USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 122
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A. J. Klingenwith.
Alexander Welsh.
Gesper Klingenwwith. Reuben Klingensmith.
J. H. Young.
Israel Kopple. Hoary Kline.
Amos Kline.
COMPANY E.
Capt., David Kerr; Ist lieut., J. 8. Marshall; 2d Heat, J. A. Blair; Let sorgt., Johnston Glems.
T. Thornton. D. W. Shaw.
David Watson. Thompson Miller.
Corporals.
J. C. Walker.
J. D. Townsend.
Jacob Wilson.
C. Hagerman.
Musicians.
H. D. T. Reed.
Jacob Snyder.
Privates.
R. M. Alcorn.
Elias Beighley. Giles Butterfield.
J. J. Adair.
Matthias Clawson.
O. J. Clawson. John Dunn.
Thomas Dunn.
James Daugherty.
Sampel Fell
8. H. Furgeson.
J. B. Greer.
James Alcora. D. C. Blair. John Bowman. Jacob Bowman. Abraham Bowman. William Descom. Joseph Beales. H. L. Borts. 82
J. H. Wiley. H. M. Clements.
William Jones. John Haney.
Jonah Amalong.
John Montgomery.
W. J. Miller.
Joseph 8. McQuaid.
Thomas McQuaid.
James Dum. William Dickey. J. M. Elliott. William Fulmer.
A. J. Talmer.
John Gresa. J. C. Gourley. J. C. Graham.
8. H. HIL. D. T. Harvey. L. D. Hitty. T. M. Humes.
Robert Johnston.
John Voun.
Jeremiah Walton.
N. C. Young.
George R. Young.
William Shaw. W. 8. McLoughlin. Michael Alcorn: James Nealy.
Bergeanta.
494 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
M. L. Kelly.
Wilson McClaney. Samuel McConnell.
Christopher Collier.
J. J. Painter.
Peter Darle.
H. H. Palater.
S. B. O. Everett.
Z. P. Pool.
Thomas Malberia.
John Sawyer.
I. P. Fallwood. David Powell.
O. K. Tunk. Lavi Portser.
Besben Fightner.
Simon Peters.
Cyrus Gross.
Oliver Ragh.
8. P. HIL. Lesac Rhoades.
Johneton Hill.
Reaben Reamer.
Paul Heary.
Noah Sheffer.
W. H. Heary.
Joseph Sbotta.
H. G. Birst. J. C. Steiner.
Wilson Haya.
George Sincely.
A. D. Harmas.
Joseph Shoemaker.
8. L. Jelly.
Albert Shaft.
Samuel Lowery. D. O. Turney.
J. A. Marchasd.
C. K. Tarney.
Corporels.
J. M. Johnston.
J. A. Johnston. George W. Smith.
William Bates. St. Clair Wineland.
J. J. Berger.
Alphess Hibben. Dameel Deker.
E. W. Smith.
John Nolen.
Jacob Weaver.
Jacob Oboura.
Morman Young.
1. 8. Oboura.
George R. Young.
Henry Bomart.
T. H. Moore.
Privates.
W. C. Armour.
Cornelius Moore.
James Armor.
John McCartney. Joba MoCracken.
A. O. Bell.
Alexander McLain.
David Baldridge. George Berger.
John T. MeKelvey.
Joseph Bowsart.
H. T. Moore.
Jobs Brinker.
William Mayers.
John Braden.
J. H. Moore.
Elias Brest.
John MoCracken.
Charles Bird.
Robert Mott.
T. C. Pollock.
J. H. Seroggs. John Deker.
Ourporals.
Samuel Peoples.
J. T. Ambross.
B. R. Lowry. William Robbins.
J. A. Mickey.
W. P. Martin.
Frederick Kissel. T. A. Seaton.
Joseph Try.
Samuel Try.
J. W. Griffith.
Samuel Shields.
James Gallagher.
J. M. Simpson.
J. W. Ambrose.
Samuel Low. .
George E. Armour. Jobn Mathist.
William Aldrich.
Solomon Murdoch.
William Boweer.
Imac Marker.
Thomas Bales.
Porter McClune:
John Beam.
J. W. Mcfarland.
H. O. Bell.
Godfrey McDowell. Hiram McDowell.
C. A. Campbell.
Robert Piper.
Harrison Charne.
Samuel L. Peterson.
J. C. Ewing.
C. H. Penrod.
Roes Grimth.
Samuel Pollock.
J. M. Hurr.
B. R. Robb.
Jacob Horner.
Noah Serena.
Abraham Howard.
J. E. Smith.
Jacob Horner.
Samuel Slater. William Spoonhollow.
Francis Hess.
Robert Tranger.
John Irwin.
J. W. Thompson.
J. M. JODes.
William Wagner.
J. C. Koffer.
Benjamin Yealy.
John Kibble.
ROSTER OF COMPANY I, FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT STATE MILITIA.
W. D. Cherry.
Samuel Loughner.
Capt., William Saner ; 1st lieut., D. R. Cook; 2d lieut., J. M. Campbell; lst sergt., I. W. Danshane.
Banford Beard.
W. B. Adair. Amor Armbrest. Henry Allshouse.
H. Y. Brady. J. B. Bear.
8. P. Baker.
Allan Buzzard.
J. M. Moor. 8. P. Reed.
R. J. Walker. J. H. Sloan.
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Digitized by
Capt., Z. P. Bierer; Ist Lieut., A. M. Felton; 2d Heut., P. K. Faulk ; 1st sergt, J. M. LAird.
Sergeanta.
M. G. McCall.
a. T. Mitchell.
W. J. Row. R. B. Patterson.
Corporals.
Levi Cline.
H. H. McCormick. E. E. Habrunk.
John Leasure. A. W. Loucks
J. A. Watterson.
R. 8. Minthall.
J. B. O. Cowan,
Musicians.
Christopher Wineland.
James Welch.
David Laughery.
Joseph Wattemburg.
Robert MeLain.
William Wright
ROSTER OF COMPANY O, FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT STATE MILITIA.
Bergeonte.
Irwin Horrell.
.
W. L. Dk. H. H. Berita.
A. Bouraler.
a. W. Crow.
Justus Pershing.
Webster Cochran.
Lewis Roes.
D. L. Dr.
Joseph Retler.
Thomas Richardson.
Peter Diok. David Davis. Benjamin Geiger.
J. M. Smith.
William Hunter.
Jacob Shanedalt.
William Keyser.
T. V. Swarttown.
8. P. Keys.
Nobemiah Thomas.
George Taylor.
H. B. Kennedy. J. M. Long. John Lonergan.
Joseph Nichols.
J. W. Mcladire.
H. H. Walthour.
Jacob Messb.
Franklin Wiee.
John Mckeever.
Dalsor Walters
Musicians.
Adam Ohr.
COMPANY D, FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT STATE MILITIA.
2d Lieut. Josiah Henderson. Some men were also in this company from Westmoreland.
ROSTER OF COMPANY F. FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT STATE MILITIA.
Capt., John O'Hara ; Ist Heut., W. H. Lowry ; 2d Heut., H. A. Miner; Lastsorgt; Heman MeKelvey.
Bargeants.
H. F. Keener. E. M. Taylor.
A. J. Bomsart. J. G. Lawson.
John 8. Maris.
Themes A. Walker.
James McClelland.
COMPANY A, FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT STATE MILITIA. Lat Lieut. Jobs Hill.
COMPANY I, FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT STATE MILITIA. Capt., John Oursler; Let Lieute., M. V. B. Harding (pro. to adjt.), MI Cham- bers; 2d lieut., Micholes Brideathall ; Ist sorgt., Benjamin Moore.
J. W. Langhla.
Him Mark.
William Paschall
Privates.
Bergeants.
John Horner.
John Brady.
Jobs Boxman.
I. F. Mccall. Augustus Vogel.
495
John G. Mclain.
Hugh Mckeever.
W. R. Stewart. Samuel Stewart.
J. H. McLoughlin.
J. C. Walker.
James Rom.
J. R. Wilson.
William Reed.
John 8. Welty.
T. B. Sproall.
J. M. Willgard.
Michael Sang.
D. H. Walter.
FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Adjutant, R. A. Henderson.
COMPANY A. Capt, W. R. Ford ; let lieut., B. A. Henderson (pro. to adjt.); 2d liout., Alezander Craig; Ist vergt., R. H. Bruce.
A. S. Hamilton. Robert Graham.
George Cunningham. Casper Adams.
Corporals.
W. A. Gray.
William Jellison.
Robert deott.
William Uncapher. Samuel Cribbs.
John Coleman.
Israel Hickman.
Musician George E. Foot.
Privates.
Elijah Akeri.
Frederick Jellison.
Ambrose Brown.
Milton Kirkwood.
Thomas Belle.
Daniel Keefe.
G. M. Boyle.
W. D. Lucas.
James Brennan.
C. G. Lose.
Charles Cribbe.
Leander Lynch.
Christopher Clawson.
A. C. Long.
Jobn Cribbe.
5. D. Layton.
Thomas Campbell.
James Murray.
8. D. Cribbe.
William McCormick.
G. C. Craig.
Edward McFadden.
George Cunningham, Jr.
Matthew Mcfadden.
J. G. Devinney.
James McClensban.
J. M. Dayton.
James McGrath.
Martin Doran.
J. M. Orr.
J. B. Dalby.
G. W. Perry.
Joseph Eshbaugh.
Matthias Palmer.
Joseph Fance.
A. A. Palmer.
Jesse Gray.
C. W. Palmer.
J. A. Howard.
J. R. Porter (pro. to colonel July 8, 1883).
Thomas Robinson.
John Shea.
David Ranton.
Robert Smith.
8. P. Repine.
J. R. Torrance.
William Redman.
Thomas Thompson.
John Rager.
Robert Wiley.
Andrew Rahl.
Milton Wiley.
D. W. Spires.
G. D. Wilkinson.
ROSTER OF COMPANY H, FIFTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Capt., George Richie; Ist lieut., W. H. Lawson ; 2d Heut., C. QQDoog- lass; lat sergt., J. W. Shoemaker.
Sergeants.
Henry Banghman. E. G. Kennedy.
J. R. Powell. David Markle.
Corporals.
W. M. Eckley.
Amzi Smith.
Joseph Hamilton. John Clendennin. S. D. Smith.
Thomas Finney. J. P. Hamilton.
Frank Beezle.
Privates.
Oliver Allen.
J.8. Campbell.
Uriah Bliss.
James Carpenter.
James Beam.
James Deeds.
W. D. Blackburn.
Theodore Evans.
Henry Bankafett.
S. L. Foot.
William Brindle.
Simon Greenawalt.
James Batton.
James Hixsenbangh.
James Collina.
Malcolm Haggerty.
Digitized by
.
Wilson Lewis. Theaus Mewherter. Alexander Connom. 8. D. MoConnell.
Josiah Dougherty.
W. G. Estley.
Privates.
John Anderson.
Frank Anderson.
James Monroe. Henry McBride. Lewis Mcfarland. James McClellen.
Robert McKee.
John O'Neal.
. William Peloz. Michael Prugh.
Jobn Patebell.
Thomas Pascull.
R. J. Patterson.
Stephen Peundz.
Alexander Swener.
James George.
G. D. Gorley. Lewis Helmen. Joseph Henceley. William Haslett. James Johnstone.
William Jennings. Gasse! Jack.
James Spoonboller.
John Lewis.
H. C. Sesnor.
E. 8. Torrence.
James Lattimer. James Morgan. Thomas Mulherren.
R. H. Williams.
J. 8. Marts.
J. McWallace.
BOSTER OF COMPANY K, FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT STATE MILITIA.
Capt., D. W. Townsend; Ist Heut., James C. Hawk; 2d lieut., Levi Sha- Ber; let sorgt., A. B. Copeland.
Bergeants.
William Park ..
James Given,
W. W. Crook. T. M. Boal.
Corporals.
A. H. Wylie. David Vantine. H. C. Beacom. Adam Hetrick. Musician Samuel Nelson.
J. A. Armstrong. M. B. Crooks.
Archibald Dodds.
Privates.
8. 8. Armstrong.
J. T. Armstrong-
Joseph Dugan. John Dougherty.
James Elder. James Fryer.
Samuel Ferguson. William Garrett.
Levi Gumbert.
George Armstrong.
8. I. Hill.
A. J. Hankle.
Jacob Hank. T. 8. Irwin.
T. M. Johnston.
Hugh Jamison.
William Brisbine.
Cyrus Kepple.
J. A. Logan, pro. to quarter-mas- ter sergeant.
Y. M. Ludwig.
J. M. Hosted.
J. C. Muller.
R. B. Mecherny.
James McGeary.
Robert McCrum.
James C. McGeary.
APPENDICES.
Corporels.
Samuel Foster. William Wark man. Joseph Laughlin. J. H. Machesney.
Frank Boyle. Dennis Barnes. W. H. Couch. John Congriff. Orlando Craig. James Cox.
John Cook.
John Brown. William Case. M. Danbollia. Samuel Doreman. Michael Goldon.
Abram Sindorf. William Sindorf
George Bimons. Philip Serena.
William Serene.
Thomas Snodgrass. William Shields.
John M. Stewart.
Fullerton White.
David Alter, pro. to hos. steward. Joseph Alter. David Alter. Matthew Aver. J. B. Alexander. .
Andrew Boseland. John Beacom. William Bescom. J. A. Barnett John Best.
Thomas Bain. J. D. Cole. Thomas Blair. R. A. Copeland. T. B. Clemens. Johnston Caddy. Calvin Clementa. James Dougherty. William Dunn.
Bergeants.
George Marshall.
496 HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Jeseph Hutchinson.
James Patterson.
R. W. Mardis.
James C. MeMullen.
A. G. Martin.
John Neil.
Theodore Henter.
Also Repperd.
Archibald Matthews. Marsball Reed.
George Hunter.
Randolph Reynolds.
Adam Mangus. E. J. Rood.
D. D. Krippe.
Daniel Shoaf.
Michael McCulloch.
J. C. Shrom.
Poter Kobas.
Albert Siegfried.
Samuel Mccurdy.
Samuel Tewell.
James Lawis.
Casper Stormer.
Samuel McCane.
John Tittle.
Pierson Lace.
William Spratt.
J. H. Locker.
Albert Sykes.
Oserge W. Marthe.
William Swer.
W. B. MeElroy.
Jobn Wadsworth.
D. F. McClelland.
W. M. Wallace.
J. P. MeKelvey.
Stephen Walker.
John B. MeMasters.
Peter Winebrenner.
DICK'S DIDEPENDENT CAVALRY COMPANY. Was mastered in July 9, 1983, and diecharged October 3. Capt., William B. Dick; Ist livat, James Loar ; 24 lieut, O. J. Greer; let sorgt., H. O. Tintaman.
Stewart Whitehill
O. P. Shape.
Bera Ebersole.
W. J. Hitchmas.
J. J. Fox.
William Van Wymer.
Corporels.
Imac Steafkr.
William Woodcock.
T. M. Davis.
James Love.
John Byers.
D. P. Braat.
O. B. Robertoca.
Imac Sherrick.
Dagler, George Eitherweed,
Privata
8. L. Anderson.
D. W. Kelster.
C. D. Altman.
David Keough.
W. E. Andrew.
Samuel Loucks.
Heary Drinker.
Pressley Laviagar.
Ladwick Barrone.
A. S. L.mas.
John Bryan.
Heary Loveer.
Samuel Bertha.
Jacob May.
W. L. Braat.
John Moore.
J. T. Amtraw.
David Try.
J. A. Boyer.
John MeNally.
Lampeon Burk holder.
8. M. Otto.
H. D. Campbell.
W. J. Robertosa.
Jonathan Biter.
William Henderson.
Andrew Robertson.
J. C. Blair.
John Hees.
R. A. Cunningham.
Amos Stadort.
William Cunningham.
J. I. Harrell.
Eli Crosby.
John B. Sheppard.
W. J. Campbell.
James Halferty.
Cyrus Cole.
Reuben Sherrick.
William Dinsmore.
C. W. Swartz.
C. A. Ebersolo.
B. K. Solliday.
James Ellis.
Jacob Sheets.
Martin Decker.
8. R. Huston.
X. L. Try.
J. M. Smitley.
John Decker.
Amos Johnston.
J. W. Fox.
Lseac F. Stomer.
J. W. Decker.
J. A. Jones.
A. L. Fry.
D. W. Shups.
J. P. Deitrich.
C. A. Krigger.
. . d. Fonk.
B. F. Simpson.
Gregory De Witt.
M. P. Krepp.
B. F. Harkons.
James Scott.
W. D. Felton.
Henry Lope.
T. G. Hodge.
Jobs P. Tarr.
Bomsel Findley.
D. A: Lawson.
George W. Hough.
John WeltreL
David Felton.
E. W. Leohart.
James Irwin.
William H. H. Wolf.
Digitized by
J. H. Blair.
Immee Tewell.
D. Miorwronger.
R. H. Raney.
J. A. Ambros
Asher Campbell.
Bıyin.
H. G. Young.
J. M. Mitchell.
Farrier, J. &. Morris Becksmith, H. M. Wissa.
Sergeants.
Daniel Igo.
Heary Bartoa. James I. Roms.
J. H. Porting. J. W. Smith.
Corporek.
8. M. Kennedy.
J. D. Bryan.
W. B. Milligan.
Bennett Von Kirk.
Alexander Milligan.
Jobb Webster.
8. L. McGrew.
John Winkler.
George Newell.
Marion Waltz
W. B. Patterson.
Joseph Young.
T. M. Patterson.
INDEPENDENT CAVALRY BATTALION. COMPANY B. Capt., George H. Murphy; Ist Hout, Calbertson Ramsey; M Heat., John W. Grabem; let sorgt., Hugh McCame; war. corgt., Samuel Meliroy ; com. bergt, John W. Graham.
Oyrus Markle.
John Stewart.
J. B. Milligan.
George Smith.
A. C. MeDowell. Frederick Ulery.
Daniel McDowell.
Jobn Cpdegraff.
Abraham Bennett.
John Try.
George Bartoa.
M. A. Graham.
Ell Crouse.
J. A. Campbell, G. W. Carmes. W. H. Covode.
Jobn Heston.
Robert Heston.
Francis Hicks.
John Hoey.
Joseph Pinkerton.
LOCAL HISTORY OF BOROUGHS AND TOWNSHIPS.
GREENSBURG.
DURING THE LAST CENTURY.
FOR some years after the end of the Revolution, Western Pennsylvania increased in population and in wealth as it had never increased before. The emi- gration about 1787 and 1788 was accounted remark- able. Whole colonies left the New England States and began settlements together in the Northwest Ter- ritory. Many, indeed, stopped in these parts. There were inducements offered here to those who could buy land such as were better than those offered in the West. The lands were cheap and partly improved. The holders of them were anxious to sell that they themselves might repurchase at cheaper rates. Thus the class which came in was well prepared to add to the material wealth, and to put new life in those who had been wearied out by toil and watching. These people brought with them their own stock ; and their horses and cattle, their hogs and sheep, as well as their agricultural implements, were far ahead of anything common to this country. It was also remarked that at about this time laboring men first began to be paid their wages in current money. This money, too, had a value, for they did not handle the Continental paper, which was necessary to be shifted off at a nominal value by those who were so unfortunate as to hold it.
On the 24th of September, 1788, Allegheny County was organized out of parts of Westmoreland and Wash- ington Counties. About this time Greensburg bad the nucleus of a bar. The town, from all accounts, improved during those years rapidly. In the last year of the se- dition (1794) there is much correspondence dated from Greensburg; and here the United States commissioners stopped for some time taking testimony and making their report. A small body of troops was quartered near the town during the last winter. Some of the old citizens then first came to notice, Within the few years immediately following that notoriety the popu- lation was further increased, and among those who came in were some of the most prominent families.
In 1799 it was incorporated, and contained possibly between four hundred and five hundred souls.
Up to 1786 there was no collection of houses worthy the name of town in all Western Pennsylvania, un- less we except the town of Pittsburgh. In 1784 an arrangement was made to lay out the manor of Pitts- burgh into town lots and sell them without delay. In 1786 the number of houses there was estimated at one hundred, and the population at about five hundred. Previous to this there were no buildings outside the fort, only the few straggling huts occupied by soldiers and mechanics. There were, it is said, five stores there at that time, and it was, as is well known, the only important commercial place in the West, such as it was. Uniontown, which had been laid out by Henry Beeson at a very early day, but at that time but a sorry place, was known as Beeson's Town as late as 1794. In 1796 they built their court-house and market-house. Brownsville, the Old Redstone, was laid out in 1785. At that date there were perhaps several stores there. But in all the remaining por- tion of the western part, and especially in Westmore- land, there was no place where there was a cluster of more than a dozen houses. A place with some pre- tensions, named Port Royal, on the Youghiogheny, had been laid out in squares and streets, and lots sold. One of the streets was called Washington Street, and there was at the time some expectation of its becoming a considerable place, but for years it proved to be only a city of magnificent distances. Robbstown, the name by which West Newton was long known and which was but another name for John Simerall's ferry, was a more promising place than any other of these, being at the head of flat- boat navigation on the Yough, and consequently a point for emigrants and shipping.
SELECTION AS SEAT OF JUSTICE.
In an act of Assembly passed on the 13th of Sep- tember, 1785, it was recited that whereas a seat of
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
justice for the county of Westmoreland had not there- tofore been established by law, for want of which the inhabitants labored under great inconveniences, to remedy which it was enacted that it should be lawful for Benjamin Davis, Michael Rugh, John Shields, John Pomroy, and Hugh Martin, or any three of them, to purchase, in the name of the Commonwealth, a piece of land in trust for the inhabitants of the said county ; and by the act it was provided that the said piece of land should not be situate farther east than the Nine-Mile Run, nor farther west than Bushy Run, farther north than Loyalhanna, nor farther south than five miles south of the Old Pennsylvania road leading to Pittsburgh ; on which piece of ground the said commissioners should erect a court-house and a prison sufficient to accommodate the public service of the county.
These trustees had much trouble and waited long until the report of the majority of them was finally taken off their hands and made stable by the un- altered law of the land. The settlement about the future county town at that time had some influential men in it; among them were those of the Jack family, Col. Christopher Truby, and Michael Rugh (whose land adjoined that of the other two). Besides this, the new road, which left Hannastown to the north, precluded the possibility of that place from being again reported favorably upon. The fact of the courts being held there as long as they were was but a makeshift. From the time of the first report it had met with outspoken opposition ; and since the close of the war it was, even after the formation of Fayette on the south of the county, far from the centre of the county, as it remained, either in population or in location.
At this juncture the three men aforementioned laid their heads together. By an article of agreement witnessed the 10th day of December, 1785,1 Chris-
1 ARTICLE OF AGREENEST MADE AND CONCLUDED ON BETWEEN CHRIS- TOPHER THUBY AND WILLIAM JACK OF THE ONE PART AND BENJAMIN DAVIS, MICHAEL ROUGH, AND HOCH MARTIN, ESQUIRES, JUSTICES FOR THE COUNTY OF WESTMORELAND, WITH MSSTK :
.That the maid Christopher Truby and William Jack doth hereby grant, bargain, and soll unto the maid Benjamin Davis, Michael Rough, and Hugh Martin, Trustees, a certain piece of land situate and being in Hempfield township, on the North Branch of Sewickley, containing two acres, for the use of erecting a court-house and prison, for the considera- tion of sixpence lawful money of the State of Pennsylvania to us in hand paid, the receipt we do hereby acknowledge [and] ourselves fully satisfied; and the said Christopher Truby and William Jack doth hereby bind themselves, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns to make clear patent free from encumbrance to the mid Benjamin Davis, Michael Rough, and Hugh Martin, Trustees, or their successors, and the mid Christopher Traby and William Jack do hereby promise the said trustees to lay out a certain quantity of land for the use of a county town containing dirty seres, viz. : Running thence south twenty cast 106 perches, south forty-three east 80 perches, north seventy-five cest 40 perches, and north four and one-half north 135 perches to a post south Sealed and delivered in the presence of ! WILLIAM MOGEE. seventy-five west to the place of beginning. And to allow the inbab- itants of said town free incourse and recourse to the North Branch and Recorded in Book " B," p. 287. West Branch at certain places, as the mid trustees shall think proper, " Sloan and Pomroy were Hanna's men. and to any injury to the bottom on maid waters, and the mid Christopher Traby sad William Jack doth hereby promise to sell the mid Lot [a] of | excise-man," Graham (see Chapter XXXVII).
topher Truby and William Jack conveyed to Benjamin Davis, Michael Rugh, and Hugh Martin,' trustees, as mentioned, for the nominal consideration of a six- pence, two acres of land for the use of erecting a court- house and prison for the county ; and they promised the trustees to lay out a certain quantity of land con- taining sixty acres on the North and West Branches of the Sewickley, the site of Greensburg, for the use of a county town. They also allowed the inhabitants of the town free incourse and recourse to the North and West Branches at such places as the trustees should think proper. They likewise promised to sell the lots of ground for the new town at the rate of forty-five shillings per lot.
By an act of the 27th of December, 1786, the powers given to the commissioners by the act first mentioned and the acts of 26th February, 1778, and 22d March, 1784, to purchase land and erect thereon the public buildings, were superseded until the Legislature should further otherwise direct. The superseding act was then in order repealed by an act of the 14th February, 1789, and the sale of the lots of ground confirmed. By this they were empowered to assess and levy a tax on the people of the county not to exceed one thousand pounds, Pennsylvania currency.
The commissioners therefore reported in favor of this place, then called Newton, being a town, so to say, " without any houses." It was, however, a close .' settlement and had a cluster of houses, one of which for certain was the old tavern stand which stood there before the time of Simon Drum, Sr., and which was occupied afterward by him.' The election act of 1786 recited that whereas the commissioners had fixed that the courts should thereafter be holden at Greens- burg, otherwise Newton, it, declared that thereafter the people of the Fifth Election District of the county, who had till then voted at Hannastown, should vote at the court-house at Greensburg.
FIRST COURT, ETC.
The last court held at Hannastown was the October term of 1786, and the first court held at Greensburg was the January term of 1787. The court-house, so called, preceding what is usually known as the "Old" court-house, was a small brick building, situate upon the same lot, and afterward occupied for some of the county offices. By an act of Assembly passed about 1790 all the counties that did not have such public buildings as were intended in the act were to build
ground at the rate of forty-five shillings per lot, and we do hereby bind ourselves in the penalty of two thousand pounds for the true perform- ance of the above agreement as witness our hands and seals the tenth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five. CHRISTOPHER TRUBY. [SKAL] WILLIAM JACK.
" In 1785 " the devil" came to this house "to dance away wi' the
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GREENSBURG.
court-houses and jails of brick or of stone. The old court-house was not finished, we believe, till at least after the Whiskey Insurrection, 1797. The comple- tion of the building, as has reasonably been inferred, was retarded by the troubles of that time.
In 1789, Greensburg had a " May-pole" standing in the centre of the then village, on the road to Puckety. Simon Drum built his brick house in 1808. James Clark, a wheelwright by trade, kept tavern in 1790. Ludwig Ottoman was here in 1790, and in 1795 among the residents were Mrs. Priscilla Coulter, Thomas Hamilton, Peter Harbaugh, and Simon Drum.
C. H. Stark tore down (in 1874) his stone dwelling, long known as one of the oldest and most substantial buildings of the town. It was built in 1796, and used for a hotel for a long time in the days of the rumbling stage and the slow-plodding Conestoga wagons, when fast time from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia was six days. It was an inn where the old farmers and wagoners used to have jolly times. Mr. Stark re- modeled it with an elegant brick addition.
The old Truby and Kuhns families are remembered in the following:
"I do Hereby Cartyi that philiph Come, of Westmoreland County, Hath voluntarily taken and Subscribd the cath Affirmation of allegiance and fidelity as Directed by an act of general assembly of peenSylvana passed the 13th Day of june at 1777, witness my hand and Seal the 1 Day of June at 1778.
"Camargo's Tauaz."
GREENSBURG IN THE OLDEN TIME.
The first tolerable ides we get of the old town of Greensburg dates to a time not farther back than a few years after the beginning of the present century. From a number of reminiscences compared together, and from a few old prints, we can get a glimpse of the metropolis as it existed from about 1805 to 1820. The first census in 1810 gives the population at 685, and that of 1820 at 770. It would appear that the houses of the county town were at first but common struc- tures, most of them log or frame weatherboarded ten- ements. There were a few of the early stone houses, but these did not date so far back; the old banking- house of the Westmoreland Bank, for instance, which was commonly thought to be one of the oldest build- ings of the town, was erected about 1805. The stone part of the house on the northwest corner of West Ot- toman and Depot Streets, which at first was used for a tavern, was built in 1796. Of the old houses, once noted landmarks, nearly all have been remodeled and rebuilt, or altered in such a way that but a part of the original structure now exists. Thus the corner house on Pittsburgh Street and Main Street, oppo- site the court-bouse, known to many old persons yet as the Drum house, contains in its superstructure nothing of the first building ; a part of the foundation walls is said to be the same which supported the old building, perhaps the most historic landmark in the place. This is the house which entertained the com- missioners and United States and State officials during
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