History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 68

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 68

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Pittsburg and Westmoreland Coal Company, in 1908, was assessed with 4,454 acres of coal land in West Bethlehem Township valued a+ $414,770.

The Vesta Coal Company owns 5,906 acres valued at $549,740. Among the other smaller coal land owners are Leonard Sapper, J. G. Patterson, Thompson and Collier, W. V. Humphreys, and I. W. and T. B. Seaman.

The Ellsworth Collieries Company owns 1,638 acres valued at $342,140. The same company owns 6,001 acres of coal in Somerset Township valued at $751,170.

The Mingo Coal Company owns 5,431 acres valued at $599,410.

The Pittsburg Coal Company owns 1,040 acres of land valued at $131,910.

Mary A. Leyda owns coal lands valued at $16,700; Lanis S. Miller and Ellis M. Lilley, $40,400; Pittsburg and Westmoreland Coal Company, $38,790, and I. W. and T. B. Seaman, of Uniontown, $68,100.

The principal and only large gas field in this corner of the county is the Zollarsville field, which contains about 70 wells, located mostly in West Bethlehem Town- ship and the borough of Deemston, between Beallsville, Zollarsville and Deemston. It has the length of five miles and breadth of about two miles. A small group of gas wells is encountered west of Odell in West Beth- lehem Township (Ross field). The Zollarsville field can- not be said to hold any definite structural position. Instead of occurring high up on the anticline, southeast of Deemston, as might be expected, it lies on the west flank of the anticline and stretches over nearly the entire synelinal slope between Beallsville and Zollars- ville, a few wells occurring nearly to center of the basin. The apparent disregard of structure here may perhaps be due to the nonparallelism of the oil sands and the Pittsburg coal.

The Zollarsville gas field has had a large production for the last few years. The yield is principally from the Elizabeth and Bayard sands, though small quantities are found at all the important sand horizons.

From the best information available, it appears that the same phenomenon found in other fields of South- western Pennsylvania holds good in this area, namely, that the deeper the sand the greater the closed pressure.

In the T. J. John Well No. 1, drilled in 1906 or 1907, on Ten-Mile Creek, two miles west of Zollarsville, a small amount of gas was found in the Elizabeth sand which showed a closed pressure of 600 pounds, and a minute pressure of 75 pounds in a 6 5-8-inch hole. The gas in this well blew out in 24 hours, so that the data furnished by it cannot be considered entirely trust- worthy. This well is also located almost squarely on the axis of the Waynesburg syncline, at which point the Elizabeth sand is about 150 feet lower than it is at Zollarsville. From incomplete records the Elizabeth sand appears to have a rock pressure of between 500 and 600 pounds.

On the extreme western edge of the field several small oil wells were tapped in 1904. One of these on the Margaret Hill farm, flowed 65 to 75 barrels per day. The Zollarsville field is being operated by the Monon- gahela Natural Gas Company, the Philadelphia Com- pany, the Carnegie Natural Gas Company, the Greens- boro Natural Gas Company and the Manufacturers Light and Heat Company.

The Manufacturers' Gas Company and the Fort Pitt Gas Company carry gas past Zollarsville and through East Bethlehem from the southern part of Greene Coun- ty to Pittsburg. The first uses a 16-inch line and the second a 12-inch line.

The Upper Washington limestone is well known rock among geologists, and they report a strong outcrop of 15 feet 6 inches thick, white on the weathered surface and mottled grey inside. It is seen in West Bethlehem Township just north of the divide at the head of Crayne's Run near a small stream. In Washington County there is a bituminous shale immediately above this limestone slightly resembling cannel coal and some- times a little coal a few feet above this shale. This shale is frequently rich in impressions of leaves and stems.

The towns of West Bethlehem Township are Scenery Hill (formerly Hillsborough), Zollarsville and Marianna.

SCENERY HILL.

The town of Scenery Hill was originally called Hills- borough, but the name of the postoffice has always been Scenery Hill and thus the name of the place has grad- ually changed to Scenery Hill. It is situated on the National Pike half way between Washington and Browns- ville, the distance being a little over 11 miles from each place. The tract of land now occupied by Scenery Hill was surveyed as "Springtown," February 23, 1785, to Isaac Bush. George Hill purchased it in 1796 and the land passed from him to Stephen Hill, his son, and Thomas MeGiffin.

366

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

The town was laid out in lots in 1819 and advertised as Hillsborough, deriving its name from the part owner, Stephen Hill. At the time of the laying out of the town a postoffice was established called Scenery Hill with Samuel Stanley, postmaster.

As early as 1794 a tavern was kept by Thomas Hill and called "Hill's Stone Tavern." About the same time it was also kept by Stephen Hill. The tavern keepers or owners following these first two were Samuel Youman, John Hampson, John Gibson, William Dawson, Oliver Lacock, John Lacock, Mrs. P. M. Tombaugh and Jacob Gherlin, the latter conducting the hotel at the present time. The hotel is now known as the Central Hotel.

During the year 1827 James Beck kept a tavern in Hillsborough. He was succeeded as tavern keeper by George Ringland, David Railly, John Noble, John Tay- lor, Henry Taylor, Jesse Core and William Robinson. Near the center of the town on the south side of the road a tavern was started by John Wilson and after- wards kept by Stephen Phelps and David Powell. These taverns were important hostelries on the old pike and were well patronized.

The following physicians settled at Scenery Hill at early dates: Drs. McGougan, Henry Halleck, T. R. Storer, C. T. Dodd. The present physicians are Drs. H. B. Larimer, W. A. McCall and F. F. Cobb.

In 1870 the town contained 38 dwellings, three preach- ers, five physicians, three shoe shops, two saddle and harness shops, one hotel, one blacksmith shop, one wagon-maker shop, one cabinet maker, two carpenters, four stores, a Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal Church. The town has a very great altitude. It is ele- vated 1,750 feet above sea level, 917 feet above the Monongahela River at Brownsville and 1,002 feet above the Ohio River at Wheeling. Population in 1900 was 178.

During the last ten years the town of Scenery Hill has had a wonderful growth, its prosperity being ac- counted for entirely by the opening up of the coal mines in its vicinity, and a result of the opening up of these mines is the construction of the Ellsworth branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad to Ellsworth and later the extension to Zollarsville and Marianna.

Starting at Ellsworth, the extension crosses the Na- tional Pike one mile beyond Scenery Hill, by means of a tremendous cutting, 92 feet deep and several hundred feet in length. Deep railroad cuttings are numerous in Washington County, but no such monumental ex- cavation is to be found as this opening near Scenery Hill. A fine concrete bridge spans the cut, giving pas- sage to travelers.

The postoffice at Scenery Hill is a presidential office, the receipts for 1908 being $2,227.33. The postmaster

is George E. Renshaw. There are at Scenery Hill at the present writing 47 dwellings, five stores, two livery stables, the Central House conducted by Jacob Ghelein, a German Lutheran Church, a M. E. Church, a bank, a school and a blacksmith shop. The town has 200 inhabitants. It is served by the Bell and Home Mutual Telephone Companies and the Manufacturers' Light and Heat Company. Gas for light and heat and telephones are familiarly used in many of the dwellings of this great township of which Scenery Hill is a part.

First National Bank of Scenery Hill-A bank which draws its business from a district with a prosperous future seemingly assured, is the First National Bank of Scenery Hill. This institution was organized in June of 1904 with a capitalization of $25,000. The institution is well managed and boasts a strong clientele in its dis- trict. As Scenery Hill is situated on the extension of the Pennsylvania Railroad from Ellsworth to Zollars- ville, it is certain to become a point of importance, and prosperity should continue to favor the bank of that place.

From shafts 3 and 4 (known as Cokeburg) of the Ellsworth Company's works many of the foreigners have found it convenient to deposit at the Scenery Hill bank which has also helped in increasing the resources of the institution. It has more than kept pace with the de- velopment of that section of Washington County where it is located. Perhaps no other part of the county has developed more rapidly than the West Bethlehem sec- tion. The bank had, at the close of business, December 31, 1906, total resources of $320,109, as against $223,- 249.04 one year before. The surplus and undivided profit account increased that year over $6,000, or earned over 25 per cent. The book value of its bank stock, par value $100, was $142.80, while its deposits increased during that year over 50 per cent, or from $173,211.87 to $264,409. It increased in loans and investments from $150,000 to $230,600.

At the end of the year 1908 the surplus and profits were $16,715.89; deposits, $250,745.12; increased over 1907, $15,295.42; resources, $312,461.01; loans and in- vestments, $219,667.24. The book value of the stock was $166.86.

Mount Calvary Lutheran Church of Scenery Hill- The Lutheran Congregation at Scenery Hill built their church in 1850. It was at first used by the Presbyterians also. The present frame church was built about 15 years ago. The Lutheran Church of Scenery Hill has had the same pastors as the Bethlehem Lutheran and Horn's Lutheran Churches. (See Bethlehem Lutheran Church.) The membership at present is 82 and the pastor, Rev. A. H. Keck.

Methodist Episcopal Church of Scenery Hill-Hiram Winnett built the Methodist Church of Scenery Hill in

367

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

1852. The present brick church was built in 1878. Rev. G. A. Allison is pastor.

Scenery Hill Grange No. 1345 was organized on March 12, 1907, and by May had a membership of 57 farmers. Jacob Gayman is master and Mrs. Ara Crumrine, lec- turer.

ZOLLARSVILLE.

In early times Daniel Zollar located on the north branch of Ten-Mile Creek, 16 miles from Washington, and built a house at what is now Zollarsville. Stephen Ulery laid out the town in lots in the year 1856. The village grew up around this house. In 1835 Jacob Ulery built a grist-mill operated by water power at Zollarsville. It was later owned by Stephen Ulery, who operated it by steam. It is now owned by W. M. Pollock. W. H. Ulery conducts the hotel at this place. At present there are a schoolhouse, two churches, a hotel, mill, store, wagon-making establishment, blacksmith shop, under- taker and 15 dwelling houses in old Zollarsville.

The country surrounding the old village of Zollars- ville has experienced a wonderful change in the last three years. Since the Pittsburg-Buffalo mines were opened up the place has built up rapidly. A successful lot sale was held at Zollarsville on July 27, 1907.

The principal growth has been at West Zollarsville, where many places of business have been started and houses erected.

Dr. James Braden was the first physician in Zollars- ville. He practiced at this place from 1850 to 1865. Dr. John A. Patterson practiced here at a later date.

West Zollarsville lies directly across Daniel's Run east of Marianna, but a half mile distant from the mines. It was laid out by Hawkins & Hoskinson, of Waynes- burg, in 1906 on land bought from Samuel Gayman. In that plan about 300 to 400 lots have been sold and about 75 houses erected. From its situation as the terminus of the Pennsylvania lines, and the fact that it is bound to become the shipping and traffic point of the country to the south, West Zollarsville and Zollars- ville will prosper from the start.

In the Fairfield plan, 50 lots have been sold and 20 houses erected; 20 lots have been sold in the Barnard plan and a new $5,000 brick schoolhouse erected on the plot. The Donora Land Company have a plan laid out on the James Gayman farm, where 50 lots have been sold and 10 dwellings built.

Zollarsville will soon be connected with Monongahela City, Washington and the intervening towns by the trolley line of the Pittsburg, Monongahela and Wash- ington Railways Company.

A bank will shortly be opened in Zollarsville to meet the business demands of the growing community, and

some of the leading citizens have subscribed for stock and have been chosen directors in the bank. Although the National Bank of Zollarsville received its charter October 3, 1906, it did not open during 1908.

Horn's Lutheran Church is near Zollarsville. The first house of worship was an old log building which stood near Adam Horn's house and which his father had helped to build at a very early date. Rev. Paul Henkle preached there and at many other places in the "wilderness." "Ginger Hill, Washington and Morgan- town were parts of his field of labor. Rev. John Stough, one of Rev. Mr. Henkle's students, took charge of the Horn's Church and served from 1791 to 1806. Since that time the church has been served by the same pastors as the Bethlehem Lutheran and Mount Calvary Lutheran until ten years ago, when it was separated from that charge. Rev. W. S. Ulrick held services oc- casionally after the separation. Services have almost ceased to be held in the church by the Lutherans now. The log building was followed by a low frame and it in turn by the present church in 1869. This last one was named Trinity Church, but it continued to be familiarly called Horn's Church. Rev. W. O. Wilson was one of the most energetic of the pastors.

Methodist Episcopal Church of Zollarsville-A society was formed and meetings held about the year 1840 in the log meeting-house of the Horn's Lutheran Church. In the year 1842 Stephen Ulery built the present brick church at a cost of $3,000 for this Methodist Episcopal Society at Zollarsville. The church is often called the Ten-Mile M. E. and Ulery M. E. Church. Meetings were conducted before the building was built by John Gregg and Hiram Winnett. John Coyle and Mr. Ruter were first appointed to the charge. The building was repaired in 1908 at an approximate cost of $1,000. The mem- bership is 65 and the pastor Rev. J. E. Lewis.

MARIANNA.

The ideal mining town of Marianna is located just be- low and west of West Zollarsville. Eight days after the railroad reached the town an application for a charter for the Farmers and Miners National Bank at Marianna with a capital of $50,000 was sent in. The town liter- ally sprang up in a few months.

The inhabitants of Marianna have petitioned that the town be incorporated. The petition sets forth that the proposed borough contains about 2,000 inhabitants. It is desired to incorporate the town under the name of the "Borough of Marianna." The proposed borough con- tains 993 acres, more or less. The plot includes the present village of Marianna and formerly the A. J. Rice, J. L. Fulton farms, the former Horn heirs farm, the former J. W. Shidler farm and a portion of the W. H. Hays farm. The borough lines are very irregular.

368

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

The three shafts of the coal company are included in the plot.

A fine three-story brick hotel has been built and a bank building. The Manufacturers' Light and Heat Company maintain a station at this point. The Mari- anna Water Company will supply water.

On November 28, 1908, the most terrible disaster in the history of the county occurred here, when 150 lives were blotted out in an explosion that wrecked the mine of the Pittsburg-Buffalo Coal Company at Marianna. Since then it has been repaired and is commencing to ship.

M. E. Church of Marianna-The Rev. John C. Mc- Minn, of Jefferson, who was appointed in charge of mission work at Marianna by the Pittsburg conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church during 1909 organ- ized a church at Marianna with 72 members.

The trustees named were J. P. Reifmiller, W. C. Duve and Charles Connor. A board of stewards were also named and a committee appointed to solicit funds for the erection of a church.

Christian Church of Marianna-A few months ago a Christian Church was organized at Marianna through record work, Rev. H. C. Boblett, pastor of the Charleroi Christian Church, being one of the organizers.

A school was in operation in West Bethlehem Town- ship as early as 1788, in a log schoolhouse used also as a church, by the Bethlehem Lutheran Congregation. Among the earliest teachers of which anything is known are Walter Thompson, Peter R. Hopkins, John Donahoo, Robert Jones, Jonathan Warner and Peter Nonnasmith. These men taught school about the year 1800 or soon after. The majority of the early settlers of this town- ship were Germans and the schools were all taught in the German language until about 1809.

The early school building was constructed of logs with a clapboard roof and windows covered with greased paper. The schools increased until not long before the school law was enacted in 1834 there were log schools on the David Coonrod, Joseph Grable, John Friend, (taught by William McCleary) Jonathan Garben, (taught by Jacob Ragan) Amos Walton and Spindler farms. In 1850 there were 14 schools and 649 scholars. In 1860 13 schools with 652 scholars and cost of tuition per month $.98. In 1873 there were 15 schools and 534 pupils enrolled. In 1880 there were 16 schools, 18 teachers and 600 pupils enrolled.

There were in 1908 in West Bethlehem Township 16 schools with 16 teachers (males 5, females 11) ; average number of months taught, 7; enrollment, 377; average salary of teachers per month, males $47.00, females $49.09; cost of each pupil per month, $2.66; number

of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 2; estimated value of school property, $13,500.

Settlers- Joseph Hill was holding land now embraced in West Bethlehem Township in 1774, David Enoch in 1775, John James in 1784, Richard Hawkins in 1786, John and Henry Conkle in 1784, Col. Thomas Crooks in 1785, John, Adam and Peter Weaver in 1789, Peter Drake in 1785, Andrew Wise in 1785, Eleazer Jenkins in 1789, George and Mathias Tombaugh in 1781, Chris- topher Sunedecker in 1801, John Crumrine in 1801, Peter Eller in 1801, Christopher Clouse in 1802, Valentine Kinder in 1785, Neal Gillespie in 1785, Thomas Lackey in 1785, Myles Hayden in 1788, Adam Simon in 1797, and Daniel Letherman in 1785.

Other early settlers were Peter Mowl, George and John Somers, Joseph Lawrence, Erasmus Nichols, John Sar- jeant and Dickinson Roberts.

Early Industries-Shortly before 1785 Peter Wise built a mill on the North Fork of Ten-Mile Creek.

In 1836 Ullery Mill was built about a mile above the Wise Mill. These two mills did a large business, they being the only ones at that time within a large radius.

On the boundary line between West Bethlehem and Amwell Townships a mill was built at an early date by John James. The place was owned until 1908 by the late Morgan Martin and the village has long been known as "Martin's Mills." The postoffice here is called Bissell. There are two dwellings and a general store in this village.

Mr. Kelley owned two fulling-mills, one on Ten-Mile Creek and the other on Pigeon Creek. He gave the one on Pigeon Creek to Lemuel Cooper and the one on Ten- Mile Creek to Moses Cooper.

The business of preparing wool products by local mills throughout the county ceased about the middle of the last century.

Isaiah Ball opened a tavern in West Bethlehem Town- ship in 1782. John Meeks started an inn in the year 1794. He was followed as tavern keeper by William Meeks in 1801 and Absolom Hawkins in 1803. This last-mentioned inn stands near Scenery Hill and is owned by Charles S. Van Voorhis. The traveling multi- tudes over the National Pike required many wayside inns.

The 1792 assessment report for West Bethlehem Town- ship shows that Andrew Boggs was the only slave owner in the township, while at that time slaves were owned on almost every other farm in the townships northeast of it. This may possibly be accounted for by the fact that the great majority of the population were Germans.

The following churches are in West Bethlehem Town- ship: Bethlehem Lutheran, Mount Calvary Lutheran of

369

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Scenery Hill, Horn's Calvary Lutheran of Zollarsville, Scenery Hill M. E., Zollarsville M. E., Winnett M. E., Pigeon Creek Dunkard, Ten-Mile Dunkard and High- land United Brethren. The following cemeteries are also in the township: Scenery Hill Cemtery, Hill's Ceme- tery, Bethlehem Cemetery, Horn's Cemetery, Pigeon Creek Dunkard Cemetery and Zollarsville Cemetery. There are several private family burying grounds in East and West Bethlehem Townships.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is about five miles west of Scenery Hill. This Lutheran congregation dates back to 1788. During the first few years there were really two denominations, the Dutch Reform Congrega- tion and the Lutheran Congregation, both worshiping in the same building, but soon the Dutch died out and left the congregation entirely Lutheran. Meetings were first held in a log schoolhouse. A log church was built in 1791, the place being now marked by a flat stone in the middle of the present cemetery.

Inside the church was a large open fireplace and the church at evening services was lighted by candles. In 1846 a brick church was built which was remodeled in 1880. In 1906 a beautiful new brick edifice was erected at a cost of $16,000. It has a seating capacity in the auditorium of 400.

The congregation has had 14 pastors. Rev. A. H. Keck has occupied the pulpit since 1907. The member- ship of the congregation is 145.

Ten-Mile Dunkard Church-The Ten-Mile Dunkard was also called a German Baptist. The church is three miles northwest of Zollarsville. The frame building was built about 1858.

The Highland U. B. Church is a branch of this church, it being formed from the Ten-Mile Lutheran Congre- gation about 1883. The Ten-Mile Congregation has had the same ministers as the Pigeon Creek Dunkard Con- gregation. The membership is quite small.

The Pigeon Creek Dunkard Church was formerly known as the Pigeon Creek German Baptist Church. It is located a mile and a half northwest of Scenery Hill. The congregation was organized about 1800. The first meeting-house was a brick edifice on Ten-Mile Creek. A frame church was built on Pigeon Creek about the year 1861. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Bruist, who was followed at some time prior to 1838 by Rev. Mr. Helft. Rev. R. T. Idleman is the present pastor. The church has 40 members.

Highland United Brethren Church-This congre- gation was formed from a part of the Ten-Mile Dunkard Congregation about 26 years ago. The Dunkards had the custom of letting the hair grow on their faces, wear- ing broad-brimmed hats and other peculiar articles of dress. The younger people or progressive branch in the congregation were dissatisfied with these church rules

and separated from the main church or conservative branch chiefly under the instigation of Rev. Henry Holsinger, and called themselves the Highland United Brethren Congregation. A church was built about a mile west of the Ten-Mile Dunkard Church. Among the pastors of this congregation were Henry Wise and Stephen Hildebrand. The present pastor is Jacob Murray and the membership is about 50.

Winnett Methodist Episcopal Church-Winnett Chapel is often called Patterson's Run M. E. Church. It is located about four miles south of Zollarsville. The church was built during the pastorate of Rev. Hiram Winnett. It was burned down in 1864 and another church built in 1866.

Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church was organized and a church building erected on land donated by Will- iam Sargent in 1876 midway between Scenery Hill and Beallsville and two and a half miles south of the Na- tional Pike. This frame building was burned five or six years ago and the congregation now attend church at Scenery Hill.

Redstone Church-Land was purchased from Thomas Crooks for the consideration of five shillings in the year 1797. On this was soon erected the Redstone Church, under the supervision of Rev. Joseph Doddridge. The congregation is believed to have been Episcopal. This church was located a mile east of the place where Scenery Hill now is, on the Redstone Road. A grave- yard was connected with the church, but it, together with the church, which has long ago been abandoned, has fallen into ruins.

Pawne Grange No. 1375 has recently been organized. R. E. Weir is master and E. H. Hildebrand, lecturer.

WEST FINLEY TOWNSHIP.

West Finley Township is situated in the southwestern corner of Washington County. It is bounded on the north by Donegal Township, on the east by East Finley Township, on the south by Greene County and on the west by the State of West Virginia. The township of West Finley is drained by the branches of Wheeling Creek and their tributaries.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 68

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