History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 80

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 80

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The Charleroi Cemetery is at the end of Lincoln Ave- nue extension southwest of the borough.

The Charleroi Lumber Company is incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania, capital stock $50,000, and is successor to C. F. Thompson & Co., who were Charleroi's pioneer lumber dealers and builders. The present owners of the yards and planing mill succeeded to the business in 1898. This company's employees range in number from 150 to 200 men and boys, but mostly mechanics who command high wages. The reputation of the Char- leroi Lumber Company is not alone local, but extensive orders are received and filled all over the Monongahela Valley. In Charleroi this company has built the Bank of Charleroi, School Building No. 2, Monier Hotel, Gelb Hotel, additions to the Macbeth-Evans Company plant, to Charleroi Brewery and other works of like character. Their specialty is company houses and mine work.

Hussey-Binnes Shovel Factory-The Hussey-Binnes & Company, Ltd., a shovel manufacturing firm, was located in Pittsburg, and through Mr. McKean's influence it was transferred to Charleroi. Recently this firm shipped a large consignment of their product to the Panama Canal

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

This company employs to a large extent only skilled workmen.

The Charleroi Coal Company is doing an extensive business and has found it necessary to enlarge its me- chanical department.

Among the other business concerns are the Walton Lumber Company, Charleroi Brewing Company and the William R. Mckean Greenhouses.

The Tubbs Business College-Among local enterprises of a public character the Tubbs Business College occupies a position which in view of its successful operation, and the efficient character of the service it renders, entitles it to a high public estimation. Prof. D. C. Tubbs is assisted by an able corps of teachers.

CHURCHES.

The First Presbyterian Church of Charleroi was or- ganized March 5, 1891, with nineteen charter members. The first pastor was the Rev. S. F. Farmer, D. D., who began his labors in the church January, 1892, leaving the field about November 1, 1894. The Rev. Charles E. Edwards, was second pastor. Mr. Edwards came to the church in October, 1895, and left in April, 1897. Rev. G. W. Snodgrass, began his labors here May 1, 1898. This congregation has always been a strong one. The present membership is 244 and pastor Rev. Morvin Cus- ter.

Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church-A Cumber- land Presbyterian Church, which occupied a cozy little home on Crest avenue, was organized March 15, 1891, with a membership of eighteen. Rev. J. W. McKay effected the organization of the Allen Building, corner of Second street and Mckean avenue. A church edifice was built in 1893, and dedicated the same year. Rev. James Hamilton was the first regular pastor. Previous to his pastorate a number of supplies had preached to the congregation.

In 1906 the present handsome church was built at a cost of $20,000. The congregation was changed recently from the Cumberland Presbyterian to the Presbyterian denomination. The present membership is 264 and pas- tor, Rev. George G. Kerr.

French Presbyterian Church-Charleroi has a large French population and among them not a few of the Protestant faith. During the years 1896 and 1897 the Rev. G. Charles, at that time pastor in charge of the French congregations of Tarentum, Pittsburg and Me- Donald, paid occasional visits to the town and held services for ther French in the First Presbyterian Church on Fifth street; but it was only in 1898 that the French people were able to secure the services of a pastor to labor among them.

The Rev. J. E. Charles, Ph. D., the present pastor, came and took charge of the congregation in October,

1898, and under his acceptable ministration there has been a substantial increase in membership and church interest. Religious services were held in the First Pres- byterian church. The congregation was organized in 1904. The church building is situated on Crest avenue, and was purchased in 1906 from the Cumberland Pres- byterians who worshipped in it for some years. The building is frame and will seat 300. The membership of the congregation is fifty-seven, and pastor, Rev. J. E. Charles.

First Christian Church-One of the most flourishing churches in Charleroi is the Christian Church, which owns a beautiful $18,000 property on Fallowfield avenue. This church was organized October 13, 1890, at the residence of Theodore J. Allen, at Lock No. 4, with a membership of fourteen. Rev. A. C. Jobes, of Claysville, was instru- mental in the organization, and was the first pastor. For a time after the organization of the society services were held at Library Hall, at Lock No. 4, until a brick structure was erected on Tenth street, in 1891. Here services were held until June, 1901, when the congrega- tion moved into the handsome edifice it had erected on Fallowfield avenue. The present pastor is Rev. H. C. Boblitt. The membership is about 250.

Protestant Episcopal Church-The Protestant Episco- pal Church in the United States of America is repre- sented in Charleroi by St. Mary's Church on Sixth street and Lookout avenue. The history of the congregation begins almost with the town itself. What James S. Mckean was to Charleroi, F. L. Bayley was to the "Lit- tle Church on the Hill."

On November 23, 1891, the Sunday School was formed with F. L. Bayley, superintendent, and Joseph Matthews, assistant superintendent. Dr. J. P. Norman, of Monon- gahela City, gave occasional clerical services.

The first service under a regularly appointed clergy- man for Charleroi was held on October 30, 1898. Rev. Blacklock continued in charge until May 6, 1900, when he resigned.

Rev. G. R. Messias was then appointed and he con- tinued in the rectorship until February 23, 1902. Dr. Robert Hope, entered upon his duties on May 15, 1903. Rev. Percy L. Donaghay succeeded to the rectorship, and he in turn was followed by the present rector, Rev. L. W. Shey, in 1908. The church, a frame structure, was erected at a cost of $5,000.

Christ Evangelical Lutheran-The Christ English Evan- gelical Lutheran Church of the Pittsburg Synod of the General Synod was organized September 22, 1901. A canvass of Charleroi for Lutherans was made by the missionary president of the synod in May, 1901, and a theological student, George M. Lauffer, of Gettysburg, Pa., was appointed to take charge of the work during the summer months. A Sunday School was organized

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

and a nucleus for a congregation was gathered together sufficiently large to enable the missionary president, Rev. L. J. McDowell, to effect an organization with a charter membership of thirty-one in the month of September.

H. M. Leach, A. M., of Arcadia, O., a graduate of Wittenberg College and Seminary, of Springfield, O., was called to be the first pastor of the congregation. The call was accepted and the pastor took charge of the work in December. Worship was held in the Masonic Building and in the Bank of Charleroi Building. A location for a church was secured at the corner of Sixth street and Washington avenue. The three lots facing on the three streets, Lincoln, Washington and Sixth, afford- ing the congregation an admirable site for a fine church edifice.

The corner stone of the church was laid in 1908. The building is built of native blue stone, trimmed with Indiana Jimestone. The church property, including par- sonage adjoining, is valued at $42,000. Rev. C. E. Frontz, the present pastor, succeeded Rev. Mr. Leech in 1907.

CLAYSVILLE.

The borough of Claysville stands in the midst of a rich farming and stock and wool raising district. It is situated on the old National Pike and on the B. & O. Railroad, eleven miles west of Washington, twenty-one miles east of Wheeling and six miles east of West Alex- ander.

The site of Claysville was originally included in the tract of land called "Superfine Bottom," warranted to Thomas Waller, Feburary 25, 1785. At some time after the year 1800 John Purviance having gained possession of the land, the owner started a tavern. When the National Pike was projected through in 1817 John Pur- viance laid out the town and named it after the renowned statesman, Henry Clay. The first merchant was George Wilson, and first physician Dr. James Kerr.

The town continued to increase until it was incor- porated a borough by act of Assembly, April 2, 1832.

In 1821, soon after the completion of the National Pike, James Sargent opened the tavern at Claysville, at the sign of the "Black Horse." Bazil Brown kept one also as early as 1836. James Dennison was tavern keeper as early as 1840, as was also the widow Calahan, and among the other old tavern keepers were David Bell, John Walker, James Kelley, Stephen Conkling and John McIlree.

The valuation of real estate in Claysville amounts to $365,170; personal property valuation, $38,920; number of taxables, 330. The borough tax for 1908 was 4 mills, and $1,422.07 was collected.

In 1850 the population of Claysville was 275, in 1860

it numbered 467, in 1890, 1,041, and in 1900, 856. The population 'of the borough and parts adjacent is 1,500.

The number of voters in 1904 was 251, and in 1908, 289.

The postal receipts at Claysville for 1908 were $3,- 744.42. S. H. Jackson is the present postmaster.

Claysville has ten stores, three restaurants, two fur- niture dealers and undertakers, two livery stables, a carriage shop and six physicians-Drs. J. N. Sprowls, C. C. Cracroft, George Inglis, F. L. Knox, George Calder and D. M. Bell. D. M. Campsey is wholesale dealer in grain, feed and wool. W. A. Egan is proprietor of the Central Hotel. The Bell Hotel is under the management of Mr. Egan, and lodgers only are kept in it.

The tannery and distillery which were there as late as 1870 have disappeared as have also the familiar faces of the Rev. Alexander McCarrell, Hon. John Birch, F. C. Noble and others who were prominent for many years in the last half of the last century. F. C. Noble was a very heavy buyer and shipper of the first-class wool of this section.

These men, with Hon. Joseph R. McLain, Dr. George Inglis and others, were active in promoting good schools at Claysville. Among other honorable descendants they are now represented by the following sons: Samuel J. M. McCarrell, judge of courts, Harrisburg; T. F. Birch, a leading lawyer, of Washington, T. C. Noble, an in- fluential attorney at Pittsburg and an instructor in the Law Department of the University of Pittsburg; Will- iam J. E. McLain, cashier of National Bank, Claysville; and Dr. W. D. Inglis, Columbus, Ohio.

The Claysville Cemetery east of town is very artis- tically laid out and kept in beautiful condition. The town also has a fire department. It is supplied with light and heat by the Taylorstown Natural Gas Co. The National and Bell telephones and Western Union tele- graph are used at Claysville. During the past year the local telephone plant changed hands. J. T. Bebout, the owner and manager of the Claysville Telephone Com- pany, sold his plant with exchanges here and in Tay- lorstown, to the National Telephone Company of Penn- sylvania, for about $10,000. Improvements have also been made at Taylorstown. This work was completed at an approximate cost of $5,000, which gives the Na tional Telephone Company an investment of about $15,- 000 in Claysville and Taylorstown. It is now engaged in rebuilding its line from Claysville to Fargo, a dis- tance of three miles. The company is making contracts for rural telephone lines which with the local lines will mean about 500 subscribers in the Claysville exchange.

The Claysville "Sentinel" was established November 21, 1878. The first editor was Horace B. Durant, Esq. This paper was prohibition in politics. Mr. Durand

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

moved his paper from Claysville to Washington at some subsequent date. The "Recorder" was started at Clays- ville in 1885, and was conducted in turn by Rev. J. R. Foulks, Wesley Allen and W. A. Irwin. The present editor is J. L. Melvin.

Claysville is well provided for in the way of good roads. The old National Pike passes through the bor- ough, affording an outlet to Washington and West Alex- ander. A few years ago the county built three miles of Flinn road south of town, and during 1907 the State extended the road one mile to the pump station on the Wilson farm in East Finley Township. During 1908 the county resurfaced the three miles of Flinn road at a cost of about $4,000 per mile. At present steps are being taken to have either the county or State improve the road to Burnsville, which would give about nine miles of good road. On the north side of town there are no improved roads. The supervisors of Donegal Township during the past two years have stoned about six miles of highway; one mile at Coon Island, two miles at West Alexander, and about three miles of the Claysville-Acheson Road, and the road leading to Dutch Fork.

In the matter of borough improvements, the paving of Wayne street is the most important. From Main street, the distance paved is 1,600 feet, and the width is twenty feet. The expense of paving is taken from the general tax, except that the curbing was paid for by the property holders. The street is paved with Por- ter-Shale hillside blocks. The sidewalks are of brick, sawed stone and concrete.

The town is provided with ample protection in case of fire. Water is pumped from a dam, now being improved, to a large tank. The pressure thus gained is sufficient to throw a stream of water over any building in town. Quite a few residents use the water from this tank in their homes.

Real estate is active in Claysville, many sales being made and substantial buildings erected.

The town is situated in one of the richest agricultural districts of the county, and is the shipping point for the productive country for miles around. To the north, as far as Dunsforth, Acheson, and even to the Bethany and Independence regions, the people go to Claysville as their principal town for marketing and buying. To the south and southwest the trade of all that region as far as Pleasant Grove, Burnsville, Stony Point and Good In- tent, goes to Claysville. Even beyond these points there is much of the business that tends toward Claysville. On the east and west of the town the extent of territory is perhaps not quite so great. On the east is Taylorstown as a shipping point, while six miles west is West Alex- ander. The trade even in these directions is a con- siderable item to the merchants of the town.

Claysville is the only point between Wheeling and Washington where any live stock is shipped, as it is centrally located for East and West Finley, Donegal, Buffalo and portions of others townships. Scarcely a week passes in which there is not from one to five cars of live stock shipped to the markets. There are a num- ber of stock dealers in this section who are always on the lookout for the stock as soon as it is ready for mar- ket. They pay the highest prices for it, so the farmers find that it does not pay to ship their own stock, as was a practice a few years ago.

The town possesses one store, that of George B. Sprowls, which during 1908 did a business of about $107,000. Mr. Sprowls has been in the wholesale and retail hardware business for eighteen years, and each year has seen an increase over the preceding one. Goods are shipped from this store to such points as Cameron, Moundsville, East Liverpool, Washington, Greensburg, Waynesburg and Wyland. The stock is stored in nine different buildings, and still there is not sufficient room. Beside the regular local freight received in 1908, there were eighty solid carloads of freight received. D. W. Rasel, the other hardware merchant, also does a remark- able business, having recently completed a large three- story wareroom in addition to the regular storeroom.

Claysville Flour Mill-This mill draws its wheat and other grain from a wide territory, and thus brings to the merchants of the town considerable trade which is due to the mill alone. The flour mill has a capacity of about one hundred and twenty-five barrels of flour per day.

Three brands of flour are manufactured at this mill- Stewart's Best, Success and Bakers' Delight, all of which are superior brands of flour. This flour is shipped to Wheeling and points beyond, to Washington mer- chants and intermediate places. In addition to the grain received from the farmers in the nearby districts it is found necessary to ship in large quantities of grain of all kinds. The mill has a good trade in all feed depart- ments, and is an important industry to the town. The roller process mill was built in 1881 by W. H. Stewart. After his death it was operated by his family. But it is now in the hands of J. D. Trussell, receiver.

Reed & Snee Greenhouses-A plant which has been completed but a short time is the greenhouse of Reed & Snee. Their hot houses now cover four building lots of ordinary size, and this is but the start of what they expect to do. They have supplied the local merchants and Washington dealers with lettuce of a superior qual- ity, and will be prepared in a short time to furnish vegetable plants as well as carnations and bedding plants. Their establishment is heated by hot water and is a well-equipped plant for its size.

The Granite and Marble Works of Simon White &

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Sons are widely known throughout western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Five generations of Whites have carried on this business in Claysville with continuous success and the firm today has one of the most complete establishments of its kind in this part of the country. Seventeen men receive steady employment here and the works are never known to be idle. The finest kind of monumental work is done by the firm. Machinery of the most modern kind is installed and the most skilled workers are employed and everything from the first cut- ting of the rough stone to the final finish of the most elaborate monuments is done right at the works. The head offices of the firm are at Wheeling, W. Va.

Oliver Martin established his planing mill in 1883, and has been in the business ever since. About the same year R. G. Porter also started a planing mill. The mill passed into the hands of the present owner, F. J. Egan, in 1901.

These mills furnish lumber, sash, doors, blinds, brick, sand, moulding and turned wood and have had a great part in building up the town.

Penn Bridge Company-Just a short distance west of Claysville, on what was once the Neely Wright farm, is located the town's only industrial plant, the Penn Bridge works. The mill employs about seventy-five men, and consists of a foundry, machine shop and the bridge works proper. Much of the work turned out by the mill in the past year has been government work. This consisted chiefly of locks for the Cumberland and Ohio Rivers. The estimated weight of the five locks for the Cumberland River was 240,000 pounds each.

During the past year in addition to the government work done, there have been shipped 480,000 pounds of material to Mare Island, San Francisco. The material was furnished for a large building for the Barney & Smith Car Company at Dayton, Ohio. In this contract were 800,000 pounds of material. Material for swing bridges was also furnished for the Atlantic City and Ocean City Railway Company at Atlantic City. The main office and plant of the Penn Bridge Company is at Beaver, where about 350 men are employed. The castings used for both plants are made at the local plant. The yearly pay-roll is about $45,000. Of this amount nearly all is left in the town with local merchants and the home bank.

This plant was formerly known as the South Pittsburg Iron Works and was built in 1903. It includes five acres of ground and a plan of lots was laid out adjoining by the Donegal Land Company, and called South Pittsburg. The plant was afterwards purchased by the Penn Bridge Company.

The National Bank of Claysville was established in 1890. This is one of the strong banks of Washington County, it being sixth in order of the National Banks

of the County in regard to its surplus and profits and deposits. Its capital is $50,000, surplus and profits, $133,000, and deposits $700,000. The officers of the bank are J. R. McLain, president; D. M. Campsey, vice- president, and W. J. E. McLain, cashier.

The Farmers' National Bank of Claysville was or- ganized January 2, 1909, with a capital of $50,000. D. W. Rasel is president; J. T. Carter, vice-president, and Burns Darsie, cashier.

This is not the first time Claysville has had two banks. The First National Bank of Claysville organized in April, 1890, with $50,000 capital stock. It paid $11,000 in dividends including $2,000 paid in 1903, but went into the hands of a receiver the next year and never resumed business.

In 1817-18 a schoolhouse was built in Claysville by public subscription. In 1858 Claysville became a sep- arate school district and a schoolhouse was erected in 1860-61. There were two schools here in 1870 with ninety-two scholars. The cost of tuition of each pupil per month was $0.72. Since then a large brick and frame school building has been erected. In 1908 there were seven schools with 283 scholars, and average cost of tuition per month of $2.40. There were two male and six female teachers employed, the former receiving an average salary per month of$82.50, and the latter, $55.83. The school tax was 8.25 mills and school was in session eight months.

The Presbyterian congregation of Claysville was or- ganized September 20, 1820. A frame church was built in 1820 which was replaced by a brick church in 1830 at a cost of $3,000. The present modern structure was erected in 1904 at a cost of $25,000. It is constructed of vitrified brick, and is fitted up with all modern con- veniences. The congregation also owns a parsonage. Rev. Frank Fish has been pastor since 1886. The pres- ent membership is 318.

United Presbyterian Church of Claysville, formerly called South Buffalo-This congregation was transferred from South Buffalo in Buffalo Township in the year 1887 and the present brick church building erected at Claysville. Alexander McLachlan has served as pastor ever since the congregation moved to Claysville and also prior to that time while at South Buffalo on the former location some two miles east of Claysville. The membership at pres- ent is 173.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Claysville was or- ganized prior to the year 1830. Before this time the congregation held services in the same church as the Presbyterians. The first separate house of worship of the Methodist congregation was a small brick structure built in 1830. This having become too small, a frame building was afterwards built, in 1858. The present

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house of worship was begun in 1908. It is a pressed brick structure with modern conveniences and cost $12,- 000. The membership of the congregation is about 150. Rev. T. Morgan Dunkle is pastor.

Baptist Church-The Baptist congregation of Clays- ville was organized at Buffalo Village in 1861 by a few members of the Pleasant Grove Baptist congregation. The first house of worship was a frame structure, now used as a dwelling. The congregation removed to Clays- ville August 23, 1886, and for a time conducted services in a hall. The present house of worship, a frame struc- ture was erected at a cost of $5,000. Since the removal of the congregation to Claysville the following pastors have ministered: Revs. J. T. Bradford, S. L. Parcell, J. L. McIlvaine, J. F. Franks, J. A. Simpson, J. B. Ab- bott, W. L. Richardson. The membership is 100.

Christian Church of Claysville-About the year 1907, a Christian congregation having held meetings for some time, purchased the frame church of the United Brethren. The United Brethren congregation disbanded at this time. The present membership of the Christian congre- gation is 100 and the pastor John Mullady.

Catholic Church of Claysville-In 1821 a Catholic Church was built on the National Pike about three miles east of West Alexander. This was called the St. James' Chapel and was constructed of wood. It was tended dur- ing its early years by Father Maguire, Father Rafferty, Father Horner, Bishop Kenrick, Father Gallagher and P. Duffy. A new brick church was built about 1848. In 1873 the congregation was transferred to Claysville for the convenience of its members and a brick church was built in that town. This church was dedicated under the name of the Church of the Sacred Heart. The con- gregation at present is a mission station of the Church of Immaculate Conception of Washington, and is com- posed of about thirteen families, or about sixty people.

Claysville Lodge, No. 447, F. & A. M., was instituted in 1869. The lodge was disbanded about the year 1882. But the charter was reissued about 1892. The lodge has a membership of seventy-five.

Hopewell Lodge, No. 504, I. O. O. F., was instituted in 1872. It has a membership of sixty-three.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 80

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