USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I > Part 75
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rule, we must preserve our free institutions, and to do so we must devise some change or plan to drive from the service all corrupt, in- competent demagogues-men of jumbo pro- fessions and of pigmy deeds-and call in their stead men of honor, men of intelligence, men of broad common sense, men of truth, men who have courage, men who know the right and dare to do it, men who love our free schools, our free speech, our free homes and our free country-then, and not until then, will this State and Nation become what God in his wisdom and mercy designed."
Dr. McKnight was regularly renominated in 1881 for a second term, but George W. Hood, of Indiana. an independent, defeated him at the election. Dr. McKnight was then and is now a radical Republican. Dr. Mc- Knight was twice elected school director in Brookville borough, in 1858 and 1885.
On October 8. 1863. in addition to his prac- tice, Dr. McKnight started the present drug store of Mcknight & Son, in what was then the east end of the Clements building, Rev. David Eason assisting as clerk. On January 1. 1864, he took as a partner his half-brother, Mr. Thomas L. Templeton, who assumed the clerkship. Local notices of Dr. McKnight's store were made in the papers, but the first general advertisement of the store published, was as follows :
W. J. MCKNIGHT & BRO. MOORHEAD HOUSE Brookville, Pa. wholesale and retail dealers in Drugs, Medicines and Chemicals, Dye Woods and Dye Stuffs. Oils, Paints, Painters' Articles, Varnishes, Putty, Glassware, Perfumery, Fine Soaps. Fine Hair and Tooth Brushes. Paint Brushes.
All the Patent or Proprietary MEDICINES OF TIIE DAY
CANDLES
A superior lot of Lamps and Lamp Chim- neys constantly on hand.
WE HAVE THE BEST CARBON QIL in the market, which we will sell at 75 cents per gallon ; and Groceries of the best quality, as low as can be bought in town.
Our CIGARS and TOBACCO are the best that have ever been offered in the county. Customers and Physicians will always find
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
at this establishment fresh and unadul- terated Medicines, which have been se- lected with great personal care for this market. All purchasers are invited to examine the stock, as they will find it «qual to any other in this section.
The pioneer goods for this store were hauled from Mahoning by William Harmon. He had four mules. All goods were hauled either from Kittanning, Mahoning, Red Bank, In- diana or Ridgway. It took from three to four days to make a trip. Freight charges were about one dollar a hundred. On the twenty- third day of June, 1873, the railroad was con- pleted to Brookville. McKnight & Bro. then had all their goods shipped by rail and mostly in car lots. Being agents for the Standard Oil Company, their freights were heavy. The partnership with Mr. Templeton continued until July, 1891, when he withdrew to assume the cashiership of the National Bank of Brook- ville. The partnership was quite prosperous. The store became now, as originally, Dr. Mc- Knight's.
In May, 1865, Mcknight & Brother opened at news department and a newspaper delivery from their store. In November of the same year they engaged more extensively and ad- vertised as follows:
"We have just concluded arrangements with the N. Y. American News Co. for the delivery to us of all the leading publications of the day, among which are Atlantic Monthly, N. Y. Tribune, N. Y. Herald, Harper's Publications, N. Y. Clipper, Wilkes' Spirit, Leslie's Weekly and Monthly, and an innumerable variety of other papers and magazines which will give to the public at lower figures than they have ever before been sold. Give us a call. Me- Knight & Bro."
On Sunday evening, November 5, 1871, the store of Mcknight & Bro. was destroyed by fire at a loss of ten thousand dollars with no insurance. The fire commenced in the Clem- ents ( Moorhead) barn, and all the buildings on the square west to Barnett were destroyed. In December, 1869, McKnight & Bro. pur- chased from Kline & Verstine half a town lot opposite the courthouse, paying for the same five thousand dollars. In April, 1871, they commenced the erection of a three-story brick building, the basement of which was finished and occupied on Tuesday evening, November 7th, after the fire, where they opened up their store again. In February, 1872, the entire building was completed and the store room occupied. This store room has been enlarged
from time to time until it is now twenty-nine and one half by ninety-four feet long, four- teen feet high ; basement twenty-nine and one half by ninety-four feet long and nine feet high. The interior is finished in walnut and hardwood, in short, it is a room in style and finish not excelled by any other store in the western part of the State. In the spring of 1869 they started the wall paper trade in the town. All wall paper, until 1872, was trimmed by the hanger with a pair of long shears.
On May 1, 1893, J. B. McKnight became a junior partner in the store, under the firm name of MeKnight & Son. On July 1, 1901, Albert Gooder purchased a fourth interest in the store, and the firm name was changed to MeKnight, Son & Company. As a clerk Al- bert Gooder was efficient, honest and indus- trious, and as a partner he continued the same. For more than twenty-seven years he was connected with the store. On April 23, 1911, he died suddenly. On May 16, 1911, J. B. NeKnight bought Mr. Gooder's interest, and the firm name was again changed to McKnight & Son. They carry a comprehensive stock of high-grade drugs and chemicals and other merchandise, including wall paper, window shades, paints and varnishes, kodaks, Edison phonographs, Victor talking machines, foun- tain pens, bicycles and supplies, perfumes, toilet waters, books and magazines and cigars.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
Soldiers' Homc
'The first "soldiers' home" opened in the United States was originally organized June 0. 1862, as "The Cooper Shop Soldiers' Home," and situated at the corner of Crown and Race streets, Philadelphia, Pa., from June 0, 1863. until removed in 1866. From that year until 1872 it was known as "The Soldiers' Home in the City of Philadelphia."
The idea of establishing a home where the old Civil war soldier and his wife could end their days in peace and comfort originated with the Woman's Relief Corps of the Depart- ment of Pennsylvania. At their sixth annual convention, held at Erie, in February, 1889, the enterprise was decided upon, and a com- mittee appointed to confer with a like com- mittee from the Grand Army of the Republic, in order to perfect plans for the establishment of such a home. In accordance with these plans, the property at Brookville known as the "Hotel Longview" was purchased and formally opened January, 1890. The board
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of trustees and many prominent Grand Army and Woman's Relief Corps people were in at- tendance as the guests at a banquet on that occasion. Thomas J. Stewart, Department Commander, G. A. R., delivered the dedica- tory address, and the Home opened under the most favorable auspices. Mrs. Louise A. Henrie, of Johnstown, was installed as matron. She resigned in six months, and was succeeded by Mrs. Frances M. Carlin, who had charge of the institution until April 1, 1896, when she resigned, Mrs. Griffith, of Kane, taking her place. The property was purchased in 1889, with all its furniture, fixtures and equip- ments, for thirty thousand dollars. The pur- chase included, besides the six acres of ground surrounding the home buildings, about twenty- five acres of farm land near by, but the latter was resold for two thousand dollars. In 1915 there are thirty-six inmates.
Y. M. C. A., Etc.
In 1915 the foundation for the Young Men's Christian Association building was laid. In that year also the Park building was com- menced.
Brookville Hospital
The Brookville hospital board of directors organized early in December, 1915, and elected the following officers :. W. N. Conrad, presi- dent ; L. V. Deemer, vice president ; Dr. W. S. Fulton, secretary, and I .. A. Leathers, treas- urer.
Drinking Fountain
The drinking fountain erected at the cor- ner of Main and Pickering streets, in front of the courthouse, by the lady members of the Village Improvement Association, was chris- tened and officially presented to the people of Brookville at a public meeting held in the courthouse on Saturday evening, October 24, 1903. The meeting was very generally at- tended, the courtroom being well filled. Judge John W. Reed was selected to preside over the meeting, and Maj. John McMurray and WV. S. Weaver were named as secretaries. The Brookville cornet band was present and ren- lered a number of selections. After a few interesting remarks the president introduced Dr. W. J. McKnight, who spoke as follows :
"Mr. Chairman, Officers and Members of the Village Improvement Association, Chief Burgess, Gentleman of the Council and Fel- low Citizens :
"On the first Monday of September, in the year 1829, the commissioners appointed to locate the county seat for Jefferson met at the house of Joseph Barnett, and discharged that duty. They chose land near to and west of the confluence of the North Fork and Sandy Lick, where those two streams unite and form Red Bank creek, and named the site Brook- ville. The name Brookville was given be- cause of the number of little springs in and brooklets flowing from the hills. The French word 'ville,' meaning a country seat, a town, was added to the word brook, making Brook- ville, signifying a town of springs, brooks and water. It was argued that the water in Red Bank creek would enable the Blanchard sys- tem of steamboating to run boats up to about where Jenks' foundry now stands, and there to erect a wharf on which to load and unload freight and passengers. Over seventy-three years ago, when the shade of a pine forest was heavy right here the whole day through, when the woods were alive with bear, panthers and wolves, the town was surveyed and plotted by John Sloan, and quite a number of lots were sold at public auction, in June, 1830. John Eason, father of David, built the first house in the town, where Gregg's barber shop now stands.
"Notwithstanding this watery name and watery environment of our town, Brookville, in my boyhood and early manhood days, was very meagerly supplied with water. That which the people had and obtained from deep and expensive wells was, as a rule, disagree- able in taste and of an inferior quality. In fact, two pioneer citizens, namely, Charles Anderson and one William Montgomery, for many years supplied the women of the town with washing and scrub water at the rate of six and one fourth, ten and twenty-five cents per barrel. In addition to this, the women were obliged to catch all the rain water pos- sible in tubs and barrels for dish-washing and other ordinary household purposes.
"I will now read to you the call for the for- mation and organization of the pioneer water- works in and for Brookville:
"'Notice is hereby given that the books for the subscription for stock in the Brookville Water Company will be opened at the store of J. B. Evans, in Brookville, on Monday, the 17th day of August next. (Signed bv) SAM- UEL H. LUCAS, JESSE G. CLARK, JARED B. EVANS, JOHN SMITHI, URIAII MATSON, SAM- UTEL CRAIG, Commissioners. (Dated) July 28, 1846.'
"The company was chartered by act of As-
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sembly in 1847. The water supplied by this company was from what is now called the 'AAmerican House' spring. No cistern was built at the head of the spring and the water was conducted through logs buried in the ground, just as it naturally flowed. The logs were laid down Jefferson to Pickering, down Pickering to South side of Main street, and west from Pickering on Main to Barnett. Charles Merriman bored these pitchpine logs. Log penstocks were supplied to customers. These were double bored, had wooden stop- cocks and were located on the street. The enterprise was unsuccessful. This spring sup- plied David Henry's tannery, built by him in 1831. and which stood where the 'American llouse' barn now stands. The loss of the water at his tannery so angered Mr. Ileury that he dug out and cut the logs. A suit at law resulted and the court decided that water could not be legally diverted from its natural course. The loss occasioned by the interrup- tion of his business and expenses attending this litigation ruined Mr. Henry and disrupted the company. To the best of my recollection, a family-right was ten dollars per year.
"The second attempt, and the only success- ful effort. to establish publie waterworks for the town, was by a subscription from our citi- zens of twenty-five thousand dollars in stock, and on the 30th day of July, 1883. was organ- ized the chartered Brookville Water Com- pany. On the ist of December, 1883. the company had water running through a six-inch wrought-iron flange pipe over quite a portion of the town. The water provided by this com- pany is taken from the North Fork and is the first supplied to the town that is pure, sweet and healthful.
"On Saturday evening, July 15th. 1901. four- teen representative ladies of Brookville met by request of Miss Amelia Clark at her home, and after discussion and deliberation organized what is now called the Brookville Village Im- provement Association, by electing the follow- ing officers to serve one year: President, Mrs. Harriet Burns ; first vice president, Mrs. Sallie Rodgers; second vice president, Mrs. T. D. Rhines ; secretary. Mrs. Rufus G. Reitz, and treasurer. Mrs. Jacob Leibengood. A com- mittee was then appointed to draft a constitu- tion and by-laws, namely, Miss Amelia Clark, Mrs. George Van Vliet and Mrs. H.I. B. Craig. The object of the association as set forth in this constitution is 'to promote neatness and order in the city, and to do whatever may tend to improve and beautify the town as a place of residence, and keep it in a healthful condi-
tion.' This constitution has now, two years later, a membership signature of fifty-four ladies. At this organization meeting, Mrs. Harriet Burns moved that the association take such action 'as may be necessary to procure a drinking fountain for the public.' And now. at a cost of about nine hundred dollars, and after the expenditure of much time, great patience, anxiety and labor, the drinking foun- tain has been placed in the public square of our town. I want to say, in conclusion, that to Mrs. Harriet Burns, president of this associa- tion, more than to any other one person, is due the credit for this adornment to Main street- this beautiful fountain, this useful necessity to man and beast. In saying this, I do not for- get for a moment the aid and support, counsel and assistance, she received from all the other ladies of the association. And now, by au- thority of the Brookville Village Improvement Association, and in the name of virtue, equality and temperance, } christen this, our public drinking fountain, 'Harriet-Amelia.'"
At the conclusion of Dr. McKnight's ad- dress, the fountain was formally presented to the people of Brookville through W. L. Mc- Cracken, Esq., who spoke for the Village Im- provement Association, and the same was ac- cepted by Burgess B. E. Irvin. The total cost of the fountain amounted to $904.98.
Public Schools and Buildings
In 1859 Brookville had five schools, two governed by male and three by female teach- ers. Wages for men then were twenty-five dollars a month, and for females, sixteen dol- lars per month. The term that year was four months. Each teacher was his or her own janitor. Mrs. P. G. McKnight taught school No. Two that year and received sixteen dol- lars per month in school orders. It might be well to say here that children were not ruined then in school by long terms and over study. They were given the elements and groundwork of an education and permitted to grow physi- cally strong. More attention was then paid to the three R's and less to exhibitions and basket-ball. School children are now pushed and pushed and grow up as hothouse plants.
The present main public school building was erected in 1878, by Daniel English and R. D. Taylor, contractors, at a cost, including furniture, cisterns, etc., of $20.574.10. The grounds embrace four acres. In 1881 Mr. Paul Darling made the following bequest in his will: "For beautifying and improving the grounds of the public school of Brook-
X
Paul Darling
SCHOOLTEACHER FINAN MIER, PHILANTHR PIFT
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ville, $3,000 a year for twelve years." A tablet to the memory of Paul Darling was erected. in appreciation of this gift. The inscription was written by Dr. W. J. McKnight. This money has been used to grade and lay out the grounds, plant trees, shrubs and flowers, and put down walks of Berea stone, until a lovely park is the result. A residence for the janitor has been erected in the grounds.
.
The Longview school building is a one-story brick structure, erected in 1891, at a cost of $2,500, to accommodate the pupils of the prim- ary grade.
Brookville's parochial school is conducted under the auspices of the Catholic Church, and is in charge of the Sisters of Mercy. The school is most thorough in its course of study, and it is a fact well known that the Catholic parochial schools turn out educated men and women. Especially is this the case with the school under consideration.
PAUL DARLING, in his day one of the most notable figures in Jefferson county, was a man of remarkable endowments which carried him forward steadily in an ambitious career to a place among the foremost citizens of this sec- tion. He labored fruitfully in every field he entered, meeting with unusual success and accumulating a large fortune, to whose acquisi- tion and management he devoted himself 1111- sparingly. Until his death few in the com- munity realized how strong was his sympathy in its every interest, or how dear were the as- sociations covering long years of close rela- tions in business, social and other activities. His name has a place among the permanent benefactors of the borough and county.
Mr. Darling was born November 5. 1823, at Smethport, Mckean Co., Pa .. son of Dr. George Darling by his first marriage. llis mother's maiden name was Canan, and he was quite young when she died, leaving three chil- dren. Paul, Jedediah and Charlotta. Dr. Jedediah Darling predeceased his brother by a number of years. Charlotta married Dr. J. Y. McCoy, of Smethport. and survived him. reaching an advanced age. In 1834 Dr. George Darling settled at Brookville. Jefferson Co., Pa., where he engaged in the practice of medi- cine during his active years. Soon after his removal to this place he married (second) Julia Clark, daughter of Elijah Clark, of Knox township, Jefferson county, and one daughter of this union, Mary, is the wife of William H. Gray, of Brookville. There were two other children by this marriage, who died in in- fancy.
Paul Darling came to Brookville a couple of years after his father, and though only a boy at the time, thirteen years old, commenced to help himself by teaching, having a school in Pinecreek township, this county, in 1836. He always kept his first teacher's certificate, which reads :
"We, the undersigned School Directors of Pine Creek Township, do hereby certify that we have examined Paul Darling, and have found him qualified to teach Reading, Writing and Arithmetick and the principal rules of Grammar & Geography.
"Signed, "JAMES MOORE, "ARCHD MCMURRAY, "JOIIN LONG, "GEORGE S. MATTHEWS."
In 1851 he began clerking in the store of Thomas K. Litch, and proved so quick in grasping the details of business and so faithful in the performance of his duties, that Mr. Litch intrusted much important work to his care, and the warm personal friendship which had its inception then continued through life. Within a few years he became general man- ager of Mr. Litch's extensive lumber business, in that connection acquiring valuable experi- ence in the line in which he made his greatest success. By economy Mr. Darling managed to save enough from his earnings to start out for himself. and his early investments in the lumber trade brought such excellent returns that he was soon established with a com- petency. He was particularly fortunate in his investments in western timber lands, but most of his fortune was made in his home county, and he was associated with its leading enter- prises. He was one of the founders of the Jefferson County National Bank, the oldest financial institution in Brookville, established in 1878, and he was serving as vice president at the time of his death.
Mr. Darling was a man of the strictest in- tegrity, adhered to the letter and spirit of his word in every transaction, great or trivial, and it was this characteristic, no doubt, that won him such unlimited confidence in business. He had the faith in his own judgment which en- abled him to engage in large undertakings fearlessly. but he was nevertheless shrewd and careful, proceeding prudently and surely. His modest and unassuming manners com- bined well with his persistency in anything he undertook, his industrious and intelligent application to whatever came into his hands. In his leisure hours he cultivated his mind by
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familiarizing himself with the best literature, and he was an attractive companion, sociable, agreeable and considerate. He was always loyal to family ties, taking care of his father and stepmother in their later years, until they died. When his sister Mary married he took up his home with her at Brookville, and there he died, after an illness of several weeks, Nov. 4. 1881, the day before his fifty-eighth birth- day.
It would seem that more of the real Paul Darling came out when he passed away than had been apparent even to his close associates during his life. He had inade many sincere friendships, he was kindly in his intercourse with all, yet the breadth of his sympathies and the depth of his affection could hardly have been measured thereby. But in his will, which has been called "one of the most remarkable on record," he showed his goodwill toward all with whom he had had dealings, and liberality to many a cause in which it might have been judged he had only a passing interest. He
remembered his kinsfolk generously. But many, many more were given tokens of friendly regard, and there were many be- ' quests of a nature which showed that busi- ness had not absorbed his attention entirely. In fact, his remembrances made it possible for a number of local organizations to increase their usefulness. Various churches received substantial sums; the local poor were pro- vidled for; money was left to beautify and im- prove the public school grounds in the bor- ough for a long term ; and a large number of his debtors were released entirely from their obligations, a circumstance almost unique. As most of his legacies were devised to residents of Jefferson county, his fortune returned to enrich and benefit its source, after increasing under its wise management while in his care. The soldiers' monument in the Brookville cemetery was his gift. and there are many other evidences of his generosity in and about the borough. The monument he erected when he made these bequests will never be oblit- erated as long as one of those from whom he lifted the burden of debt survives, or as long as the beautiful Methodist Church, or the elegant Presbyterian parsonage, both largely erected by his bounty, or the sokliers' monument. remain. The children of the pub- lie schools of Brookville, too, as they are sur- rounded and refined by the beauties his thoughtfulness has lavished about them, will revere and bless his memory.
PAUL DARLING'S WILL
The following bequests were made by Paul Darling, as found in his will, which was ad- mitted to probate November 1, 1881: "To W. Il. Gray and Mary Gray, his wife, my bank stock and interest in the Jefferson Coun- ty National Bank, about $30,000; to Paul Darling Robinson, Paul Darling Wright, Paul Darling Hamlin, and Paul Darling Scofield, my namesakes, cach $200; to Edward Sco- field, $3,000; to R. G. Wright, Henry Hamlin, Byron D. Hamlin, Thomas K. Litch, Dr. W. Y. McCoy, Mrs. Charlotta McCoy, Delano C. llamlin and Geneva, wife of Delano C. Ham- lin, Mollie Forrest, cach $100; to Dr. Henry 1 .. McCoy, $200, and to his wife, $100; to El- len. daughter of Charlotta McCoy. Ed. McCoy and Frank, his wife, Mrs. Lotta Hamlin, and to her children, Willie, Orlo, Aline and Mary, each $100; to Emma Hamlin and Mrs. Lena Rose, each $100; to Harry C. Litch, $100; to Mrs. Blanch Litch, $25 ; to E. A. Litch, $100, and Allie, his wife, $25; to Mrs. Thomas K. Litch, Anna Henderson, daughter of Thomas K. Litch, C. B. Clark, Amelia Clark, Maggie Clark, Mattie Gephart, Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Darrah and Mary A. Corbett. each $100; to Dr. J. E. Hall and C. R. Hall, each $50; 10 Alr. and Mrs. Joseph Henderson, each $25; to Joseph B. Henderson, $100; to Mrs. Joseph B. Henderson, $25, and to each of her chil- dren, $5: to Charles Corbet, $50; to Thomas E. Espy and Thomas M. Carroll, each $100; to W. D. J. Marlin, $50; to Dr. Henry L. Mc- Coy, in trust for Geneva Bard, $500; to Mrs. John T. Reed, $1,200; to Mrs. Emma Kimble, $1,300; to Mrs. Skillen, sister of Mrs. Kim- ble. $1,300; to J. B. Henderson, in trust for Mrs. Martha Hall, judgment against Enoch Hall; to John Guyther and D. A. Henderson, two thirds of about $2,000 ; to N. G. Edelblute, $3,280: to H. F. Burris, one third of balance of article of agreement ; to Robert and Mary 11. Stewart, life interest in property in which they now live; to S. M. Tinthoff, judgment against him; to Benewell Kroh, judgment against him; to I. J. Yaney, judgment against him; to Thomas Stewart, judgment against him ; to George M. and Theodore Irvin, judg- ment against them : to S. H. Croyl and William Kennedy, judgment against them; to William Walters, what he owes me; to T. B. McLain and Coleman, judgment against them ; to Con Fink, judgment against him; to A. J. Davis, judgment against him : to M. R. Reynolds and E. A. McClelland, judgment against them; to
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