Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 88

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 88

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The "Old Factory" on Yellow creek, which was operated by John Dick and others, was well patronized by the people in that section. It had a carding machine for preparing wool made cloth, suits, etc., and a loom for weav- ing carpet. This factory was in use for many years. Just east of the factory, on the same creek, the Misener gristmill was located. This was one of the oldest mills in the county and was run by Samuel Misener for many years. After his death it was operated by David Bonner.

The making of shooks was for some time an important industry in the township. Dill- town was the important center. This, together with the digging of limestone and making of ties, which were hauled to Ebensburg and Nineveh (Seward), furnished the chief occu- pation through the winter months.

There is a large modern hotel, as well as a company store, in the town.

There is another opening of coal at No. 3 Mines, about three miles from Wehrum. The Vintondale Lumber Company has a large lum- ber yard at Rexis.

Dilltown was at one time the only town and post office within the limits of the town- son, Thompson Clark, in later years by Morris ship. Now, near the center of the township Buterbaugh, and now by J. M. Mack. The is Croft post office, northeast of this the first postoffice, called Buffington, was located in Mr. Buterbaugh's store for several years, but was afterwards taken across Blacklick creek, where it still remains, and the name changed to Wheatfield. Blaides post office, and a post office at Weh- rum. There are two rural routes, one from Vintondale, and the other from Dilltown. For many years the farmers in the northern part of the township got their mail at Strongstown and Nolo, post offices in Pine township, and

The Schreckengost mills (now owned by John Ewing), which were called Stumpf's usually went for their mail but once a week, mills, were for many years known as Kellar's on Saturday.

William Stephens, who lived at Dilltown, used to tell of walking to Mechanicsburg to school, a distance of five miles. The first four townships as now divided, viz., Pine, schoolhouse in the township of which there Buffington, Brushvalley and Cherryhill. Mr.

There was a schoolhouse on the Matthew Dill farm, about a half mile between the pres- ent Dilltown and the Mechanicsburg road. It was in this schoolhouse that Dr. John Har- ris, president of Bucknell University, received his first school education. Forty years ago there were seven schools in the township, but for many years only six, the Graham school, of district No. 4, being abandoned. When the coal was opened at No. 3 Mines and Weh- rum, one school was established at Rexis, and a four-room building was erected at Well- rum. Two years ago the directors established a new district from the Duncan and Grow dis- tricts, and located a schoolhouse near William Bracken's, one mile west of the Duncan Red Mill. There have been but two or three select schools in the township. For several years a

454

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

select school was conducted at Duncan school- that now remain are: Benjamin Gilhousen, house, taught by John Tawny, Hattie Davis, Mrs. Samuel Schultz, Mrs. William Conrad, Augusta Seaton and J. A. Dill. Most of the Mrs. Dan Conrad, Mrs. William Stephens teachers attended select schools at Strongs- town, Armagh, Mechanicsburg and Green- ville. (mother of Judge Stephens), Mrs. Samuel Mardis, David Grow, John Stiles, Dennis Petticord, Milton and Adam Hoffman and Emmanuel Dearmin.

The people of the township have just rea- son to be proud of the professional men that

The churches in the township are: The were educated in their public schools. The Baptist Church of Dilltown, East Union present judge of Cambria county, M. B. United Presbyterian Church, United Evan- gelical Church, the M. E. Church near Black- lick furnace, the Union Church (now Method- ist Episcopal Church) at Wehrum, and the

Stephens, and his brother John, a prominent attorney in Johnstown, were pupils of the Dilltown school. Other pupils of this school were T. S. Bracken, who graduated at the In- Orthodox Church. The cemeteries are Mc- Cartney, Blacklick and Orthodox.

There are a number of valuable farms in the township. The most progressive farmers have limed the land and are raising good crops of hay, wheat, corn, rye, oats, buck- wheat and potatoes. At least ten or twelve Bracken, who graduated March 6, 1913, at of the farmers have purchased chopping mills the State Normal University of Greeley, Colo. that are run by gasoline engines.

At one time the township was well timbered with hemlock, pine, oak, chestnut, walnut, and other timber common to that region. There are still several good tracts of timber within the township which are now being cut.

The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol- lowing number of acres of cleared land, 7,789; timberland, 9,487; taxables, 429; valuation of taxable real estate, $339,354; number and value of horses assessed, 195-$5,730; number and value of cows assessed, 195-$1,950; cost of assessment for 1913, $44.18; money at in- terest, $17,661.11.

The following is an exact copy (spelling, composition, etc.), of an apprentice's agree- ment in 1803:

"This Indenture made this Nineteenth Day of February A. D. one thousand eighteen hun- dred and three Witnesseth that Matthew Dill by and with the consent of his Father Matthew graduated in 1888 with J. H. Wachob at the 'Dill-Testified by his witnessing these pres- Indiana State normal school and was super- intendent of the schools of Indiana county for nine years; and C. E. Stewart, who grad- uated at the State normal school of Greeley, Colo., and is now principal of the township high school at Akron, Colo., were all pupils in the Barkley school district.

In the Dodson district, John and Scott Mardis, brothers, became successful dentists. Hetrick Bonner, a successful attorney of Pitts- burg, was a pupil of the Red Bank school.

ents hath Voluntary and of his own free will and accord put himself Apprentice unto Thomas McCartney of Wheatfield Township Westmoreland County State of Pennsylvania with him to dwell after the manner of an Apprentice for and during the term of three full years Commenced the first of January eighteen hundred and three in all which time Apprentice of his master-Faithfully shall serve his secrets keep his lawful Commands everywhere gladly obey he shall not absent himself Day nor Night from his Masters' himself as a good and faithful Apprentice

The personnel of the township has changed to a marked degree in the last few years. Service without leave but in all things Demean The greater part of the old citizens have died or moved away. Among the oldest citizens ought to do in consideration of which his

diana normal school and afterwards from Bucknell University, and taught in the select schools of Indiana county, was principal of the school at Derry, Pa., and is now principal of the township high school at Perryopolis, Fayette county; and his sister, Carrie

M. B. Schultz, a successful physician of Johnstown, Cambria county, was a pupil of the Grow school district. J. C. Duncan, a successful dentist of Lockport, N. Y., who has also practiced in Johnstown, Pa., and Cleve- land, Ohio; Charles Altimus, a dentist of Johnstown; Benjamin Altimus, a dentist of Scottdale, Pa., Edward Davis, dentist of Yonkers, N. Y .; Harry Graham, and Wil- liam Hanna, dentists, both deceased, were all pupils of the Duncan district.

Dr. John Lowman (grandfather of Dr. John Lowman, of Johnstown, Pa.), who was raised in the "Lowman Hollow," Dr. Jasper Mardis, a successful physician, who on ac- count of ill health has ceased to practice, and his brother Frank, who is now a successful dentist of Johnstown; John H. Wachob, who held responsible positions in the schools of Indiana and Johnstown; J. T. Stewart, who

455

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

master shall teach or Cause him to be taught Bandanna handkerchief and a Suit of every the art mistery and trade of a Spinning day Cloathing in testimony whereof Both parties have hereunto set their hands and afixed their seals the day and year above written. Wheelwright and Chairmaking to the best of his skill and judgment such as he now prac- tiseth to Furnish his Apprentice in Sufficient diet Lodging and Aprel during his term and Tesster MATTHEW DILL SENIOR. MARGARET MCCARTNEY. at the end thereof to give him a Good and Compleat Suit of Cloathing a fur hat Broad- cloath Coat a fashionable Jacket and Breeches MATTHEW DILL JUN THOMAS MCCARTNEY Shirt and Cotten Stocking New Shoes and

CHAPTER XXVI

BURRELL TOWNSHIP

Burrell township was formed from Black- the Huntingdon, Cambria and Indiana turn- lick in 1853 and was thus designated for pike, and was completed to Blairsville in Judge Burrell. The population in 1870 was 1819. Samuel McAnulty, Samuel Eckles, 1,374, and in 1910, 3,109. It has a very ir- John Cunningham and David Short were regular boundary, as may be seen from the among the first who came into town. The first tavern within the limits of the township was kept by Andrew Brown on the Robert Smith farm from 1817 to 1823, when he sus- pended business there and moved into Blairs- ville. George Mulholland kept a store near this tavern, which was the first store in this vicinity, for several years. map. The surface is an alternation of hill and dale, grove and meadow, which is divided into farms, most of which are highly produc- tive. The minerals are coal, iron ore, fire clay and stoneware clay, and limestone. The surrounding hills are teeming with bitumi- nous coal, large quantities of which are mined and shipped. Chestnut Ridge, extending The first schoolhouses were on the old Mc- Crea and Philip Altman farms, and these were erected prior to 1800, but their date of construction and their first teachers are un- known. Master Thomas Wilkie was an early teacher in both these buildings. The first school in the northeastern part of the town- ship was situated on the Daniel Smith farm, where the Blacklick station now is. William Faloon was one of the early teachers. from Westmoreland county into the eastern portion of this township, is cut at this point by the Conemaugh river, which separates Indiana and Westmoreland counties, leaving "Pack Saddle" upon the left bank, and "Oak's Point," which is an elevation of about 1,200 feet above the river, upon the right bank. This eminence affords one of the finest views in western Pennsylvania and well re- pays the visitor for the weariness of the trip Bell's Mills .- The first improvement at this point on Blacklick creek was made by Walter Bell, whose lands lay on both sides of the creek about one mile from the present Indiana railroad. The first mill erected was a saw- mill, which was used to cut lumber to build the grist-mill. The grist-mill was built in 1839, probably not fully completed until 1841. The village lots were laid out in 1848, by David Ralston, the owner of the mill. in reaching its lofty summit. The "Point" and the "Pack Saddle" hills stand as watch- towers for the Conemaugh valley. The bank of the river about a half mile above Blairs- ville is very high and precipitous, and is known as the "Alum Bank." There is here an upright wall of nature's own masonry, in some places fifty or sixty feet high, and below this an abrupt descent of about one hundred feet to the water's edge covered with forest trees. This cliff is a mile or more in length. Several veins of iron ore and coal have been opened upon its space. There is also an ex- tensive vein of fire clay and an alum deposit.

Blacklick Manufacturing Company .- Among the manufacturing interests of Indi- ana county the above named company de- serves special mention. Its works were lo- cated about one and a fourth miles east of Blacklick station and connected with the sta- tion by a tram railway. They were erected

Blairsville, Blacklick and Josephine are the principal towns in the township. The road laid out across this township was called in 1869 for the purpose of making firebrick

456

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and tile. The firm was composed of E. Pa., to the new plant at Josephine. Another Robinson, C. Hadley and F. McKinter. The object was the development of the coal field works at this time consisted of a clay mill owned by the Iselin interests in the vicinity of Josephine. On the other hand, Corrigan, McKinney & Company were attracted to this county by the fact that a location was avail- able in the Pittsburg district, which is one of the chief markets for pig iron. Another rea- son is that they own a coal field of six thou- sand acres in Burrell township, extending from Bell's Mills to the Conemaugh river and from West Wheatfield township into Conemaugh township. The site is an ex- cellent one, as pure water can be furnished from Blacklick creek at small expense and shipping facilities are afforded over both the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg and the Penn- sylvania railroads. All the ore, coke and other material used in the process of manu- facturing pig iron is shipped over the Buf- falo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad, but the product of the furnaces is distributed by both roads. The building was begun in 1906 and on1 January 14, 1907, the first furnace, which cost $1,000,000, was started by the Josephine Furnace & Coke Company. In 1907, when the coal was being operated and the construc- tion work was being done, one thousand men were employed. In 1911 a second furnace was built and at present there are at least two hundred men employed, with a monthly payroll of $25,000. The output every twenty- four hours is 500 tons-furnaces running day and night. The plant at this place cost the company at least $2,000,000. driven by an engine of thirty-five horse power and a yard capacity of 4,000 bricks per day, with two kilns of 30,000 capacity each. In May, 1872, Mr. Robinson sold his interests to J. M. Guthrie, of Indiana, Pa., and in July of the same year E. W. Giddings and E. G. Mildren, of Johnstown, Cambria county, bought the establishment. They im- mediately doubled the size of the yard, also the capacity by running day and night. In November, 1873, Mr. Mildren purchased the interest of Mr. Giddings, and in addition to the manufacture of brick and tile commenced making "Bessemer tuyeres," on what is known as the "Ostrander Machine." In 1874 Mr. Mildren added another powerful steam tuyere machine. In connection with firebrick, he manufactured nozzle stoppers, chimney tops, fire clay dust, gas retorts and settings. In 1875 the two old kilns were removed and two crown kilns were built, with a capacity of 45,000 each. At these works were employed upwards of one hundred men and boys. The payroll amounted to about $1,900 monthly. In the fall of 1872 Messrs. Kinter, Thompson and Carter built the works located at Black- lick station. They were purchased by E. J. Mildren and run by a twenty-five horse power engine. They had a capacity of 4,000 bricks and 300 tuyeres per day. This company had a well stocked general store in connection with the works. The store was under the management of Mr. C. Moore, and a pros- perous business was done.

At first the company purchased 5,000 acres of coal with the expectation of making their own coke and with no thought of starting a furnace. After the furnace was started it became necessary to connect their coal field with the furnace property, consequently Mr. H. L. Taylor leased one thousand acres of coal that connected the two holdings.

Josephine Furnace & Coke Company .- In 1905 Corrigan, MeKinney & Company pur- chased the Bell's Mills property owned by Anna M. Guthrie, the Dalzell tract, and the entire village of Bell's Mills, consisting of eight dwellings, for $40,000. The old houses were torn down and 165 new ones were built. The places of business in the town of Black- lick are as follows: The general store of J. H. Bell & Co., which has been controlled by the same family for half a century ; the meat market and grocery of Sumner Graff, which is perhaps the oldest storeroom in the village; the hardware, furniture and grocery store conducted by D. A. Palmer & Son, who have an undertaking business in the same connec- tion ; L. B. Johnston's grocery and dry goods store; the drug store conducted by J. A. Shrom; the clothing store of Joe Shapiro; a a fruit store by August Cappelitti; the meat The company has built two blast furnaces for the manufacture of pig iron. Through the efforts of Mr. A. G. Yates, president of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railway Company, this new industry was brought to this county. In order to induce Carrigan, Mckinney & Company to locate in this sec- tion the railroad interests were compelled to make valuable concessions of land as well as to build an expensive system of tracks and trestles. Bringing the industry here afforded traffic for the Indiana Branch of the Buffalo, general store conducted by G. M. Ferraro; Rochester & Pittsburg Railway Company, which has a line extending south of Indiana, and grocery store of John Kokas; general

457

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

store and Elk Printing Company, carried on on the summit of Chestnut Ridge, the other by W. J. Lyda; the news stand, by Thomas on the Bolivar road near where the old school- Phelan; the Elite Printing Office, by A. M. Barron, and the Commercial Printing Office, by J. J. Palmer.

There are two lodges, the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World.

First National Bank of Blacklick .- The First National Bank of Blacklick was opened Jannary 14, 1907, with a capital of $25,000. The need of a bank at Blacklick became evi- dent when the town of Josephine was started. The promoters of the bank were Dr. J. W. Carson, Messrs. M. S. Bell, Sumner Graff, T. C. McCrea, J. R. Housholder, S. J. Sides, W. H. Robinson, J. F. Gerhard and D. A. Pal- mer. The presidents of the bank since or- ganization have been: Dr. J. W. Carson, T. C. McCrea (deceased) and J. R. Householder. Mr. William Ashbaugh was the cashier from the organization of the bank until April 15, 1907, Mr. C. Evans Wiley from April 15, 1907, to December, 1908, and Mr. H. L. Tay- lor, the present efficient cashier, has been in charge since 1909. Mr. W. F. Hildebrand is the assistant cashier. The present board of

In 1870 there were eight school districts in Burrell township, namely : Hodge, Smith, Browntown, Livengood, Morton, Blackliek, Palmer and Bell's Mills. From the Hodge and Smith districts the Enterprise district was formed and the one-room school building is located along the Pennsylvania Railroad. There is no school building in the Brown- town district and the children attend school in the borough of Blairsville. In the Liven- good district there are two schools: the new school building is located in a small town, along the Conemaugh river, called Stranford. There are two new one-room school buildings in the Morton district. One is on the old Huntingdon, Cambria and Indiana turnpike, $73.46.

house stood. In the Blacklick district a handsome two-room school building was built about fifteen years ago. The school building in the Palmer district was burned and a new one-room building was built on the road near the house of Foster Palmer. When the plant was put in operation at Bell's Mills, now Josephine, the old schoolhouse in the Bell's Mills district was abandoned and a new four- room building was erected just north of Jo- sephine, near the street car line. At present there are fourteen schools. Twenty-five years ago Burrell township could boast of paying the highest wages to its teachers of any town- ship in the county.

The churches of the township are Stranford Methodist Episcopal, Blacklick Methodist Episcopal, Blacklick Presbyterian, Blacklick Free Methodist, Blackliek Roman Catholic, and Blacklick Greek Catholic.

The first election in Burrell township was held March 17, 1854, when the following of- ficers were elected: Justices of the peace, John Jenkins and Thomas Wilkins; constable, directors are: J. R. Housholder, president; Jackson Bell; judge of election, Jonathan Sumner Graff, vice president; M. S. Bell, W. Doty; assessor, Robert Smith; overseers of the H. Dickie, W. P. McCrea, S. J. Sides, J. F. Gerhard, and H. L. Taylor.

poor, Isaac Armel and Nathaniel P. Turner ; supervisors, William Longhry, Jacob Rugh and James Wiley ; school directors, Charles Campbell, Ausantz, Philip Altman, Jesse Palmer, David Berry and Thomas Sloan; auditors, Edward F. Sant, John Wear and Samuel Orr; township clerk, Joseph Pal- mer ; election officers - judge, William Loughry; inspectors, Thomas Adams and Thomas Campbell.

The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol- lowing: Number of acres of cleared land, 11,513; timber land, 3,747 ; taxables, 740; tax- able real estate, $618,906; number and value of horses assessed, 249-$6.960; number and value of cows assessed, 271-$3,816; money at interest, $65,033.75; cost of assessment,

CHAPTER XXVII

HISTORY OF BLAIRSVILLE AND VICINITY

(By Thomas Davis Marshall)

INTRODUCTORY

We cannot properly write the history of a town unless we include its surroundings or adjacent territory, and some of the things that occurred in the same territory and con- tiguous land prior to the building of the town. It follows, also, that mention should be made of some of the people who inhabited this same land prior to the time when the town was planned or prior to the time when the building of the town commenced. The waters of the Conemaugh and Blacklick came this way even before the red man traversed their banks. The pass through the ridges at Pack Saddle, where the river so boldly cuts its way, was here long before the inhabitation DAYS OF THE PIONEER of the red man, making a gateway where nature points out the natural and logical Star The days were perilous for the pioneer when the Indians were abroad in the land and considered the white man as an intruder and a thief. Then the pioneer was only partially safe under the protection of the forts, when the wild beasts endangered the lives of the settlers and destroyed the domes- ticated animals. Previous to the year 1758 Westmoreland county, which was contiguous to the country adjacent to Blairsville, was a wilderness trodden only by the wild beasts, the savages, and an occasional white trader or frontiersman. The access to the forts of the Ohio in those days was either up the Ju- niata and then by water down the Kiskimin- etas and Conemaugh, or by Braddock's road from Virginia and thence down the Monon- gahela. The first opening through the wild- derness of Westmoreland county was cut by General Forbes' army in 1758. This road opened the way for numerous pioneers, but it was only safe for them to live under the pro- tection of the forts. Loyalhanna and Ligo- nier were bases of military operation back as far as the Forbes expedition. There was of Empire. These everlasting hills, rising in grandeur and glory, clad in their robes of green and blue betimes, were waiting for the races to come and glory in the sublimity and beauty of the mountains, hills, ravines and valleys; to admire the rugged banks of these mountain streams and to receive inspiration from the music of the river, ever moving towards the Gulf. River and creek, which are of about equal proportions, have paid no attention to straight lines, but cut their courses in ways very circuitous, whose rugged and precipitous banks, decked with rock and verdure, appeal to our imagination. The flow of these streams is music to our ears, and whether we look on them in sunlight or in shadow we can always see pictures that are pleasing and invigorating-river and creek that hand down many legends and much romance; river and creek with many possi- bilities for increased duty and usefulness, not only promotive of industrial interests, but of great agricultural advancement. The red inen who sped their canoes on this river and creek, the twin streams, and who often wan- also a fort known as Fort Wallace, a mile

dered along their banks, are gone; long since the cry of the wild animals that drank of these waters, and traveled over these hills and through those forests, has ceased; many of the later inhabitants of the white race have come and gone, but these mountain streams still flow on and on and on, the same as they did from the first. On and on and on towards the great Gulf, and the Almighty God look- ing down upon us here says, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." "Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely," so that like the rivers, we can live on and on and on forever.

458

459

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and a half south of Blairsville on what is now known as the Ridgeview road. Fort Ligo- nier was attacked by a strong force of Indians in 1763, and the savages were repulsed. Hannastown was one of the first settlements in Westmoreland county, and was attacked by the Indians in 1782, but they were driven off.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 88

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