History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 181

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 181

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model, was erected a few rods from his residence. Serv- ing a long period as a director, he used his influence to secure such a high grade of teachers as rendered the new system a success in his own neighborhood, equal if not beyond that of any other in the county. Dur- ing his legislative service, on the application of the Rev. Matthew Brown, D.D., president of Jefferson College, for an appropriation from the State, he suc- ceeded in securing the handsome sum of $8000, which was used in the erection of a new college building.

After the death of his father he came into posses- sion of the farm and mill property, on account of which he was very closely occupied in the manage- ment of his own private business. Yet he continued to manifest a deep interest in public affairs. In 1844 he was chosen a member of the Electoral College. This was his last appearance in public life. Retiring from active business in 1859, he spent his declining years in well-earned repose in the family of his eldest son, with the companion of his youth, to whom he had been united in marriage sixty years on the 29th of April preceding his death.

Of the other sons of Gen. Thomas Patterson, James, the second, was both a merchant and farmer at Pat- terson's Mills. He died in 1860, and his son, Thomas, | Jr., inherited his property. Samuel Patterson, the third son, was also a farmer, and settled on the farm now owned by his son, Robert M. Patterson, which is a portion of the original Capt. William, Patterson tract. Samuel Patterson made a specialty of sheep- raising and wool-growing, and was much interested and very successful in improving the quality of his wool. In 1846 he purchased a farm in Eastern Vir- ginia, whither he removed with his family and died there.

John, fourth son of Gen. Thomas Patterson, re- moved from Cross Creek township to Armstrong County, in this State. He served one term in the State Legislature from that section.

Thomas Patterson, the fifth son, married a daughter of Richard Wells, and settled upon a portion of the old Alexander Wells homestead. Later he removed to Illinois, and thence to Nebraska.

Findley Patterson, who was the sixth son of Gen. Thomas Patterson, married a sister of Hon. John A. Bingham. He was the one selected from among the heirs to go to Armstrong County, Pa., to survey the large landed estate of his grandfather, Hon. William Findley. In Armstrong County he became an exten- sive mill-owner, and also filled many important offices. He served three successive terms in the State Senate ; also served in the Lower House of the Legislature, and was twice elected Speaker; was appointed revenue commissioner in 1843. . In 1850 he went overland to California, and spent a year there successfully. In 1857 he was appointed by the President receiver in the land-office in Kansas, and held the position four years. Having returned to Washington County, he was, in the fall of 1878, elected a representative in the

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

State Legislature from this county, and while there was an active member of several important commit- tees. In whatever public or private business Mr. Findley Patterson has ever been engaged, he has always proved himself most thorough and efficient in its management.

Josiah Patterson, born Nov. 10, 1783, in Cross Creek township, was a son of William Patterson by his second marriage. April 13, 1809, he married Ann Templeton, and they had a family of ten children,- John, William, Thomas, Joseph, Nathan, Elizabeth, Ann, David, Esther, and Rachel. Josiah Patterson was a farmer in this township, and died upon his homestead in February, 1843, aged sixty years. His sons Joseph and Nathan still reside in this township, the latter upon his father's farm, and William and Elizabeth (Mrs. Smiley) are residents of Mount Pleasant township.

Nathan Patterson was also a son of William Pat- terson's second marriage. He was born Sept. 11, 1788, and Oct. 14, 1816, married Lydia Houston. They settled in Cross Creek township. Their chil- dren were Daniel; William, John, Nathan, and Mary Patterson. The father, Nathan Patterson, Sr., died in February, 1846, at fifty-eight years of age. The son, William Patterson, is now living at Patterson's Mills, in this township. Daniel and Mary, who mar- ried Mr. Atchison, removed to Iowa, and John and Nathan, who lived in Cross Creek township, died, leaving no descendants. Mrs. Hannah Vance was a daughter of Capt. William Patterson by his second wife, Elizabeth Brown. She was born May 22, 1786, at the old Patterson homestead, near Patterson's Mills. Mrs. Vance was the youngest of the Patter- son family who emigrated to Cross Creek, and when she died, in May, 1879, she still retained her mental faculties in full. She was buried in Cross Creek Cemetery. Her husband, Hon. William Vance, was a representative in the State Legislature from this county in 1816 and 1817.

Of William Patterson's first family of children, John settled in Belmont, Ohio, from which place he was elected to Congress in 1822; Samuel, another son, was killed by the Indians in 1787, while he was boating flour on the Wabash River to Vincennes, Ind.

Col. James Marshel 1 was a resident of Cross Creek township as early as 1778. On December 26th of that year he purchased of Jacob Frederick "a tract of land situated on the head-waters of Cross Creek, in the counties of Yohogania and Ohio, and State of Virginia," said tract containing four hundred acres with allowance, and the consideration being £419 138. 9d. " Marshel Hall" was the name given to a tract of four hundred and thirty-two acres which was warranted and surveyed to Col. Marshel in 1785, ad-

joining the lands of Thomas McKibbin, Robert, John, and Thomas Marshall, and Samuel Johnston. The middle branch of Cross Creek runs through this place. " Mecklenburg" must have been Col. Marshel's next land purchase. This tract he secured from Francis McKinne, to whom it was warranted Feb. 13, 1786, and afterwards surveyed as containing four hundred and one acres, located next other lands of James Marshel and those of David Vance and John Camp- bell. " The Point" was a tract of three hundred and fifty-eight acres which Col. Marshel warranted in March, 1786, and then deeded part of it to Mr. John- ston, who lived upon it. On April 20, 1781, the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsyl- vania appointed Col. James Marshel county lieu- tenant of Washington County. He was also recorder of deeds and register of wills for Washington County from 1781 to 1784, and from 1791 to 1795. He was also, sheriff of the county from 1784 to 1787. During the years of his official life, Col. Marshel resided the principal part of the time at the county-seat, where his public duties required his constant attention. He was a prominent actor in the events of the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794, as elsewhere mentioned. Soon after the close of the insurrection (in September, 1795) he advertised thirteen hundred acres of pat- ented and improved lands on Cross Creek for sale. This must have been preparatory to his removing from Cross Creek township to Brooke County, Va., which he did at about that time. Col. Marshel's wife was his cousin, a sister of Robert and John Marshall. Their son, John Marshel, was elected sheriff of Wash- ington County in 1835, served one year, and then re- signed to accept the position of cashier of the Frank- lin Bank, in Washington, Pa., where he remained several years. Col. James Marshel died at his home in Brooke County, Va., in 1829. "Marshel Hall," his home in this township, is now owned by Thomas and Thomas B. McCorkle.

Col. John and Robert Marshall (half-brothers) were cousins of Col. James Marshel. They came here together in 1779 from Lancaster County, and both purchased land of Col. James Marshel. Robert Marshel continued to live upon his purchase in Cross Creek township until his death, which occurred in 1833, at seventy-three years of age. His wife sur- vived him until 1858, and died at the age of eighty- nine years. Their only daughter, Esther Marshel, is living near Mount Prospect Church, in Mount Pleas- ant township, and the old farm is now owned by Robert Jeffries, and occupied by Robert Jeffries, Jr.

Col. James Marshel was a captain in the Revolu- tionary war, and was wounded at the battle of Brandywine, Sept. 11, 1777. He was afterwards colonel in the Washington County militia. In Au- gust, 1781, he was appointed a justice of the peace for Hopewell township, which at that time embraced the whole of the territory now Cross Creek township. In 1802-5 he was a member of the House of Repre-

1 Col James Marshel and Ins son John always spelled their surname in thus peculiar way-Marshel. The cousins of Col. Marshel, though of the same family, spelled their name in the usual way-Marshall.

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CROSS CREEK TOWNSIIIP.

sentatives in the Pennsylvania Legislature. In 1820, Col. Marshel sold the two-hundred-acre tract which he had purchased of Col. James Marshel to Walter Craig, and removed to Crawford County, Ohio, where he died soon after. This land was adjoining the " Pensacola" tract of Joseph Reed. Mr. Craig re- sided upon it but a few years, when he sold it and removed to Cross Creek village. It is now in the possession of David E. McNary.

Thomas and William Marshall were brothers, and natives of Ireland, who came into this section at least as early as 1779. Thomas Marshall located upon the land now owned by R. T. Johnson, upon which he had a distillery in operation in 1784. He was an elder in Cross Creek Church. In 1800 he sold his property in this township to Col. James Marshel, and removed to Smith township, in this county. In 1827 he again sold out, going to Ohio, where he died in 1839, at the age of ninety-six years. The property which Thomas Marshall owned in Cross Creek town- ship was warranted to him March 31, 1786, and sur- veyed Oct. 24, 1787. The tract contained four hun- dred and five acres, was called "Buck Forest," and was bounded by the lands of William Reynolds, John Marshall, John Tennel, and Thomas Marques.

William Marshall, who came out with his brother Thomas in 1779, settled upon the farm now occupied by David Gault. Mr. Marshall had left his family in Ireland, and in 1783, having sent for them, started for Philadelphia to meet them. They had arrived earlier than he expected them, and had journeyed from Phil- adelphia to Chartiers township, in this county, where the husband and father found them at the home of Andrew Russell. Mr. Marshall sold his property here in 1817, and with all his family except the son Wil- liam removed to the State of Ohio. William Mar- shall, the son just mentioned, married Ann Crawford, a daughter of Thomas Crawford, and through the in- heritance of his wife came into possession of a por- tion of the Hugh Stephenson land. The property is now occupied by some of their descendants, and Wil- liam Perry, S. L. and Matthew McCollough. Mr. Mar- shall died in 1860, aged ninety-three years, and his wife survived him but a month, dying at the age of ninety years. Their son, Thomas Marshall, is still living in this township, and is now eighty-two years old.

Thomas Bay was a resident of Cross Creek town- ship before the year 1780, living upon the five-hun- dred-acre tract of land which he located here. It was the farm adjoining that of Squire Rea, and which is now owned by Arnold Lawton, and occupied by his son, Arnold Lawton, Jr. Mr. Bay's early home was a strong house, into which all the imme- diate neighbors gathered when alarmed by the In- dians. In 1780 he furnished supplies for the gov- ernment, as shown by the minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania. Besides his property in this township, Mr. Bay also

located land in Smith township. In 1812, when he removed to Ohio, he sold the Cross Creek property to Daniel Huston, who lived upon it until his death in 1829. The land in Smith township was sold to James Stephenson, and is now the property of John B. and James Hayes. Mr. Bay was a man of much note and influence, and his removal to Ohio was greatly regretted by his townsmen. His large fam- ily of sons and daughters accompanied him.

Jacob Buxton came to what is now Cross Creek township in 1880. He was an Englishman by birth. He located first in Fayette County, and from there attempted to go down the river to Kentucky, but his boat was snagged near Georgetown, and all his goods were lost. He then gave up the idea, and in the spring of 1780 bought the farm in this township where Samuel K. White at present resides. It was sold to Buxton by Joseph Armstrong, of Ohio County, Va., for £85, " paid in grain." The sale was of " three hundred acres of land and implements," dated Jan. 29, 1780.

Jacob Buxton resided upon the place until his death in 1836, when he had reached the age of eighty-six years. His wife died in 1842, forty-two years of age. Before Mr. Buxton's death he gave his son, Aaron Buxton, one hundred acres of the original farm, He died in 1861, and his son, Richard F. Buxton, owns and lives upon it. The remaining portion of the old farm was sold in 1836 to Col. James Lee, who, in 1844, disposed of it to William White, and his son, Samuel White, is the present owner.

William Scott received in 1780 a Virginia certifi- cate for "Bowling Green," a tract of land in this township, containing three hundred and eighty-one acres, next the lands of Alexander Wells and Alex- ander Nesbitt. April 3, 1787, he sold the property to William Cuttreaugh. In the conveyance it was described as situated on Cross Creek, and " including the settlement of the said William Scott, made by John Doddridge, for which the said William Scott obtained a certificate of settlement right from the commissioners of the State of Virginia." In De- cember, 1781, Mr. Scott was appointed agent of for- feited estates for the county of Washington.

Joseph Scott was a brother of William Scott, and came into the township at the same time. Some time before 1788 Joseph took up or purchased three hun- dred and fifty acres of land, which he resided upon until his death in 1825. What further land invest- ments he made is not known, but the assessment-rolls of 1791 show him to have been assessed that year upon four hundred acres. In 1781 he was a justice of the peace in this township, and in 1791 a mill was in operation upon his farm. Descendants of Joseph Scott still reside in this township, but his origi- nal land property is owned by John and Harvey Lawton.

Robert Curry was a native of Scotland, who emi-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

grated to America in 1782. On his voyage across the ocean he had for a fellow-passenger Miss Isabella Mckenzie, who had left the Highlands of Scotland to find another home across the sea. From strangers they became acquaintances, and upon their arrival in this country were married. They came at once to the Monongahela country, and lived for a time at Fort Pitt. Mr. Curry was a cooper. Thinking to improve the prospects of himself and family, they removed in 1790 to Wheeling, Va., settling near the fort then located there. Eventually they removed to Cross Creek village, where they lived many years, he dying June 25, 1838, aged eighty-four years, and she living until March 28, 1856, when she died at the great age of ninety-eight years. Their children were eight daughters and four sons. Robert Curry lived near Hanlan's Station, in Hanover township, where he died in 1866. The daughter Nancy became Mrs. David Caldwell, and lived in Mount Pleasant town- ship. John Curry married and lived and died near Claysville. Archibald was a bachelor. He and Robert were in the army at Black Rock, N. Y., in 1814. These three brothers, John, Robert, and Archi- bald Curry, made several trips to New Orleans in flat-boats; on one occasion Archibald walking the entire distance home. Another and a fourth son of Robert Curry, Sr., was at one time deputy State superintendent of public instruction of Pennsyl- vania. In 1876 he was appointed superintendent of the State Normal School in Nebraska, an important position that he still holds. Two of the eight daugh- ters of Robert Curry, Sr., are also still living,-Mrs. Sarah O. Stevenson, of Smith township, and Mrs. William Van Ostrand, of Cross Creek village.

David and Robert McComb were brothers, who emigrated from their home in Scotland to America, and both took part in the Revolutionary war. They came into this township as soon as they left the ser- vice, and their father, Robert McComb, Sr., who came with them, purchased four hundred acres of land, which he divided equally, giving each son two hun- dred acres. Robert McComb, Sr., died in 1794, in Cross Creek township. Robert McComb, Jr., lived upon the farm his father gave him until his death in 1827. About the year 1795 he built a fulling-mill on Cross Creek, upon the site of which the Wilson grist- mill now stands. The Western Telegraphe of May 6. 1796, contains his advertisement announcing that he had " erected a fulling-mill'on Cross Creek, one mile from James Monsey's mill." His farm is now owned by the heirs of John Manson. David McComb also spent his days upon the property his father purchased for him, dying there in 1837 at the age of seventy- eight years.

Andrew Ritchie, who was a Revolutionary soldier, came to this township just after the close of the war and settled on Muller's Run. In 1796 he bought a farm of Ephraim Hart, the ore that has since been known as the Ritchie farm. He had a son James,

who lived upon the farm with his parents. He died in 1834, at forty-five years of age. The wife of An- drew Ritchie and mother of James died in the same year, aged seventy-nine years, and Mr. Ritchie's death occurred four years later, when he was eighty-five years old. Andrew S. Ritchie, clerk in the First National Bank in Washington borough, is a son of James and grandson of Andrew Ritchie.

Aaron Lyle was a native of Northampton, Mass., and came into Washington County in the fall of 1784. He settled and always lived-on a tract of land, the farm now owned and occupied by William Rankin, Jr. In 1790 he purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, which was added to the farm he already owned. Aaron Lyle was a Revolutionary soldier, and when he participated in the battle of Long Island, N. Y., which took place Aug. 27, 1776, he was but sixteen years of age. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the Pennsylvania State Legis- lature from 1798 to 1801, and again in 1805. In 1808 he was elected to Congress, and continued to represent this district there until 1816. In 1807, before his election to Congress, he served as county commis- sioner in Washington County. Mr. Lyle died in 1825, aged sixty-six years. His children were three sons and four daughters,-Moses, James, Robert, Mary, Ellen, Margaret, and Jane. Ellen died very young ; James died in Smith township in 1806; and Moses, who lived on the homestead, died in 1840. After his death the home farm was sold in 1846, and now be- longs to David Gault. Moses Lyle was elected to the office of county commissioner in 1817. Robert Lyle was a physician, and practiced in Cross Creek town- ship for several years. He finally removed to Steu- benville, and from there went West. The daughter Mary became the wife of John Campbell, and went to a Western State, and Margaret, who married Hon. William Patterson, is still living at Patterson's Mills, in this township. Jane Lyle became the wife of Samuel Ewing, the son of Thomas Ewing, of North Strabane township, in Washington County. Hon. Thomas Ewing, of Pittsburgh, is a son of Samuel and Jane Ewing.

Thomas Ewing came from the north of Ireland to this country, and settled first, as stated, in North Stra- bane township in 1794. On April 10, 1815, he pur- chased sixty acres of land of Samuel Johnston in Cross Creek township. This was a part of the tract " The Point," which was warranted and patented April 18, 1788, to Col. James Marshel in trust for Samuel Johnston, and which Col. Marshel deeded to Mr. Johnston Dec. 13, 1793. Thomas Ewing's wife was Miss Esther McNary, and their son Samuel mar- ried Miss Jane Lyle, as mentioned in the history of the Lyle family. Hon. Thomas Ewing, of Pittsburgh, son of Samuel, and grandson of Thomas Ewing, Sr., is judge of one of the courts in that city.

Several persons of the name Stevenson, or Stephen- son, as it is often spelled, have lived and owned prop-

731

CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP.

erty in Cross Creek township, but nothing is found to indicate any relationship between them. Col. Hugh Stevenson was granted, July 5, 1774, one thousand acres of land on a military warrant. One hundred and four acres of this tract, situated on the waters of Cross Creek; is now owned by S. L. Mccullough. James Stevenson received two certificates, granting him seven hundred and seventy-seven acres of land in this section, adjoining two of the Robert Ruther- ford tracts. This land was surveyed to James Steven- son, June 28, 1790, and is now occupied by William and Robert Stevenson and other Stevenson heirs. It has remained in the family from the first.

The records show that in 1791, John Stevenson was assessed upon three hundred acres of land. John Stevenson died on this property in 1819, aged eighty- six years. After this event his son, John, Jr., re- mained upon the place until 1840, when he died. The property was still held by the descendants of John Stevenson until 1875, when it passed into the hands of John S. Lee and H. L. Duncan, who now own it. The Rev. John S. Marques is a grandson of John Stevenson, Jr.

Andrew Ferguson, who was a native of Maryland, followed his brother-in-law, Rev. Joseph Smith, to this county in 1786, and settled in what is now Cross Creek township, where he purchased a farm of Thomas Bay. It was the one on which D. M. Stewart now resides, and upon it Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson lived and died. Their seven children were David, Andrew, Samuel, Benjamin, Joseph, Mary, and Abigail Fergu- son. Andrew died before 1812, and Samuel, who went to Ohio to reside, died there in 1841. David was en- gaged in several campaigns against the Indians. He finally made a trip down the river, from which he never returned. Joseph Ferguson, the youngest son, removed to Guernsey County, Ohio. His son, Rev. William M. Ferguson, is a prominent Presbyterian clergyman in Fredericktown, Knox Co., in the same State. The daughter, Mary Ferguson, became the wife of James Cummings, of Cross Creek township, who was killed during the war of 1812.

Robert Armstrong came from Ireland to this coun- try accompanied by his family, and in 1787 settled in Cross Creek township on the farm now in the posses- sion of Hugh Lee, one mile southwest of Cross Creek Church. On March 30, 1789, he purchased one hun- dred and seven acres of land of Henry Graham in addition to his first purchase. In 1787, the first year of Mr. Armstrong's residence here, his son, Adam Armstrong, a young man twenty-one years of age, died. Mrs. Armstrong died in 1796, and the husband and father in 1810. At his death the property passed into the hands of his four daughters,-Sarah, Miriam, Anna, and Jane Armstrong,-none of whom ever married. The farm was finally sold, and the daughters removed to Cross Creek village, where they all died.

William Rea came from Northampton County, in this State, to Cross Creek township in 1789, and pur-

.chased one hundred and eighty-five acres of land of George Marques. In the spring of 1790 he made a permanent settlement here, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. William Rea was identified with the early history of the Cross Creek schools as one of the most efficient teachers, and in 1823 he was a jus- tice of the peace for the territory including Cross Creek, Hopewell, and Mount Pleasant townships. He died in 1835, aged seventy-two years. His grand- sons, William, Charles C., and Joseph V. Rea, now own the old homestead and other of the Rea lands.

Francis McCauley, who was of Scotch descent, was settled in Cross Creek prior to 1791, and had posses- sion of one hundred and fifty acres of land, that upon which John N. Walker now resides. Mr. McCauley remained upon the farm of his early settlement until his death, in 1825, when his son, John McCauley, sold it to James Patterson. David Ramsey, of Hopewell township, is a grandson of Francis McCauley.

Isaac Martin was a resident and property-holder of Cross Creek township before 1791, his name appear- ing among the taxables in that year. He died in 1806, and left his farm to his son, who very soon sold it, and the land at present belongs to R. B. Thomp- son, David Cummings, and Joseph Patterson.

On March 22, 1794, Peter Perrine purchased the tract of land in this township called " Buffalo Lick," containing three hundred acres, from Richard Wells, Jr., who had received a warrant of acceptance for it dated Jan. 22; 1788. This land Peter Perrine settled upon, and there passed the remainder of his life. He had several sons. Of these Nicholas, James, and Stephen Perrine emigrated to Ohio. Benjamin re- moved to Harmon's Creek, where he lived and died, and Isaac remained upon the old homestead. Isaac Perrine's sons were Peter, John, Robert, Isaac H., Samuel, and James. Peter is in Steubenville, Ohio, John and Samuel live in Burgettstown, Isaac H. went to the West, and Robert occupies the old Peter Per- rine farm, as did his father before him.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 181

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