History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 127

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 127

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).

1873. D. M. Donahoo.

1817-19. John Barrington.

1874. L. M. Marsh.

1820-35, John Gregg.

1875. A. M. Todd.

1836-56. George Kuntz.

1876. J. W. McDowell.

1857-62. George Baird.

1877. George O. Jones.

1863-65. George Kuntz,

1878. James Mitchell.

1866. David Aiken.

1879. James Kuntz, Jr.

1867 John C. Hastings.

1880. Clark Riggle.

1868. John Aiken.

1881. Finley B. Hallam.

SOLICITORS.

1864-65. George S. Hart.

1874-75. John Aiken.

1866-67. D. S. Wilson.

1876. J. R. Braddock.

1868. H. J. Van Kirk.

1877-78.

1869. D. F. Patterson.

1879. John W. Donnan.

1870-71. Braden and Miller.“

1880. C. M. Ruple.

1872. George S. Hart. 1873. J. L. Judson.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.2

John Hoge, Nov. 21, 1786. Thomas Scott, Nov. 21, 1786. Thomas Stokeley. Sept. 3, 1787. Absalom Baird, March 3, 1789. Gabriel Blakeney, Feb. 26, 1793. William Meetkirke, Feb. 26, 1793. Samuel Shannon, May 26, 1795. John Wilson, Feb. 9, 1799. Absalom Baird, May 2, 1799. William McKennan, Jan. 2, 1804. Alexander Lyttle, April 6, 1805. John Colmery, April 1, 1811. James Orr, Feb. 8, 1812. David Little, Dec. 11, 1813. James Blaine, Jan. 1, 1817. Joshua Monroe, March 12, 1819. Richard Johnston, March 22, 1819. | John Grayson, Jr., April 14, 1868. Daniel Palmer, May 7, 1819. William Hornish, April 14, 1868. - D. M. Donahoo, April 15, 1873. Clark Riggle, Jan. 21, 1874. Matthew McNary, Dec. 4, 1820. David Quail, Jan. 31, 1822. John Marshall, May 20, 1822. Thomas Morgan, Dec. 3, 1823. Matthew Linn, Dec. 20, 1825.

Thomas Smith, Jan. 23, 1826. James McDowell, May 19, 1830. Dickerson Roberts, May 8, 1833. Archibald Kerr, Nov. 14, 1835. George W. Brice, April 14, 1840. James Blaine, April 14, 18+0. George W. Brice, April 15, 1845. James Blaine, April 15, 1845. George Baird, April 11, 1848. George W. Brice, April 9, 1850. J. Lawrence Judson, April 13, 1853. George W. Brice, April 10, 1853. J. L. Judsou, April 13, 1858. William Hughes, April 13, 1858. John Grayson, Jr , April 14, 1863. J. L. Judson, April 14, 1863.

D. M. Donahoo, Jan. 26, 1874; March 25, 1878. Henry Kantz, March 25, 1878.

1 Resigned April 18th, Thaddeus Stanton appointed to fill vacancy.

2 Washington township was an independent district from its erection in 1786 to 1803, when it was joined with Strabane as District No. 1, and 80 remained till 1838, when it again became a separate district.

Market-House .- In the spring of 1795 it was re- solved by the citizens of the town of Washington in meeting assembled that a market-house was needed, and Alexander Addison and Dr. Absalom Baird were appointed to procure subscriptions for that purpose and make arrangements for its erection. The com- missioners' records for that year show no account of a plat of ground granted to the borough, and yet tra- dition and later records indicate that the market-house of this date was erected on the northeast corner of the public square. It was nearly finished in August of that year, as the following notice, published in the Western Telegraphe of Aug. 24, 1795, will show :

" WASHINGTON, 5th August, 1795.

" A Market-House being finished in the town of Washington, the in- habitants of the town and its neighborhood were by public notice re- quested to meet at the Market-House on Wednesday, the 5th of August, at half-past six o'clock in the afternoon, to consult on what days it would be proper to hold a market for the sale of provisions in this Market- House.

" A very full meeting accordingly took place this evening, and it was agreed that the following notification should be published in the news- papers: The inhabitants of this town and of its neighborhood have hitherto suffered many inconveniences; the people of the town from the inconstancy and uncertainty of supply of provisions; the people of the country from being obliged to hawk their articles from door to door with- out the certainty of a demand or sale. Both these inconveniences may now be remedied, if the people of the country will bring in their different articles of provision at fixed periods, and sell them at the Market-House; and if the people of the town will buy only there at those periods. As the propriety of this is manifest, it is expected that both parties will contribute to carry it into effect. It is therefore pro- posed that hereafter there shall be two Market Days here each week, Wednesday and Saturday, and that provisions be brought to the Market- House as early as possible on the morning of those days and continued till sold or till ten o'clock forenoon.

" It was also agreed by all present that none of them would, after the first publication of this notice, buy any provisions in this town on the mornings of those Market days in any place but in the market until after ten o'clock forenoon.

"N. B. Those who have not paid their subscription for building the Market-House are desired to pay them immediately to Alexander Addi- son or Absalom Baird; otherwise the subscription will be put into the hands of a Justice of the Peace to collect."

On the 1st of September, 1795, the opening of the market-house was advertised as follows in the Tele- graphe : " A market for produce or provisions will be opened at the Market House in the town of Wash- ington, on every Wednesday or Saturday from early dawn till ten o'clock in the forenoon; and by agree- ment no produce or provisions of any kind shall be purchased in the town within the above periods, except at the market hours only."

Upon the incorporation of the borough in 1810 the Council passed additional laws regulating the markets. The growth of the town soon demanded larger accom- modations, and on the 20th of February, 1812, a town- meeting was called at the court-house " to take into consideration the subject of changing the site of the market house," and on the 24th of February " A Citi- zen" makes the following inquiry in the Reporter : "By what authority do the Commissions of this County enter into any agreement for the absolute and permanent disposition of the public ground ; By whom was that public square granted? To whom?

1881. H. J. Van Kirk.

1869. L. R. W. Little.

500

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and for what purpose? . . . The public square whereon the court house and gaol are erected was granted by David Hoge, the original proprietor of the town of Washington, to James Edgar, &c. .. . in trust for the citizens of Washington County for the purpose of erecting a court House and Gaol thereon." The subject was brought to the notice of the Council in November, 1813, and the Council authorized the burgess to call a meeting of the citizens on the 8th of November, which was done and its proceedings pub- lished in the Reporter, bearing date Nov. 8, 1813, as follows :

" NOTICE. .

" At a meeting of the Burgesses and Council of the borough of Wash- ington, on Saturday, the 6th instant, Resolved, That it is expedient for the chief burgess to give public notice, in one or more of the news papers of the borough, to the taxable inhabitants, to meet at the court house on Friday, the 12th instant, at 6 o'clock P. M., to take into consideration the subject of building a new market house in said borough. Now this is to give notice to said inhabitants to meet at said place and time for the above-mentioned purpose.

" Given under my hand this 8th day of November, 1813. " DAVID MORRIS, " Chief Burgess."

No account of the meeting mentioned above is found in the papers of the time. In January, 1815, when the agitation for a bank and location of a site was under discussion, a call was issued for a public meeting as follows :

" TOWN-MEETING.

" At a meeting of the citizens of this borough held at the court house this evening, Dr. David G. Mitchell was called to the chair, and John Barrington, secretary. The following resolutions were adopted, viz. :

" Resolved, That it is expedient to change the scite of the market house from the north to the south side of the public square for the pur- pose of erecting a banking house, on the northeast corner of said square and for the better accommodation of the citizens at large, provided, however, that no change or alteration in the present scite of the market house shall take place until the consent of the proper authority shall be first had and obtained to erect a banking house on the northeast corner of the public square and a market house ou the southeast corner of said square, nor until arrangements be made and a contract entered into for the building of said banking house on that ground.

" Resolved, That Alexander Murdoch, Thomas Baird, and James Orr, Esquire, be a committee to procure the necessary authority and grant for said market and banking house, from the legislature and commis- sioners of the county.

. " DAVID G. MITCHELL, Chairman, " JOHN BARRINGTON, Secretary.

" WASHINGTON, 7th Jan'y, 1815."

This committee subsequently ascertained that the public square could not be diverted from public pur- poses, and the idea was abandoned.

On the 13th of June, 1815, about one hundred and twenty of the taxable inhabitants of the borough met at the court-house to take into consideration the pro- priety of erecting a new market-house. Hugh Work- man was chosen chairman, and Thomas M. T. Mc- Kennan secretary. Resolutions were passed to the effect that a large and commodious market-house be erected on the northeast corner of the public square as soon as the consent of the commissioners of the county to enlarge the market-house be obtained. A committee waited on the commissioners and presented

their request, and on the 21st of June following the commissioners granted permission to the inhabitants of the borough to erect a market-house on the east and north sides of the public square fifty-three feet, fronting on Main Street, and on a range with the public offices and parallel with Main Street.

After this grant from the commissioners it was thought advisable to make the market-house two stories in height, and a request was made of the com- missioners for that purpose, which was granted on the 2d of November, with the proviso " That one room or apartment shall be made thereon of a con- venient size for the accommodation of the Burgesses and Council of said Borough." The grant provided further that after the expiration of twenty-five years the borough should deliver the market-house to the commissioners of Washington County upon payment of the original cost of the building.

The building was erected under the supervision of Parker Campbell, Alexander Murdoch, and Thomas McGiffin, who were appointed by the Council a build- ing committee, with authority to borrow money not to exceed two thousand dollars. The contract for its erection was given to Col. James Ruple. It was de- livered to the burgess and Council on the 20th of October, 1817. The rooms were rented on the 25th to the following persons: Room No. 1 to Robert Estep ; No. 2 to John Purviance ; Nos. 3 and 5 to Thomas H. Baird ; No. 4 to John McCloney ; No. 6 to the Rev. Matthew Brown and James Williamson, who opened a school for young ladies on the 10th of November following. Isaiah Steen also rented one of the rear rooms on the upper floor for a chair-shop. On the 1st of April, 1818, John Grayson took pos- session of room No. 5, where he published the Wash- ington Examiner till April 28, 1827. Andrew Gwinn taught school in room No. 2 above the market in July, 1822. Obadiah Jennings taught school for some time in the building, commencing in May, 1824. Philip Potter taught there in 1824-25, and Henry Williams in 1836. Others also taught in the old buildings whose names are not ascertained. A veranda was built on the second floor on Main and Beau Streets. The one on Main Street was the fa- vorite resort of the old gentlemen of the place to relate their stories and pass away the time. It is particularly remembered as being the resort of Isaiah Steen, Squire John Wilson, and Robert Knox. A lean-to was built on the south side of the market- house, where the fire-engine was kept. This market- house was in use until the demands of the county required a new court-house, and in 1839 arrangements were made with the commissioners for an exchange of property, as will be found in the account of the town hall. A market-house was erected in the spring of 1840, on the north side of the public square front- ing on Cherry Alley, and opened for business August 2d of that year. This market-house on Cherry Alley was used until the erection of the town hall in 1869,

501

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

when it was torn down. Upon the erection of the new hall the rear of the lower story was used for market purposes until June 7, 1878, when the Coun- cil ordered the market-house to be fitted up for an engine-house and the old engine-room used as a market.1

Fire Department .- The first fire which occurred in the town of Washington of which any account is obtained was the burning of the log court-house in the winter of 1790-91. The accounts of the commis- sioners of 1791 contain the following : " To pay James Marshel for the use of his engine, $25." What kind of an engine was owned by Col. Marshel, or for what purpose he obtained it, is not known, as no further reference to it is found.

In the history of the incorporation of the borough reference is made to an article signed " An Inhabitant of Washington," and dated Feb. 2, 1796, in which he says, speaking of the powers of a borough, "It could make provision against a calamity which every reflect- ing man must dread-fire. In vain is our fire-engine if we want water ; and it is well known that in a dry season there is not one-tenth part of the water neces- sary in case of a fire breaking out, yet there is no au- thority to dig wells in the street." It is evident from the above that at that time a fire engine was owned and kept for public use by the town, And in a bill presented to the commissioners in the year 1797 "the Engine-House" is mentioned. In an article which was published in the Reporter of Jan. 13, 1817, " A Citizen," speaking of a recent fire and the existing fire system, says, " We have had more than twenty years' experience of the inefficiency of the present system." This implies that a fire company was or- ganized about that time (1797), and was in possession of an engine. On the 18th of May, 1801, the " Wash- ington Fire Company" was organized with a roll of eighty-two members. The engine was placed under the care of two directors and sixteen men. On the 15th of January, 1816, notice was given by Henry Yanaway, high constable, to the citizens of the borough to meet at the court-house on the 16th, " for the purpose of determining whether the taxes of the borough shall be so far increased as may be necessary for the purchase of a fire-engine." No account of this meeting is found. There was existing in that

1 The reason of the market-house being set back from the main street was that on the 3d of June, 1817, the commissioners laid off three luts on the public square, Nos. 1, 2, 3, twenty-two by twenty-four feet each, being sixty-six feet front on Main Street, and twenty-four feet on Cherry Alley. These lots were leased for twenty-five years, No. 1 to William Hunter, it being the north lot; No. 2, the centre one, to John Neal; No. 3, the south one, to David Shields. On these lots a brick building was to be erected one story in height, covering the whole area and under one roof, and to be built in range with the public offices. On the 20th of June, the commissioners thinking it would be better to have the building two stories iu height, agreed with the lessees, Hunter, Neal, and Shields, in consideration of erecting the building two, stories in height, to release them from the first five years' annual rent. The buildings were thus'erected, and when the market-house was built the lease had not yet expired.

year a fire company called "The Franklin Fire Com- pany," and John Cunningham, secretary, notified the company to meet at the court-house on the 16th of April. The Reporter, of February, 1822, gives an account of a meeting of the citizens of the borough of Washington, held at the court-house on the 18th of February in that year. The Rev. Thomas Hoge was called to the chair, and Joseph Henderson was chosen secretary. The object of the meeting was to direct the burgesses and Council of the borough to purchase " a new water-engine" out of the corporation funds. John Johnson, John Wilson, Alexander Reed, Daniel Moore, and William Sample were appointed a com- mittee to wait upon the commissioners of the county at their next meeting and " ascertain how much they will subscribe for the purpose of purchasing a new engine and apparatus." The burgesses and Council were instructed to ascertain how much can be raised by subscription for the purpose of making reservoirs, the subscribers to have credit in their taxes; they were also requested to pass an ordinance requiring every person owning a house of the value of $400 to purchase two leather fire-buckets. The meeting ad- journed to March 14th, the same year, at which time the " Hope Fire Company" was organized.

On Saturday night, Feb. 23, 1822, about twelve o'clock, the law-office of Thomas M. T. McKennan and a house adjoining took fire and were both de- stroyed. After the fire was nearly over and the citi- zens mostly dispersed, the double stack of chimneys in the two-story frame house fell and killed four per- sons and wounded five others. The names of those killed were Henry Taylor, son of Matthew Taylor, about seventeen years of age; James Wilson, the youngest son of John Wilson, Esq., who was about fifteen years of age, and a student in Washington Col- lege ; Jeremiah Decker, a married man, and by trade a mason ; and Joseph Decker, Jr., about twelve years of age, and a son of Joseph Decker. Of the wounded, Alexander Addison, a son of Judge Alexander Addi- son, and a promising attorney, died on the 28th of February following from injuries received. David Lingerfelter, a young man seventeen years of age, was wounded by the fire-engine as it was returning from the fire. . Lockjaw set in, and he died on the 8th of March.

The following facts are found in the newspapers and records concerning the " Hope Fire Company:" It is first mentioned in 1822. R. W. Harding was its sec- retary in May, 1824. An annual meeting was held May 29, 1824, and the following officers were elected: Chief Director, Hugh Wilson; Engineers, William Hunter, John Wilson ; Directors of the Ladder Com- pany, James Ruple, James Kerr; Director of the Property Guard, Samuel Murdoch ; Directors of the Water Company, Thomas M. T. McKennan, George Baird, William Robinson, George Kuntz; Treasurer, Jacob Slagle; Secretary, John R. Murdoch.

In 1825 the annual meeting passed without an elec-

502

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON . COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tion of officers. In 1826, C. M. Reed was secretary of the company. On the 9th of January, 1829, the fol- lowing-named officers were elected: Chief Director, George Baird; Engineer, Dr. Francis J. Le Moyne; , chased for their use, and in December, 1844, the company petitioned the Council for an engine-house, which was granted, and a house was erected on Pine Alley, and in the next year a hose-cart was pro- cured.

Assistant Engineer, Colin M. Reed; Captains of the Ladder and Axe Companies, John Wilson and Henry Chess; Captains of Water Company, Thomas M. T. McKennan and Alexander Reed ; Captains of Prop- erty Guard, Rev. John Graham, Dr. Samuel Mur- doch; Secretary, Alexander Wilson. The company continued for a few years, and then disbanded.

On the 11th of February, 1837, the " Hope" and " Washington" Fire Companies were reorganized, and the following were elected officers of the Hope Fire Company : Director, John Marshel ; Engineers, Oliver Witherow, Jacob Keisler; Captain of the Water Companies, Jacob Slagle; Captains of the Axe and Ladder Company, Peter Wolf and John Wilson ; Property Guard, Alexander Sweeney, Alex- ander Reed, Daniel Moore ; Secretary, Henry Lang- ley. This company maintained an existence for about fifteen or twenty years, then disbanded.

About 1858 a company was organized and named the "Hope Fire Company," which held its organi- zation for several years, but through many discour- agements. The next year (1859) an engine was purchased. In February, 1866, the records of the Council mention the "New Hope Engine" and pur- chase of fifty feet of hose. In November, 1870, the minutes of the Council mention the "Hope Fire Com- pany" as lately organized, and on the 11th of Decem- ber a committee from the company came before the Council and submitted a constitution, which was ap- proved, and the Hope Engine was given in their charge. The engine at that time had eight sections of hose, two branch-pipes, three nozzles, four span- ners for suctions, and three sections of suctions. The company has held its organization to the present time. The engine is kept in the engine-room in the town hall. The present officers are John P. Charl- ton, captain; James Matthews, first lieutenant; A. B. Means, second lieutenant. The company has at present (1882) sixty-five members.

The Washington Fire Company, of which mention is first made in 1801, evidently retained its organiza- tion, as in September, 1831, the burgess and Council ordered that the engines then under charge of the companies be kept in different parts of the borough. On the 11th of February, 1837, when the " Wash- ington" and "Hope" Companies were reorganized, the following officers were elected by the Washington Company, viz. : Directors, Dr. John Wishart, William Smith ; Engineers, Henry Shearer, Oliver Lindsey ; Captains of the Water Companies, John Dagg, David White; Captains of the Axe and Ladder Company, Gen. Andrew Shearer, Freeman Brady ; Property Guards, Abijah Johnston, Samuel Mount, John Shaffer ; Secretary, John K. Wilson. From this time nothing more is learned of the company.

Soon after the reorganization of the Hope and Washington Companies, another company was formed and named "Good Intent." A small engine was pur-

In 1847 an engine bearing the name "Eagle" was purchased at Pittsburgh for the sum of eight hundred dollars. It has not been ascertained that it was under the charge of any company until the organization of the "Eagle Fire Company" in January, 1857. The officers were O. R. McNary, president; Marshall Griffith, secretary ; John McKay, treasurer; John S. Clohey, captain ; H. W. Wiley, lieutenant ; Robert H. Elliot, first engineer; John McFarland, second en- gineer; O. R. McNary, captain of hose. The com- pany disbanded after a few years, and the engine was sold.

A company bearing the name of "Good Will," having an engine in their care, was in existence in 1866, and on the 11th of December, 1871, the com- pany appeared before the Council and presented a constitution, which was accepted, and the Council ordered the "new suction-engine" to be placed in their charge. At that time the engine called "Good Will" was still owned by the borough. Nothing more is ascertained of this company. On the 5th of Feb- ruary, 1872, the fire committee were instructed to purchase a "Crane-Necker" from Button & Son, but this was not done.

On the 8th of November, 1872, the citizens pe- titioned the burgess and Council to purchase a steam fire-engine. A committee was appointed to confer with the manufacturers of steam fire-engines, and on the 2d of December in that year the agents of the Amoskeag and Seneca Falls Companies visited the Council and presented their respective claims. On the 20th of January, 1873, the Council contracted with the agent of the Seneca Falls Company for a steamer for six thousand dollars. The burgess was authorized to call the citizens of Washington together for the purpose of forming a company to take charge of the new steamer. About one hundred and fifty persons were formed into a company, called the Citizens' Fire Company. The steamer (the " Little Giant") was given in charge of the Citizens' Com- pany, which lasted but a short time, and another company was organized, with twelve members, and officered as follows: Samuel Brady, captain; Peter Cunningham, first lieutenant; George Thompson, chief engineer ; and S. L. Wilson, assistant engineer. The company remained with this number about two years, when the number was increased to twenty; and after about two years the Council reduced the number again to twelve, and allowed each member two hundred dollars annually. On the 1st of July, 1879, the pay was increased to three hundred dollars

503

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

each, annually, provided the company would keep twelve active members. They have at present the Little Giant engine, two hose-reels, and fourteen hundred feet of hose. The present members of the Little Giant Fire Company are Samuel Brady, cap- tain ; Jacob Beck, first lieutenant ; Jacob Cline, chief engineer; Patrick Curran, first assistant; Charles Scott, second assistant; Thomas Buckalow, James Curran, Isaac Hunter, James Kennedy, William Seaburn, G. W. Thompson, T. D. M. Wilson.

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 Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 127

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 1216

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216