History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 121

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 121

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In 1847, Dr. Henry Goncher located here. He lived in a frame building on Ferry Street. He had a small room, in which he sold a few articles in the drug line. He did not stay more than one or two years. After him, in 1850, Dr. William Stephenson commenced practice. He was a brother of the Rev. Ross Stephen- son, who for several years supplied the Presbyterian pulpit of Connellsville. The doctor while here was married to Miss Rachel Wilson, the daughter of John Wilson, long known here as one among the oldest and most upright citizens of New Haven. The doctor was a native of Ireland. Dr. Stephenson went from here to West Virginia, where he died.

In 1855, Dr. James K. Rogers came to New Haven, and soon after became associated with J. G. Rogers in the practice of medicine. In 1856 he practiced alone. In 186f he obtained a government appoint- ment in the medieal department of the army, and served in different places South and West, chiefly as inspector of hospitals. At the close of the Rebellion he returned to New Haven. He was the son of Dr. Joseph Rogers, who practiced in 1825. As a physician he was considered skillful and intelligent. He was a bachelor, and died in 1870.

In 1861, Dr. Benjamin F. Connell commenced prac- tice, and was here for several years at intervals. He belonged to the school of homeopathy. This was the first break in the line of allopathic physicians that preceded him. His system did not attain the popu- larity here that attended it in other places. In 1862 John R. Nickel commenced practice. He also made a new departure from the old line. He was of the school that professedly rejeet all mineral remedies in practice, claiming that the vegetable kingdom eon- tains all proper remedies. He was the son of George Nickel, an old resident of the place. With some he was very popular here, and acquired considerable prac- tice. He removed to Connellsville, where he died.

In 1867, Dr. Ellis Phillips came to New Ilaven and entered into a partnership with Dr. J. K. Rogers, ' which ended in 1869. He subsequently lived and practieed in New Haven and Connellsville till Jan- uary, 1874, when he moved into his new residence, where he has lived ever since. He married Ada, danghter of R. A. McIlvaine, in 1872, and made a tour through Europe, spending several weeks in the medi- eal hospitals of Ireland and England. His practice is large, extended, and remunerative. He is of Quaker parentage, and was born in Fayette County.

Dr. R. T. Graham came to New Haven in 1873. He is an English Canadian and a successful practitioner ;

he spent over a year in the town, and then removed to Connellsville, where he now lives. The last on the list of New Haven physicians is Daniel Rogers Tor- ranee, the son of George A. Torrance. He has been in practice since 1879. He is a young man of promise in his profession.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

The following sketches of New Haven's justices of the peace from the year 1815 is contributed by R. A. MeIlvaine, Esq .: So far as I can learn, Adam Wilson, the same ingenious Scotchman who cut stone, planned bridges, and made furniture (a piece of which, in the form of a round stand-table, made in 1821, is still in the possession of my family ), found time in the official capacity of "'squire" to sit in judgment in the civil, as well as in the more violent, eases of litigation that were settled before him. While yet but a small boy, I, with others, had a wholesome fear and awe of his authority. After his death, in 1825, William S. Cannon and Andrew Dempsey were the next law dignitaries. The former subsequently engaged in merchandising in Connells- ville ; the latter, both previously and subsequently, was engaged in the same way. Neither was in office later than 1830. After them the line was continued in John Bolton, a millwright, and Robert Norris, a eooper. Mr. Bolton was engaged in the erection of the steam-mill on Third Street. Their period of office ended about 1840. The next to fill the office was Adam Byerly, of no particular avocation, afterwards "bridge-keeper," or collector of tolls. After him for a short time was George Meason, " gent.," brother of Isaac Meason. Of him it may be said that he de- serves more than a passing notice. He held a lieu- tenant's commission in the regular army of 1812. A difficulty arose with a fellow-officer, and in settling the affair an appeal was made to the eode of honor. Lieut. Meason was seriously wounded by the shot of his antagonist and permanently lamed. He was a gentleman remarkably courteous in his intercourse with others, though sometimes overcome by the too frequent weakness of convivial enjoyment. Yet he never forgot the obligations of a gentleman, or the natural urbanity of his manners. I remember being called np at a late hour of the night to get some drugs for a gentleman. The moon was shining brightly. On our way to the store we saw Mr. Meason standing by a l'ence. He bade us good-evening very pleas- antly, and remarked, "I thought the ok bachelors had all the trouble, but I see that married men have theirs too." I heard him relate an anecdote illustrat- ing the code of army morals at the time of his military life. The chaplain (a very liberal-minded man in his way), after the soldiers were formed into a hollow square, would address them and say, "The govern- ment does not expect the soldiers to pray mnch, and has kindly and wisely provided a chaplain to pray for them. All that is expected of yon when called upon

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to go into battle is to humbly bow your heads and say, 'God be merciful to me a sinner !' "

The Meason family were kind and generous to the poor, yet at the same time governed by a high sense of honor in their intercourse with equals. This is shown by the additional fact that Isaac Meason, the brother of George, also appealed to the code, once so fashionable among the chivalrous men of the country. The story runs that the fight was about a lady. A silver dollar in his vest-pocket saved his life in the duel.

George J. Ashmun was the next justice. He was a good magistrate, and his decisions were generally acquiesced in. Formerly he was a merchant. Be- coming disabled from rheumatism and unable to walk, he was elected to this office, and served up to the time of his death in 1872. During this period I was elected justice, but for private reasons declined to serve. The next in order are the present incum- bents, J. M. Lyle and Thomas R. Torrance. the former a carpenter by occupation and son-in-law of Thomas Gregg, the searcher after inventions and me- chanical discoveries; the latter was at one time in mercantile pursuits, and a lieutenant of cavalry in the war of the Rebellion.

In the successive distribution of the village ermine the hand of Fate might be charged with nepotism, as a large proportion of those who filled the office were either closely associated with or related to the Meason family. Adam Wilson was the intimate and trusted friend of Isaac Meason. Being a bachelor he was re- ceived and treated as a member of his family, and closed his life under his roof, ministered to by tender sympathy and kind attentions. Andrew Dempsey was a distant connection by marriage. George Mea- son was a brother of Isaac, George J. Ashmun was a nephew by his mother's side, and Thomas R. Torrance is a grandnephew of Mr. Meason's by his sister, Mrs. Daniel Rogers. In giving this account of the differ- ent persons who have acted as magistrates, I think I have overlooked no one, and if so, certainly not in- tentionally, nor must any one suppose the succession was continuous, as there were long intervals of time when no one filled this office. I will again say that all these relations of persons are chiefly interesting as local matters, and will ever be so to their descendants for generations to come.

into the streets of Hagerstown, and was soon con- fronted by a line of the enemy. Not to be deterred from his purpose, he spurred his horse onward, and seeing an officer, whom he supposed to be Gen. Mc- Causland. he fired at him. ITis audacity brought a return fire. ITis horse fell, and he was shot through near his left shoulder, and slightly wounded in sev- eral other places. Instantly extricating himself from his horse, without knowing the extent of his injuries, and seeing a gate that led past a house into a garden, he dashed himself against the gate, forced it open, and ran past the house. Seeing some ladies on a back- porch, who fortunately proved to be Unionists, he entered the house and found concealment. The pur- suers were not long in following. The ladies did their best to mislead them in the search, and directed them through the lot. In that direction they saw a lad, who, on being questioned about the fugitive, replied, boy-like, so as to magnify his knowledge and import- ance at the expense of truth, "I saw a Yank running as if the very devil was after him." The search was given up, Gen. McCausland remarking that " he was too good a soldier to be killed." After night the family smuggled a loyal doctor into the house and had his wounds properly dressed, and the enemy soon leaving the town, he was sent home on furlough for recovery.

BOROUGHI INCORPORATION AND LIST OF OFFI- CERS.

At the March session of the Court of Quarter Ses- sions in 1839 a petition was presented praying for the incorporation of the borough of New Haven, and signed by Thomas Foster, John McClellan, Adam Byerly, John Newcomanor, Jr., George W. Vance, James Coslet, Daniel Rogers, T. M. Rogers, R. P. Brown, Abel Merrill, James Robinson, Thomas C. Gregg, George Meason, Matthew Seeton, Robert Nor- ris, Elisha Castle, William McFarland, John William- son, William Kinnear, Joseph Torrance, Thomas Evans, George Dyson, Jacob Weaver, H. L. Page, George J. Ashmun, John Bolton, D. Forrey, Isaac Snyder, J. C. Herbert, John Wilson, H. Montgomery, John Graham, Joseph Strickler, John Detwiler, Charles (. Hutton, Moses Porter, James L. Shaffer, Joseph Dillon, Thomas Githens, Daniel Freeman, William Caldwell, William Lord, Thomas Rhodes, Leavans Shumway, Valentine Cougbanour.

llaving now gone through the history of this office, Upon the petition the grand jury reported favor- ably, and June 7, 1839, the report was confirmed by the court. There was, however, considerable opposi- tion at New Haven to the adoption of the charter, and this. opposition, taking the form of legal action, deferred the charter's operation until 1842. In that year the first borough election was held in the village school-house. Of the officials chosen, no names are found recorded, and none are now recollected except William M. McFarland as the burgess, and R. A. Mellvaine as weighmaster. Councilmen were elected, and having a little spare time, I will relate a perilous adventure and narrow escape of T. R. Torrance, one of the persons named. While in the service of his country during the war of the Rebellion, he was sent out on a scouting expedition with a small body of men in the vicinity of llagerstown, Md. When near to the town he suddenly found himself surrounded on all sides by rebels. The only alternative appeared to be submission and capture or a bold and hazardous attempt to ride through the enemy's lines. He chose the latter. Single-handed, he made a furious dash i but their names are not now known. Directly upon

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the election, and before the Council could meet for organization, an anonymous letter found its way into the hands of the newly-elected officials, threatening that in ease any attempt was made to organize under the charter the town would be burned. Who wrote the letter was not positively known, but it evidently came from some person or persons who proposed to resent the probable inerease of taxes likely to be brought about under the borough organization. At all events its result was to so thoroughly frighten the newly-elected officers that they made no effort what- ever to effeet an organization, and so by common eonsent the borough organization was allowed to go by default, and the people remained as before eiti- zens of the township. R. A. MeIlvaine, the weigh- master, did make an attempt to exercise the functions of his office, but he was alone in his official en- denvors, and soon abandoned the task in disgust. After a lapse of twenty-eight years the subject of bor- ough organization was revived, and in response to a petition the court issued a deeree, March 14, 1867, authorizing the organization of the borough under the charter of 1839, and appointed W. H. Brown judge, and J. V. Rhodes and S. G. Smutz inspectors, to hold an election for borough officers on Friday, March 29, 1867.

At the March session of court in 1867 the following order was made:

" And now to wit, March 14, 1867 : Petition of the citizens of the Borough of New Haven for the appointment of officers to hold an election, etc., as follows, setting forth that the said Borough was duly incorporated by the Court of Quarter Ses- sions on the 10th day of June, 1839. The charter, plat, and proceedings thereon having been duly recorded, as provided by Jaw. in the Recorder's office of Fayette County, that no suf- ficient organizat on was ever made under said charter, ner has there been any organization or election for officers for many years. The undersigned therefore pray the court to fix a time and place for holding an election, to designate some person to give notice of said election, and to appoint a judge and iospec- tois to hold said elect on, in order that said borough may be or- ganized according to law, etc.

"And now to wit, March 14, 1867, the Court appoint the 29th day of March inst. for holding the election at the school- house, between the hours of one o'clock and six o'clock r.M., and the Court appoint William Brown Judge. B. Rhoads and Samuel Smutz as Inspectors of said election, and also ap- point Ilugh Cameron to give notice of said election according to law.

"Same day order and decree of court, with certificate, issued to J. M. Lytle.

" And now to wit, December 9, 1867, petition of citizens of said Borough setting forth that the great distance from the place of election and the inconvenience of attending the same on the part of petitioners would suggest the propriety of some netion of the court for their relief, and therefore praying the Court te make such order in the premises as will ereet and con- stitute them a separate election district. And Dow to wit, Dec. 9, 1867, the Court designated the school-house as the place for holding the elections for all purposes, and appoint Josiah V. Rhodes as Judge, and George Nickel and John M. Lytle as In- specters ef Election."

From 1867 to 1881 the principal borough officials chosen by elections and appointments will be found named in the following list :

IS67 .- Burgess, S. G. Smutz: Councilmen, R. A. Mellvnine and Gee. Nickel (two years), J. V. Rhodes, J. M. Lytte and Hugh Cameron (one year) ; Constable, W .. II. Brown ; Treasurer, Geurge J. Ashmun,

1868 .- Burge-s, S. G. Smutz ; Councilmen, J. V. Rhodes and J. M. Lytle ( two years), David Carson (one year) ; Constable, John Cunningham ; Treasurer, Hagh Cameron.

1869 .- Burgess, S. G. Smutz ; Asse-sor, J. M. bytle ; Anditorz, Henry Blackstone, Christian Smutz, and Michael Seerist ; Councilmen, Henry Blackstone, George Nickel. S.S. Myers ; Constab'e, H. L. Sheppard; Justice, Weaver Heaton ; School Directors, David Carson, Weaver Heaton ; Treasure", George Nickel.

1870 .- Burgess, S. G. Smutz; Justices of the Peace, Weaver lleaton, George J. A-hmun; Auditor, C. H. Whitely ; School Directors, George A. Torretiee, George Nickel.

1871 .- Burgess, S. G. Smutz: Assessor, Christian Smutz; Auditor, J. T. IFerbert ; School Directors, Christian Sinntz, J. M. Byers, J. M. Lytle; Councilmien. J. S. Collins, T. R. Torrenee, I. W. Byers, J. M. Lytle, and Michael Secrist ; Constable, Levi Stoner.

1872 .- Burgess, Wenver Heaton; Assessor, C. H. Whitely ; Auditor, T. P. Forsythe : School Directors, S. G. Smatz, R. M. Smith ; Conneilmen, George Niekel, S. G. Smutz, I. W. Byers ; Constable, Uriah Springer.

1873 .- Borgess, A. E. Clarey ; Assessor, James S. Collins ; Auditor, Weaver Heaton ; Justice of the Peace, S. G. Smutz : Councilinen, John Johnston, Joho Coulson, George Dawson ; Constable, Smith Dawson ; Treasurer, George A. Torrence.

1874 .-- Burgess, J. M. Lytle : Assessor, R. A. Mellvaine; Jus- tices of the Peace, J. M. Lytle, T. R. Torrener: School Directors, D. Carson, C. Smotz ; Anditer, A. E. Clarey ; Councilmen, L L. Herbert, George Torrence, Jobn MeBeth, J. E. Giles, S. S. Myers.

1875 .-- Borgess, S. G. Smatz ; Assessor, T. R. Torrence : School Directors, J. S. Collins, Hugh Cameron, Robert M. Smith, S. G. Smatz: Councilmen, S. S. Myers, L. L. Herbert, D. Carson : Treasurer, G. A. Torrence.

1876 .- Burgess, S. G. Smutz; A-sessor, Thomas H. Boyd ; School Directors, S. G. Smutz, R. R. McQuestin : Auditor, James S. Collins.

1877 .- Burgess, S. G. Smotz; Assessor, Robert A. Mellvaine; Auditor, L. L. Herbert ; School Director, Christian Smutz ; Councilmen, R. M. Smith, J. R. Torrence, Hugh Cameron ; Constable, Smith Dawson.

IS78 .- Burgess, T. R. Torrence; Assessor, Christian Smutz; Auditor, William H. Cooper ; School Directors, L. L. Her- bert, J. S. Collins, S. S. Myers ; Councilmen, Kell Long, George HI. Mathiott, R. F. Cooper; Treasurer, R. A. Mc- Hvaine.

1879 .- Burgess, T. R. Torrence ; Justices, Thomas R. Torrence, J. M. Lytle ; Assessor, R. A. Mellvaine : School Directors, George II. Mathiott, L. L. Herbert; Councilmen, R. M. Smith, Hugh Cameron, S. S. Myers.

1880 .- Barges:, T. R. Torrence : Assessor, R. A. MeHvaine; Auditor, A. G. Vance : School Directors, Kell Long. S. G. Smutz, T. R. Torrence ; Councilmen, Kell Long, George HI. Mathiott, IIngh Cameron.

1881 .- Burgess, T. R. Torrence : Assessor, J. S. Collins ; Audi- tors, A. G. Vance, G. H. Mathiott ; School Directors. J. F. Reed, A. R. Pool.

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

SCIIOOLS IN NEW HAVEN.

It is a strange fact that during all the time the borough limits were connected with the township public school district the school directors never built a school-house in the town. It is true that about the year 1848. they erected a frame school-house just out- side the town in a very unfavorable location, on ground under a lease for twenty years, and which was sold by them just before the expiration of the lease. For some reason the directors refused to purchase a piece of ground in a central and altogether eligible position for a school-house for the consideration of one hundred dollars, but built on a ground-rent of six dollars per year, with the result before stated. The only building called a school-house was erected by private contribution some time in the early part of the decade between 1830 and 1840, and enlarged by an addition for school purposes in the same way by the efforts of the Rev. K. J. Stewart in 1847. Since Mr. Stewart left, the addition has been used as a private dwelling.

The oldest authenticated record of a school relates to that kept by Mrs. Sarah MeIlvaine in the spring of 1815. There being no school-house, private apart- ments had to serve instead. Accordingly she taught in part of her residence, which was the last house at that date on Front Street north, on lot No. 113. The next school was taught by " Old Mr. Ellis," as he was known and designated. Little is known of him at this time, save that he lived in the country and walked to town during his term. He taught in 1817 on the second floor of a house on Second Street, on lot No. 95, and immediately back of Mr. MeIlvaine's house. The house he taught in was the last on Second Street north. The next school was taught by Stephen Smith in 1818. He also lived in the country, and was usually engaged by James Robinson about his mill and distillery on Opossum Run, about one-half mile west of town. He taught in part of the Squibb house, where the drug-store now stands, on lot No. 118.

The next teacher was Dr. Robert Wright, in 1819. Ile also taught in the Squibb house just referred to. In 1820, as well as in 1822, there was no school taught in New Haven. In 1821, Jarvis F. Hanks taught in a house near the river mill. In 1823, Oliver Sproul taught in a small building on Trader's Alley, between Front and Second Streets. JIe was an Irishman, and a striet disciplinarian.

river tier, being lot No. 15. This brings the schools down to 1830. After this period the school privileges were not so limited. About the year 1833, Flavius Josephus Worrell taught. He came from and re- turned to New Jersey. His high-sounding name gave him some notoriety. In 1839-40, Marlin D. Dimick taught. At the time of his teaching he was reading medieine. In 1845, Mrs. Robert Dougan taught. In 1846, Daniel Forry was teaching. He joined a company for the Mexican war, was elected lieutenant, and died at the city of Vera Cruz. In 1847 the Rev. Kenzie John Stewart, an Episcopal minister from Virginia, built an addition to the school- house on Third Street, and made the first attempt to raise the standard of schools by introducing advaneed studies, and by indueing scholars from a distance to come here. In both respects, to some extent, he was successful. He employed Mr. Nathan Merrill and Miss Hoadly, a gentleman and lady from Connec- ticut, for assistant teachers. Scholars were in attend- ance from Brownsville, Greensburg, and Bedford. About the year 1849 a Mr. Patrick gave more ehar- acter to the school by advanced studies and practice with chain and compass. For several terms, includ- ing 1851, David Barnes, now ticket agent in Connells- ville for the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad, was the teacher. In 1852 and after Miss Mary Bucking- ham was teacher. In 1853, Miss Annie Hill taught a small select school. She was the daughter of Mr. Anthony Hill, who had been at the head of the New Haven woolen-mill enterprise. In 1854, Mr. John Bolton was teacher. Ile was in ability above the average of teachers of that time. IIe went from here to Ohio, where he has been advanced to important positions in different schools, and is still successfully engaged there.

In 1857 the Rev. James Black, a Presbyterian min- ister, in charge of the church in Connellsville, fitted up the hall above the brick drug-store, and made an- other attempt to elevate the school standard. He was assisted by Mr. C. C. Baugh and Miss Maggie Bell as teachers. He worked with energy and ability, and was to a considerable extent successful. At present Mr. Black is professor in an institution of learning in Ohio. In 1858 he was succeeded in New Haven by Christopher Columbus Baugh. His male assistant, Mr. Baugh, belonged to the advanced line of teachers and was liberally patronized. About 1860, Miss Margaret Bell, also an assistant of Mr. Black, taught in the same hall. She was assisted by a Miss Mills. She was a thorough and successful teacher. Following her, in 1861, Mr. Pollard Morgan opened a school in the hall. He was a young man of scholarly attainments, having been educated and trained for the Presbyterian min- istry, and, strange as it may appear, under the friend- ship and influence, as was supposed, of a much-loved Roman Catholic friend and companion the disciple of Calvin became a Papist. Soon after leaving here

In 1829. Stewart H. Whitehill taught up-stairs in the dwelling-house of Stephen Fairchild, on the corner of Second Street and Trader's Alley, being lot No. 92. Ile was connected (by marriage to a Miss Boyd) with an old and respectable family still resi- dents of the neighborhood. The same year (1829) a gentleman by the name of Pearsol taught in a build- ing that was formerly used by Adam Wilson as a wareroom. It stood on the bank of the river, on the only lot then inclosed north of the bridge on the . he went to the city of Rome and entered the Romish

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communion, and ultimately received priest's orders Mr. Morgan was from Pittsburgh, and a brother of Sydney Morgan, an extensive coal and coke dealer.

In 1868, Miss Herring, from Dunbar, taught in the hall. The Rev. Timothy O'Connell, of the Episcopal Church, an Irishman, and relative of the great Irish agitator of the same name, opened a school in the hall in 1875. His assistant was a Miss Jones, from New York, whom he afterwards married.

The names of teachers and the date of their teach- ing from 1868 to 1881 are as follows: 1868, A. S. Murphey; 1869-70, A. S. Murphey and C. B. Scott; 1870-71, C. B. Allen; 1871-72, Miss Lizzie Miller and Miss Mollie Ritenour; 1873-74, H. E. Faust ; 1874-78, A. S. Cameron; 1879-80,1 Rev. William H. Cooper and Miss Mary Cooper ; 1880-81, N. V. Kill and Miss Susie T. Griffeth.

The New Haven school district was organized June I 1868, the year following the reorganization of the borough. The directors chosen in 1868 were S. S. Myers, Hugh Cameron, Geo. Nickel, I. V. Rhodes, S. G. Smntz, and J. M. Lytle. S. G. Smutz was chosen president, I. V. Rhodes secretary, and S. S. Myers treasurer. For the year 1868 the appropria- tion for teachers' wages was $320. The annual report, dated June, 1880, was as follows :

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History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 121

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