History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 156

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USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 156

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While in Kentucky Mr. George united with the Disciple Church. His wife was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. After their mar- riage they attended the Presbyterian Church of Unity, with which they also united with their children.

Mr. George is a man of quiet manners, of consistent morals, and of liberality. He makes himself useful in church work when he is called upon to lend a helping hand. He is exact and scrupulously honest in his dealings, has keen discernment and quiet en- ergy. No man in his neighborhood has had better success in any calling than Mr. George has had in his. The fruits of his diligence, tact, and Christian uprightness, which he now enjoys, are a liberal and increasing worldly portion, the esteem of his neigh- hors, and a virtuous and intelligent family.

SOUTH HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP.

HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP proper was among the original townships, organized April 6, 1778. Its boundaries as at first defined were: "To begin at the mouth of Brush Bun, where it empties into Brush Creek; to go along Byerly's path to Braddock's road; thence along said road to the line of Mount Pleasant township ; thence with the line of Tyrone and Pitt- town townships to the beginning."

The officers elected at the first election in the town- ship were George Shilling, constable; James Baird and William Marshall, overseers of the poor; David Vance, supervisor.

Huntingdon township remained as originally cre- ated until January, 1790, when the court ordered that it should be divided into North and South Hunting- don, agreeable to the annexed petition, etc. :

" Upon a petition of a number of inhabitants of Huntingdon township to the courts, setting forth that they labor under a variety of inconveni- anoss for want of a division of said township, and praying for a division agressbly to the districts laid off by the commissioners, etc., which having been read the same was continued under advisement at April Sessions, read and continued at July Sessions, and now, to wit, April Sessions, 1790, the same having been taken under consideration, it was thereupon ordered by the court that the same be confirmed agreeably to the prayer of said petition."

The first constable of South Huntingdon (as this new part was called) was William Waggale. The township was again subdivided in 1798, and East Huntingdon was formed.

The present boundaries of the township are north by Sewickley, northeast by Hempfield, east by East Huntingdon, south by a part of Fayette County, and. west by the Youghiogheny River.

The surface of the township is diversified, in some parts quite hilly, in others rolling, with an occasional

plateau of level land. It contains a vast amount of coal. Several rich and influential corporations for the development of this caloric commodity have their works scattered over the township, notably in the borough of West Newton. The Pittsburgh and Con- nellsville Railroad runs along the Youghiogheny the entire length of the township, its chief revenue being derived from the transportation of coal. In several parts excellent stone abounds, and that, too, of the finest quality for building and other purposes.

The first settlers were the Millers, Shulls, Finley's Waggales, Plumers, Blackburns, Markles, Rodar- mels, and others heretofore mentioned.

George Plumer (born Dec. 5, 1752, died June 8, 1843) was one of the first, if not the first, as it was reported, white child born west of the Allegheny Mountains under the British government. He was at one time shut up for four days and nights in Fort Du Quesne under the Indian chief Killbuck, and noted a successful stratagem of two Indians on the Al- legheny River in decoying a couple of whites, one of whom was killed; one of the Indians was also killed by a shot from the fort. He was a member of the State and National Legislature, and served with credit and honesty. He was also a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church, and exercised a good influ- ence for purity, harmony, and the general prosperity of his church.

CHURCHES. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SEWICKLEY

is one of the oldest Presbyterian Churches in the west- ern part of Pennsylvania, being one of the original churches of the Old Redstone, Presbytery. It is sup-

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SOUTH HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP.

posed to have been organized as early as 1776 by the Rev. Dr. Power. He continued to be their pastor, in connection with Mount Pleasant, till Aug. 22, 1787, when he resigned the pastoral charge of Sewickley, which continued vacant until, in union with Long Run, it became the pastoral charge of the Rev. Wil- liam Swan, Oct. 16, 1798. It again became vacant Oct. 18, 1818. In January, 1821, the congregation, having united with Mount Pleasant, presented a call to the Rev. A. O. Patterson, who was ordained and installed at Sewickley, April 18, 1821. Dr. Patterson was dismissed Oct. 8, 1884.

These churches having dissolved their connection from a persuasion that each of them was now able to support a pastor, Sewickley, in April, 1886, gave a call to che Rev. William Annan, who was installed their pastor in June following. From weakness of health, Mr. Annan was compelled to resign his charge in the June following. In December, 1839, the Rev. J. B. McKee was installed pastor, and continued till April, 1842. After a short period the Rev. Richard Graham became the pastor, and continued till 1850. In 1852 the Rev. Cyrus Riggs became pastor, who was succeeded by the Rev. J. H. Stevenson.

The congregation of Sewickley was much weak- ened by the organization of a separate congregation in the borough of West Newton. Besides this there are but few congregations which have been dimin- ished so much from emigration as this one. It is still, however, a flourishing one, and although not com- posed of a great number of members, yet those are of a thrifty, intelligent, and worldly able class.

The present building is the second one erected. It is built of stone, the first one having been built of logs. It is situated in the township of South Hun- tingdon, but just across the Sewickley Creek from the township of Sewickley, and had its name long before the township of the same name was formed. There is a burying-ground attached to the church, in which repose the last remains of three generations of the "race of men." Taken all in all, it is an ob- ject of the utmost historic interest in the township, and a spot round which gather many interesting local associations.

The first building was one of those built in the most primitive style, and in all probability it was erected out of the trees growing round in the space of a week. For many years it had no stove, and the people of the congregation in winter sat shivering from the cold winds that blew through the open cracks. When the first stove was introduced it was regarded with suspicion. . The stove had seen service before, probably in one of the New England States, for it was a Yankee innovation. Besides this, we should not call it a stove at all, for it was but the lower part of the bowl, and the smoke from the burn- ing wood used in it had to find vent through a hole in the roof.

Among the curiosities of the churchly annals of

the Old Redstone Churches is one of the subscription papers signed by the subscribers of this congregation to the salary of the Rev. Mr. Swan, when money was scarce and grain just beginning to be a marketable commodity, owing to the water communication offered by the nearness of the Yough, and the flat-boat con- Dection with New Orleans. For the consideration of their raising the one-half of the Rev. Swan's services as pastor they " agreed to pay the amount set oppo- site their names, the one-half in cash, and the other half in produce at the following rates, viz. : wheat, 4 shillings per bush., rye at 8s. per bush., corn at 2s. 6d. per bush., to be delivered at such place or places within the bounds of the congregation se said minister or a treasurer chosen by the people may appoint. Witness our hands, this 17th day of Au- gust, 1792."1

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WEST NEWTON.

Previous to 1835 the Presbyterians of the town were compelled to worship at Sewickley Church, nearly three miles in the country. In that year they united with the Lutherans, and jointly erected a one- story frame edifice on Vine Street. This new church building was under the charge of the Sewickley Church, whose pastors supplied its worshipers with stated preaching. In January, 1851, the West New- ton Church was organized with seventy-one members from the parent (Sewickley) church, most of whom resided in the town. The same fear the congregation purchased the interest of the Lutherans in the church building. In 1875 preliminary steps were taken for the erection of a new church structure, which was completed and dedicated May 10, 1879. Its pastors have been : 1851-55, Watson Hughes; 1855-57, Daniel Williams; 1857-63, A. O. Patterson, D.D .; 1864-69, O. H. Miller; 1870-74, Henry Fulton; 1874 to pres- ent time, J. C. Maloy. The ruling elders have been : 1851, William Brookens, deceased; Dr. F. M. Mc- Conaughey, removed ; M. P. Smith, removed ; Thomas Robinson, deceased; 1858, Thomas Ray, in office; Andrew Robertson, in office; Robert Guffey, deceased; 1866, J. C. Plumer, deceased ; Paul Hough, deceased ; H. D. Smith, in office; 1868, John McKenery, in office; 1870, R. W. Hunter, removed; 1876, William Plumer, in office; Alexander Rankin, in office. The Sunday-school superintendent is George Plumer. Its church edifice is an elegant brick structure, most cen- trally located on Main Street, with lecture-room in the basement.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WEST NEWTON.

The congregation was organized Feb. 28, 1839, by Rev. Samuel Wakefield, D.D. Supply preaching was had until 1840 in the old school-house, when a small brick structure was erected on Second Street, which is now owned by C. P. Markle & Sons, and occupied as dwellings by tenants. The new brick edifice was

1 Recorvis and "Old Redstone."

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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

built in 1880, and is the finest one of this denomina- tion in the county in size, elegance, and finish. Its architect was D. Knox Miller, and the contractors Deeds Brothers. Its cost was twelve thousand five hundred dollars. Its spire is one hundred and fifty feet in height, and its bell weighs one thousand three hundred pounds. This church is now a station, but at first was in a circuit embracing Connellsville, Mount Pleasant, and a large area of territory.

. Its pastors have been : 1840, T. Baker, 8. B. Dun- lạp; 1841, W. Long, H. Hill; 1842, George Sisson, M. A. Ruter; 1848, 8. Wakefield, D. L. Dempsey ; 1844, J. Moffett, D. Hees; 1845, J. Moffett, - Sharp; 1846, - Fribbey, - Sharp; 1847, H. R. Kern, M. A. Ruter; 1848, 8. Wakefield, M. A. Ruter; 1849, 8. Wakefield, J. Beacom ; 1850, C. Thorn. (All the above are deceased but Revs. Lang, Wakefield, and Dempsey.) 1851, J. Mancill, - Rankin; 1852, J. Mancill ; 1858, E. B. Griffin, J. L. Stiffey ; 1854, E. B. Griffin, M. J. Montgomery ; 1855, D. L. Demp- soy, J. A. Miller; 1856, J. McCarter, J. A. Miller; 1857, Samuel Wakefield, 8. Burt; 1858, J. D. Knox, 8. Burt; 1859, J. D. Knox, W. A. Stewart; 1860, J. J. Melligar, W. A. Stewart ; 1861, J. J. Melligar, J. A. Pierce; 1862, Z. S. Weller, R. Cunningham ; 1868-65, W. W. Roup; 1865, M. J. Montgomery ; 1866-69, W. A. Stewart; 1869-71, J. Meacham ; 1871- 74, J. J. Hayes; 1874-77, W. Darby ; 1876-79, 8. Wakefield; 1879-82, H. H. Pershing.

Of the above since 1851 all are living but R. Cun- ningham. The present incumbent, Mr. Pershing, was born in Indiana County in 1843, and has been fifteen years in the ministry. In 1882 the church officials are: Trustees, Eli C. Leightly (president), Samuel Coldsmith, Stevenson Pollock, James B. Sea- crist, Henry B. Goldsmith, Samuel M. Wallace, Gersham B. Horner; Building Committee, E. C. Leightly (president), Dr. B. H. Vankirk, Randle Mclaughlin, J. B. Seacrist, Samuel Coldsmith ; Bun- day-school Superintendent, Hon. Eli C. Leightly.

The first Methodist sermon was delivered by Rev. 8. Wakefield, Sept. 28, 1838, and was followed by stated supplies until Conference sent regular pastors two years afterwards. The original members were Jacob Longanecker and wife, James McGrew and wife, Matthew Carter and wife, David Banford and wife, and two others, eleven in all. Meetings were often held in Funk's saw-mill until the erection of the first church edifice in 1840. The first trustees were Jacob Longanecker, James McGrew, Benjamin Stewart, Randall Johnston, Samuel Hammond, Luke Beazel, and Rev. George Household.

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WEST NEWTON.

This congregation has a neat church edifice on corner of Centre and Locust streets, where services are held every third Sunday by Rev. G. C. Sampson. Its Sunday-school meets at.2.30 P.M., and the weekly prayer-meetings are held Wednesday evenings.

CHRIST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, WEST NEWTON.

This congregation was organized Jan. 1, 1830. Preaching was held for five years in the old school- house, and in 1835 it united with the Presbyterians, and erected a one-story frame edifice on Vine Street. Here services were held until 1851, when this con- gregation sold out its interest in the Vine Street building, and in the same year erected on that street its present brick edifice. The pastors have been : 1830-47, Jonas Mechling; 1847-58, W. S. Emery ; 1855-65, Samuel B. Lawson; 1865-66, J. P. Hentz; 1866-81, H. J. Lemcke.

The congregation numbers one hundred and twenty, and its Sunday-school has twenty teachers and one hundred and four scholars.

CHURCH OF GOD, "BETHEL," WEST NEWTON.

The congregation was organized in 1842 and 1843, by Elder J. Dobson, and a brick edifice erected in 1852, on the site of the present parsonage. The pres- ent brick building was built in 1879. Among the early pastors were Revs. Dobson, Hickerell, D. Wirtz, J. M. Domer, B. F. Bolton, Grim, and P. Loucks. The latter preached here several years. He was born in this county, March 1, 1828, and was the son of John Loucks, whose father, Peter Loucks, emigrated from Bucks County, and purchased a farm on which Scottdale now stands, where he farmed until his death in 1825. John, his third son, purchased the old home- stead near Stonersville in 1826. He married in 1816 a Miss Basler.

Bev. P. Loucks was converted in his twenty-third year. He attended the Mount Pleasant College, then under the supervision of the United Brethren, and taught school winters. He married the youngest daughter of John Fox, of Mount Pleasant, who came to this county when there was but one house where Mount Pleasant now stands. Her mother, Frederica Carolina Sherbus, was from the canton of Kirch- heimlanden, from whence she came in 1817, when but twenty years old, all alone, without any relative or acquaintance on board the vessel, and was married to Mr. Fox in 1820. Rev. P. Loucks was licensed to preach in 1858, and subsequently made missionary trips to New England. He died in 1881. The pres- ent pastor is Rev. J. S. Marple, whose predecessor was Rev. J. W. Bloyd. In 1881 Mrs. John Mellender donated to the congregation the parsonage, a neat frame structure, which she had built at a cost of $1200. It adjoins the church edifice. The present church officials are: Elders, S. P. Obley, Jacob Schoop, Samuel Brewer; deacons, Henry Young, Charles Obley ; Sunday-school superintendent, H. A. Obley. The membership is one hundred and ten, with an appointment at Sutersville. The member- ship at first consisted mostly of Germans, who wor- shiped in private dwellings, but after the great re- vival conducted by Rev. Mrs. Beecher, now Rev. Mrs.

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RESIDENCE OF GEO. PLUMER,

MAIN ST., WEST NEWTON, WESTMORELAND CO., PA.

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SOUTH HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP.

Werts, large additions were made of the English community.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WEST NEWTON.

The congregation was organized and the brick church edifice erected in 1851. The pastors have been : 1851, Alexander Ferguson ; 1851-58, D. H. Pollock ; 1859-62, W. L. McConnell; 1864-72, J. D. Walkinsbaw; 1872-81, W. R. Stevenson, since when there has been no pastor. The first elders were H. T. Hanna, Joseph McMillen, John Wallace, John Martin, Robert Patterson, and the present elders are Joseph McMillen, H. T. Hanna, J. H. Campbell, J. A. Dick. The Sunday-school superintendent is Alex- ander Dick. Before 1850 preaching was held in the old school-house, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches by occasional supplies.

WEST NEWTON.

At the August session of 1887 &

"Petition signed by a number of the citizens and lot-holders in the village of West Newton having been presented to the court, praying that the maid village may be incorporated into a borough, was by the court laid before the grand jury for their concurrence, and the grand Jary reported . That the conditions prescribed by the act of Artembly of the let of April, 1834, catitled " An Act to provide for the Incorporation of Boroughs," have been complied with, and certified it as their opinion that it is expedient to graat the prayer of the petitionera.'"

A draft or plot of the boundaries of the borough as prayed for was appended to said petition. But the court refused to confirm the report of the grand jury.1

In an act of Assembly passed 8th of February, 1842, was a section in relation to West Newton borough which read as follows :

"That to much of the third section of the act of the let of April, 1884, entitled ' An Act to provide for the Incorporation of Boroughs,' se regatres applications for the incorporation of boroughs to be laid before the Grand Jury, be, and the same is, hereby repealed as respects West- moreland County, in the case for an application for the incorporation of West Newton, in said County, and the Court of Quarter Sessions of maid county is hereby authorised to incorporate West Newton into a borough on application at their first term, if the maid court think proper so to do."

After the passage of the above enactment-namely, at the August sessions of 1842-the citizens of the village again presented their petition to the court praying for incorporation of the borough (which in its bounds differed not much from the former one). The plot had been surveyed in January, 1842, by J. Stokely, and a plan was furnished the court with the petition. On the 26th of February, 1842, the court decreed that the prayer of the petitioners should be granted, and the borough was declared a corporation. The first election was ordered to be held at the school-house whereat the township elections were then holden.

By an act of the 14th of March of the same year it was acknowleged as a borough in the legislation rel; ative to the election of an assessor and an assistant

At the same time it was erected into a sep- arate school district.

The limits of the borough of West Newton were extended by the Court of Quarter Sessions, upon the petition of the inhabitants, by an order of the court of May 27, 1850, confirming the action of the grand jury in that behalf.

By an order of the court of 8d September, 1853, the privileges of the act of Assembly of 3d of April, 1851, were extended to the borough.

BOROUGH OFFICERS.

The officers of West Newton in 1842 were:

Dargees, Alexander Plumer; Council, Andrew B. Funk, James Nicolls, David Barader, Dr. John Hasson, William Linn; Clerk, James B. Oliver.

Since then the burgesses have been :

1844. John Bwern. 1864. Alexander Plumer.

1846-47. Joseph Stokely. 1865. James A. Dick.

1847-49. John C. Plumer. 1886. J. M. Schroyer.

1849-51. Samuel B. Weimer. 1867. I. N. Downs.

1861. Andrew G. Oliver. 1868-70. E. W. Dumm.

1862. Isaac MeLaughlin. .

1870. James Hamilton, 8r.

1863-55. E. W. Damm.

1871. I. N. Downs. 1872-74. T. R. Reed.

1866. Thomas Hibben. 1866-68. Samuel B. Weimer.

1874. A. G. Oliver.

1868. Samuel Brennaman.

1859. E. W. Dumm.

1860. George H. Bear.

1861. Alexander Plumer.

1862. Jacob Everitt.

1863. Philip Bohland, Jr.

The officers in 1882 are :

Burgess, Henry Orousbore; Clerk, Randall MeLaughlin : Treasurer, Dr. J. Q. Robinson; Council, David Markle, Robert Taylor, Jacob F. Streicher, 8. Barkhart, Jacob Schoof, Randall Mclaughlin ; Jus- tices of the Peace, J. Campbell, John Swern; Constable, Edward P. Campbell.

LOCATION.

The valley of the Youghiogheny from Mckeesport to Connellsville and beyond teems with towns, vil- lages, and hamlets, from which, though unsightly tipples and slack-piles banish all show of beauty, and myriads of coke-ovens, like miniature volcanoes, ob- scure the sun and paint "palace and hovel," patrician and plebeian, a monotonous black, yet, with the whir and roar of machinery, the hideous shriek of the steam-whistle, and the long line of heavy-laden trains, tell of the highest temporal prosperity. Lying in the busy valley, midway between Pittsburgh and Con- nellsville, about fifteen miles from the mouth of the Youghiogheny, is West Newton, on the southwestern slope of a hill descending abruptly to the Youghio- gheny River, in the midst of a fertile and diversified country. By the Pittsburgh Division of the Balti- more and Ohio Railroad communication is made easy in every direction.

PIONEERS, ETC.

Its early settlers were men of good birth, cultiva- tion, and intellect, prominent among whom were the Markles, Jonathan and George Plumer, and An- thony Blackburn. Like most other towns in Penn- sylvania, the original settlement of Scotch, Irish, and

1 * And now, to wit, June 1, 1888, Court decline to confirm the Report { the Grand Jury. By the Court, George T. Ramsey, Clerk."

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1878-77. E. W. Dumm. 1877. Philip Bohland. 1878. Henry Croushore. 1879. J. H. Schroyer. 1880-82. Henry Croushore.

HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Yankees was augmented at a later day by many Ger- mans, and still later by foreigners of almost every 'nationality.

It was laid out in January, 1796, by Isaac Robb, who came from New Jersey many years previous, and . entered the land now comprising its site. When in the " Whiskey Insurrection" of 1794 the army marched through Robb's farm it threw down his fences, and he would not put them up again. But he thereupon made a lottery and sold off the lots for a town. Its survey and plotting were made by David Davis and a Mr. Newkirk. The founder of the town, Isaac Robb, subsequently traded down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers as far as New Orleans on boats. In 1807, while his boat lay at West Newton, he started one night when the river was rising to walk ashore to see if the fastenings were all right, but in the dark accidentally walked into the water and was drowned, although he was a splendid swimmer. His grandson, J. N. Robb, a prosperous farmer, lives about a mile from town. Notwithstanding the ori- ginal proprietor of the town named it West Newton, it was universally called "Robbstown," in honor of its founder; but in 1885 the original and proper name was restored to it, and by which it has been since known. Before 1796 it was called Simrall's Ferry. There have been three additions to it,-first, Nicholson's, on the east ; second, Fulton and Baugh- man's, on the north ; and third, Baughman's, on the south.

The earliest settlers in the country near the town were the Markles, John Crellis, Anthony Blackburn, Br. and Jr., and George Plumer. Jonathan Plumer came out as commissary under Gen. Braddock's ex- pedition in 1755, and returned in like capacity under that of Gen. Forbes. His son, George Plumer, was born in 1762, near Fort Pitt, and married a daughter of Col. Lowrey, Lancaster County. He was a Presi- dential elector in 1820, and a member of Congress from 1821 to 1827.

The first settlers in the town were Isaac Robb, John Hill, John Anderson, William McClintock, Mr. War- ren, Isaac Morgan, Andrew Fulton, David Morton, Edward Hill, and George Rolds.

The oldest male citizen now a resident is William Plumer, born in 1800, and the oldest female is Katy Ann Kain, born in New Jersey in 1803. Her mother was a Luker, sister of David Luker. She came here when a little babe, and has resided here ever since. The oldest house is a log structure built by William Shreader, and now owned by Henry Croushore. It was a farin-house, but is now included in the corpo- ration. The oldest house in the town as originally laid out is the old William Brookens dwelling, but which has partially been remodeled. In 1805 there were not over ten or twelve dwellings here, of which one was the tavern, standing where the paper-mill is, and where Edward Hill kept for public entertainment. Another was a tavern kept by Joseph Vankirk, on the

site of Obley's confectionery-shop. Another was the William Brookens house, and a fourth one was that of David Morton. The first brick house was erected by Dr. James Beatty on Vine Street.

Dr. James Beatty was the first resident physician here, and after him came Dr. Henry B. Trout. Dr. Smith, however, who lived on the other side of the river, practiced largely here. The subsequent regu- larly settled physicians to 1849 were Dre. Abner G. Marsh, John Hasson, F. M. McConaughy, and J. K. Robinson. Dr. Hasson settled here in 1886, and died in 1878. Dr. Robinson was born in Rostraver town- ship in 1817, and was the son of Thomas and Achsa (Bailey) Robinson. His grandfather, Alexander Robinson, was an early settler, and came from Lan- caster County. He came here in 1846, read medicine with Dr. Hasson, graduated at the Medical Univer- sity of New York in the spring of 1849, and immedi- ately located here. He married Catherine, daughter of Hon. I. F. Krebs.

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History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 156

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: