USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County : from its first settlement to the present time, first under Virginia as Yohogania, Ohio, or Augusta County until 1781, and subsequently under Pennsylvania > Part 12
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102
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Fort Jackson was situate in this township, on Tenmile Creek, just below Waynesburg. The waters of Muddy Creek flow through this township, upon, and near which so many Indian murders were committed. Garrard's Fort was situate on Big Whitley Creek.
By the erection of Greene County, on the 9th day of February, 1796, this township became a component part thereof, Greene County, at its organization, being composed of Cumberland, Frank- lin, Greene, Morgan, and Rich Hill townships. These five town- ships have been subdivided into the following townships, viz : 1. Aleppo ; 2. Centre; 3. Cumberland; 4. Dunkard ; 5. Frank- lin ; 6. Gilmore ; 7. Greene; 8. Jackson; 9. Jefferson ; 10. Marion ; 11. Monongahela ; 12. Morris ; 13. Morgan ; 14. Perry ; 15. Rich Hill; 16. Spring Hill; 17. Washington ; 18. Wayne, and 19. Whitely, whose population in 1860 was 23,816, and whose territory embraces 364,460 acres of land.
DONEGAL TOWNSHIP
Was organized July 15, 1781, by the trustees of the county, and ranks fifth in alphabetical order out of the thirteen.
It was originally bounded by Smith township on the north, Mor- ris township on the east, Mason and Dixon's line on the south, and the State line on the west.
On the 6th of May, 1788, an application was made to the court for a division of the township, who granted it and ordered a copy to be forwarded to the Supreme Executive Committee, and on the 7th of August following it was confirmed by the Council, by the name of Finley township.
Its present boundaries are Independence township on the north, East and West Findley on the south, Buffalo and East Findley on the east, and West Virginia on the west. It is centrally distant from Washington, twelve miles, its greatest length is eight miles, breadth, six and a half miles. The township is drained by the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek, Bush Run, and Castleman's Run. The National road runs southwest through it, upon which lie Claysville on the east, and West Alexander on the west.
In 1860 its population was 1690, of which thirteen are colored. It contains nine stores, nine schools, employing seven male and two female teachers, the former receiving $39.48, and the latter, $36.00 per month, having 376 scholars, of which 205 are males, and 171 females. Cost of tuition per month, $1.25; amount levied for school purposes, $1776.69 ; levied for building purposes, $1332.52, and receiving from the State appropriation, $146.25.
West Alexander is on the western boundary of this township, fifteen miles southwest of Washington, containing ninety-two dwell- ings, an academy, a Presbyterian church and parsonage, and a Methodist Episcopal church.
This town was laid out by Charles De Hass, on May 12, 1817;
.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
the sale of lots took place the 10th of June following. Three miles east of this place is a Roman Catholic church. It was first built of logs, on land given by Mr. Dougherty, at which time the Rev. Mr. Horner officiated. The log chapel has been removed and a brick edifice erected.
The Hempfield Railroad passes through this township from its eastern to its western boundary, through the borough of Claysville and West Alexander.
On September 7, 1795, Thomas Stokely, of Washington, and Jesse Evans, of Fayette County, conveyed three acres and forty- eight perches, in consideration of seven shillings and sixpence, to James Armstrong, William Gaston, William Bower, Samuel Byers, and John White, trustees of the Presbyterian church belonging to the Ohio Presbytery and now supplied by Rev. John Brice. It appears from a deed executed May 30, 1796, that the same trustees purchased the same property from William Smith, William Slater, and James Stevenson, trustees of the Associate Congregation of Three Ridges (near West Alexander). This land was originally conveyed by Robert Humphreys and wife to the trustees of the Associated church, and is described as being in the townships of Finley and Donegal, although Humphreys claimed his title under the Virginia law. The question of title, however, was referred to John Hoge, Isaac Leet, and James Edgar, who awarded it to the Presby- terian church, called the Three Ridges. Its pastors have been Rev. John Brice, Rev. Mr. Stephenson, Rev. John McCluskey, and Rev. W. H. Lester.
CLAYSVILLE.
The town of Claysville is in Donegal township, and was erected into a borough the second day of April, 1832, and the lots sold on the 8th of May following. Each lot is fifty by two hundred feet deep, with suitable and convenient streets and alleys to each block. The town is on the National road from Cumberland to Wheeling, beautifully located, well watered, in a fertile section of the county, and with a good population.
It has eighty-five dwellings, two churches-a Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal-a tannery, a steam mill, four stores, one con- fectionery and one distillery, with a population of four hundred and sixty-seven ; two schools employing one male and one female teacher, ninety-two scholars, thirty-eight males and fifty-four females, tuition costing per month seventy-two cents; amount levied for building purposes five hundred and sixty-four dollars and thirty cents; receiv- ing from the State appropriation forty dollars and nineteen cents ; amount levied for school purposes, five hundred and sixty-four dol- lars and thirty cents.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyterian church at Claysville was organized September 20th, 1820. Its first house of worship was a frame building. Its present house of worship is of briek, and was erected during the sum- mer of 1830, at a cost of about three thousand dollars. The first pastor was Rev. Thomas Hoge, of Washington. His pastorate con- tinued fifteen years, at the close of which he removed to Philadelphia. His successor was the Rev. Peter Hassinger, who officiated for four years. From 1838 to 1846, the church had only supplies. On the first Sabbath of October, 1846, the Rev. Alexander McCarrell, the present pastor, entered upon his duties, and breaks the bread of life to a devoted Christian people. This church has a Sabbath-school connected with it.
Donegal township has always been noted for its morality and high- toned religious sentiment, as the following notice will show : the dockets of the justices of that period exhibit the fact that many persons were brought to trial and fined.
WHEREAS, A number of the inhabitants of the vicinity of Three Ridges (West Alexander) have entered into an association and formed an acting committee for the purpose of aiding and assisting the civil authority in the suppression of evil and immorality, they take this method of informing the public that after the date hereof, all persons driving wagons, pack-horses, or unlawfully travelling through said vicinity, or doing other things contrary to the penal laws of this State, may expect to be dealt with as the law directs.
W. SMITH, Secretary. JOHN MCPHERSON, President.
The United Presbyterian church of West Alexander is composed of the Associate and the Associate Reformed congregations of West Alexander.
The Associate Congregation was organized in 1839. Rev. Joseph Shaw was pastor from June 20th, 1843, until April 20th, 1852. Rev. James Murch from September, 1853, until 1858. The pastors of the Associate Reformed Congregation, previous to 1859, were Rev. Joseph Buchanan and Rev. G. D. Bradford.
In 1859, these two congregations were united under the pastorate of Rev. Josias Stevenson. The present membership of the congre- gation is one hundred and eighty.
The Associated Reformed Presbyterians had a church at West Alexander, in which Rev. Alexander McCoy officiated as pastor in 1800. His successors were Rev. William Patterson and Rev. Wil- liam Shaw in 1845. During Mr. Shaw's pastorate the church became Seceders, and afterwards United Presbyterians, whose pastor was Rev. J. Stevenson.
FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP
Was the sixth of the original townships of this county. Its original bounds were Nottingham on the north ; the Monongahela River on
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
the east; Bethlehem township on the south, and Strabane township on the west. Its present limits are Nottingham and Carroll ou the north; the Monongahela River, Allen, and Carroll townships on the east ; E. and W. Pike Run and Allen on the south; and Somerset and Nottingham on the west. It is centrally distant from Washing- ton, 17 miles. The population in 1860 was 897, of which 30 were colored. Its greatest length 8} by 6 miles.
It contains two stores, seven school-houses, employing 3 male and 4 female teachers, with 267 scholars, 165 male and 102 female; the tuition costing $1.15 cts. per month ; amount of tax levied for school purposes, $1050.15 cts .; the State appropriation was $81.90 The male teachers receive monthly, $35.16; the female, $34.75.
The towns in this township are Jonestown and Ginger Hill. Jones- town is six miles from the Monongahela River, on the State road leading from Canonsburg to Bellvernon; it was laid out by John Jones, in 1828, and has a population of about fifty.
Ginger Hill is on the Williamsport and Washington Turnpike, and in the northern part of the township, near the township line.
There are four churches in this township: The Presbyterian Church on Maple Creek, two miles from Jonestown, founded in 1842. The pulpit was first filled with supplies; Rev. J. W. Kerr was elected its first minister ; the ministers who have succeeded him were the Rev. James Carson, Rev. A. Virtue, Rev. Thomas Vaneman, and Rev. W. Hanna.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is on the State road from Jones- town to Bellvernon, four miles from Jonestown. The church was built in 1849, and has had the successive ministerial labors of the Rev. Warren Long, Rev. T. M. Hudson, Rev. J. G. Sansom, Rev. Geo. W. Cranage, Rev. John Spencer, Rev. David Sharpe, Rev. J. W. Kessler, Rev. Henry Neff, Rev. D. B. Campbell, Rev. J. W. Weaver, Rev. Charles H. Edwards, and Rev. McClure.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, in the upper end of the town- ship, was erected in 1836, on the road leading from Bentleysville to Monongahela City ; it is called Pigeon Creek Methodist Episcopal Church. Its first preacher was the Rev. Samuel E. Babcock; his successor was the Rev. Wm. Tipton.
The first church built under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Bab- cock was of brick, 30 by 40 feet, but a new one has been erected about 200 yards from the site of the first one; its dimensions being 42 by 60 feet; 18 feet to the square, with a basement for Sunday school, lecture-room, &c.
A Disciple Church was established, and a church built in 1866, on the farm of Dutton Shannon, Esq. It is a brick edifice 30 by 40 feet; Rev. Samuel Fry being its pastor.
The township has one tannery; two grist-mills; one distillery ; two manufacturers of sorghum ; five saw-mills ; one extensive vine- yard.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP
Is the seventh of the thirteen original townships organized by the trustees of Washington County, July 15, 1781.
At its formation, it was bounded on the north by Smith township ; on the east by Robinson and Cecil; on the south by Donegal; on the west by Virginia.
On the 1st day of September, 1789, an application was made to the court for a division, which was subsequently confirmed by the Supreme Executive Council, on December 10th, 1789. This division was formed by running a line, commencing at a certain spring on the head-waters of Cross Creek, which rises about ten perches from the township of Strabane, between the dwelling-houses of James Ander- son and Timothy Spencer ; thence down the south branch thereof to Wells' mill ; thence down the creek to the State line. This divi- sion formed Cross Creek township.
The present boundaries of this township are Cross Creek and Mount Pleasant on the north ; Mount Pleasant and Canton on the east ; Buffalo on the south, and Independence on the west. It is centrally distant from Washington 12 miles ; its greatest length six miles ; breadth three and a half miles. Its population 1213, of which 87 are colored.
It contains six schools, employing one male and five female teach- ers ; receiving as their monthly pay $30.00; having 197 scholars, 110 males and 87 females ; tuition costing per month, $1.15. Amount levied for school purposes $1563.67 ; receiving from the State appro- priated $78.78.
This township is drained by the waters of Buffalo and Cross creeks. The towns are West Middletown and Buffalo Village.
Midway.
West Middletown being a borough, we shall speak presently of it in connection with this township.
Buffalo Village is on a fork of Buffalo Creek, seven miles south- west of Washington, and contains twenty dwellings.
In the Register's office of this county, in the will of the Rev. Joseph Smith, of Hopewell township, made July 28, 1788, he be- queaths to each of his beloved children a Bible, to be paid out of his personal estate, and by so doing "mean to intimate to them as I am a dying man and in the sight of God, that it is ten thousand times more my will and desire that they should find and possess the pearl of great price hid in the field of Scriptures, than enjoy anything else which I can bequeath to them, or even ten thousand worlds, were they composed of the purest gold, and all brim full of the richest jewels, and yet be ignorant of the precious treasures in God's Word that are entirely hid even from the most eagle-eyed and quick-sighted men that are properly of this present world."
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
UPPER BUFFALO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In connection with the name of this great and good man, we may state that he was elected first pastor of this church, organized June 21, 1779, on the eastern part of Hopewell township, at Buffalo Vil- lage, lying north of Brush Run.
Rev. Smith served until April 19, 1792. The Rev. Thomas Mar- quis, of Cross Creek church, served as a supply, by the sanction of Presbytery, until March 9, 1800, when the Rev. John Anderson ac- cepted a call, and entered upon his pastoral labors ; his labors ceased June 18, 1833, and his successor is the Rev. John Eagleson, D. D., its present popular pastor, who was ordained January 19, 1834, and zealously labors in the promotion of his Master's cause. Thus, in the course of ninety years, but four ministers have filled the pulpit, one of whom is still living.
PLEASANT HILL FEMALE SEMINARY
Is located in this township, and was organized in 1846, near the borough of West Middleton. It is on the dividing ridge between the waters of Buffalo and Cross creeks, enjoying the advantages of a country location, salubrity of air and water, delightful rural scenery, and above all, retirement, which is essentially necessary to study. It is surrounded by a highly moral and industrious population, engaged generally in agriculture, hence the advantage is, that the faculty of the seminary are not compelled to impose formal restraints upon young ladies, nor to cause them to incur inordinate expense in relation to appearance or dress.
This seminary has large and convenient buildings, halls for the literary societies, libraries, philosophical apparatus.
The seminary is under the control and management of Mrs. Mar- tha Mckeever, who is fully competent to sustain the institution as well as to oversee and provide for the pupils committed to her charge. She has as assistants, Rev. T. A. Crenshaw, Miss Kate M. Bigger. Aurie T. Burkett, John M. Bigger, Esq., Miss Ella E. Mckeever, Miss Eliza McFadden, Mrs. G. B. Crenshaw.
WEST MIDDLETOWN BOROUGH
Is situated in Hopewell township, and was erected into a borough on the 27th day of March, 1823.
It is in the northwest part of the township, eleven miles from Washington.
It contains ninety-two dwelling-houses, six stores, one confection- ary, the usual number of the mechanical professions, one extensive machine shop, one tannery, a United Presbyterian church, and a Wesleyan Methodist Protestant church, a Disciple church, with Rev. T. A. Crenshaw, pastor of the Disciple church at Middletown, and a colored Methodist church, and a population of about eight hundred. It contains two schools, with one male and one female
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
teacher, the former receiving $56.00, and the latter $31.00 per month, with ninety-six scholars, fifty-two males and forty-four females, tui- tion costing eighty-seven cents per month. Amount of tax levied for shool purposes, $701 00, receiving from the State $42.50.
The pastors who have filled the pulpit of the United Presbyterian church of West Middletown, were Rev. S. Findley, D. D., Rev. William Wallace, D. D., Rev. S. Taggert, from 1835 until the present time. It has a membership of 128.
ROBERT FULTON.
But few of the present generation are aware that the celebrated Robert Fulton, of steamboat notoriety, owned a farm in Hopewell township, in this county. The farm contained about eighty-four acres, and the patent granted by the State to Rev. Joseph Smith, December 12, 1785. On May 6, 1786, Thomas Pollock sold it to Robert Fulton, and his father, mother, and three sisters resided on it. After the death of his father the widow and three daughters resided upon it. About 1799 his mother died. In 1814 Robert Fulton made his will in the city of New York, and among other legacies he left to his sister Elizabeth, married to a Mr. Scott, one thousand dollars and the above farm, with all the stock, during her life, and at her death to be sold and divided. To his sister Isabella Cooke he left two thousand dollars, and to each of the children of his deceased sister Mary Morris he left five hundred dollars. Both Mrs. Cooke and Mrs. Morris resided in the town of Washington.
MORGAN TOWNSHIP.
This was the eighth of the thirteen original townships organized July 15, 1781. It was bounded on the north by Amwell township, on the east by Bethlehem, on the south by Cumberland, and on the west by Donegal and the Virginia line.
On the 9th of February, 1796, with Cumberland, Franklin, Greene, and Rich Hill townships, was struck off from Washington County, and formed Greene County.
NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP
Was the ninth of the original townships organized July 15, 1781. It was then bounded on the north by Peters township, on the east by the Monongahela River, on the south by Fallowfield township, and on the west by Strabane township. Its present boundaries are, Pe- ters on the north, Union and Carroll on the east, Fallowfield and Somerset on the south, and N. Strabane on the west. It is cen- trally distant east from Washington borough 13 miles. In 1860 the population was 916, of which 8 were colored. It is drained by Pe- ters Creek on the north, Mingo and Little Mingo Creeks on the south. Its greatest length is 6 miles; breadth 4 miles.
It contains five stores, five schools, employing three male and two
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
female teachers, the former at $32 per month and the latter at $28, having 214 scholars, of whom 96 are males and 108 females ; cost of tuition per month 81 cents; amount levied for school purposes $970.89 ; received from State appropriation $80.34.
Its town is Dunningsville, a small village with a population of sixty.
The Old School Presbyterian church of Fairview is situated on the headwaters of Peters Creek in this township. It was organized by an order of the Presbytery of Ohio on the petition of James McClane, at the instance of Rev. George Marshall, by a committee consisting of Revs. C. G. Braddock, Robert McPherson, and J. Hazlett, Feb. 24, 1860, with twenty-one members. The organization was perfected in the district school-house near where the church now stands, and which was occupied as a church until the new building was completed.
The church from its organization until September, 1861, received the services of Rev. Geo. Marshall, Rev. James Black, Rev. George Birch, Rev. S. M. Nebling, and Rev. John Aiken, at which date the Rev. John Ewing became the regular pastor. He served acceptably until April 1, 1864, when he resigned, and the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Mr. Gray until September 9, 1864, when Rev. William Hanna took charge of the congregation. He was the first installed pastor, and served until April 1, 1869, when the pastoral relation was dissolved, since which time Rev. Wm. Brown has been supplying the pulpit.
The following persons have been ordained ruling elders, viz : Liver- ton Thomas, John P. Cochran, William Rees, and Jonathan Case- ber. The trustees are James McClane, James Roney, and William Thomas. The building committtee consisted of James McClane, John P. Cochran, and Samuel Hamilton. There is a Sabbath school connected with the church.
A United Presbyterian church, called Mount Prospect, has been established at Munntown, under the care of Rev. J. Balph, which promises to do much good in the dissemination of evangelical truth. It was organized in January, 1860, and the pulpit filled by supplies until September 29, 1864, when Rev. Mr. Balph took charge of it. It has a membership of about one hundred and thirty-two.
The most extensive establishment in any township of this county is that carried on by Kammerer Brothers. Besides a very large store, embracing general merchandise of every variety, they have a flour-mill in which forty barrels are made in ten hours. The build- ing is stone, thirty-six by fifty-six feet, three stories high, with a tile roof, running it by a forty horse power engine. In connection with the store and flour-mill they carry on a distillery. Its capacity is forty bushels per day, or one hundred and fifty gallons.
PETERS TOWNSHIP
Was the tenth of the original thirteen townships formed by the trus- tees July 15, 1781, appointed for that purpose by the act forming Washington County.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
In September, 1784, a petition to the Court of Quarter Sessions was presented, asking for a division of the township, which was in- dorsed by the court, and afterward confirmed by the Supreme Execu- tive Council on the 21st day of November, 1786. This division formed Dickinson township, taken out of its northern part, which township was struck off to Allegheny County. Its original bounda- ries were the Monongahela River on the north and east, Nottingham on the south, Robinson and Cecil on the west. It is now bounded by Allegheny County on the north, Union township and Allegheny County on the east, North Strabane and Nottingham on the south, and Cecil and North Strabane on the west. Its greatest length is six miles; breadth three and a half miles. The population of this township in 1860 was 934.
The towns are BOWER HILL and Thompsonville. These are small but thriving villages, with post-offices at each.
Peters township contains two stores, has five schools, employing three male and two female teachers who each received $30 per month, with 300 scholars, of whom 166 are males and 134 females, tuition costing per month 68 cents. Amount levied for school pur- poses $1555.50, and receiving from the State appropriation $90.09.
LUSUS NATURA.
On September 29, 1798, upon Esquire Mitchell's farm in Peters township, a child was born with two natural heads, one affixed to each shoulder, the body perfect, but no parts of generation. The child was dead born, and appeared to have been dead some days previous to its birth.
The UNITED PRESBYTERIANS have a church in this township called Peters Creek. It was organized in 1808, and the following pastors have respectively filled the pulpit, viz: Rev. R. Bruce, D. D., from December 14, 1808, to December 16, 1816. Rev. Alex. Wil- son, from October 8, 1817, to May 4, 1839. Rev. James Brown, D. D., from September 10, 1840, to December 5, 1843. Rev. J. C. Herron, from October 15, 1845, to January 4, 1853. Rev. J. B. Whitten, from October 6, 1854, to January 17, 1856. Rev. A. Y. Houston, from March 19, 1857, to June 16, 1868. Rev. John Pat- terson, from July 13, 1868, until the present time. This church has a membership of 134.
CENTRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Is located in Peters township, on land donated by David Bell. The Presbytery of Ohio, at a meeting held at Bethany church, Allegheny County, April 16, 1828, granted the request of a number of persons living within the bounds of the congregations of Bethel, Bethany, Chartiers' and Mingo creeks, and allowed them to erect a meeting- house, in order that they might enjoy the occasional administration of the ordinances among them. A brick meeting-house, forty by fifty feet, was immediately erected, costing twelve hundred dollars.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
On the 29th of August, 1829, the congregation was regularly organized by Dr. Matthew Brown. At a meeting of Presbytery, held at Canonsburg, January 5, 1830, Centre congregation obtained permission to call a pastor. On May 4, 1830, Rev. John H. Ken- nedy, Professor of Mathematics in Jefferson College, was elected the pastor, and entered upon his pastoral duties, but was not installed until June, 1831. On account of ill health he resigned in 1840.
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