History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 225

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 225

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).

David Bruce was a native of Scotland, and emigrated to near Bladensburg, Md., with his father, William Bruce, in 1784. The latter was associated with Mat- thew Ritchie as assignee of Barton Lucas for the sale of thirteen hundred and seven acres of land granted on a military warrant, and situated in what is now Mount Pleasant township. This land was partly sold by William Bruce and Matthew Ritchie, and the re- mainder by John Ritchie, son of Matthew, and his executor, and David Bruce, attorney for his father.

It is not known at what time he came to Bavington and opened a store, but in 1795 he moved to Burgett's Town, where he lived till his death. He was a bach- elor, short in stature and thick set, with but one eye. In his leisure hours he was given to rhyming, and wrote many poems, which were published in the Western Telegraphe, over the signature of " The Scots Irishman." They were afterwards gathered together and published in a volume by John Colerick, of Washington. Mr. Bruce was administrator and ex- ecutor of several estates, postmaster of the town. He

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died in 1830, and was buried in the churchyard of the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bruce had accu- mulated considerable village property, in addition to that hereafter mentioned as purchased of Mr. Burgett. One lot No. 49, out-lot No. 1, fifty-five acres on the " West Radius" tract, sold by Mr. Burgett to George Maxwell. This property is now mostly owned by M. M. Brockman, the Rev. John Hood, and the United Presbyterian society. Another tract of eighteen acres he purchased May 24, 1806. His books, manuscripts, and papers were placed in possession of a Mrs. Smith, who later moved into Beaver County.

On the 17th of May, 1797, George Burgett advertised to the purchasers of lots in the town of West Boston to "come forward for their deeds," and in the same advertisement he advertised the saw- and grist-mill for sale. Three days later, May 19th, the deed of Mr. Bruce was executed. The following is a list of lots sold by George Burgett, with the date of the deeds, to 1802. They were all subject to ground-rents : May 19, 1797, David Bruce, lot No. 1, £45 5s .; Sept. 12, 1797, John Black, lot No. 5, $5; Jan. 27, 1798, George Day, Jr., lots Nos. 28, 29, $8; Feb. 21, 1798, James McConnell, lot No. 31, $2; May 20, 1799, David Bruce, lots Nos. 25, 26, 27, $15; lot No. 49, $5; out-lot No. 1, two acres, $13.80 ; Aug. 21, 1801, Thomas Ross, lots Nos. 4, 50, $11; lots Nos. 42, 44, 45, $12, each one- quarter of an acre; Aug. 19, 1801, James G. Ward, lot No. 20, $50; Jan. 13, 1802, Robert McClelland, lots Nos. 39, 40, 41, $10.

In March, 1801, Peter Kidd, surveyor, laid out another portion of West Boston into lots, the addi- tion being beyond Water Street in lots from fifty-seven to eighty-two, and out-lots from the village from No. 1 to 12. Nos. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, each contained two acres, Nos. 5, 9, 10, 11, each three acres, No. 4 two and a half acres, and No. 12 half an acre. The following names are of purchasers of lots of George Burgett, and are given in order of purchase: Daniel Gorman, Ezekiel Shipley, Richard Donaldson, Jacob Myers, Robert Bowland, Benjamin Shipley, Thomas Thomp- son, James Leech, George Maxwell, Andrew Stephen- son, John Fulton, Margaret McDonald, John Yea- mer, Samuel Hines, trustees of Burgettstown School, Rowland Rogers, James Wiley, William Lindsey, Robert Bowland, Jr., Roxanna Burgett, Allen Hu- ston, John Rankin, Joseph Caldwell, Mary Sanderson, James Stephenson, James Brooks, George Hamilton, Moses Stephenson, Robert Ritchie, John Vance, and Joseph Caldwell. The last lots sold by him were on the 4th and 5th of June, 1810, to Joseph Caldwell, and consisted of lots 11, 12, 15, 38, and No. 12 of out- lots. About this time Mr. Burgett removed to Jeffer- son County, Ohio, and later to Richland County of the same State. George Day, who received his deed for a lot in 1798, was a tanner, and on his lot he had erected a tannery before 1793, as it was assessed to him that year, which was kept in operation many years, and in 1796 he kept a tavern. Robert McClelland, who

bought a lot in 1802, was also a tanner. On the 21st of January, 1808, Rowland Rogers bought lots 2. 3, and eleven acres of land, including the mill property and privileges; this he ran till the sale to Freegift Crawford. He was licensed to keep a tavern in 1803, and continued till 1815. Rowland Rogers was licensed to keep a tavern in 1803, and opened one at this place, which he continued to keep till 1815. On the 21st of January, 1808, he purchased of George Burgett lots Nos. 2, 3, and eleven acres of land, including the mill property and privileges, and became the miller for the town from that time till the sale of the mill property to Freegift Crawford. Caleb Russell, who owned land adjoining the town, bought lots in the town, and in 1804 opened a tavern, which he kept till his death in 1809. Margaret McDonald, on the 16th of August, 1806, purchased lots 34 and 35, built thereon a house, took out a tavern license, and opened a public-house in September of that year, which she kept till 1809. The next year she bought lots 36, 7, and 17. Joseph Caldwell also opened a tavern in 1806, which was continued till 1815. George McKeag was a school- teacher, and lived here before 1799 and bought lot No. 19 of some of the citizens, and on the 15th of October of that year sold it to Peter Kidd. Thomas Thompson, also a lot-owner from Mr. Burgett, was following the occupation of tailor in 1800. In 1807, Robert Rowland, David Bruce, Robert Ritchie, St. Clair Sutherland, and James Briceland were mer- chants. James Alexander, David Wigley, and Allen Huston were saddlers. Thomas Huston, Charles Henry, and Thomas Thompson were tailors. About 1808, Jesse Spencer and John Maxwell came to the town; they were hatters. Spencer lived where his daughter Cornelia now resides; Maxwell in a house by the coal bank. The tannery of George Day was later carried on by Elijah Ramsey, - Standish, and last by Milo Laflin, under whom it was discontinued. He also carried on a shoe-shop. Alexander Mc- Cready was a shoemaker, and traveled around the country with his stock and tools and worked among the farmers. He also had a shop in town, where the wagon-shop now stands, south of John Nichols' house. Ebenezer Boyce before 1828 kept a cabinet-shop.

Thomas Miller, son of Samuel Miller, of Hickory, was in the town before 1810, where he kept a tavern, and on the 1st of January, 1811, became the first postmaster of Burgettstown. He was a drover, and later bought a farm out of town. In the year 1819, when returning home from Philadelphia, where he had been with a drove of cattle, he was taken sick and died. He had resided for a time in Hickory, and kept a tavern in that place, and was captain of a company organized there for the war of 1812. They, however, saw no service. Mrs. John P. Woods, of Burgettstown, is a daughter of Thomas Miller.

About 1820 a pottery was owned by John Franks, later by Hunter, who sold to Robert Brown, who in 1838 sold to John P. Woods, by whom it was oper-

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ated till 1859, when it was discontinued and disman- tled. About 1828 a woolen-mill was erected opposite Dr. Donnan's present residence. It was owned by George Graham, and was burned a short time after its erection. In 1833 a second one was built near where David Pry's store now stands. It is owned and was operated by the Parkers many years, but is now idle.

In April, 1810, David Jones was a blacksmith, and advertised "to give six cents and one box of cinders for the apprehension of his apprentice, Samuel Fisher. He has blue eyes, gallows' look, and evil disposed." It is not shown that the reward was ever claimed.

A public well from an early time had been in use in the town in the centre of the street at the four cor- ners. For some reason complaint was made concern- ing it to such an extent that the matter was made a subject of legislation, and on the 26th of April, 1826, an act passed the General Assembly of Pennsylvania "that the public well at Burgettstown, in Washing- ton County, in the public square, shall not be held a nuisance, but to remain the property of the inhabit- ants. On a petition of a majority of the taxable in- habitants to the Quarter Sessions for Washington County, setting forth that the same has become a nuisance, the judges may direct the supervisors of the town or of the township to remove the same." This well was filled up about 1830.

Alexander Kidd, a son of William Kidd, of Rob- inson township, lived in Burgettstown, on Lot No. 19, opposite the " Cross Keys" tavern. He learned the trade of carpenter, married Mary, the daughter of James Pyle, and settled in Burgettstown. In 1823 he was captain of the Burgettstown Volunteer Rifle Company. In 1835 he was elected justice of the peace and served several terms. He was active in the interests of the town and all public movements. He died Nov. 19, 1853. Mrs. A. J. Link and Miss Margaret Kidd, residents of Burgettstown, are his daughters.

The brick house now owned and occupied by Jo- seph Robinson was erected by the townspeople about 1834 for church and school purposes. The school directors of Smith township were under obligation to keep it in repairs. It was on ground donated for that purpose by Dr. Stephen Smith. Services were held therein by the different denominations until their respective churches were built, since which time and the building of the public schools it had been disused and was sold.

Dr. Donnan, one of the oldest residents of Bur- gettstown, gives the following description of the place as it appeared in 1837 : A hotel was kept by Robert Bowlan where the building now stands on the corner of Main and Washington Streets, south of D. M. Pry's store. A store kept by Thomas Gormley was in the old Bowlan House. George and Thomas Ship- ley also had a store in the Brydges House. John and Andrew Provines kept a blacksmith-shop where James Carnahan now keeps. The post-office was at

Jesse Spencer's hat-store, where his daughter, Miss Cornelia Spencer, now lives. Mails were received twice a week by the mail carrier from Washington to Georgetown.

The house of Andrew Burgett, where Robert K. Scott now lives, was a noted resort for travelers through that section. School was taught in the brick house now owned by Joseph Robinson. The woolen- factory (the second one) was then operated by Isaac Parker, and later by his son Benjamin. The pottery located above the present residence of Dr. Donnan was then run by Robert Brown. He sold it the next year, and opened a hotel at the Brydges House. Eb- enezer Boyce was a justice of the peace (first elected in 1828) ; had his office in his house above Carnahan's blacksmith-shop. Denny Irons kept a hotel where Russell's store now stands. Lewis Leopold was a stone-mason, and is yet living. The grist-mill was then run by Thomas Crawford. Irwin Ackleson kept a tailor-shop in the Parker house, and John Stephen- son in a house opposite Harper's dentist office. John Dougherty made and repaired wagons in the house now occupied by Mr. Morgan. Isaac Parker lived in the hewed log house south of Mr. Hood's hotel, and which was torn down in November, 1881.

The Burgettstown post-office was established April 25, 1810, to take effect Jan. 1, 1811. Thomas Miller was the first postmaster appointed. His successors were and have been M. S. Stephenson, 1820; S. J. Perry, 1821; David Bruce, July 1, 1822, to July 1, 1830 ; Dr. Stephen Smith, July 1, 1830, to 1834; Jesse Spencer, 1834 to 1864; Leander Robb ; Samuel Wil- son, 1866 to 1874; David M. Pry ; John W. Pry, the present incumbent.

Old Burgettstown contains at the present time three stores, one hotel, three churches, town hall, public school, post-office, printing-office, steam grist- mill, steam saw- and planing-mill, photograph gallery, two blacksmiths, livery-stable, wagon-maker, shoe- maker, two market-houses, three dress-makers and milliners, one dentist, and three physicians.

The new town which has sprung up (chiefly within the past fifteen years) on the line of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad, about one mile north of Old Burgettstown, and which, together with the old town, has recently been formed and incor- porated into the borough of Burgettstown, was started in 1854, as a result of the then recently projected con- struction of the Pittsburgh and Steubenville Railroad, the route of which was here identical with that of the present Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis line, above mentioned. The project for building the road began to be strongly agitated and urged in 1852-53, and in 1854 the new town north of Old Burgettstown was laid out and called " Abeline." It was located on land owned by Deacon Whittaker. Except the survey of the town, nothing was done until near the completion of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Louis Railway in 1865. In the latter part of 1864, A. S. Berryhill started a store, and in the following spring a station and depot was opened. J. L. Patter- son was appointed station and express agent. A post-office was established in this year, 1865, desig- nated as Cardville. The first postmaster appointed was John D. McCabe, who was succeeded by John C. Ralston and George M. Miller, the present postmaster. Business increased rapidly, and at present three large warehouses are carried on, and the place is rapidly increasing as a stock, wool, and grain market, and is now equal to any shipping point between Pittsburgh and Columbus. The new town contains at present four general stores, a drug-store, two hardware-stores, a jewelry-store, two merchant tailors, boot- and shoe- store, variety store, furniture establishment, two blacksmith-shops, tin-shop, market, three wool- and grain-warehouses, a carriage-factory, harness-shop, livery-stable, lumber-yard, two hotels, a bank, rail- road depot, express- and telegraph-office, post-office, printing-office, insurance-office, three millinery-stores, two sewing-machine agencies, two music dealers, two physicians, and one dentist.

The Burgettstown National Bank was organized on the 2d of March, 1872, under the name of the Bur- gettstown Savings-Bank, with the following-named directors : J. L. Proudfit, J. L. Patterson, A. S. Berry- hill, T. W. Bradley, and Robert Scott. J. L. Proudfit was elected president, and J. L. Patterson, secretary and treasurer. The bank had a capital stock of $10,000, which was increased from time to time until it reached $50,000, its deposits having reached $100,000. The banking-office was in the grocery-store of A. S. Berryhill until the completion of the present banking- office in the summer of 1874. In the winter of 1878- 79 the bank closed business for the purpose of reor- ganizing under the National Banking Law. This was accomplished Jan. 23, 1879. The property of the savings-bank was purchased, and the national bank was organized by the election of Directors J. L. Proudfit, W. L. Archer, C. Campbell, Samuel Scott, A. H. Kerr, J. C. Ralston, and J. P. Leech. The directors elected J. L. Proudfit president; W. L. Archer, vice-president ; J. L. Patterson, cashier ; and J. P. Kelso, clerk. The capital stock was $50,000, which was increased in 1880 to $80,000. The first dis- count day of the national bank was Feb. 20, 1879. The present amount of deposits is $160,000. The present officers are J. L. Proudfit, president ; W. L. Archer, vice-president; J. L. Patterson, cashier ; J. P. Kelso, clerk ; directors, J. L. Proudfit, A. H. Kerr, C. Campbell, J. D. Leech, J. J. Carruthers, Samuel Scott, W. L. Archer.

Borough of Burgettstown,-At a meeting. of the citizens of Burgettstown, held pursuant to notice at the town hall in March, 1877, for the purpose of taking measures for the erection of the borough of Burgettstown, to be composed of Old Burgettstown and Cardville, D. S. Walker was chosen chairman

and F. McFarland secretary. After discussion, Fin- ley Patterson, J. L. Patterson, and M. W. Murray were appointed a committee to take the initiatory steps to procure the incorporation of the proposed borough. This committee never reported, no meet- ing was called, and the subject was held in abeyance till July, 1880, when another meeting was called, and J. L. Patterson, J. L. Proudfit, S. J. Ghrist, William Melvin, J. P. Donnan, H. B. McMurray, and M. R. Allen were appointed to secure a survey and present the proper petition to the court. This committee performed their duties, and on the 8th December, 1880, gave notice that application would be made to the Court of Quarter Sessions of Washington County at the January term, 1881, " to incorporate the village of Burgettstown, including that portion thereof which, lies at and around Burgettstown Station." The grand jury passed favorably upon the petition on the 12th January, 1881, and the court confirmed the action on the 23d of March following, and further. provided that a special election be held at the town hall, April 5, 1881, for the election of borough officers, at which time the following were elected : Burgess, C. M. Elder; Councilmen, Dr. W. W. Riddle, B. F. McClure, S. J. Ghrist, W. H. Witherspoon, J. P. Don- nan, and W. S. Fulton; School Directors, R. T. C. Stephenson, W. P. Vance, William Melvin, James Carnahan, and William Blair; Auditor, T. L. Mc- Clelland; Assessor and Constable, M. W. McMurray. Upon the organization of the Council, J. P. Donnan was chosen president, and the following appoint- ments were made : M. R. Allen, clerk; J. L. Patter- son, treasurer; John Hemphill, street commissioner ; M. W. McMurray, collector.

Physicians .- The first practitioner of medicine in this section of the county of whom anything is known was Dr. Ebenezer Jennings, a son of the Rev. Jacob Jennings. He was a descendant of the Pilgrims, but a native of New Jersey, where his father lived and practiced as a physician until he was licensed by the Reformed Dutch Church and received by the Presbytery of Redstone April 17, 1792, at which time the Rev. Jacob Jennings re- moved to Dunlap's Creek, Fayette Co .: his two sons, Obadiah Jennings (later known both as a law- yer and divine) and Ebenezer, the one above men- tioned, coming with him. He studied and practiced . medicine in the East, and soon after coming to this county settled in Smith township, and resided at the house of Judge James Edgar for some years. Upon his marriage he purchased a small farm about two miles east of Burgettstown, from where he continued to practice till his death. He was elected a member of the General Assembly in 1806-7, and during the first year of his residence at the capital he became interested in the treatise of Dr. Jenner on vaccina- tion, and at the close of the term visited Philadel- phia, obtained some virus, and on his return vaccin- ated his own children and others. On his return to

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SMITH TOWNSHIP.

the Legislature the next session, by arduous labors, he procured the passage of a bill providing for the vaccination of the poor. His health became im- paired by his exertions, and although renominated for another term he declined, and on the 21st Novem- ber, 1808, he died, aged thirty-three years, beloved and respected by all. He left property consisting of five hundred acres of land in Beaver County, eighty acres of land where he resided until a short time be- fore his death, and one house and two lots in Bur- gettstown. His executors were Thomas Smith, Rob- ert Bowland, and Obadiah Jennings. The property was left in trust with them for his three children,- Maria, Samuel C., and Jacob, and provided for their education ; and in case one or both of the sons desired a classical education, a sufficient amount to meet the circumstances was to be taken from the estate. Rev. Samuel C. Jennings, one of the sons, is now pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Allegheny County.

Dr. Thomas Hersey advertised in the Reporter (Washington) under date Feb. 10, 1812, that he " offers his professional services to the people of Bur- gettstown." He delivered an oration on the 4th of July the same year, at a celebration held in the town. How long he remained here is not known.

Dr. Samuel J. Perry was a resident of the town before 1821, as in that year he was postmaster, but little is known of him. At one time he lived where Dr. Harper lives, and later where Dr. Donnan resides. He died about 1830.

Dr. Stephen Smith came to Burgettstown about 1826. He succeeded David Bruce as postmaster in 1830. About 1832 he went to Florence, remained there till about 1840, and moved to Virginia. As a physician he was well and favorably known, and had a wide practice in the vicinity.

Dr. Mossman was a resident of the town five years prior to 1837, and in the spring of that year removed to Peoria, Ill., where he lived for several years.

Dr. Joseph Campbell kept a drug-store in the old Bruce House, now William Melvin.

Dr. William Donnan, a son of the Rev. Alexander Donnan, born in Scotland, came to this country with his father in 1818, and in the next year settled at Hickory. He studied medicine with Dr. Stephenson in Canonsburg, and Dr. Hewitson, of St. Clairsville, Ohio; attended lectures at Jefferson Medical Col- lege, under Profs. McClelland, Pattison, Woods, and Reeves ; commenced practice at Burgettstown in 1837, and has been actively engaged in the duties of his profession here from that time to the present.

Dr. T. W. Bradley studied medicine with Dr. P. H. Mccullough, of Rumley, Ohio ; graduated at Sterling Medical College, Ohio, in 1851 ; commenced practice in Florence in 1844, before graduation ; came to Bur- gettstown in 1856, and has been in practice here from that time until the present.

Dr. G. W. Bell studied medicine with Dr. W. L. Wilson, of Beallsville; attended lectures in 1853 at

Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia; graduated in March, 1858 ; commenced practice in Burgettstown in 1854, and has remained there in practice to the present.

Dr. W. V. Riddle studied medicine with Dr. T. W. Bradley. In the winter of 1863-64 he attended lec- tures at Ann Arbor, Mich. ; commenced practice at Candor in 1864; remained there about five years, and in 1869 removed to Pittsburgh. About one year later he removed to Burgettstown, where he com- menced practice April 1, 1870, and has since remained there as one of the physicians of the town.

Dr. W. T. Miller was a medical student with Dr. M. R. Banks, at Livermore, Westmoreland Co., Pa., graduated at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1881, and in that year commenced practice in Burgettstown, where he is now located in the business of his profession.

NEWSPAPERS.

The Burgettstown Call, a five-column folio, fourteen by twenty inches, was established by M. R. Allen, as an independent journal. The first number was issued on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 1881, and was the first paper ever printed at Burgettstown. It now (February, 1882) has a circulation of seven hundred.

The Burgettstown Enterprise was started as a monthly journal in March, 1878, by C. Knepper, proprietor and business manager, and J. P. Donnan, local editor. It remained as a monthly until March 1. 1881, at which time it was changed to a weekly. At the time of the change, J. P. Donnan retired from the editorship and was succeeded by M. R. Allen. This paper was printed at Mansfield, Allegheny Co., from its com- mencement until Aug. 10, 1881, when it was printed at Burgettstown Station, as at the present time. It is now under the management of the Enterprise Publish- ing Company, J. H. Cramer, business manager. Its circulation is about six hundred and twenty-five.

Richard Vaux Lodge, No. 454, F. and A. M .- A charter having been granted to this society Dec. 1, 1869, the persons designated therein met on the 21st of January, 1870, and were regularly constituted as above named, and with the following officers : G. T. McCord, W. M .; J. B. Hays, S. W .; R. T. C. Stephen- son, J. W. The meetings of the society are now held in the town hall building. The membership is at present fifty-one. J. L. Scott, W. M .; William Mel- vin, Sec.

Cardville Lodge, No. 407, I. 0. of 0. F .- The date of organization has not been ascertained. J. Z. McBride is the present Noble Grand, and A. J. Smith the secretary. The meetings of the society are held in the town hall building.

Burgettstown Grange, No. 480, P. of H .- Or- ganized December, 1874. J. B. Hays, W. M .; W. K. Lyle, Overseer ; O. R. Cook, Lecturer; R. C. T. Stephen- son, Sec. ; Members, J. C. Shipley, R. Campbell, John Russell, William Proudfit, Robert Vance, M. L. Cook, Andrew Boyd, John Vance, J. M. Stephenson, W. T.

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Shipley, A. J. Link, W. O. Stephenson, J. B. Haw- ley, Ladus C. W. Stephenson, E. A. Proudfit, Mary Hugo, O. A. Stephenson, Mrs. W. K. Lyle, E. V. Ship- ley, Kate E. Cook, E. B. Russell, M. H. Shipley, M. J. Vance, Andrew Proudfit, John Dimmet, Samuel Pyle, William Dunbar.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 225

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