USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 37
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Mill Grange No. 712, organized June 1, 1876, started with a complete corps of members : J. G. Allen, master ; R. F. Morrison, secretary, and have since added forty-two. Among those whose names are on the roll of honor are E. Perrin and lady, J. G. Allen and wife, R. F. Morrison, T. F. Daugherty, G. W. Brenholts and others.
Richardsville No. 729, A. J. Bartlett, master; G. W. Richards, secretary ; organized by O. S. Cary, January 9, 1877, with twenty-two charter members, and after initiating thirteen it yielded to the inevitable and remained dormant until May 5, 1884, when it was reorganized by C. A. Carrier; but lacking the true grange spirit it was but a question of time when it returned to its former condition, and if it is not dead it is because it has not energy enough left to die.
Darling Grange No. 768, was organized by James McCracken and C. A. Carrier, February 3, 1883, with twenty members : Moses Johns, master ; Miss P. R. Carrier, secretary. After its organization it promised to be the banner grange of the county ; not succeeding in that, it failed in everything else, and is no longer anything but a name. A few of its members, among them Moses Johns and family, were true to their principles and connected with Rose Grange.
323
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Green Valley No. 770, of Knox township, was organized by James Mc- Cracken, March 31, 1883, with seventeen members : S. P. Hlimes, master ; H. D. Morrison, secretary ; twenty-one additional members have since been added. They are live, earnest, active workers, and although young in years, have taken an advanced position among their fellows.
Howe No. 777, organized by James McCracken, February 26, 1884, with sixteen charter members: W. J. Gayley, master ; G. M. Gayley, secretary ; has become a permanent organization with excellent opportunities, and the will and disposition to improve them. The recognized leaders are David White, W. J. Gayley, B. H. Whitehill and G. M. Gayley.
Jefferson Grange No. 778, organized by Deputy James McCracken in Polk township, February 27, 1884, with sixteen members, is the youngest of the family. Lewis Evans was chosen first master, and Miss Maggie V. Smith, secretary. They have initiated twenty-four members, and are in a prosperous condition, holding their meetings regularly every two weeks in the house of Brother Perry Smith, one of their most active members.
Since the first organization in the county there have been twenty-three dis- pensations granted, and a total of six hundred and thirty-three charter mem- bers, and eight hundred and fifty-six initiates. Of these, six granges are either dead or dormant, the others in good standing. In addition to these we have a county grange known as Pomona Grange No. 20, of Jefferson county, organ- ized December 4, 1875. The membership of Pomona consists of the masters of subordinate granges and their wives, and three delegates elected annually by each subordinate grange. It meets on the first Wednesday of January, April, July and October, at the different grange halls in the county. The offi- cers are elected for a term of two years. This grange has charge of the edu- cational work of the order, and also recommends the persons to be appointed deputy. The deputies have been appointed by the State Grange Master, and have been R. A. Travis from 1874 till 1876, when he was succeeded by O. S. Cary, who in turn was succeeded in 1878, by C. A. Carrier, whose successors were James McCracken, jr., and M. A. Fitzsimmons appointed in ISSo. The latter being reappointed every year since. R. M. Morrison was appointed in 1884, and S. W. Temple in 1886, and James McCracken re-appointed in 1887, completing the list up to the present time.
Space will permit me but a few words more of this brief history of the ori- gin and progress of the order in Jefferson county. It has proven to be " one of the most beneficent and useful secular institutions in the land." We have endeavored to show how and by whom it was inducted into our midst, by whom it was supported and upheld when its growth was slow and feeble, and when it was but little understood and less appreciated, but through all, its ad- vocates labored earnestly and diligently, and it is now to them a source of un- wonted satisfaction to know that those earlier years of toil and sacrifice for the
324
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
cause have already contributed many happy hours to hundreds of farmers' families, besides otherwise securing to them innumerable benefits. The unprec- edented success of this order is one of the most prominent incentives on record to perseverance under trying and almost insurmountable difficulties. Let those engaged in the good work take courage and bear in mind that he " who causes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before, is greater than he who taketh a city."
The foregoing history of the different lodges and societies of Jefferson county is full and correct, with the exception of one or two organizations of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, the secretaries of which would not fur- nish the necessary data.
There have been other orders represented in the county from time to time, but their record has died with them : notably among these was a lodge of the Sons of Malta, and one of the Improved Order of Red Men, both organized at Brookville. The former was short-lived, but the latter was kept up for several years, surrendering its charter some time during the year 1877. It was at one time strong in membership.
CHAPTER XXV.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
The First Fair in the County-Mountain Park-Organization of the Jefferson County Agri- cultural Society -- Officers-Buildings and Grounds-Receipts and Expenditures.
THE first agricultural fair in Jefferson county was held on the grounds T of the Mountain Park Association, October 5, 6 and 7, 1870. These grounds, now owned by the estate of Nathan Carrier, jr., were then the prop- erty of Jacob Emery and son, who advertised the fair as "Jacob Emery & Son, proprietors." The fair was quite successful, and the exhibits, though not numerous, were of an excellent character. The exhibit of stock was very good, the papers of that day speaking of this feature of the fair as a " credit to the county, and showing the interest taken by our people in improving the stock." The horses of Judge St. Clair, of Bell township, and Thomas Holt, of Beaver, received special mention.
For some reason this was the last exhibition held at Mountain Park, but the race course, which was a very good one, was used for that purpose for several years. There is no record of any premiums being paid by this associa- tion.
325
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
ORGANIZATION OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
On the 10th of February, 1879, a meeting was held at the office of James T. Carroll, esq., in Brookville, for the purpose of organizing a society to be known as the "Jefferson County Agricultural Society." On motion Thomas R. Holt was elected president of the meeting, and James T. Carroll secretary ; the object of the meeting being announced in a brief address by Dr. W. J. McKnight, after which the society was organized by the election of the follow- ing officers : President, Thomas K. Litch, of Brookville ; vice-presidents, Jo- seph Grube, of Henderson township ; James E. Mitchell, Punxsutawney ; Stacy B. Williams, Oliver ; James U. Gillespie, Clayville; Robert A. Travis and George Gourley, Perry ; Henry Lewis, Porter; E. W. Jones, Beaver; Joseph Thrush and U. Matson, Rose; A. Carrier, Clover ; Robert A. Summerville, Union ; Allen Cathers, Winslow; James McCurdy and A. L. Smith, Wash- ington ; Stephen Oaks, Eldred ; Oran Butterfield, Barnett; Thomas Craven, Polk ; Dr. John Thompson, Corsica ; John Smathers, Ringgold ; William Aharah, Heath; Daniel North, McCalmont; John B. Pantall, Young ; Henry Brown, Bell ; L. P. Seeley, Reynoldsville ; George K. Tyson, Big Run ; Paul Darling, Brookville; Samuel A. Hunter, Knox ; David B. McConnell and Levi Shuckers, Pine Creek ; John Ostrander and John Fox, Warsaw ; Samuel Geist, Worthville ; secretary, Thomas L. Templeton, Brookville ; executive committee, Thomas R. Holt, Beaver ; Oliver Brady, Pine Creek ; David Eason, John Garrison, Nathan G. Edelblute, Brookville.
The association was incorporated May 2, 1879, under the name of the " Jefferson County Agricultural Society and Driving Park Association," and the following officers elected for the year: Thomas K. Litch, president; Thomas L. Templeton, secretary ; J. E. Long, assistant secretary; M. V. Shaffer, treasurer, with the same executive committee given above. A fair was held on the grounds, which had been secured by lease, within the bor- ough limits, from the John Dougherty estate, the fall of that year, which proved a success both financially and otherwise, and the association assumed a permanent. footing.
Exhibitions, in every way creditable to the county, have been held each suc- ceeding year, and premiums amounting to an average of $2,000 have been paid. In ISSO N. G. Edelblute was elected president of the association, with Messrs. Templeton and Shaffer re-elected, continued the officers of the association un- til 1886, when the present management was elected : W. H. Gray, president ; S. H. Whitehill, secretary ; J. B. Henderson, treasurer. Directors, W. H. Gray, H. C. Litch, S. A. Hunter, G. B. Carrier, Joseph Bullers. There were originally one hundred and twenty-four stockholders holding two hundred and forty-seven shares.
In 1884 the association bought of Colonel Silas J. and Mrs. Kate D. Marlin, 38
326
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
two and one-half acres of land on the south side, upon which the main buildings of the association are erected, at a cost of $2,250, which was conveyed by deed February 7, 1887. They also rent other ground adjoining, from Bishop Broth- ers, Means's heirs, A. Beach, George A. Jenks et al., making the enclosure oc- cupied by the grounds cover about ten acres. These grounds are on level ground, lying in the bend of Sandy Lick Creek near where it unites with the North Fork and forms Red Bank. They are well adapted for the purpose, and are within easy access of all parts of the town. Two main buildings, machin- ery hall, grand and band stands, with good stabling for over five hundred horses and stock, and abundant accommodations for poultry, compose the buildings. The half-mile track is an excellent one. The ground, buildings, etc., owned by the society, are worth about $10,000.
During the eight years that exhibitions have been held by the association the receipts and expenditures each year have been as follows :
Expenditures.
Fair Receipts.
1879
$2,002.93
$2,315.13
1 880
3,765.13
3.563.84
188 1
4,659.15
5,151.84
1882
5,098.99
5.001.65
1 883
5.250.37
5,250.39
1 884
5.783.00
6.162.03
ISS5
5,801.47
4.558.65
ISS6
3.680.94
3,680.94
This society has done much to improve the mechanical, industrial, agri- cultural and stock raising business of the county, as it has brought the farmers together, and by competition and comparison has added a new incentive to all that which was needed to bring Jefferson county up to the place she should occupy in the agricultural column of the State.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE TEMPERANCE WORK.
The Early Temperance Work in Jefferson County-The First Workers for the Cause-The Good Templars-Prohibition-The Temperance Alliance-The Murphy Movement-The Work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
T HE first record of temperance work that we find is a call for a temperance meeting to be held in the court-house, on the evening of the 4th of De- cember, 1837, to be addressed by Rev. Mr. Hill. The call for this meeting, which appears in the Brookville Republican of November 29, 1837. is signed by J. P'. McGinity, recording secretary of the Jefferson County Temperance Society.
327
THE TEMPERANCE WORK.
Then, in 1841, Rt. Rev. Bishop Patrick Francis Kenrick, on his way from St. Mary's to Red Bank, delivered a temperance address to a large audience in the court-house in Brookville. From that time there appears to have been all over the county, at different times, societies organized for the purpose of put- ting down intemperance. In 1843 the Washingtonian Society of Brookville organized temperance societies throughout the county, one of which, at Beech- woods, was organized by Colonel Hugh Brady and S. B. Bishop, esq. In 1849 the Temperance League of Brookville put forth strong efforts to crush the liquor traffic. One of their public meetings, held in the court-house, May 19, 1849, was addressed by Captain W. W. Wise, and on the 18th of Febru- ary, following, Dr. C. P. Cummins delivered a lecture in the same place under the same auspices, on physiology, anatomy and temperance, with especial ref- erence to show the effects of alcohol on the human system.
July 1, 1854, a temperance convention was held in the court house, and an address published to the people of the county which was signed by R. Arthurs, chairman, and W. W. Wise, G. W. Andrews and D. S. Johnson, com- mittee. The result of this movement was the following official vote at the October election, 1854 : For prohibition, 1,385 ; against prohibition, 1.015. Majority in favor of prohibition, 370. At the February term of court, 1854, no licenses were granted in the county, and at the May term, following, there were 110 Commonwealth cases. A great many temperance societies have been organ- ized, accomplished their work and sunk into oblivion, while others, with new life infused into their veins, would fill the gap caused by their death. Among the most prominent and longest-lived of these was the Independent Order of Good Templars, which was organized in Brookville, February 12, 1857, by Philip Clover, of Strattanville, D. D., G. W. C. T. L. A. Dodd was elected and installed worthy chief templar ; Frank Crandall, worthy vice-templar ; J. P. Mil- ler, worthy secretary ; Charles Matson, worthy treasurer; Thomas J. Heckendorn, worthy inside guard, and Myron Pearsall, worthy outside guard. This order pros- pered and did good work for the cause of temperance until the war broke out, and so many of its members enlisting it was for a time broken up, but in February, 1866, with the following officers : worthy chief templar, Daniel Fogle ; worthy vice templar, Ellen Guffey ; worthy secretary, John Scott ; worthy treasurer, Sarah Truby ; worthy inside guard, Carrie A. Scott; worthy outside guard, James B. McLain ; worthy chaplain, James E. Long; worthy assistant secre- tary, John W. Walker; worthy financial secretary, John McMurray; worthy marshal, Myron M. Pearsall ; worthy deputy marshal, Kate M. Scott; worthy right hand supporter, Mrs. L. Pearsall ; worthy left hand supporter, Mary J. Matson, the order was revived and started out with fifty members, and for a number of years did a good temperance work in Brookville and its vicinity, be- sides exercising a great moral and social influence. It finally succumbed to circumstances and its place was filled by some other society. A temperance
328
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
convention, called by the Good Templars, was held in the Methodist church, May 14, 1868. There have been numerous other temperance societies and organizations working for the cause of temperance, at various times, in the county, notably, the Sons of Temperance, Washingtonians and Temperance Alliance. The latter, of which Dr. G. C. Vincent, then pastor of the United Presbyterian church of Brookville, was a prominent mover, did much to agi- tate the question in the county and prepare the way for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, which is now becoming a " power in the land."
The local option law for the State of Pennsylvania, allowing counties to vote on the question, was passed March 27, 1872, and repealed April 12, 1875. At the election held in Jefferson county, March 3, 1873, there was almost nine hundred majority for local option. April 16, 1877, the great Murphy move- ment was inaugurated in Brookville, in a largely attended meeting at the Presbyterian church. This meeting was conducted by Mr. Joseph Dilworth, of Pittsburgh, and was addressed by J. D. Brooks, esq., of Pittsburgh, and Dr. J. M. Davies, of Parker City, Pa. Two hundred and twenty-five persons signed the pledge. This meeting was followed by others, conducted by T. Benton Dalley, esq., of Blairsville, and so much enthusiasm was infused into the meetings that over one thousand signed the Murphy pledge in Brookville, while the work spread all over the county, until over three thousand were en- rolled under the " blue ribbon " banner of temperance. Of these, some were totally reclaimed, while a great many yielded again to temptation; but the impress of this movement has never been effaced, and its effects are still felt. Later, Francis Murphy, the great apostle of temperance, visited Brookville, and held rousing meetings in the court-house. In answer to a call made by the ministers of the different denominations, a convention was held in the Presbyterian church, July 14, 1885, to take into consideration the purpose of organizing a Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Mrs. Eva Thompson, of Indiana county, gave an explanation of the plan of the union and read the con- stitution, which had been adopted. It was then decided to form a county union, and the following officers were elected : President, Mrs. D. E. Taylor, of Brookville ; vice president, Mrs. V. S. Blood, of Brookville ; treasurer, Mrs. Georgiana Wray, of Brockwayville; recording secretary, Mrs. Louie Gates, of Brookville; corresponding secretary, Miss Agnes Thompson, of Punxsutawney.
This union at once went to work, commencing an aggressive warfare upon the liquor traffic. Local unions were organized in different parts of the county of which there are now sixteen, viz. : Corsica, Punxsutawney, Frostburg, Brookville, Reynoldsville, Troy, Warsaw, Belleview, Richardsville, Cool Spring, Pleasant Hill, Baxter, Brockwayville, Sandy Valley, Beechtree and Mount Pleasant. The first license court held in the county after the Woman's Chris- tian Union was organized, was the February term, 1886. It was a well- known fact that every one engaged in selling liquor was violating the license
329
THE TEMPERANCE WORK.
law, and evidence enough was found by the union to close the nine bars in the town of Brookville, and out of thirty petitions presented at this court from the county, fifteen were refused on evidence.
After this victory the W. C. T. U. turned its attention to the Legislature, and in order to find out the temperance status of the different candidates for that position, addressed the following open letter to them :
An open letter to Dr. William Altman, nominee of the Republican party, and C. Miller, nominee of the Democratic party, for State Legislature :
Gentlemen :- We, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, assembled in county convention at Reynoldsville, this the 16th day of July, 1886, re- spectfully submit to each of you the following questions :
Will you, if elected, give your vote and use your influence to procure the passage of a bill, submitting to the vote of the people, at the earliest day prac- ticable, an amendment to the State constitution, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage ?
Please give us your answer through the Brookville Republican and the Brookville Democrat. By order of convention.
MRS. D. E. TAYLOR, President.
To this Dr. Altman returned the following reply :
To the Editor of the Brookville Republican :- In response to an open let- ter published in your issue of July 21, from the Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union, assembled in county convention at Reynoldsville, on the 16th day of July, inst., asking me to define my position, I would most respectfully say that, believing in democratic principles, free government, and the freedom of speech, with the right to exercise conscientious convictions on all subjects, especially of a legislative character, I feel it is the inherent right of all or any part of the citizens of the State to ask the privilege to be heard through the ballot box. Should I be elected as representative of Jefferson county, I will vote for and aid in securing a constitutional amendment, giving the citizens a right to vote on prohibition, maintaining and believing in an old established question, that the majority should rule. Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM ALTMAN.
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa., July 27, 1886.
Mr. Miller, the candidate of the Democratic party, did not make any reply to the letter of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. The result of the election for Legislature, in Jefferson county, was the election of Dr. Altman by a majority of three hundred and thirteen.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union is gaining in strength steadily, and is well organized. The officers of the county union are the same as when first organized with the exception that Mrs. Emma J. Arnold, of Reynoldsville, has taken the place of Mrs. Louie Gates as recording secretary, the latter hav- ing removed from the county.
330
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
The work to be done by the union has been systematized and each depart- ment placed under a superintendent. Those having charge of these depart- ments are : Scientific instruction, Mrs. E. D. Bovard, Reynoldsville ; Hygiene heredity, Mrs. V. S. Blood, Brookville ; Sabbath observance, Miss Mary J. Stewart, Brookville ; Mothers' work, Mrs. M. J. Campbell, Baxter ; Evange- listic work, Mrs. Joseph McFarland, Belleview ; Fair work, Mrs. Sarah H. Hunter, Pleasant Hill ; Press and Literature, Miss Agnes Thompson, Punxsu- tawney ; Prison and Jail work, Mrs. Martha Hall, Brookville ; Lumbermen and Miners' work, Mrs. Mary Graffins, Punxsutawney ; Foreigners' work, Mrs. Georgiana Wray, Brockwayville; Sunday-school work, Mrs. Torrence, Punxsutawney ; Unfermented Wine for Sacramental purposes, Mrs. Ellen Allsehouse, Belleview ; Legislative work, Mrs. C. C. Benscoter, Brookville ; Young Women's work, Mrs. Ada Green, Brockwayville.
THE YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.
The Young Women's Christian Temperance Union, which is designed to work among the young people of the community, was organized in Brookville, in February, 1887, by Miss M. I. Reno, of Rochester, Pa., State organizer. The officers are taken from the different churches and are as follows : Presi- dent, Miss Ella Van Vliet ; vice-presidents, Misses Essie Calvin, Margery Thompson, Carrie B. Jenks and Mrs. Ada Diveler ; recording secretary, Miss Nannie Mckinney ; corresponding secretary, Miss Phoebe Keck ; treasurer, Miss Mary Kimball ; librarian, Miss Maud Bishop. This society is in a pros- perous condition ; has about thirty two members, with over forty dollars in the treasury. It meets on the first and third Monday evenings of each month. The work done thus far has been principally in furnishing and distributing temperance literature. The Y. W. C. T. U. will prove a valuable auxiliary to the parent society, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, as it infuses young blood into the temperance work.
CHAPTER XXVII.
LAND WARRANTS AND TITLES.
The Last Purchase from the Indians - Acts of the Legislature of 1785 and 1792, regulating the Sale of Lands in Pennsylvania - Original Warrants in the Several Townships of Jefferson County - Leniency Shown to Early Settlers.
T THE Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in October, 1784, purchased, at the treaty with the Indians at Fort Stanwix, the domain embracing in whole or in part the present counties of Tioga, Potter, Mckean, Jefferson, Warren, Venango, Armstrong, Allegheny, Butler, Crawford, Mercer, and Beaver.
331
LAND WARRANTS AND TITLES.
By an act of the Legislature, passed April 1, 1784, the sale of these lands was authorized. The second section of this law provides that all lands west of the Allegheny Mountains shall not be more than three pounds ten shillings for every one hundred acres.
Section four provides that the quantity of land granted to one person shall not exceed four hundred acres ; section six provides for the survey and laying out of these lands, by the surveyor-general or his deputies, into tracts of not more than five hundred acres and not less than two hundred acres, to be sold at public auction at such times as the " Supreme Executive Council may di- rect."
When all claims had been paid, "in specie, or money of the State," for patenting, surveying, etc., a title was granted to the purchaser. In case he was not ready or able to make full payment at the time of purchase, by pay- ing all the fees appertaining thereto, he was allowed two years to complete the payment, by paying lawful interest, and when the last payment was made, a completed title was given.
By the act of April 8, 1785, the lands were sold by lottery, in portions not to exceed one thousand acres to each applicant. Tickets, commencing with number one, were put in a wheel, and the warrants, which were called "Lot- tery Warrants," issued on the said applications, were severally numbered ac- cording to the decision of the said lottery, and bore date from the day on which the drawing was finished.
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