Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 90

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 90

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The first stage line reached Blairsville in 1819, though no regular line was placed on the pike until 1820, when the first mail was delivered here. The first hack line from Blairsville to Indiana commenced operation Monday, May 9, 1842. Samuel. McAnulty, proprietor of the "Exchange Hotel," was the owner of this line, and made three round trips a week. A stage line was also commenced and operated from Blairsville to Saltsburg, and continued until the West Penn railroad was completed, about 1865. Mr. Joseph Moor- head has furnished some interesting informa- tion as to early taverns in and near town and their proprietors. William Lawson kept a tavern east of town on the pike at the foot of Chestnut Ridge. Thomas Adams kept one east of town on the site of the John Stewart farm. "Billy" Barr kept one east of town about a mile, at the large red house. In Blairsville, on Market street, John Shrock kept a tavern in the Dr. William Hunter house. James Geer for some time owned the hotel on the Ray corner, and conducted a hotel himself. Abner Willets kept an early hotel on the John Loughry corner. "Bill" Law- son for a time kept what is known as "The Merchants.'" Richard Graham and Me- Manus Bonner kept taverns in Bairdstown. "Billy" Hood kept a tavern on the Conwell place, four miles west of town. "Jockey" MeLaughlin and Jacob Alter kept taverns at what is known as "The Half Way House," on the pike to New Alexandria west of town.

This made thirteen in and within five miles in any direction from Blairsville.

Blairsville was incorporated as a borough in 1825. Its first newspaper was named The Record, and was owned and edited by Thomas McFarland, who built an office of brick on North Spring street, opposite where The En- terprise now is. Within a few years he died of smallpox, and was buried by the father of Joseph Moorhead. It was a coincidence that Joseph Moorhead was called upon to do a similar act some years later when one of the residents died of the same disease. Before Mr. McFarland's death John Matthias had become his partner, and after the death of Mr. McFarland William Brown became the partner of John Matthias. The office was later moved to Market street in the D. E. Thompson building, and later upon the same street near Walnut. In 1844 Thomas Ma- guire, of Johnstown, became manager. He changed the name to The Citizen. In May, 1848, Richard B. McCabe and Robert A. Woodward assumed control of the paper and the name was changed to Appalachian. Three years later they sold it to Alfred Matthias, a son of John, the former owner, and William Caldwell. The paper then became independ- ent. In 1854 the firm dissolved, Mr. Cald- well retiring. In November, 1855, Alfred Matthias sold it to Thomas S. Reid. Alfred Matthias was a signer to call the convention which organized the Republican party in August, 1855. A Mr. Andrews had a paper for a short time in 1858 which was Republi- can in politics, but this was discontinued and for some time Blairsville had no paper. John Loughrey, of Greensburg, resumed The Rec- ord, and conducted it for less than a year. In 1859 James Campbell became editor of the same paper, and continued it until 1862, when he sold it to James Steele, of Stewart, who in 1864 moved to Ashland, Schuylkill county. In 1859 Dr. Andrew Getty assumed control of The Record, and continued until 1861, when he discontinued the paper and left town. Again the town had no newspa- per for several years. In April, 1865, W. R. Boyer, an attorney, commenced to edit it again. In 1866 R. M. Birkman became edi- tor and proprietor, continuing it for some years, when he moved it to Indiana, and the name was changed to The Indiana Progress.

The Blairsville Enterprise was established in 1880 by Robert S. Davis, James A. Wolf and William Newingham. A year later Mr .. Newingham sold his interest to M. G. Miller and retired. The next names to appear at

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the masthead were those of James S. Beacom, Stansbury and Miss Pollock were the first now an attorney practicing law in Greens- burg, and Stephen J. Telford, who is now the judge of the Indiana County court. Within a short time Mr. Telford retired and it be- came the property of Beacom Brothers, James S. and J. Wesley. In 1886 Joseph Moorhead bought it and continued to conduct it, at a later period in connection with his son, John W. Moorhead.

The Blairsville Reporter was launched by James A. Wolf and Elmer Harn. Later Mr. Wolf sold his interest to John M. Kincaid, and in a short time the plant was sold and was removed to another town.

In March, 1894, John D. Berry started a daily called The Courier. After conducting it about two years he sold it in April, 1895, to Charles Kerler, Jr. It ran until July 1, 1904, and then quit. Mr. Kerler ten months later commenced to publish The Courier once a week, which he continues to do.

THE OLD LOG SCHOOLHOUSE

This was situated on the corner of Liberty street and North alley. It was not only the first place where school was kept, but the first place where public worship was held. It is still standing, in a dilapidated condition, and the cemetery connected with it is covered with a wild growth, and appears to be much de- serted. Some citizens who were among the most prominent in Blairsville are buried there. Among these are the graves of Mott Wilkin- son, a soldier of the American Revolution, and his wife. Thomas Johnston and his wife and William P. Johnston are also buried there and have a monument; Thomas Johnston died in 1836, his wife in 1833, and William P. in 1841. They were prominent citizens of their day. Miss Ella Ray recently raised a fund for the purpose of having this cemetery fenced. This was done, and it is the purpose of the people to have the old log building re- habilitated and the ground made and kept sightly. It is stated that this building was constructed in 1821 or 1822. The first teacher was Jesse M. Bishop, the second Lyman S. Waterman, the third Moses Davis, the fourth Martin Brainard, and the fifth Dr. M. L. Mil- ler. Joseph Moorhead, the editor of the Blairsville Enterprise, attended school there, and Rev. Noble G. Miller also practiced on his A B C's there. The public school build- ing situated on South Walnut street was erected in 1837, and first occupied in 1838. Martin Brainard, his nephew, Miss Sarah 30

teachers. Miss Stansbury became the wife of James Sutton, of Indiana, Pa. The Suttons occupied the home now the residence of Jus- tice John P. Elkin. In 1879 George W. Innes, Miss Hannah A. Boyle, Miss Kate Walker and Miss Annie Miller were teachers. Among the teachers the writer remembers were Amanda and Hannah A. Boyle and William R. Ford, the latter the only one distinctly re- membered, an Englishman and very compe- tent, clever, thoroughly educated and much interested in his work. There was also a man named Lininger. We think he became a col- onel in the army in the Civil war.

In 1829-30 a frame market house was con- structed at the corner of Campbell and Spring streets, and in 1857 it was replaced by a brick building, which a short time ago was remod- eled. The hotel conducted for some years by J. K. Henry in Brownstown was built in 1829, and first conducted by Jacob Alter. The "Merchants' " was built in 1831 by Silas Moore. Among the other landlords that fol- lowed at this hotel were Benjamin Marker, Robert Evans, R. Vantine and R. Miskelly. Mr. John Love, it is stated, built the "Union House," and also a hotel in O'Harra. Later James Lore became the proprietor of the "Union House." Mr. Lore has three sons, William A., Irvin and Charles, now living in Blairsville. He sold this hotel to the late George Wilkinson, who conducted it for many years very successfully ; his son Freeman 18 now the proprietor.

EARLY AND FORMER RESIDENTS, WITH COM- MENTS

In this list mention is made of a large num- ber of the earliest residents of Blairsville, and many others who formerly lived here. It has not been arranged chronologically.

Cornell, Graham, Dunn, MeAvoy, Myers, Hammer, Dulley, Peters, Beatty, Gilson, Bre- nizer, Baker, Buerkle, Nofsker, Laughlin, Robinson, MeMaster, Johnston, Moorhead, Dixon, Conner, Collins, McFerren, Swan, Bell, Cassidy, Lewis, Ranson, Zimmer, Richey, Scott, James Black, the Loughreys, Smiths, Turners, Lintners, Barnes, Georges, Frances, Sipes. MeCurdys, Clawsons, Squire George Johnston-all are old and respected names. Some of the farmers were : The Davises, Stew- art, David and Archibald; Chester C., Rev. James, Samuel and John Archibald ; Silas Ful- ton, Zachariah and Elder Laird, Harvey Ho- sack, Robert Smith, the Lintners, Libengoods,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Palmers, McCurdys, Uncaphers, McChesneys, position he maintained to the last made him Colemans, Adams, Butlers, Hothams, Barrs, popular. Some early business men were: Joseph Loughrey; Samuel Dixon; Abram Armel; Samuel McCune; John S. Watterson ; Daniel and John Euwer; Alexander Shields; John Devinney; the Nesbits; Millhousers ; John Kurtz; Adam Shurick, who was an early miller and conducted a mill for many years; Harry Triece, another early miller, who also conducted a mill for many years; E. M. Evans, who took a mill in the same location, and conducted it until it was burned (however, it had been sold previously, this fifteen to twenty years ago) ; Captain Healy, who conducted the Shurick mill, and for a time McIntyre & Findley also conducted the same mill. George Hill, Johnston Miller and J. H. Devers were other former merchants, though of a later period than those first named. Morgan Neal was another. William and Nicholas Maher and Patrick Maher are remembered, William as merchant and banker, Nicholas as grocer, Patrick as tanner, having the tannery on the corner of Brown and Liberty streets. Of their sons, James, Thomas, Edward and Nicholas D., James and Thomas were with the ill-fated Collins expedition to Brazil. Edward occupies a business place of some prominence in Philadelphia. N. D. is second vice president of the Norfolk & West- ern Railroad Company, with headquarters at Roanoke, Va. Graff, Sheak & Co., large grain shippers, came in 1865, and remained until some time in the seventies. John Hill and Isaac Pore are well remembered names. James Speer was among the very early gro- cers. Joseph Henderson came later as a gro- cer. D. B. D. Coleman and later Alfred Coleman did business on the Diamond. Sam- uel McClellen was for years a barber, but lived retired on account of disability for some years, dying recently. Other names handed down are: Samuel MeCune, Columbus Bell, W. R. Truly, Latta, O'Brien, Fenlon, Long, Walkinshaw, Litchenteller, Lear, Christman, Taylor, Ford, Clark, Beyers, Bruce, Strott, McMahon, Brown, McCabe, Bonin, Spears, McCarrell, Bushman, McGillick, Cassidy, Herrshheimer, Paull, Dodds, Connell, Sey- fried, Hughes, Watterman, McCrea, Sutton, Keely, Lytle, Bricker. Doubtless there are others, omitted unintentionally. We would like to include every name and every fact.

Stouffers, Bennetts, Craigs, Wallaces, Simp- sons; then there were the Shorts, Campbells, Wynns, Chapmans, Kuhns, Pikes, Betchels. One of the old firms was S. Cunningham & Brothers. Joseph Barnes at one time was a partner with T. S. Reed, editing the newspa- per. Luther Martin was a merchant and later he became landlord of the "Everett House," formerly "The Exchange." George Cun- ningham had been a previous landlord here. Martin Black was an early justice of the peace and shoemaker. John Wynn was a shoemaker and had a shoe store. J. I. Chap- man, by trade a painter, for some years owned a drug store. H. P. Shepley entered the drug business in 1861, buying the store from D. H. Laney, in the building now occu- pied by the Blairsville Courier. T. C. Laney, a brother of D. H., was a physician here. Thomas Duffy was a shoemaker. Isaac Cul- bertson had a harness shop. Robert Maul followed, and Daniel Newingham also came later in the same business. James C. Day was an early druggist. I. Heim followed tail- oring. Joseph Henderson had a grocery. A. H. Torrance, merchant of Bairdstown, was an officer in the 11th Pennsylvania Reserves, and was shot in the head at the battle of South Mountain, where Capt. Nathaniel Nes- bit was killed. Major Torrance lived many years. Joseph Torrance and Washington Geer were early blacksmiths in Bairdstown and men of sterling character. Squire Shan- non is another name talked of. His son P. C. became noted as an attorney and he be- came a territorial judge. He lived in Pitts- burg most of his life. His daughter Sadie is living here just now. A brother of his named James was noted as a news writer. Stewart Steel, an early attorney, lived where William Dunlap resides. The Dunlap family is large and they are up-to-date farmers. Robert Johnston was once engaged in business with Samuel Dixon; James Alexander also had been a partner with Mr. Dixon. R. W. Wehrle was engaged here for some years in the jew- elry business. Coopering was one of the busi- nesses followed in the earlier years. John Richardson, a cooper, later engaged in the grocery business at the John Loughrey cor- ner, and this store was purchased by J. M. Harvey. John Graff and others of the same connection and family left worthy names. Other names deserving of remembrance were Robert Bartley, Murray, Humphries, Hood, Layton, Shields. James Layton died last winter aged ninety-four years; the cheery dis-

ITEMS OF INTEREST-NOTES OF PERSONS AND INCIDENTS

Robert A. Cassidy, of Canton, Ohio, who lived in youth on West Market street, in the

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Alter property, where Oscar Alter has the next town to be visited. James Layton, who tin and plumbing shop, and John Hoey his died in Blairsville last winter, aged ninety- four, drove the sled containing this Kossuth party from Blairsville to Pittsburg. Robert A. Cassidy, of Canton, Ohio, a native of Blairsville, tells of trying to get a ride on one of the sleds, and on this occasion he received a very cruel lash from the driver of the sled. The incident almost precipitated a riot.

shoe shop, tells these facts. The first grist- mill he remembers here was that called the Peters mill. Mr. Cassidy, then a lad, left Blairsville in 1856, going to Bellefonte. He became a soldier in the Civil war and after his return located at Canton, Ohio, where he has resided since. This mill alluded to was located near where the woolen mill stood, west of O'Harra. Mr. Cassidy relates that it was burned down and that then the Arm- strong mill, a three-story building, was put up a short way north of Market street, facing Water street. He speaks of a large black bear that Mr. Armstrong had and of the boys teasing it, of it breaking its chain and being pursued by a mob and most cruelly treated, so that its cries were heart-rending, and of the painful feelings it gave him. The bear was killed.

The only foundry Mr. Cassidy remembers seeing was the one owned by Andrew Steel just south of the Maj. T. D. Cunningham home, on South Spring street, the eastern wing of which was equipped for rough ma- chine work. For many years this was one of the town's most valuable industries. Later it was turned into a planing mill and the Berry Brothers removed it above the present railroad tracks on Market street. There was also the one conducted by Silas Riggs in Bairdstown. He says the two boatyards that he remembers were those of Isaac Green and of the Union Line, which was comprised largely of the Graff men. Then he refers to the fanning mill establishment, which had been a cooper shop and was operated by the Bushmans and then by John Sipe. Mr. Cas- sidy has been engaged successfully in the printing business.

A captain who operated a packet on the canal tells very interestingly of carrying Henry Clay from Pittsburg on his way to Washington. At the same time there was a Tennessee senator on the boat who impressed the captain very favorably. Charles Dick- ens wrote very interestingly of his trip over this canal. He was greatly charmed by the scenery.

Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot, and party came over the turnpike from Ebens- burg in the winter of 1852. The party were at the hotel then known as "The Marker House," now known as "The Merchants'." During this trip couriers would escort the Kossuth party out of the towns they departed from until they would meet others from the

Among the forwarders on the Pennsylvania Canal were Clark & Thaw, Charles Clark and William Thaw. When the first Boatmen's Association meeting was held in Blairsville Mr. Thaw sent fifty dollars to help pay ex- penses. That was characteristic of him. He became wealthy and a vice president of the Pennsylvania lines west, and had numerous private interests, but each day in the week except Sunday he held a reception for per- sons in need, and if the need seemed apparent each went away with something.

Jolın Cunningham is a name handed down to us with great honor. We can say noth- ing better or greater for anyone than to say that he was a man of God. John Cunning- hai was a Christian possessing the human touch, one who ministered to the widow and orphans and sick and afflicted. His name is held in great reverence by those who knew him or heard of him and who appreciate a good man. Early in the war of the Rebellion, when he learned that his sons Jesse A. and Thomas D. had enlisted, he said with much feeling and with tears in his eyes, "Boys, it is hard to part with you, but you did right, some should go." John Cunningham, having been an associate justice, was called "Judge." He died in April, 1865. He was one of the thirty-three members organizing the first Presbyterian Church, two miles from town, and when the congregation removed to town he gave them a lot on which to build a church. Miss Mary and Maj. Thomas Davis Cunning- ham, of Blairsville, Deputy Attorney Gen- eral J. E. B. Cunningham, Dr. George S. and Attorney John Cunningham, of Pitts- burg, William Cunningham, of Wilkinsburg, James Cunningham, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, East, John and other children of Wallace Cunningham, living in the West, are descendants of Judge John Cunningham.

Among those living here were Samuel Lyon and Brinton Lyon, the former an attorney and the latter a teacher. Mr. Lyon left a family, his wife, who was Sara Lowman, for- merly of Indiana, Pa., dying recently. Mr. Lyon is remembered as a safe attorney and counselor, a good soldier and citizen. He

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

was captain of a company in the Civil war, out along the Indiana road, is another well going from Bedford, where the family re- known citizen and one held in high esteem. sided. At Gettysburg General Reynolds con- sulted him as to the surrounding country. For many years, in connection with Robert Smith, he was engaged in mining and ship- ping coal. As a coal operator he was very highly regarded. He lives on a farm, is the senior elder in the Presbyterian Church, and vice president of the First National Bank.

George Bonin, married to a daughter of Richard MeCabe, was another attorney. He was in the Mexican war, and the burning sands affected his eyes so that he became blind. He died here years ago. His wife died recently.

Stewart Steel was among the first attorneys to settle here, and he owned the home now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. William Dunlap.

Thomas Benton Dulley is another well re- membered attorney. He was born and reared here and opened a law office in Blairsville, but removed to Gettysburg, where he died in middle life. He married and made his home there.

Another attorney was W. R. Boyer, for a time also editor. Mr. Boyer lived and died here, coming in the latter fifties, and died in the 1890 decade.

The Bairds were among the earliest of the settlers hereabouts. There were six of them, James, John, Samuel, William, Thomas and Charles. Bairdstown, across the river from Bairdstown is built in part at the base of the hill and along the route of the old pike, and another part along the route of the old canal. The village has been made more sightly by the use of paint. There is a handsome brick schoolhouse. James Murray has a handsome brick store room and dwelling, and the vil- lage is quite picturesque.

Blairsville to the west, was named for them. settled in Blairsville in 1854. He at that

John Graff was another man who gave his religious profession the human touch, he and his wife visiting and ministering to the sick and also the poor. The late John Hill was employed by the Graff firm, of which John Graff was the head, when he was a young man. He said to the writer that John Graff's exam- ple and acts had done much to shape his character. There are many in this community that can bear testimony as to the goodness of heart, also, of Jacob Graff, and Paul and others of the sons of John Graff.

John Hill had a very interesting career as a business man and otherwise in the com- munity. When employed prior to the begin- ning of the war by John Graff & Company he received four hundred dollars a year, which was the largest salary then paid to a clerk in this community. He became a partner of Samuel Ray and of Isaac Pore, and a leader in all good things for the community.

J. M. Turner, who resides a mile and a half

John S. Watterson, a leading business man here for a good many years, had quite a num- ber of sons, one of whom, John, became a bishop in the Catholic Church and A. V. D., the youngest, is an attorney in Pittsburg, with a clientele unrivaled for numbers; he stands very high in the city in other connec- tions also.

John Bruce, Robert Johnston, David Da- vis, John De Vinney, are names all can honor. They were very faithful and active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. There were also other Johns, John Short, John Campbell, John Aurentz, all good and true men. Sons of John Short and John Bruce died in the army. Another to die a soldier's death was Bruce Coleman, a brother of Mrs. R. B. Cum- mins.

James H. Walker, a native of Butler county, time engaged in the building of threshing ma- chines, run by horse power, and also in the foundry business. In the year 1873, he with two partners, Messrs. W. H. Steitt and George Ray, erected a planing mill in the town. He engaged in this business for a number of years, when an accident incapacitated him for work and he withdrew from the firm. In later years he served as squire and tax col- lector for the borough. Mr. Walker was al- ways strongly interested in the affairs of the town and county, and entered into political questions with great vigor. He held member- ship in the Cemetery Company from the time of its organization until his death. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He passed away July 4, 1896, at the age of of seventy-three, leaving behind him, we be- lieve, the record of an upright, honorable cit- izen.

Wilson Knott, who has been previously referred to, was one of the superintendents of the western division of the canal, includ- ing the Portage railroad, was a descendant of Major Wilson, the leader among the pioneers in resisting the incursions of the Indians in the locality of Wallace's Fort and about Derry. Brice Henderson was a tanner, and Mrs. Mary Henderson was his widow. Mrs. Elizabeth Alter was the widow of a soldier

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

who entered the army and was never after- Stewart streets. I In 1912 the capital was in- wards heard from. creased to $150,000, with a surplus fund of Robert Evans, the father of Mrs. Antes Snyder, who resides in the John S. Watterson homestead after having it remodeled, and of R. B. Evans, of town, came here in 1856 to take a contract on the North Western railroad, then being constructed. He did the grading on the first section or two out of Blairsville. He came here from Lancaster and after the work shut down on this rail- road he became landlord at the hotel then called the "Marker House," where he con- tinued for a number of years as proprietor. $150,000. The bank is a depository of the United States government and of the State of Pennsylvania. It has always enjoyed the confidence of the public, has passed safely through two financial panics, and never failed to declare semi-annual dividends to its stock- holders. The officers at the present (1913) are: President, T. D. Cunningham; vice president, J. M. Turner; cashier, Wilbur P. Graff. Directors: J. M. Turner, F. M. Graff, Thomas Maher. Cyrus Stouffer, Wilbur P. Graff, L. S. Clagett, Ralph B. Smith, T. D. Cunningham, C. A. Simons.

James Clark, an honorable commissioner of the Pennsylvania canal, during the time of its construction, was a resident of Blairsville and died here in 1867. While he was en- trusted with disbursing large sums of money and with large interests, there was never a hint of suspicion against his integrity, and he handed down to his posterity a most hon- orable name. His daughter, Mrs. John P. Ford, still resides here, at the age of ninety- six years. Her son William resides in La- trobe, and another son, Albert, resides here, as do her daughters, Mrs. D. M. Kier, Miss Jane Ford and Miss Amelia Ford.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 90

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