Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 108

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 108

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The first gristmill in the township was the William Bracken mill erected about 1772-74, as it is mentioned in the surveys of 1772-74, and called the Bracken mill. This mill was situated on a run which flows into Blacklick. During that stormy period, although deserted for several years, and though many buildings in this section were destroyed, it escaped all damage save that from time's ruthless hand, and upon return of Bracken was again put in order, and did a large amount of work for the newcomers who arrived after the war. The Bracken mill was succeeded by the Wil- liam Clark mill, a better arranged mill than its predecessor.

On the site of the old William Bracken mill, the Foust & Brendlinger mill was erected in 1873, by William Killen. Foust & Brend- linger became the proprietors in 1877. The mill is now run by Samuel Hess.

The next gristmill was the George Findley mill on Laurel run. The first was erected in 1784-85 and was a small rude log mill using a 10-foot undershot wheel, and had only one run of stone. The second was worn out in 1817 and was then using a breast wheel, and it, too, had only one run of stones. The third was erected in 1817, and had two run of stone, and used an overshot wheel 16 feet in diameter.

The Isaac Rodgers mill was erected by Robert Work, a noted wheelwright, about

The Indiana Iron Works (East Wheatfield township), better known as Baker's Furnace, were situated in a deep valley near the Cone- maugh in the southeastern portion of the township. A furnace was built here by Henry Noble about the year 1837. Having passed into the hands of Elias Baker about the year 1848, it was torn down and a new furnace built. A forge soon after this date was erected near the furnace, but it has gone to decay. The furnace has not been in operation for some years. A bucket factory formerly stood on the site of these works. It was built about 1828, and was owned by Hart & Thompson. For some time the place has been called Cra- mer, because of the operations of Joseph Cramer. At present a general store is con- ducted at Cramer by Thomas and Robert G. Cramer, son of Joseph Cramer. The coal has been operated for private use for a number of years. It is of a good quality, and people have come from several miles around to pur- chase it.

In 1886 Joseph Cramer conducted a gro- cery at Cramer, Pa., where his son Robert G. Cramer became associated in business with him. The firm name became Joseph Cramer & Sons. They handled flour and feed. For many years they were engaged in the charcoal and lumber business, at one time having fifty men in their employ. In 1887-88, they began the quarrying of stone, which has been a very successful industry. In 1893 Thomas W. Cramer, a son of Joseph Cramer, became in- terested, and the name of the firm was changed to Joseph Cramer & Sons. In 1905 the firm name was changed to Cramer Brothers, Bruce Cramer, another son, having secured the interest of his father. It had then, as at present, a general store in which a prosperous business was conducted. Bruce Cramer re- tired in 1907.

Shoupstown was laid out about 1807 by Henry Shoup on the old Frankstown road. It was situated on the hill opposite the resi- dence of John Shrock. At one.time it boasted of a store and a half dozen cabins. The pike's erection gave it a deathblow, and there is not

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

to-day a single vestige of its existence left on ment to two hundred men, for whom honses the hill to tell the story of its downfall.

Nineveh .- The first settler was Robert Rodgers and the place was known as Rodgers' Mill for many years. James Fenton started a store about the same time that the canal was approaching Blairsville, and left about the time it reached this locality. The next merchant was Henry Noble, whose room is still standing opposite the canal loek. Wil- liam Lapsley was afterwards a partner, and they called the village Nineveh, managing the store here for several years. D. W. Wake- field about this time started a store and tavern. He was succeeded by Patrick Smith and Thomas Taylor. Richard Graham was the next merchant in the Noble building and was sneceeded by William Ford.

In 1832 William W. Wakefield purchased ten aeres of land of John M. Barber and platted it into regular lots and streets. com- mencing at the Armagh road and extending to the graveyard between the canal and the river.

The blacksmiths were, in order. Daniel Tinkcom, Benjamin Trimble, Thomas Me- Laughlin, Peter Altimus, John Grant, Wil- liam Goddard.

The first and only church is the Methodist Episcopal, mentioned elsewhere.

THE OLD FRANKSTOWN ROAD

The old Frankstown road ran through the center of East Wheatfield township from east to west. It was succeeded early in the nineteenth century by the so-called Northern turnpike, which was otherwise known as the Huntingdon turnpike. Now, instead of the stagecoach and the long procession of four- and six-horse teams, we see the people speed- ing along in their automobiles from Pitts- burg to Philadelphia. The fare on the stage- coach from Armagh to Blairsville was seventy- five cents. The coach ran every day and ear- ried the mail. It was not an uncommon thing to see six or eight covered wagons pass in one day. There was a tollgate at the foot of the mountains, where Samuel Findley lives, kept by William Clark, who also kept a tavern at the same place. Another toll- gate was kept by Hugh Parker at Armagh. The toll was five eents.

In 1891 John Thomas & Son, of Johnstown. Pa., began to mine coal at Cramer, employing seventy-five men, but for two years the mines have been closed. At present they are open- ing new coal mines which will give employ-

are in course of construction. This firm has 3.000 acres of coal to develop and options on additional tracts are being made.

Two large stone quarries with mills are working a blue rock quarry, the one making ballast for the Pennsylvania railroad and the other grinding sand and making gravel for building purposes.

The only rattlesnake hatchery in Indiana county is located two miles from Cramer at a place known as Snake Roeks for the last century. These rocks cover several acres of land. Deep crevices run through them, giving fine winter quarters for the rep- tiles. This season the oldest one captured was fifteen years old. having fourteen rattles.

For several years coal has been mined at Seott Glen. one mile west of Dilltown, near the south bank of Blackliek creek.

In 1912 Armorford & Company began the mining of coal just east of Seott Glen, near the Foust Mill, which is now owned by Samuel IFess.

The first election of East Wheatfield town- ship was held in the town hall of the borough of Armagh, June 1, 1860, when the following officers were elected : Judge, Isaac R. Brown ; inspectors, John D. Tomb and James P. Me- ('lelland ; poor overseers, Hugh Mack and Sammel Killen: justices of the peace. David Tomb and Hugh Parker; auditors, Thomas Griffith, George W. Kearn and William Braeken; supervisors. Henry Taylor and John Griffith: assessor. William Bracken; school directors, Hugh Parker, G. W. Kearn, Isaac Johns, William Lapsley, Daniel Persh- ing, Adam Coy ; election officers-judge, John C. Campbell; inspectors, Adam Coy and James P. MeClelland.

The following are the oldest residents of East Wheatfield township : Alfonso Cun- ningham and wife, Johnston L. Lawson and wife. R. G. Mack and wife, J. A. McCormick and wife. George Moore and wife. John A. Bolar and wife. Thomas Dodd and wife. B. F. Ling and wife, R. C. Ling and wife, Elijah Jones, William C. Mack, Samuel Wardsworth, William Rogers, Margaret Sellers, William Patterson.

East Wheatfield has furnished the follow- ing professional men : Ministers-A. J. Bolar, Presbyterian, county superintendent. de- ceased : James Balentine, deceased ; John G. Diek, United Presbyterian. in the West ; Leslie Smith, Chicago, IIl .; James Bracken, Metho- dist Episcopal, deceased: Watson Bracken, Methodist Episcopal; Joseph and Thomas F.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Pershing, Methodist Episcopal; James Wake- hill. Armagh, Armaghada in the Irish dia- field, the first M. E. minister in the county. lect, means a field on a hill, hence its name. Physicians-R. J. Tomb, Armagh, Pa .; In the first fall of their occupancy they were forced to flee to the east St. Clair block- house, near the present site of Laughlin- town, in the Ligonier valley; and there was little feeling of safety in the new settlement until after the treaty with the Indians at Greenville in 1795. The first birth is said to have been that of Jeannette Fee, on the 22d of August, 1793. Benjamin Tomb, deceased; H. F. Tomb, Johnstown, Pa .; W. E. Matthews, Johns- town, Pa .; A. J. Clark, deceased. C. A. Matthews, dentist, Johnstown, Pa. Attorneys -Samuel Cunningham, Indiana, Pa .; D. H. Tomb, deceased; Loury Hutchison, Homer City, Pa., not practicing his profession. Teachers-C. A. Campbell, Armagh, Pa., the oldest teacher of the county in point of service and the most efficient teacher in the southern part of the county. .

The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol- lowing in East Wheatfield township: Num- ber and value of horses assessed, 238- $10,445; number and value of cows assessed, 327-$7,937; taxables, 469; taxable real es- tate, $301,261; aeres of cleared land, 12,094; acres of timberland, 5,487; cost of assessment, $61.50.

Churches in East Wheatfield township : Methodist Episcopal, of Cramer, and Free Methodist, near the borough of Armagh.

ARMAGH BOROUGH

Armagh, the only borough in East Wheat- field township, was the second town in In- diana county, Newport being the first, and is the oldest of all the existing towns in the county. Armagh was founded in September, 1792, by Margaret Jane Graham, the wife of James Graham. It is a very healthful town and is located on Laurel Hill, fifteen miles southeast of the borough of Indiana, and thir- teen miles east of Blairsville. The first settlers were a portion of a shipload of emigrants from Ireland, most of them being from the counties of Armagh and Antrim, who arrived in Ameriea on the 21st day of July, 1792. They located in western Pennsylvania, eight families arriving at the present site of Ar- magh in the early portion of August of that year. These eight families were from an As- sociate Reformed Church in County Armagh,

The site of Armagh was partially covered with a thin and scrubby growth of oaks, and was like in appearance to an old field on a

In the summer and fall of 1799 a subscrip- tion school, the first school in the village, was taught hy Robert Davis, an old Revolution- ary soldier who resided near Hoskins' mill. He died in 1813, over sixty years of age, and was buried in the old Luther's graveyard. The scholars who attended this first school were Katie Tomb, Hugh Tomb, John Tomb, Elizabeth Fee, Jeannette Fee, Josias Fee and Elizabeth Carr. There were no books save those in the hands of the teacher. Letters were pasted on a board with a handle to it, in shape and appearance like a paddle. The old log building used for a schoolhouse was lo- eated south of Philadelphia street, not far from the Presbyterian Church.

The first tavern was opened hy James Graham. It was a rude log building, like its fellows, and in the beginning of the cen- tury was in active operation. A blacksmith shop was established about 1800 by Peter Dike, and the settlers for many miles around came to his place. The next blacksmiths were, in order, David Campbell, John Clarebaugh, Samuel Devlin, William Devlin, Daniel Tink- com, Jesse Butler, John D. Tomb, Richard Tomb, Thomas L. Biddleman, Abram Wil- son. Thomas L. Biddleman is the best known hlaeksmith in the southern part of Indiana county. He has worked at his trade for sixty-eight years, forty-four of these years in Armagh. He has always borne the reputa- tion of being a first-class workman.

About this time (1800) the place was regu- larly surveyed by Joseph MeCartney, and order took the place of indiscriminate lots and and were: James Graham, Margaret J., his streets. Not long after the opening of the wife, and four children ; a Mr. Parker; David Tomb (a brother of Mrs. Graham), wife, one child, and a sister, Mary Tomb; James An- derson and wife; A. Fee, wife and one child, Elizabeth ; Alexander Carnathan, wife and four children ; James Leslie and wife; James Luke and wife; Hugh Junkins and wife. first smithy, Mollie Dempsey opened a little store, the first in the village. Her stoek was small, but it was ample to meet all the de- mands of her patrons. James Luke paeked tow and flax to Ilagerstown and Mercers- burg for her and brought back in return ealico, salt, tea, ete. As an item of interest, we would state that at Armagh calieo was then sold for fifty eents per yard, salt at fifty cents per quart, and other goods in pro-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

portion. Mollie's shop was situated in a little of his residence on Philadelphia street. It log building which stood east of the old resi- had eighteen outside and six inside vats, and about six hundred hides were tanned an- nually. dence of the Devlins, on the north side of Philadelphia street.

The next store was opened by William Parker and William Johnston. In 1810 it was situated on the south side of Philadelphia street, near the Presbyterian Church. Old settlers speak of this store being in operation as early as 1804 .. It, too, was a small affair, but a great improvement upon its predecessor. Thomas Dickey was the third merchant and second tavern-keeper. His location was west of the present site of Biddleman's blacksmith shop. James Elliott was the next merchant and tavern-keeper, his store and hotel being located in a log building which stood on the present site of the "Tinkcom Hotel," on Philadelphia street. He was succeeded by Robert Brandon, Gen. John Hued, John M. Davidson. John Thompson, Samuel Singer, Daniel Tinkcom, William Parker, Capt. Tink- com aforenamed, and James Tinkcom. This hotel is now closed to the public.

The first carpenters were William and Samuel Parker, who were also chair and fur- niture makers. Alexander Elliott and Sam- uel Mears were early merchants, on the corner now occupied by Harry Elliott. They were succeeded by John Elliott; John Elliott and J. J. Johnston, A. Elliott and S. A. Johnston, who continued until 1876.

In a building which was situated on the site of the house owned by Mrs. James Freed, Frederick Leiddy was an early storekeeper. He was followed by William Barnwell, Henry Moore, Johnston & Thompson, Nutter & Cun- ningham. The building was destroyed and a frame storehouse was erected by Mrs. Freed.

In the papers of 1823 James Elliott, Jr., announces : "Armagh Inn, James Elliott Jr. respectfully informs his friends and the pub- lie in general that he has again opened a house of Public Entertainment on the prem- ises formerly occupied by Samnel Parker." This probably applies to the old building where Samuel Parker kept a hotel at an early day. He was succeeded by James Elliott, David McQuiston, the Widow Rhoades, and John Wallace, who was the last innkeeper.

The first physicians in order were: John Yonng, Andrew Getty, Dr. Van Horn and Samuel Devlin. The succession was: Geddis, W. G. Stewart, S. F. Stewart, Robert Barr, R. H. Tomb, W. B. Stewart.

The first justice of the peace was James Dunn. The justice who probably did the most business and served the borough long- est was Squire Dripps.

The first saddler was Thomas Carr, a bache- lor, who was also the first postmaster. It was in his shop and postoffice that the earliest re- membered election took place. Thomas Stew- art was also among the early postmasters. He had a store and a tavern, and stage office, the latter being the first established in the village. He was followed by George Clark and Kennedy Stewart. The building was situated on the site of the lot owned by the Stewart heirs. The Armagh Foundry was built by James Johnston and Absalom Thompson, who were succeeded by William D. Tomb and brothers.

In 1810, according to Samuel Killen, Armagh had as many houses and as great a population as to-day. There was not a church or a well constructed building in the village. The nearest church was a log building, erected by the Presbyterians on the old John Jun- kins farm. A few years later a stone church was erected by the "Seceder Presbyterians," about three miles west of the place. Traces of this stone church can still be seen close to the present Bethel United Presbyterian Church in West Wheatfield township. In this year an era of prosperity had commenced. Hundreds of wagons filled with emigrants passed through en route for Ohio and Indi- ana. Armagh then boasted of four hotels and three stores, and every man who had prod- uce to sell found a good market in the vil- lage. Farmers, even from Armstrong county, wended their way to the village to sell their butter and eggs. In 1820 Armagh had nine taverns and five stores. In 1832 the State Gazetteer reported: "Armagh of Wheatfield township, Indiana county, on the. turnpike road from Ebensburg to Pittsburg, 170 miles from Washington City, 141 miles west from Harrisburg, contains abont four dwellings, four stores and six taverns."

The first tanner was Robert Luther, whose location was on the southeast corner of Canal and Philadelphia streets. He was followed by Benjamin Elliott, James Dick, Samuel Singer, Alex. Elder and Elliott & Beatty, all being on the same location. In 1842 James The older residents of Armagh borongh Dick erected a tannery, situated in the rear are: T. L. Biddleman, John Killen, R. J.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Tomb, James Tomb, and Washington Tomb value of horses assessed, 16-$580; number and wife. and value of cows assessed, 18-$240; tax- The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol- ables, 51; taxable real estate, $12,475; money lowing in Armagh borough: Number and at interest, $9,247; cost of assessment, $11.62.

CHAPTER XLIII WEST WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP

West Wheatfield township was formed from dist Church was the White Church in Ger- Wheatfield in 1859. It is situated in the south- many. The first Lutheran Church was the ern part of the county. The Conemaugh river briek church in Germany. The first commis- flows along the southern boundary of the town- sioner was Archibald Johnston. The first con- ship. The population iu 1870 was 1,318; in

stable was Samuel St. Clair. The first boat- 1910, 1,589. The oldest village is Centerville, yard was David Reed's. The first iron carried from West Wheatfield to Louisville, Ky., was by David Reed and John Bennett. The first raft of logs was run to Newport by Andrew Reed, Jr., and David Reed, Jr. The first large orchard was planted by Robert Liggett.

situated in the southern part of the township on the Conemaugh river. It was laid out in September, 1828, by William Liggett. The Pennsylvania canal passed through this vil- lage. An old Indian village is said to have stood where Centerville now stands.

Robert Liggett in the year 1790 settled on the Conemaugh in West Wheatfield township, on the farm now owned by John Liggett. David Reed settled on the adjoining farm in the year 1798; he was the first justice. Allen and William Graham settled in 1795. The first permanent settler on the Centerville farm, owned by Liggett, was Ephraim Wallace, who came in 1800. The farms now owned by Harry G. Mack and James Diek were settled by the Hice brothers in 1795. Centerville is located immediately opposite New Florence. The two places were for many years connected by a toll bridge. It was a prosperous community for many years, until the downfall of the canal and the building up of the railroad towns sapped its life blood. In 1896 the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company ran its line through Centerville, and upon this line most of the freight of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany is conveyed.

Some of the first white settlers in this vi- cinity, it is supposed, were exterminated by the Indians some years prior to the Revolu- tionary war. There are aged persons yet liv- ing in this section whose parents were here many years prior to their births, and found on their arrival a well filled graveyard on the south side of the river, opposite the Liggett homestead, and on the north side two grave- yards, one known as "Hice's graveyard," and the other as "Rodgers' graveyard." They were evidently the graves of white persons, but who they were, or by whom they were bur- ied, is not known. There were three graves, side by side, on part of the old "Reed farm." one large and two smaller, with rough head and foot stones and a well shaped separate tab- let on each grave. Trees from fifty to one hun- dred years old had overgrown these graves when first discovered by those whose traditions we are now recording. Not only were the graves an evidence of an unknown and extinct population, but there also were found the eharred foundations of burned buildings, and enormously large apple trees. Ninety years ago one of these old apple trees on the Reed

The first sawmill was built by George Ma- bon, and owned by Thomas and William Ma- bon. The first gristmill was Hugh St. Clair's, near the present site of Gamble's mills. The first hewed log and shingle roof house was farm was as thick in the trunk as a flour bar- David Reed's. It was burned by the Indians. rel. On a part of the old "Wherry farm," now known as the "burnt cabin tract," there are a number of old trunks of apple trees, with numerous living sprouts. Ninety years a regularly planted orehard. By whom these The first stone house was Robert Liggett's. The first stone church was the old stone church of Bethel. The first stated preacher was Hugh M. Roden. The first Presbyterian minister ago these trunks gave evidence of having been was Rev. Mr. Johnston. The first Presbyterian Church was at Centerville. The first Metho- trees were planted, or by whom the burned

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

cabins had been erected, has remained a mys- where Capt. Samuel Brady achieved the most tery. exciting exploits ever recorded in the history of Indian warfare.

By a spring on a part of the Reed farm now owned by Samuel Alexander, near to Thomas Crawford's line, there had evidently been a house of considerable dimensions, and a gar- den of about an acre in extent, over which there were large trees growing ninety years ago. The blackened ruins of a stone chimney, and stones of the foundation, were evidences that the house had been burned. Burned clay, partly decayed charred boards and smaller pieces of charcoal in great numbers covered the space where the house had once stood. Small mounds about a proper distance apart for corn hills covered about half of what was supposed to have been a garden. Some of the roots of the trees were stretched over and beyond, or encircled these corn hills.

A few miles north from the river on the old Sides farm stood Fort Hill. The traditions tell us that it was known as such to George Findley and the carly settlers on the river. The soil of the hill is very rich and until 1817 it was nearly all covered with an unimproved forest. In the early part of the century the outlines of the fort were distinctly marked, being slightly elevated. On the inside were several mounds. In Scott's Gazetteer of 1806 we read the following: "In Wheatfield town- ship, then Westmoreland county. Pa., is a remarkable mound from which several strange specimens of art have been taken. One was a stone serpent, five inches in diameter, part of the entablature of a column, both Among those who are known to have first settled along that part of the Conemaugh river which bounds this township on the south were James Clark, Billy Woods, David Innyard, William Bennett, Archibald McGuire, Ben Sutton, Neal Dougherty, David Laekens, James Galbreath. On and near to Tub Mill rudely carved in the form of diamonds and leaves, and also an earthen urn with ashes." The mound above alluded to was on the inside of the fort. Besides the articles aforemen- tioned, there were found at an early date frag- ments of pottery of a much finer texture than that made by the Indians; stones of peculiar merous families of Bradys now living in the for utensils for cooking purposes or recepta-

creek there dwelt the ancestors of the nu- shape, both carved and hollowed, as if intended northern part of Indiana county. It is claimed cles. The latter were both large and small. to have been the home for many years of the great Indian hunter, Capt. Samuel Brady.

Tradition reports the first mill of any kind but hand mills in the Ligonier valley, and the first power mill west of the Allegheny moun- tains, was a Tub Mill propelled by water. It was so constructed that the only wheel was the water wheel, which turned horizontally with an upright shaft, upon the upper end of which were attached the running mill stones, making exactly one revolution for each of the water wheels. This mill was built by Joseph Dechard, and from it the stream derived its name. It was afterwards purchased by Wil- liam P. Brady, who built upon its site a geared gristmill, which he sold to a Scotchman named James Brown. William P. Brady, after the disposal of the property, together with Big Joe Brady, Little Joe Brady, Big Peggy Brady, John Brady and numerous Hughs, Sams and Jims, becoming disgusted (as did also Ben Sutton, Billy Wood, Davie Innyard, William Bennett, Sr., William Bennett, Jr., and others) with the scarcity of bears, wolves, panthers, etc., as well as Indians, left in search of homes more prolific than their accus- tomed surroundings. Some went to the north- Fort Ligonier was too far distant to be reached in an emergency by families of wom- ern part of this county, and others migrated to western Virginia and the Ohio country, en and children with sufficient provisions

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 108

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