History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 174

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 174

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

dren, among whom was Daniel, the father of Abra- ham. Abraham's great-grandfather was one of three brothers who came from Amsterdam, Holland, about the year 1670, and settled on Long Island, where one was killed by a poisoned arrow shot by an Indian. The other two, Cornelius and Daniel, remained on Long Island, and their lineal descendants make up the sum total of the name in the United States. Abraham's father first came to this country in 1785, but did not bring his family until after the birth of the young Abraham, and prior to 1789, as his mother, Mary Newton Van Voorhis, died December 31st of that year, and was the first person buried in the Van Voor- his cemetery. She was Capt. Daniel Van Voorhis' second wife. His first wife was a widow, Mrs. Britt, whose maiden name was Van Voorhis. His third wife was Nancy Myers, who came from Hagerstown.

The first wife of Abraham Van Voorhis was Ann Watkins, sister of the late Elias and John Watkins. They had four children. Joseph died while very young. Garret Townsend was born in 1817. He went to the old Colhoon school. Lived with his father on the farm now owned by James Sampson until he was married to Hester Frye, daughter of Noah Frye, who was killed at a coal bank near Dagg's Ferry. Her mother was Lucy Colvin, a daughter of the older Vincent Colvin, who came to this country in 1769, was a large landholder, and lived and died in a house that stood above the fine brick dwelling of the late Vincent Colvin, Jr. Father Vincent Colvin had a large family, among whom Moses died on the old home place; Stephen, who died at the stone house near Hair's old mill; Lot was killed by being thrown from his horse at the old sign-post of the Valley Inn. His wife was a Stecker, and subsequently married Rev. S. Wells. They lived for a time on the home farm, near the Dutch meeting-house, and then re- moved to the vicinity of Washington, where they still reside. G. Townsend's second wife died some years ago on the farm his father gave him, near Green- field. His second wife was a Baxter, and is still living. They live on Pigeon Creek, on the Hickman farm, and he also owns the Richardson farm adjoining, or nearly so, and, Van Voorhis like, carries on farming, stock- raising, etc., taking it easy in his older days. Mary married Vincent Colvin, Jr., and died with diphtheria whilst her husband was in the army. He was shortly after her death discharged by the Secretary of War, returned home, and died in 1876. The remaining son, Robert, was born July 6, 1819, on the home farm, which his father in after-life gave him, in what was Fallowfield township, Washington County. He was also a scholar in the Colhoon school. He married Caroline Frye, sister to his brother Townsend's wife. They lived for a short time in the old log house near where Cornelius Carson now resides. From that house he moved up the hill to the old home, shortly after his father had finished the brick house on the original Van Voorhis homestead.

697

CARROLL TOWNSHIP.

Some years ago he sold this farm to James Sampson, and purchased from Hon. G. V. Lawrence the beau- tiful and highly-improved farm on the turnpike two miles above town, now called the "Keystone Farm." Robert has been engaged in the thoroughbred sheep- raising since 1848. He is the highest authority in this line of business, and his advice and sheep are sought after in all parts of the United States. His ability as a shepherd is recognized by the Commissioners of Agriculture, at whose instance he communicates a valuable paper, which appears in the book recently published by authority of Congress, entitled "Dis- eases of Domestic Animals." Orders reach him from all parts of the United States, and strains from his choice flocks are found in Texas, Colorado, and every one of the Middle States. As for premiums, they never failed to take wherever exhibited. His clips are the largest ever known in this or any other coun- try, some of them being eight hundred per cent. abové the average. His fine infantado sheep, Don Carlos, is beautifully lithographed, and has the place of honor as the frontispiece of the "Pennsylvania State Agri- cultural Report for 1878." His eye is like a microscope in determining the firmness and other qualities of the wool fibre. His daughter, the only child, is the wife of Rev. R. B. Mansell, one of the most learned and eloquent ministers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, now located at Emory Chapel, East End, Pittsburgh.

Father Abraham Van Voorhis had by his second wife quite a family, of whom several are dead. Eliza married Thornton F. Watkins, who, after the death of his wife, leaving his little son Jimmy with its grand- parents, started for California, but overtaken by dis- ease died on his way, and among the list of those published in the New York Tribune in 1852 whose bones lay bleaching in the sands of the once "Great American Desert" appears the name of T. F. Wat- kins. Little Jimmy not many years ago died. Eme- line married Joseph Brown, of Fayette County ; Caro- line married the late James Jones; Cynthia married J. Cooper Bentley, and lives on the pike near Valley Inn; and John is on the old homestead near his mother. He not only has one of the best farms, but is one of the best farmers in the county. He, too, is a sheep-raiser as well as a systematic farmer. He has been for years president of the Monongahela Valley Agricultural and Horticultural Society, and has at heart its true interests .· His wife was a daughter of the late Elisha Teeple, Esq. Mrs. Jane Van Voorhis, his mother, is hale and hearty, full of vivacity, and greatly devoted to her children. She has for a long lifetime been a member of the Methodist Episcopal :

Church, and listened to the preaching of the gospel in the "church on the river-bank" before many now in active duty were born.

Township Officers .- The following list is of per- sons who have been elected justices of the peace in Carroll since its organization, viz. :

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

John Clemens, March 28, 1836. John Kennedy, June 1, 1836. John S. Clokey, April 14, 1840. Thomas Collins, April 14, 1840. Ira R. Butler, April 15, 1845. Thomas Collins, April 15, 1845. John S. Clokey, April 13, 1847. David Mitchell, April 13, 1847. Daniel Yohe, April 9, 1850. Thomas Collins, April 9, 1850. A. T. Gregg, April 10, 1855. Daniel Yuhe, April 10, 1855.

1 Ira R. Butler, April 10, 1855. Thomas Collins, April 10, 1860.

Daniel Yohe, April 10, 1860.

Ira R. Butler, Jan. 16, 1860. Francis Nelson, April 14, 1864. Daniel Yohe, June 3, 1865. Daniel Castner, June 3, 1865. Thomas Collins, June 3, 1805. Francis Nelson, May 30, 1868. George W. Allen, March 20, 1870. Thomas Collins, March 29, 1870. B. W. Castner, March 25, 1878.

Miscellaneous .- The township of to-day includes territory about eight miles in length by three miles, in width, and is skirted on its northern, eastern, and southern borders for a distance of some ten or eleven miles by the Monongahela River. The Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston Railroad, or, as now known, the Monongahela Division of the Pennsylvania Rail- road, which was completed from Pittsburgh to Mo- nongahela City Sept. 29, 1873, and from the latter place to West Brownsville, May 15, 1881, follows all the windings and sinuosities of that stream, and also affords superior advantages for travel, the shipping and receiving of freight. Its stations within the township are Riverview, New Eagle, Monongahela City, Black Diamond, Baird's, Webster, West Colum- bia, and Bamford. At these stations, and at other | points besides, large numbers of men are employed in coal-mining. Coal-tipples line the river-banks, and by means of the appliances now in use coal is taken directly from the bluffs and hillsides and emptied into boats and barges awaiting cargoes.

Besides the old Presbyterian and Baptist Churches already mentioned, there stands in the western part of the township the Ginger Hill Lutheran Church, a brick structure, which was erected in 1847. During its prosperous days the congregation worshiping there listened to the preaching of such worthy di- vines as the Revs. Mr. Waters, Emory, Milhom, Wylie, Ryder, and others.

The United Brethren Church is found near the toll- gate on the Williamsport and Washington turnpike. The building is occupied at irregular intervals by various denominations.

CECIL TOWNSHIP.

CECIL was the third in the list of original townships | of Washington County, and embraced in its territory the present township and all that portion of Alle- gheny County lying between Robinson Run and Chartiers Creek, and all the present township of Chartiers, as well as the northern portion of Mount Pleasant. The erection of Allegheny County in 1788 and the addition made to that county in 1789 reduced the territory of Cecil, which was further reduced to its present limits by the erection of Chartiers in March, 1790, and of Mount Pleasant in 1808. The township is bounded on the west and northwest by Mount Pleasant and Robinson; on the north and northeast by Allegheny County ; on the east by Peters and North Strabane townships, and on the south by Chartiers and Mount Pleasant townships. The only stream of any importance in the township is Char- tiers Creek, which marks its eastern boundary.

Settlements .- One of the earliest settlers within the territory that is now Cecil township was Samuel Parks, who, in the autumn of 1777, came over the Allegheny Mountains in search of land on which to make a home. He purchased of Matthew Rodgers for four hundred and fifty pounds a parcel of land in two drafts on Chartiers' waters, containing five hun- dred and sixty-six acres. The bill of sale, marked No. 8, is dated Dec. 7, 1777. After the purchase he returned to his home at Lancaster and prepared to remove his family. He was to have possession of the land March 2, 1778. John and James, his sons, were sent on in advance to build a cabin, clear the land, and put in a crop. Their sister, Isabella, went with them as housekeeper. After a home was prepared the rest of the family removed to the farm. The land was afterwards warranted and surveyed. A portion of it was named "Deer Park," and contained four hundred and six and a half acres. On the 28th of June, 1782, by virtue of a land-office warrant (No. 1773) and in consideration of eighty pounds there was granted to Samuel Parks a tract of land which was surveyed to him Feb. 2, 1786, as containing one hundred and eighty-six acres and seventy-five perches, adjoining Thomas Bracken; also a pre-emption war- rant. On the 4th of September, 1786, the last tract was granted to John Parks, son of Samuel, and sur- veyed as "The Experiment," containing one hundred and seventy-five and seven-eighths acres, and deeded by Samuel and Margaret, his wife, Jan. 1, 1787; but in September following the patent was made out to

Samuel Parks. He lived on the " Deer Park" tract till his death in 1794, aged sixty-five years. His wife survived him till 1808. Their children were John, James, Mary, Isabella, and Hugh.

John Parks, son of Samuel, was born Dec. 18, 1758, in Donegal, Lancaster Co., Pa. In 1787 he married Sarah, daughter of John McDowell, of Strabane township, and settled on .part of the Park farm. On the 20th of April, 1809, John Park purchased the homestead in Cecil township, and removed to the farm. Of his children, Rebecca became the wife of James Rankin, and for some years lived in Pittsburgh, and later removed to Washington, where she died. James Rankin now resides in Denver, Col. William, a son of John and Sarah Parks, was born July 15, 1797. In 1831 he purchased three hundred acres of land in Peters township, and on the 29th of October, 1833, married Jane Law and settled on his farm. He was interested in sheep-raising and wool-growing. Soon after his marriage he purchased three hundred acres of land in Cecil township, including the tract "Experiment." He was for thirty years a trustee of Jefferson College, and for some years director of the Chartiers Valley Railroad Company. He died Nov. 6, 1870, aged seventy-three years, and left seven chil- dren. John, the eldest son, resides on the " Experi- ment" tract in Cecil; Robert and James reside in Peters township, and a daughter, Sarah, became the wife of J. L. Thompson, and resides in Westmoreland County.

McDowell Parks, a son of John Parks, bought a part of the homestead farm in 1835, and lived there till his death, on the 24th April, 1877, aged sixty- seven years. He purchased other lands, and became a large land-owner, and wealthy. He never married, and the large estate was divided among the heirs. The home place was sold to A. J. Hopper in March, 1880. James Hickman, a son-in-law, now resides there.

The greater part of the home farm, " Deer Park," was intended for Hugh, the youngest child. He was born in 1767, and died when a young man, and before the death of his father. After the death of the mother in 1808 the farm was deeded to James Park by John Park and Col. John Marshall, executors, and was conveyed by James to John Park. It was purchased by William Boon, and is now owned by A. and J. Boon. William Boon was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at Baltimore with the troops gathered

698

699

CECIL TOWNSHIP.

for the defense of that city against the British under Gen. Ross in 1814.

James Parks, the second son of Samuel, was born in 1760, and came to Cecil township in 1778 to the new home. He was one of the volunteers who went out with Col. Crawford in 1782. He married Isabella, daughter of George Craighead, of Strabane township. He came into possession of part of the Park lands, and died Dec. 8, 1811, aged fifty-two years. His widow survived him twenty-two years, and died April 5, 1833, aged seventy years. Samuel, a son of James, inherited the farm, and married Sarah, half-sister of David Philips, Esq., of Peters township. In the fall of 1832 he sold out and removed to Wellsville, Ohio. Mary Park, born in 1761, the only daughter of Sam- uel, became the wife of Col. John Marshall, of Cross Creek, in 1782.

John Waits came from east of the mountains and located a tract of land on the waters of Chartiers Creek in the spring of 1785. A cabin was built (under an oak-tree that is still standing), and he cleared off a small patch of ground. He died soon after, and a warrant was issued to Sarah Waits, his widow, dated April 5, 1786, "in trust for the use of the heirs of John Waits, deceased." It was surveyed as "The Charge," and contained three hundred and two acres, adjoining land of Widow Moore, William MeLaughlin, David McNary, and Samuel Brown. Patent for it was obtained Sept. 17, 1790.

Mrs. Sarah Waits was in 1788 assessed on two hun- dred acres of land. She died about 1810, and left three sons by a first husband, Joseph, Samuel, and John Blair, whose names are both mentioned in the assessment-roll of 1788. These sons emigrated to Kentucky. The children by John Waits, her second husband, were Betsey (Mrs. Daniel Welch; they settled on two hundred and forty acres in the town- ship, and afterwards moved to Ohio), Richard, Reu- ben, Mary, Sarah, and Jacob. Richard lived on the farm adjoining and died there, leaving a large family, none of whom are in the township. Mary became the wife of John Philips, of Winchester, Va., in 1799. They settled on the Wait homestead, and on the 31st of March, 1802, he purchased one hundred and sixty-six acres of the tract, and September, 1808, one hundred and thirty-six acres adjoining. On this land they lived and died, leaving thirteen children. John, Aaron, and David settled in the township. James Philips is a son of John. De Kalb and Wayne Philips own the farm which Aaron settled upon, and David Philips resides on the homestead of his father and grandfather. His residence is under the shade of the great oak that stood near his grandfather's cabin in 1785, then a small tree.

Stephen Richards was one who took up lands under a Virginia certificate. It was surveyed to him as "Montgomery," and contained three hundred and forty-three acres, adjoining Thomas Faucett (whose land was in Allegheny County), Robert Hill, and

Alexander Fowler. Hugh H. Brackenridge, as trus- tee, sold one hundred and ninety-one acres of the tract to Daniel South on the 22d of August, 1791. He sold the same property to Thomas Dunlap on the 26th of September, 1805. Dunlap emigrated from County Down, Ireland, with three sons, Thomas, James, and Alexander, and two daughters. James was the only one of the family who married. He settled on the homestead and had three children, John, Elizabeth, and Nancy. Elizabeth became the wife of Joseph Work and settled in Texas. Nancy married John B. Weaver and settled in North Strabane. John, the only son, settled on the homestead, where he still resides.

James Slater emigrated from Ireland and settled in Allegheny, where he lived and died. Three sons, John, William, and Thomas, came to this township and settled. John lives near Venice. In 1843, Wil- liam and Thomas purchased ninety acres of Matthew Harbeson, and lived together ten years, then each bought farms, on which they now reside. Thomas bought one hundred and eighty-three acres of John Berry in 1855. William studied for the ministry, and in 1843, soon after coming to the township, be- came the pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church near his residence, but in Chartiers township.

David and John Reed, whose earlier history will be found in Mount Pleasant township, in connection with the Washington lands, came after their dispos- session to this township. David, about the year 1788, purchased three hundred acres of land of Thomas Waller, which had been taken up by him before 1780, for which he received a Virginia cer- tificate January 2d of that year. It was adjoining lands of Joseph Brown, David McNary, Matthew Acheson, John May, and Robert Miller. A warrant of acceptance was issued to David Reed by the board of property March 2, 1790, and patent granted April 21, 1813. He moved upon this farm when the con- test for the Washington lands was decided, and lived there till his death in 1824, at seventy-seven years of age, leaving five sons and one daughter,-Alexander, David, John, James, Joseph, and Mary. Alexander, the eldest son, married the daughter of Joshua An- derson, of Chartiers township, and settled in Ohio, where they remained several years, then returned to his father's farm and settled there and lived many years. He gave the portion that came to his posses- sion to his sons, who sold to George Robb and re- moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Alexander, the father, went with them and died there.

David, the second son of David Reed, located in Mount Pleasant township, and later removed to Alle- gheny County. He married Euphemia, daughter of James Paxton. The property he owned in Mount Pleasant township is now in possession of the Dins- mores. James Reed, a son of David, is a merchant in Canonsburg. John Reed, the third son of David, married Jane, a daughter of John May, and settled

700

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

on Miller's Run, in this township, where he lived and died. His sons George and Samuel now own the farm. James Reed, the fourth son, married Jane A. Allison, of Chambersburg, and located in Wash- ington borough. He was a jeweler and watchmaker, and lived there many years, and finally removed to Pittsburgh and carried on the business there till his death in 1879. His sons James and George are liv- ing in Pittsburgh, and in the same business. Joseph, the youngest son of David Reed, married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Alexander, of Miller's Run. They settled on the homestead, but Mrs. Reed died only about six months afterward. Mr. Reed married as a second wife Anna, the daughter of the Rev. David McClean, by whom he had four children,- Margaret, a daughter, became the wife of Robert Henderson (a grandson of the Rev. Matthew Hen- derson), and settled in Chartiers township; Mary, another daughter, married John Nesbitt, and also settled in Chartiers ; David settled at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as a physician, and died in 1878. The youngest son is residing on the homestead and has charge of the farm. Joseph Reed, after the death of his second wife, married Martha Henderson, who is still living. Mr. Reed is now in his eighty-seventh year, and has retired from the active duties of life. His memory of the many incidents related by his father concern- ing the Washington lands is still fresh, and many of the stories related of that affair are said by him to be without foundation.

Thomas Bracken came to this territory about 1778, and took up a tract of land, for which he received a Virginia certificate in 1780. It was not surveyed until April 15, 1788, and was then named "The Three Shares," containing three hundred and forty acres, and was at that time adjoining lands of Samuel Parks and Robert Ralston. The patent for the tract was not obtained till March 30, 1802. On the 25th of November, 1783, he sold to William Hutton, who then lived on the place, one hundred acres adjoining Sam- uel Parks. Hutton sold the tract August 17th the next year to James Gaston, and he to William Cook. A deed was not given for the land till May 5, 1808. Thomas Bracken died between 1802 and 1806, leaving children,-Thomas, Henry, John, Reed, Sally, Agnes (the wife of Rev. John Matthews), Hannah (Mrs. Jo- seph Thompson), Jane (Mrs. Richard Miller), and Mary Bracken. On the 25th of April, 1806, Reed and Sally Bracken sold to William Craighead one hun- dred and eighty acres of the estate, and on the 4th of October, 1816, the heirs sold to Henry Bracken one hundred and thirty-four acres, and to Richard Miller (husband of Jane Bracken) one hundred and thirty- four acres. Thomas became a Presbyterian minister, sold his land to Benjamin and Moses Coe, Erasmus Allison, and Thomas Kerr, and removed to Mercer County. John lived on the home place, and died there. Henry finally removed to the South, where he followed the profession of a teacher. Reed was

educated at Canonsburg, and entered the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. Part of the property went from the Brackens to John Murray, and from him to James Craighead, and passed to Wesley Greer, by whom it was sold to the Pennsylvania Reform School, which now occupies the property.

Joseph Brown took out a warrant for a tract of land March 1, 1785, and warrant for another tract April 15, 1786. The first was surveyed as "Bon Ton," containing two hundred and two acres, adjoining land of Sarah Wait, Joseph Brown, and John Daniel, or Donnell. This tract was patented Nov. 24, 1791, after it came into possession of William Kerr, who bought it Sept. 11, 1789. The second tract was surveyed as " Bellgrade," and contained three hundred and sixty- seven acres ; this tract was adjoining lands of John Daniel, or Donnell, Matthew Ritchie, and David Reed, and was on the banks of Miller's Run. This also was sold to William Kerr at the same time as the other, and patented Nov. 25, 1791. He sold two hun- dred acres to William Cook, who lived there many years, and left three daughters and two sons, who are all dead except Mrs. Thomas McConnell. The farm is now owned by James White, of North Strabane township, and is occupied by his son Samuel. Wil- liam also sold to James Jewell, his son-in-law, nearly the whole of the remainder, who lived there many years, and went to Ohio, where the family of Mrs. Jewell then resided. Mr. Jewell sold the property to different parties. Joseph Burnside purchased forty acres, where his son George now lives. About 1845, Nathan Tannehill purchased one hundred and thirty acres, where his son James now resides. Joseph Lind- sey purchased a portion of the farm before the sale to Jewell, now owned by James Moore. Thomas Weaver bought of James Jewell eighty-six acres in 1848.

John Donnell came from Winchester, Va., in the year 1776, and settled in the territory that afterwards became a part of Cecil township. He located a tract of land under Virginia certificate. This certificate recites that "John Daniel is entitled to 400 acres of land in the county of Yohogania, situate on the waters of Shirtee, to include his settlement made in the year 1776, also a right in pre-emption to two hundred acres adjoining thereto." Another tract also was granted him on a Virginia certificate April 20, 1780. The first tract was surveyed to him Aug. 3, 1785, and was named " The Forrest," containing four hundred and eighteen acres, adjoining land of Thomas Bracken, Henry Donald, Matthew Ritchie, and the widow Moore. The other tract was surveyed to Presley Neville and Matthew Ritchie on the 26th of Janu- ary, 1788, and named " Hope," and contained four hundred and eight acres. John Donnell was the son of Henry Donnell, who also came from Winchester, Va., and settled near John Canon. He came into pos- session of a portion of this land, and'on the 19th of May, 1790, sold to his son John seventy-one acres of

701

CECIL TOWNSHIP.

land adjoining that of John. Henry Donnell had three sons,-John, Joshua, and Charles. The last two came into possession of land adjoining their brothers. The land owned by Joshua is now owned by Andrew H. Giffin. The land owned by Charles is now in possession of the heirs of John Curry. Joshua and Charles, after a few years, sold their farm and went West. John Donald married Rebecca Evans, of Ten-Mile, in Amwell township. They settled on the land he took up, and had seven daughters and one son. The daughters married and settled in Mercer County, Pa. He married as a second wife Janet Lyle, of Peters Creek, in Peters township, by whom he had four daughters and three sons. The only one living of these children is Charles, a son, who lives on the old homestead. Henry, another of the sons, married Anna, the daughter of David Hay, of Char- tiers township. They settled on the homestead also, where he died Nov. 9, 1881, in his eightieth year, leaving a widow and three children, of whom John H. Donnell and a sister live at the homestead. Mrs. Henry Donnell also lives there still, having resided there over fifty years. 'Of the eight hundred acres purchased by John Donnell, the present owners are Andrew H. Giffin, W. W. Gladden, John Conner, David Beaboat, John M. Smith, and John H. Don- nell.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 174

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