Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 99

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 99

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 first election in Grant township was held Friday, February 9, 1866, when the fol- lowing officers were elected: Justice of the peace, F. Holland ; constable, Thomas C. Kerr; judge of election, William Riddle; inspectors,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

William McQuown and Daniel Daugherty ; as- tion officers-judge, John T. Stanley; inspec- sessor, William MeInown; supervisors, Wil- tors, J. E. Riddle and G. Buterbaugh. liam Ashbaugh and George Doty; school di- The assessor's book for 1913 shows the fol- lowing: Number and value of horses assessed, 238-$11,500; number and value of cows as- sessed, 210-$3.423; taxables, 415; taxable real estate, $229,953; acres of cleared land, 13,449 ; acres of timber land. 2,687; money at interest, $59,877.15; cost of assessment, $38.76. rectors, Adam King, J. E. Riddle, Jonathan Langham, J. M. Walker, Leonard McCune, David Daugherty ; poor overseers, S. B. Miller and William McAlister; auditors, G. W. Rid- dle, S. G. Lowry and J. M. Walker; fence ap- praisers, John S. Best and Samuel Barr ; elec-

CHAPTER XXXIII GREEN TOWNSHIP

Green township was formed from Wheat- Welsh preachers afterwards occasionally vis- field in 1816 and in 1870 had a population of ited the colony. An incident related by 1,991, and in 1910 a population of 5,021. The Thomas Price is as follows: At an early day, when there were no churches, nor settled min- isters in the township, meetings were held in private houses. A Mr. Carmalt, father of Isaac Carmalt, being a preacher of the Society of Friends (Quakers), had met the people at the house of Francis Chapman. The congre- gation were waiting patiently for the minister to speak, and though some considerable time had elapsed not a word had been spoken. Sud- denly a hen rushed into the house, closely pur- sued by a hawk. As the latter passed by Mr. Carmalt he grasped it by the wing, went out of the door to a log heap and laid the head and neck across a log. William Stephens, who had accompanied him, picked up an axe and cut off its head. Gravely as ever they resumed their seats, not a word being uttered either by them or by the people during the time of interruption. soil, a sandy loam, is adapted to stock and grain growing, which are followed to a great extent, although lumbering has been carried on extensively for many years. At present mining is a very important industry. Coal, iron and limestone are found in abundance. The township received its name from the im- mense forests of pine and hemlock within its borders. Some of the old settlers were Thomas Price, who in 1802 settled about one fourth of a mile from Dixonville on the farm owned by Dr. William Shadrach. It is said that Thomas' mother placed him in a sugar trough near the run while she was washing her clothes. Occasionally she cast her eyes around to see that the baby was safe. All at once a bear was seen coming down the hill running toward the child. The woman, alarmed at the probable fate of her child, hastened to the rescue, while the bear, thinking an attack was The Connors were among the early settlers in the vicinity of Cherrytree. They ran some of the early rafts on the Susquehanna. Jacob S. Connor was the second white child born in the vicinity of Cherrytree, the first being Joseph Barber. pending, ran in the same direction. Several Welsh families, John Reese, David Moses, Simon Davis, David Price and a Mr. Jones. settled on Dixon run in 1801. Davis and Roberts, two Englishmen, bought the lands, or thought they did, and sent out this colony Cookport .- The first settlers in the vicinity of what is now Cookport were Jacob Connor, Simon Connor, Samuel, Robert, James and John Barr, Richard Smith, James Caldwell, William Cook, James Gardner, William Buter- baugh and John Learn. Jacob Connor made the first improvement on the site of the vil- lage about 1821. William Cook purchased the Connor property and afterwards presented it of Welsh, promising each one fifty acres for settling. Finding their title to the land not good, they returned to England discouraged, writing the settlers they had lost their land. The lands were held by the colonists almost twenty-one years before the rightful owners made claims, when most of them bought the tracts upon which they had settled. The Reeses, Prices and Davises remained on the to his son Richard. In 1858 Lewis Shaw pur- land until they died. These settlers at first chased a lot and erected a dwelling and black- went to Ebensburg to attend church, and smith shop. About this time Richard Cook 33

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

erected a store room and the place began to be four-room public school building. The lodges called Cookport. The first hotel was opened are : Odd Fellows, Moose, United Mine Workers and Path Finders. in 1868 by Andrew Shark. He was followed by Mrs. Eliza Fleming, Benjamin Williams, J. T. Gibson. At present S. J. Mccullough conducts a general store.

B. F, Williams in 1878 built the Cookport Foundry, machine shop and planing-mill, which gave employment to eleven workmen. The business the first year amounted to over $8,000. He manufactured a shingle machine of his own invention which he sold at a lower rate than the old machine.

Cookport is located in a beautiful level section of country. It is in the central part of the township and until recently all the voters of the township were obliged to go to Cookport to vote. It being a large township, election days brought large crowds to the town and political excitement ran high. Cook- port was the capital where all business of the township was transacted, but since the coal has been developed towns have sprung up all around the township seat. The coal towns of Starford, Lovejoy, Shanktown and Sax- man have all sprung up in recent years and have been prosperous. They have been the means of greatly increasing the population of the township. In each of these places a num- ber of stores have been established and the farmers find a good market for their produce.

For a number of years general stores have been conducted by Edward O'Neill and J. B. Siverd. These stores are not located in towns, but are carried on for the accommodation of the farmers in the vicinity of their loca- tion.

Dixonville .- This village received its name from Dixon's run, upon which it is situated. The latter was called for the Dixons, who resided below Indiana and were accustomed to pasture their cattle along this stream. The place was located on the farm of Richard Price and was first called Dixonville in 1860. The first merchant was George Rowe, Jr., who commenced business in 1866 and continued until 1871. Longwill & Buchanan were his successors. They sold to Marshall Gilpatrick in 1872. J. S. Longwill opened a store in 1874 and retired in March, 1878.

At present general stores are conducted by Charles L. Bence, J. F. Lightner, J. H. Swisher, and the Victor Trading Company. Sam Sadwitz conducts a clothing and gen- eral store and a five-and-ten-cent store. A. C. Fisher is the postmaster.

Dixonville is located in a very extensive coal field and during the past five years the coal has been operated here and at Idamar, which is about one mile north of Dixonville. This town was a quiet country village, but it is now a busy coal town with a much larger population.

The Operators' Coal Mining Company, with its principal office at Johnstown, Pa., operates an extensive mine at Dixonville. This company is now acquiring a field of about six thousand acres of coal in East and West Wheatfield townships and is destined to be a very important factor in the coal in- dustry of the county. At Dixonville the com- pany is operating the "D" seam, but has the "B" seam in reserve.

Kesslerville (Berringer P. O.) .- This vil- lage was platted in 1871 by Peter Kessler, who purchased the tract which includes the site of the village from the farm of Reuben Boring. The first building was erected by William Nicholson, a blacksmith, for his shop. He erected a second building for his residence. The next was the carpenter shop of John Garman. Jacob Connor erected the next building for a store house. The first and only store was opened by Pitman Berringer in 1877, when the post office was established. The post office has been discontinued.

Pine Flats .- The first settlers in the vicin- ity were John Huston, James Dunwoodie, Robert Dunwoodie, Alexander Stephens, Joseph Askins, Thomas Huston, Robert Evans, Hugh Huston, James Ellwood, Daniel Wil- liams, William Arthur, Thomas Askin, Hugh Perry, Hugh Williams, and others. Evan Williams in 1860 erected a store house on the north side of the Susquehanna road. In this building he sold goods for three years. H. J. Ellwood commenced merchandising in the Dr. Thomas room, but after a year he removed to Hustonville. He was succeeded by Thomas Cook.

Pine Flats is beautifully located on the edge of the pine timber regions and for many years has been a noted summer resort. It is a quiet country village and the refreshing pine breezes have been enjoyed in the sum- mer by many people from the city.

For many years Pine Flats did not have the advantage of a railroad. To reach the county seat the citizens had to drive a distance of

The churches of the town are Baptist, Wes- leyan Methodist and Catholic. There is a sixteen miles, but now they have the advan-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

tage of two railroads, the Pennsylvania and New York Central.

The Pine Flats Academy was founded in 1852 by W. M. McKee, who had charge of it for two or three years. It has been in opera- tion under different persons for many years, but has been closed for several years.

Taylorsville (Utah P. O.) was laid out on the lands of Robert T. Allison and Samuel Lydick and was named in honor of Gen. Zachary Taylor. The first houses were erected in 1854 by A. T. Moorhead for a dwelling and store room. Both were destroyed by fire and were replaced by Mr. Moorhead. He was succeeded in 1866 by W. S. Davidson, who has since continued in business. About 1860 George Keeler had a store and shook shop which continued operations for a few years. The first church was the "Union," erected abont 1832. The second was the Presbyterian and was called "East Union" and the third was the United Presbyterian.

The petition to make the village of Taylors- ville in Green township a borough was ap- proved by the grand jury March 24, 1858, and by the court June 25, 1858. The court de- creed that the general and borough elections should be held in the carpenter shop of Jacob Boucher in said borough. The first election for borough officers was held the first Tuesday in September, 1859. The court appointed Thomas Allison to give notice of said election, and Samnel Lydick judge, John Anderson and Robert T. Allison inspectors. The elec- tion resulted as follows: Burgess. A. T. Moor- head, Jr .; justices of the peace, Joseph Moor- head and Thomas Allison; constable, James T. Shields: judge of election, Jacob L. Lydick ; inspectors, Robert Allison and Jacob Boucher ; street commissioner, Jacob Allison ; auditors, Jacob L. Lydick and John Anderson; high constable, Joseph Stewart; town council, Jacob Allison, James T. Shields. Joseph Stew- art, Thomas G. Allison, Moses Lydick : school directors, Joseph Stewart, Moses Lydick, Henry Lockhart; assistant burgess, Thomas Allison ; assessor, Thomas G. Allison; over- seers of the poor, Thomas G. Allison and Ja- cob Boucher.

through the weekly newspapers for three suc cessive weeks. On - - 15, 1874, the court finding that more than two thirds of the citi- zens of the borough signed the petition, and that the law had been complied with, annulled the charter and further ordered that Taylors- ville become a part of Green township as pre- viously. The cost of proceedings was paid by the petitioners.

The Purchase Line Academy was estab- lished in 1873. J. L. Myers, Hon. S. J. Tel- ford, F. Trimble, Attorney D. H. Tomb, Dr. Matthews, Prof. S. L. Barr, Prof. H. D. Con- dron, Attorney Earl Miller, Hon. J. T. Henry, Robert Henderson and Donald Patterson have been principals of this school. The building is a neat frame located in a beautiful grove in the northern part of the township. The intelligence of the people is an evidence of the success of the school, which has been kept up continuously and is still flourishing. In connection with the school is a boarding house where many of the pupils can be ac- commodated. It is the only boarding house in connection with a school in the county with the exception of the Indiana Normal. The boarding house had added to the success of the school, for in it pupils can be accommo- dated at a very low rate. The academy is lo- cated in a quiet, country place, away from any railroad or mining town, in a community where the surrounding influences are of the very best.

A select school at Grisemore was conducted by Prof. Dubre Thomas during the summer of 1894, and by J. T. Stewart during the sum- mers of 1895-96. Here, in the country, was an ideal place for a select school. A better class of people cannot be found anywhere in In- diana county. Most of them are Welsh, and they were so enthusiastic over the success of the school that they opened their homes and accommodated the students at a very low rate. They solicited students for miles around, even in Cambria and Westmoreland counties, and enrolled almost one hundred pupils, many of whom were preparing to teach and did teach the coming winter. This school was of short duration, but from it have gone out successful physicians, attorneys, business men and teachers.

On September 24, 1873, the citizens of the borough of Taylorsville presented a petition to the grand jury annulling the charter of Green township "Circular Hunt" was or- ganized at the house of Thomas Barr in Green township. Invitations were given to the in- habitants of the surrounding country to at- tend on Wednesday, April 23. 1828, at nine said horough. On the same day the grand jury approved of the petition ; December 25. 1873, the court decreed that Green township appear at next term of court to show reasons why the prayer of the petitioners should not o'clock. The circle was to commence at the be granted and that such notice be given house of William Stephens. John McRee,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Joseph Gibson, Thomas Barr and John Pat- pany, and a branch of the road enters the terson were the horsemen to ride around the town. W. A. Saxman is president of the com- pany, and M. J. Bracken is general superin- tendent. lines and keep order. No firearms were al- lowed on the ground, but every man was to be provided with a wooden staff and a horn, and no dog was to be let loose until orders were given. The center was designated in "Pine Hollow" on the day previous to the hunt, and the outer and inner circles were to be in charge of A. T. Moorhead, James Ham- ilton and Thomas Barr, Sr. The proceeds of the game caught was to go to the benefit of the Harmony congregation.

Green is the largest township in Indiana county. It is watered by the north and south branches of Twolick creek, Dixon's run and Cushian creek. It is bounded on the north by the Purchase Line. In the northern part is the State road; the Homer, Cherrytree and Susquehanna road passes through Pine Flats and No. Nine to Cherrytree.

At one time Green township could boast of its hemlock and pine timber. It contained a vast acreage of the finest timber that could be found west of the Allegheny mountains, but most of it has been cut. In an early day the lumber was rafted on the Susquehanna river to Williamsport, Lock Haven and Ma- rietta, and at a later date sawed into bill stuff and boards and shipped or hauled to market. It is not until recent years that railroads have traversed the township. Much hauling was done to Indiana, where boards, etc., were sold and traded for clothing, groceries, salt, etc.

The coal developments in recent years have brought many settlers to the township, and where the coal has been operated new towns have been started.

At present (1913) the Greenwich Coal & Coke Company has three openings in Green township, two at Shanktown, where the "B" seam is operated, and one at Saxman, just across the Cambria county line, where the "D" seam is operated. The output at Sax- man is 1,000 tons and at Shanktown 1,200 tons daily. The coal from Shanktown is shipped over the Cherrytree & Dixonville branch to Cherrytree, and from there by way of Cresson to the East. The coal from Sax- man is also shipped by way of Cresson over the Pennsylvania to the East.

At Lovejoy there are about one hundred houses, and two hundred houses at Saxman, to accommodate the miners.

These are practically new mines, equipped with modern machinery, and will develop into very large operations. The coal at Shanktown is a high-grade steam coal, while that at Sax- man is used almost exclusively for by-product purposes and is considered the best quality by-product coal in the Allegheny mountains.

The assessor's book of Green township for 1913 shows the following: Number and value of horses assessed, 530-$19,350; number and values of cows assessed, 597-$6,942 ; number of taxables, 1,537; value of real estate, $699,- 058; number of acres of cleared land, 25,353; timber land, 7,262; money at interest, $154,- 351.74; cost of assessment, $138.40.

There are seventeen churches and nineteen schoolhouses.

In 1903 Greenwich, the coal town of the held at the home of David Fulton, March 15, Greenwich Coal & Coke Company, was located along Douglass' run in Green township. When in operation about one year there were 160 dwellings. The mines employed about 300 men, who were mostly English-speaking work- men. The company is owned by interests rep- resenting the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-

The first election in Green township was 1822, and resulted as follows: Constable, Abraham Lydick; supervisors, John Bartle- baugh and Jacob Lydic, Jr .; overseers, John Huston and William Stephens; fence ap- praisers, James Lapsley and John Martin ; township clerk, John Evans; judges, Jacob Lydic, John McDowell, William Stephens.

CHAPTER XXXIV

EAST MAHONING TOWNSHIP-MARION CENTER BOROUGH

THE MAHONINGS

Mahoning township was formed in 1806 and originally embraced all that part of Indiana county north of the Purchase Line. In 1834 it was divided, the eastern half receiving the name of Montgomery township, and the west- ern was still known as Mahoning. In 1846 Mahoning was separated into West, East, North and South Mahoning townships. In 1847 Montgomery was divided into Montgom- ery and Canoe townships. The former was again separated in 1868 into Grant and Mont- gomery; the latter in the same year was formed into the present Banks and Canoe townships.

The first election of Mahoning township was held March 20, 1807, at the house of James Brady. The following officers were elected : Constable, William Hannah; supervisors, James Brady and James McHenry ; overseers of the poor, Isaac McHenry and William Work; fence appraisers, James Ewing and William Diltz; judges, Joshua Lewis and Wil- liam Hopkins.

In 1808 Mahoning township, which then in- cluded the eight townships north of the Pur- chase Line, was assessed at the rate of one- third of a cent on the dollar, and the valuation was $30,099.60. The assessors were William Work, William McCreery and John Park. In 1810 James Brady, the assessor for Mahoning, had the following bill :

Two days' attendance on the county commis- sioners $ 2.00

Nine days' taking in the returns of the town- ship 9.00

Four days' making out duplicate 4.00

Two days' taking in the returns to the County Commissioners 2.00

Total $17.00

In 1814 Jonathan Ayers was assessed as fol- lows :

198 acres at 1.50 $297.00

Blacksmith (occupation) 40.00

Horses and cows 66.00

Total $383.00

Rate one-half cent on the dollar, which made

his taxes $1.91

East Mahoning township is one of the four townships formed from Mahoning in 1846. In 1870 it had a population of 1,133; in 1910, 827. The surface is rolling, the soil fertile. It is well watered by the Little Mahoning creek and numerous small streams. It is adapted to grain and stock growing. Coal is the principal mineral and is found in abun- dance. The principal town is Marion Center, a very prosperous borough, situated in the southern part of the township.

Mills .- The Enterline and Mottern mill was erected by Philip Enterline in 1860. It is two and a half stories in height and has three runs of stone, two being French burrs. It can grind thirty-five bushels of wheat and fifty of chop per day. Two Burnham turbine wheels, each of thirty-five horse power, are used. The mill is still in operation, but used principally for chopping.

The Work Mill .- The old mill on this site was erected in 1842 by Alexander Caruthers and William Finley. It was 30 by 36, used a "rye fly" wheel and had two runs of stone, one being of country make. In 1862 it was remodeled by Mr. Finley, who disposed of the property to R. H. Work, who also repaired it and put it in good order. In 1877 was erected the present building, 36 by 48 and two stories in height. He used two Burnham turbines and one Leffel wheel. He has a 16-foot head and can grind eighty bushels of wheat and 150 of chop per day. In the season of 1878 he ground 13,700 bushels. The mill was pur- chased by Aaron Patchin and more than twenty-five years ago he installed the roller process, which was the first roller process in all this section of country. The mill is now owned by John S. Ross and John A. Knolf, and is doing a prosperous business.

The first schoolhouse north of the Purchase Line was erected in 1807 within the woodland 100 rods north of what was afterwards the residence of Moses T. Work. The building stood near a fine spring, where the ruins of the old chimney can still be seen. The Van Horns, Bradys and Works raised the building. It was sixteen feet square, built of logs. had

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

oiled paper for windows, and at first a wooden packhorses. In 1803 he purchased the home- chimney, which was soon supplanted by one stead occupied by his son the late Wm. W. G., of stone. The first teacher was William Work, who taught in this house for several years and in this vicinity for seventeen years.

Georgeville .- The first house on the site of the village was erected by Lansing Bills, a blacksmith, a short time after the laying ont of the road from Indiana to Diltz's mill. When the road from Plumcreek to Curwens- ville was made, Bills left and was succeeded by Christopher Bair, who was also a smith and succeeded to the former's business. At a later date Henry Kinter kept a store in a mud house on the Plumcreek road, about a fourth of a mile from the village. He subsequently removed to Georgeville, where he was the sec- ond storekeeper. About 1824 George Hoover erected a residence and tanyard. About 1830 Andrew Comptar arrived; he was a brother- in-law of Hoover and also a tanner. Together, about this time, they laid out the village and called it Georgeville for Mr. Hoover. The postoffice for several years was kept at Ewing's mill and was then called Mahoning. It was removed to Georgeville, subsequently was taken to Ewing's mill, and again returned to Georgeville. Henry Kinter was the first postmaster in the village. The first church in the vicinity was the log church of the German Lutherans, about a half mile northeast of the town. The second church was the Methodist Episcopal, located within the cemetery grounds. The first preacher at the latter was Rev. Elijah Coleman. The first school was taught in the log German Church. Schools were taught in the basement of the M. E. Church for several years.

in East Mahoning township. John Hopkins, who located in Wheatfield township in 1808, lived on the Hopkins homestead. Caspar Mogle came to the farm afterwards occupied by Henry Hoover. Jonathan Ayers settled in Newport on the Conemaugh river, where he worked at his trade as a blacksmith ; his shop was patronized especially by the boatmen, who frequented the place during high stages of water. In 1804 he removed to the farm in East Mahoning township afterwards occupied by his son James. Here he erected a smith shop, cahin, etc., and worked at his trade and farmed as circumstances demanded. He was the first blacksmith located in the county north of the Purchase Line. The well known Ayers log house, torn down in 1875, was erected on "The Manor and Brady's Mill" road in 1820. It was 48 by 33 feet in size, two stories high, and for sixty years was a central point. From the time of its construction it stood at the junction of the Indiana and Punxsutawney and Georgeville roads, and the marks of the old "Manor" route, long since abandoned, can still be seen in front of the site of the building and on the hillside in the rear. Mahoning post office was kept in it for several years by Jonathan Ayers, and in more recent days James Ayers had charge of Ayers' post office in the same building. From 1847 to 1853 William B. Marshall and James Sutton had a large and well patronized store in the front room of the old building. From 1846 it was for many years the voting place of the township. Owing to its location it was a favorite stopping place for travelers and team- sters, and many a merry party of Punxsutaw nians have gone in their sleighs or carriages to partake of a repast at "Ayers" or min- gle in the mazy walks of the dance to the early hours of the morning. The Ayers farm was patented in 1800 in the name of William T. Brady, and the tract was called Oak Hall. Jonathan Ayers was as well known east of the mountains as in Indiana county on account of his packing for many years tow and flax eastward, and iron and salt westward. His smith shop was patronized by settlers living thirty and even forty miles distant, and from an auger to a horseshoe, he could supply all their wants.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 99

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