History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 135

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 135


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In Masontown, in 1848, Dr. N. W. Truxal (now of Brownsville) had a large practice. Near the same place Drs. Charles Myers an | Finfrock lived and practiced in 1850.


SCHOOLS.


The ruins of many old cabins used in the past as school-honses are still to be seen. Among these were Mason's school-house in Masonborough ; one on the Fast or Bullit tract, now in Nicholson; later, one on Provance's Flats; one near the Seceders' Church, now near the line of Luzerne; one near Rabb's mill, now Hoover's ; one on Middle Run, to the right going 1841. Samuel Winders, John Mosier. towards the river on Brown's land; one near High House ; one on the German Lutheran and German 1843. Philip Poundstone, Ellis Freeman. Reformed Lutheran glebe; one near the cross-roads 1844. Samuel Winders, George Vance. on the Newcomer lands; one on the farm now owned . 1845. Thomas Conner, William B. Alton.


by John Riley, near cross-roads; one near Dunlap's Creek, and one or two in the northeast corner of the township. In these huts taught John Knox McGee, Jacob Ish, Samuel Taggart, John Hickenloper, Thomas Green, Fred Frazer, James Anderson, Joseph Deffenbaugh, Amos Gray, James T. Redburn, Moses A. Ross, John Atkinson, and many others; in the past fifty years, Bridget Hainey, John G. Farmer, John G. Hertig, Henry Jennings, and others. The introduction of the free school system inaugurated a new era in the schools.


At January sessions, 1835, the court appointed Jeremiah Kendall, Jr., and Elisha Laughead school directors of German township. The new system met with great opposition, and several years elapsed before its benefits were seen or appreciated.


The rich opposed being taxed for the purpose of helping to school the children of the poor. The real objection was their objection to schools in general at all. By statute they had been taxed by the county for the same purpose before the passage of the law or act complained of. The township was districted and snitable school-houses erected prior to 1837.


Following are extracts from the county records re- ferring to schools in German :


Order of John Hickenloper, of German, for teaching


poor children, dated Jan. 4. 1812, am't ... $14 25


Sept. 24, 1813, to same for same .. 28.73₺


June 23, 1815, to same for same 16.19


Juo. 13, 1813, to Samnel Taggart for same .. 4.64


In 1838 the system had made considerable progress, and Nathaniel Darrall, John Ross, Jesse Antram, David Jennings, Isaac Core, and Richard Poundstone were the directors, and all advocates of the system. Its progress from year to year has been good since that time.


Present number of districts io township ........ ..


Number of teachers ..


11


Males.


11


NAMES OF DISTRICTS AND COST OF HOUSES.


Windy Hill 8450 ' Balsinger's ... $1100


Middle Run 500


Core's .. 650


Mcclellaniltown


500


Ross ... 800


Church Hill. 5,50


Mennonite 915


Gilmore's 650


Crow Hill.


975


Messmore's


950


NUMBER OF SCHOLARS ON THE ROLLS FOR 1880.


Total 461


Males


217


Females 244


Total receipts. $3116,36


Total expenditures, 3046.23


School property, furniture, etc. 1200.00


Cost of sehool-houses. 8040.00


Cost of land. 500.00


The following is a list of school directors of Ger- man township from 1840 to the present time :


1842. Jobn Poundstone, Ilenry Jennings.


597


GERMAN TOWNSHIP.


1846. Nicholas Miller, William Jeffreys.


1847. John P. Williams, Alexander Black. 1848. Ellis Coldren, Joseph Woodward.


1849. Jesse Overturf, Uriah Higinbotham, William Schroyer. 1850. Joseph Deffenbaugh, Jacob F. Longanecker. 1851. William Jeffreys, John Haney. 1852. Samuel D. Hlarn, John Brown. 1853. John Moore, Jacob Mack. 1854. Vincent Parshall, Jesse Overturf.


1855. Lewis Campbell, John Haney.


1856. John Sterling, Allen Q. Darrall.


1857. Harvey Grove, George Balsinger.


1858. James C. Iliginbotham, Isaac Crow. 1859. Johnson Dearth, John Emery.


1860. Thomas Williams, Alexander Black.


1861. William P. Green, Peter Crago.


1862. Harvey Grove, Jefferson Sangston.


1863. John J. Riffle, James Newcomer.


1864. John D. Rider, John Sterling. 1865. Isaac Crow, John Ferren.


1866. Michael S. Franks, Levi Antram.


1867. James M. Howard, Rezin L. Debolt. 1868. Westly W. Altman, 1869. Nathaniel Gray, Isaac N. Ross. 1870. James M. Harvard, John Sterling.


1872. Hugh J. Gilmore, George Porter, John D. Rider.


1873. Juhn D. Rider, Jacob Johnson. 1874. Joseph Rockwell, Nicholas Johnson.


1875. John H. Newcomer, George Dearth. 1876. Jesse V. Hoover, George Porter. 1877. William H. Brashear, Nicholas Johnson. 1878. Samuel Campbell, Ilenry D. Core.


1879. John Iluhn, David S. Longanecker.


1880. Joseph Gadd, Levi Brown.


1881. Samuel Beal, Ilenry D. Cure.


CHURCHIES.


THE " DUTCH CHURCH."


For the purpose of establishing a church in Ger- man township, Michael Franks and others obtained a warrant for a tract of land south of Brown's Run, called the "Straight Narrow Way," Feb. 2, 1785. In 1785, April 25th, it was surveyed, and found to contain 1173 acres and allowance. This they re- ceived a patent for from Governor Thomas Mifflin, July 22, 1794. Prior to the year 1793 they had built a log meeting-house, the only kind in the county at that time. It had a gallery, a rude pulpit or seat for the minister, and rough seats for the congregation. In 1792 the Rev. John Stough was sent out as a cate- chist. In May, 1793, he was licensed to preach by the Lutheran Synod in the city of Philadelphia. In the same year he organized the church known since as the Dutch Church, because the sermons were de- livered in that language. The minutes of the organ- ization contain twenty-five names, among which are the following : John Huhn, Philip Lawrence, Fran- cis Fast, William Fast, Michael and Jacob Frank, Henry Barrickman, Daniel Schmidt.


The patent was made to Michael Frank, Nicholas Pock, John Mason, John Hartman, - Everly, and Joseph Yeager. In 1846 the old log house was re- '


placed by a brick house, the one in use at present. The congregation are about remodeling or erecting a new house. Upon the grounds attached Rev. W. O. Wilson and the church council succeeded in having a cemetery chartered, but not without great opposi- tion. During the time in which the minutes of this church were recorded in German twelve hundred baptisms were performed.


Since the organization in 1793 the following min- isters have been in charge : From 1763 to 1806, Rev. John Stough (born in York County, Pa., 1762; died in Crawford County, Ohio, July 25, 1845), Rev. - Redman, Rev. Ravenock, Rev. Henry Weygandt, Rev. Charles Koebler, Rev. John Brown, Rev. Abraham Weills; from 1852 till 1865, Rev. Jacob K. Mel- horn (now of Allegheny County, Pa.) ; 1866 to April, 1873, Rev. Henry Acher; April 25, 1873, to 1881, Rev. William Orris Wilson, of West Chester, Pa. He was educated at Ceylon Grove and other schools. The present membership (1881) of this church is two hundred and forty-five.


METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


From the most authentic sources it is found that the following-named individuals were the founders of the Methodist Church in German, namely, Andrew Long, Caleb Hanna, and Alexander MeDougle, who, in the year 1819, began preparations for building a church. In 1820, in June, the house was nearly completed, when, on the night of the 11th, it was almost entirely ruined by one of the most violent storms that has ever visited this section of the county. It was, however, finished and used until 1833, when, the walls having crumbled, the congregation took measures to re- build it.


In 1876, when the court erected Masontown a bor- ough, this house was included in the town. Being built by persons of every shade of belief, it has been the bone of contention in many a strife. The most liberal subscribers to the building fund were Ephraim Woodruff and his wife Frances, Miss Rainey Cheno- with, Solomon Altman and his mother. A host of worthy ministers have labored here, but to enumerate would occupy more space than can be allotted the subject. The first to preach the Wesleyan doctrine in this new field was Rev. Wesley Webster, an Eng- lishman, in 1818. Then came Revs. Batty and Pool. But the most noted was the eloquent 11. B. Bascom. There was connected with this church for nearly half a century an individual by the name of Solomon Alt- man, licensed in Pittsburgh in 1825 as a local preacher, who was eminent for his industry and benevolence. He died near Weston, W. Va., in 1846. The pre-ent (1881) minister in charge is the Rev. H. D. MeGirew. The present membership is forty-five,-males, twenty- one; females, twenty-four.


The lot on which the Methodist Church stands, as well as the cemetery attached, was purchased from Caleb Hanna.


598


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCHI.


By an order of the Redstone Association a church was organized near McClellandtown in 1828. The ministers appointed for the work were Revs. William Brownfield and Francis Downey. The church officers were: Deacons, Elias Parshall, Sr., Erasmus Alton ; Clerk, John Grove. Following is a list of the minis- ters in charge of this church from organization till the year of its dissolution : Revs. William Brownfield, Francis Downey, James Seymore, William Woods, Sr., James McCoboy (not certain), Garret Patton, Thomas Rose, in 1851, when the congregation dis- solved. The church grounds were donated by Elias Parshall, who, with Erasmus Alton, contributed mainly to its support during the period of its exist- ence.


PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.


Presbyterianism was not introduced into German until after the Scotch-Irish element began settling here. The members who resided in it were visited by ministers from more fortunate regions at regular periods. The best known of these missionaries were the Rev. Crittlebaugh and Rev. George Van Enem. " At a meeting of the Redstone Presbytery an order was granted for the organization of a church in Ger- man township. The ministers appointed for carrying the order into effect were Me-srs. William Johnson, Ashbel G. Fairchild, and Samuel Wilson. On the 23d day of November, 1839, the Rev. committee convened at the Baptist Church on Church Hill, west of and near to MeClellandtown, for the purpose of executing the order of the Presbytery. After a sermon by the Rev. Ashbel G. Fairchild, Rev. Samuel Wilson pre- siding, they proceeded to organize a church. Thomas Wilson, Samuel Gettys, William Grove, Joseph Def- fenbaugh, and Elisha Langhead were ordained el- ders." In the year 1843 they erected a brick church, which has been their regular place of worship since (except when being remodeled a few years ago on ac- count of its having been damaged by fire).


From the organization of the church to the present time the following-named preachers have had the congregation in charge, viz. : Rev. Samuel Wilson, Rev. James P. Fulton, Rev. S. S. Bergen. Member- ship in 1881, fifty.


CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.


About the year 1839, Revs. Bird and Morgan were sent out by the Cumberland Presbytery as mission- aries to preach the new faith. Their success at Ma- sontown induced the Presbytery to select and send "Revs. Abraham Shearer, Isaac Hague, and Daniel A. Murdock to organize a church. These ministers began their labors in the spring of 1840. Having gained twenty-nine members in a very short time, they founded the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Masontown, July 23, 1840." The Methodists kindly permitted the new sect to occupy their build- ing until they should feel themselves able to build : ent not more than five or six members remain.


one of their own, which they did in 1852. Their trustees-Samuel Winders, John Henry Bowman, and Jacob Newcomer-purchased a piece of ground of John Ross, west of Masontown, upon which they erected a brick church. On the 7th day of May, 1852, they received the deed for their property.


The following-named ministers have been in charge of this church since its organization, viz. : Rev. An- drew G. Osburn, 1842 to 1853; Rev. Johu T. A. Hen- derson, 1853 to 1854; Rev. William Hanna, 1854 to 1858; Rev. Andrew G. Osburn, 1858 to 1863; Rev. James P. Baird, 1863 to 1865; Rev. Jesse Adams, 1865 to 1867; Rev. Ellis E. Bailey, 1867 to 1871; Rev. John S. Gibson, 1871 to the present time. The membership Jan. 1, 1880, as given by Josiah S. Alle- baugh, Esq., was one hundred and eighty-three,- males, sixty-seven ; females, one hundred and sixteen.


MENNONITE CHURCH.


The followers of the teaching of Menno Simon constituted a very great portion of the early inhabit- ants of German, but they were without any churches for many years after settling. For religious exercises they met at certain of the brethren's residences till about the year 1790, when they built a log church near the road leading from Uniontown to Masontown, ria High House, on lands now owned by John Riley. It was used both as church and school-house for many years. In it preached and taught Peter Longanecker, one of the great lights in those days. The Revs. Jacob Newcomer and Joseph Bixler were contemporary. The first house having gone to decay, the congrega- tion in 1838 built another on lands of Nicholas John- son, which was known as the "Dogwood Church." In 1870 dissensions in the church caused considerable trouble, and ended by Nicholas Johnson, deceased, donating ground for a site for a new house as well as furnishing the necessary funds for building it. In 1871 their present house (brick) was dedicated. It is located east of Masontown, on the Smithfield road.


Ministers in charge : Revs. David Jolinson, John Durr, Christian Deffenbaugh. Membership in 1881, forty,-twenty males and twenty females.


DISCIPLES' CHURCH.


The pioneer of this denomination in German was Elder J. D. Benedict, who, in the fall of 1873, held a meeting in McClellandtown. He was followed by Elder M. L. Streator in January, 1874, and in May following fifteen persons professed religion. On the 26th day of July, 1874, the first organization of this sect took place hy the election and confirmation of the following persons as church officers, viz .: James W. French, Sr., and Clark B. Scott, elders; Melanc- thon J. Crow, Elias Parshall, and James W. French, Jr., deacons. The total membership at that time was twenty-nine. In the spring of 1876 nearly the entire congregation emigrated West and South, and at pres-


509


GERMAN TOWNSHIP.


BURIAL-GROUNDS.


The following is a list of cemeteries and burial- places in German township, designating them by the names by which they are commonly known, and in- dicating their location in different parts of the town- ship, viz. :


Lutheran (chartered), on the glebe attached to Lutheran Church, in Southeast German. Dedicated Oct. 1, 1879.


Leckey, north of McClellandtown.


Presbyterian, Church Hill.


Methodist, Masontown.


Cumberland Presbyterian, Masontown.


Mennonite, on Catt's Run.


There are numerous family and private burial- places located on farms in different parts of the town- ship. These are chiefly old grounds, many of them in disuse. Some of them are fenced, and others lying common with the lands of the farms on which they are located. Among these are the following :


One near old Mennonite Church and school-house lot on John Riley's farm.


Kendall, on Jonathan Galley's farm.


Longanecker, ou Louch's farm.


Harrison, on John Sterling's farm.


Gilmore, on Ephraim Sterling's farm.


Bowman's, on Jonathan Sterling's farm.


Gilliland (2), on John Coffman's farm.


Messmore, on George Haught's farm.


Newcomer, on Newcomer heirs' farm.


Bixler, on David Johnson's farm.


Ross, on Asbury Struble's farm.


Coldren, on William Schroyer's farm.


Hostetler, on John Coffman's farm.


Unknown, on William Coffman's farm.


Mason, on Mason Borough farm.


Free Blacks, on William M. Lardin's farm.


Fretz's, on James H. Hoover's farm. -, on George Dearth's farm. Gordon's, on Samuel Brown's farm. Brown's, on Levi Brown's farm.


McClelland's, on John S. Mosier's farm.


Antrim's, on William H. Riffle's farm.


There are three other burial-grounds on lands be- longing to Poundstone and others, not well cared for.


LIST OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. JUSTICES, 1785 TO 1881.


Andrew Rabb, Jan. 24, 1785, appointed by Governor James Irvine: poisoned hy his slave; died at White Sulphur Springs, Va., Sept. 5, 1804.


Epbraim Walter, by Governor Charles Biddle, Nov. 21, 1786 ; died Dec. 8, 1835, aged 91 years.


Abraham Stewart, by Governor Thomas Mifflin, Aug. 18, 1790.


Jeremiah Kendall, hy Governor Thomas Mifflin, July 22, 1799 ; died Jan. 28, 1843, aged 85 years.


James Wilson, by Governor Thomas Mckean; died Feb. 19, 1841, aged 77 years.


John Auld, by Governor William Findley, 1819; died in Brownsville.


Moses A. Ross, by Andrew Schultze, March 17, 1824 ; died in Alamakee County, Iowa, Nov. 22, 1852, aged 72 years.


Jesse Berson, by Governor George Wolf, 1832.


John P. Williams and George Messmore, elected March, 1840 ; Messmore died in Ohio. March 20, 1878 ; Williams was re-elected in 1845, and died in Greensboro', Greene Co., Pa., 1875, aged 66 years.


James C. Iliginbotham, elected 1845; died in Luzerne town- ship, Dec. 18, 1870, aged 66 years.


John Wilson, elected 1849; now living.


Philip D. Stentz, elected 1850; re-elected 1855; died in Con- nellsville.


David Miller, elected 1854 : living ; age 64.


John Messmore, elected 1858 ; re-elected 1863; living in Uniontown ; age 60 years.


James C. Elington, elected 1859 ; re-elected 1864 ; died April 20, 1873, aged 78 years.


John W. Lynch, elected 1868; re-elected 1877; living ; age 66 years.


Thomas Williams, elceted 1869; living ; age 62 years.


James W. French, elected 1873; living in Kansas ; age 57 . years.


Col. David Gilmore, elected 1874; died Aug. 9, 1876 ; aged 44 years.


John B. Woodfill, elected 1878; living ; age 59 years.


ASSESSORS.


1841. William Grove. 1 1861. Solomon G. Riffle.


1842. Jobn Weltoer. 1862. Alexander Leckey, Jr.


1843. Ilarvey Grove. 1863. Christian T. Rhoads.


1844. Isaac Smith. 1864. Ilugh C. Poundstone.


1845. John Poundstone.


1865. William Poundstone.


1846. Jesse Antrato.


1866. Daniel F. Hostetler.


1847. John Brown.


1867. George W. Green.


1848. John II. Bowman.


1849. Jacob F. Longanecker.


1869. Isaac W. Coldren.


1870-71. Lewis C. Lewellen.


1872. James II. Hoover.


1873. James A. Weltner.


1852. John Riley.


1874. Michael Crow.


1854. John A. Walters.


1875. John Sterling.


1855. John J. Riffle.


1876. Ilenry D. Core.


1856. Samuel Allebaugh.


1877. Jolin H. Crago.


1857. Alfred Core.


1878. James A. McWilliams.


1858. John D. Rider.


1879. llenry S. Lynch.


1859. Clark B. Habey.


1880. Thomas A. Jackson.


1860. Quincy A. Partridge.


1881. William L. Moore.


AUDITORS.


1841. William MeKean. 1857. Joseph Rockwell.


1842. Stephen Grove.


1858. Ilngh J. Gilmore.


1843. Isaac Core. 1859. William Parshall.


1844. William Mckean. 1860. Joseph S. Struble.


1845. James Wilson. 1861. Allen Q. Darrall.


1846. Isaac Core. 1862. John Wilson.


1847. Wm. G. Higinbotham.


1863. Levi Antram.


1848-49. Jesse Antram. 1864. Quincy A. Partridge.


1850. Isaac Core.


1865. James Lewis.


1851. John Wiltoer.


1852. William P. Green.


1867. Thomas D. Bise.


1853. Andrew J. Gilmore. 1868. Isaac P. Kendall.


1854. Cyrus L. Conner.


1869. James W. French.


1855. Isaac P. Kendall.


1870-71. Melanethon J. Crow.


1856. William Parsball.


1872. David Gilmore.


1868. Reuben Grove.


1850. Robert Moss.


1851. Isaac Messmore.


1853. William P. Green.


1866. Peter 11. Franks.


600


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


1872. James H. Campbell.


1877. Jesse P. Brown.


John H. Poundstone.


1878. 1saac W. Coldren.


1873. Thomas A. Mckean.


1879. Cyrus W. Porter.


1874. Juseph Campbell. 1880. Charles S. Langley.


1875-76. Jacob Provance. 1881. Samuel Campbell.


MASONTOWN BOROUGHI.


Masontown, formerly Germantown, was laid out by John Mason on a tract of land called East Abing- ton. By deed dated the 29th of May, 1798, he con- veyed to the inhabitants the streets and alleys, with the usual privileges and franchises conveyed in town charters.


For picturesqueness of location that of Masontown is unsurpassed. It is just far enough removed from the mountains to give to them that dark steel blue color which "lends enchantment to the view." The town, although built upon a hill, is surrounded by a higher chain of hills, except upon the west, or side next to the Monongahela River, from which it is distant one and one-half miles. The distance from the county-seat by the shortest route is ten miles. A daily mail to and from Uniontown puts the town in communication with more important places. There are some seventy dwellings in the town, many of which are large and of modern architecture. Popu- lation, four hundred,


The following branches of industry are to be found here : three chair-factories, four wagon- and buggy- shops, two saddle- and harness-shops, three smith- shops, tin-shop, tannery, one cabinet-maker, a large flouring-mill, four stores, two milliner-shops, two eating-houses, two undertakers, post-office, large school building, two churches; one physician, Dr. George W. Neff, who is a graduate of Philadelphia Medical College, March 12, 1870.


At March sessions, 1876, the court granted the town the rights and privileges of a borongh. The execu- tive officers from that period to the present are and have been the following-named persons :


BURGESSES.


1876. ITon. Jacob Provins. 1879. S. F. Altman. 1880. Josiah S. Allebaugh.


1877. M. F. H. Farmer.


1878. S. F. Altman. 188]. Stephen F. Altman.


COUNCIL.


1876 .-- Alexander Mack, Christian C. Sterling, Rezin L. Debolt, James Lewellen, Allen D. Smith, Josiah S. Allebangh.


1877 .- Absalom Longanecker, James Lewellen, Isaac N. llague, Josiah A. Bowman, Alexander Mack, John M. Deffen- baugh.


1878 .- James Lewellen, Myers M. Altman, I. N. Hague, James A. Bowman, Josiah S. Allebaugh, Aaron Walters.


1879 .- Adam J. Willyards, James Lewellen, I. N. Hague, Jo- siah S. Allebangh, Richard Webber, Ephraim F. Walters. SCHOOL DIRECTORS.


1876 .- Abram Mosier, Ephraim Sterling, three years; James R. A. Altman, William J. Sangston, two years ; Sylvanus S. Gray, James M. Howard, one year.


1877 .- William J. Sangston, J. R. A. Altman, three years; Robert M. S. Temple, two years.


1878 .- Josiah S. Allebaugh, Josiah A. Bowman, Absalom Long- anecker.


1879 .- Andrew J. Sterling, Isaac N. Hague.


1880 .- John F. Bowman, James R. A. Altman.


1881 .- James Lewellen, Josiah S. Allebaugh.


ASSESSORS.


1876. James M. Howard. 1879. John F. Bowman.


1877. Christian T. Rhodes. 1880. Benjamin Herrington.


1878. Andrew J. Sterling. 1881. Thomas J. Walters.


AUDITORS.


1876 .- Theophilus K. Higinbotham, three years ; Thomas J. Walters, two years; Solomon J. Honsaker, one year.


1877 .- John C. Lewellen.


1878 .- Lueins M. Speers.


1879 .- James A. Ferren.


ISSO .- Miles F. H. Farmer, C. N. Franks.


1881 .- Lucius M. Speers, three years ; William C. Sterling, two years; Ilugh J. Gilmore, one year.


JUSTICES.


1876. Josiah S. Allebaugh.


1881. Stephen F. Altman.


Stephen F. Altman. Miles F. H. Farmer.


SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.


Colfax Lodge, No. 565, Independent Order of Odd- Fellows .- Organized May 18, 1860.


Valley Lodge, A. Y. M., No. 459 .- Organized Dec. 27, 1869. Andrew Long was the first Mason known in German township.


Grange Society, No. 413 .- Organized Dec. 15, 1874.


In 1801, John Mason and Apalonia, his wife, deeded to the citizens of Germantown " A house and lot on Water Street for school purposes," enumerating the objects intended, viz. : " An education-German and English-in the Arts and Sciences, Morality and Re- ligion." The trustees were Lawrence Rider, Solo- mon Overturf. This is the first provision made for the purpose of establishing a system of public in- struction in Masontown.


Some historical incidents connected with the his- tory of Masontown are worthy of narration. "Fort Mason" was just below or east of the town, to the north of the spring in the field now belonging to Messrs. Gray. It was built by John Mason near 1780, and was resorted to for safety by the early set- tlers during the Indian troubles. It was threatened with destruction by the Tories and Indians, but was warned by Mr. Carmichael, founder of Carmi- chael's, Greene Co., in time to prepare for the enemy, which when they perceived they passed by and at- tempted to capture Fort Burd. In 1823 it was given by Ephraim Walter to Mr. John Debolt, his son- in-law, who had it removed and re-erected on the Main Street, where it still remains, the dwelling- house of Isaac N. Hague, Esq. The Whiskey Boys of '94 had a liberty pole here, around which they rallied during the days of the insurrection. Seth Ely, a famous musician, resided here for many years.


The population of Masontown by the United States census of 1880 was 376.


.


601


GERMAN TOWNSHIP.


MCCLELLANDTOWN.


MeClellandtown was founded by a family of that name, who lived there many years ago. William McClelland, the founder, died here July 12, 1815, in the eighty-second year of his age. The town is some eight miles southwest of Uniontown, and two and one-half miles east of the Monongahela River. It is pleasantly situated in the midst of a moral and in- dustrious people, and in a rich country. It has pro- dueed many men who have won distinction in their spheres of life. Hon. Andrew Stewart and Hon. Henry Clay Dean were born and raised here. The population is one hundred. It contains a post-office, two stores, three blacksmith-shops, two wagon-makers, two saddlers, a buggy-shop, and several shoemakers, carpenters, and millwrights. Several fine residences have been erected in the past few years, and several more will be added the coming year.




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