History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 86

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 86

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The Mocse Brewing Company is the largest plant in the town. Among the other industries of Roscoe is a soap factory, owned by E. A. Flagendorf; a sawmill owned by William T. Pierce, and the Roscoe Electric Light Company.

Roscoe has an excellent brick public school building which cost about $15,000.

The town has 9 schools and 9 teachers (1 male and 8 females) ; enrollment 331; average number of months taught, 8; average salary paid teachers per month, ma's 3 $80.00, females $52.50; cost of each pupil per month, $1.76; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 5; estimated value of school property, $12,000.

Methodist Episcopal Church-In 1882 a Methodist Episcopal congregation was organized where Roscoe now stands. The members instrumental in its formation were Louis F. McCrory, H. C. Spahr, O. B. Latta, Hiram Stephens and Jonas Cruthers. At first services were held in an old schoolhouse, and a frame church was built in 1883. A new brick edifice was erected by the congre- gation in 1898. The membership of the church is 265; pastor, Rev. James Fornear.

Presbyterian Church of Roscoe-A Cumberland Pres- byterian congregation was organized at Roscoe in 1896 and a brick church erected the following year. The church was changed by vote of its members to the Pres- byterian denomination in 1907. The membership at present is ninety. The church has been served by Revs. W. F. Silvens, J. R. Morris, R. B. Wilson and A. M. Riggs.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

United Brethren Church of Roscoe-This congregation was organized about twenty-five years ago by Rev. Thomas Higginson and services have been held in halls. The membership is about twelve.

St. Joseph Catholic Church of Roscoe The St. Joseph congregation was organized and erected a fine church building in 1903. The congregation is composed of sixty-five families and thirty unmarried persons. Rev. Thomas Glynn was first rector, and he has been followed by Revs. John Woshner, J. P. McKenna, John Barry and P. G. O. Flynn, the present incumbent.

Agudath Israel Jewish Synagogue-The Jewish con- gregation at Roscoe was organized in 1901 and a build- ing for worship was erected in 1904. The present mem- bership is thirty, and the rabbi, Rev. M. Katz.

Church of Jesus Christ of Rosco-This church is a different denomination from the Church of Christ or Christian Church. It is an offshoot of the Mormon Church. The congregation was organized at Roscoe about four years ago. The congregation has about 100 mem- bers. The president of this church denomination in the United States is Alexander Cherry, who resides in Ros- coe. The belief of this organization will be referred to in our religious history.

The lodges and societies of Roscoe are Roscoe Lodge, No. 711, I. O. O. F .; Roscoe Lodge, No. 11, K. of P .; W. T. Sherman Castle, No. 419, Knights of Golden Eagle; Roscoe Council, No. 369, Sr. Order of American Mechanics. Roscoe is also represented by a Spanish Order of Masons, Ladies of Maccabees, Ladies of Golden Eagle, and the United Mine Workers of America.

SPEERS.

In 1785 a tract of land lying on Maple Creek was sur- veyed to Henry Speers as "Spice-Wood Hill." Another tract called "Speer's Intent" was patented to him in 1789. Rev. Mr. Speers was for many years pastor of the Baptist Church at Enon, the congregation of which afterward rebuilt in Fallowfield Township and changed the name of the church to the Maple Creek Baptist Church. The Speers family operated for many years the ferry between the sites now occupied by the boroughs of Speers and Bellevernon. The borough of Speers was formed from a part of Allen Township, February 12, 1894.

Speers is bounded by Charleroi Borough on the north, the Monongahela River on the east, Allen Township and Long Branch Borough on the south and Twilight Borough on the west. The town is only about half a mile above Charleroi. The borough is underlaid with a bed of Pitts- burg coal, which is very valuable. The assessment for the coal for the entire borough is $1,000 per acre.

The town of Speers was laid out by the Apolla Speers heirs, May 21, 1860. The station of the P. V. & C.

Railroad at this place is called Bellevernon. In 1892 an addition was made by Noah Speers and another in 1905 by John F. Miller. The town is given service by the P. V. & C. Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, extended through Speers in 1881.

The Pittsburg & Charleroi Street Railway, operated by the Pittsburg Railways Company, in 1899 extended from North Charleroi, through Speers to Allenport. The Adams Express, the Western Union Telegraph, the Mo- nongahela Electric, and the Bell Telephone serve the town. The Maple Creek Telephone Company was or- ganized at Speers in 1904, but their lines are now oper- ated by the Bell Telephone Company. The town is com- posed of three stores, postoffice, schoolhouse, M. E. church, sand works, plaster company and fifty-six dwellings.

The town of Speers is about 43 miles from Pittsburg and one mile above Charleroi. It is surrounded by a rich field of bituminous coal, which is extensively mined. The town is connected with Bellevernon, across the river, by an excellent steel bridge constructed about the year 1892.

In 1900 Speers Borough had a population of 369. In 1905 the population was estimated at 396. At present it is about 400. In 1904 there were 86 voters in the borough and in the year 1908 the number was the same.

The borough tax was 9 mills. $1,133.28 was collected, and $987.19 expended.

The real estate value of Speers Borough in 1908 was $147,085, and personal property, $10,820.

In 1908 there were three schools. Teachers, 3 (males 1, females 2) ; enrollment, 98; average number of months taught, 8; average salary of teachers, males $75.00, fe- males $47.50; cost of each pupil per month, $1.99; num- ber of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 9; estimated value of school property, $3,500.

Sand Works-Monongahela Valley sand has been used in the manufacture of glass for about eighty years. The Speers family has perhaps been the most instrumental in its introduction. In 1858 L. M. Speers prepared sand for market near the Baptist Church, Enan. The sand was washed and put through a screen by hand. After- wards he erected a horse power sand works. He later invented a steam screen washing machine. Shortly after 1867 the Clipper Sand Works were erected below the ferry. The works are now owned and operated by S. C. Speers.

The other industry in the town is the Charleroi Hard Wall Plaster Company, which started operations about six years since.

Speers Methodist Episcopal Church-While the Speers Methodist Episcopal congregation is probably about four- teen years old and has never passed a year without a pastor, yet the past ten years have been rather unfavor-

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able. By the energy of the present pastor, Rev. W. F. Seiter, extensive repairs have been made on the building and the church has just recently been dedicated.

There is no better spot for the establishing of steel and iron industries than the upper Monongahela Valley at present. Situated as this territory is, in the midst of unbounded coal, the rich, thick Pittsburg vein, and having transportation facilities both by rail and water, there is every reason to believe that new mills and fac- tories will be induced to locate in the valley. The Donora and Monessen mills are now considered among the best of their kind in the world, and their location has much to do with their successful operation. There are several sites south of Charleroi that will make ideal spots for new industries, and these are being held in reserve until the day comes when they shall be needed.

Most notable among these holdings are the Clark and Johnston farms, three miles above Charleroi. The tracts comprise 250 acres, mostly bottom lands. They were purchased at one time by the Mellons, of Pittsburg, who were largely interested in the development of Char- leroi. These sites are said to be at the disposal of the steel corporation whenever they are wanted. When that will be is yet in the future, but it is generally con- ceded that the land is among the best available along the entire river. The same sites were considered when the big Donora steel mills were built but it was finally decided in favor of the latter location.

The steel corporation's holdings in and about Donora have already been fully utilized, and there is a strong chance of future additions being made to the Clark and Johnston farms. There were rumors of such activities last spring, when it was said that furnaces would be built on the Clark farm. If such a thing were done, the intervening space between Charleroi and the borough of Speers would rapidly become more thickly populated, making practically one town of the two, which, together with North Charleroi, would make a strong municipality.

STOCKDALE.

Stockdale is a mining town of about 800 inhabitants, between Roscoe and Allenport, which is composed of a schoolhouse, a mission church, postoffice, five stores, two hotels with bars, and the usual number of dwellings for a town of its size. It was incorporated as a borough April 12, 1894, from territory of Allen Township. It is joined by Allen Township on the north, the Mononga- hela River on the east and south, and by Allen Township on the west.

Thomas Stockdale, an Englishman of the Quaker de- nomination, purchased the tract of land known as "Al- len's Delight" in the year 1800 from Joseph Allen. The next year more land was added to the farm. This was held the property of the family until the town was

laid out in 1891 by Dorcas Stockdale. In 1898 an addi- tion to it was made by John Hughes.

. The value of the real estate of Stockdale Borough in 1908 was $112,350; of personal property, $18,320; num- ber of taxables, 182. The rate of borough tax was 412 mills, of which $350.99 was collected.

The population in 1900 was 731; in 1905 was 646, and the present population is estimated at 752.

The number of voters in 1904 was 142, and in 1908, 139.

A Flinn road 1,120 feet in length is to be built be- tween Stockdale and Roscoe at an estimated cost of $2,205.48. Stockdale is situated on the Monongahela Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and has connec- tion also north and south through Charleroi and Roscoe by trolley.

Stockdale in 1908 had four schools and four teachers, . all females; scholars enrolled, 152; average number of months taught, 8; average salary paid teachers, $48.75; cost of each pupil per month, $1.45; number of mills on the dollar levied for school purposes, 12; estimated value of school property, $3,500.

Slavish Protestant Church-The Slavish Church of Stockdale is a frame structure built in 1906. Miss Anna Linka is missionary.

TWILIGHT.

This borough was erected from a part of Allen Town- ship, February 12, 1894, and is bounded by Charleroi Borough on the north, Speers Borough on the east; Long Branch Borough and East Pike Run on the south, and Fallowfield Township on the west. The borough has no river front.

Twilight has three schools, the teachers females; 129 scholars; a seven months' term, with an average monthly salary of $50; average cost per month per pupil, $1.60. The school levy is 3 mills; school property valued at $3,400.

Twilight Borough is underlaid with a costly vein of coal and also with gas. The borough has no river front.

In 1908 the number of taxables in the borough was 157; the borough tax, 10 mills, $2,255.45 being collected and $2,198.03; real estate value $327,795, and value of personal property $20,335, making a total borough valuation of $348,130. In 1900 there were 136 inhabi- tants in Twilight Borough and in 1905 the population was 949. It has increased in the last few years on account of the opening up of the coal mines in this locality. The registration of voters in 1904 was 126, and in 1908, 150.

The village of Twilight is composed of about sixty houses and a company store; the business of nearly all residents is mining coal.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

WASHINGTON AND EAST WASHINGTON BOROUGHS .*

Early Settlement-Catfish Camp-Bassett Town Laid Out-Name Changed to Washington-Early Inhabitants- Incorporation of Town-Later Growth-Some Prominent Men-Early Hotels and Taverns-Interesting Facts and Occurrences-Fires, Etc .- Early Industries-Later Industries-Post Office-Market House- Town Hall-Citizens' Library-Washington Borough Fire Department-Hospitals-Washington Cemetery- Public Schools-Oil and Gas Companies-Citizens' Water Company-Washington Electric Light and Power Company, and Other Public Service Corporations-Banks and Trust Companies-Building and Loan Associa- tions-Insurance Companies-Newspapers-Churches-Lodges and Societies.

The land occupied by the Borough of Washington belonged, like all other land in the county, to the In- dians. It was the center of their great game preserve between the two great rivers. The first pale face who came out this way found an opening in the great wilder- ness with a peaceable Indian-Catfish-in charge.

Whether this was a lone Indian, an Indian with a squaw, with a family, or the chief of a band, we have not been told, for those who saw him have silently disap- peared in the misty past just as he did, leaving behind the impression that he was the only Indian then lo- cated in this county, or, in fact, within "the great horseshoe. "'

To the hunter it was a relief to reach this spot with its many, many springs and brooks, and some one cov- eted and tomahawked this location. It may have been Abraham Hunter, his son Joseph, or some other, but the Hunter family evidently furnished the English currency and the names of the father, the sons, Abram and Jo- seph, and the daughter, Martha, to take Catfish's camp and all the land they could annex to it.

The land on which the town now stands was originally composed of three tracts, warranted June 19, 1769, and surveyed by James Hendricks on November 11. The tract known as "Catfish's Camp,"' containing 331 acres and 21 perches, situated on Catfish Run, was warranted to Abraham Hunter. The tract called "Grand Cairo," containing 331 acres and 21 perches lying north of "Catfish Camp," was warranted to Joseph Hunter, Jr. The third tract, called "Martha's Bottom," lay north of "Grand Cairo." It contained 339 acres and 69 perches, and was warranted to Martha Hunter. It is

safe to say that none of the Hunters ever lived here, for Joseph Hunter, the father, and his wife and the three children named lived in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on April 3 or 6, 1771, when they conveyed to David Hoge, their neighbor, who was at one time the prothonotary of that county, the tract of land on the Head Forks or branches of Shirtee Creek and lying on both sides of the same. This tract, which was about thirty miles from where the creek empties into the Ohio, contained about 1,200 acres and was known as Cat Fish's Camp. It was surveyed on a Pennsylvania warrant.

The town of Bassett, named after Hon. Richard Bas- sett, a relative of Mr. Hoge, was laid out on a portion of the two tracts of land known by the name of Cat- fish Camp and Grand Cairo, but generally by the former name. The plot was surveyed and made by David Redick, October 13, 1781. Sometime previous to this, David Hoge had a log house built and in the act of the General Assembly of March 28, 1781, at the time of the erection of Washington County, we find the electors di- rected to meet at the house of David Hoge at the place called Catfish's Camp, to hold their elections and courts until a court house should be built. This meeting was held October 2 of that year. It is quite probable that David Hoge, when he first purchased the land, intended it to be the county seat, since it was located less than a mile from the center of the county. The house of David Hoge, together with Lot No. 58 on which it is believed to have been located was sold by contract to Charles Dodd, in October, 1781, soon after the plotting of the town.

The original plot embraced 272 lots bounded by what is now Walnut street on the north, Lincoln street on the east, Maiden street on the south, and Ruple avenue on the west. The four lots on the corners at the inter-

* Note-The editors acknowledge favors of Washington Reporter, Washington Observer and Washington Record for the use of recent special issues of their daily papers.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

section of Monongahela (now Main) and Ohio (now Beau) streets, were designated respectively A. B. C. and D., and were each 240 feet square. Lot A was reserved for a court house and prison. This is the same public square as is now occupied by the court house, jail, etc., although some ground has since been added. Lots B, C, and D, were reserved by Mr. Hoge. B included the lots on the east side of Main street, from Pine alley to Beau street. C embraced the lots on the east side of Main street from Beau street to Cherry alley, and D all the lots on the west side of Main street from Pine alley to the corner of Main and Beau. The plot also stated that the present Main and Beau street were sixty- six feet wide and the lots sixty feet front by 240 feet deep. B, C, and D were each divided into six lots of forty feet front and 240 feet deep. Lot 171 on the corner of what is now Chestnut and College streets was given for a place of public worship, while lot 172, directly opposite, was appropriated for a school house. Lot 43, on the corner of West Wheeling and College streets, now occupied by the First Presbyterian Church, was presented to Gen. Washington. Lot 102, on the southwest corner of the college square, just opposite the other lot, was presented to Mrs. Washington, but it does not appear that they knew of or accepted these gifts. The plot has marked upon it near the corner of Main and Maiden streets, three springs, one of which is given for the use of the town, Catfish's old camp is marked on Catfish Creek in the present Trinity Hall grounds, and a coal bank designated near the same place. In addition to the foregoing memoranda, at the north- west corner of the plot outside of the limits of the town of "Bassett, alias Dandridge" are the words "A Great Plain, given by Mr. Hoge for a common, etc., etc., about 70 or 80 acres." The name of the town was permanent- ly changed to Washington on the 4th of November, 1784, when a second plot was made. The town had sometimes been called Washington as early as 1781. The town of Brownsville attempted at one time to adopt the name of Washington.

David Hoge on the 7th of November, 1785, conveyed to his sons, John and William, a tract of land known as Catfish's Camp, containing 800 acres, which was to in- clude the town of Washington, excepting the southeast quarter of the town which he reserved for himself. Sub- sequently, however, on the 10th of March, 1787, he also conveyed to them this quarter. The sons extended the original limits of Washington plot by adding thereto on the east and south.

As soon as the town was laid out by David Hoge, he began to sell lots by certificates bearing the number of the lot. The certificate contained the provision that "a house at least eighteen feet square with a stone or brick chimney shall be built thereon, on or before the

13th day of October, 1784." A certain amount also had to be paid as quit rent. Many of these quit rents were bought off by the purchaser and demands for them ceased about 1860 as no attention was paid to them. In most cases deeds were not made until four or five years after sales were made, the certificates having passed from one person to another in the meantime.

Just how many certificates for lots were issued is not known; but on January 27, 1787, John and William Hoge, who had purchased the property from their father, David Hoge, gave notice through the Pittsburg "Ga- zette" to all persons claiming lots in said town to make application within sixty days from date or their rights would be considered as escheated to the proprietors.

They state in this advertisement, after reciting the condition for the erection of a house within the time limited, that "the condition has not been complied with by a great majority of the holders of said tickets." It would seem from this notice that many persons had purchased lots as a speculation and had failed to im- prove them.

In 1788, Catfish, known also as Tingooqua, of the Kuskakee tribe and sometimes called Chief Catfish, had a camp near the three springs, which, according to the plan, were located about on the southeast corner of Main and Maiden streets. Afterwards he moved his camp to near the spring known as Patrick Bryson's spring. From thence he removed his camp to Shirl's Woods, now in the Eighth Ward, and went from thence to Ohio, where he died or was killed. His name has always clung to the town. The only speech of his that was ever known to be reported is found in Creigh's History of Washington County (page 126), and was delivered in Philadelphia, December 4, 1759. William Huston was probably the first white settler in this vicinity as he was conducting a tavern at Catfish Camp in 1774. David Hoge is not believed to have lived on the property pur- chased by him.

The following came to Washington at or before the date given: David Redick, 1781; John Acheson, 1784; Thomas Acheson, 1786; David Acheson, 1788; Alexander Reed, 1794; James Wilson, 1786; John and Marcus Wilson, 1789; another James Wilson came in 1781; David Bradford, 1781; Van Swearingen, 1781; Mathew Ritchie, 1781; Alexander Cunningham, 1784; Hugh Workman, about 1789; Michael Kuntz, 1788; Thomas Stokely, soon after 1781; Alexander Addison, 1785; Col. James Marshel, 1785; James Langley, about 1790; Isaiah Steen, 1794; Joseph Hunter, before 1796; Capt. Will- iam McKenna, 1800; Obadiah Jennings, 1801; Robert Hazlett, 1795; Hugh Wylie, before 1796; Robert Hamil- ton, prior to 1799; Patrick Bryson, 1796; James Shan- non, Joseph and Thomas Reynolds, 1803; Alexander Mur- dock, 1809; Col. James Ruple, some time after 1794;

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Joseph Pentecost, before 1782; James Ashbrook, before 1798; Thomas Reed, before 1794. Some of these may have arrived before the date indicated.

Among the early merchants of Washington were Hugh Wilson, dry goods merchant; John Fisher, saddler; Mathew Ritchie & Co., kept goods; Dr. A. Baird, a drug store; and John Reed, a brewery. Jedediah Post was a watchmaker, James Buchanan did blue dyeing, Alexander Reed & Co. sold wines, William Erskine made spinning wheels, David Acheson sold dry goods, hardware, etc., and Hugh Workman had a tanyard. It is interesting to note some of the trades and businesses followed in those days, viz., Robert Adams, bootmaker; Isaiah Steen, Windsor chair maker; Thomas Wells, watch and clock maker; Daniel Thompson, breeches maker; Robert Ham- ilton, whitesmith; Thomas Thompson, umbrella and sword cane manufacturer; James McCammant, gunsmith; James Wilson, coppersmith; John Wilson, cabinet-maker ; John Harter, stocking-weaver; Christian Keiffer, turner; Abraham Latimore, nailor; James Reed, weaver; Ed- ward Nelson, cooper; James McGowen, reed-maker ; Henry Tarr, potter; Robert Anderson, silversmith; George Allison, gentleman; James Brice, revenue officer ; John Koontz, hatter, and James Chambers, saddle tree maker.

Among the early physicians of Washington were Drs. Absalom Baird, who came in 1786; John Culbertson, J. Julius Le Moyne, Isaiah Blair, Frederick L. Conyng- ham, Francis Bean, William Barr, Henry Stephenson, Alexander Blair, John Wishart, David G. Mitchell, James Stevens, Robert Lane, Samuel Murdoch, Mathew Henderson Clark and John S. B. Koontz.

The town site was only a vast thicket in 1782, of black and red hawthorn, wild plums, hazel bushes, shrub- bery and briers. Some of these or some like them, may be seen to this day on the front of Gallow's Hill. It is probable the forest around the springs, south of the court house, had been burnt off to provide grass for the wild game as was the custom among the Indians. In 1788 another traveler says the town "was a street of houses, all new with stumps in the street, there are some handsome buildings-a court house and jail -. in the center of the little city." What the population was at this time, between 1780 and 1790, cannot readily be ascertained, but was probably between 500 and 1,000, as it was only 1,310 according to the census made in 1810. There was probably no more than 1,000 inhabi- tants in the village in the year 1800.

David Hoge laid out his little town on a very rough location. Owing, no doubt, to the fact he wished it to be near the Indian's camp and close by the many springs. Besides the streams now to be seen there was one beginning in the Third Ward, above the present site of the Second United Presbyterian Church, which runs

under that church and under the Methodist Protestant Church and on to Catfish Creek. For upwards of a generation it has been covered, but no doubt the water is still running at a considerable depth, where the bot- tom of the old ravine was located. Another stream is said to have its origin in the Third Ward and passed across Main Street, westward, at a great depth, midway between Chestnut and Beau Streets. Other streams now concealed, could be mentioned. There were many trails through the woods which led to Catfish's Camp at the foot of Main Street and which became roads or paths for the white man when he came here to locate.

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History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 86

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