Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 103

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 103

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pass by and seemingly forget the dear old mothers of those times; they were partners in this toil and came in for a very large share of the burdens and privations of the pioneer life. They it was that sowed, pulled, scutched, spun and turned the flax to garments, even nursed the little lambs and raised them to sheep, sheared the wool from their backs, carded it on hand cards, spun it by torch- light, wove it into fabrics to clothe the house- hold. We are the living witnesses to confirm the truthfulness of these statements and we are not yet as old as some others. They en- dured many privations in the development of this community, but they were only build- ing and preparing for our generation to come in and enjoy the fruit of their labor. We properly represent the second generation of this community and to understand the changes that occur as well as their direction and consequences, we must compare the con- ditions existing at different periods of time. We, the second generation who have here as- sembled, have great reason to rejoice that we have lived to see such marvelous advancement in the affairs of the world. Things have come to pass that were never dreamed of fifty years ago, and as we should not be living for our- selves alone, it should be a source of joy and satisfaction to know that even greater things are in store for us and those who shall come after us. I feel sometimes that it is a mis- take that we are living in this century. The improvements during our short life have been so wonderful, and still going on to greater and grander achievements, what might we reasonably expect to behold in the near future? To the boys and girls of the seventies, I have not been your guardian angel, but I have watched your growth and development, have rejoiced with you over your victories, and grieved with you midst your tribulations. "When you laugh the world laughs with you, when you weep you weep alone" is not true to any great extent, and is more the croakings and complaints of the pessimist than anything else. The world to-day is full of real genuine sympathy. In my vigilance I have discovered the boys and girls of seventies filling the places and per- forming the duties in all the callings, vicissi- tudes and avenues of public and private life. I have not heard of any of you being in jail or pleading the statute of limitation to keep you

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ing the ringmaster in haste, to repent at leisure, from thence to pose in a dime museum as a heroine of a disappointed love affair. You have all been good, noble, God fearing, liberty loving people, and of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. You have done your part on this great stage of action. You have not permitted the banner to trail in the dust. Providence has not designed that all shall excel in the same thing. Diversity in busi- ness calling and lines of vocation is as neces- sary to the life of a community or a nation as the air we breathe. We can't all be bankers. Great care should be taken that we do not mistake our calling. Pardon this personality, but I once endeavored to be a poet and after much thought and musing I brought forth these lines feeling satisfied that my fortune was made and my fame eternal. The produc- tion made its appearance in the Marchand Star. C. W. Brown was editor and publisher. Listen to the lines :

If you cannot, like Columbus, foreign lands explore, Or even be an Underwood and nature's God adore, If you cannot be a Franklin and draw lightning from the sky,

Or even be a Washington who never told a lie;

If you cannot sing like Smitten, or even play like Hall,

You will have to fight like "Kelly" to be a man at all.

Do you know what happened me? A com- mittee of lunacy was appointed to inquire into my mental condition and without a dis- senting voice I was adjudged to be insane. Suffice to say I never tried to write any poetry since. I tried to find more fertile fields for my talents. We all have some talent, at least we have tact, and let us do our duty and bear our burdens uncomplainingly, be manly men and noble, virtuous women, bear- ing in mind that the man in the workshop, behind the hoe on the farm, in the store, or pounding stones on the streets for a liveli- hood, is as much to be honored and praised as the general who commands on fields of carnage or on fighting men-of-war, and the woman who rocks the cradle and rules the world and performs the duty of wife and mother and is in spirit and truth a helpmate to her husband, is only a little lower than the angels of heaven. This day and time reminds me that we are all growing old. Listen to this quotation :

You're growing old they tell us, Every year. You're more alone they tell us, Every year.

You can win no new affection, You have only recollection.

Deeper sorrow and dejection, Every year.

Too true life's shores are shifting, Every year.

And we are seaward drifting, Every year.

Old places, changing, fret us, The living more forget us,

There are fewer to regret us, Every year.

But the truer life draws nigher, Every year.

And its morning star climbs higher, Every year.

Earth's hold on us grows slighter,

And its weary burdens lighter

And the dawn immortal brighter Every year.

That we have lived during a very stirring, active and sometimes exciting period cannot be denied. We have seen the era of peace and the trials and carnage of war. We have seen prosperity in unlimited forms and panics, poverty and dire necessity with all its concomitant evils. We have seen schools and churches spring up until their tall spires can be seen glistening heavenward from every village and hamlet. The old stagecoach has been supplanted by steam cars, trolleys and automobiles, and the lightning has been har- nessed up and put the messenger boy or man out of business. Education and the methods of teaching have increased and progressed until to-day they are almost teaching our children by machinery. In our youth there was not a millionaire in our country, yet we have lived to see them on every hand; and the conquest for wealth, and the ambition to get rich quick, and the desire of a few to monopolize and gobble up all the lands, tene- ments and hereditaments that lie on the out- side, is a menace to our nation. The change and development are certainly wonderful. You remember in our young days we had to go over to Indiana to see the cars; now we go down to Richmond and soon we need only go over to Covode to hear the engine sing his song while climbing the steeps of Mount Nebo, and hear the conductor call out Mudlick, Ma- honing. Georgeville, change cars for Plum- ville, Kittanning and Pittsburg., Along these rapid strides of progress have we kept the pace ? If not, do not now lift up a Rachel's lament and cry, whine and complain, for behind the clouds the sun is still shining and every cloud has a silver lining. Listen to the poet :

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Some say this world is an old, old world, But it has always been new to me. With its boundless range of ceaseless change And hopes of things to be. A new friend takes my hand, When the old ones pass away. The old days die, but the light of the sky Is the dawn of another day.

Some say this world is a cold, cold world, But it has always been bright to me, With its hearthstone fires and warm desires For things that are yet to be. And if I must labor I wait

And trust in the fields I have sown. For I know there is truth in the promise of youth, I shall some time come to my own.

Some say this world is a bad, bad world, But it has always been good to me.

With its errors there live dear hearts that forgive And hopes for the things to be. This world is not old nor cold, This world is not sad or bad,

If you look to the light, forgetting the night, And say to your soul be glad.

In conclusion let me remind you that it is not all of life to live, nor all of death to die; that some day, and we have no choice when, we shall be called hence to dwell. Let us so live in the spirit of love and kindly feeling towards each other that heaven will come down to us while we remain here below, and that our closing may be as calm and peace- ful as a summer's eve and that we may be able to say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith and there is laid up for me a crown of right- eousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all of them also that love his appearing."

Covode .- This place for several years was called Kellysville, after John Kelly, who owned the land which included the site of the village. 'About 1840 he erected a log house which answered for a store and tavern for several years. This building was situated on the lot afterwards occupied by Aaron Rishel's residence. The second building was erected by a Mr. Altebron. The third, a stone house, by Alexander Hamilton, and the fourth, a frame building, by Alexander Hamilton. The second storekeeper was Alexander Hamilton, and the third was John Rishel. Squire Charles R. White of Canoe township relates how in passing at an early hour in the morn- ing in December, 1836, where Covode now is, his horse was frightened by a buck and doe reclining at the foot of a tree just op- posite the residence of Justice Crawford.

The old "Wall's Tavern" was in a high state of prosperity fifty years ago. It stood in the rear of "Prescott's Hotel." Isaac Condron erected the building for a black- smith shop in 1821. In 1829 James Wall purchased the property, and from that time for a period of twenty-five or thirty years the name "Wall's Tavern" was a familiar word to teamsters and travelers who were fond of frolic and boisterous carousals.

The first mill in this township and the second north of the Purchase Line was the Dilts mill, erected about 1809 by William Dilts, on Mud Lick. This was a log build- ing, having one run of country stone, and was situated on the H. K. Dilts farm.

The first schoolhouse in the township was erected about 1815 or 1816 on the John Mitch- ell farm. It was a five-sided log building, using one side for a chimney. The first teach- ers were Robert T. Simpson and George Robinson. The second schoolhouse was on the Michael Peffer farm. The first teachers were Robert Bacon and David K. Thompson. The third building was on the corner of the Shaffer, Painter and Gourley lands. Samuel McKee was the first teacher in this house.

Early settlers: Peter Dilts, Sr., located on the H. K. Dilts farm in 1818, and served as justice of the peace, county commissioner and associate judge. His son, Peter Dilts, served as justice of the peace and associate judge, and his son, Henry, was deputy sheriff under Sheriff Brown. Robert A. Jordan settled on the Jordan homestead in 1807. On his first location in this section he was a neighbor for several years of James Kelly and Fergus Moorhead, near the present site of Indiana. He served in the Revolutionary war through- out the conflict. John North located in North Mahoning township in the spring of 1808, and first lived in the old log house on the John Mitchell (now Gourley) farm. In June of that year he purchased the tract occupied by his son William P. North. The North homestead of 140 acres was purchased at $3.50 per acre of Henry Geddes, and formed part of a tract called "Evergreen." The ad- joining tract was called "Springfield." Mr. North assisted in raising the first house in Punxsutawney. About 1860 Asa Croasmun, Sr., came to the vicinity of Georgeville, made a clearing and planted an orchard. His next change was to the John Drum- mond tract, then to the Isaac Carmalt farm, and finally to an 800-acre tract near the Cherrytree. William Shields removed to what is called the William McCrea farm, East

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Wheatfield township, in 1800; he was wound- lon, Pa .; Thomas Diltz, secretary of the Young ed in both arms and a leg in the Revolution- Men's Christian Association, Greensburg, Pa. ary war. In 1816 he located on the farm of George McConaughey. The father of Wil- liam Shields died in 1847, lacking one day of being 115 years of age.

North Mahoning township has furnished its share of professional men: Dr. F. S. Crawford, pastor of Presbyterian Church, In- diana, Pa .; Rev. R. J. McIsaac, professor in Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa .; Rev. J. B. McIsaac, pastor of Puckety and Shearersburg United Presbyterian Churches; Rev. Albert Blose, Episcopalian minister, Chicago, Ill .; Rev. Peter Diltz and Rev. Frank Diltz, former- ly Methodist Episcopal ministers in Kansas; A. T. Brewer, attorney, of Cleveland, Ohio; John C. Barclay, attorney, of Clearfield, Pa .; Lawrence Neal, attorney, of Seattle, Wash .; Daniel Ramey, attorney, in Washington, D. C .; W. C. Chapman, attorney, of Indiana, Pa .; Harry Brown, attorney, Punxsutawney, Pa .; Dr. John W. Morrow, physician, Mar- chand, Pa .; Drs. Clark, Brown and Frank Blose, physicians, Altoona, Pa .; Dr. John Gourley, physician, Heilwood, Pa .; Dr. John Chapman, physician, Jacksonburg, W. Va .; Dr. Harry Diltz, physician, Wilkinsburg, Pa .; Dr. H. B. Neal, Indiana, Pa .; James F. Chap- man, superintendent of schools of Indiana county, Pa .; Dr. J. M. Blose, professor of music in Washington, Pa .; Albert Peffer, manager of the eastern branch of the Red- path-Brockway Lyceum Bureau; Henry Moot, formerly a principal of schools, Du- bois, Pa .; Hugh Smitten, city treasurer, Ava-

The following are the oldest residents of North Mahoning township: John Dorn, Archibald Hadden, Sharretts Sprankle, Jo- seph Shaffer, Albert Shaffer, Miles Croasmun, John Henry, Mrs. John Henry, Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Neal, and James Chapman.

The first election in North Mahoning town- ship was held Friday, February 6, 1846, at the house of George Mogle, where the follow- ing officers were elected: Justices of the peace, Peter Dilts and Robert Vohn; con- stables, Samuel Curry; assessor, John Mc- Henry; judge of election, John Mitchell; in- spectors, George Mogle and Peter Dilts ; school directors, Peter Dilts, James Work, Jacob Shaffer, John McHenry, Thomas B. Allison, Frederick Sprankle; auditors, Jacob Shaffer, John Ewing, Peter Dilts; overseers of the poor, Archibald Smitten and Frederick Sprankle; assistant assessors, Asa Croasmun and James Cochran; supervisors, Archibald Smitten and James Work; fence appraisers, Peter Walker and John Reashill; election officers-judge, John Kelly ; inspectors, George Mogle and Archibald Smitten.

The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol- lowing in North Mahoning township: Num- ber and value of horses assessed, 299-$9.182; number and value of cows assessed, 301- $3.489: taxables, 377; taxable real estate $228,905; acres of cleared land, 13,427; acres of timber land. 3,993; money at interest, $34,674; cost of assessment, $51.62.

CHAPTER XXXVI

SOUTH MAHONING TOWNSHIP -- PLUMVILLE BOROUGH

South Mahoning township was formed from Mahoning in 1846, and so named because of its position. In 1870 it had a population of 1,131 ; in 1910, 1,273, not including Plumville borough, which in 1910 had a population of 414. It is well adapted to farming and stock growing. Coal is found in abundance. Among the early settlers were Andrew Weamer, who came to the farm owned by Dr. C. McEwen, but now owned by the B., R. & P. Railroad Company, in 1803. He purchased the land in 1802, having exchanged a blacksmith shop and a few acres for the tract, which contained 300 acres. He and his family came over the mountains in a wagon, and spent the winter of 1802-03 at Absalom Woodward's, in Arm- strong county, where he worked at his trade. He sold a horse and a wagon in order to pro- vide for the construction of buildings on his land. In the spring of 1803 he packed and carried his goods to his land over a blazed path a distance of fifteen miles, the only build- ing on the route being that of Peter Thomas, about four miles from Woodward's. Later in the year John Pierce, Mr. Cochenour and Joseph Wadding came into the township and made improvements. James W. Marshall, who was born in 1796 on Black Legs creek, Conemaugh township, located on the Marshall homestead, in this township, 1820. His father had migrated at an early date from the Black Legs settlement to the vicinity of Glade Run, Armstrong county. Johu Mabon settled on the Robert C. Mabon farm in 1811. James McCall was born in 1809 on the farm occupied by William Work, in South Mahoning town- ship. His father, William McCall, made the first improvement on the John Craig and Mil- ton Work farm, and was among the earliest settlers of the township, having migrated from the Ligonier valley. Solomon Weaver came from Westmoreland county to the Henry

settled on the farm owned by Joseph Lydick. John Neff made a settlement on the Abram Sink farm in 1810. John McCune, father of Dr. Christopher McEwen, located on the pres- ent site of Plumville in 1816. Thomas Hays located on the farm of Oliver DeLancey in 1813. William Tucker settled on the Johnson Miller farm in 1816. The warrant of the farm, owned by his son, George Tucker, was issued January 26, 1774, to Joseph Fawcet. The patent was granted September 5, 1774, to Samuel Pleasants. The consideration was £15 1s. 1d. The Tucker place cost $10,000. and the remainder of the tract is valued at $13.000. About 1800 Michael Lantz located on Ross's run, near the present site of George- ville, and in a few years started a tanyard, which he sold to one of the Bradys, and then came to the vicinity of what is called Smicks- burg. He afterwards resided on the Samuel Ritchey farm, making the first improvement in several places. Joshua Lewis, the grand- father of D. R. Lewis, located in Indiana county in 1806.

The first schoolhouse was located at the foot of Marshall lane on land afterwards owned by Jacob Keel. It was of the usual round log type, with greased paper windows in spaces cut out of the logs, puncheon floor, log chimney, and puncheon desks and seats. This building was erected in 1819 or 1820. Paddles with letters pasted on them were used by the infant scholars. The Dillworth Speller, or United States Speller, Western Calculator and Testament were the text books of the older pupils. As far as can be learned, Sam- uel Cresswell was the first teacher. Masters Craig, Brown and James were also early teachers in this house.

Probably the first white man to locate above the Purchase Line was John Ross, an Indian trader, who had a cabin on the present Sam- Weaver farm, South Mahoning township. He uel K. Lockhart farm in this township. Tradi- was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his tion reports that this stood about ten rods father, Adam Weaver, was a captain in the north of the run which bears his name, near a Revolutionary war. Abram Neff, about 1805, spring, between an oak and a pine, where a

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

pile of stone is said to be the monument of ough in 1909, and also the establishing of a the ruins of an old house. Not far from this bank. spring an Indian trail extended from the south towards the north.

The schools of South Mahoning township have always been considered as among the best in the county. In a report coming to the county papers from a local institute held at Plumville in 1880 we note the following: "The South Mahoning schools were never more successful than last winter and the ad- vancements made in the cause of education were never carried on with greater interest. Citizens, directors and teachers have united in increasing the efficiency of our schools. The educational interests of a township are best cared for when good directors and good teachers are obtained; then good institutes are the result. Local institutes were a great success. Never before were the houses so crowded. No township should do away with institutes or ask the teachers to teach twenty- two days and hold institute besides, as has been done in some places. Lower the wages and the best teachers will leave the township or the profession." In their resolutions they favored an effort made by the county superin- tendent to raise the standard of the schools and suggested that he might do more by at- tending local institutes and by having a col- umn in our county papers.

In 1905 a deal was consummated whereby the Buffalo & Susquehanna Railroad Com- pany secured the right to use the tracks of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Company from Stanley, two miles east of Sykesville, to Ju- neau, a point on the Indiana branch, this county, four miles south of Cloe.

A peculiar coincidence in railroad building into the county is the fact that the Buffalo & Susquehanna completed its line to Wallops- burg almost at the same time the train came for the first time into Clymer. The track layers reached Plumville on Saturday, No- vember 11, 1905, and the rails were laid to the coal plant at Wallopsburg, just west of Plum- ville, on Monday.

The Goodyears, who owned the controlling interest in the Buffalo & Susquehanna rail- road, have purchased a large coal field in the vicinity of Plumville, and traffic arrangement has been made in order to reach their coal ter- ritory. The Plumville coal field of this com- pany comprises over 10,000 acres. The devel- opment of this coal field has greatly increased the population of South Mahoning township. The development of coal brought about the change of the village of Plumville to a bor-

South Mahoning is one of the most progres- sive townships in Indiana county and has fur- nished its share of professional men.

Dr. J. W. Morrow, of Marchand, Pa., is one of the best known physicians in the county and served two terms in the State Leg- islature. Hon. John S. Fisher, an attorney of Indiana, Pa., served as State senator of In- diana and Jefferson counties. Noah Seanor was a member of the State Legislature for two terms. A. W. Steele was county commis- sioner. J. Harvey Stewart, deceased, was a prominent teacher of the county and served as county commissioner's clerk. Ministers : Frank R. Allison, Episcopalian, near Harris- burg, Pa .; Preston I. De Lancey, Baptist ; Elmer Dunlap, Methodist Episcopal; John Patts, Methodist Episcopal, of Johnstown, Pa .; M. L. Rowland, Baptist, retired; Elias Rowland, Baptist, Brushvalley, Pa .; Everett Pierce, Methodist Episcopal; Aaron Neff, Bap- tist, deceased; Homer Lewis, Methodist Episcopal. Physicians : Christopher McEwen, deceased, who practiced for many years in Plumville ; Charles M. McEwen, son of Chris- topher McEwen, Plumville; George A. Alli- son; Thomas B. Allison, Tarentum; W. B. Ansley, Saltsburg, Pa .; Josiah Ansley ; Charles and J. Frank Weamer, deceased ; John A. Weamer, Tarentum, Pa .; Harry Allison ; James G. Fisher, Indiana, Pa .; Joseph Luke- hart, Rossiter, Pa .; A. H. Davis, dentist ; W. E. Bowser, dentist; D. Andrews, dentist; Thomas Mabon, Pittsburg, Pa .; D. M. Smith ; W. L. Shields, Jacksonville (Kent, Pa.) ; James Miller, deceased, formerly of Jeannette, Pa .; James Morrow, deceased, formerly of Dayton, Pa .; A. H. Stewart, Marion Center, Pa., son of J. Harvey Stewart. Attorneys : Harry S. Lydick, who served in the State Leg- islature, was assistant United States district attorney for the western district of Pennsyl- vania, and is at present assistant solicitor for the Pittsburg Coal Company, Pittsburg, Pa .; William L. Lukehart, Dubois, Pa. (deceased) ; George A. Lukehart, Dubois, Pa .; John T. Stuchell, Indiana, Pa. (deceased) ; Samuel T. Hamilton, Twin Falls, Idaho; Alex. S. Ma- bon, Pittsburg, Pa .; M. M. Davis, Reynolds- ville, Pa. Bankers : Enzer E. Lewis, treasurer of the Real Estate Company, Pittsburg, Pa .; I. Earl Lewis, treasurer of the Cambria Title & Trust Company, Ebensburg, Pa .; James B. Green, Ebensburg, Pa .; D. W. Douds, cashier of the Plumville National Bank; Mr. Wells,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

clerk in the Savings & Trust Company, Indi- the town that an election would be held Jan- ana, Pennsylvania.

The oldest residents of South Mahoning township are as follows : James McQuown, W. G. Brady, Andrew McGaughey, Jackson Mc- Millen, John R. Smith, John S. Hamilton, Jacob Smith, S. W. Brady, John C. Lockhart, A. J. Hopkins, Samuel Hazlett, Jacob Frantz, Bennett Van Horn, Ebert Kinter, Samuel G. Moorhead, James M. Wells, John Lewis, Rev. M. L. Rowland, John Hadden, Robert Alex- ander Allison, William C. Little, Capt. P. C. Spencer, Joseph Kirkpatrick, Ephraim Kirk- patrick, E. F. Lewis, A. J. Beltz, George Johnston, Andrew Weamer, J. Clark Weaver, Joseph Crooks, William H. Paul, McKee Wil- son, James B. Douds, William S. Rowland, Jonathan Heberling, Robert Marshall.

The Smyrna United Presbyterian, Ambrose Baptist and Mahoning Baptist are the churches of South Mahoning township.

The first election in South Mahoning town- ship was held at the house of David Wyn- koop, Friday, February 6, 1846, when the following officers were elected: Justices of the peace, James G. Brady and David Mor- row; constable, James Hays; assessor, Solo- mon Weaver; supervisors, Robert Hamilton and Robert Guart; judge of election, David Wynkoop; inspectors, John McGaughey and John Wadden; school directors, James Y. Brady, William Williamson, Joseph Kerr, James Ansley, John Smith, John McEwen; assistant assessors, John Lewis and William Tucker; auditors, John McEwen, James Ham- ilton, Charles Bryan ; township clerk, Eli Wil- liamson; overseers of the poor, John McEwen and David Wynkoop; fence appraisers, Thomas Luckhart and Levi Spencer ; election officers-judge, George Sink; inspectors, Eli Williamson and Joss Vanhour. The greatest number of votes polled for any candidate was 109.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 103

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