History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 159

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 159

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This church is in a hopeful condition, and is quietly holding on its way and pursuing its work. It has received into its fellowship more than three hundred members. But, with a floating element in the popu- lation, it has suffered loss by removals, while some have departed from the faith and others have "fallen asleep in Christ." The present active membership is about one hundred and fifty. It maintains a flourish- ing Sunday-school of near one hundred pupils under the efficient superintendency of Prof. G. G. Hertzog, assisted by an excellent corps of twelve teachers. Thus its working members are striving to "shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life."

The First Presbyterian Church .- On the evening of June 24, 1877, Rev. William Willson preached a sermon from Matt. xix. 20, in the chapel of the State Normal School, in California, and on the 8th of July following he preached another sermon from 1 Kings vi. 7, in the Presbyterian Church at Greenfield. On the ensuing day (June 9th ) a number of persons signed a petition requesting the Presbytery of Pittsburgh to organize a Presbyterian Church in the town of Cali- fornia. Subsequently the committee on presbyterial missions authorized Mr. Willson to labor in this re-

gion. At his solicitation Rev. R. Lee, D.D., preached in California July 15, 1877, and Rev. David McKin- ney, D.D., preached in Greenfield and California on the 23d of the same month. Rev. John Kerr also preached in California September 30th.

The Presbytery of Pittsburgh, on the 3d of October, 1877, appointed Rev. R. Lee, D.D., Rev. William Willson, and Elder William Caldwell a committee to organize a church in California " as soon as the way should appear open." . Accordingly, two members of this committee (viz .: Rev. R. Lee, D.D., and Rev. William Willson) and others, agreeably to previous announcement, met in Room A of the normal school building Nov. 2, 1877, when, after singing and prayers, and a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Lee, the meeting ad- journed. On the succeeding day, all of the members of the committee being present, the following persons united in organizing a Presbyterian Church,1 viz. : Miss Hannah Montgomery, Mrs. Tillie Crawford, Mr. William Mehaffey, Mrs. Ruth Mehaffey, Mr. William M. Hart, Mrs. Bessie Hart, Prof. James B. Smith, Mr. Isaac K. Jackman, Mrs. H. Jackman, Mrs. Caroline Hazelbaker, Mr. Charles Howe, Mrs. Mary E. Howe, Mrs. Luna C. Beard, Mr. Theo. F. Montgomery, Mrs. Rebecca Montgomery, Mrs. Annie J. Smith, and Mrs. Jennietta Hill.

During the evening of the same day Rev. William Willson preached from Luke xviii. 1, and Psalm cxviii. 25, and Prof. James B. Smith was ordained and installed ruling elder. Thereupon the committee of the Presbytery of Pittsburgh declared the First Presbyterian Church of California duly organized, and the meeting adjourned. Another meeting was immediately held, Rev. Dr. Lee presiding, when the Rev. William Willson was unanimously elected as a supply for the new church for one year, to commence Oct. 1, 1877. He continued until September, 1880. The next regular supply was Rev. Levi Risher, who came in December, 1880, and remained until July, 1881. In December, 1881, Rev. E. P. Crane was in- stalled as the first regular pastor of this church, and still continues as such.

The church edifice was built during the summer of 1878. It is a frame structure. It cost about $1600, and has sittings for two hundred persons. The elders at the present time are James B. Smith and Noah W. Patton, the latter having been elected in Decem- ber, 1879. James W. Clark, a former elder, removed from the town in the spring of 1881, as did also Jo- siah Reed, who was elected a ruling elder in January, 1879. The first board of trustees was composed of William Mehaffey, William M. Hart, and James B. Smith. The present trustees are Isaac Reed, Isaac Jackman, and J. B. Vandyke, who were elected in December, 1879. Present membership of the church,

1 Prof. George P. Beard, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church, and the present principal of the Southwestern Normal College, also bore an active part in organizing this church,

633

CALIFORNIA BOROUGH.

forty-eight. Pupils in Sabbath-school, one hundred. Prof. J. B. Smith, Sunday-school superintendent.

Methodist Episcopal Sabbath - School. - The Methodist Episcopal Church edifice was dedicated October 7, 1860, and immediately thereafter the first 1 Sabbath-school was organized under the superintend- ence of Rev. Abner Jackson. Among the original members of this school were Rev. Abner Jackson, Samuel S. Rothwell, William McFall, Sr., Thomas Craver, Samuel M. Davis, G. M. Eberman, Ann Sickman, Ann C. Ailes, Misses Maggie Dehaven, Mary E. Wells, Mattie Powell, Orpha H. Carroll, Bell Carroll, and Angeline Baker.

On the 3d of March, 1861, the school was re- organized by the adoption of a constitution and by- laws. L. W. Morgan was then elected superintend- ent, and has been re-elected annually for twenty-one years in succession. James S. Harris was the first secretary chosen, and served one year, except three months passed in the United States army of volun- teers, in company with other members of the school.

Says the Rev. Mr. Pierce, "When the Sunday- school was organized we had no Sunday-school music. We sang church hymns and tunes. Solomon Mere- dith set the tunes. It was the very large scholars who did the singing then; but the very small ones can sing better now than the large ones did then."

During the pastorates of Revs. Baketell and Pierce, Sunday-school institutes were held, which were very pleasant. A normal class was organized during the latter's term, and most of the course com- pleted. Mission Sunday-schools were formed at Granville, Wood's Run, and Troytown, and libraries worth twenty-six dollars placed in each. The local preachers and Sunday-school officers of California and Greenfield rendered most efficient service in planting and fostering these schools.

Since March, 1861, twelve pastors have been located here, and during that time the congregation has contributed for missions eight hundred and thirty dollars, the Sabbath-school two hundred and thirty- two dollars. In 1870 there were twelve hundred volumes in the Sunday-school library, the greatest number since organization. Of these, five hundred and fifty were lost in one year. Starting with about seventy-five scholars, in 1861, the number has been gradually increased until the present time, when two hundred and fifty are found enrolled, with an average attendance of two hundred; the primary classes numbering more than the whole school did twenty- one years ago.2

Of deceased members of the California Methodist Episcopal Church Sunday-school we find mentioned the names of James P. Ailes, Mr. McMillen, Myula

McCain, Josephine McCain, Mary Wells, D. H. Lancaster, Abner Wilkins, Charles Davis, Joana Osborn, Leander Truxal, William McFall, Sr., Orpha M. Carroll, and William Carroll, Sr.

Cemeteries .- On the hill near the residence of William W. Jackman is an ancient burial-place which was probably used by the early settlers long before the beginning of this century. The burial- grounds within the limits of the village proper, con- taining about one acre, were opened in 1812 or 1813, Robert Jackman, the pioneer, having been one of the first buried there.

East Pike Run Cemetery, containing seventeen acres and seventy-four perches, adjoins the Monon- gahela River, and was laid out August 14, 1876.

Pike Run Lodge, No. 491, I. O. O. F., was char- tered May 20, 1853. The early records of the lodge have been destroyed by fire, but among those men- tioned as charter members were Harrison Hornbake, Joseph Moody, J. S. Vanhorn, James T. Imley, Jacob Baker, J. O. Lewellen, and Solomon Sibbitt.

To May 1, 1882, two hundred and eighty-eight members have joined the organization, and during the same period the Past Grands have been as fol- lows : Harrison Hornbake, Joseph Moody, John S. Vanhorn, J. T. Imlay, James O. Lewellen, Solomon Sibbitt, Jacob G. Huggins, J. G. Dowler, St. Clair Chrisinger, J. L. Wensley, Jacob Hornbake, Francis M. Osborn, T. D. Moffitt, L. J. Baker, Isaac Lead- beater, Samuel Lewis, John Clendoniel, R. A. Mc- Donald, J. S. Wilkins,. J. W. Paxton, D. H. Jacobs, A. G. Powell, J. L. Long, G. G. Hertzog, J. M. Birk- ensha, L. C. Powell, L. P. Fry, S. B. Paxton, J. W. Sterge, Jehu Dehaven, D. H. Lewis, W. H. Beazell, J. C. Hank, E. T. Marshall, L. P. Beazell, W. C. Layton, W. G. Gardner, David Phillips, George Morgan, J. G. Thompson, W. B. Alter, W. B. Har- ris, A. B. Ghrist, G. H. Lewis, J. A. Letherman, E. Lopp, and E. F. Reed.

The lodge is in a flourishing condition. Its présent members number seventy-nine, and R. M. Wood, N. G .; John Spear, V. G .; A. B. Ghrist, Sec .; L. C. Powell, Asst. Sec .; E. Eaglers, C .; G. H. Lewis, W .; and D. H. Lewis, Treas., are its present officers.

Regular meetings are held every Tuesday evening at their lodge-rooms on the corner of Second and Union Streets.

Knights of Pythias. - A lodge of Knights of Pythias was organized in the village about the year 1873. It ceased work, however, in 1880 or 1881, when some of its members joined the Greenfield Lodge.

Normal Council, No. 545, Royal Arcanum, was organized Dec. 6, 1880, Joseph E. Abell, Leonidas H. Reeves, P. J. Forsythe, Francis M. Corron, James Stevenson, Joseph Garrow, George Garrow, Thomas Coatsworth, Prof. G. P. Beard, Prof. D. C. Murphy, Prof. T. R. Wakefield, John T. Hoomell, George Morgan, Dr. J. A. Letherman, Dr. N. S. Veatch, and James P. McCain being the charter members.

1 A Union Sabbath-school existed prior to the date here given, which met in the old school-house, but it was not under the control of any religious denomination.

2 From a historical report rendered lately by G. M. Eberman, S. W. Craft, S. A. Pierce, and others of a committee.

631

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The first officers, viz. : Prof. George P. Beard, R .; James Stevenson, V. R .; George Morgan, P. R .; Prof. T. R. Wakefield, O .; Prof. D. C. Murphy, Sec .; Dr. J. A. Letherman, Col .; L. H. Reeves, Treas ; F. M. Corron, Chapl .; George Garrow, G .; James P. McCain, W .; Dr. N. S. Veatch, S .; J. E. Abell, Joseph Garrow, and Thomas Coatsworth, Trustees, were installed Jan. 24, 1881.

Twenty-seven have joined the organization (to May 1, 1882), and that number represents its present mem- bership.

Present officers are Prof. G. G. Hertzog, R. ; George Morgan, V. R .; Prof. D. C. Murphy, Sec. ; Prof. T. R. Wakefield, O .; Dr. J. A. Letherman, Col .; Dr. N. S. Veatch, Treas. ; James P. McCain, W .; James Stevenson, Sec .; John L. Vaughan, Chapl .; Thomas Coatsworth, G.

Meetings are held in Odd-Fellows' Hall, on the second and fourth Monday evenings of each month.

Harry Billingsby 1 Post, No. 168, G. A. R., was organized at a meeting held in the borough of Cali- fornia May 5, 1869. It appears that at that meeting Commander I. M. Regester and other comrades of the Brownsville Post were present, that the regular order of business was dispensed with, and that James K. Billing>by, James S. Long, L. P. Fry, and Thomas Young were thereupon mustered as recruits. Com- rade I. M. Regester then resigned as Commander, when S. B. Paxton was elected to fill the unexpired term. We will add in this connection that prior to the date here mentioned a post of the Grand Army had been organized at Brownsville, Fayette Co. Its members seem to have lost interest in it at an early day. The place of meeting (as here shown) was then changed to California, and finally, as intended, their charter was left in the hands of the Californians.

The first regular meeting of the post was held May 12, 1869, when the following officers were mentioned as being present : S. B. Paxton, C .; A. G. Powell, S. V. C .; I. T. Dawson, Adjt .; J. Dehaven, Q .- M .; N. W. Truxal, Surg. ; and W. N. Baker, O. D.

Subsequent Commanders have been James K. Bil- lingsby, elected in June, 1869; Luke P. Beazell, elected in December, 1869; John Piper, June, 1870 ; W. B. Harris, December, 1870; no record for June, 1871; James K. Billingsby, December, 1871; no rec- ord for June, 1872; J. B. Shallenberger, December, 1872, who continued until March, 1880, when a reor- ganization took place. The officers then elected to serve for the remainder of the year were J. B. Shal- lenberger, C .; Luke P. Beazell, S. V. C .; and I. T. Dawson, J. V. C. In December, 1880, I. T. Dawson was elected Commander, and in December, 1881, the following (present) officers were elected : William M.

Hart, C .; T. F. Montgomery, S. V. C .; A. J. Hert- zog, J. V. C .; Samuel M. Jobes, Surg .; J. W. L. Rabe, Chap .; J. B. Shallenberger, O. D .; and J. B. Montgomery, O. G. Delegate to attend general en- campment at Williamsport, Pa., J. M. Swan; alter- nate, A. J. Hertzog.

The post has a present membership of twenty-six. Of those, however, who have at various times been admitted as members we furnish the following data. This list indicates the rank of members at time of muster out of the United States service, and the or- ganizations in which they served during the war of the Rebellion :

J. K. Billingsby, captain, 2d W. Va. Inf .; 5th W. Va. Cav.

L. P. Beazell, second lieutenant, Co. D, 79th Pa. Inf.

J. B. Montgomery, second lieutenant, 2d W. Va. Inf .; 5th W. Va. Cav.

I. T. Dawson, second major-sergeant, Ringgold Cav. ; 22d Pa. Cav.

N. W. Truxal, captain, 2d W. Va. Inf. ; 5th W. Va. Cav. S. B. Paxton, captain, Co. I, 1st W. Va. Cav. Erastus S. Marshall, private, Co. E, 155th Pa, Inf.

W. J. Harris, private, Co. I, 5th W. Va. Cav.

Harry Mann, sergeant, Co. H, Ist Pa. R. C.

L. P. Fry, private, Co. D, 22d Pa. Cav. W. N. Baker, sergeant, 8th Pa. R. C .; U. S. S. C. John Veatch, sergeant, 2d W. Va. Inf .; 1st W. Va. Art.

A. N. Jobes, private, 2d W. Va. Inf .; 5th W. Va. Cav.

John W. Piper, private, Co. B, 57th Pa. Inf.

J. S. Dales, private, Co. E, 155th Pa. Inf. M. A. Sample, bugler, Ist W. Va. Cav. John R. Williams, private, 2d W. Va. Inf .; 5th W. Va. Cav. Jonah Harris, artificer, Co. D, 22d Pa. Cav. W. A. Peaden, private, Co. D, 22d Pa. Cav.

J. B. Shallenberger, private, Co. D, 22d Pa. Cav.

D. H. Lancaster, second lieutenant, Co. C, 85th Pa. Inf. McCall Smith, sergeant, Co. G, 3d Prov. Pa. Cav. James G. Young, private, Co. E, 155th Pa. Inf. W. II. Harrison, corporal, Co. G, 22d Pa. Cav. Louis Schreiner, private, Co. B, 9th Pa. R. C. Thomas J. Walker, private, Co. I, 2d W. VA. Inf. Allen Moore, private, Co. I, 2d W. Va. Inf. Thomas Young, private, Co. I, 2d W. Va. Inf. W. H. White, private, Co. D, 22d Pa. Cav. Nathaniel Young, private, Co. E, 110th Pa. Inf. George Clendenen, private, Co. I, 2d W. Va. Inf. W. H. Mahony, private, Co. C, 85th Pa. Inf.

S. J. Howe, private, Co. I, 2d W. Va. Inf .; 5th W. Va. Cav.

Robert A. McDonald, private, Co. I, 5th W. Va. Cav.

John G. Thompson, private, Co. F, 140th Pa. Inf. D. H. Lewis, private, Co. C, 105th l'a. Inf. James McDonough, surgeon, 46th Pa, Inf. William McMurray, private, Co. F, 78th l'a. Inf. A. J. Hertzog, bugler, Co. B, 14th Pa. Cav. Joseph Garrow, private, Co. B, 77th Pa, Inf. James A. S. White, private, 12th Pa. Inf. ; 22d Pa. Cav.

Thomas Williams, private, Co. F, 32d U. S. C. T. George W. Sherman, private, Co. C, 85th Pa. Inf. David Phillips, bugler, Co. G, let W. Va. Art. William Lundy, private, Co. D, 15th Pa. Cav. Samuel M. Jobes, private, Co. I, 5th W. Va. Inf .; 2d W. Va. Cav. Joseph W. Waters, private, Co. G, 22d Pa. Cav. J. W. L. Rabe, private, Co. G, 157th Ohio Inf. William Willson, chaplain, Gth Kansas Cav.

J. M. Swan, first sergeant, Co. F, 30th Ohio Inf. William M. Hart,2 hospital steward, 1st W. Va. Inf .; 2d W. Va. Vet. Inf. T. F. Montgomery, private, Co. B, 22d Pa. Cav.

1 Harry Billingsby was a brother of Capt. J. K. Billingsby, and served as a private in the Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry. At the battle of Rocky Gap, W. Va., he was wounded and taken prisoner, and finally died of his wounds while in the hands of the enemy.

2 Within thirty minutes after hearing of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, William M. Hart caused to be made and displayed the first United States flag hoisted in the Panhandle of Virginia after the event mentioned. He was also the first United States volunteer in the town of Hamilton, Hancock Co., Va., now West Virginia.

635

WEST BROWNSVILLE BOROUGH.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

MAJ. S. B. HOWE.

Maj. S. B. Howe was the son of Daniel and Char- lotte Howe, and was born in Bentleysville, Washing- ton Co., May 2, 1835. The greater part of his life, prior to his enlistment as a soldier, was spent in the town of California, in his native county, whither his father had moved when he was quite young. There he was educated, and there he learned the trade of brick-moulding, which he followed for several years. In the war of Rebellion he offered his services to the national government, as did also his father and brothers, William, Samuel, and Lemuel. He was a gallant and devoted soldier, and left a record without spot or blemish. We give it as detailed by one inti- mately associated with him :

" Maj. S. B. Howe enlisted as a soldier in the First West Virginia Veteran Cavalry at its organization, and was soon appointed to the rank of second lieutenant, then to captain, and placed in command of Com- pany M. In this rank he distinguished himself in many of the hard- fought battles of 1863 and 1864. In the campaign of the latter year he was selected and detailed by Gen. Averill to command the company of scouts, and received his orders direct from the general. In this capacity he performed some of the most daring exploits of the war, and received the highest encomiums from the commanding general, and established a reputation for gallantry in the estimation of every officer who knew him. In February, 1865, he was commissioned major, and immediately, in command of the First Regiment West Virginia Veteran Cavalry, started on the great raid of Gen. Phil. H. Sheridan up the Shenandoah Valley and to the James River. He was particularly conspicuous at Mount Crawford, March 1, 1865. He swam his regiment across the river, and in company with the First New York Cavalry charged the enemy in gallant style, driving him from the burning bridge with great 1088 ; and again at Waynesboro' he bore an active part in the rout and capture of Gen. Early's army, and from Petersburg to Appomattox Court-House he was conspicuous at every engagement. At Dinwiddie Court-House he made a splendid charge with his regiment dismounted, completely checking the advancing columns of the enemy; in the run- ning cavalry fight from Nanozine to Deep Creek, driving the enemy with great haste a distance of twelve miles with great loss. Ile per- formed an important part at Little Sailor's Creek, where his brigade

made the best and most successful charge of the war, capturing Gen. Ewell and his entire corps, cannon, battle-flags, etc. Maj. Howe was second to no regimental commander. At Appomattox Court-House, April 8, 1865, he fell at the close of that obstinate engagement, at the hour of midnight, whilst gallantly leading his regiment in his final charge, in command of the First West Virginia Veteran Cavalry. In all his official relations he was courteous, prompt, and cheerful, and no officer in the brigade shared more fully the confidence of his command- ing officer than Maj. S. B. Howe, and none who have fallen will be cherished moro fondly in the memory of his companions in arms than he. With deepest regret for the loss of our fallen hero and 'brother,' and with sincere regard and condolence for his afflicted wife and aged mother, I have inscribed the foregoing.

" H. CAPEHART,

" Colonel of the First West Virginia Veteran Cavalry."

Harper's Weekly of Nov. 4, 1865, gives a view of his grave at the church near Appomattox Court- House, and thus speaks of him : " A squadron of the First West Virginia Cavalry, under Maj. Howe, of that regiment, was pressed forward to the station just before dark, and in the charge the gallant Howe fell, shot through the body, and was carried by some of his faithful men to the church, where he shortly afterwards expired. Next morning he was buried, rolled up in his cloak, without formality in the rear of the church, as represented in the sketch. In the death of Maj. Howe his regiment lost a most valuable officer, and a man loved and respected by all who knew him. Maj. Howe was the last of a noble family of five robust men, all the others having previously died in the war." [The last statement is an error; one of the five, Samuel, had a leg broken while in the service, but returned home. The other four all died in the service.]

Maj. Howe's remains were removed from the grave on the battle-field and interred in the Monongahela City Cemetery, May 12, 1865.

Maj. Howe was married Jan. 28, 1864, to Emeline, daughter of Ira and Mary Butler, of Carroll town- ship, Washington Co., Pa. She resides with her parents.

WEST BROWNSVILLE BOROUGH.

ON the left bank of the Monongahela River, sixty- three miles above the city of Pittsburgh, and fifty- four miles by the Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston Railroad (or, as now known, the Monongahela Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad),1 is situated the rather unpretentious borough of West Brownsville, the pres- ent terminus of the railroad mentioned. It contains the large and well-known boat-yard of Axton & Pringle, the extensive planing-mills of Thomas Au-

brey & Sons, a handsome public school building, an Episcopal Church edifice, two hotels, several mercan- tile houses, about six hundred inhabitants, and is connected with the ancient town of Brownsville, Fay- ette Co., Pa., by a substantial covered bridge, six hun- dred and thirty feet in length, which, commenced in 1832, was completed in 1838, after an expenditure of about fifty thousand dollars.

Although West Brownsville is but a modest, unas- suming little borough, and occupies, comparativel

1 Trains first began making regular trips between West Brownsville and Pittsburgh May 15, 1881.

636

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

speaking, but an insignificant portion of the surface of Washington County, its history is not uninteresting.

It seems that during the middle of the last century, and prior to the year 1769, a friendly Indian named William Peters, yet more generally known as " Indian Peter," lived on lands in the Youghiogheny Valley, adjoining a German named Philip Shute, 1 with whom he could not agree. Thereupon Indian Peter wrote the proprietaries' agent, saying that he could not "get along with the d-d Dutchman," and wished to give up his land for another tract. His request was promptly complied with it appears, for on the 5th day of April, 1769, but two days after the land-office (for the sale of land in this the newly-purchased territory) was opened, warrant No. 2844 was granted him for a tract containing three hundred and thirty-nine acres situated on the west side of the Monongahela River. This land was surveyed Oct. 7, 1769, by James Hen- dricks, deputy surveyor-general, who gave it the name of " Indian Hill."

It is very probable that Indian Peter took up his abode on Indian Hill soon after obtaining a title to the tract, for we find that on the 22d day of Feb- ruary, 1775, the Virginia court, then in session at Fort Dunmore, licensed Michael Cresap "to keep a ferry over the Monongahela from his house at Red- stone Old Fort to the land of Indian Peter." The latter died probably before the organization of this county, as the records show that the first civil suit entered in the Washington County Court of Common Pleas was brought on the 17th day of September, 1781, and that the defendant was a widow woman of the name of Mary Peters. This woman, doubtless, was the widow of Indian Peter.

Meanwhile, much travel centred at the Redstone Ferry. Here many emigrants to the Western and Southwestern regions, after long and wearied journeys over mountain roads and trails, could embark in Ken- tucky or Orleans boats and float to their destinations, while others who did not propose going so far crossed to the left bank of the river, and with wagons wended their way to points in the territory now known as Washington and Greene Counties and West Virginia. The needs of a passable road, therefore, from the ferry to the county-seat were urgent, and on the 1st day of January, 1782, viewers were appointed by the Court of Quarter Sessions to lay out a road from Bassett Town (now Washington) to Redstone Ferry.

While these improvements were being made or contemplated, the county of Washington rapidly fill- ing up with an energetic people, and Redstone Old Fort, or Brownsville, becoming an active business centre, it was not possible for the beautiful tract in the possession of Indian Peter's widow to long remain unimproved, a bar to the progressive spirit prevailing. Hence, during the spring of 1784, Neal Gillespie (a

native of Ireland, and great-grandfather of Hon. James G. Blaine) purchased the Indian Hill property, as the following curious instrument (recorded in Book B, vol. i. p. 406, county recorder's office) indicates :

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 159

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