History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 152

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 152

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1 With reference to this matter of Cul. Canon's alleged participation in the Williamson expedition, the following letter (received at the last mo- ment before going to press) explains itself, viz .: . "FRANKLIN ELLIS, ESQ. :

"DEAR SIR,-I desire a short space in your ' History of Washington County, Pa.,' in which I may correct a misstatement which appears in a note in the ' History of Westmoreland County, Pa.,' lately published by your house, of which history I had, by arrangement with the pub- Jisher, the nominal editorship. In the preparation and arrangement of this work I had a number of collaborators, who gathered their informa- tion, particularly that of a detailed or local character, from various sources. In, a note to the account of Williamson's expedition to the Moravian towns it is stated that Col. John Canon was at that time county lieutenant of Washington County, and that as such he accom- panied the expedition. This erroneous statement was traceable, as I was informed upon inquiry, to a controversial article (or a series of ar- ticles) published in the Pittsburgh papers during the summer of 1881.

Col. Canon received a Virginia certificate for his land in February, 1780, which was returned to him and recorded on the 12th of May in that year. This land lay along the Chartiers Valley, and embraces Canonsburg and vicinity on the north side of Char- tiers Creek. One tract was surveyed Nov. 26, 1786, containing four hundred and six acres, and named "Canon Hill." Another was surveyed Dec. 2, 1786, containing four hundred and twenty-three acres, named " Abbington." Still another was surveyed Feb. 25, 1788, containing three hundred and sixty- three acres, and named "Sugar-Tree Grove," making an area of eleven hundred and ninety-two acres, with six per cent. allowance for roads.

It is not known at what time he built the mill at Canonsburg, but probably in the summer of 1781, as at the first term of court held in Washington County, October 2d in that year, viewers were appointed to view a road "from John Canon, his mill, to Pitts- burgh." About nine years later John Canon loaded two boats with flour from his mill, and sent them to New Orleans. Mrs. Jane C. Patterson, wife of the Rev. Robert Patterson, and daughter of Col. John Canon, often related the incident as coming within her recollection. The Pittsburgh Gazette of May 15, 1790, contains an article on the navigation of Char- tiers Creek, in which the incident is mentioned as fol- lows : " About five or six days since, a number of men to the amount of thirteen left Canonsburg, on Char-

This error appears, as I have said, in a foot-note, but makes no part of the text of the Westmoreland history, which was made up from earlier and uncontroverted authorities.

" Since the publication of the Westmoreland history I have had occa - sion to examine into the subject, and I am convinced that, as a matter of fact, Col. Jolin Canon was not county lieutenant in 1782, and that at the time of the expedition he was at Philadelphia attending the sessions of the General Assembly, of which he was a member, and that it was of course a physical impossibility that he could have accompanied that expedition.

"The early date in February, 1782, at which he must have left Wash- ington County on his journey to Philadelphia also precluded the possi- bility of his having known anything about the Williamson expedition, or even of the Indian incursions which caused it. And it is but simple justice to add that there was nothing in Col. Canon's life or character to warrant a supposition that he would have been an accomplice in such an atrocity.

" This correction and explanation is given from a sense of justice and right, being satisfied that the authorities upon which the statement was founded and upon which it was shaped and given to the compilers of our history were not trustworthy, were erroneous, and calculated to mislead. I do not, of course; believe that any serious harm would be done from the passing notice of Col. Canon's name made in this con- nection, but for fear there should be I earnestly desire you to allow the correction to be made at this, the earliest opportunity. I would further say that all the extracts furnished in said history from other histories, from records and other documents, were prepared by copyists, and that the same assistant, misled by the same authorities referred to, and un- der the mistaken information that Col. Canon was the lieutenant and not a sub-lieutenant of the county, again alluded to the subject in a short biographical sketch elsewhere in the book. This I much deplore, and especially as it was utterly impossible, from more than one reason, for me to critically examine the copy as it passed through the hands of the printer.

" Yours, etc.,

" G. D. ALBERT,

"Editor of L. H. Everts' ' History of Westmoreland County, Pa.,' " GREENSBURG, PA., Sept. 1, 1882."

603

CANONSBURG BOROUGH.

tiers Creek, and with the advantage of a rising flood conducted two boats from thence in about twelve hours to the Ohio River. One was large and heavy, built for the purpose of carrying flour to New Orleans, forty- seven feet in length and twelve in breadth, a small part of the cargo to the amount of forty barrels on board; the other a barge, twenty-five feet in length, built for the genteel reception of passengers. The ' amazing facility with which these boats passed down the creek to the mouth, their safe crossing of two mill- dams, one of which was about twelve feet high, with the rudeness of the creek in its natural state, especially at the falls, sufficiently show what immense advantage might arise to thousands of people in the county of Washington were the Legislature to attend to the improvement of its navigation." About the same time a load of flour was sent down the stream by David Bradford from his mill farther up the stream. These facts were brought to the notice of the Legisla- ture, and on the 8th of April, 1793, an act was passed declaring Chartiers Creek a public highway for boats and rafts from its mouth to David Bradford's mill.

In 1791, Mr. Canon was interested in the organiza- tion of the Canonsburg Academy. He presented the lot on which the school-house now stands, and erected thereon a stone building for an academy, for which the trustees were to reimburse him. On the 1st of December, 1796, a deed was made by Mr. Canon and his wife to the trustees of the academy, conveying to them the lot and building. This lot contained two acres and thirty-two perches. One half an acre of it was reserved for the use of an English school.

He lived to see the academy well established, and died Nov. 6, 1798, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. In a notice of his death published at the time he was mentioned as " in private life a steady and disinter- ested friend, and in public an inflexible patriot ; as he lived respected, so he died lamented."

He had eight children, of whom four were by his first wife, viz., Abigail, William, Jane, Joshua, and John, Jr. He married for his second wife a Mrs. Mercer, by whom he had three children,-Samuel, Margaret, and Ann. Of the descendants of Col. John Canon but little is known; there are none of his descendants bearing his name now living in this section of country. The last survivor of his children was Mrs. Jane C. Patterson, the wife of the Rev. Robert Patterson, who died March 15, 1858, in her eightieth year. She was born Dec. 20, 1778, and was the third child. She married Robert Patterson, a student at the Academy of Canonsburg. He after- wards became a minister in the Presbyterian Church. Ann, a daughter of Col. Canon by the second wife, married a student who became a minister. Samuel emigrated west. Margaret never married. Mrs. Canon survived her husband many years. In the latter part of her life she became quite poor, the quit-rents left for her support being worthless.

At the laying out of the town of Canonsburg it will be noticed by the plat that Dr. Thompson, Daniel McCoy, David Gault, Andrew Munroe, and Craig Ritchie were purchasers of lots. Dr. Hugh Thompson was an early settler in Peters township, where he owned a large tract of land, and practiced medicine over a large section of country. Daniel McCoy was a shoemaker ; David Gault was a tanner. Andrew Munroe was in the county about 1780, and was with Col. Crawford in the Sandusky expedition. Soon after the purchase of his lot in 1787 he built upon it a log tavern, which he kept for several years, and also carried on the nailing business. The tavern was on the southwest corner of College and Main Streets, now owned by Mrs. John E. Black. A frame addition was afterwards made to it. In 1800 he was assessed on property to the amount of twelve hundred and five dollars. In 1814 he opened a book-store. His stock of books and stationery was supplied by William McCullough, bookseller, of Philadelphia, and was sold on com- mission. In the spring of 1816, Mr. Mccullough died, and the stock in possession of Andrew Munroe was sold at auction by Mr. Munroe on an order from the executors of the estate of Mccullough. On the 27th of May, the same year, Munroe opened a book-store on his own account in the same place, which he continued for many years. In 1815 he was appointed postmaster, and held the position till his death, about 1846. He was succeeded by his wife. John E. Black, well known by the older citizens, was the son of Mrs. Munroe by a first husband. A daughter of Andrew Munroe became the wife of the Rev. James Coon, a minister of the Associate Re- formed Church.

Henry Westbay, a native of Ireland, emigrated to this country with his wife and two children, and settled for a time in Chambersburg, and removed to a high ridge known as the Knob, seven miles west, where he lived several years. About 1790 he came to Washington County, and lived three years on a farm that belonged to Thomas Hutchinson, in Char- tiers township. In 1793 he moved to Canonsburg, and the next year opened a tavern known as the " Black Horse." During this year the tavern became noted in the time of the Whiskey Insurrection, and on the 8th of September, 1795, he advertised in the Washington Telegraph that he carried on the "nail- ing business in Canonsburg at the sign of the 'Black Horse.'" He continued the business and kept the tavern till 1814, when he removed to Washington with his daughter, Mrs. George Kuntz, and died there, aged over eighty years. His wife survived him a few years, and died in her ninety-fourth year. They had two daughters and five sons,-Henry, Thomas, James, Samuel, and Joseph. Of these James lived here a short time after his father re- moved, and kept the tavern. The rest of the family removed East and West. Elizabeth, one of the daugh-

604

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ters, married George Kuntz, of Washington, where she removed, and where she still lives. Michael and James Kuntz, of Washington, are her sons.

Craig Ritchie, whose name also appears as a pur- chaser in 1787, was born in Glasgow, Dec. 29, 1758; emigrated to this country in 1772, and when thirty years of age married Mary Price. He came to this section of country before 1782, as he was with Col. William Crawford in the Sandusky expedition in that year. Immediately upon the purchase of the lot in Canonsburg he opened a store and carried on the mercantile business for many years. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1784, and served in the Legislature of the State in 1793-95. He was also one of the first trustees of Jefferson College, secretary of the board, and treasurer. He died at Canonsburg, June 13, 1833, aged seventy-five years, and left a large family. Rev. Andrew Wylie, president of Jef- ferson and Washington Colleges, married the eldest daughter. Rev. Samuel F. Leake also married a daughter. Elizabeth became the wife of Dr. Jona- than Leatherman, and settled in Canonsburg. An- other daughter became the wife of Dr. George Her- riot. Drs. Leatherman and Herriot both practiced in Canonsburg, and died there. Abigail and Jane, also daughters of Craig Ritchie, lived and died un- married.

John, a son of Craig Ritchie, removed to New Or- leans, and finally to Texas, where he died. David studied law, and practiced in Pittsburgh, and died there. He was at one time member of Congress from that district. William, another son, removed to Wheeling, where he died. Craig Ritchie, the young- est son, remained at Canonsburg, and carried on the mercantile business at the old place, where the Ritchie Block now stands. Later he went to Wheeling, Va., where he married Mrs. Chickering, and remained a number of years. He returned to Canonsburg, and lived there till his death. His widow still resides in Canonsburg, and his son, William H. S. Ritchie, is a merchant on the site where his father and grand- father kept store before him.

In the year 1790, John Todd, who was a cooper, settled in the town, and carried on his business for many years. The manufacture of flour and whiskey gave him plenty of employment. In August, 1795, Joseph Blakely informed the public in an advertise- ment "that he has set up the trade of coverlid and diaper weaving, with all kinds of flowered cottons, dimities, and stuffs." There were others who were there prior to the erection of the borough, whose names and occupations will be found in the history of the town plats.

Among the names which appear on the first assess- ment-roll of the borough (in 1802) are those of a firm known as Darr & Ogle, who were the largest property- owners in the town, and were assessed on two thou- sand four hundred dollars. Their names are found the next year (1803), and then disappear. No knowl-

edge is obtained of their business or what became of them. The name of James Murdoch also appears. He had a son Austin, who moved to Sewickley and now resides there. John Speer, a son of Alexander Speer, resided here, as did Thomas, who was a mer- chant and the first clerk of the Council. John Wat- son was a blacksmith, and opened a shop where Stew- art's Block now stands. He was a member of the first Borough Council, burgess from 1830 to 1834, inclusive, and justice of the peace in District No. 5 from April 14, 1809, many years. Thomas Watson, an only son, settled in Montana, where he now lives. Mrs. Jane Martin and Mrs. Mary Miller are daughters. The Rev. John Watson, the first president of Jefferson College, is also assessed in 1802. He married a daugh- ter of Rev. Dr. McMillan, and died in that year.

Joseph Pentecost, a son of Dorsey Pentecost, was a lawyer. He owned a lot in Canonsburg, on which he erected a brick house, adjoining the property of Henry Westbay and the market-house. On the 19th of December, 1806, he sold the property to Dr. Samuel Murdoch, and removed to the borough of Washing- ton. William Clarke was a resident of the town some years before its erection as a borough, and in 1801 was postmaster, which position he held for several years. He was a member of the first Council. Francis Ir- win, who kept tavern in 1794, was still a resident of the town in 1802. At that time the widow of John Canon resided on the lot now owned and occupied by John T. Roberts. William and Joshua Canon, sons of John Canon, and two daughters resided with her.

Thomas Briceland was assessed on property in the town in 1802, but his residence was a little way north of the borough. He was a member of the first Council and a resident of this vicinity many years previous. The following is a copy of an interesting and ancient paper found some twenty-five or thirty years ago in the old Briceland mansion, which formerly stood in Chartiers township, near where Thomas Archer now lives, by Mr. John Roberts, of this place. Mr. Rob- erts was engaged in removing the house when he dis- covered the paper between the flooring and a joist of the second floor, where it had doubtless been placed for safety many years previous and forgotten. It will be observed that many of the names are those of the ancestors of those still living in the community. Some of these names are, however, now spelled dif- ferently. A number of these names have a dash passed through them by the pen, which was the only means they had of indicating absentees. These are indicated by an asterisk. The writing is a beautiful, round, old-style script, and is remarkably well pre- served for a document which has been in existence for so long a time :

A roll of Capt. Tho" Brisland's company of militia for the year 1788.

Sam1 Criswell.

Andw Colhoon.

Ja" Keasy.

Michael Bready.

Joseph Ross.

Jnº Glyna.

Willm Carson.

Willm Taylor.

Jnº Buchanon.

Ja' Hamilton,

CANONSBURG BOROUGH.

605

Juo Henry.

Hugh Wilson.

Thon Clerk.

The M'Cord.

Willm Hunter.

Hugh Johnston. Benjamin Morrison. Willm M'Cune.

Willm M'Grenachan .* Jacob Wenver.

Melchor Hosser.

Jus Allison .*

Joseph Divin .*

David Johnston.

Jno Lowther .*

Allez M'Colm. Jus M'Feir .*

Laurence Pendergrass. Jacob Singer.

Evin Mincher.

Jaª Rooney.

ALm Lochridge.

Col. Ferguson. Patrik Boland.

George Smith. Archibald Kenedy. Patrick M'Gunagle.

Jnº Gooseman .*

Jacob Petterman.

Moses foster .*

Jaª Kinkend *

Enoch Bradley .* Rob& Thornbury.$

Daniel Crossen. Thomas M'Cord .*

Hugh Wilson .*

Jnº Giffin .* Ilobt Giffin. Robe Blain.

Thua Duncan. Geo Kuip. Juº Montgomerey. Peter Summary .* Robt Mason .*

Smith George .*

Willm Armour. Thos Wallace. Willm Barker.

Juº Roadpauch.

Willm Armstrong.

Rob' Barclay. Robt Gonger.

Ja" Scoby.

Saml Jackson.

Jnº Underwood.

Jnº Turtle.

Willm Brown,

Juo M'Hooney. Hamilton.

George Brown.

Jnº Chester.

Moses Foster.

Francis M'Donald.

Thomas Briceland had two sons, John and James. James, the eldest, was mentioned in the assessment- roll of 1802. A few years later he removed to Han- over township, and built at what is now known as Florence. He opened a tavern at the cross-roads, and the place was known for many years as Brice- land Cross-Roads. Later he removed to Washington, and finally to Steubenville, Ohio, where he died. John kept a hotel in Canonsburg many years, now the Sherman House. John, Garland, and Sarah Briceland, residents of Canonsburg, are children of John Briceland. Reynolds Neill was a merchant, and lived on the northwest corner of College and Main Streets, where he resided and kept store till about 1840.

In 1802, George McCook lived opposite the college on Main Street, and later moved to Ohio. He had two sons, Daniel and George. Daniel was the father of the famous " fighting family" of McCook. George became a physician, practiced here for a short time, and moved to New Lisbon, Ohio. John Murphy was a harness-maker, and lived on the west side of Main Street, where Mr. Algeo now lives. His son John taught school in the borough. A daughter became the wife of William Marshall, and lived and died in the town. Gilbert McAfee lived where John Brice- land, his son-in-law, now resides. Henry McAfee, his son, was burgess and justice of the peace, and died in the borough.

William White, a member of the first Council, was a cabinet-maker, and resided on the southeast corner of College and Green Streets, where Henry McPeak now resides. He left several children, of whom Dr. John White, long a physician of Hickory, in Mount Pleasant township, was one. George Land lived on Pitt Street, where his son George now resides.

Dr. Samuel Murdoch, a son of John Murdoch, of Strabane township, was the burgess of the borough from its organization till 1817. In 1806 he purchased the brick house of Joseph Pentecost, where he resided till his removal to the borough of Washington. He was prominent in the improvement and business in- terests of the town. He married a daughter of the Rev. Matthew Henderson. Alexander Murdoch, his brother, also married a daughter of the Rev. Matthew Henderson, He became the proprietor of the old Canon mill property, and resided there until his re- moval to Washington. He was elected justice of the peace April 2, 1804. More extended mention will be found of Dr. Samuel and Alexander Murdoch in the borough of Washington.

Daniel McGill, a native of Ireland, was married in 1765, and remained thirty years afterwards in that country, where his seven children were born. He emigrated to this country with his wife in the year 1796, and settled in Canonsburg, where he bought a lot containing three acres fronting on Pitt Street, now owned by George. L. Scott. Here they lived till the close of their lives in 1819, with but a day's differ- ence between their deaths. They were buried in what is now Oak Spring Cemetery. The children of Daniel who came to this country with their parents were John, Jenny, Peggy, Eliza, and Hugh. They all set- tled near Canonsburg except Eliza, who married George Marshman. All were married and raised families of children except Jenny. John McGill, the eldest, emigrated to this country a short time be- fore his father. He married Mary Taggart in Ire- land. Her brother Samuel also came to this town, and settled here. John McGill was elected high constable of the borough. In 1805 he owned a horse-mill ; in 1809 he kept a tavern. Later he moved to the Bow- land farm in Chartiers township, and afterwards re- turned to Canonsburg, and resided where Mrs. Denny now lives, and where he died. His children were Mary, John, Nancy, Jane, Alexander F., and Hugh. John settled in Pittsburgh. He was a cabinet-maker, and later a druggist. Nancy became the wife of John Haft, of Chartiers township. Jane married Moses Walker.

Alexander T. McGill was born in Canonsburg about the year 1808. After his parents removed to Chartiers township he attended school at Plum Run. Later he attended Jefferson College, and graduated. He was elected tutor in the college in February, 1827, and served one year, when he resigned on account of ill health, and went to Milledgeville, Ga .; while there I he taught an academy one year. While in that State

Jnº Arthurs.

Thoe Donley.

Jonathan Walker.

Juº Crast. Hugh Neal. Richd Greenfeild .* Enoch Bradly. Jnº Pully.

Jnº Frongh. Robt Haslett. Jnº Haslett. Chas Pattison.

Jas Armour.

Jnº Bryson.

Rob' Skinner.

C06

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

he was appointed chief of surveyors who surveyed the Cherokee lands. He returned to Canonsburg, and studied theology under the Rev. Dr. James Ramsey. At the close of his studies he married Ellen, daughter of George Mccullough, whose mother was a sister of Thomas and David Acheson, of Washington. Soon after this he settled as pastor over a Seceder Church in Carlisle, and later went to the Presbyterian Church, and became pastor of a congregation in that city. In the year 1842 he was called to a professorship in the theological seminary at Allegheny City, where he re- mained about ten years, when his health failed, and he retired from active duty for a year, at the end of which time he was called to a professorship in Prince- ton Theological Seminary, which position he still holds. Hugh McGill, the brother of John, married Agnes, daughter of Matthew Bowland, and settled in Canonsburg. He was a shoemaker, and carried on business where his son Hugh now lives and carries on the same business.

John Roberts emigrated to this country from Vir- ginia. His name first appears in 1804 on the assess- ment-roll as owner of a house and field; the next year he was assessed on two houses and outlots. He went into the mercantile business in a building that stood where the brick part of the building first below the school-house now stands. He built the stone build- ing as a residence in 1807. In 1810 he owned a brew- house, and also carried on distilling. In 1816 he sold his house and lot to Abraham Latimore, and moved to a place which is now occupied by Hiles' shoe-store. He lived there until his death in 1821. Of his chil- dren, John, Jr., settled in Canonsburg, and was a teacher there in 1806. He was also Assistant Profes- sor of Mathematics in Jefferson College for a short time. He died in Canonsburg. Abraham, who was also a teacher in 1816 and 1817, rented the rooms in Canonsburg, where he taught. He died in 1828. His son, John Roberts, of Canonsburg, is now (1882) county commissioner. William became a Covenanter preacher in Rochester, N. Y. Edmund, who was a physician, died in Harrisburg, Pa. James, also a physician, died in Ottawa, Ill., in 1832.

George Kirk was a native of Ireland. He came to this country with his wife, whom he married in Lon- donderry, in 1796. They settled east of the moun- tains for some time, and afterwards came to this county and made their home on the Pentecost lands. In 1811 he purchased a house and lot in Canonsburg, which Mr. Campbell now owns, situated opposite the college on Main Street. He lived there until his dis- appearance and death in 1813. In that year he went to the East with horses, in company with two young men of Canonsburg, Dr. McFarland and Dr. George McCook. . When at the South Mountain House, where they remained overnight, the young men did see Mr. Kirk when they rose in the morning. An examination and inquiry developed the fact that some time during the night he had arisen from his

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 152

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