History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 196

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 196

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The property located in Fallowfield township by John Reef was a tract of five hundred and nineteen acres called "Speer's Intent," and was granted to him on order No. 3255, issued with many other lots in 1769. The tract was located a little above the mouth

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of Maple Creek, and was surveyed Sept. 8, 1784. Upon the same date a tract of land called "Bruce," containing two hundred and fifteen acres, was sur- veyed to Samuel Sinclair.

The Newkirks were early settlers in this section of Washington County, and the land they owned was located in both Fallowfield and Somerset townships. A tract of land called " Agriculture," containing three hundred and eighty-six acres, which was warranted to Vincent Colvin Feb. 13, 1786, was returned by the board of property to Isaac Newkirk, who received a warrant for it February 27th of the same year. The land was next that of Vincent Colvin, Abraham New- kirk, John Wallace, and Joseph Wilson. Henry Newkirk received a Virginia certificate in 1780 enti- tling him to four hundred and fourteen acres of land "lying on Pigeon Creek," and adjacent to the tracts of Isaac Newkirk, the Graybill brothers, John Wallace, and John Hall. The survey of this land was made to Henry Newkirk Feb. 13, 1786, and he afterwards conveyed the land to Abraham Newkirk. The prop- erty of this family now belongs to Thomas Elwood.

William Niblick came into this township when the Newkirk family did, and like them he was of Scotch birth. He located three hundred acres of land ad- joining the Newkirk tracts, whereon he made a home. The family of William Niblick became widely sep- arated. William Niblick, Jr., had a son named Thomas who went to Ohio, and William Niblick third, son of Jackson Niblick, emigrated to Illinois. In this county the name has become extinct, none of the male descendants living here. Of the daugh- ters of William Niblick, Sr., there are several de- scendants : Hannah E. Leyda, of Allegheny City ; Mary E. Hopkins, of the same place; William M. Richardson, Seth B. Richardson, Olive J. Newkirk, Joseph B. Hawkins, and Mrs. Amanda Ross being among the number.

Solomon Redd was a son of Nathaniel Redd, who kept a tavern in this section as early as 1800 and until 1820. Peter Redd, another member of the family, kept a tavern in 1816-17. Solomon lived near the mouth of Maple Creek, where he owned and operated a still-house. Thomas Redd, who was cap- tain of the ill-fated steamboat " Lander," was also of this family and a resident of Fallowfield township. He died a few years ago near Cameron, Va.

The Cheserown (or Cheseround) family lived in Fallowfield as early as 1780. On June 27th of that year Peter Cheserown had a tract of land containing two hundred and sixty acres surveyed to him upon a · Virginia certificate. It was located on the south side of Pigeon Creek, and at the mouth of Maple Run. He built both a saw-mill and a grist-mill at this place, but the grist-mill never proved of much value. Peter Cheserown sold thirteen acres of his land, a little below his own mill-site, to John Rod- ecker, who built a stone grist-mill, which was known as the Union mill. It is not in use now, but belongs

to Hollingsworth Hout, who also owns the original Cheserown mill-site, upon which is another mill, built some thirty years ago by John A. Redd. George Cheserown lived for many years upon a farm on Pigeon Creek above Hair's mill. John Cheserown was his son.

Abraham Frye came from New Jersey to Wash- ington County, and located on the banks of the Mo- nongahela River, near the mouth of Maple Creek, in Fallowfield township. He had a family of ten chil- dren,-Benjamin, Johnson, James, Noah, Elijah, Luke, Smith, Thomas, Polly, who married Stephen Colvin, and Hetty, who became the wife of Lott Colvin. Abraham Frye gave each of his sons a farm, but none of them are in this township. The son, Luke Frye, settled in Carroll township, near the Horseshoe Baptist Church. His son, West Frye, lives in Union township.

Samuel Frye came to this township from Virginia, in company with Henry Speers, each having married the other's sister. They were both coopers by trade, and each owned several slaves. During their early residence here they were much annoyed by the In- dians. It is not stated whether Abraham and Samuel Frye were relatives, but both names appear upon the assessment-roll of 1788 as landholders. Samuel Frye's heirs still own a portion of the homestead, and Jack- son and Smith Frye have two hundred and ninety- two acres of land lying along the Monongahela River. Seven acres of the original tract was sold with the mill built by Samuel Frye in 1820.

John Ringland came to this county before 1796, and settled adjoining the Fryes. Of whom he made his first purchase or how much land he bought is not known. That he was possessed of lands is shown by a deed made by the executor of William McComas for fifty-six acres "lying on the waters of Pigeon Creek, adjoining lands of Peter Chessround and other lands of John Ringland." On the 23d of October, 1802, he purchased forty acres of Patrick McCardel on Maple Creek, adjoining lands of Henry Speer and his own other lands. On this purchase he built a mill and made his homestead, which is known as the Ringland mill farm, located on the south branch of Maple Creek. The farm (located in the present town- ship of Allen), is now in possession of Samuel and John Frye, grandsons of John Ringland, and sons of his daughter (and his only child who lived to maturity ) Isabella, who married Abraham Frye, Sept. 13, 1813. John Ringland later purchased a large amount of land in Fallowfield, and became the largest land-owner in the township. His property was in- herited by his daughter Isabella, Mrs. Abraham Frye. Of her children, Samuel and John live on the Ring- land mill farm, as before mentioned; Christina be- came the wife of Abraham Colvin, and resides in Fallowfield township near the old mansion, on the Brownsville and Pittsburgh road; Henry and Absa- lom settled near Gallatin, Tenn .; Noah settled on a

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FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP.

part of the Ringland farm in Fallowfield; Smith lives on the home farm of his father; Jackson Frye lives where his grandfather, Abraham Frye, resided, where his father, Abraham Frye, Jr., was born in 1793, and where, three years later, his grandfather, John Ringland, lived, where his (Jackson Frye's) mother, Isabella Ringland, was born in 1796, and where, in 1813, Abraham Frye and Isabella Ringland were married, in the same house in which both were born.

Thomas Carson's name rightfully belongs with the first settlers in Fallowfield township. He was an Irishman by birth, and with his wife (Mary Smith) came here and took up a tract of land on the waters of Maple Creek, where they lived and died, leaving a large family of children, eleven in number. Besides attending to the improvement and tilling of their land, Thomas Carson was a shoemaker by trade, at which business he made a good livelihood. During the earliest years of their residence in this township, the settlers being much annoyed by the Indians, Mr. Carson, with the rest, was often obliged to seek pro- tection for himself and family at Burd's Fort. He died in 1816, and his farm, which has never passed out of the family, is now owned by John S. Carson. The eleven children of Thomas Carson settled as fol- lows: the son James married and went to Ohio, where he died, and left four children, all sons. Joseph went to Ohio, and from there to Indiana. Thomas Carson, Jr., married, and Thomas G. Carson is his son. Wil- liam Carson married Mary Burgess, and lived and died upon the homestead. He left eight children,-Eliza- beth, Mary, John, Henry, Annie, Lucy, James, and Sarah. The daughter Sarah became the wife of Parker Scott, and had twelve daughters,-Elizabeth, Martha, Lydia, Mary, Margaret, Rebecca, Charlotte, Nancy, Emily, Lucy, Christiana, and Sarah, all of whom grew to womanhood and reared families of their own.

John Carson, son of Thomas Carson, Sr., married Elizabeth Springer. Their family numbered nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Of the six who reached maturity, Mary became the wife of A. J. Van Voorhis; John S. Carson married Margaret Jones; Elizabeth married Noah Fry; Sarah Ann became Mrs. Heman Almond; Margaret became the wife of Parker Carson; and Caroline married George Hazel. Only three of these children are now living. John B. Carson, still another son of the pioneer Thomas Carson, married Sarah Scott. Mary Carson, one of the daughters of this first Car-

ton Carson, Smith Carson, Lewis Carson, John D. Carson, and Jerome Carson, living in Washington County ; also James, Alexander, Joseph, and Thomas Carson, of Indiana.

James Hair came from Middletown, Berkeley Co., Va., into Fallowfield township in the year 1806, and located upon a tract of land on Pigeon Creek which he purchased of George Platter. He also purchased in connection with the farm the old log mill known as Hair's mill, built of hewed logs, and no doubt the oldest water-mill on Pigeon Creek. The purchase of the mill was made Sept. 15, 1809, as set forth in a memorandum of the bargain still in existence. The mill was rude and imperfect in structure, but it had the reputation of making the best flour to be obtained in this section. A portion of this grist-mill and a saw-mill, also built by James Hair, are still standing. But of a saw- mill which he operated at another point on Pigeon Creek only the race remains. Before com- ing to this township James Hair was an elder in the church, and he was the founder of the Presbyterian Church at Monongahela City when that place was known as Williamsport. Dr. Ralston, who was con- temporary with James Hair, and before the church mentioned had been instituted, was asked how a church could be organized in Williamsport. He re- plied, "Elect Esquire Hair an elder, now already or- dained, and go to work." They did so, and the "Old Horseshoe Bottom" congregation was swallowed up in the new Presbyterian organization. On June 4, 1811, Mr. Hair was appointed to the office of justice of the peace. He continued to reside upon his pur- chase in this township until his death in 1826. His family consisted of six sons and five daughters. John Hair was the oldest son. For many years he lived at the mill, but finally moved to Ohio, where he was the founder of the village of West Union. He died there in 1855. The Rev. Samuel Hair, another son, was born in this township at the Hair homestead. He graduated from Jefferson College in this county in 1832, and then went to Michigan, where he pursued his studies in a theological seminary. He was licensed to preach by the Monroe Presbytery of Michigan, and settled in that State. His death occurred May 10, 1876, in Chicago, Ill. The other sons of James Hair were James, Jr., Gilbert M., Uriah, and B. W. Hair. The daughters of James Hair were Martha, who be- came Mrs. Crouch, and went West; Ibela, who be- came Mrs. Baker, and lived and died on the home farm; Eliza, who became Mrs. Potter, and lived in Allegheny County, in this State; Louisa, who was in 1875; and Mary, the wife of Isaac Van Voorhis, who died April 14, 1876, in the eightieth year of her age.

son family, married John Grable, the daughter Eliza- , Mrs. Brinton, and died near Brownsville, Fayette Co., beth married James Young, Ann married a man named Grable, and Charlotte became the wife of John Carson. The lineal descendants of the chil- dren of Thomas and Mary Carson, the early settlers, Edward Nixon, a native of Ireland, and his family settled in this section upon land near the river, but bearing the family name are John S. Carson, John Carson, John Carson, Jr., Washington Carson, A. afterwards went to Virginia, locating upon the flats J. Carson, John Carson, Alexander S. Carson, New- ' of Grave Creek, near Moundsville. There were ser-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

eral children. The son John settled in Fallowfield township; Robert went to Indiana County, Pa .; James went to Virginia ; and Hugh and William went to Ohio. Frances Nixon married Jonathan West, and settled in this township, where she died.

The early taverns of Fallowfield were kept by the following-named persons at the dates given :1 Zach- ariah Beall, in April, 1782; John Adams, in July, 1782; Joseph Brenton, in December, 1782; Samuel Large, in January, 1788; John Adams, in September, 1790 (John Adams was also keeping tavern in Pike Run township in September, 1791, after the township lines were changed); James McMillan, in March, 1793; James McCallister, in March, 1794; Isabella McCallister, in October, 1810; the time in which tav- erns were kept by Nathaniel Parkison and Nathan- iel Redd extended from the year 1800 to 1820; and Peter Redd kept tavern in the township during the years 1816-17.

Not much information is to be gained concerning the primitive business interests of Fallowfield town- ship, save that of the farming and general improve- ment done by the early settlers. However, consider- able whiskey must have been manufactured in the township and its immediate vicinity, as Mr. Edward West says "that at one period of his life he could stand on the hill where his father's farm lay and see the smoke from nineteen distilleries in active opera- tion." As early as 1783, Fallowfield township paid a State tax which amounted to £50, and it was the only township in Washington County that paid such a tax in that year, the county commissioners in the report of their session held that year stating that "they did exonerate and discharge the inhabitants of each township from the payment of the State tax, except a few inhabitants in Fallowfield township, which the commissioners allowed should pay a State tax, for reasons known to them, which amounts to £50." Benjamin White was the assessor of Fallowfield town- ship for 1783, Nathan Ellis collector, and the amount of the county tax £94 10s.

Jones Town Post-office, in Fallowfield township, is a place named in honor of John Jones, and is located on land patented to a Mr. Longsley. John Jones died in this place at the age of ninety years, and his father, William Jones, was one hundred years old at his death. This village contains nine dwellings, and has one store, a school-house, and a blacksmith-shop, first owned by Samuel Withrow and afterwards by Isaac Grimes. A post-office was established here in 1857, with Edward Creighton as postmaster, and he still continues in the position. This office was at one time discontinued but soon re-established.

Lock No. 4 is situated on the Monongahela River, and has eleven dwellings, besides the store of McGor- rell & Allen, the post-office, and a telegraph-office.

Churches .- The religious society in this township now known as the Maple Creeek Baptist Church was originated under the title " Baptist Church Enan," and was in existence as early as March 19, 1791. At that time its members were John Bailey, William Jack- man, Sr., Stephen Barclay, Henry Speer, Samuel Vail, Charles Whitlatch, William Jackman, Jr., Abraham Evans, James Deems, James Watson, Jesse Vandolah, John Mason, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Boylan, John Seward, John Ennis, William Allen, John Vandolah, Thomas Crow, John Earles, Na- thaniel Carns, Thomas Carson, George Innis, John Stelle, William McFee, Thomas Cloud, B. George, Mary Barclay, Rebecca Speers, Margaret Ellis, Rachel Mifford, Mary Jackman, Nancy Neal, Sarah Boylan, Mary Boylan, Nancy Bailey, Margaret Innis, Catharine Seward, Abigail Hayden, Sarah Vandolah, Elizabeth Bonham, Margaret Earles, Winifred Ryan, Lavina Stelle, Eleanor Ellis, Esther Vandolah, Anna Vandolah, Mary Carson, Mary Ward, Mary Burgess, Lucy Burgess, Elsie Stanish, Jemima Evans, Mary Patton, Rachel Springer, Peggy Cloud, Elizabeth Yateman, Keziah Berk, Abigail Ogg, Polly Carns, Elizabeth Burgan and Elizabeth Burgan (2d), Keziah Barkhammer, Rebecca Prichard, Sarah Parsons, Mary Ertlin, Nancy Riggs, Rachel Springer, Catharine Ru- tan, and Mary Karnes.

The first business meeting of this church was held on March 19, 1791, when Church Enan met agreea- ble to appointment, and after prayer proceeded to business, as follows : First, chose Elder Smith as mod- erator ; second, chose Brethren John Bailey and Wil- liam Jackman, Sr., to supply the places of deacons for the ensuing day." At another meeting, held Feb. 4, 1792, Rev. Samuel Vail was chosen moderator ; and on Aug. 6, 1796, Messrs. Speers, Rutan, Whit- latch, Jackman, Yateman, and Carson, members of the society, were appointed messengers to attend a Baptist Association soon to be held. On Sept. 3, 1796, the rec- ords show that Joseph Hill was accepted as a member of thechurch. Nov. 1, 1800, this church "gave Brothers Speers and Rutan the privilege of choosing six other brethren to settle their church business at the residence of Brother Jackman on the second Wednesday in December, 1800. The six men chosen were Rev. John Corbly, Matthias Luce, William Davis, Joseph Hill, J. Jones, and A. Kearns."

The services of the Baptist Church Enan were originally held in a log house, which was succeeded by a brick building, located on Maple Creek near its mouth, and the Monongahela River, opposite the vil- lage of Belle Vernon, in Fayette County. It was built during the pastorate of Rev. Henry Speers, and upon a tract of land containing one hundred and forty- eight perches, donated by him in 1842. After the society obtained the present site for their church, the brick building was sold to the grandchildren of Rev. Henry Speers, and it is now occupied by several fami- lies. The old graveyard belonging to the church is still

1 The dates being those of licenses found in the records.

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FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP.

used. The society now worship in a frame edifice erected near the house of John S. Carson, and upon land owned by him.

The clergymen who have officiated in this church since its organization have been Revs. Henry Smith, Henry Speers, Mr. Burnett, Whitlatch, and Adah Winnett. No minister has charge of the society at present, but services are conducted occasionally by Rev. William M. Smoots. The removal of this Bap- tist Church to Carson's Ridge occurred about the year 1870, and the new house of worship was erected in 1875. Rev. Adah Winnett was the officiating pas- tor at that time; he conducted the dedication of the building, and continued his pastoral duties here until he was stricken with paralysis while officiating in the pulpit. The church, as stated, is a frame structure, thirty-two by forty feet in size, and one story in height. A new burial-ground was platted, which is called Carson's graveyard. The first interment was that of Mrs. Margaret Jones Carson, wife of John S. Carson, who died Dec. 16, 1870, at forty-three years of age.

On Jan. 18, 1800, Christian Stockers sold to the trustees of the Presbyterian and German Lutheran so- cieties, both of which then existed in Fallowfield township, one acre of land, for which he received a consideration of seven shillings and sixpence. This acre was from the tract of land called " Carlisle," for which an application was made May 23, 1769, by Stockers through William Wilson. After becoming possessed of the land Wilson conveyed it to Stockers, who obtained a patent for it June 2, 1794. Upon this land, purchased of Christian Stockers, the Pres- byterian and Lutheran societies erected church build- ings. At the present time the site of the Presbyterian Church is only marked by the ruins of the building and the old graves in the churchyard. The Lutheran organization was removed to Ginger Hill. Their old church was purchased by Frederick K. Cooper, and it is now used as a dwelling-house.

The church building of the society called the Newkirk Methodist Church was erected in the year 1836, upon land owned jointly by Cyrus Newkirk and William Niblack. It was built of brick, and after a few years was taken down and rebuilt upon a site farther up the hill. The subscription for this church was started by Samuel Babcock, and was so successful that a commo- dious brick church, forty-four by sixty feet in size, was the result of the effort. The first great revival held by this denomination in Fallowfield township ivas under the charge of Rev. John Spencer and David Cross, and among the early converts were John Jones, Sarah Newkirk, Maria Niblack, Mary Jones, Elijah Jones, Jesse Jones, Eleanor Jones, William Jones and his wife, and Annie K. Bentley.

The Maple Creek Christian Church in Fallowfield township was organized Oct. 17, 1857, by James B.

Piatt and Samuel B. Teagarden. The early members were Samuel and Ann Frye, Abraham and Isabella Frye, Jackson Frye, Sarah A. Frye, Clarissa Frye, Solomon and Charlotte Frye, Noah and Lydia Frye, John and Elizabeth Frye, Christian Colvin, John Merrick, Mary Merrick, John and Hannah Rider, Joseph and Charlotte Rider, Rebecca J. Shannon, Louisiana Cooper, Sarah Phillips, David McCracken, Mary McCracken, Joseph McCracken, Elizabeth and Amelia Phillips, A. Hendrickson, Amanda Thomp- son, Martha Stillwell, and Emma McGlaughlan.

Samuel Frye and John Merrick were chosen elders of the church, the former of whom has labored much "in word and doctrine," being the regular instructor of the congregation during most of the time since the organization. John Frye is now associated with him in the eldership. John Frye and John Rider were the earlier deacons. John Wilson and John B. Car- son now officiate as deacons.

For ten years the church met for worship in the school-house where it was organized. In August, 1867, Dutton Shannon and wife gave a lot containing twenty-two and seventy-nine one-hundredths perches, strict measure, to Abram Hull, Joseph Rider, and Dutton Shannon, trustees of the Christian Church of Fallowfield, for the purpose of erecting a house of worship, and other religious purposes, and in case it shall cease to be so used the title is to revert to the grantor. Upon this lot the present plain but commo- dious brick house was built, and here the church has continued to meet regularly, and it still maintains the Christian ordinances according to the primitive order.

This church has generally relied on its own elder- ship for public instruction, but has called in evange- lists occasionally for special labor, and J. B. Piatt was employed regularly for two or three years a part of the time. Of others who have preached for this church at times since its establishment the following names are mentioned : Alanson Wilcox, L. P. Streator, M. L. Streator, J. F. Rowe, J. D. Benedict, and R. H. Singer. The present membership is sixty-two.

The Ebenezer Church of the Methodist Episcopal denomination was built more than thirty years ago, during the pastorate of Rev. Warner Long, the ded- ication occurring in 1850, and was conducted by Rev. Thomas Hudson. The building is of brick, erected at a cost of one thousand dollars. The ground upon which it is located was purchased of Joshua G. Baker, and the Rev. William Ward, James Shroud, and John Biddle composed the build- ing committee. At the date of the dedication of the Ebenezer Church its members were Rev. William Ward, Pleasant Ward, Nancy Ward, Levi and Cath- arine Biddle, Asa and Eleanor White, John and Maria White, Wesley and Jane White, Joshua and Mary Baker, Thomas and Hester Richards, Silas and Lucinda Lutz, John and Susanna Beadle, Asbury and Ann Smith, James and Martha Stroud, Barnett

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and Hannah Sickman, James and Sarah Smiley. At the time the church was built Rev. Warner Long had charge of the society. Since that time the clergy- men who have presided have been Revs. James Lan- som, Thomas Hudson, Gustavus Lemon, Mr. Snyder, Samuel Wakefield, Mr. Neff, J. W. Kesler, John W. Weaver, Charles Edwards, T. J. Stiffey, James Meacham, Rezin Mansin, S. G. Miller, J. A. Henry, and the present pastor, Rev. E. B. Griffin.

Another religious society which once existed in Fallowfield township was known as the Maple Creek Presbyterian Church. The first church building was erected on land donated by Rachel and Mary Earel, who made provision that when the building ceased to be used for church purposes the land should re- vert to Andrew Waller. The first house passed into decay, and a second, built to replace it, has also been abandoned, and the site is now owned by Andrew Waller, as stipulated by the donors. One of the pas- tors of this church was Rev. Boyd Mercer, and one of the elders Mr. John Moss, who died July 5, 1868, in the ninetieth year of his age. After the Maple Creek Presbyterian Church abandoned their house of worship in this township they erected a handsome edifice in the village of California, which is still in use as their place of worship,

Schools .- Two of the earliest school-teachers in Fallowfield township were Thomas Sutton and Joshua Pennell. It was full seventy years ago that the latter taught school in a log house that stood at the cross- roads near West Church. Thomas Sutton taught in a school-house which stood on Maple Creek, on the present farm of John S. Carson.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 196

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