Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 101

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 930

USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I > Part 101

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

The first death in this settlement was a little wonder that the early settlers were addicted to the free use of the potent beverage.

daughter of "Big Billy" Smith. She was buried in the southeast corner of what is now the Jane Duncan farm, and the grave, with others, is to-day marked by a number of stones. In 1810 Mr. Park built a tanyard about thirty rods from his cabin on the lot now owned by his grandson, Dr. L. N. Park, on South Manor street. In 1817 he erected a hewed log house, with dormer windows and piazza in front, which stood in the rear of Mclaughlin, Kinter & Company's warehouse, and part of it was used as a granary, until it was finally torn down. Fergus Blakeney as- sisted in its construction. It was considered in its day the best house north of the purchase line.

Up to this time, owing to the great distance to a gristmill, the pioneers had to depend on their hand mills for their grinding, and Mr. liam Work, the pioneer, was the first teacher Park's next step was to erect a small grist- mill. It was located on the lot now occupied Samuel Craig was the second master. Mar- by the Marion Center National Bank. The stones, about three feet in diameter, were from the neighboring hills; the power was produced by from two to four horses or as many oxen, and its capacity was about twenty bushels of grain per day. In 1834 he erected a waterpower mill on the rear of the lot occu- pied by the tannery above mentioned. A rude horizontal water-wheel with a side-chute pro- duced sufficient power to grind thirty bushels of wheat per day. The mill was in operation until 1855.

James L. Park, son of John Park, started the first cabinet factory and carpenter shop in connection with the water gristmill.

The first distillery in this section of the country was erected by James Ewing on the Abner Griffith farm, now occupied by William

Morrison. Not long after this Thomas Jones started a distillery on the place afterwards owned by Johnston Lightcap, now occupied by Mr. Swan and family. The third was built by James Johnston on what was afterwards the Jefferson McKee tract. The next was erected by Abram Davis on the MeLanahan tract. The fifth was inaugurated by Jerry Brown on the Brown homestead, near the Mahoning U. P. Church, now the site of Hugh Pollock's residence. Then Robert Hamilton started one on the John Hamilton farm, and about the same time John Leasure engaged in the distilling business on his farm. John Decker erected a distillery on the Robert Park farm, now within the borough limits. With liquor thus abundantly produced it was no

The first schoolhouse on the site of the town was built on or near where the barn of N. W. Stewart now stands, on North Manor street. The site was afterwards the property of Joseph Brady, who erected the dwelling where N. W. Stewart now resides. This school- house was a rude log building with a puncheon floor. The seats and desks were made of slabs, the desks being fastened to the walls with wooden pins, thus compelling the pupils to sit with their faces to the wall while doing their sums or taking their lessons in writing. The windows were of oiled paper, excepting one at the master's desk, which contained six small panes of glass. The chimney occupied one entire end of the building, and huge logs were rolled into the cavernous fireplace. Wil- in this building, and taught several terms.

garet Park, afterwards the wife of Samuel Craig, and Robert Craig, a Scotchman, were teachers in this house. This was before there was any public school law in Pennsylvania, and the school was kept up by the subscrip- tions of the settlers. This building was de- stroyed by fire about 1834, and until about 1848 the children of this section had to go to school at a house near where the Lowman schoolhouse now stands, or another near the Brandon schoolhouse. About that year the second schoolhouse was erected in the town, was afterwards used as a residence by Rev. J. C. Brown, and is now the site of Dr. J. M. Stewart's residence. The third schoolhouse was erected about 1860 on High street, near the Presbyterian Church. The present build- ing, located on the corner of High street and North Manor street, was erected in 1901.

The settlement continued to grow, and in August, 1842, the town was laid out by Mr. Park, the first sale of lots occurring in the suc- ceeding month. The plat embraced eight acres, with one main street and two rows of lots on either side. At the sale of lots from fifteen to twenty acres were sold at an average of about sixteen dollars each, the highest price being thirty dollars for the large corner lot where the Rochester store has stood for many years.

The first house erected after the platting of the town was on Main street, by Hezekiah Wood, the pioneer chair and spinning wheel manufacturer. This building was afterwards enlarged, remodeled and converted into a dwelling and drug store by Dr. A. H. Allison,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and has since been replaced by a new build- ing now occupied by Shields' Pharmacy.

Hezekiah Wood, Sr., was the first shoe- maker, and his reputation at the last was equally as good as that of his son at the and the firm was known as Bovard & Mc- bench.

The second building, which stood on the east side of the Wood residence, was erected by James Park for James MeKelvey, the first blacksmith. This was afterwards occupied by Mrs. Hutchinson, and Robert Hopkins. The building on this site is now used for the post- office.

The next house was William Campbell's on the west side of the Wood property. The first wagon shop was carried on in the building by William Brown. Dr. W. S. Shields now lives on this site, having erected a new residence.

The first harnessmaker was William Rich- ardson, who lived in the Wood residence, and traveled from place to place wherever required to make harness. In 1858 E. H. Griffith started a harness shop on the Park lot on the corner of Main and Manor streets, and in 1862 erected a new residence with harness shop adjoining, on Main street, where he still resides. He then added the making of saddles to his business, and continued to do a large business until the use of saddles was largely replaced in the country by vehicles.

MeCracken & Conrad were the first mer- chants. Their store was commenced in 1845 in the room afterwards occupied by Mrs. Mary Pounds as her dining room of the "Exchange Hotel." After conducting the store here for three years it was transferred to Gettysburg.

Hezekiah Wood and Evan Lewis opened the second store in the east end of the Wood house, and in 1856 John C. Rochester began business in this room, but soon erected a store- room on the corner of Main and Manor streets, which has been occupied by some of his family ever since. In 1882 John H. Rochester and B. F. Laughlin erected a new storeroom on this site and moved the old room back for a warehouse. The firm name of Rochester & Laughlin was associated with Marion Center for many years. Later Dr. W. S. Shields had an interest in the store, and the firm was known as Rochester & Shields. The store is now owned by Mr. S. H. Jones, who still does a successful business at the old Rochester store.

In 1866 James Bovard erected the store- room now occupied by Dr. L. N. Park. James McGregor, who for some time was a clerk in the employ of Mr. Bovard, became a partner,

Gregor.

MeLaughlin & Marshall were the next mer- chants, commencing in the building formerly occupied by John K. Lewis. J. A. Kinter afterwards purchased an interest in the store, and the firm was changed to Mclaughlin & Kinter. They erected a building on the lot now occupied by Aaron Houck's livery. Mr. Joseph Brady then became a member of the firm, and they traded as MeLaughlin, Kinter & Co. The store was entirely destroyed by fire, and the firm erected a large storeroom on the old Park lot, at the corner of Main and Manor streets. This store was afterwards con- ducted by different firms, until it was pur- chased by Horatius Simons, who converted it into a hotel, and it has since been known as the "Mahoning House." It is now managed by Mrs. Sarah Walker.

Mr. Linton Park, youngest son of John, was the first painter in this section, and his artistic ability justly entitled him to be desig- nated as master of the craft in the Mahoning valley.

The first hotel was opened in 1844 by James Park, in the building afterwards known as "The Exchange." J. W. Ayers succeeded Mr. Park in 1848. For several years Dr. David M. Marshall occupied it as a private residence, retiring in 1866, when Mrs. Mary Pounds remodeled it and conducted a hotel for several years. The building is now occu- pied by Charles Frampton.

The second hotel was built by Alexander Adams, on the site of the present "Marion House." David Blair was the next proprietor, and in about a year retired, the building thenceforth becoming a private residence. In 1879 Adam Bates built a new hotel on this lot, which has since been known as "The Marion Hotel." Levi Lowmaster was the first land- lord, but for the last twenty-five years it has been conducted by the Flecks, whose efficient management is known throughout the county.

The "Union Hotel" was erected in 1856, by John and James Park, the latter using it as a dwelling house for two years. The prop- erty was then purchased by Joseph Brady, John K. Lewis was the next merchant, building the room on Main street next to the "Union Hotel." He continued in business who conducted a hotel until 1864. In the flush times of the war the "Brady House" and the neighbors would accommodate a hundred sol- for five years, during which time Joseph diers with a breakfast on very short notice. Brady was a partner for one year.

John Brady was the next proprietor, being

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

succeeded by John K. Lewis, who was fol- master. The following have since served in lowed by Levi Lowmaster. Later James C. that capacity: J. A. Kinter, Dr. L. N. Park, Bovard conducted the hotel for several years. Charles Frampton, Dr. W. S. Shields, Dr. This building was destroyed by fire in 1905, A. H. Allison, and Ellsworth McGregor, Mr. and in that year the Marion Center National Bank was erected on this site.

Dr. James D. Baldwin was the first phy- sician, having located here in 1843. Dr. J. K. Thompson was the second, coming in 1845, and had a wide practice until his death, in 1890. The next physicians in order were William Davidson, William Anthony, G. J. McHenry, D. M. Marshall, James N. Loughry, J. M. Snowden, W. S. Shields (who is still one of the practicing physicians of Marion), A. H. Allison (now removed to his farm in East Mahoning township), Dr. W. E. Dodson (removed to Indiana), R. F. McHenry, J. C. Gourley, R. M. Thompson, Dr. Keeler, H. C. Bee (now in Ohio), and Dr. A. H. Stewart and Dr. J. M. Stewart, now practicing in Ma- rion Center.

The first resident justice of the peace in the village was Robert J. Hopkins. After the incorporation of the borough, the first justices were James McGregor and James McGinity. J. A. Kinter was justice of the peace for fif- teen years. Others were Tobias Ryckman, M. W. Smith, A. A. Beans, and the present justices, N. W. Stewart and A. S. McGinity.

The woolen mill erected in 1864 by Charles M. Lang was at one time an important indus- try of the town. At first there were 140 spin- The steam gristmill of Marion was first erected by Kinter & Richey, and was after- wards owned by James Midkirk, Thomas Dun- can, Thomas & Sutton, Robert Fulton and dles and the engine was only eight-horse power. Later the plant was enlarged and a forty-horse power engine, 260 spindles and other suitable machinery installed. This mill J. M. Gamble & Bro., finally being purchased was equal in products to any other in the by F. W. West and John Rice, trading as the State.

In 1874 the manufacture of the Park & Beans window blinds (the invention of Mr. Linton Park) was one of the important indus- tries of the town.

H. P. Lewis being the present incumbent. It was a great annoyance in many ways to have different names for the town and postoffice, and in January, 1891, the department, in compliance with a petition, changed the name" from "Brady" to "Marion Center," and the name of the borough was also changed to " Ma- rion Center."

In 1869 Marion Center (then "Marion") was incorporated as a borough, the first elec- tion being held in July of that year. The first burgess was James Bovard, Sr. The first council was composed of John H. Rochester, John Jones, Robert Park, E. H. Griffith and Joseph Brady. The following have since acted as burgess in the town: Joseph Brady, P. K. Jamison, Jesse Thomas, B. F. Laughlin, Dr. J. K. Thompson, O. A. Ellis, Dr. L. N. Park, N. W. Stewart, J. C. Bovard, W. R. Smyers, D. H. Bee, H. J. Thompson. The present offi- cials of the town are: John Adams, burgess; N. W. Stewart and A. S. McGinity, justices of the peace; members of council, James C. Bo- vard, president; Frank W. West, Aaron Houck, C. R. Griffith, Norris E. Barr, J. W. Work, Silas W. Work. C. A. Frampton, re- turn constable; Ira McAfoos, borough con- stable.

Marion Center Milling Company. This mill was totally destroyed by fire on May 25, 1911, and was replaced by F. W. West and H. P. Kinter, still under the name of Marion Center Milling Company. They now have a modern, up-to-date plant, one of the most complete in western Pennsylvania. It has a capacity of seventy-five barrels of flour and one hundred barrels of buckwheat.

At the time the early pioneers settled here the nearest postoffice was Greensburg, fifty- six miles distant. Later they received their mail at Indiana. A postoffice, however, was soon established at Hugh Cannon's, two and a In 1873 Dr. L. N. Park opened a drug store in a room in the building now called the "Ma- honing House." He afterwards studied den- tistry and opened an office in connection with his drug store. In 1882 he purchased the. building formerly occupied by Bovard & Mc- Gregor, and moved his drug store and dental office into this building, where he continued in half miles southwest of town. This postoffice was named Home (afterwards removed to Kellysburg), and until 1857 was the office for Marion and surrounding country. In 1856 every effort possible was brought to bear upon the Postoffice Department to secure a post- office at Marion, but not until in 1857 was this service granted. The office was named Brady, business until 1907, when W. C. Griffith pur- and Mr. John C. Rochester was the first post- chased the drug store, which he still conducts.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Dr. Earl H. Park, son of Dr. L. N. Park, succeeded his father in dentistry, and is now the only dentist in the town.

The Marion Center National Bank opened for business August 21, 1905. The large brick building, with brownstone front, is located on the northeast corner of the "Diamond," on the site of the "Union Hotel." This is a good location for business, being at the cross- ing of the Susquehanna road with the Indiana Marion Center has two churches, the Pres- byterian and the Methodist Episcopal. and Punxsutawney road, and the growth of the business has been steady and healthy. The stores in the town now are: II. P. Wetzel, general merchandise, in business since 1886; J. G. Wilson, who succeeded A. L. Guth- rie in 1912, in a general merchandise store; McCormick, harness store; Marion Center Hardware Company; W. C. Griffith, phar- macy ; Shields pharmacy ; F. W. Wells, jew- eler ; S. H. Jones, general store. The bank was started with a capital stock of $35,000 and in three years increased to $50,000. The deposits now amount to about $300,000; surplus and profits, $58,000. The J. Walter Work, notions and groceries; J. C. officers are : H. J. Thompson, president ; C. R. Griffith, vice president; H. G. Work, cashier; and J. A. Smith, assistant cashier. The direct- ors are: H. J. Thompson, William Rankin, H. P. Wetzel, N. C. Simpson, S. S. Wetzel, C. R. Griffith, C. A. Oberlin, J. M. Thompson.

The first planing-mill in the town was erected in 1868 by James Park. It was after- wards operated by P. K. Jamison, L. N. Park, then by Bovard & McGregor, and is now owned and managed by J. C. Bovard.

The Marion Center Co-operative Creamery Company was organized March 8, 1913, with $7,500 capital stock, divided into $100 shares, the stockholders including farmers in the sur- The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol- lowing in Marion Center borough: Number and value of horses assessed, 46-$2,235; number and value of cows assessed, 22-$326; rounding country. The directors are: H. J. Thompson, S. S. Wetzel, H. E. Bence, F. W. West, F. G. Haer, H. A. McIsaac, C. M. Hast- ings. The officers are: H. J. Thompson, taxables, 152; taxable real estate, $57,384; president ; F. W. West, secretary ; H. G. Work, money at interest, $81,365.68; cost of assess- treasurer. The building was erected by the ment, $21.00.

CHAPTER XXXV

NORTH MAHONING TOWNSHIP

North Mahoning township was formed moyne, it extends through Plumville to from Mahoning in 1846. It was so named Sagamore. because of the position it occupied. In 1870 it had a population of 1,263; in 1910, 990. The soil is sandy loam, adapted to grain and stock growing, which is the chief employment. Lumbering has been carried on extensively. The township is watered by Little Mahon- ing, Mud Lick, Dutch run, Canoe creek, Pine run and Leasure run.

The coal has not been developed in North Mahoning township. The only railroad in the township is the Buffalo & Susquehanna, which starts at Juneau in Canoe township and goes by way of Covode about a mile south of Trade City, where it follows the Little Mahoning creek ; leaving the creek near Ross-

creamery was started in successful operation April 28, 1913, with a capacity of 500 cows.

Marion Center has one of the most wide- awake newspapers in the county. The Inde- pendent, edited by C. R. Griffith, was started in 1881, and has a wide circulation throughout the county, and to all parts of the country wherever former residents of Marion Center are located.

Davidsville (Trade City P. O.)-The vil- lage was named from David Mutersbaugh, who laid out the town in the fall of 1852. He owned the land which included the site of the village, having purchased it of Solomon Sprankle, who obtained it of the Holland Land Company. He soon after this migrated to Virginia. Peter Dilts, Jr., erected in the same fall the building now known as the "Davidsville Hotel," for a dwelling and store house, and kept therein the first mer- cantile establishment. The second building was erected by Frederick Sprankle, for a dwelling and wagon shop. The building was afterwards used by Mr. Sprankle as his car- riage and wagon factory. The third house

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

was the blacksmithy of W. H. B. Sprankle, burned in 1875. The second building was who also erected the fourth building for his erected by T. B. Allison in 1847, and was dwelling. Mr. Dilts erected several houses, among them a stone building, in which he sold goods for some time, and afterwards it was purchased by David Steele, who after mer- chandising in it for a few years abandoned the business, retaining possession of the afterwards occupied by his son, D. B. Alli- son. The third house was built by George S. Haney and was used for many years as the residence of Mrs. Polly Brewer. The fourth house was erected by John W. Compton, and was ocupied for some considerable time by building. Mr. T. C. Ramey succeeded his James Shields, being burned in 1871. The brother, Hon. Daniel Ramey, in the mercan- fifth house was built by George W. Mc- tile business. After Mr. Ramey the store was conducted by Davis Goheen, who sold to T. S. Neal and Peter Stear in 1882. In 1886 Mr. Neal purchased the interest of Mr. Stear and in 1890 built a new store building. In 1896 he sold to George Weaver, but in 1901 Mr. Neal and Joseph Buchanan purchased the store and in 1905 sold to J. W. Hicks, who in 1911 sold to H. E. Roney, the present owner.

The hotel at Trade City which is now car- ried on by W. J. Hicks was opened to the public in 1853. During the war whisky was sold at this tavern, but there was no license. The proprietors of this hotel from time to time were John Chambers, George Swan, Philip Huffman, Peter Stear, William Hal- ben, William Ramey, George Hicks, Joseph Buchanan.

At one time James Chambers had a store in the old hotel.

Marchand .- The village of Marchand is situated on a plateau, 1,300 feet above sea level, in the northern part of Indiana county, eight miles from Punxsutawney and twenty miles from Indiana, the county seat. It was evidently named in honor of Congressman Marchand, through whom the first post office was secured. The land upon which the major part of the town is built was originally pur- chased from the Holland Land Company, 1822, by Archibald Smeaton, latterly Smitten, who soon after erected thereon a dwelling near the Susquehanna road. This dwelling was about fifty feet from the present resi- dence of his son, Archibald Smitten. Arch- ibald Smitten, Sr., for a number of years continued to be the leading spirit of the settlement, keeping in touch with the outside world as a contracting teamster between Pitts- burg and Philipsburg.

About 1840 the Indiana and Punxsutawney highway, locally known as the "Big Road," was open to travel, and to this avenue of commence and travel much of the commu- nity's early prosperty is due.

The first house on the site of the place was erected by J. Y. Smitten in 1846. This was

Conaughey. The sixth was a small building erected by David Johnston. J. Y. Smitten added the main portion and it was afterwards used as the "Marchand Hotel." The seventh house was built by Alexander Downey. The first store was opened by T. B. Allison in his residence in the fall of 1847. The physicians in order of their location were J. J. Bishop, Loughry, John B. Bair, Allison, A. H. Arm- strong, and the present practitioner, Dr. J. W. Morrow.

The village grew as the surrounding coun- try was settled up and became an active cen- ter of industry, manufacturing and trade. For more than forty years Judge Thomas B. Allison and his associates conducted a gen- eral mercantile business on a large scale, ex- changing store goods of all kinds for the products of the surrounding country. Chief among these products were lumber, grain and live stock. The latter were driven in large droves across the Allegheny mountains for the eastern markets, and every normal boy of this period looked forward with longing to the time when he would be considered worthy to accompany a drove "down east." This laudable ambition was second only to the higher aspirations which thrilled his heart with the hope that he might some day occupy the exalted and envied position so pompously held by the doughty Dan Bel- ford on the upper deck of the stagecoach whence he directed the four plumed horses that hauled the travelers between Punxsu- tawney and Indiana, passing through Mar- chand daily.

From 1850 to 1875, approximately, Mar- chand enjoyed a local reputation as an in- dustrial and manufacturing center. Wagons, sleds, buggies, sleighs, farming implements, harness, leather, boots and shoes, furniture, clothing, etc., were here produced, for the most part from the raw material. It was during this period that Compton & Moot's wagon shop, Downey's blacksmith shop, Steffey's tannery, Johnson's and Curry's cabinet shops, Gall's shoe shop, Hind's tailor establishment, and many other similar insti-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

tutions flourished. The adoption of com- joined the innumerable company in the death- plicated machinery for manufacturing- creating large centers of industry in places more favorably situated for manufacturing purposes-made it impossible for the local artisans to compete with the new conditions thus created.

The Marchand Home-Coming every five years is a special feature of the place. It is of such importance that the following ad- dresses made on that occasion in 1905 are worthy of a place in this history.

On early agriculture, trade and financial conditions and the war period, Mr. A. T. been removed annually for two generations. Brewer, in his address at 10 A. M., Thursday, among other things said :

This is the way I long have sought And mourned because I found it not.

As Home Comers we are delighted with the cordiality of reception. The Prodigal Son has long held the first rank as a recipient of good things on returning home, but his laurels, hitherto secure, have been imperiled if not lost on this occasion. For him the fatted calf was killed, while for us the smoke- house has been unlocked, the springhouse has been invaded, the preserve closet has been opened and the chickens have run in vain for their lives. In the palmy days of old it was a rare thing to find one Good Samaritan, but we have found a whole colony of them without a single priest or Levite or robber in sight. The neighborhood has justified its right to all the good things said of its gen- erosity and hospitality.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 101

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 930