History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 129

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 129

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Weaver's mill was built about 1806 by Charles Brownfield, who eventually disposed of it to James Downard. Other owners have been William and Henry Brownfield, William and John Ritenour, John Weaver, and the present proprietor, Jacob Weaver, who has constructed in recent years one of the best grist-mills in this section of the county.

About 1825, George Patterson erected what was afterwards known as Whistler's mill; it occupied a site near where Wood's tannery is at present located.

TAVERNS.

For the accommodation of the public taverns were established at a very early date. Soon after 1800

these lrouses of entertainment had increased until they numbered fifteen or twenty in Georges township alone. A considerable number of these were located on the Morgantown road. One feature of the hotels of that day was their peculiar signs ; for example, Pat- rick Gallaher kept the tavern where he had as a sign the " Jolly Irishman ;" Daniel Dimond, the " Black Bear ;" John Emery, " The Green Tree ;" John Chad- wick, "The White Horse;" Moses Nixon, "The Fox and Dogs;" William Spear, in Haydentown, the "Cross Keys ;" James Miller, in Haydentown, "The Black Bull." In 1791, Hugh Marshall was keeping tavern, licensed by the court of Fayette County ; in 1792, Conrad Maller was added to the list; Caleb Hayes in 1793; John Chadwick in 1794; Joshua Jamison, 1795; Thomas Jackson, 1795; John Mintun, 1796; Patrick Gallaher, 1796; John Stark in 1796; Barnet Evertson in 1797; William Spear, 1798; and in the same year Paul W. Houston, Isaac Groover, Richard Whealen, Robert Brownfield; and from 1800 down to the present time the following per- sons have kept tavern, some for a brief time, others for a series of years : Samuel D. Bowman, Thomas Pugh, Joel Kendall, Jacob Hager, David Curry, Wil- liam Moore, Lott W. Clawson, Nathaniel G. Smith, Joseph Lewis, Samuel Wiley, Aaron Joliff, George Traer, David Trystler, Nathan Style, Joseph Victor, Moses Nixon, John Thompson, Joshua Brown, James Miller, Daniel Dimond, David Victor, Joseph Taylor, John Emery, Otho Rhoades, David Hare, Thomas fliff, James Bryant, Andrew Collins, George Nixon, David Parks, James Doran, Zachariah Wheat, Jacob Johnston, Matthew Doran, Nathan Morgan, David Fisher, Jacob Kyle, Elias Bailey, Joseph Kyle, Thomas Gaddis, John Richards, Peter Goff, William Campbell, Andrew McClelland, Aaron Stone, Thomas Stentz, John Hall, Henry Kyle.

DISTILLERIES.

Both previous and subsequent to the Whiskey In- surrection whiskey was the staple commodity of the country west of the Allegheny Mountains. The facilities for shipping grain were poor indeed, and the settlers of the Redstone country soon found that they could distil the grain into whiskey, and thus ship it in a form not so bulky and more valuable. Soon dis- tilleries sprung up on almost every farin of preten- sions, and a goodly portion of these establishments were in Georges township. Among the number may be mentioned John Vernon's, near Fairchance ; Thomas Downard's, near Walnut Hill, in the Brown settlement. Moses Nixon had one at Fairchance at the time of the Whiskey Insurrection. Richard Reed had one at the same time, located upon the farm then owned by him, now in possession of Joel Leatherman. Col. Zadoc Springer had one at the same time. Squire Ayres had one at an early date. There was also one in Smithfield, one on the Smith property

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

near the Leatherman place, and Charles Brownfield had one as early as 1790.

MILITARY MEMOIRS.

Some of the inhabitants of this township took part in the Revolution. Prominent among these was Thomas Gaddis, who lived just on the border line between South Union and Georges. He was an officer in the Revolutionary army, and towards the close of his life he drew a pension from the government. Col. John McClelland was also in the Revolutionary war as an officer. His home was in the Brown settlement. Zadoc Springer was also in the Revolution, and held a commission. Others were Dennis MeCarty, Joseph Stillwell, Robert Allison, William Colvin, John Pier- son, Robert Hustead, John Bowen, Hugh MeClelland, Alexander McClelland, John Hayden, and last, but not least. Tom Fossett, who was a soldier for many years. He served under Washington in the Virginia Rangers, and was with Washington at his first battle at Great Meadows. We next find him accompanying Braddock in his ill-fated expedition against Fort du Quesne, and finally in the ranks of the Continental army in the Revolution. Nearly all of these men served through the Indian wars. Col. Thomas Gad- dis was with the ill-starred expedition of Col. Craw- ford in 1782, and returned in safety. In this same campaign Capt. John McClelland met with death at the hands of the Indians. Thomas Headdy was also killed in Crawford's campaign.

There were two companies raised in this community for the war of 1812; one was commanded by Capt. James McClelland, of this township, the other by Capt. Il. Yeager, who belonged to that part of Georges township now forming the southeastern portion of Nicholson. The following are the names of the sol- diers of 1812, as nearly as we can gather them: Basil Bowel, Stephen Pollock, Aaron Ross, Jeremiah Archer, Rezin Reed, Jacob Price, James Price, Cato Hardin. Joseph Eaton, Morris Morgan, Jacob Green- lee, Thomas Bowel, Joseph Thompson, John Getzen- diner, Abraham Croxen, John Thompson, George Herod, Thomas Porter, John Trimble, John Gaddis, James Mallaby, James Abraham, Jacob Akles, Edward Coombs, John Coombs, James Hamilton, Thomas Devan, Caleb Brown, Melchoir Hartman, Thomas Reed, Hugh Tygart, Thomas Thompson, Jeremiah Kendall, William Parnell, Jonathan Par- nell,

The soldiers in the Mexican war who were from this township were as follows : Jacob Farr, Daniel Koontz, William Pixler, Thomas Brawley, Davis Vic- tor, Henry Bryan, John Sutton, Oliver Jones, and John Stillwell.

follows: Jacob Farr, Alfred Swaney, Ralph Jones, Jesse Jones, Jesse B. Jones, Robert Brownfield, James S. Brownfield, Zadoc Brownfield, Alexander Brown- field, Thomas Brownfield, Stephen Brownfield, Luther Brownfield, James Utt, Allen Mitchell, William Utt, Samuel Conn, Henry W. Moser, John Farr, William Sessler, Wesley Sessler, James D. Low, James Goodin, William Balsinger, John Ifartman, Aaron Fickle, Lowry Campbell, George Campbell, Robert Deyar- mon, Ewing Deyarmon, John Deyarmon, Capt. Ash- bel F. Duncan, Lieut. James M. Husted, Lieut. Al- bert G. Hague, John C. Pastories, Washington Pas- tories, John Pastories, George Cover, Philip Hugh, William H. Swaney, Daniel B. Swaney, John Dan- iels, William Smith, William Shumabarger, Joseph Kinneson, George Low, William S. Bailey, Benjamin Marshall, Benjamin Showalter, Joel Reed, Henry O'Neil, Joseph A. Rankin, John Humbert, Benjamin Robinson, Rees Moser, Samuel. McCarty, George Har- din, Samuel Artis, George Artis, Frank Abel, Oliver Abel, Benjamin Wilson, Jesse Wilson, Melchoir Hughes, George Fields, Calvin Burrier, Robert B. Cooley, Asa Cooley, James Pastories, William Yun- kin. Henry Abel, Allis Freeman, Moses H. Freeman, Oliver Stewart, Lieut. Ethelbert Oliphant, George Hiles, Joseph Rhoades, Frederick Martin, Samuel Davis, Philip Miller, James Victor, Napoleon B. Hardin, Alexander Swaney, Andrew J. Hibbs, Stur- geon Goodin, Chaplain Andrew G. Osborn, Wilkins Osborn, H. M. Osborn, Isaac B. Osborn, S. F. Osborn, Alexander Osborn, Joseph Osborn, John Smith, David Grove, Peter Hughey, James Hughey, James Hughn, Moses Sangston, Joseph Sangston, Henry Reese, John D. Reese, Albert Woods, Kern Ward, Samuel Higg, William Higg, Andrew Humbert, Neff Ilieks, Benjamin Black, Harvey Monteith, George Smith, John Thompson, George Hays, Josiah Mitch- ell, Ellis Mitchell, Albert Ramage, Duncan Ramage, Washington Ramage, Jarrett Tedrick, John Malone, Armstrong Doyle, Benjamin Jordan, Joseph Bedin- gover, Jackson Smith, Charles Deyarmon, Samuel Hague, William Hague, Lucien Leech.

Capt. James M. Hustead, of the Fourteenth Penn- sylvania Cavalry, was brought up in this township. In 1862 he enlisted in Capt. Duncan's company, and was elected to the first lieutenancy. After Capt. Dun- ean's death he was promoted to captain. At the close of the Rebellion he entered commercial life, and has been very successful. He is at present the proprietor of the Dunbar store, and he and Mr. Isaac Semans have a store at Oliphant's.

The Me Fall Murder .- One of the most prominent features of the history of this township is her erimi- nal annals. Here occurred the MeFall murder, for which he was tried, convicted, and executed, being the first one who suffered the death penalty in the county. The statement of facts here given is from

In the war of the Rebellion (1861-65) there was a numerous representation from Georges township, as . " Addison's Reports," p. 255 :

571

GEORGES TOWNSHIP.

" FAYETTE COUNTY,

" December Terin, 1794. )

Pennsylvanin rs. John MeFall.

" This was an indietinent for the murder of Jobn Chadwick, on 10th November, 1794. In the morning of this day McFall was drunk, enme to the house of Chadwick, who kept a tavern, and got some liquor there. One Myers, a constable, came there. MeFall had expressed resentment against Myers for having taken him on a warrant, and bad threatenedl to kill or cripple him the first time he met bitn. When MeFall saw Myers he jumped up and said he would have his life. Chadwick reproved MeFall for this. MeFall rubbel bis fists at Chadwick, and said be was not so drunk but he knew what he was doing. Myers soon went away. McFall went out after him, and again said he would have his life. Myers rode off. MeFall returned into the house again. Chadwick bade him go home, for he had nbused several people that day, and had got liquor enough. MeFall shook hands with Chadwick and went away. Chad- wick shut the door. About two minutes after he returned. Chadwick rose to keep the door shut ; MeFall jerked it off the hinges, dragged Chadwick out, and struck him several times with a club on the head. ITis skull was fractured by the blows, and be died the second day after. .. . "

MeFall then fled to Virginia, where he was that night arrested by Robert Brownfield and one Jenkins. He would not admit them to the house at first, but upon their stating that they were neighbors and there was siekness he admitted them, whereupon they ar- rested him and brought him to Uniontown and com- mitted him to jail.

At the Court of Oyer and Terminer, December term, 1794, an indictment was presented against John McFall for the murder of John Chadwick. The jury empaneled in the case were Wm. Taylor, Adam Dunlap, Jacob Lyon, Basil Brashear, James McCune, Robert McGlaughlin, Elisha Kerr, Thomas Rogers, John Work, Matthew Neely, Moses Wells, and Za- doe Springer. James Ross, of Pittsburgh, appeared for the defendant, and - Galbraith for the State. The verdict of the jury is as follows : The jury " do say that the prisoner is guilty of murder wherewith he is charged in the first degree." After convic- tion he escaped from the jail, and was apprehended at Hagerstown. He was executed in May, 1795, between two trees that stood elose together on Douglas Thicket, or Douglas Bottom, on the banks of Redstone Creek, about three-quarters of a mile from Uniontown, immediately north of the Fair- Grounds. Col. James Paull was sheriff, and employed one Edward Bell as executioner. He was disguised, and not till years after was it known who performed the exeention.

The Murdered Peddler .- Soon after 1800 a peddler stopped at a tavern stand in Smithfield, intending to stay overnight. John Updyke and Ned Cassidy were there, and they made themselves very agreeable to the peddler upon learning that he carried a considerable sum of money with him. They drank at this tavern and at the White Horse tavern until the convivial spirit rose to its highest degree. Proving hail-fellows well met, they persuaded the peddler to go to Hayden-

town with them. At a late hour the trio were seen starting for Updyke's, but were never seen together again, and the peddler was never heard of again. There was a field of Updyke's near his house which had a dense thicket in it. A man passing by there the next day heard eattle lowing, and saw them tear- ing up the ground and much disturbed ; he went in to find out the cause, if it could be ascertained, and to his surprise he saw traces of blood and other indi- cations pointing to foul play, and most likely a mur- der committed there. The place where a horse had been tied and evidences of its having been frightened were apparent. The gentleman secured the aid of a few others, and they tracked the horse to a pair of bars which led out of the field, and there they found the print of a man's bloody hand upon the bars, where he had taken hold of them to let them down. Up- dyke and Cassidy were never arrested. Soon after Updyke was taken down with a loathsome disease, which was said to have been superinduced by poison given him by Cassidy, who was afraid that Updyke would divulge the crime or turn State's evidence. He soon died a most horrible death. Ned Cassidy went West as soon as Updyke had died. He there com- mitted another murder, for which he was tried, con- victed, and before being executed he made a confes- sion, in which he stated that he and Updyke had murdered the peddler, and after securing a handsome sum of money they sunk his body in Brownfield's mill-dam. William Sturgis has the confession.

The Polly Williams Murder .- This tragedy occurred at the White Rocks, in this township, May 12, 1810. Philip Rogers, the perpetrator of this crime, lived near New Salem, in the valley east of the town. His vie- tim lived at or near New Falem. Rogers had been paying attentions to her for some time. Mr. Wil- liams, Mary's father, was going to Steubenville, Ohio, to live, and desired his daughter to accompany him, but Rogers persuaded her to remain where she was, and, she being engaged to him, was influenced to do as he wished. The father of Mary Williams had had suspicions of Philip Rogers on more than one occa- sion. At one time Rogers tried to persuade her to aecompany him to the river after he had seduced her, intending doubtless to drown her, but she would not go. One day he told her they would go to Wood- bridgetown and get married. Accordingly they started afbot for Woodbridgetown as she supposed. Instead of going to that place they went to the White Rocks, a secluded place on the summit of the mountain. Here the terrible tragedy occurred which has since marked that place, and will for years to come dis- tinguish it as the spot where innocent blood was shed. From those who were there when her lifeless body was found we learn the following facts : It seems that some persons were gathering huckleberries near by, and upon hearing her screams they ran from the mountain thinking it the screams of a panther. In a few days after there were some other persons near the

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

White Rocks gathering huckleberries, and they were attracted by the barking of a dog they had with them. Upon going to the place where the dog was, they found the murdered girl. Mr. Basil Brownfield " was present, and says that there were signs of the fearful struggle on the verge of the rocks, as though she had escaped from him and had run some distance into the laurel-bushes, where she had been overtaken by Rogers, and the place where the struggle took place was torn up for several yards around. She was a strong girl, and he could not drag her back to the cliff of rocks. It appears as if the struggle must have lasted several minutes, and that, fighting for her life as she was, she could not be overcome until the villain grasped a large stone in his hand and struck her ou the head with it until she was insensible, then dragged her back to the precipice, but here she must have shown signs of recovering, for it seemed as if he was afraid to ap- proach the summit of the rock aud throw her over for fear that she might in the death-struggle drag him over with her. There is a passage-way to the base of the rocks, and through this there were indications of her having been dragged. He then went to the sum- mit of the cliff of rocks and east bowlders down upon her. One of these stones Mr. B. Brownfield has in his possession ; when he picked it up it had both blood and hair upon it. In the laurel thicket where the chief struggle occurred was found the bloody stone with which he struck her.

The news of the tragedy flew as though on electrie wings, and soon hundreds gathered at the base of the mountain, where the poor murdered girl had been taken, and viewed the crushed and mangled remains. She was buried and afterwards disinterred, and the gentleman from New Salem with whom she had lived having arrived, he recognized her as Mary Williams. Soon after, Phil. Rogers was arrested, and the following meution of it is taken from the , erty of the gentleman for whom it was named. court record: "Commonwealth against Philip Rogers. Murder, a true bill. In custody, Jacob Moss" [the | man with whom she lived], " for himself and wife, of German township, tent in $200; Deunis McCuker, of German township, tent in $100; Moses Nixon, of Georges township, tent in $100. Conditioned that they shall appear at the next Court of Over and Ter- ininer to testify. August 22, 1810. Indictment for murder found at August sessions, 1810. November 22, 1810, defendant being arraigned, pleads not guilty. Issue and rule for trial. Same day tried and verdict not guilty. Same day prisoner dis- charged." Thus terminated a farce of trial by jury, and on a technicality of the law, together with the eloquence of Jennings, of Steubenville, Ohio (for- merly from the vicinity of New Salem), the lawyer for Rogers, he was acquitted. Rogers afterwards went to Greene County, where he married, reared a

family of boys, and when his miserable life was ended his remains were refused interment in any graveyard.

SCHOOLS.

One of the first school-houses in the territory west of the Allegheny Mountains was the old log school- house located between Smithfield and Haydentown. This building was erected before 1780, and one of the pupils in it at that early date was Robert Brownfield, father of Basil Brownfield, from whom much interest- ing data for this history was gathered. A Mr. J. Jame- son was the first teacher. Robert Ritchey, for twenty years justice of the peace for Georges township, sue- ceeded Mr. J. Jameson as teacher in this ancient school.

About 1803, when the Presbyterian Church built their log church building, they also took into consid- eration the feasibility of erecting a school-house, so that their children might secure a rudimentary knowl- edge of the English language, and here alongside the church they built a rude log school-house, and in 1812, April 27th, they advertised in the Genius of Liberty for a teacher. The following is the advertisement as it appears in the Genius of that date: "A Teacher Wanted .- A young man who can come well recom- mended as a teacher of an English school will meet with good encouragement by applying to the sub- scribers, who live adjoining the meeting-house." Signed by Rev. James Adams, John Knight, and Moses Dunham, trustees.

Soon after 1800 the citizens living in the vicinity of where Leatherman's school-house now stands con- eluded to erect a building for school purposes. In accordance with this desire a sufficient sum was soon collected and a log building was erected, which served as a school-house for many years. It was known as Miller's school-house, and was located on the prop-

At Woodbridgetown there was a log school-house. John Tedrick was the schoolmaster, and was sue- ceeded by Phineas G. Sturgis.

Paull's school received its name from George T. Paull, who aided the enterprise by donating the lot of ground upon which the building was erected. After the passage of the common-school law at the session of Assembly in 1834 the educational interests took an advance step. At January sessions of court, 1835, Squire Ayers and James Robinson were appointed school directors for Georges towuship, and held their position until an election had taken place. Under this common-school law many schools have sprung up through the township, and one of these is Paull's. There have been two houses devoted to common- school education at Paull's. The first was a brick structure, and remained but a few years in use, until it was succeeded by the present school-house, which was erected about 1855. The teachers who have taught here have been William Johnson, Samuel Rothar- mel, James Showalter, Milton Sutton, James Hol-

1 When this account was written (June. 18s]) Mr. Brownfield was living and tu full possession of his powers of recollection. He died not long afterwards.

573

GEORGES TOWNSHIP.

bert, Clayton Richards, Clay Showalter, Sallie Ruble, James Provance, L. Rhoades, Lizzie Abraham.

The Pleasant Hill school came into existence about 1840, the first building, like the present one, having been a brick structure. In this school Frederick Martin, Nancy Martin, Rev. William R. Patton (be- fore entering the ministry), Samuel Rotharmel, Clay- ton Richards, and Altha Moser taught. In 1871 the new building was completed, and since then the teachers have been Dr. James F. Holbert, William A. Richards, James Provance, Oliver P. Moser, Aaron C. Holbert, Maggie Field, and I. Sturgis Stentz.

The Upper Haydentown school building is of stone. The teachers have been Henry Mitchell, Sallie Ruble, John Tamkin, I. S. Stentz, and Hannah Ruble.

The Lower Haydentown school was built about 1870. It is a brick building. The teachers have been Clay- ton Richards, Martha Robinson, Snyder Hague, John C. Miller, Sallie Ruble, and Leah Carothers.

The Three-Mile Spring school, three miles above Haydentown, was erected one year ago. It is a log school-house. The teacher during the last term was James Showalter.

The Leatherman school-house was built about 1840. The first house, like the present one, was of brick. The teachers in the old building were Lucien Leech, John G. Hertig, Clark Vance (who afterwards became a Baptist preacher), Rev. John S. Gibson (at present a Cumberland Presbyterian minister), Rev. James Power Baird (also a Cumberland Presbyterian cler- gyman), Samuel J. Acklin, Hugh Smith, James Henry Dougherty, James W. French (afterwards a Baptist minister), James W. Showalter, Albert H. Smith. In 1870 the old structure was torn away, and a com- modious new brick was built to take its place. The other teachers have been James F. Holbert (at pres- ent practicing medicine), J. C. Miller, Isaac Coldren, Annie Oglevee, James Miller, Michael Franks, and Lizzie Black.

The Custer school was opened about 1840. The structure was of brick. In the old building the fol- lowing persons taught : James M. Hustead, James French, William Patton, John Anderson, Amadee Trader, Sarah Conn, Albert Smith, and Lucien Leech. In 1873 the new school-house was built, and since then the teachers have been Isaac Coldren, James Presley Smith, William Fouch, and Oliver P. Moser.

The Deyarmon was one of the first common schools in the township after the law went into effect. Some of the instructors have been John G. Hertig, Robert Allen, James W. Showalter, Milton Sutton, William Nixon Canan, Joseph C. Stacy, Hervey Smith, Carrie Herbert, Abraham Humbert, Albert Hutchinson, Frances Mackey. This building has been twice re- modeled. . The latter alteration was done by the Uniontown Planing Mill Company, during the sum- mer of 1880.

The White Rock school was organized in 1879. The teachers have been Hannah Ruble and Mollie Griffith.

The first building erected for the common schools was at Smithfield as early as 1836. The frame build- ing is yet standing, but is no longer used for school purposes. During the past few years the directors have rented the academy for the use of the common school. The teachers have been Gideon G. Clemmer, Nathaniel Walker, Eliza Showalter, Joseph C. Stacy, George G. Hertzog (at present a professor in the Cal- ifornia Normal College, Washington County), George D. Pnrinton, James W. Showalter, James Provance, A. C. Gilbert, Aaron C. Holbert, William Richards, John C. Miller, Lizzie Abraham, Michael Franks, Lizzie A. Black.

The Fairchance school was commenced in 1838 in a frame house. The new building, a brick one, was constructed in 1875. Revs. J. Gibson and J. P. Baird both taught in the old house, and since the new one was built the following teachers have acted as in- structors : Leah A. Carothers, James W. Showalter, Jennie R. Griffith, John C. Miller, Martha Robinson, James P. Smith, Maggie Field, Lizzie Wilson.

The Walnut Hill school was originally known as Brown's school. The present house is the second within the past forty years; the first was built of logs, the present of brick. Some of the teachers have been J. P. Blair, Elias Green, - Frazer, Carman Cover, Noble McCormick, W. Osborn (now a prac- ticing physician in Kansas), Albert H. Smith, Abra- ham Humbert, Mollie Griffith, Sallie Dawson, J. Newton Lewis.

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History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 129

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