History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 140

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 140

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and pipes laid through the streets of the town. Gas was let into the pipes the first time on Saturday, the 21st of February, 1857, and on the evening of the Tuesday following (February 24th) the streets, stores, and dwellings of the borough were successfully lighted. The pipes were found to have been badly put to- gether ; changes were found to be necessary, and in the following year the works were rebuilt and en- larged. The original cost and the repairs to this time amounted to about thirty-one thousand dollars. In 1868 the pipes in the streets were replaced by larger ones, and clay retorts replaced the metallic ones previously in use. The price of gas in 1857 was placed at four dollars per thousand feet. It has steadily declined since then, and in this year (1882) it is furnished at one dollar and eighty cents per thousand. The amount of gas furnished the past years is four million five hundred and thirteen thou- sand cubic feet. The officers from the first have been : Presidents, C. M. Reed, 1857 to 1865 ; F. J. Le Moyne, 1865 to 1867; C. M. Reed, 1867 to 1882. Secretaries, William McKennan, 1857; John C. Hastings, 1858 to 1882. Treasurers, Samuel Hazlett, 1857 to 1858 ; Alexander Wilson, 1859 to 1861; John D. Chambers, 1862; John C. Hastings, 1863 to 1882. Managers for 1882, Colin M. Reed, John C. Hastings, D. T. Morgan, A. T. Baird, John D. Chambers, Lewis Barker, Alex- ander Wilson.

Washington Coal Company .- On the 24th of Au- gust, 1864, Messrs. Parkin, Marshall & Co. purchased eight acres of land of Harry Shirls, and commenced to sink a shaft for coal. After one year's work they reached a vein of coal five feet in thickness. The shaft was sunk bearing to the southwest at an angle of forty-five degrees to the distance of five hundred feet, being about three hundred feet perpendicular. Side drifts were made, one to the northeast, towards the residence of Mr. Shirls, and one to the northwest, towards Shirls' Grove. These, drifts were from one- quarter to one-half mile in extent. The company employed thirty miners, and mined one thousand bushels per day. The act of Legislature passed in 1870, requiring coal companies to construct other ventilation and means of escape than by the main shaft alone, caused this company to cease work, as their shaft was so deep that great expense would be incurred. An effort was made to induce the Council of the borough of Washington to become a partner in the company.

· On the 21st of June, 1871, the Council met to take into consideration the propriety of lending assistance to Parkin, Marshall & Co., who proposed to furnish eight thousand dollars if the borough would furnish seven thousand, the sum necessary to sink another shaft. The burgess was authorized to call a public meeting to obtain the views of the citizens on the subject. The meeting was held and the subject dis- cussed. Col. William Hopkins read to the meeting the act of Legislature forbidding boroughs to sub-

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scribe money for any such purpose, after which it was decided to take no further action in the matter. This refusal discouraged the proprietors, and they abandoned the works. On the 17th of May, 1880, the property was sold to Edward Little, and was soon after vested in the Washington White-Lead Works Company, who now own it.

The Washington Steam-Mill and Manufactur- ing Company was organized early in January, 1814, for the purpose of making flour and manufacturing other articles. On the 14th of January in that year, ! be given to the wool-growers of Washington and ad- David Shields, secretary, issued proposals for the erection of a mill-house forty-seven by fifty feet, four stories high. He also notified stockholders to pay their installments monthly, commencing in February. An act of Assembly was passed Jan. 31, 1814, in- corporating the company for thirty years from the passage of the act, and with capital stock not to ex- Ziba Lindley, Thomas Vaneman, and John Alban were appointed a committee to concert with wool- growers and farmers on the propriety, utility, and most eligible method of carrying into effect the above resolutions. The papers of the time have no account of the next meeting, or of subsequent meetings, in ref- erence to the subject. ceed fifty thousand dollars. The names of the direc- tors mentioned in the act were Alexander Reed, Robert Hamilton, Obadiah Jennings, Thomas Acheson, David Morris, Hugh Workman, and Thomas H. Baird. The company purchased a lot at the foot of Main Street, and erected a large four-story building with a hip roof, forming a large attic. In this building a steam flouring-mill was put in operation. The water for the mill was brought in wooden pipes from a spring a short distance from it, and which is marked on the original plat of the town. In 1816 the property came into possession of Thomas H. Baird. In the next year he added to the business wool-carding and the fulling of cloth, and on June 4th of that year John Brown, agent for Thomas H. Baird, advertised in the Examiner that he would "run this season at the steam-mill in Washington" a new double machine with five cards and two common machines, and June 15th next year (1818) he advertised " warm and cold baths at the Washington Steam-Mill every day in the week, Sundays excepted." . In the month of Novem- ber, 1819, Mr. Baird rented the mill to Abraham Nye and John Unckles, who also carried on the business of fulling and dyeing cloth. In December following Nye retired, and Unckles continued for several years. In 1822 the property was advertised for sale, but was not sold, and in May, 1823, Thomas Copeland adver- tised that he had rented and refitted it. In 1826, Augustus M. Hazlip rented the property, and con- tinued business for a short time. The property had been rented to various parties from 1819, and during that time fulling and dyeing cloth and the carding of wool was carried on with the manufacture of flour. It had also been advertised for sale several times, but found no purchaser. 'On the night of the 19th of May, 1831, the building was destroyed by fire. The Mount Hope and Washington Companies with their engines were there and protected the surrounding property, but the mill building could not be saved. The papers of the time complained of the confusion, disorder, and inefficiency of the fire companies. The

engines that were in the mill-house were removed by Thomas H. Baird to Monongahela City and placed in a mill in that city owned by him, where they were used many years.

Woolen-Factory .- In the Washington Reporter of August, 1815, is a call for wool-growers and owners of sheep to meet at the house of John McCluney on the 15th of that month. At that meeting (of which Robert Anderson was president, and John Alban sec- retary) it was resolved "That a general invitation jacent counties to meet at the house of John McClu- ney, in the borough of Washington, on Wednesday, the 25th of October next (court week), at one o'clock, to consider the propriety of establishing a woolen manufactory to be vested in stock held by individuals in common."

In 1827, David Acheson erected'a woolen-factory, and on the 9th of December in that year offered it for sale, describing it as "a new building, two-story brick house, thirty by sixty feet, and frame adjoining and a dye-house." It was not sold, and on the 11th of Sep- tember, 1830, Michael Kaine was operating “ Ache- son's woolen-factory," and in 1832, William Maltby was running it. On the 28th of April, 1836, James Darling & Co. advertised that "having lately pur- chased the Washington Woolen-Factory, they intend introducing new machines for wool-carding ;" and they further state that " orders may be left at the store of Samuel Hazlett, who will attend to all orders." The building was later owned by Samuel Hazlett, and run as a woolen-factory for a time, then used for pork-packing, and still later as a dwelling-house. In 1867 it was again opened as a woolen-factory by John Hoon, who placed therein a single hand-loom and one hundred and twelve spindles. On the 1st of April, 1869, John McClean became associated with him. In 1875 a power-loom and carpet-weaving ma- chine were added. In August, 1876, Hoon retired, since which time Mr. McClean has continued the business. In 1877 another carpet-weaver was added. The establishment at present turns out about two hundred and fifty pairs of blankets annually, three thousand yards of flannel, and five thousand pounds of stocking yarn.

S. B. & C. Hayes' Carriage-Factory .- In the fall of 1841 Sheldon B., Charles, and Morgan Hayes, natives of Connecticut, erected a carriage-shop thirty by fifty feet, and two stories in height, on the south part of the lot in the rear of the public square, and commenced the manufacture of carriages. The busi- ness increasing, a brick building was added with

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steam-power. In 1845, Morgan Hayes retired from the firm and became the foreman. Soon after a third story was added to the main building, and thirty feet to the first floor. On the 8th of November, 1851, the entire building was consumed by fire. On the Mon- day following the firm purchased of the trustees of the Presbyterian Church the two lots on First and Maiden Streets, with the brick church building (they having recently removed to a new edifice). On the next day after the purchase the hands were all again at work. To this brick building they added a smith-shop thirty by seventy feet. In 1852 a machine-shop was added with an engine of fifteen horse-power. The machinery necessary for the manufacture of doors, blinds, and sash was then added. A boarding-house was built in 1861, and a salesroom in 1862. About this time a seventy horse-power engine was put in. On the 1st of January, 1867, the firm was changed by the ad- mission of Morgan Hayes and Martin Luther. In 1875 the firm was again changed by the retirement of Morgan Hayes and Martin Luther, since which time the firm has been S. B. & C. Hayes. The present salesroom was built in 1875. Water to supply the works is brought from the Lacock quarry through two thousand feet of pipe. The firm have at present about thirty-five hands employed, and produce an- nually about one hundred and seventy-five new car- riages.

Washington Steam Flouring-Mill .- In 1844, Samuel Hazlett and Daniel Dye erected on the west end of Belle Street (now Wheeling) a four-story mill, forty by sixty feet, with three run of stones, and com- menced operations in the fall of that year. Mr. Haz- lett retired after a short time, and Mr. Dye continued till the latter part of 1849, when the property was sold to John McElroy, who took possession in Feb- ruary, 1850. It was operated by him till 1858, and was sold to A. J. Caton. On the 15th of February, 1865, J. M. Wilson and G. M. Warrick became the purchasers, by whom it was remodeled and much en- larged and improved, and by whom it is still operated. !

Brewery .- About 1845, Jacob Zelt came to Wash- ington and commenced brewing. Four years later he removed to the west end of Belle Street, and pur- chased the property he at present owns, and started the brewing in a small way, and by degrees it has been brought to its present capacity. In 1873 the business was placed in charge of his sons, Louis and Adam, who now conduct it. They manufacture about three hundred barrels of beer annually.

Washington Foundry .- In the spring of 1846, Brice, Frisbie & Hitchcock built a brick building, and in it opened the foundry business, on the corner of College and Chestnut Streets. It was continued by them until about the close of the war. By the death of Brice and Frisbie Mr. Hitchcock became the only re- maining member of the firm, and the business was sold to - Becker, by whom it was sold to - Linn, and about 1872 it was in possession of James H. Hop-

kins, of Pittsburgh, by whom the property is still owned. It is now operated under a lease by Ed- ward Bartlett.

Washington Tannery .- The two-story brick tan- nery at the west end of Wheeling Street was built in 1862 by Thomas Hodgins and John McElroy, and was operated by them till 1874, when Mr. Hodgins retired, since which time it has been entirely under the control of Mr. McElroy. The power is obtained from a twelve horse-power engine. The tannery con- tains forty-two vats, with a capacity of tanning one hundred sides of harness leather per week. Six hands are steadily employed.

Steam Planing-Mill .- In 1867, Thomas Walker and William Fitzwilliam purchased a lot of ground on Wheeling Street of the United Presbyterian con- gregation, and on which the brick church edifice then stood. It was torn down, and the present two- story frame building was erected and supplied with the necessary power and machinery for manufac- turing sash, doors, and blinds. The business is now carried on by Walker & Klieves.

Hayes & Wilson Carriage-Factory .- In 1871, Morgan Hayes and John S. Wilson started a carriage- factory in the old Methodist Church, near the corner of Chestnut and Franklin Streets. About twenty men are employed, and one hundred carriages are turned out annually.

Washington Lead-Works (Limited) .- In the spring of 1880, Edward Little purchased the prop- erty of the Washington Coal-Works and organized the Washington Lead-Works Company, which was com- posed of Edward Little, W. W. Smith, John A. Best, and Frederick King. The company purchased the land of Mr. Little and erected the present brick buildings. Manufacturing commenced in the last part of February, 1882. Mr. Little retired in about six months, and W. R. Sweitzer took his place. The capacity of the works is one thousand tons per year. .This firm manufactures white lead by the American process.

Crown Broom-Factory .- A broom-factory was started Jan. 1, 1881, by John McClean in connection with his woolen-factory. Nine men are employed, and one hundred and twenty-five dozen brooms per week are manufactured, which are supplied to the local and Pittsburgh trade.

Washington County Centennial .- On the 7th and 8th of September, 1881, Washington County celebrated its centennial, under the auspices of the Washington County Historical Society, in Washington borough. Invitations had been extended to former citizens in various parts of the country. The public buildings, stores, and private residences were decked with flowers and evergreens. The columns of the court-house were twined with bands of evergreen and white, on the lat- ter of which were the names of many of the county's honored dead, while on the façade were banners with the inscription, “ Washington formed from Westmore-

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land, 1781. Ceded Greene, 1796. legheny, 1788; to Beaver, 1800." Contributed to Al- Three finely orna- mented arches spanned Main Street, one at the intersection of Chestnut, one at Maiden, and one at the court-house, the last of which was divided into blocks set in evergreens containing the names of the townships and boroughs of the county, Washington forming the keystone. Surmounting the arch was the word CENTENNIAL and the figures 1781-1881 in gas- jets, while above all was a large star, also in gas-jets, which when lighted at night produced a brilliant effect.

The days were fine. The exercises commenced at 12 M. on the 7th by a salute and the ringing of the bells of the town. A meeting of the citizens was held at the town hall at 2.30 P.M., and an address of wel- come was delivered by Judge George S. Hart. Let- ters were read from many former citizens of the county, among which was one from the Hon. James G. Blaine. On the morning of the 8th procession formed on College Street, under the direction of Chief Marshal the Hon. John H. Ewing (a citizen who has been a resident of the county since 1810), and em- braced one hundred and fifty members of the Wash- ington County Veteran Association, Union soldiers of the war of the Rebellion, under command of Col. Chill. W. Hazzard. At 9.30 A.M. the procession moved by way of Maiden, Main, and Chestnut Streets to Shirls' Grove, near the northwestern bound- ary of the town, where a platform had been erected for speakers and seats made for the audience. Music was furnished by the Washington Choral Society, Washington Cornet Band, Fourteenth Regiment Band of Pittsburgh, Amity Band, Monongahela City Cor- net Band, and Voss' Wheeling Band. Organization was effected by the appointment of the Rev. John T. Brownlee chairman. After the usual exercises ad- dresses were delivered as follows : Rev. J. I. Brownson, D.D., on the general history ; Boyd Crumrine, Esq., on the civil and legal history ; Hon. D. Agnew, on Alexander Addison; John McDowell, on agricul- ture; Rev. I. N. Hays, on the religious history ; and Dr. G. W. Barnett, on the medical history of the county. After the delivery of these addresses the meeting adjourned and the audience dispersed. On the evening of the 8th the town was brilliantly illu- minated with Chinese lanterns, fire-works, and gas- jets, and from every available point floated flags, streamers, and bunting. The evening passed in fes- tivity, and the Washington County centennial celebra- tion passed into history.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

MAJ. JOHN H. EWING.

Hon. John Hoge Ewing, of Washington, Pa., was born in Fayette County on Oct. 5, 1796. Though his years in number are almost fourscore and six, he yet

lives an honored citizen, enjoying excellent health and wonderful activity of body and mind. Not only does his private business receive his personal atten- tion as if he were of but little more than middle age, but the claims of society and whatever affects the public interest are also not without his personal rec- ognition and support.

Mr. Ewing's father was William Ewing, who was the son of George Ewing, of Peach Bottom township, York County, lying on the Susquehanna and the Maryland line. George Ewing was the cousin of the celebrated Dr. John Ewing, the scholar and divine, who became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia in 1759, provost of the University of Pennsylvania in 1779, and was one of the Baltimore commissioners to determine the boundary controversy between Pennsylvania and Virginia, and one of the commissioners to extend Mason and Dixon's line in 1784. The Ewings were of Scotch lineage, and their ancestors emigrated from the north of Ireland to East Nottingham, Md., early in the last century. George Ewing never removed from the East, but his son William, who received his education under his distinguished relative's direction, about 1790 came west as a surveyor and settled near Heistersburg, in Luzerne township, Fayette County, where, in the next year, he married Mary, the daughter of Jehu Conwell, who had settled in that neighborhood prob- ably as early as 1768 or 1769. Of this marriage the children were Hon. George Ewing, who early went to Texas under Gen. Sam. Houston, was there ap- pointed a judge, and there his family remain ; Hon. Nathaniel Ewing, late of Uniontown, Pa., deceased, long the president judge of the courts of Washington, Fayette, and Greene Counties; John H., of whom this sketch is written; James Ewing, late of Dun- lap's Creek, Pa., deceased; Elizabeth, widow of James E. Breading; Maria, widow of Hon. James Veech ; Ellen, wife of John H. Wallace; Louisa, wife of William Wilson; Mary Ann, wife of George Mason, of Muscatine, Iowa; and Caroline, who died in in- fancy.

John H. Ewing, of this family, came to Washing- ton College at the beginning of the college year in 1810, and made his home with his father's friend, Hon. John Hoge, after whom he had been named. There was no relationship between them, but Mr. Hoge. and Mr. William Ewing had been surveyors together in early days, and under Col. Thomas Stokely laid out large tracts of land of the purchase of 1784, north and west of the Allegheny River. After four years at college he graduated in 1814, under the pres- idency of Dr. M. Brown, and soon afterward begin- ning the study of the law in the office of Hon. Thomas McGiffin, was admitted to the bar in June, 1818. There were giants at the bar in those days, well re- membered by Mr. Ewing, among whom were Parker Campbell, Joseph Pentecost, John Purviance, Phil. Doddridge, Thomas H. Baird, James Ross, James

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Mountain, and John Kennedy, some of whom resided in adjoining counties, but regularly practiced at the Washington bar. Hon. Samuel Roberts was pres- ident judge while Mr. Ewing was a student under Mr. McGiffin. For a year or two after his admiscion he was a partner with his preceptor; but Mr. McGiffin, with Parker Campbell and Thomas H. Baird, having taken the contract to construct the road-bed of the National road from Washington to Wheeling, Mr. Ewing assumed charge of the outside business for them, until after a while he and his father, William Ewing, obtained the contract for the road-bed of that improvement from Brownsville to Hillsborough, and in the business connected with that employment he remained until the contract was completed late in the fall of 1820.

Mr. Ewing never went back to the bar, but, having been successful in the contract referred to, he soon afterwards purchased the tract called "Meadow Lands," on the Chartiers, about three and a half miles north of Washington, through which the Char- tiers Railway passes. Here he resided with his family until he removed to his present residence on East Beau Street in 1840; for on Nov. 2, 1820, he had married Ellen, a daughter of James Blaine, and sister of Ephraim L. Blaine, and the family consisted of the following children of that marriage in the order of their birth : Margaret B., the widow of Dr. William A. Hallock; Rev. Wm. Ewing, Ph.D., now in charge of the Miller's Run Presbyterian Church, and of the Canonsburg Academy; James Blaine (1), died in early years; Elizabeth B., wife of Rev. William Spear, D.D., for several years a missionary in China, and afterwards with the Chinese at San Francisco; Dr. George Ewing, now in the Department of the In- terior at Washington, D. C .; Nathaniel died in his youth; Col. John Ewing, in the iron business at Pittsburgh, and interested in the new iron-works being erected at Canonsburg; Mary L., wife of Rev. Henry Woods, D.D., Professor of Latin in Washing- ton and Jefferson College; Ann Ellen, died young ; James Blaine (2), who also died in early years ; Samuel Blaine, now farming upon the "Meadow Lands." But soon after the birth of the last-named son, to wit, on Aug. 26, 1840, the mother of this family died at the new residence in Washington.

On Aug. 12, 1845, Mr. Ewing again married. His sec- ond wife was Margaret C., daughter of Richard Brown, who (her father dying in her infancy) was reared and educated in the family of the celebrated minister, Bishop H. B. Bascom, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of this union there have been two children, -- Clara Bascom, born June 20, 1846, and died about ten years of age; and Florence Bell, born May 25, 1858, now a bright young lady. And at this time, the sons and daughters of the former marriage all having pleasant homes and families of their own, Mr. Ewing, his present wife, and his daughter Florence form a cheerful and happy circle at the homestead.

Mr. Ewing in earlier years was much in public life. In 1835-36, with Joseph Lawrence and Edward Mc- Donald, he was a member from this county of the House of Representatives at Harrisburg; he was for four years a State senator, from 1838 to 1842; and for two sessions, 1844-45 and 1845-46, represented the then congressional district of Washington and Beaver Counties in the United States House of Representa- tives, and again was he brought into contact with the great men of the land, Clay, Webster, Calhoun, and others.

Besides the building of the National road (generally called the Cumberland road), Mr. Ewing has been prominently identified with another public enter- prise of great importance to Washington County. As early as 18311 he was associated with Hon. Thomas H. Baird in the contemplated construction of a rail- road up the Chartiers Valley ; the latter gentleman taking the leading part, and chiefly at his own expense procuring a survey to be made by Charles De Hass, a civil engineer of that day. The people were not then ready to support the undertaking, and it was aban- doned, to be renewed again thirty years afterwards, when, after the road-bed was partly graded, a failure again followed. Not until 1869 was a successful effort made and the road constructed by the Chartiers Valley Railway Company. From the very beginning of these enterprises Mr. Ewing has been a prominent actor, and chiefly to his efforts and personal sacrifice is the final success to be attributed.

After declining a renomination for Congress in 1846, Mr. Ewing did not again enter public life, but, outside of the public enterprises in which he was engaged, has devoted himself to his private business, which has been somewhat extensive. His farm on the Char- tiers, comprising about six hundred acres, is under- laid much of it with the best quality of bituminous coal, the mining and sale of which he personally superintends. He also owns a large tract of land near Burton Station, on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- road, in West Virginia, which is devoted to sheep- and wool-growing.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 140

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