History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 113

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 113

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Sherrick. L. M. Smith is the yard boss, and Alex- ander Taylor the pit boss. These works now embrace seventy ovens, and are owned and operated by A. O. Tinstman & Co.

The Eldorado Coke-Works at Moyer's antedate those at Pennsville by abont one year. In 1871, John Moyer, of Mount Pleasant, secured the coal privilege of a tract of land belonging to the Beidler farm, and engaged to ereet forty ovens adjoining the railroad- track, having a sub-lease from Brunot & Detweiler. After the coke-works were operated several years they became the property of Brunot & Detweiler, who leased them to W. F. Zuck and Joseph B. Henry, who were the operators till Angnst, 1880, when the property passed into possession of the Cleveland Roll- ing Mill Company. To the original forty ovens forty more had been added by Zuck & Henry, and one hundred and forty-five more have since been added by W. J. Rainey & Co., the present owners. The company controls the coal of three hundred and four acres, owning the entire privileges of one hun- dred and fifty acres thereof, and having a large capital at command, will prosecute the work till the enter- prise at this point will be one of the most important in the county. In April, 1881, one hundred and twenty-five men were employed under the superin- tendence of Frank R. Bradford. The yard boss was J. W. Brooks, and the mines were carried on under the direc ion of J. B. Henry. The coal is superior for coking, and lies in a vein nine feet in thickness. On the 1st of March, 1881, a new shaft was sunk, from which will be drawn the future supplies of the works. In addition to the attendant buildings at the cokery, the company carries on a store and owns seventy-five neat residences which are occupied by the workmen.

At Moyer's is a flag-station of the Southwest Penn- sylvania Railroad, and a post-office, which was estab- lished Dec. 20, 1880, with John H. McAffee post- master. It is kept in the store of David Lontz, and two mails per day are provided. The mercantile bus- iness at that point was established in the spring of 1880 by Zuck & Henry, passing from them to Lontz in the fall of the same year.

The mining of coal and manufacture of coke at present constitutes the chief interest in the develop- ment of the minerals in Bullskin. For some years the "Pennsville Mines" property has been the most productive. It was owned by A. H. Sherrick, and em- braces all the privileges of one hundred and sixty-five acres of land. Here coal was mined in a small way fifty years ago by the Shallenbargers and others, but it was not until 1872 that the product of the mines was converted into coke. In that year Mr. Sherrick PENNSVILLE. began the construction of his coke-works, grading a This hamlet, the oldest in Bullskin township, is on the Mount Pleasant road, four miles from Connells- ville, and about a mile east from the Tyrone line. It is a flag-station on the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad, contains a very fine school edifice, a church, several stores, and about two dozen honses. The lots were sold off from the Cochrane and Strickler farms by George Newmeyer and W. P. Kelley, among the first purchasers being Henry Shallenbarger and Bushrod Washington, both putting up houses about 1848 in the vicinity of the Disciples' meeting-house. The Pennsville post-office was established soon after, yard about a quarter of a mile from the line of the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad. Seventy ovens were built, and most of them lighted in the summer of 1873. Nearly all of these have been kept in fire since that time, the daily product being from seven to nine cars of forty-eight-hour coke. The shaft in the mine has been sunk to the depth of one-third of a mile, and the coal is taken from a nine-foot vein, which is underlaid by a fine stratum of limestone. In connection with the mines are several shops and seven dwellings. The hands employed number fifty, and are under the personal superintendence of A. H. . and was first kept by David Shallenbarger. Thence

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came, as other postmasters, John J. Hurst, J. M. Kurtz, Loyd Shallenbarger. Rice Boyd, I. F. Miller, for one and a half years, and since Jan. 1, 1880, Dr. Wm. Chalfant. The office has two mails per day. The first store at Pennsville was kept by John S. Strickler in the long building opposite the present Miller stand. This was ocenpied by many firms, among others by Christopher Stonecker, David Shal- lenbarger, John J. Hurst, Franks & Overholt, Loyd Shallenbarger, John MeAdams, Joseph Newcomer, Rice Boyd, Boyd & Overholt, Livingood & Miller, and L. F. Miller. In 1872 the latter occupied his present business house, where, in April, 1881, he associated with A. H. Sherrick, under the firm-name of Miller & Sherrick. Other merchants in the place have been Christian Pool, Hosack & Bougher, Aus- tin and John Campbell, and George Newmeyer, the latter in the small brick building on the present Stoner farm.

In former days Pennsville had several large me- chanie shops, and since 1852 Win. C. Lyon has car- ried on wagon-making at this place. From 1850 to 1853 fanning-mills were here made by David Shallen- barger and George Newmeyer & Co. From four to eight men were employed in the shops, and three or four men were kept engaged peddling the mills throughout the country.

Alexander Frazer had the first public-house, keep- ing it in the house now occupied by his widow, and serving as landlord eight years, from 1850 till 1858. At that time a line of stages ran through the place, and the office was at the Frazer tavern. Near the same time Stephen MeIntyre had an inn where is now the residence of Eli Mcclellan, and when he retired the house was kept by Samuel and John Eicher, the last to keep a tavern at Pennsville, which has not had a public-house for a score of years. At the last-named place a stage-office was also kept. In the period of the great Western immigration, from 1785 to 1812, many taverns were kept in Bullskin, but as these were more of the nature of traveler's inns, and the doors of nearly every house on the principal thoroughfares were open to accommodate the home- seekers, no account of them is taken here.

Country stores have been kept at varions points in Bullskin. At Detweiler's and Long's Mills, north of Pennsville, a store was opened in 1865 by John T. Stauffer for the sale of dry-goods. It was sold to William Lane, who changed it to a grocery-store, and as such it has been continued the past fourteen years by Nancy Stillwagon. The village of Bridge- port, on Jacob's Creek, is partly in Bullskin, but all the business interests are in Westmoreland County.

Dr. Apollos Lohr was probably the first regular physician to locate in Bullskin. He opened an office at Pennsville in 1850, and had as a contemporary a short time his brother, Dr. James Lohr. Both re- moved to Ohio. Before they left Dr. John Lutz came as a practitioner, and continued until his death,

about twenty years ago. Next came Dr. W. D. Riggs, who was succeeded, in April, 1867, by the present physician, Dr. W. B. Chalfant, who came to Penns- ville from Brownsville. Ile graduated at the Cleve- land Medical College in 1859. He enjoys the repu- tation of being a successful practitioner.

EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS.

One of the first schools in the township was taught in a building near the Baptist Church. It was simply a log cabin, but the school was well attended, and for those times was considered very good. Pupils were in attendance from the Stonecker, Shank, New- meyer, Stockman, Latta, Shallenbarger, Highlands, Myers, Smutz, Garver, and other families. In the northern part of the township the settlers first sent their children to Westmoreland County. One of the first schools in what is known as Mud District was taught by Samuel Shupe, and later by George A. Hollingsworth. The Lattas, Freeds, Shafers, Robert- sons, and others were among the first attendants.

In what is known as the Gault District was one of the pioneer school buildings, where David Lindsay taught a number of years. He was a teacher the greater part of his life, his death occurring some time about 1840. Mrs. Lindsay yet lives, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. Kelley, at the age of eighty years. Her recollections of carly school-days would not encourage many to engage as teachers. The sal- ary was small, and much of the pay consisted of farm produce, or such things as the settlers eould conve- niently spare, at the rate of $1.50 per scholar for a quarter's instruction.

Under the common-school system Bullskin was divided in 1836 into distriets, and the families re- siding therein ennmerated. District No. 1, answering in general to the present Breakneck District, had forty-seven families; District No. 2, or the southwest part of the township, contained forty families ; Dis- triet No. 3, now about the Gault Distriet, had forty-one families ; District No. 4, the northwest part of the township, had thirty-nine families. The First Half- District-the Pennsville settlement -had twenty- one families ; the Second Half-District-those living at what is now Bridgeport-had nineteen families ; and in the Mountain District lived John Stanffer, Jacob Anderson, Washington Washabaugh, Amos Butler, Christopher Butler, David Washabaugh, John Hoffhans, Samuel Banders, Samuel White, Abraham Cox, and Samuel Coffman.

The board of directors was composed of Wm. An- drews, president ; D. B. Long, secretary ; Henry Det- weiler, treasurer; Thomas Boyd, George Brothers, Richard Gault, and Henry Freed. These voted, Aug. 13, 1836, to open schools at the Findley Furnace, at Richard Gault's, and at Abraham Pershing's. James Pemberton was the teacher at Findley ; David Lind- sey at Gault's, and the following year taught at Per- shing's. In 1837 the school-house in the Kell District

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was erected by Wmn. Boyd for $288. The same year the Mountain District was allowed to build a school- house at the expense of the citizens of that part of the township. In May of the same year it was voted to sign a contract for an octagon school-house in the First Half-District. This house was on the Tyrone line, west of Pennsville, and was a prominent land- mark in its day. The teachers in 1837 and the few years following were G. Buttermore, George W. New- meyer, Robert Huey, Ann Parker, Anna C. Pershing, John Strickler, Sarah Ullrey, James W. Snow, James A. Black, Randolph Boyd, George Friek, Josiah Still- wagon, Joseph D. Long, Wm. Hixon, Joseph Sechrist, David Lindsey, Jonathan Garver, John Edgar, Henry Snively, Elijah Yunkin, Henry Ullrey, Martha Mc- Kown, John Harrold, John L. Means, James Pem- berton, Sarah Kell, Wm. P. Baker, Nancy Robertson, John MI. Peoples, Otho Williams, Francis Andrews, James Hunter, Austin Lane, Davis A. Hannum, Jacob Berg, Jacob Lobengier, Andrew Kesslar, Sarah Lind- sey, Jonathan Shallenbarger, Joseph Detweiler, Jo- seph A. Marietta, James A. Martin, A. Stauffer, Wm. L. Miller, and Thomas B. Norris.

The township has been supplied with a good class of buildings, those in several districts being commo- dious beyond what is generally found in the country. The school building at Pennsville is a two-story brick, which has been furnished throughout with modern furniture and apparatus. The builder was P. C. Grim, receiving therefor 83315, and the house was turned over to the board of directors Nov. 23, 1876, as con- forming in every particular with the terms of the contract. This house took the place of a small brick house which stood on its site, and which was the suc- cessor of the octagon house. The Pennsville school was attended in 1880 by 44 male and 38 female pupils, who were under the instruction of J. M. Moore. The average daily attendance was just one-half the num- ber enrolled. Other teachers of the school were, in 1871, Lucy Enfield; 1872, H. R. Franas; 1873, D. McClellan ; 1874, N. B. Tannehill ; 1875, J. S. Spiegel and Jacob Aubley ; 1876, James S. Best ; 1877, John H. Weddle; 1878, Lizzie Leonard; 1879, Clark Fra- zer and George Sherriek.

Since the records of the annual elections have been preserved the following have been school directors :

1840 .- Wm. Boyd and John B. Troxell.

1841 .- Joseph Beidler and Jacob Ricc.

1842 .- George Brothers and David Pollins.

1841 .- John Miner and Thomas Hoke.

1844 .- Samuel Johnson and Samuel Rice.

1845 .- Pereival Hamilton and Jacob Freed.

1846 .- David Shallenbarger and Bartholomew Yost.

1847 .- Samuel White and Jonathan Newmeyer.

1848 .-- Andrew Walker and Joseph Beidler.

1849 .- Bartholomew Yost and Solomon Etling.

1850 .- Christopher R. Stonecker and Appolos Lohr.

1851 .- John Miner and George Shupc.

1852 .- John M. Coup and John K. Andrews.

1853 .- Samuel Detweiler and Christopher R. Stonecker.

1854 .- James D. Overbolt and Themas McClean.

1855 .- George Newmeyer and Isaac Palmer.

1856 .- Christopher R. Stonecker an 1 Joseph Beidler.

1857 .-- William Litherwood, Christian Shank, and John F.

Stoner.

1858 .- Richard Crossland, Jacob Reynolds, and Samuel Det- weiler.

1859 .- Francis Andrews and Nathaniel Hurst.

1860 .- Henry Streak and Joseph Andrews.

1861 .- Ilenry Etling and Daniel F. Shope.

1862 .- Franeis Andrews and David S. Spear.

1863 .- Horatio L. Sparks and Jacob Echard.

1864 .- Jacob J. Stonecker and Jacch E. Brown.

1865 .- Thomas Keffer and James Hoke.

1866 .- Ilenry F. Bowman and Abraham II. Sherrick.

1867 .- Jacob J. Stonecker and Jacob Mathias.

1868 .- Daniel A. Pershing, John R. Johnstone, and Samuel Detweiler.

1869 .- Daniel F. Shupe, Henry lluebenthal, Jacob E. Brown, Jubn R. Johnstone, and Samuel Detweiler.

1869, October .- Jacob Mathias, Jacob Horner, and James Hurst.

1870 .- George Huebenthal and Jacob Rice.

1872 .- Daniel F. Shupe and James Murst.

1873 .- David Eshelman and Win. C. Lyon.

1874 .- John Richey and Nathaniel Clair.

1885,-Samuel Detweiler, John R. Johnstone, and J. M. Creigh.

1876 .- David Eshelman and Jacob J. Longanceker.

1877 .- Nathaniel Clair and Jacob Rice.

1878 .- Jacob K. Shank and Henry S. Stouffer.

1879 .- David Eshelman and Win. Leeper.

1880 .- George Atkinson, Nathan Clair, and Wm. Adams.

1881 .- Jacob K. Shank and David Coffman.

In 1880 the gross amount of tax levied for school purposes was $3250.96, of which amount $1910 was devoted to teachers' salaries. The number of schools was thirteen, each having a male teacher. Five months of school were maintained at an average sal- ary of $29.38 per month. The number of male pupils enrolled was 351; of females, 286. The average per cent. of attendance was 77. The estimated value of the school property was $20,000. A small portion of Bullskin is embraced within the Bridgeport Indepen- dent District, whose territory is mainly in Westmore- land County. The district has three school buildings, one being in Bullskin. It is a brick house of fine size, and was built in 1875. The schools of this district have a fine reputation for scholarship and attendance.

THE PENNSVILLE REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH.

Soon after 1800 the settlers living in the western part of Bullskin and in the eastern part of Tyrone united to build a meeting-house, which should be conse- crated to the worship of God by any and all, irrespce- tive of denomination. It stood on land leased per- petually from the John Shank farm, a portion of the lot being set apart for cemetery purposes. The house was of logs, with seats made of slabs, having legs of saplings inserted in auger-holes. The pulpit was simply a board nailed on two upright pieces of lumber. In the course of years the house was weatherboarded, provided with a ceiling, better seats,

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BULLSKIN TOWNSHIP.

and a pulpit which was a very elaborate affair. It was made of wild cherry, the different parts being held together by wooden pins. It was elevated about six feet above the floor, and had a huge sounding- board. On either side were places for the reading- and singing-clerks. The building was commonly designated as the " White Meeting-House," and was the regular place of service of the Baptists living along Jacob's Creek. These first had their member- ship with the church at Connellsville, and after 1828 with the Mount Pleasant Church. Among the men- bers of that period were Allen and John Pippett and their wives, Sarah Walker, Christiana Highlands, Mary Gault, Catharine Highlands, Ann, Rachel, David, Jacob, and Jonathan Newmeyer, and Abraham Shallenbarger, who was a deacon. One of the first ministers was the Rev. James Estep, who may properly be termed the father of the church at Pennsville. Other ministers of the Mount Pleasant Church were as follows: Rev. William Shadrach, from 1828 to 1836; Rev. John Rockefeller, 1836-38; Rev. Isaac Winn, 1839; Rev. Simeon Seigfried, 1840-42; Rev. Milton Sutton, 1843; Rev. John Parker, 1844 46; Rev. Milton Sutton, 1847-52 ; Rev. W. A. Caldwell, 1854-55; Rev. William Shadrach, 1856. The in- crease of members at Mount Pleasant induced the church to demand the entire ministerial services of their pastor, the Rev. B. F. Woodburn, and in 1868 the Jacob's Creek Church became a separate organi- zation. It was duly constituted August 10th, when William C. Lyon was elected elerk, and Conrad Bow- ers treasurer. Jonathan Newmeyer and Conrad Bow- ers, deacons of the Mount Pleasant Church, were con- tinued, and Jacob Overholt and Daniel Reese were newly-elected deacons. The Rev. W. W. Hickman became the first pastor, and on the 19th of August, 1868, the deacons were ordained to their office by the Council convened at that time. The church was re- ceived into the Monongahela Association Sept. 1, 1868, having at that time 90 members on its rolls. The aggregate number of those who have belonged was 139, and the present membership is 56. The present deacons are William C. Lyon and Jacob H. Echard. The former is also the church clerk.

In March, 1871, the Rev. David Williams was called to the pastorate, and in the fall of 1872 a par- sonage was built on a lot adjoining the church. Four years later it was sold, and is now a private residence. In November, 1873, Jacob H. Echard and D. P. Pat- terson were elected deacons. July 7, 1875, Deacon Bowers, one of the chief members of the church, died. The Rev. D. Williams served as pastor until Jan. 29, 1876, when he was succeeded by the Rev. W. T. Hughes, who remained one year. Then the pulpit was supplied a short time by Rev. W. S. Wood, but in September, 1877, the Rev. Joseph M. Collins be- came the pastor, and has since maintained that rela- tion, preaching one-half of his time at Scottdale.

the lot where the old house stood, and was built in 1852, the building committee being Jonathan New- meyer and Conrad Bowers. It is a brick edifice, forty- three by fifty-five feet, and is plainly furnished. The trustees in 1881 were Jacob H. Echard, George At- kinson, and Jacob Overholt. In this house is main- tained a good Sabbath-school, which has about cighty members. For many years William C. Lyon has been its superintendent.

In the old White meeting-house, services were oc- casionally held by the adherents of Alexander Camp- bell, that minister himself preaching there several times. Those who espoused his belief were, among others, Christian Shank, David Shallenbarger, and their wives, Andrew Rees and wife, Mrs. Arnold, Jacob Lobengier, Bushrod Washington, Hamilton Cunningham, Jonas Ellenbarger, Elizabeth Ellen- barger, Jacob K. Shank, Michael Myers, Joseph, Jon- athan, Susan, Lydia, Catherine, and Henry Shallen- barger. These and others constituted

THE PENNSVILLE DISCIPLES' CHURCH.

In 1853 a lot of ground was purchased in the ham- Jet of Pennsville, and a meeting-house erected thereon by a board of trustees, composed of Christian Shank, Jonathan Shallenbarger, and Jacob Lobengier, which thereafter constituted the place of worship. For a time the church flourished under the ministry of the Revs. Dorsie, Streator, Piatt, Parker, and Lobengier ; but the removal of many members cansed the interest to decline, and finally services were altogether sus- pended, the remaing interest heing absorbed by the Bethel Church of Tyrone township. A proposition to sell the meeting-house caused some members liv- ing in Bullskin to exert themselves to raise funds to repair the building and again make it an inviting place of worship. Active in this movement were Richard Boyd and wife, and by some effort the pur- pose was accomplished. Thence, in connection with the church at Bethel, semi-monthly meetings were es- tablished, the chief speaker being L. C. MeLain, and at present about thirty persons in the township claim fellowship with the Disciples' Church at Penns- ville, which is yet auxiliary to the Bethel Church.

THE FAIRVIEW UNITED BRETHREN CHURCHI.

This house of worship is in the Pershing neighbor- hood, standing on a lot of ground which was donated for this purpose and for a burial-place by Abraham Pershing. It is a plain frame, and was built in the summer of 1847. Previously the meetings of the de- nomination were held in the Pershing school-house, in the same neighborhood, the principal members belonging to the Troxel and Pershing families. The services were held at long intervals, the preacher coming from a distance, and this being one of a num- ber of appointments. When the house was built Rev. John R. Sitman was the preacher in charge. Since that time among the ministers have been the

The present meeting-house occupies a site adjoining . following : Revs. Beichtel, Holmes, Harnden, Ritter,

500

HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Newman ; 1852-53, Rev. William Beichtel ; 1854-55, Rev. John L. Baker; 1856, Rev. John Riley ; 1857, Rev. William K. Shimp; 1858, Rev. Bonewell ; 1859-60, Rev. William Beichtel ; 1865-66, Rev. Jacob B. Resler ; 1868, Revs. E. B. Kephart and J. Reyn- olds ; 1869, Rev. D. Speck; 1870-71, Rev. Robert Rankin ; 1877-78, Rev. L. W. Stahl ; 1879, Rev. C. Wortman; 1880, Rev. J. Medsgar ; 1881, Rev. David Shearer.

The church has about sixty members, and William W. Troxcl as steward ; the trustees are John Pershing, Daniel H. Pershing, and Daniel Troxel.

On the 12th of May, 1850, a Sunday-school was organized in this house, with Abraham Pershing, su- perintendent ; J. B. Sherrick, D. Tinstman, and John Pershing, managers; William S. Walker, secretary ; Jacob Zundle, Simon Bitts, Eli Wilkins, Isaac Per- shing, Mary A. Heckathorn, Nancy Rice, Caroline Welchouse, and Catherine Sprankle, teachers. It was the first Sabbath-school in Bullskin, and has been kept up ever since. The present superintendent is Henry Huebenthall.

In the minutes of the Sunday-school for Aug. 4, 1850, appears an account of a very remarkable solar phenomenon : "To-day an extraordinary phenom- enon appeared about the sun, and was seen by the whole school. It consisted of two large circles around the sun, which seemed to join or run into each other at the eastern and western sides; and another very large circle west of the sun, with the eastern side of the ring in or over the sun. There also appeared in the eastern horizon an arc, resembling a rainbow in colors, which was only an eighth of a circle large." This remarkable exhibition occurred between the hours of ten and eleven in the forenoon, while the sky was beautifully clear and the air pleasant and warm. It created a profound impression at the time, and as there soon after occurred a virulent epidemic, which caused the death of a member in nearly every family, making fearful inroads upon the membership of the school, it was looked upon as a sign of warning and an omen of evil, which wrought a salntary influence in the minds of the afflicted people. In addition to the superintendents already named there have served in that capacity J. B. Sherrick, J. B. Troxel, D. H. Pershing, and R. C. Farmer.

THE MOUNT OLIVE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

This is a place of worship of a class of that denom- ination residing east of the central part of the town- ship. The house is a neat frame on the highway, a quarter of a mile south from Detweiler's Mills. It

was built in 1871 on an acre of ground secured from the John Miner farm, a part of which is devoted to cemetery purposes, and is a frame thirty-three by forty fect. It cost two thousand two hundred dollars, and the building committee was composed of Samuel Detweiler, Richard Herbert, and J. S. Longanecker, who were also the first trustees. The church was ap- propriately consecrated in November, 1871, by the Rev. D. Speck. Prior to the building of the church the society worshiped in the Gault school-house. Among the early members were the Gault, Stauffer, Fretts, and Detweiler families. At present there are about seventy members, having J. S. Longanecker as steward. The church belongs to a circuit which em- braces besides the churches at Connellsville and Fair- view, and has bad, in the main, the same ministerial supply as the last-named church.

In 1872 a Sunday-school was established in the church, which had for its superintendent J. S. Long- anecker. The attendants number abont one hundred in the summer season, the school seldom being con- tinued the entire year.

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History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 113

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1314