History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 64

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

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Dr. William Gibson, whose sketch is found in the Medical chapter, was the second physician. He was a recognized power in Jamestown. Attention is here called to an address that was written by him in 1867. It is an admira- bly well-prepared document:

To His Imperial Majesty, Alexander I, Emperor of Russia:

We are a handful of private eitizens of America, traveling simply for recreation, and unostentatiously, as becomes our unofficial state, and therefore we have no excuse to tender for presenting ourselves before your majesty, save the desire of offering' our grateful acknowledgments to the Lord of a realm which, through good and through evil report, has been the steadfast friend of the land we love so well. We could not presume to take a step like this, did we not know well that the words we speak here, and the sentiments wherewith they are freighted, are but the reflex of the thoughts and the feel- ings of all our countrymen, from the green hills of New England to the snowy peaks of the far Pacifie. We are few in number, but we utter the voice of a nation. One of the brightest pages that has graced the world's history sinee written history had its birth, was recorded by your Majesty's hand when it loosed the bonds of twenty millions of serfs; and Americans ean but esteem it a privilege to do honor to a ruler who has wrought so great a deed. The lesson that was taught us then, we have profited by, and are free in truth to-day, even as we were before in name. Ameriea owes mueh to Rus- sia-is indebted to her in many ways, and chiefly for her unwavering friendship in seasons of our greatest need. That that friendship may still be hers in time to come we confidently pray; that she is and will be grateful to Russia, and to her sovereign, for it, we know full well; that she will ever forfeit it by any premeditated, unjust aet, or unfair course, it were treason to believe.

Respectfully tendered on behalf of the excursionists on board Ameriean steam yacht Quaker City, Yalta, August 26, 1867.

SAMUEL L. CLEMENS, (Mark Twain), Cal., WILLIAM GIBSON, M. D., Jamestown, Penn., TIMOTHY D. CROCKER, Cleveland, Ohio. S. N. SANFORD, Cleveland, Ohio. COLONEL P. KINNEY, Portsmouth, Ohio.

Committee.

D. D. LEARY, New York, Chairman.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Railroads. - In 1853 the Pittsburgh & Erie Railroad project was started, Dr. Gibson being an active participant in the enterprise. After expending about $125,000 upon it, the work stopped for about six years, when a new com- pany called the Erie & Pittsburgh was formed. It completed the line from Erie to Jamestown by December 25, 1859, and thence to New Castle several years later.

The Franklin & Jamestown Railroad, of which Dr. Gibson was presi- dent, was started in the winter of 1862-63. Its history will be found in the chapter on Internal Affairs.

Schools. -- The first school building was a one-story frame with two rooms, which stood on the hill on the north side of town. It was an academy, and stood in Crawford County. Rev. John Gamble, father of Dr. D. Gam- ble, was principal. Students came from far and near to attend -- some even from Kentucky. Mercer, Meadville, Erie and other places were represented. John Rankin, of Mercer, William M. Stephenson, Samuel Griffith and other men of renown were pupils of his. The building was finally burned down.

The institution of learning which, during its active existence, gave James- town notoriety was the Jamestown Seminary, which was regularly incorporated on the 22d of April, 1858, by Dr. William Gibson, Dr. S. G. Clark, John Carr, Jacob Rogers, William Douthitt, W. W. Neverson and Rev. H. H. Hervey. The first corps of officers consisted as follows: President, Rev. H. H. Her- vey; secretary, W. W. Neverson; treasurer, John Carr. Two acres of ground, bought from James McMaster; constituted the site, a beautiful one, too. Upon this the two-story frame structure, with three rooms below and two above, was erected in 1862 at a cost of some $2,000. In 1860 Isaac Collins, Joseph McKee and Miss Ellen McKee came to town and organized a school in an old school-house of two rooms. One teacher occupied a hall on Water Street. They continued thus to operate until the Seminary building was completed, when work began in it. The first principal was Isaac Collins. Some of his successors were A. S. Abbey, W. J. Snodgrass, J. R. Wallace, James W. Stewart, James M. Fulton, H. H. McMaster, etc. The building has been standing unoccupied for several years.

The Union Schools were established about 1878, in the building that now stands on Jackson Street, and is used as a town house. The principal teacher was James McConnahey. The next principal in the same building was C. I. Mullen. About the holidays of 1880 the schools were transferred to the present commodious brick building, which had just been completed at a cost of $8,000. In the list of principals were Charles W. Dean, A. S. Abbey, T. S. McCanless, L. T. McCartney and M. A. Sutton, the present incumbent. At the time of the organization of schools the board consisted as follows: President, J. Andrews; secretary, D. Gamble, J. H. Carr, B. F. Underslice, T. G. Moats and James McMaster.

Recent Fires. -- In March, 1887, a severe fire occurred, which swept away a large part of the business portion of the town. The Moats House, in which it originated, and five store-rooms, belonging respectively to a citizen of Chicago, William Ross, Mrs. Brown, John Davis and Mr. Raymond, were consumed. These were all on the northwest side of Main Street. Immediately south of the Moats House was the Reed building, used, at that time, as a hardware store by Fred Alden. It, too, was consumed. The fire broke out about midnight in the hotel barn, and soon spread to the adjoining buildings. Its origin was a mystery. The loss was large, amounting to some $25,000 or $30,000, most of which was covered with insurance. Loss, about $25,000.

About a year previous a grist-mill, belonging to Carr, Brackin & Co., was

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burned. The mill was erected originally by John Reed and Thomas Sherbon- dy. It was subsequently bought by Henry Homer, who converted it into the roller process.

Banks .- The Jamestown Banking Company was organized July 21, 1874, with a capital stock of $50,000, in shares of $100 each. Its first corps of officers consisted of Dr. William Gibson, president; James McMaster, vice-pres- ident, and W. W. Davis, cashier. Dr. Gibson, at his death, was succeeded by James McMaster, the present incumbent. The vice-president is G. C. Campbell, and the cashier, W. A. McMaster. The firm does a general bank- ing business.

About the same time, or probably a month later than the other, was organ- ized the Jamestown Savings Bank, a private banking concern, whose partners were Samuel Gardner, David Anderson, George Fetterman, Capt. William Thomas, Jasper Fetterman, David Carr, Joseph S. Blair and others. The capital stock was $50,000. Its original officers were: George Fetterman, president; David Anderson, vice-president; I. W. Worrell, cashier. The last named gentleman was succeeded by John Morehead and S. R. Martin. It closed business January 19, 1885, by making an assignment to L. A. McCrumb and W. A. McMaster, receivers.

Societies. - Adelphic Lodge No. 424, F. & A. M., was constituted in Sep- tember, 1868, by G. D. Kughler, D. D. G. M., of Greenville, assisted by William Himrod, D. D. G. M., of Erie, with the following members: L. A. McCrumb, W. M .; William L. Riley, S. W .; E. P. Foster, J. W .; Charles Carr, secretary ; James Rogers, treasurer; James McElhager, J.H. Carr, Samuel H. Rogers, Rev. F. A. Archibald and William Laughrey. The first place of meeting was a third story of a frame building now standing on Water Street, and used for society purposes. In 1874 the lodge had rooms fitted up in the Carr Block, and have continued to use them ever since. The membership at present is seventy.

Jamestown Lodge No. 482, K. of P., was chartered June 29, 1882, with forty-five members. Its first corps of officers was as follows: M. G. McElhaney, P. C .; F. P. Calhoun, C. C .; F. L. Belknap, V. C .; W. W. Thompson, prel- ate; A. H. Bell, M. E .; S. L. Robb, M. F .; F. S. Alden, K. of R. & S .; J. F. Robertson, M. A .; A. J. McElhaney, I. G .; William Eich, O. G. It meets every Thursday evening in Masonic hall.

The Royal Templars of Temperance were organized in the autumn of 1878. Among the early members were D. L. Calkins and wife, George V. Burgess and wife, Nelson McDowell and wife, Charles Truesdale and wife, Henry Forrest and wife, George Forrest and wife, Dr. T. H. Mitchell, and others. In the fall of 1880 a division occurred. The original society, The North Star, was continued in the same hall (Masonic), while the colony, Ross, went to the Grangers' hall on Water Street. The North Star having had some difficulty with the Supreme Councillor, surrendered its charter in 1881. The Ross con- tinues to meet, and has a quasi existence.

About 1872 a lodge of A. O. U. W. was organized, but it surrendered its charter in 1883.

Robert Porter Post No. 326, G. A. R., was organized April 20, 1883, in Adelphic hall, with the following members: N. F. Ellis, William R. Ross, William Eich, William Artman, Albert H. Artman, Abram Artman, William Harris, Henry H. Forrest, John Forrest, Stephen Mosier, John Massena, Rob- ert Q. Snodgrass, T. F. Sullivan, W. H. Harris, C. Sheppard, Joseph Trues- dale, Theron F. Cook, James Maxwell and John W. Marshall. Its first corps of officers consisted of N. F. Ellis, P. C .; John Massena, Adjt. ; William R.

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Ross, O. D .; Stephen Mosier, J. V. C .; Abram Artman, S. V. C .; W. H. Harris, Q. M. ; John Forrest, Chap. ; T. F. Sullivan, Surg. ; Corydon Sheppard, O. G .; R. Q. Snodgrass, I. G .; Albert H. Artman, S. M .; Henry Forrest, Q. M. S. The post meets the first and third Saturdays of every month. Its present membership is twenty-two, with condition prosperous.

The W. C. T. U. was organized in the Presbyterian Church on the 30th of July, 1885, by Mrs. A. P. Hamilton, of Sharon. The original members were Misses Kate Burton and Kate E. Sloan, Mrs. J. L. Dennison, Mrs. James Rogers, Mrs. D. L. Calkins, Mrs. S. Sargent, Mrs. Alexander Calhoun, Mrs. Joseph McClymonds and Mrs. Robert McCartney. These ladies selected, as their first corps of officers, the following: President, Miss Kate Burton; vice- president, Mrs. S. Sargent; recording secretary, Mrs. D. L. Calkins; corres- ponding secretary, Mrs. James Rogers; treasurer, Mrs. Alex. Calhoun, The union has made vigorous fights against licenses being granted to hotels, and has been successful. The present membership, twenty-five in number, is said to be in a prosperous condition.

Churches. - It seems that Samuel T. Smith, a member of the Lake Erie Presbytery, of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, was one of the first preachers to proclaim the word in this vicinity. This he did in a series of discourses prior to 1840. About this date originated a congregation of that faith, the preaching being done at the house of Andrew McMaster, father of James McMaster. The elders in the congregation at the time were Andrew McMaster and William Calvert. From 1840 to 1846 Mr. Smith preached occasionally, sometimes in the house and sometimes in the barn of Mr. Mc- Master, and occasionally in the Gamble school-house, Early members were William Calvert and wife, Daniel McClurg, Andrew McMaster and wife, Mrs. Jane Snodgrass, Mrs. Rebecca Carr, James Calvert and wife, James McMas- ter, Sr., and wife, John Williamson and wife, Samuel Calvert and wife, Will- iam Gibson, M. D., and wife; total, seventeen. The regular organization occurred in 1853, about twelve or thirteen years after the first association. After the death of Mr. Smith, in 1846, a number of young preachers gave their labors to the congregation, among whom were Revs. Cannon, McAdams, Forsythe, Robert Audley Brown, John Dick, D. R. Kerr, Kelso, Patterson Mehard, Campbell and Dalzell. Their labors continued up to 1849 or 1850. Following these dates a short vacancy occurred. In 1851 or 1852 Rev. H. H. Hervey was installed pastor of Crooked Creek and North Shenango. He also ministered to Jamestown as a branch of the Crooked Creek charge. Shortly after this, October 28, 1853, he organized a regular congregation under the title of the Associate Reformed Presbyterians of Jamestown, Samuel Calvert and Robert Williamson being ruling elders. It continued to move on peacefully until the union in 1858. About 1847 steps were taken for the erection of a house of worship. The subscription not being all collected, the house was enclosed with difficulty. Finally, about 1852, an agreement was made between the Associate Reformed congregation, of Jamestown, and the Shenango congregation of the Associate Church, by which the latter was to complete the house for the privilege of enjoying its use for worship. Thus was completed the first building.

In 1801-02 Rev. Daniel McLean, who had settled in South Shenango Township, Crawford County, established there a congregation of the Associ- ate or Seceder Church. He began to visit the community of Jamestown about 1852, and his preaching resulted in the organization of a small congre- gation in 1853. In its ranks were Robert Snodgrass, Sr., and wife, Jacob Rogers and wife, Robert Snodgrass, Jr., and wife, William Douthitt and

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wife, John Brooks and wife, James M. Snodgrass and wife, Quinton Brooks and wife. Total, fourteen. The first session consisted of Robert Snodgrass, Sr., Jacob Rogers and Quinton Brooks, Andrew Thompson being subsequently added. Rev. Daniel McLean was the pastor by natural selection until his death, in 1854. Subsequently preaching was done for the congregation by Revs. Bruce, Brownlee, Hindman, Strong and Gilmore. The occasional preaching was supplanted by the regular preaching of Rev. Hervey. A friendly feeling finally resulted in the permanent union of 1858. The United Presby- terian congregation was formed of these two elements, by the general union which occurred in Pittsburgh in May, 1858. The union gave to Jamestown about 100 members. Rev. T. J. Kennedy was the first pastor, and continued one-fourth of his time for seven years. Following him were Revs. H. F. Stewart and J. R. Wallace. The present brick house was erected in 1874, costing about $8,000.

The Methodist Church was organized about 1855. Some of its original members were John Fidler, Thomas Sherbondy, D. G. Clark, Jonathan and David Hoover, John Koonce and wife, William F. Johnson, Elias Bates, James Frame, Irvin West and J. W. Clark. The first meetings were held in the borough school-house. . This was the case until about 1859-60, when the present frame house, 40x45, was erected, at a cost of $1,800. It was built under the pastorate of Rev. A. J. Merchant. The building committee con- sisted of Thomas Sherbondy, William F. Johnson, D. G. Clark, J. W. Clark and Irvin West. The builder was a Mr. Moffett, of Jamestown. A parson- age was built on the same grounds in 1865, at a cost of about $1,000.

The church edifice has undergone repairs from time to time. The follow- ing is a list of the pastors: E. T. Wheeler, 1858; A. J. Merchant, 1859-60; S. A. Milroy, 1861; I. Scofield, 1862-63; W. A. Clark, 1864; S. S. Burton, one-fourth year, 1865; T. Radcliffe, three-fourths year, 1865; G. W. Ander- son, 1866; F. A. Fairchild, 1867-68; S. Heard, 1869; S. L. Wilkinson, 1870; C. Wilson, 1871; A. S. Goodrich, 1872-73; E. D. McCreary, 1874-75; W. Hollister, 1876-77; R. M. Bear, 1878-79; J. M. Crouch, 1880-82; G. W. Chesbro, 1883-85; O. G. McIntire, 1886-88.

The First Baptist Church was organized in the autumn of 1870 by Rev. J. W. Snyder, with J. T. English and wife, Cynthia Moats, Mrs. John St. Clair, Charles Truesdale and wife, William Truesdale and wife and Mrs. Charles Fowler as charter members. The house of worship, a frame struc- ture 40x70, was erected in 1874 at a cost of about $4,000. The congrega- tion has a membership of eighty, with a large Sunday-school in flourishing condition. It has been served, in succession, by the following pastors: J. W. Snyder, G. T. Griffith, W. B. Skinner, J. P. Hile, Rev. Rapson and D. H. Dennison.

The Presbyterian Church was organized November 5, 1873, by Revs. J. E. Wright, of Greenville, and J. R. Findley, of Mercer. In the fall of 1872 (September 5) Rev. John Rice, of Sandy Lake, preached two sermons in Jamestown, and in October following Rev. Isaac McVitty preached one in the Methodist Episcopal Church. This was the beginning of Presbyterianism in Jamestown. At its meeting in Greenville, December 3, 1872, the Presbytery of Erie appointed supplies for Jamestown until the next meeting of that body. The following ministers performed such duty: J. E. Wright, of Greenville; Richard Craighead, of Meadville; J. R. Findley, of Mercer; S. J. M. Eaton, of Franklin; W. S. Wright, of Erie; Rev. Thompson, of Pittsburgh Seminary; J. Vance, of Erie, and Nathan McFertridge, of Oil City. Some of these serv- ices were held in the United Presbyterian Church, and some in the Gibson

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Hall. At a meeting of the presbytery in April, 1873, Rev. James Lafferty was appointed a stated supply for Jamestown and Sandy Lake. These services were held in Gibson's Hall until the 29th of June, when they were removed to the public school building. Interest increasing steadily, a complete organi- zation was effected in the Methodist Episcopal Church November 5, with twelve members, eight by certificate and four by profession of their faith. In 1874 the present house of worship, a frame 36x60, was erected at a cost of $6,600, including the grounds. The following is the list of pastors: James Lafferty, two years; D. R. Kerr, seven years; J. B. Fleming, three years; J. P. Irwin, present pastor began March, 1887.

St. Bridget's Catholic Church was a mission for many years before it was organized as a congregation, and was occasionally attended by the pastor of St. Michael's Church, of Greenville, who held services in private houses. Among the original families were those of John Savage, Michael Conway, John Flaherty and Patrick O'Donnell. In 1874 Rev. Thomas Tracy, of Green- ville, built the present frame church, 40x80, and it was dedicated and the congregation organized in August, of that year, under the name of St. Bridg- et. Father Tracey announced to the congregation, on the day of dedication, that whoever would give the largest donation toward paying off the indebted- ness on the new church would have the privilege of selecting the name. A. spirited contest resulted, and to Mrs. Bridget Doyle, wife of Mark Doyle. of West Salem Township, both since deceased, fell the honor of choosing the name of her patron saint as that of the new congregation. In July, 1876, Rev. Bernard Donohoe, also of Greenville, succeeded Father Tracy. He finished the interior and paid off quite a large debt which was hanging over the congregation. He was succeeded in April, 1882, by Rev. Peter Brady, the first resident pastor at Jamestown, who remained until the following autumn. Rev. John Smith was, his successor. In May, 1883, Rev. J. H. McAdam became pastor of the congregation, and remained until the spring of 1887, when Father Donohoe again took charge of Jamestown in connec- tion with Greenville. St. Bridget's congregation has decreased in strength, owing to many of its members removing elsewhere, and it now numbers only about fifteen families, though a number of families belonging to St. Michael's, at Greenville, usually attend services at Jamestown.

Cemeteries. - Jamestown has two cemeteries. The first, known as James- town Cemetery, was incorporated on the 22d of August, 1867, the petitioners for the charter being J. H. Carr, Thomas Foster, Dr. William Gibson, James Throop and James McMaster. The grounds are pleasantly located.

On the 13th of June, 1887, Park Lawn Cemetery was incorporated by William T. Clark, W. B. Plant, Dr. William Gibson, W. A. McMaster and A. O. Moreland. The capital stock was fixed at 1,500 shares of $50 each. The site is between the Jamestown Cemetery and the village. In it is the fine monument erected to the memory of Dr. Gibson, since deceased.

In 1860 Jamestown had a population of 256; in 1870, 572, and in 1880, 974. This shows a steady growth for the two decades between 1860 and 1880.

CLARKSVILLE.

Clarksville was laid out in 1829 by Samuel Clark, the owner of the land upon which the site is located, and recorded September 13, 1832. Forty-nine lots were laid out and sold. From the plat now on record we find that the streets were Mill, Bridge, Orchard, Meadow and Second. It was incorporated on May 5, 1848. The first list of officers embraced the following: Burgess, Charles Koonce; council, John Wilson, William White, James Trumbull,

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William Dickson and William Hamilton; constable, M. Leech; assessor, John Carver.

Clarksville is located in Pymatuning Township, on the south bank of Shenango River, about a mile and a quarter from Clarksville Station, on the Erie & Pittsburgh Railroad. It was formerly on the canal, and then one of the most important towns in the Shenango Valley. The removal of the canal and the failure to have immediate railroad facilities has rendered compe- tition with other towns exceedingly difficult. The blow has been a severe one. It will doubtless yet recover.

As already said, the site of Clarksville was once the property of Samuel Clark, a sketch of whom will be found in another part of this work. In 1804 Mr. Clark removed to his tract of land, embracing the site of Clarksville, and erected a log cabin near the present brick hotel owned by Mr. Jones. After a time Mr. Clark erected, upon land now owned by the heirs of his son, Abra- ham, a more comfortable and commodious house of round logs. From the window of this structure Mrs. Clark, with trusty rifle, shot a bear in the act of carrying away one of the young pigs of the new settler. The first white child born within the limits of the borough was Susannah Clark. This oc- curred July 15, 1806.

At that time there were few inhabitants in this region. Just north of the mouth of Pymatuning Creek was a clearing made by several families of the Corn-planter tribe of the Seneca Indians. These Indians, among whose lead- ing hunters were Tioga, Flynn, Kindoshawa, Mohawk and Harthegig, re- mained to fish and hunt until about 1811, when they removed to North Central Ohio, and subsequently to a reservation in Northern Pennsylvania.

In 1808 Samuel Koonce became a resident of the Clarksville settlement. His son Charles subsequently attained considerable prominence in the settle- ment, having occupied the positions of second postmaster, first burgess, and member of the State Legislature.

John and William Fruit were early and active business men, having estab- lished a general merchandise business as early as 1828. John was the first postmaster, in 1832.

Morris Leech was the first justice of the peace, in 1834, and was subse- quently given the same position for six times in succession.

Among the prominent families that lived in the vicinity of Clarksville in primitive days were Alexander Simonton, grandfather of Maj. S. C. Simon- ton, present postmaster of the village. He had been wounded in the Revolu- tionary War. David Hayes, who was a prominent school-teacher prior to 1814; he was the progenitor of the numerous Hayes' living in this region. George Moore, two and one-half miles east of Clarksville. He was a vigorous Presbyterian. George Reznor, grandfather of the people of that name still living in the county. David McKnight, who settled, in 1804, some two miles from Clarksville. He came from Washington County. He had twelve children. At a reunion of the McKnights, held at Joseph McKnight's in June, 1885, there were counted 555 descendants of the original David, most of them living in Mercer County. William and Nathan Fell, two brothers, came from West- moreland County in 1797 and 1798, respectively, and became the progenitors of an extensive family in the county, sketches of whom are given elsewhere. Robert Hodge and John Johnson both belonged to the early settlers. The latter lived two and one-half miles southeast of the place.

Dr. Wilcox, of Vernon, Ohio, was the first physician who practiced in this region. In those days physicians were not in great demand, people not having the leisure to be sick. "Granny Middleshaw," living two miles north-

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west of Sharon, on the place adjoining the one now kept by "Mother Smith," was the first midwife in the whole region. She had an extensive patronage. and charged a fee varying from $2 to $5. William Clark relates that he was the only messenger boy who would go for her. With pants badly out at the knees, he rode for her a period of four years. His pay for all this arduous service was a constant " bad cold."

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 64

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