USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 137
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HON. ROBERT STEWART ROBINSON.
Hon. Robert S. Robinson, of North Huntingdon township, is of Scotch descent on his paternal side, both his grandfather, Isaac M. Robinson, and his grandmother, Margaret Moore Robinson, having been born in Scotland. They migrated to America in the latter part of the last century, and located in Alle- gheny County. They were the parents of five chil- dren, of whom Matthew, the father of Robert S., was the second in number. He was born about 1781, be- came a farmer and live-stock dealer and raiser, and died in May, 1838. About 1809-10 he married Miss Rebecca Stewart, daughter of Robert Stewart, at that time and for years thereafter a great mail contractor on the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia turnpike, over which he ran several daily lines of the old-fashioned lumbering stage-coaches of the period. He became a man of wealth, founded Stewartsville in Westmore- land County, and owned a valuable estate in Pitts- burgh. He died about 1850.
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Robinson had eight chil- dren, of whom four are living : Rosanna, the wife of Jacob Bankert, of Westmoreland County ; Isaac M .; on the farm adjoining the one on which he now resides.
In politics Mr. Robinson is a Jeffersonian-Jackson Democrat, but not an extremist. He holds himself as conservative in principle, and while he votes with his party for all good measures, reserves to himself the right to adjudge whether or not a partisan meas- ure ought to command his support. He has held various township offices, which, however, he never sought. In 1880 he was elected to the State Legisla- ture for the term of two years, representing the dis- trict of Westmoreland County, and took his seat in January, 1881. He was assigned to the committees on agriculture, manufactures, elections, and others.
Jan. 25, 1842, he married Miss Ann Jane Ludwic, daughter of Jacob and Nancy Johnson Ludwic, of North Huntingdon township, by whom he has had eight children : Henrietta, wife of Grabel H. Swoap, now residing in Missouri; Matthew, who died in in- fancy ; Cyrus M., at present a coal merchant in Pitts- burgh; Nancy Jane, who became the wife of John R. Christy, of Allegheny County, and is now dead; Re- becca Stewart; William Stewart, married to Emma Beck, of Irwin; Lucien G .; and Florence May, de- ceased.
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ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP.
BOUNDARIES, ETC.
ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP was among the first organ- ized townships in the county, having been erected April 6, 1778, with boundaries as follows :
"Beginning at the mouth of Jacobs Creek, and running down the Youghiogheny to where it joins the Monongahela; then up the maid Monongahela to the mouth of Redstone Creek; and thence with a straight line to the beginning."
The first officers elected in the township were Balt- zer Shilling, constable; Alexander Mitchell and Sam- uel Biggard, overseers of the poor; Eysham Barnes, supervisor.
Other early settlers, beside the first officers above named, were Rev. James Power, the Finleys, George Wendell and his son Peter, the Cunninghams, Ful- lertons, Pinkertons, Housemans, Robertsons, Thomp- sons, Shepler's, Lowreys, Pattersons, Orrs, McClains, Robinsons, Caldwells, Steeles, Wilsons, Smiths, Ei- selles, McClures, Hutchinsons, and others.
The present boundaries of the township are : north by Forward and Elizabeth townships, Allegheny County; south by Washington township, Fayette County ; east by the Youghiogheny ; and west by the Monongahela River.
The principal stream after the two rivers just men- tioned is Saw-Mill Run. This township is much di- versified in its topography, having high and romantic bluffs along the streams, and more or less level land in the interior. There is an abundance of coal and limestone found in the eastern part, and the very best quarries of flagstone in the west, near Webster Post- office.
The first actual settler in the township was Joseph Hill, who came from Winchester (now Westminster), Carroll Co., Md., in 1854. He was then eighteen years old, and had made quite extensive improvement when Braddock's army passed in the summer following (1755). He settled about one mile a little northwest of Rehoboth Church, on lands now owned by the Fishers, Finleys, Frees, Brownellers, and others. His father, also named Joseph Hill, served seven years in the Revolution, and after its close settled in the town- ship near his son.
Before the Revolution the Housemans and Shep- lers came from near Winchester, Md., and settled. Of the latter there were three brothers, viz., Peter, Matthias and Caleb, who located on the Monon- gahela River hills. Matthias Shepler married a daughter of Joseph Hill, the first settler, and had
the following children : John, Philip, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Mary, Margaret, and Catherine, of whom John, Isaac, and Jacob remained in the township, the other sons emigrating West. Isaac married Mary Houseman, and was the father of the venerable Capt. Joseph Shepler.
After Joseph Hill the next actual settlers were George Wendell and his family, who came from Ha- gerstown, Md., in the spring of 1758, and whose set- tlement in the northeastern part of the township is described elsewhere in a sketch of this family.
Among other early pioneers were Joseph Black -. burn, Dr. Bela B. Smith, Col. John Power, James Sterrett, John Steele, Capt. William Elliott, William Robeson, the Pattersons, Nathaniel Hayden, and the Wrights. The two first pastors of Rehoboth Church were Revs. James Power and James Finley. The former was born in 1746, in Chester County, Pa., and left eight daughters, but no sons. Rev. Mr. Finley was born in 1725, in County Armagh, Ireland, and died June 6, 1795, leaving several children, whose nu- merous descendants are still found scattered through- out the township.
AN HISTORIC RECOLLECTION.
The following touching the visit of Lafayette to the United States and his reception in our part of the county is from the Gazette of June 3, 1825:
"On Saturday last, about 10 o'clock A.M., intelligence was received by exprese in this place that Gen. La Fayette would be at the Brick Meet- ing-House in the Forks of Yough at 10 o'clock the following morning. Maj. Alexander, agreeably to a wish communicated through the mes- senger, paraded his artillery company on horseback, and set out at six o'clock with 2 field-pieces. They proceeded eight miles the same even- ing, and on the following morning were joined at Gen. Markle's by a part of Capt. Pinkerton's artillery company with another field-piece. The troops, under the command of Maj. Alexander, together with a number of private citizens from the surrounding country, arrived at Lebanon School-House, adjacent to the Meeting-House, at about 11 o'clock. The three field.pieces were placed on the side of the hill im- mediately back of the school-house. Telegraphs were posted on the surrounding hills, who gave information when the ' Nation's Guest' passed the county line, upon which a salute of 18 guns was fired. In s few minutes the general and suite, escorted by 50 or 60 citizens of Tay- ette County, mounted, arrived. He reviewed the troops, shaking each one cordially by the hand, after which he partook of refreshments pro- vided by Gen. Markle. A number of persons were then introduced, among whom was old Mr. Sterrett, of Rostraver township, who had fought with him at Brandywine. The meeting was an interesting and affecting one. He examined the brass 4-pounder belonging to Maj. Alexander's artillery corps, and mald it was a Spanish piece, but that it was not engaged in the battle of Saratoga, as was generally supposed. He paid his respects to a number of ladies who had assembled to see him, and having got fresh horses in his phaeton, was escorted by the citizens and a part of the military to Beazel's tavern (late Daily's),
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
where refreshments were provided, after partaking of which he pro- ceeded towards Braddock's Fields, accompanied by a concourse of citi- sens of Allegheny County, where he arrived at 4 o'clock in the evening. He retired to his chamber to peruse some letters received from bis family in France, and on Monday morning last entered Pittsburgh.
"It rained very hard a considerable part of the day, which, together with the distance the troops had to travel (22 miles), made them appear to great disadvantage. All, however, passed off well, and each one was pleased with the trip, and the appearance and conduct of the old friend of American independence."
We are pleased to learn that Gen. Lafayette ex- pressed his gratification at Pittsburgh with the re- ception with which he met at Lebanon School-house, in Rostraver township, Westmoreland Co.
THE OLDEST LIST OF TAXABLES
we have seen of the inhabitants of this section made during the Revolution, furnishes the following names and data :
"A return of the Names and Surnames of the Tax- able Inhabitants of the Township of Rostraver and their Taxable property taken by order of the Com- missioners of Westmoreland County by Matthew Jamison Assistant Assessor :
No. of Acres.
Owners' Names.
By Location.
By Improvement.
No. of Houses.
No. of Barnes.
No. of Cabbins.
No. of Horses and Mares.
No. of Horned Cattle.
No. of Sheep.
Grist-Mills.
No. of Gallons.
Offices, Trades, Professions, and Occupations.
No. of Inhabitants.
1
Robt. Jamison ....
75
6
Matt. Jamison, y.m ..
75
40
George Shields .........
115
Wm. Mcknight, y.m ....
115
Henry Westbay.
200
John Hall, y.m ..
Benj. Brown ...
30
......
...
...
3
4
6
9
John Biggart, y.m.
John Maxwell ....
300
1
5
4
3
5
David Findlay ...
......
200 2
1
1.8
10
1
8
5
Joseph Pearce, junr.
285
...
1
4
7
Henry McGlaughlin ...
400 1
Captain. Frontiers, Washing-
ton.
John Dreuan
300
1
2
2
6
5
James Findy
150
1
1
4
6
Jas. Finny and Robert 8mlth.
270
Wm. Smith
300
1
2
5
5
Adam McConnell, y.m.
270
John McConnell, y.m.
100
Adam McConnell, ser
2
2
13
5
Wm. Moore ....
300
B
3
3.10|
6
Luallin Howell
300
1
3
8
4
50
8
Philip Howel, y.m.
Lieut.
Andw. Howel, y.m
Wm. Finny ...
150
1
2
3
Thos. Mortan.
150
B 1
2
13
Captn.
3
Wm. Mortan. Isaac Greer ...
150
1
1 2 2
5
Robt. Walker.
2 2
Weaver.
4
The exact date of the above list of taxables cannot be learned, but it is evident it was made up during
the Revolution. It is noticeable that although there were columns for the number 'of acres of land which were held by deed and by warrant, yet there was no report made of any as so held, but all was returned as held by location or by improvement. In the col- umns for "barns" the figures represent the number of outbuildings, and the letter " B" is used for barns. In the list of occupations, etc., those who are not de- signated are understood to be farmers. The y. m. stand for young men. The proportion of cabins to houses was as Falstaff's sack to his bread.
SCHOOLS.
A school-house was built and occupied for school purposes during the interval from 1780 to 1805. The school was supported by subscription, and the scholars were compelled to go a distance of four or five miles. The teachers were generally incompetent, and ruled with tyranny. This school-house had a straw roof and paper windows. The house that was built in 1805 is still standing near the centre of the township, being the first to have a clapboard roof and glass windows. Its first teacher, G. H. Lower, was from New York, and was a fine scholar. He taught, be- sides the common branches, a class of six for some time in Greek and Latin. He remained quite a while in the township, and created quite an interest in education. In 1812 two more school-houses were erected, one in the northern and the other in the southern part of the township. The latter was deeded by Samuel Burnes for school purposes " as long as water would run or grass grow." Among the leading teachers were Lower, Roberts, and Darr. The schools continued on in the old ruts until the passage of the common school law. Many being opposed, the schools did not succeed very well for some time. Among the first directors were John Power, E. Moore, and P. Rhyal. At this time there were but six houses in the district. The first year after the adoption of the school law two new houses were built, one at Leusty, and the other at Iowa. At this time there were no graded schools, but some of the teachers were capable of teaching higher mathe- matics and the languages. Among the prominent teachers were Eckley, Darr, ex-United States Senator Edgar Cowan, and Douglass. The schools continued to be ungraded until 1873, when the Webster School was divided, and the upper room was taught by Pro- fessor L. P. Smith. In 1866 new houses began to take the places of the old ones, two being built each year, until at present there are fourteen in the township, two being independent, viz., Lagrange and North Belle- vernon. Among the zealous workers for the last ten years are Lowry, McLane, Brown, and others.
ROHOBOTH CHURCH CEMETERY.
Rohoboth Church (Presbyterian) is one of the pio- neer churches of the county. The present edifice, a brick structure, was erected in 1836. Rev. A. F. Boyd
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6
John Logan, y.m
Weaver.
Matt. Mitchell ..
150
1
1
8
4
1
...
Joseph Pearce ....
300
200 1
...
0: 00: 0
Carpenter.
Edward Mitchell
Taylor.
2 7
9
Joseph McClain ...
100
1
1
...
1
Taylor.
4
Lewis Pearce ..
2
2
John Stewart .....
3
...
Edward Jones ...
.... ...
6
4
1
John Pearce.
400
Wm. Drenan
2
Weaver.
3
2
Robt. McConnell
...
1
1
3
3
1
3
Stille.
1
1
...
ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP, WESTMORELAND CO., PA. RESIDENCE OF HORTENSIUS LOWRY,
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ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP.
is the present pastor. Among the early settlers buried in the cemetery attached are
Dr. Bela B. Smith, died Oct. 17, 1841, aged 79; his wife, Elizabeth, died May 23, 1844, nged 74.
Elabor Moore, died Jan. 7, 1819, aged 53. Jane, wife of Robert Moore, died April 11, 183%, aged 80.
James Starrett, died July 8, 1829, aged 78; his wife, Elizabeth, died March 26, 1833, aged 80. Robert Galloway, died June 30, 1818, aged 49.
Col. John Power, elder of Rohoboth Church, died July 29, 1806, aged 48; his wife, Margaret, died March 10, 1836, aged 80; their daugh- ter, Jane, died Nov. 14, 1798, aged 18.
Mary, wife of John Power, died April 14. 1856, aged 46.
Rev. James Finley, born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1725, died Jan. 6, 1796; was forty six years in the ministry ; his wife, Hannah, died April 1, aged 80; their son, Michael, died July 29, 1850, aged 77; he was a ruling elder in Rohoboth Church.
Fanny, wife of Joseph Finley, died Feb. 18, 1847, aged 66.
John Steele, died Jan. 10, 1866, aged 81 ; his wife, Nancy H., died Ang. 23, 1850, aged 69. William Bigham, died Dec. 12, 1844, aged 74. George Crawford, died June 11, 1797, aged 52.
Capt. William Eliott, died March 20, 1804, aged 54; his wife, Ruth, died July 2, 1830, aged 76.
SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH AND CEMETERY.
This church, located in the northern part of the township, was organized in 1792, and is the oldest of this denomination in the county. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Barkley. The present brick edifice was erected in 1842.
WEBSTER
is the largest town in the township, and is located in its northwestern part on the Monongahela River. It was laid out in 1833 by Benjamin Beazell and a Mr. Ford, and so named in honor of the great statesman, Daniel Webster, then in the zenith of his power and glory. Here Samuel Walker built the first steam- boat on the Monongahela River, and for many years this place was a noted point for the building of steam- boats. Here are located the Webster Coal Company's Works, operated by Sneeden & Willson, lessees of John Guffey, of Greensburg. These are the old Blackamore Works. John Gilmore also has coal- mines, now being extensively worked.
The Presbyterian Church edifice was erected in 1881, and is supplied with preaching by the pastor of Rehoboth. The Methodist Episcopal Church building was built in 1866, and is a neat frame structure. It is on the Fell's Church Circuit, and before its erection preaching was had in the school-house. The present pastor is Rev. Taylor ; Sunday-school superintendent, D. Richards ; and Trustees, F. C. Anderson, Asbury Fell, George W. Smith, D. Richards, Christian Keigh- line, Thomas F. Brown, and Lewis McDonal.
BLACKAMORE LODGE, No. 701, I. O. O. F.
was instituted in 1871. Its first officers were N. G., D. B. Brooks; V. G., Alex. Simrall ; Sec., Jacob Tomer ; Asst. Sec., John Brooks; Treas., John F. Birmingham. Its Past Noble Grands who are still members are D. B. Brooks, Philip Andre, Sr., John Boyd, Henry Boyd, Philip Duwall, William Hodgson, John W. Jones, Lewis V. Jones, A. G. Milholland,
Alexander Simrall, Thomas Strickland, Robert Sar- ber, and Philip H. Andre. The officers for 1882 are : N. G., Thomas Strickland; V. G., Frederick Zimmer ; Sec., A. J. Milholland .; Asst. Sec., Robert Sarber ; Treas., Philip H. Andre; Trustees, L. V. Jones, John Boyd, P. H. Andre. It has thirty-nine members, and meets every Saturday evening.
WEBSTER LODGE, ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED BRETHREN, No. 70,
was chartered Feb. 9, 1874. The following were the charter members and first officers : P. M. W., John Brooks; M. W., W. H. Hodgson ; G. F., D. B. Brooks ; O., Stephen Doyle ; G., Michael Miller ; Fin., Samuel Campbell; Rec., Dr. E. K. Strong; I. W., James For- sythe; O. W., Lewis Shepler ; J. F. McDonal, R. E. M. McDonal, S. C. Hara, V. W. Thomas, George Hodgson, Wm. Snyder, Samuel Insler, B. F. Seichman, J.S. Wall, John Jenkins, A. Booth, A. Sharp, T. E. Spence, B. Firestone, James Shaw, P. Kern, H. Cropp, L. Nahar, Philip Dewall, William Evans, H. Miller. The of- ficers in 1882 are : P. W. M., Sandy Wilson ; W. M., Joseph Taylor; F., Conrad Steinoble; Fin., Dr. J. T. Krepps; Rec., Albert Allen ; Receiver, Samuel Campbell; G., William Hamilton. It meets twice a month.
STAR OF THE WEST LODGE, No. 26, L. O. L., was instituted Sept. 19, 1871. The first officers were : ' W. M., John Holt; D. M., George Archibald ; Sec., Joseph Cocain ; Treas., Charles Cocain ; Chap., Sam- uel Haney. The officers in 1882 are: W. M., W. J. T. Campbell; D. M., Thomas Cocain; Sec., Jacob M. Fish ; Treas. and Chap., Samuel Campbell; Tyler, John Mure; Com., John Starline, John Stewart, Ben- jamin Braley, Joseph Taylor, George Booth. The lodge meets the first, third, and fifth Fridays of each month.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
A little of the northern part of the borough of Bellevernon is in this township.1 Rostraver is a hamlet in the eastern part, having a Methodist Epis- copal Church, mills, stores, and shops. Bakertown is a small place on the Monongahela below Webster. Mount Pleasant is another hamlet in the southeast portion, containing a Union Church, school, etc.
The principal business of the inhabitants of the township is agriculture, but there is a large amount of capital invested in the coal interest, principally in the way of grist- and saw-milling.
THE WEDDELL FAMILY.
George Weddell and his son Peter, a boy aged six- teen, left Hagerstown, Md., in the spring of 1758 for
1 North Bellevernon Borough .- The court, on Feb. 26, 1876, on the formal presentation of the grand jury of the petition filed in the clerk's office decreed and ordered that the citizens of Rostraver township and resi- dents of Speer's new addition to Bellevernon, within the boundaries de- scribed, should be vested with corporate privileges, and thenceforth be a borough. Samuel Dougherty was appointed the first judge of the borough election, and Frauk Morgan and Thomas Hunt inspectors.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
the purpose of settling among the Western wilds. They followed what was then known as "Braddock's trail" until they reached the Youghiogheny River, which they descended until they arrived at an old Indian fort, where they decided to make their home. Here they erected a cabin, cleared and cultivated the soil. In the fall of the same year the father returned to Maryland, leaving his son in company with another young man, where they remained until spring, sup- posing themselves to be the only white men west of the Allegheny Mountains. Their food consisted of such game as then abounded in the forests, and corn ground on a "hominy-block," and baked on flat stones. In May, 1759, the father, George Weddell, accompanied by the remainder of his family and by other friends, again reached his Western home. He had five sons, two of whom emigrated to Kentucky, two others remained on the original homestead (now the property of Isaac Irwin), while Peter located and took out a warrant for four hundred acres now in Westmoreland County, and about a mile from the farm of his father. In 1774 he married Rebecca Prichard, who died in 1780, leaving three children,- Jesse, Lydia, and Joseph P. In 1783 he married Miss Parsons, and in the following year received an injury from which he died. He left another son, Peter M., who went to Cleveland, Ohio, and became a very successful business man. Horace, only son of the latter, is now a resident of that city, and worth several millions of dollars. Jesse, Lydia, and Joseph P. were reared by their grandparents. Jesse emi- grated to Indiana, and Lydia married James Mont- gomery. In 1802, Joseph P. married Sarah Scott, and settled and lived on the farm of his father until his death, in April, 1871. Twice during his life he, in company with his family, rode on horseback to Chicago, then a straggling village. His children were Rebecca, married to John Penny ; Hannah, married to Thomas Penny; Margaret, married to T. F. Thomas, and died August, 1870; Jesse, Scott J., and Peter M. Rebecca and Hannah, with their husbands, removed to Iowa. Peter M. is a Baptist minister of celebrity in Ohio. Jesse and Scott J. were farmers, owning two hundred acres of the tract located and settled by their grandfather, Peter Wed- dell, and also three hundred acres adjoining, all of which is improved and every acre of which is arable ground. Jesse occupied a seat in the House of Rep- resentatives in the sessions of 1851-54, and proved one of the best legislators the county ever had. Jesse Weddell removed to Kansas some two years ago, but Scott J. still occupies part of the old homestead.
BUDD'S FERRY AND THE BUDD FAMILY.
The Budd estate, just south of West Newton, on the Youghiogheny River, and in Rostraver township, has been in the possession of the Budd family for over a century. John F. Budd, the late owner, came into possession after the death of his father, Benjamin
Budd. Joseph Budd, Sr., with his two brothers, Conklin and Joshua, came from Somerset County, N. J., before the Revolutionary war and settled here. Conklin only remained a short time, and went else- where to seek his fortune, but Joseph and Joshua became large owners of lands at the ferry owned by them and named in their honor, and also in the "Forks." Joshua, who became a major, married Miss Betsey Fitch, kept store, tavern, and dealt largely in all kinds of stock and in lands. He laid out Mount Vernon, on the plateau west of the ferry, and intended to make of it a great town. Although he sold several lots, and a few houses were erected, the town really existed only on paper. He had two sons, Daniel and Joshua, Jr. The latter married Charity Sparks, of Washington County, and died in New Orleans, where he was on a trip with his boats loaded with produce and provisions. His widow mar- ried John Cooper, a tanner, of Robbstown (West Newtown), who sold out his tannery there to Mr. Fulton, and went to Williamsport, and there estab- lished a tannery. Dying there his widow married John Smouse, who kept the "Valley Inn," three miles west of Monongahela City. Joseph Budd married and had seven children. Of these Amy was married to John Sutton, Rebecca to William Walsh, Betsey to Benjamin Stewart, of Rostraver township, Rachel to Isaac Mclaughlin, Esther to Robert Arm- strong, of Wayne County, Ohio, and Joseph, Jr., to Miss Stewart, of Rostraver. The other child, Ben- jamin, married Miss Nellie Finley, and inherited the large homestead estate at the ferry.
Joseph Budd, Sr., donated the ground for the Salem Baptist Church and for the cemetary thereto attached. He assisted Nathaniel Hayden, David Davis, and others in erecting the church edifice in 1792. The Budds came to the Youghiogheny River before the Indians were all gone, and when the only settlement between Gen. Simrall's ferry (West Newton ) and their ferry was one solitary cabin. All emigration to the West, which a few years after their settlement had become very large, had to pass over either Budd's or Simrall's ferry, or else there take flat-boat. Some strangers from the East came and occupied a cabin near the ferry. They were rather prepossessing in manners, and agreeable in their intercourse with the settlers, but seemed to have no business other than fishing and hunting. After the death of Woods, one of their number, they all immediately left. After their departure there were found secreted on and in the premises vacated by them all manner of apparatus for counterfeiting, and it turned out these people who had their rendezvous here were the greatest band of counterfeiters in the country, who had fled from New York to escape the officers, and here in the mountains of a new settlement pursue their schemes unmolested. On the Budd estate are some remains of the ancient mound-builders, which are among the largest and best preserved in the State.
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