History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 18

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

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this moment in the former"' . "Disappointed in .

one of the objects of making the journey, namely 'to examine into the situation, quality and advantages of the land which I hold on the Ohio and Great Kanawha and to take measures for recovering these from the hands of Land Jobbers and speculators-who . had enclosed them in other surveys and were

offering them for sale at Philadelphia and Europe," still "I am well pleased with my journey, as it has been the means of my obtaining a Knowledge of the facts-coming at the temper and disposition of the Western Inhabitants."

This well kept diary, now in the library of Congress, is one of the greatest monuments to its great author. The reader can but regret that "the discontented tem- per of the Indians and the Mischiefs done by some parties of them,"' were so serious as to prevent the ex-commander-in-chief of the Continental troops from venturing further west or down the Ohio, where he had in 1770 seen a sycamore tree that measured 44 feet 10 inches in circumference.

The name of Washington will forever be associated with trees and that abstract idea, truthfulness. We can believe his Sycamore story, for there is another pub- lished in Old Monongahela's Old Home-Coming (1908), page 242, of the famous Sycamore which stands in Monongahela City's driving park, 36 feet 7 inches in circumference, in which, in early times, was born a boy baby whose descendants are scattered over this region. John A. Howden, of Washington, verifies the last by stating that the baby boy was afterward well known as James Howden and the hollow tree permitted a rail 11 feet long to be turned around in it horizontally, but puts its location on the flat ground below California. The family encamped a year or more in the tree before moving to a permanent location.

The Indians referred to by Washington had startled and distressed the frontiers in March and April of 1783, both in Westmoreland and Washington Counties, killing a man within a mile of Catfish Village and capturing a dozen persons, including a farmer named Boice. Two of the persons-Mrs. Walker and a boy-regained their liberty, but the others were carried to the Shawnee towns on the Miami. (Old Westmoreland County, p. 189.) Two men were killed near Cross Creek about four months prior to Washington's visit to Canonsburg, and a family (McIntosh) was almost entirely destroyed in Finley Township a year later.

A treaty with the Indians was signed January 21, 1785, but with much reluctance on the part of the savages. About 400 Senecas, Delawares and Wyandottes attended at Fort McIntosh (Beaver), among them being a num- ber of women and children. Maj. Ebenezer Denny de- scribed them as a motley crew-an ugly set of devils all

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

-very few handsome men or women. These western natives were both discontented and angry because the Six Nations, in New York, had made a treaty without consulting them. On October 23, 1784, by a treaty with the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, all the northwestern lands within the boundaries of Pennsylvania north of the Ohio and north and northeast of Kittanning, were sold for $5,000, but the western tribes sold their title to the same bounded tract, three months later, for $2,000. Both the New York Indians and these western tribes were hurried into this contract,-the argument being that as they had adhered during the war to the King of Great Britain, they were considered by us as a conquered people, and had no right to expect any money or trinkets. It is written that the Indians in council all jumped to their feet in wrath at the disdainful treatment shown them by Gen. Clark, who was the prince of "bluffers."

These were the first treaties with Indians by the United States and the last made by Pennsylvania. These treaties following that with Britain, in 1783, did not bring relief. Britain in violation of her treaty held Detroit, the key, and other northwest forts, for 12 years more. The Supreme Executive Council of the State had in June, 1783, discharged the Washington County Ranging Company and directed Capt. John Hughes to turn in his vouchers to Boyd and Stokely; in 1785 had commissioned the officers chosen to command the troops of Washington County light horse, and November 2, 1787, had drawn an order to pay Col. James Marshall, lieutenant of Washington County, for £37 2s. 6p., to be paid by him to Abraham Enslow, Frederick Crow, Stephen Gapen, Peter Clawson, William Crawford, Jesse Vanmetre, W. Harrod, Sr., Michael Dougherty, John Flora, John Heaton, William Tarpine, Harrod Newland, Robert Flora, Alexander Brown, and Peter Dailey, for their services in watching the movements of Indians, and protecting the frontiers from Indian depredations in the year 1782, agreeably to the act of Assembly, dated December, 1781.

Possibly this tardy recognition by payment for hard and dangerous services rendered was because of the im- mediate need for more help. November 12, 1787, Coun- cil received intelligence that the Indians had murdered some of the inhabitants of Washington County and pro- ceeded at once to send to the lieutenant of the county 100 stand of arms, 400-weight of powder, 800-weight of lead and 1,000 flints. Three days later, it appearing that divers depredations had been made on the frontier settlements in this state, the lieutenants of the several frontier counties were authorized to call out the militia for the protection of the inhabitants. A month later the lieutenants of the several counties were directed to col- lect and repair all the public arms. David Redick, Esq., was then representing Washington County in State Coun-

cil, was in frequent attendance at Philadelphia, and no doubt was keeping Council informed about the Indians.

The fear of the Indians did not prevent legal and edu- cational progress. The first court house, built of logs, was completed in July, 1787, by John Hoge and Andrew Swearingen, the contractors, at the cost of 70 pounds, 8s., 9 3-4p. September 24th, Washington Academy was incorporated. It might be a compliment to Washington County to say that the first incorporation charter issued to residents witihn its borders, was for the purpose of advancing education. The academy was held in the court house and when that building burned in the winter of 1790-1791, the academy had no place to meet and received a blow from which it suffered for a considerable period. Allegheny County was established September 24, 1788, from a part of Westmoreland and Washington Counties. The next year the line was changed to where it is today, except that the boundary line continued from Murdocksville, then known as White's Mill, to the point where the State line crosses the Ohio River. This little triangle, northwestward of Murdocksville, was afterward included in Beaver County at its erection.

On March 8th, 1790, the Council of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, receiving a latter from Thomas Ryerson, Esq. (living beyond the present Greene County line), a member of the Assembly, relative to the defence of the western frontiers, set the next day for taking up the sev- eral papers then before the Council on that subject- frontier defence. The President of the United States wrote this committee of Council a few days later "re- specting the mischiefs which had been committed for several years past" in Washington County by the In- dians.

In the latter part of September, 1790, Gen. Josiah Harmer with 1,400 men attempted to quiet the Indians, but part of his forces were routed near Fort Wayne and the General was obliged to get back as best he could. Several parties of volunteer militia were sent from Washington County as patrols along the eastern side of the Ohio. The lieutenants of Washington and adjoin- ing counties were called into consultation and agreed that 300 men should be kept up and stationed at the forts on the west and north. Capt. Sam Brady who had married a daughter of our first sheriff (Van Swearingen), hunted Indians as one hunts snakes. The murder of sev- eral alleged-to-be-friendlies was charged to him, and there were other similar killings of trading Indians near Pittsburg. The Federal Secretary of War and the Gov- ernor of Pennsylvania denounced the deed and threat- ened the offenders, but the frontiersmen stood by them, and Brady's superior officer kept urging his promotion. It was thought that the Indian traders also were guilty of some thefts and murders.

Two thousand men were in 1791 placed in command of

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

General St. Clair. Two thousand or more Indians com- manded by Little Turtle and several renegade whites destroyed fully one-half of St. Clair's troops and drove him out of the Miami country. Defeat brought gloom and terror. The State and Federal authorities now de- cided to change their plans and to engage active and experienced riflemen instead of drafting militia of the several counties, and to make the service term six months instead of two. The 228 riflemen employed as militia were under command of officers employed by the executive instead of elected by the people. The com- panies were located quite a distance apart, one below Wheeling, another at the mouth of the Big Beaver Creek and the other at Kittanning.

This brought a letter of objection from David Red- ick (our then recently commissioned prothonotary and clerk of courts), to Gov. Mifflin of this state, from which we quote to show the condition of affairs:

"Washington, 13th February, 1792. "Sir: What appears to me of considerable conse- quence induces me to trouble your Excellency. I find that a considerable gap is left open to the enemy on the Northwestern part of the County, and that at a position where, in former wars, ye enemy perpetually made their approach in that County-the Settlements on the Rackoon, especially about Dilloe's Fort, constantly experienced in former times repeated attacks of the sav- ages. Capt. Smith's Company will cover Allegheny but will be of little service to this, unless we consider the enemy coming across the part of the Allegheny which lies on this side of the Ohio River and that, too, in a direc- tion we have seldom known them to come. I am told that many of our Rifle men decline entering upon the Six Months Service on this ground: Say they, 'Why will we go into a Service which appears to be calculated for the protection of Allegheny County while our own families and friends will continue exposed?' I am of the opinion that if the state would advance a month's pay it would greatly facilitate the Service. Money has magic power. I am told that Mr. Dan'l Hambleton, (Hamilton) declines accepting his Commission as a Lieutenant and that Mr. Robert Stevenson will be recommended to your Excellency to fill the vacancy. I have no doubt of his being a proper person."

The Indians-Shawnees, Delawares, Wyandottes, Mi- amis, Pottawattomies, Chippewas and Iroquois-were sup- plied by the British with ammunition and otherwise en- couraged in order to preserve the British fur trade and to keep up the irritation. The National Government was reluctant and dilatory, preferring peace to a fight. The Indians had never been satisfied with the treaty which had been signed by some of them and insisted on holding all the country west of the Ohio.

Gen. Anthony Wayne, known as "Mad Anthony," was at last placed in charge of the U. S. troops and spent the midsummer and the winter of 1792 at what has ever since been known as Legionville in Beaver County, seven miles above the mouth of the river of that name. He

moved his troops to Fort Washington, now known as Cincinnati, O., where he remained in an intimidating position for nearly two years until July, 1794, when, with about 3,000 men, he proceeded up the Maumee and fought his decisive battle with the Indians, known as the Battle of Fallen Timbers, on the 20th of August. "This great victory of the American arms brought last- ing peace to the western borders, but its effects were more than local, they were national and even interna- tional. The Indians who in other parts of the country, in the north and south, were ripe for mischief, were overawed and quieted."

The surrender of the British posts soon followed and the war for independence was closed. But there was no peace in Washington County. On the contrary, during these months of July and August the inhabitants in this County were brought suddenly and unexpectedly into a bloody crisis and a state of wild chaos, where law was powerless and liberty fled before fear and distrust.

WESTERN INSURRECTION.

An excise law or tax on domestic production was passed by Pennsylvania in 1772. Spirits distilled for the use of the owner were excepted. During the Revolu- tionary War, the law was made to cover all production. Collectors appointed for the western counties made but little attempt to collect this excise tax. The Virginia officers and courts were in control west of the Mononga- hela from 1774 until 1780. Very little tax of any kind had been paid prior to this date, for even the collectors of county taxes were opposed in certain quarters, free- dom from this and from military duty being claimed against both colonies because of lack of jurisdiction in either.

A tavern keeper of Philadelphia, named Graham, was appointed exciseman to collect the tax in western coun- ties. After numerous misadventures in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties, he was obliged to fly to what was supposed to be the more sober and peaceable settlements of Washington County. Graham reached a point about two miles from where Cross Creek village now stands, when he was surrounded by about a dozen men, on April 7, 1786. A horseman with long hair, a wig, a cocked hat and pistols, which he carried before him, riding through the backwoods in grand style, claiming to be a high officer of some new born authority, was too much of a scarecrow for these western Indian hunters. They destroyed his pistols and papers, cut off half his hair, cued the other half, and dressing him to suit their fancy, escorted him past the many still houses with much hilarity but without doing physical injury, back to West- moreland County, where he was left with dire threats against his return.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Mr. Veech, commenting on the proceeding, intimates that the actors did not suffer in reputation; he says: "Graham never returned, except to institute a prosecu- tion for riot against twelve of the offenders in the court at Washington, of which they were afterwards con- victed, but were pardoned so far as to remit the fines imposed. If I mistake not, one of the offenders, merito- riously, I presume, rose in after years to high places in Washington County, representing it in the Assembly and eventually in Congress." That one of the "offenders" referred to is Aaron Lyle.

"A reference to the Colonial Records, Vol. 16, p. 24, shows that on March 12, 1789, the Executive Council remitted the fines that had been imposed by the Oyer and Terminer of Washington County for riot, on William Stewart, Aaron Lyle, James Ross, Samuel Agnew, James Mcclellan, John Donat, Josias Gamble, Robert Ralson, William Campbell, Joseph Wells, Samuel Hanna and John Rankin. A very substantial, respectable party they were or afterwards became. Samuel Agnew, another of the "offenders," represented Washington County in the Legislature for four years, having suc- ceeded Aaron Lyle in 1802, when the latter went to the State Senate. William Campbell, another, served as county commissioner, for a term beginning in 1799. Most of their co-rioters were afterwards of the most sub- stantial and respectable men in that region."

Graham resigned three months later and John Craig, Esq., of Washington County, was appointed by the Su- preme Executive Council. This not producing the reve- nue, his commission of collector of excise for Washing- ton, Westmoreland and Fayette, were revoked six months later and John Dodd, of Washington, appointed collector for Washington County, and Joseph Douglass for that of Fayette. It does not appear that these assumed to make any collection. One named Hunter did not succeed in any one of seventy suits he brought in Pittsburg in 1790.

The tax on one's own production savored too much of the excise laws of Great Britain. These western people, left largely without protection, were aroused over the adoption of this ancient form of oppression. Every man was accustomed to carry his fiint-lock rifle and seldom went abroad without it. They were, in fact, a warlike race, many of them having fought their way on the earlier frontiers east of the mountains and now were maintaining themselves against the Indians in the west and had aided the general war by sending two regiments to the east. It was not the love of fighting, but the necessity they were under to take care of themselves and their new homes that developed in them an independence which sometimes seemed rash. The prospect of secur- ing land brought many adventurers, but the nucleus of the settlements were quiet, determined people, not law-

less, as have appeared in more recent years in more western territories.

There was a rapid increase of population toward the close of the Revolution and many young men were in a condition of mind to be easily influenced by an uproar about oppression, led by a popular leader. The four western counties at the time of the Western Insurrec- tion, or Riots-Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington and Allegheny-contained about 6,000 inhabitants. Except Pittsburg and suburbs, which contained about 1,200 souls, there were no towns except the few places ap- pointed for holding courts of justice in each County. There were scarcely any roads. "The population had to find their way as they could through paths or woods, while the mountains still formed a barrier which could only be passed on foot or horseback. The only trade with the east was by packhorses." The navigation of the Ohio was not open because of the Indian wars and there was no market to be reached by it short of. 2,000 miles and that was in Spanish dominion.

"The farmers, having no market for their produce, were from necessity compelled to reduce its bulk by con- verting their grain into whiskey; a horse could carry two kegs of eight gallons each, worth about 50 cents per gallon on this, and one dollar on the other side of the mountains, while he returned with a little iron and salt, worth at Pittsburg, the former 15 to 20 cents per pound, the latter 5 to 10 dollars per bushel. The still was therefore the necessary appendage of every farm, where the farmer was able to procure it; if not, he was compelled to carry his grain to the more wealthy to be distilled. In fact, some of these distilleries on a large scale, were friendly to the excise laws, as it rendered the poorer farmers dependent on them."

A first excise law was passed March 3, 1791, by the United States under urgent pressure of Alexander Ham- ilton secretary of the treasury, fixing the tax at from 10 to 25 cents per gallon. In opposing this it was argued that whiskey was made from rye; "and why should we be made subject to duty for drinking our grain more than eating it?" The Pennsylvania law of 1779 forbade the distillation of any kinds of grain or meal except rye and barley, and "Old Monongahela Rye" was get- ting famous for purity.

Pennsylvania's Legislature remonstrated against this Act of Congress as "subversive of peace, liberty, and the rights of the citizens." There was no moral ques- tion involved, it was simply a question of taxation. Whiskey was one article which the people of western Pennsylvania could and did produce and realize money therefor, and the excise tax, if enforced, practically pre- vented its production in the west. It was virtual con- fiscation. The spying, unwelcome visits, arbitrary seiz- ures, and other despotic acts have always been resented,

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and the appointed collectors of excise were despised by the people.

In September of that year the collector for Washing- ton and Allegheny Counties, Robert Johnson of Alle- gheny County, was very roughly treated and humiliated near Pigeon Creek. The attempt to arrest John Robert- son, John Hamilton and Thomas McCombs for these acts failed, as the federal officer from east of the mountains was frightened by demonstrations showing, as he alleged, that his life would be forfeited by an attempted arrest.

To cut hair, strip, tar and feather the despised officers and threaten their lives, became a favorite practice a year or two later, not only in this but in the adjoining Counties. Threats and violence were extended in some instances to those who complied with the law by paying tax. In some of those Counties adjoining dwellings of · collectors and barns or some who paid tax were burned. This did not occur in Washington County.

Some counties, east of the mountains indulged in violence also. Chester County is said to have been the first to ill treat the excise collectors, but prosecution, con- viction and punishment for riot by the state courts soon checked the unruly. The foreman of the jury said he was "as much or more opposed to the excise law than the rioters, but would not suffer violations of law to go unpunished." Washington, President of the United States, issued a proclamation commanding obe- dience to law.

Congressman Finley of Westmoreland County wrote several letters in 1792 to high officials of the govern- ment giving his opinion that if special sessions of court were held in the western counties, the courts would be protected, and competent jurors found. Unfortunately this method of correcting violence was not carried out in Washington County. Judge Addison, who had been ad- mitted to the Washington County bar in 1787 and com- missioned president judge in 1791, was then on the bench and resided in the town of Washington. He was not considered friendly to the excise law or to the man- ner of enforcing it. Alexander Hamilton, secretary of the treasury of the newly formed United States, had proposed the law and was aggressive in its enforcement. Hamilton asserted that the judge while in Pittsburg, refused to take depositions and otherwise assist a reve- nue supervisor who was seeking "testimony and wit- nesses to attend a Circuit Court of the United States about to be held at York Town." The judge is quoted as of the opinion that the judiciary system of the United States was not consistent with the essential principles of the liberty of the citizens and the just authority of the State Courts. It was evident he was not in favor of dragging defendants and witnesses to trials at far dis- tant points across the mountains. Perhaps he despised the law as much as he did Collector Benjamin Wells, of

Fayette County, who was denied entertainment by the innkeeper at Uniontown for the reason that Judge Addi- son would leave if Wells were taken in again.

Soon after the obnoxious law was passed, meetings were held at Redstone Old Fort, then at Washington and later at Pittsburg. The meeting at Washington was for Washington County alone to appoint a committee to meet at Pittsburg with commiteemen from other counties to impress Congress with our need of relief. Washington County sent to Pittsburg, James Marshall, register and recorderer of this county; Rev. David Phillips, pastor of Peter's Creek Baptist Church, and David Bradford, Esq., and attorney at Washington, and deputy attorney gen- eral of Pennsylvania. The resolutions carried by the Washington County committee as instructions, were of a violent character, similar to those passed before the Revolutionary War in relation to the British Stamp Act and other excises.

The resolutions passed at this Pittsburg meeting in September may have influenced the Legislature to amend the law, which it did in May, 1792. The amended law only aggravated the farmers. It forced the small farmer to stop distilling his grain and made heavy penalty, $100 to $250, for failing to enter the still for taxation in June of each year. Liquors could not be moved without first paying the tax. Farmers were seldom worth more than from $300 to $1,000, and many delinquents on ac- count of scarcity of money, were unable to pay excise or make settlements in Philadelphia.

Again a committee meeting was held at Pittsburg. John Canon, of Canonsburg, was chairman and Albert Gallatin, of Fayette County, secretary. The resolutions adopted at this meeting, August, 1792, petitioning for a repeal of the law, were considered "immoderate" in character. They included the plan of boycotting, or "hating-out" the offending persons, by withdrawing from their association, withholding from them the com- forts of life and treating them with "the contempt they deserve. "

Secretary Hamilton commenced to gather testimony to prosecute the persons who composed the committees, but was advised by the attorney general that the framers of the complaint were not punishable by law. Brackenridge says: "This great man (Hamilton) was the leader of the high-toned section of the Federal party, in opposi- tion to the Democratic, or Republican party, and to the more moderate Federalists under John Adams. Hamil- ton and his party were in favor of a degree of energy, in the form and action of the government, incompatible with the habits and genius of the Americans, which caused the downfall of the Federal party hastened by the unfortunate sedition and alien laws. It is the Ham- ilton party, those who idolize his name, who have inces- santly labored to cover the opposers of the excise law in

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 18

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