History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 54

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 54

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Pittsburg Coal Company's Holdings .- It was not un- til the general revival of business in 1898 and 1899 that there began to be talk of optioning coal in the Upper Chartiers Valley; and not only talk of optioning coal, but also of the sale of coal, and the opening of coal mines. A great business boom was setting in, and al- though the people did not then know it, it meant great things for this region.

In the summer of 1899 E. T. Hitchman optioned a block of coal lying on either side of Chartiers Creek, and extending from Canonsburg east to Hills Station, a distance of about six miles. This block comprised in all about 6,000 acres, and later was purchased outright by the Pittsburg Coal Company. The average price per acre paid for the block was about $40; and the whole block involved a sum ranging somewhere between $275,- 000 and $300,000.

The Pittsburg Coal Company, which owns such a large acreage of coal in this region, and which has ex- tensive mines a few miles west and southwest of Can- onsburg, was organized in Pittsburg in 1899.

Among coal companies and mines in the region taken

over by the Pittsburg Coal Company was the Boone mine, E. T. Hitchman, principal owner, at Canonsburg, J. V. H. Cook & Sons' mine and plant at McGovern, the Bridgeville Coal Company, the F. L. Robbins, the Mil- ler's Run Mining Company, the Bishop Mining Com- pany, and others.

Late in 1899 a large block of coal was optioned in the Meadowlands and Arden neighborhoods by C. M. Greer and Will Clark. In December of the same year a block of 3,000 acres in North Strabane was optioned by J. M. Thomas and sold to the Pittsburg Coal Com- pany.

When the boom in coal began the men who optioned and bought for the capitalists paid very low prices. Some splendid coal within a few miles of Canonsburg sold as low as $35 and $40 an acre; others sold for . $60, $75 and $100, but not much of it above the latter figure. This was in the early days of the boom. Later some few people received $150 and $200 an acre. The last named figures appeared high at the time, but they were really low.

Midland Company's Development .- In the spring of 1900 L. A. Russell optioned for Pittsburg capitalists a block of some 3,000 acres of coal in the Plum Run and Little Chartiers Valleys, west of Houston. Later this coal was sold to the parties for whom it was op- tioned. The prices paid ranged from $35 to somewhere near $100 per acre, the average probably being in the neighborhood of $60. The entire block called for an expenditure of something like $200,000. The capital- ists who purchased the block organized themselves into the Midland Coal Company, with Mr. Salisbury as pres- ident, and Selwyn Taylor as secretary, treasurer and chief engineer. It was decided to open a mine on Plum Run, a mile above Houston, and the work of opening was soon begun and pushed to completion. The town of Midland, in the meantime, was laid out. This was for employes, and between 150 and 200 comfortable frame houses were erected on a piece of land purchased for the purpose. The company purchased the coal and surface of the Joseph Willison farm lying near by the mine. In the following year the mine was put into operation and some time later was shipping a large amount of coal, and giving employment to several hun- dred men.

Early in 1901 the Western Washington Railroad Com- pany, composed of the members of the Midland Coal Company, began work on its main line from Houston to Westland, a distance of between four and five miles, and completed it in the summer of 1902. However, before the road was built, parties interested in the Pitts- burg Coal Company, seeing in the Midland Company a somewhat formidable rival to the big combine, insti-

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tuted legal proceedings in the county courts to prevent the building of the Western Washington Road. They held that the road was to be merely a coal road; that it was not intended to do a general railroad business, and was therefore not entitled to the rights of a com- mon carrier. The case was ably and skillfully handled on both sides, but the decision was in favor of the Western Washington, and the road was built. At the terminus of the Western Washington the Midland Com- pany laid out and built the town of Westland. It was modeled after Midland in the Plum Run Valley, and like that place soon came to have a large and an indus- trious population.

The Western Washington Railroad had not been much more than completed when its owners and the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company began to hold conferences. The Pennsylvania Company at that time was a bit ner- vous over the invasion of the Pittsburg district by the Wabash, and the managers decided to take no chance of that company buying the Western Washington in order to get a feeder for their line, and so they purchased the little road, and at figures, it was said, which paid a handsome profit to the men who planned and built it.

After successfully operating the Midland and West- land mines for several years, the Midland Company sold both mines and their fine block of more than 2,500 acres of coal, together with their real estate, etc., to the Pittsburg Company. It was said at the time that the Midland people made a fine profit on the transaction. The mines have since been successfully operated by the Pittsburg Company, with William A. Lockhart, of Hous- ton, as the efficient and popular superintendent. Mr. Lockhart is also superintendent of the company's Mc- Govern mine.

J. M. Greek Coal Company .- Soon after the Western Washington Railroad was built the J. M. Greek Coal Company opened up their Sallie Mine on that railroad, and about on the line of Chartiers Township. This mine was worked out and a new mine, the Dandy, opened up by the same company about two years ago at Falkirk Station, two miles south of the first mine. The power- house of the Allison Mine is located at this station also.

Meadowlands Coal Company .- About the same time, or in February of the year 1901, the Meadowlands Coal Company was organized and opened up its No. 1 mine at the town of Meadowlands, northwest of the Chartiers Railway, and built thirty miners' houses at the Lormer Ewing Station. Three years later the company built a short spur of railroad up the creek between Arden (formerly Cook's) Station and the County Home, and sunk a shaft, calling it the No. 2 Mine. Fifty miners' houses were built at this place.

The other mine of Chartiers Township is the Rich

Hill Mine of the United Coal Company, whose tipple stands over the tracks of the Chartiers Railway a short distance southwest of Meadowlands.

The varying thickness of the Pittsburg coal vein in the mines, as reported by geologists, are as follows: Boone mine, 6 feet 212 inches; Allison mine, 5 feet 8 inches; Meadowlands, 8 feet 1 inch; at McLain's bank, 5 feet 61/2 inches.

Chartiers Township was settled at an early date.

Col. James Allison came to the township in 1774, Samuel Thompson in 1774, Rev. Matthew Henderson (the pioneer preacher of the present United Presbyte- rian Church) in 1779, John Weaver in 1787, John Struthers in 1772, Gavin Morrison in 1773, Andrew Swearingen in 1772, Samuel Agnew in 1780, Hugh MeKnight in 1784, John Hays about 1775, James Ry- burn soon after 1780, Robert Mccluskey as early as 1785, John McNary in 1780, Robert and John Welch before 1800, and Andrew Russell in 1782.

Rowland Hughes was holding land in 1786, William Moore in 1780, James Ramsey in 1792, Mathew Bow- land in 1790, William Harsha in 1797, and among other early settlers were John McClean and Paul and Thomas White.

One of the early blockhouses that was often used as a refuge from the Indians, was built on the farm of William Norris, on the Quail property. One of the early grist-mills in Chartiers Township was built by John Struthers prior to 1796, about five miles from Canonsburg. About three years later Robert Montgom- ery built a fulling-mill on Chartiers Creek.

The Washington County Home and the Children's Home, both in Chartiers Township, will be found dealt with under the head of County Institutions.

The Sewage Disposal Plant and farm belonging to the borough of Washington lies near the Children's Home.

The towns and villages of Chartiers Township are Arden, Meadowlands, McGovern, Shingiss, McConnell's Mills and Gretna.

ARDEN.

Arden is a station on the Chartiers Railway, operated by the P., C., C. & St. L. Railroad Company, situated between Meadowlands and Washington. Beside the sta- tion house there are two houses, a blacksmith shop and a grist-mill. The mining community at the No. 2 Mine of the Meadowlands Coal Company is about a half mile north of Arden sation. There are at this place about fifty houses and two general stores.

Arden Milling Company .- Leech's Mill (formerly known as Cook's Mill) is an old mill located at Arden,

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

between the Washington County Children's Home and the County Home. This mill has a capacity of 125 barrels per day of flour, and 100 bushels of chops an hour. The first mill erected on this site was a log structure. The present mill, which is a frame structure, was built about fifty years ago, and for the past twenty years has been operated by steam power. The mill was owned at one time by Godfrey Cook, father of John Cook, now prominently engaged with the Buffalo Coal Company. This is a cus- tom and merchants' mill, and until recently was owned and operated by Mr. J. C. Leech and others under the name of the Arden Milling Company.

MEADOWLANDS.

Meadowlands is a mining town of between 1,500 and 2,000 inhabitants, situated on the Chartiers Railway and the Washington and Canonsburg trolley line about four and a half miles from Washington. The name of the town was originally Ewing Station-from the name of the owner of the tract-but the railroad com- pany later named it Meadowlands. John H. Ewing purchased the land at sheriff's sale from Sheriff John Hoge in 1826. In 1876 John H. Ewing's house, now owned by John Murphy, was the only dwelling at this point. Later, in 1886, the Southwest Pennsylvania pur- · chased land from Mr. Ewing and built Ewing Pump Station and erected oil tanks. The village grew from that time. The most rapid growth has been in the last ten years, since the coal mines were opened up in the vicinity. The great majority of the inhabitants are miners. The town now contains the Penn. Mercan- tile Company, No. 4, with seven other stores, a school- house, church, postoffice, two physicians and a black- smith shop.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Meadowlands .- During the pastorate of Rev. J. S. Ferris, of the M. E. Church of Houston, he, with some of the lay members, conceived the idea that a church at Meadowlands would be a good thing for the people who live there and had no means of conveyance to church at outside points. After conferring with a few Methodists, who very gen- erously donated a lot, the contract was let and a neat little church, paid for and dedicated in the space of thirty days. A branch organization was effected here, which branch is still supplied with an afternoon service by the Houston pastor.

Slavish-Catholic and Mission Societies hold meetings in the lodge hall at Meadowlands.

The lodges of Meadowlands are Rich Hill Miners, Local No. 1829, U. M. W. of A., and Meadowlands, Lo- cal No. 1250, U. M. W. of A. The lodge hall was built in 1905.

Ewing Station of the Southwest Pennsylvania Oil

Company, at Meadowlands, pumps about 50,000 barrels of oil per day. Oil is pumped to and from different points within a radius of thirty-five miles.

In the vicinity of Meadowlands there are about fifty oil tanks, having an average capacity of about 29,350 barrels each, a total of 1,467,000 barrels, in which the oil produced in Southwest Pennsylvania district is stored. The total tankage at Meadowlands at one time was about 2,409,000 barrels, contained in seventy tanks. The tanks belong to the Southwest Pennsylvania Oil Company.

Occasionally one or more of these large tanks is struck by lightning and catches fire. The smoke rolls up to a great height and many thousands of people are at- tracted to the spot to view the sight.

M'GOVERN.

McGovern is a station of the Chartiers Railway a mile northeast of Meadowlands. The village at this point is composed of forty miners' houses and two stores. The Allison mine of the Pittsburg Coal Company is located here. The postoffice at this point was removed and the place given free delivery. Allens A. M. E. Church is located at McGovern. A good brick schoolhouse is being erected.

SHINGISS.

Shingiss is a shipping point on the Chartiers Railway between McGovern and Houston. This station was orig- inally and for many years known as Johnson.

M'CONNELL'S MILLS.

McConnell's Mills is situated on the Western Wash- ington Railroad and the North Branch of Chartiers Creek. The village of McConnell's Mills was formerly called McConnellville, or Locust Hill. The tract of land on which McConnell's Mills now stands, together with other tracts of which there were 1,000 acres in all, was granted by Lord Dunmore in 1775 to Valentine Crawford and Col. John Neville on a military patent. In the mean- time William Gabby had settled part of the land. Gabby, together with others who had also settled on the 1,000 acres, purchased them in 1803. The village at this place was commenced when Alexander McCon- nell built a grist-mill here in 1847.

A store was started in 1857 and a postoffice in 1865, but the latter was removed and the place given rural delivery. In 1871 the village was composed of thirty dwelling houses and a population of 140.

McConnell's Mill is an old landmark, and has been in operation many years, but during the past three years has been standing idle. The settlement has a popula- tion of about seventy-five.

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McConnell's Mills is now a station on the Westland branch of the Chartiers Railway.

The village at present is composed of a store, grist- mill, sawmill and thirty dwellings. The village of seven houses at Brevard Station is a mile northwest of Mc- Connell's Mills.

MIDLAND.

Midland is a mining town on Plum Run, a mile north of Houston, at Palanka Station, on the Western Wash- ington Railroad. The Pittsburg Coal Company has about 150 houses and a store at the mine.

The miners' lodge at this point is Midland, No. 1, U. M. W. of A., No. 1724.

GRETNA.

Gretna is a little country hamlet of seven dwellings and a creamery in the western corner of Chartiers Town- ship. The first creamery was built by J. K. Stevenson about twenty years ago, and had a capacity of 1,800 pounds of butter per week. Cheese was also manufac- tured, the milk being supplied from the surrounding farms. The creamery was next operated by Joseph Miller, who tore down the old building and built a smaller one in 1903. The present owner is Leo Febre, who manufactures butter only.

At least four schools were being taught in Chartiers Township at beginning of the nineneenth century. Among these were the log schoolhouses on the John Hays farm and the one on the line between the Daniel Miller and Hugh Mcknight farms. Some of the early teachers were George Munroe, William Tate, George Welsh, William Guthrie and Samuel and Isaac Miller. In 1836, two years after the passage of the public school law, the township was districted and schoolhouses built. In 1850 there were in the township twelve schools with 420 scholars; in 1863, eight schools, 387 scholars; in 1871, eight schools and 337 pupils. The cost of tuition per month in 1871, for each pupil, was 84 cents. In 1880 there were ten schools with 369 scholars.

There were in 1908 in this township twenty schools, with 830 scholars enrolled, and the number of teachers 21 (males 4, females 17) ; average number of months taught, 8; average salary of teachers per month, males $57.50, females $48.00; cost of each pupil per month, $1.68. Number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 3; estimated value of school property, $30,000.

The Chartiers Cross Roads United Presbyterian Church. -The Chartiers Cross Roads congregation was organ- ized in 1810. Meetings were at first held in a tent; afterwards in a frame building within the limits of the present graveyard, and last in the present brick church.

The following pastors have ministered to the congrega- tion : Rev. Samuel Findley, 1814-20, was the first pas- tor. Rev. J. Alvin Campbell has held the charge since 1907.

The first three divided their time with the congrega- tions of West Middletown, Washington and Canonsburg churches. Under the leadership of Rev. J. A. Grier the congregation grew to be one of the leading country churches of the county. During the last quarter of a century this congregation, like similar organizations in the country districts, has suffered much from removals. Nevertheless it has maintained its organization, and in the last few years has increased somewhat in its membership, it being at present 127.

Miller's Run Reformed Presbyterian Church .- Rev. John Cuthbertson visited Chartiers in September, 1779. He preached in the house of James McGlaughlin, and baptized a number. From his diary we conclude that among the principal families in Washington County were Alexander and Mathew McConnell, James and Samuel Scott, George Marcus, Samuel Willson and James McGlaughlin, William Patterson and Robert Walker. In 1782 all these went into the Associate Re- formed Church, and were the nucleus of the present United Presbyterian Congregation of Venice. In 1794, Rev. James McKinez visited this region and found a number of Covenanter families who had recently moved in and organized them into a society. In 1799 and for many years thereafter, Rev. James Black preached in this settlement. In 1806 the congregation took the name of Canonsburg. In 1808 a log church was erected in Canonsburg. Rev. David Graham was called as pastor in 1810. Before his installation some charges were brought against him, and he was deposed. Rev. William Gibson was pastor from 1817 to 1826. Rev. Gordon I. Ewing from 1827 to 1830. In 1835 the site was changed from Canonsburg to the present location, five miles north, and a neat brick church was erected. The congregation now became known as Miller's Run, because the first service in this community was held near this stream. Rev. John Crozier was pastor from 1834 to 1842. Rev. William Slater was pastor from 1842 to 1887. S. G. Conner from 1889 to the present time. The two last were raised in the congregation. There was a new brick church erected in 1870.

CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP.

This township was erected December 10, 1789, out of Hopewell Township. Its boundaries are Smith and Jef- ferson on the north, Mt. Pleasant and Smith on the east, Hopewell and Independence on the south, and Jefferson on the west. In 1806 a part of Cross Creek was taken to erect Mt. Pleasant Township, and in 1853

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Jefferson Township was formed from the west end of Cross Creek.

This township is located fifteen miles northwest of Washington. Cross Creek, from which the township de- rives its name, rises on the borders of Hopewell and Mt. Pleasant, runs westward through the Pan Handle of West Virginia, and empties into the Ohio River. Sev- eral grist- and saw-mills were located on this stream and served the convenience of the early settlers.

Forts were made necessary by the Indian aggressions as early at 1774.

Vance's Fort was a frequent gathering place, stand- ing about one mile north of Cross Creek, close by the Smith Township line. Wells' Fort was five miles west. Wilson's Fort was a stockade at Wells' Mill, at the Virginia line. Reynolds' Fort, another blockhouse, got its name from the owner of the land where it was lo- cated. Marshall's Fort was a blockhouse on Col. John Marshall's farm. There were no townships or known Virginia line when these forts were built.

The following were some of the original settlers of Cross Creek Township: Samuel Johnson, John Tennel, Alexander Wells, William Patterson, Ephraim Hart, Ja- cob Buxton, Thomas Beatty, William Reynolds, David Reynolds, Thomas Bay, Henry Graham, James Jackson, William Colvin, Col. James Marshel, George Marquis, David Vance, Thomas Crawford, Col. John Marshall, John Marquis, William McCombs. Samuel Johnson came from Virginia and Wells and Tennel from Mary- land in 1772.

Cross Creek Presbyterian Church .- Church life has been the social life of this region. In 1775-77, before Washington County had any existence, meetings for so- cial worship were held usually at the forts while seek- ing refuge from the Indians. Two societies were soon organized-one at Richard Wells' Fort, in West Vir- ginia, about three and one-half miles from Eldersville, on the Eldersville and Steubenville Road; and the other at Vance's Fort. The leading members of the former were John Morrison, Robert McCready, William Mc- Candless and Samuel Strain; of the latter Maj. William Vance, John Campbell, John Stone, Robert Barr and William Wilson. As a result of these meetings con- siderable interest was awakened, and at Vance's Fort seven or eight persons were converted. The report of this work was carried back to the settlements, and the Rev. James Power, from east of the mountains, visited this region and preached the first sermon ever heard in it under an oak tree just outside of Vance's Fort, September 14, 1778.

As a result twenty-one children were baptized, the first in this region.

The first year of Dr. Stockton's pastorate (1827) he

baptized 75 infants; the second year 80, and the third year 69.

In April, 1779, Rev. Joseph Smith, from York County, Pa., preached within the bounds of Cross Creek, and shortly afterward Rev. John McMillan preached a few sermons.

In May, 1779, the Church of Cross Creek was organ- ized, and on the 21st of June they met with the people of Upper Buffalo, now Buffalo Village, at the house of James Marshel midway between the two places, and made out a joint call for Rev. Joseph Smith, of whose congregation in York County some of these had been members. James Edgar, afterward judge, prosecuted this call before the Presbytery of New Castle, in session at Carlisle, Pa., and Rev. Smith accepted it October 27, 1779.

Rev. Joseph Smith was the first pastor, 1779 until his death, April 19, 1792. He accepted the call from Cross Creek and Upper Buffalo. The succeeding pastors have been: Rev. Thomas Marquis, 1794-1826; Rev. John Stockton, D. D., 1827-1877 (later pastor emeritus until his death, May 5, 1882); Rev. William H. Mc- Caughey, 1877-1885; Rev. J. P. Anderson, 1886-1892; Rev. Charles D. Williams, 1893-1900; Rev. Raymond M. Houston, 1901-1906; Rev. Harry A. Rhodes, 1906-1908. The church was incorporated in 1825. Rev. H. Willard Hanna, present pastor, installed Nov. 12, 1908. This congregation never had a stated supply. It has erected five church edifices. The first, an unhewed log struc- ture, 26x22 feet, was built in the summer of 1779, the site being selected by Maj. William Vance, Robert Mc- Cready and Henry Graham, near the site of the present church. The second building was of hewed logs, 60x30 feet, and was erected in 1784; a gallery was added a few years later. This house was burned by an incendiary April 20, 1803. In the same year the third building was erected. It was of stone, 56x56 feet, the ladies contrib- uting a goodly share of the cost. In 1830 it was suc- ceeded by the fourth structure, which was of brick, 76x56 feet, and having a gallery on three sides, and cost from $3,000 to $3.500. The present edifice, also a brick structure, was erected in 1864, and cost $12,000.

In 1878 a lot containing two and a half acres was purchased and a house erected thereon at a cost of $2,500-the first and only parsonage.

Beginning about 1775, this church has had some nota- ble revivals, resulting in considerable additions to its membership. Many able pastors have entered the min- istry from this church, and others rendered efficient serv- ice in Indian and foreign missions. The Sabbath School was organized in 1821 in spite of some opposition, and was at first conducted by a board of managers. Col. Samuel Magill was the first superintendent. H. W.

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Donehoo is now serving in that capacity. The present enrollment of the school is 250. The church had its lar- gest membership in 1846, when there were 210 members. The present membership is 350.

In his farewell sermon to the Cross Creek Presbyte- rian congregation Rev. Harry A. Rhodes, who resigned in 1908, to go as a missionary to Korea, epitomized the statistical history of the congregation for the past eighty years as follows:

Adult baptisms, 276; infant baptisms, 1,352; acces- sions on profession, 1,472; accessions by certificate, 629; home missions, $14,510; foreign missions, $15,355; ed- ucation, $9,432; theological seminaries, $2,299; Sunday School work, $1,903; church erection, $2,216; ministerial relief, $1,493; freedmen, $2,201; sustentation, $818; colleges, $614; general assembly $1,313; congregational, $104,149; miscellaneous, $12,794. Grand total, $168,800.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 54

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