History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 69

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
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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 69

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1 We are under obligation for courtesies and favore to Bev. Father Paulinos, O.S.B., and Rov. Father Ang. Schneider, 0.8.B., of St. Vincent, for much assistance herein.

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East Front View. ST. XAVIER'S ACADEMY, UNITY TOWNSHIP, WESTMORELAND CO., PA.

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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

religious dress, and returned to their duties in Bag- got Street. Miss McAuley, now Sister Mary Cath- erine, drew up rules and constitutions for their gov- ernment, which'were confirmed by the Holy See in July, 1841. This last act placed the Order of Mercy among the religious orders of the Catholic Church. In a few years so rapid was the spread of the order that it had houses in almost every part of the world.

In June, 1841, Rev. M. O'Connor, D.D., was ap- pointed pastor of St. Paul's Church, on Grant Street, Pittsburgh. He labored zealously for two years in his new mission, when he obtained permission to visit Rome, where he hoped to enter the Society of Jesus, and thus realize the desire of his earlier years. In this he was disappointed, as Pennsylvania had in the mean time been divided into two dioceses, and Pitts- burgh named as the new See, for which Dr. O'Connor was appointed first Bishop. Disappointed in his hopes, and grieved at his elevation, he humbly submitted to the appointment of the Holy See, and was consecrated Bishop on the 15th of August, 1848. The new diocese was well known to its Bishop; he had seen during his pastorate at St. Paul's the great need of instruction and education for the growing population; therefore he resolved to bring with him on his return a founda- tion of a religious order devoted to the training of youth. For this purpose he visited Ireland, and see- ing the new Order of Mercy suited to the wants of his people, he obtained a foundation of seven Sisters. These generous ladies bade farewell to the land of their birth, and immediately set sail for the New World, encouraged by the hope of leading to God or aiding in their journey heavenward the children of the far West. On the morning of December the 21st, 1843, the sun arose for the first time on the Sis- ters of Mercy in Pittsburgh. They received a cordial -welcome from the leading members of St. Paul's con- gregation, and a suitable house was arranged for their temporary use. In the course of a few months the daughters of some of the first families in the twin cities became acquainted with the Sisters, and, being pleased with their mode of life, sought permission to join them in their good works. The first candidate that entered the Order of Mercy in the United States was Miss Eliza J. Tiernan, of Allegheny City. This young lady brought to the little community rare vir- tue, bright accomplishments, and a liberal fortune, all of which were most acceptable, and enabled the Sisters to extend their usefulness. Several other young ladies following the example of Miss Tiernan, a school was opened on Penn Street, and later on the Sisters rented the then well-known "Concert Hall," which they fitted up for an hospital. The next year they took charge of an orphan asylum.

Although all these benevolent works had been un- dertaken within the short space of eighteen months, yet there were some Sisters waiting an opportunity to establish another school. In the spring of 1845, Henry Kuhn, an old gentleman from the central part of West-

moreland County, Pa., called on the Sisters and offered them a farm on very liberal terms for the purpose of establishing an academy for young ladies. Encour- aged and directed by the bishop, their true friend, the Sisters accepted the conditions, as the academy would supply a want which was much felt in Western Pennsylvania. The farm lay forty miles east of Pitta- burgh, on the line of the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia turnpike, a favorable circumstance before the con- struction of railroads. A more beautiful location could not be desired, as the surface was unbroken, and sloping gradually towards the morning sun. There were, however, no buildings on the farm, so the pastor of St. Vincent's Church, which was about a mile distant, generously offered his residence for the temporary accommodation of the Sisters and their first pupils, whilst be located himself in the sacristy of the church. Thus was formed the nucleus of the academy since known as St. Xavier's. The first pu- pils were Misses N. Shoemaker, of Ebensburg; S. Myers, A. and A. McCaffrey, of Pittsburgh; A. and P. Jhmsen, M. and E. Mulvaney, of Birmingham.

The infant academy began to attract attention, and several new pupils applied for admission, which made it necessary to procure more ample accommodations. In the autumn of 1845 preparations were commenced for building on the farm. As their means were limited the Sisters could not attempt to build on a grand scale. They therefore contracted for a plain three-story building, which in after-years would stand as the right wing of a more imposing edifice. The site of the new building was most favorably chosen, as it com- manded an extensive view of the Chestnut Ridge, with its irregular outlines, causing an enchanting va- riety of light and shade to cling around its forest-clad summit, with the fertile valley of the Loyalhanna as a foreground.

All things being prepared, the building was com- menced early in 1846, and to the great joy of both Sisters and pupils its progress was so rapid that the closing year found it near completion. When the bright spring days of 1847 brought forth the buds and blossoms, the Sisters took their youthful charge out for a ramble in the fields and a visit to the new build- ing. What was their delight to find that in a few days it would be ready for their accommodation. The transfer was now the all-absorbing topic at recreation. May the 14th, the anxiously looked for day, dawned bright and beautiful, and after an early breakfast the work of transportation began. Some of the kind neighbors lent their wagons to aid in the moving; towards noon a procession might have been seen wend- ing its way towards the new academy, and before the sun went down the Sisters and the pupils were settled in their new home, which, in honor of the apostle of the Indies, received the name of "St. Francis Xavier."

The increased accommodation was appreciated by . the patrons of the institution, and the opening of the

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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

next session found many new pupils added to the little band of the previous year. About this time a permanent standing was given to the new institution by the incorporation of the Sisters under the title of "The Sisters of Mercy" by the Legislature of the State.

More care had been taken to procure a good view than pleasant recreation-grounds, for the academy was located in a field without a tree to shelter it from the summer sun, while on the adjoining farm only a few rods distant stood a charming grove of original forest-trees. This luxury, so near at hand and yet im- possible of attainment, caused the young ladies to feel their own privation all the more keenly. Shade- trees had, it is true, been planted, but what were these diminutive saplings compared with the lordly oaks and giant maples of the grove, many of which had seen two hundred summers, and no doubt had formed a shelter for the red man ages before? This trial was · not of long duration; the farm with the tempting grove was offered for sale in the year 1852, and although the funds of the corporation at the time were inadequate to the undertaking, yet as the advan- tage was so important and the time of payment ex- tended, the farm was purchased. Soon the boundary fence was removed, and the grove with all its attrac- tions added to the recreation-grounds. Where nature had been so lavish, it was an easy matter to render the surroundings of the academy what they have often been termed by visitors, "a little Paradise."

About this time the Pennsylvania Railroad was completed, uniting the eastern with the western part of the State, and passing within two miles of St. Xavier's, rendering it easy of access from the princi- pal cities of the State. Two or three additions were made to the buildings, which were needed for the in- creasing number of pupils. In 1861 a chapel was contracted for at a cost of about $40,000, the base- ment of which was to serve as a hall for the academic commencements. Owing to the scarcity of laborers during the Rebellion the chapel was not completed until 1866. In the mean time a neat two-story building, known as the Guest House, was erected, about three hundred yards distant from the academy, for the accommodation of the pupils' friends when visiting them during the year.

The academy grounds were artistically laid out, and many improvements made in the appearance of the institution, when, in the space of one short afternoon, there was nothing left of the vast pile of buildings, including the beautiful chapel, but smouldering ruins. At 2 P.M., Feb. 1, 1868, the terror-stricken cry of fire rang through the academy, and large volumes of flame were already rolling out from the roof of the middle building. : The directress immediately collected the pupils and left the building in safety. Every effort was made to save a part of the building, but in vain, no water but that furnished by ordinary pumps being on the premises. The neighbors, on seeing the fire,

ran to the rescue, and through their kindness a great amount of bedding and household furniture was saved, as well as sixteen pianos. The young ladies' trunks and wardrobes were all preserved through the untiring exertions of the Sister under whose charge they had been placed. Nothing was saved in the Sisters' part of the house, as every effort was directed to the well-being of the pupils and the pres- ervation of their effects. The weather being in- tensely cold, and the snow unusually deep, the scene of desolation was must distressing. Night was com- ing on, so nothing remained to be done but to procure as many sleds as possible and take the Pittsburgh chil- dren to the station to meet the night train. The Penn- sylvania Railroad Company kindly gave free trans- portation to Sisters and pupils, and placed their carriages at the disposal of the frightened wayfarers to convey them to the conventin Webster Street, where they remained until the following morning. As many as the Guest House could accommodate remained there and had a miniature academy on a very home- like plan. The Sisters saw the labor and gathering of years swept away in a few hours, and, what was more to be regretted, their insurance was very light, only $20,000, while the chapel alone cost $36,000.

Great sympathy was manifested by all classes for the Sisters' loes, and substantial encouragement given to rebuild the academy, as liberal donations were made to a building fund by the friends of the ill-fated institution. The Sisters sold some property, which brought a good price, and also made arrangements for a loan of money when needed, so that no delay might arise in the progress of the building. By the 1st of March all things were in readiness for the commence- ment of a new building, to take the place of the one just swept away. The plans were drawn by J. W. Kerr, the architect of Pittsburgh City Hall. The new structure was to be erected on the site of its prede- cessor, to be semi-Gothic and of irregular outline, with a front to the east of seventy-four feet by forty feet deep. Left wing, running northwest, one hundred and seventy feet by forty-four ; right wing, running south, one hundred feet by fifty. The chapel to connect with the front building and run parallel with the left wing. This portion of the building was to be Gothic, seventy-four feet by thirty-four, the foundation to be prepared with those of the other building, and the edifice erected in the future. The estimate for its completion was $20,000, and that of the academy $100,000.

Work commenced early in April, and was vigorously carried on during the following summer, when from sixty to eighty workmen were engaged in its erec- tion. September, 1869, saw the new academy ready to accommodate the pupils at the usual time for re- suming studies. Each part of the institution having been arranged to suit its intended purpose, and the whole building erected at once, gave it a perfection of which the old one could not boast, and added much

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ST. XAVIER'S ACADEMY, (Under the charge of Sisters of Mercy.) UNITY TOWNSHIP, WESTMORELAND CO., PA.

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THE PRESS AND LITERATURE.

to the convenience and comfort of the pupils. The chapel was erected in 1870, which completed the re- placement of the buildings swept away by the fire of Feb. 1, 1868.

The new academy received the same liberal patron- age that favored its predecessor. Although the num- ber of boarding-schools had been increased in Western Pennsylvania, yet the spacious study hall and ample class-rooms of the academy are graced by a goodly number of the daughters of influential families, not only of this State but of various other States. The academy continues to impart a solid English educa- tion, together with a knowledge of the languages and fine arts, and to prepare its pupils to go forth accom- plished members of society. Many of the pupils of St. Xavier's may be found in different parts of the country filling with credit the various positions which only an educated Christian lady can advantageously fill, A few return to their alma mater and join their teachers in the various works of mercy peculiar to their mode of life. Of their efficient services to suffering humanity the sick and wounded soldiers of the civil war have had sufficient proof, as many of the Sisters who ministered to their wants in the Stan- ton and Douglas Hospitals of Washington and the West Penn Hospital of Pittsburgh were graduates of St. Xavier's.

The museum of the academy contains a well- arranged collection of minerals, embracing different ores and rock-forms, some handsome cameos and mosaics, a fine selection of quartz crystals, Amazon stones, spars, etc., besides fossils of different ages, and a valuable set of coins and medallions. For these the institution is indebted to its friends. It also possesses a fine library, comprising many of the stand- ard works of English literature, besides several book- cases filled with encyclopædias, books of reference, etc., so placed as to be accessible to the various classes at suitable hours. The most of these works have been the gifts of the reverend clergy of this and other dioceses.

removed before the close of the session for which she has entered full payment will be required for the whole, except in case of sickness.

CHAPTER XLII. THE PRESS AND LITERATURE.

The " Pittsburgh Gasette"-"Farmer's Register," the First Paper printed in Greensburg -- " The Greensburg and Indians Register"-The "West- moreland and Indiana Register"-" The Westmoreland Republicsa and Farmer's Chronicle"-" Greensburg Democrat"- "Republicsa and Democrat"-" Westmoreland Democrat"-The " Greensburg Ge- sette"-" Greenebarg Gasette and Farmer's and Meobanick's Regie ter-(And again) " The Greensburgh Gesette"-" The Westmoreland Intelligencer"-" The Sentinel"-The "American Herald"-" The Tribune"- " Tribune and Herald" - "The Pennsylvanie Arges"- "Frank Cowan's Paper"-" The Democratic Timer"-"The National Issue"-"The Nowe"-" The Greensburg Prote"-" The Evening Press"-German Newspapers: " The Star of the West" ... " The West- moreland News"-" The Ligonier Free Press alles " The Valley Dess- ocrat"-Mount Pleasant " Literary Gasette"-" Latrobe Inquirer"- "Latrobe Advance"-" The Reveille"-The "Irwin Spray"- " The Irwin Chronicle"-The West Newton " Weekly Oyole"-" The West Newton Press"-" The Boottdale Tribune"-The " Miner's Record"- Oddities-Observatione-Extracts-Literature- Dr. Frank Cowan' Publications.

ABOUT the time the old court-house was completed, and before the 'town of Greensburg was made a bor- ough by incorporation, the printing-press-the light and the life of modern civilization-made its appear- ance. The occasion was favorable, for up to that time the only printing-offee in Western Pennsylvania was the office of Scull & Hall, the proprietors of the Gazette, at Pittsburgh .. John Scull and Joseph Hall established the Pittsburgh Gasette and issued their first number on the 26th of July, 1786. At their office all the printing which was done in the West was executed. The writs used in court, the sum- mons and executions used by the justices, sale bills were printed at their office until one was established at Greensburg.

The course of studies, according to the last prospec- tus of the academy, embraces the various branches of elementary training, together with those which constitute the higher departments of a finished educa- tion. Reading, writing, astronomy, algebra, chem- istry, history, geology, geometry, belles-lettres, book- keeping, practical and rational arithmetic, geography, grammar, rhetoric, botany, natural and moral philos- ophy, vocal and instrumental music, logic, French, German, Italian, Latin, drawing, painting, plain sewing, etc. Music, singing, drawing, French, Ger- man, Italian, Latin, wax-work, and ornamental needle-work are extra branches, and will be taught at the option of the parents. Letters written or received by the young ladies are examined by the directress previous to their delivery. The scholastic year com- mences September 1st, and terminates on the 1st of July. It is divided into two sessions. If a pupil be | He was uncle of John M. Laird, Esq., the Nestor of

The Farmer's Register was the first venture in news- paper literature west of the mountains after the estab- lishment of the Pittsburgh Gasette. The first number made its appearance about the beginning of the year 1798, and it was published and edited by John M. Snowden. A man by the name of McCorkle was said to have had some connection with the paper, and to have been associated with Snowden, but most prob- ably he was the printer only, and had nothing to do with the paper either as proprietor or manager. Mr. Snowden was a native of Philadelphia, and his ven- ture here was not unprofitable. He disposed of the paper to William S. Graham about 1808. He re- mained in the county till some time after that, and was elected to serve several offices of trust. . He re- moved hence to Pittsburgh, where in 1812 he suc- ceeded J. C. Gilleland in the management of the Sunday Mercury, the ancestor, as one might say, of the Pittsburgh Post. He was a professional printer.

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the Westmoreland prees of our day, and under him Mr. Laird served his apprenticeship in the printing business.

The paper continued to be called the Farmer's Register till 1808, when the name was changed to The Greensburg and. Indiana Register, and again later to The Westmoreland and Indiana Register. The occa- sion of this was the increasing circulation of the paper in Indiana County, and the fact that it was the medium for the public advertisements of that county. As the headings were of movable types, and as these types were sometimes used in job-work, the arbitrary title of the paper was not infrequently so of necessity, which occasion was usually explained by an apology. In the issue of July the 9th, 1812, it was explained that, from having been disappointed in receiving the proper kind of type, they had to change the name to Greensburg instead of Westmoreland. For extra jobs they had to use the head-line of the paper.

The mechanical part of the paper was good; the type was large and distinct, and the earlier volumes had the old-fashioned Jf. The paper material was heavy and durable, and the few old copies extant, notwithstanding the sear and yellow withered leaves of age turning, as they are, into irrecoverable dust, are well preserved. In 1811 the paper was printed on paper manufactured at the paper-mill of Markle & Doum, on the Sewickley, twelve miles west of Greens- burg, which had then but recently been built.

The paper in size was nine and one-half inches by thirteen inches. There were four pages of four columns each in clear type and closely set. The price of subscription was two dollars and a quarter per year. The news was mostly made up of foreign intelli- gence, or of reports of Congress, and of new treaties with the Indians. Each number contained about five columns of advertisements, and, on an average, one column of short extracts from exchanges. Under the head of news were given Jefferson's addresses, report of the trial of Aaron Burr for treason, sick ness of Bernadotte, and a new battle gained by Bonaparte. There were no professional cards among the adver- tisements, but there was a standing notice that rags would be taken at the highest market price in pay- ment for the subscription to the paper. What might be called editorials were scarce. The political and social course of the paper was shaped by articles in the form of correspondence, so that an editor might make an attack on a political opponent or cry down an evil under some nom de plume. But besides these collections there were papers and contributions on political subjects of from five to seven columns. Findley wrote incessantly for the paper from the time of its establishment, and it was suspected that he helped to carry it on, not only with his influence but with his money. The paper politically was Jeffer- sonian-Republican, and the articles which Findley furnished for electioneering purposes were in vindi- cation of his political career. These were sometimes

addressed to his constituents, explanatory of his course in Congress in reference to the embargo and on the prospect of war with Great Britain. William 8. Graham, purchasing the establishment from Snow- den in the beginning of 1808, continued its publica- tion after changing its name to the Westmoreland and Indiana Register. Graham was something of an en- terprising man, and besides publishing from time to time cheap works, as "The Constitution of the United States" and " Watts' Hymne" in sheep, he kept a collection of books, pamphlets, and stationery on sale. Here could be purchased "Valentine and Omon," and "The Englishman's Right, or a Dia- logue between a Barrister-at-Law and a Juryman." 1 But the young student who wanted "Robertson's History," and the young miss who wanted the poems of Ossian, had to send with Randall Mclaughlin or some of the store-keepers when they went East.

From 1812 a change may be noticed in the style of the paper. Interspersed with editorial notes of from twelve to twenty lines are seen an account of the red- haired fat boy, of the hog that told fortunes and cast accounts, the latest antidote for the bite of a mad dog, and a description of the execution of eight negroes at one time somewhere in the South. About this time appeared the first advertisements of patent medicines : The Elixir of Perpetual Adolescence, and Doctor Blank's Anti-Bilious Compound. Invalids were cured by the big words. By such slow degrees have we ar- rived at our present civilization.

The style of such articles as were original was usually more dignified and conventional than one would look for in a newspaper now. But there are many defects in them compared with our papers, and more than one hiatus. We look in vain for mention of matters of in- terest to us; such, for instance, as a biographical notice on the death of Truby or Hanna, a description of the early town, who were building the latest houses, and when the old court-house was completed; such notices, in short, as make the very being of a country paper. The expenditures of the county were, it is true, pub- lished in the current numbers, whence we get the in- formation that the expenses for the year 1808 were $7165.12, and that John B. Alexander received one hundred dollars for his year's salary as clerk to the commissioners.

As there were no regular mails for many years after the paper began to be published, and then at first only along the old State road and turnpike, the subscrib- ers had to make such arrangements as they could agree upon to have their papers forwarded to them. The bundle for a: community was usually left .at some store, where the subscribers called for them. In 1812, on the establishment of a post-route from Bedford to Greensburg, it was stated that the subscrib- ers on that route could now be served by mail.

The Westmoreland and Indiana Register continued

1 This valuable and instructive little work may be found as an appen- dix to Binu's " Justice."

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to be published by Graham till his death in 1815, when it was carried on by his widow, Mrs. James Graham,1 with the assistance of Mr. Peterson and Mr. Under- wood respectively as foremen, till September, 1818, when it was transferred to other owners and the name changed. The identity of the Register ended at that time, but as it was the paper upon which the subse- quent series of Democratic papers was founded, its existence was perpetuated in them.

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History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 69

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

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