USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > History of Warren County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 42
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On the 8th of June, 1833, council by an unanimous vote directed that the mills of Hawley & Parker-carding-machine works-fronting on the borough, be assessed. On the 6th of July following it was " Resolved that the Eques- trian Company of Mills & Harrison shall receive a license to exhibit and per- form for two evenings within the Borough of Warren, upon paying to the Treasurer Six Dollars. License to issue in like manner as licenses are issued in pursuance of the Ordinance framed 28th May, 1832, any thing in said ordin- ance of 28th May, 1832, to the contrary notwithstanding." The members of this council (1833), after making settlements May 3, 1834, for the year pre- ceding, unanimously resolved that they would make no charge against the borough for services rendered " as councillors."
On the 3d of April, 1843, council " Resolved that the Borough of Warren hereby appropriate Two Hundred Dollars for the purpose of Building a Bridge over the Conewango Creek, at the old location, at the foot of Second street, provided a sufficient amount can be raised to build said Bridge at the foot of said street, said amount to be paid to the Contractor as the work pro- gresses." On the 28th of March, 1844, it was enacted " that from and after the first day of May next, it shall not be lawful for any hog or swine of any age to run at large within the limits of the Borough of Warren." To that time it is to be presumed, free and unrestrained, they had rooted and wallowed to their hearts' content.
Fire Department .- For many years Warren, in its ability and state of prep- aration to fight fire, was in about the same condition as other country towns at an early day-i. c., it had a small hand engine and a few feet of hosc, the whole, usually, being out of repair when a fire occurred. We have ascertained that the borough possessed an engine of the class described in 1848; but there was no organized company to man it. This engine, with apparatus, etc., cost $1,000. During the year 1853 "Vulcan Fire Company No. 1" was organ- ized, of which David Law was mentioned as foreman, and Rufus P. King, Richard S. Orr, M. W. Hull, L. Rogers, Julius B. Hall, G. W. King, C. A. Horton, and M. D. Waters as among the original members. The German residents organized " Rescue Fire Company No. I" in August, 1859, and an
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engine house was projected during the same year. This company was incor- porated by an order of court March 6, 1861, and they continued to render efficient service until 1869, when, becoming dissatisfied because the citizens seemed disinclined to render assistance either at fires or at any other time, they disbanded. The sum of $258, remaining in their treasury, was donated to the German Lutheran Church to aid in the purchase of a bell. Then followed the organization of " Allegheny Fire Company No. I," and the "Conewango Hose Company," about the Ist of January, 1870.
The steam fire engine "R. P. King" was received at Warren in December, 1873, and the severe trial tests imposed proved to be eminently satisfactory. To the department has since been added the serviceable yet elegant apparatus manned by " Niagara Hose, No. I," "Watson Hose, No. 2," "Struthers's Inde- pendent Hose, No. 1," and "Exchange Hook and Ladder, No. I." The mem- bers of the department are handsomely uniformed. Commodious quarters for the storage of apparatus, etc., are afforded by the borough building, known as the Town Hall.
It is a fact worthy of remark, perhaps, that of all the conflagrations which have heretofore raged in the business part of the town, the flames almost with- out exception have spent their force upon old buildings, those that could best be spared; and in their places have arisen spacious brick structures, with modern improvements.
Warren Academy, and Public Schools. - The famous old academy building, so often referred to in the local annals of Warren, was built during the years 1834-36. It was of brick, and stood upon the southeast corner of High and Market streets - beautiful, spacious grounds, since divided into three large lots, sold to individuals, and now occupied by private residences. The history of the institution briefly told is as follows :
By an act of the General Assembly, approved April 11, 1799, the governor was authorized to direct the surveyor-general " to make actual survey of the reserved tract of land adjoining the town of Warren, which has not been laid out in town or out lots," etc., and providing, further, " that five hundred acres of the same be laid off for the use of such schools and academies as may here- after be established by law in said town." Under this act Alexander Mc- Dowell, of Franklin, then deputy surveyor-general, surveyed and marked the boundaries of the academy lands (lying west of the town and bounded on one side by the river), in the summer of 1799. By a legislative enactment, passed in 1822, Joseph Hackney, Lothrop S. Parmlee, and Abner Hazeltine were named as trustees, who, with their successors in office, to be elected, were to assume control of the lands and the academy when built. In 1829 an act was passed authorizing the trustees to lease " said 500 acres " (541 acres by correct measurement) for a period not to exceed ninety years. Thereupon, during the following two or three years, the tract was leased in lots of one hundred acres
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each for ninety years, at an annual rental of not much over $100 for the whole. By an act of the State Legislature, passed February 15, 1832, the sum of $2,000 was appropriated to erect an academy building at Warren. This was followed by another act, approved April 8, 1833, which authorized the trustees to erect the building on grounds reserved at the laying out of the town for public build- ings, and directed that the sum of $2,000 already appropriated be used in the construction. This sum was increased to a considerable extent by individual subscriptions before the structure was completed.
Hon. Rasselas Brown, the first principal of the academy, commenced teach- ing in the court-house in February, 1836, the academy not yet being ready for occupancy, and continued there until June of the same year, when a transfer was made to the academy, and its doors were opened for the admission of pu- pils for the first time. Judge Brown, then a very young man, continued to preside over the academy until 1838, when he retired to engage in the practice of law, and was succeeded by W. A. McLean. The latter's successors were John Dixon, Cyrus Brown, L. A. Rogers, Charles B. Curtis and a number of others. Meanwhile the new Union School building of the borough having been completed and provided with a corps of very competent teachers, the now old academy fell into disfavor. Free tuition in a fresh, new building, as compared with $3.00 per term for the higher branches, and $2.50 per term for common studies in a somewhat dilapidated structure, left it almost without patronage ; hence its doors were finally closed about the year 1857. It was condemned by the grand jury in 1864. An act of Assembly, passed March 22, 1865, author- ized the burgess and town council to sell and convey to the highest bidder at public sale the lands on which the academy stood, the proceeds of sale to go into the borough treasury. Accordingly the square was divided into three lots and sold separately August 17, 1865, the sum realized being $5,785. The building was purchased by Hon. William D. Brown for $300.
Of the early history of the common, district, or public schools of Warren but little can be said in the entire absence of data, either traditional or authentic. We have in another place made mention of the fact that the father of the late Hon. Reuben E. Fenton, of New York, taught a school in Warren, in the win- ter of 1805-06. Thereafter no other reference or intimation regarding the schools or school-houses of the town is made until 1820, when the county com- missioners agreed to assist the school committee to " finish building the school- house," to the end that courts might be held in the same until a court-house could be built. This little school-house stood on the site of the first and of the present court-house. It is probable that when the first court-house was com- menced, in 1826, the school-house was removed to some resting-place not far away, and its use continued for educational purposes, until the building of the academy. The latter then became the school-house of the town, for those who were able to pay for the instruction of their children.
Q. C. allen
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The old part of the present Union School building was built in 1854-56. Stephen Carver was the contractor for the stone and brick work, and J. L. Kappel for the wood work. The first teachers to preside within its walls were Charles Twining, of Lancaster, Pa., principal; assisted by Miss M. C. Shat- tuck, of Groton, Mass., Miss S. E. A. Stebbins, of Clinton, N. Y., Miss Kate Miller, of Sugar Grove, Pa., and Miss S. O. Randall, of Warren, Pa. Hon. S. P. Johnson stood at the head and front in the movement which led to the erection of the building and the securing of the first very excellent corps of teachers. The first building cost $7,500, and was completed in December, 1856. The new structure, which adjoins the one above described, was built in 1871 at a cost of $23,000. Together they afford room and educational facilities for a large number of bright-faced pupils. Prof. A. B. Miller, a vet- eran instructor, has been in charge some twelve or fifteen years. His assist- ants during the present year are Miss Kate C. Darling, Miss Arline Arnett, Miss Carrie W. Coats, Miss Nannie C. Locke, Miss Libbie M. King, Miss Mary O. King, Miss Jennie Thomas, Miss Ellen Glenn, Miss Berta Thomas, Miss Mary O'Hern, Miss Mary Kopf, Mrs. Blanche Hawkins. At the West End school, also under the supervision of Mr. Miller, the assistant teachers are Miss Bessie Richards, Miss Mary Conrath, and Miss Laura Snyder.
BANKS .- The Lumbermen's Bank of Warren, the first banking institution established in Warren county, was incorporated by an act of the State Legis- lature approved February 28, 1834. Robert Falconer, Josiah Hall, Robert Russell, Guy C. Irvine, Archibald Tanner, and Robert Miles, all of Warren county, were named as commissioners to execute the many provisions of the act. With Robert Falconer as president, and Fitch Shepard cashier, the bank began business during the same year (1834), with a paid-up capital stock of $100,000, divided into shares of $50 each. Subsequently the directors were authorized by a legislative act to increase the capital stock to $200,000. Its notes were widely circulated, and it transacted a large (and as it was supposed very successful) business until 1838, when the financial panic, which swept the whole country at that time, caused its sudden collapse and failure. Much of Mr. Falconer's private fortune went to swell the aggregate of losses; besides being unjustly censured because of the failure, his proud, honorable, and sensitive nature met with such a shock that it gradually destroyed his mind and hastened his death.
The Warren County Bank was chartered by an act of the State Legislature passed during the winter of 1852-53. The officers then mentioned were J. Y. James, president ; Orrin. Hook, Rufus P. King, Thomas Clemons, John N. Miles, Myron Waters, and Lewis Arnett, directors. Soon afterwards an installment of $5 on each share of the capital stock of $100,000 was paid in. During the following winter another legislative act was passed providing that the institu- tion should be a bank of issue as well as deposit. All preparations having
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been completed, the bank opened its doors for the transaction of business dur- ing the last days of November, 1854, with J. Y. James, of Warren, officiating as president, and Herman Leonard, of the city of New York, as cashier. Said the editor of the Mail under date of November 24, 1854: "To-day (Friday) our bank is in the flood tide of operation. Certainly there never was more need of a Bank here, or a more favorable time for one to commence operations, and we hope it may have a long career of usefulness and pros- perity." In 1855 a building for the accommodation of the bank was erected. Under date of July 30, 1859, we find the following mention of this bank in the columns of the Mail: " At the last term of court the Warren County Bank was changed to the North Western Bank, and under that name it re-opened last Monday. The bills of the old bank are redeemed when presented." From this statement it appears that business under the old title had been suspended for a time. In March, 1860, the officers of the bank were Rasselas Brown, president ; John F. Davis, Rasselas Brown, F. Hook, J. Y. James, Carter V. Kinnear, Lewis Arnett, Rufus P. King, Carlton B. Curtis, Andrew Hertzel, Joseph Hall, George V. N. Yates, Hosea Harmon, and Lewis F. Watson directors. In December of the same year it was published as a noteworthy fact that all the banks in Western Pennsylvania had suspended, with the exception of the old Bank of Pittsburgh and the North Western Bank of War- ren. The further existence of the latter, however, was destined to be but brief in duration ; for during the latter part of May, 1862, the North Western Bank closed its doors. A day or two later they were reopened and an effort was made to redeem home circulation, but after two days this plan was abandoned. The affairs of the bank were always fairly and honorably conducted in Warren. The trouble originated in New York city, where its finances were really con- trolled, and where they put into circulation more of the bank's issue than could be taken care of at home.
Private Bankers .- In 1855 Augustus N. Lowry, of Jamestown, N. Y., established a private banking office in Warren. In December of the same year Chapin Hall, of Warren, also opened a similar establishment in Johnson's building, under the title of "C. Hall's Bank." After the failure of the North Western Bank Messrs. Beecher & Coleman opened a banking house in their hardware store opposite the Carver House, and continued it until the organiza- tion of the First National Bank, when their banking business, which had proved very satisfactory to the people, was transferred to the new institution.
The First National Bank of Warren was organized at a meeting of stock- holders held at the Carver House on Saturday, August 6, 1864. At this meeting the following named gentlemen were elected to serve as directors : Chapin Hall, Thomas Struthers, Carlton B. Curtis, William D. Brown, Lewis F. Watson, Rasselas Brown, James H. Eddy, S. J. Page, and M. F. Abel. Subsequently, during the same day, this board of directors elected Chapin Hall
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president, and M. Beecher, jr., cashier. The capital stock of the association was fixed at $100,000, in shares of $100 each. During the two months which immediately followed the date of organization, Messrs. Hall and Beecher were actively engaged in collecting subscriptions to the capital stock, investing the funds thus obtained in United States bonds, and attending to the many and varied details preparatory to opening for business. This event took place on Monday, October 10, 1864, in the middle room of Johnson's Exchange block, Second street, George W. Tew, of Jamestown, N. Y., officiating as teller. The net profits for the first year amounted to $27,022.08, and the total busi- ness aggregated $17,655,749.62, being much larger than any year since, owing to the enormous sale of government bonds on which were allowed a large pre- mium, and the immense purchase and sale of exchange during the great oil excitement of 1864-65. Until 1872 the annual sale of drafts averaged over $1,500,000, and the paper discounted per annum amounted to $1,000,000.
In April, 1871, the lot upon which stood the old building of hewn timbers, known as early as 1815 as Dunn's Tavern, was purchased from John F. Davis and S. Burgess. The old structure (then the oldest building in the borough) was speedily removed, the work of erecting a new bank building commenced, and in October, 1872, the handsome edifice now owned by the association was completed at a cost, including grounds, of $16,000.
Of the officers who have been connected with this bank, Mr. Beecher has served as cashier from the very beginning of its existence down to the present time. Chapin Hall, its first president, continued in office until January 2, 1866, when, having sold his stock, he resigned, and was succeeded by L. D. Wet- more, esq. The latter continued until July 22, 1871, when he resigned, deem- ing himself ineligible by reason of holding the office of president judge of this judicial district. Boon Mead was then elected to fill the vacancy and con- tinued as president until his death, which occurred August 19, 1880. His successor, James H. Eddy, was elected September 6, 1880, and held the posi- tion until July 4, 1885, when he resigned. Thereupon Hon. L. D. Wetmore was again elected president and has continued to discharge the duties of that office to the present writing. Other officers of the bank (1886) are as fol- lows : George H. Ames, vice president ; M. Beecher, cashier ; F. K. Russell, teller ; L. D. Wetmore, J. H. Eddy, R. Brown, G. H. Ames, M. Beecher, A. T. Scofield, and Mrs. Medora I. Mead, directors.
The Warren Savings Bank was chartered by an act of the State Legis- lature early in 1870. Those named as corporators were Lewis F. Watson, R. Brown, O. C. Allen, W. F. Dalrymple, Patrick Falconer, David Beatty, P. J. Trushel, J. J. Taylor, B. Nesmith, S. J. Page, O. H. Hunter, J. R. Clark, M. Waters, W. W. Wilbur, Richard E. Brown, A. D. Wood, J. H. Nichols, L. B. Hoffman, W. H. Shortt, John A. Jackson, and James Kinnear. On the 12th of March, 1870, an organization was effected by the election of Lewis F. Wat-
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son, O. H. Hunter, B. Nesmith, P. Falconer, O. C. Allen, P. J. Trushel, and W. H. Shortt, to serve as directors. Subsequently Lewis F. Watson was chosen president of the association, and he has continued to discharge the duties of that office to the present time. Business was commenced in the Watson & Davis block in April following, George E. Barger officiating as cashier. The latter served until February, 1872, when he resigned and was succeeded by A. J. Hazeltine, the present efficient incumbent of the office. The bank building now occupied was completed in 1876, at a cost of $10,500.
The officers serving in 1886 are as follows: Lewis F. Watson, president ; Benjamin Nesmith, vice-president ; A. J. Hazeltine, cashier; George B. Ens- worth, teller ; Lewis F. Watson, Benjamin Nesmith, James Clark, M. B. Dun- ham, O. H. Hunter, A. J. Hazeltine, and L. R. Freeman, directors.
The Citizens' Saving Bank was organized March 8, 1870. Among its stockholders were S. P. Johnson, L. L. Lowry, Boon Mead, Orris Hall, J. A. Neill, E. B. Eldred, J. H. Mitchell, R. Brown, L. B. Hoffman, J. R. Clark, R. K. Russell, David McKelvy, G. H. Ames, L. D. Wetmore, F. A. Randall, and William D. Brown. Of the stockholders named Messrs. Johnson, Lowry, Hall, Neill, Clark, McKelvy, and Eldred were chosen directors. L. L. Lowry was elected president and H. R. Crowell cashier. This association was not chartered. Its place of business was one door west of the Carver House; capital $25,000; stockholders individually liable. About the first of May, 1875, a reorganization took place and the title of the institution was changed to the Citizens' National Bank. Its business is transacted in the corner of the building known as the Carver House.
Manufacturing Interests. - Although Warren has never been noted as a manufacturing center of unusual importance - indeed, in this respect hardly up to the average of towns peopled chiefly, as this was, by New Englanders, New Yorkers, and their descendants - yet it has always had its quota of artisans skilled in their respective crafts. Among its first residents were blacksmiths, shoemakers, tailors, carpenters, stone-masons, millwrights (those who could build, repair, and operate water-power grist-mills, saw-mills, etc.), wheelwrights, or those who made and repaired spinning-wheels, cabinet-makers, etc.
In 1829 the only mills within the limits of the town proper were two saw- mills and a grist-mill. One of these saw-mills had been built and operated by James Stewart for ten years or more prior to the date mentioned. The other saw-mill and the grist-mill were more recent acquisitions, having been built about the year 1828. Then followed a small tannery, and in 1833 the wool- carding and fulling-mills of Hawley & Parker were noted as in operation.
In the summer of 1851 the old structure known as Stewart's Mills was remodeled by W. F. Kingsbury, for use as a foundry and machine shop. His facilities as well as his manufactured products at first were limited, the latter being mainly mill-irons, plow-points, and repairing. His iron was brought up
B, NEsmith
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the river on flat-boats, and the coal used was hauled from Dunkirk. Subse- quently he began the manufacture of stoves. Still later Henry W. Brown became associated with him in the business, under the firm name of Kingsbury & Brown. In the fall of 1856 this firm completed a foundry, etc., at the lower part of the town, at a cost of $6,000. Not long after the completion of this building Mr. Kingsbury retired, when Mr. Brown formed a partnership with his brothers John and Thomas, and the business was continued under the title of Brown Bros. During the year 1864 John and Thomas Brown retired from the firm, when another brother, Joseph, became associated with Henry W., thus still keeping intact the firm name of Brown Bros. In 1865 the firm em- ployed sixty men, and their manufactures consisted of steam engines, circular saw-mill and shingle-mill machinery, stoves, plows, castings to order, oil pipe and oil tools.
During the fall of 1868 the successors of Brown Bros. - Brown, Arnett & Co., or, in other words, Henry W. Brown, L. W. Arnett, and Thomas Struth- ers - completed the quite extensive brick buildings known at that time as the " Allegheny Iron Works." The facilities were greatly increased thereby, and a still larger number of men were furnished employment. A few minor changes occurred during the next seven years, and in 1875 the works passed to the control of the firm since and now owning them - Struthers, Wells & Co.
The " Struthers Iron Works," under this management, have gained a wide reputation for the excellence of their products, and their machinery for oil wells, saw-mills, and tanneries reaches all sections of the United States, and also finds its way into Cuba, Europe, Mexico, and South America. Their specialty, however, is oil and gas-well machinery, and the large share of orders assigned to this department has frequently forced the management to run overtime. They build engines with cylinders from five by ten to thirty by thirty-six inches, ranging in horse-power from six to three hundred and fifty, and make boilers of any size required. The works are one square in extent, and the principal buildings, which are constructed of brick, range from one to three stories in height. They are conveniently located for the reception and ship- ment of freight - near the junction of the Philadelphia & Erie, Buffalo, New York & Philadelphia, and the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley & Pittsburgh Rail- roads - and natural gas is utilized as fuel. Individually speaking, Thomas Struthers, J. C. Wells, A. H. McKelvy, and J. P. Jefferson are the men who control these works.
In September, 1856, the sash and door manufactory of B. P. Bell & Co., on the " Island," was destroyed by fire. It had just been completed, and the losses sustained amounted to about $10,000.
In July, 1864, the editor of the Mail, in an article on home matters, said : "The grist-mill and old saw-mill, owned for several years by Arnett & Orr, between the town and island, have been torn away. A new grist-mill is being
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erected on the site of the old one, and a new saw-mill and factory will be erected where the old saw-mill was built so long ago as 1828. Arnett then (in 1828) came to Warren from Alsace, France, and worked on the mill-dam as a day laborer. . Now he superintends the erection of two mills and a factory on the same ground as principal proprietor, besides running one end of the Warren County Court." The new mills, and the sash, door and blind manufac- tory were completed in the summer of 1865, at a cost of $25,000. James Clark, of Warren, superintended the building of the saw-mill and " factory." A few weeks after their completion - in September, 1865 - these mills were sold by Arnett & Orr (Mrs. Jane Orr) to Boon Mead & McDaniels, for about $50,000. The saw-mills, etc., are now owned and extensively operated by the Mr. Clark above mentioned, who for many years has been known as one of Warren's most active and respected citizens.
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