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 40
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
NEW COUNTY.
On the 14th of September, 1799, a number of the inhabitants of Washington and the adjoining counties met at Parkinson's Ferry (now Monongahela city), with the view of taking the necessary steps towards the formation of a new county, the principal portion of the territory to be taken off Washington County. Joseph Beckett was chosen Chairman and John Hoge, Secretary.
The following resolutions were unanimously adopted :-
1. That it is the opinion of this meeting that a new county ought to be established by the following lines, viz : Beginning on the Monongahela River, at the mouth of Peters' Creek, thence up the said creck to that branch thereof which runs from the Rev. David Phillips' farm, thence by a direct line to include the place on which James Mitchell, Esq., now lives, thence by a like line to include the place on which George Myers, Sen., now lives, thence to Bentley's upper mill on Pigeon Creek, thence to the Monon- gahela River opposite to the mouth of Little Redstone Creek, thence by a direct line to the mouth of Washington's Run on the Youghiogheny River, thence down the same to F. Moses' place, and thence by a direct line to the place of beginning.
2. That in the opinion of this meeting the seat of justice for the new county should be established at Parkinson's Ferry on the Monongahela River.
3. That John Hoge, Major Devore, and Captain Royall be appointed a committee to draft a petition to the next legislature praying for the estab- lishment of a new county.
This measure was defeated by a remonstrance. The same ques- tion was successively renewed in 1820, 1822, and 1835, when it was
350
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
proposed to make the county twenty miles square-1837 and in 1838-but the attempt to divide or diminish the present limits of Washington County meets with a prompt rejection by the people.
BURNERS.
About the year 1794, and immediately after the Whiskey Insur- rection, Washington County was thrown into consternation by anonymous notices stuck up in the night time on the houses and highways, calling upon certain individuals to pay certain sums of money by a certain day or their houses and barns would be burned. Those who refused to satisfy the demand suffered the threatened penalty. Many meetings were held at Finleyville and other points, to detect the villains engaged in this nefarious plot, but these failed. At length Robert James took a determined stand, after having lost his barn, haystacks, outhouses, cattle, &c. &c., and prosecuted a man whom he suspected as the ring-leader. Before his apprehension he fled the country, and the burning operations ceased and peace and tranquillity reigned.
My friend, Dr. W. B. Lank, of Finleyville, has furnished me one of the original notices, given to him by Samuel Gaston, Esq., who lived in those troublesome times. The letter is directed to Jolin Finley, Henry Hulee, James Cildoo, with this notice : Jacobus Curkindale, if you don't carry this to John Finley your barn will be burnt. The letter reads thus :-
John Finley,
30 dollars. James Cildoo,
30
Henry Hulee, . . 30
90 dollars.
My friend, if you don't pay this demand five days after sight, I will fall to burning your property, such as haystacks, barns, mills, and still-houses. If you pay this demand no more will be asked of you-fail not, for the sake of your property. The undertakers of this plot are sure but slow. You may pay it to Thomas McMuhn. Nothing will put a stop to this business but the detection of the authors.
In this manner farmers and others were blackmailed, and suffered severely if they did not comply with the notice.
NEWSPAPERS
Published in Washington County, with the date of their publication.
Western Telegraph und Washington Advertiser, August 22, 1795, by Messrs. Colerick, Hunter & Beaumont. On August 16, 1797, John Cole- rick sold out his interest to his partners.
Herald of Liberty, May 21, 1798, by John Israel.
Western Missionary Magazine, from 1803 to1806.
Washington Reporter, August 15, 1808, by B. Brown and Wm. Sample. 66 February 12, 1810, by William Sample.
May 31, 1819, by Samuel Workman.
351
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Washington Reporter, May 28, 1821, by William Sample.
66 1833, by B. S. Stewart and Geo. W. Acheson.
1835, by John Ramsey and S. B. Robinson.
1837, by Uriah W. Wise.
November 9, 1839, by John Bausman.
66
66
April 22, 1848, by John Bausman and J. W. F. White.
60
February 16, 1852, by John Bausman.
February 16, 1856, by Jas. G. and R. F. Strean.
66
and Commonwealth, April 1, 1858, by Jas. G. and R. F. Strean.
66
66
November 20, 1867, by Wm. S. Moore and J. W. Mc Williams.
February 11, 1869, by Wm. S. Moore and Jas. W. Kelly.
Democratic Eagle, August 25, 1828, by Thomas Morgan. Western Register, February 3, 1837, by Robert Fee.
Washington Examiner, May 28, 1817, by John Grayson. ¥ 1833, by John Grayson and - Jack.
¥
John and T. W. Grayson.
66
June 10, 1840, by T. W. Grayson and C. C. Kaine. November 9, 1844, T. W. Grayson and Jas. B. Ruple. November 16, 1846, by T. W. Grayson and An- drew Hopkins.
May 12, 1853, by T. W. Grayson and George S. Hart. 1858, by T. W. Grayson and A. H. Ecker.
66
66
A. H. Ecker and John R. Donehoo.
A. H. Ecker and D. F. Patterson. and Review, A. H. Ecker and Wm. Swan.
The Phoenix in Monongahela City, May 7, 1821, by B. Brown.
The Pennsylvanian, June 25, 1828, by John Bausmon.
Our Country (Washington), June 5, 1835, by Thomas Jefferson Morgan. Washington Review, by Wm. Swan.
The Commonwealth, 1848, by Seth T. Hurd.
The Patriot, 1843, by Russel Erret.
Students' Enterprise (Canonsburg), 1849, by Wm. S. Hamill.
The Florence Enterprise, 1850, by James Robb.
The Collegian, 1852, by B. W. Lacey.
American Union, 1855, by J. B. Musser.
Monongahela Valley Republican, July 7, 1848, established by Solomon
Alter ; in 1851 it was purchased by David Ramaley and P. H. Rhien- hardt; in 1855 they sold to T. R. Hazzard and Chill Hazzard.
The Tribune, 1856, by John Bausman.
Valley Spirit (California), by G. W. Hillier.
Colleaguer, 1859, by J. W. Moss.
and Tribune, April 1, 1860, by Wm. S. Moore, H. A. Purviance, and Jas. Armstrong. 66 66 August 30, 1863, by Wm. S. Moore and Jas. Armstrong.
352
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
EDUCATION.
1795, September 8, Charles Visiner opened a school in Washing- ton, to teach the French language, at $4 per quarter.
1809, February 16, Mrs. Good opened a school to teach young ladies tambouring, embroidery, open work, painting, and drawing, together with plain sewing and reading.
1812, November 12, Mrs. Baker's young ladies' seminary held its semi-annual exhibition at Washington. Premiums were presented in the first class to Miss Collins, of Pittsburg; Miss Clark, of Clarksville ; Miss Buchanan, of Canonsburg ; and Miss McKennan, of Washington. In the second class, to Miss Campbell, Miss Cooke, and Miss Neal, of Washington. In the third class, to Miss Cust, of Greensburg, and Miss Acheson, of Washington. Miss Scott, of Gettysburg, on presenting the premiums delivered an appropriate address, to which Miss Collins, of Pittsburg, replied. The exhibi- tion concluded with a ballet dance, exhibiting in the rural style the young ladies, with branches of roses and honeysuckles in their hands during the dance.
1825, October 17, Rev. O. Jennings, assisted by Samuel Mar- shall, opened a French school.
1834, November 4, in pursuance of an act of the legislature, to establish the common school system, a joint meeting of the county commissioners, and one delegate from the twenty-three boards of directors, into which number the county was divided, met at the court-house, and determined by a vote of twenty-one to five to es- tablish the system, and levied a tax of four thousand eight hundred dollars. In 1835 the common school convention appropriated six thousand dollars. In 1836, twelve thousand dollars. The first tax levied for the education of children in Washington County was in 1805 ; and in the years 1805-6-7-8 respectively it was one hundred dollars; in 1809, eight hundred dollars; 1810-11-12-13-14 it was two hundred dollars in each of these years; in 1815-16 it was three hundred dollars each ; in 1817-18 it was five hundred dollars each; in 1819 it was one thousand dollars; in 1820, five hundred dollars ; in 1821, one thousand dollars ; in 1822-23-24-25 it was fifteen hundred dollars in each year ; in 1826, twelve hundred dollars ; in 1827, one thousand dollars ; in 1828, twelve hundred dollars ; in 1829, sixteen hundred dollars; in 1830-31, fifteen hun- dred dollars in each year; in 1832-33, twenty-five hundred dollars each. The amount of taxes paid from 1805 to 1836 inclusive, in Washington County, is fifty-one thousand three hundred and fifty dollars. Since 1836 the laws have been changed. In 1849 they . were all collected and passed in one act, and in 1857 the normal school was adopted.
The first bill providing for a common school system was approved by George Wolf, April 1, 1834.
353
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
WASHINGTON MECHANICAL SOCIETY.
Was organized May 12, 1792, with Jonathan Morris as president, and David Reddick as secretary. The object was to create a fund, and loan money, not exceeding three months, for charitable, politi- cal, and generous purposes, at six per cent.
March 1, 1794, the society resolved to adopt measures to procure an accurate account of the various machines in use in this western country, the prices of labor in the different mechanical employments in use, the amount of moneys expended for public buildings, the obstruction in the navigation of our creeks and rivers, and the mode of transporting our produce to market, with all other informa- tion connected with mechanics which may be useful in forming the history of the early settlements of this county.
In 1795 the secretary was directed to open a correspondence with the Philadelphia Mechanical Society for the purpose of encourag- ing foreign mechanics to emigrate to this country.
Hon. David Reddick delivered the annual oration on St. Tam- many's Day.
In 1798 a committee, consisting of Robert Hamilton, Samuel Clarke, and D. Cook, was appointed to report the best mode of pro- curing tin for a tin manufactory. The mode and manner were approved, and a quantity brought to Washington to be placed and made up.
In 1800 Parker Campbell delivered the annual oration.
These minutes close in 1801, and are very interesting. The names of the old citizens of this town show that they were members of this society.
MONONGAHELA AND WILLIAMSPORT MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
1814, January 17, articles of association for a bank, to be enti- tled the Monongahela and Williamsport Manufacturing Company, was formed in Williamsport (now Monongahela City) with a capital of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, in shares of fifty dollars each ; Samuel Black was president. Its charter was to ex- tend for twenty years.
EXTENSIVE CARRIAGE MANUFACTORY.
In the fall of the year 1841 Sheldon B., Charles, and Morgan Hays erected a carriage manufactory in the rear of the court-house, and on the southern part of the lot now owned by Robert Boyd, Esq. The factory was of frame, thirty by fifty feet, two stories high. The business of the firm was conducted under the name of S. B. Hays & Co. The wood-work, trimming, painting, and smith-work were all conducted in this building, the demand for car- riages and buggies not being so great as at present.
The first buggy body was made by Morgan Hays, the trimming · and painting by Wm. Garrety (one of the founders of Lodge 81 of 23
-
354
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
I. O. O. F. of Washington), the smith-work by J. Clark, of Kinder- hook, N. Y., and the first paint furnished by Dr. Alfred Creigh. The first apprentice was Henry Layton, whom we all remember for his steadfast devotion to his Sunday school and church, and which he ever exemplified through his Christian life.
Business increasing, a brick building was added, with horse- power attached to do the sawing and turning ; yet increased busi- ness required a four-horse engine, and three days in each week of the engine however being sufficient to do the necessary amount of labor to occupy the hands one week. About this time Morgan Hays sold out to his partners, and he became the foreman. Messrs. S. B. & C. Hays added another story to the main building, and also an additional room of thirty feet to the first floor.
On November 8th, 1851, the entire factory, with nearly all its contents, was destroyed by fire, which occurred on Saturday. On the Monday following, Messrs. S. B. and C. Hays purchased from John H. Ewing, James G. Strean, Thomas Mckean, T. M. T. McKennan, Alexander W. Acheson, and Collin M. Reed, Trustees of the Presbyterian church, their church edifice, with two lots situatc on First and Maiden streets, and extending to Strawberry Alley, the congregation having removed to their new edifice, corner of Second and Belle streets. On the following Tuesday, the day after the purchase, the seats were taken out and all hands busily engaged in the manufactory, as if no fire had ever taken place.
To this brick carriage factory (formerly the church) they added a brick smithshop thirty by seventy feet. In 1852 they erected a machine shop with an engine of sufficient power for sawing, turning, making wheels, &c. &c. The machinery, shafting, &c., was put up by Martin Luther, Esq., of Worcester, Massachusetts, and, from his practical knowledge of machinery as well as of business, he has become a partner in the establishment.
To these improvements a planing machine, and all the necessary machinery for planing, manufacturing flooring boards, making doors, sash, shutters, &c., have been added, with a seventy-horse power engine, while to the buildings have been added a boarding-house, a carriage repository, with two rooms thirty by sixty fect each, used expressly for sales room.
January 1, 1867, the establishment was changed to S. B. and C. W. Hays & Co., consisting of Sheldon B. Hays, Charles W. Hays, Martin Luther, and Morgan Hays. Thirty-three hands are employed in the manufactory.
To this establishment has been added an extensive lumber yard.
HOUSE'S CARRIAGE MANUFACTORY.
On the first of January, 1868, James M. House and Robert R. Forrest established a carriage factory on East Belle Street, the buildings being brick, two stories high fronting on Belle Street sixty
355
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
by thirty feet. To this has been added another brick building of the same height, ninety by twenty-three feet, costing six thousand dollars. The annual sales amount to twelve thousand dollars. Fourteen hands are employed, but no engine is used.
On December 4, 1868, James M. House became sole proprietor, having purchased the interest of R. R. Forrest.
MANUFACTORIES.
1807. Several wool-carding establishments and other useful manufactories were established this year in this county. In 1808 David and Thomas Acheson, in their advertisement, said : "Conceiv- ing it to be our duty to lend all our aid in order to promote the interest of this western country, and to encourage manufacturing, whereby we may become truly independent of foreign nations, assert that the western part of Pennsylvania, being well adapted for the raising of flax and the manufacturing of linen, propose to purchase any quantity of flax and tow linen, if wove forty-two inches wide, so as to measure forty and one-half inches when bleached, for which we will pay from four to six cents per yard extra above the common price."
1815, August 15. The wool growers of Washington County were invited to meet in Washington to consider the propriety of establish- ing a woollen manufactory to be erected by stock.
HOON & MCCLAIN'S WOOLLEN FACTORY.
In 1867 John Hoon established on the west end of Belle Street a woollen factory in a large two-story extensive brick building ; but on April 16th, 1869, he received as a partner John McClain. The estimated value of the establishment is eight thousand dollars. A twenty-horse power engine is used. The establishment manufactures thirty thousand pounds of wool by spinning it into yarn, carding and weaving it. They manufacture two thousand five hundred yards of blankets and sixteen hundred yards of flannel annually, employing five hands.
CAMPBELL'S WOOLLEN FACTORY.
This is the oldest woollen factory in and about Washington, hav- ing been established by Philip Buckley as early as 1843, who carried it on very successfully to his death. In 1853 it passed into the hands of David Campbell, and since his death, who died in the Re- bellion in defence of the Constitution of his adopted country, it is now carried on by his widow, Mrs. Amelia Campbell. It is situated on West Beau Street and West Alley, has all the necessary improve- ments, and a fifteen-horse power engine. It manufactures annually from fifteen to twenty thousand pounds of wool, and about twelve hundred yards of flannel and blankets. The whole property is esti- mated to be worth six thousand dollars.
356
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
STEAM TANNERY.
When the steam tannery, which is situated on the west end on Belle Street, was established, the partners were Thomas J. Hodgens, John M. Wilson, and John McElroy, but in 1862 Mr. Wilson sold out to Messrs. Hodgens and McElroy, since which time it has been under their control. The tannery is built of brick, two stories high, with a twelve-horse power engine. The estimated value of the establishment is ten thousand dollars.
They manufacture annually four thousand sides of leather, and fifteen hundred calf and kip skins, using three hundred cords of oak bark, and employing eight hands.
STEAM PLANING FACTORY.
In 1867 Thomas Walker and William Fitzwilliams purchased the lot of ground on West Belle Street, which formerly belonged to the United Presbyterian congregation, and upon which was erected a brick church, in which the congregation worshipped from 1834 until they removed to their present edifice. The church being torn down, Messrs. Walker and Fitzwilliams erected a two-story frame building fifty by twenty-six feet, two stories high, as a planing manufactory. It contains a thirty-horse power engine, employing from six to eight hands. The cost of machinery in the establishment was six thou- sand dollars. Being practical carpenters and builders (which busi- ness they carry on in connection with the factory), they manufacture for sale everything in connection with the finishing of buildings, such as flooring boards, doors, sash, shutters, brackets, &c.
STEAM GRIST AND FLOUR MILL.
In 1844 Samuel Hazlett and Daniel Dye erected on the west end of Belle Street a four story mill, forty by sixty feet, the carpenter work being performed by Messrs. John Prigg and Daniel Dye. Af- terwards Daniel Dye purchased the interest of Samuel Hazlett. After the death of Daniel Dye the mill was sold to John McElroy in 1850. About the year 1858 John McElroy sold to A. J. Caton. On February 15, 1865, Messrs. Wilson and George M. and W. W. Warrick became the purchasers. The estimated value of the pro- perty is seven thousand dollars ; a thirty-horse power engine is used. The mill manufactures annually seven thousand five hundred barrels of flour ; grinds five thousand bushels of corn and rye; has two pair of wheat burrs and one pair of choppers, and employs three hands.
The capacity of the mill on wheat is three barrels per hour; the cost of toll, three cents per barrel of flour.
357
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
INVENTIONS.
1812, December 14. Colonel John G. Chambers, of Amwell town- ship has invented a gun which he can charge in such a manner that by a single operation on the trigger it will discharge six or eight loads in succession with space between each sufficient to take another aim. The gun has but one barrel, and does not exceed a common gun in size. On the 15th of January, 1815, the Senate of Pennsylvania appointed a committee to examine the utility of Colonel Chambers gun, and at three o'clock P. M., of January 22, 1815, an experi- ment was made of its utility on the State-house hill, in the presence of the legislature and other citizens. The gun was considered a very extraordinary piece of machinery, and a powerful instrument in the destruction of an enemy.
Freeman Brady, Jr., of Washington, and John Noble, of Clays- ville, patented a repeating or magazine gun. It fires about twenty effective and forty random shots in a minute, equalling in range and far excelling in faculty of loading and rapidity of firing any gun of modern improvement.
Dr. George W. Moffit has invented a self car coupler, intended to couple cars without any preliminary preparations, and with the com- mon link and pin now in use. Both for coupling and uncoupling it is perfect, because by the very act of uncoupling itself it is prepared for coupling.
James S. Wolf, of Washington, has made an important discovery in charging bomb shells. Upon exploding it unites and burns a strong flame, setting fire to any combustible material; thus it will be seen it combines not only the terrible explosive power of a shell, but the firing power of a hot shot. It will light up any battery or fort into which it is thrown.
MEDICAL SOCIETY.
1813, June 10. The Washington County Medical Society was organized by adopting a Constitution and electing the following offi- ters : Dr. Joseph Dodridge, President; Dr. D. G. Mitchell, Secre- tary. Its members were, Drs. John Wishart, John Warring, John Julius Le Moyne, Robert Glenn, Wm. Warnock, John Byers, Wm. Hamilton, Benjamin Carroll, James Mitchell, Wm. Quigley, H. H. Blachley, John Smith, M. L. Todd, Thomas McGarrough, James Hayden, James Patterson, David Staunton, John Baird, Alexander Crawford, Thomas Hersey, M. Adams, Shipley Homes, John Mulli- ken, Samuel Murdoch.
Dr. Joseph Dodridge delivered a eulogium upon the character of Dr. Benjamin Rush.
1835, November 26. Washington and Allegheny Counties es- tablished a Medical Society.
The third County Medical Society was organized April 2, 1855. Its officers were, Dr. John Wishart, President; Dr. James Stevens
358
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
and Dr. Boyd Emery, Vice-Presidents ; Dr. J. R. Wilson, Record- ing Secretary ; Dr. I. S. Van Voorhis, Corresponding Secretary ; and Dr. Wray Grayson, Treasurer.
Its present officers are, Dr. S. L. Blachley, President; Dr. J. H. Little, Vice President ; Dr. G. A. Dougherty, Secretary ; Dr. M. H. Clark, Treasurer. The following are the list of members scattered throughout Washington County: J. W. Alexander, J. W. Acheson, D. Anderson, S. L. Blachley, E. Carey, H. S. Chalfant, M. H. Clark, J. G. Dickson, Thaddeus Dodd, G. A. Dougherty, E. F. Dodd, D. S. Eagleson, Boyd Emery, H. D. Enoch, W. Gillfillen, S. E. Hill, W. King, J. H. Little, George A. Linn, I. McDonough, A. S. Mc- Elree, Thomas McKennan, W. Mitchell, M. P. Morrison, T. H. Phillips, W. W. Sharp, T. R. Storer, S. S. Strous, W. R. Thomp- son, J. R. Wilson, A. M. Rea, David Shaner.
WASHINGTON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Was organized December 22, 1867. It has one thousand volumes and one hundred and eighty-six subscribers, who each pay three dollars per annum for the use of the books. Rev. Dr. W. A. Da- vidson is President; Rev. Henry Wood, Secretary ; Miss Martha Grayson, Librarian.
BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
1814, February 14. The citizens of Washington formed a humane and benevolent society to see that the poor laws were promptly administered by the Overseers of the Poor, and also to establish a Sunday-school for the education of indigent children, to discourage the use of spirituous liquors, and the suppression of vice and im- morality.
Rev. Dr. M. Brown, Obadiah Jennings, Esq., and Dr. John Wis- hart reported a constitution for its government.
BIBLE SOCIETY.
1814, September 2. The Washington Bible Society was formed to supply the destitute with a copy of the Holy Scriptures. This society was organized in the Presbyterian Church, and was governed by the following persons as its officers: Rev. John Anderson, Presi- dent; Rev. M. Brown, Secretary; Gen. Thomas Acheson, Treasurer; Parker Campbell, Alexander Murdock, Geo. Baird, Thomas Officer, Rev. Joseph Stephenson, Rev. Andrew Gwin, Rev. Cephas Dodd, Rev. Henry Kurtz, Obadiah Jennings, Thomas Hoge, Alex. Reed, Rev. James Brice, and John Carmichael were Directors.
June 1, 1815, Rev. John Anderson preached the first annual sermon.
From its formation to January 16, 1817, the Society had ex- pended $859.54, in the purchase of Bibles. In one township fifty- nine families were found destitute of the word of life. The Rev. Joseph Stephenson was appointed the agent of the Society.
359
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
MORAL SOCIETY.
1815, April 4. The Washington Moral Society was established to discountenance and suppress those vices and immoralities which are cognizable by the laws of the commonwealth. Each member was required to report to the proper officer any person guilty of profane swearing, Sabbath-breaking, intoxication, unlawful gaming, keeping a disorderly public house or any other immoral act.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.