History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 206

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 206

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

835

INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP.

a farm in Brooke County, Va., adjoining the farm on which the college and village of Bethany were after- wards built, and to which he removed with his family in 1805 or 1806. About the year 1783, Thomas Par- kinson was married to Margaret Latimer, whose par- ents lived in the Ligonier valley, Westmoreland Co., Pa., not far distant from Hannastown, then the seat of justice for the county. The Latimers were of Eng- lish descent, and came from Philadelphia to Ligonier valley in the exciting times of Indian warfare. In the days of their early married life, Mr. Latimer and his wife, with their infant child, were taken captives by the Indians, and subjected to a five days' march across the Ohio River into the wilderness. The parents, with their child, finally managed to escape, and after un- dergoing many hardships reached their home. Mr. Latimer was also badly wounded by the Indians while carrying a message from one fort to another in the Ligonier valley. They lived when the dangers to which they were exposed developed strong points of character. In her girlhood Margaret, with her only sister, Martha, would follow the reapers in the har- vest-field, carrying loaded rifles for their use in case they should be attacked by the Indians.

Thomas Parkinson had lived at his Brooke County home but a short time when, in May, 1807, he became ill, and September 30th of the same year he died. At this time Dr. Joseph Parkinson was but seven months old, so he never knew a father's care. This loss, how- ever, was in a great measure supplied by the affec- tionate care and good training of a kind mother. She was an excellent woman, largely endowed with com- mon sense, intelligence, prudence, and strong will power, but of quiet and gentle manners, and of more culture than the women of her time in the Western country, having been educated in one of the girls' schools of Philadelphia. While she had strong affec- tions for her children, she never allowed that affection to control her better judgment, and believing that the future development of the man or woman de- pended largely upon the early training of the mother, she taught her children to be industrious, persevering, and energetic, and warned them against indolence and vices. Her chief desire was that her children should become good and useful members of society.

Dr. Joseph Parkinson was sent by his mother at a very early age to a school kept by Alexander Camp- bell, afterwards the celebrated Bishop Campbell, whose home and school were upon the farm adjoining the home of the Parkinsons. The school was called Buffalo Seminary. In it were taught the English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, together with the higher mathematics. Dr. Parkinson took a six years' course in this school, and holds a certificate signed by Bishop Campbell, certifying to his pro- ficiency in the branches taught therein. For one year after leaving school he taught Latin, Greek, and

the higher mathematics in a school in Warren, Trum- bull Co., Ohio. He then returned to his home, where he remained for some time, and finally decided to study a profession, and chose that of medicine. In 1831 he entered the office of Dr. John C. Campbell, a distinguished physician of Wellsburg, Brooke Co., Va., and while there was enabled to pay his boarding by working two hours daily as transcript clerk in the recorder's office. He remained as a student with Dr. Campbell for two years, and in 1833 went to Phila- delphia, and matriculated in Jefferson Medical Col- lege, and attended the lectures of 1833 and 1834, under Granville Sharp Pattison, George Mcclellan, John Revere, and their associates.

Upon his return home his funds were exhausted, and he concluded to seek a place in the office of some eminent physician in one of the cities. He obtained the position sought for in the office of Dr. James R. Speer, of Pittsburgh, a gentleman of fine attainments in his profession, in full practice, and with a large and well-selected library. Dr. Speer had a high rep- utation as an operator in general surgery, and as an adept in surgical and medical treatment of the ese, and of the treatment of diseases in general. Dr. Parkinson entered the office of Dr. Speer, where, as an equivalent for the use of the library, instruction, and boarding, he kept the books, made out bills, compounded medicines, put up prescriptions, etc. After remaining with Dr. Speer for three years, he decided to begin practice upon his own account. He accordingly settled at the village of Independence, Washington Co., Pa., April 1, 1838, where he still continues to practice. In six months after com- mencing he had as much practice as he could attend to properly. During the forty-three years which have since elapsed it may be said he has lived in the saddle. He has rarely been absent from his post, except a few flying visits to some of the Western States, and the winter of 1870 and 1871, spent in the South for recreation and rest. During that visit he availed himself of the opportunity to attend the lec- tures and surgical operations in the medical colleges of Nashville and New Orleans. In the spring he returned home and resumed the active duties of his profession. Some years after he settled in Independ- ence he bought the farm which is now his home. After buying this farm he married Elizabeth Pogue, a lady of Scotch-Irish ancestry, eldest daughter of the late David Pogue, of Jefferson township, Wash- ington Co., Pa. They have one child, Margaretta E. Parkinson.

During his long and active life Dr. Parkinson has uniformly had good health, which he attributes to his constant exercise in the open air and his temper- ate habits in eating and drinking. His patrons in the community where he has lived so long decide that his life has been been a successful one.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

JEFFERSON township is bounded on the north by Hanover, on the east by Smith and Cross Creek, on the south by Independence, and on the west by the State of West Virginia. The township is watered by Cross Creek (which forms its southern boundary against Independence) and its branches, and by the waters of Harmon's Creek on the north.

The territory now within the limits of Jefferson : situated on Scott's Run, a branch of Cross Creek, township was included in Hopewell, one of the thir- teen original townships formed in 1781. On the 1st of September, 1789, the township of Cross Creek was formed by action of the Court of Quarter Sessions, confirmed by the Supreme Executive Council, and then embraced the territory that is now Cross Creek, Jefferson, and part of Mount Pleasant. The terri- tory now Jefferson remained within the jurisdiction of Cross Creek until 1853. During the winter of 1852-53 a petition of citizens of Cross Creek town- ship was presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions praying that the western portion of Cross Creek be formed into a separate township. Viewers were ap- pointed who made an examination, and at the June term of court of 1853 they made a report, which was confirmed, and on the 16th of June of that year the court ordered the territory mentioned in the petition to be formed into " a township to be called Jefferson township."

Settlements .- The following list, gathered from the assessment-roll of Cross Creek township for the year 1791, embraces the names of property-holders at that time in that part of Cross Creek which after- ' wards became and is now the township of Jefferson, viz .:

Acres.

Edward Brown. 260

Ann Lerens.

200

John Brown

200

Samnel Leeper

300

Caleb Brown. 8-4

William McGarragh

Joshua Brown 180

Robert Mc Cready 300

James Cresswell 100

John Morrison, Sr. 150

Jobn Crist.

340

Joseph Morrison. 58

Nicholas Crist.

Hugh Newell 316

James Clark

200

John Pough or Pogue. 275

William Clark

Robert Robb 300

David Davis.

Elisha Robinson 125

John Gardner

James Watson 250

John Leeper

Robert McCready, whose name appears on the preceding list of property-holders in 1791, and who was one of the earliest settlers within the limits of the present township of Jefferson, was a native of Scot- land, who came to this country in 1772, and after working for a time in New Jersey, went to York County, Pa., where he became a school-teacher. On

the opening of the Revolution he entered the service with a York County battalion, and with it joined the - body known as the "Flying Camp," under Wash- ington. He served several months, then returned to York County, and in 1776 came to Western Pennsyl- vania, and made location on a tract of land of three hundred and thirty-two acres, called "Good Will," about one mile east of the State line, in what is now Jefferson township, it being the same that is now owned and occupied by his grandson, Robert William McCready.

Mr. McCready was married soon after making his location on the tract mentioned, and he became a school-teacher here, as he had been in York County. He taught school in Richard Wells' fort, which was one of the earliest schools in all the region west of the Monongahela. He was present when the first sermon was preached at that fort by the Rev. J. Powers in September, 1778. He was the first person who signed the " religious agreement" originated by Judge Edgar, and he selected the site of the edifice of the Cross Creek Church, of which he was elected an elder in 1792. He was elected county commissioner in 1797 ; was adjutant in the militia for many years, and served in that capacity under Col. John Vance, in what was called the "Lisbon campaign," in 1812. He was a large, fine-looking officer, with an unusually powerful voice, well adapted for military command. In politics he was a Federalist, and a leading spirit in that party in his section. He died Aug. 10, 1846, at the age of ninety-four years, his death being immedi- ately caused by a cancer on his right hand. He was buried in the Cross Creek graveyard, where his rest- ing-place is marked by a modest monument. His son David settled in the vicinity of his father's farm. The homestead came into possession of his son Wil- liam, who occupied it till his death, which occurred on the day of the first election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, Nov. 6, 1860. His son, Robert W. McCready, is, as before mentioned, the owner and occupant of the farm on which his grandfather settled in 1777.

John Criss and Nicholas Criss, brothers, were early settlers, both taking up land on Virginia certificates. That held by Nicholas was dated Nov. 3, 1779, and described the tract granted as " in Yohogania County, on Harmon's Creek, to include his settlement made in ye year 1775, and also a right in pre-emption to

836

Thomas Robinson 100

James Dnubar 200

837

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

one thousand acres adjoining thereto." This land was adjoining that of James Barr, Joseph Fawcett, and others. Nicholas Criss also owned land on the Monongahela River. John Criss had a tract of three hundred and forty-nine acres of land called " Hermi- tage," which he willed to his son William. It was afterwards sold, and became the property of Charles and Grant Havelin, and they now own it. John Criss had a family of six sons,-William, Jacob, Henry, Nicholas, Jr., John, Jr., and George. Wil- liam Criss, son of John, settled first where John Melvin now lives, but some years after his father's death bought the homestead and removed to it. Jacob Criss bought one hundred and twenty acres of his father's land, on which he settled, and where he died in 1845 at the age of sixty-eight years. His son Rittenhouse now occupies the same farm. Henry, third son of John Criss, lived on a farm adjoining the homestead, but died at the house of his nephew, Levi Criss, a son of William. Nicholas and John Criss, sons of John, emigrated to Carroll County, Ohio. Their brother George settled on Yellow Creek, and died there.

Edward Brown came here and took up two hun- dred and seventy-six acres of land on a Virginia treasury warrant, dated March 23, 1780, the title given to the tract being "Fair Hill." This property he sold again, April 1, 1796, to Daniel Henderson, who in turn sold it, April 1, 1798, to David Walker. It is located east of Eldersville and adjoining the Cross Creek line. Creigh Walker, a grandson of David, lives on the "Fair Hill" farm. Of the other descendants, James lives in Cross Creek village, Norris in Cross Creek township, Samuel in Jefferson township, adjoining the homestead, and David is dead. Joshua Brown took up three hundred and sixty-nine acres of land in this section, which was warranted to him Jan. 9, 1788, as " Brownfields." A part of this tract is now owned by William Jack- son, who lives in Hanover township, and the remainder by his son, James Jackson, and John Anderson, his son-in-law.

John Stephenson came into possession of four hundred and two acres of land in this section on a Virginia certificate, dated June 24, 1780. The tract was called " Wild Roe," was situated on Cross Creek, and was surveyed as "Stephenson's Choice." This property is in Jefferson, near Hanlon Station, and it belongs to Cyrus and Samuel Stephenson, sons of Robert and grandsons of John Stephenson. John Stephenson died in 1825, near Eldersville, leaving three sons,-Andrew, Thomas, and Robert. Andrew was at one time postmaster at Burgettstown, and afterwards lived in this township. Thomas lived and died upon the homestead, and Robert also had a por- tion of the old farm.

cated near Eldersville, and was patented to Mr. Clarke Sept. 16, 1786. His daughter Rachel married William Wells, of Wellsville. Mr. Wells owned a large tract of land at that place, upon which they went to live, and both died there. The daughter Nancy married Samuel Leeper, who settled upon a tract of land about two miles from Eldersville, in Jefferson township. Robert Pogue now lives upon the property. Elizabeth Clarke became the wife of John Gardner, who came from Maryland and bought four hundred acres of land near Eldersville. Some of it he purchased of James Clarke, his father-in-law, and the rest included the property called "Great- house Castle." John and Elizabeth Gardner had five sons,-William, John, James, Samuel, and David. William made his home near New Lisbon, and John settled in Virginia. James went to West Virginia in 1820, and still resides there. David's farm adjoins the home-farm. Samuel remained upon the home- stead, which has now been divided, and is occupied by his five sons. His five daughters all removed to other States. The old homestead and the farm of David Gardner are underlaid with coal, which is mined by the Keystone Coal Company.

Hugh Newell, a native of Connecticut, came to this county and settled before 1781 on the farm where William Archer now lives. He was an elder in the Cross Creek Church, and during his life a noted and active laborer in all that advanced its interests. He married a relative of Shesbazzer Bentley, of Somer- set township, and they reared a large family of chil- dren. Hugh Newell died in 1810, and the home farm passed to the son George, who remained upon it until his death, in 1840. George Newell married a daugh- ter of Rev. Thomas Marques. They had two sons, --- Thomas. Bentley and George Bentley Newell,-who both became ministers. The older members of the family of Hugh Newell were widely scattered, several of them removing to Virginia and Ohio.

Robert Stewart was a native of Ireland. He came to this country and served in the Revolutionary war, after which he came to this county, settling on the property now occupied by James Stewart, Sr. He had a family of six children. James lives on the home farm, Robert on the Robinson tract, and John has the David Brown property, in Smith township. Eliza married David Kidd, and lives on the Kelley farm, near Eldersville.

George Miller came from Donegal, Ireland, to this county in 1792. For two years he lived with Robert Wiley, near Washington, and the next year with Samuel Taylor, of Taylorstown. In 1795 he came and settled in Jefferson township. His children all moved to Ohio and died there save George, who is still living on his father's place.

John Pogue came from Ireland to this section and lived on a tract of eighty-seven acres which he bought of Thomas Marshall, Oct. 5, 1791. It was a

James Clarke came from Maryland, and took up land on a Virginia certificate dated June 24, 1780. The tract was three hundred and fifty-one acres, lo- part of "Happy Retreat," which was patented to

838

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

James Marshall, Sept. 26, 1786. John Pogue lived upon this land until his death, about thirty years ago. He had six children,-Robert, David, Samuel, James, George, and Sarah. The daughter married John Curry, and settled with him near Claysville, where both died. Robert bought a portion of the " Leepersburg" tract, upon which he lived and died. David passed his life upon the homestead. Samuel died here, as did James, who was a school-teacher and only lived to middle age. George went to Ohio. The name Pogue was changed to that of Pollock in after-years by some of the family.

William Boyd purchased of James Fulton, Oct. 26, 1793, eighty acres of land, which was a part of the four hundred and twenty-two acres called " Raccoon Den," which was patented to Charles Stewart, July 10, 1788. On March 18, 1801, this land was con- veyed by William Boyd to his son, John Boyd, who lived on the north side of Cross Creek.

The property purchased in this section by Harmo- nius Cole embraced three tracts-" Fallowfield," con- taining two hundred and twenty-three acres, "Sugar Tree Run," having three hundred and ninety-six acres, and "Black Walnut Thicket," three hundred and sixty-eight acres. The last-named piece of land was sold by Mr. Cole to his son Samuel, Oct. 7, 1809. The other sons were Peter, Harmon, and John. Peter and Harmon went West, and John remained here on a part of his father's property. Mrs. Ann Cole, wife of Samuel Cole, is yet living.

Benjamin Beabout came here from New Jersey in 1795, and bought of Ulrich Huffstater one hundred and forty-six acres of land, which was a portion of "Nancy's Fancy," patented to William Wells, Nov. 29, 1794. Mr. Beabout lived upon this farm fifty years, then removed to Paris, and there passed the rest of his life. He died at the age of one hundred years. His family of children was quite large, several of whom, after their marriage, settled in Ohio. Israel, Mary, and Nancy all live in Paris. Hannah and Rizpah both settled in Paris and died there.

John Sharp came here from New Jersey, buying the two hundred acres of land now occupied by James Jackson, and near the lands then belonging to Isaac Van Ostran and Benjamin Beabout. He lived upon the farm for many years, and died there. John Sharp's family numbered eight children,-John, Levi, Edward, Polly, Ruth, Hannah, Nancy, and an- other daughter. John settled and still lives in Jef- ferson township; Edward went to Indiana; Levi was killed in a railroad disaster at Steubenville, Ohio; Polly married James Gardner, and settled in Paris; Ruth married Samuel Gardner, and lived upon the Gardner homestead; Hannah married John Steen; and Nancy became Mrs. Wheeler, her home being upon the place now owned by her son. The other daughter married Alexander Walker, and lived upon the father's farm, which has now passed into other hands.

Nathan Gillespie was a native of Ireland who came to what is now Jefferson township about the year 1801. He purchased the tract of land known as " Black- Walnut Thicket," containing upwards of three hun- dred acres, of Harmonius Cole, the transfer being made May 6, 1813. He lived and died here, and the property is now in the hands of Nathaniel and Wil- liam Gillespie, his grandsons. In the year 1827 two nephews of Nathan Gillespie came here from Hope- well township, where their father had lived and died. They each bought a piece of property,-Nathaniel, of his Uncle Nathaniel, and John, of James Carmichael, -and are still living here.

Samuel and William Melvin, brothers, came from Ireland in 1790, settling first in Cecil County, Md. In 1803, Samuel came to Irish Ridge, in what is now Jefferson township, and purchased land next to that of Steen and Cassidy. He lived there until his death in 1821. He left six children,-four sons and two daughters. William lives on the home farm, Henry died in Wellsburg, Va., James in Pughtown, and John at home at about the same time his father died.

William Melvin followed his brother to this town- ship in 1808, and lived for a few years near him, then he went to Brooke County, Va. In 1846 moved to Burgettstown, where he worked at his trade of cooper until his death in 1856. John Melvin, a son of Wil- liam, moved to Burgettstown in 1833, and worked in the woolen-factory until 1869. In January, 1877, he went to Wellsville, Ohio, and died there two years later. His son William was born in Burgettstown, and lived for years in the old David Bruce house. He has taught school since 1855, and is now teaching in Smith township.

Elisha Robinson came from Ireland to Washington County, and on June 3,1809, was granted a patent upon the tract of land called " Remainder." He had three sons,-Elisha, Abel, and Samuel. Elisha went to Virginia, Abel became a Methodist minister and went to Ohio, and Samuel settled upon his father's farm. This farm was afterwards sold to Robert Irwin, and his son now occupies it. Elisha Robinson was an active member of the Methodist Church. He lived to a very advanced age, and at his death was buried in the Bethel churchyard.

Thomas McCarroll, a native of County Down, Ire- land, emigrated to York County, Pa. About 1790 he came to this county with his wife and children, and settled on a tract of land abjoining Abraham Barber, of whom he purchased, and where he lived till his death in 1835. He left two sons. Samuel, the eldest, settled in Hanover township, lived there all his days, and died in June, 1881. His children were the Rev. Alexander McCarroll, for many years pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Claysville, and who died in May, 1881; Samuel M., who settled at Ryerson's Station, in Greene County, and died in 1852; Dr. J. F. McCarroll, a resident physician of Jefferson township, living at Eldersville; and L. F.

Robert Stewart

839

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

McCarroll, the youngest son, who occupies the home- stead of his father in Hanover township. Elizabeth, a daughter, is living with her brother at the home- stead. Another daughter, Mary E., lived to matur- ity, graduated at the Washington Seminary, and died in 1862. Thomas McCarroll, the second son of Thomas McCarroll, Sr., settled in Jefferson town- ship, on the homestead of his father, where his widow and children still live.

In 1819, Charles Scott, a lay preacher who came from Ireland, was living on Scott's Run, in this township, about one mile from the mouth of the stream, at which point he had a mill. He died there, and his son Charles inherited the mill property. He sold it to Samuel Criswell, and went to Ohio. After that the property passed through several hands. An oil company from the East purchased it from one proprietor and sunk a well eight hundred feet deep, but that proving unsuccessful they sold it to Nathaniel Gillespie, who sold it to George Chalmers Miller, the present owner.

The "Pleasant Hill" tract originally contained three hundred and ninety-eight acres of land. James Steen, who came from Ireland, bought a portion of it. At the death of James Steen the property was divided between his sons, William E. and John. William afterwards purchased John's share, and now owns the whole.

Churches .- The Bethel Church (Methodist Epis- copal) was the first religious society of Jefferson town- ship, and was organized early in the present century, but the building of a house of worship was impracti- cable until the year 1813, when by voluntary sub- scriptions a building fund was secured.1 A lot was donated by Stephen Perrine, and upon it in 1814 a frame building was put up, in which for more than sixty years the members of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church gathered for religious services. During that time it was once or twice remodeled, and is still standing, but in 1875 it passed into disuse, and most of the members now attend services in Inde- pendence township. Some of the clergymen who had charge of this society in its long term of exist- ence were Revs. George Brown, - Jamison, Archi- bald McElroy, Andrew Coleman, and George W. Robinson, Rev. George Hudson was the last regular minister.

In 1829 a church of the Methodist Protestant de- nomination was organized in Jefferson township, the services being held in the Methodist Episcopal house until 1834. In that year they built a stone church, and at the time the society numbered among its mem-

bers Charles Scott, James Patterson, John Patterson, John Cassidy, Robert Cassidy, and Andrew Johnston. The first pastor in 1829 was Rev. Josiah Foster. He was followed by Revs. John Wilson, John Clark, Enos Woodward, James Porter, William College, William Dunlap, George Hughes, Cornelius Wood- ruff, William Miller, John Huntsman, John Beatty, George Brown, William Ross, John Herbert, John Cowl, A. W. Porter, R. Simontown, John Scott, J. B. Roberts, J. W. Bischer, William Reeves, John Cowl, William H. Doe, Samuel Dorsey, R. H. Sutton, J. W. Rutlege, James Robinson, D. I. K. Ryan, Henry Lucas, William Ragg, James Lucas, William T. Wilson, and William Wallace, who is the present pastor. The stone church was replaced by a new frame building, put up on the same site in 1874, which was dedicated in the following winter, Dr. J. J. Murray, of Pittsburgh, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The society now numbers about seventy members. A graveyard is in the same lot with the Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant Churches, wherein lie the remains of many of Jeffer- son's early settlers.

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

History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 206

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