USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > History of Clarion County, Pennsylvania > Part 60
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
rolled on to the skidway and in reach of the log-turner, which receives its power from two steam cylinders. These cylinders work the turner very much like a human arm, the different motions being given it by gently handling a lever. The power of this turner is simply wonderful. The logs are now on the carriage of one of Stearns & Co's. best mills. This carriage is pro- pelled by a steam-engine, and is also controlled by gentle pressure on a lever. The saw is sixty inches in diameter, and has a speed of six hundred revolutions a minute. Two of Stearns & Co's. flue-boilers-five by fourteen feet, furnish the power to the saw and its accompanying machinery. As each board is cut it drops on to a transfer, from which the edger receives it, and by easily adjusted saws, each piece is neatly squared up, and is then placed on a trimmer, which trims the ends and passes it to the cars, which have the use of forty rods of iron railing for distributing the boards to the piling and rafting grounds. The trimmer also cuts up all the refuse, and after the lath stuff is selected, the débris is quietly carried by a chain-carrier to its final rest - a constantly-burning fire. The saws are all kept in order for work by means of a self saw sharpener. So complete are the arrangements of the mill that when cutting at the rate of forty thousand feet per day, the labor of the employees is simply a matter of careful attention, and not a back-aching, muscular service, as in days of old. The piling grounds are neatly wharfed, and rafting made easy by slack-water and sluices arranged for the reception of rafts, and the easy handling of the same.
CHAPTER LX.
HISTORY OF MONROE TOWNSHIP.1
M ONROE township, lying slightly to the south and east of the center of the county, is of irregular form. Its greatest length is, from north to south, about eight and one-half miles, its greatest breadth, from east to west, nearly five miles, and its area is about twenty-five square miles. It is drained toward the west by the Clarion river on its northern boundary, and by Piney Creek with its tributaries, Bush Run and Meadow Run, traversing its middle territory, and by Licking Creek near its southern boundary. It was formerly a part of Redbank township, but became a part of Clarion township in 1832, and soon afterwards became a separate township.
Within its limits are Curllsville borough, treated separately in this history, the villages of Reidsburg and Williamsburg, and the hamlets of Keeversburg and Churchville.
1 By C. F. McNutt, and W. W. Deatrick.
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MONROE TOWNSHIP.
Settlements .- Lewis Doverspike, the first settler in the township, came to what is now Churchville, took up some vacant land and built a rude shanty in 1800, or quite probably before that time. He had no family while here, but followed trapping and hunting.
Nicholas Baliett, now called Polliard, with his family, settled in 1801, on farm now owned by Reuben Shiry, his grandson. He cleared some land and followed hunting in his spare moments, which included most of his time.
Hugh Reid came from Ohio and built a log house on hill above Reidsburg in 1801. He took up four hundred acres of vacant land around and including the village now bearing his name. He was married twice, but left no children. A little incident connected with his first marriage will serve to show some- thing of his business traits. His intended, unfortunately, during his absence engaged to wed another man, had the day set, and was about to be united. Mr. Reid heard of the arrangement and came to the house just in time to stop the ceremony. He explained matters, claimed the woman, and was then and there married in the presence of his rival. He was a mill-wright by trade, and was searching for mill seats when he came here. In about 1808 he built a log grist-mill in Reidsburg, at the mouth of Clugh Run. He then built a frame mill on Piney Creek, just below Reidsburg, in 1820, and in 1840 built another one a little farther around the bend of the creek, each of the two latter taking the place of the one built before it. He built a saw-mill in Reidsburg in 1812. David Craig bought the greater part of Reid's property here in 1855, and built the present saw-mill during the same year. Mr. Reid died in 1864, at the age of ninety-three years, within a few rods of where he built his first cabin.
Jacob Brinker, with his family, came in 1802 to what is now Churchville, bought Lewis Doverspike's tract of land and began to clear it and make im- provements. Mr. Doverspike then settled on the hill above New Bethlehem. Adam and John Brinker afterwards moved into Porter township. Jacob Brinker, the pioneer settler at Churchville, was instantly killed while helping to raise a barn on farm now owned by Mr. Kerr, near Rimersburg. His son Jacob is at present living on a farm in western part of the township.
Thomas Brown, with his family, came from Indiana county and settled where his son Thomas now lives, in Monroe township, in 1804. His brother Alexander came to an adjoining farm at the same time. Alexander, son of Thomas Brown, sr., who died at the age of ninety-three years, is at present living on a farm in same locality, having lived in the township for over eighty- three years. They were thrifty farmers.
John Clugh settled where Alexander Brown now lives, in 1804. The stream running through the farm took its name from him. Several of his de- scendants are still living in the township. David Frampton and Isaac Fetzer came from Mifflin county and settled near what is now Reidsburg, in 1804. William Frampton, father of David, with the rest of his family, all girls, settled
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
in this locality in 1814. He bought one thousand acres of land here, and divided it among his children. John Magee, with his family, came to the farm now owned by his son, Kiser, in 1814. He had a woolen manufactory here in an early day and also followed farming. He died in 1884, at the age of one
hundred years and one hundred days. He and his son Kiser lived together for seventy years, an unusual experience in the life of a father and son. Isaac Fetzer, David Frampton, John Clugh, John Magee, and John Conley were brothers-in-law through marriage in family of William Frampton. They were farmers. All came from Mifflin county, formed here a thrifty settlement, which they have held ever since.
Nicholas Shiry came from Westmoreland county to farm now owned by his son Reuben, in 1820; Richard Nisbit, Kuntz, William Adams, settling near Magees, Thomas Watson near Shiry's. Henry and John Delp, and oth- ers, most of whose descendants have gone out of the township, were early set- tlers in this locality.
Hamms were early settlers in vicinity of Churchville, coming four or five years after Brinkers came. Some of them afterwards moved into Porter town- ship, and some of the descendants are still living in the Monroe township. Daniel Hamm served one term as sheriff of Clarion county. Stanford, Monks, Coursons, Henry Been, John Anderson, Samuel and William Austen, William Wilson, and others; settled in vicinity of Curllsville in 1802-3-4 and later. Their history, however, is given with Curllsville borough.
Robert Newell with his family, including John B., Mariah (Guthrie), James, William, Gillmer, Robert D., Susanna (Rimer), Elmer P., and Samuel, came from Centre county and settled near Churchville, in 1821. Some of the family and many of their descendants are still living here and near here yet. They are farmers. Jos. McKee settled where his son Hugh now lives in 1823. Several families are still living in the township. They are farmers, some of them taking an active interest in raising fine stock. Jacob Edmund came to the township in 1820. He was a mill-wright and carpenter, also lumbered some. His son Jacob afterwards lived on the same farm, followed droving, and was engaged in various other speculations. Andy Fox settled in the west- ern side of the township in 1824. Others that should be mentioned are Myers in 1847, Mr. Means, who was surveyor and justice of the peace several years, Curlls, Lobaughs, Murphys, etc.
Reidsburg was so named in honor of Hugh Reid, who first owned the land on which it is situated. John Avery was the first blacksmith in the village, where he settled about 1820. Patrick Kerr built a storehouse and dwell- ing combined, on present site of Reidsburg Hotel in 1835, and kept the first store there. He sold the property to Samuel Wilson in 1845. George W. Arnold kept store in this building from 1847 to '51, after which it became a hotel, and has been used as such ever since. Williams Brothers own it at
J Nawey Wilson
ALITTLE
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MONROE TOWNSHIP.
present, having bought it at sheriff sale, seized as the property of Mr. Lari- mer. G. W. Fulton built the fourth grist-mill in Reidsburg in 1872. G. W. Arnold bought it at sheriff's sale in June 1883, and in March, 1884, sold it to G. W. Fulton's wife, who subsequently sold it to Mr. Spangler, the present owner. There have been several stores in Reidsburg, but not more than two or three at any one time. The post-office in this village has had three different names, though virtually the same office all the while. Mr. Hughlings, a pay- master in the War of 1812, came to the place now owned by Hon. J. H. Wil- son, one mile above Reidsburg, soon after the close of the war, laid out a town and called it Hulingsburg. He drilled a well and made preparations to start salt works. Through his influence the first post-office was established here and called Hughlingsburg. Hugh Reid was appointed postmaster, and kept the office at his house on the hill above Reidsburg. Samuel Wilson-some- times called Samuel Wilson Miller to distinguish him from the Samuel Wilson who bought P. Kerr's property, and to whom he was not akin-afterwards was postmaster, and kept the office at Hughlingsburg for several years. In 1840 William F. Keever, who built a hotel on Reidsburg and Sligo road near Reidsburg, was appointed postmaster, moved the office to his place, and had the name changed to Keeversburg. When Lincoln was elected president the office was moved to Reidsburg, and the name was changed to that of the vil- lage in which it was kept. There is a hotel and lumber yard at Keeversburg at present, owned by W. F. Keever's son.
The salt works at Hulingsburg never were completed. Government offi- cers came here to arrest Hughlings, whose accounts, as paymaster in the war,. seemed to indicate that frauds had been perpetrated. He suddenly left and never returned. At this place at present there are two or three dwellings and a saw-mill. Reidsburg is a village at present having about twenty dwellings, two stores, one hotel, mill, blacksmith shop, church, academy, etc.
Williamsburg, situated on the road about half way between Clarion and . Reidsburg, was first settled by Amos Williams, for whom it was named, who came here from Mifflin county, in 1807. He had a family of nine daughters,. but no sons. Rev. B. H. Thomas married one of the daughters, Amos Cor- bett another, Charles McCafferty, of Monroeville, another, WV. H. Hunter an- other, David Fulton another, and so on, all men well known in Clarion county. Mr. Williams built a carding-machine soon after his arrival, one of the first in the county, also owned some land which he cultivated. He was the first treas- urer of Clarion county, and served for two successive terms. Philip Lewis with his family, including Zachariah, Enoch, Philip, jr., Nathaniel, Edward, and William, came to Williamsburg in 1808. William Lewis started the first store in this place in 1845. William H. Hunter built the first hotel in 1848, and sold it to Reuben Shiry in 1855; it was burned in the following fall, but rebuilt some time since.
60
550
HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
Oil Developments .- In the spring of 1887, M. E. Hess & Company drilled a test well on Kifer farm two miles south of Reidsburg. At first it produced ten or fifteen barrels per day. This made some excitement in the neighbor- hood, land was leased extensively, and preparations were made for testing the territory more thoroughly. Three or four wells were drilled right away, but no oil was found in them. Parties are at present engaged in testing the territory.
For a sketch of the furnaces in the township, see furnaces in general his- tory of the county.
Schools .- The first school-house in the township was built of logs on farm now owned by Alexander Brown. The exact date of its erection cannot be ascertained now, but John Magee moved into it when he first came to the township in 1814. School had been kept there before that. A log building was erected in Churchville in 1820, and another one near Williamsburg soon afterwards. They, like other early schools in the county, were built and sup- ported by subscription. At present there are eight public schools in the town- ship.
Reid Institute was established at Reidsburg in 1860 by the Clarion Baptist Association, prompted by a desire to meet the wants of young people of its own territory and surrounding associations who seek mental training above that furnished by our public schools. Its curriculum of instruction embraces col- lege preparatory, scientific, normal, commercial and musical departments. The boarding hall, known also as Prescott Hall, was burned in 1877 and rebuilt in 1880. Profs. Rittenhouse and S. C. Gilbert have had charge of the school as principals nearly ever since it was established. Prof. J. T. Gallagher, the pres- ent principal, took charge of the institution in January, 1887.
Churches .- The Licking Presbyterian congregation at Churchville was the first organized in Clarion county. An informal organization took place here in fall of 1802. There never was a formal action of Presbytery for the organization of this congregation. Rev. John McPherrin preached the first sermon in this locality, and was the officiating minister at the organization of Licking congregation. Rev. Robert McGarrough was their first regular pas- tor, sent there in 1804 as a licentiate of Redstone Presbytery. He was or- dained November 12, 1807, the services being conducted at house of Thomas Brown. This relation was dissolved April 23, 1822, and Rev. John Core was installed as their pastor September 15, 1823. He served them faithfully until his death on May 7, 1854. Rev. Joseph Mateer was installed over this con- gregation December 7, 1854; was released after a pastorate of over twenty years. Rev. J. M. McCurdy, the present pastor, was installed October 6, 1875. For a more extended sketch of this congregation and its ministers and divisions of the charge, see Presbyterian church in general history of the county.
The Reidsburg Zion Baptist congregation was organized in Amos Will-
55I
NEW BETHLEHEM BOROUGH.
iams's barn, in what is now Williamsburg, on June 9, 1821. It became at that time a branch of the Glade Run Baptist Church, Armstrong county. Rev. Nathaniel Tibots was the officiating minister. He was the first Baptist preacher in what is now Clarion county, preaching here for some time before the church was organized. The congregation at first consisted of a small band of fifteen members, among whom were Amos Williams, Phillip Lewis, Richard Reynolds, John and Margaret Mitchell, Hannah Frampton, and others. Rev. Tibots was highly esteemed by his people. The sisters of the congregation would often assemble together and arrange among themselves some expression of their ap- preciation of his faithful labors. Among the gifts thus bestowed was a pair of fine tow linen pantaloons, which, like Joseph's coat, was of many colors, and which was frequently worn, in the proper season, at Sabbath services. He continued as their pastor but one year after the organization of the church. From 1822 to 1825 they had a stated pastor, Rev. James Williams and Rev. George McCleary preaching occasionally as supply. Rev. Samuel Frampton accepted a call in August, 1825, and remained a faithful and beloved pastor for eleven years. In the autumn of 1837 Rev. Mr. Thomas received and ac- cepted a call, and soon after entered upon his arduous labors, which relation continued until June, 1848, when the infirmities of age induced him to resign. During his pastorate the church grew rapidly, some two hundred and fifty members being added. His son, Rev. B. H. Thomas, began his labors in this church in April, 1849, and was ordained on the 29th day of the following September. He served faithfully as pastor until the spring of 1886, when infirm health forced him to retire from active service. During his connection with this church he has become greatly endeared, not only to his own and sister congregations, but to the people of Clarion county.
CHAPTER LXI.
HISTORY OF NEW BETHLEHEM BOROUGH.1
T HE town was first called Gumtown, in honor of Henry Nolf, jr., whose popular name was " Gum Nolf," and who located in the place in 1830. Afterwards it was changed to Bethlehem, and again to New Bethlehem, to dis- tinguish it from a place of the same name in Northampton county.
The town is situated on the right bank of Redbank creek, the dividing line between Armstrong and Clarion counties, twenty miles from its mouth and on the line of the Low Grade Division of the Allegheny Valley Railroad. It lies on a level scope of land, evidently the product of a secondary formation, beau- tifully situated and large enough to contain a great city.
1 By L. L. Himes.
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
The land on which New Bethlehem now stands, was granted by warrant to Timothy Pickering, Samuel Hodgden, Dwaean Ingram, jr., and Tench Cox. The warrant was dated May 17, 1785, and known as No. 185, situated in Brodhead's former district, No. 6, containing 631 acres, 16 perches. Timothy Pickering, etc., above-named, conveyed the tract to William E. Hulings, by deed, dated December, 1821. Hulings on the same day conveyed said tract to Anne Wikoff, of Philadelphia, Pa.
Henry Dovenspike located on an adjoining tract belonging to the Holland Land Company in 1806, and built a log house where William Truitt lives. He purchased part of the Wikoff tract March 1, 1831, and at his death two of his heirs laid out part of the land which they inherited in town lots, the history of which is preserved by the form of deeds they had printed, and which they used in conveying the first lots. The following is a copy of the printed form: " THIS INDENTURE MADE THE .. DAY OF . . , in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and forty -... , between George Doven- spike and Elizabeth his wife, and John Milliron, and Mary, his wife, of the town- ship of Redbank, county of Clarion, and State of Pennsylvania of the one part, and .... of the other part: WHEREAS, The said George Dovenspike and John Milliron, by virtue of a deed of release from the heirs of Henry Doven- spike, deceased, dated October 30, A. D. 1841, and recorded in the office for recording deeds for Clarion county, became seized and possessed of a certain messuage or tract of land, situate on Redbank township, Clarion county, and bounded on the south by Redbank Creek, on the west by lands of Jacob Shankle, George Space, Gabriel Miller, John Himes, Thomas McKelvey, James Fleming and other lands of the parties of the first part, on the north by lands of G. W. Trumble, and on the east by lands of John Dovenspike, containing thirty acres, more or less. It being part of a larger tract of land, conveyed by Anne Wikoff to the said Henry Dovenspike, deceased, by deed, dated, March 1, 1831, and recorded in Armstrong county, in the office for Recording Deeds, vol. 7, pages 286 and 287. AND WHEREAS the said George Dovenspike and John Milliron have laid out a town on the aforesaid tract of land, of thirty acres, called 'NEW BETHLEHEM,' consisting of In and Out Lots, with convenient streets and alleys,-which lots, in the general plan of said town are numbered from No. I to No. 70 inclusively, as by plan recorded in the recording office of Clarion county. NOW THIS INDENTURE Witnesseth," etc.
Then followed the No. of lot, consideration, etc.
Christian Himes located on a fifty acre tract of the Wikoff land that joined the original borough limits on the north, as early as 1808. He built a log house near the spring above the town. This was the first house built in the present limits of the borough. He died shortly afterward, leaving two sons, John and Joseph, who were separated and sent to live with strangers. John returned in 1838, purchased a number of acre-lots, and worked at cabinet-making until his
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NEW BETHLEHEM BOROUGH.
death. Joseph returned in 1848, purchased the old homestead and com- menced farming, which he has followed to the present. A part of this farm has also been laid out in town lots. Keck's addition of town lots was made in 1871, and A. H. Allebach's in the same year.
Henry Nolf was intimately identified with the early business interests of the town. He established the first store, and built the first saw-mill as early as 1815, and the first grist-mill in 1835. The storehouse stood near where the bridge is now located, and was the second building erected. In 1833 he took Mr. Thomas McKelvy in the store and sold out to him the following year. Mr. McKelvy continued in the business until 1858, when he sold to C. E. An- drews, whom he had taken in the store as clerk in 1849. Mr. Andrews still conducts the same business, but in quite a different and more successful man- ner.
The second store was started by Mr. Philip Corbett. The third by Mr. A. H. Allebach. Many others have been engaged in the same business. Large store buildings have been recently erected at immense cost by the Fairmount Coal Company and by Messrs. Andrews and Craig.
The early growth of the town was very slow. The first building was put up in 1808, and in 1833 the town consisted of one log house, one frame house, one stable, and one saw-mill.
In 1834 George Space moved to the place and built a blacksmith shop. Adam Hilliard, P. H. Hoffman, Gabriel Miller, Jacob Shankle, Joseph Conger, moved to the place soon after. One after another continued to locate and build promiscuously until 1853, when a charter of incorporation was granted by Clarion County Court, creating the town into a borough. John Himes was elected burgess, and George Space, Joseph Conger, Frederick Mohney, and Joseph Himes, councilmen. The first act of the council was to correct the irregularities of the streets and alleys, and to arrange the lots in a regular plot. How well they succeeded may be known by the fact that almost every council since that time has been surveying and effecting changes for the purpose of accomplishing the same thing, and there still exist many irregularities.
Industrics .- As already stated, the first saw-mill was built by Henry Nolf in 1815. It stood where the present water-power saw-mill stands, and was a primitive affair, consisting of a single upright saw, operated by water-power. Yet it supplied a very great want of the early settlers, as it was the only mill in that section from which sawed lumber could be obtained. The fact that boards could be obtained there induced many to locate and build within reach of it. The mill was washed away by high water, but was rebuilt by Arthur O'Donell in 1850. This one was burned down and was again rebuilt, and at present is owned by Craig & Company.
C. E. Andrews built a steam saw-mill about 1860, and at the same time erected a scaffold on which to build flat-bottomed boats. These were floated
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
to the Pittsburgh market, and used for shipping coal from Pittsburgh to places along the Ohio River. In 1862 Mr. Andrews built a planing-mill, putting in the latest improved machinery. This mill supplied the town with all the dressed lumber that was used until after the railroad was built, which was completed in 1873, since which much of the dressed lumber that has been used in building has been brought from the upper lumber districts.
The first grist-mill was built in 1835; previous to this the farmers took their grain to Hesse's mill at Maysville, which, at that time, was the only grist- mill in all the country. It was a very common occurrence for twenty farmers to be at the mill at the same time, each one waiting for his "turn," when, with a few pounds of flour, he would go honie, only to return in a day or two to have the same thing repeated. Henry Nolf conveyed the mill to Peter Schlotterbeck, who afterwards sold it to Jacob Shankle. Mr. Shankle oper- ated the mill for several years and then sold it to A. B. Paine. Mr. Paine be- ing interested in some timber land in Jefferson county, sold the mill to Messrs. Cooper & Williams before moving there. Cooper & Williams conveyed their entire mill interests, and several other properties to Craig & Co. The firm of Craig & Co. having a long experience in manufacturing by water-power, be- ing owners and operators of several flouring and woolen mills in the county and in Allegheny City, foresaw the excellent water-power and shipping ad- vantages furnished by Redbank Creek and the railroad at this point, and therefore moved to the place immediately after purchasing the old grist-mill and water right. They immediately repaired the old grist-mill, putting in new machinery, and thereby greatly increased its capacity. In 1872 they pur- chased of W. R. Hamilton, a mill seat on the Armstrong county side, and in 1873 erected one of the finest and best equipped flouring-mills in Western Pennsylvania. By the aid of the new machinery, which was purchased in New York city, they were able to manufacture a finer grade of flour than had ever reached the town from the city mills. The mills has been kept running day and night, almost constantly, since its erection.
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