USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 161
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Joseph Hewitt lived on part of the old farm. His son Milton now owns it, and is devoting it to fruit culture. In 1877 he started a fruit-house for preserv- ing apples late in the spring. He studded and sheathed an old house with eighteen inches space, which was filled with saw-dust. The first year he kept successfully five hundred barrels, which were sold in March for four dollars and seventy-five cents per barrel. In 1879 five hundred barrels were also kept, and in 1880 twelve hundred barrels were put up, which were finely preserved. An additional house was built in 1878, which was intended to keep them still later.
John A., son of Jonathan Hewitt, settled on part of the homestead where his daughter, Mrs. George Jackson, now lives. Elizabeth married James Binns . when the crash came, his property was swept away by and went West. Mary married Asa Chambers ; they lived and died in the township. A son, Asa, now lives on part of the farm left to his mother.
Jacob Harris purchased five hundred acres of land of the warrantee. It lay west and northwest from | near Layton Station. His son is now a merchant at
Washington Bottoms. He had four sons- Benjamin, James, Isaac, and Jacob-and six daughters,-Amy (Mrs. Andrew Work), Annie (Mrs. Thomas Patton), Rachel and Sally, who married brothers by the name of Stemm; Jemima (Mrs. John Coder), and Eliza (Mrs. Harvey Henderson). Jacob in his will devised his real estate to his sons and grandsons. The hun- dred acres were owned by Benjamin H., one hundred , merly owned by his grandfather.
and sixteen by Jacob, and one hundred and ninety by James Harris.
Henry Stow, Samuel and David Luce now own land long known as the Powers farm, a tract of over four hundred acres. From Powers it passed to Hurst, who sold it to John H. Martin, by whom at different times it has been conveyed to it- present owners.
Joseph McGara many years ago owned a traet of two hundred acres. He died. His family sold out and removed West. The farm is now owned by Philip Luce, Elliot Porter, William Wiggle, and others.
The section of the township known as the Brow- neller settlement was formerly owned by Thomas and William Bleakley. Frederick Browneller came from Franklin County, Pa., and purchased the Thomas Bleakley tract, and Jacob Snyder that of his brother, William Bleakley. The heirs of Jacob Snyder still own the property. On the Snyder farm was built the old log church belonging to the Cumberland Presby- terians, and known by the name of "Harmony." The present church stands nearly on the same site.
Frederick Browneller built a saw-mill on a small stream near his place, which was discontinued a few years ago. He had four sons,-William, Samuel, Frederick, and George. The two former remained on the farm, and the other removed West. A steam saw- mill at the mouth of Van Meter's Run is owned by Peter Van Meter, of Rostraver township. He mar- ried a daughter of Peter Marmie, who was for many years connected with the Jacob's Creek Iron-Works.
The land now owned by Oliver Porter and John Bryan was owned many years ago by one Peter Reed. Joseph Whitsett took up a warrant for one hundred and forty-four acres of land in the section. The land where Ralph C. Whitsett now lives, on the Youghio- gheny River east of Van Meter's Run, was formerly owned by a Mr. Thompson, who sold to Robert Wil- kinson. The Martin Elwell farm was formerly owned by Henry Stone, Sr. A Mr. Rhodobacker purchased of the warrantee the farm now owned by the heirs of David Carson. Job Strawn, from Berks County, Pa., prior to 1800 purchased a tract of three hundred acres. When the excitement of magnificent enter- prises broke out at Perryopolis, he became interested in the glass-works and the bank at that place, and the disastrous management of the former. The farm was sold at sheriff's sale and purchased by his son Ja- cob, who lived there until his death in December, 1855, by an accident on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Perryopolis. Job Strawn, after the sale of his prop- erty, removed to the West.
Thomas Carson many years ago purchased a tract of land known as the "Round Bottom." It passed from him to his sons John and James, and recently the homestead was sold to Albert Marlin. Joel, a grandson of Thomas, owns a part of the farm for-
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Samuel Burns bought of the warrantee a traet of land, which was patented to him Dec. 28, 1809, and known as "Liberty Hill." He devised the property to his son, Thomas E. Burns, who sold it on the 8th of November, 1823, to Robert Bleakley. On the 31st of January, 1848, it came into possession of James Fuller, and is now owned by his son, David Fuller. Of the other sons of James Fuller, John resides in the borough of Perryopolis ; James, William, and Alfred are residents of Philadelphia. The last two are engaged in shipping beef to London, and are also very extensive manufacturers of oleomargarine. Wil- liam acts as managing partner in London.
The settlements before mentioned were all south of the Youghiogheny River. In that part of the present township north of the river, and thence to the county line on Jacob's Creek, the largest purchaser was Wil- liam Turnbull, of the firm of Turnbull, Marmie & Co., merchants of Philadelphia, who became inter- ested in iron ore which was found in these lands. This firm, in the spring of 1789, began the erection here of the first furnace built west of the Allegheny Mountains. At what time the warrants were taken out is not known. The tract on which the furnace was built was named " Rocksbury," and contained three hundred and one acres. The patent was issued on the 13th of July, 1789. At this time the furnace was so far completed as to be mentioned in a petition to the court of Fayette County, at the June session, for a road "from the furnace on Jacob's Creek to Thomas Kyle's mill."
A tract of three hundred and one acres, named " Frankford," and another adjoining of two hundred and nineteen acres, named "Springsbury," were patented to Mr. Turnbull at the same time. A tract of two hundred and twenty-three acres adjoining, named " Luton," was patented to Jacob Lowrie, Jan. 9, 1789. This was purchased by Turnbull & Mar- mie on the 9th of October, 1791. In addition to the ten hundred and forty-four aeres owned by Mr. Turn- bull in Fayette County, there was obtained by patent and by purchase thirteen hundred and eighty-one acres of land across Jacob's Creek, in Westmoreland County, as follows: "Rural Felicity," 262 acres, patented Nov. 1, 1787 ; "Bannockburn," 308 acres, patented July 11, 1789 ; " Darby," 312 acres, patented July 13, 1789; " Abington," 200 acres, patented April 17, 1790; and a traet of 299 acres, named " Springfield," which was patented to John Gebhart, March 10, 1785, and sold to Turnbull, Marmie & Co., Oct. 9, 1791. These tracts of land, by reason of the financial difficulties of Mr. Turnbull, were trans- ferred to Col. Jolin ITolker (one of the firm) on the 10th of February, 1797. But little was done at the furnace after 1793, although it continued in operation till 1802, when its fires went out forever. Col. Hol- ker, on the 20th of January, 1817, entered into an agreement with Henry Sweitzer for these lands. In accordance with this agreement, Col. Holker, on the
27th of June, 1821, conveyed all the lands mentioned to Paca Smith, in trust to convey to Henry Sweitzer, and on the 27th of July, 1822, he conveyed the prop- erty by deed to Henry Sweitzer and Jacob Bowman as tenants in common. The greater portion of the lands were afterwards sold to the Jacob's Creek Oil Company, by whom they are still owned.
The ruins of the old furnace-stack, charcoal-house, and other structures are still visible. The two first mentioned are in Fayette County. The abntment of the bridge which crossed the creek at this place is still standing, a pile of stones without form. The ruins of the forge are on the north side of the creek, in West- moreland County. The ruins are approached from Burns' Ford north to the school-honse, thence west- erly by an old road to the woods, and winding down the hill into the deep valley of Jacob's Creek. As the approach is made to the creek the stack is visible be- low, and upon the upper side of the road, directly in rear of it, are the ruins of the charcoal-house, a solid wall of masonry, sixty feet in length, twenty feet in height, and two and a half feet thick, the end walls extending back to the hill, about twenty feet, the rear wall being formed by the natural rock. With the ex- ception of the east end and the top of this wall, it is as solid and as trne as when first laid. After passing the ruin the road extends several rods westerly, still descending to the creek, where it is met by another road coming up from the month of the creek, From this junction the road runs up the stream on the low level a few rods to where the furnace is located, and at which place the road crosses the creek into West- moreland County. The stack is about twenty-five feet square, with two arches, now partly broken away, one on the north side and one on the west. A part of a low wall is standing that extends from the sonth side of the stack towards the hill. The northeast corner is still true for a height of eight or ten feet, except the lower stones, which have fallen away. The others are crumbled. Shrubs, mosses, and climb- ing vines partially hide the ravages of time, and trees are growing from the upper part of the stack, one of which is five inches in diameter. A view of the ruins will be found with the article on furnaces in the gen- eral history of this county.
On the extreme northwest corner of the township, at the junction of Jacob's Creek and the Youghio- gheny River, Chistopher Beeler took out a warrant for 2983 acres of land, Dec. 16, 1788, and received a patent therefor March 11, 1789, He came from Vir- ginia, and lived in this section before he took ont his warrant, as he was with Col. Crawford in his cam- paign of 1782. He sold this tract to Col. Isaac Meason, who gave it to his daughter Mary, who married Dan- iel Rogers. They lived in Connellsville, and the farm was rented many years. It was finally purchased by A. R. Banning, and when, about 1859, the Pittsburgh and Connellsville (now the Baltimore and Ohio) Rail- road was completed, a station was opened at that place
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PERRY TOWNSHIP.
called Banning's Station. The land is still owned by Mr. Banning. About 1870, Daniel Hohenschell started a store, which was kept for a year or two. In 1879, M. L. Wright built a store at the station, which is still there. A brick manufactory is in process of construction by Smith & Hough.
Gen. J. B. Sweitzer owns 240 acres of land adjoin- ing the Beeler tract, east on Jacob's Creek. This was part of the Turnbull lands.
Thomas Forsyth took out a patent for 171 acres of ! rear of where the cabin stood, where seventy or sev- land in this part of the township. He had sons,- enty-five years ago hundreds of graves were to be seen. In 1812, Aaron Jones lived there, and his wife was drowned in the river while crossing in a canoe. The name was changed from Dunn's to Layton's after the purchase by Abraham Layton in 1821. Ezekiel, David, and Thomas. Ezekiel settled on the homestead. His son Thomas now lives on the farm adjoining. Henry and John, sons of Ezekiel, both live near. David, son of Thomas, lived in Westmore- land County.
Valentine Secrist took up a tract of one hundred and eight and three-quarter acres on a warrant dated Sept. 29, 1791, for which he received a patent dated October 26th the same year. He also received a war- rant for two hundred and forty-five acres the same date, which was surveyed November 2d of the same year, and another of one hundred and ninety-eight acres, warranted Oct. 5, 1790, surveyed Feb. 11, 1791. These last two tracts were in what is now Tyrone township, adjoining the Turnbull lands. A part of these lands are now occupied by descendants of the family. Da- vid Secrist lives on the tract in Perry township.
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John Zizing came to this region of country as a cow- boy with Peter Galley. He learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, and for many years worked among the farmers before purchasing any land. On the 10th of March, 1819, he took out a warrant for sixty-eight and one-quarter acres, and on the 25th of February, 1822, a warrant for one hundred and fifty-eight acres. These tracts were patented to him June 23, 1822. He had three sons, John, Gottlieb, and Solomon, who live on the lands a short distance from Layton's Station.
Henry Stemmel purchased a tract of land which was a part of the Turnbull lands, now owned by Mrs. David Morrow. Samuel and John Stemmel, sons of Henry, live in the township.
The land on which Layton Station is situated was a tract called "Springfield," and was patented April 6, 1791, to Mary Higgs (a daughter of John Shreve), and contained two hundred and seventeen acres. It was deeded by her June 3, 1795, to Francis Bryson, and was sold by him Aug. 2, 1797, to George Johnston, who conveyed it on the 2d of April, 1806, to William Espy. It was devised in his will to his sons, Hngh and Robert, in December, 1813. On the 25th of Oc- tober, 1821, they conveyed the greater portion of it to Abraham Layton for $2352. Upon his death the land passed to his sons, Michael and Abraham, who for a long time built keel-boats on the river to ship sand and glass down the river. The land was sold by the Laytons to Daniel R. Davidson, and in 1864 was con- veyed to Joseph Wilgus. Michael Layton, after the death of his father and sale of the lands at Lay-
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ton's Station, purchased a tract south of the river, said to have been formerly owned by - Lloyd, and now owned by Jacob Henderson. It is a tradition that before the warrant was obtained for this land Michael Sowers lived in an old cabin and ferried people across the river. After his death one Dunn lived in the cabin. He was drowned a few years later, and the place was long known as " Dunn's Deep Hole." There is an old burial-place in the
A tract of three hundred acres was located next east of the Turnbull lands on Jacob's Creek. It was pat- ented by Andrew Robinson, and owned by him as late as 1859. He sold the farm to Plummer and Stiner. It now belongs to Pierson Cope.
Many years since a grist and saw-mill were erected on this tract at the falls, which are at this point twenty-five feet high. Two dams have rotted down. No improvements are on the place at present.
ERECTION OF TOWNSHIP AND LIST OF OFFICERS.
A petition of inhabitants praying for a township to be formed out of parts of Washington and Tyrone townships was presented to the January term of court, 1839. William Davidson, Thomas Boyd, and Joseph Torrance were appointed commissioners. They made a report at the June session of court the same year, from which the following is extracted, viz. :
"That in pursuance of said order they met at McDonald's Mill, on Virgin Run, in Franklin township, being the most convenient point of meeting for said viewers, and after view- ing the ground proposed to be formed into a new township, and being accompanied all the time hy a number of intelli- gent, respectable citizens interested in the new township, and finding great unanimity of sentiment so far as heard ex- pressed by all included therein, they unhesitatingly recommend to the court the formation of a new township out of parts of the townships of Washington, Franklin, and Tyrone, with the fol- lowing boundaries, viz. : Beginning at Robinson's Mill on Jacob's Creek, on the line between Fayette and Westmoreland Counties, in Tyrone township ; thence a straight line to Robert Hutchinson's barn, in Tyrone township aforesaid; thence a straight line to the foot of Grassy Island, in the Youghiogheny River, at the head of the round bottom; thence np the said river to the month of Virgin Run; thenee up the said run to McDonald's Mill; thence by a new road recently located from said mill to the old road leading from Union Town to Pitts- burgh near Robert Patterson's; thence with the said Pittsburgh road to the top of the hill near Martin Lutz' house; thence by a straight line to the Perryopolis and Cookstown road, near where a ravine crosses said road on Thomas Patton's land; thence by a straight line to a white-oak tree on the Westmore- land County line, on the land of Jacob Snyder ; thence by the county line aforesaid to the place of beginning."
June 7, 1839, the report was confirmed by the
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
court and a township erected " according to the lines of the plot returned, to be called Perry township." 1
The following is a list of township officers of Perry from the time of its erection to the present :
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1840. James Fuller. 1863. George W. Anderson.
Ellis Simpkins.
J. A. Murphy.
1845. Job Rossell.
1865. John R. McDonald.
Reuben Sutton.
Josiah King.
1850. Pierson Cope. 1870. Robert Bleakley. James Blair.
Robert Bleakley.
1855. Thomas Shepherd. Robert Bleakley.
1874. James D. Cope.
1858. James Blair, Jr.
1878. T. J. Suttle.
Robert Bleakley.
1879. Thomas Watson.
1860. Robert Bleakley. 1880. Thomas C. Strawn.
John K. MeDonald.
AUDITORS.
1840. Amos Hewitt. 1858. Pierson Cope.
Samuel Hubbs.
1859. Martin Hewitt.
James Patterson.
1860. Charles Lutz.
1841. John A. Murphy.
1861. George W. Martin.
1842. James Fuller.
1862. Eli MeClelland.
1843. John L. Morton.
1863. David Fuller.
1864. Robert Bleakley.
Samuel Porter. Robert Bleakley.
1865. John Yard.
1844. William Campbell.
1866. Pierson Cope.
1845. Pierson Cope.
1867. Emlin Pierce.
1846. W. T. McCormick.
1868. Daniel Fuller.
1847. Andrew Stone.
1869. David P. Hagerty.
1848. Thomas Shepherd.
1870. Joseph Piersol.
1849. John K. McDonald.
1874. David Luee.
1850. William Martin.
1875. A. Ilixenbangh. 1876. Joseph Piersol.
1851. John Hewitt.
1852. John K. McDonald.
1877. David Luce.
1853. Samuel Watson.
1878. Samuel Luce.
1854. L. R. King.
1879. William Snyder.
1855. David Luce.
1×56. James E. Strickler.
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William W. Patterson.
1881. Elliot Porter.
ASSESSORS.
1840. James Blair.
1841. Martin Elwell.
1843. Robert B. Patterson. 1844. John Blaney.
1842. Alexander Armstrong. 1845. John M. March.
1 At the September term of court, 1842, a petition was presented " of sundry inhabitants of Perry township for an alteration of the line be- tween said township and the township of Tyrone, as per draft annexed to petition." Order was issued and viewers appointed. On the 2d of December, 1844, the order was renewed to March sessions, 1845, at which time the report was approved ( March 14th), and confirmed by the court Juue 6th in the same year. At the same time a change was made in the line between Perry and Jefferson (see Jefferson and Tyrone township histories).
At the Decenther term of court, 1851, a petition was presented for "a view to change the line between Franklin and Perry townships, so as to embrace Aaron Townsend, Jr., Laban Blaney, John 11. Blaney, and Joel Cooper (now of Franklin township in the township of Perry, by start- ing at the township line at or near said Townsend's new house; thence along the Greenfield and Connellsville road to Joel Cooper's farm or bridge that crosses the head-waters of Virgin Run, and thence down the same to Malcolm McDonald's Mills." The commissioners appointed were Josiah King, Daniel Essington, and Samuel (, Griffith. Order was is-ned Jan. 24, 1852. Report approved at the March sessions of court, 1852, and confirmed at the June term following.
1846. Ross M. Murpby.
1847. James Patterson, Jr.
1848. James Pearsoll.
1849. William Martin.
1850. Joseph Luce.
1 1851. Martin Ellwell.
1852. Lynch R. King.
1853. Aaron Townsend.
1854. Milton Hewitt.
1855. Job Strawn.
1874. Samuel Luce.
1856. John Ilewitt.
1875. John Townsend.
1857. Gottlieb Zizing.
1876. William Blaney.
1858. Henry Stuckstager.
1859. John A. Murphy.
1860. Patrick Watson.
1861. Jacob Strickler.
1881. Job Strawn.
1862. George M. Jackson.
1863. James P. Cope.
1864. Noah Armstrong.
1865. Samuel Strickler.
1866. Benjamin F. Harris.
1867. James Bell. 1868. Asa Chambers.
1869. Martin Thompson.
1870. Thomas C. Strawn.
1873. C. B. Campbell. Elliot Porter.
1878. Henry Stone. 1879. George W. Jackson.
ISSO. Philip Luce.
E. K. Chalfant.
PERRYOPOLIS.
Before the year 1814, Dr. Thomas Hersey, Nathan Hersey, and Samuel Shreve had bought of George Meason a part of the Washington tract, with the in- tention of laying out a village or town upon their purchase. Thomas E. Burns owned land on the northeast of them, and became interested with them in the platting of the town. On the 18th of March, in the year named above, these four proprietors exe- ented the " charter" of the town of Perryopolis, as follows :
" To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting : Whereas we, the undersigned, Nathan Hersey, Thomas Hersey, Thomas E. Burns, and Samuel Shreve, of Fayette County, & State of Pennsylvania, for divers good causes and considerations there- unto moving, have caused to be laid off on the contiguous parts of our lands in Washington Township, County, & State afore- said a number of lots interspersed with Streets and Alleys, in order to promote the erection of a Town, to be known by the name of Perryopolis. Now know ye that in order to promote the prosperity and encourage the improvement of said Town, and secure to the purchasers of lots therein the privileges and immunities necessary for the common interest, we, the under- signed Proprietors of Perryopolis aforesaid, feel it our pleas- urable duty to give forth this our Charter, to wit : 'Washing- too's Diamond,' in the centre of said Town, is laid off one hundred and sixty feet square. The two principal Streets, ' Liberty' and ' Independence,' crossing each other at right angles in said Diamond, are laid off eighty feet wide. The alleys proceeding from each of the four corners of said Dia- mond are laid off twenty feet wide. All the other streets are laid out and intended to be sixty feet wide, and all other alleys are laid off and intended to be fifteen feet wide, as hy the gen- eral plan hereunto annexed will appear. All which said Dia- mond, Streets, and Alleys shall be and remain of the above stipulated width and dimensions severally, any excess or defi- cieney in the measure of any lot or lots notwithstanding, and they are hereby declared to he public highways, and appropri- ated solely to that purpose. To have and to hold the free and undisturbed use of the ground of the above-described Diamond, Streets, and Alleys for the above purposes to the Purchasers, Inhabitants, and Citizens of the aforesaid Town of Perryopolis, its vicinity, and all other persons whatsoever demeaning them- selves peaceably and as liege citizens of the United States, in common with ourselves, our heirs, and assigns forever, reserv -
1880. Leslie Harris.
1857. Henry Mherling.
1873. T. L. Newell.
717
PERRY TOWNSHIP.
ing the timber thereon for our own particular use. . . . Given under our hands and seals at Perryopolis, the ISth of March, in the year of our Lord 1814.
" TROMAS HERSEY. " THOMAS E. BURNS.
"SAMUEL SHREVE.
" NATHAN HERSEY."
In the laying out of the alleys eight triangles were formed, which were set apart for public uses as fol- lows: No. 66, religions; 67, female school; 68, acad- emy ; 69, male school; 70, religious; 71, Masonic, medical, mechanic; 72, library ; 73, " paupery." The charter and plat were filed May 3, 1837.
At the time of the laying out of Perryopolis there were but two or three straggling dwellings on its site. One of these was the house or cabin of John Wilgus, who as early as 1806 came from his native State, New Jersey, and settled on the Washington Bottoms, then in the township of Washington. He became a justice of the peace, and filled that office for many years. He is still remembered by the older citizens of Perry township. His son Joseph was born in 1807, where Perryopolis now is, and he is now living at Layton's Station. Edward Wilgus, a brother of John, came here at about the same time. He was a shoemaker, worked at his trade here, and ended his days here. Some of his family are still residents of Perryopolis.
The platting of the new town had the effect to at- tract considerable attention to the place, and the dis- covery of sand suitable for the manufacture of glass induced the organization of a company for that pur- pose. The project being pushed with energy, and | recommended to the people in glowing terms, the far- mers and other well-to-do inhabitants of this section of country subscribed liberally to this enterprise, as also to the stock of a banking concern which was started about the same time. A flint-glass factory was erected where the Methodist Church and ceme- tery now are. From bad management or other causes none of these projects proved profitable to the original A newspaper was started in Perryopolis (soon after the laying out of the town) by William Campbell, a brother of Dr. Hugh Campbell, of Uniontown. He (William) had been the editor of the Fayette and Greene Spectator, in Uniontown, for one year from its stockholders or of permanent advantage to the town. Their failure brought disaster to many public-spirited people who aided them by subscriptions, and Perry- opolis never realized the prosperity and importance which at one time seemed assured by the establish- ' first publication in 1811. The name of the paper he ment of these enterprises.
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