Chap XV - Part VI: 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens
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CHAPTER XV - Part VI
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.
]
SLIPPERY ROCK TOWNSHIP.
[p. 330] One of the original townships of the county before the erection
of Lawrence, within the bounds of Beaver County, was Slippery Rock,
which is one of the larger divisions of Lawrence County, having an area
of about 18,700 acres. Its surface is much diversified, but for the most
part is very hilly. Along Slippery Rock and Muddy Creeks and the smaller
tributaries of the former, there are many localities of nearly primitive
wildness. Almost the entire distance along Slippery Rock Creek, from its
entrance to the northeast part of the township to the spot where it
crosses the southern line and enters Wayne, is one grand display of
nature's beauties.
Slippery Rock Creek affords excellent power, and the fact was not
overlooked by settlers, for mills were erected on its banks at an early
period, some of which are yet in operation, though numbers have been
abandoned.
The soil of the township is generally well adapted to the growth of
various agricultural products. Coal, limestone and iron ore abound, the
former in immense quantities, and with both the mineral and agricultural
resources it possesses, the township may be ranked among the foremost in
the country. The coal vein averages about thirty or thirty-two inches in
thickness in the southern part of the township, and is generally of a
fine quality. During the fall of 1876, Nesbit & Dimick, an oil firm,
bored a test well on the farm of Jacob Shaffer, in what is known as
"Cove Hollow." These gentlemen put down a well in Wayne Township in the
summer of 1875, several hundred feet, but found no oil. They concluded,
judging from the Butler County oil districts, that they were too far
south, and consequently came to Slippery Rock Township, but met with no
greater success than in Wayne, although the showing was much better.
Manufacturing of different kinds has been carried on in the township to
greater or less extent, several iron furnaces having been operated on
native ores.
In the southern part of the township are two "darksome dells," called
respectively "Hell's (or Big) Hollow," and "Cove Hollow." In each of
these hollows a small stream threads its way along, and in each the
stream disappears through a hole in the rocky surface of the ground, and
after running underground for some distance, reappears below. "Hell's
Hollow" was named by the early settlers, the appellation being an
appropriate one, for a gloomier place can hardly be found. It is related
that the origin of the name comes from the fact that a traveler in an
early day passed the night in the hollow, and when asked the next day
where he had slept, answered that he "didn't know, unless it was in
hell!" "Cove Hollow" derives its name from a "Cove" or recess formed by
an overhanging rock somewhere within it.
A greater portion of the land in Slippery Rock Township is in the First
Donation District. A portion in the southern part is in the "Chew
District." Benjamin Chew was a resident of Philadelphia, and had several
thousand acres of land in the southern part of what is now Lawrence
County, and settlers were entitled to half a tract (tracts included 40
[sic, 400?] acres) for settling. After Mr. Chew died, his son, Benjamin
Chew, Jr., attended to the business. [p. 331] He laid out the village of
Chewton, in Wayne Township.
The township contains the village of Princeton and Rose Point, or
"Stonertown," both situated in old settled districts, and averaging well
with other villages of their size in the country.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Matthew Young, who came from Ireland about 1797-98 settled in the
township about the spring of 1813, on the farm owned at a later period
by Robert Young.* He had first stopped near Noblestown, Allegheny
County, and was married there. He afterwards removed to a place in
Beaver County, near the present village of Enon Valley.
*Another authority says on the farm owned by David Heckathorn.
Robert and John Burnside came from Ireland in 1817. Robert settled the
place which in more recent times has been known as the Samuel Burnside
farm, and made the first improvements upon it. John Burnside was the
first settler on the place later owned by John Fox, into whose
possession it came about 1836.
Peter Fox came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1809, and
settled on the east side of Slippery Rock Creek, on the farm later owned
by Thomas L. Kelty, Jr. Mr. Fox afterwards purchased a farm in the north
part of the township.
A grist mill was built by Jacob and John Fox, on Slippery Rock Creek,
about 1828. It was a frame building, containing one run of stone. This
mill was purchased by Enoch Dean, who tore it down, and, about 1830,
built the one now standing, containing four run of stone. Jacob and John
Fox built a log dam, sheeted with plank and split timber. It was
removed, and a stone dam put in by Hosea Kennedy. That as washed away,
and the stone dam now standing put in by the same man. Andrew Fox owned
the mill a short time, just previous to the Rebellion. He sold it to
Hosea Kennedy.
Andrew Standley came from New Jersey in 1815, and located first in New
Castle. He built a house and lived there a number of years, but about
1826-27 purchased a farm in Slippery Rock Township, upon which he moved.
Mr. Standley was twenty-one years old when he located in New Castle, and
while there followed the trade of a carpenter, conducting a shop.
James Taylor settled early on the farm owned later, successively, by
William Hoyne and Orville Jackson.
Miller Kennedy came originally from Emmetsburg, Frederick County,
Maryland, was located in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania, some years,
and about 1808 settled near the site of the present village of
Princeton. He settled 100 acres, purchasing it from James Mower, who
lived near the mouth of Beaver River. He came out in the spring of the
year, and, after making the improvements on the place, he, in the fall,
put in a small piece of wheat. After Mr. Kennedy settled near Princeton,
he purchased two additional farms, one of them that on which his son,
Henry, afterwards lived, north of Rose Point. Henry Kennedy was the
first settler in this place, as late as 1824. He is now dead.
Samuel Stickle came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, about 1803,
and located on the farm later owned by James P. Aiken and Samuel
Stickle, Jr. The family stopped one night before they reached their new
home on the bank of the run which empties into Slippery Rock Creek, just
below the village of Rose Point. Several of their descendants reside in
the township now.
George, James and Margaret Kildoo settled in the township about 1802.
James and Margaret were children, and George was twenty or twenty-five
years old. Their father died before they came out, and they came alone
into the wilderness. George went back after provisions, and left the
younger ones alone for six weeks. Every night the wolves came snarling
around the [p. 332] cabin, and it was no pleasant situation to be in.
George Fischer came about 1801-2, and settled on what is known as the
Jacob Fischer farm. After George Fischer died, his son, Henry, purchased
the interest of the rest of the heirs. Henry Fischer died in the fall of
1875, and his son, Jacob, then came into possession of the place.
John Motherlin came about 1800, and located first on the E. M. McMillin
place, northeast of Princeton. Motherlin was from Chester County,
Pennsylvania. He afterwards went to Canada, where he died. His family
after his death settled the farm afterwards owned by Alexander Frew,
near Princeton.
About 1770-71, John Frew was brought from Ireland by his parents, being
but eighteen months old at the time. His parents first settled in the
State of Maryland, and afterwards removed to Westmoreland County,
Pennsylvania. About 1794-95, John Frew started for what is now Lawrence
County, and on the way met a man who had been out and made improvements
on a 400-acre tract of land in the Chew district. He was open to a
bargain, and Mr. Frew purchased his claim for a trifle, and came on and
found the place corresponding with the description given him by the man
from whom he bought it. A small cabin had been built on the tract, and a
clearing made. The next year after he purchased the farm, Mr. Frew
brought the whole family to it from Westmoreland County, and made a
permanent settlement. In the winter of 1800 or 1801, Mr. Frew made a
trip to Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland County, and when he returned he
brought a wife with him. Her maiden name was Margaret Hammill. In the
latter part of 1801 (November 18th) their son, Alexander Frew, was born.
Mr. Frew raised grain the same year the family came out, and a year or
two afterwards set out an orchard. John Frew was the first one of the
family married after they came to Lawrence County, and Alexander Frew
was one of the first white children born in the township.
Nathan Hazen, son of Nathaniel Hazen, a Revolutionary soldier, came from
the valley of the Conoquenessing, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, about
1810-11, and bought a 200-acre tract of land where his son, Levi Hazen,
lately lived. He was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and came
from there when young.
The J. W. Boak farm in Slippery Rock Township was patented to the widow
of Abraham Morris, in trust for her children. Her husband was a private
in the Revolutionary Army. On the 27th of September, 1815, the land was
conveyed to William Wigton, who was the first settler on the place. He
owned it until 1831, when he sold it to George Magee.
Charles Boak settled about 1815, on the farm owned later by his son,
Aaron Boak. He came from Ireland in the year 1800, and at first stopped
in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He first settled on the tract he
located in this township, purchasing 115 acres. He moved from Lancaster
County to Dauphin, thence to Beaver, and finally to Lawrence.
James Mullen settled the tract afterwards owned by his son, James
Mullen, Jr., in the year 1800. He was from Washington County,
Pennsylvania, where he lived in the same neighborhood with John Shaw,
who also arrived in the neighborhood in 1800. Mr. Mullen and Mr. Shaw
settled a 200-acre tract between them. Mr. Mullen leased his part for a
while to a man named Joseph Buck of Buckmaster, who, with his brother,
Joshua, had been in the neighborhood since an early period.
Edward McMillin located on the farm subsequently owned by Archibald
McMillin, in 1822. He was a native of York County, Pennsylvania. His
parents moved from there to Mifflin County, thence to Westmoreland,
coming to the latter county in 1818. There they lived until 1822, when
they removed to what is now Lawrence County.[p. 333]
The farm known as the Abraham Shaffer farm, located about one and
one-half miles south of the village of Princeton, was originally settled
by Jacob Shaffer, about 1809-10. The tract originally contained 20
acres, and is lot number ninety-eight of the First Donation District.
Mr. Shaffer settled the east 100 acres of the tract, and Miller Kennedy
the west 100. Kennedy came about 1808. Jacob Shaffer was a native of
Adams County, Pennsylvania, his old home being just across the line from
Emmetsburg, Frederick County, Maryland.
The Charles Dombaugh farm was originally settled by a German named
George Herbst, about 1804-05. Mr. Herbst was born in Westmoreland
County, Pennsylvania, his parents having come from Germany.
Solomon Fischer, whose father, George Fischer, settled below Rose Point,
came from the farm adjoining the Thomas J. Kelty, Jr., farm, about 1816.
His brother, John Fischer, was the only one of the family old enough to
be drafted during the War of 1812, and was the only one who went out.
Johnson Knight came to Philadelphia about 1815-16, from the State of
Maine, and in 1818 came to the farm now owned by a Mr. McDaniel, just in
the edge of Butler County, a portion of the original tract being in
Lawrence County. Mr. Knight was the first settler on the place, and made
the first improvements. He purchased a mill site on Slippery Rock Creek,
from Thomas Wilson, who lived on the west side of the stream, and in
1824-25, or soon after, built a grist mill, a sawmill, a carding mill
and an oil mill. He also built the first dam across the creek at the
place, and afterwards built another one, farther down the stream. In
1874 the second dam was washed away. The present dam, at the McConnell
mill, is twelve and a half feet high. In the carding mill Mr. Knight had
three sets of machinery, the "picker," "breaker" and "finisher." He
never did any spinning. The wool was brought in by the neighbors, who
would take it after it was carded and make it up themselves. These mills
were all frame structures. In the grist mill he at first placed two runs
of stone, and afterward added a third. He built a second grist mill,
farther down the stream. None of the old Knight mills are now standing.
Thomas J. Kelty came originally from Ireland, and, about 1824, located
on the farm now owned by his grandson, Thomas J. Kelty, Jr. The tract
had been settled by Peter Fox, in 1809. Fox settled on the west side of
it, but on the present Kelty farm he had made a clearing and planted an
orchard. Arthur and Samuel Kelty built a grist mill on Slippery Rock
Creek, above the present McConnell mill, in 1835. It was a frame mill,
and was afterwards burned down. A second mill was built on the spot. The
Keltys may have had a sawmill also, but the present sawmill was built by
James Allen, about 1854.
Daniel Kennedy built a grist mill about 1852 on the same foundation on
which the present mill, owned by McConnell, stands. It was burned down
in November, 1868 (possibly 1867), and the present mill put up two years
afterwards. The old mill had four runs of stone, was four and a half
stories high, including the basement, and did a flourishing business.
The second mill was built by Mr. Kennedy, and the property was
purchased, after his death, by Messrs. Mehard, Oliver & Graham. In May,
1875, the firm of McConnell, Wilson & Co. came into possession. This
mill, as was the old one, is a frame structure, with a stone foundation
and basement.
Thomas Kildoo, who was from Washington County, Pennsylvania, settled
previous to 1800, on what afterwards was known as the T. J. Ramsey farm.
Phillip Young settled in 1807 on the farm still owned by the family. He
came from Maryland with his wife and three children, and settled on a
200-acre tract of Donation land, afterwards selling all [p. 334] but 100
acres. Mr. Young was the first settler on the place, and made the first
improvements.
In the same neighborhood with the Youngs, five other families had
settled prior to 1806. These were George Fischer, Samuel Stickle, George
Herbst, Michael Saddler and Michael Saddler, Jr.
The Lawrence furnace, located about two miles south of Princeton, was
built about 1865-66 by Emery, Culbertson & Breckenridge. These parties
carried it on for some time, and finally disposed of it to Kennedy,
Campbell & Co. Both these firms failed, and the furnace was secured by
Messrs, Foltz & Jordan. The furnace has not been in blast since some
time during 1875. The ore used was taken out in the neighborhood, and
was of the quality known as "red ore," most of it coming from the ore
banks of the Houk Brothers, in Shenango Township. The limestone used in
the furnaces was taken out close by; it is thin and brittle, making good
lime, and in color is bluish gray. The coal used was also taken from the
hill near by, but the fuel principally used was charcoal. Ten to twelve
men were employed about the furnace while in operation, besides those
engaged in hauling ore.
MILITARY.
Some of the settlers of the township were descendants of Revolutionary
Soldiers, but we have found no record of a soldier of that war settling
in the township.
In the War of 1812 Slippery Rock was well represented. Wilson Kildoo
commanded a company which was raised in the vicinity, and took it to
Erie. Captain Kildoo was a son of Thomas Kildoo who came to the township
previous to the year 1800. Jacob Shaffer served in Captain William
Morton's company, which went to Erie, Black Rock, etc. James Mullen and
John Fischer were also out. James Kildoo was out four or five weeks at
Erie. John Frew was out, and served as orderly sergeant. John Boston
went, and carried a rifle belonging to Peter Fox, Mr. Fox being so
crippled with rheumatism that he could not go himself.
Among the organizations afterwards in the township was a rifle company
called the "Donation Guards," organized at Princeton about 1842-43.
Henry Hazen, of Shenango Township, was the first captain. Mr. Hazen
died, and was succeeded as captain of the organization by James Leslie
(father of the late J. P. Leslie, of New Castle). James Gaston was one
of the lieutenants. The uniform of the "Donation Guards" was black coat,
white pants, green leggings with red stripes, red sash, shoulder straps
bound with red braid, black hat with white cord and red plume. They were
armed with common rifles.
A rifle company called the "Princeton Guards" was organized about 1845,
with John Randolph as captain and George Eckles first lieutenant. This
company served several years. Its uniform was a blue coat, with white
pants, red sash hat with red cord and tassel. Its members were armed
with rifles. Captain Randolph had been a volunteer officer in a company
at Porterville, Butler County, for eleven years. It was originally a
company which went to Black Rock during the War of 1812, and the
organization was kept up afterwards, being a part of the "Jackson
Battalion," which mustered at Harmony, Butler County.
Some time before the Rebellion, a company of infantry, called the
"Ringgold Guards" was organized by men from New Castle, Princeton and
Portersville, with William Hall as captain.
Captain Kline and Dr. Randolph raised a small company just before the
war, which, when the war broke out, consolidated with another company at
Eastbrook, in Hickory Township, and went out as Company F, of the One
Hundredth (Roundhead) Regiment, comanded by Colonel Daniel Leasure, of
New Castle.[p. 337]
VILLAGE OF ROSE POINT OR STONERTOWN.
The site where this village now stands was first settled by Abraham
Wigle, who came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, with Samuel
Stickle. He had been an apprentice to Mr. Stickle, a gunsmith, and about
1803 came with the latter to the township and finished his
apprenticeship. He afterwards went to Pittsburg, and while there
purchased the farm on a part of which the village of Rose Point stands.
To this farm Mr. Wigle came in 1804-5. Some time prior to 1825-6 he
built a grist mill and a sawmill on the run just southwest of where the
village now stands, near the point at which the road crosses the stream.
This was the first mill near the place, and was washed away by high
water some time afterwards.
About 1850, John Stoner purchased the land on which the village stands,
and a small cluster of houses was soon built, the place taking the name
of Stonertown, from Mr. Stoner. The postoffice, established about
1855-58, was given the name of Rose Point, and Joseph Aiken was made the
first postmaster.
About 1848-50, a man named McMaster built a carding machine and a grist
mill on the creek. Neither is now in use.
A man named Edgar had probably the first store in the place, and Jesse
and Samuel Jones built one afterwards. Joseph Aiken also engaged in
conducting a store.
The first blacksmith shop was owned by John Chesney.
The Catholics have a frame church southwest of the town, erected in the
fall of 1874.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church was organized in May, 1834, through the
efforts of Matthew Stewart, Thomas Speer, Thomas Wilson and John Love. A
frame church was built in 1833-34, and used until 1871, when it was
abandoned, and the neat and substantial brick edifice now standing
erected. A Sabbath-school was, within a few years, organized. The first
pastor of this congregation was probably Rev. James Blackwood, who
preached in all the Reformed Presbyterian churches throughout this
section of the State, getting around to each at long intervals. The
first regular pastor was Rev. Thomas Hanney, and he was succeeded by
Rev. J. C. Smith.
Rev. Andrew Blackwood preached as a missionary previous to 1833, and was
pastor for seventeen years. He preached in Lawrence, Mercer, Beaver and
Butler Counties, and from what was his original congregation, five
separate congregations have been formed. He died in 1851. Rev. Thomas
Hanney was installed pastor November 17, 1852, and served nine years,
until October, 1861. Rev. J. C. Smith entered the ministry here. He was
ordained and installed in New Castle (which was then a part of the
congregation), in January, 1863.
The schoolhouse in the village was built about 1860-62.
The Willie Roy furnace was built by Stewart & Foltz, about 1854. The
"red ore" was used and was procured close by, as was also the limestone
and coal. These men sold it to Smith & Collins, who leased it afterwards
to Martin Wilson. It later fell into possession of the Philadelphia Oil
Company, and has not been in operation for many years.
Hope furnace was built by Emery & Culbertson, who had a furnace also in
the southern part of Plaingrove Township, at "Georgetown." The limestone
used is found in abundance along the creek, and though unfit for
building purposes, it burns freely, making a beautiful white lime. Hope
furnace finally became the property of Brown Brothers, of Pittsburg.
The village is located on a high hill, several hundred feet above the
waters of the Slippery Rock, the situation being most picturesque and
beautiful.
J. W. McClymond (present postmaster) has been proprietor of the leading
store at [p. 338] this place since 1902. W. R. Stewart is a general
merchant here. His store was purchased from J. N. Wagner.
VILLAGE OF PRINCETON.
This town was laid out by John Randolph, who came to the place in March,
1841, and laid out the town during the summer of that year. He named it
in honor of his father's natal city, Princeton, N.J. Mr. Randolph and
David Fetter built each a house the same year, and Mr. Fetter opened a
shoe shop. John Eckles bought Fetter out, and put in a small store, the
first one in the village. Mr. Randolph purchased the store, and carried
on the business for six years, when he sold to James Sharp, who in turn
sold to James Frew.
While Sharp was running his store, Anthony Henderson also started one in
another building. Mr. Henderson sold out his goods, and Samuel C.
Stewart put a stock in the same building, and kept store for a few years.
Charles Johnston opened a stock of goods in the Frew building, which was
burned down two years later. In the meantime John Randolph had purchased
the Henderson store, which he rented to Johnston after the fire. A year
or two afterwards, Mr. Randolph bought out Johnston, and soon sold to W.
Gibson. Gibson sold to William Frew, who took in James A. Gardner as a
partner, and finally sold to him. Gardner sold to Joseph and Albert
Frew; they sold to William Frew.
A postal route was established some time between 1842 and 1845, between
New Castle and Butler, through Princeton, and afterwards through Rose
Point. A postoffice was established at Princeton a year after the route
was established. The first postmaster was Alexander Aiken, and others
who filled that office in the early days were John Randolph (who held it
five years), James Frew, Abraham McCurdy, Charles Johnston, Abraham
McCurdy and E. L. Hoon.
Elisha Moore had the first blacksmith shop, and J. B. White the second.
Robert Manning, who worked with Mr. White, succeeded the latter as
owner, and continued the business until his death in 1908. Another shop
was opened by a German in the fall of 1876. John Randolph opened the
first harness shop in 1843. David Fetter opened the first shoe shop in
1841, and was followed by Sebastian Mersheimer; then Abraham McCurdy,
Jr., Milton Walton, John Whitling, and William Ballard.
A two-story brick schoolhouse was built in the fall and winter of 1876.
About 1848 or 1849 Jesse B. Rutter opened a tavern, the only one ever
opened in the place, and conducted it about a year.
Abraham Sechler has conducted a marble business here since 1887. William
D. Walton has had a general store here since 1900. Scott Kildoo is
proprietor of the principal store and is postmaster.
The first physician was Clement C. Pearson, followed by James W. Eckles,
William J. Randolph (lately of Kansas), Thomas Rhodes, A. M. Cowden,
Montgomery Linville (now of New Castle) and Dr. John C. McKee, since dead.
Memorial Presbyterian Church.?The "Hermon" Reformed Presbyterian Church,
north of Princeton, was divided in the fall of 1868, and a part of the
old congregation organized a Presbyterian congregation, and held
meetings for one summer in the Shaw schoolhouse. They built a temporary
structure, which they called the "Tabernacle," and used it for two
years. In 1870 a frame church was built in Princeton. Rev. Robert
McMillan, who had been pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church for a
number of years, was the first pastor of the "Memorial" congregation,
and preacher for them until June, 1875, when he was obliged to cease his
labors on account of failing health.
Rev. Alvin M. Reed was ordained and installed in June, 1876.[p. 339]
The present congregation finally purchased the old "Hermon" church,
holding meetings there, and at Princeton, Mr. Reed dividing his time
between the two places.
SCHOOLS,
A schoolhouse was built on the Fox farm, in the northern part of the
township, about 1828-30, and was one of the first in the neighborhood.
A primitive log schoolhouse was built in 1810-12 on the farm where
Phillip Young lived, and stood near his house. It was the first in that
part of the township, and the first teacher was Cornelius William
Stafford, an Englishman.
Another schoolhouse, of the same type as the Young school, was built
about three miles southwest of the present village of Princeton, and was
the first in that vicinity. It was probably built about 1808-12. The
first teacher was a Virginian, named Jehu Lewis.
A schoolhouse was built in "Shady Dell" soon after the passage of the
free school law in 1834, and in the summer of 1875, a new one was
erected in that district, farther down the road towards the creek.
About 1810-12 a "log cabin" schoolhouse was built on a portion of what
in later years has been known as the George Shaw farm. William Wigton
was the first teacher of whom we have any knowledge, but as he came to
the township in 1815, it is probable that others taught before him.
CHURCHES.
A United Presbyterian Church was built in the summer of 1875, on land
taken from the farm of E. M. McMillin. The congregation is a part of the
old "Hermon" United Presbyterian congregation, and was originally
organized as a Reformed Presbyterian, that congregation dividing in the
fall of 1868. The society held meetings for some time after the division
in the old church, and Revs. Graham and Whitten preached to them.
Hermon Reformed Presbyterian Church was organized about 1840 by Rev.
Josiah Hutchman. After him came Revs. Riley McMillan and Robert
McMillan. During the latter's pastorate it was divided, part organizing
as a Presbyterian congregation and remaining for a while in the old
church under the pastoral charge of Revs. Robert Graham and James
Whitten. The United Presbyterian congregation finally built a new
church, and the "Hermon" church building was purchased by the
Presbyterians of Princeton. Rev. Robert McMillan, who was preaching when
the old church divided, went with the Presbyterian portion of his
congregation, and finally gave up his charge on account of failing
health. The church was built on land from the farm of George Shaw, and
is still standing. The graveyard was taken from William Munnel's farm,
on the opposite side of the road.
A Christian Church was organized about 1864-65, and meetings were held
in schoolhouse "number two" until about 1868-69, at which time a frame
church was built, on land taken from the farm of Joseph Pearce. Their
first pastor was Rev. O. Higgins, who organized the congregation. Among
the pastors who subsequently had charge are Revs. S. B. Teegarden, Dr.
Halleck, Cushman and Davies.
A Lutheran Church, a rude log structure, was built about 1825, on the
farm of George Herbert. It was organized as a German Evangelical
Lutheran congregation, and the first pastor was probably Rev. Hewitt,
who preached some time before the church was built. He also preached to
the society at Harlansburg as early as 1800, so the organization of the
congregation in Slippery Rock must have been not long after. They held
their meetings in private houses and barns for years. Rev. Mr. Hilger
came next, and he in turn was followed by Rev. Kranz. For some time
after Mr. Kranz left them there were no meetings held, probably for a
number of years. In 1862 an English Evangelical Lutheran organization
was effected, under [p. 340] the charge of Rev. A. H. Waters. He
preached until about 1866, and after him Rev. Louis Hippee took charge.
Rev. S. H. Swingle preached one year, and since his time the church has
been supplied. The brick church now standing was built soon after the
new organization was completed, and is located a mile and a half west of
the old church. The church is called the "Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran.
Harmony Baptist Church was constituted November 2, 1849, and Nathan
Hazen gave a little over an acre of land for church and graveyard; the
church building, which was commenced in 1851 and finished in 1853,
occupies the south part of the lot. The church was organized in a
schoolhouse which stood on the west side of the road. The first Baptists
in the neighborhood were John Hazen and his wife, Rebecca, and Nathan
Hazen and his Wife, Lavina. These had been members of Providence church
in Beaver County. Harmony Church was constituted by Revs. Samuel
Stoughton, Jacob Morris, Daniel Daniels, Levi Ross and A. G. Kirk, with
a membership of eleven. The following were the original members: John
Hazen, Nathan Hazen, O. J. Hazen, Levi Hazen, Samuel Baldwin, Rachel
Hazen, Rebecca Hazen, Elizabeth Sherrard, Nancy Houk and Rebecca Newton.
The first ministers who preached here were Thomas and Daniel Daniels.
The first pastor after the church was constituted was Rev. Levi Ross,
who preached from 1849 until 1854. The church was built during his
pastorate. Among the early preachers who followed Rev. Ross were Daniel
Daniels, Samuel Godshall, Gabriel Lanahan, Rev. A. G. Kirk, Rev. John
Parker, Rev. John Moses and D. L. Clouse. The deacons of the church,
previous to 1860 were John Hazen, Nathan Hazen, William Hazen and Oliver
Hazen, none of whom are now living. The church stands close to the
western line of the township, and is about seven miles southeast of New
Castle.
The number of schools in Slippery Rock Township in 1908 was eleven,
having an enrollment of 310 school children. The eleven teachers were
paid $3,453, and the total expended for school purposes was $7,398.55.
The average length of school term is seven months.
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TAYLOR TOWNSHIP.
[p. 340] This township, named in honor of President Zachary Taylor, was
the first new township erected after the organization of Lawrence
County. It was formed from parts of North Beaver and Shenango Townships.
It originally extended to the old county line between Beaver and Mercer
Counties, but on the 10th of September, 1859, the township of Union was
formed from portions of Mahoning, Neshannock and Taylor, taking a strip
two-thirds of a mile in width from the latter.
The township is irregular in outline, and contains an area of about six
square miles, or 3,840 acres, being the smallest in the county. It is
bounded on the north by Union Township and the city of New Castle, on
the south by Beaver River and Wayne Township, on the east by the city of
New Castle and Shenango Township, and on the West by North Beaver
Township. About one-half of the township lies in the valleys of the
three rivers, and the remainder is hilly land on the north and east. The
Mahoning and Shenango rivers unite and form the Beaver River a little
north of the center, on the west side, and the old canal beds traverse
the township as far south as the old village of Moravia, in courses
parallel to the rivers. Numerous small creeks and spring runs flow into
the rivers from the hills, and the township is well watered. The soil on
the bottom lands is exceedingly rich and productive, and much of the
hill land is good, and even the most precipitous hillsides afford
excellent pasturage.
The mineral resources of the township are considerable. Coal is found in
the [p. 341] bluffs all along the eastern part of the township. Although
of excellent quality, the vein is not of sufficient thickness to make
the working of it profitable. There is a great abundance of limestone in
the northern and eastern portions of the township, and in the
northeastern part, at an elevation of about 300 feet above the river, is
an excellent deposit of ferriferous limestone. This stone has been
worked by George Johnson, who had a tram railway connecting with the
Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railway, by means of an inclined plane and
bridge over the Shenango River. The quarry was opened by Messrs. Green &
Marquis about 1869, and the same year an inclined railway was built,
which connected with the canal. When the canal went out of use, the
company built a bridge over the Shenango about 1873, and put down a
side-track to connect with the Erie and Pittsburg Railway. The lands
upon which the quarries are situated are owned by Robert Cooper and
Martin and Newton Law. The quarries are opened for a distance of nearly
half a mile, and the deposit is extensive. The stone is of two
varieties, the upper portion showing a breast of from eight to nine feet
in thickness, which is the valuable part, and all that is worked. The
lower stratum is about three feet in thickness. There is a thickness of
from three to six feet of earth overlying the limestone, and a bed of
fire clay underlies the stone.
The Erie and Pittsburg Railway passes diagonally through the northern
portion of the township, a distance of two and a half miles, and there
is about a half mile of the Pittsburg, Youngstown and Ashta- bula
Railway also in the township, lying between the Junction and the
Mahoning River; the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railway and the Pittsburg
and Western Railway, the latter operated by the Baltimore and Ohio
Railway Company, pass through this township. There is one railway
station?Mahoningtown.
In this township a vast amount of labor was expended on the canal, which
is no longer in existence. The aqueduct over the Shenango was 330 feet
in length, and its abutments, wings and piers were solidly constructed
of heavy blocks of sandstone. There were four piers and the canal bed
was built of plank, hung with heavy iron rods upon strong elliptical
arches resting upon the piers. There were also within the township four
or five locks constructed, of the same material as the aqueduct, in the
most substantial manner.
Frisbie & Newell had a sawmill at one time about one mile above Moravia,
but this, with other plants, disappeared when the canal was abandoned.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The first white settlement in the entire Beaver Valley was made within
the limits of Taylor Township. This was the settlement of the famous
Moravian Missionaries, Zeisberger and Senseman, with their Indian
converts, about the 25th of April, 1770. They came from the mouth of the
Tionesta Creek, now in Forest County, where they attempted to establish
a mission, but failed for lack of success among the Indians of that
region. They made the voyage in canoes down the Allegheny and Ohio, and
up the Beaver rivers, and landed on the broad bottom land that spreads
along the left bank of the Beaver at and above this point, upon the
invitation of the great chief or king, Pack-an-kee, who gave them ground
upon which to erect their log chapel and the dwellings necessary to
accommodate their small company. They camped and commenced improvements
on the ground a little west of where the hamlet of old Moravia now
stands, but finding the location too low, and fearful of high water and
malaria, they changed it some time in July following, to the west bank
of the river, where they laid out a new town on ground elevated a
hundred or more feet above the river. Here the settlement remained,
making [p. 342] improvements and laboring among the Indians until the
spring of 1773, when they abandoned their town and removed to the
headwaters of the Muskingum, now in the State of Ohio.
Christian Frederick Post, another Moravian missionary, and the man who
built the first dwelling, within the limits of the State of Ohio was a
visitor to this township in 1758, when on his way to Kush-kush-kee, the
great Indian town on the Mahoning.
OLD FORTIFICATIONS.
The first white settlers in this region (after the Moravians) found the
crumbling remains of an old fortification. It was a small, regular
earthwork, enclosing about one acre of ground, located on land acquired
by Thomas Brown. It has been plowed and worked over until no traces of
it remain. It was undoubtedly thrown up by a company of French Soldiers,
who frequently passed up and down this stream in their journeys between
Ohio and the Canadas.
One of the early settlers, probably the earliest after the Moravians,
was Hugh Gaston, who came into the valley as early as 1795-96, and
settled temporarily on the 500-acre tract which included the ground now
occupied by the hamlet of Moravia. This tract was originally owned by
David R. Porter, afterwards governor of Pennsylvania. Robert Shannon, of
Beavertown, purchased it about 1830, but it continued to be known as the
"Gaston tract."
Mr. Gaston was a bachelor, and lived solitary and alone until his
brother, James Gaston, came out with his family, about 1800, and moved
into the cabin with him. He was known as a great hunter. The brothers
removed to a tract of land in what is now the northwest corner of
Shenango Township, about 1802-3. Their location was near what is now
called "Normal Glen" or "Pumpkintown."
Another early settler who arrived about the same time as Hugh Gaston was
Thomas Hendrickson, who, it is thought, settled at or near the present
site of Mahoningtown, in 1798. He built and operated a primitive
distillery at an early day, and afterwards removed to Plaingrove
Township, where he died, about 1830.
John Butcher, a Revolutionary soldier, settled in the northeast part of
the township of Taylor about 1800, his farm later being known as the
William Sword farm.
Robert Sample visited the Beaver Valley at a very early period and
purchased several tracts of the "Donation lands," but did not settle
upon them. He returned to his home at Carlisle, Pa., where he soon after
died. His sons, Samuel and James, came together and settled on these
tracts, about 1807. Samuel and his brother-in-law, James McMurray, were
in Captain Kildoo's Company during the War of 1812.
Joseph McMurray, a Revolutionary soldier, in 1808 settled on the land
lately owned by Joseph Anderson, having come from near Chambersburg, Pa.
Samuel Sample married his daugther, Esther, about 1809. Mr. McMurray
lived on his place in the valley until his death in 1847. In 1810-11
there was a great flood in the Beaver River and its branches, and nearly
all of the bottom lands were overflowed. It was the greatest inundation
ever known to this section.
When the Samples and McMurrays first settled on the Beaver the country
was wild and new and the only roads were Indian trails and bridle paths,
with the exception, of the New Castle and Beaver State Road, which was
laid out as early as 1800 but not worked very much for many years.
Joseph Pollock, from whom the Pollocks of New Castle are sprung, came to
what is now Taylor Township, Lawrence County, about 1802. He came
originally from Ireland, and his wife from Scotland. They were married
in America previous to the Revolution, and lived in Westmoreland County
for some years; he finally came to what was then Beaver County and
located [p. 343] on land near Westfield Church, in the present township
of North Beaver, in 1800, intending to settle permanently, but after a
year or two, finding the title of his land defective, he gave it up and
removed, about 1802, to the farm later owned by the Frisbie heirs in
Taylor Township. He resided there until his death?about the year
1830?and was buried on his farm. His wife died about 1835 and was buried
beside him in the little burial ground near the canal on the old farm.
The family has been one of prominence in Lawrence County.
Seth Rigby, father of Seth Rigby, of Shenango Township, from Virginia,
settled in Taylor Township on land afterwards purchased by Robert
Sample. He did not purchase land in this township, but rented, and about
1806 purchased the land later owned by his son in Shenango Township.
Joseph Copper, Sr., from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and originally
from Kent County, Maryland, came to the Beaver Valley about 1800. He had
five sons?Joseph, Jr., Nathaniel, Alexander, Ralph and Michael?all of
whom except Joseph came with him. The latter came in 1804. These
brothers settled along the Beaver River and at the mouth of the
Mahoning. Joseph Copper, Jr., a weaver and shoemaker by trade, occupied
a cabin on the "Gaston Tract" for about one year or a little more, then,
in 1807, settled land about four miles below Moravia, on the Shenango
and Beaver Road. He remained in this place about thirteen months, when
he removed to the place after-ward owned by Mr. Anderson. In 1808 Mr.
Copper and his uncle, Nathaniel Copper, removed to a tract of about 200
acres which they had purchased in North Beaver Township, about four
miles west from Moravia. Joseph Copper, Sr., died in June, 1813, at the
advanced age of 103 years. He was living with his son Ralph, who
occupied what is now the English farm, but at the time of his death was
at the home of his son Alexander, on what later was known as the
"Zeigler farm."
Joseph Copper, Jr., who died in 1842 at the age of sixty-nine years, was
in the army subsequent to the War of 1812. Samuel Copper worked on the
canal during its construction and afterwards ran a boat.
Among the early settlers were Charles Morrow, who settled about a mile
below Moravia, about 1800; two Johnsons, who settled near to John
Butcher, about the same year, and Jack Tilton, a brother-in-law of the
Johnsons, who came with them. John Miller and Dennis Kennecy[sic]
settled early on a portion of the land which later formed a part of the
William Sword farm. The McCall and Lewis families were early settlers,
and the Camerons settled at the Forks as early as 1816.
VILLAGE OF MORAVIA.
About 1835-36 the village of Moravia was laid out near the ground at
first occupied by the Moravians by Marcus T. C. Gould. It had always
borne the same name, though it never had a post-office.
The first store in the place was established about 1838, a small grocery
opened by a Mr. Justice, son of Jacob Justice, one of the early
settlers. The first dry goods store was opened by Samuel Smith about
1843-44. The first tavern was kept by William Lawton, in 1835.
There have been two church organizations in the place, Methodists and
Baptists. The latter built a church about 1836, which was used as a kind
of free church for a while, being open to all denominations. A man named
Dr. Winters was the prime mover in it. It was only kept up a few years.
An account of the Methodist Church is given on another page of this history.
During the years of canal navigation this village was quite a point for
business. Below it the Beaver River was mostly used for navigation
purposes, under the slack-water system of dams and locks. The [p. 344]
canal extended from this point up the river to New Castle, when the
slack-water was again used on the Shenango for some distance. The
"Cross-cut" Canal connected at Mahoningtown, and thence followed the
Mahoning River into the State of Ohio. There were two locks on the canal
at Moravia, the stone work of which remains solid and substantial at
this time. The business at Old Moravia has, since the abandonment of the
canal, departed to more favorable localities.
There is no school in the place, the nearest being about a half mile south.
MAHONINGTOWN.
William Simpson came from Butler County, Pennsylvania, in the spring of
1836 and became the first settler as well as the first storekeeper in
Mahoningtown, which now constitutes the Seventh Ward of the city of New
Castle. The town was laid out in the spring of 1836 by William Hayes and
Benjamin Darlington, of Pittsburg. These parties owned the 500-acre
tract of "Donation lands," patented to the heirs of Colonel William
Crawford for his military service. It included the site of Mahoningtown.
Mr. Simpson lived about one mile west of the place on the Mount Jackson
Road, but died years ago.
Samuel Vendivort, also from Butler County, Pennsylvania, settled in the
place in September, 1837. He was a hatter by trade, and followed the
business for some ten or twelve years after his arrival. Franklin
Alexander, a blacksmith from Pittsburg, came about the same time. Henry
Alace, a tailor from east of the mountains of Pennsylvania, came about
1839. John Simpson, a brother of William, came in 1838 and settled on a
farm southwest of the town. He laid out a small addition to the place on
the south side of "Cross-cut" Canal about 1840.
The "Cross-cut" Canal was commenced in 1836 and finished about 1838. It
connected with the Beaver division of the Pennsylvania Canal at this
point, and extended up the Mahoning River into the State of Ohio, making
connections with the canal system of that State, and opening a direct
route to the city of Cleveland on Lake Erie.
Archibald Newell settled in Mahoningtown in 1844, and was engaged in the
mercantile business from that date until his death, the business
thereafter being continued by his sons. He came to America from Ireland
in 1837, and lived a few years in Crawford County previous to coming to
this place.
John Wallace, from Mifflin Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,
settled at Mahoningtown in 1842. He was born in Allegheny County, May 1,
1786, and lived to be over ninety years old. The Wallaces were
originally from County Tyrone, Ireland. Mr. Wallace was in the service
during the War of 1812, serving as a private in Captain Peter Stilley's
company, raised in Allegheny County, and his brother-in-law, James
Irwin, was first lieutenant in the same company. The company was
stationed at Pittsburg for five months, guarding the British prisoners
taken by Commodore-Perry on Lake Erie. Wallace drew a land warrant of
160 acres for his service, and this he sold for $160. He was a carpenter
and builder by trade. When he came to Mahoningtown it consisted of two
stores, one blacksmith and wagon shop, a Presbyterian church (or, at
least, they held meetings), and a small cluster of dwellings. He worked
at his trade twelve years, and then farmed for twenty-eight years. His
wife died January 14, 1874, aged ninety-one years. The couple lived
sixty-one years together, and reared ten children.
POSTMASTERS.
The first postmaster at Mahoningtown was John Gillespie, who came from
Pittsburg and opened a store about 1841. He built the "Lawrence House"
the next year. [p. 345] The postmasters of the early days succeeding him
were David Bower, Joseph Cox, Seth Blanchard, and Stephen Sherman. Mr.
Cox settled here in 1850.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
A school building was erected in 1838 on the hill one mile north of the
town, but was abandoned when Mahoningtown was set off in a district by
itself and a school building erected in the town in 1841.
During the period between 1833 and 1870 the canal business made the town
a place of considerable importance, but with the abandonment of the
canals much of its business was transferred to New Castle and other points.
MANUFACTURES.
James Raney built the first grist mill in Mahoningtown in 1852 on the
"Cross-cut" Canal. He operated it about nine years, when he sold it to
his son, L. Raney, who in turn sold it to Messrs. Genkinger & Kraft
about 1865. After the transfer the mill was changed into a
stave-factory, but was only operated as such about a year, when Mr.
Genkinger purchased Mr. Kraft's interest and changed to the original
business again. The mill contained three run of stone, had a capacity
for grinding about 150 bushels in ten hours, and was run by steam. It is
not now in existence.
THE SHENANGO MILLS.
James Raney built a dam over the Shenango at this point in June, 1873;
it forms one-quarter of a circle, with the convex side facing the
stream. Measured on the curve the length is 450 feet; in a straight line
from one abutment to the other the distance is 400 feet. The dam is
solidly constructed of timber, bolted to the bottom and pinned together
so as to form a compact structure, strong enough to resist the powerful
action of both water and ice in time of floods. The fall is four and
one-half feet. In 1874 the race was excavated and the foundation of the
mill laid. The mill was mostly completed in the autumn of 1875, and was
at that time perhaps the best grist and flouring mill in Lawrence
County, all things considered. The mill was built four stories in
height, with four run of stone and fitted up in every department with
the best machinery and appliances known to the business. The wheels in
use were of Mr. Raney's own invention and construction, upon which he
had letters patent. Mr. Raney had been a practical millwright and miller
for forty consecutive years, and had constructed in his day five new
flouring and grist mills, and repaired many others. In 1852-53 he laid
out an addition to Mahoningtown. The mill owned and operated by Raney &
Co. did a flourishing business, its capacity being about fifty barrels
per day.
SCHOOLS.
The number of school buildings in Taylor Township is three, in which
there are taught an average of seven months in the year. There are three
teachers employed, and the total number of scholars is 113. The total
receipts for school teachers during the year 1908 were $1,076, and the
total expenditures for all purposes during the same time, $11,197.39.
CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian Church at Mahoningtown was organized May 14, 1866, with
thirty-five members; received a certificate from other churches,
twenty-eight from the First Church of New Castle, four from Westfield,
and the balance from other churches. The first elders were John Sword
and A. D. Simpson, and soon after James Moffatt was added. The first
board of trustees consisted of John Simpson, Thomas Sample and Samuel
Vandivort. The first church building was erected during the summer and
fall of 1866 at a cost of about $4,000. It was fully completed and paid
for by the 10th of March, 1867, on which day it was dedicated. Rev. D.
L. [p. 346] Dickey, the first pastor, commenced his labors November 1,
1867, and continued a number of years; when he resigned his charge, Rev.
J. R. Andrews succeeded him on the 1st of April, 1871, and continued
until his death, which occurred several years ago. A union
Sabbath-school was organized as early as 1846 in Mahoningtown by this
denomination and the Methodists, which was kept up with little
interruption until it was finally merged in the Presbyterian
congregation. The school at the present time (1908) consists of about
fourteen officers and teachers and 120 scholars. It has a small but
select library. The parsonage was purchased in 1871 at an expense of
$2,500. The society is entirely out of debt and in a very prosperous
financial condition. A new brick building has been erected in recent years.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Mahoningtown was organized about 1858
with some eight members?John D. Pitzer and wife, John Balmer and wife,
Joseph Cox and wife, Mrs. Jane Wallace and Mrs. Eve Forney.
The church building was erected some time previous to the organization
of the society at a cost of about $4,500?finished and paid for. The
first pastor was Rev. Allen Crowell, who preached for two years and was
succeeded by Rev. Johnson, who only staid one year. Rev. John Crawford
followed and remained for two years and was succeeded by Rev. John
Cruman, who remained two years. Rev. Richard Bear succeeded him. The
present membership numbers about sixty, and the society maintains a
Sabbath-school with ten officers and teachers and sixty-two scholars.
The school has a small library.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Among the earliest Methodists in Moravia were Michael Pitzer and wife,
John C. Ault (a local preacher), Mrs. Mary Robertson, Rhoda Boyle and
Lydia Phillips.
The church building was erected about 1846-47. Thomas Robertson and
Patterson White were the contractors. The first preacher was Rev. Gideon
Kinnear, under whose auspices the church was built and a society
gathered. Succeeding him were Revs. Hawkins, Monroe, J. Somerville
(occasionally), Bennett, James Shields, S. K. Paden, John McCombs,
Foster Boyd, S. K. Shattuck, Shurick, Marstellar, J. E. Johnston, James
Foster, Morris, Moore, J. H. Merchant, Brown, Crawford, etc.
There was a small Baptist organization at this place for a few years
subsequent to 1836. A man known as Dr. Winters was a prominent member,
and was chiefly instrumental in building a small church. Henry Frazier
probably preached the first sermon at this place, as he lived in the
vicinity a portion of the time while pastor at Providence, Beaver
County. William Tindall, Joseph Brown, Elizabeth Brown and Isaac Jones
and his wife were among the first Baptists here.
On the 15th of August, 1818, privilege was granted by Providence Church
to their members living on the west side of Beaver River to organize a
branch. The church was constituted by William Stone, Jonathan Davis and
Samuel Williams in 1831, and numbered twenty-two members. Their first
pastor was William Stone, in 1832, and he was succeeded successively by
Isaac Barris, John Winter, Levi Ross, Daniel Daniels, John McConahy,
Gabriel Lanham, John McConahy, Gabriel Lanham, John Davis, Rev. Melvin
Nye and Rev. John Owens. The members who served as deacons of this
church were Robert Aiken, James Book, Henry Crider, Zachariah Tindall,
Jacob Book. The meeting-house is located about two miles below Wampum.
The first meetings of the congregation were held in a coalhouse for some
years. This congregation has been disbanded.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNION TOWNSHIP.
[p. 347] This township was erected from portions of Mahoning, Neshannock
and Taylor Townships on the 10th of December, 1859. It contains a little
over nine square miles or about 6,000 acres, and is the second smallest
township in the county. It is bounded on the north by Mahoning Township
and the Shenango River, on the South by Taylor Township and the Mahoning
River, on the east by the Shenango River, and on the west by Mahoning
Township and the Mahoning River.
Lying between the Shenango and Mahoning Rivers, the surface is made up
of lands descending on both sides towards these streams. On the east and
north the declination is comparatively gradual towards the Shenango, but
on the Southwest the descent is much more abrupt into the valley of the
Mahoning. There are considerable bottoms in both these rivers, and the
land generally throughout the township is of a very superior quality.
The minor streams are all small, the largest being Sankey's Run, in the
northwest part of the township which discharges into the Shenango.
There is an abundance of limestone in this township, particularly along
the bluffs of the Mahoning River, which in many places are very
precipitous. Coal is found in several localities, and has been quite
extensively mined on the Wallace farm, in the southwestern part of the
township.
There is no improved water-power at present in the township. The bed of
the abandoned Cross-cut Canal follows the valley of the Mahoning, this
canal being an important and busy thoroughfare in the years from 1838 to
about 1871, when it was abandoned.
The Erie and Pittsburg Railway traverses the township its whole length
on the eastern side along the valley of the Shenango River. There are
two stations on this road within the limits of the township, to-wit: the
main New Castle station and Harbor Bridge station, at the old Western
Reserve harbor on the Shenango along the terminus of the canal.
At an early date the great "Scrub-Grass Road" was opened, by
commissioners appointed by the State, from Venango County across
Lawrence to Youngstown, Ohio, passing diagonally through what is now
Union Township, in a northwesterly direction, and is still known as the
"State Road." A beautiful portion of the city of New Castle, now
constituting the Sixth Ward of this city, and generally known as West
New Castle, was formerly a part of Union Township. It has a fine
location, overlooking the whole city, from which it rises gradually
towards the west, extending more than a mile west of the bridge, and a
greater distance up and down the, river. There are many picturesque and
charming locations for residences, and the population now exceeds 4,000
people.
Among the many beautiful localities Greenwood Cemetery is deserving of
particular mention; and a mile and a half northwest from the Washington
Street bridge is St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, laid out on a very
commanding site.
One wooden bridge, known as the "Black Bridge" (at the point), connects
the township with the city of New Castle. This is one of the last
wooden-covered bridges left in the county. Another crosses the Mahoning
at Mahoningtown (Seventh Ward) on the road leading to Mount Jackson. A
modern iron bridge recently built serves to connect Union with
Neshannock Township.
This township is the thickest settled of any in the county, and has,
perhaps, increased more rapidly since its formation than any other. This
is owing to its close proximity to the city, the privileges and
advantages of which the people enjoy. An addition to West New Castle
(now Sixth Ward) was laid out by Phillips & Du Shane in 1868.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Undoubtedly the first white settlers within the present limits of Union
Township were Cornelius Hendrickson and his son Daniel, who came
probably in 1798 and erected cabins on the river, one above and the
other below the present Washington Street. Daniel built his cabin on
land [p. 348] afterwards washed away in November, 1835, at a time when a
great flood threatened to submerge the borough of New Castle, and the
river was turned around the west end of where is now the iron bridge to
let the waters have a freer passage.
During his residence in New Castle Cornelius was known as Dr.
Hendrickson, as he administered to the ills of the community, although
not a regular physician. He located fifty acres and twenty and
six-tenths perches of land when he settled, it being a portion of the
"vacancy" lying between the first and second districts of "Donation
lands." He also claimed the whole of the "vacancy" lying west of the
Shenango River, and containing, by actual measurement, 117 acres and
thirty-eight perches. About 1818 he sold or transferred his claim to
Ebenezer Byers and George McDowell, who afterwards obtained the patent.
The Hendricksons established a canoe ferry on the Shenango about
opposite the present North Street when they first arrived. The young
man, Daniel, managed the ferry, and frequently accommodated parties
going and coming on the river with canoes, going himself as far as
Beaver Falls at times. The old doctor and his son, Cornelius, Jr., after
a few years emigrated to Ohio, probably about 1818 or 1820. (A further
account of the Hendricksons is given in the history of New Castle.)
Ezekiel Sankey, Sr., was perhaps the first permanent settler within the
limits of the present township. His ancestors were from near Warrington,
in Lancashire, England, from whence they emigrated to America and
settled in the Kishacoquillas Valley, now in Mifflin County,
Pennsylvania, where his father died in 1794. He and his mother were
appointed as executors of his father's will. Soon after the death of his
father he removed to a place called Potter's Mills, in Center County,
and, after a short residence there, removed to the Chartiers Valley, in
Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he bought a farm and remained
until 1800, when he removed to the farm at the mouth of "Sankey's Run,"
now in Union Township, Lawrence County. The territory of Union Township
was then in Mercer County, recently erected, and Mr. Sankey was the
first sheriff of the said county that was elected by the people?William
Byers, the first sheriff, having been appointed by the Governor in 1803.
Mr. Sankey was major of one of the Pennsylvania militia regiments. When
enlistments were sought for service in the War of 1812 he and William
Sheriff, from the same township, were the only ones from the regiment
who responded. Major Sankey was appointed to a position in the
commissary department of General Crook's Brigade, which was organized at
Pittsburg. After a short visit to Erie to learn what the British were
contemplating in that quarter he rejoined Crook's Brigade at Mansfield,
Ohio. He afterwards accompanied a portion of it as far west as the
Rapids of the Maumee, where Harrison afterwards, in February, 1813,
constructed the famous Fort Meigs. Here he remained during the winter of
1812-13, and returned home in the spring and soon afterwards went to
Mercer upon business. While there his health, which had suffered
severely by the rigor of the winter and exposure in the camp, gave way,
and after lying there for some time was removed to his home, where he
lingered until his death the 13th day of July of that year. A grandson
of Major Sankey was the late Ira D. Sankey, a co-worker with D. L.
Moody, his name and fame as a singer of Gospel hymns being world wide.
The formation of Lawrence County and the township of Union was brought
about mainly by the influence of David Sankey, youngest son of Major
Sankey, and a man of great prominence in this section of the State, with
the development of which his name is inseparably linked.
Ezekiel Sankey, brother of David, in [p. 349] May, 1836, laid out the
town of West New Castle. He became a man of prominence and was
intimately connected with a great variety of important enterprises which
have built up the busy city of New Castle, its schools, manufactures and
banks, and was also closely connected with the politics of the city and
county.
The Wallace family was originally from the neighborhood of Londonderry
or Donegal, in Ireland, from whence John Wallace emigrated to America
about 1765 and settled at Alexandria, Va. Mr. Wallace was a linen
merchant, and carried on the business for a short time in Alexandria,
where he married Mary Alexander. Soon after he removed from Virginia to
Bedford County, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a farm, which he
cultivated, also trading and speculating more or less in lands. After a
few years' residence he sold and removed to the Ligonier Valley, in
Westmoreland County, where he purchased a tract of land and resided
until driven away by the Indians subsequent to the revolution. He served
in short enlistments at various times during the war. When driven from
Westmoreland he settled in Washington County, Pennsylvania, some four or
five miles from Williamsport, now Monongahela City, on Peter's Creek,
near the present line between Washington and Allegheny Counties. He
served at various periods against the Indians, and was one of the party
who constructed the original Fort McIntosh, at the mouth of the Beaver
River. He died in Washington county in 1808 or 1809.
John Wallace, with his oldest son, Robert, visited the Slippery Rock
Valley (then in Allegheny County, now in Lawrence) the fall of 1797, and
was so well pleased with it he located 440 acres of land in the
"vacancy" lying between the first and second districts of "Donation
lands." His son Robert settled on the land at that time and remained. In
1801 his father visited the Mahoning Valley and purchased about 400
acres opposite where the town of Edenburg has since been built. In 1807
he married Elizabeth Reader, of Washington County. After his marriage he
rented the property in Slippery Rock for about two years and lived in
Washington County. About 1809 he returned to Slippery Rock and resided
there until 1827, when he removed to the land lately owned by his son,
William R. Wallace, there remaining to the time of his death, which
occurred February 12, 1847. He served during the War of 1812 two terms
in Captain McCune's company, which went to Erie. During his last term he
was promoted to captain of the company in place of Captain McCune,
resigned. His commission was issued in the fall of 1814. After the war
he served in the State militia with the rank of captain for fourteen years.
William R. Wallace, son of Robert Wallace, was captain of the same
company of militia which his father formerly commanded from 1836 to
1842; then was elected colonel of the Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania
Militia, which office he held until 1849, when the system was abandoned.
He held the office of county commissioner from 1852 until 1855, and also
the office of justice of the peace for eleven years, from 1856 to 1861,
and from 1866 to 1871.
There is a fine little island in the Mahoning a few rods above the
Wallace farm. Across the river, near where Edenburg now stands, was the
famous Indian village of Kush-kush-kee, and a remarkable mound,
constructed, no doubt, by the pre-historic people known as the
"mound-builders."
"PARKSTOWN."
This well known locality on the State Road from New Castle to
Youngstown, Ohio, was first settled in the fall of 1800 by a colony from
Virginia consisting of William Park and his sons John, James and
William, Jr., Joseph Brown and family, and Thomas Franklin, a son-in-law
of Park. They were all from Berkeley [p. ] 350County, and the men had
been out the previous year and purchased the land under a "joint
article" of one John Chenowith, a Virginian, and father of Arthur
Chenowith who afterwards settled in New Castle. Joshua Chenowith,
brother of Arthur, came at a later day, and lived in the settlement
until his death. The land purchased by the company amounted to 300
acres. William Park, Sr., died about 1806 or 1807, and several of his
descendants are now living in Edenburg.
Joseph Brown resided at "Parkstown" until about 1813, when he removed to
what was called the Mayberry farm, on the Shenango River, and in 1814
removed to New Castle. He was a tanner by trade and rented William
Dickson's tannery and operated it for two years, when, finding the
business unprofitable, he gave it up. He was subsequently located on
different farms in the county, and at his death lived on the farm which
his son, William Brown, afterwards owned, in the present township of
Mahoning, one mile north of Edenburg. He died about 1850 at the age of
ninety years. Mr. Brown was adjutant of a militia regiment previous to
the War of 1812. He and James Park were out together at Erie during the
War of 1812. Subsequent to the war he served for some time in the State
militia.
A man named Isaac Bryson settled at the mouth of the little run above
Grant Street bridge soon after 1800. Joseph Cox and Samuel, his son,
also settled in this township about 1802-03. A brother-in-law of Cox,
William Miller, settled on the Cameron farm south of the district line
about the same time.
Among other early settlers were William Young, who came from Cumberland
County, Pennsylvania, and settled the place now owned by the Young
heirs, and others, on the New Castle and Youngstown Road, about 1810.
Shubael Wilder came to this vicinity from Massachusetts in 1838 and was
engaged in erecting the Aetna Iron Works during that and the succeeding
year. He was more or less identified with the manufacturing and
commercial interests of New Castle.
The Crawfords?Alexander L., George W., John M. and James A.?came about
1840-41, and were also identified with the great business interests of
the city. Two of the brothers, George W. and James A., resided in Union
Township, where they owned valuable property. Alexander L. lived in
Taylor Township on a splendid farm just south of the Union Township
line. John M. lived in New Castle several years, then moved to and lived
in Philadelphia, Pa., where he died several years since.
John McComb, from Washington County, Pennsylvania, settled in the
township of Mahoning, one mile above Edenburg, about 1806, and lived
there some ten years, when he traded for a farm about a mile below
Edenburg, in what is now Union Township, living there until his death in
November, 1866, at the age of eighty-six years. Mr. McComb was clerk in
the old "Seceder" Church in New Castle for twenty years, commencing with
its organization under Rev. Alexander Murray.
John Fulkerson, from Virginia, settled in this township about 1810.
John Ray settled at a very early date on the Shenango River about two
miles above New Castle. The Rays afterwards removed to Hickory Township,
and eventually to some of the Western States.
This township shares with Washington Township the distinction of not
having within its limits a single church congregation. The people attend
church outside their own limits?at New Castle, Mahoningtown, Edenburg,
the "Harbor," and possibly elsewhere, and are liberal in support of
religious institutions.
SCHOOLS.
The earliest school in the township was a subscription school, opened in
1806, in "Parkstown," and the first teacher was a [p. 351] man named
Shearer, an Irishman. The school building was of round logs, and some of
the scholars came a distance of three miles to attend. It was not kept
up very long, for the few scattered settlers were not able to pay the
necessary teachers. The schools are now in good condition and a
competent corps of instructors is employed.
There are at the present time nine school buildings in the township,
with an enrollment of 261 pupils. The total amount raised for school
purposes in 1908 was $4,894.03, and the amount paid to teachers, $3,540.
"WESTERN RESERVE HARBOR."
The Beaver division of the canal was completed to this point in the fall
of 1833, and, being the "head of navigation," it at once became an
important point. It was so named for the reason that all the freighting
and passenger business from and to the rich region known as the "Western
Reserve," in the northeastern part of Ohio, made this its shipping and
forwarding point. Great quantities of merchandise?cheese, black salts
and every kind of commodity entering into the general business of the
country?were handled here. Large quanties of sandstone for building
purposes were also shipped over the canal from some point near Pittsburg
and landed at the "Harbor" and hauled thence by teams, of which hundreds
were frequently on the ground at once. It was a place of great business
activity and the volume of business transacted exceeded that of New
Castle for many years. This activity ceased with the going of the canal
and the place is now but a quiet farming Community.
F. J. Clark from Bridgewater, Beaver County, erected the first warehouse
in either 1834 or 1835. It was on the north side of Sankey's Run, and
Mr. Clark did a general forwarding and commission business. David Sankey
erected a second warehouse on the south side of the run about the year
1836, and also built a bridge over the run at his own expense to
facilitate his trade and accommodate the customers. He did a general
forwarding and commission business and was agent for a line of boats
called the "Greenville Line." Mr. Clark was agent for a line owned by G.
M. Horton & Company.
The two agents did a rival business for a few months, when Mr. Clark
came to Mr. Sankey and made a proposition that he should take charge of
his business and also take the agency of the other lines. He offered Mr.
Sankey a good salary, and the latter finally accepted the proposition.
He carried on the business for a year with such satisfaction that Mr.
Clark offered him a partnership, which he accepted, though he still
continued as agent for the "Greenville Line." Soon after G. M. Horton &
Company bought the "Greenville Line," and from this time until the canal
was completed to Greenville, in 1840, Mr. Sankey handled the whole
business at "The Harbor" with profit to the company and himself, and to
the general satisfaction of the people.
A town was laid out at this point about 1835 by Thomas Allison, and
quite a number of lots sold. There were two hotels, one a frame
building, the other partly frame and partly logs. A general store was
also kept by Samuel J. Bolby, and there was a blacksmith shop in or near
the town. There were not many buildings erected, for the people soon saw
that upon the completion of the canal their business must necessarily
leave them.
Mr. Sankey was elected to the State Senate in the fall of 1847. During
his term of office complaints came from the lumbermen on the French
Creek, on account of the dams built by the canal company on the creek to
furnish water to the feeder not having "slides" or arrangements for
running rafts over them, and Mr. Sankey framed a bill requiring the
company to [p. 352] build the necessary "slides" and "chutes," and also
incorporated a clause requiring them to build a bridge over the Shenango
River at "Western Reserve Harbor."
He was contractor for the latter work, and built a substantial frame
bridge about 1852-3, which stood until 1905-6, when it was replaced by a
new steel structure. He also procured an act of Assembly authorizing the
county commissioners to take charge of it, and it was turned over to
them ready for use without expense to the county. After the canal was
completed to Greenville, "The Harbor" was abandoned as a shipping point,
and the warehouse erected by Mr. Sankey was moved to another locality
and used as a stable for a long time. The canal dam at New Castle, which
backed the water up six miles, was torn away about 1873.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: 22 Mar 2002