History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 43

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Charles Craven, Henry Cook, John Connor, Abram DeFrance, Clark Davidson, Jacob Ervay, Anthony Eshel, S. Frankenberger, Samuel Fultz, Leonard K. Fer- ree, Frank Follensbee, William J. Gill, Albert Gridley, John Hughes, John H. Henderson, Matthew J. Hoover, Paul Hoffmaster, James Hull, John Harper, Jacob Judy, James Jones, William Klingensmith, William H. Kemp, Warren Knoss, George Konzen, David Livingston, John Moore, Norman Moreford, Simon Millison, William P. McCracken, D. M. Mcclintock, William MeClure, Matthew S. McDowell, James B. McCamant, Marcellus Noss, Charles Nims, Nathan D. Phelps, George Pfaff, Albert Reed, Henry Reagle, Robert Reed, Marcus C. Rogers, Henry Rihel, Porter Ritchey, John A. Recher, Robert Stew- art, Mansfield Stanton, William Stanton, Thomas Struthers, William Smith, Joseph Snyder, Tracy Shepard, Oliver H. Simons, John S. Smith, Henry Taylor, John R. Wilson, Harrison Wingard, John C. White, Samuel Williams, William H. H. Zuver.

Company D .- Captain, Anthony Struble; first lieutenants, William Sim- mons, Albert Alexander; second lieutenant, William Kile.

Sergeants: James T. Carmichael, Elijah W. Matox, Samuel H. Fry, Alva Coon, Hugh Mounts.

Corporals: John Jennings, William W. McCallen, Joseph M. Emery, James S. Marshall, Benjamin J. Lattimer, James Greenman, Jacob Young, Simeon Hamilton.

Musician: David M. L. Beard.

Privates: William Armor, Henry Beil, Daniel Bower, Simon Baker, Adam Bailey, Joseph H. Black, Henry. Bigeler, John Donahoo, John Donaldson, John Duncan, William C. Emery, Daniel Fuller, Elias H. Francis, William Flowers, Valentine Gilbert, Phoenix Grandy, John Gloyd, John W. Herrings, Jacob Hasenplug, William Holt, Reuben Heckman, S. D. Hasenplug, James Hagen, Peter Higgins, James Hine, John Houston, Charles B. Hubbard, James C. Jewel, William Johnson, William K. Johnson, George Johnson, William Johnson, Peter Keefer, Sylvester H. Kinstel, John Kane, Remage Kessler, Daniel Kamerer, William Kelley, Remagy Kaslin, Samuel Landis, John Lennan, Richard Latts, John Long, Allison Lauderbach, Samuel Moyer, George Metzger, John Martin, Irvin Mulhollen, Miller Myers, John Murphy, James McKeever, Thomas L. McMahon, John McCarty, Charles J. McCor- mick, John P. McCrogan, Samuel Patterson, William Parker, John A. Pann, William J. Pann, George Ott, Henry Ott, George O' Brien, John Rhodes, Henry Raub, George Reherd, Hezekiah Reinert, Robert W. M. Reyner, Isaac Rose, John Rowe, James Sewel, Joseph L. Sehade, Robert Steen, Lewis M. Sim- mons, Samuel F. Smith, George Scott, Thomas W. Schultz, John Snyder, Abraham Shafer, William Sullivan, Uriah Thompson, Henderson Walker, Robert F. Woods, John B. Young, William Zahniser.

Two Hundred and Eleventh Regiment .- Company D, Capt. William A. Colton in command, was from Mercer County. The regiment was recruit- ed for one year, and was organized at Pittsburgh in September, 1864. It went to Bermuda Hundred, and was assigned to the army of the James. It was transferred, November 27, 1864, to the army of the Potomac, and attached to the Third Division of the Ninth Corps, under command of Gen. Hartranft. Under command of Capt. Coulter it shared in the capture of Fort Steadman, March 25, 1865, with small loss. In the assault upon the enemy's lines April 2, 1865, it lost 135 men. It continued in service until after Lee's surrender, being mustered out June 2, 1865. Capt. Coulter was promoted for gallant conduct to the lieutenant colonelcy May 10, 1865.

Company D .- Captains, William A. Coulter, Thomas C. Gibson; lieuten- ants, Albert Alexander, James F. Johnston.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Sergeants: William R. Moore, Henry R. Grace, Joseph Slemmens, Benja- min J. Lattimer, Thomas Alexander.

Corporals: John J. Moore, Daniel A. Snyder, Thomas C. Glenn, Joseph Bentley, Uriah S. Zahniser, William C. Black, Wilson Donaldson, James T. Baker, E. H. Armstrong.

Privates: Charles W. Allen, James Armour, Robert Armour, George W. Armstrong, James W. Armstrong, Fletcher Arnold, W. Edgar Ashley, James B. Balliet, James Barrett, James Bentley, William D. Boyd, J. E. Brecken- ridge, Henry L. Brown, Robert C. Clark, Lambert Coon, Milton Coon, John Casper, Robert H. Coulter, Augustus Craig, Robert Crout, John R. Cum- mings, John T. Cummings, Andrew Cowan, Jefferson Dunn, James M. David- son, Thomas Dickey, William H. Dunn, D. Fenstermaker, Peter Fox, Leon- ard Fry, Andrew George, Jacob Glass, Andrew J. Groscost, Jasper Graham, Wesley Guist, Robert Hamill, M. D. Hartshorn, Samuel Hays, Samuel Hodge, Morgan Hofius, Joseph Hodge, Andrew J. Jacobs, William J. Jacobs, John Kahl, Michael Knapp, William Klingensmith, Harvey Larimer, Caleb Leon- ard, Reuben Lightner, John B. Maxwell, Henry A. Miller, John Mack, Robert P. McClelland, Wilson McDonald, John McEwen, Samuel McEwen, Adam H. McKean, Ira L. Neyman, John Parks, Dwight J. Powell, John R. Ross, Hugh Reid, Samuel R. Rodgers, George W. Rupert, William H. Swagger, William Siddall, Benjamin F. Sisley, Jacob H. Snyder, John Sprinker, Henry S. Stamm, Thomas Stewart, William Stewart, James P. Stevenson, Samuel P. Turner, Matt. Thompson, George W. Thompson, Daniel W. Wingard, Ezra S. Wait, George S. Westlake, James L. Weese, Robert Young, John Yagerlehner, D. R. P. Zahniser.

Miscellaneous Troops. - Many volunteers left Mercer County and enlisted elsewhere, and it is impossible to give the names of all these men. A number of men went from Greenville and vicinity to Erie, Penn., and enlisted under Capt. T. M. Austin, in Company K, Eighty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, for three years, from September, 1861. Their names, as furnished by W. H. Beil, cashier of the Greenville National Bank, are as follows: James McMahon, Isaac Keck, John Greenawalt, Henry Heckman, Thomas J. Power, Jr., E. W. Reed, Adam Urmson, Nelson R. Hays, Philip J. Harlow, Herman Miller and W. H. Beil. Most of these gentlemen returned and are still living. Capt. A. J. McKee and Lieuts. A. C. Douglass and Fleming Smith, of the same regiment, were also from this county, and served in the army of the Potomac. Privates Thomas and Hosea Morrison, David Pattison and William Ayres were in the same regiment.

In the fall of 1861 Judge Taylor, of Franklin County, secured from the vicinity of New Vernon the following men, who served in Company I, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of which Taylor was captain: Captain, F. M. Ervay; lieutenant, John B. Hogue; sergeants, John Findley, H. A. Ross and Daniel Holloway; corporals, William Streight and M. B. Roberts; privates, David Mc- Cracken, Alexander James, G. W. Bromley, William Mccutcheon, John Vorous.

Thomas B. Beil, of Sharon, served in Company K, Sixty-third Regiment; T. J. Gillespie, of Sharon, was in Company B, Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Militia; Daniel Hasenplug, of Greenville, served in the Fifty-eighth and One Hundred and Ninty-ninth Regiments, successively; James B. McClimans, of Greenville, was in the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and Christian Keller, father of the late Frank Keller, of Greenville, served in Company K, Sixty- first Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Several physicians of Mercer County served in the capacity of surgeon, among whom were Drs. Elisha Griswold, of Sharon, and F. H. Leet, of Green-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

ville. The former was appointed surgeon of the One Hundred and Twelfth Reg- iment in November, 1861, and served until 1864, and afterward was promoted to other responsible positions in the medical service. Dr. Leet was appointed assistant surgeon of the Fifty-seventh Regiment in January, 1863, and served nine months. Dr. Anson T. Clark, now of Greenville, was appointed from Craw- ford County in May, 1863, assistant surgeon of the Twenty -third Regiment, and filled that position until the fall of 1864, when the regimental term of enlistment expired. Dr. J. P. Hosack, of Mercer, was a surgeon during the war, as was also Dr. John Barber, of Sharon.

The closing operations of the Union armies brought victories most signal. The last great battle had been fought and won, and every patriot participated in the inspiration of the triumphs of our arms over the hosts of rebellion. But an appalling sorrow suddenly overshadowed the land. The assassin's hand struck down the nation's ruler, and turned its joy into grief. In all the bitter sorrows of the previous four years none proved so startling as this, and every true heart was filled with consternation at the inhuman desperation of the act. The succeeding days in Mercer County were days of gloom and sadness, and the deep impression made by the assassination of Lincoln, so closely associated as it was with the Rebellion, can never be effaced from the hearts of the people.

If the foregoing sketches will serve to perpetuate the glorious part taken by the soldiers of Mercer County in the Rebellion, our object is attained. When the tocsin of war sounded they went forth in all their vigorous man- hood to battle for national life, and on many a bloody field carried the dear old flag to victory. Many went down in the crash of battle; scores sickened and died from exposure and hardships on the tented field, or starvation in rebel prisons; others returned scarred and maimed for life, while many came out unscathed again to resume their places in civil affairs. The events of this war have passed into history. The youthful student is bewildered with the recital of its gigantic proportions, and the son listens with wonder to the tale of bloody strife as it falls from the lips of the surviving father who served in the struggle. The mother relates the anguish and long years of anxiety and suffering in those dark days. All are familiar through written records with the causes which produced the great Rebellion, its fierce continuance, its glorious termination, and the fruits left for the enjoyment of coming generations.

CHAPTER XVII.

HISTORICAL NOTES-LOCAL INDIAN TRIBES-SOME INDIAN REMINISCENCES- PRE-HISTORIC REMAINS-INDIAN MOUND AT GREENVILLE-THE OLD INDIAN FORT IN WEST SALEM TOWNSHIP-SLAVES IN MERCER COUNTY-NATURAL OCCURRENCES - WOLF KILLING AMONG THE PIONEERS-A VERITABLE SNAKE STORY-A RARE SURGICAL OPERATION-WHY LAWRENCE COUNTY WAS ERECTED-MERCER COUNTY'S PHRENOLOGY-DISTINGUISHED VISITORS -AN INCIDENT OF PRESIDENT TAYLOR'S VISIT TO SHEAKLEYVILLE-MEN OF MARK-FIRST PIANO IN MERCER COUNTY-MUSTER DAYS.

TN the gathering of material for a local history much valuable information cannot be classified under the ordinary heads. We shall therefore place such fragmentary matter in this chapter, and believe our readers will find much interest in the many historical items which it embraces. When Mercer County was first settled Indians were quite numerous, especially along the Shenango

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

and its tributaries. They were, in the main, friendly, and lived at peace with the whites. They had a number of villages in the county. One of these, called "Centretown," was located near that village, in Worth Township. It was among the sugar trees where they raised their corn. Another was on the present site of Sandy Lake; it occupied the Knoll property, which formerly belonged to Dr. Vath. Another was at the Big Bend of the Shenango. It was occupied by some families of the Corn-planter tribe of the Senecas. Among their hunters were Flynn, Tioga, Kindoshawa, Harthegig, Peter and Petty.

The venerable James Bentley, still living in Ohio, near Sharon, in his ninety-first year, relates the following concerning the fate of Flynn. Flynn had obtained some whisky near Mercer, and becoming beastly drunk killed his wife. Capt. Petty refused to punish him for the offense. Finally Hugh Carr, a white man, said that if he found Flynn he would punish hin. Ultimately, at Keel Ridge, six miles east of Sharon, on the present Samuel Phillips farm, he overtook Flynn tying his moccasin upon his foot. True to his word, Carr drew up his rifle and shot Flynn through the head, killing him instantly. Mr. Bentley, then a boy (it was about 1804), asked Capt. Petty why he did not pun- ish Flynn. The answer was: "Him drunk. Him never do so any more."

The Delawares lived at the junction of the Shenango and the Mahoning. Their chief was called Billy Bowlegs. Shenango was the Indian warrior who owned all the hunting lands from New Castle northward along the stream which bears his name. Pymatuning and Wannock were his subordinates, and gave their names to the two creeks, Pymatuning and Lackawannock. In the latter case, the little lake which is the source of the stream was prefixed, mak- ing it Lacka (Latin Lacus) wannock.

Concerning the fate of Harthegig, the reader is referred to the sketch of Samuel Pew, found in another part of this volume. The Pews knew much concerning the Indians. Samuel related the following incident concerning Peter, one of their number. Peter was a favorite red man with the Pews. One day he came to the Pew cabin in Mercer just as Mrs. Pew had taken out of her Dutch oven a large corn pone that she had been baking. Peter pro- posed a trade. He wanted the pone, and would exchange a bear for it. Mrs. Pew thought he was cheating himself. She would give him the pone, but thought it would not be right to take the bear for it. Rising with all his Indian dignity, he said: "Me know what is right-the bear for the pone." There was no disputing the Indian without insulting him, and hence the bar- gain was closed. Mr. Pew went with Peter for the bear, which was found but a little distance up the hill, near the intersection of Otter and East Market Streets; there, indeed, was found a large and neatly dressed bruin. In addi- tion to the pone, set down on the table for the use of Peter, was a slice of butter and a tin of milk. After eating and satisfying his hunger, Peter com- plimented the lady of the house by saying as he rose: "White woman such good cook." The Indians aided the whites in their house-raisings. They appreciated very highly, on such occasions, the whisky and the good meals provided for the hands.

On one occasion the Indian known as John, belonging to the Centretown family, came to Mr. Pew to borrow some lead. Pew showed him that he was short, having only enough to make one or two bullets. "No lead, no venison; we must have it," said John. Then instructing Mr. Pew to have a big fire in the afternoon, he left. He came back at the appointed time with ore enough to produce ten pounds of lead, which was equally divided between himself and Pew. He went in the direction of Bald Hill, but it was never ascertained where

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

he obtained the ore. The query still remains: Does Mercer County produce native lead ore?

Prehistoric Remains .- It has always been believed that a mound which formerly stood between the two Shenangos, within the borough of Green- ville, was a prehistoric earthwork. The elevation, which measured some sev- enty-five feet in diameter across the base and twenty feet in height, was graded down some three or four years ago by Mr. Packard. The round con- dition of the pebbles still remaining in the base, and the general structure of the valley about it, would seem to indicate to the geologist that the founda- tion of the mound, at least, was produced by the action of the water from the two streams forming an eddy, rather than by the dusky tribes, though the latter may have built an earthwork upon this foundation in ages long ago.

In the southwest part of West Salem Township, on the lands of Messrs. Pollock and Bidlick, are the remains of what is called the " Old Indian Fort." It is situated between two small rivulets flowing from the east, and entering Booth Run at right angles. These rivulets, flowing along parallel ravines or gulches, are more than a hundred feet beneath the top of the intervening ridge, and are about a fourth of a mile apart. The earthen embankments which con- stitute the supposed fort are parallel, and run at right angles with the gulches. These embankments, which are about twenty-five rods apart, were several feet high, and were thrown up from the outside and inside, respectively, commenc- ing on the east. When the fort was constructed, by whom and for what pur- pose, are simply fruitful subjects for conjecture. On the eastern embankment is the stump of a tree which was cut down about twenty years ago. The stump measures twenty-seven inches in diameter. The tree had grown since the embankment was thrown up, and would indicate the lapse of several hundred years, thus throwing the construction back of the French and Indian War, beyond the times of even the French exploring expedition of Celoron. Its purpose seems to have been mainly defensive. It would seem that an attack was expected mainly from the west, and that the parallel trenches were double lines of defense, the eastern one being used in case the other was carried by assault. It may have been the work of an Indian tribe to defend itself against the assaults of a powerful enemy.

Slaves in Mercer County .- According to the census of 1830 there were six slaves within the limits of Mercer County, as follows: Males between 10 and 24 years, 2; males between 24 and 36 years, 1. Females under 10 years, 1; females between 10 and 24 years, 2; total, 6.

Natural Occurrences. - Some of the most interesting things in all history are preserved in a very ordinary way. Tombstones, ordinary friendship and news letters, diaries, memorandums, church registers, family records, news- papers, memories of old people, books of travel, family and personal biogra- phies, monuments, legends- all these are instrumental in chronicling the events in the lapse of time. If people would be more careful to keep these records, history would be more reliable, and much litigation would be pre- vented or made more just, because actual knowledge would be substituted for promiscuous guessing.

The following miscellaneous facts may be of general interest:

1. Heavy Snows. The deepest snow of the past ninety years occurred in the winter of 1799. It began to fall on Friday evening, and continued to fall, without interruption, until the next Monday morning. It was from three to five feet deep. It was impossible for horses and cattle to reach their water- ing places. Deer and other wild animals died from starvation.

The second heavy snow was that of February 4, 1817, which was three

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

and one-half feet deep. The writer has been informed by J. Pearson, Esq., that his father drove a team from New Castle to Mercer at that time. He was unable to find the road, and hence followed direction instead. After the snow was gone he found, from the trees and other marks, that he had driven some rods from the road, over fences and logs.

The year 1856 was noted for its long continued snow. There were ninety days of uninterrupted sleighing. The winter was exceedingly cold, too.

2. Peculiar Winters. January 19, 1810, was said to have been the cold- est day within the memory of the oldest inhabitant. The winter of 1824 was almost destitute of snow. The first sleighing of the season occurred on the 15th of February. January 1, 1864, is generally remembered as the " Cold New Year's Day of '64." The writer was at the headquarters of the Twen- ty- third Army Corps, at Strawberry Plains, East Tennessee. The corps com- mander, Maj. Gen. J. D. Cox, afterward governor of Ohio, and Secretary of the Interior under President Grant, says that the Union army in East Tennes- see endured suffering equal to that of Washington's army at Valley Forge in 1777 -- 78. The winter of 1875-76 was very warm. On January 1, 1876, the mercury stood at 68° in the sun, and men walked the streets in their shirt sleeves. The winter of 1871 had eighty days of continuous cold weather.

3. Miscellaneous Facts Concerning the Seasons. On May 18, 1833, there had been snow and freezing for three days, the ice being half an inch in thickness.

September 8, 1835, there was a hard frost, which killed the corn. Seed corn sold at $2 per bushel in consequence.

June 2, 1845, a severe frost, which nearly ruined the wheat and corn.

1854 was known as the dry summer. Extensive fires raged in the forests, burning trees out of root. Weevil began to destroy wheat.

The year 1855 was noted as being very wet. Grain was harvested with difficulty, much of it being spoiled in the shock. The ensuing winter was cold, and supplied with deep snow.

June 5, 1859, was the day of the heavy frost which entirely destroyed wheat, rye and corn.

March 17, 1860, bees returned to their hives laden with honey. The next day the ground was covered with snow, and the weather was extremely cold.

4. Heavy Floods. The heavy floods in the Ohio River, which affected its tributaries, occurred in 1810 (the "Punkin Flood"), 1832, 1852, 1865 and 1884. The last one was the highest and most destructive.

5. Locust Years. Without referring to the swarm that came upon Pha- raoh to induce him to let the Israelites depart from the land of Goshen, let it be noted that the first remarkable visitation of this insect, of which any rec- ord is had, occurred in 1795. They came up from the south in dark swarms, and remained about six weeks. Subsequent visits were made every seventeen years, viz., in 1812, 1829, 1846, 1863 and 1880. Because they happened to come in 1812, 1846 and 1863, during the wars with England, Mexico and the great Rebellion, they are supposed to have war-like proclivities.

Wolf-killing among the Pioneers. - The deadly enemy of the pioneer flocks was the wolf. A premium of $8 was placed upon his head, to be paid out of the common funds. The presentation of the scalp, together with the certifi- cate of the hunter, was sufficient evidence to the commissioners to issue a warrant upon the treasurer for the amount. This warrant enabled the pioneer to pay his taxes and other expenses. An examination of the records of the commissioners' office for 1807 reveals the number of wolves killed, the names of the hunters, and the amount paid for such service. The following is the record:

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Jan. 13.

Andrew McClure.

Jan. 27. Hugh Means

Jan. 27. Francis Irwin.

Jan. 27.

Caleb Ball. .

Jan. 27.

John McConnell.

Feb. 13.

Archibald Gordon.

Feb. 13. George Moore.

Feb. 13.

Richard Moore.

Feb. 13.

Joseph Buckmaster.

Mch. 4.

John Gillespie. .

Mch. 10.

Peter Klingensmith

Mch. 10.

Isaac Randall

Mch. 13.

John Gordon.

1 3

Aug. 11.

William Clark

Sept. 1.

John McKee.

Sept. 1.

Hugh Means.

Sept. 14.

William Carroll, Jr ..

Sept. 16. Hugh Means

Sept. 28. William Clark

Oct. 3. Hugh Hill ..

Oct. 17. Chistopher Kykendall.

Nov. 9. William Clark

Nov. 9.

Jabez Coulson. .

Nov. 24. Daniel Waldron

Nov. 24. Thomas Means.

Dec. 15. John Giebner.

Total.

A Veritable Snake Story .- The following story has come to us through a number of reliable sources. In no instance has it been diminished. We give it as recorded in Mr. Garvin's note-book: "John Johnson's wife went out early in the morning to get her cows. In a little while she found herself sur- rounded with rattlesnakes, and her retreat cut off. They appeared to be in very great numbers, and the woman sought safety by climbing a dogwood that stood near by. Her cries alarmed her husband, who, when he came, was so astounded with their numbers that he feared trying alone to relieve his wife. 'Polly, I cant't relieve you alone, there are so many of them;' and running to his neighbor, Asa Arnold, for his assistance, he came back with new courage. With large hickory poles, or withes, these two cut their way through the snakes until the beleaguered woman was relieved. Both men sickened in their work of destroying the reptiles, and had to desist and rest for a time, and then go at it again. The yellow rattlesnakes were counted and piled, and numbered no less than 200, while there were many black and other snakes left on the ground uncounted. Some of the sets of rattles counted as many as twenty- five." This battle with the rattlesnakes occurred between 1800 and 1803, on the Asa Arnold farm, on the west side of "Yankee Ridge." The snakes seemed to crawl out of the rocks on the west side of the ridge by hundreds.

A Rare Surgical Operation .- Miar Cook, who lived on the Wilmington road, a few years later, was bit by a rattlesnake. His leg was very much swollen, and at length gangrene commenced. Dr. Slemmons, who was then located in Mercer, determined that to save his life the limb must be amputated, and the patient submitted to the operation. The doctor performed the cutting, but McCurdy, a carpenter, was called upon to do the sawing. Whether this was because the doctor was not the possessor of an amputating saw, or pre- ferred to use the skill of a mechanic, is not known. Cook was seen to dance on his wooden leg as late as 1812.

Why Lawrence County Was Erected .- In 1849 was formed, from Beaver

1 2 1

Aprl. 15.

Hugh Means.

May 8.

Nicholas Curry

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 43

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1288

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288