History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 80

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

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Pioneers. - Probably the first settler in the township was Samuel Waldron, a New Jersey man, who came with his family as early as 1796, packing his provisions from Pittsburgh on horseback, and conveying his heavier utensils in an ox-cart. Waldron had been a Revolutionary soldier, and the tract upon which he settled, afterward occupied by Simeon Waldron, was a donation lot.

Thomas McCoy settled in the township in 1796 or 1797, removing thither from Harper's Ferry, Va. He had six sons that settled in the neighborhood, viz .: John, Joseph, James, Thomas, Hugh and William. All grew to man- hood, leaving sons and daughters. His neighbors at that time were William Breckenridge, the nearest one; Samuel Waldron, the McKees, William Mc- Millan, Abraham Snyder, William Smith and others. These people had their peculiar sport. One of their tricks was to pull the hair of a comrade who could not say "thump, thunder and thatch." When a German was coaxed

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

into the party, and called out "tump, tunder and tach," he was sure to have his head well plucked. In this game poor Snyder was the sufferer among the Wolf Creek boys. Another trick was to bump the reaper in the harvest field who failed to reap clean as he went. Two of his comrades would catch him, each by a leg, lifting him up, and then run to the first handy tree, where the process would be gone through.

John Montgomery, a Scotchman by descent, whose father had immigrated to America when quite young, arrived from Allegheny County in the spring of 1797. With him came his father, William, and his five sisters and four brothers. The tract upon which the family settled was one of 200 acres, near what is now known as Montgomery's Hill. The first winter was passed back in Allegheny County, only two of the brothers remaining to look after the property. In 1801, though, the entire family returned to their Mercer County home, in which they now permanently established themselves. The sons of William, as soon as opportunity offered, cleared homes of their own, and afterward marrying, reared quite a colony of Montgomerys, which is still to be met with. Montgomery's neighbors on the south were John Perry and family, and John Sutherland, who entered in 1798, or thereabout.

In the year last mentioned, as nearly as can be ascertained, Philip Hoon, afterward a prominent man in the affairs of the township, entered the region, took up land, and effected a settlement. It was on this tract that one of the first coal banks in the county was opened. The date of the opening was 1827. The product, a fair grade of coal, was used at first merely for blacksmithing purposes, but its adaptability to other uses soon extended the scope of its use- fulness, and the fuel came to be regarded a valuable factor in the township's natural resources. Another incomer of the year mentioned was Samuel Cole- man, who, with his brothers, had come to the county the year previous: The latter located in Worth Township, while Samuel took up his residence near Centretown, upon a 400-acre tract of fine land, afterward occupied by E. S. Dunn.

James Craig, of Scotch and Irish descent, came about 1798 with four of his brothers, and a family of his own, into Mercer County, settling on a tract of land in what is now Wolf Creek Township. His son Francis was a soldier in the War of 1812. The descendants are still numerous.

Caleb Ball, a native of Washington County, Penn., settled in Wolf Creek Township in 1798. He served in the Revolution and War of 1812. He con- tracted a disease while in the latter, which caused his death. Among the later settlers were John Gealy, John Burnside, John Kelly, Jonathan Sopher and others, whose efforts, while not so prominent, were yet greatly helpful in developing the territory in which they settled. Edward Riddle settled in this township in 1804, in the neighborhood of the McMillans. He served in the whole seven years of the Revolutionary War. He subsequently removed from Cumberland County, Penn., to a place near Wheeling, Va., where there was a block house, which he occupied until he could erect a house for himself, and in which one of his sons was born. From that place he came to Mercer County. The Riddles appoint a meeting once a year for all who can attend. There were six brothers, sons of Edward, whose posterity numbers between 300 and 400. At these meetings the financial condition of each is inquired into, and where assistance is needed, those who are in good circumstances contribute. The six sons were named Alexander, James, twice at Erie in the War of 1812; Samuel, William, John B. and Washington. The daughters were Rebecca, who married Alexander McCracken; Mary Ann, who married Scott Stephenson; Eliza, who married John Emery, and Lucinda, who married William Mills.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

It is not possible to say anything which can unduly impress the obligations which the present generation owes the one which has just passed away. But a single thought might be given to the perils and hardships, the deprivations and sacrifices of personal comfort and happiness, which they underwent in order to prepare the way for posterity.

There is little to be said concerning the industrial interests of the town- ship. The first grist-mill erected in the vicinity was the one built by Samuel Waldron at what is now called Centretown, which was operated by water flow- ing from an adjacent spring. It did nothing beyond grinding corn. In about ten years the first saw-mill was built near the same spring. Samuel O. Waldron was the originator of the saw-mill which used to stand on the east branch of Wolf Creek. He built it in 1835. It has been replaced twice, the last time by the Williamson brothers. In the following year John Montgomery built and started in operation the grist-mill afterward conducted by James C. Montgomery. Two years later Henry Carter built the saw-mill which used to be run in the southwestern part of the township.

The only village in the township is Centretown. This is located on land formerly owned and originally settled by Samuel Waldron. Alexander Riddle was the first merchant, William Atwell the first blacksmith and Hugh Shaw the first shoemaker.

Ebenezer Reformed Presbyterian Church is the only church of its kind in the township, the denomination not being noted for its aggressiveness. It is situated about a mile or more east of Centretown. It was organized in 1855 or 1856 by Rev. David Kennedy .. The house of worship is also used by other denominations.

WORTH TOWNSHIP.

The territory comprised under the above named township was formerly a part of the township of Sandy Lake, from which it was detached on the 10th day of November, 1849, and erected into a new organization, which was named in honor of the distinguished general in the Mexican War, William J. Worth. It forms one of the extreme eastern tier of townships that face on the Venango County line. Its northern boundary is Sandy Lake, from which it was taken; its southern, Wolf Creek, and its western, Jackson Township. The surface is very uneven. In places it is especially broken. Hills rise up in wild out- line, and the gulch-like appearance of the sharply outlined valleys give the whole an air of rugged picturesqueness, that is quite pleasing when contrasted with the low lands lying in some of the adjacent territory. Elsewhere in the township the land falls in gentle slopes, and even becomes undulating. It is this variety of landscape that constitutes the chief charm of the scenery. There is much valuable timber yet standing. The soil is generally fertile, and from it satisfactory crops of cereals and fruits are grown.

The lands which afterward became known as Worth Township was origin- ally under the control of the North American Land Company. In order to secure an influx of settlers into the region, and thus to increase the value of their lands, the company offered 150 acres to every man who would make a per- manent settlement upon a 400-acre tract, the remaining territory to be im- proved for, and afterward sold by the company itself. This offer, much more liberal than any which had been previously made, was eagerly accepted.

Pioneers .- The first settlement effected in the township was that of the Hendersons. In the year 1796 five brothers, three of them named, respect- ively, William, Archibald and John, entered from the region lying near Pitts- burgh, and, in accordance with the offer spoken of above, made settlements upon tracts of 150 acres each. After effecting a few improvements, blazing a

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

few trees, and, in other ways securing their claims, they returned to their for- mer homes to pass the severe winter which was just setting in. In the follow- ing year, with their families, they started on their journey to their new homes in Mercer County. Their progress was slow, and beset with many difficulties. The goods which they brought along, consisting of their provisions and neces- sary articles of household use-all articles not absolutely indispensable being left behind-were stowed away on the back of an old gray mare, the dilapi- dated saddle of which was for a long time preserved in the family as a memento of the tour. Mrs. William Henderson sat astride the animal, and it is related that while fording Slippery Rock Creek the party suddenly got in water beyond their depth, and in the struggle which ensued the horse, with all its burdens, capsized. The water flowed very rapidly, and it was by the merest accident that Mrs. Henderson, who was a large, stout woman, was saved. In the confusion a large pot hooked her under the arm and held her head above water until she was rescued. At length, however, after numerous annoyances and perils, of which the one narrated is but a specimen, the new homes were reached. The brothers had not erected any cabins as yet, and the party was forced to be without shelter, sleeping at night under the trees, on beds made of leaves, until small dwellings could be improvised. William Henderson, probably the most prominent of the brothers, succeeded in getting the first roof over his family's heads. There was but one room in the shanty. In the course of a few weeks this was decorated with rough hewn seats, and a table made of a huge log, hewn flat on the upper surface. Around this the family congregated at meal time and enjoyed their repast, which was exceed- ingly frugal. Game abounded, and with his trusty rifle Mr. Henderson sup- plied the meat used at his table. He at once began cultivating the ground, and preparing it for seed. In this task he was assisted by his wife, who was much larger and more powerful than he. The implements with which they set out to conquer the wilderness, consisted of two hoes and a mat- tock. In the use of the latter instrument they took turns. Henderson working

with it until exhausted, and then giving place to his wife. When they came to fence in their cleared land she lifted the heavy end of the rails while he car- ried the opposite extreme. With them they had brought a cow and a dog. The former was almost indispensable to their existence, as it used often to supply food for the family when all other resources failed. The canine, which was a large and powerful one, was in the habit of accompanying its master upon all his expeditions into the forest in search of game. Upon one of these occasions it saw a large animal slowly moving along in the distance, and, without pausing to ascertain what kind of beast it was, the dog gave a bound and set upon it. The animal thus attacked proved to be an immense black bear, which no sooner beheld that its antagonist was a dog, than it immediately showed fight, and in a few moments had almost succeeded in killing it, when Henderson reached the scene, and with a large, keen knife which he carried, with a few dexterous strokes ended the struggle in favor of the dog, thus saving his faithful ani- mal's life. The other four brothers settled in the township at various places, one of them, John, locating a short distance north of the present site of the village of Hendersonville.

The year following the first entrance of the Henderson exploring expedition witnessed several important arrivals. Probably the first of these accessions to the population of the county was made by the coming of Burroughs Westlake in the spring of 1797. He was originally a resident of Westmoreland County, and came with the idea of bettering his condition in life by securing a home in the Northwest, which was then, in the expressive language of to-day, being vig-

Doved . C. Andersen

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

orously "boomed." He and his family settled near the present village of Millbrook. The old homestead is still in the possession of his descendants. Near him located the family of John Grace in the same year. The members of this family afterward achieved quite a prominence in local political circles, as will be attested by the early court records, in which the name of Grace, connected with some kind of official business, is very frequently seen.

On the east of Millbrook, settled in the same year William Carroll, claimed to be a distant relative of Charles Carroll, whose name, appended to which, in a bold hand, is the phrase "of Carrollton," stands forth as one of the signatures attached to the Declaration of Independence. Carroll was an Irishman by birth and a Catholic, and on removing to America became as strongly patriotic over his new as he had been over his former fatherland. He enlisted and served as a soldier in the Revolution. He married a Miss Wakefield, by whom he reared five children, one of whom, David, is said to have established the first iron foundry and machine shop in Worth Township, if not in the county. The parents died in the township. A third new-comer was Daniel Wolverton, whose entrance, likewise, dates back to 1797. He was according to all accounts a "mighty hunter," and, like a veritable Nimrod, he searched the forest in quest of game.

In the following year Peter Wilson, who had entered what is now Jackson Township from Allegheny County in 1797, removed with his family to Worth, locating on the farm afterward occupied by his son James. In 1799 a daughter was born to Peter, and this is said to have been the first birth in the township among the white residents.

Among the pioneer settlers of the township were William Waddle and his sister, Mrs. Sarah (Waddle) McDowell. They came from Franklin County, Penn., about 1798. He located 100 acres and she the adjoining tract of 100 acres, lying south of what is known as the St. Paul School- house. William Waddle was married to Catherine Stephenson, aunt of the late William M. Stephenson, Esq., of Mercer. They had two sons and five daughters, one of whom, Hannah Stull, is still living, over eighty years of age. William Waddle was in the War of 1812, and died at Erie of camp fever. His sons left no children to perpetuate the name.

Mrs. Sarah McDowell came to the county, as already intimated, with her brother. She had two twin boys about three years of age. Isaiah, one of them, married Elizabeth Davidson in 1820, and reared a family of twelve chil- dren, nine of whom are still living. He died in 1882, but his widow is still liv- ing at Millbrook, aged eighty-seven, with her faculties unimpaired. The names of Isaiah and Elizabeth McDowell's children are: William D., of Bradford, Penn. ; John J., living in Worth Township; David, deceased; Isaiah, living in Venango County; Samuel, deceased; Mrs. Jane D. McElrath, living at Lakeville, Minn .; Mrs. Julia A. Eakin, of Millbrook; Mrs. Louisa Albin, of Centretown; Cyrus, living in Gordon, Neb .; Mrs. Sarah E. Boyles, of New Castle, and Milton R., deceased.

The year 1800 witnessed the arrival of William Perrine and family, wlio settled at what afterward became known as Perrine's Corners. They were originally from "Jersey," and the sons of William, of whom there were seven, subsequently became quite prominent in local affairs, Daniel being a soldier in the War of 1812, Job becoming a respected citizen of Sandy Lake Town- ship and the others occupying at different times various posts of responsibility and honor.

One of the most distinguished families ever in the township was the Car- michael family. The first members of this to enter were John and Duncan Carmichael, who arrived in 1802 from Allegheny County. Each secured land

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and began clearings. After eight years' experience Duncan concluded to go further west, so in 1810 he sold out to William Henderson and removed with his family to the State of Indiana. John, however, remained on the old home- stead, where his descendants yet reside. The family is of Scotch origin, and the first to immigrate to America was John Carmichael, Sr., a soldier in the British army, who served with Wolfe in his gallant assault upon Quebec. He became deaf from the tremendous din of that engagement. The present Car- michaels, like their ancestors in times past, take a deep interest in the, welfare of the township and county in which they live, and are active in assisting all worthy movements which have a tendency to promote this.

There are many others who may fairly lay claim to mention in the list of Worth Township's pioneers. Among them are William Graham, the Pennys, John, William and David; William Jack, Samuel Osborne and Jonathan Cochran. Space forbids more extended notice. Their efforts are borne abundant testimony to by the many evidences of material and intellectual prosperity among the inhabitants of the territory they labored so hard to cul- tivate, which follow as the legitimate and logical results of their noble, and, in nearly every instance self-sacrificing, endeavors. Too much praise can scarcely be accorded them. And if, as is often, too often, indeed, the case, this was not given them while living, let it not for that reason be denied now that they are dead.

Villages .- There are three villages within the present limits of the town- ship. The first of these, Hendersonville, located in the extreme northeastern corner, was laid out in 1834 by Robert Henderson, from whom it takes its name, and by whom the first house had been erected as early as 1828. Robert afterward became the first postmaster. A tannery was built in 1829 by Jonathan Henderson, who remained its proprietor until 1855, conducting a shoe-shop in connection therewith, at which time he sold to Frank Adamson. The last owner was James Bowlender, under whose control it languished and died. School had been opened as early as 1812, the children of the neighbor- hood assembling in a small log hut at that time to receive such primitive in- struction and educational training as the times afforded.

A short distance southwest is Perrine's Corners, in which the first dwel- ling was erected by John Forrest, in 1838. The list of postmasters, given elsewhere, will show the different officials who have distributed mail in the township.

Millbrook, the third village, is situated in the southern part of the town- ship, on land formerly belonging to Joshua and Nathaniel Coleman. At the time the place was surveyed by Benjamin Stokely, the proprietors were Wes- ley, William and John Hogue. The only mills of any historic interest in the region are situated here. The first was a saw-mill, erected at a very early day by Nathaniel Coleman. This subsequently came into the possession of Daniel Waldron, who enlarged and improved it in 1846, and afterward conducted it with much success. More important even than the Coleman saw-mill, which supplied a want long felt by the early residents, was the grist-mill erected in 1815 by Peter Wilson. This was, according to all accounts, a very small con- cern, and the method of operating it was very unsatisfactory. But its suc- cessor, built by John Wilson, did much better, while the successor to this, built by Calvin Matthews, was superior to any near, and did a good business from the outset. There was at one time a carding-mill, operated by the Hogues, and a potash factory, run by Hogue, Dunn & Co. The latter subse- quently passed into the possession of Carnahan & Hill. The first hotel was conducted by J. F. Cochran, while the first rural emporium of trade was es- tablished about fifty-three years ago by Calvin Matthews.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Churches .-- The Methodist Church near Millbrook is said to have been the oldest church in the township, the edifice, a rude log one, being built in 1816. The organization of the society, as the wont in those primitive days, occurred at the house of William Carroll. His residence answered as a place for meet- ings until the church structure was ready for occupancy. Rev. Asa Shinn, one of the pioneer preachers of the county, is said to have organized this congre- gation during the presiding eldership of Rev. Jacob Gruber. The preaching for this congregation was done by the pastors in charge of the circuit to which it belonged.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Hendersonville was begun about 1833, when meetings were held first by Rev. John P. Kent. Preaching first occurred at the house of Robert Henderson, and after several years they were taken to the school-house. In 1840 the society erected their present church edifice. The following is the list of pastors as found upon the proper records: R. Par- ker, D. W. Vorce, 1839; H. Luce, 1840-41; A. G. Miller, 1841; J. M. Plant, A. G. Miller, 1842; M. H. Bettes, J. Van Horn, 1843; W. Monks, G. F. Reeser, 1844; W. Monks, D. Pritchard, 1845; H. S. Winans, J. R. Lyon, 1846; H. S. Winans, H. M. Chamberlain, 1847; J. Abbott, T. G. McCreary, 1848; J. Abbott, P. Burroughs, 1849; P. Burroughs, D. M. Stever, 1850; E. Hull, J. G. Thompson, 1851; A. Keller, P. W. Sherwood, 1852; A. Keller, J. H. Vance, 1853; J. H. Vance, S. S. Stuntz, 1854; T. G. McCreary, A. L. Miller, 1855; J. McComb, A. L. Miller, 1856; J. W. Weldon, S. Hubbard, 1857; W. R. Johnson, 1858; R. B. Boyd, J. McComb, 1859; R. B. Boyd, E. Bennett, 1860; R. Beatty, E. Bennett, 1861; R. Beatty, S. K. Paden, 1862; J. Abbott, B. F. Wade, 1863; J. Abbott, J. Howe, 1864; C. Wilson, 1865-66; T. Graham, 1867-69; J. M. Edwards, 1870; I. Scofield, 1871; H. C. Smith, 1872-74; J. M. Foster, 1875-77; J. A. Ward, 1878; F. Fair, 1879.

The Millbrook Wesleyan Methodist Church. As early as 1838 a sentiment existed in Milbrook and vicinity in opposition to American slavery. The per- sons who were thus opposed to it believed with Wesley that "slavery was the sum of all villainies," and laid the sin of its existence and continuance at the doors of the political parties and churches of the United States. Animated by this spirit, and appealing to the considerate judgment of their brethren and to God for the rectitude of their intentions, they withdrew from the commun- ion of the Methodist Episcopal Church and organized the Wesleyan Metho- dist Church of Millbrook. The organization was effected by Rev. Edward Smith, in September, 1843, soon after the Utica Convention, and was partici- pated in by the following original members : Wesley Hogue, John F. Hogue, Freeman Dunn, Solomon Davis, Tobias Kimmel, David Reagle, Samuel Curt, Daniel Gildersleeve, George Westlake, Daniel Axtell, Nathaniel Coleman, Bennet Perrine, William Irwin, Thomas Lamb, Elizabeth Lamb, Rebecca Kimmel, Fanny Westlake and Mileah Lamb. A frame building was erected in 1848 for the use of the congregation, costing $1,000. Following is the succession of pastors : Revs. Joel Parker, George Jacquis, Thomas Lamb, Thomas Savage, J. A. Preston, Andrew Donaldson, J. F. Selby, William Koon, James Langdon, Daniel T. Beckwith, George Savage, Thomas Foster, A. D. Carter, Benjamin Loughead, O. M. Sackett, James S. Albertson, D. S. Kinney, C. F. Hawley, H. S. Childs, J. E. Carroll, A. T. Wolff, S. H. Foster, and J. B. Knappenberger. The first officers were : Class leader, George Westlake ; stewards, Wesley Hogue and Freeman Dunn ; trustees, David Carroll, Jesse Gray and Aquilla Grace. The present officers are : Class leader, S. E. Westlake ; stewards, W. T. Q. Gildersleeve and William Smith ; trustees, D. G. Bagnell, S. E. Westlake and J. C. Perrine. The membership is sixty. Connected with the congregation is a Sunday-school,

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the officers of which are : Superintendent, W. H. Howe ; assistant, J. C. Perrine ; secretary, Miss Lulu Perrine ; librarian, Miss Mary E. Westlake, and treasurer, Miss M. A. Gillann.

Zion Wesleyan Methodist Church was organized on the north line of the township in 1845, with some thirty members, who withdrew from the Method- ist Episcopal Church on account of differences of sentiment on the question of human slavery. Rev. John Moore is said to have been the first pastor. For a number of years prior to the erection of the present frame structure, which was the first, the services were conducted in a school-house. Francis Mears, of Sandy Lake Township, was instrumental in raising funds for the church edifice, as he was subsequently useful in completing the same as a member of the building committee.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 80

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