History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 207

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 207

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Pine Grove Presbyterian Church, of Jefferson town- ship, was 'organized in 1852 with twelve or fifteen members, among the number being John Leeper, Enoch Hays, John Barber, and George Miller. This society, which belongs to the Washington Presbytery, erected a house of worship on a rise of ground on Scott's Run, not far below Miller's Mill, at a cost of eight hundred dollars, Among the pastors who have presided over this charge are Revs. David Hervey, James Fleming, Joseph Pomeroy, and W. I. Brugh, D.D. The present membership is fifteen.

A society of the Methodist Protestant denomination was organized in 1829 at the village of Eldersville. A church was built the same year, but was replaced in 1849 by a new brick edifice on the same site, and the old one was removed and remodeled into a dwell- ing-house. The society was organized by Rev. Josiah Foster, the pastor of the Bethel Methodist Protestant Church, and he continued to officiate upon both charges. In 1875 the brick building was remodeled, at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars, and was rededicated in 1876, Revs. William Collyer, of Sharpsburg, and Alexander Clark officiating. A par- sonage was built many years ago for the use of the pastor of this church.

In 1844 about twenty members seceded from the Methodist Protestant Church, formed themselves into a society, and built a frame church in Eldersville in which to hold their services. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Selby. The church is still standing; the society has a membership of fifteen or twenty of the residents of Jefferson township who adhere to that faith, and the pulpit is supplied by Rev. Mr. Magee, of Carroll County, Ohio.

1 The subscription paper, dated Oct. 16, 1813, and signed by Elisha Robinson, John Patterson, Richard Wells, and ninety-une others, was hended with this agreement:

" For the sole purpose of erecting a Methodist Episcopal Chapel near John Elliott, we promise to pay unto Charles Scott, Alexander Leslie, James Patterson, John Patterson, and John Elliott, trustees of the same, or to their successors in office, the sums set opposite our names as an- nexed." The sum raised was $379.73.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Schools .- The history of the early schools of the territory now within the limits of Jefferson township is largely embodied in that of Cross Creek township, of which Jefferson was at one time a portion. A Mrs. Laird, in 1795 or 1796, taught a school in her own house on what was then known as the Robb farm, now owned by the estate of John Lee. There was a Mr. Creighton who about that time followed teach- ing. A school was taught in 1811 in an old log cabin in the Miller district, and situated on the waters of Cross Creek, down on the bottom by the creek, on the site of the log house afterwards built by Frederick Cline, now standing there unoccupied. The teachers were John Neager, Richard Freeborn, and Andrew Mccullough. Later a school was taught on the Mc- Crea Hill, the property now owned by George Cun- ningham. The first frame school building was built in the township in 1813, on the west side of a branch of Cross Creek, upon land now owned by Hampton Walker, but then the property of Mrs. Jane Smith, a widow. This house remained in use until the enact- ment of the school law in 1834, and in the first year of its occupancy (1813) Mr. Israel Bebout, at present a resident of Cross Creek township, was a student within its walls. Among the teachers in this school were Andrew Mccullough, who taught three years, Elder McDermott, who taught two years, and Cor- nelius Barber, who also was an instructor for two years. James Campbell, son of Launcelot Campbell, of Smith township, taught several terms in Lee's school-house, beginning in 1820. He was considered a good teacher, but teaching and study brought him to an early grave. Among the first terms taught by ex-Superintendent Douthett, of Allegheny County, was one at the same place. The Hon. Robert Curry, of the Nebraska State Normal School, taught his first term in Jefferson township.

The first school buildings in Jefferson township erected under the school law of 1834 were at Elders- ville and in the Melvin district. School districts were then formed throughout the township and num- bered as follows: Miller District, No. 1; Melvin, No. 2; Eldersville, No. 3; Coles', No. 4; Lee, No. 5; Gardner, No. 6. In the year 1863 the schools in the township numbered six, the teachers employed were six, with an aggregate enrollment of two hundred and fifty-six pupils. The amount of tax levied for school purposes was $885.42; State appropriation, $92.80 ; amount received from other sources, $885.42; and the expenditures for the year, $887.18. In 1873 there were six schools in the township, six teachers were em- ployed, and two hundred and ten scholars in attend- ance. The amount of tax levied was $1439.57 ; State appropriation, $155.62; amount received from other sources, $1533.82; and the amount expended during the year, $1493.38. In 1880 the districts in Jefferson township were six, the number of teachers six, and two hundred and ten pupils' names were enrolled. School tax levied was $1167.31; amount received

from the State, $208.32; from all other sources, $1663.03 ; and the total expenditures for the year were $1410.85.

Physicians.1-Concerning the early practice of medicine within the limits of what now comprises Jefferson township but little is known at the present time. Tradition, however, informs us that the first settlers were principally of Irish and New England extraction, and that they carried with them to their new homes in this township many of the peculiar and superstitious ideas of their ancestors. Probably owing to the sparseness of population and consequent diffi- culty of obtaining qualified medical aid, they relied to a great extent on their own efforts for treatment, and this treatment was generally administered by the most illiterate portion of the community, such as old ladies and men who were considered incompetent to pursue any other vocation. Many of those ancient preten- ders of medical knowledge claimed supernatural powers to overcome disease. Witchcraft and enchant- ment entered largely into their practice. The seventh son or daughter was considered qualified by nature for medical practice. Laying on of hands, uttering senseless words to the sun, blowing breaths on sick persons, and many other foolish thoughts were called into action in this dreadful fight of our ancestors with disease. Others relied on what were supposed to be more potent remedies,-poultices made from black cat- skins, brains of black chickens, dried and pulverized snakes, potatoes carried in the breeches pocket, lique- fied fishing-worms, oil of white dogs, etc., covered themselves with glory by discomfiting the enemy dis- ease, and, strange to relate, tradition has handed down from father to son those superstitious vagaries, and many of them retain a strong foothold among a very few of our most illiterate population at this late day. The onward march of knowledge was not long in ex- pelling those foolish ideas of our fathers, and as early as 1790 or 1792 they began to realize the necessity of medical aid based on the higher plane of educa- tional qualification, but as there was no resident physi- cian prior to 1810, they were compelled to look abroad for that aid. Amongst those non-resident physicians, eminent in their day, who are entitled to honorable notice, and who labored in this region between 1790 and 1810, are the following, viz .: Dr. John Cuthbert- son, of Hopewell; Rev. Joseph Doddridge, M.D., of Wellsburg, Va .; Edward Smith, M.D., of Franklin, Va .; - Adams, M.D., of West Middletown, Pa. ; Dr. Perry, of Burgettstown, Pa .; and Drs. McClain and Pittszer, of Florence, Pa.

In the year 1810 two physicians located in or near the present site of Eldersville and opened offices here, but time has erased their names from the memory of the oldest inhabitants, at least so far as the writer can discover, and almost their memory ; the only trace left is the recollection of our older inhabitants hearing

1 By Dr. J. F. McCarroll.

David Perrine

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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

their parents refer to the year 1810 as the year when the doctors first settled in Eldersville.

In the year 1817, Dr. David Pierce opened an office and practice here. In 1819 he removed three miles west of town, purchased the property now owned by W. Wells, and continued the practice of medicine with honor and distinction until death called him from the field in the year 1842. His remains rest in the village cemetery, and a plain marble slab perpetuates his vocation and the date of his death.

Dr. W. English in 1826, but only remained a few years, hence little is known concerning him at the present day.

Dr. McCabe settled here in 1837, and remained a short time, and has been lost sight of since his re- moval.

Dr. H. K. McClelland commenced the practice of medicine in Eldersville in the year 1842, and was emi- nently successful. As a practitioner he was bold and fearless, and always expressed his convictions plainly, regardless of feelings or results. He succeeded in amassing considerable wealth. His qualifications were of the highest order, and he made himself felt in the affairs of both State and church. He died in September, 1860, and his remains rest in the cemetery at Cross Creek village, this county.

Dr. Chalmers settled here A.D. 1848, and remained a number of years, but failed to secure a very large practice, and has long since removed to some other field of labor.

Dr. J. K. McCurdy settled here in 1855. He after- wards removed, but returned at the close of the war, and continued practice until 1872. He is now a resi- dent of Cardville, this county.

Dr. J. L. Ray settled in Eldersville A.D. 1861, en- tered the army as assistant surgeon in 1863, returned to Eldersville and resumed practice in 1865. He re- moved to Cross Creek village in 1869, where he died in 1872.

Dr. A. C. McCollough commenced practice here in 1861, removed from here to Wellsburg, W. Va., in 1868, and from there to Newark, Ohio, in 1874, where he continued practice until his death in 1879.

Dr. J. W. Donan located here in 1872, and practiced until 1875, and then removed to South Pittsburgh, where he is now pursuing the vocation of his pro- fession.

Dr. J. F. McCarrell located in the village of Elders- ville A.D. 1865, and has continued the practice of medicine until the present time, and is at this time (Feb. 22, 1882) the only resident physician within the limits of Jefferson township.

Coal-Mining .- The Keystone Coal Company, of Pittsburgh, now owns about two thousand acres of coal rights in this section, leased of William Boles, Alexander Smith, Thompson Crise, David Stephen- son, John Anderson, James Jackson, William Wort, | lodge now comprises forty-five members, and is in a George Crise, and others, as well as of some parties in very flourishing condition.

West Virginia. They also own about fifty acres of |

land at Hanlon Station, which gives them shipping and storing advantages. They have already sixty men in constant employ, have a large company store for supplying the wants of their help, and are rapidly increasing their operations.

Village of Eldersville .- The land in this township upon which Eldersville has been built was originally owned by Thomas Ward. He took up a tract of four hundred acres, which was surveyed Sept. 15, 1784, and again March 7, 1785, and a patent granted April 6, 1792, under the title of "Ward's Ward." In Septem- ber, 1814, the plat of the village was laid out and sur- veyed by James Henry for Thomas Ward, and the name first given to the place was Wardsville. Fifty- three lots were laid out, and the first store was built in the year the village was platted, John Miller being the proprietor. The tavern was kept by Thomas El- der, who purchased two acres of land of Ward. The old tavern building has but recently been torn down. Thomas Elder's tavern licenses extended from 1809 to 1818, and through him the name of the village was changed from Wardsville to Eldersville.

The place now contains two churches, three stores, a hotel, a post-office, two blacksmith-shops, and a hall.

A post-office was first established at Eldersville during the administration of President Jackson, George Elliott receiving the appointment of post- master. He was followed by Andrew Cassidy and James Patterson. Hugh Patterson was appointed during the presidency of Harrison, John Ellingham served under James K. Polk, and Hugh Patterson again under Zachariah Taylor. Then came George Hopkins, William Cosgrove, Thomas Cosgrove, Mar- garet Moore, and Robert Osborne, who have offici- ated as postmasters in the order given, Mr. Osborne at present holding the office. For the space of three years the office at Eldersville was discontinued, but upon the completion of the Panhandle Railroad it was re-established, and for the last four years a daily mail has been run. The merchants in Eldersville at the present time are J. and H. C. Cooper, R. C. Os- burn, and George Ellingham.

Societies and Orders .- On May 24, 1872, a lodge of Odd-Fellows was instituted at Eldersville, in Jef- ferson township, called Cynosure Lodge, No. 805, with Dr. J. S. MeCarroll as Noble Grand. In 1876 this society., in conjunction with the society of Grangers and a few private individuals who took shares in the project, built a town hall at Eldersville, at a cost of one thousand dollars. The upper rooms were fitted up for the use of the orders, and the first floor was converted into a large hall for public pur- poses. The present officers of the Odd-Fellows' lodge are James Martin, N. G .; G. C. Miller, V. G .; Albert Elliott, Secretary ; David Martin, Jr., Treasurer. The

The Patrons of Husbandry are represented in Jef-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ferson township, owning a part interest in the town hall at Eldersville. Under a dispensation granted Aug. 13, 1874, Jefferson Grange, No. 314, was insti- tuted, the charter being received Nov. 24, 1874, Wil- liam L. Archer, Master.

Justices of the Peace .- The following is a list of justices of the peace of the township since its organ- ization. The justices who held jurisdiction prior to that time will be found in the history of Cross Creek :

Robert Smith, April 11, 1854. Josiah N. Scott, April 10, 1855. William Kidd, April 12, 1859. James A. Stewart, April 12, 1860. David Gardner, Aprit 20, 1864. James A. Stewart, June 3, 1865. Samuel McGough, April 21, 1869.

James A. Stewart, March 24, 1870. Samuel McGough, April 25, 1873. William Cassidy, Sept. 15, 1873; Jan. 30, 1874. Samuel McGough, Jan. 30, 1874; March 25, 1878. A. E. Walker, March 27, 1879.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ROBERT STEWART.

Robert Stewart was born in Ireland in 1795. He was the son of James and Elizabeth (Hemphill) Stewart, who came to America in 1812, and settled in Mount Pleasant township, near the village of Hickory, in Washington County, Pa. They had four sons and two daughters. The sons were John, James, Robert, and Thomas. Robert married Anne Mc- Gough. They had six children,-John, married to Tamar McClurg, died Aug. 10, 1881; Eliza J., the widow of David Kidd, of Guernsey County, Ohio; Robert, who has had three wives, Sarah J. Elliott, Eliza Orr, and Rebecca H. Provines; Sarah, who died when a young woman; James, married to Su- sanna Andrews; Andrew, who died in infancy. Robert died April 25, 1875. His wife, Anne Mc- Gough, died about the year 1858. Robert was a member of the Seceder Church, and a Democrat in

politics. He left a handsome fortune, the result of his own labors. Hundreds of acres of the finest agri- cultural lands are pointed to as testimonials of his in- dustry, progress, and great business capacity. His successful career was the result of his unwavering faith in the ultimate triumph of industry, energy, prudence, and probity.

DAVID PERRINE.

David Perrine, farmer, was born upon the farm where he now resides, of which he became the owner in 1847. His father, Stephen Perrine, a Revolution- ary soldier, who served during the entire struggle for independence, was the son of Peter Perrine, an Eng- lishman by birth, and was born April 14, 1759, in New Jersey, where he married, in 1793, Anne M. Wort- man, a native of the same State, born April 25, 1773. They settled in Washington County, Pa., about the year 1793. Stephen died in 1847. His wife died in 1861. Their children were Peter, born Aug. 26, 1794; Lydia, born June 2, 1796; Margaret, born Dec. 15, 1798; Anne, born Dec. 27, 1800; Stephen, born April 14, 1803; William, born Feb. 22, 1805; David, born April 4, 1807; Sarah, born Nov. 12, 1809; Catharine, born April 26, 1812; Mary, born Nov. 6, 1814. But two of the above-named children, Anne, the widow of Samuel Cole, and David, are now living.

David's life has been chiefly occupied in quietly tilling the soil of the farm where he now resides, and the management of the stock which good farming has enabled him to prepare for the market. His parents were Presbyterians, and he, although not a member, attends the same church. He has been a man of frugal, steady, and industrious habits, has traced out his own course, and owes his success to his own efforts.

MORRIS TOWNSHIP.

MORRIS is one of the southern tier of townships of | inhabitants of the west and southwest parts of Am- Washington County, being bounded on the south by Greene County, on the west by East Finley township, on the north by Franklin, and on the east by Amwell, which last-named township originally included the territory which afterwards became the township of Morris.

At the September term of 1788 there was presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions a petition, signed by David Dille, Thomas Axtell, and thirty-three others,

well township, representing that they " labour under great Inconveniences from the Intolerable length of the township; that many are obliged to travel near twenty miles to work on some of the publick high- ways . . .; that the township is so large as renders it Inconvenient and oppressive as well to a great number of the Inhabitants as the Officers thereof in the dis- charge of their respective duties; that a division of said Township will tend to the ease and Conveniency

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MORRIS TOWNSHIP.

of the Inhabitants, .. . " and for these and other reasons set forth, praying that such division be made, and a new township erected from the western part of the township of Amwell.

The petition bears the following indorsement, show- ing the action of the court, viz. : "September, 1788, Petition for the division of Amwell township. To be called Morris township. Granted by the court. Certificate sent up." The township of Morris re- tained its original territory until Aug. 13, 1855, when the northern portion was set off by order of the court to form the township of Franklin, thus reducing Morris to its present limits.

The township from its erection in 1788 was an inde- pendent district until 1803, when it was embraced with Amwell in District No. 10, and so remained till 1838, when it again became a separate district. The names of justices who had jurisdiction over its terri- tory while it was a part of District No. 10 will be found in the list for Amwell township. The list of justices for Morris for the periods from 1788 to 1803 and from 1840 to the present time is here given, viz. :

Ebenezer Goble, March 12, 1793. William Lindley, April 14, 1840. William Cracroft, April 14, 1840; Sept. 15, 1845.

William Lindley, April 15, 1845 ; April 9, 1850.

Abraham Hlinkin, April 9, 1850; April 10, 1855.

Thomas Hanna, April 16, 1856. William Sanders, June 23, 1837. William Conklin, March 9, 1861.

Timothy Ross, May 10, 1861. Thomas Hanna, April 14, 1863. William Conklin, April 17, 1866. Matthias Minton, April 14, 1868. Williams Parcel, April 11, 1871. Matthias Minton, April 15, 1873; Jan. 9, 1874.

William Parcel, Feb. 16, 1874. Matthias Minton, March 25, 1878. M. W. Wood, April 9, 1881.

Demas Lindley with his family came in 1773 to settle west of the Monongahela, in the section of coun- try which afterwards became Washington County, and with him came about twenty other families, all from, New Jersey, and nearly all from the county of Morris, which had been 'Mr. Lindley's home before his emigration. Four of the families settled on the south fork of Ten-Mile Creek, near Jefferson, Greene Co. The others settled at different points on the north and middle forks of the same creek. Demas Lindley located upon four hundred acres of land situated on the middle fork of Ten-Mile, adja- cent to the lands of Caleb and John Lindley, James Draper, and J. McVaugh. This property was war- ranted to him Feb. 5, 1785, and surveyed December 6th of the same year, receiving the title of. "Mill Place," its location being very near the present vil- lage of Prosperity. Mr. Lindley became the owner of another tract of land called "Headquarters," which was warranted to him April 18, 1796, as con- taining three hundred and sixty-eight acres.

Demas Lindley and Jacob Cook were the two most prominent and influential men among the early set- tlers along Ten-Mile Creek. They were very active in the frontier movements against the Indians, and a fort was early established upon the property of Mr. Lindley, called Lindley's Fort, and was the rendez- vous for the residents in this part of the county.

Mr. Lindley built a grist- and merchant-mill on his property soon after his settlement here, and mills which are known as " Lindley's Mills" still occupy the same site. Both Mr. Lindley and Mr. Cook, men- tioned above, had much to do with the organization and establishment of the Upper and Lower Ten-Mile Churches.

Demas Lindley's sons located about him, and all owed their prosperous start in life to his influence and assistance. They were Zenas, Joseph, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When Demas Lindley died, in 1818, his will was found to have been made Dec. 20, 1802. It devised the whole of his estate to his son, John Lindley (as the only one who had not been previously provided for), with the provision that he pay to each of his sisters-Joanna, Sarah, and Abigail Lindley- twenty pounds in produce.

Among the families who emigrated from New Jersey in 1773, or shortly after, were those of Caleb, John, and Levi Lindsey, brothers, and relatives of Demas and Naphthali Lindley. Caleb located land adjoining Naphthali, to which was given the name of " Potato Hollow," containing four hundred acres. He also purchased a part of the tract "Fox Chase," of Naphthali Lindsey, who had previously warranted and patented it. On the 23d of February, 1796, Caleb Lindley sold to Naphthali Lindley forty-six acres, part of "Potato Hollow," and on the 5th of June the next year fifty-seven acres of the same tract to Abi- gail Loveridge, and on the 16th of June, 1815, one hundred and nine acres to his son Lewis. This also was from the "Potato Hollow" tract. Mr. Lindley had three wives, by whom he had four sons-John, Lewis, Samuel, and William-and two daughters, Sarah (Mrs. Minton) and Cassandra (Mrs. Larimore). To John and Lewis he had given farms before his death. He died in 1836, his last wife, Elizabeth, surviving him. His son William died before his father, and left two sons-John and Caleb-and daughters,- Keziah, Mary, Jane, and Nelly.

John Lindley, who came in the county with the others, obtained a warrant in April, 1786, for a tract of land on Ten-Mile Creek near the others. This was surveyed to him under the name of "Linsey- Woolsey." On the 28th of November, 1796, he pur- chased a large tract of Caleb Lindsey. He died about 1806, and left a wife (Martha), seven sons,-Samuel, Robert, John, William, James, Thomas, and Joseph, -and two daughters, one of whom was named Martha. . Their descendants are numerous in the township.

Levi Lindley, who came with Caleb, John, and the others, purchased a tract of land called "Bucks' Flat" of Benjamin Ryce. Mr. Lindley lived here but a few years, and died in 1801. A part of the property which he then owned came to him from his wife. This was left to his son William. There was devised to Ben- jamin all the land lying south of Ten-Mile Creek, ! and the use of the sugar-trees on the north side op-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

posite the sugar-trees on the south side. The land of which he was in possession in Virginia, near the waters of Dunkard Creek, was divided between his sons, Ziba, Timothy, Benjamin, and William.

David McCollum was an Irishman by birth, who emigrated to America before the commencement of the Revolution. He entered the service in the Revo- lution, and continued until the close of the war. Having married a lady of Scotch nativity, he came into Washington County, and took up a tract of land containing sixty acres, situated on the north fork of Ten-Mile Creek, in the territory now included in Morris township. From this very small beginning Mr. McCollum rapidly advanced to prosperity, and in 1810 had a handsome farm of five hundred and eighty acres. The family of David McCollum were three sons and seven daughters,-Samuel, Asa, Daniel, Lucy, Annie, Sarah, Lydia, Abigail, Mary, and Me- linda McCollum. Many of their descendants are living in Morris township.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 207

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