USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 58
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Christian Lobengier was born in Lancaster county in 1740, and moved to Mt. Pleasant township in 1772. He was the progenitor of his family in Mt. Pleasant township. He was a delegate to the constitutional convention of Pennsylvania in 1776; a member of the legislature from 1791 to 1793, and died July 4, 1798. His wife was Elizabeth Müller, born in Switzerland in 1744. and came to Pennsylvania in 1749. She died September 5, 1815.
After the Revolutionary war Mt. Pleasant township received many settlers from the eastern part of the state, most of whom belonged to a richer class of people. They had more force, and cultivated their lands more rapidly than had formerly been the custom. They built saw-mills, and grist-mills, and gave much employment to the poor. They brought with them a better class of domestic animals than our county had previously seen. They built better houses, had better farms, and paid more attention to education than our average settlers. Yet there were only two school houses built in the township prior to 1834. As near as can be ascertained, nevertheless, they had used deserted dwellings, shops, barn floors, etc., for school houses. When the free school law was passed and submitted to the people for acceptance, the entire vote of Mt. Pleasant township was against it save one vote, and at the second election a few of the advanced citizens of the township took the matter in hand, and by hard work secured a small majority in its favor. Among the first directors were Jacob Lobengier, Daniel Worman, S. Miller, Samuel Jack and J. Fausold. Mt. Pleasant township has advanced very rapidly in schools since that early day. Nearly every school house now in the township is built of brick, and provided with all modern improvements.
St. John's Reformed Church, formerly known as Kintig's Church, was founded in Mt. Pleasant township at a very early day by the German Re- formed and Lutheran adherents. The date of its founding is not exactly known, but Rev. John William Weber arrived in Westmoreland county in
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1782 and took charge of four congregations. 'One," says he, "was in Pitts- burgh, one at Brush Creek, one at Harrold's and one in Mt. Pleasant town- ship." It was called Kintig's Church, because the services for some time were held in Daniel Kintig's barn. Rev. Weber was succeeded by Rev. Hacke, and, as has been before stated, this place of worship was two miles north of Mt. Pleasant, on the road leading to Pleasant Unity. The land upon which the church stands was donated by Daniel Kintig, Henry Fisher, Peter Rumbaugh and Andrew Small. The land belonged to these four men, and cornered at the place where the church now stands, and this part was given for church purposes. The first church edifice was a small log building, and was used for a meeting house and school house both. A brick church was erected here in 1827, and this was removed and a new one erected in 1871.
St. Peter's Reformed Church was also used by the Lutherans, who were ministered to in a very early day by Rev. Weber, and afterwards by Rev. Hacke, the latter being practically its only pastor from 1819 until 1863. This church is situated a mile and a half south of Pleasant Unity. The original structure was of hewn logs, and for a long time was without gallery, pulpit, altar or pews. The outside of the house was plastered. A brick church was constructed there in 1846 by the two congregations, under the pastorate of Rev. Hacke and Rev. Jonas Mechling. At that time they also founded a Sunday school, and held it in a room over a distillery on the William Fisher farm, about two miles from the church. This was in 1837. The two churches worshipped there unitedly until 1875 and 1876.
The Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant township is one of the oldest church organizations west of the Allegheny mountains. It is situated about two miles northeast of Mt. Pleasant, and was formerly known as the Middle Church. There was a graveyard nearby as early as 1773, which was the only regular burial place in the community. In 1782 it was there that Peggy Shaw, the heroine of Hannastown, who was shot in her kindly efforts to save a child's life, was taken at her death for interment. In old "Redstone" it is said, "that this congregation was organized in 1776 by Dr. James Power, who has been previously spoken of. He served the congregation until 1817, when he re- signed because of failing years. Rev. A. O. Patterson came next, and re- mained with them until 1834. Then came Rev. S. Montgomery, who served from 1836 to 1840, and he was followed by Rev. James Brownson, who re- mained with them from 1840 to 1849. Afterwards came Rev. William D. Moore, from 1850 to 1852, then Rev. William McLain; Rev. John M. Barnett from 1861 to 1869; Rev. John McMillan from 1869 to 1873, and Rev. W. F. Ewing in 1874. The first church was a log house which was replaced by a brick structure that is still standing and in use. Rev. James Power resided near the church in 1782, and it was to his home at this place that he rode rapidly from Unity Church, near Latrobe, when he heard of the Indian raid on Hannastown, July 13.
The township has thirty-nine schools and 1.964 pupils enrolled.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
There was probably a small village of three or four houses upon the present site of the borough of Mt. Pleasant at the time of the Revolutionary War. One house we know was erected by Michael Smith, as our court records indicate, and was licensed as a public inn in 1793. This house stood for nearly a century. The old town of Mt. Pleasant was laid out by Andrew McCready, who pur- chased the land from Nathaniel Marshall on August 28, 1797. In 1810 there were about thirty-four houses in the village of Mt. Pleasant, all of which were built of logs. The names of the citizens then living there were: Michael Smith, Alexander McCready, Charles Fullwood, William Hunter, Conrad Keister, William Cherry, Clement Burleigh, William Anderson, James Lippen -. cot, James Estep, Jolin Connell, William Flinn and David Hunter. The first brick house in Mt. Pleasant was built in 1812. The town very early became the home of an excellent class of people. It was on one of the main thorough- fares between the east and the west ; the old road known as the Glade road had been built by the state, and was the principal highway leading from Somerset to West Newton, and thence to Pittsburgh. Later the Somerset and Mt. Pleasant turnpike was organized. Upon this road the town depended for communica- tion with other parts of the world. This road was generally known as the Plank road, because it was actually planked in the late fifties. The planking was a failure, but parts of it are now very greatly improved, and from Jones- ville to Mount Pleasant it is one of the finest roads in the county.
A lady who wrote of the town in the early days of last century, spoke of the business being done mainly on one street, which was long and narrow, with the houses built close to the street, but few of them having front yards. The same writer noticed the flimsy material of which the houses were constructed, but thought some of them bore evidences of taste and refinement. She also re- marked about the high moral and social standard of its residents, and the thrifty appearance of the surrounding country.
The town was incorporated by Act of Assembly of February 7, 1828. The inhabitants were empowered to hold their first election in the house of Robert Hitchman. Their chief officers were to be one burgess, an assistant burgess, six councilmen and a borough constable. By an Act of Assembly passed in 1845, the borough was allowed to choose its own overseers of the poor, who were to be kept separate and apart from those of the surrounding townships. The Act appointed Samuel Shupe and Abraham Shallenberger overseers of the borough until their successors could be elected. The first election of the borough was held in May, 1828. Abraham Shallenberger was elected chief burgess, and Jesse Lippencot, assistant burgess. The councilmen elected were Jacob Rubert, Rev. Samuel Wakefield, Robert Hitchman, Jacob Kern and John Hosler. David Fullwood was elected secretary, and John Hitchman, treasurer.
The United Presbyterian Church, the oldest in the borough, then called the Associate Reformed church, was organized in Mt. Pleasant in 1802, but did not secure a regular pastor until 1806, when Rev. Mungo Dick assumed the . pastorate and filled the position eighteen years. He was followed by a va-
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
cancy of fifteen years, during which time they were supplied with various pas- tors, and in 1839 Rev. Richard Gailey became their pastor, and served them 1111- til 1850. He was succeeded by Rev. D. H. Pollock, who remained but two years, and in 1853 was succeeded by Rev. James Fife, who was installed in 1856 and continued until his death in 1861. Then came Rev. A. D. Fields, from 1862 to 1867. Then after a vacancy of four years came Rev. J. A. Nelson, who served from 1871 to 1875. They have built three or four houses of worship, the first being a leg house built about 1813, which was owned jointly by the United Brethren and the Associate Reformed congregations. The second house was built in 1830, which was owned by the same congregations, and was of brick. In 1854 the United Brethren sold their interest to the Associate Re- formed and built a new church. In 1871 the brick church was taken down and the present building was erected and dedicated on the 29th of February, 1872. The land upon which this church was built was owned by Clarence Burleigh, a public-spirited Irishman whose body rests in the centre of that plot of ground which he designated for religious purposes. Above his grave stands a tomb- stone cut by a man named Wall, in 1822. It contrasts strangely with all the ruin about it. It is unaffected by the ruins of time, and is one of the best preserved in the community.
The first church building was a log structure thirty by forty feet, erected jointly by this and the United Brethren congregations. This building served until 1830; it was then torn down, and the two societies then erected a thirty by fifty feet brick building facing Main street. The logs of the old building were sold to the Presbyterian people, who used them in the construction of their first building on the present site of the Church of God. Their present church was built in 1871, and first used in February, 1872, making the third church home used by these people the past century.
The United Brethren congregation was first established there in 1803. For many years they preached in barns, private homes, schoolhouses, notably Bon- nett's schoolhouse. After selling their interest in the Associate Reformed Church, they built a house of their own in 1854 on Main street, and enlarged and improved it a great deal in 1874. It was here, in 1815, that the first General Conference of this church convened and formed the Confession of Faith and Discipline. Many conferences have been held at Mt. Pleasant. As we have said, this congregation used the log building above referred to, in connection with United Presbyterian congregation. It had an aisle in the center, and was heated by stoves. The benches were without backs, and were made of slabs, commonly called peg seats. The pulpit was made of rough boards. The brick building which followed this in 1830 was used till 1853, when it was sold at auction to the Reformed Church for seven hundred dollars. In 1854 the United Brethren congregation erected a house of their own. It was a brick structure, and with the addition of a tower built in 1874 is yet standing. In 1890 a clock costing one thousand dollars was placed in the tower. They erected a parsonage in 1878.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
In 1870 the Church of God purchased the Old Presbyterian Church, which they soon after removed and built in its stead a frame house costing $3,700, known as Mission Chapel. It was dedicated in March, 1872. The pastors of this church have been Revs. W. B. Long, in 1873; Peter Loucks, from 1873 to 1878; J. S. Marple, from 1879 to 1882. J. W. Davis, John Hickernel, J. S. Marple, C. H. Grove, Thomas Woods, C. H. Grove, S. G. Yahn, R. L. Byrnes, S. G. Yahn, have served the congregation since then.
On March 27, 1891, the frame church was destroyed by fire, supposed to have originated from an overpressure of natural gas. Their present church was dedicated May 1, 1892, and was built at a cost of nine thousand dollars.
In addition to the churches above named there are three Roman Catholic organizations, Irish, Slavish and Polish. The Free Methodists and the African Methodist Episcopalians have also organizations at this place.
Mt. Pleasant has twenty-four schools and 956 pupils enrolled.
The first Methodist society in Mt. Pleasant was organized in 1816 by Rev. Jacob Dowell, who then had charge of the Connellsville circuit. For about sixteen years the Methodists worshipped in private houses, mostly in an old log house that stood on Church street, and in a brick house which succeeded it. The first building owned by the Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1832 on a lot on East Main street. They occupied this for twenty-four years, and built a more substantial house in 1856, which was remodeled in 1892 and a pipe organ added. The congregation of Mt. Pleasant was attached to other con- gregations in the neighborhood, after the custom of early Methodism, for fifty- seven years, but in 1873 became a separate charge, with Rev. Dr. Samuel Wakefield as its pastor. The custom adopted by the church as to its pastors makes it impossible in the limited space allotted us to give them.
The Presbyterian congregation is the oldest one in Mt. Pleasant, dating back to 1774, at which time, as we have said, their place of worship was at Mid -. dle Church, two miles northwest of the present town. The first preaching place of the Presbyterians in the village was established by Rev. Patterson, while he was pastor of the Middle Church in 1825. Both he and his successors served both the Middle Church and the congregation in Mt. Pleasant, the latter re- ceiving one evening sermon every alternate Sunday. In 1870, however, the corner stone of the Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant was laid, and on Sep- tember Ist, 1872, the present church building, costing about $21,000, was dedicated. It is known now as the Reunion Presbyterian Church, and has a membership of two hundred and twenty-five. The list of pastors since it was separated from the Middle Church is: Revs. McMillen, Finney, Jenkins, El- liott, and D. M. Lyle, the present pastor. In 1904 a large pipe organ was placed in the church.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church was established in 1869, with Rev. Enoch Smith, twenty members, and with Rev. Dr. Estep as pastor. Immediately suc- ceeding Rev. Estep came William Shadrack. The successive pastors after Rev. Shadrack were James Estep, Rev. Rockefeller, Isaac Wynn, Simon Sigfried,
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Milton Sutton, John Parker, W. A. Caldwell, T. R. Taylor, W. W. Hickman, B. F. Woodburn, G. A. Ames, Leroy Stephens. They built their first house of worship in 1830, and a new one on Main street in 1868, which is still in use by them.
The first congregation of the German Reformed Church was organized in College Chapel, in March of 1864, with Rev. J. A. Peters as pastor. He was succeeded in 1869 by Rev. J. H. Heller, who in 1872 gave place to Rev. D. B. Lady. From 1864 until 1871 the congregation worshipped in College Chapel; from 1871 to 1872 in the Bunker Hill schoolhouse; and in 1872 they built a church building on East Main street, which served until a few years ago, when a better structure was erected. In 1884 they built a substantial church on Main street.
The Western Pennsylvania Classical and Scientific Institute was founded in 1849 by the United Brethren, under the corporate name of Westmoreland College, who erected a brick building suitable to their purposes. The school prospered reasonably well for some years, when it passed into the hands of the Reformed Church, by whom it was conducted under its original charter. It then became a Presbyterian school. In 1871 the Baptist denomination secured an act incorporating a school at Mt. Pleasant under the name given above. They then purchased the buildings and grounds of the Westmoreland College for $10,000. They erected a new building and opened it for students in 1873. Its first president was Rev. A. K. Bell, D. D., who was succeeded in 1879 by Rev. Leroy Stephens. The buildings have a very beautiful surrounding of forest trees overlooking the town and country, and in full view of Chestnut Ridge.
The First National Bank of Mt. Pleasant was organized in 1864, the first in Westmoreland county to take advantage of the benefits of the act creating national banks. The other banks doing business at Mt. Pleasant are the Farmers' and Merchants' National Bank ; the Citizens' National Bank, and the Exchange Bank. The last named is a private concern organized in 1901, with Julius Richman at its head.
Brice Bros. Co., manufacturers of glass at Mt. Pleasant, established their business in 1896 with but one furnace, and in 1898 added another. They make light blown tumblers, and a variety of tableware, and barroom goods. They occupy a large brick building, and employ six hundred persons. The plant now covers three and one-half acres, and is easily the leading industry of the place. It was incorporated in 1896, with A. H. Brice as president. The Mt. Pleasant Tool Company was incorporated in 1904. They are extensive manufacturers of all kinds of steel shovels. The Pittsburg Brewing Company operate a brewery at this point, which was originally started by Alvah Cochran and others. There is also a small distillery in operation. There are two flouring mills of a good capacity. The only newspaper in Mt. Pleasant is the Journal, a weekly paper. Natural gas is almost universally in use in Mt. Pleasant. It is supplied by the Fayette Fuel and Gas Company.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Mount Pleasant Memorial Hospital was opened to the public on January I, 1904. It is a fine modern equipped institution, under the present management of Jessie M. Durston. At the death of an old resident of the place, Jacob Jus- tice, it was found that his will provided for a fund to maintain a free dispensary in Mt. Pleasant, and from this grew up the hospital idea. Home donations and an appropriation from the state of Pennsylvania made it possible to buy their fine building. Those without means to pay for treatment are served before others are admitted, this being the condition on the part of the state in making the appropriation.
1
CHAPTER XXXVIII
North Huntingdon Township .- Irwin Borough.
North Huntingdon was not only an original township, organized April 6, 1773, but it was the parent township of both the others bearing the same name, with the prefixes East and South. It is situated on the main line of the Penn- sylvania railroad, and has stations at Manor, Irwin, Larimer, Carpenter and at Trafford City. The principal stream of water is Brush Creek, which flows through the township, a stream famous in our earlier history. It was larger formerly than now, and the first mills in the western part of cur county were built on its banks. The entire eastern portion of North Huntingdon township contains an abundance of bituminous coal, which has been the chief industry of the township for the last thirty or forty years. This coal is a part of the fa- mous Pittsburgh seam. The principal town in the township is the borough of Irwin. Smaller places in addition to those named above are Jacksonville, Cir- cleville, Stewartsville and Robbins' Station.
Up until 1852, when the Pennsylvania railroad was built, the chief industry was agriculture. Since then it has been one of the leading townships in the county in the production of coal. The first settlement in North Huntingdon township was made shortly after Pontiac's war. Among the early settlers were the Marchands, Studebakers, Whiteheads, Saams, Sowashes, Harrolds, Millers, Kunkles, Larimers, etc. They were mostly of German extraction.
Colonel John Irwin and his brother James were among the earliest settlers, and the progenitors of the well-known Irwin family, one of whom in after years founded the town of Irwin. Colonel John Irwin was associate judge of West- moreland county in an early day. Upon his arrival in Westmoreland county he traded with the Indians, and later took up a large tract of land, including that on which the borough of Irwin now stands.
Shortly after the Irwins there came a large number of Scotch-Irish Presby- erians who settled along Brush Creek, and to the north of that stream. Among these were the McCormicks, Osbornes, Boyds, Sloans, Coulters, Ew- ings, Greens, Wilsons, Larimers, Hindmans, Marshalls, Simpsons, Duffs,
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Corrys, Grays, Temples, and others. Many of these did not come until after the close of the Revolutionary war, but all of them were there prior to 1796.
Mathias Cowan is entitled to the honor of being the first settler of the town- ship. He was married to a Miss Gray, and came to Westmoreland county in a covered cart, in which they lived until he had built his log cabin in the wilder- ness. Not long after their arrival his brother-in-law, Abner Gray, was captured by the Indians and taken into captivity. Thomas Marshall, very early in the history of the township, located on lands that were afterwards owned by Col- onel McFarland. There were two blockhouses in the township. One was on the farm lately owned by John Gaut, and the other on land owned by Britnel Rob- bins, who was an ancestor of Joseph Robbins, its present owner.
The Long Run Presbyterian Church was organized under the supervision of the Red Stone Presbytery, about 1790. Its present edifice is of brick, and was built in 1865. Near by is the graveyard, and these are a few of the names, with the dates of birth and death, which may be deciphered from the mossy headstones: Catherine Gregory, died December 18, 1833, aged 92. George Miller, died November 11, 1843, aged 86. Sarah Marchand Scull, died June 8, 1845, born March 1, 1819. John Scull, died February 8, 1828, aged 63. Robert Taylor, died August 6, 1824, aged 84. John McCurdy, died May 12, 1825, aged 54. James Cowan, died October 11, 1826, aged 54. Mathew Cowan died December 25, 1819, aged 84. William Larimer died September 18, 1838, aged 67. His wife Martha died January 13, 1798, aged 27. Anne Lari- mer, second wife of William Larimer, born May 8, 1783, died August 23, 1853. James Cavett, born June 7, 1778, died February 22, 1872, aged 94 years. Jacob Cort, died October 13, 1853, aged 47. Catharine Hufnagle, died February 21, 1843, aged 80. George Kennedy, died 1841, aged 70. John Boyd, died May- 18, 1840, aged 78. Charles Stewart, died July 2, 1836, aged 62. Robert Mar- shall, died January 28, 1829, aged 63. Daniel Wattirs, died July 8, 1838, aged 51. Rev. Christopher Hodgson, born September 12, 1811, died March 25, 1874. William Caldwell, Sr., died December 7, 1872, aged 79. John Cooper, died 1820, aged 84. Jane Cooper, his wife, died 1793, aged 43. Ben- jamin Byerly, born May 15, 1791, died January 3, 1864.
Bethel Church, a United Presbyterian organization, was founded in 1796 and 1797, and was the third of its denomination in the county. The first log edifice was replaced in 1836 by a building which stood until 1881, when the present structure was erected. Its first pastor was Matthew Henderson.
The Reformed Church was organized in this township in 1853, a few months before the town of Irwin was laid out. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Irwin was organized in 1874, by Rev. A. H. Bartholomew.
The First Presbyterian Church of Irwin was organized in 1870, by Rever- ends Carothers and Harbison, with about forty members and four ruling elders. For long years previous the place had been used as an outpost of Long Run Church, in the Red Stone Presbytery. As the Presbyterians in that community
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
increased, the cry for a church nearer home resulted in the organization above referred to.
The Methodist Episcopal congregation was formed in 1859, by Rev. W. P. Blackburn as first pastor. Originally it was only a circuit appointment, but is now a station of the Pittsburg Conference, with a large membership.
The United Presbyterian congregation of Irwin was organized October 17, 1874, from a part of Bethel congregation, Bethel being situated about two and one-half miles southwest of Irwin. The church edifice was erected in 1868.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception ( Roman Catholic) of Irwin is a substantial brick structure with the priest's residence and frame school building adjoining. Before its erection Catholic services were held in the schoolhouse and at private dwellings.
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