USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 111
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Soon after the great fire of 1845 the Pittsburg Navigation and Fire Insur- ance Company issued notices in the newspapers that it had paid nearly $200,000 losses from the fire; that, notwithstanding this calamity, it was in first-class con- dition; and that, inasmuch as it was wholly a domestic concern, the citizens should patronize it instead of companies from abroad.
In September, 1846, an extensive firemen's parade occurred, on which occa- sion the following companies participated: Hope Engine and Hose Company, William Penn Engine and Hose Company, Washington Engine and Hose Com- pany, President Engine and Hose Company, Uncle Sam Engine and Hose Com- pany, Eagle Engine and Hose Company, Allegheny Engine and Hose Company, Duquesne Engine and Hose Company, Neptune Engine and Hose Company, Niagara Engine and Hose Company, and Vigilant Engine and Hose Company. The six last named comprised the Pittsburg Firemen's Association, while the Washington, William Penn, President and Uncle Sam comprised the Allegheny Association.
Soon after the great fire the several insurance companies located here reor- ganized. The Firemen's Insurance Company and the Mutual Insurance Com- pany both took on a new lease of life. New stock was placed by both companies upon the market, and soon a fair degree of business was enjoyed. In 1846 a bill introduced in the State Senate by Mr. Dorsey, providing that insurance
.
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG. 915
companies of other States might enter Pennsylvania to carry on their business, was violently opposed by the insurance companies of this vicinity.
Previous to this the law of the State placed a heavy penalty on outside insur- ance companies doing business here, and it is declared that the law was originally passed to give to Philadelphia companies the monopoly of the insurance busi- ness of the State. Within the two or three years succeeding the great fire the Pittsburg Navigation and Fire Insurance Company was the only local institution doing a fairly successful business here, nearly all the risks being taken by Phila- delphia companies. One company established immediately after the fire was the Penn Insurance Company, of which J. Finney, Jr., was secretary. He continued to call for installments of stock from time to time during the year 1846. In 1846 the large bell, weighing 1,000 pounds, used so long by the Duquesne Company, was cast by A. Fulton. In 1847 the Pittsburg Mutual Life Insurance Company was duly chartcred by the Court of Common Pleas, and Mr. Foster, of the Dispatch, became actuary. Within one month thereafter over 100 appli- cations for policies in the new company were placed on file (o). In January, 1848, a destructive fire broke out on Water Street, in the Cadwallader Evans stone mill, and before it could be checked about $70,000 worth of property had been destroyed. During the year 1848 incendiary fires were of such frequent occurrence that the City Councils took steps to increase the number and efficiency of the night watch and of the number of engine and hose companies. In April, 1848, at one fire, 715,000 pounds of bacon were destroyed, the fire affording a brilliant display of light and smoke. Fires, instead of decreasing in number, continued to increase during the year 1849, there being a total in Pittsburg of 46 fires and 113 false alarms. It was truly a reign of terror, and called for energetic action on the part of the City Councils and fire companies.
On March 7, 1849, the Citizens' Insurance Company was incorporated for $200,000 capital, in shares of $50 cach, and was authorized to accept premiums upon property and lives. Both these companies were successful from the start, and were soon enjoying a high state of prosperity.
In December, 1849, the Western Insurance Company, which had just been organized, lost $22,000 on steamboat insurance, but promptly met the loss. By act of March 20, 1849, the Western Insurance Company was incorporated with a capital of $300,000 in shares of $50 each, and authorized to take risks upon both property and lives.
In 1849 occurred a memorable incident connected with the fire companies of these cities. A large fire broke out on Ohio Street, in Allegheny, and, as usual, the companies quickly responded to the call; but a number of the com- panies which had not been paid for their services, and to which no appropriation had seemingly been made, not only refused to take part in subduing the flames, but forcibly and violently prevented other companies from doing so. "Never in any city in the United States did the blessed cause of law and order receive a more severe shock than it did at the late fire in Allegheny, when hundreds of men, well named in this instance firemen, stood by exulting in the progress of the flames they might have quenched" (p). Immediately succeeding this the insurance companies raised their rates of insurance in Allegheny to such a high figure as to call for a protest from business men, but they refused to reduce the rates unless it was made a certainty that the firemen would not be interfered with at subsequent fires. The Pittsburg companies which had been prevented from quelling the flames passed resolutions not to go to Allegheny in future, and in some instances further resolved that they would resign sooner than take part in quelling any other fires in Allegheny.
(o) Post, June 23, 1847.
(p) Gazette, October 2, 1849.
-
916
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG. .
The trouble in Allegheny over the refusal of the Allegheny companies either to quench the fire themselves or permit the Pittsburg companies to do so, became known as the Allegheny Fire Riots. The difficulty arose from the negli- gence of the authorities of Allegheny to properly compensate the firemen for their labors. The act seems to have been deliberately planned and carried into execution. They had previously sent in a memorial for an increase of the appro- priation intended for their respective companies, but had failed to get any response from the City Councils. They accordingly determined to let the next fire take its course. They even went so far as to attack firemen from Pitts- burg who insisted on quelling the flames, cut their hose, pelt them with brickbats and engage with individuals in bloody fights. The trouble resulted in a trial of the Allegheny boys upon the charge of rioting, and several of them were fined. They were defended in court by C. Naylor and C. S. Eyster. Charles Shaler assisted the prosecution.
In September, 1850, at a largely attended firemen's parade, the following companies were represented: Eagle, Allegheny, Duquesne, Neptune, Vigilant, Niagara, Good Intent, Independence, Relief, Lafayette, Fairmount and Good- will. In May, 1851, in spite of the fire companies, sixteen houses were destroyed on Wylie and Chatham streets.
By act of April 26, 1850, the Associated Firemen's Insurance Company of Pittsburg was incorporated, with a capital of $200,000, in shares of $25 each. This company was authorized to take risks on both property and lives. On January 25, 1851, the bridge over the Allegheny River at Hand Street was destroyed by fire, the scene being a grand one, as span after span was destroyed and fell into the river. The bridge cost $40,000, and was insured for about $30,000, and the fire is said to have been of incendiary origin.
In 1851 the stock of the Western Insurance Company was worth $12.50 per share, Citizens' $11.50 and Associated Firemen's $6. During the year 1851 there were eleven fires and four false alarms in Pittsburg and Allegheny. In 1851 the Firemen's Insurance Company was authorized by an act of the Legislature to receive deposits of money, and pay interest on the same, not exceeding six per cent. In 1851 the Fairmount Fire Company of the Fifth Ward was doing considerable business. "Resolved, That from and after the publication of this notice no fire risks, whether original or continued, shall be considered as taken by any insurance office in this city until the premium is paid in cash" (q). In 1851 the State Mutual Insurance Company, which had established a branch here, had in circulation over 2,000 policies in this vicin- ity. On February 10, 1851, the Pittsburg Life Insurance Company was incor- porated, and among the incorporators were George S. Hoon, Joseph S. Leech, John S. Dilworth, Charles A. Colton, Samuel McClurkan, William Phillips and John H. Wilson. The capital was fixed at $100,000, in shares of $50 each. This was probably the first company authorized to do business solely upon life policies. Special privileges were given by the law to this company to enable it to issue policies to women and children on behalf of their husbands or fathers.
On January 7, 1854, a large fire in Allegheny, which was of incendiary origin, destroyed seventeen houses, entailing a loss of about $50,000. In Febru- ary, 1854, a $25,000 fire occurred on Sycamore Street, near Columbia, a por- tion of which was insured. In March, 1854, an immense fire occurred in Bir- mingham, starting in the glasshouse of Mr. Ihmsen, and destroying about $150,000 worth of property before being checked. In April, 1854, the Monon- gahela Insurance Company of Pittsburg was incorporated, with a capital of
(q) Action of Board of Underwriters, March, 1851, A. W. Marks, secretary.
917
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
$500,000, in shares of $50 each, among the incorporators being Sperry Har- baugh, William Holmes, Edward Rahm, George W. Jackson and. Rody Pat- terson. It was during this year also that the Pennsylvania Insurance Com- pany was incorporated, among those active in its organization being A. A. Carrier, who became its first secretary and treasurer and later its president. By November, 1857, this company had paid out on losses nearly $250,000. In March, 1854, another big fire in Birmingham destroyed about seventy buildings, the loss being approximated at $60,000. In January, 1854, occurred the Sem- inary fire, where several thousand volumes of books were destroyed. The donation of Rev. Dr. Halsey, in the building at the time, was about one-half saved. This institution was the Western Theological Seminary, of which, at this time, Dr. Elliot was president. In April, 1855, the Eureka Insurance Company was organized, and soon began doing business. The Commonwealth Insurance Company of Harrisburg opened a branch office here in 1855.
In May, 1855, occurred a notable incident in the history of the fire depart- ments of these cities. It was the testing of the first steam fire-engine brought to this vicinity. The engine was owned by a Mr. Shawks. A stream of water was thrown 1863 feet; the engine weighed from two to three tons, and was said "to resemble a locomotive more than anything else." It is a singular fact that the crowd which had assembled to witness the exhibition was sorely disap- pointed, having, it is said, expected to see wonders performed, from the boasting which had previously been done. One fireman stated that he expected to see the engine throw water a mile. Other trials of this engine were made, with increasing success. Strange as it may seem, even after the steam fire-engine had made a most creditable exhibition, many firemen, as well as citizens, opposed the innovation of the new machine. It was argued that eleven minutes required to raise steam were a serious obstacle in the way of its adoption. Besides this the liability of breakage might prevent the quelling of a fire.
In 1855 intense jealousy and rivalry were manifested here between the various fire companies. Not infrequently this condition of affairs led to bloody fights between members of the companies, and in more than one instance engines were battered and bruised, passing along the street, by showers of brickbats and stones thrown from the envious members of rival companies. On one occasion the Vigilant engine was thus attacked, the men controlling it put to flight, and the engine itself was battered out of shape. In 1855 the insurance companies doing business here were the Western of Pittsburg, Reuben Miller president; the Granite of New York; the Pennsylvania of Pittsburg, William F. Johnston president; the Marine of Philadelphia; the Citizens' of Pittsburg, William Bagaley president; the Navigation Insurance Company of Pittsburg; the Pittsburg Life, Fire and Marine, Robert Galway president; the Northwestern; the Eureka of Pittsburg, John H. Shoenberger president; the' Merchants' of Philadelphia, and the Etna of Hartford, Connecticut. In 1855 the Firemen's Association of the city was well organized, each company sending thereto three delegates. At this time a two-mill tax was required to support the fire companies.
In 1856 the greatest fire since 1845 occurred. It commenced on Try Street in the Second Ward, and started in Phillips, Best & Co.'s flint-glass works. One hundred families were burnt out, fifty houses destroyed, but the loss was only about $20,000. In December, 1856, over 1,400 shares of the Monongahela Insurance Company were subscribed in one day.
In 1857 a $13,000 fire occurred in Allegheny, at Rebecca Street and Bank Lane. In March, 1857, the Fort Pitt Works, owned by Knapp, Wade & Totten, were destroyed, the loss amounting to about $125,000. All the local companies had risks on this property. The Western lost $6,900, the Citizens'
918
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
$6,900, the Reliance $3,000, and the several Philadelphia companies a portion of the balance. All the fine machinery for the manufacture of heavy guns, which had been the pride and boast of Pittsburg for many years, was destroyed by this fire. However, the institution was promptly rebuilt, and did splendid service during the Rebellion. In 1858 a law was passed providing that all insurance and trust companies should be authorized to purchase, hold, sell and convey ground rents.
"Annual Inspection of Hose for 1859 .- The annual inspection of hose belong- ing to the various fire companies took place under the supervision of the Com- mittee of Conference and Inspection and the chief engineer of the fire department, G. W. Leonard. A large portion of the hose was condemned as utterly worth- less, while some was passed as good which is, in fact, useless. This course the committee decmed necessary from the fact that the councils have failed to make an appropriation for new hose, which are much needed for the efficiency of the department. The Independence is short five scctions, fifteen sections having been reported in their possession at the last inspection. No report from the Vigilant, that company declining to bring their hosc upon the inspection ground as per order. The following is a partial report of the committee:
Companies. Good. Indifferent. Condemned. Total.
Eagle has
17
0
6 23 sections.
Allegheny
14
4
2 20 sections.
Duquesne
2
7
2 II sections.
Neptune. . . .
13
3
7 23 sections.
Niagara. . . .
14
5
I 20 sections.
Good Intent
82
6
53 20 sections.
Relief .
II
I 15 sections.
Independence 7
3 3
O Io sections."
In May, 1859, ten steamboats lying at the Monongahela wharf were destroyed by fire. They were the Cremona, Belmont, Potomac, Commerce; Jenny Gray, Panola, Henry Graff, Council Bluffs, James Wood and J. H. Conn. From $10,000 to $12,000 worth of goods on the vessels was also burnt. The total loss was estimated at over $100,000. The insurance was $73,600, among which the Citizens' held $24,000, Monongahela $16,500, Eureka $19,000, Penn- sylvania $3,500 and Western $3,000.
In the spring of 1861 Pittsburg had two steam fire-engines in the pos- session of the Eagle and Niagara companies. The funds to procure them were raised mainly by the companies themselves. In 1864, under an act of the Legislature, N. Grattan Murphy was appointed fire marshal of Allegheny County. Assistants in the ten wards of Pittsburg were appointed in May, 1865.
A paid fire department was established by act of the Legislature in March, 1870, and the full management thereof was placed in the hands of the councils. The first step was to levy a heavy assessment on insurance companies and agencies, but this method was soon found to be unwise and unsatisfactory. In 1873 a loan of $200,000 was negotiated and the necessary engines and equip- ments were purchased. Direct management was placed in charge of a board of fire commissioners. All the old companies were absorbed in 1870, new com- panies were organized and all sections of the city were provided with means of extinguishing fires.
In recent years the burning of the Masonic Temple and of the Hamilton building on Fifth Avenue are memorable. In May, 1897, the burning of the Horne and the Jenkins buildings scemed to show that neither the Pittsburg fire department nor the fireproof character of recent large buildings can pre- vent great destruction from fire. When the full force is unable to prevent a
919
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
fire from leaping across the street and burning such a structure as the Horne building, property owners are ied to inquire what real security from fire may we expect from the department? The property destroyed was valued at about $2,000,000. In recent years insurance has been carried into many new fields, and the latest project is the union of all the fire insurance companies into one association. Another recent advance is the location here of a life insurance com- pany. It is estimated that Pittsburg and environs have sent East for each of several years from $6,000,000 to $8,000,000 for premiums on life insurance. Why local capital has not sought this profitable field would be difficult to explain. There are now in the city about twenty engines, nearly all being modern and powerful. A fire-boat will be placed on the rivers soon, the people at the last bond issue having voted $45,000 for that purpose. Child insurance, burglar insurance, guarantee of debts, insurance against dishonesty, accidents, floods, tornadoes and the destruction of all kinds of property, such as plate glass, etc., are modern inventions. Since Chief Humphreys has assumed control of the fire department he has introduced a system of inspection by the officers and men which has greatly reduced the fire hazard and the number of conflagra- tions. The firemen are required to familiarize themselves with the buildings in their district, the mode of ingress and egress, the nature of the business, the storage of materials, etc. The down-town territory is divided into five districts. The captain makes a periodical examination of the buildings within the precinct, then the lieutenant goes around, and later the men. When a fire breaks out the firemen know what to expect and what to do. The plan is of mutual benefit to the property owners and the firemen. Chief Humphreys says the business people, with few exceptions, have been glad to see the firemen, have afforded them every facility to go through their buildings, and that the recommendations and precautions offered are kindly received, and, in most instances, carried out. The following are the leading insurance companies in 1897:
Est'd.
Capital.
Est'd.
Capital.
Allemannia
1868
$200,000
Mfrs'. and Mchts'
1865
$250,000
Allegheny
1859
100,000
Monongahela
1854
175,000
Armenia
1872
250,000
National
1866
100,000
Artisans'.
1866
100,000
People's.
1862
I 50,000
Ben Franklin
1866
I 50,000
Pittsburg
.1851
100,000
Birmingham
1871
200,000
Teutonia
187I
125,000
Citizens'
1849
500,000
Union
1871
100,000
City
1870
100,000
Western
1849
300,000
German
I862
200,000
Central Accident
1895
100,000
German-American
1873
100,000
Pittsburg Life
1897
300,000
Humboldt ..
1871
100,000
,
CHAPTER XXXII.
MORALITY-FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICES-EARLIEST CHURCH ESTABLISHED-NAMES OF THE FIRST PASTORS-BUILDINGS ERECTED-EARLY MEMBERSHIP-APPEARANCE OF INFIDELITY-MISSIONARY SOCIETIES-WAVES OF RELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT AND REGENERATION-NEW CONGREGATIONS FORMED-BRACKENRIDGE'S BILL-LOTS GRANTED BY THE PENNS-THE CHURCH LOTTERY-CHURCHES OF 1808-PITTS- BURG BIBLE SOCIETY-SINFUL AMUSEMENTS OPPOSED-WESTERN MISSIONARY SOCIETY-UNION SUNDAY-SCHOOL SOCIETY-A FREE SCHOOL SUPPORTED- DEATH OF LIEUTENANT CRAIG-SUNDAY-SCHOOLS ENUMERATED-LIST OF CHURCHES IN 1819-UNITED FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY-SUNDAY-SCHOOLS REORGANIZED IN 1825-RESOLUTIONS AGAINST DUELING AND INTEMPER- ANCE -CATHOLICISM OPPOSED-EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH OF RELIGION IN 1831-3-ATHEISM AND THE MANUFACTURER-USEFULNESS OF THE SUN- DAY-SCHOOL UNION-NEW CREEDS-YOUNG MEN'S SOCIETY-DANCING CONSIDERED- OTHER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETIES-CRUSADE OF 1840-I - OPEN-AIR PREACHING - THE PURISTS-A CATHOLIC PROTEST - PITTSBURG CALLED "THE CITY OF CHURCHES"-GROWTH OF SPIRIT- UALISM-BARKER AND KIRKLAND-YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTAIN ASSO- CIATION - KANSAS-NEBRASKA BILL DENOUNCED-THE CATHOLIC QUESTION AGAIN-CHURCHES OF 1855-REPORTS OF SOCIETIES -REVIVAL OF 1858-GROWTH OF CHURCHES DOWN TO THE PRESENT - LATER ASSOCIATIONS - STATISTICS OF 1890.
The first religious services in Pittsburg were held in 1749 by Jesuit Father Bonnecamp, who accompanied the expedition of Captain Louis De Céloron. At that time that officer took possession of the Ohio Valley and planted the plates to signalize the event. Five years later services were held by Denys Baron, of the Order of Saint Francis, who came down the Allegheny with Captain Contrecœur. These men were attached to the military commands and did not come here for permanent religious labor. Father Baron left with Captain Contrecœur when the latter deserted Fort Duquesne in 1758. The Catholics were not represented here, so far as known, by any priest until after the Revolu- tionary War. By 1784 it was estimated that there were probably 75 Catholic families living in the Monongahela Valley and in the vicinity of Pittsburg. A messenger was sent in 1784 to the Superior at Baltimore asking that a priest might be supplied to the Catholics of the Monongahela Valley, but owing to the lack of priests the request could not be granted. Succeeding that date, and previous to 1798, only occasionally a priest visited Pittsburg. Among them were Rev. Patten Lonergan, Rev. Peter Helbron, the latter of whom came occasionally from Sportsman Hill, near Latrobe. While here the latter stopped at the house of General O'Hara, who had formerly been a Catholic. Only a few families of Catholics lived in Pittsburg, and the records show that the priests found very few adherents of that faith to call them to Pittsburg. In November, 1808, Rev. William F. X. O'Brien was appointed the first resident priest. His residence stood on Second Street, near Grant, and one of the rooms therein was fitted up as a chapel. About this time, or the following year, the first Catholic church, which stood at the corner of Liberty and Washington streets, was commenced, and after great difficulty was finally dedicated in August,
920
92I
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
1811, by Bishop Egan, of Philadelphia, the first bishop to cross the Alleghany Mountains and hold services in the West.
It seems to be the prevailing opinion that the Lutherans were the first religious body to form an organization in Pittsburg. They are known to have had a small congregation here as early as 1783, and at the same time the Reform- ers. were represented here by an organization. These facts were made known by the German travelcr Schoepf, who visited America and published two works on his travels. The two congregations of Lutherans and Reformers held services in the same building and at first were ministered to by the same pastor. The branches represented were the Protestant Evangelical Lutherans and the Protestant Reformers. The Penns donated to these organizations two lots. The congregations were too small and poor to warrant them in sustaining more than one minister, and unfortunately the name of the first one cannot be obtained. Neither can the date when these societies were first organized be given, but probably not earlier than 1781 and perhaps not until 1783. Among the early ministers were Revs. Steck, Schnee and Geissenheimer.
On November 26, 1758, two days after the departure of the French from Fort Duquesne, Rev. Charles Beatty, chaplain of Colonel Clapham's regiment, preached a thanksgiving sermon for the great victory which had been given to the English army. No doubt he afterward preached other sermons at Fort Pitt. In 1766 Rev. McLagan was present at Fort Pitt, and a little later Rev. Mr. Ander- son also held services here. These ministers were members of the Presbyterian Church. In 1771 Rev. James Findley crossed the mountains to the West, but did not settle in what is now Western Pennsylvania until 1783, when he located in Westmoreland County. In 1774 Rev. Joseph Power visited the Western settlements, and two years later brought his family out. Rev. John McMillan came to Washington County in 1776; Rev. Thaddeus Todd to the same county in 1771, and Rev. Joseph Smith to the same county in 1780. In 1784 the latter . was assigned by the Redstone Presbytery to Pittsburg, his ministrations to begin in August of that year. During 1784 and 1785 occasional preaching by the ministers of the Redstone Presbytery, of which Pittsburg was a part, was held here. In the autumn of 1785 Rev. Samuel Barr began regular pastoral work in Pittsburg. In September, 1787, the first Presbytcrian congregation was incor- porated, and about the same time a small log church was erected on lots which had been donated by the Penn heirs. Rev. Barr's ministrations ended in 1789, and after that the congregation was furnished with "supplies" only until 1800; at which date an important revival was held and so increased the membership that the Presbytery began to take greater interest in the affairs of the flock at Pittsburg. In 1802 the Synod of Pittsburg was formed and after that time the congregation had a continuous and fairly prosperous existence. Among the earliest ministers connected with the congregation were Robert Steele, John Andrews, Francis Herron, Joseph Stockton, Robert Patterson and Elisha P. Swift. In 1802-3 several families withdrew from the First Presbyterian Church .and organized the Second Presbyterian congregation. In 1802 the First Church of the Western Missionary Society was formed. For the first twenty or thirty years the First and Second congregations were the only representatives here of that denomination. In 1814 the First Presbyterian Church of Allegheny was formed, and in 1828 East Liberty congregation was organized.
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