History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 134

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 134

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The circulating notes of the First National Bank bear date Dec. 2, 1864. The amount of notes of the old Franklin Bank yet outstanding is $2940. The condi- tion of the bank as shown by the statement made Feb. 14, 1882, was as follows: capital stock, $150,- 000 ; national notes, $75,000 ; outstanding, $126,200 ; individual deposits, $387,864; total resources, includ- ing other items, $750,640.96.

The subject of a new bank building was brought before the stockholders in the spring of 1882. After considerable delay and discussion it was decided to build. On the 11th of May the contract was awarded to Nelson Van Kirk, of Washington, for the erection and completion of the building, with the exception of the iron-work of the vault, for the sum of $15,000,

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the building to be completed Nov. 15, 1882. The building is to be twenty-eight feet three inches on Main Street, extending back sixty-two feet six inches, three stories in height, with vaults in the first and second stories. The lower floor is to be en- tirely devoted to banking purposes. The second floor will contain two suites of rooms, fitted up for attorneys' offices. The third floor will contain a large hall. The work of demolition of the old build- ing commenced on the 15th of May, the bank having been removed to the office previously occupied by Samuel Hazlett's bank.

This bank has by good management and economy been enabled to declare a semi-annual dividend of six per cent. for many years. The last public sale of its stock was made at thirty per cent. premium. The present officers of the bank are: Directors, C. M. Reed (president), Alexander Murdoch, Thomas McKean, Lewis Barker, William Davis, S. M. Tem- pleton, D. C. Houston, John McClay, John Vance ; Cashier, James McIlvaine.

Samuel Hazlett's Bank .- This bank was estab- lished on the 1st of April, 1837, by Samuel Hazlett, the father of the present owner. The office was opened in his residence, on the site of the present brick dwelling known as the Hazlett mansion, which was built in 1851, and the office of the bank trans- ferred to it. The business was conducted by Samuel Hazlett, Sr., till his death in November, 1863. After the settlement of the estate, Samuel Hazlett, Jr., re- opened the bank Jan. 1, 1866, and continued the busi- ness in the same place until the erection of his pres- ent bank building on the west side of Main Street nearly opposite the old office. Possession was taken and business commenced in the new banking-house on the 29th of March, 1882.

Banking-House of Hopkins, Wright & Co .- In the fall of 1870, William Hopkins, Joshua Wright, and James H. Hopkins formed a partnership under the above name for the purpose of carrying on a banking business. An office was first opened in Lon- kert's building, where the office of the Washington Savings-Bank now is, and in the spring of 1876 re- moved to their present quarters. The firm are now closing business, and intend to retire.

The Washington Savings-Bank was organized in 1873, with a capital stock of $100,000 in 2000 shares of $50 each. This amount was soon after raised to 3000 shares. On this stock twenty per cent. was paid, and the company commenced business. James W. Kuntz was elected president, Samuel Ruth cashier. The office last occupied is on the site of the old John Dodd tavern. The present board of directors are W. S. Bryson, Lewis Barker, Workman Hughes, John V. Hanna,.G. W. Moninger, Jr., D. S. Reynolds, Nelson Vankirk, and John V. Lacock. The bank was suc- cessful for a number of years, when they became financially embarrassed, and on the 4th of May, 1882, ex-United States Marshal John Hall was appointed

receiver by the court, and its affairs are now being brought to a close.

Washington County Fire Insurance Company. -This company was incorporated by act of Assem- bly approved April 1, 1837. The corporators were Daniel Moore, Alexander Reed, William Hunter, Robert Officer, Samuel Murdoch, John K. Wilson, Samuel Hazlett, James Stevens, William Smith, John Dagg, Thomas M. T. McKennan, Thomas McGiffin, Jacob Slagle, " and all other persons who may here- after associate with them, . . . for the purpose of in- suring their respective dwelling-houses, stores, shops, and other buildings, household furniture, merchan- dise, and other property against loss or damage by fire." The company was not organized and perfected until July 5, 1847, when Colin M. Reed was chosen president, and John K. Wilson secretary. The first policy was issued on the 1st of January, 1848, to James F. Brown, and was placed on the brick house opposite the court-house (now known as the Boyle building). The presidents from the first have been Colin M. Reed, July 5, 1847; Samuel Hazlett, Sept. 9, 1848 ; Colin M. Reed, Sept. 10, 1859 ; William Hop- kins, Nov. 26, 1859 ; Alexander W. Acheson, Sept. 12, 1863; Alexander Murdoch, April 8, 1864; William J. Matthews, April 23, 1869; Alexander Murdoch, Dec. 28, 1874 (still in office).

The secretaries from the first have been John K. Wilson, July 5, 1847 ; John Grayson, Sept. 1, 1850; John Grayson, Jr., Sept. 9, 1854; David Aiken, Sept. 7, 1863; S. M. Marsh, April 14, 1870 (still in office).

The losses from April, 1870, to December, 1873, were about $9000 ; from Dec. 28, 1873, to Jan. 1, 1882, $4337.82. There were 305 policies written in 1881; 1060 policies outstanding Jan. 1, 1882. The expenses of conducting business and losses, 1881, thirty-four per cent. of premiums. The company have $25,000 accumulations since 1874. Its office has been in the Young Building. By an act of Assembly passed March 27, 1852, the charter was extended twenty years. After this time the charter expired by limita- tion, and a new one was obtained Dec. 28, 1873, under the general act of April 2, 1856, by the name of the "Washington Fire Insurance Company." The fol- lowing were the corporators: W. J. Matthews, John C. Hastings, W. W. Warrick, V. Harding, Lewis Barker, James D. Ruple, John McElroy, T. J. Hodgins, John D. Chambers, William Siran, Samuel Hazlett, Alexander Murdoch, and L. M. Marsh.

The business has been conducted under the same management and plan as before. The present officers are : President, Alexander Murdoch ; Vice-President, Samuel Hazlett; Secretary, L. M. Marsh ; Directors, Alexander Murdoch, Samuel Hazlett, John C. Has- tings, John Hall, James B. Ruple, John McElroy, Vachel Harding, S. M. Warrick, Lewis Barker, L. M. Marsh, W. W. Smith, J. W. Lockhart; Agent, W., R. Wonsettler.

Assessment Mutual Life Association .- Under

11 119

...

HAZLETT'S BANK,

MAIN STREET, WASHINGTON, PA.

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WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

the provisions of a supplement to an act to establish an insurance department, approved March 1, 1876, the Assessment Mutual Life Association, located at Washington, Pa., was incorporated on the 7th of ! He remained with the school until the winter of 1790, February, 1880. The following officers were elected : Samuel Hazlett, president; W. R. McConnell, vice- president ; J. W. Woods, secretary ; T. C. Noble, treasurer ; Frederick Whittlesey, M.D., medical di- rector; Adam Harbison, J. W. McDowell, Samuel Hazlett, W. R. McConnell, J. W. Woods, T. C. Noble, and Frederick Whittlesey, directors. This action was certified to the insurance department at Harrisburg, and approved by J. W. Forster, insurance commissioner, and by Henry W. Palmer, attorney-gen- eral, Feb. 9, 1880, and by Henry M. Hoyt, Governor, and J. R. McAfee, Secretary of State, on the 14th of February the same year. An office was opened in Smith's Iron Front. The first policy was issued Feb. 20, 1880, to Samuel Hazlett. The office remained in the same place until July 6, 1881, when rooms were fitted up in Bryson Block, Wheeling Street. After a It has been found a difficult task to obtain infor- mation concerning the early schools in Washington, and much of the following has been gleaned from the newspapers. The earliest mention is an advertise- ment in the Western Telegraphe of Sept. 8, 1795, as follows : successful business of two years the company was suddenly brought to a close by a decision of the Su- preme Court which led the commissioners of the in- surance department to call upon all assessment com- panies to show cause why they should not cease business. The notice was issued on the 11th of April, 1882. Two hundred and thirteen companies were in- "Nicholas Charles Visinier, a Frenchman, educated in Paris, has for some time past taught the French language in the town of Washington ; from the encouragement received he is led to solicit from the generous citizens of the said town and country a continuation of their patronage in support of his future exertions. . . . He waits on Ladies and Gentle- men at their own houses at stated hours; subscriptions will be received at his house in Washington, near the Academy, at the low price of $4.00 per Quarter." cluded in the list. This company, having complied with the law in every respect and been accepted by the proper authorities, were working in good faith. Their first loss occurred March 8, 1881, in the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Legler, of Finleyville. Since that time four others have occurred ; after the two first the He remained in the town two years after this time and sold his house and lot to R. Curry. company were in condition to pay losses in full, on which but two assessments had been made. The number of policies that had been written was eleven hundred and twenty-one. A meeting of the com- pany was held, and after due consideration and in

On the 29th of November, 1796, William Porter advertised to open an evening school at the school- house on Wheeling Street. The school-house here mentioned was the Old Red School-house, then stand- view of the uncertainty of legal decisions it was de- . ing on the spot where the south wing of the old col-

cided to discontinue business on the 1st of May, 1882. On the 11th of May following, T. C. Noble was ap- pointed receiver by the court of Washington County, and the affairs of the company are now being closed.

Schools .- It is not known that a school was taught in Washington prior to the establishment of the acad- emy in 1787. In the summer of that year the leading men of the county united in petitioning the Legisla- ture of the State for a charter for an academy to be located at the county-seat, and known as the Wash- ington Academy. The petition was granted, and the institution was incorporated on the 24th of Septem- ber, 1787. The trustees named in the act were the

Rev. John McMillan, Rev. Joseph Smith, Rev. Thad- Trick or the Vintner in the Suds.' To begin at 6

deus Dodd, Rev. John Clark, Rev. Matthew Hender- son, Rev. John Corbley, Judge James Allison, John McDowell, Col. James Marshel, and Thomas Scott. A room was engaged in the upper story of the log court-house that then stood on the public square

fronting on Cherry Alley. The school was opened in 1789 with twenty students under the charge of the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, who was the first principal.

i and was succeeded by David Johnson, who continued until the spring of 1791, when he resigned, and soon after became the principal of the Canonsburg Acad- emy. The log court-house was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1790-91, and for a few months the school was taught in another room. Mordecai Hoge, who died in 1870, was born in Washington, Jan. 22, 1784. In conversation with Prof. John Messenger, many years ago, he said that when about six years old he attended the school in Washington. It was held in a hewed log cabin with low windows and corresponding writing-desks, and benches made of long slabs. The court-house and jail at that time were on the first floor and under the same roof. The room in the second story was used for the academy, it being the origin of Washington College.

lege building now stands; later it was moved to the lot now occupied by the First Presbyterian Church. On this lot the house stood many years (being still well remembered by the old citizens), until the sale of the lot to the Presbyterian Society, when it was torn down. William Porter, without doubt, taught the day school then also. He was the only school- teacher whose name appears on the assessment roll of 1798. On the 3d of January, 1797, the following ad- vertisement was published in the Telegraphe :

"For the benefit of the Academy .- On Tuesday Jan'y 10 will be performed at the Academy in the Town of Washington a Comedy called 'Trick upon o'clock. Admittance one quarter of a dollar."

On the 28th of December, 1799, M. C. Staes adver- tised in the Herald of Liberty that "a subscription is this day opened at the office of the Herald for a French school to be kept in this town on the following terms,

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

viz .: each subscriber to pay $6.00 per quarter. The school will commence as soon as there are twelve sub- scribers. . . . P. S .- I am at present teaching at Wil- liamsport [Monongahela City]." It has not been as- certained whether the requisite number of subscribers were obtained, or whether the school was opened. Miss Good was teaching school in the town in No- vember, 1800. On the 16th of November she adver- tised that she intended to leave the town the following spring. She, however, returned not long afterwards and opened a " Ladies' school," and advertised, Feb. 1 3, 1809, that she " intends opening a school on the first of April next for the tuition of young ladies in the following branches, viz .: Tambouring and Em- broidery, Open Work, Painting, and Drawing, to- gether with Plain Sewing and Reading."

On the 20th of June, 1805, John Hoge sold to Alexander Little, James Gilmore, and Robert Ander- son lot No. 77, on Belle Street (now Wheeling), to be " made use of for a school-house, and for no other pur- pose, unless it be for building a house or place of public worship." On the rear of this lot a brick school-house was erected. In the year 1807, Michael Law and William O'Hara were assessed as teachers, and probably taught in this house and the Red School- house. The school-house and lot were sold to the trustees of the Baptist Church, and the title was later confirmed by the Legislature. A school, called the Washington Classical Academy, was soon after opened by the Rev. Charles Wheeler, pastor of the Baptist Church. On the 26th of October, 1818, he, in an ad- vertisement, returns his grateful. acknowledgments to the patrons of the seminary, and further states that he intends to employ an assistant teacher." On the 3d of December, 1821, he advertised that he " has opened a seminary for the tuition of young ladies," with Miss G. Cairns as assistant.

David Johnson, who was an assistant teacher with the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd in the academy, and was the principal in 1790-91, returned from Canonsburg in. 1812 and opened a school in Washington. The cost of tuition was three pounds twelve shillings and five pence per pupil. An account is found that contains a list of subscribers from Jan. 1, 1813, to April 1, viz. : Parker Campbell, Alexander Murdoch, Hugh Work- man, Matthew Ocheltree, Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Huston, Gen. Thomas Acheson, Joseph Huston, John Hughes, John Hoge, Mrs. Mary Waugh, Thomas H. Baird, Dr. David Mitchell, David Morris, James Workman, Samuel Hughes, Capt. King, J. Neal, D. Cook, Alexander Reed, J. Shaffer, John Wilson, Oba- diah Jennings, D. White, Mrs. Dunlap, A. Kerr, Wil- liam McCammant, Mrs. Price. Alexander Reed and Obadiah Jennings were trustees. The aggregate in- come as paid by the trustees was $453.10.

About 1811, Mrs. Baker opened a young ladies' seminary in the house owned by Hugh Wilson, on Main Street near Maiden, and formerly occupied by Dr. John Julius Le Moyne as a drug-store.

annual exhibition was held on the 12th of November, 1812. An appropriate address was made by Miss Scott, of Gettysburg, to which reply was made by Miss Collins, of Pittsburgh. Premiums were received by Miss Collins, of Pittsburgh ; Miss Clark, of Clarks- ville; Miss Buchanan, of Canonsburg ; and Miss Mc- Kennan, of Washington, of the first class; and by Miss Campbell, Miss Cooke, and Miss Neal, of Wash- ington, of the second class. The exercises closed with a dance. The school continued in the same place till the spring of 1815. On the 14th of April, 1814, Mrs. Baker advertised that she would reopen the school May 7th, and that arrangements had been made " for boarding all foreign pupils." On the 24th of April, 1815, she informed the public that the May term would commence in "a new and elegant house on Maiden Street, capable of accommodating forty young lady boarders." The school continued several years afterwards.

The following advertisement of Robert Fee's school appeared in the Reporter of June 17, 1816 :

"TUITION.

" Robert Fee respectfully informs the citizens of the borough of Wash- ington that he purposes continuing his school, and will on the 8th of July next remove to the house of Mr. J. Greer, on Main Street, occupied by Mr. - Brentlinger. The following are the terms of his article:

" We, the subscribers, do hereby agree And bind ourselves to pay to Robert Fee, Or to his heirs, his order, or assigns (Unchangeably and firmly by these lines), The sum of nine-fourths of a dollar each For ev'ry scholar which he's bound to teach ; If they attend, or if they stay away That sum we still do bind ourselves to pay ; And the said Fee doth bind bimself to teach, (As far as his abilities will reach), For three months' term, to read and write, and through The common rules of arithmetic too; And by these presents he himself doth bind

Accommodations and a room to find. If, on subscribing, payment's made in hand, Two dollars only will be the demand. Those who don't subscribe must pay per scholar, For all they send, an extra quarter-dollar, And non-subscribers, who may send one day, For the whole quarter will be made to pay.

" WASHINGTON, June 17, 1816."

The Robert Fee here mentioned afterwards edited the Western Magazine in Washington, and later re- moved to Brownsville, and edited a newspaper there.

In the Reporter, Nov. 10, 1817, the following notice was published :

" LADIES' SEMINARY.

" An Academy for Young Ladies will be opened in the public build- ings, lately erected near the court-house, under the superintendence of the Rev. Matthew Brown and Mr. James Williamson, to commence on the 10th of November next. In this academy will be taught Grammar, Composition, Belles-Lettres, Geography, and other branches of a liberal education that may be required. The terms of tuition, eight dollars per quarter. Young ladies can be accommodated with boarding in reputable families on reasonable terms.

" WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 1817."

This school was in the second story of the market- A semi- house, which had been erected the previous year on

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WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

the corner of Main and Beau Streets, where the sheriff's house now stands.

In the Reporter of Oct. 18, 1819, a card was in- serted by a " lady and gentleman" to the effect that they intended to commence a school. Satisfactory testimonials given. Application to be left at D. H. Blaine's tavern.

A "Franklin" school was in operation in 1821, with a board of superintendence, of whom Mrs. Katharine Duane Morgan was one. Examinations were held and premiums awarded. The house in. which this school was kept was situated on East Chestnut Street. Mrs. Whitehouse was the principal. It was considered an admirable school, and continued several years.

Samuel Marshall taught a school in 1822 in the Pine Alley school-house. Alexander Murdoch was one of the pupils in that year. Andrew Gwinn ad- vertised to open a school on the first Monday of July, 1822, in room No. 2 above the market-house. John Kerr advertised May 5, 1823, that he had commenced an "English School" on Main Street, nearly opposite to the office of the Reporter, at the south end of Main Street.

Obadiah Jennings advertised a school for young ladies to open May 1, 1824. This school was taught in a room above the Marshel house. The next year he advertised that he had engaged Samuel Marshall as assistant. Term to commence Oct. 3, 1825. Samuel Marshall advertised April 8, 1826, that he had " opened an English school in the Pine Alley school-house in this borough." Mrs. Harriet Lafoucherie informed the public July 24, 1824, that she "will open a school in Washington at $1.50 per quarter." In this year Philip Potter was teaching an English school in the second story of the market-house, under the manage- ment of trustees, two of whom were John Gregg and John Shaffer. Public examinations were held. Potter taught in the market-house at various times and as late as 1832. ' George K. Scott also opened a school here about 1824, moved to a building opposite Wheel- ing Street, and in November, 1826, was teaching in the Old Red School-house near the college. Stephen Woods also taught a school in one of the rooms over the market-house about 1827. Mrs. Spencer opened a school for young ladies over Judge Baird's office (in the market-house) Nov. 5, 1825. G. R. Lilliebridge advertised Dec. 24, 1825, a reading-school in twenty-four lectures. Applicants to apply to David Morris at the Globe Hotel. School to commence on the 1st of January, 1826. James Ruggles advertised .' Jan. 20, 1827, a school to commence the 22d "in the house lately occupied by Cyrus Huston ;" also to open a night-school. Mrs. Ruggles, at the same time and in the same place, was to open a female school.

Samuel Witherow, still living and himself an old school-teacher, says he attended school first about 1814 in the old stone Masonic building (still standing) in the rear of the old Grayson residence on Main

Street. This school was taught by William O'Hara. Hs attended next a school taught by John Irwin in the log school-house (still standing) on the lot owned by the German Lutheran Society. It then stood in the rear of the church. About 1823 he attended school in the brick school-house on the Baptist Church lot, then kept by Stephen Woods. In 1828 he attended at the Old Red School-house. Charles De Hass was the teacher. He then lived in the old college build- ing. William O'Hara was a teacher in this building long prior to this time.

On the 23d day of December, 1830, a large meeting of citizens of the town and county of Washington met at the court-house for the purpose of taking into consideration the subject of general education, and particularly common-school education, and to adopt suitable measures for calling the attention of the Legislature of the State to the subject. Alexander Reed was called to the chair. James Gordon was chosen vice-president, and Ephraim L. Blaine and William Baird were appointed secretaries. The ob- ject of the meeting having been stated a committee was appointed, consisting of Thomas Officer, Esq., Rev. Thomas Hoge, Hon. Thomas H. Baird, Aaron Kerr, Esq., and the Rev. David Elliott, to draft a pe- tition to the Legislature expressive of their views and wishes on the subject. The committee reported a petition, which was read and adopted. The Hon. Thomas H. Baird, Rev. David Elliott, Rev. Thomas Hoge, Rev. John Waterman, and John L. Gow, Esq., were then appointed a committee to prepare and re- port a plan suggesting some mode by which a general system of education might be carried into effect, and to report the next evening. This committee reported and presented a plan which at that time was in prac- tice in some of the Eastern States. Alexander Reed, Willliam Baird, Thomas McGiffin, Joseph Hender- son, Thomas M. T. McKennan, Esq., and William Hunter were appointed to prepare copies of the peti- tion and obtain signatures to be forwarded to the Legislature. At this time the subject of a general school law was in consideration by the Legislature, but nothing was accomplished until four years later.

On the 24th 'of April, 1832, George K. Scott, Philip Potter, Warner Long, and Alexander G. Marshman, teachers in the borough of Washington, published a letter in the papers of the day endeavoring to regulate the school system. . They agreed not to receive any pupil for less time than one quarter after April 1st, and other rules and regulations were adopted. The letter had the effect to awaken the citizens to the matter, and several meetings were held, at one of which John L. Gow, Alexander Reed, Rev. D. El- liot, Samuel Marshall, and William K. McDonald were appointed "for the purpose of devising some measure in reference to the better regulation-of the Common Schools of the Borough." The committee reported, recommending co-operation by the citizens with the teachers of the common schools "in their

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

efforts to dispense with the instruction of pupils by the day," and the appointment of a school committee " to supervise the common schools, to assist and en- courage the teachers in a faithful and impartial dis- charge of their duties, to visit the schools from time to time, making such suggestions as they may think proper to the teachers, and to make an annual public report of the state of the schools." The report was adopted, and the measures recommended carried out with some success.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 134

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