History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 63

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

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After the union in 1858, which produced the United Presbyterian Church, a part of the congregation, in 1860, removed to West Middlesex, and pur- chased the old Methodist Episcopal house for $800. The balance of the con- gregation refused to make the change, and continues at Beulah as a Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Thomas Mehard was with the congregation at Beulah from 1841 to 1845, and Rev. R. W. Oliver from 1846 to 1856. Rev. John Armstrong served them there and at West Middlesex from 1856 to 1868, since which latter date Rev. W. J. Snodgrass has been the pastor at West Middlesex. The congre- gation has now a new brick house of worship, and is said to be in a prosper- ous condition. It was regularly incorporated on the 19th of March, 1887.

The exact date of the organization of the Methodist Episcopal congre- gation is not known. The first preaching by a minister of this denom- ination was done somewhere in the year 1837, by a Rev. Parker, who held service in the dwelling of Charles Schooks. Itinerants passing through this region were generally accustomed to stopping and conducting short exercises of worship among the settlers; and although no records of such services have been preserved, if. indeed, any were made, yet it may readily be supposed that the spiritual wants of the early residents of what is now West Middlesex were not left wholly unprovided for. A revival of considerable intensity occurred in the year 1842, and shortly afterward regular church worship was begun. The present church, however, was not built until 1861. It is a brick structure 45x70 feet, and together with the improvements, made chiefly in 1872, cost $10,000. The complete list of preachers who served the congrega- tion can not be given. It seems to have become a distinct charge about 1855, when its preacher was S. K. Paden. Following him came J. Uncles, 1856; C. R. Pattee, 1857-58; J. M. Green, 1859-60; P. P. Pinney, 1861; E. B. Lane, 1862-63; C. Wilson, 1864; J. W. Stogdill, 1865; W. H. Mossman, 1866-68; S. Albertson, 1869-71; G. W. Clark, 1872-74; J. Graham,

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1875-77; J. Perry, 1878-79; R. M. Bear, 1880-83; A. R. Rich, 1884-85; W. H. Mossman, 1886, present pastor.

Societies. - West Middlesex Lodge No. 593, I. O. O. F., was chartered November 20, 1866, with twenty-one members, among whom were D. D. Col- lins, John Newkirk, Paris Mills, Henry J. Mosier, David Farrell, John Perry, Washington Reed and T. C. White. The first officers were D. D. Collins, N. G .; Paris Mills, V. G .; W. S. Powell and T. C. White, secretaries, and W. T. Reed, treasurer. The first meetings of the lodge were held in the William- son (afterward called Jackson) House. A removal was made to the Morrison building after a period, into a room above the post-office, which was then located in the same building, near the river bridge. In the latter quarters a disastrous fire broke out October 17, 1880, which destroyed the charter and much valuable property of the lodge, thus necessitating the issuing of a new charter, which was done by the Grand Lodge October 22, of the same year.

Kedron Lodge No. 389, A. Y. M., was instituted June 17, 1867, in the old Jackson Hotel, with the following as charter officers: Andrew Bortz, W. M .; J. Stevenson, S. W. ; D. F. Houston, J. W .; James Squire, treasurer; J. W. Hillier, secretary; William S. Powell, S. D .; J. W. Russell, J. D., and Henry Mosier, tyler. The name was selected by Andrew Bortz and Henry J. Mosier. The lodge met for five years in the Jackson House, after which, for a period of six years, meetings were held in the Morrison Building. They are now held in the A. O. U. W. Hall, on the 1st and 3d Mondays of each month, the removal of the lodge to its present quarters having been made about ten years ago, immediately after a fire, by which a large portion of the lodges's property was destroyed. The membership is at present thirty-one. The officers for 1888 are J. M. Johnson, W. M .; Samuel S. Gilbert, S. W .; Harry A. Raser, Jr. W. ; R. A. Dunmire, secretary; F. M. Powell, treasurer, and J. B. Livingston, Rep. to G. L.

Post Marion, G. A. R., was established in 1869. It contained thirty members, with H. W. Warren as the first commander. It disbanded in 1872.

Alonzo McCall Post No. 456, G. A. R., was instituted August 12, 1884, with the following named charter members: J. W. Porter, H. M. Walker, George Hollibaugh, John Wood, David Farrell, R. C. Crossman, Cyrus Cross- man, Alex. McCabe, George Shearer, R. C. Kemp, R. B. McLain, Joseph Bishop, R. E. Gundy, S. S. Gilbert, R. A. Dunmire, John Sweezey, John Stephenson, F. M. Powell, A. W. Porter, Charles Hunt, Thomas Taylor, J. P. Arbaugh, J. W. Lytle, David Chapman, W. A. Rodgers, J. H. Greer, John Gundy and C. H. Mitcheltree. The post was named in honor of Alonzo McCall, son of John McCall, who was mustered as a private into Company B, Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavlary, July 21, 1861, at Harrisburg, and was killed at Gettysburg, July, 1863, at the age of twenty years.

Bowman Lodge No. 12, A. O. U. W., was chartered July, 16, 1872. Its first officers were Mr. Fuisthwait, P. M. W .; N. R. Bowman, M. W .; C. C. Davis, G. F .; John Boal, O .; J. K. McBurney, recorder; D. M. Downing, Fin. ; William Mitchell, Rec .; Peter Gundy, G .; James Butler, J. W., and G. T. Dunmire, O. W.

West Middlesex Union No. 409, E. A. U., was organized January 17, 1884, with the following named charter officers: Noah Ginger, Chan .; William A. Reedle, Add. ; John A. Glenn, president; Thomas J. Hyde, vice-president; Mrs. Mira Veach, Aux. ; Hiram Veach, treasurer; R. W. Jackson, secretary; W. J. Davidson, Acct. ; Mrs. M. E. Dunmire, chaplain; F. M. McBride, warden; John D. Truxell, Sent., and Charles Fillenbaum, watchman.

Shenango Assembly No. 8439, K. of L., was instituted August 20, 1886.

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It has a large membership, and is one of the important orders of the place.

The local union of the W. C. T. U. owes its origin to the Woman's tem- perance crusade of 1873-74. This developed into the Woman's Temper- ance League, organized in March, 1875, which, in the following June, was changed into the West Middlesex branch of the Mercer County W. C. T. U. Among the original members of this branch were Mrs. Maria Pen- dergist, Mrs. Hannah Edeburn, Mrs. R. A. Henderson and Mrs. Emily Rayen, the latter of whom was appointed vice-president of the Board of West Middle- sex and vicinity by the county union. The work was continued under this title until April 30, 1882, when the local union was organized by Mrs. A. P. Hamilton, of Sharon, and the following officers elected: President, Mrs. W. M. Hyde; vice-presidents, Mrs. Emily Rayen, Mrs. S. J. Randall and Mrs. J. B. Livingston; Rec. Sec., Mrs. S. E. Satterfield; Cor. Sec., Mrs. F. M. Powell, and treasurer, Mrs. R. A. Henderson. Among the members were Mrs. G. W. Clark, Mrs. McCall Allen, Mrs. Frank Espy, Mrs. M. J. Downing, Mrs. Rev. Woods, Mrs. J. McConnell, Mrs. R. W. Jackson, Mrs. A. Lyons, Mrs. Belle McFoose, Mrs. A. E. Davidson, Mrs. T. J. Hyde, Mrs. C. Lineberger, Mrs. E. Johnston, Mrs. William Jones, Mrs. J. Byers, Mrs. E. Lytle, Miss Mary Gibson, Mrs. Rev. Graham, Mrs. Rev. Bear, Mrs. J. P. Arbaugh, Mrs. Ella Dunmire, Mrs. H. Gundy, Mrs. R. Turner, Mrs. M. Gundy and Miss H. Brock. Meetings are held on the last Friday of each month in private houses or churches. Since the organization of the union there have been sixty names enrolled, many of whom have removed from the place, and four have died. The regular paying membership is at present seventeen. The condition of the local society has never been better.

West Middlesex had a population in 1870 of 888, and in 1880, 918. It now claims over 1,000 inhabitants.

WHEATLAND.

Wheatland, located on the southwest corner of Hickory Township, is one of the boroughs upon which the word Ichabod has been written; its apparent glory has departed. It was laid out by James Wood and Sons, of Pittsburgh, in 1872. Being a strong Democrat Mr. Wood named the new town Wheat- land, in honor of President Buchanan's residence, near Lancaster, Penn. It was created a borough by special act of the Legislature, approved February 21, 1872.

Its first officers were: Burgess, John Horton; council, Joseph Coles, N. N. Allen, Andrew Shilling, F. C. Van Dusen, Thomas Jones and John Wat- kins; constables, Benjamin Boyer and E. M. Fair; school directors, L. N. Wood, Samuel McClure, Philip Jones, William B. Maxwell, Henry Shilling and David Dorman; justice of the peace, J. G. Walker; police justice, Christo- pher Lewis.

In the list of early settlers in this region may be mentioned George Shilling. He came from Westmoreland County in 1814, and located on or near the present site of Wheatland. He bought of John Thompson 200 acres of land, against which the New Bedford Land Company held a warrant claim. Suit for ejec- tion was brought against him in the Mercer County courts, and he won. The case was carried to the Supreme Court at Pittsburgh, by which the decision of the lower court was reversed on the ground that Thompson in securing the patent recognized the validity of the warrant claim and took his risk. After many years' experience in one of the most celebrated and bitterly contested law-suits ever prosecuted in Western Pennsylvania, Mr. Shilling had finally to buy the land a second time to quiet the title, paying $2,120 for a 400-acre

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tract. It was worth the price to get it, and the children made the money to pay for it by raising crops of corn and rye. He was married in Westmore- land County to Elizabeth McBride, by whom he had seven children, the first four of whom were born in Westmoreland, the last three in Mercer County. Their names were George, still living in Lackawannock Township; Andrew, living near Wheatland in his seventy-ninth year; Samuel, residing in Sharon; Henry, deceased; Mary, deceased; Sarah, deceased, and William, residing in Iowa. Mrs. Shilling was buried January 1, 1837, aged fifty years. Mr. Shill- ing died in February, 1860, at the age of seventy-nine. He lived for a season after his arrival on the place now owned by Elijah Baker, and then removed to the present site of Wheatland, on that portion of land now owned by his son Andrew.

Among his early neighbors were William ("Billy") Haywood, who lived on the farm now owned by John J. Spearman, 'Squire Canon, father of John Canon and great-grandfather of Supt. J. W. Canon, of the Sharon schools; he lived on the Shenango, half way between Wheatland and Middle- sex, on the farm now owned by Mrs. John Welch. He arrived in 1797, and was a justice of the peace for many years. He married twice. By the first wife, Rachel, he had Moses, John, Ross and Thomas, and by the second wife, James, William, Samuel and Peggy.

Rev. James Satterfield lived near the Canon place. A sketch of him is found in connection with the Presbyterian Church of West Middlesex. Jacob Trout, father of Hon. M. C. Trout (deceased), came from Westmoreland County about the same time as the Shillings, and settled on part of the land now owned by Mrs. M. C. Trout.

Dr. John Mitcheltree and his brothers, James, Thomas and William, came from Ireland and settled southwest of the Shenango, opposite and a mile and half from Wheatland. Dr. John practiced medicine here. He married Jane, oldest sister of Dr. J. M. Irvine. He was one of the earliest practicing physi- cians in this region. Contemporaneous with him was Dr. Elijah Flower, of Brookfield, Ohio, a pretty good physician for the times.

William Campbell was a former resident of the Shenango region. He was here when the Shillings came.

Thomas Bronson, colored, joined with George Shilling in buying 200 acres of land near Charlestown. He lived on the Shenango, within the present boundary limits of Wheatland, and was an old man at the time of his death. His descendants are numerous, many of them living near Charlestown and Sharps- ville. Pratt Collins, Charles Caldwell, William Elliott and William Jackson were likewise settlers at the same time with Shilling.

Schools. - Andrew Shilling relates that during the "winter of the deep snow," viz., 1817, he attended school on the William Haywood farm, now owned by John J. Spearman. The teacher was "Master Wilson." He was an old man, and wore buckskin breeches. He was accustomed to sit in the corner of the room and rub his pants with clay to clean them. He used to make the girls come and kiss him. Some of the pupils of that day were the Bentleys, the Haywoods, the Quinbys, the Carmichaels, etc. The deep snow which fell February 4, of that year, came nigh preventing his returning home. Fences were all covered except the stakes and riders. Deer were caught by the dogs in the snow. Smaller pupils were kept at home for weeks. Benja- min Reno was also an old teacher.

The borough has, at present, a school building for four departments. The structure was erected in 1871, and is valued at $4,000.

Manufactures .- Wheatland in its palmy days was an enterprising place,

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numbering from 2,000 to 3,000 inhabitants. Its era of prosperity began when, in 1862, William Byers, of Youngstown, George Rhodeman and others, having bought six acres of ground at $75 per acre, began the erection of fur- naces 1 and 2. The second was built in 1863. No. 1 has been repaired twice. Both have been standing idle since the firm went into bankruptcy. At first they did a good business. John J. Spearman, now of Sharon, ran them successfully for about eight years. In 1863-64 Mr. Andrew Shilling sold some fifty-four acres to the furnace for $5,000. Henry Shilling exchanged some land with the furnace for two acres, which they owned. The purpose was to let the company have shipping facilities on the canal. Furnaces 3 and 4 were erected in 1864. They have long since ceased to exist.

17 On the 11th of February, 1881, was incorporated the Wheatland Bessemer Steel Company, with a capital stock of $25,000, divided into 250 shares of $100 each. Its board of directors was James W. Friend, president; Harry T. Friend, clerk; John C. Arnold, treasurer.

On the 11th of April, 1887, was incorporated, for the purpose of manu- facturing iron and steel, the Wheatland Iron Company. Its officers were: B. B. Reath, president; James W. Friend, vice-president; and Harry T. Friend, secretary and treasurer. An active business was done for a time, and new life began to manifest itself in the borough. The works closed in the summer of 1887, and remained in such condition through the rest of the year, and up to the fall of 1888. Operations have recently been resumed, and if successful Wheatland will again become prosperous.

Churches. - The Methodist Episcopal Church of Wheatland owes its exist- ence to the beneficence of Mrs. James Wood, wife of the man who laid out and named the town. She gave the lot and furnished the means for erecting the building. The organization occurred about 1868, Rev. J. Perry super- vising the matter. The strength of the congregation depending upon the mills, its prosperity fluctuated with the changes occurring in their business. The neat little edifice was erected about 1870. The congregation was incor- porated September 24, 1870. Following is the list of its preachers: J. Perry, 1869; G. Dunmire, 1870; B. F. Delo, 1871; J. H. Vance, 1872-74; J. F. Hill, 1875; J. Graham, 1876; W. P. Graham, 1877-78; C. E. Locke, 1879; James Ballantine, 1880-82; Otho Brant, 1883; John Crill, 1884; John C. Womer, 1885-87; Rev. Knowles, 1887.

The Welsh Congregational Church was organized August 11, 1872, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, by Rev. John Edwards, assisted by Rev. O. Owens, of Pittsburgh, and Rev. O. W. Owen, of Coalburg. The original members consisted of W. Phillips and wife, I. David and wife, Mary Williams, John B. Bowers, M. A. Jenkins, Catt Phillips, J. Price, Nancy Edmunds, D. John and wife, Lewis Griffith, W. Brenan and wife, T. Richard and wife, WV. Thomas and wife, W. S. Morgan, W. D. Lewis and wife, J. Jarrett and wife, John L. Phillips, Mrs. E. Armstrong, Ann Jenkins, D. Jenkins, Rich- ard Jenkins, Hanna Williams, Enloe Evans, William Watkins, James Garrett, Ellen Goodhall, W. F. Morgan, Mary Rowlands, M. Yeenis, R. Jones, T. Z. Jones, Ella Thomas, Ann Jones. J. Richard and wife, D. J. Jones and Eliza Jones. The congregation has had but one regular pastor, the present one, Rev. Thomas M. Griffith. The church services are held at present in the school-house, as no regular church building has yet been built, but it is the intention to commence the erection of a suitable chapel in the near future. The congregation has a membership of thirty-three.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church was established by Rev. William Coonan about 1871-72. Wheatland was then a prosperous manufacturing town,

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and many of the iron workers were Catholics. A large frame church was erected by Father Coonan, and for several years the congregation was in a flourishing condition. In 1878 Rev. Bernard Lynch succeeded Father Coonan, and the following year Rev. Patrick Cosgrove became pastor. He served the congregation some two years, when the decline of the town, caused by the mills shutting down, did not justify a resident pastor, and Holy Trinity was placed under the charge of the pastor at Sharpsville, where it has since remained. Fathers Coonan, Lynch and Cosgrove also ministered to the Sharpsville congregation during a part of their pastorates at Wheatland. Holy Trinity has dwindled down to a few families, but if the mills again start up successfully, which is now probable, its old-time prosperity will doubtless return.

BETHEL.

Situated near the corner of Hickory, Shenango and Lackawannock Town- ships is the village of Bethel. It was incorporated as a borough May 22, 1872. Prior to that time there had existed a little village known as Sempletown. or Semple's Mills. At the time of incorporation, however, a regular tract, taken from the three townships already mentioned, was laid out in the form of a rectangle.

The first settlement in the place was made in March, 1846, when S. S. Semple, its first resident, erected a small frame dwelling-house. His father, David Semple, had, some years previous, purchased the land from David Kitch, but had made no improvements.

In 1862 James McConnell and Thompson Hyde had erected a steam saw- mill, which rapidly swept away the woods. In 1871 S. S. Semple erected a second mill, of grander proportions, which added much to the business of the village.

Semple, Thompson & Co. erected, in 1863, a large grist-mill, a three-story building with three sets of burrs, and intended mainly for custom work. It became a source of great interest and prosperity to the vicinity.

A store was also needed. This want was supplied in 1868 by S. S. Sem- ple, the enterprising godfather of the place, who was ready to take hold of every enterprise. He erected the building subsequently used by T. J. Mar- shall & Co., and put in a stock of goods well adapted to the trade. It passed through various changes to accomplish its purpose as a permanent business of the place.

Bethel was named in honor of Bethel United Presbyterian Church, near by, in Hickory Township.

The Christian Church, which for a time held its meetings near the borough, has ceased to exist, owing to the closing of mining operations. The same causes operated also against the United Brethren Church.

The first school-house, a small frame building, in the place was erected in 1871. Miss Sarah White was the first teacher. In 1873 a larger and more commodious structure was erected.

Coal-mining was for years the industry which sustained the place. The subsidence of that industry has had a depressing effect.

The first borough election was held in October, 1872, at which time twenty- eight votes were cast. The result was: Burgess, John Wood; council, James Howard, D. W. Semple and Isaac Hilkirk; assessor, Hugh Bond; constable, John Carter; justice of the peace, W. T. Reed.

The first postmaster was S. S. Semple, the office being called Wheeler. He continued to hold his place until the time of his death, August 22, 1874.

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CHAPTER XXV.

BOROUGHS OF JAMESTOWN AND CLARKSVILLE-LOCATION OF JAMESTOWN-FIRST SETTLER ON ITS SITE-FIRST GRIST MILL AND DWELLINGS ERECTED-FIRST MERCHANT, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND POSTMASTER-JAMESTOWN LAID OUT AND INCORPORATED-FIRST MECHANICS-EARLY PHYSICIANS-HISTORIC ADDRESS-RAILROADS-SCHOOLS-OLD ACADEMY-JAMESTOWN SEMINARY- PUBLIC SCHOOLS-RECENT FIRES-BANKS-SOCIETIES-CHURCHES-CEMETER- IES-POPULATION.

CLARKSVILLE LAID OUT-INCORPORATION AND FIRST OFFICIALS-LOCATION- EARLY SETTLERS-INDIAN VILLAGE-FIRST MEDICAL PRACTITONERS-PIO- NEER SCHOOL-HOUSE-SECRET AND OTHER SOCIETIES-CHURCHES-POPULA- TION.

J AMESTOWN is located in Greene Township in the northwest part of Mer- cer County, at the crossing of the Erie & Pittsburgh and the Lake Shore (Jamestown and Franklin branch) Railroads.

James Campbell, after whom the town was named and on whose land it was built up, was the first settler. He came from County Antrim, Ireland, in 1798. He located on what is known as Seminary Hill, and his dwelling place for several years was a cave. He died in 1850 at the advanced age of ninety- seven years, and his remains rest in the old Seceder grave-yard at Greenville. When Mr. Campbell came to this locality, he secured a "tract" of 400 acres at $1.25 per acre. He had four sons, John, William, James and Nathan, to each of whom he gave 100 acres. His improvements were on the east hundred acre tract, the portion he gave to William. About the year 1799 he built a small log house, into which he removed his family from the cave in the side of the hill, and in which he continued to reside for many years with all the con- tentment of mind which characterized the pioneer settlers.

Between the years 1815 and 1817 Campbell purchased forty acres addi- tional. This small tract included a mill site and attendant privileges on the Shenango. Upon it John and James Campbell, Jr., built a grist-mill out of hewed logs, a little above the site of the Brackin and Carr Mill, which was burned May 3, 1886. The mill is said to have commenced operations in Feb- ruary, 1817. It stood until 1856, when the new one was built. It was the first grist-mill in the place, and really the first improvement. Like similar enterprises elsewhere, it was the nucleus of the future town. Near this mill a small shanty of round logs was erected about the same time to accommodate the mill hands. It was an inferior abode, but served its purpose. It was subsequently used as a dwelling by James Campbell, Jr., being then the only abode of the kind within the town limits.

The second dwelling within the borough limits was a small frame house erected and owned by James Campbell, Jr. It has undergone many efforts at preservation and ornamentation, and when last heard from was still stand- ing as a relic of the olden times.

Little progress was made in the prospective town prior to 1831. At that time John Williamson, still a resident of Jamestown, built the first store- room in the place, and the second frame structure. It was 18x34 feet, in one end of which, as was the custom in early days, he dwelt. This structure stood upon the lot on which the Reed property was burned a few years ago. Williamson was the first justice of the peace, being appointed in 1832. The

DA. Frampton

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next year he became postmaster, and J. B. Herrick was his successor as justice.

In March, 1832, John Keck, Esq., laid out a village, and desired John Williamson to give it a name. In honor of the original settler, James Camp- bell, it was christened "Jamestown," a designation it has never changed. This was the era of a new growth. People began to flock into the place. Lots were purchased and a spirit of enterprise and thrift began to manifest itself. The town was incorporated in 1854, and assumed the dignity of a borough.

The first tailor was William Rodgers. He put up a frame building in 1832, which was subsequently used by Dr. Gibson as a store-room.

The first tannery was built in 1832 by Andrew Irvin. It stood on land subsequently owned by Dr. Gibson.

The first blacksmith shop was erected in 1834 by Matthew Hunter; the year following the first saw-mill was erected by John Williamson for John Carr. It supplied a long-felt want, lumber being a great necessity in the growth of a town.

Early Physicians. - The first physician who located in Jamestown was Dr. James Dowling. He arrived in the spring of 1832, and lived in a part of Williamson's house. The following year he bought the Williamson property, and soon thereafter built a residence of his own. He was a genial man and a successful physician. He continued in the village until 1836, when he sold to Dr. William Gibson, just arrived, and removed to Brookville, Penn., where he died some time in the seventies.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 63

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