USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 57
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The Methodist Church in Greensburg began with the organization of a class at the house of Samuel Bushfield, in 1799. The members were Samuel Bushfield and his wife, Catharine; Jacob Kern and Susanna, and John Kern and his wife. In 1833 the first Methodist church was built. The contract price was $638.85 for a brick building forty-two feet long by thirty feet wide, one story high. It was seated with slab and board benches. This church was on South Main street, joining the present Presbyterian Church parson- age. It was sold to the school directors of Greensburg in 1849, and is still
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standing, being now used as a dwelling house. After the sale of this property they used a former Presbyterian church in St. Clair cemetery and the court- house in which to hold their services. In 1850 a lot on the northeast corner of Main and Second streets was purchased from Jehu Taylor. The present church building on this lot was completed in the fall of 1852. On November 25 the church was dedicated by Bishop Matthew Simpson. The pastor in charge then was Rev. James G. Sansom, famous as a camp-meeting preacher and revivalist, and who lives in history as the sweetest singer in early Meth- odism.
The first Methodist Sunday-school was organized in 1835. This building served them well for some years, and was enlarged and greatly improved. In 1905 the church was sold to the Westmoreland Realty Company for $58,000, and on an adjoining lot on the corner of Maple avenue and Second street a much more commodious and handsome building is now being constructed.
The United Brethren Church, while they held services occasionally before, was properly organized in 1857, when there were nine members. They were: Joseph Gross and wife, Joseph Walters, Mrs. Daniel Reamer, John L. Holmes and wife, A. G. Marsh and wife, and a man named Crooks. The first church was erected on a lot nearly opposite the present church building, and was a brick structure thirty-eight by fifty-two feet. This building was burned on July 22, 1879, by an incendiary named Daniel Smithson, who upon his trial plead guilty and was sentenced to a long term in the Western Penitentiary. The second building and present edifice was dedicated October 10, 1881. It has since been improved, and is a very neat and handsome edifice.
For the further accounts of the early churches the reader will examine the chapter on Church History.
For many years the largest and most beautiful cemetery in Greensburg was the St. Clair cemetery, named in honor of Major General Arthur St. Clair. Formerly a part of it had been known as the Presbyterian graveyard, and this was enlarged by a donation from William Jack "to the burgesses and in- habitants of Greensburg." This deed was dated April 18, 1803, and is re- corded in Deed Book No. 7, page 108. The purposes of the ground was to secure for Greensburg a place to erect a house of worship, and the residue was to be used as a burial place for the dead. The Presbyterians for many years occupied a building on this ground as their place of worship. The ceme- tery was very much admired in former years, and many of Greenburg's emi- nent citizens were finally laid to rest within its borders. In 1888 the place was abandoned as a place of sepulture and a new cemetery bearing the same name was opened about two miles east of Greensburg, on the south side of the Greensburg and Stoystown turnpike, since which time the old cemetery in Greensburg has been badly neglected. Both the old and new cemetery have many pretty monuments, and the new one is kept in splendid condition and is a delightful cemetery location.
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The South Main street, or German graveyard, laid out, we believe, by the German Reformed and Lutheran congregations, has long since been abandoned as a place of burial. although there are yet in it many graves that will probably never be removed. They, too, have a new cemetery about two miles northeast of Greensburg, which is known as Union Cemetery.
The Catholic graveyard on North Main street, surrounding their church and other buildings belonging to them, has also been abandoned, and another a short distance northeast of Greensburg has been laid out.
The United Presbyterian church of Greensburg has been considered in the general church history.
The most important industry in Greensburg is the extensive manufacturing plant of the Kelly & Jones Company, established in 1888, and which now employs one thousand men. They manufacture iron pipe, fittings, brass and iron valves, cocks for steam, gas, water, and oil machinery ; also iron and steel tubing. They sell their product in all parts of the commercial world. They have branch offices in New York, Chicago and Pittsburgh. At the latter city they have a large store also. This plant covers twenty-one acres of ground, and one of its buildings has 76,000 square feet of floor space. The officers are: John Kelly, president; James Bolph, vice-president ; W. J. Kelly, secre- tary; and George M. Jones, treasurer. It is incorporated with a capital of $300,000.
The Brown-Ketcham Iron Works, makers of structural and ornamental iron and steel, is a branch of the main plant at Indianapolis, Indiana, estab- lished thirty-five years ago. The Greensburg branch was established in 1902, and capitalized at $500,000. One hundred and seventy-five men are employed, and the gross annual output is 180,000 gross tons, which product goes to all parts of the United States. William H. Brown is president.
The Hempfield Foundry, a general foundry and machine shop, was estab- lished in April, 1898. They employ seventy-two men, and have an annual business of $60,000 in the production of bronze and grey iron castings, brass castings and mining cars. The president is J. Howard Patton.
Places of amusement of an early day have been referred to elsewhere. Until the building of the Nailey Opera House the court room was generally used for all public performances. In 1879 the Lowison Opera House was built, and served Greensburg as a public hall exclusively till 1903, when the St. Clair Theatre was built by the late George W. Good. It is situated on South Main street, and is one of the most complete rooms in the state outside of the large cities. It was opened October 14, 1903.
The Greensburg Country Club has a fine location two miles west, on the Pittsburgh, Mckeesport and Greensburg street car line. It includes a large golf links, and has erected on it a suitable club house. It is kept up almost exclusively by Greensburg people. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks have a large lodge, and own a splendidly equipped club house on the corner of East Pittsburgh street and Maple avenue.
CHAPTER XXXVII
Hempfield Township .- Jeannette, "The Glass City."-Mt. Pleasant Township.
Hempfield is one of the old original townships, and was organized at Hannastown on the first day of our Westmoreland courts, namely, April 6, 1773. Its boundaries were then much larger than now, for it reached from Crabtree run to the Conemaugh river, and included all the territory lying along the Kiskiminetas river and then down to the Youghiogheny and Jacob's creek. At present it is bounded on the north by Salem ; northeast by Unity ; southeast by Mt. Pleasant ; south by East Huntingdon ; southwest by South Huntingdon ; west by Sewickley, and northwest by North Huntingdon and Penn townships.
A part of its original territory was taken off by Act of Assembly of March 4, 1845. The part then taken off was ceded to East Huntingdon township. Again in 1872 the division line was changed between Penn township and Hempfield township. It contains a great deal of fertile land, and is abundantly underlaid with bituminous coal. It is well supplied with churches, schools, and other evidences of a high order of civilization and culture.
The first officers of the township, chosen in 1773, were John Brown, consta- ble ; Samuel Miller and Alexander Thompson, poor directors ; Wendell Ourry, of Revolutionary fame, road supervisor.
The first settlers in the township of Hempfield were nearly all Germans, and came largely from the southeastern counties of Pennsylvania. Some of them, however, came directly from Germany. Among the original settlers were the Harrolds, Froelichs, Henrys, Rughs, Drums, Ottermans, Marchands (who came from Switzerland), Benders (now called Painters), Kunkles, Longs, Gongweres, Detars, Millers, Snyders, Turneys, Fritchmans, Klingen- smiths, Thomases, Barnharts, Mechlings, Trubys, Rohrers, Huffnagles, Hubers, Kemps, Reamers, Kepples, Alwines, Kifers, Whiteheads, Shrums, Byerlys, Eisamans, Clines, Walthours, Baughmans, Grosses, Seanors and others. These pioneer settlers were scattered over a much wider territory than is now included in the limits of Hempfield township. They were, moreover, a substantial and hardy race, and gave character to a large part of the present Westmoreland county. Many of our best people are descended from them. They very early
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showed their interest in religion by establishing churches. Harrold's Church, or St. John's Reformed Church, as it is sometimes called, has been treated of heretofore under Church History. It is situated about four miles southwest of Greensburg. Brush Creek Reformed Church has also been spoken of in the same part of this work.
In 1783, when Rev. John Weber was pastor, Dr. David Marchand took up for church and school purposes near Brush creek one hundred and eighty-two acres of land, part of a large tract which Dr. Marchand had himself taken up. This property was deeded to the German Lutheran and German Reformed churches on July 20, 1797, the consideration being 28 pounds, 12 shillings and 6 pence. Upon this land they erected a log school house, which they used also for a place of worship. It was burned by the Indians while the neighbors were temporarily driven from their homes. . It was rebuilt, the second structure being also of hewn logs. It had one door and one window. Its floors were puncheons, and its seats were hewn logs. There was no pulpit, no gallery, and a common board table served for the altar.
In 1816 the corner stone was laid for the present brick church edifice, and it was completed about 1820, at which time it was dedicated by the Lutheran and Reformed pastors, assisted by Rev. Henry Gerhart of Bedford. A debt hung over it for some time, and John Shrum and Adam Baughman, trustees, were authorized by the legislature to sell eighty-two acres for the church debt. In 1864 the legislature authorized the sale of forty-one acres of coal underlying the church lands. In 1870 a pipe organ costing about one thousand dollars was put into this church.
In Rev. Weber's notes he says, "That during the early part of the time he served the congregation," namely, from 1783 to 1816, "it was necessary for those who worshipped there to bring their rifles to church with them in order to protect themselves and their friends from the attacks of the Indians." A rifle company in connection with the church kept itself in readiness at all times to march in relief for the people of that community. Young people came from long distances, even from as far as the Kiskiminetas river, and some even from Butler county, to attend worship here. There were at that time no fireplaces in the church, and he says that he "frequently directed the boys to go out and build a wood fire of brush on the outside of the church, so that during intermis- sion the communicants might warm themselves by it." Bonnets were not worn by the young women who attended these classes, or at church. A handkerchief around the head was the only headgear the young women wore.
St. Paul's (or Seanor's) Church was founded about 1783, and was another of Mr. Weber's appointments. The original church was a log building, rudely built and rudely furnished, and was on the present site of Seanor's Church. It was not finished until about 1816, when Rev. William Weinel became pastor. He had been the traveling schoolmaster from Northampton county, and served them as pastor until 1829, when he resigned and moved away. He was fol-
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lowed by Rev. Nicholas P. Hacke, who in turn, in 1832, was succeeded by Rev. H. E. F. Voight, who came directly from the Fatherland. He preached there until 1862.
The village of New Stanton is about seven miles southwest of Greensburg. It was laid out by Benjamin Snyder on a road which formerly led from Somer- set to Pittsburgh. The Reformed Church established a church there in 1872 under the ministry of Rev. John W. Love, who was then pastor at Seanor's Church and at Greensburg. In 1875 they built the present edifice, the corner stone being laid on June 12th, by Rev. Dr. W. W. Moorhead, of the First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg.
On March II, 1876, the citizens of a small village named Madison peti- tioned our courts for incorporation as a borough. It was incorporated October 3, 1876.
Adamsburg, another borough, was incorporated by Act of Assembly on the 5th of March, 1841. For the first election, which was held on the third Friday of April, Jacob Gosser, Jacob Steiner and John Mellville were to give notice.
Other villages within its limits are Painterville, named after Colonel Israel Painter; Middletown, in the southeastern portion of the township, a rural village in a rich and fertile section; Grapeville, along the railroad between Greensburg and Jeannette ; and Arona.
Hempfield township had fifty-six schools with 2,314 pupils enrolled, in 1904. Jeannette, "the giass city," bears the proud distinction of being the first large manufacturing town within Westmoreland county, the sixth county in population in the state in 1900. It has the largest window glass plant in the world, and the largest pressed glass concern in America. According to gov- ernment statistics it produces more glass in various forms than any place in the United States.
This borough derived its name from the wife of one of the founders, Jeannette being the name of Mrs. McKee, whose husband, H. Sellers McKee, in company with the Western Land and Improvement Company of Philadel- phia, together with Messrs. Chambers and Brickell, of Pittsburgh, purchased in the spring of 1888 the farms of J. F. Thompson, Solomon Loughner and J. F. Gilchrist. The discovery of natural gas at Grapeville brought ready capital to this point. The land company named established an office in an old brick farm house, which then stood in an orchard near where the Presbyterian church now stands. The building of the Chambers & McKee Glass Works was the first move toward town building in Jeannette. In June, 1888, the company commenced to erect a long row of brick dwelling houses, and all wondered who were to occupy such fine houses. Lots sold at first at $400, but before a year rolled by they sold at $1,200. The phenomenal growth of Jeannette was only equalled by the building of Vandergrift and Monessen at a little later period. The question of fuel, always a factor to be counted in any factory town, was solved by generous nature long years ago, for within
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two miles of Jeannette are situated vast coal beds of the best gas-producer in Pennsylvania. As to coke, another essential, the borough is near the famous Connellsville coke district, making freight merely a nominal sum, while the natural gas lines entering the place afford cheap fuel in that class. The place was plotted in April, 1888, and by the same month in 1889 fully four thousand people called the place their home. It now numbers between seven and eight thousand, and, including its suburbs, fully ten thousand. Its banks are: The First National, established in 1889, on $50,000 capital. To-day (1905) it has $75,000 undivided profits and $375,000 in deposits. The Jeannette National Bank commenced business about 1900. It has $50,000 capital. The Jeannette Savings and Trust Company opened for business July IO, 1903. The capital is now $135,000.
There are seven great glass factories. It may be stated that these, with the Rubber plant, are what the business life of the borough depends on. The largest tableware glass factory in the world is that of the McKee-Jeannette Glass Works. This was the pioneer plant of the place, and was then known as the McKee Brothers' Works. The first glass produced was in September, 1888. It covers six acres of ground, has six furnaces of 105 pot capacity, and employs from five to six hundred men. Its monthly pay roll is $25,000. Eighty per cent. of its product is sold in America, and twenty per cent. ex- ported to its salesrooms in all the large European cities. They make what is known as the press-cut glass goods, a real rival, as they claim, to the genuine cut glass.
The American Window Glass Company has the largest single window glass plant in the world. The immense building is of brick and stone. Blow- ing machines are used here in the production of fine window glass. Five years ago the plant came into its present management, it formerly being the Cham- bers-McKee Glass Company. They employ about one thousand men.
The Pittsburg Lamp, Brass and Glass Company, formerly Dithridge & Company, moved from Pittsburgh. They make many grades of lamps, shades, stands, chimneys, etc., in both crystal and opal glass. Hundreds of men, girls and boys find steady employment here.
The Westmoreland Specialty Company, at Grapeville (near by), is another large plant working in glass goods. They make tableware, and novelties in plain and decorated goods.
The Jeannette Glass Company make fine prescription ware, liquor ovals, "beers," "brandies," "milks," flasks, etc. While competition in the bottle business is sharp in the United States, this firm steadily advances to the front ranks.
The Empire Glass Company, composed of Jeannette people, was formed in 1904. They make chimneys and shades, and so far have been unable to fill their orders as rapidly as they come in.
The Clifford-Cappelle Fan Company manufactures on a large scale the
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celebrated Cappelle fan, used in so many coal mines in North and South America. Recently another twenty-six acre tract of land has been added to accommodate their works.
One of the most important plants, engaged the year around, is the Penn- sylvania Rubber Works, which cover a large area of ground. It was formerly located at Erie, Pennsylvania, moving to Jeannette a few years since. Hun- dreds of men and women find employment at these extensive works.
The Fort Pitt Glass Company have a fine plant in North Jeannette. Their works were recently burned, but are being rebuilt.
Jeannette has thirteen churches, all the leading denominations being rep- resented here. The Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed in 1888, the first year in the borough's history. The first meeting was held in the packing room of the Window Glass Company's works. June 23, 1894, their handsome church was dedicated. It cost $12,000. The Methodist Episcopal Church service was held here in the autumn of 1888, when Rev. B. T. Thomas, of Manor, preached in the unfinished cutting room of the glass works. A church was formed in 1889. January 12, 1900, the present magnificent edifice was dedicated. Its cost was $17,000. It is a buff pressed brick building. Grace Reformed Church was organized April 7, 1889, and a neat church dedicated May 25, 1890. The United Presbyterian Church was formed September 21, 1889, with ten members. A good edifice was first occupied September 14, 1890. The Baptist Church was organized in 1890, and now numbers two hundred. They have a good building. The German Evangelical Protestant Church is a frame structure, and the society, though small, is made up of good workers. The Free Methodist Church is in West Jeannette. It is a neat frame building. The German Lutheran Church is an old society here, and they own a good frame building. In the western portion of the borough is the German Baptist Church, a frame house, though well appointed for the needs of this congregation. The cornerstone of a fine red brick church belong- ing to the Episcopal people of Jeannette was laid July 26, 1904. The public schools have kept pace with the enterprises of the borough and now have three houses. One, the high school, is an exceptionally fine structure.
The newspapers of the borough are the Dispatch and the Westmoreland Journal. Both are live, weekly papers, an honor to their town and their editors.
Jeannette has seven miles of paved streets, also good walks of stone or brick, and her sewerage system is excellent. The borough of Jeannette is one of six places within the county having special mail delivery. In the early years of this borough's history it suffered great loss from fires, but now with four well drilled companies, aided by up-to-date appliances and good supply of water but little trouble arises from this source.
The name Mt. Pleasant is a very old one in Western Pennsylvania history. It was used to designate a section in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania,
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while all this country was included within the limits of Bedford county. When the county was erected in 1773, Mt. Pleasant township was at once laid out with the following boundaries: Beginning where the Loyalhanna breaks through the Chestnut Ridge, and running down the Loyalhanna to the mouth of Crabtree Run, and by the same to the Forbes Road; thence to the Braddock Road; and thence with the south side of that road to where it crosses Jacob's Creek, and to the line of Fairfield township. When Unity township was erected in 1789 its limits were changed, and at various times afterwards. It is now bounded on the north by Unity; on the east by Chestnut Ridge, which separates it from Donegal township; on the south by Fayette county; on the southeast by East Huntingdon township; and on the northwest by Hempfield township. Among its early settlers were the following, whose names were taken from the township tax list of 1783 as made out by John Giffen, asses- sor, with William Lochry and James Gutery as assistants: William Anderson, Christopher Amalong, Samuel Bradley, John Baird, James Brownfield, Conrad Byers, Martin Bush, Jacob Carver, George Crawford, Samuel Coulter, Robert Cochran, Alex Craig, Thomas Elliott, John Fiscus, James Guthrie, Nathaniel Hurst, John Hunter, John Jamison, John Jack, William Kirkpatrick, Chris- topher Lobingier, Moses Latta, Hugh Martin, Alex Mckinney, George Mc- Donal, John Moore, Robert Newell, Robert Nichols, Rev. James Power, Thomas Patton, James Pershing, John Proctor, David Rankin, George Salder, Gen. St. Clair, N. R., David White, Gasper Weaver, David Kilgore, James Pollock, James Steel, Samuel Todd, Joseph Thompson, Matthew Simpson, John Murphy, James McBride.
Hugh Martin was one of the early settlers, coming to this township in 1769. As we have seen, he was very early commissioned a justice of the peace, and was elected by the people to the same office, and under the state constitu- tion of 1790 he was commissioned by Governor Mifflin. He was born in 1735 and died July 18, 1823, and was considered a man of high character.
Another early settler was John Giffen, who came there about 1770. Still another was Captain David Kilgore, who came from Cumberland county, and who served in the Revolutionary war. He had been married to Sarah Mickey before coming to this section.
James Galloway came from York county, and took up lands close to the village of Overton. He was a blacksmith, and the only one in the community, combining that with agriculture. During the Revolutionary war he was drafted, and his neighbors, rather than spare their only blacksmith, united in their efforts and secured a substitute, who for entering the war as a substi- tute was paid twelve dollars in money, a rifle gun and a butcher-knife.
Conrad Byers came from Germany, and on June 3, 1773, purchased three hundred and thirty-nine acres of land. On this he built a log house, and it was frequently used during Indian incursions as a place of safety. His wife was Mary Riel, who had been a "redemptioner," who had to pay her passage
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money by her services after she arrived in America. Byers purchased her indenture, brought her to Westmoreland county, and afterwards married her, and their sons were Peter, Andrew and John. The land taken up by Conrad is yet in the name of his descendants.
Nathaniel Hurst was the founder of the Hurst family in this section, and came to Mt. Pleasant township in 1790. His patents called for one thousand acres of land. His descendants have been connected by intermarriage with the best people of our county. John Lemon came from Ireland to America in 1762, and to Mt. Pleasant in 1794. He took up a tract of land containing three hundred and fifty acres, all covered with timber, and lived there until his death in 1812. Robert Newell came from New Jersey in 1775. His tract of land contained two hundred and eighty-two acres, which was patented to him 1789. He was the progenitor of the Newell family which has been noted in Westmoreland county for almost a century. Charles Lewis Bush came from Germany in 1792, and to Mt. Pleasant township in 1814.
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