History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 227

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 227

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No. 9 was built in 1837 by James Dunbar, on land owned by James Stevenson (miller), now owned by Matthew Welch. It was known as Russell's school- house. John Galbraith taught the first term in No. 9. Before No. 9 was built a house heretofore mentioned as being built in 1825 on land of Joseph Vance, now Samuel G. Scott, was used. The house of 1825 was bought by Mrs. Jane Perry (colored) and removed to her lot adjacent to Burgettstown, and is now occupied as a dwelling by her. The location of No. 9 was changed in 1862, and a new one built on land of Joseph Vance, now owned by his brother, John S. Vance. M. R. Allen, now editor of the Call, taught the first school in the new house. The old No. 9 school building was brought to Burgettstown, and is now owned and occupied as a dwelling by John Pry.

The 10th District was organized by act of Legisla- ture by reason of opposition to a new district. The township board immediately resigned, and the court appointed six new directors, who levied and collected

the tax. The act was afterwards repealed. The new school district, organized about the year 1849 as No. 10, was formed of parts of 2 and 3. Matthew W. Galbraith taught the first term in the old Kerr school- house; the next year a new one was built a few rods from the old one on land of Thomas C. Arnold, now owned by Finley Scott. George M. Tenan taught the first term in the new house. By resolution of the board May 29, 1858, it was resolved not to open No. 10 the coming year .- The records do not show that a school was ever again conducted in that house under the control of the Smith township board.

No. 11 was formed by resolution of the board Sept. 17, 1853, from parts of Nos. 1, 5, 7, and 9. A house was built on land of James Fulton in 1854. Samuel G. McFarland taught the first term in the new house. It was known as No. 11 until No. 10 was disbanded. In 1869 the location was changed and the house moved to land of Thomas Houston, now William and Samuel Pyles, near the old mill-dam. It was known then as the Mud Hollow school-house. In 1876 the location was again changed and a new house built on land of John L. Proudfit, Esq., a few rods north of Raccoon Station. R. P. Stevenson was the first teacher in the new house.

After the incorporation of Burgettstown as a borough, New No. 1 was formed from parts of Nos. 1, 2, and 3, June, 1881, and a new house was built on land of George M. and James B. Tenan. Miss Bessie, daughter of James M. Stevenson, is teaching the first term.

James Fullton, a native of New York, taught in Nos. 1, 2, and 7. He was the most successful teacher of his time, commanding fifty per cent. more wages than any other teacher. His methods were far in advance of the times. His reputation as a teacher spread far and wide, many patronizing him from a distance. He was the first to introduce the "object method." Many of his old pupils still remain in the township, and give him the credit of being their best teacher. Like all leaders of reform, he had his ene- mies. He was called a Yankee, and his methods "new-fangled." He died on his farm near Wabash, Ind., after 1837. Other teachers were James Logan, Abel T. Richards, Miss Mary Ann Vincent (now the relict of John S. Russell), Ann McDermont, Miss Nancy Jane Cunningham (now the wife of A. H. Duncan, of Smith township, was in charge of Bur- gettstown school in 1846-47), John Stevenson, Esq., Samuel Shillits, George M. Tenan, Esq., Hon. Joseph Hays, George Jardine, M. W. Galbraith, John B. Phillis, William W. Van Eman, William H. Ham- mond, James E. Stevenson, ex-County Superinten- dent Dickson, of Allegheny County, taught four years in No. 4; Miss Christiana Johnson (now the wife of H. Elliott McBride, of Allegheny County, Pa.), Wil- liam P. Montgomery, Samuel L. Farrar, R. P. Allen, Miss Nancy McNary, afterwards the wife of Eli Mar- ques, of Cross Creek township (Mrs. Marques died a

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SMITH TOWNSHIP.

few years ago), Misses Mary and Maria Raybuck, John H. Johnson, who taught twelve years at Cook's, beginning 1861 and ending 1875; Miss Jane Ann Cook (now the wife of W. K. Lyle, of Smith town- ship), William S. Fullton, R. P. Stevenson, S. E. Provines, S. C. Farrar, Miss Carrie A. Brockman, Misses Agnes and Clara Keys, William Melvin had charge of the Burgettstown school five years, a period longer than that of any other since the adoption of the school law. Misses Eva Simmons and Mattie Fleming each were assistants five years in the Bur- gettstown Union school.

Among the native teachers of Smith who became prominent abroad, James E. Stevenson was principal of Second Ward school, Allegheny City, some eighteen or twenty years ago. Rev. Samuel G. McFarland, D.D., now minister of education in Siam ; Hon. Jo- seph Hays, for several years principal of the Tem- peranceville schools, now South Side, Pittsburgh. William P. Montgomery has for the last fifteen years been teaching in Allegheny County, Pa. He is now in his thirteenth year as principal of the Knox School, Pittsburgh. S. Clarke Farrar was principal of the Eighth Ward school, Allegheny City, from April, 1873, until July, 1874. In July, 1874, he was elected principal of Irwin Avenue school, Second Ward, Allegheny City, which position he still holds (January, 1882).

Miss Carrie A. Brockman was for seven years one of the assistants in the East Liverpool, Ohio, schools ; about five years of that time she was second assistant. She resigned her position in 1881, and married Robert E. Hill, of that place. Alexander White is noted as an academic teacher. Robert P. Stevenson for the last four years has been teaching in Robinson town- ship, Allegheny Co., Pa.

Since the great light of education first shone in No. 7 it is but just to say that she has produced more promi- nent educators than any other district in the town- ship. Of those mentioned as becoming prominent abroad, James E. Stevenson, Rev. Samuel G. McFar- land, S. Clarke Farrar, and Alexander White were born within her limits. William P. Montgomery re- ceived a part of his education in No. 7. Robert Curry, since deputy State superintendent of public instruction of this State, and now principal of the Nebraska State Normal School at Peru, spent a part of his youthful days within her borders, his parents residing on the farm on which the first school was taught.

Three of the Burgettstown principals went "up higher." George T. McCord was afterwards principal of the Second Ward schools of Allegheny City for several years. W. C. Lyne, after leaving Burgetts- town, went to Washington, Pa., and from thence to the Sixteenth Ward, Pittsburgh. Thomas B. McCain is now in - Ward, Wheeling, W. Va.

The first teachers' institute in the township was held Dec. 4, 1858. The directors by resolution, Nov.

27, 1858, agreed to allow teachers two days in each month for township institute. Members of the board at that meeting were Johu L. Proudfit, Esq., presi- dent; John P. Wood, Esq., O. P. Cook, M. I. Mont- gomery, and James L. Patterson, secretary. Messrs. Proudfit, Wood, and Patterson are still living.

In 1864 the school board issued bonds and sold them, to provide money to pay volunteers to fill the township's quota of troops. These bonds were signed by John Ferguson, Esq., president, and James L. Patterson, Esq., secretary.

The present teachers of Smith township are, in No. 1, Miss Bessie Stevenson ; No. 2, Miss Ella Riddile; No. 3, Miss M. Ethie Brimner; No. 4, Wm. F. Mor- gan ; No. 5, Miss Kate Hammond; No. 6, Henry Aten, principal, and Miss Willa Cook, assistant; No. 7, Miss Mattie Campbell; No. 8, Frank M. Magill ; No. 9, Wm. Melvin; No. 10, J. B. Lyle.

The following is the rank of Smith as regards wages : For the year ending June, 1872, Smith stood third; in 1873, second; in 1874, third; in 1875, first; in 1876, second; in 1877, first. A chilling blizzard swept over the school finances of Smith in June, 1877, and the thermometer placed her No. 10 for the year ending June, 1878. Boroughs are excluded in making out the above rank. The wages have been advanced the last two years. It is just to say that the names of but few teachers appear on the records until 1869. The records are very imperfect from 1853 to 1869. No records found previous to 1853.

By act of incorporation, March 23, 1881, Burgetts- town became a separate school district. At an elec- tion held in town hall, April 5, 1881, Wm. Melvin, Wm. P. Vance, Robert T. C. Stephenson, and James Carnahan were elected. Four were ties, viz .: C. C. Campbell, Wm. Brimner, Wm. Blair, and Joseph A. Rogers. On June 6, 1881, the four who were elected met in the Union school building and effected an or- ganization by electing Robert T. C. Stephenson pres- ident, and Wm. Melvin secretary. Messrs. Campbell and Brimner not appearing to draw lots, as the law provides, the board appointed Wm. Blair and Joseph A. Rogers, who were present, 'members to fill the vacancy. The teachers for the first term in the borough are C. J. Vance, principal, and Misses Agnes Keys, Libbie McCarrell, and Alice Stevenson, assist- ants.

Bavington,-The town of Bavington is situated in the northeast part of Smith township, near the mouth of the east branch of Raccoon Creek. It is located on a tract of land which was warranted to John Bavington on the 22d of February, 1786, and sur- veyed to him Dec. 3, 1787, as " Mill Town," contain- ing four hundred and four acres. Soon after the pur- chase he built a grist- and saw-mill, which did the grinding for many miles around. He built a cabin on the hillside, about one quarter of a mile east of the village. Later he built the house now owned by D. S. McBride, where he lived until his death in 1810.

928

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

David Bruce opened a store at the mill before 1795, as in December of that year he advertised in the Western Telegraphe that he had removed his store from Bavington to George Burgett's "new town." He was succeeded by others. John Bavington, on the 10th of June, 1810, left his home for Steubenville, Ohio, with a four-horse-wagon load of whiskey and flour. When crossing the Ohio River at Kelly's Ferry, near the mouth of Haman's Creek, the stamp- ing of the horses loosened the planking of the bottom of the boat, which then filled with water and sank. Capt. Bavington and the ferryman were both drowned. His body was recovered, brought home and buried at the Cross-Roads (now Florence). He left a widow, Ruth, and five sons, Daniel, Charles, Henry, Thomas, and John, and several daughters. His widow and eldest son Daniel were administrators of the estate, and the property was divided; Daniel obtained the homestead and mill property. Later he sold the mill property to James Clark, and went to Illinois. Charles was assisted to the purchase of mill property near Murdocksville, lived there for a time and emigrated to Ohio. Henry lived and died here comparatively young. Thomas received the east portion of the home farm, now owned by D. S. McBride. In later years he kept a public-house at Bavington, and died there. John received. his portion of the estate in money, and emigrated to Oregon. Of the daughters, Polly married Matthew McBride and settled at Can- onsburg; Nancy married Matthew Hartford, a mill- wright, who built the Bavington mill ; Betsey mar- ried Harvey Peterson ; they settled at Bavington, and both died there. One daughter married a Mr. Burns, another a Mr. Backhouse; both removed to Alle- gheny County, where they lived and died. On the 21st of August, 1812, Daniel Bavington, as the admin- istrator of the estate of John Bavington, took out a warrant for a tract of land, which was surveyed to him as " Pine Bush," and contained two hundred and seventy-six acres. It was adjoining the " Milltown" tract. One hundred and sixty-four acres of "Pine Bush" was conveyed to Nathan Kimble by Daniel and Ruth Bavington on the 30th of October, 1813. In December, 1812, Daniel Bavington was licensed to keep a tavern. He continued about three years, when, upon his removal to Illinois, his mother, Ruth Bavington, opened the tavern. She was suc- ceeded by her son Thomas. The family of Baving- ton are now entirely extinct in the township.

James Donnan, about the year 1812, kept store in the house now occupied by John Witherspoon. At the time the Pittsburgh and Steubenville pike was built, about 1819 or 1820, William Moody kept. a store in the town, and was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by John White, David McBride, John McElroy, Robert McAyeal, Charles McElroy, John McBride, Dr. James McCarroll, John Witherspoon, Joseph Hunter, James McBride. In 1856 the office was removed to Abijah Smith's store, west of the

creek, and in Hanover township adjoining the town. It remained there but one year, and was restored to the town. John Witherspoon became the postmaster. He was succeeded by Dr. James K. White, and later by William Donaldson, who is the present incumbent. The Bavington mill passed from James Clark to William Clark, who sold it to D. G. McBride. It is now owned by Edward Hindman, by whom it is run as a grist- and saw-mill.

Dinsmore .- On the completion of the Pittsburgh and Steubenville Railroad through the township in 1865, this place was made a station and given the name Dinsmore. A depot, telegraph-office, post-office, and store were soon established. The postmasters who have held office from the first are as follows: John Pry, John M. Smith, J. W. Ralston, J. P. Cline, and William Provines, the present incumbent.

Bulger .- This settlement is a station on the Pitts- burgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway, about three miles east from Burgettstown, and was made a station on the completion of the Pittsburgh and Steubenville Railroad in 1865. It was laid out on the Alexander Donnan tract, but at the time belonged to Jolin Woodburn. It contains a depot, store, cheese-factory, and several dwellings. The store is kept by A. J. Russell. The cheese-factory is controlled by a com- pany under the name of "The Cheese and Butter Association," with the following officers : Thomas H. Ackleson, president; George Hoffman, secretary; and A. J. Russell, treasurer. Substantial buildings were erected, and business commenced July 1, 1881. About one thousand cheeses of the average weight of thirty- three pounds were manufactured in the first four months. Milk is shipped from this station to Pitts- burgh.

The mines of the Whitestone Coal-Works are lo- cated about half-way between Bulger and Burgetts- town. A few dwellings are erected in the vicinity. A post-office was established a few years since at Cherry Valley, on the line between Smith and Mount Pleasant townships. Ebenezer Smith was the post- master, and the office was kept at his store. Upon his death the office was discontinued.

Union Agricultural Association .- At the ex- pressed desire of many agriculturists in this portion of the county and adjoining townships in Allegheny and Beaver Counties, and in the northern part of West Virginia, it was decided to organize an agricultural society. Prominent in the movement were Thomas Vance, of Cross Creek ; W. P. Vance, now of near Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., Ky .; and John B. Philles, merchant, of Burgettstown (recently deceased at Cairo, Ill.). To this end a meeting was held in Burgettstown in the month of February, 1856, at which time an organization was effected by the election of the fol- lowing officers : President, Joseph Vance, of Smith township; Vice-Presidents, William M. Lee, Cross Creek ; James Rankin, Mount Pleasant; Holland Scott, Robinson ; Thomas C. Hunter, Hanover; and

John Farver

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SMITH TOWNSHIP.

William P. Vance, Smith; Directors, J. N. Scott, Jefferson ; David Gault, Lysander Patterson, J. S. Duncan, Thomas Vance, Cross Creek; O. P. Cook, J. L. Proudfit, Smith; James Hughes, John Syming- ton, Mount Pleasant; Milton Miller, James Walker, William Van Ostrand, Jefferson ; and James McCal- mont, Robinson; Recording Secretary, Samuel G. Scott, Smith; Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, John B. Philles, Smith.

At a meeting of the association held March 23, 1856, it was resolved to hold an exhibition in the month of October following. A committee was appointed to select a suitable site for the purpose, another to solicit subscriptions in the different townships, and another to frame a constitution and by-laws. On the 26th of April one hundred and sixty-seven names were re- ported as members of the society, and at a meeting in May two hundred and ninety-eight additional names were reported. On the 3d of June the same year the committee on site made a report, which was accepted, and they were discharged. Another committee was appointed. On the 24th of June the committee on the time for holding the fair reported Wednesday and Thursday, October 8th and 9th, as the most suitable time for holding the exhibition, which report was ac- cepted and adopted. Two days later at a meeting of the society the constitution and by-laws were read, amended, and adopted. On the 12th of August the committee on site reported that Mrs. Freegift Craw- ford offered the society a site free of charge, pro- vided the fence the society erected should be left on the ground when they should cease to hold their fairs on the site, which arrangement was accepted and con- cluded on the 23d of August, 1856. A fence and temporary buildings were erected, and the first exhi- bition of the society was held at the time and place appointed. The receipts of this exhibition were $620.40 ; premiums paid out, $340.

Exhibitions were held on these grounds until 1860, and on June 2d of that year nine and a half acres of land were leased for ten years of B. G. Burgett, at the expiration of which time additional ground was added, and it was released for ten years, and again, Feb. 11, 1780, was leased for ten years. At the present time the company have inclosed seventeen acres. The grounds were fenced and permanent buildings erected the first year the society came into possession of the grounds, and fairs have been held there continuously. No account was kept of the amount of voluntary con- tributions for erecting fences, grading the tract, and other work.

The cost of rent of fair grounds from the first year (1856) to the present time has been $3350; repairing grounds, $2500; music, $2140 ; buildings, halls, stalls, etc., $9690; printing, $2187; amount of money paid for premiums from the first, $24,000. Receipts from entries and tickets, $49,832.34. The receipts from the fair held Oct. 4, 5, and 6, 1881, was $2165.10.

The territory that is now included in the limits of

the association from which officers are elected are the townships of Smith, Hanover, Robinson, Cecil, Mount Pleasant, Chartiers, North Strabane, Cross Creek, Buffalo, Hopewell, Independence, and Jefferson of Washington County; the west part of Allegheny County, the south part of Beaver County, and Brooke and Hancock Counties, W. Va.

The following is a list of the officers of the society :

Presidents .- Joseph Vance, 1856-57 ; James Mc- Calmont, 1858; John N. McDonald, 1859-60 ; Wil- liam M. Lee, 1861 ; James Donaldson, 1862 ; William M. Lee, 1863; D. S. Walker, 1864; Samuel McGill, 1865 ; A. D. Burns, 1866; Thomas McCorkle, 1867 ; James Donaldson, 1868 ; S. B. Campbell, 1869 ; J. B. Hays, 1870; William L. Archer, 1871; M. H. Bor- land, 1872; R. S. Cook, 1873-74; James Donaldson, 1875; A. E. Walker, 1876; W. B. Moorhead, 1877- 78; William L. Archer, 1879-80; William C. Mc- Farland, 1881.

Secretaries .- Samuel G. Scott, 1856; John P. Woods, 1857; James L. Patterson, 1858; John Stephenson, 1859-60; John P. Woods, 1861; William Melvin, 1862 ; John P. Woods, 1863-80, inclusive; William Melvin, 1881.

Present officers : President, Wm. C. McFarland ; Vice-Presidents : R. H. Brown, W. S. Bailey, A. H. Walker, D. S. Fulton, S. H. Cook ; Managers, R. S. Cook, John S. Lee, Symington Farrar, R. Y. Meloy, John A. McCalmont, Hon. G. Y. McKee, D. S. Tay- lor, Jr., David McNary, Wm. McBurney, S. S. Camp- bell, Matthew Berry, Samuel Bigger, R. K. Scott, S. W. Lee, Wm. Hanlan, S. G. Cunningham, R. S. Cald- well, S. C. Gist, W. H. McKee, David Bradford ; Sec- retary, Wm. Melvin ; Treasurer, C. J. Vance; Chief Marshal, W. L. Archer.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JUDGE JOHN FARRAR.

Judge John Farrar was born in Mount Pleasant township, Washington Co., Pa., Jan. 7, 1818, and died at his residence near Burgettstown, Pa., Jan. 6, 1875. He was the eldest son of' Samuel Farrar and Jane Simanton.

His early education consisted of that afforded by the common schools of that day, but he was possessed of a taste for literature and a thirst for higher educa- tion so strong that some years after arriving at ma- turity he studied the Latin and Greek classics, higher mathematics, and some of the natural sciences. In 1840 he was married to Miss Phebe White. For sev- eral years after this he engaged in farming, teaching school during the winter. Farming was a very dis- couraging business during those years famous for

1 The lineage of these families is given elsewhere in this volume.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

" hard times," so the young farmer, having a knowl- edge of the mercantile business, obtained while em- ployed as a clerk previous to his marriage, forsook the fields and embarked in the store business, which he continued for a decade, During the first part of this period he strongly contemplated studying a pro- fession,1 and at one time took initiatory steps to this end, but the claims of a wife and young children de- pending upon him for support caused the final aban- doning of this intention.

Young Farrar's attention was attracted to politics by the famous campaign of 1840, when he cast his first Presidential vote for William Henry Harrison. In the great political questions that agitated the country after the Mexican war he took a deep interest, and from that time henceforth was a close student of national questions.

He removed with his family to Rock Island County, Ill., in 1853.

During the Presidential campaign of 1856 political excitement ran high in that land of Lincoln and Douglas, the champions of the opposing parties. Although a quiet farmer at the time, Farrar's zeal overcame his native modesty, and he mounted the stump in his own county for John C. Fremont and anti-slavery. Returning to his native county in 1857, he engaged in mercantile business in Burgettstown for several years.

At the breaking out of the Rebellion party hostility in this region became so bitter as to rupture society, churches, and families. Men engaged in business de- pending on the patronage of a community generally either kept their lips sealed or exercised great caution in expressing themselves on the questions that were distracting the country, lest their business should suf- fer. Contrary to this rule, and in opposition to the advice of his warmest friends, John Farrar, eminently a man of strong convictions and fearless of couse- quences when duty directed, was outspoken in his zeal for the cause of the Union, as well as in his de- nunciation of its enemies North and South.

In 1866 he was elected to the office of associate judge for a term of five years. When he entered ' upon the duties of this office a system of granting licenses to sell intoxicating liquors existed, under which it was a very easy matter to obtain a license, and as a consequence almost every village and hamlet in the county was afflicted with drinking-houses. Al- ways having been a warm advocate of the temperance cause, he immediately went to work with his charac- teristic zeal to correct the evil, taking a firm and res- olute stand against all licenses applied for under the then existing laws. Ere the close of his term of office, with perhaps two exceptions, not a drinking-saloon or bar-room remained. It was thus largely through his in- fluence that Washington County was elevated to her present honorable and noble position on this question.

Notwithstanding the frequent and perhaps true as- sertion that ardent temperance men invariably suffer at the polls, he was elected a member of the State Legislature in 1874, when a number of other and hon- orable candidates of the same party from the same county were defeated. But death came, and he was carried to his grave the same week that he was to. have taken the oath of office. His cherished wife died nearly five years previous to this.

It was, however, as a Christian gentleman that Judge Farrar was best known and most esteemed. In early manhood he became a member of the Pres- byterian Church of Raccoon, next a teacher in the Sabbath-school, and then its superintendent, and ever afterwards connected with and working in the Sabbath- school in some way.

Soon after settling in Illinois he gathered together and established a flourishing Sabbath-school, from which soon resulted the organization of Beulah Church of the Presbytery of Rock River. In this church he was a ruling elder until his return to Pennsylvania, after which he served in this capacity in the church of Burgettstown, Pa., and in Raccoon Church until the close of his life.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 227

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