History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 171

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 171

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of a tannery, mills, several stores, and a dozen houses, built without thought of forming a village and on unplatted ground. The first improvement was the Kooser grist-mill, built in 1851, although the old Bigam meeting-house had before directed attention to this locality as a central point for the people of Spring- field south of Indian Creek. In 1851 was also opened the store of Weller & Dull, in a building erected for that purpose, and which yet remains. Daniel W. Dull became the sole owner of the store in a few years, and sold out to John W. Sherbondy, who removed the stock of goods to Springfield. For a time the place was without a store, but in 1863 Jonathan and Hiram C. Sipe engaged in a trade which passed into the hands of the latter, and was continued by him until his death in 1878. He was a very successful merchant, and in the later years of his career also here carried on a banking business, a small house being erected for this purpose especially. It was supplied with a large safe, which a party of burglars vainly attempted to move, in an attempt to despoil Mr. Sipe of his wealth, having been led to believe, doubtlessly, that if the bank were small the safe must necessarily be diminutive. The morning following the futile at- tempt revealed the work of the misereants, who in their disgust had left their tools and tackle behind them, scattered on the floor of the bank. The goods of the Sipe store were sold to Augustus Stickle, who had opened a store near the tannery in 1877. This was destroyed by fire in June, 1880, but a new build- ing was erected in its place, where Mr. Stickle carries on a growing trade. Meantime, Evans Bigam opened a store near the mill, which he yet carries on, and lately the old Sipe stand has been filled with a stock of goods by C. K. Brooks and Martin H. King.

The Mill Run post-office was established in 1866, with Hiram C. Sipe as postmaster. He was sue- ceeded by Levi Bradford, and he iu turn, in 1876, by John A. Kooser, who keeps the office at his mill. The mail service is daily from Stewarton to Jones' Mill. Prior to 1871 it was from Farmington to the latter place, several times per week.

Springfield, a hamlet approximating a village in size, is on the clay pike, northwest of the centre of the township. Originally the land belonged to the Eicher family, and later to Samuel Long, who sold three hundred acres to Jonathan Miller, of Somerset County. On the lower part of this tract Levi and J. H. Miller erected a large brick house in 1847, which is the oldest house in that part of the hamlet. This house and a number of acres of land became the property of Charles King, who in 1852 laid out thirty- six quarter-aere lots for village purposes, which con- stitutes the plat of the lower part of Springfield. In 1853 King erected his present residence on one of the lots, and the same year James Gallentine built a house opposite the Campbell store, which is yet standing. Passing over an unoccupied space one-fourth of a mile westward, the upper end of the hamlet contains

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a house which was built about 1835, by Joseph Scott, and around which a dozen more buildings were erected in subsequent years. Some of these are rather dilap- idated, and the hamlet throughout, after the import- ance of the clay pike declined, gave little promise of continued or future prosperity. The population diminished until the number maintaining their per- manent homes in 1880 was only about one-half of what it was several decades earlier. Lately, however, there have been signs of renewed life, and the former activity may again be restored. Springfield contains two churches, a school-house, a large tannery (not in operation ), two good stores, a number of mechanic- shops, and one hundred and twenty-five inhabitants.

The first goods were sold by Joseph Scott, about 1836, his trade being continued a few years. Henry and John Brooks opened the next store in the build- ing now occupied by Capt. James B. Morris, merchan- dising from 1839 to 1847. Next came Levi and J. H. Miller, who, in 1853, established their place of busi- ness in the lower part of the village, where they con- tinued until 1861. The present Campbell store room was occupied in 1873 hy J. F. Campbell ; but the business is at present carried on by George W. Camp- bell, who has a large room well stocked with assorted goods for a general trade. On the opposite corner a new store has just been opened by Benton L. Miller. Among other merchants in the hamlet have been Lohr & Detweiler, John Brooks, J. W. Sherbondy, Rogers & Campbell, John F. Murray, McBeth & Morris, Reisinger & Cole, and William Aughen- baugh.

Samuel Long was the first to open a public-house in the lower part of the village. This house has been used for the entertainment of the public almost ever since, among the keepers of the inn being Moses Coughenour, Eli Gallentine, Samuel Kooser, Martin Kring, and William H. Brooks. At the upper end of the village J. W. C. Brooks kept an inn from 1871-72, which was known as the " Utah House." J. H. Mil- Jer also entertained the public, and lately Benton L. Miller has accommodated the traveling public, the Brooks house also being continued.

A post-office was here established about 1851, with the name of Springfield, Alfred Cooper being the postmaster. In 1853 the name of the office was changed to "Elm," which it yet bears, and J. H. Miller appointed postmaster. In 1862 he was suc- ceeded by Nathan B., Long, and he in turn by John W. Sherbondy, J. T. Coughenour, William Brooks, J. F. Campbell, and since the spring of 1881 the present, George W. Campbell. Two mails per day are sup- plied by the route from Stewarton to Jones' Mill, John Brooks, of Springfield, being the carrier. The first mail service was from Connellsville to Berlin, in Somerset County, once a week ; thereafter from Farm- ington, on the National road, three times a week.

The first physician in the township was Dr. J. B. Phythian, a son-in-law of Clifford Elder. He was a

native of Gloucestershire, England, but became a resident of Pittsburgh in 1825. Several years later he settled in Springfield, and remained until his death, not many years thereafter. His remains were taken to Somerset County. The next physician was Dr. Joseph Rogers, son of Maj. James Rogers, the builder of the mills, where Dr. Rogers had his home, and where he died, March 20, 1876, at the age of seventy- nine years. After graduating at the University of Pennsylvania, he engaged in the practice of medi- cine at Ligonier. In 1828 he became interested in the Fayette Furnace, but did not wholly relinquish his practice. In 1841 he settled permanently in Springfield, and was for many years the sole physi- cian of the township, practicing the healing art until within a year of his death. His son, James K., after graduating at Jefferson College, studied medicine, and served in the Rebellion as a surgeon. For some years he was connected with the hospital at St. Louis, and contracted a disease which proved fatal to his life a few years after the war. Another son, Alexander, graduated from the same institution, and is now a physician at Scottdale, Westmoreland Co.

The resident physicians of the township are Dr. A. G. Grubb, at Mill Run, since 1877, and Dr. A. H. McCoy, at Springfield, since 1861. The latter is a well-known practitioner, having a ride which extends many miles around, where he enjoys the reputation of being a successful physician.

There have been a few others as physicians in the township, whose residence did not have sufficient duration to secure them a practice.

EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS.

Among the early schools in Springfield was one taught in a small house which stood where is now the principal place of business in the hamlet of Spring- field. It was kept up a few years, probably from 1810 to 1813. As this was an English school, many of the children of the early settlers continued to attend the schools in Salt Lick, where instruction was given in the German language also. On the present McMillan farm was a pioneer school-house, in which Daniel Turner, a Revolutionary soldier, taught several years more than half a century ago. While a good teacher, his age caused him to be petulant and hard to please. Other early teachers there were George Gregg, David Barnes, Eli Smith, and Frederick Berg. The house was destroyed by fire while occupied as a residence by Jacob Ritenour.

On the old Sipe place was a very primitive school building, in which Jacob H. Rush taught one of the early schools. Another pioneer school-house stood on the Silas Prinkey farm. And near the Collins' graveyard was what was called the Temperance School-house, in which Martha MeCune taught fifty years ago. Later John Dixon, A. J. Mitchell, and George MI. Bigam were teachers there. The old Bigam or Presbyterian meeting-house was also used for school

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

purposes, Peter Lohr being one of the first teachers. Other pioneer teachers were Jacob aud Henry Ullrey, Clark Tubbs, Leonard Harbaugh, Elizabeth Murray, Catharine UHrey, Sarah Bigam, Mary and David Rowan.

Since the organization of the township the directors of the public schools have been as follows :

1848 .- James Morrison, John Hall, Jacob Kern.

1849 .- Robert Workman, James Morris, Sylvester Skinner.

1850 .- Abraham Skinner, Jacob Sipe, Jonathan Sipe, and Syl- vester Skinner.

1851 .- James Morrison, George Harbaugh, Everhart Liston, and David Ogg.

1852 .- James Burd, Henry Collins.

1853 .- Robert Workman, Abraham Skinner.

1854 .- James Morrison, David Ogg.

1856 .- John McBeth, Henry Grim, Coulson Coughenour.

1857 .- John Kern, Jobn Sherbondy, Aaron Hart.

1858 .- John Kern, Ilenry Grim.

1859 .- William Collins, J. A. H. Miller.

1860 .- John R. Elder, John W. Sherhondy.

1861 .- Robert Workman, James Smear.

1862 .- William Collins, J. A. McBeth.

1863 .- J. W. Sherbondy, II. J. Coughenour.

1864 .- Daniel Shearer, Henry King, Robert Workman.

1865 .- A. Dull, Samuel Murray, Abraham Gallentine.

1866 .-- John A. McBeth, Josiah H. Miller, James B. Morris.

1867 .- IIenry Bungard, L. E. Miller, J. W. C. Brooks.

1868 .- D. Kesslar, D. W. Dull, G. A. Yonkin.

1869 .- Solomon Davis, Frederick C. Miller, Joseph K. Eicher, William Rogers.

1870 .- S. B. Tederow, J. F. Campbell.

1872 .- A. H. McCoy, William Ott, J. G. Phillippi.

1873 .- C. B. Sipe, Messmore Carmer.

1874 .- R. W. Workinan, A. J. Case.

1875,-Joseph L. Baker, T. J. Burchinal.

1876 .- Henry Bungard, Eli K. Harbaugh.

1877 .- R. W. Workman, J. W. Lichleiter, E. S. Ifarbangh.

1878 .- S. P. Eicher, John Davis, George Yonkin.

1879 .- J. W. Lichleiter, Ross Marietta.

1880 .- George Kern, Ross Marietta.

In 1880 the number of schools maintained in the township was twelve, nine of which had male teach- erx and three female teachers. The average wages of the former were 824.50 per month, and of the latter 822 per month. The total amount raised for school purposes was $1669.21; and the value of the school buildings aggregated only $3000.

SPRINGFIELD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.

As early as 1825 the Rev. James G. Sansom occa- sionally preached at the house of Solomon Kern, while on his way from Bedford to Connellsville ; and other Methodist ministers in the years that followed preached to those who gave their adherence to that church, among the number being Michael B. Lohr, David Resler, and the Elder family. After a space of time a class was formed and regular worship main- tained, the preaching services being held in school- houses. About 1844 the members formed themselves into a society to build a house of worship. This was built near the home of M. B. Lohr, the first class-

leader, on a lot of land dceded for this purpose by Eliza Elder ; and there the meetings were statedly held until the fall of 1863, when it was consumed by a fire lit by the hands of an incendiary, who thought in this way he might reek his spite against the church which refused to longer extend him the hand of fellowship, owing to his failure to observe its ordinances. From this blow the church slowly recovered, again being dependent upon the school-houses for a place of wor- ship, where, and in the United Brethren Church, the meetings continued to be held until the summer of 1881, when the new church edifice at Springfield was completed. It has an eligible location on half an acre of ground donated by Abraham Miller, and is a Gothic frame, thirty-two by forty-two feet, surmounted by a neat belfry. The movement to build this house was begun in the spring of 1879, when the Rev. Zenas M. Sillbaugh was the preacher in charge of the cir- cuit of which Springfield is a part. A building com- mittee was appointed, composed of Solomon Davis, George Kern, N. B. Tannehill, George W. Campbell, and Benton L. Miller, who, in spite of many difficul- ties, carried the work to successful completion. The church presents a fine appearance, and is a credit to the society and the community. The Methodists worshiping here form a class of forty-five members, who have as a leader N. B. Tannehill. In 1876 the society organized a Sabbath-school which had as its superintendent John Kern, and which is continued under the superintendency of Solomon Davis. It has from forty to seventy members. Methodism in Springfield township embraces a small class at Mill Run, whose preaching services are held at the school- house ; and both the above appointments are a part of Springfield Circuit, of the Mckeesport District of the Pittsburgh Conference. The preacher in charge in 1881 was Rev. John J. Davis, and among the clergy- men preceding him were the Revs. Z. M. Sillbaugh, M. D. Lichleiter, Sylvanus Lane, James E. Williams, George A. Sheetz, J. R. Mills, E. H. Baird, J. W. Kesslar, James Hollingshead, and J. F. Hill.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

Half a century ago this denomination maintained preaching at the homes of its adherents in the town- ship, among them being Daniel Resler, Solomon Kern, Christian Senff, Joseph Gallentine, and George Dull. The pioneer preachers were the Revs. Worman, Stake, | Pershing, Troxel, Berger, Butsfield, and others. After a lapse of time the membership became so large that a larger place for worship was demanded, and in 1849 the brick meeting-house at Springfield was erected to meet this want. It stands on a fine lot, used for church and cemetery purposes, which was donated by Solomon Kern, and although bearing tbe marks of age, is yet a comfortable place for religious assem- blage. When the house was consecrated it was stip- ulated that the use of it might be enjoyed by other bodies under proper restrictions; or in the words of

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the compact, "The power is in the trustees to grant liberty to other societies to preach in the church, if not occupied by the society." In compliance with these terms various denominations have used the brick meeting-house as their place of worship. In 1881 the trustees were John Brooks, J. W. C. Lich- leiter, and Samuel Scott.

The members of the United Brethren Church num- ber at present about sixty, forming a class, of which John B. Tederow is the leader. The Sunday-school here maintained was organized about thirty years ago, and has for its present superintendent Winfield Tan- nehill. Others who have served in that capacity were John B. Tederow and J. W. Lichleiter. The school was attended in 1880 by about one hundred persons.

At Mill Run a class of those giving their adherence to the United Brethren was formed in 1840, George Dull being the leader and serving until his death in 1880. Among those who belonged at that early pe- riod were Robert Bigam, Nicholas Romesburgh, Dan- iel Harbaugh, David Bigam, John Bigam, George Bigam, and in most instances their wives. The class has at present twenty-five members, and John Dull is the leader. Their regular meetings are held in the Mill Run school-house. In that building a Union Sabbath-school has been maintained the past fifteen years, George Dull being long the superintendent, but Dr. A. G. Grubbs serving at present in that ca- pacity. There are fifty-four members.

The minister in charge of the above classes in 1881 was the Rev. John Buel, and others who have minis- tered to them in holy things were the Revs. William Beichtel, William K. Shimp, William Dick, Martin Spangler, William Ragg, Jacob Resler, Benjamin Noon, J. Medsgar, H. O. Lane, John Briggs, John L. Baker, and John Wert.

INDIAN CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH.

This body was constituted June 24, 1843, in a log building used for general meeting purposes, which stood on the site of the present church edifice, three- fourths of a mile from Mill Run post-office. The Coun- cil called for recognizing the church was composed of Revs. Milton Sutton, R. E. F. Browning, B. Gault, Hiram Hartzell, and John Patton. The members consisted of John Williams, Sylvester C. Skinner, Huldah Skinner, John Harbaugh, Rebecca Har- baugh, Henry Collins, Elizabeth Collins, J. R. Bai- ley, Mary Bailey, Martin Williams, Michael Bailey, Frances Bailey, Mary Bailey, Margaret Bailey, Sarah Spangler, Martha Rowan, Thankful Stull, Rebecca Hess, Keziah Eicher, and Mary J. Williams,-twenty- one in all. The church has had an aggregate mem- bership of 162, and the present enrollment numbers 116. John Harbaugh was chosen church clerk, and John Williams and Sylvester C. Skinner deacons, the latter being ordained the following day, June 25, 1843.

For a time the meetings were held in the log house,

but in 1844 a stone building took its place and served for many years as the place of worship, being in turn displaced hy the present frame building, which stands on the same foundations. It was erected in 1871, and consecrated April 28, 1872, the sermon of consecra- tion being preached by the Rev. William S. Wood, his remarks being based on the third verse of the twelfth chapter of Isaiah. He was assisted by the Revs. Z. C. Rush, B. F. Woodburn, J. R. Brown, and N. B. Crichfield. The house has a seating capacity for three hundred and fifty persons, and stands on a very fine lot, a portion of which is used for cemetery purposes. Here are the graves of some of the oldest settlers of the township. The lot was set aside for its present uses by Willits Skinner. The church edi- fice is thirty-six by forty-six feet, and cost $2500. The work was done under the direction of William M. Kern, who, with J. R. Bailey and John Har- baugh, now deceased, has been one of the most active members; but the church has had many who were faithful to its ordinances.

Among those who have ministered to the church, either as pastors or supplies, have been the Revs. Levi Griffith, Caleb Roswell, John Rockefeller, Mil- ton Sutton (minister when the church was formed), W. W. Hockman, in 1846; J. A. Pool, in 1851; G. Lanham, in 1853; John Williams, in 1855; Courtland Skinner, in 1860; S. C. Skinner, in 1861; J. R. Brown, in 1867; N. B. Crichfield, F. M. Cunning- ham, Z. C. Rush, J. E. Walter, and since June 19, 1877, the Rev. J. R. Brown.

Of the deacons of the church, John Williams and S. C. Skinner were both ordained to the pastoral office, John Harbaugh died while filling that posi- tion, and William R. Mountain, William MI. Kern, and E. S. Jackson yet hold the office of deacon. The church clerks have been John Harbaugh, Abraham Skinner, Samuel W. Bailey, Allen E. Harbaugh, Wil- liam M. Kern, and George W. Bailey.

The Sabbath-school had its beginning nearly as long ago as the church, having since been kept up with varying interest. It usually has seventy-five members, and its last superintendent was E. S. Jack- son, John Harbaugh being one of the first.

INDIAN CREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

At Mill Run, in what was known as the Bigam meeting-house, a small log building near the house of Robert Bigam, erected for the use of those who chose to occupy it, the Rev. John Hawkins, of the Connellsville Presbyterian Church, preached as early as 1833. These services were held once a month for the space of a few years by the Revs. Hawkins, Gray, Stevenson, and others, sent to Springfield under the direction of the Presbytery. These meetings were not held in vain. About 1846 a congregation was formed, which had as its ruling elder Dr. Joseph Rogers, aud among its members persons belonging to the Cummings, McCune, Crichfield. Kern, Brooks,

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and other families. Others were added in the course of years, but Presbyterianism was never warmly ac- cepted by the people of the township, and a few years ago the congregation, which never had its own house of worship, became disorganized. The Rev. Joseph McKee preached for the members about twenty years, and the last to hold meetings was the Rev. William Bergen, of the Somerset Church, who preached in 1877. Dr. Rogers served as elder many years, and for about six years Levi Bradford filled the same position.

In the southwestern part of the township was formerly a Dunkard Church, which has been sold and is now used as a school-house, having been purchased for that purpose in 1872. Its use as a place of wor- ship by the Dunkards was discontinued three or four years earlier. The house was built more than twenty - five years ago, mainly by the Sipe family, who con- stituted the chief membership of the Dunkards in the township. At the house of Peter Sipe, Sr., the first meetings were held, and the church occupied a corner of his former farm. Among those who occasionally preached there were Jacob Murry, James Quinler, and Martin Meyers. Many persons from Somerset County attended the meetings, which were discon- tinued after the death or removal of the Sipe and Smith families.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

GEORGE W. CAMPBELL.

George W. Campbell, of Springfield, is the son of James Campbell, of the same place, and Rebecca Kil- patrick, daughter of Esquire Thomas Kilpatrick, who were married in 1840. George W., our subject, the sixth son of James, was born May 18, 1853. His grandparents on his paternal side came to America from near Belfast, Ireland. Mr. Campbell attended the common schools of his village until fourteen years of age, when he entered as clerk the general merchandise store of his brother, John F., where he

became a proficient book-keeper and developed a fine business character, continuing a clerk until 1876, when he became a partner with his brother, remain- ing such till 1880, and then bought out his brother's interest, and has since carried on the business very successfully.

GEORGE W. CAMPBELL.

He became assistant postmaster of Elm, in the township of Springfield in September, 1869, and acted as such till March 21, 1881, when he was com- missioned postmaster hy Postmaster-General James. He is a stalwart Republican, and has been frequently sent by his party as a delegate to county conventions. On the 1st of January, 1882, Mr. Campbell established a small monthly paper called The Mountaineer, he being editor thereof as well as proprietor, and which has attained a profitable circulation.

On the 11th of August, 1880, Mr. Campbell married Miss Ida May Sparks, daughter of Horatio L. Sparks.

SPRINGHILL TOWNSHIP.'

THIS is the extreme southwest township of the county. It has Nicholson on the north, Georges and Wharton east and northeast, West Virginia on the south, and the Monongahela River on the west. The surface is greatly diversified. In the east Lau- rel Hill, with all the characteristics of a mountain. From the foot of the mountain westward, as far as Morris Cross-Roads, the land rises, attaining its greatest height just before reaching the Uniontown and Morgantown road; thence still westward there is a general decline in elevation until the river bluffs are reached. The river hills are of consider- able height, and in general crowd close upon the stream. Some very fertile bottom land is found both along the Cheat and Monongahela Rivers, but in gen- eral they are narrow. The most important stream next to the Monongahela is Cheat River, which flows through the southwest corner of the township for a distance of six or seven miles, entirely severing a part of the township several miles in length at its base, and two or more from base to apex. This is called the "Forks of Cheat," or the "Neck." The other streams are Grassy Run, Hardin's Run, Mc- Collick's Run, McFarland's Run. These with their tributaries reach almost every part of the township.

The soil is not remarkably fertile except in a very few localities, and is better adapted to grazing than to tillage. Fruits of all kinds flourish, but grapes especially. Large vineyards are planted from the cross-roads towards the river. Iron and coal are the chief minerals. Potters' clay and glass-sand abound.

Springhill is one of the original townships of Fay- ette County, having been erected as such by the Court of Quarter Sessions of the county at the first term, held in December, 1783. The name "Springhill" was given by Col. George Wilson, the earliest settler on Georges Creek (at its mouth, in what is now Nichol- son township), who had come here from Springhill, in Augusta, Va., and had given that name to the new region in which he settled. That was while all the Monongahela country was included in Cumberland County ; and the old Springhill township of that county embraced an immense territory, covering all the southern part of what is now Fayette, all of Greene, and the south part of the present county of

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History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 171

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