USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 107
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1847 .- Burgess, Samuel B. Page; Council, Thomas Duncan, John Buffington, James Goe, John G. Gregg, Aaron Bran- son, Jehn Riley, Joseph John, Isaac Bennett, John Lan- ning ; Clerk, R. K. MeLean.
1848 .- Burgess, Samuel B. Page; Council, Themas Duncan, William H1. Beanett, James Goe, James C. Auld, Samuel I. Cox, John Her bertson, John W. Porter, John S. Roberts, Jaiocs N. Abrams ; School Directors, Samuel B. Page, Joseph T. Rogers, W. II. Bennett; Clerk, R. K. MeLean. 1849 .- Burgess, llenry Bulger ; Council, John Springer, George Stemmetz, S. J. Cox, Henry Wilson, Alexander Scott, Samuel B. Page, William H. Bennet, James M. Abrams; Clerk, R. K. McLean.
1850 .- Burgess, Jacob Shepherd; Council, John Springer, William Wolf, William Wharf, C. C. Cremlow, Ilenry Troth, Johe Buffington, Henry Wilson, A. G. Minebart; Clerk, William C. Fishburn.
1851 .- Burgess, John Buffington ; Council, S. A. Wood, Henry Cannon, Alfred Offord, S. J. Cox, Thomas Full, Jr., John Anderson, Henry Springer, William Woodward, John W. Porter ; School Directors, Henry Cannon, Heury Bulger ; Clerk, William C. Fishburn.
1852 .- Burgess, Samuel J. Cox : Council, John Anderson, Wil- liam Il. Bennett, James C. Auld, John S. Robert-, Williatu Hoover, C. T. Hard, Aaron Branson, James M. Carver, Thomas Faull, Jr .; School Directors, Robert W. Jones, Benjamuio Leonard ; Clerk, William C. Fishburn.
1853 .- Burgess, William Hoover; Council, William L. Faull, Joshua Murphy, Henry C. Drum, George Stemmetz, John S. Wilgus, James Martin, Williame HI. Bennett, R. D. Mar- cus, W. II. Crookham ; School Directors, James M. Carver, John Herbertson ; Clerk, William C. Fishburn.
1854 .- Burgess, John Buffington ; Council, William II. Bennett, James M. Carver, Thomas Duncan, Jeshoa Murphy, Robert W. Jones, Alexander Moffit, William Hoover, Henry Can- nen, John Andersen ; School Directors, M. O. Jones, John S. Wilgus; Clerk, W. C. Fishburn.
1855 .- Burgess, James A. Cromlow ; Council, Alfred Offord, William Worrell, Courtlund Durnell, R. D. Marcey, Thomas Duncan, Joshua Murphy, James M. Carver, Alexander Moffit ; School Directors, Elisha Bennett, James C. Auld ; Clerk, William C. Fishburn.
1856 .- Burgess, A. G. Booth; Council, A. B. Gaskell, William L. Faull, C. M. Goe, A. Offord, T. Duncan, J. M. Carver, R. D. Marcey, W. Worrell ; School Directors, B. W. Jones, S. B. Page, G. Stemmetz; Clerk, W. C. Fishburn. .
1857 .- Burgess, A. G. Minehart ; Council, Courtland Durnell, William L. Faull, Joshua F. Murphy, C. T. Ilurd, William Worrell, Alfred Offord, W. C. Drum, A. B. Guskell; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1858 .- Burgess, A. G. Minchart ; Council, John S. Roberts, W. C. Fishburn, Thomas G. Aubrey, William Il. Lanning, James Stewart, John Mason ; School Directors, Elisba Ben- nett, A. G. Minebart; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1859 .- Burgess, A. G. Mioehart ; Council, J. T. Rogers, A. Hopkins, Z. Carter, Thomas Aubrey, W. HI. Lanning, James Stewart ; Schoel Directors, Themas Duncan, M. O. Jones, John Herbertson ; Clerk, A. G. Beoth.
1860 .- Burgess, James Stewart ; Council, J. Murphy, P. Car- roll, M. Woodward, R. D. Marcy, J. L. Rogers, John S. Roberts ; School Directors, John Mason, Jeseph Wells ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1861 .- Burgess, James Stewart; Council, Jesse Bulger, M. Morehouse, M. Woodward, Z. Carter, J. T. Rogers, Wil- liam Woodward; School Directors, John Herbertson, S. B. Puge ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
470
IIISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
1862 .- Burgess, John S. Roberts ; Council, John Herbertson, John Buffington, James Moffit, John Springer, M. Wood- ward, William Woodward, M. Morehouse ; School Direc- tors, Thomas Duncan, Levi Colvin ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1863 .- Burgess, J. S. Roberts ; Council, S. B. Page, E. II. Bar, William Leonard, Joshua Murphy, John Herbertson, J. K. Bulger, William Woodward; School Directors, William Hoover, John Mason ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1864 .- Burgess. W. II. Lanning : Council, A. G. Minehart, E. N. Coon, W. W. Auld, J. Murphy, E. II. Bar, S. B. Page, John Herbertsoo, William Leonard, John Buffington ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1865 .- Burgess, J. S. Roberts ; Council, S. B. Page, E. H. Bar, William Leonard, A. G. Minehart, Edward Toynbee, E. L. Moorhouse, J. Armstrong ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1866 .- Burgess, William Hoover; Council, John Wilson, Thomas Wright, John W. Porter, J. S. Roberts, A. G. Minebart, Tammas Wright, W. W. Auld, E. Toynbee, E. L. Moorhouse, E. N. Coon ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1867 .- Burgess, O. C. Cromlow . Council, E. Toynbee, P. S. Wright, E. N. Coon, John Wilson, John Porter, II. B. Cock, J. S. Roberts, E. Mourhouse, Joseph Walls; Clerk, Edward Brawley, Sr.
1868 .- Burgess, John S. Roberts; Council, John W. Porter, E. N. Coon, E. Toynbee, Thomas I. Wright, Philo Norton, E. L. Moorhouse, Joseph Wells, John Wilson, Henry B. Cock ; Clerk, E. Brawley.
1869 .- Burgess, O. C. Cromlow ; Council, Thomas S. Wright, Isaac Mason, Daniel Delaney, E. L. Moorhouse, E. P. Coon, Philo Nortou, Edward Toynbee, I. B. Cock, Joseph Wells ; School Directors, Jesse II. Bulger, J. B. Mason ; Clerk, Ilenry Delaney.
1870 .- Burgess, Thomas Shuman ; Council, E. Toynbee, Il. B. Cock, Daniel Delaney, Isaac Mason, J. W. Porter, Nathan Crawford, Thomas S. Wright, Philo Norton ; Clerk, Henry Delaney.
1871 .- Burgess, O. C. Cromlow ; 1 Council, E. L. Moorhouse, John W. Porter, Thomas S. Wright, Isaac Mason, N. Craw- ford, Daniel Delaney. 11. B. Cock ; Clerk, Henry Delaney. 1872 .- Burgess, Eli Leonard ; Couneil, John Allison, Thomas Shuman, Daniel Delaney, O. R. Knight, James Reynolds, E. L. Moorhouse, N. Crawford, John W. Porter, Il. B. Cock ; School Directors, Eli Leonard, Thomas Shuman ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1873 .- Burgess, S. A. Wood; Conneil, O. R. Knight, D. De- laney, Thomas Shuman, E. L. Moorehouse, James Rey- nolds, W. I .. Faull, I]. Leonard, Thomas Brawley ; Clerk, S. S. Fishburn.
1874 .- Burgess, John Buffington : Council, John Allison, II. B. Leonard, D. Delaney, G. B. Mason, J. R. Crawford, C. F. Ilurd, W. T. Faull, Thomas Brawley, Thomas Shuman ; Clerk, S. S. Fishburn.
1875 .- Burgess, J. Buffington ; Council, C. F. Ilurd, G. B. Mason, J. R. Crawford, W. Il. Miller, C. T. Brawley, W. L. Faull, Thomas Aubrey, N. Crawford; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1876 .- Burgess, Jobo Buffington : Couneil, II. B. Cock, Thomas Aubrey, G. B. Masou, N. Crawford, W. R. Miller, C. T. Ilurd, R. Crawford ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1877 .- Burgess, S. S. Fi-hburn; Council, William Cock, John Allison, W. L. Faull, N. Crawford, T. D. Houver, Il. B. Coek, R. Mitchell, HI. II. Hormel, W. II. Miller ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1 J. H. Bolger elected burgess to succeed O. C. Cronilow, deceased.
1878 .- Burgess, Solomon G. Krepps; Council, T. B. Wilgus, N. T. Terrell, Edward Hurd, II. B. Cock, William Cock, John Allison, Robert Mitchell, J. R. Crawford, Jumes Stewart ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1879 .- Burgess, Il. B. Leonard ; Council, James Martin, James Blair, J. R. Crawford, John Allison, Edward Hurd, N. Terrell, William Cock, John A. Ilubbs, R. Mitchell; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1880 .- Burgess, S. S. Fishburn ; Council, R. Crawford, Eli B. Cock, Edward Hurd, James Blair, James Martin, J. A. Scott, J. A. Ilubbs, John Allison, William Cock ; Clerk, A. G. Booth.
1881 .- Burgess, II. B. Leonard ; Council, J. A. Ilubbs, William Cuek, Joseph A. Scott, Eli B. Cock, William Ilerbertson, James Martin, James Blair, Miles Bulger, Jobn Allison.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Samuel Jones, Luzerne, appointed for Bridgeport township and borough, Feb. 17, 1817.
Robert Patterson, Luzerne, appointed for Bridgeport township and borough, Sept. 7, 1819.
Robert Rogers, Luzeine, appointed for Bridgeport township and borough, Feb. 19, 1822.
Moses Baird Potter, Luzerne, appointed for Bridgeport town- ship and borough, Dec. 8, 1823.
Joshua Vernon, Luzerne, appointed for Bridgeport township and borough, April 23, 1828.
Ilugh Gilmore, Luzerne, appointed for Bridgeport township and borough, Nov. 25, 1831.
Joshua Ilam, Luzerne, appointed for Bridgeport township and borough, Dec. 7, 1835.
George D. Stevenson, Luzerne, appointed for Bridgeport towo- ship and borough, Aug. 22, 1836.
Zephaniah Carter, Luzerne, appointed for Bridgeport township and borough, Jan. 16, 1838.
Elijah Crawford, Luzerne, appointed for Bridgeport township aud borough, Dec. 19, 1838.
Elected.
IS40. Albert G. Booth. James Truman.
1845. William C. Fishburn. Albert G. Booth.
IS55. John Wilgus.
William C. Fishburu. Albert G. Booth.
IS56. John Buffington.
1859. William C. Fishburn. John C. Rickey.
1879. James A. Cromlow.
1861. William Hoover. James L. Irwin.
1880. Samuel A. Wood.
ISSI. David M. Hart.
ASSESSORS.
1810. James Fitzsimmons. 1841. Samuel Johnson.
1842. William Iloover.
1843-44. James Fitzsimmons. 1845. John Buffington.
IS46. Thomas Duncan.
1847-48. Thomas Gregg.
1849-55. John Buffington.
I856-59. Alfred Offard.
IS60-62. John Buffington.
[863. N. G. Booth.
1864-66. Jobn Buffington. 1867. William G. Bane.
IS68-69. Joshua Norcross.
1870. George W. Springer. Joshua Noreruss.
1879. T. D. Iloover. 1880. Samuel S. Fishburn.
ISSI. S. S. Fishburn.
1862. A. G. Bootb. John Buffington.
1867. A. G. Booth.
Edward Brawley. William Iloover. Henry Delaney.
1872. A. G. Booth. S. A. Wood.
1877. Alfred G. Buoth.
471
BRIDGEPORT BOROUGH AND TOWNSHIP.
LIST OF TAXABLES OF BRIDGEPORT IN 1816.
James Allison.
John Haines. Robert Ilurrey. John Harrison.
Ebenczer Shiver.
Samuel Tolbert.
William Saint.
John Tap.
James St phens.
Persifer Vernon.
John Bentley.
Bridgeport Manufactur- ing Company, cotton- factory.
Margaret Harland.
Amnos Townsend.
Morris Truman, Sr.
John Williams.
Joseph Truman.
Enoch Watson.
Morris Truman, Jr.
Thomas Wraith.
Jacob Bowman.
Isaac Jacobs.
Jesse Townsend.
Daniel Worley.
John Bouvier.
Humphrey Johnsen.
John Troth.
Robert White.
Joshua Burgen.
Christopher Irvin.
Levi Burden.
John Krepps. Abraham Kimber.
Solomon G. Krepps.
Thomas King.
John Barry.
Timothy Kirk.
John Knight.
Sarah Briscoe.
Richard Ledwith.
Samuel Berry.
Joseph H. Laning. John Miller, Sr.
Caleb Hunt.
John Riley.
Israel Gregg.
Robert Rogers.
Goldsmith Chandlee.
John Miller, Jr.
Cephas Gregg.
Blacksmiths.
Joseph Crawford. David Cattel.
Adolph Merchant.
Solomon G. Krepps.
Asa Richards.
James Campbell.
John Morgan. Larkin Macklefresh. Ebenezer Major.
physician and brewer.
Hercules Young.
Reuben Chal ant. Rees Cadwallader.
Cooper Marsh's heirs. James Meek.
Jesse Townsend.
Hatters.
Robert Booth.
William Chappin. Jonas Cadwallader. James Chalfant.
Joseph May.
John Nelan.
George Carruthers.
Joseph Nelan.
John Cock.
Mary Nicholson's heirs.
Robert Clark.
Henry Nichols.
William Cock.
John Newburn.
Evan Chalfaot, Sr. Caleb Carr.
Joel Oxley.
George Dilhouse.
Jesse Ong. Vineent Owens, Sr.
John Cock.
Brick-maker. Robert White.
Henry G. Dales. Van Dunn. Peter Drum.
Vincent Owens, Jr. William Ogle.
Cotton-factory. Bridgeport Mfg. Co.
Cooper. John Morgan.
Robert Dilhouse.
Robert Patterson.
Shoemaker.
William Dodge.
Andrew Porter.
James Dunlap.
Thomas Price.
Arthur Donaldson.
Alexander Price.
Luke Enslow. Benjamin Fell. John W. Fell.
Mary Pray. Eliza Phelps.
Pipe-maker. Joshua Burgen.
Teachers.
Rebecen Fitzgerald. William Ferguson.
Samnel Parks.
John Riley.
John Nelan.
Robert Patterson.
Saw-mill. Jonah Cadwallader.
Israel Gregg.
Asa Richards.
Cephas Gregg.
Israel Randolph.
Mary Gosling. Thomas Grizzle.
Daniel Goodwin.
Pennell Garrett. Sammel Gillespie. Caleb Hunt.
Robert Rogers. John Rabe. James Richards. Thomas Stokely. Philip Shaffner. Thomas Stockdale.
James Springer,
William Heifer. Samuel Harmon. Samuel Hines.
Nicholas Swearer. William Stevenson.
Nathan Smith.
Samuel Jones and William B. Irish.
Robert Booth. Robert Barton.
Stacy Hunt. Solomon Hipsley. Samuel Jones. John Jacobs.
James Truman.
Barnet Williams.
Timothy Woods.
Joseph Thurston.
Hercules Young.
James Tomlinson.
George Yarnall's heirs.
Below is given a list of persons engaged in 1816 in the several occupations indicated, being taken from the assessment-roll of Bridgeport for that year :
Merchants. Potters.
Jesse Pennell, also
Samuel Hines.
Hannah Crider.
Enos Coldren.
Mary Rogers.
James Tomlinson.
Daniel Worley.
Luke Enslow.
Samuel Jones.
John Krepps, also saw- mill and ferry ( just Saddler. commeneed).
Printer. John Bouvier.
Carpenter. William Boyd.
Boat-builders.
Moulder.
William Chappin.
John W. Fell.
Francis Dobbs.
Jesse Pennell.
Steel-maker and factory. Morris Truman.
Wire-weavers.
Timothy Woods.
Morris Truman, Jr.
Cabinet-maker. Israel Randolph.
Joseph Truman. James Truman.
Seamstress. Mary Gorling.
William Perry.
Joel Painter.
Inn-keepers. Joseph H. Laning. Arthur Donaldson.
Foundry Company. John Fenny. Daniel French.
John Reynolds. Mary Rogers.
The following description of Bridgeport in 1821 is found in "The Navigator," a book published in Pittsburgh in that year, containing directions to pilots on the Monongahela and other rivers, with references to the towns and settlements located on their banks :
" Dunlap's Creek.
" Here has been a fish-dam; the chute is near the middle of the river. Immediately above the month
Caleb Woodward.
Robert Townsend.
Henry Troth.
William Boyd. James Breading. Ezekiel Baldwin.
Robert Baldwin.
Lydia Berry.
Jacob Malon.
Thomas Grizzle.
Joseph Moore.
George Newburn.
James Campbell.
Snowden Anchoss, Sr.
472
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
of this creek stands Bridgeport, a small village, con- nected with Brownsville by a chain-bridge over the creek. In it are several mercantile stores, an earthen pottery, tan-yard, a wire-weaver, card-maker, hatters, a boat-yard, and a market-house. It contains fifty-six dwellings. A glass-works, commenced in October, 1811, for the making of green glass."
MARKET-HOUSE.
A publie market-house was built in Bridgeport a number of years before the town became a borough. Soon after the incorporation, on the 8th of July, 1814, the Council directed that necessary repairs be made on the market-house. On the 22d of the same month an ordinance was passed declaring "that from and after the first day of the ninth month next a market shall be established and held in the Market-House of this Borough, on the fourth and seventh days of each week, and from daylight until nine o'clock A.M. on each of said days in the first, second, third, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth months, and from daylight until eight o'clock A.M. on each of said days in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth months." The stalls on the north side of the building were ordered rented to butchers, at a yearly rent of five dollars. On the 20th of September, 1814, the Council ordered the erection of an addition to the market-house eight feet in width, and extending the whole length of the building. "Twenty feet of Raek, for the convenience of Market people to hitch their horses," was also ordered to be built.
The old market-house was sold to D. H. Chalfant, July 4, 1829, for ten dollars, twelve and a half cents. On the 20th of October, 1831, there was presented to the Council a petition signed by seventy citizens, praying for the erection of a new market-house. On this petition a committee was appointed (October 22(1) to examine and report on a suitable site, also on the proper size and estimated expense of such mar- ket-house. This committee reported the public ground as the proper place, and recommended a building sixty-two feet six inches by thirty feet in dimensions. The report was adopted and a building committee appointed, who reported Nov. 24, 1831, that the stone- work was contracted for, and March 15, 1832, re- ported contract for lumber and lath let to Bracken & Rogers. The building was completed and occupied in the fall of 1832. This market-house is still (No- vember, 1SS1) standing, the main part of the build- ing being used as a town hall and council-room.
PUBLIC WAREHOUSE AND WHARF.
On the 26th of April, 1815, the Borough Council granted to Israel Gregg for the term of ten years a part of the publie ground, on which to ereet a frame building for a warehouse fifty by twenty-five feet on the ground, and one and a half stories high, to con- tain a fireplace, a chimney of briek, and a small counting- room, the building to become the property
of the borough at the end of ten years. It did so revert at the end of that time.
In 1826 a committee was appointed by the Council to repair the building and rent it. This was done, and on the 30th of December in that year it was rented to Benedict Kimber at $20 per annum from April 1, 1827. On the 1st of April, 1829, it was rented for one year to Charles MeCollester. In May, 1831, it was rented to Joshna Armstrong for one year at $20, but before the expiration of the time (in Feb- ruary, 1832) it was rented to Randolph Dearth for one year at 850. Jan. 16, 1837, Thomas Acklin rented the warehouse for two years at $40 per annum.
In 1844 the warehouse was sold, to be removed to give room for the building of a wharf. The contract for building the wharf was given to Henry Marshall, and it was erected in 1845, at a cost of $963.54. In August of that year the Council fixed the first rates of wharfage for steamboats, viz. : one dollar per trip, and fifty cents per day when laying over in a navigable stage of the river, and five dollars per month in win- ter. Keel-boats, twenty-five cents per landing or per day.
The wharf is still public property, under control of the borough.
FERRIES AND BRIDGE OVER THE MONONGAHELA.
The first ferry across the Monongahela River within the boundaries of Bridgeport was established by John Krepps before 1794, as the court records of Fayette County show that in that year a petition was pre- sented for "a road from Krepps' Ferry to the bridge at the mouth of Dunlap's Creek." The ferry landing on the Bridgeport side of the river was at or very near the foot of Spring Street (or Alley), northeast of the residence of Solomon G. Krepps. This ferry re- mained in operation until some time after the com- pletion of the Monongahela bridge, and towards the last of its existence a ferry-boat propelled by steam was used upon it.
The original owner of this ferry, John Krepps, al- ways lived on the west side of the Monongahela; but his sons, Samuel J. and Solomon G. Krepps, settled on the east side of the river, the latter being a resident of Bridgeport as early as 1813, when he built the brick house which is now the residence of his nephew (his brother Samuel's son), Solomon G. Krepps. He (Solomon G. the elder) was a merchant in Bridge- port in 1816, as is shown by the assessment-roll of that year. IIe lived in Bridgeport until his death, and was for many years one of the prominent citizens of the place. In 1832 he, with Zephaniah Carter, built the "Friendship Paper-Mill" in Bridgeport, but died soon after, and before the mill was in full and successful operation. He served one term in the State Legislature, and was several times elected bur- gess of Bridgeport ; also served as a member of the Borough Council. His brother, Samuel J. Krepps, settled in Bridgeport about 1823, where Eli Leonard
473
BRIDGEPORT BOROUGH AND TOWNSHIP.
now lives, and carried on the saw-mill at the Jonah Cadwallader dam on Dunlap's Creek, also operating the coal-banks on that property. In 1832 he built a residence in Brownsville (the same which is now kept as the " Monongahela House" by the widow of his son, John B. Krepps), and removed to it. In 1834 he built the " Valley Mills" on Dunlap's Creek, in Bridgeport. He, like his brother, Solomon G. Krepps, was a promi- nent and public-spirited citizen, and identified with the business interests of both boroughs for many years. About 1846 he removed to the old Krepps homestead, west of the Monongahela, and soon after- wards to the Neal Gillespie farm, where he died March 6, 1866. In 1854 he was elected to the Legis- lature from Washington County.
The other children of the old ferry-owner, John Krepps, were John, who lived and died in West Brownsville; Christian, who went West, and whose subsequent history is unknown ; and Helen, who be- came the wife of Judge Eli Miller, of Mount Vernon, Ohio.
The Gillespie ferry, which was first established to cross the river from Brownsville, was moved up from there in or about 1820, and located near the foot of Bridge Street in Bridgeport. This was kept in opera- tion till after the opening of the Monongahela bridge. On the 22d of February, 1825, application was made to the Council of Bridgeport for the privilege of a ferry landing between the east side of Bank Street and the west side of the public lot for the term of five years, and on the 3d of March the ground was rented for that period at five dollars per year to Moses Dur- nel, concerning whose occupancy no further informa- tion has been obtained.
There was no communication by bridge across the Monongahela River at Bridgeport until the year 1833, all traffic and travel across the stream at this point being accommodated by the ferries up to that time. More than twenty years earlier, however, the project of bridging the river at some point near the mouth of Dunlap's Creek was agitated by some of the most prominent men of the vicinity on both sides of the river. In 1810 an act was passed (approved March 20th in that year) "to authorize the Governor to in- corporate a company for erecting a bridge over the Monongahela River at or near where the road leading rom Brownsville to the town of Washington crosses he same," thus authorizing the location of the bridge it Brownsville or Bridgeport as might be decided on. The act designated and appointed "Neal Gillespie, Tr., Parker Campbell and Thomas Acheson, of the county of Washington, Jacob Bowman, Thomas Jason, Charles Shaffner, Samuel Jackson, David Ewing, and Michael Sowers, of the county of Fay- tte," commissioners to receive subscriptions to the tock of the company to be formed. It was provided nd required by the act that the bridge should be so
constructed as not to obstruct navigation (except so far as might be done by the erection of the two abutments and three piers in the river), "or in any manner to obstruct the passage over the usual fording- place, which shall at all times be open as heretofore to persons desirous of passing through the same." The company was of course authorized to collect tolls. The bridge to be commenced in three years, and finished in seven years from the passage of the act, under penalty of forfeiture of rights and fran- chises. References to the probable early commence- ment and completion of the bridge are found in the newspapers of that time, but no work was ever actu- ally done on it, nor does it appear that the bridge site was definitely determined on, or the necessary amount of stock subscribed.
On the 16th of March, 1830, the Monongahela Bridge Company was incorporated, with a capital of $44,000. The corporators were George Hogg, James L. Bowman, Valentine Giesey, and Robert Clarke, of Fayette County, Daniel Moore, Jesse Kenworthy, Ephraim L. Blaine, John Kingland, and Thomas Me- Kennan, of Washington County. By the terms of the incorporation William Davidson, George Craft, Isaac Meason, and Andrew Oliphant, of Fayette County, and John Park, Jr., William Berry, and John Watson, of Washington County, were appointed commissioners to locate the site of the bridge. These men, taking into consideration the great amount of travel and traf- fie then coming to the river over the National road, fixed the location at the point where that road strikes the river in Bridgeport, and where the bridge now spans the stream.
Books were opened for subscriptions to the stock in July, 1830, and the requisite amount was soon ob- tained. The contract for building was awarded to Messrs. Le Baron & De Mond, at $32,000, with $5000 additional for the approaches. They commenced work in the fall of 1831, and on the 23d of November received the first payment of $500 on the contract. Apparently the work was not pushed very vigorously, for the bridge was not completed until 1833, the first tolls being received on the 14th of October in that year.
The bridge is a covered structure of wood, six hun- dred and thirty feet in length, in three spans, stand- ing on two piers in the river between the abutments. For almost half a century it has stood firm against the ice and the numerous great floods in the Monon- gahela, the most remarkable of which was, perhaps, that which reached its most dangerous point on the 6th of April, 1852.1 The bridge has always been a very profitable investment to the stockholders, but more particularly so in the palmy days of the National road, before the railways had diverted its travel and traffic into other channels.
1 This fact, with many others noted in these pages, was obtained from the diary of that veteran citizen of Bridgeport and Brownsville, Robert Rogers.
474
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
The first officers of the company were George Hogg, president; Thomas McKennan, secretary ; James L. Bowman, treasurer. Mr. Hogg was succeeded in the presidency by James L. Bowman, whose successor is George E. Hogg. The following-named gentlemen are the present (1881) officers : Managers, George E. Hogg (president), J. W. Jeffries, Capt. Adam Jacobs, Eli J. Bailey, N. B. Bowman, Joseph T. Rogers, George W. Lenhart; Secretary and Treasurer, William Ledwith.
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