USA > Pennsylvania > Greene County > History of Greene County, Pa. : containing an outline of the state from 1682, until the formation of Washington County in 1781. History during 15 years of union. The Virginia and new state controversy--running of Mason's and Dixon's line--whiskey insurrection--history of churches, families, judges, senators, assembly-men, etc., etc. > Part 21
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been dead for several years. Mrs. Rhoda Ackley, widow of Joshua, and their son Ellsworth, still reside on the old home place. The sons of Joshua by a former wife were John, who still resides on Owen's run-his wife was Miss Charity Jewell ; Richard, who now owns and occupies a part of the old home place, married Barbary Lawrence ; James married Anna Pot- ter; Avery married Mrs. Mary Ellen Craig, daughter of Dr. Simpson, of Washington county, who ashis widow still resides in the village of Prosperity ; Park is dead ; Elizabeth married Esquire MeCleary, of West Alexander.
THE QUAKERS OF GREENE COUNTY .- During the decade of years between 1770 and 1780, Nathanial Temple emigrated from Bucks county, Pa., to Greene county, settled on the farm now occupied and owned by Alphens M. Temple, in what was formerly Greene township, now Whiteley township. He was a member of the Society of Friends or Quakers (orthodox.) IIis wife was Miss Mary Beaker. Their children were Return,* Benj. and John ; their daughters were Sarah, who married Benj. Gillett ; Hannah, who married James Moredock, and still liv- ing near Moredock's Cross-roads. The wives of the sons were as follows : Return married Sarah Darr ; Benjamin married Jane Douglas; John married Elizabeth Douglas, (two sisters and daughters of Thomas Douglas, of Fayette county.) The children of Return Temple were Benjamin, Nathaniel and William ; the daughters were Rebecca, who married John Wise, of Monongalia Co., Va .; Mary, who mar- ried John Starkey; Sarah, who married Robert Anderson: Eliza, who married Theadore Wade; Elizabeth, who married Hlaines, of Monongalia Co., Va .; Charlotte, who is now the wife of - Fox. The boys, Benjamin, married Matilda
"The name Return was given to this boy under the following circumstances: The parents had made one trip to America and live.l for some time at Trenton, New Jersey. They then returned to England, when, after a few years, they again started for America. While on this voyage this boy was born, hence his name "Return."
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Reaves, now of Iowa; Nathaniel married Henretta Rice ; Wil- liam married Eliza Wade, both of Monongalia Co., Va. Ben- jamin, son of the ancestor Nathaniel, died without leaving issue. John had four children, viz. : Justus F., Alpheus M., Pleasant Jane and John. The original settler, Nathaniel, was associated in his church relations with the families of Baileys, Gwynns, Blakers, Barclays, Crafts, Huftys, etc. Their place of wor- ship was on the dividing ridge between the waters of Muddy creek and Big Whiteley, where an old grave-yard may still be seen, and where the sleeping dust of those primitive settlers still reposes. One of the principle preachers, who ministered to these revered saints, was Miss Ruth Graves, whose place of residence was in Brownsville. She also minis- tored at the Quaker "meeting-house," of Westland. My in- formant, General Justus F. Temple, still retains a vivid recol- lection of this venerable old lady, as she often called at the house of his father and grand-father. The children of Justice F. Temple are Mary E., James B., S. Nevade and Anna Belle.
THE INGHRAM FAMILY .- William Inghram resided on Laurel Run as early as 1812. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Rine- hart. Their sons were Dr. Arthur, Thomas and William :. Their daughters were Margaret, who married Hiram Porter: Ollie, who married Armstrong Porter ; Sarah C., who married Solomon Gorden ; Delila, who married Brice Gordon ; Cass:11- fria, who married Madison Bell, and Nancy, who married William Bell. Of the next generation Dr. Arthur married Elizabeth Cathers. Their children were Sarah C., who is now the widow of Hon. James Lindsey, deceased, and resides with her mother ; James, Esq., a practitioner at the bar. His wife was formerly Mary Black, daughter of C. A. Black, Esq. EEx- abeth is now the wife of Enos Hook; Lucy is the wife of Prof. II. D. Patton, and George, who is still single. A son, whose name was William, died many years ago, quite-
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young. Thomas married Harriet Crayne. Their children were William, Alcinda, Thomas. Arthur and Laura. William married Martha Hoge. Their children were Frank, James, Lizzie, Emma, Margaret and Ollie. I am aware that the above is but a partial history of this very extensive family, but in the absence of records it is the best I can do, as I have, as yet, miet with no one whose memory extends back beyond 1812.
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF WAYNESBURG .- Some time previous jo the year 1830, some benevolent persons* in the vicinity of Waynesburg, contributed a sum sufficient to erect the brick walls and put under roof a church on Main or High street, near the eastern end of the borough. Soon after the above date, three brothers, viz. : Andrew, John and Joseph Friedely, in company with Dominic Hass, came to Waynesburg. These men were clock makers and clock peddlers by trade and Cath- vlies by profession. They immediately interested themselves in behalf of this society, as they had been accustomed to do in their native land (Germany), contributing liberally of their means towards completing the unfinished building, and also using their influence in securing the services of Father Michael Galagber, whose residence was at Brownsville, Fayette county. This man seems to have been the first regular priest, who offi- viated at this station. Ile was a missionary on a large circuit. then in the Diocese of Philadelphia (which then exercisol supervision over all the Catholic churches west of the Allegheny mountains, until 1848, when the Diocese of Pittsburg was created, with Father Michael O'Connor as its Bishop). Father Gelagher was succeeded by three brothers, viz .: James. Jerome and Dennis Kearnney. Father Hickey, who resided at West Alexander, also ministered to this people. Father Farren, Nolan, Scanlan and MeHugh also ministered at this
"Among these contributors were Hon. Mark Gordon, who was also vireted theatt ic IS97; also Solomon Gordon, who still resides on Laurel Run.
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altar at different periods of time. During the pastorate of Father McIlugh, the old edifice was torn down, and a neat, chaste and modern edifice was erected, which presents a good appearance on the outside, and is said to be equally as good inside. Rev. P. S. Herman, a native of the Sunny Clime of Italy, now ministers to the church, which, in addition to those already named, has enjoyed the ministrations of Fathers Mc- Enroe, Sheehan and Tahaney.
PART OF THE MONAY FAMILY .-- About the year 1800 John McNay emigrated from Adams county, Pa., and settled on "Samel's Run," about three miles from the residence of George Wisecarver, adjoining farms with the one on which the crazy man William McNerlin so long resided. Mr. McNay's sons were John, Jr., Smith, Brown and Asa. His daughters were Rebecca, who married Arthur Fleming, Hannah, who married Robert Marshall ; Prissilla died in the sixteenth year of her age; Mary Jane married Dr. Cephas Dodd ; Eliza and Nancy Ann are still single. In the year 1836 John McNay, Jr. took up his abode in Richhill township, where he had purchased a tract of land from old James Burns. In the year 1840 he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Reed of Washington Co., who was a daughter of James Reed, who was for many long years an Elder in the Presbyterian Church of Upper Tenmilc. In the year 1866 Mr. McNay returned to the old homestead in Franklin Tp. about three miles north of Waynesburg, and after a residence of three years, he removed to the borough where he still resides in the seventy-fifth year of his age. Mrs. Me- Nay's brothers were William Reed who is a Presbyterian min- ister in Shell City, Mo. John Reed was for many years all Elder in the Unity Church, Greene county, and now holds the* same office in the Presbyterian Church of West Alexander. Mrs. McNay's sisters were Margaret, who married John W. Bradford (his widow still resides in Waynesburg). Hannal:
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was married to William Montgomery, now of Washington, Pa. She has been dead for several years. Smith McNay married Jan : Bell, with whom he removed to Washington County, where he still resides. His present wife was Miss Mary Kerr. Ile has but one child living, who is now the wife of John Post, of Clay Centre, Kansas. Brown McNay married Rachel Mc- Connell, with whom he removed to Washington, Iowa, where his wife died, From thence he removed to Mellville, Kansas, where he died in 1879. J. Reed MeNay still resides on the old homestead farm.
REMINISCENCES BY J. H. RINEHART .- I first became ac quainted with James Gooden in the year 1819. He was an old veteran of the Revolutionary War, and one of General Morgan's famous riflemen. He had been wounded twice, and was taken prisoner by the British at the battle of Cowpens. Effecting his escape he traveled two days before reaching the Americ m army. While with the British he, as well as the rest of the captives, was treated very cruelly. One of his fel- low prisoner escaped with him, but having one of his hands shot off at the wrist joint, the wound had not been dressed. and being almost starved to death, he gave out at the close of the first day. At the poor fellow's request Mr. Gooden cov- ered him over with leaves and left him alone in the wilds of the forest. There he probably perished, as that was the last ever seen or heard of him. Another resident of Franklin township, with whom I was acquainted was Henry Church, a descendant of the Archer family, all of whom had been mur- dered by the Indians, save one son and one daughter. The daughter, Mr. Church's mother, had, however, been sealped · by the savages, and feigning death, escaped with her life. and lived to a good old age and to rear a large family of children. After the cruel death of his parents, brothers and sisters, Mir. Archer swore vengeance against the Indians, and during the
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whole period of his life had but one object in view-to help decimate the ranks of the red skins inhabiting the frontier and border lines of civilization. In those terrible days the whites threw up a fortification on Tenmile creek, a short distance above where James Hook's mill stood. on the Waynesburg side of the stream. This was called "Fort Jackson." My father, Joseph Rinehart, was an inmate of the fort, and was then about five years old. During the time he remained there he saw one of his father's brothers, who had been killed about two and one-half miles east of Waynesburg, in the valley of Coalick run, and brought to the fort on horse-back. Ilis body was thrown across the back of the horse, after the manner of carrying a sack of grain, and thus was conveyed to his family " ho were housed at the fort. One of the inmates, regardless of the order not to go too far from the fort, crossed the ercek a short distance bolow in search of a cow, and was there shot and sea'ped by an Indian. The Indian ran up the hillside, shaking the bloody trophy in defiance of the white men's bud- lots, and disappeared unharmed. This occurred in the year 1781.
METEODS ADOPTED BY THE EARLY' SETTLERS TO ENTRAP WOLVE3 .- In the year 1815 many places in the glades near Carmic acls, on Madly creek, still bore evidence of the metli- ods employed by carly settlers to entrop wolves. Pits ten to twelve feet in depth were digged in the ground and covered with rotten poles and rubbish, upon which were spread a layer of leaves and moss. Over this from a pole was suspended a piece of meat. In their efforts to secure the tempting morse! the animals tumbled into the pit, and once there were com- pletely at the morey of thoir captors. Another method of which I saw traces, was to erect two scoffolds twelve o1 fourteen feet high anl from one-half to three-quarters of a mile apart. The wolf hunter, having thes prepared for the
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animals, would rub the soles of his shoes with asafoetida and tramp from one scaffold to the other. The wolves having scented the drug would speedily follow the trail and "tree" the hunter often to their sorrow, as many wolf scalps were se- cured by these means. One poor fellow, whose name I now have forgotten, was overtaken by the hungry animals before he reached the other end of his path through the woods, and tras torn to pieces. Some of the forks of these scaffolds were yet standing in 1820, and the bark was gnawed and the pole. scarred by the teeth of the wolves. About this time I romem - bor of hearing James Daras, a mill-wright, tell of the wolves having pursued nim in the woods and forcing him to climb it sapling. Unfortunately he ascended rather a small one and the ravenous beasts began to gnaw the trunk. He remained till he felt the sapling begin to give, when. by great effort. le swung it against a larger tree and got into it. Seeing he was safe the wolves raised a howl and plunged into the depths of the forest, and left him to descend and make his way home in safety.
A HIGH BUT NOVEL PULPIT .- In the smimner of 1828 a de- ranged fellow, by name of Wm. McNerlin, came to the farm of Win. Inghram, in Franklin township, and climbed into the top of a hickory tree in a field not far from the honsc. He drew in the top branches and withed them together in the ceu- ter so as to form a sort of platform, which he mounted. The top of the tree, which he had fitted up, was twenty-äre or thirty feet from the ground. From his elevated position he began to preach. His stentorian voice could be heard a long way off. After continuing hi- harangne from early morn inn- ti! noon, with no auditors, though it was on the Sabbath day. Dirs. Ingham sent an old colored servant with something for the would be minister to cat. One of MeNerlin's peculiarities was his intense dislike for negroes. So when the negra came
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near, the deranged orator abruptly closed his discourse, and. with an oath, declared he would kill the Ethiopian, as he termed him, and began speedily to descend. The old negro terribly excited, ran back to the house, declaring "dat man be no moh crazy dan I am." The hickory in 1830 remained still with its tops withed together as McNerlin had left it.
THE REES FAMILY .- On the morning of the 4th of Novem- b), 1882, I left the Downey House, in Waynesburg, and walked out to the house of William Rees, who now owns and occupies the brick building on the same farm on which Mathew Gray was killed by the Indians in the early settlement of this `county. I was recieved with the greatest kindness, invited to rat breakfast, which I declined in consequence of having al- ready breakfasted. From the family I recieved the following information : William Rees settled on what is generally called the Keighley farm, about the year 1790. His sons were John, Abraham, James, Joseph and William. His daugh- ters were Charity, who married Obadiah Vancleve ; Polly mar- vied Peter Brown ; Catharine married George Moore, and Cas- sie remained single. John had two sons-John and Willian :. His only daughter, Nancy, married Samuel Throckmorton, who was killed by lightning. William Rees, my informant, was married about twenty-five years ago to Lucy Zollars, daughter of Neal Zollars. She was raised on what is usually called the Conkey farm. Their children are Frank and Albert. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Rees are Richard, Barnet, Emaline, Libby and Margaret. Ella Bennington now resides in this family. When I had obtained this history, Mr. Hill came along, from whom I obtained at least a partial history of that family.
THE HILL FAMILY .- This is one of the old Greene county families, Samuel Ifill having settled on the same farm where his descendants still reside, near Hills' school-house, in the year
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1789. His wife was Elizabeth Cathers, an aunt of Mrs. Eliza- beth Inghram. The sons of Samuel and Elizabeth Hill were Thomas, William, Corbly, Jesse and Samuel. Their daughters were Nancy, who married Jacob Smith (now residing near Sycamore Station); Margaret married Morford Throckmorton; Mary married John Moore ; Samuel married Hannah Hill (daughter of Rees Hill) ; Thomas married Nancy Roseberry ; William married Margaret Milliken ; Corbly married Hannah Porter ; Jesse married Maria Hoskinson ; Elizabeth married Jotham Jennings. I was now ready to pass on to the new and beautiful brick house of Jonas Ely where I obtained from his wife the following history of that family :
THE ELY FAMILY .- Jonas Ely was of German descent; was raised in what is now Schuylkill Co., Pa .; came to Washington county in 1810 : was drafted as a soldier in 1812 ; was married to Miss Euphen Wilson. Their children were James, George, Jonas, Caleb and John. Elizabeth married Miller Andrew ; Nancy married Daniel Throckmorton ; James married Malissa Clemens : George married Mary Warrick ; Jonas married Eli- zabeth Hill (my informant) ; Caleb married Elizabeth Patter- :on : John died single in his thirty-fifth year. The children of Jonas Ely, Jr. and Elizabeth Hill his wife, are William Hill, Jonas, Belle, who married J. M. Funk ; William married Mattie Loar ; Jonas married Alice Sanders.
Surus .- Leaving the house of Mr. Ely, I persned my way across the second bridge to the house of Rev. Thomas B. Smith, from whom I obtained the following facts in reference to this one branch of the numerous family of Smiths : Thos. Smith immigrated from near Chambersburg, Pa., abont 1789. His wife was Mary Williams. Their first settlement was o! Smith Creek, and from their cabin home they were often compelled to flee and take refuge in Fort Jackson. Here they raised a large family, several living to a great age. The names
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of their sons were John, Bazil, Vincent, Nathaniel, Thomas and Hugh. Their daughter Martha never married; Hannah married Thomas Porter; Olive married Thomas Kent ; Mary remains single ; Sarah married James Smith (no relation) ; Jno. married Jane Hamilton, and died at the age of ninety-two years ; Bazil married Elizabeth Staggers, and died at eighty- eight years of age; Vincent married Elizabeth Bell, and still lives in Jackson Township in the ninety-second year of his age. Nathaniel married Lydia Smith, and died in the seventy-eight year of his age. Thomas married Catharine Johnston and died at about fifty years of age. Hugh never married, and died in the eighty-seventh year of his age; Sarah is still living and is near eighty-seven years old. The sons of Vincent were John, Hiram, Jason, Hugh, Josiah and Thomas B. (my infor- mant). Of the daughters Eliza remained single; Sarah is dead'; Margaret is still single ; Mary married William Kent and is coad. The children of Rev. Thos. B. are Corbly Vincent, who married Agnes Orndoff ; Sarah C. married Porter Lough ; El- mira declines telling whom she intends to marry and consequent- ly she and her brothers-Morton G., John C., Melvin O., and Homer C .- still remain with their parents, and are now busily engaged in building an elegant new house. The mother of these children was Miss Mary Fordyce, a nicec of old Justus Fordyce, a man whom I have often seen nearly fifty years ago. as he passed along through Fayette county following the nu- merous droves of fine stock that he was accustomed to pur- chase and drive. Her sisters were Eliza A., Elizabeth, Henri- etta, Jane and Sarah Ellen. Her brothers were Garrard, Joal B., John J., Corbly, Homer C. and Joseph B. I now persned my way up the South Fork of Tenmile creek, called at the old Buchanan farm, but finding no one to give me information. I. walked on until I reached the new house occupied by Charles Adamson. This building is said to be almost in the center of
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the county, both in its length and width, not deviating forty rods either way. Young Adamson referred me to his father as being much more capable of informing me. A walkof three= fourths of a mile brought me to the old homestead where I obtained the following :
THE ADAMSON FAMILY .- Thomas Adamson was of English descent, was raised near Philadelphia, removed to Greene county about 1787. His first settlement was on the farm on which Samuel Braden, son of Judge Braden, now resides. His wife was Miss Eagon. Their children were John, James, Bar- net, Joseph, Charles and Josiah. The daughters were Mary, who married Mr. Cary; Cassandria, who married Uriah Eagon ; Sarah married Jesse Rice; Debba married Samuel Mickle. John married a Smith : James married a Smith ; Jo- seph concluding his brothers had done well, also married a Smith. My informant had forgotten the christian names of these three ladies. Charles married Sarah Hatfield and Josialı married Elizabeth Hatfield. The sons of Charles were Thomas. Stephen II. John, Enos, Smith and James. The daughters were Elizabeth, Letta, Sarah Ann, Stephen II., my informant, married Mary Crouse. His sons were James and Charles. The former resides with his father, while Charles lives three- fourths of a mile below at the center of the county.
THE CHURCH FAMILY .- About noon I arrived at the hospit ::- ble home of John Church, near Rogersville, where I was treated to a good dinner, for which I had a good appetite, from the fact that I had walked all the way from Waynesburg that morning and helped to extinguish a fire in a burning house at the old town of Clinton through which I passed. After dinner I was permitted to copy one of the most remarkable records that I have yet met with, which is as follows : "ITer- ry Church was born in 1779. He came to Greene county while yet a small boy, and lived almost all his manhood days on the
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same tract of land now owned and occupied by his son John. The next name on this record is Jane Archer, the first wife of old Mr. Church, whose ancestors had almost all been slaugh- tered by the merciless Indians-born February 20, 1778. The next name is Sarah Rinehart, the second wife, born December 15. 1786 ; Jane Church, March 22, 1797 ; Elizabeth Church, August 17, 1799; George Church, born October 5, 1801 ; Jano Church, born October 8, 1803: Henry Church, born Jannary 9. 1805; Sarah Church, born May 22, 1807; Elijah Church, born August 20, 1809; Elisha Church, born August 22, 1809. These boys were evidently twins, and were named for the two famous old Prophets. Jesse Church was born August 15, 1812. Nancy Church was born March 11, 1816. These per- sons were brothers, sisters, wives, and children, of old Henry and his first wife, Jane Archer. The children of this same old man, by his second wife, Sarah Rinehart, were as follows : Ruth, born January 18,1818 ; William, born December 5, 1819; Rinehart B., born March 29, 1821; Delila, born July 9, 1824 : John Church, born November 21, 1826 ; Elizabeth, August 2, 1831. The wife of John Church was Miss Elizabeth Fordyce, who furnished Rev. S. Young and myself with a good dinner, after which we started out in search of the history of the town of Rogersville, which is about as follows: John Rodgers pur- chased the mill in the year 1835. The lots were part of the large tract of land which Henry Church owned and formerly belonged to John Craig. The building commenced in 1845. Alexander Black and Hiram Black, purchased lots nos. 1 and 2, from Henry Church during his life time. Zadok Gordon, purchased the first lot sold by the widow. It now contains two stores, one cabinet shop and undertaker establishment, one planing mill, one saw mill and one grist mill, one smith shop and one carriage shop. A magnificent bridge, built of iron, spans the entire creek without a pier. Near the upper end of the
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town stands a neat, tasty church, belonging to the Protestant Methodist denom mation. This house was built in the year 1874. But the organization of the society was affected about, 1837. The officiating Ministers at the organization were Peter T. Lashlie and John Clark. The succeeding Ministers were James Hopwood, William Munhall. Revs. Sutton, Curry, Lucas and Young, have at different times ministered to this people.
WIDOW NANCY THROCKMORTON .- I left the house of John Church in company with Rev. Young, who kindly furnished me a seat in his buggy. After driving one mile we came to the residence of the late Samuel Throckmorton, who was killed by lightning on the 28th of July, 1881. The circum- stances were about these: HIe and four of his sons were busily engaged in the harvest field. Near noon a cloud was seen rising, but no danger was apprehended until the big. drops began to fall, when all parties started for the house. The old man inserted his fork in a bunch of hay and lifted it on his shoulder as a protection against the rain. He had reached the brow of a small bluff over against his house, when suddenly the whole heavens seemed on fire and a most terrific peal of thunder for the time being stunned all parties, who on recovering discovered that their number had been depleted by one. The electric shaft had descended in the immediate vicin- ity of Mr. Throckmorton, when the steel tines of the fork, acting as a conductor, conveyed the electric fluid to his body. Death seems to have been instantaneous. Great was the sor- row over this bereavement, and great was the concourse of people at the funeral on the following Sabbath day, when the widow and eight children followed the corpse to its last resting place in Greene Mount Cemetery. Rev. W. D. Slease and Rev. G. H. Huffman of the Methodist church and Dr. Fraser of the Presbyterian church, officiated at his funeral. The sur- vivors of his family are as follows: Mrs. Nancy Throckmorton
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