History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 144

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 144

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After encountering the various vicissitudes usually met with in trav- eling in those days, the party arrived at Parkison's Ferry on the even- ing of Oct. 7, 1805. The following morning the father, as was his usual custom, arose at an carly hour, to see that everything was in readiness for another day's journey. He had aroused other members of the family, and while conversing with some of them was suddenly stricken with apoplexy, and expired the same evening, aged sixty-two years. His dy- ing intestate made it necessary for the members of his family to remain bere some time. So au unoccupied house (Samuel Black's old red trad- ing-post) was rented and occupied. ' Yet not many days had elapsed ere all those comprising this family were ill from the effects of malaria, ex- posure, etc., incident to their journey.

The nearest regular physicians were at Greensburg or Brownsville. A kind of quack practitioner, however (Michael Miller), resided back in the country at no great distance away, and as drowning men clutch at straws he was called. He came. The Butler family, every one of them, looked sallow and pale enough. This wise man soon learned that they came from a section but twenty-five miles distant from Philadel- phis. He had heard, also, that some eight or ten years previously the yellow fever had raged in that city. Thereupon "Dr." Miller an- nounced to the afflicted members of the family that they were suffering with the yellow fever. Going out into the streets of the hamlet, he also, 1 in the most profound manner, told the frightened denizens that Yellow

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was the youngest, and is now the only survivor, crossed the river at Parkison's Ferry (on their way westward to the mouth of the Big Miami), and re- ceived entertainment at the inn of George Trout. Sickness among all the members of this family, how- ever, and the death of the father and two sons, caused the survivors to remain here during the fol- lowing winter.

Jack was in their midst. A panie ensued. Mr. Black was denounced for having allowed the Butler family to occupy his building, and was soon waited upon by a self-appointed deputation, who informed him that the Butlers must remove therefrom at once, etc. Mr. Black re- quested that his premises be vacated.

At this juncture Nathan Chalfant, a boat-builder, came forward and offered the Butlers the shelter of a dwelling owned by him (which now forms part of Alexander Wilson's ancient warehouse), where Mr. Chal- fant vowed they should remain unmolested. To this building, then, the family moved and passed the winter. It was a very sad one to them though, for two more of their number died, viz., Noble and Isaac. Meanwhile Dr. Merchant, of Greensburg, had been summoned to at- tend the family, and it was only when he announced that they were merely suffering from an aggravated form of malarial or intermittent fever, brought on by exposure, water, etc., to which they were unaccus- tumed, and had most bitterly denounced "Dr." Miller (who meantime had enjoyed a lucrative business by preparing and selling an antidote for the yellow fever, composed, as Dr. Merchant demonstrated, of brick dust and some other ingredients equally efficacious), that the fear of the villagers was allayed.

In the spring of 1806 Jonathan and Benjamin Butler engaged in the mercantile business. Subsequently Jonathan followed farming, own- ing three hundred acres where the Black Diamond Coal-Works are situ- ated, but finally removed to Indiana, where some members of his family have become prominent. Benjamin removed to Pittsburgh about 1822, but was soon after killed by the overturning of a stage near Wash- ington, Pa. Joel Butler was also engaged for a while in merchandising with his brother Benjamin. The former died at the residence of Ira Butler in 1845, Joseph Butler was a member of Capt. Warne's com- pany during the war of 1812-14. He continued as a resident of Wil- liamsport until his death. So also did Abner Butler, the cabinet-maker. Their mother died here at the age of eighty-two years, and their sister, Mrs. Woodward, attained the age of ninety-four years.

Capt. Ira R. Butler, the only survivor of the family of sixteen per- sons which left the limits of Chester County and journeyed to the left bank of the Monongahela nearly seventy-seven years ago, still resides on his farm, which being distant about five miles from Monongahela City, overlooks a beautiful scope of country and the town which was the scene of his early labors. For two years after his arrival at Wil- liamsport, Mr. Butler availed himself of such educational advantages as the place afforded. He then learned the saddlery business, and con- tinued at it until the spring of 1814, when in consequence of Jung troubles his physician advised him to seek some other occupation at once. The position of a supercargo of a vessel of cartel plying the waters of the great lakes while engaged in exchange of prisoners of war, etc., was then offered him and accepted. He at once recovered his health, and continued on the lakes some, two or three years.

Returning to Williamsport he became an employé of the veteran boat- builder, Robert Beebe, whose boat-yard occupied the site of Yohe, Corrin & Co.'s planing-mill, etc. Mr. Butler was a close observer, however, his later experience was of considerable benefit too, and he soon became proficient in the business of boat-building, and a partner of Mr. Beebe. No large steamboats though were built at this yard. The first large boat, the " Hercules," was built by this firm (Capt. Peter Shouse being a member) on the site of the present grist-mill. Afterwards several quite large boats were built by the same firm in the hollow or old bed of the creek, some thirty rods above the grist-mill. Messrs. Beebe and Butler also built boats at Elizabeth, and later, towards the year 1840, re- turned to Williamsport and built several boats for William Ihmsen in the hollow before mentioned.

Capt. Butler was married to Miss Mary Boyd, of Chester Co., Pa., June 14, 1822, and of ten children born to him, five daughters and three sons survive. Maj. Howe, killed in action near Appomattox, Va., April 8, 1865, was a son-in-law. Capt. Butler gave up boat-building in 1840, and removed to his present residence in 1841.

With the coming of the spring season of 1806 further journeying toward the mouth of the Big Miami was indefinitely postponed. The Butlers set- tled down at Williamsport, and have since been iden- tified with its history. (See note.)

According to the recollections of Capt. Butler, there were then not more than fifteen dwellings in the town, and the residents and business men were about as fol- lows: Joseph Parkison, innkeeper and ferry-master ; Warne (James) & Parkison (William), merchants ; William Irwin,1 merchant; Peter Boss, merchant ; Adam and Simon Hailman, the former being post- master ; George Trout, innkeeper; Nathan Chalfant, boat-builder ; Joseph McClure, cabinet-maker ; John Smith, cabinet-maker; McFerren, a tailor; Abner Beadle, blacksmith ; Samuel Black, merchant ; Adam Wickerham; Andrew B. Chess was his son-in-law, and the wife of United States Senator Miller, of Cali- fornia, is a granddaughter; and there was, besides, a vacant house owned by Robert Williams.

Of course the population was considerably aug- mented by the settlement of the Butler family, and its business interests, too, for in the spring of 1806 Jonathan and Benjamin Butler became merchants, while the other brothers began work at their indi- vidual trades. Of other early settlers, Dr. Joseph Rose,2 a practicing physician, and Frederick Layman, a German tailor, came during the year 1807. Æneas Graham, a tailor, settled about 1809, and Charles Bollman, merchant, in 1810.

As indicating further the energy and force possessed by the few inhabitants then gathered at Williamsport, we give place to the following copy of a "notice":

" WILLIAMSPORT, May 22, 1810.

"Notice is given for those gentlemen interested in promoting the business of the community to attend at the house of John Berrie, Inn- keeper, in the Town of Williamsport, June 23d, at 1 o'clock, to consult and adopt a plan for the purpose of building a Steam Mill in the Town of Williamsport by an association or company."

It has been stated that in 1810 the town contained "about five hundred inhabitants." This statement seems hardly probable though, when we consider that its limits were comparatively insignificant, that it contained no manufactories of any moment, no steamboats were yet plying upon the river, and that thirty years later, during the days of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," $ when two glass manufactories as well as a considerable number of minor industries were in active operation, and when the "Moxahala" and other steamers were making daily trips between Pitts- burgh and Monongahela City, the town contained but seven hundred and fifty-two inhabitants,

1 Irwin had formerly been a clerk for Samuel Black.

2 Dr. Rose, although not a graduate of any medical school, was quite successful as a practitioner of medicine, and the first physician to locate here. He married a Miss Nicholson. Subsequently he removed to Perryopolis.

3 During the exciting days of 1840 the Whig "log cabin" stood on the corner now occupied by the bank building of the Messrs. Alexander & Co.

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MONONGAHELA CITY.

Among those, however, who were owners of lots and residents at that time, or in years very soon there- after, and have not already been mentioned, were Thomas Officer, a merchant, George White (who suc- ceeded Adam Hailman as postmaster on the death of the latter in 1813), John Berrie, innkeeper ; John Hazelbaker, teacher; Joshua Pennel, teacher; Wil- liam Prime, boat-builder ; Dr. Samuel M. King, Dr. Jeremiah Brooks, and Dr. James Pollock, all of whom were prominent and widely-known physicians ; James Mitchell, proprietor of the " East End of Wil- liamsport ;" James Gordon, Esq.,1 an early merchant ; William Hunter, John Eckles, Robert McGrew, James McGrew, James Freeman, William Chalfant, Johnson Chalfant, Jesse Robb, John Watkins, Wash- ington Palmer, William Crookham, William P. Biles, Henry Pinkney, John Bridge, Francis Scott, Samuel Barnett, Alexander Jones, William Dalrymple, James Dougherty, Andrew Nicholson, Crawford Dally, Is- rael Pancoast, William Wallace, Samuel Speaker, William Doyle, John Lefler, James P. Stewart, mer- chant; Capt. John Shouse, Peter Shouse,2 and Rob- ert Beebe, boat-builders, and William Ihmsen, glass- manufacturer, who probably did more to make busi- day.

The citizens of the ambitious little town of Wil- liamsport, on the Monongahela, were not a whit be- hind others in the American Union at this juncture, and as a result of the martial spirit prevailing Capt. James Warne's company of infantry, known as the " Williamsport Rangers," and . Capt. John Shouse's troop of horse were speedily organized, and as well ness prosperous in the town than any other in his , equipped as it was then possible to do. This speck

1 At the age of eighty-five years, Hon. James Gordon died at the resi- dence of his son in Cookstown, Pa., March 6, 1866. He became a resi- dent of Williamsport (now Monongahela City) in June, 1810. Soon after he established the first Sunday-school ever organized in the place, under a great deal of opposition from people who said "the children should have at least one day in the week to themselves." For more than forty years he was an efficient and acceptable ruling elder in the church. During a long life of usefulness in the church and State he maintained a character as a man and Christian singularly blameless and elevated, wielding an influence for good in every sphere in which he moved.

With credit to himself and great acceptance to his constituency he filled various public offices. Appointed a justice of the peace by Gover- nor Snyder, he served in that capacity for thirty-five years. Governor . Shunk appointed him associate judge for Washington County, which position be occupied for five years, and with so much satisfaction that the members of the Washington County bar presented him with an ele- gant cane at the expiration of his term. He was a member of the electoral college which placed Andrew Jackson in the Presidential chair for the first time. Governor Porter appointed him appraiser of damages on the public works, and he also filled the office of county register by appointment from the same source. He was a county com- missioner as early as 1813, and some years afterwards was elected county auditor. As a member of the board of revenue commissioners he repre- sented his district at Harrisburg in 1857.

From 1825 to 1863 he was a trustee of Jefferson College. In February, 1810, he was married in Washington, Pa., by Rev. Dr. Brown to Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Sheriff Officer, by whom he had nine children. Under his father-in-law he served as deputy sheriff, and during the time conveyed to the penitentiary at Philadelphia thirty-three convicts, going over the mountains on horseback with his prisoners, escorted by a mounted guard.

His son, Rev. Thomas P. Gordon, was a Presbyterian minister. He also had two sons-in-law who were Presbyterian ministers, viz., Rev. James Sloan (father of Dr. James G. Sloan, of Monongahela City) and Rev. W. P. Harshe. Another son, Dr. James Gordon, is a resident of Fayette City (formerly Cookstown), Pa.

During the years which immediately succeeded the close of the war of the Revolution, American com- merce on the high seas had continually been crippled by the studied acts of those in command of British war-vessels. Our merchant ships were boarded in mid-ocean, native American seamen were forcibly taken therefrom and compelled to do menial service under the detested flag of Britain, while at the prin- cipal foreign seaports American naval officers were the frequent recipients of British insult. An intense feeling of indignation had been aroused throughout the republic, and it only needed the perpetration of the outrage of July 18, 1807, when a British man-of- war fired into the United States frigate "Chesapeake" to make the American yeomanry assemble at every village and cross-roads, to organize as soldiers, and clamor for war against the tyrants of the ocean.

of war passed away, however, or rather the dogs of war were held in abeyance for a few years, but the companies commanded by Capts. Warne and Shouse maintained their organizations until called upon to perform actual service in the field. Meanwhile they held regular meetings for muster and drill, had their days of festivity and social enjoyment, and invariably celebrated the national holiday in July of each year. Hence in an early Washington County newspaper we find the following :

" Parkison's Ferry, July 4, 1811. The Williamsport Rangers, com- manded by Capt. James Warne, assembled at 10 o'clock A.M. After performing various military tactics they were dismissed until 3 o'clock P.M., when all met at the house of Mr. Joseph Parkison and partook of an elegant dinner. Gen. John Hamilton and Joseph Becket snº Esq., oc- cupied seats at the head of the table, and thirteen toasts were given."

The attitude assumed by Great Britain at last be- came unbearable, and on the 18th day of June; 1812, war was declared by the United States against the former power. Hostile movements began, and in the latter part of the summer Capt. Shouse's troop of horse joined a Washington County expeditionary force, and proceeded as far as New Lisbon, Ohio, where, being satisfied that no advantage could be gained by going farther, this command returned home as elsewhere narrated. In the mean time the " Williamsport Rangers" had held themselves in readiness to march at an hour's notice.

In August, 1812, the citizens of the northeastern part of Washington County held a mass-meeting at Ginger Hill, for the purpose of obtaining a sufficient number of volunteers to fill the quota called for by the general government, who had determined to place a larger body of six-months volunteers on the Cana-

2 Peter Shouse and Robert Beebe were married to sisters by the name of Vandever. Shouse built one of the first steamboats that plied on the waters of the Monongahela. Subsequently he founded the town of Shousetown, on the Ohio River.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

dian frontier. Capt. Warne's company of Rangers was present at this meeting, and when the call for volunteers was made more than enough of its mem- bers stepped to the front to fill the quota required. Preparations were at once made for the march towards Buffalo, N. Y. At Meadville, Pa., troops from Bed- ford County joined the column, and in the consolida- tion which resulted Capt. James Warne became major of the battalion. Lieut. William Hunter was pro- moted to captain of the Rangers, and all subordinate officers in the company were promoted one grade higher.

In due course of time these troops reached "head- quarters," which was on the right bank of the Niagara River, opposite Fort Erie. Through the inefficiency of the general officers in immediate command, how- ever, the campaign on the frontier was an utter failure, and the " Rangers," with other troops there assembled, passed the greater portion of their time in the field in dismal, unhealthful encampments. On two or three occasions they took their seats in the boats, expecting to be landed on the Canadian shore, and from thence led to an assault of the enemy's position; but the or- ders to advance were as often countermanded, when partly executed, and no portion of the command crossed the river. It has been related that but one member of Capt. Hunter's company objected to cross- ing the river. He was a Teuton by birth, and in words far exceeding in style and volubility Emmett's "Fritz," vigorously denounced the contemplated invasion, say- ing that when he enlisted he was told that he would not be called upon to leave the limits of the United States. It is very probable though that if the " Rangers" had crossed the river the Dutchman would have been a Ranger too, and that his range would not have extended to any great distance from his file-leader.

The First Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, to which Capt. Hunter's company was attached, re- mained on the Northern frontier until the beginning of the winter of 1812-13, when, no preparations hav- ing been made for winter-quarters, and being but poorly supplied with camp and garrison equipage, supplies, etc., its members were allowed to return to their homes, which were reached in January, 1813. Further mention and a roll of this company will be found in that part of the general history of the county referring to the war of 1812-15.

Capt. Hunter's company arrived home weary and worn, several of them sick, and, as it seems, all had gained an experience sufficient to dampen their mili- tary ardor forever, for the Rangers were never seen on parade afterwards. "Independence Day" and the ear-splitting music of Biles' fife and Pinkney's drum even were not enough to arouse them. Their suc- cessors, however, were the "Williamsport Blues," Capt. James Pollock, a company which was formed soon after the close of the war.

Returning to take a more immediate view of mat-

ters in Williamsport, we find that in December, 1812, James Mitchell, Esq., laid out the addition known as the " East End of Williamsport," and that soon after the following-named persons became purchasers of lots in that addition : John Dobbs, lot No. 1; Peter Koel, No. 2; B. McMasters, No. 3; R. Berger, No.4; - Weaver, No. 5; B. Van Horn, No. 6; E. Jacobs, No. 7; E. Graham, No. 8; J. Dickey,1 Nos. 9 and 10; William Bushfield, No. 11; T. Jacobs, No. 14; B. Nealey, No. 15; P. Cramer, No. 16; E. Webb, No. 17; -- Tanner, No. 21; and David Mitzler, lot No. 22.

In 1813 Adam Hailman, postmaster, gave notice through the medium of the press that Williamsport, in the list of post-office towns, " is Parkison's Ferry." Hailman died February 24th of that year, and was succeeded by George White, father of Hon. J. W. F. White, of Allegheny County. On the 29th of De- cember, 1813, Adam Wickerham sold to James Manown, of Elizabeth township, Allegheny County, lots 148 and 149 in "Georgetown," being part of a tract of one hundred and forty-nine acres patented to Paul Froman, May 24, 1785, and transferred by Paul Froman to Adam Wickerham, March 13, 1792.

On the 17th day January, 1814, the Monongahela and Williamsport Manufacturing Company was char- tered. It seems that the "manufacturing company" was to be a banking institution as well, having a capital stock of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, divided into shares of fifty dollars each. It's charter was to continue until April 1, 1834. Samuel Black was named as the president of the company, and James Gordon, Esq., Joseph Rose, M.D., James McGrew, James P. Stewart, James Mitchell, Esq., William Irwin, Esq., Joseph Caldwell, David Hamil- ton, Manassa Reeves, John Finley, and James Warne directors. On the 8th of April, 1814, the mercantile firm of Gordon & Officer-i.e., James Gordon and Thomas Officer-was dissolved, and Mr. Gordon con- tinued the business.

The initiative steps towards building the first house of worship in the village were taken the same year. Thus on the 7th day of July, 1814, Joseph Parkison, in consideration of the sum of forty-five dollars, trans- ferred to James Gordon, James Hair, James Mitchell, William Irwin, David Hamilton, Robert McFarlane, John Anderson, Samuel Black, and John Cooper, " trustees for building a Presbyterian meeting-house in Williamsport," lot No. 72, containing twelve thou- sand square feet. On the same day, to the same trus- tees, in consideration of the payment of fifty dollars, Adam Wickerham transferred a tract containing six thousand six hundred square feet for the purpose of building a Presbyterian meeting-house thereon.

In 1818 a substantial bridge was erected over Pigeon Creek, "near Williamsport," and in Decem- ber, 1819, Hiram Lodge, No. 170, F. and A. M., was

1 A Mis. Dickey was a sister of Joseph Parkison.

MONONGAHELA CITY.

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instituted. This was the third Masonic lodge organ- ized in the county, and the first in Williamsport. In 1820, James Logan, James P. Stewart, George Miles, and Charles Bollman were the prominent merchants of the town, while Joseph Parkison, John Anderson, 1 the same time Samuel Devore was elected treasurer, Chambers, and Joseph Caldwell were the innkeepers.

During the years from 1815 to 1820 various manu- facturing enterprises had been projected, completed, and placed in active operation. Thus an extensive glass-manufactory, in which Maj. James Warne, Wil- liam Parkison, Benjamin and Joel Butler were inter- ested as owners, had been erected at a cost of twenty- seven thousand dollars. None of the proprietors though were practical glass manufacturers, and to them the venture proved a disastrous one. Boat- building, too, had become an important industry, and the workmen in the boat-yards of Messrs. Beebe, Shouse, Butler, and others were all actively engaged.

On the 7th of May, 1821, The Phoenix was issued by B. Brown. This was followed, June 17, 1822, by a prospectus of a weekly newspaper entitled The Journal of the Interior, to be published every Tuesday by Brown & Scott, at two dollars per annum. We are not informed whether this paper was ever actually published or not.

On the 25th of June, 1828, John Bausman's news- paper, the Pennsylvanian, was issued. In 1830 the town contained 593 inhabitants.

In 1832 (June 5th), Andrew B. Chess, Samuel Black, and William Mills (for James Mills) released "the president and managers of the 'Williamsport Bridge Company' (whenever the same shall have legal exist- ence under the law creating said company) from all claims for damages for and on account of any land or soil occupied by and in the erection of said bridge, or for any landing or ferry right which we may, and do now, possess, provided said bridge shall be erected on our or either of our premises." On the 25th of on the 16th of June following, which was set aside June, same year, James Manown relinquished certain privileges to the above-named company, "provided the site for the bridge shall be fixed above Asher Van Kirk's white house on the Island near the mouth of Pigeon Creek." He also agreed to relinquish the privilege of continuing the ferry, except in case the bridge be destroyed.

With a population of perhaps six hundred inhab- itants, the town of Williamsport was, by an act of the General Assembly, incorporated as a borough April 8, 1833. The records, however, covering the first nineteen years of the town's corporate existence have either been maliciously destroyed or most carelessly lost,1 and it is now impossible to tell who were the officers elected during those years, or what were their proceedings. One year later, or April 28, 1834, Jo- seph Parkison, the founder of the town, died at the age of nearly ninety-five years.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 144

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