History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 176

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 176

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The amount of land purchased was five hundred and three acres, at a cost of $88,621.20. On the 1st of May, 1873, contract was made for laying stone for foundations of two main buildings and four family dwellings. In July the same year contracts for the buildings were given out, and on the 15th of July that year the corner-stone of the main building was laid by Governor John F. Hartranft, with imposing ceremonies. The estimates made for the different build- ings were as follows : Main building, $80,000 ; girls' de- partment, $40,000; boys' department, $25,000 ; church, $15,000; workshops and improvement of grounds, $40,000 ; total, $200,000. These buildings were not erected · at once, and the church is not yet (1882) erected. The amount of money expended in 1873, according to the report of the managers (February, 1874), was $91,952.54. In May, 1874, another build- ing was erected. The buildings were completed and ready for occupancy in the fall of 1876, and on the 12th of December of that year the inmates from the Allegheny premises were removed to Morganza.

In June, 1876, application was made in the Court of Common Pleas No. 1 of Allegheny County for an amendment of the charter. The amendment pro- vided for putting the institution under control of the State, as under its provisions sixteen of the twenty- six managers are appointed by the Governor, subject to approval by the Senate, "instead of their being elected as heretofore by the contributors." In 1878 there were in the institution forty-five girls and two hundred and fifty-five boys, occupying the main and five family buildings. On the 3d of October, 1878, agreeable to an act passed by the Legislature, the managers transferred to the State all right, title, and interest in about fourteen acres of ground in the Ninth Ward, Allegheny, with buildings, engines, fixtures, etc., known as " the House of Refuge property, Wood's Run," for the sole use and benefit of the Western Peni- tentiary, excepting certain lots mentioned as sold.

An effort was made to transfer the control of the school entirely to the State. The Washington County commissioners, who had a voice in the control of the school, relinquished all claim to the management on the 31st of January, 1879, and on the 30th of April of that year a bill passed the Legislature authorizing and directing the managers to transfer entire control to the State, which was done. The first meeting of the board of managers (consisting of sixteen mem- bers) after the passage of this bill was held on the 5th of May, 1879. The officers were Thomas Wightman, president; John F. Dravo, vice-president; A. J. Keating, secretary ; and J. J. Gillespie, treasurer.

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IIISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The obtaining of a supply of pure water was for a long time a source of considerable trouble and anxiety. The farm committee, in their report of 1878, said,-

" Your committee, after a careful examination of all the facts in the case, came to the conclusion that the only feasible plan of securing a good and sufficient supply of water for the institution was to filter and pump from Chartiers Creek. Acting on this idea, they secured all the information on the subject of filtering they could find access to, and adopted the plan now nudler contract. The contract was immediately advertised and let to the lowest bidders, Messrs. C. G. Dixon & Co., for the sum of $1760. Your committee also received proposals for a ste: m- pump, and adopted the 'Eclipse,' manufactured by H. D. McKnight & Co., of Pittsburgh. For furnishing which, together with boilers and necessary pipe to connect pump with main water line, contract was given to Messis. H. D. MeKnight & Co. for the sum of $1875 for pump and boilers complete, and eighty-two cents per foot for furnishing and laying necessary pipe to make connection with main."

The superintendent, in his report for 1878, said,-

" The important improvement for securing a permanent supply of pure water is well under way also, and in the hands of the farm com- mittee will doubtless be completed early in the coming month. It will include when finished a large basin heavily walled with stone, and filled to the depth of seven or eight feet with the most approved material for filtering purposes. It is built on the margin of Chartiers Creek, and supplied with valvo inlets for the introduction of water as required. Much of the excavation necessary to seeute a proper depth for this basin Iris l cen through beds of solid rock, and several fine springs have been opened, which will help to make the supply inexhaustible.

" In connection with this a receiving well is being sunk, having a ca- pacity of fifteen hundred barrels, to be walled with brick, thoroughly Arouted and cemented, and covered for protection from the weather with a substantial rouf.

" A new ' Eclipse' pumping-engine, with a capacity of three hundred barrels per hour, together with double fue boilers, are ready for the foundations now in course of construction, which, with buildings for protection of same, now under contract, will complete all the necessary arrangements for the purpose named.

"It may be well to state in this connection that, owing to important changes in the original plan of this improvement, made by your direction. the expense lias been greater than at first estimated, even under thio most economical management, and will therefore necessitate an applica- tion to our next Legislature for additional appropriations to cover the deficit. Thero can be no reasonable doubt that with the present expendi- tures the institution will secure a full and lasting supply of spring and filtered water, except perhaps for laundry purposes.

" Plaus for an ice house large enough to store some three hundred tons have been submitted by the building committee. This will be placed near the creek and adjacent to the pumping-engine, in order to secure a steam connection for hoisting apparatus over an incline ex- tending to the creek margin.

" Plans also for a new depot building have been furnished by the architect, and are now under supervision by the building committee. This is expected to include, in addition to a public waiting-room for pas- sengers and a freight-room, sufficient accommodations for residence of the station-agent, dining- und lunch-rooms, and several lodging-rooms for the use of persons visiting the institution. It is expected also that the post-office will be removed to this building when completed. For the purpose named a structure will be required exceeding in cost the appropriation already made from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars."

In his report for 1880 the superintendent men- tioned the improvements made up to September 30th of that year, as follows :

" The greater portion of all labor has been done by inmates, the num- her of days of farm labor aggregating three thousand one hundred and eighty-six, and on improvements to grounds of the institution, seven thousand two hundred and sixty-seven days. During the summer a limestone quarry has been opened on the farm, for the purpose of se- curing stone for roadways ; a crusher for breaking stone has been erected, and the roadways are being evenly covered with broken limestone; some four thousand feet of French drains have been dug at either side of main roadway and the sides laid with brick water tables; about two

thousand yards of concrete pivement has been laid at rear of main building, and the passage-way between the main building and bakery graded, macadamized, and otherwise improved. The grounds about the main entrance have been graded and ornamented. Two additional green-houses, eighty by twelve feet each, have been erected for projet- gating bedding-plants and growing early vegetables, most of the mate- rial for which had formerly been in use for hot-beds.

" Much difficulty has heretofore been experienced in securing a suffi- cient quantity of ice from the small stream skirting the grounds of the institution, and during the present summer an ice-pond has been pre- pared, covering some two acres of ground, from which we hope to secure an abundant supply of ice; and the sheet of water will be quite an ornamental feature in the beauty of our lawns. In addition to the labor performed by inmates on the farm and grounds, we have five boys em- ployed in the shoe-shop, who have during the year made 657 pairs of shoes, repaired 1135 pairs of shoes, repaired 25 sets of harness. Seven boys in the tailor-shop made 960 pairs of pants, 138 coats, 92 jackets, 38 vests, 20 curtains, 64 bed-ticks, 34 sheets, 40 pillow-slips, 60 napkins, 14 aprous, 70 towels, and repaired upwards of 402 pants and coats. Some twenty-five of the inmates are members of the brass band, which meets weekly for instruction and drill, under the direction of Prof. Arbogust, and perform in a very creditable manner.

" During the month of June a contract was entered into for the erec- tion of workshops, thirty-six by seventy-two feet in dimensions and two stories high, with basement, and the building is'now in process of com- pletion, and will soon be ready for occupancy.

" At a meeting of the board held May 10, 1880, Col. G. A. Shallen- berger resigned his position as superintendent. The resignation was accepted by the board, and Mr. J. A. Quay, the present incumbent, was unanimously choseu to fill the vacancy. We desire here to bear testi- mony to the untiring efforts of Col. Shallenberger for the interests of the school ; and as well to the like efforts on the part of Mr. Quay, who was somewhat suddenly called to so responsible a position, and to the aid and assistance afforded by Mr. C. H. Reid, his worthy assistant. Mrs. Van Meter, the matron of the female department, tendered her resigna- tion, and Mrs. Beacom was chosen to succeed her. It has been cause for congratulation that we were able at once to fill these important officos with so efficient and reliable men and women. No doubt very much of our success is due to the energy and watchfulness of the other officers, who are perhaps the best fitted for their respective duties of any we have ever had."

Following is a list of the present (1882) officers of the institution, viz .: Board of Managers-President, Thomas Wightman; Vice-President, James P. Barr ; Secretary, A. F. Keating ; Treasurer, J. J. Gillespie ; James Allison, T. J. Bigham, Josiah Cohen, C. Trout- man, James McCullough, Thomas McKennan, John N. Neel, R. P. Nevin, R. S. Waring, Malcolm Hay, Joseph Woodwell, J. Weyand.

Resident officers : J. A. Quay, superintendent ; T. B. Jackson, clerk; Alexander McMorrow, steward ; J. W. Alexander, M.D., physician ; Andrew Boland, chief engineer; J. P. Stewart, farmer; Mrs. E. H. Beacom, matron.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

JAMES CRAIGHEAD.

The Craigheads are descended from a Scotch mis- sionary of that name who settled in Virginia in her colonial days. The first of whom the family in this section have any authentic record is George Craig- head, who was a native of Virginia. He was a sol- dier in the Revolutionary war, and was wounded at the battle of Brandywine. He married Anna Brat-

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James Tranglied 1

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CHARTIERS TOWNSHIP.

ton and came to Washington County about 1794, largement and improvement of his farm building -. and settled in North Strabane township. Their chil- ' His life business has been farming. He has deserved dren were Thomas, Isabel, Hester, Elizabeth, Millie, Margaret, and William, in uncertain order. The last named, William Craighead, followed his father's vocation, that of farming, in which he achieved marked success. He married Jane Boggs, and to them were born six children,-George, who married Elizabeth Neel, James, William, Nancy, Thomas, and John, of whom James and John are the only ones now living. James Craighead was born in North Strabane township, Washington Co., Pa., Feh. 10, 1805 .. He learned the carpenter's trade but never followed it, except so far as it was needed in the en-

to succeed, and has succeeded. Those who knew him best in his prime placed a high estimate upon his judgment and esteemed him for his uprightness. For many years he has been a member of the Pres- byterian Church. In 1870 he was elected by the Democratic party commissioner of Washington County. He gave to the duties of his office the care and fidelity which he was wont to give to his private business, and his constituents were satisfied. His principal possessions are his farms, stock, and the Chartiers Woolen-Factory, of which he became the owner about five years ago.

CHARTIERS TOWNSHIP.

THE township of Chartiers was erected by action of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Washington County on the 23d of March, 1790, in accordance with a peti- tion from the inhabitants residing within the limits. It was originally the southern part of Cecil township, and embraced its present territory, the southeast part of Mount Pleasant township, and the north part of Canton. Upon the erection of Canton, the next year, a portion was taken to form that township, and in 1808 the northwest part was taken off to, become a part of Mount Pleasant, the western boundary line then passing through the town of Hickory. A slight change was made in October, 1831, giving a small portion of territory to Mount Pleasant, and in 1863 the boundary line between Chartiers and Canton was changed and adjusted as at present.

Following is a list of persons appointed and elected to the office of justice of the peace 1 in Chartiers town- ship from its erection to the present time :

John Canon, Ang. 24, 1790. John Canon, April 1, 1794. John Wilkes Hilliard, Feb. 24, 1798. Andrew Monroe, April G, 1798. Andrew Swearingen, April 3, 1799. William Hays, Amil 3, 1799. William Clark, April 3, 1799. John Hays, April 14, 1840. William Fee, April 14, 1810. William Fee, April 15, 1845. John Hays, April 15, 1845. JIugh Fergus, April 9, 1850. Juhn Hays, April 9, 1850. John Henderson, April 10, 1855.

Hugh Fergus, April 10, 1855. James McElroy, April 10, 1860. John Hodgins, April 10, 1860. John W. Howell, May 12, 1862. John Hodgins, May 5, 1866. John W. Howell, April 19, 1867. Jonathan Allison, April 13, 1870. John C. McNary, April 12, 1872. · II. O. McKnight, Aug. 8, 1873. John C. McNary, Jan, 17, 1874. H. O. McKnight, Jan. 19, 1874. Jolin C. MeNary, March 21, 1877. Allison De France, March 25, 1878.

1 Prior to the erection of Chartiers its territory was embraced in Cecil, From its erection to 1803 Chantiers was a separate district, but in that year became a part of District No. 5 (with Cecil), and so remained till 1838, when it again became an independent district. The names of the justices of District No. 5 from 1803 to 1838 are given in Cecil township.

Early Settlers .- Col. James Allison in the fall of 1773 emigrated with his family from Cecil County, Md., to the "Forks of the Yough" (now Mckees- port), where he resided that winter, and in the spring of 1774 came to what is now Washington County and settled on Chartiers Creek. He and his family were of the twenty families who came to this section in that year, among whom were the Scotts, McDowells, Parks, Morrisons, Struthers, Norris, and others. He married a daughter of James Bradford, who came to Strabane township later and settled there. David Bradford, who was prominent in the Whiskey Insur- rection, was a brother of Mrs. Allison, and Mrs. John McDowell was a sister. James Allison purchased one thousand acres of land, containing an improve- ment, of Thomas Moffit, also of Maryland. For the first year after these families arrived in the valley they were accustomed to rendezvous in time of danger from the Indians at a fort that was built on the land of William Norris, in the rear of the old Quail place. The land on which he settled was warranted on the 29th of October, 1784, and surveyed to him Aug. 13, 1785, as "Mount Pleasant," containing three hun- dred and fifty-seven acres. This tract was adjoining Michael Ralston, James Morrison, and Andrew Swearingen. He was elected one of the justices of the peace of the Court of Common Pleas, and also served the county as member of Assembly at the same time with John McDowell, his brother-in-law. He was a member of the society in Philadelphia formed for the abolition of slavery. He was one of the first elders of the Chartiers congregation, under Rev. Dr. John McMillan. He was later one of the associate judges of Washington County, and held the position till his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

seven years. He was a man of great moral worth, highly honored and respected by his fellow-citizens. He had eight children,-James, William, John, George, Thomas, Andrew, Rachel, Mary. James, the eldest son, studied law with John Shannon, of Washington, and removed to Beaver County, where he became prominent as a lawyer. John Allison, the ex-register of the Treasury of the United States, is his son.

William and John Allison, sons of James Allison, Sr., emigrated in 1834 to McDonough County, Ill., where they lived and died. George became a mer- chant in Noblestown, and died there. Thomas and Andrew settled on the homestead farm. Jonathan Allison, the son of Thomas, resides on the homestead, and the heirs of Thomas Allison now own the part that belonged to Andrew. Rachel, a daughter of James Allison, became the wife of George Craighead, to whom one hundred acres of the estate was left. Mrs. William Ross, a granddaughter of Mrs. George Craighead, now lives on this portion of the old Alli- son tract.

A patent for one thousand acres of land was granted by Lord Dunmore, in the year 1775, to Valentine Crawford and Col. John Neville, for services ren- dered in the Dunmore war. This land was located in what is now Chartiers, township. It seems to have been left without improvement, and unknown to the Pennsylvania land-office, as the settlers as early as 1783-84 took out warrants for lands that were em- braced in this tract, and which lands were surveyed and patented regularly to them, without any doubt of a perfect title. Later, in 1803, came the announce- ment that a prior title existed. A meeting was · arranged of the parties concerned, consisting on the part of the owners of the military patent of Presley Neville, attorney for William Heth, of Henrico County, Va., and the settlers upon the land, Martin Adams, Robert Montgomery, William Gabby, Robert and Paul White, Mary Henderson, John Struthers, Andrew Russell, Robert McCloskey, James McElroy, Samuel McBride, John McCoy, John Calkins, and Robert Hughes. An amicable settlement was made, and on the 1st of December, 1803, Presley Neville conveyed to them "all that tract of land surveyed under a military warrant for Valentine Crawford and John Neville for one thousand acres." At this time these parties were on the land, "and by this deed they became tenants in common, and not as joint tenants ; and also according to their several claims of title, boundary, and possession, as held, owned, and pos- sessed by them respectively antecedent to the delivery hereof."

The land owned by Morton Adams is now in pos- session of Joseph Willison ; that of William Gabby, now Alexander McConnell; Robert and Paul White, now Robert Russell; Mary Henderson, now owned by Joseph Willison, formerly known as the Ander- son tract; John Struthers, now in possession of

Charles Coultingham ; Andrew Russell, now in pos- session of John Russell, a grandson; Robert Mc- Closkey, now owned by Alexander Moore; Robert Montgomery, John Cockins, and John McCoy, prop- erty passed to Samuel McCoy, now in possession of his widow, Mrs. Isabella McCoy.

A Virginia certificate was issued to Samuel Thomp- son on the 31st of January, 1780, by the commission- ers of Virginia, then in session at Coxe's Fort. It is there recited as being "situate on Shirtee Creek, to include his settlement made in the year 1774." This tract was surveyed on the 25th of January, 1785, and named "Thompson's Seasons," and contained three hundred and ten acres. At that time there was no land adjoining it that had been taken up. It was patented on the 27th of March, 1793, and was then mentioned as "adjoining Canonsburg." It is evident that this tract was the first in the valley that was taken up above Morganza. It was taken up before Col. John Canon came in. Sarah Thompson, the widow of Samuel Thompson, sold the property to different parties in 1806.

Rev. Matthew Henderson was born in Scotland in 1735 ; educated at Edinburgh ; studied theology under Rev. Alexander Moncriff, one of the first four Seced- ers. He was licensed to preach at the age of twenty- one years, and ordained two years later, in 1758, by the Presbytery of Perth and Dumfermline. He was immediately sent out by the Associate Church to the British colonies in America, being the third mission- ary sent out by that church. Soon after his arrival he settled in Oxford, Chester Co., where he labored until the year 1782. During his residence at. that place he visited the western country as early as 1779, and preached at Chartiers and Buffalo. In 1782 he received a call from these congregations to become their pastor. A tract of land was purchased of John Struthers, Jr., the deed for which was dated Jan. 13, 1789. It contained one hundred and fifty- three acres, and was situated on the north fork of Chartiers Creek, adjoining John Hays, John Struth- ers, Jr., and Thomas White. It was part of a tract of land called "South Hill," which was patented Nov. 13, 1786. This land had evidently been pur- chased several years before, as an article of agree- ment is said to be in existence for a tract of land conveyed to Matthew Henderson by John Struthers, Jr., dated May, 1781. There is also on record a bill of sale dated Dec. 9, 1782, from Alexander Hender- son to the Rev. Matthew Henderson, by which was conveyed "One Roan-colored Horse, One Bay Horse, One Red and one Brindle Cow, Six Sheep, furniture of the house, including dresser furniture, Beds and Bed-cloaths, my farming implements, two sows and pigs, my part of grain in the ground." The consid- eration paid was one hundred and seventy pounds.

On this tract of land purchased of John Struthers, Jr., Mr. Henderson settled with his wife and children, and lived till his death in 1795. He had charge not

RESIDENCE AND STOCK FARM OF JOHN G. PAXTON, CHARTIERS TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON CO., PA.

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CHARTIERS TOWNSHIP.

only of Chartiers and North Buffalo Churches, but of the congregations of Mingo Creek (now the United Presbyterian Church in Peters township) and of Mill Creek. He was among the most zealous in the or- ganization of the academy in Canonsburg in July, 1791, and remained a stanch and firm friend and supporter of that institution as long as he lived.

In speaking of this, Dr. Joseph Smith, in the "His- tory of Jefferson College," says, " In July, 1791, it was settled in a conference of citizens and ministers, nu- merously attended, that the incipient steps should be taken for getting an academy under way. The ensu- ing day was fixed for that purpose. Many citizens attended, among whom were Judges McDowell and Allison and Craig Ritchie, Esq. The ministers present were Revs. McMillan, Henderson, and Smith. The place of meeting was by a small English school- house. Here, under the pleasant shade of the green sassafras bushes, protected from the rays of the July sun, the two pupils, with Cordrii Colloqua in their hands, were just about to read 'quid agis,' when Dr. McMillan, addressing the two brethren and the small assembly, remarked in substance as follows, 'This is an important day in our history, affecting deeply the interests of the church and of the country in the West, affecting our own interests for time and eternity, and the interests it may be of thousands and thou- sands yet unborn.' And turning to Mr. Henderson, he asked him to engage in prayer, seeking the bless- ing of God on the institution now to be opened. And I must say [continues the historian] the broad ver- nacular pronunciation never could be more delightful and impressive than it was then, while everything proper to the occasion appeared to be remembered in prayer by this good man." Mr. Henderson remained as pastor of the two congregations until his death, the circumstances of which are given as follows by his daughter Elizabeth (afterwards Mrs. Alexander Murdoch), who was then with him :

"On the evening of October 1st [1705] he had expressed to his chil- dren a wish that they would fell a bee-tree which had been discovered on his farm, and preparations were accordingly made to proceed to it early in the morning. He had acquainted his daughter Elizabeth, then a child of ten years of age, with their purpose, and told her that if she could get up in the morning without awakening her younger sister, Jane, she might go with him. Accordingly, the next morning he went quietly to her bed and touched her gently, to awake her without dis- turbing her sister. She was soon up, and having dressed herself for the expedition, hurried into her father's room, supposing him also to be ready. She found him on his knees engaged in secret prayer, and im- mediately withdrew. Soon after this she observed him going down to the spring with a basin and towel to wash himself, as was his custom in the morning. Some time after he had returned she again ventured into his room, and again found him engaged in prayer. Soon afterwards he came out, and taking her by the hand he led her to the place where his Bons, Ebenezer and Robert, had been for some time engaged in felling the tree. The tree stood upon a bank, and it was supposed would fall down the side of it. Mr. Hender-on and his daughter approached towards it on the higher ground, where it was thought was no danger. Here they stood for a little time, at some distance from the tree, awaiting its fall.' It proved to be decayed in the centre, and fell much sooner than. had been anticipated, and also in a direction opposite to that in which lie supposed it to be falling. On this occasion, as usual, he ran, but in the same direction with the fulling of the tree. His daughter followed

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 176

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