History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 224

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 224

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In the numerous list of distinguished men who have been residents of Washington County, there are found none who bore a higher character or were more universally beloved and trusted than was Judge James Edgar.

On the 10th of May, 1776, a tract of land on Rac-

coon Creek adjoining George McCormick, containing one hundred and eighty-six acres, was conveyed to Joseph Philles, in consideration of twenty pounds, by William Crawford and Henry Houghland, "which lands the said William Crawford and Henry Hough- land are entitled to by improvement, according to the custom of the country."

On this land Joseph Philles lived and died, and his descendants still occupy the property.

John Riddle came from Pigeon Creek to this town- ship about 1790, and settled near the Raccoon Rail- road bridge, on the farm now owned by J. L. Patter- son, Esq. Mr. Riddle was appointed justice of the peace March.4, 1796, and acted in that capacity till his death. His family consisted of six sons and four daughters. Samuel, a son of John Riddle, settled in this township; John settled in Jefferson ; Samuel P., in Smith ; Scott, in Muskingum County, Ohio; James, in Virginia City, Nev .; Robert, at Hanlan's Station, Hanover township; Dr. William V., in Burgetts- town. Catharine became the wife of William Proud- fit, and Sarah the wife of James S. Hays, both of Smith township.

David Hayes was a native of York County, Pa., and came out to this region of country about 1783, and took up several large tracts of land on the West Branch of Raccoon Creek. On the 13th of Septem- ber, 1787, he purchased a tract of land which George McCormick patented the August previous as "Hayes' Bottom," containing three hundred and fifty-nine acres. A part of this Mr. Hayes sold to Ephraim Chidester in June, 1797.

David Hayes built his log cabin on the farm now owned by the heirs of James Stephenson, and where George Robb now lives. On this farm he lived and died. When he came to this country he had a large family, of whom several of the sons had taken part in the Revolutionary war, and a son, John, was killed in battle. The sons who came here were Moses, Thomas, David, Joseph, William, and James. Moses settled on one hundred acres of the home tract, and died there. Joseph Hayes, a son of Moses, inherited a part of the estate left by his father, and lived upon it during a long life, and died of paralysis Feb. 7, 1882, aged eighty-one years, and the farm purchased by David Hayes, Sept. 13, 1787, now passes into pos- session of the fourth generation. David Hayes, also a son of Moses Hayes, and brother of Joseph, mar- ried Martha Fulton, and now resides in the township. Alexander Hayes married Ann, a daughter of James Stephenson. Their sons, John B. and James B., live on part of the "Long Bottom" tract James Stephen- son bought of Thomas Bay and left to his daughter Ann. Thomas, a son of David Hayes, Sr., removed to Jackson County, Ohio. William died in 1830, from an accident while mowing. James settled in Allegheny County. Eleanor, the only daughter of David, married James Todd, and settled in Allegheny County.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Joseph Vance came to Smith township from Win- chester, Va., in 1774, and commenced to improve land where Presley Leach now lives, but William Craw- ford and Henry Houghland had a prior claim, and he abandoned it and took up the land now owned by Allison, Thomas P., and John S. Vance. He was prominent in all the various expeditions against the Indians, and built the stockade fort known for many years as Vance's Fort by the early settlers. He was prominent in the Presbyterian Church at Cross Creek, a member of the Legislature in 1802-3. He lived to eighty-two years of age, and died March 6, 1832, and was buried at Cross Creek. He left six children. Wil- liam, who inherited the homestead, was a captain in the war of 1812, a member of the Legislature of Penn- sylvania in 1815-16. He married Rachel, a daughter of William Patterson, the first of that family to settle in the county. She was born June 3, 1778, and died Jan. 9, 1817, leaving five sons, Joseph, James, William P., Allison, and David, and four daughters, Cynthia, Elizabeth, Anna, and Rachel. On the 12th of June, 1818, William Vance married Hannah, the sister of his first wife, by whom he had two sons, Thomas and John Stockton, and three daughters, Mary, Caroline, and Celesta. His marriage to his deceased wife's sis- ter gave rise to lengthy proceedings in the assemblies of the Presbyterian Church, which finally adjudged the marriage to be " Contra legem ecclesice." William Vance died April 8, 1856, aged eighty years. His widow Hannah died in 1880, aged ninety-four years. His descendants still occupy the homstead.

Col. John Vance was the second son of Joseph Vance. He was colonel in command of the regiment that went to New Lisbon in 1812. He lived in this township all his life, and died Nov. 24, 1841, aged sixty-two years, and was buried at Cross Creek. His son Joseph was colonel of an Ohio regiment under Gen. Banks in the Rebellion, and was killed in the Red River campaign. Joseph, a third son of Joseph Vance, Sr., went to New Orleans, and was never heard from. Hannah Vance, a daughter of Joseph Vance, married - Patterson. Maj. William Vance came to this section of country soon after his son Joseph settled here. He located on land where John Easton now lives, on the valley road from Cross Creek to Bur- gettstown. A warrant was obtained later, and on the 4th of March, 1785, it was surveyed to him as the "Oat-Field," containing three hundred and seventy- eight acres. He was prominent in the organization of the Presbyterian Church at Cross Creek, a man of wide range of information and well-balanced mind. He died April 18, 1788, aged seventy years. Governor Joseph Vance, who was long a member of Congress from Urbana district, Ohio, and Governor of that State in 1836-88, was a grandson of Maj. William Vance. David Vance, a brother of Col. Joseph Vance and a son of Maj. William Vance, took out a Virginia cer- tificate for land in 1780. This was surveyed to him as "the Corn-Field," containing three hundred and

ninety-two acres, Dec. 10, 1786, adjoining John Mar- shall and William Campbell.

David Wilkin came to this county about 1786, and lived with his son John in this township. He died Oct. 2, 1793, aged sixty-two years. He left three sons,-John, William, and Thomas. John married for his first wife a lady of the name of Armitage, by whom he had one son, David. He settled first in Bur- gettstown, and kept store there; then moved to Cross Creek, and built the first brick building in that town, now owned and occupied by Dr. John Stockton. Later he moved to Allegehny County, Pa., and died there. John Wilkin, after the death of his first wife, married Catharine, daughter of Judge James Edgar, by whom he had several children. James, one of the sons, was a blacksmith, and lived at Burgettstown a few years, and removed to Wayne County, Ohio, where he died. A daughter, Mary Ann Wilkin, now resides in Burgettstown, and is the only one living of six children. Stephen, a son of John and Catha- rine Wilkin, became a physician, and practiced in the township, living on the farm owned by Clark and John Farrar. He married Sarah Van Emen, of the family who settled near Washington. Thomas, Wil- liam, and John, also sons of John Wilkin, settled in the township, and died unmarried. Thomas was an elder in Cross Creek Church, and died in 1853, and John in 1858. Archibald married Jemima McElroy. He was a tanner, and lived in the township. Martha, a daughter of John, married Samuel Merchant, and settled in Buffalo township, where she died. John Wilkin, who married Catharine Edgar, after the death of Judge Edgar purchased of the heirs the landed estate. Here he lived till his death, Jan. 8, 1818, aged sixty-two years, and left it to his sons, John and Thomas, who later sold it to Finley Scott, by whom it is now owned. William and Thomas Wilkin, sons of David and brothers of John, settled, with their families at Sewickley.

Thomas Whittaker was a resident of this township before 1786. On the 21st of February of that year he took out a warrant for four hundred acres of land, which was surveyed to him by the name of "Slow and Easy." It was adjoining the " West Boston" tract, on which Burgettstown was laid out. On this farm he lived till his death in July, 1794. He left a widow, Elizabeth, and sons, Samuel, Eli, and Da- . con, and daughters, Ann (Mrs. Holmes), Mary (Mrs. Hall), Elizabeth (Mrs. Chamberlain), Sarah, Rachel, and Esther Whittaker. In the year 1806 two hun- dred acres of the farm was sold to Josiah Patterson, and upon the death of Mr. Whittaker the remainder of the farm was left to Samuel Whittaker, who in later years conveyed it to his son Dacon. It was in- herited by his daughter, Mrs. G. N. Tenan, who now owns and occupies it.

Josiah Patterson emigrated from Path Valley, Cum- berland Co., in 1806, with his wife and three chil- dren,-Robert, Mary, and Elizabeth. He purchased

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two hundred acres of land of the estate of Thomas Whittaker, north of and adjoining Burgettstown. On this farm he settled and lived till his death in 1823, aged seventy years, His son Robert succeeded to the farm, and lived upon it till his death in 1861, aged seventy-six years. He was a surveyor by profession ; a justice of the peace from Dec. 5, 1818, to 1834; an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Cross-Roads (Florence), and was active in the organization of the Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown, of which he continued a member during the remainder of his life. At his death the farm was left to his son, James L. Patterson, who lives in Burgettstown, and is prominent in the banking business. The children of Robert Patterson were James L., Mary (the wife of the Rev. James T. Fredericks, of Burgettstown), Jane, the eldest child, who married Watson Allen, and as his widow married James Ewing, of Washington, Pa. Mary, daughter of Josiah Patterson, remained un- married, and died in Guernsey County, Ohio, about 1876, aged eighty-four years. Elizabeth, another daughter, married Ebenezer Smith, and lived for a time in Burgettstown. She later removed to Guern- sey County, Ohio.

John Wishart was a native of Ireland, who emi- grated to this country, and settled in Waynesburg, east of the mountains. At the close of the Whiskey Insurrection he came to this section of country, meeting some of the soldiers on their return east. On the 16th of May, 1795, he purchased one hundred and five acres of land for three hundred and fifty pounds of Humphrey Montgomery, containing the mill built by Samuel Johnston, situated on what was known as the "Milltown" tract. Three days later, Mr. Wishart purchased of Gabriel Blakeney one hun- dred and seventy-three acres of land for three hundred and forty-six pounds, "situate and lying on the waters of Raccoon Creek, adjoining lands of John McKib- bin and lands formerly of John McCormick." This last tract was part of the land granted by Virginia patent to Lund Washington, Nov. 24, 1779, who sold to George McCormick, Jan. 20, 1792, and who, Feb- ruary 27th of the same year, sold to Gabriel Blake- ney. On this tract had been an old fort, known as Hoagland's Fort, which the Rankins, Buxtons, and others used as a place of protection. A school-house was erected on the hillside west of the fort. One William Loughrey was the teacher. John Wishart lived here till his death. A daughter of his married James Leach, who remained on the homestead. Other daughters married, and removed to Kentucky and Ohio. John, the only son, emigrated to Kentucky.

James Stephenson was the son of John Stephen- son, who was a native of England, emigrated to this country in 1750, and settled near Chadd's Ford, on the Brandywine. At this place James Stephenson was born in 1773. Seven years later his father with his family removed to Pigeon Creek (now Chartiers township), and settled and lived there till his death,

in 1808. When James arrived at maturity he came to Smith township, and in the course of a few years purchased several tracts of land in different parts of the township. On the east branch of Raccoon Creek he erected a mill and built a house, where he lived, which became known as the Mansion House. He was a member of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania in 1805-7. He married Jane Vance, a native of the township, by whom he had eight chil- dren, to whom he gave good farms. In 1802 he pur- cnased two hundred acres of land of Thomas Bay. This tract was warranted by Mr. Bay, Feb. 25, 1785, and surveyed to him by the name of "Long Bottom," four hundred and fourteen acres. This farm was given to his daughter Ann, who married Alexander Hays; their sons, John B. and James S. Hays, now own the property. Another tract of eighty-four acres, now owned by Matthew Welsh, was left to a daughter Mary, who married W. P. Vance. Of two other tracts now owned by Samuel Ghrist, one of one hundred acres was left to Elizabeth, who married Samuel Ghrist; the other, also of one hundred acres, was left to a son, Joseph Stephenson. Later he sold to his brother-in-law, Ghrist, and emigrated to Illi- nois. The mill property, containing sixty acres, was left to his son, John Stephenson, who sold to John Armstrong, and it is now owned by John Keyes. After the sale of the mill John moved to Burgetts- town, where he died. His widow still resides there.

Another tract in Mount Pleasant township was left to his daughter Martha, who became the wife of James Rankin, Esq., and is still in her possession. Mr. Stephenson was a man of fine executive ability, and commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. In 1805 he was elected State senator, with Isaac Weaver, of Greene County, to represent the district, then composed of Washington and Greene Counties, and served in the years 1806-7, and was returned and served 1808-9. He lived many years after, and died at his mansion house in 1846, aged seventy-three years.

Matthew Welch emigrated from Ireland to this country about 1802, with his wife and a daughter Isabella, then an infant. He lived a short time at Lancaster, and in the spring of 1803 removed to this county. On the 26th of July in that year he pur- chased one hundred acres of land of Hugh Lee, it being part of one of the tracts patented by Samuel Johnston. Mr. Welch lived on this place the remainder of his life, and died there at the age of eighty-four years. His widow lived a few years later, and died at ninety- two years. They left eight children. Isabella, the oldest daughter, married William Galbraith. They settled on the farm where a son, William R. Gal- braith, now lives. Mrs. Galbraith is still living, at the age of eighty-two years. Nancy married Mark Stephenson, and settled in the township, where he still lives. Polly married William Campbell, and moved to Ohio. Margaret married Thomas McCorkle,

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of Cross Creek township. Eliza married Robert Mc- Birney, of Robinson township. Rachel married Rob- ert K. Scott. They now live on the tract of land pat- ented for the heirs of Sebastian Burgett and named " Radius." Hannah married Matthew Welch, and they now live on a farm bought of William P. Vance, which was originally part of the James Stephenson lands. M. R. Welch, the only son of Matthew Welch, inherited the home farm, and still owns and occu- pies it.

A fort known as Allen's Fort was located near the line between Smith and Robinson townships, which the Baileys, Shearers, and others used as a place of security before the Beelor Fort was erected. It is pos- sible that John Allen settled there prior to that time, but his name does not appear on a Virginia certificate as having lands under that title. He took a Pennsyl- vania warrant Nov. 5, 1784, which was surveyed to him by the name of "Derry," Feb. 25, 1785. He lived to an old age, and died there; married, but childless. The farm was left to a nephew, Moses Allen, who was not a thrifty man, and the farm passed to other hands. He moved to near Pittsburgh, where he kept a tavern, and there died.

John Ferguson, a native of Ireland, emigrated to this country in 1795, and settled in Lancaster County ; married in the city of Philadelphia, and 1798 came to Smith township and purchased ninety acres of John Bavington and settled upon it. On the 29th of De- cember, 1813, he purchased eighty-nine acres of the administrators of John Bavington, adjoining William Brummer and Alexander Duncan, and on the 7th of February, 1818, he purchased of John Duncan one hundred and forty-four acres adjoining Jeremiah An- drews, James Moore, William Ferguson, and James Brown. This land was part of a tract which was pat- ented by George Deed April 4, 1793, one-fourth of which was sold in 1797 to Abraham Crow, who sold to John Duncan March 7, 1816. John Ferguson died on the homestead in 1842, aged seventy-six years. His wife lived eight years later, and died in 1850, leaving three daughters and one son, John, who by · purchase and inheritance obtained possession of the farm, and still owns it. Elizabeth married James Smith, and settled on an adjoining farm, now owned by John Culley. They lived there many years, and moved to Frankfort. After the death of Mr. Smith, his widow lived at the old homestead with her brother till her death. John Ferguson, the son of John, was a ruling elder in the United Presbyterian Church many years, and held the offices of school director and justice of the peace. He died at his residence Jan. 31, 1881, aged seventy-four years.

In the assessment-roll of the township for the year 1788, John Cook, Sr., is assessed on fifty acres, and John Cook, Jr., is assessed on personal estate. These two men were evidently married and settled. In the list of single men that follows is the name of James Cook, who is assessed on six hundred and forty-nine

acres of land. A part of this tract, two hundred and fifteen acres, was a portion of a large tract of twenty- five hundred acres of land granted by Virginia patent to Robert Rutherford, and sold by him to Samuel and Robert Purviance on the 25th of April, 1782, and they by their attorney conveyed it to James Cook on the 8th of September, 1786. On the 7th of May, 1792, James Cook sold a portion to John Cook. James Cook died on the home farm and left three sons, David, Samuel, and Perry. David married, and his daughter married William K. Lyle. They live on the home-

stead. Samuel was a bachelor, and died November, 1879, aged seventy-seven years, and William K. Lyle purchased his farm. Perry also married and lived on part of the farm, James Cook had four daughters. Julia married Col. James McDonald, of McDon- ald Station; Jane married Joseph Vance, and lived on the Vance farm, now owned by John Hemphill ; Dorcas married Moses Lyle, of Mount Pleasant town- ship; Matilda married David Gault, of Cross Creek township.

John Proudfit emigrated to this county from York County, near Stewartstown, and settled in Smith township in 1806; married Elizabeth Lyle in 1809; remained in the township till 1815, when he returned to York County. In 1826 he again returned to the township, and settled adjoining the John Dinsmore farm. John L. Proudfit, of Burgettstown, is his son.

William McConnell was of Irish descent, and emi- grated to this county when Burgettstown contained but the mill and the settlers' fort, known for a short time only as Burgett's Fort. He bought a farm, now the property of McCalmont. John McConnell was his son. William, a son, died at college. Three sons died in Ohio and Texas. Mrs. Blair, a daughter of William McConnell, is living in Hanover township at the age of ninety-two years. Asenath Blair is the only representative in South township.

On the 9th of February, 1787, William Kidd warranted a tract which was surveyed to him as " Plenty," and contained two hundred acres. He conveyed it by deed to John Elder, July 9, 1791, by whom it was patented Aug. 21, 1793. Upon the death of John Elder it was left to two daughters (one of whom married James Chamberlain).' They sold the south half to Joseph Gladden, Jan. 26, 1829, and he to William Gladden in March, 1844. That part of the estate is now owned by William Campbell. The other portion passed through many hands, and is now part of the town of Midway, and part of the lands of the Walnut Hill Coal Company.

Burgettstown .- The land on which Burgettstown is situated was located by Sebastian Burgett, a native of Germany, who emigrated to this country with his wife and three children, and settled in Berks County, Pa. While living there his wife died, and left to his care two sons, George and Philip, and a daughter Agnes. He removed to near Robbstown (West New- ton), Westmoreland Co., before 1773, where he soon

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SMITH TOWNSHIP.

after married Roxanna Markle. He came to this part of the country and located upon a large tract of land, which later was secured to his heirs. His name is mentioned as early as 1780 in connection with the Virginia certificate of George McCormick, Henry Rankin, and others whose lands he joined. At this time also his own lands were taken up on a Virginia certificate, as mention is made of the warrants being based on the certificate, but the copy of the certificate is not found. One of the tracts that later was sur- veyed and patented was known as " West Boston," containing three hundred and twenty-nine acres, war- ranted Sept. 20, 1785, and surveyed Oct. 29, 1785. On this tract Sebastian Burgett built a mill on Raccoon Creek, where the present mill stands. In repairing or enlarging the mill about the year 1789, he became in need of castings with which to complete his work, and went to Pittsburgh for them. While returning through the woods and over the rough roads, and when within about two miles of home, the wagon upset in crossing over a log, and he fell beneath the iron castings and was killed.

The Burgett house stood near the Robert Scott house, and the old fort, as it was called, was near it. This last stood many years, and later was partially covered with clapboards. Several years ago, when Mr. Boston Burgett built a new house, the old log structure was removed across the street, and was used as a cow-house. The tomahawk and bullet-marks were visible. It was finally struck by lightning and destroyed. The widow of Sebastian Burgett lived on this place many years with her children after her hus- band's death.

On the 28th of September, 1789, George Burgett, in behalf of himself, Philip, his brother, and Agnes, his sister, entered into an article of agreement with Rox- anna, the second wife of Boston Burgett, for herself and her children, John, Andrew, Mary, Isaac, Eliza- beth, Sarah, and Boston Burgett, that four hundred acres of the estate of Boston [Sebastian] Burgett be set off to her. The mill property is retained by George. The tract on which the widow of Mr. Bur- gett resided was known as " Radius," containing two hundred and ninety-seven acres, and for which war- rant was not obtained until July 17, 1800, and patent December 10th the same year. It is recorded on a slab in the Burgett family burying-ground that Boston Burgett departed this life Sept. 4, 1789, in the fiftieth year of his age. His widow lived to be eighty-three years of age, and died Feb. 3, 1839. Mrs. Burgett sold ninety-two acres of the tract "Radius" to Benja- min Shipley Nov. 21, 1804. The remainder was di- vided between the children by the second wife,-Isaac, Andrew, Elizabeth, Mary, and Boston. Isaac was a hatter by trade, and emigrated to Natchez, where he lived and died. Andrew kept his share, and pur- chased the rights of other heirs. His son, Boston Burgett, Robert Scott, and Mr. Morgan, now own it. Elizabeth (Mrs. Zachariah Linn) sold her portion to

Freegift Crawford, whose daughter, Mrs. Dr. George W. Bell, inherited it. Boston Burgett studied medi- cine with Dr. S. J. Perry, of Burgettstown ; removed from the township. Elizabeth (Mrs. Lynn), after the sale, removed to Millersburg, Holmes Co., Ohio. Mary married John Smith, and settled in Liverpool, Columbiana Co., Ohio.

The patent for the " West Boston" tract recites the fact that letters of administration were granted to George Burgett, in trust for the heirs of the deceased Boston Burgett, and bear date March 28, 1797. On this tract George Burgett laid out a town, with Peter Kidd as the surveyor. The following is a copy of the writing that accompanies the plan :

" Raccoon Creek. The above is a draught of a Town laid off for Mr. George Burgett, called West Boston, on the west fork of Raccoon Creek, in Smith Township, Washington County, each lut containing one Rood, being eighty-two and one-half feet in front, and one hundred and thirty- two feet back, the course of the Main Street North: 73 east.

" Luid off the 27th day of January, 1795.

" PETER KIDD."

The draught contains fifty-six lots, No. 1 being on the north side of Main Street, west of the covered bridge (now owned by William Melvin), running west eleven lots, commencing opposite on Main Street with No. 12, running east to the creek to No. 22, inclusive. The remainder are in different parts of the town. At this time the only business place on the town plat was the grist-mill. David Bruce was the first to purchase a lot in the new town. He had lived for some time previous at Bavington, where he had a store. The first authentic account of his removal from Bavington to the new town is contained in an advertisement which appeared in the columns of the Washington Telegraphe, bearing date Dec. 22, 1795, and is as fol- lows: " That he has moved his store from John Bav- enton's mill, upon Raccoon, to George Burgett's new town upon said creek. He is now opening at the above place a large assortment of dry-goods, etc."

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 224

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