History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 155

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 155

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In the general plan of his town, Jots Nos. 80 and 81 were reserved for a market-house, and " for the erec- tion of said Academy and Market-House" the inhab- itants were to have the privilege of using all the stone and timber from the aforementioned three-hundred- acre tract, free. The proprietor of the town had granted so many privileges that the town grew rap- idly. Among the earliest settlers and citizens of the town were Nicholas Sperry, Moses Hunter, John Haymaker, Nathaniel Wills, Edward Slater, John Sockman, Joseph Chambers, Philip Koontz, Adam Albert, Frederick Snyder, Richard Holliday, Luke D. Reddecoard, John Morrow, John Fessler, Richard Bowen, Peter Lauch, Caleb Hall, Patrick Byrne, Ann Barnholdt, Simon Lauck, John Formwalt, William Tyler, William Thorn, Jacob Storm, George Tilley, Johnston Smith, John Rhea, John Shietz, Jacob Clowser, John Schley, Alexander Smith, Alexander Doyle, Joseph Semmes, Henry Walker, William Deakins, Jr., George Gilpin, Robert Peters, John Leese, John C. Sneider, John Ritchie, Josiah Star- berry, Isaac Sutton, Sr., Peter Deast, Sr., Zacheus Morgan, Christian Street, Archibald McClean, Mar- garet Reynolds, Isaac Sutton, Jr., Daniel Roberdean, David Russell, William M. Lemmon, William Lem- mon, Sr., Samuel Sutton, Christopher Sowers, and William Lucas.

In 1793 the occupations of some of the lot-owners and residents of the town were as follows, viz. : Pat- rick Byrn, merchant ; George Tilley, merchant ; Chris- tian Street, minister ; Isaac Sutton, Sr., minister ; John C. Sneider, physician ; Hanson & Bond, prin- ters; Richard Bowen, printer; Nathaniel Willis, printer ; Simon Lauck, gunsmith ; John Foornwalt, baker; William Tyler, bookbinder; John Shietz, gunsmith ; John Clowser, blacksmith ; John Schley, coppersmith ; John Haymaker, blacksmith ; Edward Slater, cabinet-maker; Adam Albert, blacksmith ; Jolın Fessler, clock-maker ; Joseph Chambers, black- smith ; Peter Lauck, tavern-keeper ; Caleb Hall, cab- inet-maker ; Philip Koontz, butcher.

Thus the town grew and prospered. In 1802, John Hopwood, the proprietor, died. In 1816, Moses Hop- wood, the only son of the founder, who by will had inherited all the wealth of his father, decided to lay out an addition to the town. At that time the Na-

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tional road was rapidly approaching Monroe, and as it was completed from point to point supplanted the old " Braddock road." During the Presidential can- paign of 1816, James Monroe came through here on his trip westward, and was the guest of Moses Hop- wood, who informed the Presidential candidate of his intention to enlarge and rename the town, and asked Mr. Monroe what he should call it. The future Presi- dent requested that it be named for him, and accord- ingly when the town had been completed in plan in May, 1818, it was so named,-Monroe. Prior to this (in 1817) he had christened one of his sons for the President. The new town was laid out so as to con- form to the original Woodstock plat. It consisted of eighty-eight lots. The front or main street received the name of Franklin, and afterwards became the National road. The other principal streets were Perry, Findlay, Washington, Jefferson, and Madison.

Among the first lot-owners may be mentioned Wil- liam Hart, Isaac Beeson, James Watkins, Jesse Barnes, John Farr, John Farr, Jr., James Barnes, Rachel Bebout, Robert Cooper, Reuben Mockabee, Rebecca Allen, John Custead, William Morris, Julian Wood, Hannah M. Wood, Samuel Hall, Zachariah White, Patrick Bradley, Thomas Hopwood, James Hopwood, Gaddis Hopwood, Elisha Hyatt, James McLucas, Jacob Harbaugh, Henry Barber, Hiram Miller, David Davis, William Hopwood, Enoch W. Clement, Rice G. Hopwood, William Beattie, and Joseph Fisher.

From 1818 until the opening of the railway system the National road was the great thoroughfare of travel between the East and West, and during all this pe- riod of more than thirty years this town enjoyed a prosperity that few towns of equal size participated in to such an extent. To illustrate the business which was done in the town during its prosperous years, it need but be mentioned that acres of covered wagons could be seen every night in the week in Monroe, and from five to ten thousand head of hogs and cattle were centred at this point every evening, so that the drovers might get an early start over the mountains before daylight in the morning. Then, in addition to these caravans and trains of covered wagons, there were numerous gangs of slaves on their way from Virginia to Kentucky. The town of Monroe was the place which all travelers aimed to reach at night, so that they might be fresh for the task of passing over the mountains in the early morning. As further in- dicative of the prominence and importance of the town, the proposition to change the county-seat from Uniontown to Monroe was at one time considered. Gaddis Hopwood, Esq., made the argument in favor of the change, but the larger town continued the county-seat.

TAVERNS.

One of the first requisites in a town is accommoda- tion for the traveling public; this necessity brings public-houses into existence. Soon after the found-

ing of Woodstock, in 1791, tavern-houses were opened there by John De Ford, James McLucas, Jesse Barnes, Lewis Williams, and Benjamin Minton. At that time it was considered a good day's travel to drive from Woodstock to John Slack's, only four miles distant, but that was prior to the existence of the National road, when the old Braddock road was too rough for vehicles. When the addition had been made other tavern stands sprung up in rapid succession on the new Main Street.

The John De Ford tavern was the first in the new town. His stone building was erected in 1818. The persons who did the stone-work were John Sutton, Matthias Chipps, and his son, David Chipps; the carpenter-work was done by Gabriel Getzendiner, John Farr, and Elias Freeman. Mr. John De Ford kept it as a hotel for a number of years, and then re- moved to Carrollton, Ohio. Matthias Frey succeeded him in the business, and then Henry Fisher. It is now used as ~ residence.

The German D. Hair tavern-house was built in 1818, by William Morris. He sold it to Thomas Brownfield, March 13, 1822, after which it was com- pleted, the stone-work being done by Benjamin Goodin, Robert Cooper, John Sutton, and John Har- vey, Sr., and the carpenter-work by Gabriel Getzendi- ner and Enos West. After William Morris retired from it, Joseph Noble, Andrew McMasters, and Ger- man D. Hair occupied it as a tavern.

The Morris tavern was built by William Morris in 1823, on an elevated site west of the town. This building was of brick. The mason-work was done by Benjamin Goodin and Matthias Chipps, and the carpenter-work by Elias Freeman, Gabriel Getzen- diner, and John Farr. William Morris kept this, his second public-house, for a number of years, and was succeeded by Calvin Morris and Matthias Frey. May 22, 1846, it was sold to Moses Hopwood, James Hopwood, Gaddis Hopwood, and John N. Freeman. Since that time the house has been occupied as a res- idence by the person operating the coal farm, which was sold with the house.

The Andrew McMasters tavern was built in 1825. The stone-work was done by Abraham Beagle, John Harvey, and William Harvey. The carpenters were James Thirlwell, Enos West, Gabriel Getzendiner, and Lawrence Griffith. The following persons occu- pied it as a public-house : Andrew McMasters, Lott Clawson, Enos W. Clement, Thomas Acklin, Matthias Frey, James Shaffer, and John Worthington, after which it passed into the possession of Benjamin Hayden, and has since been used as a residence.

The Clement House, since known as the Shipley Hotel, was erected by Enoch Wilson Clement in 1839. John Harvey, Jr., did the stone-work. Mr.

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Clement kept it five years, at the expiration of which time it was sold to Col. Benjamin Brownfield, whose son, Elijah Brownfield, kept it as a tavern two years. It then went into the following hands successively : Benjamin Brownfield, Jr., Archibald Skiles, John

Among the earliest industries of the town was that of wagon-making. The needs of the times when all Worthington, Johu Wallace, Matthias Frey. Aaron | the travel was overland brought these shops into ex-

Wyatt then bought the property, and after keeping hotel one year sold it in 1858 to Samuel Shipley, who sold it to his son Julius, after which it was rented to Ezra Burke, Redding Bunting, and Lindsay Messmore. The property is at present in the posses- sion of A. C. Brant, and is by him used as a dwelling- house.

The Miller Hotel, a large stone building, was erected by Moses Hopwood, Jr., as a residence. He disposed of it to Elisha Hyatt, who in a few years resold it to Hiram Miller. The latter gentleman kept a public-house for some twenty years. Since then it has been used as a private residence by Mrs. M. M. Beeson.

The Frame Tavern building was originally in- tended as a dwelling-house when erected by William Ellis. He afterwards disposed of it to Matthias Frey, and that gentleman enlarged it and converted it into a tavern. He was succeeded in business by James Dennison and Thomas Acklin.

STORES.

The first store in the town was opened by Reuben Mockabee. In it was kept a general assortment of dry-goods and groceries. He kept in Woodstock, and when Monroe was laid out removed to Franklin Street, and built a store and residence where the dwelling of Mrs. Elizabeth Hays is at present. Mr. Mockabee afterwards removed to Brownsville. Ben- jamin Hayden was the next to follow the mercantile business in the town, and he was soon followed by Gaddis Hopwood, Thomas Hopwood, James Hop- wood, and Monroe Hopwood. These brothers were not in partnership, but kept the store in succession. The last one, Monroe Hopwood, carried on the business for twenty-five years. Coming on down through the history of the town, the following persons are found engaged in store-keeping, viz. : James Canan, Joseph Peach, William Shipley (who in 1865 bought the store of Benjamin Hayden), Jacob Llewellyn, and A. S. Ingles, who in 1868 sold out to Frank M. Se- mans, but in 1870 embarked in the business again. In thirteen years Mr. Ingles sold one hundred thou- sand dollars' worth of goods in Monroe. F. M. Semans has carried on the business successfully for thirteen years past in the old store occupied by the Hopwood brothers in former days. Other merchants have been James E. Goff, N. H. Black, W. H. Cottom, Morgan Canan, A. Shipley, and Benjamin Kissinger.

MANUFACTORIES.

As early as 1810, David Wilcox made shoes, boots, and moccasins in this town, and Hezekiah Reinier

and Thomas Barnes tanned and dressed deerskins for leather breeches, which were at that time consid- ered necessary to an aristocratic dress.

istence. John Farr and John Hannah were the first wagon-makers in the town. They carried on the busi- ness for a number of years, and were succeeded in 1830 by Lott Clawson, who has carried on the business for fifty years. In the mean time others have estab- lished themselves here, among whom were Horatio Griffith, who carried on the business some ten years, and then John Custead, who is yet engaged in it.

The first to engage in blacksmithing in the town were Dennis Bryan and Lewis Williams. These were followed by Zachariah White, John Johnson, Philip Horner, Fogg Jenkins, William Amos, Jonas Pratt, Joseph and David Fisher, William Wallace, Bryson Devan, Samuel Hickle, and O. Devan.

At one time there was an extensive comb manu- factory in Monroe, the business being carried on by Thomas Nesmith. From 1828 until 1855 he con- ducted the business, and most of the time had ped- dlers on the road selling the product of his horn-comb manufactory.

About 1840, William Graham opened a chair- and wheelwright-factory, and this remained in operation until 1847, at which time the works were removed to Waynesburg, Pa.

In 1832-33, Thomas Hopwood, now of Oregon, had built the Monroe Flouring-Mill, which has been suc- cessfully carried on ever since. Jacob Dutton was the contractor and millwright.

For the past twenty years John Ingles has been carrying on the business of broom-making in the town.

Isaac Barkley has followed the harness- and saddle- making business a great number of years, and thou- sands of specimens of his workmanship are in the country.

A carding-machine was put in operation here about 1820 by George Gregg and William Stumph. They carried on the business for a number of years.

TRIP-HAMMER FORGE.

Soon after 1800 there was a trip-hammer forge constructed in the town of Monroe (then Woodstock) by the Hopwoods. This was called Vulcan Forge, and in 1800 John Hopwood had all of the materials in readiness for its construction. Soon after (in 1802) he died, and his son Moses completed the work. This forge and trip-hammer was in operation some fifteen years. It is said that Nathaniel Mitch- ell had charge of it for a time, and in 1815 Lewis Williams bought it from Moses Hopwood, and the consideration was payable in a good assortment of hoes, axes, mattocks, plow-irons, and shovels be- fore April 1, 1818. The cupola and trip-hammer

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NORTH UNION AND SOUTH UNION TOWNSHIPS.

were operated by the stream of water which flows through "Lick Hollow."

DISTILLERY.

There was a distillery in the southern limits of Monroe. It was owned by Joseph Frazier, and then by James Calhoun. Long since it was removed from the stream of water where it was located, and a resi- dence was made of it on the front street in Monroe.

THE PROFESSIONS.

These have been well represented from Monroe. Among the lawyers of the place we have Rice G. Hopwood, for many years one of the foremost mem- bers of the Fayette County bar, and Albert Hayden, an active practitioner at Fairmount, W. Va.

Among the physicians of Monroc may be men- tioned Jordan Morris, son of William Morris, who is now practicing in the West; Thomas Hudson Hop- wood, son of William Hopwood, Esq., who was a promising young physician at the breaking out of the Rebellion, and allowing his patriotism to over- come his other desires, he enlisted, passed through the war, and came home in 1867 a major in the United States army, to die from injuries and wounds received on the battle-field.

Moses Hopwood, son of Rev. James Hopwood, re- moved to Iowa, where he practiced medicine a number of years, and finally yielded to that fell de- stroyer consumption.

Dr. Alonzo Hopwood, now of Vinton, Iowa, was born in this town, and removed to his new home in 1861.

Dr. William H. Hopwood, son of William llop- wood, Esq., now located at Upper Middletown, Fay- ette Co., is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., class of 1876.

Among the clergymen who have labored in Monroe may be mentioned the following :

James Hopwood, son of Moses Hopwood, Sr., be- gan his ministerial career in 1827, and was for many years an efficient preacher in the Methodist Church. He died March 4, 1881, at his home in Vinton, Iowa.

William Ellis commenced preaching at the same time James Hopwood did. Subsequently he united with the Baptist Church, but has now ceased labor on account of age.

James Brown, pastor of the Baptist Church at Con- fluence, Pa., commenced his ministry in the Monroe Methodist Protestant Church.

William Wallace was formerly a blacksmith in the town. Having been converted, he left the forge and anvil to preach the glad tidings to the world of sinners. He is now a successful preacher in the Pittsburgh Conference, Methodist Protestant Church.

Moses Hopwood, Sr., Gaddis Hapwood, and Thomas Nesmith were all useful as local ministers.

CHURCHES.

The earliest church organization in the town was the Methodist Episcopal. This society was formed as early as 1825, at which time, and for several subse- quent years, they had preaching at the residence of Moses Hopwood, Sr., when such eloquent divines as John H. Fielding, Charles Elliot, Henry B. Bascom, John A. Waterman, James G. Sansom, and Thomas M. Hudson preached to this society. In 1830 the Methodist Protestant Church was organized, and many seceded from the Methodist Episcopal Church and united with the new organization. The early members of the church prior to the formation of the new society were Joseph Frazier, Stephen Brown, Hannah Hopwood, Moses Hopwood, Gaddis Hop- wood, Thomas Farr, Lucy Farr, Mrs. Brown, John De Ford, Lydia De Ford, James Hopwood, William Hopwood, Thomas J. Nesmith, and William Ellis.

In 1833 the Methodist Episcopal Church, under the pastorate of Rev. J. K. Miller, built the stone church in which they still worship. The succeeding ministers who have cared for the spiritual welfare of this society and congregation are as follows, viz. : Revs. John White, David L. Dempsey, David Hess, William Tipton, Hamilton Cree, Warner Long, Eben- ezer Hays, Henry Kerns, Richard Jordan, John L. Irwin, Samuel Wakefield, R. Gordon, Martin Stew- art, - Ruter, - McClaig, John S. Lemon, L. R. Beacom, Joseph Horner, Henry Long, William K. Fontch, William C. P. Hamilton, Walter K. Brown, H. Snyder, S. Show, Isaac P. Sadler, John MeIntire, E. B. Griffin, T. H. Wilkinson, Homer J. Smith, W. D. Stevens, H. L. Chapman, J. L. Stiffy, Charles Mc- Caslin, J. Momeyer, D. J. Davis, Sylvanus Lane, M. D. Lichliter, R. J. White, John T. Stiffy, and the present pastor, Rev. W. L. MeGrew.

When this circuit was first organized the charge was in the Uniontown Circuit, afterwards changed to Fayette Circuit. It has since received the name of Smithfield Circuit. Since its organization this society has had the following persons as class-leaders, viz. : Moses Hopwood, Gaddis Hopwood, Jesse Sacket Perry G. White, Monroe Hopwood, George Hopwood, Jesse Reed.

In 1828 and 1829, under Charles Elliot, there was a great revival, which lasted through the summer and winter, and there were about one hundred and fifty accessions to the church. This revival, under the same preacher, swept all Uniontown and Madison College, and hundreds were there converted. This is said to have been the most remarkable revival of re- ligion ever known in this part of the country.

THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

As has been previously stated, there was a division in the church in 1829. In 1833, soon after the Meth- odist Episcopal Church had succeeded in building a house of worship, the Methodist Protestant Church also erected a church edifice. Their first class con-

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

sisted of the following persons, viz. : Joseph Frazier, John De Ford, Sr. (who afterwards removed to Ohio and died there, aged one hundred and four years), Samuel Littell, Stephen Brown, Sr., James Hopwood, Louisa Hopwood, Thomas Hopwood, Elizabeth Hop- wood, Thomas Brownfield, Obadiah Ellis, Thomas Nesmith, Lydia De Ford, Harriet De Ford, William De Ford, Elizabeth De Ford, Hannah Brownfield, Margaret Rankin, Margaret Frazier, William Ellis, Margaret Devan, and Moses Farr. James Hopwood was the first class-leader. His successors in that office were Thomas J. Nesmith, William De Ford, Moses Farr, Stephen K. Brown, John Bennington, Sr.

The first preacher for this church was Moses Scott, who was followed by the following-named ministers : Thomas Stynchienm (who afterwards intermarried with the family of "Stonewall" Jackson), John Hunts- man, James Robinson, John Burrs, William College, - Porter, - Piper, D. B. Dorsey, James Hop- wood, John Scott (now editor of the Methodist Re- corder), John Woodruff, Valentine Lucas, Joseph Burns, - Ross, John Stillion, Denton Hughes, P. , At that time Col. Samuel Evans and William Bryson T. Laishley, Amos Hutton, William Betts, F. H. Davis, Isaac Francis, - Boulton, Henry Palmer, Joel Woods, Jesse Hull, James Phipps, John Tygert, John Patton, John Rutledge, M. Stillwell, P. T. Con- away, Henry Lucas, Geo. G. Conaway, William Wal- ' P. Blair. The school-house was torn down a few lace, and E. A. Brindley.

Prior to 1833 this church held their services in an old log house which had been fitted up as a school- house.

SABBATH-SCHOOLS.

For a great many years the Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant congregations have had Sabbath-schools here in connection with the churches. The Methodist Episcopal Sabbath-school has been very prosperons during the term of its existence. The present superintendent is Mr. George Hopwood, under whose management it has taken front rank among the live schools of the county ; and from the report made at the late county convention of Sabbath-school workers we glean the fact that there were sixty con- versions in this school during the year 1880. At present the number of officers, teachers, and scholars on the roll is about two hundred and ninety. Other superintendents and prominent workers have been John Custead, N. H. Black, John S. Dawson, James Reed, O. Devan, J. E. Goff, Monroe Hopwood, Simou Matson, James Williams, A. Hayden, A. Shipley, Daniel Crawford, M. Silbaugh.

THE METHODIST PROTESTANT SABBATH-SCHOOL

is at present in excellent condition, and in the past it has done good work. Among the superintendents may be mentioned William Barnes, Thomas G. Barnes, Jacob D. Moore, and Abram Hayden. Prominent among the workers have been Moses Farr, Rhinaldo Farr, Mrs. L. W. Clawson, Mrs. W. N. Canan, and

Mrs. Priscilla White. This school has the names of about one hundred and fifty teachers, officers, and scholars upon its roll.

SCHOOLS.

After the death of John Hopwood his academy was discontinued, yet the desire for knowledge had received such an impetus that it never ceased to exist, and to the teachers and the schools the town owes much of its prosperity. One of the earliest teachers was Alexander Clear, a lame man, who had some thirty pupils, and boarded at the home of Moses Hopwood, Sr. Following him were William Downer, J. Muckadoo, Samuel Lathrop, Mr. Rolin, William Hart (a surveyor and teacher), Mr. Sproul, Mr. Canby, John I. Dorsey, Benjamin Hayden, William Ellis, Calvin Watson, Abram Hayden, Messrs. Van- dingburg, and - Morton. After this time the common school law of Pennsylvania came into effect, and a stone school-house was built on the site of the present frame building. William Ellis was the first teacher after the enactment of the new school law. were directors in Union township. In 1851 the township was divided for school pur- poses, and the old brick school-honse was erected in South Union. The first teacher in this school was J. years since, and a new brick building erected in its place.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

LEVI SPRINGER.1

Levi Springer, a notable and characterful man of his times, was born in North Uniontown, Aug. 14, 1777, and died Feb. 15, 1862. His ancestors came to America from Sweden, but his stock was remotely German. The name "Springer" was given, in sport, by an emperor of Germany, in the eleventh century, to a relation of his, in consequence of an adventurous leap by the latter into the river Saale from the castle of Geibichenstein, where he had been imprisoned for an alleged crime. This original Springer was par- doned by the emperor, and his estates and powers also increased.

Dennis Springer, the grandfather of Levi Springer, lived in early life in New Jersey, where he married at Burlington, in 1736, Ann Prickett, where, it is said to be without doubt, Josiah, Levi, Sr., and other children were born to him. Levi, born 1744, married, about 1768, Annie Gaddis, by whom he had seven children,-Drusilla, Abner, Ruth, Annie, William,

1 For the "etymology" of the name Springer, and above-mentioned facts concerning Dennis Springer, the writer is indebted to the "Gene. alogical Table and History of the Springer Family, by M. C. Springer, of Lincoln, Kan.“

John , Jones

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NORTH UNION AND SOUTH UNION TOWNSHIPS.

Zadoc, and Levi, Jr. His wife died in 1778, and in he now lives, Oct. 8, 1802, the youngest child, of his 1780 he married the widow Sarah Duke (whose maiden name was Shephard), by whom he had eight children,-Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, Lydia, Rachel, David, Dennis, and Job. Levi, Sr., died March 26, 1823, and his second wife, Sarah, Oct. 25, 1832. Den- nis eventually moved to Virginia, and purchased and settled upon land surveyed to him on Apple-Pie Ridge by George Washington. It was obtained from Fairfax, who resided in the neighborhood. Levi Springer, Sr., lived for a time with his father, Dennis, in Virginia, where he married, and where were born two of his children, with whom and their mother he removed into Fayette County about 1773, and here the younger Levi, as noted above, was born, and here raised, being instructed in childhood, according to the manner of the times, in domestic private schools.

parents, who had two sons and three daughters. In childhood Mr. Jones went to the common schools, and enjoyed the instructions of a gentleman who afterwards became the distinguished Judge James Todd, and at sixteen years of age attended a select school for a while. In 1819 he was apprenticed to learn the trade of cabinet-making, at which, as ap- prentice and journeyman, he continued for five years, during which he took a course of book-keeping. Thereafter for two summers he was occupied with the civil engineers who made the United States surveys for the then contemplated extension of the Chesa- peake and Ohio Canal westward from Cumberland, under Capt. Shriver. He next engaged for a while in stock-driving, wherein he obtained an experience which has since in life availed him profitably as a Early in life he engaged in boating from Brownsville | stock-raiser and dealer. In 1826 he betook himself to New Orleans, La., and frequently made return trips home from that far-off point on horseback through the wilderness, though sometimes coming back by vessel as far as New York. His active life- time home was within a quarter of a mile of his birth- place, which is now in possession of the family of Dennis Springer (deceased), having never been sold since first taken possession of by the elder Levi under the law of "tomahawk improvement." to the life of a farmer, stock-raiser, etc., which he has since pursued. In 1835 he bought a farm, which he now occupies, and to which he has added until it now covers abont two hundred and forty acres of excellent land, one hundred and twenty acres of which are un- derlaid with the celebrated nine feet stratum of Con- nellsville coking coal. On July 26, 1851, he suffered a notable disaster in the destruction of his house and farm buildings, near midnight, throngh a violent tor- nado, being then obliged to retreat from his house with a family of thirteen persons. He rebuilt the house and barns in the same year.

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History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 155

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