden, who is the present owner and proprietor. Craig Brothers also erected
PRE aker
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a large woolen factory, one mile north of Greenville, on Big Piney. This fac- tory at one time did an extensive business, but about the year 1873 it was abandoned, and since that has been removed to New Bethlehem.
Limestone township is noted chiefly for the richness of its soil and for the many beautiful homesteads within its limits. It is clearly an agricultural com- munity, the quality of its farms not being exceeded by that of the farms of any other township in the county. Many of the farmer citizens own and occupy fine residences. Not only the residences attract the eye, but what are known as the "front door yards" of many of the homesteads are very beautiful. Grassy plots dotted with beautiful flower-beds, fine walks lined with trees indig- enous and exotic, evergreen and deciduous, are not an infrequent scene around farm-houses, and go to show the taste the citizens have for the beautiful as well as for the useful. .
All the principal grains and grasses are grown in this township. The aver- age yield of wheat per acre is about twenty bushels ; that of corn about sev- enty-five bushels; oats, about forty-five bushels. Many of the farms produce more per acre than is stated above, while very few well-cultivated farms fall below the above-quoted average.
Much attention is given to the breeding of blooded stock, and the very best breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine are represented in the precinct. The farmers seem to glory in the success they are meeting in their calling, and are not content with present progress, but have two grange organizations for the purpose of aiding and instructing one another.
When the call "To arms" came at the beginning of the late war, Lime- stone furnished her quota of men, and right well did they do their part. On October 9, 1886, the surviving soldiers, residing in the township, met and or- ganized, with a membership of twenty, the Captain Charles E. Patton Post, No. 532, G. A. R. The following officers were chosen: Commander, T. D. Spence ; S. V. C., Jesse Hepler; G. V. C., Samuel Hepler ; adjutant, R. P. Miller ; surgeon, David Baughman ; chaplain, Rev. Jacob Booth ; O. D., J. M. McCormick; O. G., E. M. Reese ; quartermaster, J. C. Ogden.
Of late years several wells have been drilled for the purpose of obtaining petroleum, but so far they have all proved what are styled " dusters." Dur- ing the summer of 1885 Stuart, Ogden & Co. drilled a well in the north- western part of the township to a depth of twelve hundred feet, when what at present seems an inexhaustible supply of gas was struck. This gas, as it escaped from the well, produced a roaring noise, not unlike distant thunder, which could be heard for miles around. The same year this well was pur- chased by the Clarion Light and Heat Company, and the gas was piped to Clarion, where it is used as fuel, etc. In 1886 a second well was drilled near the site of the Stuart-Ogden well, by the Citizens' Gas Company of Clarion, with equally good results. The gas from this well is also piped to Clarion, a
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
distance of five miles, and is used as fuel. These are the only gas wells in the township.
Thus we see that this precinct has been transformed from a vast forest into well cultivated farms. It has increased in population from one man and his family, in 1800, to about one thousand three hundred at the present writing. Many of the oldest citizens of the township now living were born and raised on the farm they now live on. Among these old and highly respected citi- zens may be mentioned James Riley, Culberson Orr, C. M. Sloan, and D. H. Parsons. Of these, Mr. Riley is the oldest, being seventy-four years of age. By indsutry and frugality he succeeded in retaining the old homestead, which is one of the finest farms in the township. Although nearing four score years, yet he is hale and supple, often walking a distance of ten or more miles, without the least apparent fatigue, and although he is perhaps the oldest citizen of the community in which he lives, yet he has never been outside the present limits of Clarion county.
CHAPTER LVIII.
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.1
T' HIS township, lying in the southwest corner of the county, was formerly a portion of Toby township, and before the formation of Clarion county, extended into Armstrong county as far as the mouth of Mahoning Creek. This township has itself suffered some further diminution of territory since the erection of the county, the present Brady township having been formed from it not many years ago.
The northern and eastern boundaries are straight lines, except a slight indentation on the north, made by the borough of Rimersburg. The southern boundary is very irregular, defined by the tortuous course of Redbank Creek.
The township is underlaid by several beds of good bituminous coal, and the ferriferous limestone is largely exposed in the bluffs along the Redbank Creek and its tributaries. Much of the land has been suffered to deteriorate, but by the liberal use of lime readily procurable from the above-mentioned stratum, and burned by means of the coal so near by, progressive farmers are fast restoring their fields to their pristine fertility.
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