History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 182

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 182

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Walter McClurg was a native of Ireland, who in the early part of the year 1794 settled in this section. For the consideration of thirty-five pounds he bought seventy acres of land of Henry Purviance, a part of that patented by Purviance in September, 1788. The farm upon which he resided in this township is still known as the McClurg farm, and is now the property of William Porter, a descendant of the McClurg family.

Walter Craig was a native of Ireland, born in 1786. When still quite young he came with his father's family to America, and to Washington County, Pa., settling near West Middletown, in the northern part of Hopewell township. On August 24, 1818, Walter Craig purchased property of John Marshall in Cross Creek township. It was the tract "Justice," situated on the waters of Cross Creek, adjoining the lands of William Rea, Nicholas Reed, Thomas McConkle, Thomas Meason, James and Thomas Marshall, In

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1818-19, Walter Craig was a member of the Pennsyl- vania House of Representatives, and in 1820 he re- moved to this township, to occupy the property he had bought here. In 1828 he became a member of Cross Creek Church, and in 1831 was elected a ruling elder. The latter position he retained during his life. In the year 1838 he was a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention, and from 1843 to 1845, inclusive, was a member of the State Senate. While on a visit to his daughter in Indiana Walter Craig died, Feb. 10, 1875, in the eighty-ninth year of his age.

Hugh Lee came from Ireland to America, and eventually settled in Cross Creek township, on a tract of two hundred and nineteen acres of land purchased of William McFarren April 3, 1826. His purchase was of the tract called " Holmes' Victory," on which James Holmes made settlement in 1774, and for which he received a Virginia certificate in 1780. A part of the tract was sold in 1808 to William McFarren, who sold as above stated to Lee, by whose descendants it is still owned.

Mrs. Hannah Lee, wife of Hugh Lee, and daugh- ter of John and Mary Orr, was born in Cumberland County, Pa., May 2, 1787, and with her parents moved west of the mountains in 1790, and after a time settled at Holliday's Cove, Va. Mrs. Lee was one of the first subjects of what was called the " fall- ing work," a religious revival which visited all the churches in the northern end of Washington County, Pa. She was present at Cross-Roads, Cross Creek, during the falling exercises, and, in company with her mother, attended what was termed the "Big Sacra- ment" at Upper Buffalo, at which place it was sup- posed ten thousand persons were present and over fifteen hundred communicants. She was married Aug. 14, 1804, to Hugh Lee, then of Smith, now Cross Creek, township, and removed to her future home.

Hugh Lee became an active elder in the Presby- terian Church of Cross Creek, and died April 24, 1837, at the house of William McLain, Esq., near Clays- ville, where he was a guest, attending the sessions of Presbytery. Mrs. Lee remained on the old home- stead farm for fourteen years, then she removed to the adjoining farm, the home of her son in-law, John S. Duncan ; there she lived almost thirty-one years, and died Feb. 24, 1882, of old age and debility. She was the last of the members belonging to the church of Cross Creek at the settlement of Rev. John Stock- ton, D.D., who, although feeble, was able to be present and officiate at her funeral. She was buried beside her husband in Cross Creek Cemetery.

The sons of Hugh and Hannah Lee were William, John, and Hugh, Jr. William Lee settled on the homestead which his son, Craig Lee, now occupies. His daughter became the wife of John N. McDonald, of Robinson township. John Lee, second son of Hugh Lee, lives with his sons in Jefferson township.

Hugh Lee, Jr., resides in Pittsburgh. A daughter of Hugh Lee, Sr., married John S. Duncan; and an- other daughter became the wife of Rev. George Mar- shall, D.D. Of the children of Hugh and Hannah Lee five, two sons and three daughters, are now living.

Villages .- The date of the platting and laying out of Cross Creek village is not accurately determined, but it was about the year 1820. On Jan. 1, 1821, David Wilkin purchased of Henry Graham three acres of ground lying within the present limits of the village, and upon it built the first brick house in the place, the one recently owned and occupied by Rev. Dr. Stockton, who purchased it of Mr. Wilkin. A portion of the dwelling-house of Israel Beabout is said to have been the third house ever put up in Cross Creek village, and was built and occupied by George McClean, a wagon-maker. Among the earliest tav- erns kept here were those of Alexander McConnell and James Marques, who each kept public-house in 1823 and 1824. In 1825, Joseph Cook opened the first store in the village. In January of that year the post-office was established, here, and Mr. Cook was appointed postmaster, the office being in his store. His successor was George McClean, the wagon maker, who removed the post-office to his wagon-shop. John Moore followed Mr. McClean as postmaster, but he only retained the position one year, when Andrew McFarlane assumed the duties for a few months. Dr. Cornelius Summers came next in the list of postmas- ters, and continued from 1838 to 1841, and from 1845 to 1860, the interval from 1841 to 1845 being held by Benjamin F. Murray. James Donahy was the post- master from 1860 to 1861, when Andrew McFarlane received the appointment from President Lincoln, and continued in the office until 1881. His son, Samuel T. McFarlane, succeeded him, and held the office until 1881, when John S. Cummings became postmaster, and still holds the office. The village of Cross Creek has one church, a school building, two blacksmith-shops, two wagon-shops, and three stores.

Woodrow Post-office is located on the line between Mount Pleasant and Cross Creek townships. The place received its name from Simeon Woodrow, who owned and operated a saw-mill at this point. The post-office was established here in 1855, with John Morgan as first postmaster. His successor was Wil- liam S. McCreary. The office is now over the line in Mount Pleasant township.

Another post-office in Cross Creek township is the one at Patterson's Mills, established in 1829. The persons who have held the position of postmaster at this place are James Patterson, Thomas Patterson, Johnson Ellet, and George L. Weigman, the present incumbent. Patterson's Mills Post-office village also has one store, a mill, a school building, and an Asso- ciate Reformed Church.

Physicians. - Although the settlement of Cross Creek township began at least as early as 1772, not

Um Lee

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CROSS CREEK TOWNSIIIP.

much mention of resident practicing physicians is made previous to 1815. In that year Dr. Robert Lyle, a son of Hon. Aaron Lyle, and a native of this township, began practice here. He had studied his profession under the instruction of Dr. Kerl, of Hick- ory village, Mount Pleasant township. In 1820 he removed from Cross Creek to Steubenville, Ohio, and two years later removed thence farther west.

Dr. Murray, of Lancaster County, Pa., came to Cross Creek township in 1820, upon the removal of Dr. Lyle, and very soon followed the regular routine of Dr. Lyle's practice. He also occupied the house in which his predecessor had lived (the present resi- dence of Mrs. Dinsmore), and died there about the year 1830.

Dr. Gladden came from near Canonsburg in 1826, and settled in Cross Creek village for the practice of his profession. He remained here until 1831, when he removed to other parts, and was succeeded by Dr. Henry Hannan, of Pittsburgh. Dr. Hannan's resi- dence here continued until 1836, when he returned to Pittsburgh.

Dr. Robert Anderson was a native of Westmore- land County, Pa., and a graduate of the college at Canonsburg and the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia. In the year 1836 he came to reside in Cross Creek township, and remained here until his death, which occurred in 1868. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1861, and was an excellent practitioner.

Dr. J. M. Dunn, of Frankfort, Pa., came into Cross Creek village in 1860, and continued here in his pro- fessional capacity until 1868, when he removed to Kentucky.

Dr. J. L. Rea was a great-grandson of Squire Wil- liam Rea and Hon. Aaron Lyle. He was born in Cross Creek township, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College. He commenced his practice in this section, but during the war of the Rebellion entered the Army of the Potomac as a surgeon. During his service he contracted the disease of which he died Dec. 30, 1869, at the age of thirty-two years.

The present physician, and the only one residing and practicing in this township, is Dr. F. C. M. Stock- ton, of Cross Creek village. He is a son of the Rev. Dr. Stockton, a graduate of Washington College and of Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and is a prominent member of his profession.

Schools.1-The earliest authentic account of a school in this township that can be found is of one that was taught in the old log church at Cross Creek village, about the year 1782 or 1783, by Joseph Pat- terson, afterwards a Presbyterian minister, and first pastor of Raccoon congregation, at the village of Candor. It is also thought that Robert McCready, afterwards for a long time justice of the peace, and an

elder at Cross Creek village church, taught at Wells Fort at or near the same time. There are pretty reli- able accounts of schools being held at houses on farms now owned by A. S. Richey, Esq., John F. Sharp, James Buchanan, Esq., R. T. Johnson, R. W. Wells, R. F. Burton, and at Cross Creek village.

About the year 1803 a house was built on the Pres- byterian Church property, for the accommodation of the workmen who built the stone church at that place. It was afterwards known as the " study house," and was for a long time used as a school-house. It is said that there was not a sawed piece of timber in it. Robert Lee was the first teacher that we have any ac- count of at this point. Thomas Best taught in the house for many years. During the spring of 1835 the boys of Cross Creek village, thinking the house a disgrace to the place, and being tired of going to school in it, met at night, and with ropes, etc., pulled the logs of one end out. It was used during the fol- lowing summer, and then abandoned. The school was then kept in the academy building until the erection of the brick school-house.

At the McNary school, on Johnson's farm, among other teachers was a Mr. McCready, a native of Ire- land, who had one of his thumbs cut off. He was said to be a very severe and tyrannical teacher. Among the earliest teachers that we have any ac- count of at the MeMillen school-house (now owned by J. F. Sharp) was George Miller, and a teacher by the name of Leeper. Hon. William Patterson, who was born at Patterson's Mills in 1796, and commenced going to school at this house, informed the writer that the first teacher that he went to was William Mc- Caskey, about the year 1801. He taught there ser- eral terms. McCaskey was a bound boy raised by Judge Edgar, who gave him a good education; he was also a surveyor. He taught at other places.

About the year 1803 a house was built near the resi- dence of Lysander Patterson, Esq., which was occu- pied about three years. At this house George Davis was the first teacher. The second teacher was James McGee, an Episcopalian. He could not write, but taught writing by using brass plates. John Kelley was the third and last teacher at this house. He was considered a good instructor. Among the early teachers was William Rea, who taught for several years, principally at the old house known as the MeKibbin school, now the Buchanan farm. Mr. Rea afterwards served as a justice of the peace (appointed in 1823), and was also an elder of Cross Creek congre- gation. It is thought that Mr. McClain also taught at this house. Mr. McClain wielded the ferule a long time in this township and in different schools. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1818, afterwards removed to East Finley township, and died there. William McCleery taught at Cross Creek village prior to the year 1800.

About the year 1806, Gen. Thomas Patterson and Richard Wells built a school-house on the ridge be-

1 This article on the Cross Creek schools is taken principally from a published account written by James M. K. Reed, Esq.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tween Patterson's mill and Wells' mill. In style of architecture, etc., it was considered far in advance of the times, being built of hewed logs. It has a shingle roof, tight board floor, and glass windows, and Mr. Wells put in a ten-plate wood-stove. Gen. Patterson and Mr. Wells hired Mr. James Haney to teach at twelve dollars per month by the year, they being re- sponsible to him for his pay. The teacher had alter- nate Saturdays to himself. Mr. Haney was also a surveyor, and worked at that on his spare days, sur- veying many of the farms in that vicinity. He kept a day-book of the attendance of each pupil, and handed the accounts to Patterson and Wells, and they collected the tuitions from such as were able to pay, and those that were unable to were allowed to attend free. Mr. Haney taught there until 1813. Of the pupils of his school many have held high positions of trust and honor. About the same time that this house was built a school-house was built on the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Thomas McCorkle. Among other teachers here was Thomas Ewing, a native of Ireland, and who came here from Crawford County. He was the grandfather of Judge Ewing, of Pittsburgh, and taught many years in this vicinity.

It is difficult to learn when the school-house on R. W. Wells' farm was built. It stood between the present dwelling of Mr. Wells and the public road, and was burned down about 1812 or 1815. Among the last teachers was Mr. Robert Marques, the father of Rev. John S. Marques, of Pigeon Creek.

About the year 1812 a school-house was built on the farm now occupied by William Dunbar. Among the first teachers here was Richard Freeborn. Israel Bebout taught one year in this house in 1822. Mr. Bebout taught school two terms, and has since served for many years as committeeman and school director in this and Beaver County. He still lives in Cross Creek village, now in his eighty-fourth year.

About the same year, 1812, a house was built near where Hampton Walker now lives. Its location is in Jefferson township, but by a special act of Assembly approved Feb. 14, 1867, the real estate of David S. Walker and Francis Cunningham was annexed to Cross Creek for school purposes. The first teacher here was Andrew McColloch, who taught about three years. William Elder taught one term, then an Irish- man by the name of McDermott, who was educated for a Catholic priest. Cornelius Barber taught two years. This was a large and very successful school, and was attended by the Bebouts, Walkers, Grahams, and Van Ordstrands, many of whom are still living, having passed, full of honor, their threescore and ten years. Andrew McColloch was considered a success- ful teacher in his day. In the year 1835 he held the office of supervisor and constable, and about 1836 he removed with his family to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he resided until his death, about 1860. There was also a Mr. Scott taught at that house, and a Miss Ann McDermott.

There was an old school-house near the above build- ing, on the Walker farm, within a few rods of where once stood an old saw-mill. Mr. Joseph Smith taught in this house. He afterwards became an elder of Cross Creek congregation. This building was aban- doned in 1810 or 1811.

About this time, or previous, a school was kept for a while where Mr. John Purdy lives, on the farm of Arnold Lawton. A Mr. Pervard was teacher. About the year 1810 or 1812 there was also a school held for a while on the Dinsmore farm, now occupied by Sam- uel D. White. No particulars can be learned in either of the above cases.

In 1812 a frame school-house was built on the farm now occupied by Robert Vance. It was then in Smith township, but an adjustment of the lines afterwards threw it into Cross Creek. This house, like the one built the same year on the D. S. Walker farm, was a frame; they were the first frame school-houses in the township, and had large windows of glass. The teachers at this house were Thomas Allen, a Mr. Noyes, William Galbraith, Mr. McClure, Mr. Gilton, Alexander McConnell, John Boggs. The house was abandoned for school purposes about the year 1833.

About the year 1810-15, Master Ewing (Thomas) taught for four or five years in an old house on the Lyle farm, now owned by David Gault. We have no account of any other person teaching at that place.

There was a second school-house built on the Buchanan farm near Rea's Rocks, in which Samuel Reed taught several years. Joseph Littlefair and Rev. James Sloan also taught in this house. It was abandoned about the time that the school law came into force. Samuel Reed taught many years in this county, and then removed to Marion County, Ohio, where he died.

About the year 1815 a school-house was built on the south side of the farm of Nathan Patterson, near Pat- terson's Mills. In this house the teachers were Wil- liam Smith and Joseph Templeton. Templeton after- wards studied medicine, and located in the borough of Washington. About 1820 the building was re- moved to the northern part of the farm, near a spring. In this house a Mr. Gilpin taught two or three terms. James Fulton afterwards taught in the same house one term, but refused to teach any longer on account of its being uncomfortable, and in 1833 a new frame building was erected, where Mr. Fulton taught several terms. He was a very suc- cessful teacher, a native of New York State. He taughtseveral years in this and adjoining townships, re- moved to Richland County, Ohio, taught there a while, and afterwards settled near the town of Wabash, in Wabash County, Ind., where he resided until his death. The next teacher here was William P. Sampson, who afterwards went to Kentucky, studied law, and became chief justice of that State. Samuel Reed also taught in this house.

During the summer of 1827 Miss Hettie Reed

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CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP.

taught in the old cabin on the farm owned by James Simpson. She afterwards taught two or three terms in the old house that stood near the present residence of Simon Marques.

About the year 1822 a school-house was built on the line between the farms of A. S. Richey and William Perry. Thomas Ewing taught in the house a while, and was succeeded by Robert Adams. About the year 1828 a school-house was built at the lower end of John N. Walker's lane, on the corner of the farm of John Lawton, Sr. The teachers at the house were Peter Lawton, Joseph Cummins, Nancy Wishart, David Wishart, and John Powlson. This house was used eight or ten years for schools. Previous to the erection of this building there was a school kept in an old house near the corner of the farm of John N. Walker. In 1833 a school-house was built on the farm of Nicholas Reed, now owned by J. M. K. Reed. The teachers in this house were Samuel Reed and Richard Kersams. About the year 1830, Rev. Daniel R. Hervey built a house at his residence near Wood- row P. O., where a student from Jefferson College, Canonsburg, taught one season.

At the convention of school directors held during the fall of 1834, relative to the acceptance of the pro- visions and requirements of the public school law passed in that year, Hon. William Patterson was the delegate from Cross Creek township, and advocated the acceptance of the school law. Robert Patterson, of Smith township, presided at that meeting, and the law was adopted by all the townships in the county, with five exceptions. The first board of school directors of Cross Creek township under that law were Moses Lyle, Eben Smith, Alexander Walker, Gen. James Lee, Nathan Patterson, and the Hon. William Patterson.

Hon. William Patterson was president of the first convention of school directors to elect a county superintendent, when John L. Gow, Esq., was elected. He was also Speaker of the House of Representatives during the session of 1834, when the school law was passed.

White, who studied law and since became an editor ; Mr. - Johnson ; Nancy Glass; J. Boyd Stephens, taught two terms, is now a Presbyterian minister ; John McKee; J. M. K. Reed, taught two terms ; Adaline Cassidy ; Mary E. Curry; Miss Cassidy taught for several years; and Miss Eva Simmons taught a subscription school one summer.

Among other teachers at Rea's School (on Nancy Huston's farm) were George W. Forrester, John W. White, Simon Webster French, James A. Stewart, Miss Jane S. Ramsey, Charles C. Fulton, R. T. John- son, J. M. K. Reed, and Miles W. Marques. Among others who taught at Bushy Rock were Robert Curry, P. D., now of Nebraska Normal School ; Mat- thew Templeton, Mary Grier, Thomas W. Thompson, J. M. K. Reed, M. W. Marques, Sarah A. Maxwell, William Plummer, Alexander E. Walker, Isaac M. Lawton, J. Edgar Rankin, William E. Scott, and S. H. Lawton.

In the year 1846 the citizens of West Point School built a brick house on a lot of land containing one acre, deeded in fee simple by Mary P. Smith for school purposes. Among others who taught in this house were Hon. George W. Miller, R. T. Johnson, Rev. John M. Smith, J. S. Gormly, H. P. Durant, J. M. K. Reed, S. J. Jeffrey, Jane S. Ramsey, Hon. Samuel F. Patterson, William P. Montgomery, and W. W. Teagarden.

In September, 1865, the two schools in Cross Creek village were consolidated and graded, the higher de- partment being taught in the old academy by Josiah Marques and the primary by Eva Simmons. At a meeting of the school board, Sept. 28, 1854, a uniform series of text-books was adopted for the first time, and the board resolved to encourage the attendance of the teachers at the County Institute by continuing their pay during said attendance.

When the township of Cross Creek was first divided into districts the number was ten, with the following designating names : No. 1, Nosco Hall; No. 2, Bun- ker Hill; No. 3, Cemetery ; No. 4, White Oaks; No. 5, West Point ; No. 6, Willow Valley ; No. 7, Bushy Rock; No. 8, Beech Knob; No. 9, Limestone Lane ; No. 10, Buckeye Valley. In 1853, when the territory comprising Jefferson township was set off, some of the numbers were changed and Nos. 2 and 3 were consolidated and known thereafter as Cross Creek Village District.

The school law of 1834 having come in force and the township being divided into sub-districts, about the year 1836-37 school-houses were built on farms of James McNary, Nancy Houston, and John N. Walker. The house at McNary's was used until the spring of 1855. The teachers in this house were W. Huston Walker, afterwards Reverend; Alexander Hays; In 1863 Cross Creek township had nine school dis- tricts, in which ten teachers taught, and two hundred and ninety-seven pupils were enrolled; $98.40 was re- ceived from the State, $1082.50 from other sources, and the cost of the schools for the year was $1132.23. In 1873 a new school building was erected at Patter- son's Mills, at a cost of $2000. It was a building two stories in height, and well equipped with the best of school furniture and apparatus. In that year the township was divided into eleven districts, and eleven John Campbell; David R. Campbell, afterwards Pres- byterian minister; Alexander Thompson, Associate minister ; Serissa Lyle; William P. Sampson, after- wards C. J. of Kentucky ; Mary A. Vincent; John McCarrell, afterwards studied medicine, now at Wellsville, Ohio ; A. W. Guthrie, afterwards studied medicine, died at Germano, Ohio ; Mr. - Wallace ; James P. Able, taught three or four years, and died of consumption ; Margaret Galbraith ; Thomas P. Smith ; Daniel Donahoo, afterwards studied law; R. Lyle · teachers were employed. Two hundred and eighty

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

pupils were enrolled. The amount of State money this congregation. From these incursions the people received was $164.92, the sum received from other sources $4167.29, and the total expenditures amounted to $4404.81. In 1880 the districts of the township had been again reduced to nine, in which nine teach- ers were employed. Three hundred and thirty-nine pupils were enrolled. The receipts from all sources for schools amounted to $1931.13, and the expendi- tures for the school year aggregated $1791.87.

Cross Creek Academy, established in 1828, has already been mentioned in Dr. Brownson's article on " Higher Education," in the general history of the county.

Justices of the Peace .- The following is a list of persons who were and have been appointed and elected to the office of justice of the peace in Cross Creek township from 1790 to the present time, except for the period from 1803 to 1838,1 viz. :

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 182

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