History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 74

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present > Part 74

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

571

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

fair quality, and the outlook for a larger demand for it is very promising. Good brick clay is also found in abundance.

Pioneers .- The early settlement of the township is partly discussed under the head of "Wolf Creek Township." From all the confused testimony and untrustworthy records that could be seen, it appears that the first settler in the region now called Pine Township was a man named John Sutherland. But little is known of him. He entered the county sometime in the early spring of 1796, and secured a settler's claim of 400 acres adjacent to the farm afterward owned by James Hume. He appears to have been a man open to barter, for, in the summer of the same year, John Perry, a veteran of the Revolution from Lancaster County, entered the region and purchased half of Sutherland's tract. Perry was of German descent. He settled on the land, improved it, perfected a clearing, built a cabin and made the home habitable. In the winter he returned to his Lancaster County home, and in the following spring, accompanied by his wife and nine children, set out to take up his per- manent residence in the new country. The following winter they passed in their new home, braving its severities with heroic fortitude, at a time, too, when nearly all of their fellow-workers in the county had returned to the populous settlements. Contemporary with Sutherland, and by some claimed to have preceded the latter in his entrance to the township, was Philip Hoon. He came in the spring of 1796, and, like Sutherland, squatted on a 400 acre tract. The two tracts adjoined. It is not known when Hoon was joined by his family, but it was certainly as late as 1797.

William Buchanan came from Washington County and settled in what is now Pine Township in 1797. His family consisted of two sets of children. By his first wife, Elizabeth, he had George and William, and by his second, Polly, he had Robert, Alexander and Hunter. He entered 400 acres of land. It is now divided into small tracts and occupied by his descendants. Mr. Buchanan had to go to Pittsburgh for his supplies. On one occasion he went for provisions. Returning, he came as far as the Connoquenessing, which, badly swollen by recent rains, he was unable to cross. He was compelled to tarry on the south side until the water had subsided. This delay caused him and his horse to eat up their stock of provisions. He returned to his cabin for more money with which to buy an extra stock. He was thus compelled to make a second trip; but such was pioneer life.

The year 1798 brought several prominent settlers. Among these were David and Matthew McDowell, who located on a 400 acre tract at what is called Cranberry Plain, where the latter was joined in the following year by his son, Robert. They were all from Westmoreland County. From Hunt- ingdon County came James Glenn, accompanied by his wife and child. He secured a farm in the western part of the township and located upon it, at once beginning a clearing and preparing to make it his permanent home. John Miller, from Pittsburgh, entered the territory in the same year. Being pleased with the prospects he sent word over to his brother, James, then in Scotland, and the latter immigrated to this country, and proceeded direct to meet his brother. He purchased fifty acres of land from him, obtained a settler's claim on other tracts, and purchased 100 acres from another settler, whose name is not known. The Waldron and Gregg farms are part of the land which Miller thus acquired.

In September, 1798, Ephraim and Jacob Rose came from Centre County, Penn., via Phillipsburg, Brookville, etc., to what is now Pine Township, Mercer County. Their means of conveyance was a pack-horse, which carried a scanty supply of provisions, cooking utensils, an ax, grubbing hoc and rifle.

572

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

After selecting a 440 acre tract, they built their cabin on the southeast corner and commenced clearing. Their first crop was turnips. Some of the neigh- bors at that time were the McDowells, Glenns, Cunninghams, Mckinleys, etc. The next year Jacob returned to bring the family out. The family then consisted of Andrew and his wife and the following children: Ephraim, Jacob, Andrew, James, Chapman, Benjamin, Betsey and Polly. Elizabeth, or Betsey, married David Mitchel, and Polly married James McKinley, and is the grand- mother of Hon. William McKinley, member of Congress from Canton, Ohio. Mr. Rose built a larger house this year (1799), increased the capacity of his stables, and prepared to entertain strangers over night, though he did not keep a reg- ular hotel. The Rose sons married in this order: Ephraim, Jacob and James. Jacob married Rebecca Clark about 1802-03, and reared quite a large family, of whom M. H. Rose, the fifth child, born September 14, 1813, is a resident of Cleveland, Ohio. James married Martha Mckinley, daughter of David McKinley, April 3, 1806. James died in 1865 and his widow in 1872 aged eighty and eighty-seven respectively. The Rose family has furnished some promi- nent citizens for both the county and the State, records of some of whom will be found in the biographical department.

One of the early settlers of Pine Township, a contemporary of the Cun- ninghams, the Glenns, McDowells, etc., was Benjamin Wood. He was a cab- inet maker, carpenter, and a farmer on a small scale. He was of English extrac- tion, was born November 22, 1782, and his wife Catherine October 14, 1778. He died in 1852. They had the following children: Margaret, Samuel and John, born, respectively, December 22, 1804, November 6, 1808, and January 5, 1812. Mr. Wood settled on a small farm near the Rose place. His wife was the aunt of the late James G. Cunningham, who had learned his trade with his Uncle Benjamin. In politics the Woods were Democrats, in religion they were Presbyterians. The sons died at the ages of seventy-one and sev- enty, respectively.

Among the settlers who came into Pine (then Wolf Creek) Township in 1798 were the Whites, from Washington County. They were of Scotch descent; Seceders in religion, and anti-slavery in politics. The ancestor of this family was Alexander White, whose wife was Rachel Henderson. Their children were John, Elizabeth (married to Hugh Watt), Alexander, James, Samuel (soldier in the War of 1812), Hannah (married to George Buchanan), Hugh (the only one born in Mercer County). Alexander, the father of these, was a Revolutionary soldier. John White, the eldest of the family, occupied a tract of 200 acres. He married Margaret Query, of Butler County, by whom he had a large family: Rachel (married to Begges), John B., James, Jane (never married), Elizabeth (married to Samuel Koonce), Samuel G., George W., Hiram C. and Henderson. Hiram C. (born August 14, 1813), the only one living, is a resident of Mercer, and the father of J. G. White, Esq., and others. His family consists of James, Alexander, Margaret, Jane, John G., Ella, Charles, Mary, Edward, Louis and David H.

No record exists of any important settlements being made in the year 1799, although it is presumed that some must have been made. In the first years of the present century, however, there was another influx of settlers. Among them were William Daugherty, a Revolutionary veteran, who came from South Carolina and located on a 400-acre tract, upon which his grandson, John Daugherty, afterward resided, and Thomas Dunlap, who entered in 1826, from the adjoining county of Butler, and settled upon a farm in the northern part of the township. There were 200 acres in the original tract, and on a portion of this William Dunlap located, building a cabin and clear-

573

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

ing off a small space of land. John McConnell entered in 1811, and settled upon a piece of land on which his son, William, afterward lived. As the name indicates, he was an Irishman. William McBride, another Irishman, came to the eastern part of the township in 1826. Besides these there were many others, whose names are not within reach. The work of settling, which was thus auspiciously begun, was continued for a long series of years. The township gradually took rank, under the careful watch of its early developers, among the foremost in the county, a position which it has ever since main- tained.

Mills. - Among the most interesting landmarks of any community are its early mills, the remains of which, still standing on the primitive location, often recall memories of past usefulness to the speculative observer. Probably the first one erected in Pine Township was built in 1806, by James Graham. It was a grist-mill, and was located on Wolf Creek, the waters of which sup- plied the motor power for the operation of the unwieldy mill-stones that ground the grain. A saw-mill, probably the earliest concern of the kind, was erected near the same spot in 1812, by Robert Moore. The wright in charge was a man named James McCoy. The second saw-mill was built in 1842, also on the banks of Wolf Creek, by William Perry. It is now conducted by J. C. Shaw, and is located near the grist-mill which he operates. In another chapter will be found a list of the early township officials of Wolf Creek Township, which contains the names of a great many men distinguished in local, social and political circles. In the list of early inn-keepers the names of the township's entertainers will also be found.

Centre Presbyterian Church was organized in the year 1801, through the efforts of Rev. William Wood, who was installed its first pastor November 3, 1802, Rev. Dr. McMillan delivering the charge. The first members of the congregation were Andrew Rose, Ephraim Rose, Andrew Rose, Jr., David McKinley, James McKinley, Robert Glenn, James Glenn, William Glenn, James Gormley, William Brandon, George Hosack, Mrs. Elizabeth Whit- taker, Mrs. James Gormley, and others whose names have not been found. The first house was erected near what is now known as the Cranberry School- house, on the Moore farm. It was built of pine logs, the crevices of which were filled with mud, and was 50x30 feet in dimensions. The floor was earthen, while above shone the clear sky, as no ceiling was built, and the thatched roof was filled with interstices. The pews consisted of split logs placed on blocks, and warmth was furnished to the shivering brethren by a tin-plate stove. This house was built during Rev. Wood's charge. This, however, came to a termination August 24, 1808. For a period of nearly ten years no regular services were held; but February 25, 1818, the second pastor of the congregation, Rev. John Munson, was installed. Dur- ing the early part of his ministry services were held in the house of Robert Glenn, though the old log church had been removed to the site of the present church building, and located about one and a half miles west of Grove City. The latter building, a brick, costing $1,800, was erected in 1837-38, and was at the time considered one of the finest structures in all the country round. Rev. Munson continued as pastor of the Centre Church until June 28, 1859, at which time he was released, after a pastorate of forty-one years. His succes- sor, Rev. W. W. McKinney, was installed in 1861, and remained until June, 1865. Following him came Rev. S. A. Hughes, installed in October, 1866, and released in 1871; Rev. David Patton, September 4, 1872, February 22, 1875, when removed by death, and Rev. W. J. McConkey, November 17, 1875, April 29, 1878. Since the latter date none but provisional services has

574

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

been held. The present elders of this old congregation are James Glenn, Valentine Glenn, W. W. Breckenridge and John B. Bell. The trustees are Harrison Armstrong, John Glenn and Joseph Gregg. The superintendent of the Sunday-school is W. A. Coulter.

PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP.

This township, one of the original six. is the largest in the county, having an area of thirty-eight square miles. It is rectangular in shape, although the appearance presented is nearly that of a trapezoid. Its surface is level. The fertility of its soil is unsurpassed. Agriculture flourishes as in but few other townships in the county. The finest kind of grain and fruit are produced, and the grazing lands lying along the course of the Shenango are equal to any in the entire Northwest. There are considerable veins of coal extending underneath the surface, which add materially to the industrial wealth of the township. The principal source of the wealth of the inhabitants, however, is not industrial, but agricultural. The drainage is unexcelled. The principal stream, Shenango River, enters the borders in a direct eastern and western course at the eastern boundary, near the southern extremity, flows west for a short distance, is deflected from its course and passes through the borough of Clarksville, then follows a northwesterly direction for a short distance, and at length, near its junction with Pymatuning Creek, turns abruptly south, and in a tortuous course enters the township of Hickory east of Sharpsville. Pyma- tuning Creek heads in Ohio, flows eastward, and near Orangeville changes its course to a sharp southeasterly direction, in which it unites its waters with the parent stream near Clarksville. Booth Run rises in West Salem, and joins the Pymatuning at Orangeville. These streams of water, with the smaller branches that flow in on either side, form a system of drainage that is abun- dantly able to successfully convey away all surplus rain-fall.

Pioneers. - The first settler of this township was doubtless Jacob Loutz- enhiser, who came out from Westmoreland County, Penn., in the fall of 1796, with a party of land prospectors, embracing the Klingensmiths, Kecks and An- drew Christy. He selected a tract of land on the site of Orangeville, upon which he settled permanently in the spring of 1797. His cabin stood on the Pennsylva- nia side of the line, and in 1798 he erected, on Pymatuning Creek, a saw and grist-mill, one of the first, if not the first, in Mercer County. He sold this prop- erty to Adam Haun in 1802, and removed to the vicinity of Greenville, where he died in 1821.

In the spring of 1798 Nathan Fell and wife Ann located where their grand- sons, Mahlon and Aaron Fell, now live. They too were from Westmoreland County, and spent the balance of their lives in Pymatuning Township. A full sketch of the family will be found in the biographical department.

David Hayes located near the site of Sharpsville about the same period. He reared quite a large family, and was one of the pioneer school-teachers of the valley. Many of his descendants are residents of the county.

Robert McCord and Andrew Chestnut came from Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1798, and settled in Pymatuning Township. The former was of Irish parentage, and a man of very good education. He taught a school in the township in 1814-15-16, and was regarded as quite a successful teacher. He located about two miles east of the site of Transfer, where a daughter was born in 1800. She became the wife of Thomas Gill. When the War of 1812 commenced McCord's son Robert raised a company to fight the hereditary foe of his native land. A roster of this company will be found in a previous chap- ter. He was one of the leading pioneers of the valley throughout its early his-

575

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

tory. Andrew Chestnut was a relative of McCord, and also served in the War of 1812. He settled on the farm now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. F. J. Bean, and died in 1867 at the ripe old age of ninety years. A sketch of his family will be found elsewhere in this work.

Godfrey Carnes was a veteran of the Revolution, who came from Westmore- land County, Penn., in 1801, and settled upon the farm whereon his grandson, Godfrey G. Carnes, now lives. The title to his first tract was a patent given as a reward for his services in the Revolutionary War. In his trip to his new home he followed Indian trails most of the distance. He erected his cabin on what afterward became the Sharpsville and Orangeville road. In a few years this rude structure was succeeded by what the pioneers called a "double log house." This house was the polling place for most of the early elections in Pymatuning Township. Mr. Carnes was a leading Democrat, a very suc- cessful pioneer, and accumulated a large estate. He died in 1842.

Adam Haun was one of the first settlers. He purchased Jacob Loutzenhiser's mills in April, 1802, and that place was known for many years as "Haun's Mills." He is one of the township's best remembered pioneers.

Samuel Clark settled on the site of Clarksville in 1804, and laid out the town; after him it was named. He lived there until his death, October 29, 1860, at the age of ninety years, nine months and twelve days. His wife died October 7, 1863, aged ninety-one years, eleven months and twenty-three days. He was the founder of the Methodist Church in Clarksville, the first preaching being done at his house in 1819. A year later a congregation was organized and he became its leader. In possession of his son Abraham, who died re- cently at Clarksville in his eighty-ninth year, were the class registers for some ten years.

David McKnight came to the township in 1804, and settled three miles north of the site of Sharpsville. He was a native of Washington County, Penn., married Hannah Gill, and left a numerous progeny, as the reports of their family reunions show. In 1824 he was appointed a justice of the peace, which office he filled up to his death, November 16, 1839.

In 1808, Samuel Koonce located near Clarksville, entered upon possession of a large tract of land, and gradually effected a clearing, on which he began raising fair crops. In 1816, Thomas Gill settled upon a 200-acre farm lying about two miles and three-quarters north of Sharpsville. Two years after- ward, William Campbell, an early settler of Hickory Township, removed to Pymatuning and took up his residence. These were all comparatively early settlers. Many others entered in later years, and were compelled to clear their farms and live in log cabins.

At the time treated of there were numerous Indians in the vicinity. They belonged to what was called the Corn-planter tribe, named from a chief by that title, and were, in all probability, a remnant of the nation of Senecas. Mr. Carnes found an encampment of them upon his land when he arrived. They were never troublesome, in a belligerent sense, though their presence in the vicinity often used to account for the absence of many of the settlers' valuables. It is related that they would come to Mr. Carnes and request the privilege of using his rifle a few moments. If granted, they would take the weapon, set off into the forest, be gone a day or two, and return, carrying with them a large deer in payment for the loan of the gun. A tradition exists to the effect that near the mouth of what is known as Big Run, they had concealed a valuable lead mine, from which they used to stealthily extract quantities of the metal, smelt it, and dispose of it to the settlers, who used it for bullets. This story has been related so often that at various times per-

576

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

sons have been induced to make explorations in the vicinity alluded to, hoping to discover this hidden store. But, so far as is known, the ore-vein has never yet been found. It is certainly true that the savages were-in the possession of a quantity of a superior quality of lead; but whether they secured it by dig- ging, or thieving, must ever remain a question open to discussion.

In the chapter on Township Officials will be found the names of the early officers of Pymatuning, from 1802 down to 1831, inclusive. These will throw some light upon who were the prominent men of those early days. They will demonstrate whom the people entrusted with the discharge of public duties, and will also illustrate whom the early politicians were. A list of early inn- keepers is also given elsewhere.

Villages. - Orangeville, formerly known as Haun's Mills, is located on the Pymatuning Creek, the greater part lying in Ohio. That portion is incor- porated, and contains the post-office, while a flouring-mill, hotel, etc., is on this side of the line. The first settler was Jacob Loutzenhiser, who erected a saw and grist-mill in 1798. The building was a hewed log structure, and the motive power was supplied by a huge under-shot wheel, twenty-five feet in diameter, operated by a race from Pymatuning Creek. On the 19th of April, 1802, Loutzenhiser sold the mills to Adam Haun, who carried them on many years. A mill has ever since existed at that point, a very good one being now operated by S. L. Hendrickson.

At an early day a woolen-mill was built by Mr. Hull, the father of George E. Hull, of Orangeville. It served an excellent purpose, but was burned down on the 3d of April, 1838.

On the 20th of March, 1838, a small craft, known as the "Orangeville Packet," left Orangeville, at the mouth of Booth Run, where it was built, destined for Galena, Ill. It contained the three families of St. Clair, Casper and Carnes, and was intended to go via the Pymatuning Creek and the Shen- ango, Big Beaver, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to its destination. It sailed on its way grandly, distributing its crew at various points along the route, but is understood never to have returned. This is the only expedition of the kind that ever descended the Pymatuning.

Transfer is located on the Erie & Pittsburgh and the N. Y. P. & O. (Erie) Railroads, near the point where the latter line deflects to the west. It is a point of considerable business activity. It has two churches, the Presbyterian and the Baptist.

Churches. - The Presbyterian Church was erected in 1825, a small log house which served its purpose for a number of years, when its place was taken by a larger and more suitable structure, erected by the joint efforts of the different denominations. Some difficulty arising in the management, the Methodists transferred their interests to the Presbyterians, who subsequently became the exclusive owners. The congregation is in good condition.

Transfer Regular Baptist Church was organized in February, 1872, in the town hall, by Revs. Jacob Morris and J. W. Snyder. The first members, seventeen in number, were J. Frampton, Matilda Frampton, Miss H. J. Frampton, Miss Tillie Frampton, S. McClelland, Mrs. E. McClelland, L. Chittenden, M. J. Chittenden, William T. McClelland, D. A. Frampton, Delora Frampton, L. Bumpus, Miss M. E. McClelland, Miss N. A. McClel- land, Mrs. E. Frampton, Miss C. R. McClelland and Miss A. Saveren. The building in which worship is held is a good, substantial frame structure, 36x50 feet in dimensions, erected in 1876 at a cost of $3,500, to which an addition 33x18 feet was made in 1887, thus securing a very convenient meeting place. The church has baptized on profession of faith, since its organization, seventy

577

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

members, and has received by letter sixteen more. The membership, which is at present sixty-four, would be much larger were it not for the fact that the residents of the place are constantly removing to other localities. The first pastor was Rev. J. W. Snyder, who remained five years. Following him came Revs. William P. Keile, two years, and T. J. Bristow, D. Bull, A. Peck- ham and A. G. McLean, the latter acting as supplies. The secretaries of the congregation have been Leroy Chittenden and R. E. Woods. Considering the obstacles with which it has had to contend, this congregation is in a truly prosperous condition. Its annual expenses are $501, and the members are in good spiritual and material state of advancement.

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

This was one of the original six townships. It has been divided and sub- divided, and at present represents about one-fourth of its original size. The surface is pretty well broken. Portions of it are undulating and well adapted to agricultural purposes, and others are rather rough. Farming is very suc- cessfully carried on within the limits, and constitutes an important source of the township's wealth. There is comparatively little coal land, occasional veins being found beneath the surface at various distances and in various thicknesses. This, however, has never been mined in sufficient quantity to give the township a reputation for producing the black diamonds. In the matter of drainage little need be said, for the drainage itself, though sufficient, is not especially prominent as a physical feature of the region. However, surplus rain-fall is generally carried off in a manner that is satisfactory to the farmers.

Pioneers .- In the spring of 1796 a party consisting of John Caughey, Rob- ert Roberts and James Hubanks, intent upon securing homes in the new terri- tory of the northwest, which had been thrown open to settlement just four years before by the act of 1792, arrived in what is now the township of Salem, from Westmoreland County. Roberts, in after time, became known as the cele- brated Bishop Roberts, afterward conspicuous in Methodist Church history. The party which thus arrived had set out from Westmoreland County on foot, carrying all their provisions and equipage on their backs. Each of the party had a gun, with the exception of Roberts. When the company left Westmore- land County it was larger by two than when it arrived in Salem Township. A brother of Robert Roberts, Thomas by name, and William McLean started on the expedition. As they reached a point on the Allegheny, afterward known as Freeport, their hearts failed them and they turned back. Thomas endeavored to induce his younger brother Robert, then only eighteen years of age, to return to the settlements with him, but the lad spiritedly declined, stating that he was not afraid of a little hardship. In Elliot's Life of Roberts, we find that on the third day after the return of Roberts and McLean, the remainder of the party, who had been pushing resolutely forward, reached what was known as the old Venango path, which they followed to its intersec- tion with French Creek. Here a short stop was made, and after a brief council they determined to follow the stream up to the mouth of the Cussa- wago (now Meadville). After they had arrived at the place they retraced their steps for a distance of eight miles, and then pushed off in a southwesterly direction until they arrived at the headwaters of the Little Shenango. Fol- lowing the custom of all early pioneers, as soon as they reached a suitable spot for location, they halted and built their cabins. The point at which this was done was located about a mile north of the residence occupied for a num- ber of years by John Leech, Sr. Here they at once began clearings, com-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 74

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