History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 49

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 49

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* Mr. Gregg has given this subject his attention and col . iected such relics since 1868, when he was ten years of age. -ED.

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changed. The Indians could hardly help but know that sand with their clay and a hot fire would give the glassy constitution of all recent crockery ; the burning of a brush heap would teach them that, for a sand stone that hap- pens to be in the fire comes out with a fine coat of glass. But as earthen ware is brittle in proportion to its virtuos- ness, it may be that the sturdy race preferred strength to brilliance.

There must have been much sameness in an Indian cup- board, for the broken pieces show the vessels to have been large bowls about of one shape and size. These bowls are smooth inside, but the outside is curiously ornamented in lines. It is said that a mold was made of bark as outer embellishment. A close scrutiny, however, shows that the narrow indentations and broader raised lines are the re- verse of what would result from any bark found in our woods at the present time. But they must have had some ingenious method of printing, for the lines were certainly not drawn by hand.

Great care was taken in finishing the rim of these bowls; they are all nicely crimped like the edge of grand- mothers' pies-the pies that stood alone, and were baked on the bottom of the oven. Coarse as it looks to us, no doubt the squaws took real housewifely pride in their china, and studied patterns in bark, and vied with each other in producing something new and fine, for they were women, if they were Indians.

No attempt has ever been made to explore to any depth on this spot; only what the plowshare turns up is known of its secrets. What possibilities there are here for the antiquarian who will dig for what is hidden!

No wonder this high hill was selected for an impor- tant fortification, for it gives a magnificent view of the country in all directions; a present scene of rich farms, happy homes, and, close below, the "first Presbyterian church west of the Alleghanies," stands with its sunny burying-ground toward the east, in accordance with the old sentiment that the dead should always lie facing the sun.

One of our party is also one of the owners of the farm, and when her great-grandfather took possession the Indi- ans were hardly out of hearing. As the land has never passed out of the family, all its treasure-trove is theirs, and she points out the fields where the finest relics have been found. In such a spot was found a large and per- fect stone battle-ax; yonder, near the spring, a beauti- fully fashioned tomahawk was picked up, and this side is the field where arrow-heads lie thickest, and here where we stand by the fort the plow has turned out some curiosi- ties seldom seen outside of museums.

We do not know what these were used for in Indian life, but any one would call them little grindstones. They are about the size of an old-fashioned watch, perfectly

rounded, with polished rim, concave sides and a neat little hole in the middle. Several good specimens have been found on this spot, but they are not seen anywhere else on the farm. It is a strange fact that no stone imple- ments of war have been found at the fort.

Near the fort is an Indian burying ground; a ridge long ago piled high with stone. Heavy rains and freshets of spring still wash out flint arrow-heads that were no doubt part of some warrior's outfit when he started for the happy hunting grounds.

The late owner, a man of intelligence and keen observa- tion, took great interest in the archaeological products of his farm, and was apt to come in from his field work, his family say, "with his pockets full of rocks." The result is a collection which for quality would grace any museum.

Before us, on the side of a hill, is the family burying ground, where grandparents, great-grandparents and other relatives lie at rest; for the land has passed down from father to son for more than a century; from Josiah to Herman, from Herman to Israel, and now another Her- man lives in the old homestead snuggling in the valley, and the farm is held doubly dear because the rich acres are so many pages of history and folklore.

When Dr. McMillan, of revered memory, pastor, friend and near neighbor of this pioneer farmer, called on his congregation, which comprised pretty much all western Pennsylvania, to build a "meetin' house," Josiah Haines gave some acres from the corner of his farm to be a church "glebe." This was nearly a hundred and thirty years ago, but the church still stands in its pastures green, and Dr. McMillan lies beside it.

Where the roads cross they built a little stone house for worship, and the stones for the building were taken off the old Indian graves. Even in that matter-of-fact age there were those who protested and called it sacri- lege, but the house was built; the Presbyterian church of Western Pennsylvania, the familiar "Hill" Church, and when the people grew too many for it, it was pulled down to make room for the present brick building.

The best stone were laid in the foundation of the new building, and the rest were taken to improve the road in front of the church, that the good people might come in "clean-shod."'

In addition to those mentioned above there was near. Zollarsville, on the north branch of Ten Mile Creek, an Indian fort with an intrenchment about 100 feet from the fort. Bones, pipes, arrows, etc., have been found there. Cheigh writes of a tree cut down within the enclosure, showing by its rings of growth a life of 300 years. There is a large heap of stones, said to be an Indian mound, in the woods on a hill of the Overholt farm (formerly owned by Thomas McFarland, brother of Maj. Samuel McFarland,

(3) EXCAVATION OF MOUND AT PETERS CREEK

(4) MURAL FIGURES FROM TOMB OF MERRA. SAKKARA, EGYPT (Representing the Initiation of a Candidate into the Ancient Priesthood of Sais. )

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late of Washington) one mile west of Marianna; and another about a mile northwest of McDonald, on the farm of Henry Crooks, which descended to his son Richard, late deceased. There is a beautiful mound on the lands of David A. M. McCalmont, close to Candor, which rises directly from level ground. The hidden contents of the last three mentioned has never been disturbed.

NOTE .- "The theory of a race of mound builders dis- tinct from the Indians has been almost entirely aban- doned," according to the latest writers. It seems to be established that the Cherokees were mound builders in historic times. The investigator is referred to twenty- five books upon mounds, earthworks and mound-builders, cited and reviewed in Literature of American History (J. N. Larned-1902) .- ED.

CHAPTER XXV.

TOWNSHIPS.

History of Allen, Amwell, Blaine and Buffalo Townships.

ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

In August of the year 1852 Allen Township was erected from the northeast part of East Pike Run Township and the southeast end of Fallowfield Township. In 1859 a small portion of Allen Township was attached to East Pike Run Township. The township has been further re- duced by a borough epidemic resulting in the incorpora- tion of the following named boroughs: Long Branch, Aug. 21, 1893; Twilight, Feb. 12, 1894; Speers, Feb. 12, 1894; Stockdale, April 28, 1894; Roscoe, May 14, 1894, and Elco (formerly called "Woods Run"), May 14, 1894. Allen Township, as it now stands, is little larger than some of the boroughs that were formed from it, and is bounded on the north by Speers borough and the Monon- gahela River, on the east by the Monongahela River, on the south by the Monongahela River, Stockdale and Ros- coe boroughs, and on the west by Elco and Long Branch boroughs.

The number of taxables in Allen Township in 1908 was 488; value of real estate, $391,245; value of personal property, $51,755. In 1860 Allen Township had a popula- tion of 635, in 1890, 2,544, and in 1900 1,677. The popu- lation has been decreased during the last ten years by the organization of five boroughs. The registration of voters for Allen Township in 1904 was 361, and in 1908 387.

Allen Township is underlaid with a rich bed of coal, the Pittsburg vein of coal being exposed, and the Vesta mines in this township have an immense output.

Along the river below Coal Center mining is very active, and apparently it has been so for a long time, for there are many old abandoned mines in this region. The coal is exhausted over much of the territory in the bend be- tween Lucyville and Dunlevy. In this bend are the three Vesta mines, the output of which is coked near Pitts- burg by Jones, Laughlin & Co. for use in their iron fur- naces. At Caledonia mine, west of Elco, the coal is re- ported to have a roof division of the Pittsburg coal of 4 feet 1 inch and a lower division of 7 feet 101/2 inches.

In a general way the character of the Pittsburg coal deteriorates toward the west, but this change is not great

enough to seriously affect the coal in this territory. Ac- cording to recent developments it has been found that the coal in the Lambert syncline produces coke that com- pares favorably with that from the Connellsville basin, and the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company produce their own coke from mines back of Allenport and Roscoe. At the Wood Run mine the lower division is essentially the same, showing a thickness of 7 feet 11 inches, with the lowest breast coal 5 feet, bearing in coal and slate 4 inches, brick coal 1 foot 3 inches, and bottom coal 1 foot 4 inches. In the vicinity of Allenport the section is similar to that of Elco, showing the roof division 3 feet 51% inches in thickness and the lower division 7 feet 514 inches.

In 1904 Allen Township had 51/2 miles of public high- way. The county road from Roscoe to Stockdale has been approved by the grand jury, but the contract has not yet been let. This road will be 1,120 feet long, and the cost is estimated at $2,205.48. In 1906 Allen Town- ship accepted the cash road tax. The road tax for 1908 was 4 mills, and $1,767.36 was collected.

Among the early settlers of the territory originally embraced in Allen Township were the following, who held land at the given dates: Henry Speers, 1772; Jeremiah Procter, 1785; Rev. William Riggs, 1773; Lawrence and John Crow, 1784; Peter Hazelbaker, 1800; Thomas Stockdale, 1799; Joshua Dixon, 1784; David Englands, 1784; William Howe, 1796; William Jackman, 1788. Joseph Chester and William Huggins were also early set- tlers.

In early days a school was conducted near the Mount Tabor Church, which church is at present in Long Branch Borough. The earliest teachers of the township were Benjamin Huff, William Jackman, Robert Wilson, Solo- mon Allen, John Jackman and Newton Williams. Allen Township was not divided into school districts when it accepted the public school law in 1835, but was em- braced in East Pike Run and Fallowfield school districts. In 1853 Allen Township was divided into three school districts. In 1860 there were four schools in operation in

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Allen Township, two male teachers at $37.50 each per month, and two female teachers at $36.25 each per month, and 185 scholars, with a monthly cost of tuition of $0.99. In 1880 there were five schools, 5 teachers and 312 pupils enrolled.

Allen Township in 1908 had ten schools and thirteen teachers; average number of months taught, eight; num- ber of pupils enrolled, 464; male teachers, four; females, nine. Average salary of teachers, males, $51.25; female, $49.63. - Cost of each pupil per month, $1.35; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 10; esti- mated value of school property, $6,000. There are four school buildings in the township: Dunlevy, valued at $1,500; Vesta, $1,500; Allenport, $2,500, and Allen (sec- ond precinct), $500.

The Pittsburg Railways Company's trolley lines ex- tended to North Charleroi, but in 1899 the Mellons firm, of Pittsburg, built an extension of five miles from North Charleroi to Allenport.

Another extension has recently been made from Allen- . port to Roscoe, but to get the benefit of this extension passengers must change to a smaller car at Allenport. These lines are all being operated by the Pittsburg Railways Company, which passes along the eastern bor- der of Allen Township, following the course of the river. It was constructed between Monongahela City and West Brownsville in 1881.

The towns of Allen Township are Allenport, Vesta and Dunlevy.

ALLENPORT.

Allenport is a small town of about 600 inhabitants. The town is twenty-five miles east of Washington, and is midway between Vesta and Stockdale. The Adams Express Company and Western Union Telegraph Com- pany have offices at Allenport, and service is given by the Pittsburg Railroad Company. It is composed of about 100 houses, school house, five stores, Riverside Ho- tel, postoffice, M. E. Church, machine shop and distillery.

A tract of land afterward surveyed as "Dixon's In- tent" was granted to Henry Dixon Aug. 13, 1784. This land embraced the present site of Allenport. The land passed into the hands of John Baldwin in 1816. In this year the village was laid out in lots and the new town advertised at West Freeport. Joseph Allen purchased a part of this land and sold it in 1839, together with an- other tract which he had obtained from David England in 1828, to Francis McKee. The latter replotted the property and named it Independence. In 1865 the name was finally changed to Allenport. Additions to Allenport were laid out by Allen Biles and Charles Bradfort in the year 1880. The postoffice was named Belle Zane and the first postmaster was John Fields. Soon after the year 1816 John Baldwin built a water-mill north of the town.

Shortly after 1848 a new mill was built and steam power used. Since that time the mill was owned by Joseph Allen, Abia Allen, William Brightwell, Isaiah Frost, Francis McKee, James B. Angell, George Maxwell, Jesse Boyd purchased the mill from Mr. Maxwell and turned it into a distillery. It is known as the J. M. Vande- grift Distillery No. 29 building.

Francis McKee started the operation of the ferry. It was afterwards owned by Thornton S. Chalfant, Joseph Krepps, Isaiah Frost's heirs, Alexander S. Latta, Will- iam C. Huggins and H. and C. Jacobs, the last mentioned brothers being in possession at present.

ALLENPORT METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Methodist Episcopal congregation of Allenport was organized in 1892 by Rev. H. D. Whitfield, and the church built the following summer. The present pastor is Rev. W. F. Seitler, and membership fifty-six.

Allenport Lodge, No. 1127, I. O. O. F., was instituted in 1890. The present membership is 102. The other lodges in Allenport are No. 367, Jr. O. O. A. M., instituted in 1886; No. 117, Knights of the Golden Eagle, instituted in 1897; No. 183, Daughters of Liberty, and Ladies of Golden Eagle.

DUNLEVY.

The mining town of Dunlevy is between Vesta and Speers, two and one-half miles from Charleroi. The history of the town dates back about seventeen years to the opening up of the Little Squaw Mine of the Pitts- burg Coal Company at this point. The town is com- posed of four stores, schoolhouse, United Brethren Church and about seventy miners' houses. The only lodge of the town is No. 108, U. M. W. of A.

VESTA.

Vesta is a mining town of about the same age as Dunlevy, situated on the Monongahela Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and Pittsburg street railway, as is also Dunlevy, between Allenport and Dunlevy. The in- habitants of this town derive their livelihood from the No. 2 Vesta Mine. There are three stores, schoolhouse, United Brethren Church, fifty dwellings and the No. 187, U. M. W. of A.

AMWELL TOWNSHIP.

Amwell Township, the first in alphabetical order of the original townships of Washington County, was organized July 15, 1781. It was bounded on the north by Strabane Township, east by Bethlehem Township, south by Mor- gan Township (though the latter since 1796 has been a township of Green County), and on the west by Donegal Township. (Morris was a part of Amwell Township un- til 1788). Its present boundaries are South Strabane on the north, West Bethlehem on the east, Green County on

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the south, Morris and North and South Franklin Town- ships on the west.

On June 19, 1838, part of Amwell was annexed to Stra- bane Township, and at the May term of court, 1856, the township lines between Amwell and Morris were changed and confirmed. It is centrally distant ten miles from the borough of Washington. Its greatest length is ten miles, breadth four and a half miles.

Amwell township is drained by the North Fork of Ten Mile Creek, by the Little North Fork and Banes Fork of the same creek.

The towns are Amity, Clarkstown (Tenmile village) and Lone Pine, formerly known as Crookstown or Pin Hook.

Amity is ten miles from Washington, and is located near Banes Fork of Ten Mile Creek, and on the road leading from Washington to Waynesburg.

There is a story familiar to all the older and to many of the younger generation residing in the vicinity of Amity, that on one occasion when Amity was visited by a terrific gale, a citizen by the name of Dow became thoroughly frightened, hurriedly left the house and con- cealed himself behind a huge log and exclaimed: "That's right, Lord; scourge Amity but save old Dow; he is only a boarder.""'

The first settlers were squatters, who purchased their lands from the Indians by giving in exchange a gun or trinkets, or such other articles as appealed to the Indians' fancy. Among them were John Rutman and Dennis Smith, the former dying at the age of 99, and the latter at 104 years. These two, with William Gordon, Russell Reese, John Lorrison and John James are recognized as the first settlers.

These men were followed from 1770 to 1790 by men who patented their lands and obtained them through the government. These early pioneers were Nathaniel Mc- Giffin, David Evans, James Milliken, Abel McFarland, George Cooper and John Bates, some of whom served with distinction in the War of the Revolution. For pro- tection of themselves and families they erected two forts -Fort Milliken and Fort McFarland, and later a third fort and blockhouse. A mound encircled the area of this third fort, which for many years was covered with large trees.

There are the following villages in Amwell Township, viz .: Amity, Ten-Mile Village (or Clarkstown), Lone Pine (formerly known as Pleasant Valley; also as Pin Hook ).

AMITY.

Amity, a very old and historic village, was laid out by Daniel Dodd, Esq., a brother to Rev. Thadeus Dodd, who owned the land and formed the plans. This

village is noted as the last residence of Solomon Spal- ding, who wrote the book of Mormon. Solomon Spalding was reared in the East, educated for the ministry and followed that calling for some years, but gave it up owing to failing health and moved to Ashtabula, or near there, in Ohio, where he devoted a considerable portion of his time to writing. More for the amusement of him- self and friends than from any expectations of financial profits. Later, about 1809 he located in Amity, where he died October 20, 1816, as shown by his monument. The manuscript was on biblical lines, inasmuch as he adopted scriptural terms as well as Biblical names in describing the characters represented, which was not difficult for him, in view of the fact that he was a minister and well educated. He placed the manuscript with a publisher in Pittsburg, where it remained for some time, and later came into the possession of a journeyman printer, who turned it over to Joseph Smith, of Mormon fame, who claimed that the manuscript was from copper plates which had been exhumed as a result of a dream or inspi- ration. Thus we have the book of Mormon and the origin . of the Mormon religion. The building is standing in Amity in which Solomon Spalding lived and died, and is said to be the oldest house in the village. Two monu- ments have been erected to his memory, the latter by citizens and the Washington County Historical Society. (The latter took the place of the first.) These monu- ments are over his grave in Amity.

There are three stores in the village, conducted by D. H. Swart, George L. James and Marion Swart. There is a blacksmith shop, A. E. Bolton, proprietor; L. M. Vandike is manufacturer of tinware; John Luellen, pro- prietor of the hotel; a school with two rooms and two teachers; one physician, Dr. W. L. Dodds, M. D., who is the ninth physician to practice in Amity. Telephone serv- ice (Bell Co.).

The present postmaster is George L. Jams. The town is one mile east of the W. &. W. R. R. Amity also pos- sesses a cornet band, which was organized June 24, 1897. The W. & W. R. R. was completed and trains began run- ning to W. Amity as early as September 1, 1877. Amity had in 1900 a population of 145.

There are in the old cemetery of the Lower Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church in Amity many graves marked of the soldiers of the War of the Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

The first threshing machine in the neighborhood was used on the farm now owned by W. C. McCollum in 1835. There was organized in March, 1896, a council, No. 265, of the Jr. Order of Am. Mechanics, and an I. O. O. F. lodge, No. 552, organized May 19, 1859. Neither of these orders meet at the present time. There are two churches in Amity-Lower Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church and a Methodist Protestant Church. The graves of John

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and Elizabeth Ruckman bear the following dates on mar- ble slabs: John Ruckman, died December 25, 1841, in his 103d year; Elizabeth, his wife, died September 26, 1852, aged 109 years.

There are eight churches in Amwell Township-two Presbyterian, two Baptist, a Disciple, two Protestant Methodist, and a Methodist Episcopal. Pleasant Hill Presbyterian was a Cumberland Presbyterian Church un- til 1907, the date of the union.

Lower Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church is located in Am- ity. Upper and Lower Ten-Mile congregations were the same ecclesiastical organization, with the same pastor, from 1781 to 1817, when they became two distinct bodies, worshipping in separate houses. The present pastor, Rev. D. A. Cooper, has served since the spring of 1905. The present board of elders consists of Henry W. Horn, Har- vey MeCollum, Clark Bane, Dr. W. L. Dodd and Leroy Van Dyke.

The first house of worship was of hewn logs erected on the premises of Mr. Cork in 1785.

The second house was of brick on the farm of Jonas Condit, five miles northwest of Amity. This house was sold in 1871 for $213.70.

In 1831 the congregation erected a brick structure near the site of the first, 55x50 feet, at a cost of about $1,000. This house was blown down in 1842. The fourth house of worship was erected in Amity following the de- struction of the church in 1842. This was a frame struc- ture, erected at a cost of $1,300.

The present (the fifth) house, erected in 1875, is a brick edifice, 57x45 feet, and cost $5,300. The Sabbath School was organized about 1826, and has eighty mem- bers. S. B. Braden is superintendent.

The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of Lower Ten-Mile was organized February 18, 1875. This society at its first meeting adopted a native Chinese woman as a Bible reader in Canton, and their representative in the foreign field, and pledged $50.00 annually for her sup- port. Several sons of Ten-Mile Church have entered the ministry. The Women's Missionary Society and the Young People's Society each has thirty members.

Amity Methodist Protestant Church was organized at an early date, January, 1832. The first church was a log structure, and later replaced by a frame building. The present is the second house of worship, and was erected in 1867, a frame structure. Pastor in charge, Rev. W. S. Martin. The present membership is 145, with a Sab- bath School enrollment of eighty members. A. J. Mc- Afee is superintendent of the Sabbath School. There is a Christian Endeavor, Home Department and Cradle Roll.

Mt. Herman Baptist Church, situated near Amity, is an old organization with a membership of seventy and a Sabbath School of thirty members, with Judson San-

ders superintendent. The deacons are J. F. Bell and Isaac Tucker. The church has not always had regular pastors. The organization is very old. The first house of worship was a log structure; the second a frame building. The present building, a brick structure, has stood for about sixty years. Services are held on the sec- ond and fourth Sabbaths in each omnth.

Liberty Chapel-There is also a Methodist church in Amwell Township, on the line of the W. & W. Railroad, near the line of Amwell and Morris Townships.

Swartz M. P. Church is also in this township, on the line of Washington and Greene Counties.

Ten-Mile Village, or Clarkstown, as it is sometimes called, is a very old place. It has two stores conducted by Frank Grimes, and Mrs. Emma Gibson, respectively, and a blacksmith shop. There is also a public school. There was formerly a mill and sawmill. The mill is standing in a state of decay, and has not been in use for many years. There are several telephone lines enter- ing the village. Dr. L. W. Braden is the only physician. The population in 1900 was 163. There was formerly a Masonic lodge and a wagon factory located in Ten-Mile Village, neither of which are in existence at this time.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 49

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