USA > Pennsylvania > Greene County > History of Greene County, Pennsylvania > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
The territory embraced in the limits of Gilmore Township is bounded on the north by Jackson Township, on the east by Wayne, on the south by Mason and Dixon's line which separates it from West Virginia, and on the west by Springhill. Dunkard Creek, celebrated in the history of the border controversy and in the early Indian warfare, has its sources in the highlands to the north and west of this township, and here too, across the watershed, several of the tributaries of Wheeling Creek rise. Tom's Run and its numer- ous tributaries drain the north and eastern portions, and Fordyce Run, Block-house Run, Wildman's Run, and Fish Creek water all parts of its broad territory. The surface being in every part heavily rolling, the waters are pure and sparkling, eopions springs gushing forth on every hilltop and along every valley. The soil is fertile even to the summits of the highest hills, and heavy crops of corn and the smaller grains reward the toil of the husbandman. It is well adapted to sheep culture, and flocks of the finest breeds gladden all the hills. Many herds of fine dairy cows are also kept, and blooded stock for beef, the short-horn Durham seemingly the favorite. In many parts of the township special attention is given to the raising of swine, a cross between the Berkshire and Poland China being the favorite. It is not uncommon to see as many as fifty hogs in a single field. In no part of the county are the inhabitants more sober and indus- trions than in Gilmore.
Among the earliest inhabitants we notice the names of the Roberts, the Fordyces, the Dyes, the Whites and IIannans. The only village of importance is Jolleytown. At an early day Titus Jolley acquired the tract where the village is now located. Perceiving that this seemed to be a suitable point for business on account of the water power and the centering of roads here, in 1835 having surveyed and staked off the plot of the town he issned the following conditions of sale: " The conditions of this present sale are as follows: the highest bidder is to be the buyer. Any. person buying a lot shall have a credit of six months by giving his note with approved security. Any person buying and not complying shall forfeit and pay twenty-five cents on each dollar to the amount of what he buys, and the subscriber reserves the right to one bid on each lot if necessary, and further the sub- seriber doth agree to make a good and lawful deed at the expiration
Laughridge
407
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
were brought forth from the burning wreck. When the army re- tired to the new line the One Hundred and Fortieth occupied a posi- tion to the left of the White House, where it remained, subjected to occasional artillery fire, until the 6th, when it retired across the river.
The battle of Gettysburg followed close upon Chancellorsville. The First and Eleventh Corps met a full half of the rebel army on the heights beyond the town to the northwest, and were driven back through its streets to the ridge to the south, in the centre of which was the quiet little Evergreen Cemetery. On the morning of the 2d the Second Corps, now under the gallant Hancock, came upon the field, and was posted along the left centre of the line, stretching from the cemetery along the Emmettsburg Pike towards the Peach Orchard. Abont four o'clock Sickles, who, with the Third Corps, occupied the extreme left, stretching from the pike along the Peach Orchard to Little Round Top, was fiercely attacked. His line was thin and weak; but right gallantly did he hold his ground, and liurl back the foe. Again and again he came. In the midst of the fray Sickles was grievously wounded with the loss of a leg. His weakened columns were gradually forced back. "Portions of the Fifth Corps were sent to his relief, but shared a like fate. Finally Hancock sent Caldwell's Division, of his own corps, to check the enemy's mad ad- vance, and repair the threatened disaster. Moving rapidly across the little wooded knoll to the right and front of Round Top, he first sent the brigades of Cross and Kelly to penetrate the Wheat Field and the wood beyond, where the fiercest fighting had been. Colonel Cross was killed, and his command was terribly torn, as it advanced upon that fatal Wheat Field, on three sides of which the enemy in heavy numbers was concealed. And now, as a forlorn hope, the brigades of Zook and Brooke were sent forward. Zook was killed while leading his troops into the fight, and before he had hardly got into action. The command of his brigade then fell upon Colonel Roberts of the One Hundred and Fortieth. Gallantly did these two small brigades push forward over this devoted ground in the face of a severe fire. The enemy was swept back from the cover of the woods, and the rocky ridge beyond the Wheat Field, a position of great natural strength, was carried. But th's advantage, gained at a fearful cost, was of no avail. The angle in Sickle's line at the Peach Orchard, the weak point in his formation, had been hope- lessly broken, and through this opening the enemy swarmed and turned the right of Caldwell's position, compelling him to with- draw. He rested at night on the low ground on the left centre of the line, where he remained during the heavy cannonade of the suc- ceeding day, and until the close of the battle." The loss in Com- pany A in the battle was severe. Sergeant Brown and Corporal
508
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
GREENE TOWNSHIP.
ORIGINAL EXTENT-PRESENT -- GARARD'S FORT- GOSHEN BAPTIST CHURCH -- JOHN CORBLY-CORBLY MASSACRE-MINUTES OF RED- STONE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION-CURIOUS QUESTIONS -- SPICER MAS- SACRE-LOGAN'S REVENGE -- CAPTIVITY -- BOY NEVER RETURNED ---- SCHOOLS-DIRECTORS.
YREENE TOWNSHIP, originally one of the six townships of the county, embraced all the southwestern portion of its territory, stretching from Little Whiteley Creek to Mason and Dixon's line, and from the Monongahela River to the dividing ridge between Big White- ley Creek and Muddy Creek. It was organized in 1782. But it has been shorn of its ample proportions for the making of other town- ships until it is now one of the smallest in the county, appearing quite diminutive beside several of its grown up danghters. It is bounded on the north by Jefferson and Cumberland, on the east by Monongahela, on the south by Dunkard, and on the west by White- ley. The fertility of its soil was such as to attract the eye of the early explorer and here were the first lodgments. It is well watered by Whiteley Creek which carries a large volume of water and is ample for mill purposes. Few sections of the county present a more inviting appearance than the valley of this stream. In the central portion of this township on the left bank of the creek was located Garard's Fort, a place of great importance at that period when Indian massacres were frequent, as a place of refuge and safety for the settlers, and around it has grown the principal village in the township.
Our ancestors who came by single families and settled far from each other with no convenient roads for communication, were not so circumstanced as to favor assembling themselves together for re- ligious worship. Yet they did not neglect this pious duty, and it was not uncommon for worshipers to travel from twelve to fifteen miles with this reverent intent. It was in the neighborhood of this fort that the first religious worship was held, and here was organized in 1776, on the 7th day of October, the first church in the county. It has subsequently been known as Goshen Baptist Church. It was ministered to by the Sutton brothers, and it is probable that it had no settled pastors during the early part of its existence. The Rev. John Corbly was at an early day installed pastor, and ministered to
509
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
the congregation at the time when the savages were reeking their vengeance upon the helpless and defenceless settlers. In May, 1782, his family was attacked on Sunday morning while on the way to church. In a letter written by Mr. Corbly dated 1785, to Rev. Will- iam Rogers, of Philadelphia, he gives the following graphic account of the heart-rendering circumstance:
"On the second Sabbath in May, in the year 1782, being my ap- pointment at one of my meeting-houses, about a mile from my dwell- ing-house, I set out with my dear wife and five children for public worship. Not suspecting any danger, I walked behind 200 yards, with my bible in my hand, meditating. As I was thus employed, all on a sudden, I was greatly alarmed with the frightful shrieks of my dear family before me. I immediately ran with all the speed I could, vainly hunting a club as I ran, till I got within 40 yards of them; my poor wife seeing me, cried to me to make my escape; an Indian ran up to shoot me; I then fled, and by so doing out-ran him. My wife had a suckling child in her arms; this little infant they killed and scalped. They then struck my wife several times, but not getting her down, the Indian who aimed to shoot me, ran to hier, shot her through the body, and scalped her; my little boy, an only son, about six years old, they sunk the hatchet into his brain, and thus dispatched him. A daughter, besides the infant, they also killed and sealped. My eldest danghter, who is yet alive, was hid in a tree, abont 20 yards from the place where the rest were killed, and saw the whole proceedings. She, seeing the Indians all go off, as she thought, "got up, and deliberately crept ont from the hollow trunk; but one of them espying her, ran hastily up, knocked her down and scalped her; also hier only surviving sister, on whose head they did not leave more than an inch round, either of flesh or skin, besides taking a piece of her skull. She, and the before-mentioned one, are still miraculously preserved, though, as you must think, I have had, and still have, a great deal of trouble and expense with them, besides anxiety about them, insomuch that I am, as to worldly circumstances, almost ruined. I am yet in hopes of seeing them cured; they still, blessed be God, retain their senses, notwithstanding the painful operations they have already and must yet påss through."
As a degree of interest gathers about the church that was first established in this section, the minutes are given below of the Red- stone Baptist Association for 1800:
Minutes of Redstone Baptist Association, held at Simpson's Creek, September 26,7,8, 1800:
1. Introductory Sermon by Benjamin Stone, from 2d Corinth- ians, v. 20.
JOHN CORBLY, Moderator, BENJAMIN JONES, Clerk.
.
510
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
CHURCHES.
MINISTERS AND MESSENGERS.
Great Bethel,
Benjamin Stone, Simeon Gard.
Goshen,
Levi Harrad, George Morris, Jonathan Morris.
Turkey Foot,
Robert Cobcorn, Jacob Rush.
William John,
Forks of Cheat,
Samuel Bowan, John Patterson. Joseph Thomas. No Report.
Simpson's Creek,
Moses Husted,
John Thomas.
John Loofborrow,
Moses Sutton,
Clarksburgh,
John Gifford,
John Kelly, John Pharis.
Pricket's Creek,
William Wood, Joshua Hickman.
John Baiker, John Smith,
Indian Creek,
Thomas Dewees, Gilbert Butler.
John Cozard,
John Hiars,
Buchanan,
David Smith,
Jacob Cozard.
Enon,
No Representative.
Philadelphia,
No Representative.
Bethlehem,
Letter, but no messenger.
Connellsville,
Letter, but no messenger.
Roating Creek,
No Representative.
Phineas Wells,
Glady Creek,
John Carney, Abraham Wells, John Phillips. Samuel Dewees,
Sandy Creek,
John Jenkins.
Mount Moriah,
Ephraim Smith,
Mount Pleasant,
John Corbly, Benjamin Jones, Robert Jones,
511
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
3. Query from Glady Creek. Whether washing of the saints be an ordinance of the New Testament? Decided in the negative.
4. Query from Indian Creek. Whether it be legal to receive a Baptist minister who observes the seventh day Sabbath as a member of the First day Baptist Church, and to take the pastoral care of said church?" Decision reserved until next association.
7. Next association to be held at Great Whiteley, Greene County, on first Friday in September. Brother Corbly to preach the sermon. Brother Stone alternate.
9. Brother Isaac Edwards from Kentucky preached out of doors to the people.
The interest that centers about the Spicer massacre, the result of the cruel revenge of the celebrated Indian Chieftain Logan, will never cease to be felt. The location of Spicer's cabin is not exactly known, though it was somewhere upon the heights separating the waters of Dunkard from Big Whiteley Creek. "Some traditions," says Evans, " locate it in the head of Deep Run, which flows into Dunkard Creek a short distance above Bob Town. Some would have it on the old Dave Keener farm, on the lead waters of a branch of Meadow Run. Others place it on the old Eberhart farm, now be- longing to Stephenson Garard, I believe, which lies in a cove at the head of a considerable run which flows into Big Whiteley on Sebas- tian Keener's farm, nearly a mile below the Willow Tree postoffice. However these three streams have their source so very close together that the locality is defined with sufficient accuracy by either or all of them. Indeed it is said that there were two cabins, which was probably the fact, one at the source of Deep Run, and the other on the Eberhart farm."
Spicer was living with a wife and seven children, in June, 1774, when Logan, who had been despoiled of eight members of his family in cold blood, and was out upon his hunt for an equal number of white scalps, which, according to Indian theology must be had to satisfy his pious revenge, approached, with his accomplices, the lone cabin of the Spicers. It was in the very midst of the primeval forest. Not another white inhabitant was living in a circuit of miles in extent. Spicer himself was engaged in chopping, all unsuspecting of danger, and not conscious of an enemy among all the sons of the forest. Logan had no cause of quarrel with him. But the savage must have the scalps of a certain number of the pale faces. It was immaterial to him who they were. When Spicer discovered the red men approaching, thinking they were on a friendly errand, and de- siring to suitably entertain them, he stuck his axe into the log and went into his cabin. Scarcely had he entered when one of the sav-
.
512
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
ages, having seized the axe, came stealthily behind, and with one blow struck him dead. His wife and two children shared a like fate. Three other children were found and speedily dispatched. Elizabeth, who was engaged in ironing, seeing the bloody work, ran for her life with her smoothing iron still grasped in her hand, being too excited to think of dropping it. In her attempt to clear the fence, with her brother William, whom she was assisting to escape, they were overtaken and carried away into captivity. The murdered were scalped and horribly mutilated, so much so that one of the party under Capt. Crawford who went to bury the bodies, was so horrified by the awful spectacle that he could not endure the sight, and begged to be led away. Logan, with a war chief, Snake, proceeded over to Big Whiteley Creek, where they murdered and scalped an old man by the name of Keener, whose body was undiscovered until the cir- cling of the buzzards above his decomposing corpse disclosed its loca- tion. It was buried in the famons meadow of John Lantz. The captives, Betty and William, were hurried away beyond the Ohio, and separated, the boy being placed in a more distant tribe than the girl, that they might not be plotting to escape. Subsequently these tribes were compelled by treaty to give up their captives, and the girl was returned in the holidays of the same year of her abduction. Though but a few months in captivity she learned the Indian lan- guage, and the medicinal properties of many roots and herbs as practiced in Indian pharmacy, so that her services were much in de- mand during all her life in cases of sickness peculiar to the climate. She married a man by the name of Bowen, and lived to the ad- vanced age of eighty-four, many of the earlier settlers having cause to remember with gratitude the kind attentions of " Granny Bowen."
" After Betsy returned," says Evans, " to her friends, she visited the sight of the awful tragedy where she was rendered an orphan child, and remembering that one of the Indians finding himself overloaded with plunder, had concealed some things under a log, she repaired to the spot and among other articles found her father's scalp, which she religiously preserved all her life, with the intention of having it enclosed in her own coffin, when she should be called away. She also remembered where she had thrown her smoothing iron and found it, and it is yet preserved by her descendants. Mrs. Bowen was the mother of a large family of children, one of whom, Mrs. Naney Steel, is still living at the age of seventy-four. A dangh- ter of Mrs. Steel, Mrs. Azariah Stephens, living near Garard's Fort has furnished the particulars of this narrative."
The boy William became unalterably attached to Indian life, married an Indian squaw and was made a chief. He was induced to return on one occasion to give testimony in the disposition of some
518
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
property in favor of his sister; but could not be prevailed upon to quit his wild life in the woods.
Greene Township, by the report of Mr. Black, 1854, is credited with five schools and 177 pupils. By the report of Mr. McGhumphy it is shown "that the houses in this district are all good, and well furnished. In the latter respect they surpass any in the county." The following is a list of the present board of directors: J. M. Mor- ris, President; P. A. Myers, Secretary; J. B. Roberts, Stephen Gar- ard, Isaac Barclay, George Russell.
CHAPTER XL.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
AGRICULTURE-BALTIMORE AND OHIO ROAD-TIMBER -- WHITE COT- TAGE-SCHOOLS-DIRECTORS-HABITS OF SETTLERS-DR. DODD- RIDGE'S REMINISCENSES-DRESS-MOCCASINS - CLOTHING HUNG ON PEGS-OCCUPATIONS OF THE WOMEN-OF THE BOYS-THROW- ING THE TOMAHAWK.
INHIS township was one of the later settled, but is at present under I a good state of cultivation. The surface is broken and highly picturesque, but the soil is deep and very fertile. Large flocks of sheep are kept in the upper end of the township, nearly all of fine wool. Some years ago a few sheep died from some disease peculiar to the flock, since which more attention has been given to the culti- vation of cattle. The short-horn Durham breed is most in demand though some Holsteins are kept. The forests of this township were the favorite gathering place of wild turkeys, and the inhabitants raise large flocks of these birds. A few years ago a disease seized upon the flocks of turkeys and many died, which has had the effect to greatly decrease the interest felt in breeding them. Winter wheat is largely cultivated, rarely or never spring wheat. Dent corn is cul- tivated, yellow, rarely white. Lime is found in abundance, and is used for fertilizing. Formerly large quantities of poultry, eggs, beef, pork and grain were shipped by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad; but latterly by Washington and Waynesburg road, which is more convenient for the Pittsburg market. Hay is also an important ar- ticle and is sold in large quantities, movable hay-presses being em-
514
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
ployed to prepare it for transportation. Oak, chestnut, poplar, sugar maple, locust, are the home product used in building and fencing, the coarse lumber for timber, joists, studding and roof is commonly of the different oaks. The red oak, which is now coming into use for fine work for expensive finishing, and takes a polish in carved work that rivals mahogany and satin wood, is common here. Timothy, blue grass and clover are abundant on hill and valley, and though the hills are everywhere and of enormous proportions, the mower and reaper is almost exclusively used, and the strain of hu- man musele avoided. There is in every part a elay and lime subsoil and springs of pure water are copious and abundant. Swine are largely bred, Chester white, Poland-China, ard Berkshire being the most numerously kept, though a cross between the Poland and Chester is considered in all respects the best.
There are no considerable villages, though White Cottage, near the center of the township, is the location of the principal postoffice, and will probably in time develop into a thriving place of business. The intelligence and morality of the people are conspienous, and an air of thritt and contentment is everywhere observable. The dwell- ings are commodious and kept in a good state of repair, and the highways in most parts well wrought. A road machine, very simple of construction, is used to great advantage. Nine schools are reported in 1854 by Mr. Black, who was then Secretary of State, with 404 pupils. In 1850 the Superintendent says: " This district is much behind the times in point of education." But a quarter of a century has wrought great changes here. The present board of directors is thus constituted: J. F. Morris, President; M. C. Hull, Secretary ; James Meeks, R. Hughes, A. J. Mitchell, Homer Fordyce.
Of the condition and habits of the people among the earliest set- tlers little can now be recalled. It would be interesting, if any were now living whose mature lives reached back to those early times, to listen to their recital. As a matter of historical record, in these days when the whirl and excitement of life is so rapidly obliterating every trace of the old time, nothing could be more important. Dr. Dodd- ridge, who has left many interesting details of the early settlers in this section, gives the following graphie account of the habits and peculiarities of our ancestors:
" A pair of moccasins answered much better for the feet than shoes. These were made of dressed deerskins. They were mostly made of a single piece, with gathered seams along the top of the foot, and another from the bottom of the heel, without gathers, as high as the ankle joint, or a little higher. Flaps were left on each side, to reach some distance up the legs. These were nicely adapted to the ankles, and lower part of the leg by thongs of deerskin, so that no dust, gravel nor snow could get within the moccasin. The
515
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
moccasins in ordinary use cost but a few hours labor to make them. In cold weather the moccasins were stuffed with deer's hair, or dry leaves, so as to keep the feet comfortably warmn. * * The linsey-woolsey petticoat and bedgown, which were the universal dress of the women in early times, would make a very singular figure in our days. They went barefooted in warm weather, and in cold, their feet were covered with moccasins, overshoes or shoe-packs. * * The coats and bedgowns of the women, as well as the hunting-shirts of the men, were hung in full display on wooden pegs round the walls of their cabins; so that while they answered, in some degree, the place of paper hangings or tapestry, they announced to the stranger, as well as neighbor, the wealth or poverty of the family in the articles of clothing. This practice prevailed for a long time.
"The ladies handled the distaff, shuttle, sickle, weeding-hoe, scutching-knife, hackle, and were contented if they could obtain their linsey-woolsey clothing, and covered their heads with sunbonnets made of 600 or 700 linen. * * * Flax was universally culti- vated. When ripe, it was usually pulled by the women and boys, as this operation always occurred in harvest, when the men were occu- pied with their grain or hay. And those who .pulled ' it, after the seed was threshed out of it, perhaps towards the heels of harvest, by the men, then spread it out ' to rot' for some weeks, on some green pasture fields; and after a number of weeks it was taken np, ready for the application of the ' brake' and 'swingling-knife.' The for- mer instrument required the muscular arms of stout men. The latter was often, perhaps most generally, wielded by the women. ' Sentching frolics,' or gatherings of neighbors to scutch or swingle flax, were very common, and afforded much innocent amusement and recreation to the young people, blended with pretty hard work. The old ladies generally took charge of the ' hackling' of the flax. Hack- ling and goose-picking days required much patient toil. * *
One important pastime of our boys was that of imitating the notes or noise of every bird and beast in the woods. This faculty was not merely a pastime, but a very necessary part of education, on account of its utility in certain circumstances. The imitations of the gob- lers, and other sounds of wild turkeys, often brought the keen-eyed and ever-watchful tenants of the forest within the reach of the rifle. The bleating of the fawn brought its dam to her death in the same way. The hunter often collected a company of mopish owls on the trees about his camp, and amused himself with their hoarse scream- ing; his howl would raise and obtain responses from a pack of wolves, so as to inform him of their neighborhood, as well as guard him against their depredations. This imitative faculty was some- times requisite as a measure of precantion in war. The Indians, when scattered abont in a neighborhood, often collected together by 26
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.