Chap XV - Part IV: 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens
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CHAPTER XV - Part IV
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.
]
PLAINGROVE TOWNSHIP.
[p. 293] There was in each of the original counties of Beaver and
Mercer, a township called Slippery Rock. These two townships adjoined
each other, and as long as they were in separate counties they were
known by the county in which each was located. On the division of Mercer
and Beaver counties, and the creation therefrom of Lawrence County,
these two townships were brought together in the same county. To
distinguish them apart one was called Slippery Rock and the other North
Slippery Rock. But, finally, North Slippery Rock was divided east and
west through the center, on the 13th day of April, 1854, and two new
townships formed from it, North Slippery Rock no longer being retained
as the name of the township or any part of it. The new organizations
were called Washington and Scott, the former being the northern half of
the old township and the latter the southern. This order was maintained
until February 14, 1855, when the eastern portions of Washington and
Scott were erected into a new township called Plain Grove, or, as it is
now generally written, Plaingrove. On the 15th of February, 1859,
Washington Township was enlarged by the addition of a strip
three-fourths of a mile in width taken from Scott, leaving the three
townships in the shape they now are. This was from territory originally
in the county of Mercer. Old Slippery Rock (or North Slippery Rock)
township was erected some time between the third Monday of November,
1805, and the third Monday of February, 1806.
The surface of Plaingrove is less broken than most of those in Lawrence
County. The soil is generally fertile and productive. The area of the
township is about 11,800 acres. The improvements in many parts are
excellent, and as an agricultural township Plaingrove is not behind any
in the county in most respects. It is well watered and possesses a
considerable amount of timber.
Two streams of some size head near the northern boundary of the township
and flow in a southerly course, discharging their waters into Slippery
Rock Creek. These streams are Taylor's and Jamison's runs. The power on
each has been utilized, and since a very early date mills have been
operated on their banks. Each has a number of small tributaries.
Originally there extended through nearly the center of the township,
east and west, a strip of pine timber, reaching across into both Mercer
and Butler Counties. This strip was about a quarter of a mile wide, and
at one time contained some valuable timber, but it has been largely
culled out. The strip is not continuous, as in places narrow belts of
land, covered with other varieties of timber, cross it. There were in
Plaingrove Township several hundred acres of this timber. originally.
The coal resources of Plaingrove are extensive, and in numerous places,
mines are, or have been, worked. The first banks in the township were
opened in the neighborhood of the year 1840. The oldest banks were those
opened by John and Isaac Lowry and Joseph Totten. The thickness of the
veins in the township will average about three feet, the coal being of a
good quality.
In 1860 a number of test-wells were bored for oil in the township, owing
to the strong excitement raised by the discovery of oil in great
quantities in the newly opened oil regions of Butler and Venango
Counties. On the farm of W. H. H. Miles a well was put down about 125
feet, passing through fine beds of coal at the depths of thirty, sixty
and ninety feet. The excitement in the main oil regions tended largely
toward stopping the work [p. 294] in this part of Lawrence County, and
it was finally abandoned altogether. Another well was bored on the farm
of Joseph Moore, just in the edge of Butler County. Mr. Moore's
residence was in Lawrence County. This was also abandoned. In both the
Miles and Moore wells a fine stream of water was tapped.
Iron ore is also found in the township, and generally of a fair quality.
Along Slippery Rock Creek the "blue ore" abounds, but it is much harder
to work than the "red ore," and does not pay as well; consequently, it
is not much used.
About 1853-55 the "Myra Furnace " was built by Emery & Culbertson, and
operated by those parties until 1870. Mr. Culbertson died just before
the institution broke up. Of itself it was a paying establishment, but
the proprietors became interested in numerous other furnaces, and, owing
to the heavy strain, were obliged to close up their business. The ore
they used was taken out in the immediate vicinity, together with the
other necessary articles for their use, limestone and coal. The ore was
of the red quality, generally easily worked. Most of it could be
shoveled up readily, while with some of it the use of the pick and blast
became necessary.
Of the land in Plaingrove, as well as in other parts of the county, much
was not patented for several years after it was settled, and other
tracts were never patented, and were finally sold for taxes. In many
cases the original surveys were productive of considerable litigation on
account of inaccuracies in description.
Among the early patents are the following:
The farm now, or formerly, owned by J. M. Lawrence, Esq., was patented
by Benjamin Pearson, January 31, 1806, in pursuance of a warrant issued
in 1805. The original tract was called "Hope," and consisted of 400
acres. It was probably settled by Mr. Pearson.
On the 18th of December, 1818, a patent was issued to William George for
258 acres, including the place more recently occupied by David George.
John Gealey's patent [spelled Gaily on the survey map] was granted
October 6, 1810; warrant issued May 31 1806. The amount of land was 394
acres and sixty-four perches, and was patented as "Gay Lodge," and
described as lying in "Slippery Rock Township, Mercer County," which it
then was, the township having been erected about the beginning of that year.
Michael Brown's patent was dated March 23, 1807. The land described is
located partly in Plaingrove Township and partly in Washington.
A patent for 392 acres was granted to Joshua Miles, April 29, 1812.
James, Thomas, John and Robert McCommon were granted a patent April 18,
1815, to 407 acres and 131 perches. The survey was made November 15, 1815.
A patent was issued to Marmaduke Jamison on the 13th of April, 1814. The
land has since passed through various hands.
Samuel Allen and James Blair received a patent dated October 2, 1818.
James George and Martha Newell--patent dated July 16, 1807; warrant
issued April 8, 1805.
John Offutt bought 165 acres of Benjamin Pearson, the deed being dated
May 31,1806.
Hugh McKee received a patent for 397 acres on the 21st of March, 1809.
These are but a portion of earlier issues of patents, as far as we have
been able to obtain them, and in almost every case the settlement was
made a number of years before the patent was given.
SETTLEMENT.
Some time in the summer of 1798 Adam McCracken, who was originally from
Ireland, settled on the farm more recently owned by Alexander McCracken.
He settled 400 acres, getting half for settling.
Henry Hagan came the same fall, and made a small clearing, and built a
cabin [p. 295] on the adjoining 400-acre tract. The following year
(1799) he brought his family, having gone back after them when he had
completed his improvements. Mr. Hagan had seven children. His son, John,
was the oldest; of his daughters, Rachel was born in Chester County,
Pennsylvania, in April, 1787, and Margaret in Allegheny, in June, 1799.
Her father had moved from Chester County, and lived a year there before
coming to Lawrence. He was originally from Ireland. In 1818 Rachel Hagan
was married to James McCracken, and lived to be over ninety years of
age. A son of Mr. Hagan died in 1805 or 1806. His name was Henry. Mr.
Hagen himself died in 1840, and his wife in 1843. For a year or two
after these families came, they had all their provisions to "pack" from
Pittsburg. A mill was not long after put up by Jonathan Harlan, where
the village of Harlansburg now stands, and after this the settlers were
not obliged to go as far. A few other families were living in the
neighborhood, who had come out in 1798, the year previous to the Hagan
settlement, consequently, neighbors were comparatively plenty.
Among those who settled in the immediate neighborhood was James McCommon
(sometimes spelled McCalmot). He was born in Scotland, and when young
went to Ireland. From Ireland he emigrated to Carlisle, Cumberland
County, Pennsylvania, thence to Westmoreland County, and finally, in
1798, came to what is now Plaingrove Township, Lawrence County, and
settled on a 400-acre tract. The family, when he settled, consisted of
himself, wife and seven children. Mr. McCommon died about 1804-6. He
planted an orchard about 1800, and the orchards of the Hagan, McCracken,
Wallace and other farms in the neighborhood were planted about the same
time.
Another neighbor was George Rogers, who came from County Armagh,
Ireland, about 1790, and settled first in Washington County,
Pennsylvania. About 1798 he came to Plaingrove Township, and located on
a farm now owned by David Blair and others, Mr. Blair occupying the old
homestead. Mr. Rogers' son, William, married a girl named Hathaway (--),
living near Harlansburg, and in 1800 George W. Rogers was born on the
old place. Betsey Rogers, a sister to William, was married to Alexander
McCracken, and her husband afterwards--about 1800 or 1801--went to
Alabama, and died on his way back. His wife died soon after she learned
of his death, and hers was one of the first deaths in the neighborhood,
the first being that of a child of James Denniston, and the second that
of Henry Hagan, Jr., before mentioned. At that time there was no
graveyard, and the bodies were interred in a field belonging to Mr.
Denniston, now in the limits of Mercer County. This land has ever since
been used for burial purposes. It is but a short distance across in
Mercer County, near the property owned by John Stephenson.
Andrew Denniston located in the northwest part of what is now Plaingrove
Township, about the time the other families came to the neighborhood, in
1798-9. Some of the same name were among the first settlers in what is
now Springfield Township, Mercer County.
After the Rogers family came, they "packed" flour from Westmoreland
County for some time, probably ceasing to do so after Harlan's mill was
built. When this family settled, the children were generally grown, and
some of them were married.
Charles Blair and Samuel Allen settled in the same neighborhood with
those already mentioned, the two coming together in 1799.
Michael Brown, William and Andrew Wallace and John Green also came
early. None of them are now in the township.
The Wallaces settled a tract adjoining the Hagan farm, and Brown and
Green were a mile to the south of them, adjoining each other.[p. 296]
Andrew Wallace died and left his property to his brother, William, who
sold the whole tract in 1811 to James Burns.
James Burns was born near Florence Court, County Fermanagh, Ireland,
June 5, 1778, and about June, 1794-95, he emigrated to America, and
settled in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He stayed there a
few years, and in 1803 came to Brownsville, Fayette County, where he
lived three years and a half, and afterwards removed to a farm on
"Ginger Hill," near Bentleysville, Washington County. In 1810 he was
married to Mary Morrow, of Washington County, and in April, 1812, he
came with his wife and one child, Thomas H. Burns, to the Wallace farm,
which he had purchased the year previous. He brought his family and
goods on the backs of three horses. Mrs. Burns rode one horse, carrying
her child on her knee. Eight children were born in the family, four boys
and four girls, seven of whom lived to a ripe old age. Mr. Burns lived
on the old place until 1864, when he died, in his eighty-seventh year.
The orchard on the hill east of Alexander McCracken's house was planted
in the neighborhood of 1800, and bears evidence of having withstood the
blasts of more than a century.
The farm of 100 acres, now or lately owned by Alexander McCracken, was
owned by his father, Thomas McCracken, a son of Adam McCracken, and a
soldier of the War of 1812. Its location is in a fine portion of the
township, as are indeed all that were settled in the neighborhood, the
settlers evincing good judgment in selecting this locality wherein to
build their homes.
Jonathan Williams came about 1798. He was from Chester County,
Pennsylvania, and came about the same time with the Glenns and
Cunninghams, who settled in the same neighborhood, partially in the
present county of Mercer. The Cunninghams located where the present town
of Grove City, Mercer County stands, and built a grist and sawmill on
Wolf Creek, at that place, some of the family afterwards laying out the
town of Grove City. The farm Mr. Williams settled consisted of 200 acres.
William Elliott, a surveyor and civil engineer, came from the
neighborhood of East Liberty, of the "Bullock Pens," near Pittsburg,
about 1793-94, and surveyed land which he was interested in as a "land
jobber." He had control of several thousand acres in different
localities, lying largely in what are now Lawrence and Butler Counties.
In 1799, soon after he was married, he made a settlement on land lying
partly in each of these counties. In this immediate vicinity he had
eight or nine hundred acres. He kept "bachelor's hall" for a while, and
finally went back after his wife. About 1803-4 he built a log grist mill
on the site of the frame mill later owned by his son, the late J. P.
Elliott. In the old mill Mr. Elliott had a bolting chest, and did
considerable work for that time. The present mill was built by J. P.
Elliott in 1844, and stands on the site of the old one on Jamison's Run,
very near its junction with Slippery Rock Creek.
Jamison's Run was so named from a man who settled early on its banks.
James P. Elliott was born February 4, 1800, and his was the first birth
in the southern part of the township, and possibly throughout its entire
extent. William Elliott died in 1813, aged thirty-eight years.
Robert Jamison came originally from Ireland, and on his arrival in
Pennsylvania located on Kiskeminetas Creek, where he stayed for some
time, and finally came on and procured land of William Elliott, settling
on a 400-acre tract, of which he received half for so doing. Jamison
sold the property to Archibald Armstrong, who came in 1825, but did not
locate on the place before 1831.
About the year 1800, William George came to the township. He was
originally from Ireland, and, when he first arrived, [p. 299] lived with
his brother, James George, near North Liberty, Mercer County. Soon
afterwards he went to work on the farm now or lately owned by J. P.
Elliott, and also stayed part of the time about Harrisville, Butler
County. About 1805 or 1806 he was married to Phoebe Sawyer, who arrived
before him, and was living at William Elliott's. Soon after his marriage
he settled the farm now owned by his children, David, Mary and Eleanor,
the place being called Georgetown. In 1833-34 he built a log house on
that place, and in 1835 erected a log grist mill, containing a pair of
burrs and a pair of "country stone" (two run of stone). The wheel,
gearing, and nearly everything about the mill were made of wood.
About the year 1798, James Ramsey came from the Chartier's Valley, in
Washington County, Pennsylvania, and settled on the farm now owned by
John Lowry. The tract originally contained something over 300 acres. He
built a log cabin on the place and made other improvements. The cabin
was burned soon after his marriage, which occurred in 18O1, to Sarah
Taylor. Mr. Ramsey's father settled in Beaver County, and never located
in Lawrence. He may possibly have been a soldier during the Revolution,
but the fact it not known positively. James Ramsey's first child, a
daughter named Ayls, was born in 1802.
About 1795-96, Thomas Taylor came from the Ligonier Valley, in
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and settled on the farm now owned by
Joseph Totten, his cabin standing on the hill just across from the
present location of Mr. Totten's residence. Mr. Taylor's daughter,
Sarah, who came with him, is said to have been the first white woman who
ever crossed Slippery Rock Creek.
In the month of November, 1798, John Gealey came with his family from
Washington County, Pennsylvania, where they lived on the bank of Peter's
Creek. At the time Mr. Gealey settled, his family consisted of his wife
and eight children, but only part of them came with him. He had been out
in 1797, and made improvements, bringing with him his daughter Margaret,
who did the cooking for him while he was busy getting the place in shape
to receive his family. After finishing their work for that fall, they
went back, and in 1798 Mr. Gealey again came out, bringing with him this
time his oldest daughter and his son, William, the latter about six
years old at the time. Mr. Gealey left his children alone in the
wilderness for a while, and went back after his wife and the rest of his
family. The two children had not seen their mother for about a year, and
when she came, in 1799, the meeting between her and her children can
better be imagined than described. The children who came with their
mother in 1799 were Renwick and Sarah. Mr. Gealey and his son, Harry,
each settled a 400-acre tract. In 1800 the oldest son, James Gealey, was
married to Mary M. Smith, who was living with Charles Blair, in the
northern part of the township. As before stated, Blair settled in 1799,
in company with Samuel Allen.
When Mr. Gealey, first came, in 1797, he raised a log cabin, made a
small clearing, and raised some corn. He brought his goods with him in a
wagon, which was probably the first one in the township. A road bed to
be cut ahead in order to get the wagon through, and they advanced but
slowly. The old homestead subsequently came into possession of the
youngest son, Renwick Gealey. William Gealey lived to be over
eighty-five years old. His wife, Joanna, was a daughter of James
Stewart, who settled in 1798 in what is now Perry Township, coming from
what was then Adams County, Pennsylvania. His father, Matthew Stewart,
had served in the Revolution. The Gealey family descended from James
Gealey, who came from Ireland when a young man, probably about 1745. The
land which John Gealey settled was settled under Elliott & Denniston,
"land [p. 300] jobbers," Mr. Gealey, although having served in the
Revolution, not choosing to settle on "donation" land.
John Gealey's wife was Mary Renwick, a descendant of James Renwick, of
Scotland. Her brother, William Renwick, died at Black Rock, N. Y., while
serving as a soldier in the War of 1812. The Gealeys occupy excellent
farms, and the family has become numerous in the neighborhood where John
Gealey first settled.
James McCune came about 1800 to 1802, from what was then Huntingdon, now
Blair County, and partially improved a farm now owned by James C. Shaw.
About 1810 he removed to the farm later owned by his son, David McCune,
Esq., purchasing it from Hugh Hamilton, the original settler. The first
farm upon which he located he purchased at $2 per acre, from Robert
Cochran, a "land jobber," who owned considerable land in the
neighborhood, and had settled about 1795-96, just east of Plaingrove.
James McCune was captain of the militia in old Slippery Rock Township,
when it was in Mercer County, and was out twice at Erie during the War
of 1812-15.
The country south of Plaingrove Church was originally a plain, with no
timber upon it larger than scrubby brush, and when Mr. McCune first came
he drove his wagon through it without paying any attention to the best
way, as the path was equally good anywhere.
Hugh McKee came from Ireland in the year 1788, and afterwards, about
1796-98, came to what is now Plaingrove Township, and settled. His
patent, bearing date of March 21, 1809, calls for 397 acres. Most of the
lands in the township are warrant lands," and were extensively operated
in by "land jobbers."
On Taylor's Run, above where William Gealey now lives, there was
formerly a beaver dam, and both beaver and otter were quite plentiful.
The Indians came all the way from their villages in Mercer County to
trap them, and the noted Indian Harth-e-gig, with his squaw and three or
four dogs, wintered occasionally in a sugar camp near by.
Nathan Offutt had a sawmill early, and Robert Ramsey another one still
earlier.
The orchard of Esquire David McCune's place was planted by his father,
James McCune, about the time he came to the farm (1810), and the trees,
or a few of them, are yet standing.
A store house was built near Plaingrove Church about 1832-33, by H.
Bovard. It was a two-story frame building, containing a general stock,
such as is usually found in country stores. Mr. Bovard continued the
business until the spring of 1868, when A. McKinney assumed control.
A postoffice was established at Plaingrove some time during the stay of
Mr. Bovard, who was the first postmaster. During Buchanan's
administration it was removed to the crossroads, one mile north, and
kept by Alexander McBride, who came from Harlansburg, and had a store
for about a year at the corners. The office was afterwards transferred
to Mr. Bovard, and, with the exception of McBride's short occupation of
it, Mr. Bovard held it from the first until Mr. McKinney took it, in
1868. The office is named Plaingrove.
MILITARY RECORD.
Revolutionary War.--John Gealey, who came to the township first in 1797,
had served with his brother, William, during the Revolution.
The father of James Ramsey located in Beaver County, and had possibly
been a soldier of the Revolution, but those of his descendants now
living in the township are not certain of the fact.
War of 1812-15.--Those who served in this war from Plaingrove were quite
numerous. They generally went to Erie.
Among the names we find James, John and Thomas McCommon, who came to the
township with their father, James McCommon, in 1798. Thomas and James
McCracken came with their father, Adam McCracken, [p. 301] the same year
with the McCommons, and also served in the war.
James Burns, who came in 1811, was out in Captain Denniston's company of
the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Hosack a part of the time. James Ramsey was
out as second lieutenant and went to Erie.
James, Henry, John, William and Renwick Gealey were out, all but Renwick
in Captain James Denniston's company of the One Hundred and
Thirty-fourth. Renwick was in Captain James Robinson's company of the
same regiment. They all went to Erie, but never saw any hard fighting.
Mr. Gealey says the British ship "Queen Charlotte" came up within range
and fired on the batteries which the United States troops were
supporting, but without doing much damage. The batteries returned the
fire, and four men were seen to fall on the British vessel, which
quickly stood out of range. This was while the troops were working the
American vessels over the bar.
William Renwick, a brother of John Gealey's wife, died at Black Rock
during the service.
James McCune was out twice to Erie, and after the war served as militia
captain.
Militia organizations and volunteer rifle companies were kept up for
many years after the war.
War of the Rebellion.--Plaingrove, as well as her sister townships, arose
to meet the call for troops after Fort Sumter was fired upon, and sons
of the veterans of 1812, and grandsons of Revolutionary heroes, came, in
their turn, to do battle for freedom's cause and, like Arnold
Winkelried, "made way for liberty," many giving up their lives in the
conflict. The One Hundredth ("Roundhead") Regiment was the one in which
the township was principally represented.
SCHOOLS.
A schoolhouse was built about 1803 in a field belonging to Henry Hagan,
in the southwestern part of the township. It was built of round logs,
and was the first one in the neighborhood. Andrew Denniston was the
first teacher.
About 1805-6 a schoolhouse was built on Robert Jamison's land, the first
teacher being a man named Robb. Many a trick was played on him, but he
held his own against them all. Finally, a plan was arranged to turn him
out, but he in some way heard of it, and shut himself in the building
and barred the door, and held it for nine days against them, provisions
being brought him in the night. The pupils saw their game blocked, and,
in their desperation, racked their brains for some expedient to get the
"master" out of the schoolhouse. Finally, some person with an overplus
of ingenuity bethought him of a plan; he procured a package of
"brimstone," or sulphur, and climbing to the roof, with a number of
others, poured the contents of the paper down the chimney upon the fire,
and he and one or two others spread their hunting shirts over the top of
the chimney, and in a minute or two more Robb had torn away from the
door and emerged, coughing and sputtering, completely beaten after the
long siege he had withstood. Some of the witnesses to the affair
remarked that "they guessed he smelt hell fast!"
Another schoolhouse was built in the George and Taylor neighborhood
about 1803-04, and a man named Mitchell was probably the first teacher.
Another was erected on the Martin farm, near the later residence of
Robert McCune, and in this building a man named Gurley, or Gourley, was
an early teacher.
About 1822-24 an old-fashioned log schoolhouse was built on Nathan
Offutt's farm, the first teacher being William Coulton.
After the law establishing free schools [p. 302] was passed (1834) a
building was put up on a piece of land taken partly from the George farm
and partly from the place then owned by John Bentley. David McCune
taught the first winter in it, and David Clark was the next male
teacher. Elizabeth Burns taught also. The building was erected in 1838.
The number of schools in the township in 1908 is seven, with seven
teachers and an enrollment of 156 school children. Total expenditure for
school purposes, $3,008.59; estimated value of school property, $7,000.
CHURCHES.
Some time between 1796 and 1800 a gathering was held to take action in
regard to organizing a Presbyterian society and building a church. The
two oldest men at the gathering, Thomas Taylor and David Armstrong, were
appointed a committee to find a name for the church. After the location
was fixed, the name was given to it, "Plain Grove." The country to the
south was a bushy plane, and to the west was a glade, while on the
eminence fixed as the site for the building of the church there stood a
small grove, so that the name was suggested by the surroundings of the
location, and "Plain Grove" fixed upon.
The first elders of the congregation were William McNees and Joseph
Campbell. The first pastor was Rev. William Wood, who was ordained and
installed pastor of Plaingrove and Center November 3, 1802, by the
Presbytery of Erie. Dr. McMillen was present, and by invitation
delivered the charges to pastor and people. Mr. Wood was released from
the pastoral charge of Plaingrove October 7, 1816. During his pastorate
there were numerous cases of the "falling exercise." The next pastor was
Rev. John Munson, who was ordained and installed February 28, 1818. He
was released February 5, 1839, after a pastorate of twenty-one years.
Rev. Robert B. Walker, D.D., was ordained and installed April 2, 1839.
The church had at that time a membership of 176. It is now under the
care of the Presbytery of Butler.
Rev. William Wood was born in York County, Pennsylvania, March 27, 1776.
Samuel Wood, his father, was born in London, England, in 1749, came to
America in 1768, and married Mrs. Isabella Sankey, in York County,
Pennsylvania. He died in Butler County in 1817, leaving four
children--William, Samuel, Benjamin and Isabella. William was the oldest.
He attended the Cannonsburg Academy, and afterwards studied theology in
Dr. McMillan's log cabin. On the 26th day of December, 1800, he was
received by the Presbytery of Ohio as a candidate for the ministry, and
was licensed to preach October 29, 1801. During the winter following he
spent his time among vacant churches and missionary points, and was then
dismissed in order to put himself under the care of the Presbytery of
Erie, which received him April 20, 1802. Having accepted calls from
Plaingrove and Center, he was ordained and installed over those
congregations at a meeting of the Presbytery held at Plaingrove November
3, 1802. Rev. Robert Lee preached on the occasion, and, as stated
before, Dr. McMillan delivered the charges. Mr. Wood was dismissed from
Center August 24, 1808, and from Plaingrove October 7, 1816. April 1,
1817, he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Hartford (Beaver), being
prepared to accept calls from the congregations of Hopewell and
Neshannock. Over these churches he was installed pastor October 22,
1817. At Hopewell he labored for eleven years, being dismissed June 25,
1828.
Mr. Wood died in Utica, Licking County, Ohio, on the 31st day of July,
1839, in the sixty-fourth year of his age, and the thirty-ninth of his
ministry. May 17, 1798, he had been united in marriage to Miss Margaret
Donald, of Washington County, Pennsylvania. They had twelve children,
two of whom were physicians. The elder, John D., settled in Franklin,
Venango [p. 303] County, and the younger in Pulaski, Lawrence County.
William Wood's wife died at Utica, Ohio, April 20, 1843.
In the old cemetery at Plaingrove Church are some ancient headstones
many of them so moss-grown and worn by time that the names are nearly
obliterated. Slabs of native sandstone were largely used, and they have
not proved as lasting as the marble slabs afterwards introduced.
Following is appended a list of some of the earlier deaths, with names
and ages:
David Armstrong died March 20, 1811, aged sixty-four years.
Sarah Armstrong died February 3, 1816, aged fifty-six years.
William Elliott, Jr., died March 25, 1811, aged nine years.
John Emery died May 13, 1814, aged seventy-two years.
Hugh Wallace died January 11, 1820, aged seventy-eight years.
Archibald McCune died August 4, 1825, aged fifty-one years.
Mary Jack died January 18, 1816, aged forty-four years.
Charles Martin died November 19, 1828, aged seventy-seven years.
Thomas Taylor died February 7, 1829, aged eighty-five years.
Ayls aylor died March, 1834, aged eighty-eight years.
William Ewing died June 4, 1819, aged thirty-six years.
Alexander Ewing died ___ ___, aged eighty-two years.
Mary Ewing died ___, 1810, aged forty-four years.
Samuel Campbell died May 8, 1826, aged ninety-eight years.
Anne Davison died February 8, 1823, aged eighty-five years.
Betsy Whitaker died December ___, 1812, aged forty-seven years.
William Whitaker died ___ ___, (stone much moss-grown).
Mary Whitaker died March 9, 1813, aged eighty-six years (illegible).
Sera Dilley died July 4, 1817, aged fifty-nine years.
Price Dilley, Sr., died May 22, 1826, aged seventy-two years.
John Means died ___, 1824, aged 7__ years.
James Glenn died February 20, 1817, aged seventy-four years.
Elizabeth Glenn died November 23, 1815, aged seventy years.
Elizabeth Henderson died March 31, 1811, aged forty-one years.
On an old headstone is inscribed on the face the following inscription:
Departed this life,
On Monday, the 21
of May, A. D., 1832,
ELIZABETH BOYD,
(Consort of John Boyd).
Aged 34 years, 6 months,
and five days.
On the back of the stone is the following quaint rhyme:
Reader, reflect, as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I;
As I am now, so must you bee--
O bare in minde eternite.
The cemetery is situated on the brow of the hill immediately west of the
church. The church is a large brick building. Their first church was a
small log structure, which stood on the same spot. This is one of the
oldest church organizations in Lawrence County, and has witnessed many
changes in the country since the pioneer members first thought of
"rearing a temple in the wilderness."
The next church in age in the township is the Methodist Episcopal. The
pioneer Methodist in the township was James Burns, who settled on the
old Wallace farm in 1812. For some time there was no Methodist preaching
in the neighborhood, and Mr. Burns supported the Presbyterian Church.
But he was soon found by itinerant Methodist preachers, and his house
was opened to them both as a home and a preaching place. This house,
which was a very good one for that day, is still standing. It was built
of hewed logs, and has a shingle roof and stone chimney. The first
Methodist preachers who came through this territory were Shadrach Rourke
and John McMahan. James Watt was another. Meetings were held until 1840,
in Mr. Burns' house, which was known as the "Burns appointment." The
house was 18 by 24 feet in dimensions. The preacher stood, while
speaking, with his back to a window of four lights of 8 by 10 glass.
The Nazareth Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1840, and
superseded [p. 304] the "Burns appointment." It is two miles north of
the first preaching place within the limits of Mercer County
(Springfield Township). The first church was built of logs, on land
given to the church by Washington Sedwick and deeded to James Burns,
Thomas Nelson and others, trustees in trust for the society. This house
was used until 1860, when the membership and congregation had increased
to such an extent that it became necessary to erect a new building to
accommodate them. Accordingly, a neat frame structure was built.
In the year 1860 the Nazareth congregation divided, and a portion of
them built what is known as "Mount Pleasant" Church, in Plaingrove
Township, Lawrence County. It stands one and one-half miles southeast
from the old Burns appointment, and was first opened for service
December 11, 1860. The dedicatory services on that day were conducted by
Rev. G. W. Clarke, D.D. The first pastor was Rev. S. A. Milroy. The
ground on which the house is built, and that on which the burying ground
is located, was given by Noah Rodgers, and deeded to J. M. Burns,
Charles Blair, T. McCommon and others, trustees in trust for the
Methodist Episcopal Church. The house is a large frame structure and is
enclosed with a board fence.
James Burns, who saw the bud of Methodism in Plaingrove open its petals
in his old log-house, in 1814, lived to see the flower thus developed
grow to a large and flourishing degree. The three houses of worship were
built in his time, and when he died, in 1864, he had witnessed wonderful
changes since the first itinerant found him a lone Methodist, worshiping
with the Presbyterians.
Rev. J. M. Crouch was pastor of this church in 1877, and was succeeded
by the following, in the order named: J. M. Foster, Nathaniel Morris, W.
S. Shepard, John Eckles, R. M. Bair, H. G. Dodds, J. C. Gillett, F. R.
Peters, W. S. Shepard, D. W. Thompson, W. F. Flick, O. H. Sibley, G. F.
Robinson, A. B. Smith, S. M. Clark. The last named has been pastor since
1906. The present officials are: Mrs. E. J. Holliday and David Blair,
class leaders; John McComb, Sabbath-school superintendent; John
Montgomery, J. O. Allen, John Holliday, Thomas Rollinson, G. C.
Denniston and J. C. Winder, stewards; A. A. Foster, John E. Sankey,
William Schneider, James Johnston, Clyde McCommon and Cassius McNulty,
trustees. There are now ninety members of the church and eighty-three
members of the Sabbath-school.
Plaingrove United Presbyterian Church was organized about 1859. Their
first regular pastor was Rev. James B. Whitten, who stayed until about
1874, when Rev. J. C. Bingham came and took charge for six months. After
him came Rev. J. L. Robertson and others. The church has at different
times been supplied. A Sabbath-school has been held in connection with
the church from the start. The first elders were William and Renwick
Gealey, H. Bovard, Robert Peebles, James Nelson and G. B. Hamilton. The
elders were the same in 1877, with the addition of Daniel Minick. A fine
brick church was built in 1860, situated half a mile north of Plaingrove
Presbyterian Church. The location of the church, in the edge of a fine
grove, is pleasant and beautiful.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PULASKI TOWNSHIP.
[p. 304] This township, one of the original townships of Lawrence
County, was, prior to the organization of the county, a part of Mahoning
Township, which was erected from old Pymatuning Township, Mercer County,
some time between the third Monday of November, 1805, and the third
Monday of February, 1806. It has an area of about nineteen thousand
acres, being one of the largest townships of the county. Its surface is
comparatively level and the soil rich and productive.
The township is well watered by several streams, the largest being the
Shenango [p. 305] River, along the east bank of which the bed of the old
Erie extension of the Pennsylvania Canal is seen; along the west bank
lies the track of the Erie & Pittsburg Railway, which is now part of the
Pennsylvania system. The smaller streams are Deer Creek, a branch of the
Shenango, Coffee Run a branch of the Mahoning, and numerous tributaries.
On the Shenango and Deer Creek there is considerable water power, and in
the early days the canal also furnished power.
The township contains the villages of New Bedford and Pulaski and a
small settlement called Freedom, or Marr.
The mineral resources of the township have been but little developed.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Joshua Bentley came from Pittsburg in 1798, and settled 259 acres, the
old homestead being now, or recently, owned by Samuel English. Mr.
Bentley built a log-cabin, cleared a small piece of ground, and put in
some grain, after which he went back to Pittsburg and married, and
brought his wife back with him, in 1800. In 1801 he built a large
log-house and moved into it, and during the same year his oldest child,
John, was born.
At nearly the same time, William Cotton, George Davis, Isaac Phillips,
George Walker, James McCready, Hugh McKean, John Mitchell, and others
came, and settled in the same neighborhood.
Andrew Marquis came with his father Samuel Marquis, from Washington
County, Pa., and settled in East Lackawannock Township, Mercer County,
about 1800. He bought a farm east of Pulaski village, and came to it in
1814-15.
James McCready settled three miles southeast of Pulaski about the year
of 1801.
John Somerville settled in the southern part of the township, on the
west side of the Shenango, at an early date.
Nathaniel Porter, then eighteen years of age, came from Chester County,
Pa., in August, 1796, with James McWilliams, who was returning with his
family, having previously been one of a party that came out in 1793.
McWilliams' place was in what is now Mahoning Township. The old
Nathaniel Porter place originally included 290 acres of "population
land." The first season he made improvements on the place, and then went
back after his parents, brothers and sisters, whom he brought out in 1797.
About 1797-9 Robert Black came from Cannonsburg, Washington County,
Pennsylvania, and settled the tract where the Deer Creek United
Presbyterian Church now stands. His house stood very near the spot now
occupied by the church. He "squatted" on the place, which was owned by a
man named Bell, and built a blacksmith shop. He, one day while at work,
fell in the fire and burned his arm so badly that it became necessary to
amputate it.
John Mitchell and his daughter, Naomi Mitchell, afterwards Mrs. George
McWilliams, settled probably 300 acres on the west side of the Shenango,
about 1796, including the farms lately owned by the heirs of Samuel
Satterfield and Robert McClenahan, one mile below Pulaski village.
James Neal came from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, to Washington
County, where he lived a short time, and from there he came, in 1797, to
Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, and settled a 400-acre tract.
Alexander Neal came in 1800, and finally became the owner of the place
his uncle, James Neal, had settled.
Daniel Ault settled about 1797, on the farm afterwards owned by Richard
Amon. About 1798 he built a small log grist-mill on Deer Creek, which
was afterwards bought by Richard Amon and Frederick Shuce, who operated
it a number of years. These gentlemen had come to the neighborhood about
the year 1800. Mr. Ault, after selling out his first mill, built another
log mill on the Shenango, just opposite where Pulaski village now
stands. He still later [p. 306] built one on a small run flowing through
the Piper farm, above Pulaski.
John Gealey came some time previous to 1812 and bought land of James
Black, who had settled it, and thereon erected a stone house. The old
house and farm, located a mile northeast of the town of New Bedford, on
the road leading to Pulaski, afterwards became known as the Henry Grundy
home.
James Walker was four years of age when brought by his father from
Ireland in 1774. The family settled in Washington County, Pennsylvania,
some time between 1774 and 1776. In 1792, James Walker was a member of
several scouting parties against the Indians. In March, 1797, he settled
on a 400-acre tract on the west side of the Shenango, in Pulaski
Township. About 1802-3, Mr. Walker taught school off and on in the
neighborhood until 1829, and became a man of prominence and influence in
the community. He was four times elected Auditor of Mercer County. He
drafted the constitution of the old Hopewell Presbyterian Church at New
Bedford, and was an elder in the church for thirty-five years--was one of
its first elders.
Robert Walker came some time after his brother, James, and located on
the farm afterward owned by William McClung.
Freedom, or Marr postoffice, was established about 1854, and the office
kept up for seven or eight years with Cowden Murdock as the first and
only postmaster.
John and Wallace McCloskey and William Sheriff were early settlers in
the township, arriving about 1812.
James Stevenson, a native of Ireland and a soldier during the
Revolution, located in the southwest corner of Mercer County in 1806,
coming from Chester County, Pennsylvania, but remained only two years.
Richard Van Fleet, originally from New Jersey, and, afterward, a
resident of Northumberland and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania,
successively, came to the present limits of Mercer County in 1798 and in
the latter part of 1799 settled on a farm, the south part of which lay
in what is now Pulaski Township. On Christmas day, 1798, Mr. Van Fleet
got a cabin raised, and then went back to Washington County and brought
out his widowed sister, Mrs. Hannah Burwell, who kept house for him
until some time in the year 1800; he was in that year married to Sarah
Hogue, it being one of the first weddings in the neighborhood. They
lived for eight or ten years within the bounds of what is now Mercer
County, and then built a cabin on the south side of the farm, now in
Lawrence County, near the Pulaski and Youngstown road.
Francis McFarland was one of a company of forty-five men who came out to
locate claims and make improvements in 1793. He settled first in
Mahoning Township, but about 1803 put another man on the place he had
located upon, and removed to Pulaski Township. He had entered his farm
here about 1796 and placed a man named Samuel Phipps upon it to hold it.
Mr. McFarland was the only one of the company that came out in 1793, who
finally settled in what is now Pulaski Township.
Alexander Thompson also was among the early settlers of the township.
The building of the Erie canal brought Samuel Mitchell to Pulaski
township. He, with his wife's brother, George Foreman, was contractor
for the building of Lock No. 1, and the completion of Lock No. 2, above
the Western Reserve Harbor. George Foreman went back to his home in
Kittanning, but Mr. Mitchell, who was the son of a Revolutionary
soldier, and a native of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, was so favorably
impressed with this section that he remained. He purchased a tract of
over two hundred acres, which was about equally divided by the Shenango
River. A two-story log house containing seven rooms had been built by
the former owner, on the [p. 307] west bank of the Shenango River at a
spot later called "Mitchell's Fording," and into this he moved with his
family in 1833.
EARLY ROADS.
For some years after the country was settled, the only roads were old
trails winding through the forest. The Mercer and Youngstown road,
passing through New Bedford, was laid out about 1802, and in 1827 became
a postal route. The New Bedford and New Castle road was cut out some
time afterwards.
SCHOOLS.
The date of building the first school-house in Pulaski is obscure, but
it was some time previous to the War of 1812; it was built of round logs
and stood near the site of the residence of James Judy, being either on
his farm or on the James Donaldson place. James Neal was the first
teacher of this school, and about 1811-12 also opened a select school in
a log building put up for that purpose. He gave lessons in the
languages, and continued the school till the latter part of August,
1813, when he closed it, and went into the army. After the war he
resumed his school and taught for a time. James Walker taught school as
early as 1802-3 in other parts of the township, and also at New Bedford.
The number of schools in Pulaski Township in 1908 was twelve, having an
enrollment of 261. The number of months taught was seven, and twelve
teachers were employed at a total cost of $4,182. The total expenditures
for school purposes in 1908 were $5,319.13.
The school buildings of the township at the present time are all
comfortable and commodious. The schools are well kept and prosperous,
and the citizens have just cause for pride in them.
NEW BEDFORD UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Associate Presbyterian (now the New Bedford United Presbyterian)
congregation at Deer Creek was first organized and a tent erected on the
site of the present United Presbyterian congregation of Mahoning, about
two miles northeast of Lowellville, Ohio, in Mahoning Township, now in
Lawrence County, Pa. There is no record as to the time of organization
or as to who preached the first sermon, but it is believed Rev. James
Duncan preached to this congregation in 1800, or a little earlier. Hewed
logs were arranged in front of their tent for seats. In winter meetings
were held in private houses, as there were no schoolhouses or public
buildings.
The first recorded meeting of the session bears date June 25, 1803. It
met at the Mahoning tent, and Rev. Duncan was moderator, and the elders
present were James McConnell, William Gealey, Robert Walker, William
Houston and Samuel McBride. There were three cases before them at that
time, and the inference is that the session was in working order some
time before. Mr. McBride was clerk of session, and continued in that
office some twenty-five years.
When the organization was effected it was done by the Presbytery of
Chartiers, and continued under its care until 1808, at which date the
Presbytery of Ohio was set off. The organization was effected at
Mahoning tent on the first Tuesday of October, 1808, Rev. Duncan acting
as moderator. The congregation continued in the Ohio Presbytery until
1859, a period of fifty-one years, when the United Presbytery of Mercer
was formed, and the congregation became a part of that Presbytery, and
so continues at the present time.
The last record of the meeting of session at Mahoning tent is dated June
14, 1806. About the year 1807-8 the question began to be agitated as to
the advisability of removing the meetings of the congregation to some
place four or five miles north of the Mahoning tent. The controversy was
sharp and bitter, and so determined that the congregation was disrupted.
Those who were opposed to the removal continued their organization at
the tent, called the Rev. Galloway, of the Associate Reformed Church,
[p. 308] for their pastor, and continued a congregation of that body
until the union of the Associate and Associate Reformed churches in
1858, and is now a flourishing United Presbyterian congregation.
The congregation of Deer Creek chose for their future place of meetings
and cemetery a spot which is situated in Pulaski Township, Lawrence
County, Pa., half a mile north of New Bedford and about four miles north
of Mahoning Church. The village of New Bedford was not laid out until
several years subsequently. Rev. James Duncan, who was the second
Associate minister licensed to preach in the United States, was pastor
of the church. For a few years the congregation prospered under his
care, and many were added to its membership. His time was divided
equally between Poland, Liberty and Deer Creek, and the three
congregations had one united session, part of the elders being in each
congregation. But in a few years Mr. Duncan began to promulgate doctrine
not taught or received by the Associate Presbyterian Church. Charges
were preferred against him in Presbytery for teaching erroneous
doctrines, and, after a protracted and vexatious litigation, both in
Presbytery and Synod, he was pronounced guilty and his license recalled.
In 1810 the congregation at Deer Creek built a hewed-log house, with
shingled roof, 30x35 feet in dimensions, each family providing the
number of logs assigned them. A lofty pulpit was erected, which was
reached by a flight of steps, and, when done, was occupied by the
preacher and singing clerk.
About 1815 Deer Creek and its sister branches were declared vacancies
for the first time. In 1811 the name of Alexander Reed, and, in 1812,
that of George Thompson, had been added to the session-roll, but in 1816
both left the church, and subsequently the congregation had many lonely
Sabbaths. The Rev. Alexander Murray, of the church in New Castle, often
visited and refreshed the congregation with his sermons and counsel. In
1819 a call was given to Rev. Robert Douglass, and accepted by him. He
was ordained and installed pastor of Deer Creek, Poland and Liberty in
1820. He became very popular and his congregation increased with such
rapidity that the house was soon too small to contain the people.
In 1822 a new frame church, 40x50 feet in dimensions, was erected, but
before its completion the beloved pastor was called to his final rest,
the date of his death being the 24th of December, 1823. He was buried in
the cemetery at Poland Center.
In 1820 David Wilson and James Shields were elected ruling elders of
Deer Creek Church. This was the first election of such officers placed
upon the church records. In 1825 Rev. David Goodwillie accepted a call
from Deer Creek, Poland and Liberty, and was ordained and installed in
April, 1826. He was very popular with his people and during his
pastorate of seven and a half years there were added to the congregation
100 new members. Encouraged by prosperity, the congregation in 1832
petitioned the Presbytery to grant them all of Mr. Goodwillie's time,
and to dissolve the existing relations between Deer Creek, and Poland
and Liberty, but the two last named joined issue and counter-petitioned
for all of Rev. Goodwillie's time for themselves. The Presbytery
referred the matter to Mr. Goodwillie, who finally chose to serve Poland
and Liberty, and Deer Creek was left vacant for the third time.
In 1827 Thomas Robinson and James McConnell were elected ruling elders
of Deer Creek, and their names added to the roll of the United Session.
The first roll of members and families of the Deer Creek congregation,
recorded in 1827, showed the number of families to be seventy-eight,
with 160 communicants.
In 1834 a call was made to Rev. James P. Ramsey, and accepted; he was
ordained and installed July 1, 1835. He was so popular with his
congregation that he remained with them for twenty-one years. [p. 309]
During his pastorate many exciting controversies arose, among which was
the slavery question, which shook the church to its very foundations.
Rev. Mr. Ramsey was not an abolitionist at first, and was opposed to
meddling with the subject, either in the church or in the social gatherings.
About this time Rev. Wright (of the Presbyterian Church) sent a notice
that he would lecture in Deer Creek on a certain day on the subject of
American slavery, an appointment unsolicited on the part of the
congregation. The day arrived, the congregation assembled, including
Rev. Ramsey and wife, but when they reached the church found it locked
and guarded. The antislavery portion of the congregation took in the
situation at once and, without stopping to parley, returned to their
respective homes. The proceeding opened a door which could not be
closed, and when, on the next Sabbath, Mr. Ramsey took decided
anti-slavery ground, many of those who had previously sympathized with
the pro-slavery element came over to his support. The determined
pro-slavery men, however, soon withdrew from the congregation, organized
an Associate Reformed congregation, built a church and called it Beulah,
two miles north of Deer Creek, and made a call upon Rev. Thomas Mehard,
and their organization was continued up to the time of the Union in
1858. After the "secession" of the pro-slavery element from the church
the congregation remaining had no more trouble on the subject, but the
departure of so many families weakened them seriously.
In 1869 the congregation built a new meeting-house, 43x50 feet in
dimensions, which was the third one erected at Deer Creek. A Sabbath
school was organized by Rev. Ramsey and the session, but the health of
the pastor caused it to be discontinued.
On account of his failing health, Rev. Mr. Ramsey petitioned the
presbytery to release him from pastoral duties, which petition was
granted August 19, 1855, and Mr. Ramsey removed from Deer Creek to New
Wilmington, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He was much
respected and beloved by his congregation. He died in 1862 and was
buried at Deer Creek, where also repose the remains of his son, William,
who died in the Union army during the rebellion, at Hilton Head, South
Carolina.
In 1857, by a unanimous vote of the congregation, a call was presented
to Rev. Josiah Alexander, who accepted, and entered upon his duties
April 1 of that year. When he assumed charge of this congregation there
were on the roll the names of sixty-seven families and 128 communicants.
These members increased rapidly until the house was full. A monthly
prayer-meeting was organized which was well attended for years. The
Sabbath-school was reorganized, and soon increased to 180 members. A
Sabbath-school temperance society was also organized with 137 members
and pledged to total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors.
In 1858 the union of the Associate and Associate Reformed Churches was
perfected. This union worked unfavorably upon Deer Creek Church. There
was an Associate Reformed Church at Middlesex, five miles north, and
another at Mahoning, four miles south of Deer Creek, and many of the
members of the latter drew off to one or the other of these, until Deer
Creek was sadly diminished in numbers. Other matters produced bitterness
and divided interests, and the church was exceedingly troubled; but,
notwithstanding all these drawbacks, the membership gradually increased
until it numbered some 200.
The church had an organized aid society during the war, mostly managed
by the female members, which made monthly contributions in aid of the
sick and wounded.
In 1867 the use of tokens at communion seasons was discontinued. In 1874
the church was repaired and re-furnished at a cost of several thousand
dollars. After [p. 310] Mr. Alexander began his labors in the
congregation there were added to its numbers, up to 1877, as follows: By
profession, 130; by certificate, 119. In the same period of twenty years
there left the church, by dismission, 120.
The pastorate of Rev. Josiah Alexander continued until June 10, 1877.
After his resignation Rev. Alexander remained for a year or two on his
farm near New Bedford, and then removed to New Wilmington, where he died
a short time afterward. His body was brought back to New Bedford and
laid to rest in Deer Creek Cemetery, where a neat marble stone, erected
by the family and the congregation, marks his last resting place. Almost
exactly a year afterward Rev. H. S. Boyd was installed as pastor, June
11, 1878, and served until January 11, 1888. During his pastorate the
congregation was removed to the village of New Bedford. A new church
building was erected and dedicated July 12, 1883. The name of the
congregation was shortly afterward changed to New Bedford United
Presbyterian Church. For almost four years after Rev. Boyd's resignation
the congregation was vacant. On June 10, 1892, Rev. J. P. Davis was
installed as pastor and remained about three years. The first of July,
1896, Rev. John Gealey came as Stated Supply, and, a year afterward,
after completing his course in the Seminary, was installed as pastor and
is still serving in that capacity. The present membership of the
congregation is 170, with 129 in the Sabbath School and thirty-three in
the Young People's Society. The officers of the congregation are:
Session, W. S. Lowry, W. J. Sharpe, J. Al. Cooper, D. C. McBride, A. A.
Anderson and Hiram Anderson; board of trustees, J. A. Walker, W. F.
Cowden, Trude Smith, Ed. R. Lowry and F. W. Shields; superintendent of
Sabbath school, Clare B. Shields; president of the Ladies' Missionary
Society, Mary M. Walker; president of the Young People's Society, John
W. Gealey; chairman of the congregation, Newell Allison.
THE SISTERS-OF-MARY ORPHAN FARM
is located on land originally donated by William Murrin to Bishop
O'Connor, of Pittsburg, in 1855. The Franciscan Brothers of Pittsburg at
first had charge of it, and in 1856 the larger part of the present brick
building was erected. The Brothers at first kept a boarding school but
on account of the location, being so far from Pittsburg, it did not pay
well, and Bishop O'Connor, about the year 1860, sold the land to Bishop
Rapp, of Cleveland, for $3,000, and the "Sisters of Charity" conducted
it on for three years. They established an orphan school for boys, while
in charge, but the land was in poor condition, and their success was not
such as anticipated. In May, 1864, the "Sisters of Mary" took charge and
the same year organized the orphan school for girls. The school and
convent were placed in a flourishing condition. All the buildings on the
farm are substantial and commodious. The frame building erected for a
church stood originally on the north side of the road, in the cemetery,
but was removed, about 1874, to the place where it now stands. The lower
story is used for a school-room for the orphans, and the upper story as
a school-room for the novices or young sisters.
TOWN OF NEW BEDFORD.
The town of New Bedford was laid out by Daniel Inbody, June 25, 1818, on
land which had been owned by Dr. Nathaniel Bedford, after whom the town
was named. Another reason for the name is advanced; three strong springs
flowed from the ground at the spot where the public watering trough is
located, and bore a resemblance to the famed Bedford Springs in that
they were strongly mineral.
The first settlers on the ground where the town stands were James and
Thomas Black. In the year 1796 James, Thomas and Andrew Black came from
Adams County, Pa., and James and Thomas settled a 400-acre tract,
including that on [p. 311] which the town now stands. Andrew settled
land on Deer Creek, northeast of town. Jacob Van Meter a brother-in-law
of the Blacks, who came originally from Virginia, settled in Pulaski
Township in 1800, and settled 200 acres of the 400-acre tract which the
Blacks had taken. Mr. Van Meter lived on his place until his death in 1854.
James and Thomas Black built the first house erected on the site of New
Bedford, and made other improvements in 1796, and in 1797 went back and
brought their mother and three sisters.
The second house in the neighborhood, built on what afterward was known
as the Robert McCullough farm, was a hewed log structure and a fine
building for that time.
Daniel Inbody arrived soon after the Blacks, and, on the 25th of June,
1818, laid out the town. The lots were surveyed by James McCready, and
the following were the original lot owners in New Bedford: Josiah
Cotton, J. Beggs, Elizabeth Winters, John C. Little, William Bell,
Daniel Inbody, Joseph Jackson, Owen McGeary, John Gaily, Henry Potter,
John McCready, William Porter, John Hill, Darby Doran, Michael Doran, D.
Armstrong, Alexander Ragan, James Waugh,, Joseph Randalls, James
Mitcheltree, Thomas Mitcheltree, Thomas Irwin, J. H. Anderson, Thomas
McDonald, Timothy Swan, A. McFarland, C. Martines, Barney Harris and
James Williamson. The original town consisted of eighty-nine lots.
A postoffice was established at New Bedford about 1827, with Dr. John
McCready as first postmaster.
Daniel Inbody established a pottery and, it is thought, kept the first
tavern in the place.
John Pollock opened a tavern in a brick house, and this is said by some
to have been the first one in the place; that Mr. Inbody did not conduct
a regular tavern, but merely accommodated transients who had no other
place to stay.
About 1810-11 a well was being dug on the place owned by John Inbody,
when a sad accident happened. John and Jacob Inbody were Daniel Inbody's
sons, Jacob being a deaf mute. These two men and two hired men, who
worked in the pottery beloning to Inbody, were digging the well, and all
four were smothered by the damp.
A tannery was started by John Lynn very soon after the town was laid
out, probably in 1819, and was run for some years.
Thomas Black built a distillery in the early days which ceased operation
before the town was laid out; it was located near the spot afterwards
occupied by the tannery, and was the first distillery built in this part
of the country.
Dr. John McCready was the first physician in the place, Dr. Gage the
second, and Dr. John Cowden, who came to the town in 1829, was the
third. Dr. John Ferrel, Dr. A. R. McClure and Dr. James Love were also
early physicians here.
James Waugh opened the first store in the township, half a mile east of
the Deer Creek bridge, on the New Bedford and Pulaski road. Waugh
afterwards removed to New Bedford and opened the first store at that
place, about the year 1819. He bought one of the original lots and built
first a house, then a store upon it. He kept store in a part of his
house at first.
A man named McDowell opened the second store in New Bedford and kept it
about three years, then moved away.
Archibald Douglass kept a tavern in the place early, in the building
later refitted for hotel purposes, and known as the "Fountain Hotel."
A man named Guthrie had a carding machine at the place before the town
was established. William Leyda built a steam grist mill about 1851-52
and operated it for some time. William Porter, Esq., and Josiah Cotton
started the first blacksmith shops, at about the same time.
John and William Porter probably opened the first wagon shop in the
place. Previous to this, a man named Alexander [p. 312] Magahey had a
wagon shop near the State line, west of where the town afterwards stood,
and made the first wagons that were manufactured in the country.
The first tailor shop was kept by a man named Moore, whose brother came
with him and followed the trade of a blacksmith. Richard Hoagland came
in next after them and opened a tailor shop.
The first saddle and harness shop was opened and conducted for some time
by Samuel Rogers. A man named Kelso worked at the coopering business
shortly after New Bedford was laid out. John Leyda and his sons, William
and James, built a saw-mill about 1847-48, a few years before they
erected the grist-mill. A bentwood factory was started by them while
they were running their saw-mill. It afterwards became the property of
other parties, and was carried on in the old grist-mill for some time,
then in a frame building, which was erected for that purpose, by John
Duff and Cassius Zedaker.
The New Bedford Creamery Company was established in 1895, its project
being a high grade of fancy butter. Frank Moeschberger is manager thereof.
A school was taught, about 1802-3, in the old log building erected by
the Hopewell Presbyterian congregation. James Walker taught this school,
and afterwards kept it in his house, which stood on the Pulaski road,
northeast of town. George Monteith was also one of the early teachers
before the town was laid out. Afterwards a log schoolhouse was built
near the spot now occupied by the church, and James Hawthorne was the
first teacher. This house was used until 1834, when the free-school law
went into effect, and new schoolhouses were built. A frame two-story
schoolhouse was built in the extreme western part of the town. The
schools now are in a prosperous condition and are well attended and
maintained.
New Bedford was incorporated a borough by act of Legislature, April 23,
1852, and January 1, 1861, the borough organization was discontinued.
Hopewell Presbyterian Church.-- Hopewell Church antedates that at Deer
Field, the exact date being unknown. It was not later than 1800, and
possibly organized as early as 1798. In the old Hopewell graveyard,
which was laid out in 1800, the first burial was in 1810, being that of
a young lady who was accidentally shot. This church was one of the first
organized in the bounds of the old Presbytery of Erie.
The first pastor was Rev. William Wick, who was ordained and installed
by the Presbytery of Erie, September 3, 1800, in connection with
Neshannock. Mr. Wick was pastor until his death, which occurred March
29, 1815. The first elders of this church were probably James Walker,
William Porter and John Monteith. At any rate, Mr. Walker was one of the
first and helped organize the church.
The second pastor was Rev. William Wood, who commenced his pastorate
March 11, 1816, in connection with Neshannock. He was released June 25,
1829, and was succeeded by Rev. William Nesbit, who was ordained and
installed October 7, 1829. Mr. Nesbit was released October 6, 1840. The
fourth pastor was Rev. Henry Webber, who was installed April 11, 1849,
and released June 29, 1853. Rev. William Nesbit was again installed in
May, 1854, and released April 6, 1858. Rev. James P. Fulton was next
installed May 28, 1867.
The Free Presbyterian Church was formed from a portion of the Hopewell
congregation in 1844, owing to differences, on the subject of slavery.
Rev. John Knox, who must have been supplying Hopewell at the time,
joined the Free Church and was its first pastor. This congregation built
themselves a church, the same building afterwards used as the town hall.
The history of the Methodist Episcopal Church of New Bedford is
difficult of ascertainment from the fact that it has been so frequently
changed from one charge to another. The following pastors have served
the charge: Nathan Morris, D. W. Wampler, J. K. Mendenhall, J. L.
Mecklin, R. A. Buzza, S. E. Winger, Washington Hollister, W. A. Merriam,
S. L. Mills, H. H. Blair, M. B. Riley, J. M. Drake, A. O. Stone, Rev.
Lackey, Rev. King, A. C. Locke and R. W. Skinner. The membership of the
church is sixty-four and the Sabbath-school fifty. In 1884, the
congregation built a new church, across the street from the old building
where they held the services formerly. The official members of the
church are as follows: Samuel Cover, W. H. Bentley, S. E. Cover, Frank
Moeschberger, Robert Lawson, Charles Stuver, Dr. Tobey, Thomas Vaughn
and Andrew Onstott.
VILLAGE OF PULASKI.
The first settler on the land where Pulaski now stands was probably
Daniel Ault, who first located on Deer Creek, West of town. He built a
grist-mill on the west side of the Shenango, about 1800, and afterwards
built one on the ruin north of town. The old mill stood opposite the
latter and a little farther down the stream, and the old dam also was
built by him. There was also a saw-mill at the east end of the dam,
possibly built by John Piper after the grist-mill was erected.
In the neighborhood of 1835 a carding-mill was built by a Mr. Brenneman,
on the west side of the Shenango, just above the old grist-mill. It was
operated a number of years and finally removed. A saw-mill, which later
burned, stood just above it, probably built by Hunter & Watson.
The Erie extension of the Pennsylvania Canal was completed to Pulaski
about 1836, the village having been previously laid out, during the year
1832 by William Byers and John Piper. Union Street was the dividing line
of their property, Byers having all south of it, and Piper that which
was on the north. The first dwelling erected on the new town plot was a
log house built by John Crawford.
William M. Stitt came to the village July 21, 1833, and opened the
second tailor shop in Pulaski, the first one having been started by John
Porter. When Mr. Stitt came to the town it contained only eight
dwellings, they being owned by James Dawson, John Crawford, Andrew
McWilliams, William Watson, John Hunter, Samuel and Andrew Tannehill,
Marcus Best and D. C. Matthews. James Hooper had a general store there
at the time. A number of buildings were erected in the fall of that year.
Andrew McWilliams and William Watson had kept a store--the first one in
the place--and the one opened by D. C. Matthews was the second. William
Dickey and John P. Wright also had a store afterwards, and William and
Amos J. Waugh another. James F. Scott came to the village in 1839, and,
in company with Hugh Bell, opened a general store.
David A. McKee came to the town in the spring of 1837 from Shenango
Township, and, after 1842, conducted a harness shop. He learned his
trade in the shop of Caldwell & Morrison, which had been established by
A. E. Caldwell, and was the first in the village. McKee's shop was the
second in town. The first blacksmith shop was opened by B. T. Harris in
the spring of 1833. John Hunter came next, and made edged tools. Allen
B. Wallace came to the village about 1837-38.
The first hotel in the place was probably kept by James Byers, in a
building standing at the northwest corner of Union Street and the Mercer
Road. At one time there were five or six taverns in town, and every one
of them had a bar in connection. The first physician in Pulaski was Dr.
William Wood, who came in the spring of 1833. Henry King had a shoe-shop
early, possibly the first one in the place. David and John Carnahan and
a Mr. Somerville opened the first wagon shops. The grist-mill, later
owned by Hull & Swogger, was built by McWilliams & Wright, about
1840-44. The covered wooden bridge across the Shenango at Pulaski was
built by a man named Bingham, in the fall of 1833, and was afterwards
rebuilt.
A planing mill was built on the bank of the canal by Scott & Wallace, in
1863, the only one ever in the place, and a saw-mill was run in connection.
John H. Porter, Esq., came to Pulaski in 1842, and in 1843 established a
foundry. He erected a new foundry building in 1854, and he began work in
it in 1855. It was a very flourishing business enterprise and was
afterwards successfully operated by his son, N. M. Porter.
About 1872 four brothers, named Reno, united and formed a partnership
under the style of Reno Brothers, for the manufacture of "Reno's French
Umber Filler." The basis of this popular paint is a peculiar mineral
mined in Lawrence County. These men established a mill on the Erie &
Pittsburg Railway, 45 by 60 feet in size, with a capacity of about two
tons daily, and built up a trade in many parts of the country.
A postal route was established between Mercer and Youngstown in 1827,
and passed through New Wilmington, Pulaski and New Bedford, the latter
and New Wilmington then being the only towns laid out. The first
postmaster at Pulaski was Andrew Tannehill, the office being established
about 1832.
About 1803-4 a log schoolhouse was built on the James McCready place.
One of the first teachers was John Byers, who taught in 1806-7, and
probably before. He was a son of William Byers, who laid out the south
part of the town and was the first sheriff of Mercer County, appointed
November 9, 1803.
The second schoolhouse in the neighborhood, a log structure, stood on
what later was the Frank Wilson farm, nearly a mile east of Pulaski, and
John Bellows was the teacher.
The third schoolhouse was also built of logs, and stood on the hill east
of the town.
A two-story frame schoolhouse was built in the summer of 1876, at a cost
of $1,500, and unexcelled educational advantages was afforded the
children of the village.
Charles E. Terrill has been postmaster at Pulaski for the past six
years. El. Ayers is engaged in the manufacture of galvanized iron top
churns, which he ships to Pittsburg, from which point they are
distributed. Pulaski Roller Mills--David W. Swogger, proprietor--were
purchased by their present owner in 1903. The mills have a capacity of
seventy-five barrels of flour per day. Reno Brothers Paint Company was
founded in the early seventies, and for almost forty years has made a
specialty of the manufacture of Reno's French Umber Filler. The
president of the concern is D. S Kennedy, and the secretary and
treasurer, J. W. Benner, both of whom are residents of Pittsburg.
Charles E. Hull, of Pulaski, is the manager.
Pulaski Presbyterian Church.-- A meeting of the Presbyterians of Pulaski
and vicinity was held May 25, 1837, at the house of V. M. Best, with a
view of establishing a church in the village. William Wilson was
appointed to make application to the Presbytery. The request was
granted, and Rev. William Nesbit was appointed to organize the church.
In the fall of the same year the organization was completed, with a
membership of thirty-seven, the members being from the congregations of
the Neshannock and Hopewell Presbyterian churches. The first meeting was
held in the schoolhouse, and the second in the grove east of where the
church now stands. The first elders were Patrick Wilson, Alexander
Cotton and John P. Wright.
Revs. William Wood, Absalom McCready and Robert Sample were stated
supplies until June, 1845, when Rev. Henry Webber was installed as the
first regular pastor. He had been with them since November 30, 1844, and
continued his pastorate almost eight years.
The second pastor was Rev. David Waggoner, who was installed in the fall
of 1853, and had charge until 1864, then Rev. R. T. Price supplied for
about eighteen months. Rev. J. P. Fulton was installed as third regular
pastor May 12, 1866, and continued until October 5, 1869. Rev. T. B.
Anderson came in the spring of 1871, and Rev. A. C. Campbell in the
spring of 1874, remaining until April, 1876.
Rev. Seth R. Gordon was the next pastor in order, and was followed
successively by Revs. James P. Irwin, K. C. Hayes, J. M. Mealy, J. L.
Godfrey, C. J. Jordan, George T. Scott, A. R. Shultz, J. C. Ambrose and
F. A. Shape, who is the present incumbent. The names of the church
officers are as follows: S. M. Porter, Sabbath-school superintendent; J.
C. Marquis, S. M. Porter, William Cotton and Julius Wallace, elders. The
present church membership is 170, and that of the Sabbath-school is 100.
Since the spring of 1874, Pulaski Presbyterian Church has been a sole
charge; prior to that time it was united with the Hopewell charge. The
Sabbath-school was organized in the fall of 1843 or 1844.
A frame church building was begun in the fall of 1840, and finished in
the spring of 1841, the lot on which it was built having been donated by
William Byers for church and school purposes when he laid out his part
of the town. The first sermon in the church was that preached by Rev.
Absalom McCready, early in May, 1841, on the death of President W. H.
Harrison.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1854 or 1855, their
first meetings being held in the schoolhouse. Their first pastor was
Rev. Robert Caruthers. A frame church was built in the fall of 1856, and
was dedicated some time during that winter.
Among the subsequent pastors to serve this charge were Revs. H. H.
Moore, Boyle, R. M. Bear, S. Gregg, Shattuck, J. F. Perry, J. Crum, J.
C. Colton, J. S. Card, J. K. Mendenhall, E. L. Beardsley, H. Henderson,
H. C. Smith and A. M. Lockwood. A Sabbath-school was organized during
Rev. J. F. Perry's pastorate.
Christian Church.--This society held its first meetings in Pulaski in the
fall of 1864, using the schoolhouse, the Methodist Episcopal Church and
other places. It was for some time in connection with the congregation
at Edenburg, in Mahoning Township. In 1870-71 it was organized as a
separate congregation by Rev. Henry Camp. The first regular pastor was
Rev. Orange Higgins. After him came Revs. S. B. Teegarden, Thomas
Hillock, Henry Camp and William F. Cowden. After Rev. Hillock took
charge, services were held in the brick block erected in Pulaski by
Henry Kyle in 1870, there being a hall upstairs. About the year 1875 a
Sabbath-school was organized, with James Mitcheltree as superintendent.
MILITARY.
Revolutionary War.--James Stevenson, who was located in what is now
Pulaski Township for a brief period, served in the Revolutionary army,
and was taken prisoner by the British at Philadelphia, and held nine
months. He is the only veteran of that war of whom we have any knowledge
who settled in the township, although descendants of some of the
veterans became residents here.
War of 1812.--Andrew Marquis served in Capt. Matthew Dawson's company,
and went to Sandusky and Fort Meigs with General Harrison's army. Joshua
Bentley went to Sandusky, and afterwards to Erie. James, Jr., David and
John McCready, John Somerville, Matthew Black, William Lockhart and
William Sheriff's father were also in the service. James and Alexander
Neal were at Erie, the former twice and the latter three times. John
McFarland (son of Francis McFarland) was out twice to Erie. John Gealey
also went to Erie. James Walker served in Capt. Alexander Thompson's
company at Erie, and helped haul Commodore Perry's fleet over the bar.
Militia Companies.--The "Shenango Marksmen," a rifle company, was
organized some time after the War of 1812 and held its drills at the
settlement where Pulaski now stands. Its officers were, at different
times, William Sheriff, Ebenezer Byers, William Allen, Samuel Byers and
others, the organization having been maintained about thirty years. Its
first uniform was a yellow hunting shirt with a white fringe, red sash,
and a citizen's hat having a white plume with a red top. It was a
volunteer company, and was one of four companies composing a battalion
which held its reviews at Mercer.
During the rebellion of 1861-65 the township furnished a considerable
number of troops for the Union army. It was represented in several
regiments, but principally in the famous Round Head (100th) Regiment,
and quite a number laid down their lives in battling for the cause.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Mar 2002