USA > Pennsylvania > Greene County > History of Greene County, Pennsylvania > Part 47
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The early settlers had many hardships to endure and were ac- customed to privations. Dr. Smith in his secular history of this section gives the following amusing account of the furniture of a pioneer cabin:
" A single fork, placed with its lower end in a hole in the floor and the upper end fastened to the joist, served for a bedstead, by placing a pole in the fork with one end through a crack, between the logs in the wall. This front pole was crossed by a shorter one with- in the fork, with its outer end through another crack. From the first pole through a crack between the logs of the end of the house the boards were put on, which formed the bottom of the bed. Some- times other poles were pinned to the fork, a little distance above these, for the purpose of supporting the front and foot of the bed, while the walls were the support of its back and its head. A few pegs around the walls for a display of the coats of the women and hunting-shirts of the men, and two small forks or buck's horns to a joist for the rifle and shot-pouch, completed the carpenter work."
" Their dress was partly Indian and partly that of civilized na- tions. The hunting-shirt was universally worn. This was a kind of loose frock, reaching half way down the thighs, with large sleeves, open before, and so wide as to lap over a foot or more when belted. The cape was large, and sometimes handsomely fringed with a ravelled piece of cloth of a different color from that of the hunting- shirt itself."
The valley of Dunkard Creek was doubtless one of the most at- tractive and hence among the first tarrying places for white men in Greene County. The ease with which the Monongahela River could be reached was probably one of its inviting features. In 1778 a considerable settlement had gathered in the neighborhood of where Blacksville now is. A short distance below, on the Virginia side, the settlers had built Stattler's Fort-a place of refuge in time of danger. In 1778 the Indians were known to be on the war path, and for greater security the settlers went forth to their labor in bands, helping each other, and while some worked, others stood guard. One evening
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
after a good day's work they butchered some hogs, and set out with their precious burden for the fort, all unsuspicious of any danger. But, doubtless attracted by the piercing squeals of the swine, a band of over one hundred Indians were on the watch for them, ambushing the path which the pioneers would follow. Toilsomely moving on with their burdens, they had approached within sight of the fort, and were doubtless thinking of the delicious porksteaks they would enjoy for their suppers, when all of a sudden the forest was ablaze with the fire from the Indians' guns. Several were killed by the first volley; but the survivors rallied and returned the fire, fighting their way through to the fort, but leaving eighteen of their number dead, scattered along the path. So weakened were they that it was some days before the survivors ventured forth to bury the dead, whom they found stripped, scalped and shockingly mangled. This massacre oc- curred near the State line, on the Warrior Branch of the great In- dian war path, and it is supposed that this was a war party on its way home. The bones of Jacob Stattler, who was killed and buried here, were washed out by the rains, and were reinterred not many years ago. Brice Worley, grandfather of John I. Worley, of Wayne Township, settled on a tract of land a half mile below Blacksville in 1778. Brice Worley's first born babe died in infancy, and there is a well preserved tradition that the brave mother stood a faithful sentinel whilst the father nailed up a rude box, prepared the grave, and committed the darling baby to the earth. The little mound is still well preserved. Brice Worley's house was stockaded and was known as Worley's Fort. Nathan Worley, his brother, was killed by the Indians.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLIX.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
COMMERCIALLY SITUATED - RAIL-ROAD-800 SUBSCRIBERS -- COST $6,500 PER MILE-IN 1877 IS HEARD THE FIRST SCREAM OF THE LOCOMOTIVE-SURFACE-BOUNDARIES - EARLY SETTLERS - RE- LIGIONS-FIRST SACRAMENT IN 1783-SERVICES IN A BARN- SCHOOLS -- DIRECTORS.
COMMERCIALLY, Washington Township is perhaps more favorably located than any other in the county. A highway of an easy grade leads down the valley of Ruff's Run, through the central portion, and connects at Jefferson with good roads leading to Rice's Landing, on the Monongahela River. It was also easily accessible to Waynes- burg, so that it had the Pittsburg and home markets at its command from an early day. But latterly it has become especially favored by the opening of the Washington & Waynesburg Railroad, which by the several stations along its course gives easy outlet to Waynesburg and Pittsburg for the immense produce of all this fertile region.
The rail-road, though but narrow guage, is of great importance, not only to this township, but to the entire county. The project had been for a long time agitated; but seeing no prospect of having one built by foreign capital, the citizens of the county put their own money into the enterprise, and soon saw their wishes gratified.
In the fall of 1874 the matter took definite form, and during the winter and spring succeding, preliminary surveys were made, and experimental lines run. Stock books were opened, and about eight hundred citizens, principally in Greene County, subscribed. An ag- gregate subscription of $130,000 having been obtained, the company was organized in May, 1875, with the choice of the following officers: J. G. Ritchie, of Waynesburg, President; Chief Engineer O. Barrett, Jr., of Allegheny, and the following named eleven gentlemen directors: Simon Rinehart, Henry Sayers, J. T. Hook, A. A. Purman, W. C. Condit, Henry Swart, Jacob Swart, Ephraim Conger, James Dunn, Thomas Iames, John Munnel. The length of the road is twenty- nine miles. The guage is three feet, and with two engines and cars complete, ready to operate, cost $6,500 per mile. By the first of September, 1877, fourteen miles from Washington were completed, 28
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
and the cars began to run. By the 17th the track-layers had crossed the county line, and the locomotive, " General Greene," entered the limits of Greene, and for the first time in all its borders, screamed out its note of triumph. Early in October the road was completed, and trains commenced running regularly over its entire length. Hon. Justus Fordyce Temple, formerly Auditor-General of the State, was for several years at the head of the company, and his annual reports show that the passenger traffic, and tonnage of the road, had steadily increased under his faithful management. Recently the road has passed under the control of the Pennsylvania Company, and is oper- ated as a part of its great network of chemin de fer.
Washington, like all the townships on the northern border of the county, is very rugged, though under a good state of cultivation. The roads, generally following the courses of the streams, run from north to south. It is well watered by a series of runs, Craig's, Crayne's, Boyd's, Ruff's, Overflowing and Hopkins'. It is bounded on the north by Washington County, on the east by Morgan Town- ship, on the south by Franklin and on the west by Morris. There is no village of any importance in the township, though at the almost exact center of its territory, on Ruff's Run, is a mill, store, school- house and dwellings, which will probably in time become a place of some importance. This township was not organized till 1838, and was taken from Morris, Morgan and Franklin.
A number of English and Scotch emigrants, who had come over. and settled in New England, subsequently removed to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. Still not satisfied they crossed the mountains, and some found their way to this and . the neighbor- ing township of Amwell, in Washington County, and brought with them a love of religious liberty, first promulgated and acted upon by Roger Williams. Among those who thus early settled here was Demas Lindley, who acquired property just across the county line, on whose land a fort, known as Lindley's Fort, was erected, which was a rallying point and a place of refuge for the inhabitants for a wide circuit in the two counties. He also built a mill, known as Lindley's Mill, which stood upon the site of the present structure which still bears his name. He was accompanied by some fifteen or twenty families, most of whom emigrated with the Pilgrims, who spread abroad in this section, and whose descendants still dwell along this stretch of highlands. Following the example of their New Eng- land associates they early established churches, the Baptists in 1772, and the Presbyterians in 1781, known as the upper and lower Ten- Mile. A tract of land was donated by Demas Lindley, which was to be held in perpetuity " for the occupancy and use of a Presbyterian Church and for no other purpose whatsoever." The entry in the church book for Wednesday, April 30, 1783, was " Present, Thad-
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
dens Dodd, V. D. M .; Demas Lindley, Joseph Coe, Jacob Cooke, Daniel Axtell, elders. At this session twenty-two persons joined." The sacrament was first administered on the third Sabbath in May, 1783, by Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, assisted by Rev. John MeMillan. The meeting was held in Daniel Axtell's barn.
The earliest report of the schools of this township, made in 1854, credits it with seven, and an attendance of 436 pupils, which is a remarkable number for a rural population. In the report of 1887, while the number of schools remains the same, the number of scholars in attendance is only 237, which would seem to indicate that the families are less numerous now than in that earlier day. The directors for the current year are, T. M. Ross, President; J. B. Cox, Secretary; Benjamin Shirk, Silas Johnson, G. W. Huffman and George Durbin.
CHAPTER L.
WHITELEY TOWNSHIP.
COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES-SURFACE-BOUNDARIES -EXPERIENCE OF DR. McMILLAN-MR. EVANS' ACCOUNT OF MRS. BOZARTH-ILE- ROIC DEFENSE OF HERSELF-RELIEF. 1
INTHE northern part of this township reaches up within a few miles 1 of the county seat, and has highways of easy grade that lead by the valleys of Whiteley Creek to the navigable waters of the Mononga- hela River. It has, consequently, had access to good markets from its earliest settlement. This advantage is shown by the stimulus it has given to agricultural pursuits, throughout all its borders. Few townships in the county can show farms under better tillage, the stock more intelligently bred, and the homes of the inhabitants more tasteful and comfortable.
The surface is rolling and well watered by Whiteley Creek and Dyer's Fork. It is bounded on the north by Franklin and Jefferson, on the east by Greene, on the south by Perry, and on the west by Wayne and Franklin. In the southern portion of the township, at the forks of Whiteley Creek, is the village of Newtown, which is supplied with mills and the usual places of business, and a Method- ist Episcopal Church is located here. Secretary Black's report of 1854 shows this township to have eight- schools and 274 pupils; by the report of 1887 it is seen to have nine schools and 255 pupils,
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
which would seem to indicate that the families are more diminutive in size now than a third of a century ago. The board of directors for the current year is constituted as follows: Dr. C. C. Conway, President; M. C. Brant, Secretary; John Meighen, James Hatfield, John Cowell, and Thomas Mooney.
The early settlers of this township endured the privations of frontier life, and the terror inspired by Indian savagery. When Dr. McMillan, the eminent Presbyterian divine, came to this section, there was little comfort in the home life of the people, and he began life among them in as simple a way as the humblest to whom he ministered. He says: "When I came to this country, the cabin in which I was to live was raised, but there was no roof on it, nor any chimney nor floor. The people, however, were very kind, and as- sisted me in preparing my house, and on the 16th of December I removed into it. But we had neither bedstead nor tables, nor stool, nor chair, nor bucket. All these things we had to leave behind us; as there was no wagon road at that time over the mountains, we could bring nothing but what was carried on pack-horses. We placed two boxes on each other, which served us for a table, and two kegs answered for seats, and having committed ourselves to God in family worship, we spread a bed on the floor, and slept soundly till morn- ing. The next day a neighbor came to my assistance. We made a table and a stool, and in a little time had everything comfortable about us."
One of the most thrilling incidents in early pioneer life was that of Experience Bozarth. Mr. Evans gives the following description of it in his Centennial papers:
" In the spring of 1779 we find her living in a cabin in the lower part of the valley of Dunkard Creek. That it was on Dunkard Creek, and in Greene County there is no historic event more posi- tive. But the exact locality, which did we know, would add much to the interest of the story, is not recorded, nor is there any tra- dition to my knowledge on the subject at all. All accounts speak of hier as a lone woman. She is designated as Mrs. Experience Bozarth only.
" About the middle of March there was an alarm of Indians. Besides h'ers, there were but two or three cabins in the neighbor- hood. For some reason, either because her cabin afforded the best wall of defence, or because she was such a fearless creature, the neighbors fearing to stay at home all assembled at her house, and were abiding there presuming that in union there was strength.
" After the lapse of some days, when the fears of an attack had begun to subside and a feeling of comparative security was being restored, and the vigilance against surprise had consequently been re- laxed, at a moment when there were but two men in the house, some
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
paul father Dick Date
of the children of the various families ran in from their play in much alarm, erying, 'Ugly red men! Ugly red men?' Upon one of the men stepping to the door he received a ball in the side of the breast, which caused him to fall back on the floor. The Indian who shot him sprang in over his prostrate body, and grappled with the remaining white man. The white man threw him on the bed and called for a knife with which to despatch him, and Experience an- swered that call by seizing an axe and splitting out the brains of the intruding savage. At the same instant another Indian entered the door and shot dead the man who was engaged with the Indian on the bed. Weilding again the fatal axe, Experience Bozarth disembow- eled that Indian on the spot, who bawled, 'Murder! murder! Im- mediately several others of the party who had been engaged in slaughtering children in the yard came to his relief, and one of them thrusting his head in at the door had it cleft in twain by a murder- ous stroke of Mrs. Bozarth's axe. At the same time another having caught hold of the disemboweled Indian, and drawn him out of the way, Mrs. Bozarth, with the aid of the man who had somewhat re- covered from his wound in the breast, shut the door and fastened it against the besieging savages. Repeated attempts were made by the Indians to break into the house, but our heroine and her companion by their bold determination and vigilant, heroic exertions, held fast the door and defended every entrance for several days, till a party came from the neighboring settlements and drove the Indians away.
CHAPTER LI. MISCELLANEOUS.
EXCISE LAW-HELD UNCONSTITUTIONAL-TRANSPORTATION DIFFICULT -WHISKY EASY -- LAW RESISTED-OFFICERS ABUSED-LAW MODI- FIED-STILL RESISTED- MACFARLANE KILLED-MILITIA CALLED GEN. LEE IN COMMAND -- WASHINGTON MOVES WITH THE ARMY -- REVIEWS IT AT CUMBERLAND- SUBMIT-HONEST WHISKY -- NO LICENSE-THREE STILLS LEFT-RELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT-SECTS --- SLAVERY-GEOLOGY-OIL-HONORED LIST.
A N outbreak which occurred in 1794, previous to the organization of the county, commonly called the Whisky Rebellion, which . was confined to the southwestern section of the State, is entitled to mention, though in its bearing upon the history of these parts it has little significance. At that early day the chief sources of wealth to
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
the inhabitants were the production of grain. So remote from mar- ket were they, however, that transportation cost what the produce would sell for. To put their grain in a more concentrated form, the farmers erected stills and converted their grain into whisky, which could more readily be transported to market and would command ready sale. When the Revolutionary war was over, the new nation, being burdened with a great debt, laid a tax on whisky of four pence per gallon. The passage of this act was vigorously opposed in Con- gress, on the ground that the constitution provides that taxation shall be uniform, and the act would impose a tax on those producing whisky, from which those not producing it would be relieved.
Adopting this argument, the inhabitants of the southwestern eor- ner of the State, chiefly the counties of Westmoreland, Alleghany, Washington and Fayette, resolved that they would not pay the tax. Revenue inspectors and collectors were warned, threatened and abused. The pipes of a still-house were cut, the proprietor of which had paid his tax, so that "Tom the Tinker," or the ironical mender of stills, became the title by which anonymous notices, threats and calls were signed. As early as 1791, Robert Johnson, collector, was tarred and feathered, his hair ent off, and his horse taken. The man sent to serve process upon the offenders, was whipped, tarred and feathered, his money and horse taken from him, blindfolded and left tied in the woods. Later in the same year, one Wilson was taken out of his bed, carried several miles to a blacksmith's shop, his clothing stripped off and burned, branded in several places with a hot iron, tarred and feathered, and left, naked and wounded, to his fate. The law was amended in 1792, and again in 1794; but all to no purpose, and "Tom the Tinker" men, the name by which opposers of the law were universally known, were only encouraged by these modifications to more determined resistance. On the 15th of Sep- tember President Washington issued his proclamation, commanding all persons to submit to the operations of the law; but it had not the desired effect. Altercations continued to oceur, public meetings were held, resolutions asserting the determination not to pay the tax were passed, and finally the malcontents called out their adherents, armed and equipped as militia. Assaults were made upon the dwellings of United States officers, and some burnings occurred. Officers defended themselves, and in the melee which resulted a number were wounded with the small shot used. Among others the house of Gen. Neville, the inspector, was attacked. The malcontents were led by Maj. Mac- farlane, an officer of the Revolution. Maj. Kirkpatrick, with ten or twelve United States soldiers, were within the house. Neville him- self had left, and when a call was made on Kirkpatrick to surrender, he made answer that he would defend the house. The firing com- menced and continued for some time. Finally it ceased from the
F
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
house, and Macfarlane, supposing a surrender was intended, stepped forward, when he was shot and instantly killed. This aet enraged the opposers of the tax, and a general rendezvous of their party was called for Braddock's field, armed and equipped, with four days' rations in haversacks.
To such a pass had the opposition to the law now come that both State and national authorities deemed it necessary to take decisive action. On the 6th of August, 1794, Gov. MitHlin sent Chief Justice McKean and Gen. William Irvine to inquire into the facts, and endeavor to allay excitement. On the following day President Wash- ington, who had now entered upon his second term, issued his procla- mation commanding all persons to disperse on or before the 1st of September. At the same time he called out the militia of neighbor- ing States, as follows:
Pennsylvania,
Infantry. 4,500
Cavalry. 500
Artillery. 200
Total. 5,200
New Jersey,
1,500
500
100
2,100
Maryland,
2,000
200
150
2,350
Virginia
3.000
300
3,300
11,000
1,500
450
12,950
On the 8th of August President Washington appointed James Ross, Jasper Yates and William Bradford to go to the disturbed section, and endeavor "to quiet or extinguish the insurrection," and the Governor called together the Assembly in extra session. A con- gress of the insurgents, composed of 260 delegates, was convened at Parkinson's Ferry on the 14th of August. But news of the de- termined stand taken by Washington had been received, and the action of the delegates was considerably modified. A committee of sixty, one from each township in the disaffected district, was ap- pointed, and from these a standing committee of twelve, who were directed to confer with the national commissioners. Conferences were held, at which Gallatin and Brackenridge urged submission, while Bradford, in fiery terms, opposed. But when the vote was taken, and showed thirty-four to twenty-three in favor of submission, he yielded, declaring that if his associates would not stand by him, he was for submission. It was proposed to take the sense of the people throughout the district by having each individual citizen answer, over his own signature, this question: "Will the people submit to the laws of the United States, upon the terms proposed by the commissioners of the United States?" Until the 11th day of September was given to signify their intention. The result of this test was so unsatisfactory, that President Washington gave the order for the army to march, and with banners spread to the breeze, to the music of fife and drum, the column moved forward. Henry Lee-
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
" Light Horse Harry" -- was given command. President Washing- ton, accompanied by Gen. Knox, Secretary of War, Alexander Hamn- ilton, Secretary of the Treasury, and Richard Peters, of the District Court, set out on the 1st of October for the scene of the disturbance. On Friday the President reached Harrisburg, on Saturday Carlisle. The committee of the insurgents held a meeting on the 2d of October at Parkinson's Ferry, when, learning that a well organized army with Washington at its head was on the marel to enforce obedience, they delegated two of their number, William Findley and David Roddick, to meet the President and assure him of their readiness to submit. They were received at Carlisle; but Washington said that as the troops had been called out, he should not countermand the order to march. Proceeding forward, the President reached Cham- bersburg on the 11th, Williamsport on the 13th,, and Fort Cumber- land on the 14th, where he reviewed the Maryland and Virginia troops. This was old tramping ground for Washington, and must have revived many early recollections. He was now near the end of his life, dying five years thereafter. On the 19th the President reached Bedford, where he became satisfied that the temper of the people had changed, and that they were now willing to obey the laws; and after tarrying a few days, determined to return to Phila- delphia, where he arrived on the 28th, leaving Gen. Lee to meet the commissioners and make such terms of pacification as should be just. A meeting of the committee of sixty was held at Parkinson's on the 24th, and a sub-committee was ordered to repair to the head- quarters of the army, and give assurances of submission. This sub- committee did not arrive till after the departure of Washington; but at Uniontown they met Gen. Lee, with whom it was agreed that books should be opened in every part of the disaffected district, by justices of the peace, when every citizen should be required to sub- seribe to an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and obey the laws. At the same time Gen. Neville issued an order for all stills to be entered according to law, which was promptly com- plied with. Having issued a judicious address to the people of the disaffected distriet, and being convinced that there was a sincere dis- position to obey the laws, Gen. Lee, on the 17th of November, gave orders for the immediate return of the troops to Philadelphia, except a small detachment under Gen. Morgan, which was left at Pittsburgh for the winter defence. Thus ended the campaign. Some arrests were made, and a few convictions were had, but all were eventually pardoned.
By the records of the inspector's office, it is shown that, as early as 1788, there were seventy registered distilleries in the distriet now covered by Greene County. Besides these there were numerous private distilleries, in which small quantities were made, the result
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