USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 112
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188
In the month of December, 1797, all that part of Bullskin lying east of the crest of Chestnut Ridge was formed into the township of Salt Liek ; and in October, 1822, the southern part of the remaining township was carved off to constitute the township of Connells- ville. A motion for such a purpose was made as early as Angust, 1816, when the Court of Quarter Sessions was petitioned to form such a township, and Joseph Torrance, William Hamilton, and James Paull were appointed to inquire into the propriety of allowing
1 Now Somerset County.
492
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
the request. Had it been granted the newly-made township would have been styled the "Borough of Connellsville." With the idea of division in mind the court was again petitioned in March, 1822, when an order was issued to Isaac Meason, Moses Vance, and Thomas Boyd to act as commissioners to view the proposed township. On the 4th of June, 1822, their report was made and approved by the court, although not fully confirmed until Oct. 31, 1822, when Con- nellsville township was erected.
The boundary line between Tyrone and Bullskin being in dispute, the court was petitioned, January, 1831, to appoint commissioners to define the same, and their report, made March 9, 1831, was approved and confirmed in October of the same year. This re- port sets forth that " William Davidson, John Fuller, and Andrew Dempsey, the persons appointed by an order of this court at the Jannary sessions to view the township line between Bullskin and Tyrone town- ships, report the following as the line between the points aforesaid, viz. : Beginning at the Mennonite meeting-house, and running thence by the several courses and distances of a public road, located from said meeting-house to the Connellsville and Pitts- burgh road, until it intersects the Connellsville town- ship line, and thence along said line to the Broad Ford Run aforesaid, which report being read in the manner and at the time prescribed by law, the court approves and confirms the same."
At later periods slight modifications in the boundary lines of the township were made, yet in essential fea- tures Bullskin remains the same as when the township of Connellsville was taken off, containing only a farm or two less than at that time.
It is impossible to give a complete list of the officers of the original township of Bullskin, the records of that period being very meagrely kept, and in some instances wholly missing, but from various sources it has been ascertained that William Boyd, John Mea- son, and George Lamb were among the first justices of the peace. In 1803 the township was embraced within the limits of Justice District No. 10, " Begin- ning at the mouth of Jacob's Creek, thence up said creek to Cherry's mill, by the Westmoreland County line to the top of Chestnut Ridge, thence by the top of said ridge to Youghiogheny River, thence down said river to the mouth of Jacob's Creek, the place of beginning, containing four hundred and fifty-two taxables." At this time the justices were " William Boyd, living near the centre of the township; John Meason, near one side ; Matthew Gault, near one sice ; and George Mathews, near one side." In 1814, An- drew Robertson was a justice, and later the township, in connection with Tyrone and Connellsville, consti- tuted District No. 11, and the justices were Abraham Pershing, Henry Gebhart, Henry W. Lewis, and Matthew Wray. After 1839 the names of the justices appear in the list below. Among other early officers of Bullskin were:
-
1784 .- Nathan Young, constable; Heory White and Patrick
Murphy, supervisors of highways; David Lindsay and Abraham Gardner, overseers of the poor.
1785 .- John White, constable.
1786 .- William McKee, constable; Henry White and William Boyd, road supervisors.
1787 .- Lewis Flemming, constable; Providcace Mount and Adam Hatfield, overscers of the poor; Cornelius Woodruff and William Robison, supervisors of roads.
1788 .- Isaac White, constable.
1789 .- Joseph Jarvis, constable ; Henry White and Adam Hat- field, overseers of the poor : Zachariah Connell and Wil- liam Robison, supervisors of roads.
1790 .- Edward Doyle, constable : William Robison and Henry White, overseers of the poor ; Adam Hatfield and George Batchelor, supervisors of roads.
1791 .- John Cathcart (or Kithcarl), constable; Craft Gost and Henry White, overseers of the poor; Andrew Trapp and John Rist, supervisors of roads.
1792 .- John Cathcart, constable; Henry White and Cornelius Woodruff, overseers of the poor; George Poe and Caleb Mount, supervisors of roads.
1793 .- John Cathcart, constable: Henry White and Cornelius Woodruff, overseers of the poor ; David Bloom and Jacob Shallenbarger, supervisors of roads.
1794 .- David Shallenbarger, constable ; Henry White and Joseph Rhodes, overseers of the poor ; Benjamin Davis and John White, supervisors of roads.
1795 .- William Potter, constable ; Henry White and Joseph Robison, overseers of the poor ; Peter Newmyer and Joseph Gerron, supervisors of bighways.
1796 .- John Clary, constable ; Henry White and John Robison, overseers of the poor ; John Stouffer and Francis Marietta, supervisors of highways.
1797 .- John Clary, constable; Ilenry White and Samuel Trevor, overseers of the poor; John Rice and George Batchelor, supervisors of roads.
1798 .- Peter David, constable.
1799-1800 .- John Latta, constable; Samnel Trevor and Henry White, overseers of the poor ; John Barnhart and Joseph Cathcart, supervisors of roads.
1801 .- Jobn Gibson, constable; Benjamin Wells and John Latta. overscers of the poor: Samuel Trevor and Adam Crossland, supervisors of roads.
1802 .- William McCormick, constable; Abraham Shallenbarger and Casper Etling, supervisors of roads; Anthony Ban- ning, Win. Mifford, Caleb Mount, and John White, auditors. 1803-7 .- Jacob Shallenbarger, Henry Smith, Jacob Balsey, and Mathew Duncan, constables ; James Blackstone, Johu Bernhart, William McCormick, and Stewart H. Whitehill, anditors.
1808-12 .- Robert Huey, Mathew Duncan, and Jacob Shank, constables. From 1812 until 1840 no satisfactory list of officers has been obtainable. Since the last-named period the officials have been as follows :
1840 .- Justices, Abraham Pershing, Jonathan Newmeyer ; Con- stable, John F. Shupc ; Assessur, Benjamin Shallenbarger ; Auditor, David Shallenbarger.
1841 .- Constable, George Adams; Assessor, Jeremiah Abrams ; Auditor, David Pollen.
1842 .- Constable, Richard Crossland ; Assessor, Joseph Beidler ; Auditor, Abraham Pershing.
1843 .- Constable, Washington Kelley ; Assessor, William Boyd ; Auditor, Nathaniel Ilurst.
1844 .- Constable, Washington Kelley ; Assessor, John B. Troxell; Auditor, John Miner.
493
BULLSKIN TOWNSHIP.
1845 .- Justices, Abraham Pershing, John Miner ; Constable, Paul Kelley ; Assessor, David Rice; Auditor, John Shupe. 1846 .- Coostable, Joseph A. Marietta ; Assessor, Francis An- drews ; Auditor, IFenry D. Overholt.
1847 .- Constable, Joseph A. Marietta; Assessor, Joseph Stauf- fer; Auditor, John Andrews.
1848 .- Constable, Samuel Johnston; Assessor, Joonthan Gar- ver ; Auditor, Wmn. Boyd.
1849 .- Coostable, Thomas Hoke: Assessor, Christopher R. Stonecker; Auditor, Samuel D. Detweiler.
1850 .- Justices, John Miner, Abraham Pershing; Constable, Thomas Hoke; Assessor, Martin Bechtold; Auditor, John II. Andrews.
1851 .- Constable, Martin Bechtold; Assessor, Thomas Hoke; Auditor, John II. Stoner.
1852 .- Constable, Martin Bechtold ; Assessor, Conrad Bowers ; Auditor, Jobn Miner.
1853 .- Constable, Martin Bechtold; Assessor, Joseph A. Ma- ricetta; Auditor, A. P. Lobr.
1854 .- Constable, Martin Bechtold ; Assessor, William Moody ; Auditor, Rice Boyd.
1855 .- Justice, Christopher R. Stonecker ; Constable, Jonathan Cable ; Assessor, Rice Boyd ; Auditor, Jacob Overholt.
1856 .- Constable, John S. Buttermore ; Assessor, Jobn W. Stoner ; Auditor, Aaron Conghenour.
1857 .- Constable, Martin Bechtold; Assessor, Abraham Per- shing; Auditor, Joseph Andrews.
1858 .- Constable, Melchor Miller ; Assessor, Jacob H. Echard ; Auditor, Jacob Mathias.
1859 .- Constable, Amzi Stauffer; Assessor, Martin Bechtold ; Auditor, Wm. Boyd.
1860 .- Constable, John W. Stauffer; Assessor, Aaron Coughe- pour ; Auditor, Horatio L. Sparks.
1861 .- Constable, A. B. Halfhill; Assessor, Solomon Kiefer; Auditor, John F. Stoner.
1862 .- Constable, A. B. Halfhill ; Assessor, George Etling ; Auditor, Jacob Crapp.
1863 .- Constable, Andrew S. Ilalfhill ; Assessor, Melchor Mil- ler ; Auditor, Thomas Hoke.
1864 .- Constable, Campbell Kelley ; Assessor, Rice Boyd; Auditor, Daniel Pershing.
1865 .- Justices, Abraham Pershing and John Miner; Consta- ble, Andrew Halfhill ; Assessor, Heory Huebenthal ; Audi- tor, Jacob J. Shank.
1866 .- Justice, David B. Glassburner; Constable, M. B. Caudy ; Assessor, Jonathan Stauffer; Auditor, Daniel F. Shupe. 1867 .- Constable, M. B. Caudy ; Assessor, Thomas S. Butter- more ; Auditor, A. II. Sherrick.
1868 .- Constable, Washington Brothers; Assessor, David Work- man ; Auditor, John Pershing.
1869 .- Constable, Elias Swink ; Assessor, Daniel II. Pershing ; Auditor, Abraham H. Iloke.
1869, October .- Justice, John Miner; Constable, Elias Swink ; Anditor, David F. Stoner.
1870 .- Constable, John S. Stillwagon ; Assessor, David Work- man ; Auditor, Daniel H. Pershing.
1872 .- Constable, John S. Stillwagon; Assessor, Jacob K. Shank; Auditor, Jacob J. Stonecker.
1873 .- Constable, James M. Wilson ; Assessor, H. D. Rice ; Auditor, Richard Boyd.
1874 .- Constable, John S. Stillwagon ; Assessor, Aaron Coughe- nour; Auditor, A. Reece.
1875 .- Justice, John Miner; Constable, John S. Detweiler ; Assessor, Robert Wilson ; Auditor, John F. Stoner.
1876 .- Justice, Andrew P. Logan; Constable, John S. Det- weiler; Assessor, Levi Brothers; Auditor, Amzi Miner.
1877 .- Constable, Thomas IToke; Auditor, II. ITuebenthall.
1878 .- Justice, James Echard ; Constable, Thomas lloke; As- sessor, Andrew llalf hill; Auditor, John Stillwagon.
1879 .- Constable, James Caldwell ; Assessor, Solomon Keffer ; Auditor, Daniel II. Pershing.
1880 .- Constable, James Caldwell; Assessor, Lewis Brothers ; Auditor, Jacob J. Stoneeker.
1881 .- Justice, A. P. Logan ; Constable, John Wright ; As- sessor, Jacob Echard ; Anditor, James Caldwell; Road Su- pervisors, P. B. Ragan, J. Wiltront, M. Beehitel, and W. P. Kelley.
In 1847 the people of Bullskin were asked to vote on the liquor question, and ninety-nine voters de- clared themselves in favor of permitting its sale in the township, but thirteen voters being opposed. But in 1873 a contrary sentiment was shown, only thirty- two voting in favor of license, while one hundred and thirty expressed themselves opposed to the sale of liquor in any form.
The celebrated Braddock road runs along the southwestern bounds of the township, and in early times was the highway to the Yonghiogheny and the older settlements to the Northwest. Soon other roads were located, and in 1784 the court was petitioned for a road from Cherry's mill to Uniontown. Joseph Torrance, John Mintor, Providence Mounts, Adam Hatfield, Samuel McLean, and James Rankin were appointed viewers. The following year the road from Col. Cook's landing to Cherry's mill was ordered. The road from James Rankin's to Casper Etling's was reported on June, 1797, the width to be thirty- three feet. The road from Alexander Long's planta- tion to White's Mill was reported on the same court, the width to be eighteen feet.
In March, 1786, Zachariah Connell petitioned for a road "from Uniontown to Jones' road, on the Laurel Hill, between Cherry's and Jones' mills, and Uriah Springer, Providence Mounts, Henry Schlater, Samnel Work, Samuel McClean, and William McKee appointed viewers." The June sessions decreed that it be cut, cleared, and bridged, thirty feet wide.
The road from the Bedford County line to the Westmoreland line was ordered in September, 1789, to be opened, thirty-three feet wide. William Rob- ertson, William Kern, Benjamin Whaley, Jacob Strickler, and Isaac White were the viewers.
In April, 1809, the road from Casper Etling by John Fluck's mill, to the Mount Vernon Furnace was ordered, with Casper Etling, James Francis, James Rogers, Jonathan Mayberry, William Boyd, and Daniel Rogers as viewers.
The road from Jacob Thorpe's to the road from Lobengier's Mill to Connellsville was ordered in De- cember, 1804, with Peter Newmeyer, John Rice, John Latta, William Robertson, Joseph Kithcart, and John Miner as viewers.
Many other roads were located about this period, but no further account of them can here be given. In general the highways of the township have been
32
494
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
well ordered, and the roads are usually quite passable, the streams being well bridged. Since 1871 the town- ship has had railway communication. That year the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad was built through its territory, opening up its fine coal-fields and giving speedy access to Pittsburgh and the Eastern cities. The main line in Bullskin is about five miles, and sidings and flag-stations have been provided at Penns- ville and Moyer's. Running up the Green Lick Val- ley is a narrow-gauge railway two and a half miles long, running from Scottdale to the ore hills along Chestnut Ridge, which has been in operation several years.
GENERAL INDUSTRIES.
The streams of Bullskin yielding constant power have long been the motors for numerous mills, fac- tories, and shops. Beginning with the lower power on Jacob's Creek, David Hough built a mill where is now Bridgeport as early as 1804, erecting the founda- tion on which now stands Snyder's Mill. Previously a saw-mill had been operated several hundred yards below by a man named Jarvis, a long raceway leading from a small dam to the mill. Robert McCall was the second owner of the power, and from him it passed in order to Jacob Tinstman and Jacob Welshouse, Isaac Shupe being a partner of the latter a short time. In 1836 the grist-mill was repaired by D. P. Patterson for the latter firm, but fourteen years later the property passed into the hands of the present owner, William Snyder, who put up the mill now in operation in 1864. It is a frame, thirty-six by forty- eight fect, three and a half stories high, and is sup- plied with a hydraulic water-engine invented by William Snyder, which greatly economizes the water supply, which can be relied upon eight months per year. The remainder of the time steam is the motor. On the Westmoreland side below the same dam is a saw-mill, operated by William Snyder, and formerly distilleries were here carried on by David Hough, and on the Bullskin side by Jacob Welshouse. The latter building is yet standing near the mill.
Near the residence of Daniel F. Shupe, John and Jacob Shupe had a small saw-mill and a trip-bam- mer for doing small forge-work about 1810. The power was abandoned, and in 1831 the present power was improved by John Shupe, the grist-mill also being erected that year. It had originally three run of stones, but at present has but two. From John Shupe the property passed into the hands of his son George, thence to the latter's son, Albert, who sold to the present owner, David G. Anderson. Here is also a circular-saw mill of good capacity, and both mills can be operated by steam in case of the failure of water.
Several miles above is the oldest water-power on Jacob's Creek within Bullskin. It was improved by Ralph Cherry in the time of the Revolution, and had a wide reputation, although but a rude mill. The Cherry interests became the property of John Loben-
gier, about the beginning of the present century, and the stone mill now standing in Westmoreland County was built by him about eighty years ago, Thomas Hoke performing the mason-work. Subsequently the mill was owned by Jacob Lobengier and his son Jacob, but is at present the property of Peter Keim's heirs. Below this mill, Jacob Lobengier has a saw- mill in Bullskin, and a tannery on the Westmoreland County side. The latter's residence was formerly in Bullskin, but a resurvey has placed it out of the county.
Near the mouth of Green Lick Run, John B. Troxel had a saw-mill sixty years, ago, and the frame-work of an old mill yet stands there. Farther up on the same stream, on the present Samuel Freed place, Jacob Eshelman had a small grist-mill, and before 1823 an oil-mill and carding machinery. Subse- quently George Yoder made linseed oil at this place. Upon the removal of the machinery a fulling-mill was established by Levi Haigh. He also made cloths, spinning and dyeing his wool as well as weay- ing it. The building last contained machinery for hulling clover. The power has long since been aban- doned, but a part of the old race remains to indicate the spot where so much activity was displayed years ago. After Haigh left this building he established himself on the upper waters of Green Lick, where he carried on a woolen-factory, but that interest declin- ing, he supplied machinery for making matched shin- gles. Between these two points Nathan Wright had a fulling-mill before 1823, but the place has long since been given over to other uses. Still farther down the stream Jacob Stauffer built a saw-mill, which has been owned and operated by Henry S. Stauffer, and is at present the property of Jonathan Stauffer. Yet lower down the stream a saw-mill has been operated the past fifty years by the Freed family, but is at this time ( April, 1881) the property of W. Merritt. In the same neighborhood is a tannery, which was established more than a score of years ago by H. L. Sparks, and which, after having many owners, is now operated by John Gance. The pro- duct is limited, and consists of nnfinished leather. Formerly a currier was employed, and splendid leather produced.
On Spruce Run the Flack family had mills very early, soon after 1800, and afterwards a carding- machine and fulling-mill was operated by the power. The property passed into the hands of Jacob Sweit- zer, but its use for manufacturing purposes had long since been discontinued, although the building yet remains.
Near the head-waters of Mounts' Creek, D. H. Pershing has in successful operation a good saw-mill, which has cut up a large quantity of the mountain timber in that locality. Down the same stream, Joseph Kithcart built saw- and grist-mills about 1790, the latter being a log structure. The present mills . were built by Joseph Andrews abont 1853. It is a
SOISSON & KILPATRICK'S FIRE-BRICK MANUFACTORY, MOYER'S STATION, S. W. P. R. R., FAYETTE CO., PA.
495
BULLSKIN TOWNSHIP.
frame of good proportions, and the mills have both water and steam as motors. Andrews was succeeded by Emanuel Mason; thence by Isaiah Coughenour ; thence by C. A. Ebersole, and since October, 1880, the mills have been owned and operated by James Alexander Long. There are two runs of stones, and the saw-mill has a fair capacity. At these mills Solomon E. Swink opened a general store in Jan- uary, 1881. John Stonecker had a pottery here about 1820, which was carried on about a dozen years.
More than a mile farther down the stream Adam Hatfield made a claim in 1780, receiving a patent for the land in 1795. That year he sold it to John Shank, who built mills there, which were operated by him until 1816, when Adam Stonecker became the owner; thence, in 1824, Samuel Trevor; thence, in 1826, Henry Detweiler; and since 1847 Samuel Detweiler has operated the mills. The second mill .on the site was put up by Henry Detweiler in 1834, and stood until it was consumed by fire, Sept. 26, 1864. The present mill was gotten in operation in November, 1865, by Samuel Detweiler. It is a frame, 40 by 50 feet, four stories high, and the motor is both water and steam, the combined power being equal to thirty horses. Steam was supplied in 1851. The mill has three runs of stones and modern machinery, being equal in its appointments to any mill in the county. The present saw-mill was built in 1855.
On the John Miner place was formerly a distillery, carried on by that family, and lately a steam saw- mill, which has been removed.
Where is now Boyd's saw-mill Christian Reist had a saw-mill in the early settlement of the country, and later another mill was operated there by Thomas Boyd. The present mill is owned by Wm. Boyd, who also had a shingle-mill before 1857. The race- way is 80 rods long, and there is a tradition that it was dug for fifty cents per rod, much of the excava- tion being solid rocks. On Butler Run, George Hat- field and others had smnall saw-mills, which have been discontinued.
On White's Run, Henry White had saw- and grist- mills soon after the settlement of the township, small and rude at first, but giving place to better mills in time, which had many owners. In the order of pos- session were Boyd & Davidson, Thomas and Joseph Boyd, Thomas R. Davidson, Dr. James C. Cummings, and, later, the heirs of T. R. Davidson. For the past four years the property has belonged to Nathan Gil- more. The present mill was built about thirty years ago. It is a fine building and has good machinery, but the location is unfavorable for a successful milling business. The saw-mill is more successfully operated.
A number of small tanneries have been carried on in Bullskin, and several of greater proportions. In 1838, Levi Bradford built a good tannery at the Yel- low Stone Springs, which had a capacity for working up three thousand hides per year. After a few years steam was supplied, and although the tannery has
been discontinued a score of years, the boiler was not removed until recently. Fayette Tannery was oper- ated nineteen years by Levi Bradford, and several years more by John Taylor.
At Pennsville, Benjamin Shallenbarger had a tan- nery about 1812, the yard being just above the barn of Jacob J. Stonecker. Samuel Newmeyer carried ou the business next. Tanning was also carried ou by the Shallenbargers on the A. H. Sherrick farm ; but some time about 1852 they put up a good tannery in the western part of Pennsville, having a yard under roof which contained thirty vats. Steam-power was used, and a large amount of business was done by the several firms,-the Shallenbarger Brothers, Levi Brad- ford, Boyd & Overholt, and Boyd, Myers & Co. The latter firm owned the tannery when it ceased to operate, about 1873, Eli McClellan being the man- ager.
The abundance of fire-clay has made the manufac- ture of brick a profitable industry in the township, and several works have lately been established. The "Southwest Fire-Briek Works" were built at Moyer Station in 1871, by Sysson, Kilpatrick & Co., and are yet operated by that firm. Employment is given to seventeen hands, under the management of Anthony Sourd. The works are well appointed, embracing four ovens, having a capacity of eight thousand fire- brick (for lining coke-ovens) per day, which find a ready market in the county.
On the Narrow-Gauge Railroad at Green Lick, John W. Kinnear began the manufacture of fire- brick in the summer of 1880, and after a successful season the works were destroyed by fire, March 29, 1881. The moulding-room was thirty-five by eighty feet, with large engine-house attached. Four thou- sand briek per day were made. It is the purpose of the proprietor to rebuild the works.
The manufacture of iron constituted an important industry in Bullskin half a century ago. Along the base of Chestnut Ridge an excellent quality of ore is found, which is easily fluxed, producing a metal which is highly esteemed. Near one of these mineral de- posits, on Mounts' Creek, north of the centre of the township, "the Mount Vernon Furnace" was built about 1807 or 1808, by Isaac Meason, for his son Isaac, who operated it a number of years. It had but a small stack, yet was so well managed that in all about sixty men were employed. Before the furnace went out of blast, in 1830, the second growth of timber was cut over for the purpose of making the charcoal neces- sary to carry it on. Considerable metal was cast into kettles and other moulded work at the furnace, the products being carried to Connellsville for shipment. Among the managers were Jonathan Mayberry and a young man named Taylor. The furnace was last operated by David B. Long, and by him blown out of blast. Nothing but the stack, a solid piece of ma- sonry, remains to show the location, on land which
496
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
is now the property of George Hogg. Several years after the furnace was abandoned, John Anderson worked over a part of the cinders, having a small stamping-machine for this purpose, his enterprise being attended with considerable profit. In the neighborhood of the old furnace ore is now mined by the Charlotte Furnace Company of Scottdale, the prodnets of the mines being carried away by their narrow-gauge railway, which has its eastern terminus in these hills. Formerly the furnace-owners had mills to cut their own lumber and to grind the feed for their animals, but the powers in use have long since been abandoned. In the southern part of the township, on White's Run, the "Findley Furnace" was erected in 1818. It was more widely known by the name of Breakneck, a term which was applied to it while being built on account of an accident which one of the workmen sustained, falling from the stack at the risk of bodily injury, which caused him to say "that it was a regular breakneck affair." The enter- prise was begun by Col. William L. Miller, but before the furnace was completed Messrs. Rogers and Paull became interested parties, although Col. Miller was the nominal owner and manager. Later the furnace was carried on by John Boyd and William Davidson as lessees, and last by David B. Long, who blew it out of blast in the fall of 1837. The furnace had a capa- city of one hundred tons per month, but the product usually did not exceed seventy tons. The water snp- ply failing, steam was supplied several years before the furnace was discontinued. In the foundry de- partment from four to six moulders were employed. Among the workmen at both of the foregoing fur- naces was George Adams, now one of the most aged citizens of Bullskin.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.