History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 168

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 168

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Since 1839 the principal officers of Salt Lick have been the following :

1840 .- Justices, Peter Dumhauld, Jacob H. Miller ; Assessor, Gabriel Christoer; Auditor, Fred Begg.

1841 .- Assessor, David Barnett ; Auditor, William Kern.

1842 .- Assessor, George Dull ; Anditor, John Senff.

1843 .- Assessor, John Robison; Auditor, Abraham Gallentine, 1844 .- Assessor, Jobn M. Murray ; Auditor, Abraham C. Dum- bauld.

1845 .-- Justices, Jacob H. Miller and James Schrichfield ; As- sessor, Daniel Kessler ; Auditor, John Senff.

1846 .- Assessor, Daniel Senff; Auditor, Abraham Gallentine. 1847 .- Assessor, Jonathan Lyon ; Auditor, Jacob II. Miller.

1848 .- As-essor, Jacob Pritts; Auditor, Peter Dumbauld.

1849 .- Justice, Peter Dumbauld ; Assessor, Samuel Kessler; Auditor, Abraham Gallentine.

1850 .- Justice, Philip Fleck ; Assessor, Jacob W. Robison; Auditor, John Schultz.

1851 .- Assessor, Henry Snyder; Auditor, D. W. C. Dumbauld.

1852 .- Assessor, William Muncy : Auditor, Samuel Kessler.

1853 .- Assessor, Joseph Gallentine; Auditor, William Fleger. 1854 .- Justice, D. W. C. Dumbauld ; Assessor, William Steel ; Auditor, Peter Dumbauld.

1855 .- Justice, Philip Fleck ; Assessor, John Shultz; Auditor, Jobn R. Lohr.

1856 .- Justice, Daniel Witt : Assessor, A. C. Dumbanld ; Audi- tor, Samuel Kessler.

1857 .- Assessor, Jacob H. Miller ; Auditor, A. C. Dumbauld.

1858 .- Assessor, John Shultz; Auditor, Jeremiah C. Lohr.

1859 .- Assessor, Jacob Yothers ; Auditor, Daniel Witt.

1860 .- Justice, Philip Fleck ; Assessor, Samuel Lohr.

1861 .- Justice, Jacob H. Miller ; Assessor, John Davis; Audi- tor, D. W. S. Cavenaugh.

1862 .- Assessor, Peter H. Echard; Auditor, Emanuel Barley. 1863 .- Assessor, John F. Murray ; Anditor, William H. Miller. 1864 .- Assessor, D. A. C. Hostetler ; Auditor, Jacoh H. Miller. 1865 .- Justice, D. W. C. Dumbauld ; Assessor, Frederick Mur- ray ; Auditor, George A. Dumbauld.

1866 .- Justice, Jacob H. Miller ; Assessor, J. C. Lohr ; Auditor, Philip Fleck.

1867 .- Assessor, George W. Kern ; Auditor, Jacob H. Miller.

1868 .- Assessor, David Cramer : Auditor, George A. Dumbauld.

1869 .- Assessor, Aaron Brooks; Auditor, Jeremiah M. Miller. 1869 .- Justice, D. W. C. Dumbauld ; Auditor, Nathan Wilson. 1870 .- Justice, Jacob H. Miller; Assessor, D. W. C. Dum- bauld ; Auditor, George A. Pritts.

1872 .- Justice, David A. Witt ; Assessor, William H. Miller ; Auditor, Jeremiah M. Miller.

1873 .- Assessor, John N. Kalp : Auditor, David A. Witt.

1874 .- Assessor, A. C. Dumbauld ; Auditor, George A. Dum- bauld.

1875 .- Assessor, David Ayres; Auditor, Emanuel Barclay.

1876 .- Justice, George A. Dumbauld ; Assessor, Simon Fulton ; Auditor, David Witt.

1877 .- Justice, Isaac W. Wbite; Assessor, S. M. Miller; Audi- tor, Heman Stall.

1878 .- Assessor, Samuel Cbristner; Auditor, George W. Gaus. 1879 .- Assessor, Cyrus White; Auditor, David A. Witt.

1880 .- Assessor, David Foust; Anditor, Henry Witt.

1881 .- Justice, George A. Dumubauld; Assessor, A. H. Miller : Auditor, J. B. Adams ; Supervisors of Roads, E. Barkley, A. Reece, and J. H. Miller.

ROADS.

One of the oldest roads of the township of which any record appears was petitioned for December, 1784, praying that it be located from the Broad Ford to Chris- tian Perkey's mill, and from thence to the Redstone Old Fort. At the March term of the court, 1785, Robert Beal, Edward Doyle, Andrew Arnold, Wil- liam Miller, and Joshua Dickerson, as viewers, re- ported "that the road was of great use and very necessary, as well for the county adjacent as for the inhabitants to said road in general, and we do presume it to be necessary to be of the width of thirty feet."

"Thereupon, after due consideration, the court do confirm the same, and order that the said road he

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

opened, cut, cleared, and bridged, twenty-five feet wide." The road was run with the assistance of Alexander Moreland, and has always been one of the chief highways of the township, whose import- ance has only been exceeded by the State road across the mountains, which was also opened about this time. In December, 1800, the court was petitioned for a bridge across Salt Lick (Indian) Creek at the crossing of the State road. The Grand Jury recom- mended that the bridge be built, and the court at the March session in 1801 directed the commissioners to have it built in accordance with the plans presented. The road from Andrew Trapp's to the west of the Laurel Hills was ordered in April, 1806, while the road from Trapp's to Perkey's and thence to Loben- gier's was ordered in April, 1808, Abraham Kinnear, Henry Adams, Abraham Dumbauld, John Grindle, George Batchelor, and James Patten being the view- ers. The road from John Grindle's to the bridge on Indian Creek was ordered by the same court, and was viewed by Andrew Trapp, Abraham Kern, John

Robinson, Peter Dumbauld, Daniel Perkey, and John ' about 1830, and not long after, a carding-machine Muir. The township is well provided with highways, which are usually kept in a passable condition.

GENERAL INDUSTRIES.

Although agriculture has always been the leading pursuit of the people of Salt Lick, considerable im- portance has always been attached to its manufactur- ing interests. The first was probably the mill built by Christian Perkey, on the waters of Indian Creek, ' fulling-mill has long since been discontinued.

near the north line of the township. It was put in operation some time about 1780, and was at first a very small affair. Later a better mill was built of logs on a good stone foundation, which was allowed to remain when James Muir took down the old mill and built in its place a one-story frame mill, with improved gearing and a pair of French burrs in place of the ordinary mountain stone which previously did service. That mill in turn gave place to the present structure, which was erected in 1878 by William Ne- will, under the direction of James Leeper as mill- wright. It is a three-story frame of large size, has three runs of stones and modern machinery, being in all its appointments one of the best mills in the county. The motive-power is furnished by a Leffel turbine-wheel, and the mill is rated at $10,000. The present owners are William Newill and his son, A. M. Newill, the latter operating the mills. The property has had many owners, passing from Christian Perkey to his son Daniel ; thence to Frederick Fleck, who had the grist-, saw-, and an oil-mill in operation in 1823, the latter being continued abont ten years ; thence to William Murray, thence to James Muir, and from him to James Muir, Jr., who owned it until his death, when Mr. Newill became the proprietor of . Saylor, the present owner. Another mill was oper- both the grist- and the saw-mill, continuing both, as above stated. The oil-mill was long since discon- tinued.

Passing down Indian Creek to a point above Cham- pion Run, the next power was improved, about 1820, by Peter Dumbauld to operate a saw-mill, which after a number of years became the property of George Bitner. On the same place was a fruit and grain distillery, which was discontinued about 1836.

On Champion Run are several water-powers, one of which was improved by William W. Robinson about 1852, and made to operate a saw-mill, which is at present the property of Jacob Bruner. Farther up the stream, John Spear had a linseed-oil mill about 1846, which had also as owners John Piper and Henry J. Ritner, but has not been operated the past twenty years. On the south branch of the run a saw-mill was put in operation about 1840 by Wil- liam Kessler, which passed into the hands of John W. Kinnear, and thence to others, a new mill being erected on the site by James Coffman, which is yet profitably operated.

On the main branch of Indian Creek, at the ham- let of Davistown, Abraham Davis built a saw-mill and fulling-mill. Ten years later he built a small grist-mill, which was displaced by the present mill in 1872, which was built by John Davis. After his death in 1873 the mill became the property of Lem- uel Mathews. The mill-house is three stories high, and contains three runs of stones. A new saw-mill has also recently been built at this point, and while the carding-machine is still kept in operation, the

On Back Run, a mile above its mouth, the power was first improved about 1790 by Peter Bucher, to op- erate a saw-mill, which was a great convenience to the settlers of this part of the township. A saw-mill is yet maintained at that point by Joseph Berg. A short distance above, Henry White, a resident of Bullskin, built a log-mill about 1796, which is yet in use, and is in a well-preserved condition. The stone basement appears perfect, and there is little to show the age of the mill, as the internal arrangements have been changed from time to time. At present there are two runs of stones, which are run by the power of an overshot water-wheel, fed by a long race. Among the early operators of the mill were Daniel ! Perkey, George Huey, and Adam Leppert. The mill was sold by White to the Berg family, and still re- mains in their possession, the present owner being David Berg. The saw mill at this point has become practically useless, although the mill still remains. A short distance above, Daniel Witt has had a saw- mill in successful operation the past fourteen years. Yet farther up the stream David Dumbauld built a saw-mill about 1840, which passed from him to Dan- iel Eiseman, thence to Jonathan Ash, and to David ated on Back Run, above the latter, by James H. Miller, but the power has been abandoned, the water supply being too small to be advantageously em-

747

SALT LICK TOWNSHIP.

ployed. On Poplar Run a small saw-mill is owned and operated by Manasseh Burkholder.

At the mouth of Back Run, Andrew Trapp built a saw-mill about 1800, obtaining power by means of a long raceway from the run to a point near the Indian Creek. Trapp operated the mill a number of years, and was thereafter succeeded by his son Andrew. The subsequent owners of this power have been John and Gabriel Christner, Daniel and Jolin Senff, Abraham Gallentine, Alfred Cooper, and the present, H. L. Sparks. Alfred Cooper established the tannery busi- ness at this point in 1855. His yard contained thirty- eight vats, and the building was a story and a half high. In 1863, Mr. Sparks became the owner of the property, and after ten years he remodeled the tan- nery and the mill. The power was increased by the substitution of water-wheels of the Leffel pattern, whose capacity aggregates thirty-nine horse-power. The old tannery was displaced by the present build- ing, which is 50 x 80 feet, two and a half stories high. Although supplied with a boiler, steam has not yet | been used, the proprietor preferring to finish his work in cold water, thus securing for his products a most enviable reputation in Eastern markets. From two thousand to three thousand hides per year are tanned into harness- and skirting-leather, about one-third of which is finished at the currying establishment of the firm at Connellsville. The saw-mill was rebuilt in the fall of 1879, the capacity being increased to fifteen hundred feet per day. In the spring of 1881 a planing- mill was attached to the same power, and the manu- facture of builders' materials of all kinds begun. The products of the mill are mainly oak, chestnut, and poplar, chiefly the latter two, the woods yet abound- ing with trees from which first-class lumber may be cut. In 1875, H. L. Sparks associated with him his son S. H., and the firm has since been known as H. L. Sparks & Son.

In former times there were a number of small dis- tilleries in the township, which were employed to a large extent in working np the fruit which grew so abundantly on many farms. Among the principal distillers were John Dull and David Berg on Back Run, and the Dumbaulds and Andrew Trapp on Indian Creek ; but all of them have been discontinued more than thirty years since. George Rees made hats in a small shop on the old State road, and had the reputation of being a very skillful workman. Powder was made in a small way at Davistown by Joshua Davis ; and in the southwestern part of the township, J. Yoder had in operation, after 1826, a loom of ingeni- ous construction for weaving woolen, cotton, and linen goods. He wove linen sheets of such fineness and texture that they were in great demand and highly prized by the housekeepers of Eastern Fayette.

A good quality of mountain coal abounds on nearly every farm, and has been developed in many localities to supply the home demand, there being yet no facil- ities for shipping to outside markets. At Sparks'

Mill appear two layers of coal, in veins four feet thick and about one hundred feet apart, and in many other localities similar strata manifest themselves, some of the chief mines being on the old Henry Adams place, and on the Brooks, Lohr, Robison, and Berg farms.

Within the past twenty years limestone of a supe- rior quality has been found in many accessible places, and has been quarried to a considerable extent for fertilizing purposes, to the manifest benefit of the lands to which it has been applied. One of the finest strata thus far discovered is on the old George Poe place, now owned by Henry Bungard. It is nearly sixty feet in thickness and very easily developed. In the northern part of the township iron ore was for- merly mined to supply the Mount Hope Furnace, which was in that locality, in Westmoreland County. But since it has gone out of blast no further develop- ment of that mineral has been made. Mount Hope Furnace was built in 1808, and blew out about 1820.

MERCANTILE AND OTHER INTERESTS.

Before the clay pike was opened through Spring- field, in 1810, the old State road was the great thoroughfare from Somerset County to Connellsville, and many taverns consequently were kept on that route to accommodate the numerous teams toiling up and down its course. Three of these were licensed as early as 1795, viz .: George Batchelor, on the pres- ent Peter Sleasman place ; Benjamin Davis, on the Joseph Gallentine place; and Melchior Entling, the latter being in the present township of Springfield. These were continued a number of years, and at the Davis stand was afterwards Peter Feike. Eastward were the taverns of Andrew Trapp, David Berg, George Batchelor, George Rees, and Frederick Mur- ray, the latter being at the foot of Laurel Hill. Nearly half a century has elapsed since Salt Liek has had a licensed tavern.

It is probable that Andrew Trapp was the first to engage in mercantile pursuits, having a small store near the site of Sparks' tannery as early as 1799. His original account-book, to which the writer has had access, contains the names of nearly all the pioneers, and shows that he must have carried on quite a flour- ishing business. The chief articles of traffic were liquor, lumber, flour, tallow, and salt. In addition, Trapp was the keeper of a public-house and justice of the peace, making his transactions numerous and multiform. In 1800, Adam Bungard was debited to "one bushel of salt, for which he promised to deliver me eight hushels of corn." December, 1800, George and Andrew Poe were made debtor to writing "Two Bonds of Performance and other writings, at 1s. 6d. per paper." Christian Senff, 1801, was credited by one heifer, £3, and charged with ten bushels of wheat, at 58. per bushel; one gallon of whisky, 5. ; three gallons of apple brandy, at +&, per gallon. Abraham Workman, 1804, " Dr. by wife to five quarts of whisky,

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

for which she promised two bushels of rye, to be de- livered in two weeks." The grain was delivered at the proper time, as is indicated by a credit to that effect. " Black Benjamin," owned by the Bucher family, had many debits for whisky, which were paid by working on the mill-race. In 1802, George Poe, Jr., was made debtor " By balance on the digging of twenty rods of my 'dale' race, £1 168. 11d." In 1802, George Burkholder was debited "To cash lent to pay the lawer, 158.," and in 1804, " for marrying his son Wil- liam, 158." John Woodruff, in 1802, " To horse feed and victnals, 38. 6d. For solemnizing him with the bonds of matrimony to his present wife, 78. 6d. To my trouble in going thither, 78. 6d." David Barnes, 1802, "To one pint of salt, 5d." Frederick Dum- bauld, 1804, " By fifteen pounds of ' Hetzeled Flax.'" Melchor Entling, 1807, " By balance he overpaid on a letter, 28. 3d." "To one barrel of boiled eider, £1 108." Benjamin Harris, 1802, "To one order for a wolf's head, 18. 6d." John Wibel, the teacher, July, 1807, "By two days' raking hay by wife and Betsey, 3s." George Wolf is mentioned in 1805 as the shoemaker, Jacob Barned as the blacksmith, and John Holliday as the wagon-maker.

Upon the death of Andrew Trapp, in 1824, the bnsi- ness passed into the hands of his son Andrew, who carried it on eight or ten years longer, when Gabriel and John Christner engaged in the mercantile trade at that stand a few years longer. About 1827, Robert Moorehead had a store in the same neighborhood, but at a different stand. Thenceforth a store was kept at Davistown by the Davis family, which was discontinued in 1873.

For ten or twelve years prior to 1868 a store was carried on in the Gallentine House, in the southern part of the township. The first in trade were John Gallentine and John F. Murray, and after a few years the latter conducted the store until it was discontinued, when H. L. Sparks opened his store at the tannery, and where he has been engaged in merchandising the last twelve years.

In 1871, John Miller opened a store at his residence, a mile east of Sparks', and later a business house was erected for their increasing trade near by, where J. H. and P. II. Miller were profitably engaged in business until April, 1881, when the latter retired, his place in the firm being taken by James Worrick.

The third of the business places at present contin- ued was established in 1873, on the farm of D. W. C. Dumbauld, by HI. L. Sparks, and two years later be- came the property of Judge Dumbauld, who is earry- ing on a general store, stocked with a full line of goods. At this place is kept the Champion post- office, which was established in September, 1875, D. W. C. Dumbauld as postmaster. He held that position until February, 1877, when Mary E. Dum- bauld was appointed postmaster, and still has charge of the office. It is on the Jones' Mill route, and has two mails per day.

At Sparks' store is kept the Indian Head post-office, the oldest office in the township. It was established with the name of Dawson, but later took the name of Indian Creek, and in October, 1875, was given its present appellation, the other names causing confu- sion on account of titles nearly similar which are borne by other offices in the State. In 1873 the office was removed from Davistown to the present place, H. L. Sparks being appointed postmaster vice John Davis, deceased. He has since continued to serve in ' that capacity. The office has two mails per day, the service being by the route from Stewarton Station, in Springfield, to Jones' Mill, in Westmoreland County.

There is properly no hamlet in Salt Liek, the only approach to one being Davistown, where are a few houses and a church clustered around the mills at that point. Whatever other interests were here have been diverted to the places named above as being more suitable trading points.

RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL.

The first denominational services in the township were maintained by the Lutheran and German Re- formed settlers, who belonged to those churches in the eastern part of the State. These meetings, held first at the house of Peter Bucher and other places, resulted in a purpose to have a house of worship where both seets might hold their meetings, and the increasing congregations might be better accommo- dated than in the limited rooms theretofore available. To this end Peter Bucher and Andrew Trapp deeded a tract of land on a gentle hill-slope near the west bank of Back Run, where the present

GUTE HOFFNUNG KIRCHE

was erected abont 1800. It is of logs, bnt has been weather-boarded, and in general appearance resembles a frame house. Originally it was provided with side and end galleries and a high pulpit; but these have been removed and the internal arrangements made to conform to modern architecture. The house was re- modeled in the summer of 1851, and on the 29th of November of that year the "Lutheran Congregation of Good Hope" was organized. At this time there were ninety-one members, and the church conncil . was composed of Rev. J. R. Focht, pastor ; John Snyder and Peter Snyder, elders; A. C. Dumbauld and Frederick Miller, deacons.

The time when the congregation was first organized is involved in obscurity. In the first church-book appear the names of children baptized as early as 1788; but it is possible that some of them may have been transcribed from the record of other churches, since no other idea but that of baptism is conveyed. The first date of any authentie moment is Ang. 23, 1795, when a list of communicants is given, which embraces the names of Mathias Kern, Peter Bucher, Sr., Frederick Herman, Ludwig Banse, Anna Maria Banse, Catherine Senff, Christopher Loser, Christian Senff, Frederick Meator, Peter Strayer, Catherine

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SALT LICK TOWNSHIP.

Strayer, Abraham Craft, Jacob Stauch, Catherine gregation of Good Hope appointed Ludwig C. Miller, Jacob Imel, and George A. Dumbauld a building committee for the purpose of erecting a new church Stauch, George Rees, Jacob Morrix, George Wolf, Anna Maria Wolf, Conrad Roeshenberger, Anna Ma- ria Roeshenberger, Dorothea Shaefer, Catherine Her- ' edifice, but no material progress to this end has yet man, Philip Brickman, Elizabeth Brickman, Cather- been made. In connection with the old church is a graveyard, where lie interred many of the old citizens of Salt Lick and the surrounding country who were formerly members of either the Lutheran or Reformed congregations worshiping in the modest old build- ing, which is now one of the oldest landmarks in Northeastern Fayette. ine Rees, Christian Ausman, Abraham Hay, Christi- ana Dumbauld, Simon Schneider, Ludwig Hay, Jacob Hentz, Eva Elizabeth Loser, Sally Ehrenfried, Anna Barbara Loser, Elizabeth Hay, Anna Margaret Ehrenfried, Barbara Herman, Susanna Senff, G. Van Cassell, John Crist, Barbara Harbaugh, Henry Har- baugh, and Conrad Lutz.

In February, 1796, the names of the Reformed members of the "Good Hope" are given as follows : Frederick Smith, George Hoffhance, Andrew Weil, Adam Shafer, John Robison, Christian Perkey, Henry Schlater, Barabara Schneider, Elizabeth Weil, Bar- bara Robison, Catherine Meator, Elizabeth Macken- dorfer, Frederick Dumbauld, Adam Hoff hance, Wil- liam Smith, Frederick Crist, James Mitchel, Anna Maria Dumbauld, Betsey Robison, Elizabeth Crist, Catherine Crist, Elizabeth Smith, Elizabeth Weil, Elizabeth Hoffhance, and Julia Ann Meator.

The members of the two congregations were first under the ministerial care of the Revs. Long and All, but some time prior to 1822 the Lutherans had as their pastor the Rev. Smucker, and the German Reformed minister was Rev. Kieffer. The latter was succeeded by the Rev. Voigt, whose connection with the congregation was not terminated until 1856. He appears to have been the last regular minister, for the congregation became too feeble to maintain its or- ganization, which was suffered to go down about that period.

In 1827 the Rev. Jonas Mackling succeeded the Rev. Smucker as the pastor of the Lutheran congre- gation, and ministered to them in holy things until 1849, when the Rev. J. J. Suttre entered upon a short pastorate. In 1851 he was succeeded by the Rev. J. R. Focht, who was the spiritual teacher until 1856, when the Rev. J. Gaumer entered upon a pastorate which was terminated in 1868. In connection with the Donegal and Franklin congregations, the Rev. John Welfley assumed the pastoral relation in 1869, which continued until 1875. The following year the Rev. D. Erhard became the pastor, and yet fills that office.

The congregation had in 1880 about fifty commu- C. Dumbauld ; Deacon, Ludwig C. Miller; Trustees, Jacob Styer, Henry Bungard, and John H. Snyder. Among the elders and deacons since the organization of the church have been Frederick Miller, John Snyder, Peter Snyder, Ludwig Hort, Henry Kemp, Jacob Imel, Ludwig C. Miller, and Abraham C. Dum- bauld. The latter was for many years at the head of a Sunday-school which was maintained in the church, but which has not been kept up the past ten years.

The Evangelical Association was the next denomi- nation to maintain regular preaching. Their mis- sionaries, entering the township fifty years ago, found willing hearers and hearts that quickly responded to the gospel call as proclaimed by these plain but earn- est men. Among those who accepted their doctrines were Jacob Barned and his son-in-law, Abraham Davis, whose homes thereafter became the places of worship until a church building could be provided. Barned died in the faith, while attending a pioneer camp- meeting, many years ago, but he had lived long enough to see the church of his adoption flourish and become firmly established in Salt Lick. Others who shared the burdens of pioneer membership were the younger Davises, several persons by the name of Resler, Kesslar, and the Senff family.

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History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 168

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