Chap XV - Part VII: 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens
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CHAPTER XV - Part VII
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.
]
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
[p. 352] The three townships of Washington, Plaingrove and Scott
formerly existed as one?Slippery Rock Township, in Mercer County. When,
in 1849, that county was divided and a portion of it assigned to the new
county of Lawrence the township was called North Slippery Rock on
account of the adjoining township in Beaver County, also set off as a
part of Lawrence County, being called Slippery Rock. North Slippery Rock
was cut in two April 13, 1854, and two townships formed from it, viz.
Washington and Scott. Washington included the northern portion of the
old township and Scott the southern, and North Slippery Rock Township
ceased to exist. February 14, 1855, the eastern portions of both
Washington and Scott were taken off and a new township erected, called
Plain Grove (now often written Plaingrove). On the 15th of February,
1859, the shape of the several townships was finally settled by
enlarging Washington on the east by the addition of a strip
three-fourths of a mile in width from Plaingrove, and another strip on
the south half a mile in width taken from Scott. This left Washington
Township as it is at present, containing about 10,800 acres, or sixteen
and seven-eighths square miles.
The township presents a surface little broken by hills or cut up by
streams and contains abundance of fine farming lands. It is exclusively
agricultural in its character and is in a highly improved condition,
bearing witness to the energy and industry of its inhabitants, from the
first who entered the wilderness as pioneers to the present generation.
Neshannock Creek flows across the northwest corner of the township, and
just as it enters Wilmington Township receives the mingled waters of
several smaller streams or "runs" which have their sources in Washington
Township.
In the southern part of the township Hettenbaugh Run, or East Brook, has
its principal source at a fine spring on the Michael Jordan farm, and is
also fed from numerous other springs in the vicinity. It flows in a
southerly course until it gets into Scott Township.
A portion of the village of Volant is in the northwest corner of the
township, on the small strip which lies west of the Neshannock Creek.
The Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway is built along the west
bank of the creek and has about half a mile of track in the township.
Coal underlies the township to some extent, but is not worked within its
limits. A fine quality is mined just across the line, in Scott Township,
and the vein very probably reaches far into Washington.
Iron ore, of the blue quality, abounds along Neshannock Creek, but at
present is not worked in the township. It is so hard and contains
comparatively so small a percentage of iron that it is not manufactured
as extensively as the softer ores, although furnaces formerly were in
operation for working it, one at Neshannock Falls, in Wilmington
Township, having run for some ten or twelve years, getting its supply of
ore along the creek.[p. 353]
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Probably the first white settler in the township was George Hettenbaugh,
originally from Germany, who came in 1797 and settled on the farm later
owned by George and Michael Jordan. He was accompanied by two sons,
Michael and George. Hettenbaugh Run takes its name from this family, who
settled at its source.
The same year the Hettenbaughs settled a number of families came to the
township and located in the immediate neighborhood.
Alexander Anderson came to America from Ireland about 1789-90. Some time
during the year 1797 he came to what is now Washington Township and
settled the farm now owned by his descendants, the Tottens. James and
John Smith came the same year (1797) from the Chartiers Valley. James
Sharp and family came about the same time and settled in the same
neighborhood, as did also Mr. McLaughlin, who located on the farm later
owned by Jonathan Bonny. Dennis McConnell was also of that period,
coming perhaps a little later. Joseph Campbell came with the first
settlers and settled near the Henry Jordan farm. He became quite
prominent in after years.
William Michaels came in early and made some improvements on a place,
but owing to the fact that he had no title to the land he was obliged to
leave it. A few years after, or in the spring of 1802, Robert Mason
located on the same farm.
Henry Jordan, Sr., came to the township with his wife and eight children
in the fall 1802 from York County, Pennsylvania, and bought for one
dollar and seventy-five cents per acre 200 acres of land, one-hundred of
which his son Henry lately owned. In January, 1803, Michael Jordan, who
latterly lived on a part of the old Hettenbaugh farm, was born.
Kinzie Daniels came from New Jersey about 1805-6 and located southwest
of the Jordans. Samuel Brown, father of Solomon Brown, came from
Lancaster County some time between 1805 and 1810 and settled in Beaver
County.
About the year 1828 Robert Donley came to the township from Westmoreland
County and settled on the farm later owned by John Donley. He was
originally from Ireland, and though arriving at such a late day was the
first white settler on the 100-acre tract which he bought and located
upon in the northeast part of the present township of Washington.
William Martin came from Ireland and settled in Washington Township
about 1818-20, purchasing 200 acres of land of a Mr. McClurg.
The first settler on the Samuel Collins place was Robert Collins, who
bought the land of Thomas Astley and Enoch Marvin in 1837 and made the
first improvements on it.
Adam Grim came from the foot of Laurel Hill, in Fayette County, first to
Washington County, where he staid three or four years, and afterwards to
Washington Township, Lawrence County, in the month of July, 1814, or 1815.
Revolutionary Soldiers.?Henry Jordan, Sr., settled in 1802, had served
during the Revolution, and was the only one among the settlers of the
township who took part in that struggle, as far as we have been able to
ascertain, although it is possible there were others.
Of The Soldiers Of 1812 the number is greater. Henry Jordan enlisted in
the fall of 1812 for six months, and went with Captain John Junkin's
company, the "Mercer Blues," to Fort Meigs, or rather through by way of
Mansfield and other points to Sandusky and the Maumee River, or "Miami
of the Lakes," where he helped build Fort Meigs. Mr. Jordan was the last
surviving member of the original "Mercer Blues." Mr. Jordan's time
expired some time during the spring of 1813, and he was afterwards out
three times to Erie. His three brothers, John, Nathaniel and George,
were also out at Erie, and John Jordan died at Black Rock in the winter
[p. 354] of 1813. Samuel Anderson, a son of Alexander Anderson, was out
in 1813 to Erie.
War Of The Rebellion. In the four years from 1861 to 1865 Washington
Township was also well represented and sent many of her sons to the
front. The Regiment represented principally by Lawrence County men was
the One Hundredth or "Roundhead" Regiment, commanded by Colonel Daniel
Leasure, of New Castle, and a large number from Washington Township
joined this regiment. Other regiments had representatives from this
township, but to a small extent.
VOLANT POST-OFFICE.
This post-office was established some time about 1840-45, with William
Hoover as the first postmaster. It was kept for a while in the mill
which stood on the west side of Neshannock Creek. James Rice afterwards
opened a store and had the post-office removed to it, and acted as
postmaster. When the new town of Lockeville was laid out, in 1872, the
office was removed to that point, and kept by William Graham in the
store belonging to Graham Brothers, near the railway station.
A Seceder Church was organized, and a frame building erected on the
Martin farm about 1835-6. Rev. Mr. Boyd was probably the first preacher
who had charge of the society. The church lot and cemetery were both
taken from the farm of William Martin, and included an acre of ground.
The cemetery is still in use and well cared for. Meetings have not been
held for many years, and there is now no church building in the
township, the one built having long since passed out of existence.
SCHOOLS.
Schoolhouses in the pioneer days were built by voluntary subscriptions
and the schools carried on by the same means. A schoolhouse was built in
the fall of 1803 on the Jordan farm, of logs. The first teacher was
Joseph Campbell, one of the earlier settlers of the township. The school
consisted of from twenty-five to forty pupils, many of whom came a
distance of several miles to attend. This was the first schoolhouse and
the first school within the present limits of the township. Mr. Jordan
donated the land it stood on. The next building for school purposes was
erected on land donated by Kinzie Daniels about 1807-8. John Mitchell
was the first teacher. A third schoolhouse was put up not long
afterwards on the Robert Mason farm.
These three buildings were the first ones erected in the township, and
were in use for a number of years.
There are now five substantial school buildings in the township, some of
them frame structures and the others built of brick. They are
comfortable and neat, well equipped throughout, and the school work has
been maintained at a high standard by competent instructors. There are
five teachers, who in 1908 were paid $1,520, and there is an enrollment
of 102 in the schools.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
[Original land warrants and patents can be seen on the Survey Maps,
and
land owners can be seen on the 1872 Atlas.
]
[p. 354]Wayne Township was created from a part of North Sewickley
Township, Beaver County, at the same time Lawrence County was erected,
and at first took in only that portion of it north of Conoquenessing
Creek; that south of the creek remained as North Sewickley until some
time afterwards, when it was added to Wayne.
The township has an area of about 11,500 acres, and is peopled with a
prosperous agricultural class. The improvements throughout the township
are of a high order of excellence and the resources it possesses, both
from an agricultural and mineral point of view, are almost inexhaustible.
The surface is broken to an extensive degree, the hills in many places
rising three or four hundred feet above the valleys. The approaches to
Slippery Rock and Conoquenessing Creeks are through deep [p. 355] gorges
and thinly settled localities, although along the latter stream the land
is more easily adapted to farming purposes. On the south side of it,
towards the line of Beaver County, is a broad level table land, reaching
back a mile or two to a range of hills bounding it on the south. The
land here is rich and fertile.
The township contains the three villages of Wurtemburg, Chewton and
Staylesville, the latter one of the places which sprang up while the old
canal was in existence, and was superseded by Newport, in Big Beaver
Township, after the canal was abandoned and the railroad built. The
borough of Ellwood City also lies within the borders of the township.
Wayne Township has for its western boundary the Big Beaver River,
numerous tributaries of which head within its limits. On the east
Slippery Rock Creek forms the boundary between Wayne and Perry, and the
Conoquenessing enters on the south from Beaver County, and after
receiving the waters of the Slippery Rock curves around through the
southern part of the township, and finally enters the Big Beaver on the
line between Lawrence and Beaver Counties.
Slippery Rock Creek flows in a southerly direction until it reaches
Wurtemburg, and here it is met by a towering bluff 395 feet high, and
obliged to turn aside. From here it flows to the westward until it joins
with the waters of the Conoquenessing, the two streams meeting from
almost opposite directions. At this point the streams turn squarely to
the north, proceeds in this direction perhaps a hundred rods, then winds
its way westward, then eastward, and back again until the Beaver is reached.
The scenery along the streams is wild and impressive, especially that of
the Slippery Rock and Conoquenessing. The latter has no bottom lands at
all, and the former only very narrow strips in some places. High above
the streams, however, and at the base of a still higher range of hills
there are comparatively broad plateaux, the surface of them being
extremely fertile.
The greater part of the land in Wayne Township is in the Chew district
and was divided into 400-acre tracts, each settler on a tract becoming
entitled to one-half for settling. There are also numerous tracts which
were granted to the Washington Academy, of Washington, Pa.
Coal was discovered near Wurtemburg, about 1826, by James Dobbs, who was
at the time working at Moses Matheny's salt wells. Since then coal veins
have been developed in various localities in the township. A bank was
opened on a tract of Academy land, south of Chewton, and worked for some
time. Above Wurtemburg several mines are worked, and in the northern and
western portions of the township a considerable number of persons opened
banks. The vein is called a three-foot vein, but has only about
twenty-eight inches of coal on an average, the rest being more or less
mixed with slate. The coal is generally of a very good quality.
Limestone is found in many localities, but, like all the limestone of
this region, lies in thin, ragged strata, and is not fit for building
purposes, although it makes a very good quality of lime. The limestone
exists near the summits of the hills, and is simply what remains of a
once continuous bed, before the country was cut so deeply by the
numerous streams into the rough condition we now behold. The stone is
found at an average height, and of a nearly uniform thickness and
quality, proving that the stratum was once continuous.
Iron ore is also found, both of the red and blue varieties. About
1855-6, Charles Rhodes bought half an acre of land on the stream which
empties into the Big Beaver below Chewton, and intended to erect a
saw-mill. While excavating a place in which to set his wheel he struck a
vein of the "blue ore," and immediately abandoned the purpose of
building a saw-mill, and began taking out ore. The business [p. 356]
paid him well, and raised a great excitement in the vicinity. It was the
first iron ore discovered in the township, and immediately a number of
persons began prospecting. Finally, John Warner discovered a bank of the
"red ore," in some places reaching a thickness of twenty-two feet. Dr.
John Wallace purchased this bank and worked it extensively.
The existence of the red ore was not known until after the discovery of
the blue ore, but, when it was developed, the working of the latter was
abandoned, as the other quality was much richer and more easily worked.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
About the year 1800, Abraham McCurdy came from the Susquehanna Valley
and settled near where Wurtemburg now stands.
John Newton came to the township in the neighborhood of 1800, and
settled on the farm where his son, Jacob Newton, lived for many years after.
William and Benjamin Cunningham came from Fayette County, Pennsylvania,
in the year 1796. William settled on the farm lately owned by R. S.
Cunningham, and Benjamin on that lately owned by Ira Cunningham. They
came in the fall of that year and built cabins and made other
improvements on their places, then returned to Fayette County for their
famlies. They returned to their new possessions in the spring of 1797.
The Cunninghams now occupy a considerable portion of the north part of
Wayne Township, and have contributed much towards its improvement.
The year 1796 marked the arrival of eight persons, six besides the
Cunninghams. They were Abel Hennon, Robert and Samuel Gaston, William
Cairns, Charles Morrow and John Moore. Only a portion of them settled or
remained in what is now Wayne Township.
After the Cunninghams came to the township they hewed out the end of a
block "dish fashion," and pounded their corn in it for about two years,
when a grist-mill was built by Ananias Allen, and they had their
grinding done there.
Abel Hennon, who was one of the settlers of 1796, located on a 400-acre
tract, of which he received one-half for settling.
Joseph Hennon came in 1798 and bought a settlement right to a 400-acre
tract of Jesse Myers, who had built a cabin on the place. The place was
later occupied by his son, George Hennon, who was the first child born
in the family after their settlement, the date of his birth being April
19, 1800. The Hennons were originally from Ireland, and located first in
the State of Maryland. They afterwards removed to the valley of Jacob's
Creek, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and from there came to Beaver
County. Two of the earlier members of the family, George and Thomas
Hennon, Sr., were soldiers in the American Revolution.
Nicholas Vaneman located in New Castle about 1802-3, where he rebuilt
and refitted a grist-mill on the Neshannock, which had been originally
erected about 1800 by John Elliott. The mill was partially destroyed by
a freshet in the creek, and Vaneman removed to Wayne Township about
1808-9 and put up a grist and saw-mill on what is now known as "Mill
Run," or "Big Run," which discharges its waters into the Big Beaver
below Chewton. The mills stood for a good many years, and finally fell
to pieces, and none have been rebuilt on the site since. He operated the
mill until unable to run it longer, when his son continued the business
for some time.
George Allen settled a farm in Wayne Township previous to 1800 and sold
it to Solomon Egner in 1818.
Henry Booher came first to Neshannock Township about 1806 and bought
land of Jesse Du Shane, of New Castle, about 1810.
Thomas McConahy came from County Antrim, Ireland, in 1817, leaving his
family [p. 357] there. They followed him two years later (1819) and came
to Beaver Town, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Here they stayed until 1821
when they removed to a farm of 100 acres, lying in Shenango Township,
Lawrence County.
The John McConahy (son of Thomas McConahy) farm, in Wayne, was
originally settled by Peter Book, who made the improvements upon it. The
original tract was 400 acres, and, with a few other tracts in the
neighborhood did not belong to the land in the Chew district. Peter Book
was of German descent, and came from Northampton County, Pennsylvania,
to Pittsburg, from which place he came to what is now Wayne Township in
1796-7.
Joseph Work came originally from the State of Maryland to Mifflin
County, Pennsylvania. In the year 1797 he came to Crawford County, where
he lived until 1824, then moved to the farm in Wayne Township, Lawrence
County, later occupied by his son, William Work. The land is part of a
tract of 400 acres, originally settled by Moses McCollum in 1797.
William Ward came from York County, Pennsylvania, when a young man, with
his mother and step-father and located first in Beaver Town, Beaver
County. This was in the neighborhood of the year 1800. Mr. Ward was
married at Beaver Town to Miss Elizabeth Shoemaker, and afterward came
to Lawrence County. He located on a farm on Slippery Rock Creek about
1806-8.
Hugh Wilson came to the township previous to 1800, and settled on the
farm now owned by his heirs. He was originally from the State of
Maryland, and settled in the Chartiers Valley, in Allegheny County,
Pennsylvania, about twelve miles from Pittsburg, from whence he came to
what is now Lawrence County. The year after Mr. Wilson arrived, his
brothers, William, Andrew, James and Alexander, also came out. William
Wilson commanded a militia company in the neighborhood during the time
of military organizations, and from that circumstance received the title
of captain.
Moses Guy came to the township about the same time as the Wilsons and
settled on a part of the same farm.
Moses Matheny came from the Shenandoah Valley, West Virginia, about
1800, and settled first in the edge of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He
afterwards removed to a farm in Wayne Township, Lawrence County,
three-fourths of a mile from Wurtemburg. Mr. Matheny was a cabinetmaker,
the first mechanic in the neighborhood, and made the first rough coffin.
In 1807 he was married to Hannah Nye, whose father, Andrew Nye, had
settled early on the farm on the south side of the Conoquenessing, yet
owned by the Nye family.
Mr. Matheny was closely identified with the plans for the early
improvement of the country in which he had settled. In 1839 he built a
stone tavern on the north side of the Conoquenessing, at its mouth, and
rented it to Samuel Copper, who kept it for some time; other persons
also kept the tavern, but when the canal business stopped it was
discontinued.
Paul Newton was among the first settlers in the township and purchased
land of William Thomas, who must have been a very early settler.
About 1812-15 a company of Quakers came from the eastern part of the
State, purchased a large acreage of the hilly lands of the
Conoquenessing, and went to work to improve the water-power. They tried
to build a dam twenty-eight feet high across the creek, but the attempt
proved a failure, and they afterward built a brace dam on a smaller
scale, and cut a hole in the rock and built a strong stone grist-mill in
it. The creek rose shortly afterwards and washed both dam and mill away.
After this failure the Quakers went to Beaver Falls.
Hazel Dell post-office was established about 1871-2, near Matheny's
mill. The [p. 358] first postmaster was John H. Marshall, and he was
succeeded by Andrew Cole.
About 1823-4 a log-mill was built on nearly the same spot as the Matheny
mill by Orrin Newton. In 1834, J. N. Nye purchased the mill and operated
it awhile. About 1840 some parties who were fishing carelessly dropped
some fire into it and it burned down. The Matheny mill, which was built
in 1847 by Jonathan Evans, was owned by Thomas Jones at one time. He was
caught in the machinery in some way while oiling the wheel and killed,
about 1864-5. Under the management of E. C. Matheny the mill developed
into a flourishing plant.
Orrin Newton, the same person who built the original mill on the site of
Matheny's building, had a primitive affair long before this, consisting
of a wheel set in a crevice in the rock, and run by hand when the water
was low. This was the first mill on the creek below the mouth of the
Slippery Rock, and was of the simplest kind. It could grind but very
slowly, and did nothing more than crack the grain. The old Newton mill
was at Conoquenessing Falls.
A log grist-mill, with a saw-mill attachment, was built about 1830-32 by
Nicholas Mayne, and stood a short distance above the Matheny mill.
James Latimer built a grist-mill two or three miles above this, about
1855. It was a good frame mill, but, as the power was not sufficient at
the place it was abandoned.
Henry McQuiston built a grist-mill on the Conoquenessing, a little
distance above the mouth of Slippery Rock Creek, but it was only run a
short time.
Saw-mills have been built in nearly every portion of the township,
though but very few are now in operation, and those portable.
Edward McLaughlin had a saw-mill close by the McQuiston grist-mill.
About 1852, William Gaston built a saw-mill on his place, above Chewton,
on a small run flowing through it, and had good water power.
MILITARY RECORD.
Wayne Township was well represented in the United States army during the
War of 1812, among those who went to the front being: Abraham McCurdy,
Sr., John Newton, Benjamin Cunningham, Thomas Hennon, at Black Rock;
William Ward, in Capt. James Stewart's company, was at Black Rock, and
Hugh Wilson and Moses Guy, who were at Black Rock.
In Wayne, as in other townships, military organizations were kept up,
William Wilson commanding one company. A company known as the "North
Sewickley Marksmen" was organized about 1830-31, with some sixty men,
and the number afterwards increased to seventy or eighty. John M. Hennon
was the first captain, and Isaac Newton, William Sherrard and others
served as lieutenants. The men were dressed in ordinary apparel, but
their citizens' hats were decked with red and white plumes, and they
wore red sashes and belts; they were armed with common rifles. The
organization existed until about 1873.
Wayne Township furnished her quota of troops during the War of the
Rebellion, scattered through various regiments. Most of those who went
to the front, however, were members of the famous Round Head (One
Hundredth Pennsylvania) Regiment.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
A log cabin schoolhouse was built on the McCollum tract, in Wayne,
previous to 1815, and school was conducted in it for some time. It
finally was destroyed by fire. About 1820 another log schoolhouse was
built about a half mile northwest of the first, and it too was finally
burned to the ground.
Robert Grandy was a teacher in the first building, and Robert Laughlin
was the first teacher in the latter. Other primitive schoolhouses were
built at different times [p. 359] by the citizens, and carried on by
subscription until the law was passed establishing free schools.
In 1908 the number of schools in Wayne District (Township) was nine. The
enrollment of school children for the same year was 276. A total of
$2,750 was paid for teachers wages, the number of teachers for the year
being nine. The total expenditures for the year for school purposes were
$3,825. This was aside from Wurtemburg and Chewton villages, which are
independent districts.
CHURCHES.
"Slippery Rock" Presbyterian Church is the oldest organization in the
township, and takes its name from Slippery Rock Creek, on the banks of
which it held its first meetings, in Allen's old grist-mill, as early as
1800, and possibly before. The congregation was organized about 1800,
and some of the original members were Jesse Bell, William Cairns and
Nancy, his wife (of Shenango Township), Joseph Hennon and Margaret, his
wife; William Cunningham and Mary, his wife; Jonathan Peppard and
Elizabeth, his wife; Jacob Van Gorder and Margaret, his wife (Van Gorder
and wife later, about 1806); Andrew Elliott and wife, and a few others.
The first official record of the existence of this church is found in
the minutes of the first meeting of the Erie Presbytery, held in this
region April 13, 1802. At this meeting of the Presbytery the church
asked for supplies, and in 1803, united with Lower Neshannock, now New
Castle, in selecting Rev. Alexander Cook as pastor. Mr. Cook had charge
about six years.
The first elders of this church were Jesse Bell, William Cairns, Joseph
Hennon and Jonathan Peppard. Isaac Cole and Andrew Elliott were ordained
elders October 25, 1812, and Donald MacGregor in May, 1818. These were
the early elders only.
The second pastor of this congregation was Rev. Robert Sample, who had
charge of the New Castle congregation as well. Some say he preached
twenty-six years. He was ordained and installed April 10, 1811, and
served until 1834, according to the history of Erie Presbytery. In 1838,
after many discouragements for three years, they united with New
Brighton, Beaver County, in support of Rev. Benjamin C. Critchlow, New
Castle having by that time become able to support a minister alone. Mr.
Critchlow was ordained and installed pastor of Slippery Rock and a New
Brighton congregation September 5, 1838, and continued his pastorate for
seven years. In 1845 he assumed charge of New Brighton alone, and Rev.
James S. Henderson was ordained and installed pastor of Slippery Rock in
October of that year. November 1, 1846, he began preaching one-half of
his time at North Sewickley Church, in Beaver County.
Since the departure of Mr. Henderson the following have been regular
pastors of the Slippery Rock Church for the length of time stated: Amos
S. Billingsley, January 10, 1854, to January 11, 1865; Rev. R. S.
Morton, February 21, 1866, to May 14, 1869; Rev. J. H. Aughey, December
26, 1870, to May 5, 1873; Rev. George S. Rice, October 19, 1874, to
June, 1889; Rev. William G. Reagle, May 26, 1891, to April, 1893; Rev.
Samuel Barber, January 23, 1894, to April, 1898, and Rev. Charles Bell,
September 13, to the present time.
In the Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church, proper, the present membership
is 250, and that of the Sabbath-school, 175; but a mission is conducted
under the care of the church, with a membership of 100, and its
Sabbath-school, 250. The mission reports through the church, which thus
has a total membership of 350, and the Sabbath-school a membership of
425. The Sabbath-school was organized during Mr. Critchlow's pastorate
and has been conducted almost continuously since that time.
The church officers at the present are as follows: Rev. Charles Bell,
moderator; W. C. Hennon, R. C. Shoemaker, Robert [p. 360] W. Grandy,
William Wellhausen, James A. Brown and John W. Houk, elders; John M.
Houk, Sabbath-school superintendent; E. E. Yoho Y. P. S. C. E.
president, and Mrs. Ellen G. Bell, president of the Women's Missionary
Society.
The first church built by the society was a log building, which stood a
few rods north of the spot occupied by the present church. The log
church was built about 1803, and stood on the Hugh Wilson farm. The old
log church was used until the year 1825, when a frame building was
erected just south of it. This church continued in use as such until a
new and more commodious edifice was built in 1863, and was then removed.
A parsonage was later built by the society for its pastor. On the
territory once all tributary to Slippery Rock Church, there are now
fourteen different organizations, yet with all this, and the colonies
which have gone out from it and founded other congregations, the church
has held its own well and is in a prosperous condition.
The cemetery near the church is an interesting spot, containing the
remains of nearly all the pioneers in the region immediately surrounding
it. It is located on the brow of the hill, in the rear of the church,
and is shaded by forest trees on all sides. The first person buried in
it was James Wilson, who was killed by the falling of a tree soon after
his arrival here.
The Primitive Methodists organized in the fall of 1876, and have a frame
church, standing on land donated by Samuel Booher, who was one of the
prominent members of the organization. The lot includes one acre. This
congregation is made up of members from the Methodist Episcopal Church
at Wampum and "Mount Pleasant" congregations.
VILLAGE OF STAYLESVILLE.
The land occupied by this settlement was originally a part of the Peter
Book farm. William Hough at different times bought several acres of land
from Mr. Book, and laid it out into town lots some time between 1827 and
1833, about which latter date the canal was opened. Hough built the
first house in the place?a log structure?and kept a store. He also
opened a tavern, and afterwards sold it to John Wallace, who carried it
on for awhile in connection with a store. James Miller had the last
store conducted in the place, and closed out about 1874. Samuel
Wilkinson and John Houk worked at the blacksmithing business in the
place for some time.
A strong dam was built for slack water purposes during the time of the
canal, but has been destroyed long since. The bed of the Beaver River
here was partly quicksand, and, to keep the dam from being washed away,
it was made of strong cribs sunk in the sand and filled with stone.
Considerable business was done at the place during the time the canal
was in operation, but there are now left but a few dwellings on the town
site to mark what once was an active business point.
The town was named by Hough, when he laid it out, after a man named
Stayles, who was a prominent worker in the canal enterprise. A swift
rapid or "ripple" is in the river opposite the town, and as the canal
men had a "hard scrabble" to get their boats safely over it the place
received the nickname of "Hardscrabble," by which it is now more
familiarly known than by Staylesville. Some distance below, at Wampum,
there is another rapid called "Irish Ripple," and from it the original
post-office at Wampum, and now at Newport, took its name.
CHEWTON.
This town was laid out by Benjamin Chew, Jr., about 1830-31, and
includes all the territory comprised in what are now commonly known as
"Upper" and "Lower" Chewton?in all about one hundred acres, but a
comparatively small portion of which is built up. The first house in
Lower Chewton was built either by Hon. J. T. Cunningham or Jacob
Allen.[p. 361]
Fulton Reed opened the first store in the place, about 1835-36. John
Wallace established the second, some ten years later. John Egner opened
the third, about 1848- 1849, and afterwards sold it to William Roth (or
Rhodes). It stood about a quarter of a mile below where the iron bridge
now spans the Beaver. Roth sold out to Friday & Jackson, who moved the
store to the upper part of Lower Chewton. Henry Potter afterwards
purchased Friday's interests, and the firm name became Potter & Jackson.
In Upper Chewton, soon after the town was laid out, Jacob Lightner,
Nancy Lightner, Milo Connor and John Lightner all built houses of the
log pattern, which stood for many years. There was but one log house
built in Lower Chewton, that by one of the Roth (Rhodes) family.
A school was opened in the town in 1834 or 1835. immediately after the
school law was passed, and a schoolhouse was built. A brick schoolhouse,
standing in Upper Chewton, was built about 1859-60. Chewton was set off
as an independent school district in 1872 or 1873. It has three schools
and three instructors, who, in 1908, received $1,010. The enrollment is
159 pupils.
WURTEMBURG.
The first settler on the land where Wurtemburg now stands was probably
Ananias Allen, who came about 1796-7, and built of logs a grist-mill on
nearly the same spot where a more modern grist-mill, in after years, was
erected. This was a famous mill in its day, and had customers from as
far as New Castle, before there was a mill at that place. In this mill
the first meetings of the Slippery Rock Presbyterian congregation were
held. Allen built the first house on the ground where the town now stands.
Jacob Liebendorfer and his family came from Butler County in 1829, and
for a time lived in a log house, which had been erected by an early
settler named Smith.
In 1831 a grist-mill was built by Jacob Liebendorfer and his son,
Michael. After the father died, Robert Mehard united with Michael
Liebendorfer in its management, and finally became sole proprietor,
after they had remodeled and improved the mill to a considerable extent.
Mr. Mehard afterwards sold out to George and Harrison Fiddler, who in
turn disposed of it to William Mellen and Phillip Freichtag. The next
proprietors, McCray & Hutchison, also operated a saw-mill in connection.
A saw-mill and linseed oil-mill were built by Jacob and Daniel
Liebendorfer, Frederick Rapp and Peter Noss, about the same time the
grist-mill was built?1831. The mill race supplying them gave way, and
the mills were abandoned after running about twenty years.
The saw-mill, adjoining the grist-mill, was built by Robert Mehard.
Peter Noss had a distillery at one time, and a cooper shop in connection.
A salt well was put down to a distance of about five hundred feet by
Matheny & Hemphill, in 1821, and was worked for nine years, producing
about two barrels of salt per day. On account of oil and the scarcity of
water, the well was finally abandoned. Just before the Civil War the oil
excitement ran high, and this well was worked by a company who tried for
oil. The oil they lost, principally because the flow of water was too
strong.
The post-office at Wurtemburg was established about 1845, and derived
its name from the fact that the Germans who settled here were from
Wurtemburg, Germany. The first postmaster of whom we find any mention
was Frederick Rapp, who was the second to fill that office; after him
came Ebert and Brown. Up to this time it was kept on the north side of
the creek, but was afterwards moved to the south side, and kept in the
store of Fleming & Freichtag. James Liebendorfer next had it, on the
north side, then Morrison & Fisher on the south side.[p. 362]
The first store on the South side of the creek was opened by three Hyde
brothers, John, Joseph and Thomas. The first store on the north side was
opened by a man named Vincent, who only kept it a year or two. A man
named Coulter had the second one, and Frederick Rapp the third, and the
latter also built the brick hotel, kept by Benjamin Wilson in after years.
The first blacksmith shop was probably started by Jacob Weis.
J. N. Kirker has conducted a flour and feed store here since 1902. James
H. Newton is proprietor of the largest general store, which was
established in 1900. E. G. French operates a stone quarry just on the
edge of the town. It has been operated by him since 1900 and still the
vein is not exhausted, although at the present time he is working it
heavily, employing as many as fourteen men.
A two-story brick school building was erected in 1872, on the north
side. The village of Wurtemburg is an independent school district, and
had an attendance in its two schools in 1908 of ninety-four pupils. Two
teachers are employed and in that year were paid $650. The total
expenditure for school purposes was $828.57.
CHURCHES.
The United Presbyterian Church of Wurtemburg was organized in 1859 by
Rev. Thomas Guthrie, D. D., who supplied it for some time. The members
originally belonged to the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Perry
Township. The first regular pastor of the new organization was Rev. J.
H. Peacock, who came about 1867 and preached five years. The next
regular pastor was Rev. John D. Glenn, who was installed November 1,
1874, and also had charge of the Center Church in Shenango Township. The
original membership was about eighty. A Sabbath-school has been kept up
most of the time. The church lot was furnished by James Mehard, one of
the members of the congregation, and a large frame church built upon it
in 1860. A portion of the congregation, some forty-five members, left
the church in 1873, and formed a new congregation in Perry Township
called Camp Run. They built a church in 1874, and have meetings in
connection with Mountville United Presbyterian Church, in the same township.
The German Lutheran Church at Wurtemburg, which has long been out of
existence, was the outgrowth of meetings held in the house of Jacob
Liebendorfer, about 1830-31, he having been a member of the German
Lutheran Church at Zelienople, Butler County, prior to that time. The
pastor of that church conducted the meeting in the Liebendorfer home,
his name being Rev. Schweitzerbart. Meetings were subsequently held in
private houses and for a time in the schoolhouse, which was built about
1832-33, near where the United Presbyterian Church now stands, and still
later in a schoolhouse which stood south of the creek. A church was not
built until 1868-69, when a frame structure was erected, north of town,
on the New Castle road. About the year 1877 there was a split in the
church on the language question, many of the members desiring services
in English, and a long drawnout law suit resulted. Finally a part of its
members withdrew and built a church, known as Zion's, or Mt. Hope
Lutheran Church, on the Harlansburg Road, about two miles north of the
old church. Some time in the nineties the old church building was given
to Rev. H. Voegel, of Evans City, who removed it to Ellwood City, but
after a few years the congregation there died out. In 1903, Mr. A. P.
Lentz organized a congregation, composed entirely of Austro-Hungarians,
and services are conducted in German. The congregation is very prosperous.
The Methodists held meetings at intervals for some twenty years, part of
the time in the schoolhouse, prior to erecting a church. In the summer
of 1876 the present frame building, called the "Centennial Methodist
Episcopal Church," was built. [p. 363] Here, Rev. J. S. Ross preached
three years and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Writer.
The bridge still spanning Slippery Rock Creek was built either in 1829
or 1830 by James Mehard, then living in Harmony, Butler County. He
afterwards came to Wurtemburg and bought the place where his son,
Joseph, afterwards lived.
Wurtemburg has always been regarded as a progressive place, its
transition from conditions of pioneer days having been rapid, and its
improvements of a permanent character.
ELLWOOD CITY.
Prosperous and thriving borough that it is, with its enormous
manufacturing plants which produce millions of dollars' worth of
products and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries, yearly,
with its well stocked stores and its modern homes, Ellwood City, located
within the limits of Wayne Township, has a history which dates back less
than a score of years. It is the home of such plants as those of the
American Steel Car Forge Company, Glen Manufacturing Company, Ellwood
Foundry Company, Standard Engineering Company, National Tube Company,
Ellwood City Glass Company, Ellwood Brick and Limestone Company,
Standard Tube Company, the Tindel-Morris Company, the Garlock Packing
Company, the National Supply and Construction Company and the Ellwood
Lumber Company.
The American Steel Car Forge Company is the outgrowth of a business
begun in 1894 under the name and style of the Baker Forge Company, which
was organized for the purpose of manufacturing wagon hardware. The plant
occupies seven and one-half acres of land and gives employment to about
700 men. Its officers are J. M. Hanson, president; C. W. Wright,
secretary; T. A. Gillespie, treasurer, and C. A. Martin, general manager.
Standard Tube Company, the largest seamless tube plant in the world, was
originally conducted as a stock company, with R. C. Steifel as president
and general manager; the stock was owned by R. C. Steifel, J. H.
Micholson and C. E. Pope. It was conducted as an independent concern
until 1901, when it was purchased by the National Tube Company, and
shortly afterwards incorporated as a part of the United States Steel
Corporation. The various seamless tube manufacturing plants are operated
under the Shelby Steel Tube Company, with general offices in Pittsburg.
The Ellwood City plant covers nine acres and has a capacity of 350 tons
per day, employing 2,200 men. Its capital stock is $600,000.
The Ellwood Brick and Limestone Company is successor to the Ellwood
Brick Company, Limited, which was organized in May, 1892, and was one of
the first plants of any consequence in the borough. J. M. Montgomery is
president, and T. J. Fulmer, secretary and treasurer. It is capitalized
at $30,000.
The Glen Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of gray iron castings,
derrick fittings, wire fencing, builders' iron work, etc., originated in
1902, and started in business in January, 1903. It bought out the
Hartman Manufacturing Company, which was established in Ellwood City in
1892. H. S. Blatt serves as president, and A. M. Jones as secretary and
treasurer of this company, which is capitalized at $100,000.
The Standard Engineering Company, employing about 250 men, is engaged in
the manufacture of rolling and tube mill machinery, pipe threading
machines, sand rolls and high grade gray iron castings, up to thirty
tons weight. It is capitalized at $3,000,000, and its officers are C. D.
Coban, president, and H. M. Criswell, secretary and treasurer. The plant
was erected in 1902.
The plant of the Tindel-Morris Company in Ellwood City was erected in
1895, and incorporated in 1898. It had its inception in 1862 as the
Frankfort Steel Company, a plant having been established at that date in
Frankfort, Pennsylvania. [p. 364] The name was later changed to the
Frankfort Steel and Forge Company, and in 1895 the factory was moved to
Ellwood City, where it covers two acres of ground. Two hundred men are
employed in the manufacture of machine tools, gas and steam engines, and
automobiles. The officers of the company are Adam Tindel, president: L.
G. Morris, vice-president; L. W. Gruber, secretary, and G. B. Reed,
assistant vice-president and manager.
The Ellwood City Glass Company, with capital stock at $60,000, in 1905
grew out of the re-organization of the Clark Bros. Glass Company, which
was established in 1892 by Harry Northwood. It manufactures a high grade
of blown tumblers and employs about 210 men. Charles Runyon is president
and treasurer, and W. M. Gertman, secretary.
The Garlock Packing Company, with main office and factory at Elmira, N.
Y., operates a plant in Ellwood City, as well as in most of the largest
cities of the United States. They are patentees and manufacturers of the
Garlock fibrous and Pitt metal packings, their product reaching the
markets of all the civilized world. This company has been in operation
in Ellwood City since 1905, when it leased the plant of the Pitt
Manufacturing Company, which had been organized and was operated by
Pittsburg capitalists. The Garlock Packing Company was incorporated in
1905 with O. J. Garlock as president; F. W. Griffith, vice-president and
treasurer, and J. H. L. Galagher, secretary. E. T. R. Holt is
superintendent of the Ellwood plant.
Zeigler & Lambert, manufacturers of carriages and wagons, making a
specialty of delivery wagons, established a factory in Ellwood City in
1907, and conducts a thriving business.
The Ellwood Lumber Company, with principal office and yard at Ellwood
City, was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania, May 21, 1904, and
has a capital stock of $100,000, although it was in operation many years
prior to that date. It operates branches at Aliquippa and Ambridge, Pa.,
having a large planing mill at the latter point. The officers of the
company are W. J. McKim, president; Thomas L. Haines, vice-president,
and John F. Haines, secretary, treasurer and general manager.
The National Supply and Construction Company, which is engaged in
general contracting, the lumber and planing mill business, was organized
in 1906, and has a capital stock of $50,000. Its officers are Albert C.
Frey, president; B. F. Ross, vice-president, and B. F. Mosher, secretary
and treasurer.
Ellwood City boasts of two banking institutions which class with the
leading financial institutions of Lawrence County, the First National
and the People's National Bank. The First National Bank of Ellwood City
was organized in 1892, and has a capital stock of $100,000; its officers
are John A. Gelbach, president; H. S. Blatt, vice-president, and W. J.
McKim, cashier. The People's National Bank was organized May 9, 1907,
and is capitalized at $50,000. Its officers are C. A. Martin, president;
J. E. VanGorder, vice-president, and J. E. Cobler, cashier.
The borough is well provided with good substantial public service
companies, particularly the Ellwood Water Company and the Manufacturers'
Light and Heat Company. It has two newspapers of a high order, namely:
The Ellwood Citizen and the Ellwood Eagle and Motor.
The affairs of the borough are efficiently administered by the following
officers: John H. Hassler, burgess; John A. Gelbach, treasurer; William
McElroy, clerk; Captain Moon, chief of police; H. R. Johnson, chief of
the fire department; George Cron, high constable; Jacob Bair, tax
collector, and Matthew Stroheceker, road commissioner. The council
consists of the following: Dr. Silas Stevenson, president; James
Lenigen, E. J. Hazen, Henry W. [p. 365] Dambach, M. D. McCarthy, W. J.
Krok; and Dr. D. C. Vosler. The school board is made up of the following
citizens: Joseph Humphrey, president; George Dambach, Dr. C. M. Iseman,
R. G. Brown, secretary; Charles E. Whistler and William Kearns. The
following constitute the Board of Health: Rev. A. R. Lentz, president;
Dr. S. S. Davidson, Dr. D. D. Cunningham, John Scheidamantle, Howard
McCliman and John McKim. R. A. Todd has been postmaster of the borough
since 1901, when he was appointed by William McKinley, president; he was
re-appointed by President Roosevelt in 1905.
The following are the officers of the Ellwood City Board of Trade:
Charles E. Whistler, president; A. M. Jones, vice-president; D. J.
Mulcahy, secretary, and A. C. Frey, treasurer. Its board of directors
includes Charles E. Whistler, Matthew A. Riley, A. C. Frey, H. S. Blatt
and J. A. Gelbach.
The moral tone of a community is ever reflected by the number and
conditions of its churches and benevolent societies. Both of these
agencies for the accomplishment of good are numerically strong in
Ellwood City, and the individual bodies in a prosperous and healthy
condition. Following are the churches in the borough, together with the
names of the pastors: Baptist, Rev. G. M. Davis; Catholic, Rev. Father
Hisson; Christian, Rev. F. L. Taylor; Free Methodist, Rev. J. T. Barkas;
German Lutheran, Rev. A. P. Lentz; Lutheran, Rev. A. P. Lentz;
Methodist, Rev. A. Renton; Reformed, Rev. A. K. Kline; Presbyterian,
Rev. Rendall; United Presbyterian, Rev. J. A. McDonald. The following
are the fraternal societies of Ellwood City: Masons, Fraternal Order of
Eagles, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (two
lodges), Knights of the Golden Eagle, Knights and Ladies of Honor,
German Beneficial Union, Uniformed Rank, Knights of the Maccabees,
Ladies of the Maccabees, Protective Home Circle and Sons of Veterans.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
[p. 365] Wilmington is one of the original townships of Lawrence County,
and was erected when it formed a part of Mercer County, from parts of
Neshannock (Lawrence County) and Lackawannock (Mercer County) Townships,
in February, 1846. Its area is about eleven thousand five hundred acres.
The surface is diversified with hill and valley, wood and stream, and
for agricultural purposes is generally fine. The borough of New
Wilmington was created from a portion of the township, April 4, 1863,
and includes between three and four hundred acres. The other villages of
the township are, Fayetteville, Neshannock Falls and Lockeville (Volant
post-office). Abundant water power is afforded by numerous streams, the
principal ones being the Big and Little Neshannock.
The township is traversed along Big Neshannock Creek by what was the New
Castle and Franklin Railway, later known as the Western New York and
Pennsylvania Railway, and now a part of the Pennsylvania System. The
stations upon it are Wilmington, Neshannock Falls, East Brook and
Volant. The Beaver and Mercer State road was cut through about 1814, and
was open for travel in a few places by 1815.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settler in Wilmington Township was probably William Hodge, who
came up the Beaver and Shenango River in a canoe, in company with Simon
Van Orsdel, in the month of February, 1797. Van Orsdel did not remain.
Hodge built a cabin on his place and made a small clearing, and, in 1798
sometime, sold out to William Porter, who had come from Westmoreland
County, and was the second settler in the township.
After Porter's settlement, the year 1798 witnessed a number of arrivals.
James Hazlep settled the land now occupied by the borough of New
Wilmington, and afterwards became the possessor of some eight [p. 366]
hundred acres in the vicinity. John McCrum came the same year, also
James Waugh; the latter afterwards, about 1824, purchased the ground
where New Wilmington now stands, and he and his sons laid out the town
about that time.
Hugh Means arrived in 1800 and built a grist-mill on Little Neshannock
Creek, east of what is now New Wilmington. This was the first mill in
the neighborhood, and was extensively patronized, customers coming
somtimes ten or twelve miles. It was then within the bounds of the newly
created county of Mercer, and elections were held in it. His son,
Daniel, served in the War of 1812-15, and another son, Henry, hauled
supplies for the soldiers.
Hugh, Watson came from Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pennsylvania, in
1806, and settled near Neshannock Falls.
John Watson came in 1808, and located on a part of the same farm as Hugh
Watson. His son, James Watson, came in 1809, and lived for a while with
his father, and afterwards removed to the site of the village of
Fayetteville, where he had purchased 185 acres of land. The first
settler on this place was Thomas Sampson, who bought a claim from
William Whiteside, in 1804. John Sampson purchased a piece off the same
tract, east of him, and located upon it in 1805, during which year he
opened what was long known as the "Backwoods Tavern," an establishment
widely known in those days. The tavern was a log building, and quite a
roomy structure for the time.
William Hodge, William McCrum (son of John McCrum) and Samuel Hazlep
(son of James Hazlep) were in the War of 1812.
Adam Wilson came from Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in
1806-7, and located near Neshannock Presbyterian Church, west of New
Wilmington. Mr. Wilson had two still houses on his place.
James Banks came from Juniata County in the year 1815, and on arriving
in Lawrence County (then Mercer), located on the farm where he lived
with his son, Andrew Banks. In 1811 he had purchased the land, 200
acres, of Hugh Johnston, paying $4.25 an acre. He was out and looked at
the land in 1814, but did not locate upon it until 1815. Johnston, who
had come to the place about 1808, had cleared about forty acres and
built a hewed log house twenty-four feet square.
John Banks, brother of James, came out about 1818, and was afterwards
elected the first member of Congress from Mercer County. He located at
Mercer, and read law in the office of Mr. Sample at that place.
NESHANNOCK FALLS.
This village is located on the north side of Big Neshannock Creek, in
the bend of the stream, and is named from the rapid in the creek near
Holstein's grist-mill. Here the channel of the stream is narrowed to a
considerable extent, and for some forty or fifty feet the descent is
such as to create a swift rush of the waters, and, as they dash among
the fragments of rock which lie in the bed of the stream, they make
noise enough for the respectable waterfall. The place is a great resort
for picnic parties during the summer, and the rocks bear witness to the
frequency of the visits in the many names cut in them; the earliest of
them reach back as far as 1826 or 1827. In a cavern or hollow beneath
the rocks was accidentally found, many years ago, a stone image, some
eighteen or twenty inches in length, carved to represent a chief, with
all his paraphernalia, even to the imitation of his head necklace.
Whether the relic of a prehistoric race, the creation of later Indians,
or the hoax of a practical joker, was never ascertained.
The first schoolhouse at Neshannock Falls was built about 1835, a frame
building, which was replaced by a brick structure, about 1871-72.
Thomas, John and James Wilson built a flouring mill on the Big
Neshannock, about sixty rods above the present mill, in the [p. 367]
neighborhood of 1826-7. Before the grist-mill was built the Wilsons had
erected a saw-mill, since torn away. The original dam was removed and a
new one built on the same site about 1850. A new mill was built in 1841
by the same parties who built the first one, and the old one was
remodeled and for a time used for a woolen factory. It was finally torn
down. The new mill did a large custom and merchant business, shipping
most of the flour manufactured to New Castle and Pittsburg. Thomas, John
and James Wilson were sons of Adam Wilson, who settled in 1806 or 1807,
near New Wilmington.
John Wilson built a paper mill about 1852, and, after running it for two
years, disposed of it to J. C. Shaw, who operated it until February,
1866, when it was destroyed by fire.
Samuel Holstein built a grist-mill and a saw-mill (the saw-mill first)
some time between 1835 and 1840. A woolen mill was built somewhere about
the same time. The old grist-mill was finally removed and a new one
built, about 1856-7, by Hugh and Thomas McConnell, for Mr. Holstein,
they having the use of the mill for a term of years.
A saw-mill was built at the head of the Holstein mill-race as early as
1810-12, by Hugh Watson, and was the first one in the neighborhood. It
was running for several years subsequent to 1815, but the mill and dam
were both finally removed.
An iron furnace was built at Neshannock Falls about 1850-52, and
belonged to W. G. & C. A. Powers, who also had the first store at this
place. The furnace was operated some ten or twelve years, the ore being
taken from the immediate neighborhood, and much of it from the farm of
James Banks. Charcoal was exclusively used for fuel. The ore was of a
good quality, said to yield sixty per cent of iron.
The country along Neshannock Creek is extensively underlaid with iron
ore, and the land is necessarily cut up so much in mining it, owing to
its approaching so near the surface, that it is no longer taken out. The
same trouble is met with in getting out the coal; the vein is thin,
also, although the coal is of an excellent quality.
Neshannock Falls post-office was established about 1864-66 with Samuel
Holstein as the first postmaster. He held the office some six or seven
years, when he was succeeded by J. C. Shaw. The village and postoffice
bear the same name.
John C. Blevins is the proprietor of a general store, which was
established twenty-six years ago. He has been postmaster for twelve
years. At this place is a large grist mill, operated by John Y. Walker.
Neshannock Falls Creamery is also a flourishing concern.
FAYETTEVILLE.
James Watson laid out the village of Fayetteville into thirty lots and
sold them at auction, February 8, 1828. William Mays moved his house
down from New Wilmington, and his was the first in the place. The next
morning after erecting it in Fayetteville, he sold it to Robert Calvin,
who opened a tailor shop in it. Mays was also a tailor by trade, but
kept no shop.
The first school-house was a frame building, erected in 1845 by James G.
Thompson. It stood on the site of the brick schoolhouse, which replaced
it in 1859. The brick for the building were manufactured by David Stewart.
John Collins built the first blacksmith shop in the fall of 1830.
A man named Lord, who had previously owned a store in New Castle, came
to Fayetteville in 1837 and opened a general store, which he carried on
for about three or four months?from June till October?when he left.
Robert Lindsay opened another store the same month in which Lord left,
and conducted it a number of years, then was succeeded by Thomas Elliott.
After Fayetteville was laid out the first tavern was opened by James
Morrow. It was afterwards occupied by Simon V. Hodge, Daniel Davis and
Daniel McLean. [p. 368] James Armstrong also kept a tavern for a while,
as did William Meadow.
The Lutheran Church in the village was organized; and a frame building
erected in 1854. The congregation was originally organized in New
Wilmington, but no church was ever built there. When organized, the
congregation consisted of about forty members. Its first pastor was Rev.
J. H. Brown. A Sabbath-school was organized before the church was built,
in 1852, and the first Sabbath-school was held in the Phillips'
schoolhouse, south of New Wilmington. The first superintendent was
William Heime.
LOCKEVILLE (VOLANT POST-OFFICE).
In April, 1868, J. P. Locke came from Mercer County, Pa., purchased the
grist mill from Samuel Bowan, and also bought one hundred acres of land,
on a part of which he in 1872 laid out a town of some thirty lots,
giving it the name Lockeville. Volant post-office was removed to the
place in 1874, and from the post-office the railway station takes its
name. New Castle and Franklin Railway was completed to the place in
1873. Part of the lots in the village are in Washington Township, a
small corner of which is on the west side of Neshannock creek. A covered
bridge was erected over the Neshannock.
A church was built by the Methodist Episcopal Society, and dedicated in
the fall of 1875. Rev. Mr. Crouch was its first pastor.
John and William Graham built a store soon after the town was laid out,
it being the first building erected in the new town. William Graham was
the first postmaster after the office was removed to the village.
Jonathan Wilkin also opened a store, and, besides these, two shoe shops,
owned by George Carr and Frank Herman; one blacksmith shop by Isaac
Kirk, and two harness shops, owned by John Potter and Archibald Carr,
were soon established. It in a short time grew to be a thriving and
prosperous little village.
A grist mill was built on the Neshannock as early as 1810-12, and in
1815 was run by Thomas Barber. The Barber mill was changed materially,
and in later days became the property of Simison Brothers.
SCHOOLS.
About 1810 or 1812 a schoolhouse was built on land belonging to William
Hunter, the first teacher being James White. Among the other early
teachers in this building were a Mr. McCready, Hugh Watson and a Mr.
Bellows.
A log schoolhouse was built about 1810-12 a quarter of a mile west of
New Wilmington.
"Rich Hill" schoolhouse was built of round logs, with a cabin roof,
about 1824-25. One of the first teachers was George Carlon. This
schoolhouse gave place to a frame building 24x24 feet, built about 1835.
The second building was put up in another part of the township, in order
to accommodate all the pupils in the district, and was afterwards
burned. A third building was erected near the site of the second one and
stood until about 1868-70, when a substantial brick structure was
erected, and used by pupils from both Wilmington and Washington Townships.
The schools in the township now number seven, with an average attendance
in 1908 of one hundred and seventy-nine. The sum of $2,240 was paid
seven teachers, and the total expended for school purposes was $3,187.44.
CHURCHES.
The oldest church organization in the township is the "Neshannock
Presbyterian Congregation," which was organized about 1800. The first
pastor was Rev. William Wick, who was ordained September 3d, 1800, in
connection with Hopewell, the latter congregation being at the present
village of New Bedford, in Pulaski Township. Mr. Wick was released from
his charge June 30th, 1801, and the second pastor was Rev. James
Satterfield, an [p. 369] original member of the Erie Presbytery, and the
second preacher who settled within the limits of Mercer County. He was
ordained and installed by the Presbytery of Ohio, March 3d, 1802, and
installed as pastor of Neshannock Congregation in connection with
Moorfield, in the present limits of Mercer County. The first elders of
Neshannock Church were William Jackson, Thomas Scott and Robert
Stevenson. Mr. Satterfield was pastor until the early part of the year
1812. In July of that year Rev. William Matthews took charge of the
church and served it till some time during the year 1815. He was
succeeded by Rev. William Wood, who commenced his labors March llth,
1816. Mr. Wood preached at Hopewell, in connection with Neshannock,
until July 1st, 1828, when he gave all his time to the latter. He was
released January 1st, 1837, after a pastorate of twenty-one years. The
next pastor was Rev. Absalom McCready, who was installed October 14th,
1839, and released in 1857. The next pastor was Rev. Robert Dickson, who
was installed in 1858, and released from his charge in 1867. He was
succeeded by Rev. John M. Mealy.
A number of other churches have been organized from parts of the
Neshannock Congregation, among them the ones at Pulaski, Rich Hill and
Unity, the latter in Crawford County. The congregation is a large one,
and the church has been well supported, the organization being in
prosperous condition.
The first church edifice at Neshannock was built of round logs, and was
thirty feet square. The next building was of hewed logs, and was thirty
by seventy feet in dimensions. This was considered a very pretentious
structure for that time. A frame structure was built in 1839, being the
third house the congregation had at this place. The cemetery near the
old frame building contains the graves of many of the pioneers.
Rev. John M. Mealy, D.D., served the church till 1898, a pastorate of 31
years, crowned with success. Rev. Hubert Rex Johnson followed, closing
in 1901 a brief but effective ministry among this people, in which his
tact and winsome personality steadied the congregation through the
tension and crisis growing out of the controversy over the site of the
new church building. Many from the west side favored the old grounds
from beauty of location and sacredness of association, others preferred
to erect the temple of worship in the neighboring town of New
Wilmington. Advocates of either site were tremendously in earnest, and
not always discreet, and feeling ran high. But tactful leadership
without and grace within were sufficient to hold them together when it
was decided to build in the town; and a large and beautiful brick
structure erected by the mutual toil and sacrifice of all, now stands
with adjoining manse and surrounding lawn the pride of a united people.
The present pastor, Rev. Sherman A. Kirkbride, stated clerk of the
Presbytery of Shenango, came in 1901 and divine blessing still attends
the preached Word. The membership has grown to more than 400.
Dr. Mealy's pastorate was fruitful of missionaries, ministers and
mission teachers. His eloquence and personal magnetism gave him power
over young people to inspire high ideals, and largely through his
influence Neshannock church has furnished far more than its normal share
of missionaries, including Rev. Dr. Eugene P. Dunlap and his wife in
Siam, Mrs. McCauley in Japan, Dr. Jessie Wilson Lawrence in Persia and
Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Porter in Brazil. Almost 40 young ministers have gone
out from this congregation to preach the gospel and more are coming on.
All indebtedness on the church building?which cost about $15,000?was
cancelled last year, and contributions to benevolence are constantly
increasing.
Rich Hill Presbyterian Church was organized at the Spring Session of
1840, by a committee from the Presbytery of [p. 370] Allegheny (now
Butler). It takes its name from the tract of land on which the church is
located. The lot was purchased from B. Anderson, formerly of Bucks
County, Pennsylvania, the owner of the tract. The original congregation
consisted of about thirty members, and was made up of members from the
Neshannock Congregation principally. Some came from New Castle, some
from Mercer, and some from Plain Grove. The church stands on the old
Beaver and Mercer State Road. This church sprung from a Sabbath-school
which had flourished for some twenty-five years, holding its meetings in
the old schoolhouse. They also occasionally had preaching?Rev. William
Woods and Rev. John Munson occasionally holding evening meetings, some
time before the church was organized. The first regular preacher of this
congregation was Rev. Newton Bracken, who ministered for fifteen years.
The church is in the southeastern part of Wilmington Township.
The names of those who have served as pastor of the Rich Hill
Presbyterian Church since 1877 follow: Rev. Cooper, Rev. Hill, Rev.
Davis, Rev. Stewart, and Rev. C. B. Wible, who is the present pastor.
The church officers are: Elders, Messrs. Snyder, W. W. Drake, D. P.
Welker, Reed, W. M. C. Drake, Martin and McKnight; the deacons, Messrs.
Carr, Blevins, McDowell and Wilson; the trustees, Messrs. Joseph Martin,
John McConnell, William Welker, Fisher, O. A. Morehead; and church
treasurer, D. P. Welker. The present church membership is 178, and that
of the Sabbath-school 100.
The Amish Or Omish Mennonites established a church about two miles
southseat[sic] of New Wilmington. It was built in the summer of 1872,
and is the only one of the kind in the county. Rev. Shem King was their
first preacher, and they had about sixty members at the inception of the
church.
One of the first of this denomination to settle in Lawrence County was
Abraham Zook, who came in the spring of 1846. Shem King brought out his
family in August, 1847. Nearly all the families were from Mifflin County
Pennsylvania and settled in Hickory, Wilmington and Pulaski Townships
principally, with perhaps a few in Neshannock.
BOROUGH OF NEW WILMINGTON.
New Wilmington was incorporated into a borough by Act of the
Legislature, April 4, 1863, from a part of Wilmington Township. The land
incorporated includes an area of between three and four hundred, acres,
and extends north to the Mercer County line. The ground on which the
original town stands was a 100-acre tract purchased by James Waugh,
shortly before the town was laid out. New Wilmington was only made a
"half borough" in 1863, and it was not until about 1872 that it became a
complete borough, with all the powers pertaining to such a corporation.
The town of New Wilmington was laid out by James Waugh and sons, about
1824; and the first buildings were erected in that year. A house had
been built previously by James Hazlep, the first settler in the
vicinity, and was the first one in the place. James Waugh built the
second one. He had settled in 1798, in what afterwards became
Lackawannock Township, Mercer County.
The first house built in the newly laid out town was erected by Dr.
Hindman. It was a log structure. Soon a one-story frame building was put
up by Phillip Crowl. John Galloway built a tannery about 1824-25, at the
east side of the village.
David Carnahan opened the first wagon shop in the place; next came J. W.
H. Hazlep.
Thomas Wilson had the first saddle and harness shop, which stood at the
southwest corner of the West Diamond. The first shoe shop was kept by
Robert Hamilton.
The first blacksmith shop was opened by [p. 371] Phillip Crowl who
afterward removed to Eastbrook, in Hickory Township. The first general
store in the place was opened by the Waughs about the time the town was
laid out; the second by James Hazlep, subsequently sold out to J. & A.
Galloway, who carried on the store for a time. Thomas Brown had the
first actual tailor shop, although William McCready had done some work
in that line before Brown came, but never owned a shop.
School was first held in a frame building now or recently used as a
dwelling, the teacher being Robert Miller. Long before this house was
built a log schoolhouse had been erected a mile west of town, about
1810-12. The two-story brick schoolhouse of more recent times was built
about 1868.
Thomas Wilson kept the first hotel, about 1834, and was succeeded by
Richard Hammond, who built the second hotel building about 1835. The
Lawrence House was next built, and conducted for a while by a man named
Weir.
James Hazlep, previously mentioned, became the possessor of some 800
acres of land in the neighborhood.
Thomas Pomeroy came to New Wilmington in 1834, and acted as justice of
the peace for several years. In 1855, he was elected one of the
associate judges of Lawrence County, and twice elected subseqently. He
also served as county auditor, was one year?1863?on the Internal Revenue
Board of Pennsylvania, and two years?1846-47?in the State Legislature.
William M. Francis came to New Wilmington from Baltimore, Md., in 1839.
In February, 1841, he purchased a piece of land south of town, and built
a house upon it, which was his residence for the remainder of his life.
In the winters of 1858-59-60 Mr. Francis represented Lawrence County in
the State Senate, and was speaker of the Senate in 1860.
James A. McLaughry came to New Wilmington from Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, in 1835, and for two years taught school in the village.
He was originally from Delaware County, New York, and from Wayne County,
Pennsylvania, when he came to Mercer.
The New Wilmington Telephone Co., an independent concern, was organized
September 19, 1905, by New Wilmington capital, and after being conducted
for a year and a half, was purchased by Martha and Robert J. Totten. Mr.
Totten assumed full control on May 1, 1907, and has been enjoying a
steady increase of patronage for the past year and a half. The office is
centrally located on Vine Street, occupying a two-story frame building.
There are 100 subscribers and about forty or fifty miles of wire. Three
operators take care of the calls, generally assisted by two or three
sub-operators, who are learning.
R. S. Mercer & Co.'s department store of New Wilmington was organized
about a year ago. This store is on Market Street, and is one of the
largest in the city.
John Wright and son keep a hardware store. The business was started by
the son in 1903, the father entering into the partnership with him in 1907.
Wyatt R. Campbell conducts a furniture and undertaking business. He is
the only undertaker in Wilmington Township.
Norman G. Vance is the proprietor of a feed and hay market?the only one
of its kind in the township.
J. Frank Williams conducts a dry goods and notion store?the largest
business of its kind in the place.
The New Wilmington Bank was organized by George H. Getty, who was
cashier thereof for twelve years. His son, Howell T. Getty, has held
that position for the past year. The bank is a safe and conservative
institution, and is a prominent and useful factor in the commercial life
of the community.
George M. Robinson, with his son, has conducted the leading grocery in
town for eight years.[p. 372]
CHURCHES.
The first United Presbyterian Church was organized as an Associate
Reformed congregation somewhere about 1810 or 1812. This church was
originally called "Neshannock," but that name was finally dropped, and
the present "Neshannock," United Presbyterian Church is situated in the
southern part of Hickory Township. The congregation at first worshiped
in a rude log structure. They also for some time used the brick building
occupied by the postoffice in 1877. Subsequently a substantial and
commodious brick edifice was erected in the north part of town.
Rev. Alexander Murray served the congregation while they occupied the
old log church. Other ministers supplied the church for a number of
years, and it was not until about 1832 that their first regular pastor,
Rev. Alexander Boyd, was settled. He ministered about six years. About
1840 Rev. David R. Imbrie became the pastor, and served for twenty-five
years. Revs. James R. Miller, D.D., J. M. Donaldson and Rev. John H.
Gibson came after. While Mr. Murray preached here he had four
charges?Neshannock (New Wilmington), New Castle, Prospect (in Neshannock
Township), and Wolf Creek (in Butler County).
The Second United Presbyterian Church was organized as an Associate
Reformed congregation by the Presbytery of the Lakes, February 27, 1850.
Rev. William A. Mehard was its first pastor. The original congregation
consisted of thirty-two members. A church was built in 1852 and was used
until 1862, after which time their meetings were held in the college
building. A Sabbath-school was organized in 1852.
The Methodist Episcopal society was organized about 1839, and the next
year the frame church was built. The building was enlarged and repaired
in 1858. The first pastor of this congregation was probably Rev. Mr.
Benn. Following him came Rev. Mr. Parker; then the appointment was made
a double one, and Revs. Leslie and Lane were appointed. In the spring of
1843, a Sabbath-school, was organized at New Wilmington, with Robert
Ramsey as its first superintendent.
New Wilmington is the seat of Westininster College, a sketch of which
admirable institution may be found in another part of this work.
The postoffice at new Wilmington was established January 14, 1828, and
was known as New Wilmington Postoffice, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in
which county it was then located, it being before Lawrence County was
erected. Its first postmaster was John Carnahan, who was appointed
January 14, 1828.
In 1850, after Lawrence County was erected the office was transferred to it.
New Wilmington is remarkable for the excellence of its sidewalks and
stone pavements. This work, begun in 1874, has since been kept up, to
the credit of the borough, which thus gives a favorable impression to
the passing stranger. It stands well in line with other places of its
size with respect to modern improvements, and the presence of the
college, with its numerous students coming and going, were there no
other causes, would prevent it from lapsing into a condition of
stagnation, which from one cause or another, has been the fate of many
other promising communities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: 26 Mar 2002