History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 85

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 85

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The Harkaway Club from its home just across the Allegheny County line adds interest by the appearance of its fine tally-ho and exhibition of horsemanship and well trained animals.

MIDWAY.

The borough of Midway is situated at the head of Robinson's Run, on the boundary line between Smith and Robinson townships and was formed from parts of both. It is located on the P. C. C. & St. L. Railroad, twenty- two miles west of Pittsburg, twenty-two miles east of Steubenville and sixteen miles north of Washington. For forty years or more prior to the Civil War a village known as Egypt was located at this place. A large three storied flouring mill stood about 2,000 feet up Robinson's Run from where the mill recently owned by Paul Davidson stood. It was called Egypt Mill, and was destroyed by fire about 1858 and never rebuilt. Some boys of the neighborhood were playing cards in the mill and left a lamp burning. The cobwebs are sup- posed to have blown against the lamp and set the mill on fire. The mill at that time was operated by Henry Abel, father of James Abel, of Burgettstown. That was the third mill on that location destroyed by fire. Egypt then consisted of this mill and the miller's dwell- ing on a lot recently owned by Samuel Dunn and wife, Bell's saw and carding mill across the stream from the grist mill with the dwelling of Samuel Bell, owner, near- by. The old two-story carding mill was looked up to as a relic of the past as early as 1855. A thousand feet north and across another branch of the stream, also fronting on the road to Candor, was a brick one-story dwelling and storeroom conducted by William Smith, auctioneer, father of Samuel Smith, of McDonald. These comprised all the buildings located within the boun- daries of the present large borough of Midway, except- ing, however the three old log farm dwelling houses and two log tenant houses on the farms of Ephraim Johnson, William Conner and Samuel McFarland.

This village (so called) remained in this condition until 1865 except adding a house and blacksmith shop by Morgan Woodmancy.

The young farmers of the present day know nothing of the numerous long trips to Pittsburg, made before the Civil War, made by heavily loaded wagon or sled in getting the grain to an uncertain market. It was the business of the farmers fifty years ago in the winter season to thresh out their grain with flails or tramping it out with horses, then haul it to Pittsburg one day, very often returning the next day in the mud or sledding on dry clods.

In old "Egypt" the oldest inhabitants and original characters before 1865 were: "Sammy Bell" and his wife "Granny" Bell. In addition to running his saw-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

mill with its perpendicular saw, as the neighbors re- quired the sawing of the few logs hauled in from time to time, he butchered an occasional steer. His services were required at the annual fall butchering by the farm- ers for some distance around Egypt. "Granny" Bell was a most welcome visitor in cases of sickness. She had quite a skill in preparing herbs for treatment and was called in about as frequently as Dr. John Coburn, a physician of much skill, who rode the county over from his location in Candor, which was then a much greater place than the embryo Midway.

The only son of this quaint couple is Dr. James Bell who married Sarah L. VanEman and now, at the age of four score and four years, resides with his son, Oscar Bell, in Dayton, Ohio. James Bell, who is so well known in the business life of Midway, is not a descendant of Samuel Bell of the Egypt days.

In 1865, at the time the railroad was finally completed and began operations between Pittsburg and Steuben- ville, the town of Midway was laid out by Thomas Mitchell & Co., and a station was established on land conveyed by Samuel McFarland to Thomas Mitchell. The station was first called "Silverside." There have been sixty-one plots called additions to Midway laid out and duly recorded.

J. Burr Robbins located here and was very largely interested in the town and coal operations in and ad- joining it. His son, Francis L. Robbins, was trained in the business by him and became the head of the largest scheme ever organized for holding and opening Washing- ton County coal lands.

Thomas Taylor was largely interested in coal opera- tions and became interested in old developments also. The well-known justice of the peace, H. Eaton, is a son-in-law of Thomas Taylor and for a time was engaged in mining with him.

Another flour mill was built in 1870 by George Peacher of Harpers Ferry. It became the property of John H. Kennedy. It was recently owned by Paul Davison. For a number of years the wheels have not turned in this ancient building, and it was used for various purposes. In 1908 it was torn down.

In the year 1883 a grain elevator and flouring mill with roller process was erected by F. L. Robbins and David G. Bamford. A flourishing business has been car- ried on ever since under the immediate careful super- vision of D. G. Bamford, of Bamford Milling Co., capi- tal $25,000. It has always been the largest industrial enterprise in the village of Midway, now the borough, and has been a great convenience to the farmers by giv- ing them a near market for their grain and a ready supply house for their flour and dairy food supply. Its capacity is eighty barrels in 24 hours.

The other business places of Midway are five general

stores, one drug store, two hardware stores, a lumber and supply store, a livery stable, and one bank. The resi- dent physicians are J. M. Moore and A. L. Russell, who both have had large and active practice here for many years.

The Ohio Valley Gas Co. owns a machine shop, which employs an average of five men. This company com- menced supplying the town with gas about the year 1892, and still furnishes the supply.

In 1869 George Campbell built and conducted the first hotel. It burnt down in 1903. It was on the lot now occupied by the railroad station. George Campbell had a son, W. S. Campbell, who was elected and served two terms as prothonotary of Washington County about 1885. George Campbell also had another son, G. S. Campbell, who is cashier of the First National Bank of McDonald. At present the Wilson House stands across the street from the site of the Campbell Hotel.

The original location of the Midway railroad station was about 300 feet diagonally across the railroad from its present location. It was in a large building owned by the "Midway Farmers' Club." John H. Kennedy and brother, Hamilton J., were railroad agents, owners of the store and warehouse for grain conducted in this building. The building was burned in 1885, and the station location was removed about 1,000 feet west, and to the west side of the track, near the Bamford mill. This second station house was also burned. In 1898 Robbins & Bamford's mill, five stores, a dwelling and the third station house were burned. A fourth station house was built and about 1904 this location was aban- doned and the station house moved to the present loca- tion. The public road crossing the railroad east of the present station was changed to run through the arch underneath the track west of the present depot.

Midway was erected into a borough, February 9, 1903. The town is supplied with gas by the Ohio Valley Gas Co. Gas was introduced into the village in 1892 by the same company, although the finest of black bituminous coal is found in the hillsides. The borough tax for 1908 was 12 mills, total amount collected, $2,658.79, and total amount expended, $765.99.

Since Midway was formed into a borough a great change has been made by improving the streets and other thoroughfares. A large amount of money has been expended for this purpose and now the town is placed among the most progressive as a shipping point for that region.

Midway had a population of 1,260 in 1900. The pres- ent population is estimated at 1,500.

In 1880 there were two (graded) schools in one house. In 1908 Midway has six schools and six teachers (males 1, females 5); average number of months taught, 8; average salary paid to teachers per month, males $60,

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

females $51; cost of each pupil per month, $1.46; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 10; estimated value of school property, $6,000; number of scholars enrolled, 294.

When the town was incorporated in 1903 the borough of Midway purchased the interest of Robinson Township in the frame schoolhouse near the United Presbyterian church. At the same time the borough bought the in- terest of Smith Township in the schoolhouse near to where the old Ephraim Johnston house stood. Both are four roomed frame school buildings.

Evan C. Donaldson has been postmaster at Midway for four years. Henry Eaton has been justice of the peace in Robinson Township and since the erection of Midway Borough in 1893 for a period covering twenty-four years. The present justices of the peace are Henry Eaton and George H. Powelson. The latter is also the present burgess of the borough.

It is expected that in a short time Midway will be connected by a street car line with McDonald, Burgetts- town and Steubenville, as surveys have been made and incorporation charters granted.

Midway National Bank began business April 4, 1903, with capital of $50,000 at present. The president of this bank is D. G. Bamford, a man who has been closely identified with the growth of Midway and to whom the village and borough owe credit for much of its progress.

The banks deposits at end of 1903 were $69,447.00; its. loans, $102,828.37, and its surplus, $1,250.00. At end of 1908 its deposits were $208,810.44; its loans and se- curities, $238,371.98, and its surplus, $38,835.25. This is an excellent showing for a young bank in a new terri- tory.

Its directors for 1908 are A. J. Russell, Richard Don- aldson, Thomas R. Donaldson, R. M. Donaldson, K. N.

McDonald, James Bell, R. M. Dickson, J. M. Wallace and D. G. Bamford.

Center United Presbyterian Church of Midway-This church was formerly situated in the southeastern corner of Smith Township. It is now in the borough of Mid- way. It was organized May 2, 1859, by Rev. J. C. Camp- bell. Rev. J. D. Gibson, is the present pastor, having assumed the charge in 1898. The first meetings were held in the log barn on the John Campbell farm. The first building, a $2,500 frame, was erected in 1860, three- quarters of a mile south of the present location, beside the present cemetery. The present frame place of wor- ship was erected in 1891. Membership in 1908 was 292.

First Baptist Church of Midway-This congregation was organized in 1873. It was founded by Rev. John Moses. Rev. T. B. Marlin has been pastor since 1906. When he assumed the charge the membership was nine; at present it is 112. The church building, a frame struc- ture, was erected in 1885, services having been previously held in the schoolhouse.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Midway was or- ganized under the charge of Rev. J. E. Wright in 1874. Services were first held in George W. Peacher's mill but soon after the organization a frame church building was erected. The present pastor is Rev. J. J. Davis, and membership, 102.

Midway Valley Lodge, No. 888, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted October 20, 1874. In the year 1877 it erected a $2,500 building at Midway. Its membership at present is 195.

Encampment, No. 262, I. O. O. F., was instituted May 2, 1904; mebership at present, 32.

Midway Lodge, No. 509, K. of P., was instituted Feb- ruary 3, 1906; membership at present, 120.

CHAPTER XXXV.

History of North Charleroi, Rosco, Speers, Stockdale, Twilight, Washington and East Washington.

NORTH CHARLEROI.

The boroughs of North Charleroi extends a mile north of and continuous with Charleroi. The town was for- merly called Lock No. 4. The station of the P. V. & C. Railroad is called West Monessen. In 1880 the village was composed of eleven dwellings, a store, postoffice and telegraph office. The town has steadily increased in size since about 1890 when the manufacturing plants began to locate at Charleroi. Plans of lots were laid out by John Conrad in 1885 and at later times by Theodore J. Allen and others. North Charleroi was incorporated a borough from part of Fallowfield Township, May 14, 1894.

The borough of North Charleroi has completed one of the most progressive years in its history. A fine new town hall has been completed and extensive improvements have been made in the street and sewerage systems. The erection of the new bridge between Monessen and North Charleroi has given an impetus to the real estate busi- ness and important deals are of daily occurrence. The enrollment of pupils at the borough schools has grown so large that a new building is necessitated. An im- mense cold storage and ice manufacturing plant is in the course of construction and is expected to be in oper- ation within a few months. North Charleroi is made a base for the operations of the United States government officials in the valley. The montly pay-roll of the em- ployees making their homes here is over $3,000. The ma- terial advancement of the town is shown in the many fine residences and other buildings which have been erected recently.

The population of North Charleroi in 1900 was 425; in 1905 it was estimated at 540 and in 1908 at 784.

The number of voters in 1904 was 106 and in 1908. 196.

The borough tax for 1908 was 13 mills. The real estate valuation is $287,710, the personal property valu- ation, $22,835. There are 245 taxables.

Lock No. 4, which is perhaps the most important of the river locks, was buillt in 1844. It requires the serv- ices of eighteen men, who are in the employ of the United

States Government. They work in three shifts of eight hours each, consequently the locks are in operation all the time and a vessel may go through at any time, day or night.

Superintendent A. F. McGowan has been in charge of the works for more than twenty-five years and has an assistant who has served continuously for more than sixteen years.

A complete record of every vessel that goes through the lock is kept at the superintendent's office. The cap- tain or man in charge is required to fill out a blank fur- nished him, giving name, kind and nature of cargo, to- gether with the time of passing. This is kept and every night at midnight the day's record is made and entered in the books at the office. So complete is the record kept that any information as to the business on the river is readily accessible.

The government shops are located at North Charleroi, where Lock No. 4 is situated. It is here that the repair and construction work for every lock along the river is done and as this point is central it is considered head- quarters by river men. The shops are modern and well equipped, including machine shops, lumber yards, plan- ing mill and general wareroom for supplies. The gov- ernment boat Slackwater, which attends to repair work along the river, has its headquarters here.

To show the immense increase in the coal tonnage dur- ing the past decade or two, during 1886 there were 24,- 528,600 bushels passed through Lock No. 4, making an average of something like 2,000,000 bushels per month. Now 17,000,000 or 18,000,000 is an average month's busi- ness.

When the river is at a shipping stage the firm of Jones & Laughlin alone take from 60,000 to 70,000 bush- els down the river daily. A load of this kind can be hauled from the up-river mines to the coke works below at a cost of about $100. To carry this same amount by rail would require about seventy of the largest freight cars in use at a cost of $10 per car, or a total of $700 for the load.

During the month of August as many as 1,436 loaded craft passed down stream, and 1,338 empties up stream.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

There were 647 lockings down river and 615 up river; 2,350 passengers passed north while 2,940 passengers passed up river.

The Pittsburg and Charleroi Railway Company operate a trolley line from North Charleroi, fourteen miles through Washington County through Monongahela, Fin- leyville and numerous towns, and then on through Alle- gheny County to Pittsburg.

The line, although contemplated for many years, was built and completed for running cars in 1903. The P. & C. line was built by the Flinn and Mellon in- terests, but after its completion was taken over by the Pittsburg Railways Company, which is operating it at the present time with much success. A good service has been installed between Charleroi, Monongahela and Finley- ville, and the advantages given to farmers of the eastern end of the county who wish to come to Washington are many. Before the opening of the line it was necessary for the river residents, in order to reach Washington by rail, to go around by the way of the Smoky City. This in itself was very inconvenient. Now they can come to Finleyville on the trolley and then to Washington over the B. & O. Railroad. The line has proven a great boon for the great industrial valley of the Monongahela, and it will be but a few years until the entire valley will be a net work of electric roads.

Charleroi-Monessen Bridge-The new bridge between Charleroi and Monessen was formally opened to service November 2, 1907, with appropriate celebrations by both cities. It is a plain truss bridge with two 400-foot spans, a 200-foot stretch over the Pittsburg and Lake Erie tracks on the eastern side and two viaduct ap- proaches, each 400 feet long. The structure is 23 feet wide in the clear and includes two trolley tracks, wagon road and walk for foot pasengers. The Mercantile Bridge Company paid $225,000 for the structure, and together with the real estate on the two sides brought the total cost up to $320,000. It has very little grade, and the approaches are as near perfection as possible.

Emil Swenson was the engineer, and the work has been very highly praised. The bridge is unusual in the fact that it crosses the river diagonally and only a few hundred feet above the dam at Lock No. 4. The abut- ment work was commenced in the fall of 1906 and was continued at intervals until the spring of 1907, when a rise in the river washed away false work and doing dam- age to the amount of $25,000, and consequently the work was not finished until late that fall. The present struc- ture is the outcome of local capital, and the controlling interest is now in the hands of Monongahela Valley men.

In 1903 the Mercantile Bridge Company was first or- ganized by D. M. McCloskey, Tom P. Sloan and Henry Sheets, of Charleroi, Howard Nelson, of the American Bridge Company, and the late John Percival, of Pitts-

burg. Congressman Acheson aided the company in ob- taining their charter, although it was with great difficul- ty that this was accomplished. Little was done until 1906, when a new company was organized, keeping the same name. John K. Tener was president; Charles S. Thomp- son, vice-president, and D. M. McCloskey, secretary and treasurer, while associated with them were George E. Tener, of Sewickley, and George Nash, of Monessen.

There were in 1908: schools, 4, and teachers, 4 (males 1, females 3) ; enrollment, 178; average number of months taught, 8; average salary of teachers per month, males $70.00, females $51.66; cost of each pupil per month, $1.53; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 5; estimated value of school property, $2,500.

ROSCOE.

Roscoe is one of the hustling little towns on the Mo- nongahela River, midway between Stockdale and Elco boroughs. The leading industry is boat building, and numerous coal mines surround the town.

No other town in the Monongahela Valley combines in its natural location a greater wealth of endowments than Roscoe. It is nearly the center of a radius of supply for food and the necessities of existence, fuel, plastic materials and the manifold treasures which Mother Earth yields for the needs of man.

The first great development in the history of Roscoe, or Lucyville, as it is often called, which gave it the impetus leading to its future greatness was the deeding from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to Joshua Dixon, October 2, 1784. It passed down through that family till it came to the family of William Latta, who deeded it to his two sons, Ostrander and Alexander, on May 18, 1868.

On June 3, 1869, the Latta sons deeded part of the town to John Sphar, who is still living, retaining the other part and laying it out in town lots after the part bought by Sphar had been laid out and named Lucyville. At the time of the incorporation of the borough, in 1892, from Allen Township the entire town was, by vote of the residents, named Roscoe, which was in honor of Mrs. Joseph Underwood, whose maiden name was Roscoe.

Different plans of lots were plotted by E. C. Furlong and Mrs. J. J. Pattigan. Additions have since been made. Roscoe is bounded on the north and east by Allen Town- ship, on the south by the Monongahela River, and on the west by Elco Borough. The town is thirty miles from Washington, and twenty-six from Pittsburg.

The real estate value of the borough of Roscoe in 1908 was $393,490; personal property, $40,015; number of taxables, 396. The number of voters in 1904 was 324, and in 1908, 325. The population in 1900 was 1.354, and

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

in 1905 it was estimated at 1,305. The present popula- tion is somewhat larger than that of 1905.

Roscoe is a station on the Monongahela Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Besides the railroad trans- portation facilities it has the steamboat advantages of the Monongahela River, which is navigable in all sea- sons.

The Allenport and Roscoe Electric Street Railway, operated by the Pittsburg Railways Company, was built from Allenport to Roscoe, three miles, in 1906. By con- necting with other trolley lines operated by the Pitts- burg Railways Company, through service is given to Pitts- burg. This entire line was laid out originally for dou- ble track as far as bridges, cut and fills were concerned.

When the road was completed it was thirty-seven miles long, it being the longest suburban road leading out of Pittsburg. It is the intention to eventually ex- tend the line to California, only three miles above Roscoe. Roscoe will soon be connected with Stockdale by a Flinn road, as the plans have been approved by the grand jury, but the contract not yet let.

The Roscoe Telephone Company was chartered May 3, 1907. The president is W. C. Smith; vice-president, T. J. Underwood; secretary and treasurer, W. J. Weaver, and general manager, H. L. Lamb. The company is small, but the service is excellent and the company is patronized extensively by the people of Roscoe.

Roscoe "Ledger"'-The present proprietor of the pa- per entered into this field in 1901, having purchased the plant from George Collins, who, owing to his affliction, was unable to carry on the ever increasing volume of business. Mr. Collins at an early age entered the coal mines as a trapper boy, and owing to the dampness of the surround- ings, became afflicted with rheumatism, which developed in- to a disease that baffled many prominent physicians. While lying in bed he started a small newspaper in Elco called "Sunshine." He had the cases drawn up to the bed, and would sit for hours composing the material for the local paper. After being able to get out of bed he purchased from Moses Lowers a paper that was then be-, ing operated in Roscoe, called the "Forum," and con- solidated his own little plant with it and named the paper the Roscoe "Ledger." The business steadily grew till it was so that Mr. Collins was compelled to desist, owing to his health, and then Joe T. S. Cowen purchased the plant and put it on a good working basis. The paper is printed every Friday.

The "Gospel Reflector," the monthly paper of the Church of Jesus Christ, is printed in the Ledger press. Alexander Cherry is editor and Samuel Sanders assistant editor.

First National Bank-The First National Bank of Roscoe commenced business October 1, 1900, with a capi- tal stock of $50,000. The power of the bank is one of

the great movements of this community. The officers of this institution are John W. Ailes, president; E. L. Collier, J. H. Underwood, cashier.

The following table shows the progress and advance- ment of this institution during the first five years of its history :

Surplus and Profits

Deposits

Dec. 31, 1901

$ 2,605.00

$ 86,164.00

Dec. 31, 1902

6.093.00

130,344.00

Dec. 31, 1903

10,000.39

153,468.42

Dec. 31, 1904

11,500.00

126,011.00

Dec. 31, 1905

13,005.75

166,877.35

Dec. 31, 1906

16,500.00

203,981.22

Roscoe has three very good hotels with bars.

Central Hotel is a brick structure built by Ernest Ruder in 1892 and added to in 1902. - William Coulson is proprietor.

The Roscoe Hotel is a very large frame building of forty rooms, well fitted up and supplied with gas and electric light. Charles Fechter is proprietor.

The Haley House, Samuel Thompson proprietor, is another of the first-class hotels of Roscoe.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 85

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