Chap XV - Part I: 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens
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CHAPTER XV
TOWNSHIPS AND TOWNS
[Original land warrants and patents can be seen on the Survey Maps,
and
land owners can be seen on the 1872 Atlas.
]
BIG BEAVER
[p. 227] Big Beaver was one of the original townships of Lawrence
County. It has an area of about ten thousand acres, being one of the
smaller townships of the county. Big Beaver River forms its eastern
boundary and receives numerous small branches, which have their sources
in the township. The Erie & Pittsburg and the Pittsburg & Lake Erie
Railways traverse the township in a north and south direction, keeping
close along the river. The Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway
crosses the southwest corner, and besides these are numerous tracks
running to the limestone quarries and coal banks in the eastern part of
the township. The township contains the villages of Newport and Clinton,
and the borough of Wampum, which latter was incorporated on the 19th of
February, 1876. Wampum and Clinton contain a large proportion of miners
and men who work in the limestone quarries and coal mines.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settlers were John and Robert Davidson, who left Ireland in
the year 1791, and came to America, landing at Philadelphia. Robert went
to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he bought some property, and afterwards
returned east to Pittsburg. In the early part of the year 1796, the two
men came to the spot where Wampum now stands, and settled a two-hundred
acre tract. Their mother, with four other sons, left Ireland in 1793,
and for three years after landing in the United States staid in the
eastern part of Pennsylvania. In March, 1796, they came to Lawrence
County. The land in the vicinity of where they settled was surveyed into
tracts of 200 acres each, and any person locating on one of these tracts
was entitled to one-half for settling, and by paying $100 could get the
other hundred acres. Thomas Davidson came out a year or two after the
rest arrived. The seven boys were John, Isaac, Robert, Charles, James,
Andrew and Thomas. They settled from one hundred to three hundred acres
each, along the Big Beaver River, and part of the farms are still
occupied by their descendants. Their lands extended into what is now
Beaver County, the farm of James Davidson reaching a short distance
across the line.
Robert Davidson was, for a short time, agent for Benjamin Chew, who
controlled a large quantity of land in Big Beaver, Wayne, Shenango,
Perry and Slippery Rock Townships. He was also the first postmaster when
the office of Wampum (called Irish Ripple Postoffice, from the rapids in
the river) was established.
The farm of John Davidson, Esq., was probably settled, about 1798 or
1800, by John Somerville, and included 200 acres. [p. 228] Andrew
Davidson traded his 100 acres to Somerville for the farm. The first
house built on the place was a small log cabin, which stood in an
orchard on the east side of the road, opposite John Davidson's
residence. John Somerville, who settled this farm, was cousin to the
John Somerville who afterwards became a Methodist preacher. To
distinguish them apart, when mentioning them, they were nicknamed "Big"
and "Little" John.
James Davidson was married to Elizabeth Somerville about 1805, and his
was the first marriage in the Davidson family after they settled.
Alexander Wright came, soon after 1800, and purchased 100 acres south of
the Somerville or Andrew Davidson farm. This tract was Population
Company's land and extended north to the Chew land. Jesse Lightner
bought the hundred acres next east of Wright's and running to the river.
Most of the Davidsons became extensive landholders, it being among the
best in the township, and afterwards valuable owing to its location on a
well-traveled highway and the coal it contains.
A tract of land was surveyed in pursuance of a warrant issued April 14,
1792, and granted by the Commonwealth to Charles Massey. The
Pennsylvania Population Company became possessed of this tract, among
others which they held in the county, and it was transferred to the
Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank by William Griffith and wife, and John B.
Wallace and wife, December 1, 1818. William Grimshaw was the banking
company's attorney and sold it to David Crawford, September 19, 1833.
From him it was purchased by James Cochran.
On the dissolution of the Pennsylvania Population Company many of the
lands in the neighborhood became the property of William Griffith and
John B. Wallace. The title was vested in Griffith, in trust for an
undivided moiety, for Wallace. Maurice and William Wurtz, of
Philadelphia, also had a claim, and their attorney was H. J. Huidekoper,
who sold a portion of the land to James Davidson. The first improvements
on the place now or lately owned by Mr. Cochran, which includes portions
of the Davidson and Crawford land, were made by a squatter, who staid
only a short time on the farm. Mr. Crawford was, however, the first
actual settler.
David and Robert Ramsey came, originally, from Ireland, with their
father, who settled first near the site of Youngstown, Ohio, some time
previous to 1812. They afterwards removed to Little Beaver Township.
William Whan came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, about 1808-9,
with his wife and two children?a son and a daughter?and settled 200 acres.
Samuel Naugle came about 1800 and settled near the site of the village
of Newport.
Robert Paden came to the township about 1800 and settled in the
northwest part, where members of the family still reside.
James McCandless was an early settler in the same neighborhood, but,
possibly, came after Mr. Paden.
James Patterson came from County Armagh, Ireland, and in 1822 located on
a farm subsequently owned by his son, Robert Patterson. The tract
originally included 400 acres, and was patented by George Leslie, in
1795 or 1796. The place occupied by Robert Patterson was first improved
by William McKim, about 1832.
The New Castle & Darlington Railway was intended to intersect the
Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago road at New Galilee, Beaver County, and,
about 1858-59, was graded from New Castle to within a mile and a half or
two miles of that point. Owing to the fact that much of the grading was
paid for in calico, the road was called the "Calico road." It was,
however, never completed.
The Beaver Valley Railway was opened for travel in the fall of 1863, and
now [p. 229] forms a part of the Erie & Pittsburg Railway. It was built
from New Castle to Homewood, Beaver County where it connected with the
Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway, and, for four or five miles out
from New Castle used the old grade of the New Castle & Darlington Railway.
The Beaver and New Castle wagon road was laid out by the State, being
surveyed about 1801. It was sixty-six feet wide, and was called the
State road. In 1839 it was re-surveyed and the route graded through.
MILITARY.
Among the early settlers of Big Beaver who served in the War of 1812
were the following:
Andrew Davidson, who came in 1796; was out a short time at Erie.
David Ramsey went to Erie from Youngstown, Ohio, where he was living at
the time. He afterwards removed to Little Beaver Township, Lawrence
County Pennsylvania.
John Whan was married in the fall or winter of 1813, and was out two
months at Erie immediately afterwards. He served in Capt. Wilson
Kildoo's company.
James Paden went to Erie, and probably his brother Hugh, also. The
Padens lived in the western part of the township.
Militia organizations were kept up after the war was over, and held
regular drills and musters under the militia law of the State. The
annual review days were looked upon as grand holidays; whisky flowed in
unlimited quantities, and the song and merry shout resounded on every
such occasion.
During the War of the Rebellion, Big Beaver was represented by many a
gallant son who fought in the ranks of the Union army. More on this
subject may be found in the chapter devoted to the military history of
the county.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in what is now Big Beaver Township was kept in a
vacated log cabin, which stood on the Baker farm, just in the edge of
the present county line. Richard Johnston was the teacher. The first
building erected specially for school purposes stood about twenty rods
north of where the Methodist Church at Clinton now stands. It was built
of very large, round logs, about the year 1820. A "one-eyed, cross old
man," named Robert Creighton, first taught in it. Before this
schoolhouse was built, Creighton taught in James Davidson's old log
weaving shop, the loom having been removed to make room. Just below the
old log schoolhouse was a spring, where the pupils went to drink.
MANUFACTURERS.
In 1876 an establishment was built on the hill just south of the limits
of Wampum borough, for the manufacture of cement, the company being
known as the Wampum Cement and Lime Company. The article manufactured is
said to be superior to any other cement known. It took the first prize
at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. The man employed to make
it was a German named William Pucall. The company was organized about
1869-70, as the "Wampum Mining and Manufacturing Company." The principal
ingredients used in the manufacture of this cement are limestone and
blue clay. The limestone is quarried in the hill above the works, and
the clay is taken out in the valley below. In the process of making, the
limestone is first ground to flour and bolted, after which it is mixed
in certain proportions with the clay and put into a "dry-kiln" and
dried. It is then baked in another kiln and finally crushed, ground and
bolted, when it becomes ready for use.
WAMPUM BOROUGH.
This borough was first settled by two brothers, Robert and John
Davidson, who came from Ireland, in 1791, landing at [p. 230]
Philadelphia. Robert first went to Cincinnati, where he purchased
property; he subsequently returned to Pittsburg, and thence he and his
brother John proceeded to the tract covering the site of Wampum Borough,
in March, 1796. Their mother, with the rest of the family, left Ireland
in 1793, and remained in the eastern part of Pennsylvania until her sons
had made a settlement at Wampum, when they joined them. Thomas Davidson,
a half brother, joined the settlement a year or two later. They settled
on a two hundred-acre tract, of which they received half for settling,
and afterwards purchased the balance for $100. The family consisted of
seven sons, all of whom settled in the vicinity, along the Beaver River.
Robert Davidson erected a grist-mill on the site of the mill afterwards
owned by Edward Key, about the year 1830. It was run by water from
springs, and contained two run of stone. Mr. Davidson died in 1846. His
heirs ran the mill about four years, or until 1850, when it came into
possession of Captain Archibald Reed. It afterwards passed through
several other hands and was at different times enlarged and improved.
The people of the borough of Wampum are extensively engaged in mining
and manufacturing.
BLAST FURNACE.
The first furnace was built in 1856 by Porter R. Friend & Co., of
Pittsburg, who operated it for a number of years, but the business was
so unprofitable that the property was finally sold at assignee's sale,
August 1, 1866. Samuel Kimberly purchased the establishment on behalf of
the "Eagle Iron Company," of Cleveland, Ohio, though the latter company
never really owned it. The name was changed to "Wampum Furnace Company."
Its capacity was about twenty tons of metal, daily, or about seven
thousand tons per annum.
The works were employed in the manufacture of pig-iron exclusively,
using Lake Superior ores mostly. A small proportion of the red limestone
ore found in Shenango and Wayne Townships was used in connection with
the red ores. The company owned, in connection with their furnace,
extensive coal and limestone deposits. The amount of coal taken out of
their mines being annually from 40,000 to 50,000 tons. The capital
invested in the furnace property, in coal mines, stone quarries, cars,
coal-chutes, etc., was fully $250,000. This business was discontinued
and the works dismantled many years ago.
The coal business at Wampum is quite extensive. The firm of Davidson,
Green & Co. formerly handled annually from thirty to forty thousand
tons. Captain O. H. P. Green, of this firm, claimed to have been the
first man to export the Beaver Valley gas coal to Erie, which was in
1852. The captain invested several thousand dollars in the business, in
which he continued some two years by himself, when he took in, as
partners, Abner C. Penton and Henry Manning, of Youngstown, Ohio. In
1854, he sold his interest in the business to Jonathan Warner, of
Youngstown, Ohio. Captain Green had commenced industrial life as a
common laborer when fifteen years of age, near Greenville, Mercer
County. When the canal was completed, he had gone into the boating
business, in which he continued until he engaged in coal-mining and
shipping. After he sold out his interest in the coal business, he
returned to his old occupation on the canal. In partnership with Captain
M. S. Marquis, he owned and operated as many as twelve boats at one
time. In 1857 he removed to the vicinity of Edenburg, where he purchased
at various times several farms, on one of which is situated the famous
prehistoric mound, near the site of the old Indian town of
Kush-kush-kee. (See history of Mahoning Township.) He continued to do
business on the canal until about 1869. In 1867 Capt. Green removed to
New Castle.
In addition to the coal business at this [p. 231] point, there has been
a considerable trade carried on in quarrying and burning limestone.
Large quantities of cement are also manufactured from the lower stratum
of limestone, familiarly known as the "blue-stone." The coal of this
valley is bituminous, and has excellent coke and gas-producing qualities.
Wampum was erected into a borough by the Court of Quarter Sessions,
February 19, 1876. Edward Kay was the first burgess. The first
post-office was established at Wampum about 1832, by the name of "Irish
Ripple," so called from the rapids in the Beaver River. It was moved
back and forth between Wampum and Newport until about the year 1868,
when the people of the former place had the name changed to "Wampum,"
since which it has remained there. The name "Wampum" is said to, have
been derived from a tribe of Indians who formerly dwelt there, and who
wore the wampum belt. The town is picturesquely situated on the Beaver
River, nine miles below New Castle.
The American Cement Tile Manufacturing Company is a prosperous concern
engaged in the manufacture of a fine grade of tile without wire
reinforcement. They are practically without competition in their line of
business. The president of the company is Isadore Meyers;
vice-president, Joseph Freund; superintendent, James H. Stewart. The
plant covers about twelve acres of ground, the main building being
565x65 feet, and there are about sixty people employed.
A successful milling business was established in Wampum in 1883, by John
J. Miller and Jacob Pitts. They purchased a mill near the railroad and
started the milling enterprise which has since developed into the Wampum
Milling Company. The partnership lasted until 1900, when Mr. Miller
died. The property and business are now owned and conducted successfully
by Mrs. Sarah J. Miller and her sons?Charles W. and William J.
Wampum has two comfortable hostelries which offer shelter to the passing
traveler:
The Arlington Hotel was purchased by its present proprietor, Kasper N.
Trunk, of its former proprietor, James Stewart, in May, 1902, and is
being conducted by him with success.
The Wampum Hotel is conducted by John H. Conn, who purchased it of
Charles Stapf in March, 1907. Mr. Stapf had been its proprietor for
about eighteen years, its former owner having been Jacob Hyle.
The Wampum Hardware Company is a thriving concern of its kind, carrying
a large stock of general hardware and explosives for mining purposes.
Besides its main store building it has a storage room across the street
and another in the vicinity of the railroad tracks. The business was
purchased in February, 1905, by F. M. Davis & Brother, Dr. Charles
Davis, who are carrying it on very successfully.
The firm of Miles & Aley are also engaged in the hardware business here.
A general store is carried on by Frank P. Major, while David M. Marshall
is engaged in business as funeral director and furniture dealer.
William W. Yoho carries on a blacksmith shop.
The financial needs of the borough and the vicinity are accommodated by
the First National Bank.
The first meeting to organize this bank was held December 29, 1902, and
the bank was organized March 10, 1903, with the following officers: W.
H. Marshall, president; W. H. Braby, vice president; W. H Grove,
cashier; airectors?W. H. Marshall, W. H. Braby, S. P. Major, Joseph
Stiglitz, F. M. Davis, Geo. H. Mehard, W. H. Grove, J. H. Stewart, W. H.
Phillips, F. M. Withrow, M. S. Marquis, T. D. Wilson, and Joseph Freund.
The capital stock was placed at $25,000. W. H. Grove acted as cashier
until November 1, 1906, when C. C. Johnston succeeded him and still
holds office. The president and vice-president are still the same. The
bank is located [p. 232] on Main street, the intention, however, being
to build a modern bank structure on property owned by the bank just
across the street. In January, 1907, H. E. Marshall, son of the
president, was elected assistant cashier, which position he still holds.
A fine school building was erected in 1877. The borough has several
religious societies.
There are two convenient hotels, and the usual stores of various kinds,
blacksmith shops, wagon shop, etc.
Of secret orders, there are a lodge of Odd Fellows, one lodge of the
Ancient Order of United Workmen, one lodge Order of United American
Mechanics, and one grange Patrons of Husbandry.
The Beaver River at this point is spanned by a fine iron bridge built by
T. B. White & Sons, of Beaver Falls. It is about four hundred feet in
length, and cost some $30,000.
The Pittsburg and Erie and Pittsburg and Lake Erie railways pass through
the place. A narrow-gauge railway connects Wampum with the iron ore
beds, in Wayne and Shenango Townships, extending a distance of about
four miles. This was built to facilitate the shipment of ore to various
points in Pennsvlvania and Ohio.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Wampum was organized May 15, 1871,
with six members, who formed a class. William Thompson organized a
Sabbath-school in 1869, with about ten scholars, which number was soon
increased to twenty-two. The Rev. J. E. Johnston was the first pastor
and preached for about six months. He was succeeded in 1872 by the Rev.
N. Morris, and he by the Rev. J. E. Johnston, who continued for two
years. Subsequent pastors were Rev. C. F. Edmonds, Rev. George H. Brown,
and Rev. John Perry.
A church was erected in 1871 at a cost of about $4,000, of which Mr.
Edward Key contributed about $3,000. Of the present membership a portion
resides in Chewton, on the opposite side of the river. The society
supports a Sabbath-school with some ten or more officers and teachers,
and sixty-five or seventy scholars. The school has a well selected library.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The United Presbyterians of Wampum asked the Beaver Valley Presbyterians
to grant an organization at Wampum.
Accordingly, permission having been obtained, about the latter part of
August, 1875, a lot was selected on Beaver Street, and on the second
Sabbath of November following, there was preaching in the new house. The
building is of brick, 40 by 60 feet in size and of a capacity to
comfortably seat 300 people. The total cost was $3,140.
On the 7th of October, 1875, the session appointed by the Beaver Valley
Presbytery to organize a congregation at Wampum, met at the house of W.
H. Witherspoon.
The members present were: Rev. J. I. Frazier (Moderator), Robert Mehard,
A. M. Barbout and A. D. Gilliland. A sermon was delivered by Rev. J. I.
Frazier, from Matthew 16-18, after which the following persons presented
certificates of membership: Mrs. Margaret Davidson, William McMillen,
Mrs. Eleanor McMillen, W. H. Witherspoon, Mrs. Christine Witherspoon, W.
W. Davidson, Mrs. Nancy Davidson, Mr. Asa Eckles, Mrs. Elizabeth Eckles,
Alice Minor, Mrs. Mary Whan, Miss Bell Whan, Mrs. Matilda Davidson,
William Witherspoon, Mrs. Emily Witherspoon. An election for elders, by
ballot, was then held, resulting in the choice of Asa Eckles and William
Witherspoon.
On the 1st of July, 1876, an invitation was extended to Rev. J. J.
Imbrie, to become pastor of this congregation, which was accepted, and
Mr. Imbrie took charge and subsequently labored with a good degree of
success. The congregation at this [p. 233] writing (January, 1908)
numbers one hundred persons.
WAMPUM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Newport church was moved to Wampum in 1889, and from that time it
was called the Wampum Presbyterian Church. Rev. George S. Rice was the
pastor of the church here for a few months after it was dedicated,
resigning some time late in 1889. He was pastor for several years at
Newport. Rev. J. C. Pickens was installed pastor on December 23, 1890,
and remained until February, 1902, when he resigned. Rev. B. J. Long was
installed and ordained pastor in May, 1902, and remained until December,
1906. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Edgar R. Tait, who was
installed December 17, 1907. The elders of the church are Thomas Wilson,
Abner Gibson, D. M. Marshall, C. M. Kirkbrige, John Marshall, Edward
Cochran and Dr. H. H. Davis.
C. M. Kirkbrige is the superintendent of Sabbath-school and has been for
seven years. The church has a membership of 160; the Sabbath-school of
175. The church was united under one pastorate with Moravia Presbyterian
Church until December, 1907, when, having become self-supporting, they
called the present pastor.
VILLAGE OF NEWPORT.
The tract of land upon which the village of Newport now stands was
settled about the year 1800 by Conrad Coon, who came, with his wife and
three children, from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and located on the
place.
John Coon laid out forty acres of land in 1833. A number of small log
houses were built soon afterwards, James Morrison probably erecting the
first one.
James Morrison and John Naugle built the first frame houses, in the
upper part of town, near the bank of the river.
The first general store was opened in a frame building by Cyrus Szvers,
very soon after the town was laid out. Samuel Smith opened the second
store. A store owned by Joseph Aley was burned down in 1876.
Aaron Reed opened the first blacksmith shop. He finally removed to
Wampum and started a shop there. Joshua Pierce built the first wagon
shop. Mr. Pierce died, and Edward Yoho afterward opened one. His was the
second one in the place, William McClosky opened a tailor shop, which he
carried on for a number of years.
The Newport Presbyterian Church was organized in 1846 or 1847 by Rev.
Samuel Henderson, who became its first pastor. The church was mainly
organized through the efforts of Benoni Wilkinson, who lived on a farm
just west of town. Starting with thirty members, the congregation in a
comparatively short time increased to about eighty. The first meetings
were held in a large house which was built by John Jackson, and
afterward left vacant by him. A portion of the time meetings were held
in the school-house. The present commodious frame church was built about
1848, on land donated for that purpose by Robert Davidson. A
Sabbath-school has been held in connection with the Newport Church from
the time it was organized, and generally has a large attendance. Its
first superintendent was David S. Pollock.
The postoffice was originally established at Wampum, and took its name
"Irish Ripple," from the rapids in the Beaver River at that place, and
the nationality of the settlers who located there. The office was
established through the efforts of Benjamin Chew, Jr., of Philadelphia,
who was out attending to his business in the neighborhood, and at that
time there was no postoffice nearer than New Castle, nine miles away.
The first postmaster was Robert Davidson, about 1832-34. The office was
afterward removed to Newport, where it was kept until 1856, when it was
again taken to Wampum. From that time it went [p. 234] back and forth
between the two places until the name was changed to Wampum, and the
office located permanently at that place. After this Newport petitioned
for an office, and finally secured one, giving it the old name of "Irish
Ripple."
COAL, LIMESTONE, ETC.
Limestone is abundant in the township, and besides that manufactured
into cement, large quantities are quarried for use at the iron furnaces
in different places.
Sandstone is also quarried in various places. It was formerly worked
quite extensively at and below Thompson's Siding, just above Rock Point
Station.
Coal was discovered in the township by John Stockman, a blacksmith, as
early as 1810. Stockman settled in what is now Beaver County in 1804. In
partnership with an Irishman named McMullen, he had a blacksmith shop a
mile and a half south of the present line between Lawrence and Beaver
Counties. Previous to his discovery of coal, they had used charcoal for
fuel. After discovering the coal, Mr. Stockman dug along the hill and
took of the outcrop only, carrying it down on a horse in a sack. This
discovery was made in "Possum Hollow," on the James Davidson farm, just
within the present limits of Lawrence County. Coal has since been worked
extensively in the township, the principal mines being in the vicinity
of Clinton.
CLINTON.
This village was laid out by James Davidson about 1829-30, his house
being the first one in the place.
A crockery manufactory was established by Sanger & Nesbit, and afterward
became the property of Andrew Davidson. It was only carried on for two
years. There was also a store and a blacksmith shop.
A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about 1823-24, by Rev. John
Somerville, an itinerant preacher, who became its first pastor, locating
afterward in the neighborhood. Some of the original members of this
church were Mrs. James Davidson, Andrew Davidson and wife, John Davidson
and wife, and Charles Wilson and wife. At the time the church was
organized, it was a missionary station called the "Beaver Creek
Mission," and afterward changed to the Petersburg, Ohio, circuit, and
subsequently to the Enon Valley circuit. Mr. Somerville preached until
the age of disability obliged him to stop, and afterward frequently
substituted for the regular pastors. Meetings were at first held in Mr.
Somerville's, and possibly, in Robert Davidson's house, also often in
barns and groves during warm weather. The frame church now standing was
built about 1834, on land taken from the James Davidson farm. The
graveyard was laid out about the same time and at the same place. When
the Enon Valley circuit was established two ministers were placed in
charge. Afterward some of the appointments were discontinued and but one
minister appointed. A Sabbath-school was organized about the time the
church was built, by Rev. J. K. Miller, with John Somerville as first
superintendent.
The Clinton Coal Company was organized and a track commenced in 1865,
and in 1866 mining was begun on an extensive scale. In one year this
company took out 37,000 tons of coal, which was principally purchased by
the Pennsylvania Railway Company.
Scott, Tait & Co. commenced mining on a large scale in "Possum Hollow"
in 1853, having previously begun work in 1851, in "Beaver Hollow." They
built a tram road from their mine to the river, where the coal was
loaded into canal boats and shipped. William Fruit, the Reeds of Erie,
and others afterward bought the "Possum Hollow" mine and worked it for
some time, finally disposing of it to John Wilson. Wilson in turn sold
to Wilson, Lee & Co. It afterwards came into the posession of Lee & Co.,
or Lee & Patterson.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LITTLE BEAVER TOWNSHIP.
[p. 235] This township, one of the thirteen original townships of
Lawrence County, has an area of about 11,400 acres, and is one of the
most prosperous in the county. The soil is well adapted to agriculture,
being fertile and productive, while the mineral resources of the
township are extensive and valuable. There are numerous streams
affording abundant water-power, the principal of which are the Little
Beaver Creek, with the branch joining it just above old Enon Village,
and Beaver Dam Run, which flows through the northeastern portion of the
township, and joins the Little Beaver near the line of Big Beaver
Township. The power on the Little Beaver is quite extensive, and mills
were built upon it very soon after the first settlements.
Little Beaver Township was originally timbered with a magnificent growth
of oak, hickory, maple, poplar, and various kinds of valuable forest
trees. Much of it has been destroyed, and seemingly in a wanton and
careless manner, as if the supply were supposed to be inexhaustible. The
need of it is now felt in many portions, although the township still
contains a fair acreage of timber, at present most valuable to its
inhabitants.
The stream called Beaver Dam Run was so named because the beavers had
built dams across it. These animals were plentiful when the first
settlements were made, and the Indians and whites trapped large numbers
of them, but they soon disappeared before the advance of the settlers.
Little Beaver contains the two villages of Enon Valley (old and new) and
the old town of Newburg. During the days of stage-coach travel, Old Enon
and Newburg were thriving villages, but owing to the changes wrought by
steam have not fulfilled their early promise.
The Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway, formerly the Ohio and
Pennsylvania Railway, was completed to Enon Valley about 1850-51, and is
now the great transportation line of the country.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The Pennsylvania Population Company early got possession of the land in
this township, and each settler was entitled to one-half the tract upon
which he settled, free of cost.
The first actual settlement by whites in the township was made early in
1796, by a company of men who had been out the year previous and made
improvements. Some of them now have descendants living on the old
homesteads. They chose the finest sites in the township, generally in
the valley of the Little Beaver Creek. They called themselves the
"Settlers of '96." Among the men forming this company were John and
Samuel Sprott, John Beer, James McCowin and William Robison, and
possibly Phillip Aughenbaugh, Andrew Moore and others, in all about
twelve or fifteen men.
The Sprotts were from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Samuel Sprott
settled on a farm in the northwest part of the township, where some of
his descendants are yet living. John Sprott settled on the farm where
Robert and Thomas Sprott now, or recently, lived, on the 17th day of
February, 1796. Mr. Sprott brought his wife with him, and their son
Robert was born on the place on the 18th of July, 1796, he being the
first white child born in the township. He lived on the old farm all his
life, and was never farther away from home than Pittsburg. John Sprott
was a military officer of western Pennsylvania during the Indian
troubles after the Revolution. His principal duty was to supply the
different military stations on the Ohio, from Logstown down, with men.
At the first militia muster at which he ever served, he was elected
major, and afterwards lieutenant-colonel and served until he was beyond
the regulation military age. He died in the fall of 1839, aged
seventy-nine years and ten months.
"In 1798 Mr. Sprott built a grist-mill on his place on Little Beaver
Creek. This was the first mill in the township, and [p. 236] was a
structure of round logs and contained one run of stone. He procured a
number of pine boards on Brady's Run, several miles away, and with them
made a bolting-chest. Mr. Sprott was not able to keep up his dam, and
the old mill was run but a comparatively short time. It has long been
torn away. While it was running, the principal grain ground in it was
corn, and people came all the way from Rochester, Beaver County, to this
mill. After it was abandoned, no other was ever built upon the site and
nothing now remains of it."
John and Samuel Sprott reared each a family of twelve children. John and
Samuel were old hunters, and had hunted all over the county some ten
years before they settled in it. They kept up their excursions, which
extended into Ohio also, until the Indian troubles broke out, and
General Anthony Wayne went through with his army. Wild turkeys were so
thick they could kill them with clubs, and deer were also extremely
plentiful. Of the latter, John Sprott killed as many as sixty during one
autumn hunt.
John Beer, another of the "settlers of '96," settled on the farm
adjoining John Sprott's on the north, and lived and died upon it.
William Robison, one of the same party, settled in the eastern part of
the township.
David Clark, John Savers, James Stevenson and Robert Johnston came to
the township about 1797-98. John Wilson came in 1796, and settled in the
neighborhood on the farm later owned by John Taylor.
Phillip Aughenbaugh came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and in
the spring of 1796 settled on the farm where his son George subsequently
resided. He brought with him his wife and five children?three boys and
two girls. He reared eleven children altogether. The birth of the first
child born after the family settled took place in the latter part of the
year 1797. None of the children born after they settled lived to
maturity, except the youngest, Mary Ann, who was born in March, 1805.
Mr. Aughenbaugh died in 1844, aged eighty-four years. His wife had died
a number of years previously.
Thomas and Joseph Smith were among the early settlers of the township,
and located in the northeastern portion.
"The settlers passed through many exciting adventures, and had many
hair-breadth escapes from the wild beasts of the forest, but no instance
is given of any person ever losing his life by them. The greatest pests
were the gray wolves, which roamed in packs through the woods, and ever
and anon made descents on the sheep folds and pig pens of the settlers
and deprived them of their woolly and porcine inhabitants, without the
least scruple. Close watch was kept over the children, lest they might
fall a prey to their ravenous appetites; and it was also necessary for
the men themselves to keep their rifles in order, and always with them,
carrying them even to church."
John Marshall, originally from Ireland, came from Washington County,
Pennsylvania, in 1796 or 1797, with his wife and one son, to Little
Beaver Township, and settled north of the old village of Enon Valley. He
died about 1853 or 1854, aged eighty-seven or eighty-eight years. George
McKean came about 1800, and settled on a farm a mile southwest of old
Enon Valley, where his son, Porter, subsequently resided. David McCarter
and Patrick Wallace also came early. James Marshall came out in 1818,
and located on the farm subsequently occupied by William Porter. He
bought the land of James Stevenson, who had settled it in 1797-98. Mr.
Marshall's daughter was afterward married to William Porter, who came
from Ireland and located on the place in 1824. William Madden came from
Columbia County, Pennsylvania, about 1815. Thomas Silliman came about
1820, and settled in the eastern part [p. 237] of it, where numbers of
the Silliman family are yet living.
Rattlesnakes were so numerous in early days that the settlers were
obliged to wear leggings, in order to protect their limbs from their
fangs. Frequently large numbers of them were killed in one locality in a
single day. Their hiding places were among the loose rocks, and in
getting out stone for chimneys, or working among the rocks in any way,
the hideous and dangerous reptiles were very often found.
Charles Long came from Rockbridge County. Virginia, about 1804-05,
bringing two children with him, to a place in Columbiana County, Ohio. A
child was born somewhere in the mountain while Mr. Long was on his way
with his family, and his wife was left behind, he subsequently going
back after her. He had been here about 1801-02, and entered the land on
which he settled, paying two dollars per acre, and purchasing an entire
section. His son, Charles, lived on a portion of the old farm. The farm
now, or recently, owned by Israel Long, in Little Beaver, was purchased
by his father, of the Pennsylvania Population Company's agent, Enoch
Marvin, that is, one hundred acres of it. The other hundred Mr. Long
purchased of a man named Andrew Johnston, who had probably settled it.
The location is exceedingly fine, being on a gradually sloping hill, and
commanding a fine view of the territory around, in every direction,
except toward the west, where a belt of timber along the State line
shuts it off. Mr. Long improved the place into a fine property.
Ezekiel Creighton came from the Valley of Turtle Creek, in Allegheny
County, Pennsylvania, about 1810, and located on the property later
owned by Mr. Wurtzel. He served three months as a volunteer during the
Whisky Insurrection of 1794.
Robert Andrews, Charles Rainey and William Miller were early settlers in
the township. Miller settled on a branch of the Little Beaver, and built
a mill. Andrews had a farm north of the one settled by Samuel Sprott.
Rainey's farm was next north of Andrews' and Miller's next north of
Rainey's. These were all in the northwestern part of the township.
"James McCowin came originally from Maryland and located in Washington
County, Pennsylvania. In 1795 he was out with the Sprotts and others,
making improvements on claims, and in 1796 he came again, this time
bringing his family, consisting of his wife and two children. In the
first place he stopped below Darlington, Beaver County, where he stayed
a year or two, and then came to the farm in Little Beaver Township,
Lawrence County?the old homestead now being owned by his descendants.
The old house, built on the place in 1795, stood at the west end of
William McCowin's present residence. It was a hewed-log structure, two
stories high, originally roofed with clapboards, which afterwards gave
place to shingles. This was the first house on the place. Mr. McCowin
had four hundred acres in his farm, located a mile east of the present
station of Enon Valley. He was the father of eleven children."
A man named Williams, popularly known as "Onion" Williams, built a grist
mill on the Little Beaver Creek, near the old village of Enon Valley,
about 1801-2. It was a log mill, had two run of stone, and was the
second mill in the township. Some time afterward a man named Woodruff
built a grist mill on the same stream, some distance east of Enon
Valley, and Jacob Shoop built one about a mile east of town, also on the
Little Beaver. Nothing is left of any of these old mills.
Samuel Andrews came originally from Ireland, and settled first in Center
County, Pennsylvania, where he lived some thirty years. About 1820 he
came to Beaver County, and located on a farm about two miles from Enon
Valley, Lawrence County, lately owned by Arthur Bradford, and still
within the limits of Beaver County. [p. 238] His son, John, married
Elizabeth Harnit in 1822. Her father, Samuel Harnit, was the first
settler on the ground where Enon Valley Station now stands.
SCHOOLS.
A schoolhouse was built of round logs, in the year 1800, on the piece of
land subsequently owned by John Scott. John Boyles was probably the
first teacher. Other log-cabin schoolhouses were erected in the
neighborhood, and used until 1834, when the free school law was passed,
and new buildings erected.
A schoolhouse of round logs was built in the southwest part of the
township as early as 1807-08, Joshua Hartshorn being probably the first
teacher. "Master and pupils all played ball, the old-fashioned game, in
which, in order to put a person out who was running bases, he must be
"patched" or stuck, with the ball while between bases. In those days
buckskin pants were worn, and they retained the marks made by the ball
for some time. Some of them were fairly mottled by the numerous
'patches' they had received, and a person whose buckskins showed the
least number of spots was considered the best player. It took an active
person to dodge the ball, for they were all practical in the art of
throwing, and seldom missed their mark. They were not particular,
either, about 'sending the ball in' slowly."
The number of schools in Little Beaver Township in 1908 was six, with an
enrollment of 121 pupils. The total expenditures for the year for school
purposes were $3,302.24, of which $1,885 was paid to eight teachers, for
an average term of seven months taught.
NEWBURG.
The pioneer settler in this place was Bryce McGeehan, who came to the
township about 1798-99, and occupied the tract which was afterward the
farm of John Sampson. In 1799 Mr. McGeehan planted a few apple trees,
which Major Edward Wright had given him. Major Wright settled in North
Beaver Township. Mr. McGeehan was a prominent man among the early
settlers. He took an active part in organizing the Bethel United
Presbyterian Church, of North Beaver Township, and was one of its first
elders.
Mr. McGeehan's son, James, laid out a few lots and called the place
McGeehansburg, but it was afterwards changed to Newburg, which name it
still retains. This town was on the old stage route, and was at one time
a lively place, but its glory has long departed. "The long band of iron
which connects the East with the West, and passes through the southern
portion of the township, proved a deadly enemy to stage coach travel,
and with the decline of the stage line, Newburg saw her sun set, and her
bright future flicker and go out in darkness, and transfer itself to the
rising station of Enon Valley. Where erst the crack of the driver's lash
resounded, and the merry notes of the horn were heard, are seen no more
the well-filled coaches, spanking teams, and the bustle attendant upon
the 'arrivals' and 'departures' and 'changes' which were so common fifty
or more years ago."
James Mountain, who had the only shoe shop in 1877, came with his uncle,
David Ritchie, to the neighborhood about 1820. His father went out from
Allegheny County during the War of 1812, and died while in the service.
William Murphy, John Powell and others have carried on blacksmith shops
at different periods.
In the fall of 1855 a postoffice, called "Marvin," was established here,
the first postmaster being Joseph S. Williams. At present there is no
postoffice at the place.
Newburg is located in the northern portion of the township, in the midst
of a fine farming country, and all around it are excellent improvements.
"The land is high and rolling, and the country around affords a
beautiful panoramic spectacle, with its hills and valleys, neat
residences [p. 239] and comfortable outbuildings, fine groves, silver
streams, and well-kept fields, and in the summer season must be truly a
pleasing picture to look upon. Western Pennsylvania is remarkable for
beautiful scenery, and Little Beaver Township, though possessing little
of the rugged outline found in other parts of the country, still has its
beautiful peculiarities in every section.
ENON VALLEY (OLD TOWN).
This village was laid out into lots in 1838 by Enoch Marvin, who was the
agent of the Pennsylvania Population Company. Mr. Marvin had
considerable property in the neighborhood, including the site of the
village and the farm lately owned by Thomas G. Dalzell. The brick house
on Mr. Dalzell's place was built by Marvin, who died there in 1840.
Just north of the village the two branches of Little Beaver Creek unite,
and from this circumstance the town is said to derive its name. Josiah
M. C. Caskey named the place, the name interpreted meaning the "Valley
of Many Waters." There are other versions as to the origin of the name,
but this is the most plausible. The first lot was purchased by John
Martin, who built a frame house upon it.
Mr. Marvin sold the lots in order to induce mechanics to settle at the
place. He furnished the necessary logs to be used in building, and
Robert Sprott sawed them into lumber at his mill, and thus the village
was gradually built up.
The first store was opened by the Taylor brothers, before there was any
village, and John S. McCoy built the next one, which is still standing.
William P. Alcorn had a store in the same building after McCoy had left it.
John Crowl was the first blacksmith. Philip N. Guy, a native of Wayne
Township, is now conducting a blacksmith shop here, and is very popular.
James A. McCowin, also of an old county family, is successfully engaged
in this business. Samuel King, David Smith and others formerly had wagon
shops, while Robert Moore owned the first shoe shop. John Roof kept the
first tailor shop, and Frank McLean and others worked at the business
also. John Martin had a cabinet shop at an early day. Harness and saddle
shops have also been carried on, William Imboden being now engaged in
that business here. His brother, Michael Imboden, is now proprietor of a
shoe store on Main Street, and also of a large general store on Vine
Street. Andrew K. Robertson also keeps a good general store. His parents
were natives of Scotland. Another prosperous general store is kept by
McNees & Wolf (Elmer E. McNees and Milton J. Wolf), they purchasing the
business from N. S. Nicely. Barney T. Gealy has a lumber yard and
planing mill and is doing a prosperous business. He purchased the plant
in 1893. The American Hotel is a popular hostelry, kept by H. G.
Gilbert, who purchased it of Philip Fisher in 1903. Under his capable
management it has largely increased its prestige. The Mt. Air Elgin
Butter Company is a prosperous concern turning out 400 pounds of butter
per day. Emmet W. Dungan is manager. The Enon Valley Telephone Company,
of which O. I. Riddle is president and manager, furnished good local
service in this now important branch of public utilities. Mr. Riddle has
been at the head of the concern since it was organized in 1906.
A postoffice was established here in 1830, before the town was laid out,
J. M. C. Caskey being the first postmaster. This office was established
on the old stage line between Beaver, Pa., and Cleveland, Ohio, running
through Petersburg and Youngstown. Old Enon was a changing-station on
the line, and was well known to travelers over it. Previous to the War
of 1812 this was made a postal route, and the mail was carried over it
on horseback until the stage line went into operation. At that time the
nearest postoffice was at Darlington, [p. 240] Beaver County, five miles
away. In order to accommodate the settlers about Enon, John Beer made a
box and set it upon a post near his house, and made arrangements with
the postmaster at Darlington to have the carrier drop the mail into it
for the families living in the neighborhood, and that was done, thus
saving a five-mile trip to the postoffice.
The Little Beaver Presbyterian Church was organized about 1834-35, and a
brick edifice built, which has since been torn down. The members had
previously held meetings in connection with the congregation at
Darlington, which was organized at a very early day. A frame church was
built in the summer of 1873. The ground on which the old church stood
was donated by Enoch Marvin, and that occupied by the cemetery was given
by John Beer, Esq., whose wife was the first person buried in it, her
death occurring in the fall of 1797. The first regular pastor who had
charge of this congregation was Rev. Robert Dilworth, who continued to
minister until nearly the time of his death, which occurred about
1869-70. The next pastor was Rev. Mr. Miller, who stayed three or four
years. After him came the Rev. Robert S. Morton.
In July, 1873, a portion of the congregation went to Enon Valley Station
and organized a church there. Since the Little Beaver church was
organized, a Sabbath-school has been kept up most of the time during the
summers.
ENON VALLEY (NEW TOWN).
This place was first settled by Samuel Harnit, who came from near
McKeesport, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, first to what is now
Beaver County, and in 1800 to the site of Enon, where he took up one
hundred acres of Population land. Mr. Harnit brought his wife and three
children?two sons and one daughter?with him. He built a log house, which
stood on the site of the present town hall. Two children were born in
the family after they came to the township?a daughter, Elizabeth,
January 21, 1802, and a son, Samuel, February 9, 1804. A grandson of
Mrs. Harnit, also named Samuel, went to Illinois, and was for a number
of years warden of the State penitentiary at Joliet. His brother,
Joseph, went also to that State and engaged in the practice of medicine.
Elizabeth Harnit was married to John Andrews, and they took up their
residence at Enon. Mr. Harnit was killed in 1804 by the caving in of a
coal bank at which he was in the habit of procuring coal. He was a
blacksmith, and built a shop near his house, which stood until the town
plat was surveyed.
The first blacksmith in the new town was Patrick Morgan, who worked in a
shop which stood on Henry Wolf's property. David Smith built a house,
and in one end of it had the first wagon shop in the place. Before the
town was laid out, the only houses standing on the land were Samuel
Harnit's old log house, then occupied by his widow, Mrs. Barbara Harnit,
a frame house close by, occupied by her son, Nathaniel Harnit, and a
frame house occupied by Samuel Harnit, the latter building on the south
side of the railroad track.
The first house after the town was laid out was built by John Spear, in
one part of which he opened afterward the second store in the place.
The Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway was finished to Enon about
the fall of 1851, and during that fall and the ensuing spring the
station building, the St. Lawrence Hotel, and Ramage & McQuiston's
store?the first one in the town?were built.
Samuel Harnit and William McGeorge owned the land on which the town plat
was laid out, and Mr. Harnit sold a quantity of it to H. P. Mueller, who
laid out the first lots, probably the next summer after the road was built.
R. C. Moore built and opened the first shoe shop. William McKean was
probably the first tailor.
H. P. Mueller built a sawmill about [p. 241] 1853 on the south side of
the track, and operated it until 1855, when it was burned down.
A distillery was built about 1858-59, and run by Joseph Worley. The
building is yet standing, but the machinery has long since been sold and
removed.
A planing-mill was started by David Preston & Bro., about 1870, and a
sawmill, built by the same parties, about 1869. A steam grist mill was
built by Miller & Whitmire. Among the industrial activities are the
round-house and repair shops for the eastern division and branches of
the P., Ft. W. & C. Railway, which employ about twenty or more hands.
A brickyard was worked at one time near the Preston sawmill, by Wilson,
Herr & Co.
The population of the place is about 500, including a large proportion
of Germans.
For some years after the place was laid out, a brick schoolhouse, which
stood between the two towns, was attended by pupils from both. In
1857-58, the frame building occupied by William Reed & Co. for a
store-room, was built for a schoolhouse, and used for a number of years.
A brick, two-story schoolhouse was built about 1870, and, owing to the
increasing number of pupils, became inadequate for the purpose for which
it was designed. There are now three schools in the borough, and the
number of school children in attendance in 1908 was ninety. There were
three teachers employed, at a cost of $1,220, and the amount expended
for school purposes was $1,693.19. The average number of months taught
is seven.
About a year after the town was laid out, the postoffice was removed to
it from the old town, and John Spear appointed the first postmaster.
The first physician in the place was Dr. A. P. Dutcher, who lived
between the two towns. Dr. McPherson afterward had an office in the new
town, and lived where Dr. Dutcher had resided. Other members of the
profession have since practiced here.
Enon Lodge No. 916, I.O.O.F., was organized November 9, 1875, with a
membership of twenty-seven, which has since largely increased. The first
officers were: John O. Caskey, N.G.; John Sloan, V.G.; R. P. McCurley,
secretary; E. Herwig, treasurer. The lodge room is in the large building
in the north part of the town, in which are located the town hall and
two store rooms.
The Christian Church of Enon was completed March 11, 1873, and dedicated
the 22nd of the same month. An organization of this society was
completed as early as 1831, with William McCready, Ephraim Phillips,
Euphemia Nicely, Nathaniel Harnit, John McCready, John Taylor and Josiah
M. C. Caskey, as members. Rev. Mr. Van Horn preached to them about that
time, also Rev. Mr. Applegate and others. A few years later the society
disbanded, and had no organization subsequently until 1859, when a
reorganization was effected by Rev. Mr. Winfield. He was followed by
Rev. William Hillock, and next came the Rev. John Phillips, who stayed
two or three years. Since then, Revs. Ephraim Phillips, S. B. Teegarden,
and others, have had charge. Rev. J. M. David was the first pastor after
the church was built.
Enon Presbyterian Church was organized about the 1st of July, 1873, with
eighty-one members. It was formed from a portion of the Little Beaver
congregation at old Enon Valley. Rev. D. H. Laverty was installed as its
first pastor, in August, 1874. A Sabbath-school was organized in March,
1874; its first superintendent was Captain E. L. Gillespie. The church,
a neat, commodious frame building, was erected in 1873. In December of
that year a 750-pound Meneeley bell [Meneely Bell Foundry of West Troy,
New York] was placed in the belfry.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Enon was organized in 1857-58, with
about forty members. Before this meetings had been held in the
schoolhouse, which stood between the two towns. The church was built
before an organization was completed, [p. 242] and Rev. Samuel Krause
(or Crouse) preached occasionally to them. The first pastor after the
church was built was Rev. William H. Tibbals. A Sabbath-school has been
kept up since the organization of the church. Its first superintendent
was probably George Adams.
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HICKORY TOWNSHIP
[p. 242] This township, formerly a part of Mercer County, was erected
from the eastern part of Neshannock Township during the winter of
1859-60. It comprises an area of about 9,800 acres, and is rich in both
agricultural and mineral resources. It is watered by the Big Neshannock
Creek and its tributaries, on all of which there is extensive water
power. The principal branch of the Neshannock in the township is East
Brook, or what was formely[sic] known as Huttebaugh or Hettenbaugh Run.
On this stream there are a number of dams, located within a
comparatively short distance of each other.
The surface of the township is more or less hilly and broken, owing to
the many streams which flow through it, and the summits of the highest
hills or ridges are probably 300 feet above the Neshannock Creek. The
creek forms the boundary between the townships of Hickory and
Neshannock. The New Castle and Franklin Railway, now operated by the
Pennsylvania Company, passes along the left bank of the creek, until it
reaches East Brook Station, where it crosses to the other bank. "Along
the creek is found some most romantic scenery. In places the channel is
narrowed down to a rocky gorge, with precipitous overhanging piles of
sandstone frowning upon the valley, their sides and summits covered with
a dense growth of hemlock, and an occasional gloomy-looking ravine,
affording greater solemnity and loneliness, which is hardly surpassed in
its effect anywhere. The rock is sandstone, and generally piled up in
thin and broken strata, caused by some mighty upheaval, although in a
few localities the strata are thicker and afford very good building
stone. They rest usually on a lower stratum of shale, or slaty
fragments, approaching the coal measures.
"Springs are numerous and constant; timber is abundant; desirable
building sites are found in almost every locality; the lover of the
beautiful in nature can have his most exquisite taste gratified; the
manufacturer finds every facility for promoting his business in its
various branches; the health of the community is excellent; schools and
churches of the best character serve to immense advantage in furthering
the social, moral and intellectual standing of an already prosperous and
refined people; numerous and costly improvements evince the taste and
refinement of the inhabitants; the student of geology and history finds
his research amply rewarded; and, taking into consideration these
manifold advantages, with others we have not space to mention, the
township may be classed as one of the first in the county.
Coal of an excellent quality has been found in the township, but the
vein is quite thin, and on that account chiefly, not much worked. Some,
however, is mined for local use, and a considerable quantity has been
taken to New Castle, the glassworks at Croton formerly making use of it.
This was obtained from a bank just outside the city limits on the
Harlansburg road.
Iron ore of a good quality has been found in paying quantities along the
Neshannock Creek, but the same disadvantages attend its development
which are met with in opening the coal veins, or at least some of them.
It lies generally close to the surface, and in taking it out the land is
broken to a greater or less extent, rendering it unfit for agricultural
purposes. On account of these drawbacks, comparatively little has been
done toward bringing out in full the resources of the township in this line.
The township contains the village of Eastbrook, and the station of the
same [p. 243] name on the New Castle and Franklin Railway. The railway
was completed in 1874 and affords ample facilities for shipping the
products of the neighborhood, both agricultural and mineral.
In a few localities limestone is quarried, but is not of sufficiently
good quality to be used as a building stone. A lime kiln was put in
operation a number of years ago, a short distance from the city limits
of New Castle on the Harlansburg road. The stone has a bluish cast, and
is by no means equal to that found in greater quantities in other
portions of the United States. It has been used for fluxing purposes in
blast furnaces.
Sandstone is found largely throughout the township, and is utilized for
building purposes, and also ground up and used in the manufacture of
window glass. The sandstone deposit forms the principal geologic
foundation of Hickory Township.
The first coal-bank opened in the vicinity was worked about 1830. A
coal-bank was opened on the Harlansburg road, by Michael Ryan in 1870,
on land belonging to Anthony Henderson. The vein averaged about two feet
in thickness, and was largely used by the Croton Glass Works.
A considerable number of persons have been engaged in the business, and
a few banks have been worked out. The coal veins increase in thickness
as they trend northward, and reach the maximum thickness somewhere in
the neighborhood of Stoneboro, Mercer County. They also dip to the south
on about the same grade as the beds of the different streams.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
In the year 1798, Robert Gormley, an immigrant from Ireland, settled on
the farm now owned by John H. Gormley. He had first worked for a while
east of the mountains. While in the eastern part of the state, he
witnessed a transaction between a Revolutionary soldier and a person to
whom the soldier sold a tract of land, donated him by the State for his
services during the war. The price paid for the land was a quart of
whisky, the hero of Revolutionary fields considering that worth more
than the land, which he said was "somewhere out West, but didn't know
exactly where." The tract thus cheaply disposed of embraced 500 acres.
Mr. Gormley also purchased 500 acres, which was divided among his
brothers, John and Thomas, who had followed him from Ireland, William
Patton, and himself?making 120 acres each. The price paid was fifty
cents per acre. Schoolhouse No. 5 is located on a part of the tract. Mr.
Gormley built a hewed log house, 20 by 22 feet, in 1804, and it was
considered a very remarkably fine house for the time. It stood until the
fall of 1869.
Robert Gormley was married in 1807-08, to Sarah Hammond, of Washington
County, and John Gormley married her sister, Elizabeth. The first birth
in the Gormley family was probably that of Martha, daughter of John
Gormley, about 1809. The first deaths were also in that family, two sons
and a daughter dying during the year 1822.
The first road through the neighborhood was what is known as the
Harlansburg road. Previous to its being laid out, the only highways were
zig-zag paths through the woods, following the best route they could
around hills and across streams?the latter always being forded. Grain
was carried to mill on pack-saddles, and Mr. Gormley often "packed" corn
from Beavertown, where he paid a dollar a bushel for it. Wheat could not
be raised to any extent for some time, on account of the great number of
squirrels, deer, "ground hogs," and other animals which came into the
fields and destroyed the crops.
Deer were so tame that they would come into a wheat field in broad
daylight, and had to be repeatedly driven off. Wild turkeys were also
exceedingly plentiful, and in the fall of the year created sad havoc
among the fields of buckwheat.[p. 244]
Agriculture was carried on according to somewhat primitive methods. The
first metal plow in the neighborhood was owned by Francis Irvin (or
Irwin), and Robert Gormley had the second one. The plows in use before
these had wooden mould-boards, and a paddle was carried to clean the
plow at the end of every furrow. The harrows also had wooden teeth, and
both plows and harrows were rude and clumsy affairs, compared with the
vastly improved implements of the present, although they answered their
purpose and their owners were content, knowing of no better ones.
Robert Gormley died March 26, 1858, at the ripe old age of eighty-six
years, and sleeps by the side of Sarah, his wife, in the old Neshannock
graveyard, his wife having died on the 18th of June, 1853, at the age of
sixty-five years. Though sixteen years her husband's junior, she made
him a loving and exemplary wife for forty-four years. John Gormley died
December 27, 1848, aged seventy-nine years, and his wife, Elizabeth,
followed him March 27, 1858, aged seventy-four.
William Patton was originally from Ireland, and settled first in Center
County, Pennsylvania. From there he came to Lawrence (then Mercer)
County, and settled on a portion of the Robert Gormley tract. When he
came from Center County, he had a horse and an ox harnessed together to
haul his goods. Mr. Patton and the Gormleys afterward donated ten acres
each to Thomas Speer, in order to get him to settle near them. Mr. Speer
was from South Carolina, and came to Hickory Township about 1805-6. He
lived to a very old age, and died within a few years past.
"Some time during the year 1802 Samuel McCreary came from the Buffalo
Valley, in Union County, in the eastern part of the State, and located
on the east side of Neshannock Creek, about two miles northwest of the
present village of Eastbrook. He was the first settler on the place, and
made the first improvements. He built a round log house, and lived in it
with his wife and one child, Enoch McCreary who was but two years of age
when his father came to the county. Mr. McCreary's brother, Thomas,
accompanied him, and they each took up a tract of one hundred acres.
Shortly after their settlement Thomas McCreary died, and his was
consequently one of the first deaths in the neighborhood. Samuel
McCreary was out several times to Erie during the War of 1812-15. He
eventually became the owner of some 600 acres of land in the vicinity of
the place where he settled, chiefly lying along the Neshannock Creek. He
died shortly before the breaking out of the Southern rebellion. The
McCrearys were originally from Ireland, emigrating from that country at
some period subsequent to the War for Independence between the American
Colonies and Great Britain. He was the father of ten children. The first
birth in his family after he came to Lawrence County was that of his
daughter, Betsey, about 1804. In 1806 another daughter, Sarah, was born,
and in 1808, a son, Thomas.
Robert Simonton, who lived for a number of years in Hickory Township,
settled originally on the Shenango River, in Neshannock Township. He was
out during the War of 1812, and went to Erie. He died about 1853-54, at
an advanced age. John C. Wallace, also a soldier of 1812, having served
as captain of militia at that time, was an early settler in the
southeast part of Hickory township.
Jacob Baker settled near Mr. Wallace in the southeast part of Hickory
Township, and was a soldier of 1814. He lived in the county in the
neighborhood of fifty years, a part of which time he resided in New Castle.
Abel McDowell came from Westmoreland County early, and lived for several
years with his uncle, Thomas Fisher. He afterwards located in the
northwest part of Hickory Township.[p. 245]
About 1812-15, George Hinkson came from Chester County, and located in
Washington County, where he stayed until about 1817, when he removed to
Belmont County, Ohio. There he lived for eleven years, or until 1828,
when he again packed up his worldly goods and came back to the Keystone
State, this time locating in Hickory Township, on a 500-acre tract,
later owned by his son, Aaron Hinkson, and others.
All the lands in the township are "donation lands," and the fact that
the territory was not settled until a comparatively late day is
attributable to that circumstance. But few of the original patentees
ever located in the county, and the land at time was deemed too far away
to be reached. It was not, however, until the completion of the Erie
Extension Canal that the growth of any part of the western portion of
the State became marked; but since that time the development has
steadily and generally gone forward.
Samuel Casteel, a veteran of the second war with Great Britain, came
from Allegheny County in 1816, and located near the Neshannock Creek,
southeast of the present Eastbrook Station. By his industry and
frugality he amassed considerable property, and when over eighty years
of age, the sound of martial music, or the strains produced by a more
pretentious band of brass instruments, would awaken the old military
fire within him, and recall to his mind the scenes and incidents during
the strife of more than sixty years before.
Thomas Glass, John McKnight and John Stunkard came from near Pittsburg
in the year 1825, and purchased a 500-acre tract. The McKnights and
Stunkards still reside on the old homestead. These persons were the
first actual settlers on the tract, although two or three squatters had
been there before them. One of these squatters was a roving character
named Chair, who did little else than hunt.
CHURCHES.
The Covenanters or Reformed Presbyterians organized about 1818, and held
their first meeting in William Patton's barn. Rev. William Gibson
presided at the organization, and also took charge of the congregation
as its first pastor. After the first meeting in the barn, they held
"tent meetings" in a rude structure made of corner posts and roof, and
fit only for warm weather worship. The "tent" was put up principally for
the use of the minister, while the congregation occupied log seats in
front of it. Their first church was a rude log building, about 22 by 24
feet in dimensions, and covered with a shingle roof, being about the
first roof of the kind in the neighborhood.
About 1833 a frame church was commenced near the site of the old one,
and finished some two years later. This building was burned down in
April, 1867. A building committee was at one[sic] appointed, and work
was immediately begun on a new structure?the fine brick church now
standing. Just one year from the day the old church was burned, or April
14, 1868, the first sermon in the new building was preached by Rev. Mr.
Martin. In the fall of 1868 or 1869, owing to considerable trouble
having been previously experienced in securing preachers, the church
changed to a United Presbyterian congregation.
The Associate Presbyterians built a church east of Eastbrook, about
1840-41. The building, a roomy frame structure, is still standing. The
denomination is now United Presbyterian. The first pastor was Rev.
William A. Mehard, and the second Rev. R. Audley Browne. The building
occupies a pleasant situation in a grove, on the hill which rises on the
South side of Hettenbaugh Run, or Eastbrook.
A Methodist Episcopal society was organized in 1847, and meetings held
in schoolhouse "number two," a mile northwest of Eastbrook. It is not
definitely [p. 246] known how many members there were in the original
congregation. On the 17th of March, 1851, an acre and fourteen perches
of ground were purchased of Robert Rea and wife, and the frame church
erected, which is still standing. The trustees, at that time (1851),
were Samuel Black, Cornelius Miller, Robert Rea, Enoch McCreary and
William Rea. A graveyard occupies a portion of the ground purchased.
SCHOOLS.
About 1815-16 a round log schoolhouse was built near the south line of
what is now Hickory Township, on the road running south from Neshannock
United Presbyterian Church. A hewed log schoolhouse was put up in the
corner of the graveyard, near the old Neshannock Church, about 1828-29.
This was the only hewed log schoolhouse in this part of the country, and
the first teacher was a man named John Tidball.
There are at present seven schools in the township. The total value of
school property for 1908 is about $6,000. The number of pupils enrolled
for 1908 was 169. The total expenditure for school purposes in 1908 was
$3,452.23, of which amount $2,448 was paid to seven teachers.
For many years subsequent to the settlement of the township there were
no grist-mills erected, and the nearest one in the early times was to
the south, in the present Shenango Township.
About 1825 Henry Reynolds built a grist-mill on Hettenbaugh Run, a mile
east of the village of Eastbrook, and operated it until 1837, when he
sold out to William Adams and went West. This mill was the first one
erected within the present limits of the township, and became very
popular, the work done being excellent. The supply of water in the run
is usually large enough so that no inconvenience is experienced with a
low stage. It is fed almost entirely by springs.
The "Eastbrook Mills" were built originally by John Fisher, in 1836, and
rebuilt in 1959. The mill is a fine, large building, containing three
run of stone.
About 1816-17 Thomas and John Fisher built a sawmill near the site of
the grist-mill. Two have since been erected at the same place, the last
one is still standing, though unused and much dilapidated.
A woolen mill was built east of Eastbrook about 1830-32, by Lot Moffatt
who sold out in the spring of 1837 to Joseph Burnley & Company. These
parties operated it until about 1840, when they in turn sold to James
Glover. Glover died and the mill became the property of his daughter,
Mrs. J. B. Hardaker, and it was afterwards carried on for some time by
Mr. Hardaker, though doing but a small business.
About 1872 John Hickson built a shop on the south branch of Eastbrook
(Hettenbaugh Run) for the manufacture of pruning shears, using an engine
which had been used since 1861 in a saw-mill on the same site.
VILLAGE OF EASTBROOK.
About 1816-17 some members of the Reynolds family put a man named
Buckmaster as a tenant on the tract of land near where Eastbrook now
stands in order to hold their claim. Thomas Fisher, having an eye on the
same tract, kept a close watch, and when Buckmaster left it for a time
he put a man on the place and kept him there till he became entitled to
the land by settler's right. Buckmaster afterwards settled elsewhere and
the Reynoldses also.
A man named Terry was a very early settler in the neighborhood, and
located on the farm now owned by John McCreary, northwest of Eastbrook.
A part of the tract is owned by James Patton.
John Fisher was a soldier of the War of 1812, and came from the Ligonier
Valley in Westmoreland County. He settled the tract, including the site
of Eastbrook, about 1819, this was the third tract he had [p. 247]
located upon, the first being in 1809. His brother, Thomas Fisher, came
afterwards.
Thomas Fisher, (the first) came to the county in 1802, and located in
the present limits of Neshannock Township, on the Shenango River, where
he put up a carding machine, said to have been the first one in the
State west of the Alleghenies. About 1817 Thomas and John Fisher built a
woolen-mil1 in Eastbrook, above the site of their saw-mill.
John McCartney also built a woolen-mill about 1850, and operated it for
some time. It was afterwards bought by David Stewart, and still later by
James Craig. The mill was in operation the greater portion of the time,
for many years, and its capacity was often taxed to the utmost to supply
the demand for the products, but little if any manufacturing is now done
there. The manufactures were stocking yarn, woolen blankets and barred
flannel.
The saw-mills built along the brook since the country was settled have
been almost without number, and we have merely mentioned the first ones
and not taken the trouble to hunt up all of them. Many of the old frames
are yet standing.
The first store at Eastbrook was kept by John Fisher, about 1835-6. It
was a general store and still stands at the west end of the bridge.
Another store the same class was opened in 1838 by T. H. Harrah, who
afterward built another, which he and J. B. Hardaker operated together.
James McFarlane & Co. also kept a store for a year and a half or two
years subsequent to 1844, the firm afterward being changed to Dickey &
McFarlane. McFarlane finally removed to Morris, Grundy County, Illinois,
and Hardaker & Harrah continued the business. Hardaker & Simonton were
in it from 1852 to 1856. In the spring of 1860 John Waddington went into
the firm, which was known for a time thereafter as J. B. Hardaker & Co.,
then it was again changed to John Waddington & Co.
The first postoffice was established in 1837, the petition being
circulated by John Waddington. The candidates for the position of
postmaster were T. H. Harrah and John Fisher; the latter was the
successful man, after Harrah had done most of the work to get the office
established. However, Harrah afterwards had his ambition satistied, and
obtained the office after its affairs had been administered by Fisher
and Alexander Carpenter.
The first shoe-shop was opened by Oliver Bascom, about 1840; after him
Carson Campbell had a shop; Samuel Douglas opened one about 1841-3.
The first blacksmith-shop was opened by Phillip Crowl, in 1832. He has
had quite a number of successors.
John McNickel had the first wagon shop in 1840, and it afterwards became
the property of his son, John M. McNickel.
The village and postoffice take their name from the stream which flows
through the place. The stream was named by Thomas Fisher (the first),
the spot on its banks upon which he located being just five miles
directly east of the place where he first settled on the Shenango.
The first schoolhouse in the village was built in the neighborhood of 1825.
"About 1843 a volunteer rifle company, known as the 'Eastbrook Rangers,'
was organized, and drill was kept up for seven years. The officers were:
Captain, Andrew Buchanan; first lieutenant, Alexander Carpenter; second
lieutenant, John Staton; orderly sergeant, William McConahy. The company
numbered about 100 members and was uniformed with white pants, blue
coats and red sash, and a hat trimmed with cord and green feather. They
were armed with common rifles, in the use of which they were very
expert. The officers held commissions from the Governor of the State.
"Another company was partially organized in 1860, just before the
rebellion broke out, but when the war came on they consolidated with a
small company from Princeton, in Slippery Rock Township, and the two
were mustered in as Company F, of the 100th (Roundhead) Regiment, which
afterward [p. 248] saw much hard service in the Carolinas, Virginia and
elsewhere."
EASTBROOK STATION.
This place was established at the completion of the New Castle and
Franklin Railway. Thomas Walton opened a grocery store soon after and a
number of dwellings were erected, a short sidetrack laid, and a fine
iron and wooden truss wagon-bridge built across Neshannock Creek, which
stream here makes an extensive and beautiful bend, receiving just east
of the station the waters of East Brook or Hettenbaugh Run.
"Part of an extensive colony of German Mennonites, or Amish, occupies a
considerable portion of the north and west part of the township, the
remainder of them being in Wilmington, Neshannock and Pulaski townships.
They came principally from Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, and have
schools, and a church of their own, the church building being in
Wilmington Township. They are a quiet, industrious class of people, keep
their farms in good order, and but two or three of the original families
have left the township since they came into it."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and
Representative Citizens, Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Updated: 19 Oct 2001