History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 176

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 176

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781

STEWART TOWNSHIP.

apple-, 650 quince-, 350 pear-, and 200 peach-trees, all thrifty and vigorous. These orchards will be enlarged to double the present size, and will then be one of the largest interests of this nature in the county. The cultivation of the small fruits is also here carried on, and a vineyard containing 3000 vines of the Concord variety has been planted.

The manufacture of salt was an industry which once held an important place in the township more than half a century ago. On the north side of the Youghiogheny, three miles above the falls, were sev- eral acres of low ground, called by the pioneers " the meadows," where were salt licks, which were much frequented by wild animals. When the water was low the incrustations of salt on the flat stones along the river's edge were so marked that the place pre- sented a whitish appearance. Before 1800 some of the settlers gathered up the waters which oozed forth and made small quantities of salt, and later a man by the name of Rhodes dug a well some twenty feet deep, which gave him a greater supply of water, and enabled him to make salt in a small way. When he suspended work he allowed his kettles to remain, and some of the pioneers would occasionally go there to make a little salt for their own use. As the place was rather inaccessible from the east, on account of the steep hills, the river was usually forded by the people living on the south and the west at a point near the springs. This was always attended by danger, as the current is swift and strong, and when increased by heavy rains is especially treacherous. On one occa- sion, while a man named James Downard attempted to cross to make some salt, he was swept away and his lifeless body carried below the falls to the " Briner fishing-hole," four miles from where he met his sudden death.1 Thence but little was done at the salt springs until about 1812, when Thomas Meason conceived the idea of here making salt on a large scale. He secured a tax title for the land, which had been forfeited by Wilcox and Chew, of Philadelphia, and began opera- tions on his works. The news coming to the ears of Mr. Wilcox, he came on from Philadelphia to redeem the land; but instead of doing so entered into a co- partnership with Meason to carry on the salt-works. Later he sold his interests to William Pennock, of operated until their discontinuance, about 1819. They caused a well to be sunk several hundred feet deep, by means of a spring-pole operated by several men, which afforded them an abundant supply of water, yielding ten pounds of salt to the barrel. This was pumped to the surface by means of horse- power, and carried to the works, half a mile below,

through wooden pipes, where it was evaporated in sixty-two kettles, arranged in pairs. These kettles were of heavy iron and were cast at the Dunbar Fur- nace, each holding about fifty gallons. Their trans- portation to the works, owing to the roughness of the country, was regarded as a hazardous undertaking, and was accomplished with great difficulty. Some three thousand bushels of salt were made, which sold readily at three dollars per bushel. When the price was reduced it was not found profitable to carry on the works, and they were abandoned at the time named. The kettles were sold to the farmers around the " works," and some of them are yet in use for boiling maple-sugar. The Baltimore and Ohio Rail- road built its track over the furnace of the works, ob- literating what few traces of it remained. But few people can be found who have even a recollection of the enterprise. James Thorpe aud J. H. Mitchell, both among the oldest men of the township, were en- gaged at the works, and from them the writer gleaned the above account.

RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL. THE LITTLE KENTUCKY BAPTIST CHURCH.

The first regnlar religious organization effected in Stewart township was that of the Baptists, the pre- liminary meetings which led to the formation of the society being held chiefly by the Rev. John Thomas, at the houses of some of the early members or in the rude school-houses, mainly in the Kentucky Dis- trict. From this circumstance the society took its name. It was organized May 22, 1834, by the Revs. Benoni Allen, William Hall, and John Rockafeller, with the following members: James J. Mitchell, Abner Mitchell, Elijah Mitchell, Abel Hillborn, Jesse Mitchell, Hannah Mitchell, Maria Hillborn, Hannah Stull, Cynthia Mitchell, Reuben Thorpe, James Dean, Sarah Briner, Emeline Price, Nancy Mitchell, Charlotte Mitchell, Andrew Briner, Wil- liam Thorpe, Sarah Mitchell, John Harbaugh, Huldah Thorpe, Fanny Bailey, James Thorpe, James K. Bailey, Jacob H. Rush, Benjamin Listor, Franklin Mitchell, Mary Briner, Margaret Birch, Mary Pearce, Sabina Mitchell, John Hyatt, Mary Hyatt, David Mitchell, and Reuben Rush. James J. Mitchell and James Thorpe were ordained as Uniontown, and by him and Meason the works were , the first deacons, and Abner Mitchell was the first clerk. In 1881 the clerk of the church was Patton Rush, and the deacons were Jesse Rush and Jacob H. Rush. Other ordained deacons of the church were James R. Mitchell, Salathiel Mitchell, Benjamin Mitchell, and Joshua Briner.

The Rev. John Thomas became the first pastor of the church, his connection dating from May 16, 1835. About a year afterwards he was succeeded by the Rev. James J. Mitchell, one of the first deacons of the church, who served until July 18, 1840, when the Rev. Isaac Wynn became the pastor. The Rev. John Williams succeeded Mr. Wynn, his appointment

1 At " Briuer's fishing-hole" Abraham Stewart, of Wharton, and James Bunner were drowned in August, 1841, wbile here engaged with a large party in fishing. Their bodies were found at the bottom of the hole by Samuel Hough Both were well-known citizens, and the event cast a gloom over the entire country.

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

dating March 31, 1860. Next in the pastoral office was the Rev. William P. Fortney, who assumed that relation March 19, 1876, and was succeeded, April 8, 1877, by the Rev. John Williams, who was the pastor for upwards of three years. The present pastor, the Rev. James K. Brown, has served since July 17, 1880.

The church has a membership of nearly one hun- dred, and notwithstanding the many removals is in a fairly flourishing condition. It has contributed some useful members to the ministry, and has within its bounds the Revs. Francis M. Cunningham and John Williams, pastors of neighboring churches. The house of worship is at Falls City, and was built in 1837, through the efforts of Abner Mitchell, David Briner, and David Mitchell as a committee. It is a plain frame, and having recently been repaired, well serves the purpose for which it was erected.

MOUNT HOPE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Upwards of thirty years ago meetings of this re- ligious sect were held at the stone school-house in the Kentucky District by the Rev. A. G. Osborne and others, and from a series of services held there by the former sprang the congregation which now bears the name of Mount Hope. The early membership embraced the names of Joseph Price, Cuthbert Wig- gins, Greenbury Bosley, Harvey Morris, and most of the members of their families. Later the number was augmented by the addition of William Stull and wife, William D. Williams, his wife and several children, J. H. Wiggins and family, the total mem- bership being about twenty. For a number of years meetings were held in school-houses, under the minis- terial direction of the Revs. A. J. Swayne, J. S. Gib- son, J. P. Beard, and other clergymen, sent hither by the Presbytery, who served this field in connection with other appointments, and for the past four years the pulpit has been supplied by the Revs. Coulter, Gibson, Bailey, Howard, Melville, and at present by Rev. James P. Beard. The growth of the village of Falls City caused the congregation to look to that place as the point where should be erected their house of worship. Accordingly, about 1873, meetings were held in the Baptist Church of that place, and soon thereafter a board of trustees was selected, composed of C. W. Saylor, Morris Morris, and D. W. Williams, who purchased a fine lot near the centre of the vil- lage, on which the building was to be erected. In about a year more the house was completed, and was formally dedicated by the Rev. J. H. Coulter, of Brownsville. It is a frame building of respectable proportions, and has an inviting appearance. The congregation has not largely increased in member- ship, but has generally maintained regular services. The ruling elders of the church have been Harvey Morris, Jonathan Bisel, and C. W. Saylor. In the summer a Sabbath-school, supported by the commu- nity at large, is maintained in this house, and had for its last superintendent George W. Moon.

MEADOW RUN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Soon after 1800 the Methodist itinerants sought to establish a church in the township, holding meetings at the house of Moses Mercer, and at other hospita- hle mountain homes, and these efforts were rewarded by the accession of a few members to the faith, al- though not of sufficient number to form a class. Hence but occasional services were held until about 1830, when Mr. Elizabeth Potter, a member of the Methodist Church, moved to the Belle Grove neigh- borhood, and at her house preaching was again es- tablished. The class formed about this time had among its members Mrs. Potter and daughters, Wes- tell Holland, and a few others, who soon joined as the fruits of a revival, among them being Reuben Leonard and wife. After 1840 the meetings were held at school-houses about once every three weeks, and generally on week-days. Among the preachers of this period were the Revs. McGowan, Sharp, Swa- zie, Tipton, White, and many others whose names have passed out of the recollection of the present gen- eration, and no church records are accessible.

In 1860, while the Rev. Joseph Hill was the preacher in charge, the Meadow Run meeting-house was erected, largely through the efforts of Joseph Williams, at that time a resident of this locality, three miles south from Falls City, and in 1880 it was under the trusteeship of George Potter. The members of the church are about twenty in number. The church at present belongs to the Springfield Circuit, of which the Rev. J. J. Davis is the preacher in charge, and which embraces also the churches at Springfield, Mill Run, Sansom Chapel, Sandy Creek, and Tinker's Ridge. It previously belonged to Smithfield, Addi- son, Uniontown, and other circuits. The Rev. A. P. Leonard, of the Pittsburgh Conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, originated from this society, which, though weak in numbers, has some active, faithful workers. Benjamin Leonard was for many years the superintendent of a Sunday-school which is at present in charge of Arthur Potter, and which is usually attended by about sixty scholars.

THE SUGAR-LOAF CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

In the early part of the present eentury this de- nomination (New Lights) held meetings in the town- ship at the house of Thomas Mitchell, who was one of their chief members ; but after his removal to the West the feeble interest manifested in maintaining these meetings was allowed wholly to decline, and years elapsed before meetings were again held. Some time about 1850 this faith was again proclaimed in the southeastern part of the township with so much success that a promising congregation was formed under the preaching of the Rev. Mr. Four. It em- braced members from the Gilmore, Morrison, Jones, Lytle, and Hall families, with others, to the number of thirty or more. A house of worship being now needed, the citizens of that part of Stewart united to

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TYRONE-UPPER AND LOWER TOWNSHIPS.

build one, which was completed in the fall of 1855. Although occupied by this and other denominations for religious purposes it has never been fully finished, and at present is somewhat out of repair. The preachers of this church who followed the Rev. Four were the Revs. Barney, Jennings, Kibler, Swaynse, and several others, but lately the denomination has not maintained regular services, and consequently the work has much declined. Noting this condition, the Church of God ( Winebrennarians) began preach- ing here, and have succeeded in gathering a con- siderable membership. Among their ministers were the Revs. Long, Craft, and Bardlebaugh. The mem- bers at present adhering number fourteen.

Lately the Rev. C. E. Simmons, of the Methodist Church South, began preaching at this place and or- ganized a small class, while ministers of other de- nominations also occasionally hold services here, but without gaining a numerous following.

SCHOOLS.

The recent formation of the township precludes the giving of any early statistics pertaining to the public schools, and the mountainous condition of the coun- try has somewhat retarded the cause of education. Since the organization of Stewart the following-named persons have been elected school directors of the township :

1857 .- David Fulton, A. E. Mason.

1858 .- Samuel Potter, James M. Dixon.

1859 .- Edward Liston, James H. Mitchell, Stephen K. Brown. 1860 .- David Woodmansee, Robert Cunningham.

1861 .- Reuben Thorpe, David Fulton.

1862 .- S. C. Skinner, Eli Tannebill.

1863,-H. M. Corriston, Cyrus Edmundson, David Woodman- see.

1864 .- James Morrison, Elijah Harbaugh, John Wiggins. 1865 .- Samuel C. Price, Joseph Leonard, A. R. Boyd. 1866 .- Oliver Sprowl, David F. Pickard, William D. Williams. 1867 .- David Morrison, Cyrus Edmundson, W. H. Carrolton. 1868 .- William S. Griffith, Ross Morrison, Leonard Shipley. 1869 .- George P. Potter, Paul Stull, Thomas Dalzell, Charles Miner, Leonard Shipley.

1870 .- Milton Shaw, Elisha Taylor, Emanuel Bisel.

1872 .- Robert Hagan, Porter Craig, Basil Brownfield, Christo- pher Riffle.

1873 .- F. M. Morrison, F. M. Cunningham.

1874 .- D. K. Wade, Patton Rush.

1875 .- Joseph Williams, George Smith, Henry Collins.

1876 .- Isaiah Collins, Harrison H. Ilall.

1877 .- Reuben H. Leonard, G. N. Anderson, F. T. Browning. 1878 .- Paul Stull, E. D. Shipley.

1879 .- Jehu Bowen, D. Morrison, T. L. Butler.

1880 .- J. H. Shaefer, C. W. Saylor, G. D. Livingston.

1881 .-- D. B. Brady, Francis Morrison, David Woodmansee.

In 1881 the township embraced the districts locally named Whig Corner, Mountain, Egypt, Sugar- Loaf, Belle Grove, Briner's, Kentucky, Green Brier, and Falls City. Some of them were provided with comfortable school-houses years ago, while others will doubtless soon be supplied in this respect. One of the oldest and best schools was taught in the Belle Grove District soon after the passage of the common school law. The first house was near the present building, and was of logs, rather rudely finished. Amos Potter was an early teacher in a cabin below Potter's mill. In the regular school building, Oliver Sprowl was one of the first teachers. The school has produced a number of teachers, among whom are re- membered Oliver Gunnells, Browne Hayden, Thomas Hart, and Samuel Price. The next good school was opened in the Kentucky District, which had one of the best school buildings of that period.

TYRONE-UPPER AND LOWER TOWNSHIPS.

As Upper and Lower Tyrone have existed as sepa- rate townships for less than five years, while the ter- ritory composing both had previously remained undi- vided in old Tyrone for considerably more than a century,1 it is evidently the most proper, as well as the most convenient, way to write the history of the two as that of Tyrone township-with reference to early settlements and some other matters-down to ' western part Lower Tyrone. The division line be- the time of their separate organization. This course will therefore be pursued in the following pages.

Tyrone township at the time of its division (in 1877) was bounded on the north by Jacob's Creek, sepa- rating it from Westmoreland County; on the east by Bullskin and Connellsville townships ; on the south by the Youghiogheny River, and on the west by that river and the township of Perry. The eastern part of the old township is now Upper Tyrone, and the

tween the two new townships starts from the Youg- hiogheny River, a short distance below Broad Ford, and runs in a northwardly direction, with one angle, to Jacob's Creek. This line will be found more fully described in the order of court (hereafter quoted) erecting the two townships.

1 Before the erection of Fayette County, Tyrone was one of the town- ships of Westmoreland, and prior to the erection of that county it ex- isted under the same name as one of the townships of Bedford.

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The principal streams are the Youghiogheny River and Jacob's Creek, forming respectively the southern and northern boundaries of the townships; Broad Ford Run, which flows in a southerly direction through Upper Tyrone, and enters the Youghiogheny at Broad Ford; and Hickman's Run, which flows nearly in the same direction through Lower Tyrone, and enters the river a short distance above Dawson village. Several smaller streams enter the river at points below in Lower Tyrone. Along the margins of the river and Jacob's Creek are narrow bottoms, from which the land rises in both directions to a high ridge which extends in an eastward and westward direction through the central portions of both townships.

L'pper Tyrone is entirely underlaid with coal, which is mined in immense quantities, and largely used in the manufacture of coke, as will be noticed hereafter. The same is the case in the eastern part of Lower Tyrone, but the greater portion of that township lies upon the " barren measures," the outcrop ceasing at the month of Hickman's Run, and only reappearing several miles farther down the river, and beyond the limits of the township. Both townships have excel- lent railway facilities, as will be noticed elsewhere. By the census of 1880 the population of Upper Ty- rone was 3306 (largely made up of miners), and of Lower Tyrone 1976, including Jimtown.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

In the surveys of land located in 1769 in the terri- tory now known as Tyrone township there are but four entries. One of the first was made by Alexander Vance, who took up three hundred acres, upon which a warrant was issued April 3, 1769, but which was not surveyed until April 11, 1788, nearly twenty years later.

John Vance, the father of Moses Vance, settled upon a tract of land here in 1766, still his name does not appear among these first surveys, and the land which he then occupied was first warranted Sept. 4, 1790, to Benjamin Whalley, and surveyed November 18th of the same year. At that time the property was named " Federal Hill." John Vance, whose ances- tors came from Scotland and Ireland, was himself a native of Virginia, from whence he came in the year mentioned in company with Col. William Crawford, his sister's husband. His wife was Margaret White, whom he married in Virginia, and with whom he lived until 1772, when he died, and was buried in the Vance cemetery.

The family of John and Margaret Vance numbered six children-David, William, Moses, Jane, Eliza- beth, and Maria. After her husband's death, Mar- garet Vance kept the original property for many years, in the mean time caring for and bringing up her family of little children. Among the records of property is one where, under date of Jan. 10, 1781, Margaret Vance, widow of John Vance, reported the list of her registered slaves,-"one female, named

Priscilla, aged twenty-seven years, and two males, Harry and Daniel, aged respectively seven and three years." Priscilla and Harry afterwards became the property of the daughter, Jane Vance, who was mar- ried to Benjamin Whalley. The son David settled in Kentucky, and William remained on the old place until middle life, when he died, never having mar- ried. Moses Vance also stayed upon the homestead, and when, in 1790, the land upon which his father's family had lived so long was warranted to Benjamin Whalley, two hundred and fifty acres of it was trans- ferred to him, and upon that he resided until his death.

Moses Vance's wife was Elizabeth, a daughter of Jacob Striekler, and they reared a family of seven , sons and two daughters,-John, Jacob, Samuel, Francis, William, Crawford, George, Margaret, and Eliza. John still lives on the old Gamer place, Jacob is in Lower Tyrone, and William's home is in Connellsville. Before leaving his native town, Ty- rone, William held the office of justice of the peace for some years. George Vance removed to Illinois, and Samuel, Francis, Crawford, and Margaret are dead.

April 3, 1769, Absalom Kent took up, by warrant No. 1179, a piece of land in this section comprising 791 acres, which was surveyed April 11, 1788. In the year 1800 he owned the John Stewart tract, called " Pleasant Garden." The township records show Mr. Kent to have been auditor during the years 1793-96 and 1800. He and his descendants have now all passed away, and the family has become extinct in this section.

Benjamin Whalley, who warranted the tract of land called " Federal Hill," settled in this section at a very early date, and was among the number that owned slaves. He was an officer in the Revolution- ary war. His son, Capt. James Whalley, one of his large family of six sons and six daughters, was born at " Federal Hill," March 20, 1788. In the war of 1812, Capt. James Whalley took out a company of soldiers from Connellsville in Col. Robert Patterson's regiment, and later went out in the Northwestern ex- pedition on the Indian frontier. After his return home he removed to Uniontown, living there until his death, May 22, 1869.

In 1770, Moses Smith warranted two tracts of land, containing respectively 178 and 164 acres, in Tyrone. It was about this time that the Cunningham, Torrance, and other families came here, and the Smiths were classed with the settlers of that day. They continued to live upon the farms they had located, and in 1774 became connected with the Ty- rone Church, which was situated very near their prop- erty. In 1800, William Smith was chosen one of the . trustees of the church. At the present time none of the family remain in the township, and the land has passed into other hands.

Like very many other of the pioneers of this town .

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TYRONE-UPPER AND LOWER TOWNSHIPS.

ship, Barnett Cunningham came here and settled on land by tomahawk improvement. His advent was in 1770, and he held his land for the first seventeen years of his residence under that right. A part of the land is now in the possession of his descendants. In 1787 he took a warrant for three hundred and sixteen acres, with allowance, paying for it twelve pounds six shillings, and received a patent therefor in 1795. In 1794, Mr. Cunningham was superintend- ent of highways, and in 1808 he died, in the seventy- third year of his age. His children and grandchil- dren all settled near his early home. April 18, 1829, Barnett Cunningham's daughter Mary received a warrant for one hundred and eighty-three and three- quarters acres of land, and Feb. 1, 1831, his son Jo- seph received a warrant for one hundred and fifty and three-quarters acres, both tracts being surveyed March 22, 1831. Joseph's wife was Agnes Huston. His land was at the head-waters of Smilie's Run, and there he spent his life, leaving two sons, Joseph and William. Joseph, Jr., settled upon his father's farm, and married a daughter of Matthew Gaut. He (Jo- seph Cunningham) was justice of the peace for many years, and also county commissioner. His children were two sons also, Matthew and William, the former succeeding his father upon the old farm. Mattliew Cunningham's children are Ezekiel, Sample, and Jennings, and a daughter who married James War- den. William Cunningham, son of Joseph, and grandson of Barnett Cunningham, sold his portion of the old farm, and entered business at Connells- ville. Afterwards he returned to his home in Tyrone and died here, leaving a large family, most of them still residing in Fayette County.

James Torrance was a half-brother of Barnett Cunningham. They were both natives of Ireland, emigrating from that country to Peach Bottom Val- ley, on the Susquehanna River, and from there to Tyrone township. Torrance came about 1772, mak- ing a tomahawk improvement, as did Cunningham, for which he received a patent in 1795. During the years of 1789-97 and 1800, James Torrance offici- ated as township auditor, and his name appears upon the books as late as 1808. His family was quite large, and when he died, in 1826, he was eighty-three years old. Of his children, Hugh, the eldest, settled on a part of the old farm; Cunningham, a half- brother of Hugh, took another portion; and Joseph Huston Torrance, another half-brother, took the re- mainder of the homestead, and the part upon which stood the old log house. This he soon replaced with a handsome frame building. Hugh Torrance married a Miss McKee, of Mckeesport, and together they reared a family of twelve children. Of these, Hugh, Jr., lived in his native town until he reached man- hood, when he removed West. Robert engaged in mercantile business at Connellsville, and David set- tled on his father's farm. He is the only son left in the township. Cunningham Torrance's family all

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History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 176

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