History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 101

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century > Part 101

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

The Christian Church is an outgrowth of a Sunday school and Christian Endeavor Society that had been maintained for a number of years by a faithful band of that denomination, held in the old Markell Hall. These, with their recruits, were organized into a church on August 19, 1899, by Elder J. A. Bennett, 38 persons constituted the roll. The present building on Chess street was dedicated in October, 1900, during the pastorate of Elder O. S. Reed. His pastorate was fol- lowed by a period during which Dr. S. T. Dodd, now deceased, supplied the pulpit. In the autumn of 1903 A. A. Doak was called and was pastor for about a year. He was succeeded by John W. Kerns in July, 1904. In July, 1906, G. L. Cook became pastor and remained for one year. This church has enjoyed a great measure of prosperity. During the past year the church has not had a regular pastor: depending on supplies for its pulpit. On the first Sabbath of July, 1908, its present pastor, the Rev. Mr. Beckler, began his work.

United Presbyterian Church-On May 7, 1905, a United Presbyterian Sabbath school was organized in the Baptist Church. Preaching services were conducted in connection with the Sabbath school by the Rev. W. W. Reed, of Donora, until October. On October 24, 1905, the United Presbyterian Church was organized by the Chartiers Presbytery with a membership of 18. Mr. Joseph M. McCalmont acted as supply October, 1905, to April, 1906. In May, 1906, the congregation began to worship in Blankenbeuhler's Hall with Mr. D. A. Russell as supply until October 6. On December 1, 1906, Rev. J. H. Miller became pastor of the church and did a great work among his people. The member- ship has been increased and a complete organization effected. A lot secured at the corner of Tenth and Chess streets upon which the present finely appointed chapel has been erected at a cost of $5,300.00. The chapel was dedicated on March 1, 1908. Mr. Miller has recently resigned on account of ill health.

The Young Men's Christian Association-One of the institutions that Monongahela can be justly proud of is that of the Young Men's Christian Association. Or- ganized on January 11, 1904, it has been an active force for good in our city for the past four years. Rev. L. W. Warren, formerly pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, was instrumental in showing the need of such an organization. After surmounting many difficulties and discouragements the efforts of those interested in such an undertaking were crowned with success and on October 11, 1904, handsomely equipped quarters were opened in the Towner Building. The first permanent organization consisted of the following men: Theodore M. Byers, president; William T. Corrin, vice president ; William I. Jones, treasurer, and James C. Dodd, record- ing secretary. The above officers served for two years

and were succeeded by the following officers who are serving at the present time: Frank Bebout, president; Lewis N. Yohe, first vice president; Wilhelm F. Alten, second vice president; John F. Cooper, treasurer, and Harry H. Williams, recording secretary. Hon. J. B. Finley, Mr. Joseph A. Herron and John H. Jones aided considerably in the equipping of the rooms. A call was extended to W. T. Wertz, of Greensburg, Pa., to accept the general secretaryship for the promoting of the work. The association is in a flourishing condition at the present time with a membership of 225 men and a large boy's department, also a Ladies' Auxiliary of 125 ladies. Many departments of work are being carried on successfully.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church-In 1833 Revs. John Morgan and Alfred Bryan, who at this time traveled over the county organizing Cumberland Presbyterian Churches, came to Monongahela City and organized one at that point. A church was erected the same year and services held until 1845, when they ceased and the members joined other churches.

Wesleyan Methodist Church-The Wesleyan Methodist Congregation only existed for a comparatively short time. They occupied a church building in the First Ward which was afterward used in turn by the Luth- erans and Baptists. The congregation disbanded on account of removal of members and lack of interest.

The Monongahela Cemetery-At a meeting of the citizens of Monongahela and vicinity held at the pub- lic house of Caleb Harvey, on Friday, the 3rd day of April, A. D. 1863, for the purpose of purchasing ground and locating a public cemetery, T. R. Hazzard was called to the chair and Joseph Wilson was secretary. After several meetings 31 acres were purchased from William McClure for $1,040 and charter procured.

Adam Aughendoubler became superintendent July 10, 1865, at a salary of $350 per annum, which position he continued to hold until his death in 1895. In 1894 the beautiful mortuary chapel was erected with Yohe Bros. as contractors and Frank P. Keller as architect. This building is most advantageous, having hermetically sealed vaults for deposits of bodies when death has come suddenly in the community and burial cannot be made, or for the repose of bodies from a distance. In the side of this building is a memorial to William Alex- ander, for his untiring efforts in behalf of the ceme- tery.

Some years ago there was also erected the imposing soldiers' section surrounded by the stone redoubt upon which is mounted cannons and the paraphernalia of war erected by Starkweather Post, No. 60, G. A. R. Fountains and beautiful walks and other improvements are constantly being added.

The present officers and board of managers are

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Joseph A. Herron, president; Morton Black, treasurer ; T. S. McCurdy, secretary, and Joseph A. Herron, Mor- ton Black, Isaac Yohe, B. F. Bentley, M. H. Borland, Frank Bebout and T. S. McCurdy are the present board of managers.

Social and fraternal organizations are numerous in Monongahela and represent the best development of this important phase of American life. The Odd Fel- lows' building is one of the most imposing structures in the town, owned without incumbrance by the local lodge. Other orders, perhaps equally wealthy, have not thought it advisable to invest their surplus in buildings of their own, but have long term leases on desirable quarters, several of them fitted up in a most luxurious manner. Monongahela women have worked in har- mony with these fraternities, organizing auxiliaries in many cases. In fact the women have played an im- portant part in the social and material progress of the town. Their greatest work was in connection with the Memorial hospital, which institution probably owes its existence to the untiring efforts of Monongahela women.

There are 18 lodges in Monongahela City which are as follows :

The Nucleus Lodge No. 377, I. O. O. F., was organ- ized September 14, 1849. The membership at present is 211.

The Henry M. Phillips Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., was chartered March 5, 1860.

The Gen. Starkweather Post No. 60, G. A. R., was organized April 30, 1867, with 14 charter members.

The Arroas Tribe No. 253, I. O. R. M., was organized May 23, 1884. The present membership is 100.

The Monongahela Council No. 507, Royal Arcanum, was organized August 4, 1880, with 25 chartered mem- bers and now has a membership of 154.

The Star of the Valley Council No. 136 was organ- ized in 1881. Its present membership is 358.

Knights of Malta. Organized March 11, 1905.

The Monongahela Lodge No. 455 of the B. P. O. E. of the U. S. of A. was organized December 12, 1898, with 39 charter members. The present membership is 211.

The Monongahela Aerie No. 532, F. O. E., was or- ganized November 11, 1903, with a membership of 98.

The Turn und Gesang Verein Eintracht was organ- ized September 28, 1890, with 20 chartered members. The present membership is 190.

The Monongahela W. C. T. U. was organized on June 10, 1884.

The Justice Lodge No. 395, K. of P., was organized in 1887.

The Household of Ruth No. 479 was organized in 1887.

The Order of Solon No. 33 established in 1889.

The Chieftains' League No. 20 was established in 1891. Ringgold Castle No. 437, K. G. E., established in 1892. Monongahela Tent No. 315, K. T. M., established December 8, 1897. The present membership is 40.

Monongahela Lodge, P. O. S. of A., was instituted in 1908 and has 104 members.

JOSEPH PARKINSON.

The Founder of Parkinson's Ferry, Later William's Port, and Now Monongahela City.

BY WILLIAM PARKINSON WARNE, Member of Washington County (Pa.) Bar.

The family name Parkinson is derived from Perkins or Parkins, a patronymic from Perkin, a diminutive of Peter. The surname of Simon Barjona, given him by Jesus Christ Himself, went everywhere with the spread of Christianity. Petros in Greek, Petrus in Latin ("the stone" from petra "rock") became Pietro in Italy, Pedro in Spain, Pierre in France, Pieter in Dutch, etc. From Peter we derive the "pet" name of Perkin, or Parkin, from which we get Perkin, Perkins, Perkinson, Parkin, Parkins, Parkinson, etc.

There are no Perkins or Parkins on the Hundred Rolls, and these names begin to appear first in York- shire and in the eastern counties of England about the year 1300.

From a consultation of the works on heraldry it is ascertained: First, a Parkinson coat of arms without any special reference otherwise. Second, a coat as borne by Richard Parkinson, Esq., of Kinnersley Castle, County Hereford. Third, a coat as borne by Mary Parkinson, of East Ravendale, County Lincoln, widow. Fourth, a coat as granted to the Rev. John Posthumus Parkinson, M. A. Fellow of Magdalene College, Oxford, on his marriage with the heiress of the late Rev. Dr. Parkinson, of East Ravendale, and assumption of her name. Fifth, a coat as borne by Parkinsons of Cadale Forest, Fairsnape and Blandhurst, County Lancaster and Wordgate. All these have also crests.

That the name Parkison or Parkinson is English and that the family is English there can be no doubt from the derivation of the name and the evidence from the records on heraldry. It is further proven that the Parkinsons were of Yorkshire English, and persons of prominence, refinement and education.

As to the correct spelling of the name to be given this family from which the subject of this sketch was descended it can only be decided from the evidence be- fore us. An examination of the records of Washing- ton County, Pennsylvania, shows a varied spelling of the name. It is spelled Parkison, Parkinson, Perkerson, Perkeson, and in one instance Parkins. The earlier

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spelling was more frequently Parkison than otherwise, but at later dates and now it is nearly always spelled Parkinson. The name is found in all parts of the United States and in England and always spelled Park- inson. All that is positively certain, however, is that the original name was Perkin, or Parkin, and the various families have come to spell the name in the different ways.

The earliest authentic date that it is known that the family of Parkinson was found in what is now Washing- ton County, Pa., was in the years 1769 or 1770. It is family tradition that Joseph Parkinson first came to Fort Pitt as an Indian trader, and was at Fort Pitt in 1769, when the lands along the Monongahela River in the vicinity of where Monongahela City stands were first begun to be taken up by the early settlers of that region, among the first of whom were the Parkinsons.

William Parkinson, the earliest common ancestor of which we have any record, was a resident of Cumber- land County, which was erected out of Chester County (one of the three original counties of Pennsylvania) in the year 1749, and included what is now Franklin, Adams, and in fact all the western territory claimed by the Penn's, and which now includes Washington County, etc., in Western Pennsylvania. William Parkin- son had a large family of children, among whom were Joseph, William, Benjamin, Thomas and James, who removed from their home in Cumberland County, near Carlisle, about 1769 or 1770, to the mouth of Pigeon Creek, on the west bank of the Monongahela River, where Monongahela City is now located. The five brothers took up some 5,000 acres of lands among them in Washington County along the waters of Pigeon and Mingo Creeks from 1769 to 1791. For their day and time they were men of education and refinement and among the sturdy and brave pioneers who dared to settle in the then territory of the red man, where Indian out- rages, the French and Indian wars, the Revolutionary War, the many bitter boundary contests between the adherents of Virgina and the Penns, and lastly the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794, required men of stout hearts to face the then trying times of this region.

It is tradition as well as a well authenticated fact that the Parkinsons came from the old Conococheague Settlement, a very early one, composed of the English, Scotch and German emigrants who first located there supposing their settlement lay wholly within the do- mains of Lord Baltimore. However, by a subsequent arrangement between them, the proprietors of the two provinces, the territory in which the Parkinsons found themselves, was within the boundaries belonging to the Penns. The Conococheague Settlement was a very early one, and as early as 1738 was an active old Presby- terian settlement, for in that year the numbers were

so large that it became necessary to divide the congre- gation into the East and West Conococheague Churches. The Conococheague Settlement was included in what is now Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and Washington County, Maryland.

As to the four brothers of Joseph Parkinson who were more or less identified with the settlement of the portion of Washington County, in and around the mouths of Pigeon and Mingo Creeks, we will speak briefly :

Benjamin Parkinson was a prominent farmer and owner of mills, and made himself famous as a leader of the Whiskey Boys during the insurrection in Western Pennsylvania in 1794, took up several tracts of land, finally settling on a farm on the Galdes Road between Dunningsville and Kammerer, on the old Wash- ington and Williamsport Turnpike. He was captured and taken a prisoner during the Whiskey Insurrection and taken to Philadelphia among others who were tried and found guilty of high treason, but afterwards par- doned by President Washington. Benjamin was one of the first justices of Washington County, Pa., elected in 1781, and was one of the twelve justices that com- posed the first court of Washington County, one of whose number was elected President Judge.

Thomas Parkinson was a large owner of mills. He sold out and removed to near Ligionier, in what was later Westmoreland County, in 1791, and about the year 1804, sold his farms and mills in that place and moved his family to Brooke County, Virginia, (now West Virginia). About the year 1783 he married Mar- garet Latimer. The Latimers were English and came from Philadelphia. Mr. Latimer and his wife and their infant child (afterwards Mrs. Parkinson) were taken captives by the Indians, and subjected to a five days' march across the Ohio River into the wilderness. From this story and capture is based the story of Meg Lati- mer in Dr. McCooks tale of the Whiskey Insurrection, "The Latimers."

James Parkinson was a carpenter by trade and one of the most skilled millwrights of his day. He built a mill on Pigeon Creek which became known afterwards as the McFarland Mill, which he sold to his brother, Thomas Parkinson, who later sold to James McFar- land. He also built the first brick house ever erected in that region in the year 1785, which still stands and is now known as the Van Voorhis Homestead. The workmanship of his own hands can be seen to this day in a good state of preservation, and the old colonial house is a model of good architecture that is worth copying yet. James Parkinson left Pennsylvania some time prior to the beginning of the nineteenth century and located in Virginia.

William Parkinson and his descendants were large

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owners of lands and mills and took a prominent part in the navigation of the rivers and as owners of steam- boats in later years. His son, Benjamin Parkinson, known as "Little Ben" to distinguish him from his uncle, Benjamin Parkinson, of the Whiskey Insurrection fame, on the 17th of March, 1801, bought from David Acheson a tract of land on the Monongahela River, in- cluding the mouth and both sides of Mingo Creek, upon which at an earlier date Paul Froman had erected the old Mingo Mill.

A deed is of record as follows which would indicate that the Parkinsons once owned slaves: Alexander Pool and Hagar, his wife, people of color, sold to Joseph, Parkinson (probably a son of Thomas) all their right, title and interest left to them by will of "Mingo Dana, a man of color," beginning at lands of Charles Wells, now David Harveys, on the Virginia line. From the name "Mingo Dana" it could be inferred that the person so designated may have been a slave of the Parkinsons at the mouth of Mingo.

As an evidence of the prosperity of the Parkinsons the contents of the deed of Thomas Parkinson to James McFarland, dated October 21, 1791, whereby he con- veys: All that his mills and plantation whereon the said Thomas resides, situate on Pigeon Creek, James Par- kinson, Benjamin Parkinson et al, containing not less than 300 acres and as much more as it will measure ac- cording to the settled lines with the neighbors aforesaid. Together with the buildings, improvements. ... "as also the screen and wind-mill to go with the premises-James McFarland covenants to pay the £1,010 at or before January 1, next-part now and security-£10 to be paid in Linen Cloth or Whiskey," etc.

From the standpoint of what might have been and knowing what we now know, if the five Parkinson brothers and their heirs had held on to the 5,000 acres of lands taken by them in the years from 1769 to 1791, until now the same would be worth several millions of dollars, so valuable have the same lands become owing to the rich coal veins underlying them. The Parkin- sons seemed to have been men with a talent for select- ing real estate as the lands taken up by them in every instance were the best as to soils, location and mineral deposits. Joseph seems to have had an eye for a town location, as he took the mouth of Pigeon Creek at its confluence with the Monongahela River and whose waters drained a great valley extended for miles into the rich territory along its banks. All the brothers se- lected their lands along streams of water where water power was accessible to run their mills. They showed much intelligence in those early days such as is useful in the selection of locations even at this day and date.

The first white man to erect a habitation at the mouth of Pigeon Creek on the west bank of the Monongahela

River was Joseph Parkinson. The only other known persons to erect a cabin in this locality were the Deckers along about 1758 at the point up Pigeon Creek about a mile from its mouth where James and Thomas Parkin- son afterwards built their mills and lived until 1791, when they sold out to James McFarland. Joseph had come from Fort Pitt in 1769 or 1770 and taken up a tract of land at the mouth of Pigeon Creek and pro- ceeded to build his cabin on the river bank within fifty yards east of the entrance to the new river bridge which was dedicated December 6, 1909, and continued to live therein until his death in 1834, or a period of 64 years, when he died in his 95th year.

From the early history of Western Pennsylvania we learn that immediately after the treaty of November 5, 1768, when the Indian title to lands comprising the southwestern counties of Pennsylvania, was extinguished, the proprietors, or heirs of William Penn began the sale of lands, and among those who then or very soon after obtained warrants for lands in this vicinity, were the Deckers, Fromans and Devors. From the Survey Books we take the following: "In pursuance of an order No. 3783, dated 26th August, 1769, the above is a draught of a survey of a tract of land called "Southwark," containing 70.5 acres, with the usual allowances of 6 per cent for roads, highways, etc., sit- uated on the west side of the Monongahela River. Sur- veyed for Abraham Decker 26th October, 1769."

During 1770, Joseph Parkinson settled on the tract above mentioned, and ultimately laid claim to it and other lands adjoining to the amount of over 300 acres.

To pass over what is a long story, Joseph Parkinson became interested at a very early day, the exact date of which is not known, in a ferry across the Monon- gahela River near the mouth of Pigeon Creek, on the lands included in the survey called "Southwark."

Very likely the first person to conduct a ferry was James Devore, a pioneer, who must have settled on the east side of the Monongahela River, opposite the mouth of Pigeon Creek, at about the same date and engaged in conducting a store at that side of the river, and as the need required it commenced to conduct a ferry which is called "Deboirs Ferry" in Washington's diary at the time he crossed the same in 1771. Parkinson lo- cated on the west side and owned the land and the settle- ments were first made on that side of the river. A de- mand soon arose for a ferry and no doubt Parkinson, very soon after Devore commenced to operate a ferry from his side of the river, joined in the enterprise on his side. In some way or other the ferry was carried on from 1771 to 1785 by these two men. At a very early date the ferry became known as "Parkinson's Ferry" (as early at least as 1781) and was the first name of the place. It was the name of the first postoffice established

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there, is well known in the annals of the Whiskey In- surrection where the Congress of the Whiskey Boys met. It was the name of the first postoffice established there, is well known in the annals of the Whiskey Insurrection where the Congress of the Whiskey Boys met.

Afterwards, in 1792, Joseph Parkinson laid out on his lands a plan of lots and advertised them for sale; but did not carry out his design until 1796, when he sold a large number of lots in his new town which he called "William's Port," after the name of his son, William. It continued to be known as William's Port until 1833, when the place was duly incorporated under the name it now bears, Monongahela City. The name Williamsport being the name of another town in Pennsylvania, on the Susquehanna River, and to avoid two postoffices of the same name the first name of the place was dropped and the present name adopted. It ought to have been called Parkinson.

Joseph Parkinson was born in 1739 and died in 1834, aged 95. He was one of the first justices of the peace, elected in 1781. Was the first postmaster at Parkin- son's Ferry. Besides the above, he was a trader on the rivers from Parkinson's Ferry to New Orleans, taking flat boats loaded with whiskey and other products of the region to New Orleans. He was employed under Col. George Morgan as a supply agent for the government at Fort Pitt from the time it was abandoned by the British until it ceased to be a fort at the end of the Revolutionary War.

On one of the trips he with eight others were cap- tured by Indians led by Simon Girty and taken prisoner on Blennerhasset 's Island in the Ohio River, and were all compelled to run the gauntlet, Parkinson being the only one to escape with his life, who was allowed to make his way back to the settlements on the Monon- gahela, deprived of his boats and their cargo of whiskey and flour. The above narrative is vouched for by Mar- garet A. E. McClure, a granddaughter of Joseph Parkin- son, who died in 1902, at the age of 91 and was there- fore 23 years old at the death of her grandfather, and had often heard him relate his daring experience with the savage red men at Blennerhasset 's Island.

That Joseph Parkinson was employed as a supply agent at Fort Pitt during the trying times in Western Pennsylvania through the Revolutionary War is to his credit as a patriot. The question of supplies at Fort Pitt about the years 1778 and 1779 was one of ex- treme importance and it required men of diplomacy as well as bravery.

Joseph Parkinson was distinguished along with his wife, who was before her marriage to her husband in Carlisle prior to coming to the Monongahela Valley, Margaret Weaver, a descendant of the pure Dutch stock of that region, as the owner and keeper of Parkinson's

Tavern which was famed for its hospitality from Phil- adelphia to the most western settlements of the time; it being located on a main thoroughfare from the east to the west. Mrs. Parkinson was noted as one of the best cooks in all the country and her dinners were a thing of art in the culinary science of those days.

In connection with the Parkinson Tavern at Parkin- son's Ferry was the garden managed and superintended by Mrs. Parkinson, the wife of the landlord. It was admitted to be one of the finest flower gardens west of Philadelphia, in the days of Parkinson's Ferry. It was laid out in walks traversing it in various ways. The beds were laid off in squares for the vegetable portion of the garden, from which Mrs. Parkinson gath- ered the products for the table for the entertainment of travelers who stopped with her husband. The flower beds were of nearly every form such as circles, anchors, half-moons, crosses, squares and triangles. A wide walk ran all the way around the garden, and one main walk extended from the hall door of the tavern down through the garden to the well, thence to the lower boundary of the same near the ferry, passing through a summer house, which was a perfect bower of beauty covered with flowering vines of many varieties. Another walk led from a summer house, which stood near the tavern, in a direction parallel with the main walk. In the gar- den were to be found all kinds of tulips, pinks, flags, lilies, hyacinths, blue bells, king's crown, many varie- ties of roses and all the flowers then cultivated in gar- dens. Besides the flowers, the garden was planted with all kinds of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubbery.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 101

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1474