History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 52

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 52

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Between Pigeon and Mingo Creeks along the river, most of the mines are abandoned presumably on account of the dip of the coal away from the river front.

On Peters Creek in the northeast corner of the Amity quadrangle most of the mines are rather unfavorably situated in relation to the structure, as their proximity to the crest of the Amity anticline makes it necessary to mine down the dip. A more satisfactory method of developing the coal lying between Peters and Mingo Creeks would be to sink shafts along Mingo Creek near the edge of the quadrangle and mine northward up the dip as far as the limit of the Peters Creek workings

and westward as far as the crest of the anticline, which crosses Mingo Creek near Kammerer in Nottingham Township. Near the edge of the quadrangle a shaft less than 100 feet deep would reach the coal. The rail- road might even be continued three miles or so beyond this to the source of the Mingo Creek drainage, and in the area between Gilkeson and Kammerer, shafts could be sunk and operations pushed east and northeast up the dip to meet the workings on the eastern flank of the axis. A small area south of Mingo Creek could also be opened up from the shafts along its course, but as the Amity anticline pitches to the southwest, most of the region lying south of the Williamsport Pike can probably be more economically worked from shafts lo- cated on North Branch of Pigeon Creek.

One mile below North Charleroi, the Redstone Coal is well exposed with the thickness of 42 inches. Above . the Black Diamond mine it also shows from 3 feet to 3 feet 6 inches thick. Near the mouth of Mingo Creek it has a thickness of 4 feet. It also shows near Coal Bluff, about 60 feet above the floor of the Pittsburg coal, with a thickness of 4 feet 6 inches. In this region it usually occurs from 50 to 60 feet above the base of the Pitts- burg coal and ranges from 2 to 4 feet in thickness.

In the general way the importance of the Redstone coal appears to increase toward the north, and through- out the northern part of the Brownsville-Connellsville area it is a promising bed. It is, however, frequently disturbed by clay horsebacks and veins, so that its value is not so great as would appear from some of its ex- posures. In the northern part of the quadrangle the quality is usually good, and it makes very good fuel.

The Waynesburg coal caps the hills on the east side of Pigeon Creek in Fallowfield and Carroll Townships, and in the latter locality it is reported to hold a thick- ness of about 4 feet, but it is probable that this thick- ness includes the customary shale partings. In the vicinity of Ginger Hill the Waynesburg coal has been opened at several places, but the coal is generally in- accessible.

FRYE STATION.

The Dunkirk Mine is located at Frye Station on the Ellsworth Branch. This mine is owned by the Pittsburg and Westmoreland Coal Company. During the year 1908 there were 291 men employed in this mine and 293,125 tons of coal were mined.

The mine was opened up by the Dunkirk Gas Coal Company about eight years ago.

Beside the coal works there are miners' houses, a company store and Roth's Brewery at Frye Station.

The Hazel Kirk Nos. 1 and 3 mines are located at Hazel Kirk Station on the Ellsworth Branch. No.

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mine shipped 435,831 tons of coal in 1908 and employed 392 miners. These mines have been operating about eight years.

HAZEL KIRK.

Hazel Kirk Station is 3.4 miles from Monongahela City by railroad. The postoffice here is called Ivanhoe. There is also the Valley Supply Company store and an Adams Express office. In addition there are about 50 miners' houses. The mines on the river have been oper- ated for a long time and will be dealt with under the general heading of "coal."

The principal coal companies holding coal lands in Carroll Township are the Monongahela River Consoli- dated Coal and Coke Company, the Pittsburg and West- moreland Coal Company and the Star Coal Company.

The towns of Carroll Township are Riverview, Black Diamond, Baird, Eldora, West Columbia and Baidland. Monongahela was incorporated a borough from Carroll Township in 1833 and became a city in 1873. Donora was incorporated from Carroll lands on February 11, 1901.

RIVERVIEW.

Riverview is a suburb of Monongahela City and is situated on the bluff overlooking the river below Monon- gahela City. The town was laid out by J. S. Markell in 1901. In this town there are three stores, almost 100 dwellings, a school and the Riverview Brewery. The town is located on the lines of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company and the Pittsburg and Charleroi Street Railway Company.

Riverview Baptist Church-The number of churches in Monongahela and vicinity will shortly be increased by a new building which is being erected by the First Baptist Congregation of Riverview. This church is the outcome of a great deal of patient and untiring effort of the people of this vicinity. Records of a prosperous Sunday School, which was held in the old Mingo school- house, are still preserved, showing an attendance of over 100 scholars, and dating back as far as 1859. The Sun- day School has been conducted at different times by Methodists and as a Union organization. The First Baptist Church of Monongahela then established a Mis- sion School in the Riverview schoolhouse. The work has been conducted by several superintendents until April, 1908, when 39 members of the First Baptist Church of Monongahela were granted letters of dismission to form a new church at Riverview. The church was then officially recognized as a Baptist Church by a council of ministers and laymen representing 81 churches of the Pittsburg Baptist Association.

Pastor J. W. Moody accepted a call to the pastorate, beginning September, 1908, with the church membership numbering 43. Since this time the pastor's work has

been remarkably successful, the church at the present time numbering 126. Accommodations in the school- house became insufficient, a new building was deemed necessary. Plans and specifications have been adopted calling for a building to cost about $8,000 on the foun- dation. The building will be made of brick with a seating capacity of 250 persons in the main auditorium and 330 in the Bible school rooms.

BLACK DIAMOND.

Black Diamond is a mining town, part of it being within the Monongahela City limits. It derives its name from the Black Diamond Mines of the Monongahela River Consolidated Coal and Coke Company, situated at this point. The town is served by both the Pennsyl- vania Railroad and the Pittsburg and Charleroi Street Railway Company.

ELDORA.

The town of Eldora on the street railway or trolley car line was laid out by James A. Pahe in 1901. Ad- ditions were made later by John M. Wanner.

Eldora Park is a popular place of amusement for the people between Monongahela City and Charleroi and is situated on the Pittsburg and Charleroi Street Railway.

The upper Monongahela Valley is furnishing a lot plan sensation in Eldora, adjoining Donora, a property belonging to the Wanner Land Company and exploited by the Union Realty Company of Pittsburg.

The location is between Charleroi and Monongahela, one mile north of Monessen and within easy walking distance of Donora, and it is asserted that within a radius of two miles are factories and shops employing 20,000 skilled mechanics. There are already 43 resi- dences erected in Eldora, which enjoys free mail de- livery, telephone service, stores, public schools, etc.

BAIRD.

Baird Station on the Pennsylvania Railroad (P. V: & C. Branch) is a small mining village, on the river shore between Monongahela City and Charleroi, at the Schoen- berger mines of the Pittsburg and Westmoreland Coal Company, near the up-river side of Monongahela City.

BAIDLAND.

Baidland is the name of the postoffice on the Wash- ington and Williamsport Pike, two miles from Monon- gahela City. The village was formerly called Valley Inn, probably having acquired its name from an inn kept there in early times. William Lamont, Esq., for- merly of Scotland, afterwards lived at Valley Inn and kept a store. He submitted the name Baidland to the postoffice authorities about 18 years ago, and it was accepted. The village is still known as Valley Inn and has nine dwellings and a store.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

The following names are those of early settlers of the territory now embraced in this township who be- came land holders on or before the following dates: Joseph Parkinson 1770, Nicholas Crist 1769, William and Abraham Frye 1784, Jacob Froman 1769, Abraham and Tobias Decker 1769, Jeremiah Proctor 1785, Jacob and Simon Figley 1780, Elisha Teeters 1785, Sheshbazzar Bentley 1794, Hon. John Hamilton 1890, Daniel Van Voorhis 1785. In addition to these the following were among the residents in 1790: Joseph and Nicholas Depue, Vincent Colvin. The MeCombs, Randolphs, Powers, McGrews, Irwins, Hairs and Coopers were also carly families.

Joseph Parkinson had located and started operation of a ferry on the Monongahela River, where Monongahela City stands, as early as 1770. It is not known at what date he built the old log house called Parkinson's Inn, where he kept store and tavern. As early as 1800 Ben- jamin Parkinson had in operation at the mouth of Mingo Creek a saw-mill, flouring-mill and a fulling-mill. He afterwards built another grist-mill at a place which he called Elkhorn on the river bank. It appears that Ben- jamin Parkinson carried on manufacturing and milling quite extensively, as at one time he had in operation at Mingo and Elkhorn two distilleries, three grist-mills, a woolen-factory, comb-factory, sickle-factory and a gun-factory. In 1819 Matthew Murdy had a carding- machine at the mouth of Dry Run, being successor of Benjamin Parkinson, who had operated it in early days by a tramp wheel.

The Van Voorhis Mill on Pigeon Creek which stood opposite the old homestead was owned first by Parkin- son in 1784, by James McFarland in 1791 and by Van Voorhis about 1836 until 1877, when it was demolished. In 1794 during the Whiskey Insurrection the following stills were among those seized: Benjamin Parkinson, one still of 100 gallons per day production; James Parkin- son, two stills, 80 gallons; John Hamilton, one still, and Vincent Colvin, two stills.

What is now known as the Cowan Mill was built by Thomas Scott in 1812. This mill had undershot wheels. In 1831 he installed a steam engine and sold the mill and farm to Samuel Morgan, and bought what was known as the Bentley Mill and farm, later known as the Harrison distillery, situated a short distance from the mouth of Mingo Creek.

Joseph Beckett ran a distillery opposite the old brick house at Baird Station. Samuel Black operated a saw- mill in early days. The mill dam known as "Old Black's Dam" crossed Pigeon Creek just above where Stockdaletown bridge now stands and the mill was lo- cated where Yohe's slaughter house now stands. In 1824 Samuel Black built the first mill at Dry Run, (a

tramp mill), the power for which was supplied by oxen, and also erected a glass factory at Dry Run.

The old covered bridge over the Monongahela River at Monongahela City was built in 1838 at a cost of $60,000 and burnt down April 11, 1883.

The present bridge was built in 1887. Robert Mc- Farland lived at Bath Mills on Pigeon Creek, later known as the Van Voorhis homestead. He manufactured salt in the works now gone, which stood below the old spring house. It was of the artesian nature and with one exception it was the only salt works in the country.

Maj. H. A. Warne after the War of 1812 became ex- tensively engaged in the manufacture of glass and boat building. This glass business was among the first west of the Alleghenies.

Prior to 1796 the history of education in Carroll Township is clouded in uncertainty. There were private schools and schools supported by general subscription held before that time. These schools were generally conducted by some itinerant school master who came along, and for whom a log cabin schoolhouse was hastily constructed, or for whose school some vacant or deserted cabin was found. The Belvidere schoolhouse, one of the early places for the instruction of the children in 1854, was a small brick building standing on the Van Voorhis place.

According to the best sources of information, one of the first schools which the early settlers of this vicinity attended, was in an old log schoolhouse, near what is now known as Witherow's blacksmith shop, about three and one-half miles southeast of Monongahela City, sup- posed to have been originally the residence of Daniel McComas, one of the first settlers.

The exact date of the opening of the school or the name of the school master is uncertain, but in the year 1796 another school was opened in an old log house at Parkinson's Ferry, once used as a dwelling and situated in a grove of sugar trees, near the Old Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Chess street and Church alley, Monongahela City. The first teacher's name was Til- brook, the next was Thompson, who was followed by Capt. Hughey Mitchell. The number of terms each taught is uncertain, but there is no doubt but that a school existed in this place for a number of years.

In 1850 there were eight schools with an attendance of 451. There were in 1908, 19 schools, 20 teachers, (males 7, females 13), attendance 472, average number of months taught 7, average salary paid to teachers per month, (males $50.00, females $46.00), cost of each pupil per month $1.52, number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes 3, estimated value of school property $22,000.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

The schoolhouses of Carroll Township are Sampson, Alexander, Stone, Valley Inn, Riverview, Victory, Gil- more, Taylor's Run and Wylie.

Presbyterian (Horseshoe Bottom) Church-About the year 1785 a Presbyterian Church was built of logs on the road connecting Parkinson's Ferry and Brownsville. The church stood three miles from Monongahela City on a farm then owned by William Crawford, now or recently owned by heirs of John Wilson. Additions are said to have been made to this building until it finally had 16 corners. The Horseshoe Bottom Congregation, as it was called, was transferred to what is now Monon- gahela City in the year 1807. (See Monongahela City).

Horseshoe Bottom Baptist Church-The Baptists built a log meeting-house in 1790 and called it the Horseshoe Baptist Church. The land on which the meeting-house was built was granted to the congregation by Abraham Frye and wife in 1810. It was replaced by a brick building. The congregation removed to Monongahela City upon the completion of their building at that place about 30 years ago. (See Monongahela City).

The Ginger Hill Lutheran Church-Was erected of brick in 1847. It is located in Carroll Township near the village of Ginger Hill. Among the early pastors were Revs. Mr. Waters, Mr. Emory, Mr. Melhorn, A. Wylie and Mr. Ryder. This congregation of about 20 members have no settled pastor or regular services. Occasionally meetings are held, attended by people of various denominations.

The United Brethren Church is located near the old tollgate on the Williamsport and Washington Pike, a mile and a half out of Monongahela City. The building where services were formerly held has long been used as a dwelling, the principle member, Henry Young, hav- ing died and the most of the others having either died or moved away.

CECIL TOWNSHIP.

Cecil Township was the third of the original town- ships formed July 15, 1781. It was bounded by Robin- son Township on the north; Peters, Dickinson and Stra- bane on the east; Amwell on the south, and Smith and Hopewell Townships on the west.

September 24, 1788, a part of the township, with the whole of Dickinson, was ceded to Allegheny County and confirmed by the Supreme Executive Council September 30, 1788. An application was made to the Court of Quarter Sessions of this county, praying for a division of the township, beginning at Chartiers Creek, at the junction of the mouth of Brush Run and continuing up the same to Matthew Johnston's, to include his farm in the upper division, thence leaving James Reed's farm in the lower division, directly to include the lands

of Gen. Washington and Henry Guy's land in the upper division, and to immediately intersect the outside line of the township.

On December 9, 1789, the Supreme Executive Council confirmed the same and the township thus formed was called Chartiers. Cecil Township was further reduced by the erection of Mount Pleasant Township in 1806. At the present time Cecil Township is bounded by Rob- inson Township, McDonald Borough and Allegheny County on the north, Peters Township and Allegheny County on the east, Chartiers and North Strabane Town- ships on the south, and Mount Pleasant and Chartiers Townships on the west. It is 71% miles in length and 41% miles in breadth. Miller's Run, a branch of Char- tiers Creek, passes northeast through the middle of the township and upon the run in 1870 were located several mills. Chartiers Creek and Robinson's Run mark the southeast and northwest boundaries of the township re- spectively.

Cecil Township is richly underlaid with coal. It is one of the pioneer oil townships and gas is found in considerable quantities.

Farming and dairying are carried on extensively, ship- ments being made daily by the "Panhandle," "Wabash" and "Chartiers Valley" Railroad.

General Washington owned a considerable tract of land in this township and visited Washington County in 1796 at which time he disposed of his holdings in Cecil Township.

The following were some of the early settlers with the approximate dates of their settlement: Samuel Parks 1777, John Waits 1785, Stephen Richards prior to 1781, David and John Reed before 1780, Thomas Bracken 1778, Joseph Brown 1785, John Donnell 1776, James Bunyan 1795, Matthew Ritchie 1788, John Fife 1799, William Craighead 1806, Robert Miller 1780, Robert and Thomas Hill prior to 1791, James Leech 1782, Alex- ander and Mathew McConnell 1785, James and Hugh Sprowls 1788, James Little 1785, John Armstrong prior to 1781. James Slater, William Berry, William Ache- son, Robert Wilson, Alexander May, Cornelius Borland, Joseph Cowden, Benjamin Hickman, William Gladden, Samuel Moorhead, William Elliot, Samuel McPherson, A. J. Hopper and Neil McCloy also settled in Cecil Township at an early date. The late Hon. Matthew H. Borland, of Washington, resided in this township and the names of Borland, Hugh Sterling, Scott, McConnell and May were a few among the many later residents.

McPherson's grist mill and a distillery built about 1850 by Samuel McPherson stood about a mile north of Greer Station. It ceased operations about 20 years ago. Crane's mill on lands now owned by David B.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Crane northeast of Canonsburg became unnecessary about the same time, as the new roller process flour could not be made by the old mill stones.

The stations on the Chartiers Valley branch of the P., C., C. & St. L. R. R. are Morganza, VanEman, Greer and Hills.

The Miller's Run branch of the P., C., C. & St. L. R. R. extends from its connection at Bridgeville with the Chartiers Valley branch, up to the town of Cecil. Here it forks out one branch going to Reissing and one to Bishop. The Wabash line runs from Woodville, Allegheny County, through Cecil Township parallel to the Miller's Run branch and continues on through the county. The stations on the Wabash are Cecil, Bishop and Vendola (Venice).

The population of Cecil Township in 1850 was 1,008, in 1860 it was 959, of which but one was colored. In 1890 the population was 2,285 and in 1900 the popu- lation had increased to 3,771. In 1850 the voters num- ber 237, in 1900 the registration of voters was 673 and in 1908 it is 724. This shows a steady increase in the population.

BISHOP.

Bishop is a mining town situated on the Wabash and on the Miller's Branch Railroads. The Ridgeway mines of the Pittsburg Coal Company are located at this town. Bishop is the terminal of the Miller's Run Branch of the P., C., C. & St. L. R. R., this branch connecting with the Chartiers Valley branch of the P., C., C. & St. L. R. R. at Bridgeville, Allegheny County. The town is composed of 25 miners' houses, a Federal supply store and a butcher shop. The history of the town dates back to 1892, when the branch of the P., C., C. & St. L. R. R. was extended from the town of Cecil. The population of Bishop in 1900 was 100.

CECIL.

The town of Cecil is situated on the Wabash Rail- road and on the Miller's branch of the P., C., C. & St. L. R. R. The branch of the P., C., C. & St. L. R. R. was built about 1885. About the same time the Ohio and Pennsylvania Coal Company opened up the Creedmore mine at Cecil. The town was built at the opening of the railroad. The Slaline mill, formerly called the Lobe mill, was operated at Cecil, but was torn down within the last year. This was called Armstrong's mill in 1789, when it was designated as a corner in the division line between Washington and Allegheny Counties. William Mckay conducted the mill in later years. This mill was located across Miller's Run from Cecil town. In 1900 the population of the village was 105. There are 14 double miners' houses, other private dwellings, a general store, hardware store, fruit store, blacksmith

shop, postoffice, bank and station house at this town. Passenger service is given both on the Miller's Branch and Wabash Railroads.

The population is largely Belgians and French. There is no church erected here, but the Catholies are making preparation for a building for worshipers.

First National Bank of Cecil-The First National Bank of Cecil was organized on January 2, 1904, with a capital of $25,000. Its statement at the close of the first year's business showed deposits of $12,750.79, and loans and investments of $30,376.20. The statement at the close of business December 31, 1905, showed de- posits of $30,072.40, an increase of $17,321.61, and loans and investments of $66,383.97, and total resources of $79,931.92. The year 1907 it put away a surplus and undivided profit fund of $960.23. It increased its de- posits from $30,000 to $43,586.07, or almost 50 per cent. Its loans and investments were $50,175.75. It increased- in its total resources from $79,931.92 to $94,699.04. At the end of 1908 its resources were $110,708.64. The book value of the bank stock was $104. The following are the officers and directors of the bank :

Adam Wagner, president; A. J. Debruxelles, vice president; C. W. Benney, cashier.

Directors-Henry Borchert, A. J. Debruxelles, Oswald Ende, Gabriel H. Hastings, Nick Klein, Valentine Klein, Adam Wagner, J. J. Wallace, Dr. Rhys Williams.

VENICE.

The town of Venice is located ten miles north of Washington. The land on which the town was built was owned by Ephraim Johnson. The town was laid out by James McLaughlin in 1844, and a postoffice and store opened in 1848. A mill was built on Miller's Run at Venice many years ago. It was owned successively by David Andrews, one Walker, William Berry and John Berry. It was torn down to make room for railroad improvement when the Wabash Railroad was constructed in 1903. In 1879 there were 24 dwelling houses and a church in Venice. In 1900 the population of the town was 119. At present, apart from the dwellings, there are a general store, blacksmith shop and station house on the Wabash called Vendola and United Presbyterian Church.

Formerly there was a hotel here, but there has been none for ten years past. One of the familiar figures here until a few years ago was John B. May, a long time justice of the peace. William B. May, his brother, is a son of Alexander May and grandson of William Berry, who owned the land on which the Venice mill was built. The old log house still standing at Venice was built by William Berry in 1813, as is shown by the figures cut in the stone over the ancient dog fire- place.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

MORGANZA.

Morganza is the railroad station of the Pennsylvania Reform School. It is situated a mile and a half north- east of Canonsburg. The Reform School was chartered in 1850, organized in 1851 and a building completed in 1854. The grounds are spacious and well kept. Many buildings have been added since 1854. (See Pennsyl- vania Reform School).

VAN EMAN.

Van Eman is a station on the Chartiers Valley Branch of the P., C., C. & St. L. R. R., a mile northeast of Mor- ganza. It is a shipping point from which milk is sent to Pittsburg.

GREER.

Greer is a station on the Chartiers Valley branch of the P., C., C. & St. L. R. R. midway between Van Eman and Hills Stations. Large quantities of milk are shipped to Pittsburg from this station.

HILLS.

Hills is a milk shipping station situated on the Char- tiers Valley branch of the P., C., C. & St. L. R. R. about a mile from the Allegheny County line. It is 17 miles from Pittsburg and 14.9 miles by railroad from Wash- ington. The village was laid out by John Hill after the railroad was constructed. There are 17 dwelling houses and two stores at Hills Station.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 52

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